n/a: I'd just like to thank everyone for the support again and please remember to vote and comment. Thank you!

They made it back to the apartment without anyone noticing. Aaron had ordered take out and it had arrived mere minutes before them, still warm.

The four of them sat on the island in silence. 

Idina had stashed the items from the shopping spree in an empty closet.

There was so much that needed to be done, needed to be said, yet she had no idea how to say them. It was weird how Erika was suddenly the thing that scared her the most. Not because she was worried about what the girl would do to her, it was because she was worried about what she would do to the girl. Was Erika really better off with her?

Yes, yes she was, Idina told herself. There was nowhere else better to be. Idina could take care of her. And Idina would.

She smiled at Walker, who was elated with his Happy Meal.

Erika was quiet. Everything she did was quiet. If you weren't paying attention to her, she could slip away without anyone realizing it.

After they finished, Idina put Walker to sleep in the bedroom. The couch in the living pulled out into a double bed. She figured Aaron and Walker could share and that she and Erika would take the pull out.

She sang a few song sot Walker, and for once he did not protest. He missed her and asked for more stories, more songs, more anything to keep her around. Eventually, she told him he had to sleep, and she promised she'd be there in the morning when he works up.

Aaron stopped her when she closed the door.

"What do we do now?" he asked in a whisper.

"I don't know," she admitted looking down. "I didn't think this all the way through."

"To be fair," he said, "neither of us expected this."

"We need to get back to LA," she said. The plan was for LA. In LA, things were supposed to work. Here, it was random, uncontrolled.

He nodded in agreement. "We can get on a flight tomorrow," he said,

"That's a good idea." She hugged him and smiled. "How's Erika?"

"She seems fine," Aaron said. "I mean, I just met her this morning"

"Right," Idina said. "If this had worked the way I planned it-"

"I know," he said, "but it didn't and now we're here and all we can do is move forwards."

"I love you," she said, squeezing him. He did the same and they smiled. "Walker's not as sleep yet so just ignore him until he falls asleep."

"I know," he said as he turned them so that his back was now to the door. "Be careful Idina. I know you. Just, be careful."

"I know," she repeated. She did. "Maybe the three of us should watch TV or something," she muttered. She wasn't sure she wanted to be alone with Erika yet.

Erika wasn't going to direct anything towards Walker, she knew that. Idina could tell Erika wasn't that mean. But without him and Aaron around, Idina could be a sitting duck. 

"If that's what you want."

"I want the four of us to be a family," she said. "That includes you."

"Okay," he said.

They walked back out to the living room, holding hands. Erika was sitting on the couch, looking at nothing.

"Mind if we sit?" Idina asked.

"No," she said.

Aaron sat on the far end, leaving Idina to take the middle seat.

Idina picked the remote up form the coffee table and turned the tv on. She turned the volume down to that Walker would not hear it and come out. She started flipping through the channels. She had no idea what was serviced out here anymore. She'd watched nothing but the news since she's started this whole thing. 

"Is there something you'd like to watch?" Aaron asked.

"No," Erika replied.

"Well, what type of show do you like?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"You've got to like something," he pressed. "Crime, fantasy, adventure?"

"I don't know." She sounded ashamed.

"Well, we'll have to fix that," Aaron said.

Thank you, Idina mouthed. She loved him.

They watched some talk shows until it was late. Erika said nothing.

Aaron went into the bedroom. There was an ensuite bathroom that he had his stuff in. He came out a few seconds later with pyjamas for Idina. She gave him a sift goodnight kiss.

Idina helped Erika pull out and make the bed, then when to change in the bathroom. 

When she came out, Erika was nowhere in sight. The balcony door was open.

Idina swore under her breath. Seriously?

She rushed to the door and smashed her shin against the bedframe. Pain shot through her calf. She pressed her hand against her mouth to stop from crying out. She hobbled over to the door all the same.

"Oh," she said before she could stop herself. 

Erika was standing by the balcony, looking over the city. She looked over her shoulder at Idina but did not say anything. 

Idina straightened and walked over. She turned her back to the railing and leaned against it. "Nice out?"

"Yeah," Erika agreed.

"How do you feel about moving to LA?"

She shrugged. 

"You're not going to miss it here?"

"There's nothing to miss," Erika said.

"You sure?"

"I already left once," she said. 

"Right," Idina said. She looked down. "No friends, nothing?"

"I don't know what Arwen said, but we're not as close as she implied."

"You sure? You know, they say you don't really know what you have until it's gone."

"Then I guess I've never had anything."

"That's not true."

"I guess your right," she said. Idina perked up. "When I was five I was got pretty upset when the family I was with for two years sent me back. I can't say I miss them anymore though." She snorts. "Or even then really, I was just upset."

Idina sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

Idina sidestepped closer, turning to face the streets. They stood there in silence while a chilly wind blew up from below. Erika wasn't one for conversation.

"We should get some sleep," Idina finally said. "The bags are in the closet so you can grab some stuff from there."

"Okay," Erika said. She turned and walked back inside.

Idina followed her. Maybe things would be different in LA. New York was the place where no one had cared for her, but LA, La was where she would get a family.