Seth was suspicious to say the least of Marie Andrews.

She had been there, in their home, for two full days after stalking him and the others at the mall, only to follow them home.

The only food that she cooked that didn't end up being burned, but edible, was sandwiches and the take out that she ordered.

Ironically enough, the kids that she was supposed to feed, were teaching her how to cook. 

Ursa was more than happy to show Marie how to cook food how she and the others liked it.

It seemed that Ursa had already warmed up to their new 'nanny', Phoebe and Pryce not too far behind her.

Seth didn't like her. 

He didn't like the idea of someone coming in and changing the family dynamic in less than an hour.

"Maybe you're being too hard on her." Pryce suggested, as he relaxed in the branches of the tree in the court yard.

"No, it's it right to give someone who stalked your kids a home and a job as their caretaker the day you bust them!" Seth argued, sitting in the shade of that very same tree, a book in his hand.

"I mean, I get it, Seth." Phoebe insisted, "She did come out of nowhere, clearly could have had a better introduction, but there's nothing that we can do to change how it happened. We just take things as they come, like we always do."

"I thought that saying just applied to school, you know because I said it." Seth chided.

"I know that you did, but when you told me it, I considered it for everything in all life." Phoebe giggled. "You were encouraging me and you never do that, so judge me all you want for taking what you gave."

"There's a reason they call me 'the wiseman'." Seth smirked.

"Nobody calls you that. We have other names for you, but definitely not a 'wiseman'." Pryce laughed. "Like a smartass, jackass, jerk-wad-" 

Seth cut off Pryce by splashing some water in his face with a flick of his wrist.

"You two are so full of yourselves." Phoebe sighed, feeling humoured by the two.

Suddenly, the three turned their heads towards the sound of Marie groaning loudly, walking towards the group. Seth's glare went unnoticed by Marie as she sat down beside Phoebe on the grass and took off her black high heels.

"Jesus Christ, I think that my heels are more terrible than what I thought this job would be." Marie grumbled and tossed her shoes. "Women in movies make it look too freakin' easy!"

"So you come out here for a smoke break?" Seth remarked, almost looking for unredeemable qualities about Marie.

Marie gave him a half smirk, "When you know the science behind smoking killing lungs, you tend to avoid that crap."

Awkwardly smiling, Phoebe decided to 'save' Marie from anymore of Seth's interrogation. 

"Hey Marie, what's your shoe size? We could always go to the mall and buy you some comfier shoes to work in." She suggested.

"Yeah you probably missed the shoe store when you were busy following us-" Seth was about to quip, only for Phoebe to kick him harshly.

"Uh you probably shouldn't do that. I'm supposed to look after you 'lot." Marie halfheartedly scolded. "But some new shoes would probably be a good idea. And some new clothes for school would be good for you kiddos too." 

"I don't need any clothes." Seth said quickly, leaning back against the tree.

"What you need is a haircut." Pryce teased as he jumped down from the tree. "But yeah, I need some new runners for the track team! I have a pretty good chance of being the captain this year." He grinned.

"Then it is settled, I'll go ask Chandler for some shopping money, guess that'll be my first pay check but eh." Marie shrugged and stood up, carrying her heels in her hand.

"I'll go get Urs, she might want something." Pryce offered, before following Marie into the mansion.

Phoebe stood up to following them but was stopped by Seth saying: 

"You aren't actually going with her, right? Phoebe, we hardly know her."

Phoebe gave Seth a look, "Seth, she isn't so bad. Besides, we'll be in a public place and she wouldn't risk doing anything if your that worried."

"She came out of nowhere, Phoebe." Seth pointed out, looking down at his book as she began to walk away.

++++++++++

Entering the mall, it was much like their previous visit.

Unfamiliar faces walking towards a destination where they could make material purchases. Sometimes you'd see someone familiar enough to greet them and partake in some smalltalk before returning to the same mission as the people around you.

Phoebe had volunteered to go to the food court with Pryce, to make sure he actually ate some food, rather than waste his appetite on expensive arcade games. So the two of them took off towards the food court, leaving Marie and Ursa to their own accord.

They walked around, searching for a store that would most likely have clothing and/or shoe items.

"Where do you guys usually shop?" Marie asked Ursa, not being familiar with the area.

Ursa shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not really sure, I don't come to the mall a lot. Phoebe usually picks out clothes for me. This is actually my second time coming to the mall." She answered honestly.

Marie raised her eyebrow at Ursa, "Really? You just don't like going out in public?" She inquired, only for Ursa to shake her head.

"Nope, I actually really like people! And shopping for stuff is really fun!"

Feeling confused, Marie looked forward again and tried to think of a reason to why that was. Then it dawned on Marie, causing her to shake her head and scoff the culprit's name.

"Dammit Chandler."

"Hey look, there's the bookstore!" Ursa exclaimed, grabbing onto Marie's sleeve and pointed to the store.

"Yeah, do you want a book or something?" 

Ursa grinned and pulled her towards the store. "Let's get you a cooking book!"

++++++++

"Hey look Pheebs, I'm a walrus!" Pryce joked, having two fries hanging out the top half of his mouth.

Phoebe giggling at his antics, even more when one if the fries fell from his mouth and when Pryce went to grab it, he banged his hand onto the side of the table. He whined and grasped his wrist in pain.

"I think a walrus would be more graceful." Phoebe laughed.

Pryce squinted his eyes at Phoebe in a playful glare, "Out of the four of us, I thought you'd be more sympathetic!"

"For that performance I am." Phoebe smirked and took a sip of her fountain drink.

Pryce scoffed, leaning on his elbow on the table, "You're starting to sound like Seth, you know we've got enough of those." He then munched on another fry. 

Phoebe sighed and sipped more on her drink.

"He's still adamant about not trusting Marie."

Pryce raised his eyebrow before nodding, knowing that it was normal behaviour for Seth.

"I don't know what his deal is half of the time." He professed, "One minute, he wants a change or something to get out of that house, now he's all butt hurt over someone new coming into the house."

Phoebe thought about what Pryce was saying and then thought back to Seth. 

"I don't know what to do. I trust Seth, but I think he's too worried about the whole thing."

"She did stalk us." Pryce pointed out.

Phoebe glared at Pryce, "And you acted like it was an everyday thing, you weren't as freaked out as a normal person would be." She retorted.

Pryce shrugged sheepishly. "She doesn't seem like a threat."

"There you two are." Marie called out as she approached the table with Ursa, who held a bag in her hand. 

"Where'd you two stop?" Pryce asked.

"The bookstore." Marie answered, letting out a breath, showing how tired she was.

Ursa showed Phoebe and her brother the book she got with a big smile. Phoebe read the title and looked up at Marie, who looked rather embarrassed.

"'How To Cook: For Dummies'?" She questioned in amusement.

Pryce then began laugh hysterically, causing Marie's embarrassed expression to flush pink.

"Don't judge me." She grumbled. "I lived on instant noodles for most of my adult life."

Pryce's laughter didn't cease after that comment.

"Phoebe, could you come and help me pick out some shoes? I need to go buy something that'll help me regain my dignity." Marie pleaded.

"Sure thing." Phoebe said, cursing t herself after realizing that she didn't think before speaking. She was already feeling comfortable around Marie.

That was that still a bad thing?