#scarsdale

Friday morning, Himmelfarb residence. Zara did not actually manage to get to sleep after her late-night exploits - as such, by seven, she has laid out a plate of fruit - melon slices, berries, yogurt - and muffins. Fresh coffee is brewing, and the cream and sugar wait next to two mugs. Several days of guerilla cleaning have left the downstairs in a respectable condition. Takeout containers are in the trash, dishes are clean, plants are watered. The sluagh, however, has skippered off from the kitchen.

((Paging ShadyLady ))

OOC here!

The key in the lock is almost simultaneous with the shuffle of slippers in the hallway.

The two men meet in the living room and exchange murmurs....

The blankets are folded neatly on the couch, unslept in.

(The VERY UPHOLSTERED couch)

Then the smell of hot iron and old fuel comes down the hall, closer to Zara's hiding spot; there are, after all, a limited number of places she could be.

The lights are off in the den - the last room to get sunlight in the morning, full of books... of COURSE that's where she goes.

Also, about the size of a closet, which fits. The footsteps (with a trademark limp) enter. "Zara?"

"I didn't leave. There's coffee in the kitchen."

"So there is, thank you. Come out?"

A soft rustle, as Zara emerges from beneath a chair. Her hair is loose, hiding her face, and shoulders curled inwards.

"Zara....." He murmurs. "What's wrong?"

"Do you need eggs? I could make eggs. They don't keep right if you aren't ready to eat."

A long pause. "Not so easy on you, is it?"

"It's fine. Sorry for sneaking in." she rakes back her bangs, though they fall right back. "Scrambled or dippy?"

"Zara, nothing about you says it's fine, hm?" The nocker rasps. "Have you been in here cleaning up?"

A shrug and a nod, head turned to the side.

"Sorry I made trouble for you. Didn't mean to."

"Bah. Hirim's an idyot. You can't make more trouble for me than I can handle, Bubahla."

"Thank you for fixing breakfast."

"You two are working hard. Hirim probably told you I messed things up last night. Sorry."

He shrugs. "Not so messed up it can't be un-messed, nu? So you woke her up. She's asleep again."

"Yeah. Thinks she's eighteen. Doesn't know who you old guys are."

Calmly. "She knows. Sometimes. We tell her. It's hard for her. You understand why we keep her.... blind, to what we are, for now?"

"Because she freaks out, yeah. I saw." a sullen whisper, all teenage apathy which verges on hostile. "Should've minded my own business, I know. Okay?"

"I'll stay out of the way."

"If you wish." Mildly. "What she's suffered, she's not ready yet, hm? It's harder, outside a hospital. We figured, get her body healthy, then deal with bringing her back." A pause. "We -can- use the help. But not if you don't want to. We don't blame you, Zara. You understand?"

"I'm not help." she scowls. "So - scrambled? I think there's cheese."

Ratchet sighs. "You think making breakfast isn't help? You think cleaning up after the two of us isn't help? Zara, we love you very much... but right now we're trying to help someone who can't help themselves. You think maybe you could cut us some slack for that?"

She wraps her arms around her torso, squeezing her eyes shut. "I know... I -know-, okay?"

"Said I'd stay out of the way. You know I can - didn't even know I was here, yeah?"

He chuckles rustily. "True." Some mirth in his tone. "Used your key, hm?"

"Faster and easier, yeah."

He sighs. "I wish I knew what to do to make you happy, Princess. But. Maybe you'll tell me, when you're ready. As far as breakfast, I'll have some of what you put out after I wash. Hirim is eating, leaving soon."

"I'm fine, Ratchet. It's fine, right? What is kvetching going to do, except make other people upset?"

"Fine isn't happy, but maybe fine is under-rated." He shrugs, tired. "Ok, so I go to wash up. You have breakfast with us? Pretty sure there's something in the fridge that you could have. Unless Hannah's been by."

"M-... she's coming by later, I think. Matzah balls."

"Oh, good. That's always good to have, when someone is sick. Ok. I'm going. You coming out or staying here or going home....?"

"Hirim said I had to stay."

"I'll go get it over with."

"-Hirim- said to stay until morning. And Hirim is an ass. Stay, go, up to you." He turns and heads back into the house for his room and the shower. "Love you, Zara."

A hitch of breath, a hiccup... no response.

Ratchet goes to shower off the night's work and change, and eat.

A changing of the guard; she can hear the water running, a flush, rummaging.... someone working in the kitchen...

Zara collects herself, scrubbing harshly at her face with her sleeve before emerging. Barefoot, silent, she makes her way to the kitchen.

Zara... well, frankly, she lurks. Just outside the kitchen, sheltered by the door frame.

When he glances up to see the clock, he catches sight of her. "Hmph." Is all. He continues to work.