#anywhere

Caeasar and April's house is right down the street.

So the food will still be warm when he gets there!

He knocks on the door. And it opens "CC? I'm sorry I... oh, Emmerson"

"Good evening! Has Miss CC been here, then?" He peers around hopefully.

"Oh.." Surprise "yes, if you were looking for her she was here about 20 minutes ago. She.. .she got to hear me bitch a bit I'm afraid. "

"Oh." he deflates, just a little, and glances back up the street "Well, I suppose I'll see her at home then. It occured to me it's been a moment since I'd seen you, and thought I'd drop this by. No need to return the dish." he offers it.

"Please, you'er so kind" SHe takes it, "Do you... do you want to come in?" She smells the food "Oh my favorite. "

"Actually.... well, I do have an ulterior motive." sheepishly "Yes, if I could for a moment? I know your evenings are precious, after the children are asleep."

She smiles "CC put them to sleep for me this time, her lullabys are magic. Please, be welcome. I'm afraid the House isn't as clean as I like to keep it." She lets him in

"Nonsense, my dear, the house is fine." he steps inside.... and yes, he does a subtle scope-out; is the mess a sign of a problem?

The mess is over stated... somethings are out of place, a mild disarray at worse. It's not AS clean as he's seen it in the past, but clean enough it is no danger to the kids.

She takes the food and sets in on a kitchen table. Then says "Can I get you a drink?"

"Oh, thank you! Whatever you have available."

"Bourbon okay ? Or you prefer scotch? I also just have tea or cofee"

"Will you be joining me?" he entices.

"Well, I wouldn't want to be rude" She concedes "So what will you have?"

"Hmmmm....." he watches her a moment; what is SHE in the mood for?

She mgiht be tempted for a hard drink, but will, since she has kids napping, take a coffee since they MIGHT wake up

"Coffee." and he'll suggest decafe IF the household uses and cares for such a thing.

They do at least this late. Soon she's sitting down with two cups of Decaf, one for each "Well, if you haven't seen CC yet, you don't know, but...y ou'll probably hear of it"

He settles in his seat, putting the book unobtrusively to the side. "Hear of it? -Are- the children ok?" he glances to where they are, worried.

"They're sleeping upstairs" She assures, "And their fine, just... wondering where their father is. " A frown "Caesar and I... well, I love him, I DO, but I am not sure he ... maybe we're not meant for each other after all"

"Oh, my dear....." sympathetically. He sets his coffee down and offers his hand, palm up "What has happened?"

"I shouldn't trouble you with this. I'm a DeBuke. We're supposed to be tough" But her diestress is high "I... you may think it's silly. He tells me it was just 'acting' but damn it. I tolerate a lot. And I support his satyr needs. He didn't NEED to ... insult me on tv"

"He -WHAT-???" It's not a shout, in deference to the babes upstairs, but it IS pointed.

"He.. was on TV, with some wrestling floozy. You know, THAT's okay. He's a satyr. He has his urges, but he LOVES me. Or so I thought ...but then he makes a blonde joke about me... who knows how many were watching. There's a youtube clip. He called me a dumb blonde and Odin damnit, I'm ANYTHING but stupid"

Her tension bristles "He told me that he would would always treat me with love and respect... apparently he forgot the last part. "

"Do not let it get back to Miss CC that I said this but.... Caesar has behaved like a cad." firmly.

"So I'm NOT over reacting?" She inquires, "I just... honestly, given how he and I met, I won't judge him about other women, but I damn well expect to be Number ONE in his life out of the others. And to be dragged into his spotlight is one thing, but as a comedy bit? I have ZERO pooka blood. Zero."

"You are not over-reacting, my dear. Have you spoken with him about it? When did this happen?"

"Coming on five days" She admits "And, we did. At first he didn't get it... just a joke he said. I let him have it, he gave some lame ass apology. Later, it was flowers. I.. shredeed them and returned them which I admit was a bit immature of me. I was mad. " A scowl "And the idea that he could get a cheap bouquet and get out of trouble just made me feel like he really DID think I was stupid. I have colleques in academia. Do you know the jokes going my way from some of my so called peers now? Caesar has NO idea that fact this stuff sticks"

A sigh. "Satyrs. By and large, many emotions -don't- stick for long. At least, not at his age."

"Please, April, be assured that this home and Miss CC and I will always be here for you." he promises "You and the children will be taken care of, no matter the outcome of this."

"CC seems reasonable, why can't Caesar be?" She grumbles at talk of Satyrs, then she nods at his kind of assurances "I LOVE Caesar. I edo. I just..." She looks miserable "I can't respect myself if I just let this slide."

"Then, do not." He pats her hand "Miss CC and I have had our little tiffs, do believe me."

"How.. how did you and her resolve the tiffs?" She asks

"I apologize, sincerely." deadpan.

"And flowers. Chocolate. Brown alcohol, on occasion."

That actually gets a laugh out of her, a weary one, "Right or wrong, guys bring the flowers eh?"

"And, ah.... well. A certain amount of intimacy once an appropriate period has passed."

"Bet the wait drives her nuts" Drily

"The wait may actually enhance the event." with a roguish twinkle.

She blushes at that, but nods

"Flowers, candy, liquor... there are all tokens. As is the jewelry, which I have also offered in apology. She is worth more than all that to me, more than even my own ego or pride." simply.

"So you're saying I should swallow my pride?" cautious

"No, he should."

"And, he should try chocolate, good scotch, and a necklace, perhaps earrings."

"I hope he does, but damn it, Emerson, it better be good AND sincere, or I'm not accepting it." She says stubbornly

"As well you should not." he assures her.

"I wonder.... you say it was five days ago that you last spoke?"