Candy, Hearts and Interviews

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Erin smiled, though Cal suspected it was more for his benefit. “My mother didn’t tolerate dirt very well. Good habits were shoved down my throat from the second I was born. I pick up every night before bed. It’s just easier to spend fifteen minutes every night doing it than slaving on the weekends. I’m sure your place isn’t that bad.” He gave a soft snort. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but it really is that bad.” Cal was usually just too tired to bother with cleaning more than once every two weeks. He did dishes daily and didn’t leave his clothes all over the apartment, did laundry weekly, but he didn’t make his bed except when he changed the sheets and he only vacuumed when he needed to. The quiet that fell over them was brief before the sputtering of the coffee machine caught his ear. “Coffee’s ready.” Nodding, he watched as Erin got to her feet and disappeared into the kitchen to fetch their coffee and the condiments for it. He took the time to see how Molly was progressing on his bracelet and realized that it was probably going to take a while for her to finish. She was watching the TV a little more than she was focusing on his bracelet. Still, she was making an effort and Cal had to smile to himself.

When Erin came back with their coffee and some cream, Cal gave a soft word of thanks. He pulled his mug close and reached for the sugar, putting two spoonfuls in before he poured a bit of cream into the almost black liquid. As he stirred, he looked up at Erin. “You know she’s going to check your wrists every time you come by, so…I hope you were telling her the truth.” He put his right hand up as if he was swearing into court. “Every word.” Cal didn’t like to lie, particularly to kids. The skeptical look Erin gave him actually irritated him a little. Why would he lie to Molly about wearing the bracelet she made for him? His brow furrowed a little, bringing his mug to his lips and sipping. Had he not proved he actually cared about them? Then again, he couldn’t blame her. She was just trying to look out for her kid.

“So…working on any new cases? Or is that strict confidential police business?” He was taking another sip of coffee when she asked and he looked up over his mug at her. As he placed the mug back on the table he gave a shrug. “The usual stuff. Well, usual for Scriptor Bay. No new missing persons cases, but there’s been a couple robberies, a few assaults, a few drunken streakers at the university…and of course there’s always the weird animal sightings. A woman swears she saw a lion prowling in the woods last week on the full moon. Seems like the legends about the town are true.” He smirked like it was a playful remark, but he knew it really was true. In case Erin didn’t, however, he had to play it off. It was his duty in service to the city. He took another sip of coffee, enjoying the sweetness that he usually left out of it. When he set his cup down again, he glanced over to see Molly working diligently on his bracelet now. His eyes met Erin’s once again and he smiled slightly. “How about at the bakery? Any drama going on there? Crazy wedding cake requests or anything?” It seemed much more mundane than his job, her work at the bakery, but he wanted to give Erin the chance to talk. She seemed nervous and maybe talking would make her feel more comfortable with his presence.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Cal shrugged and she couldn't help but feel like this whole conversation was forced and wished that Molly hadn't invited Cal in if she hadn't planned on actually entertaining him. Maybe she could send him in the other room to interact with her instead.. “The usual stuff. Well, usual for Scriptor Bay. No new missing persons cases, but there’s been a couple robberies, a few assaults, a few drunken streakers at the university…and of course there’s always the weird animal sightings. A woman swears she saw a lion prowling in the woods last week on the full moon. Seems like the legends about the town are true.” Erin was taking a sip when he mentioned the lion spotting on the full moon, choking a little as she looked up at him feeling her own heart flutter. He couldn't know about her, it just wasn't possible. She played it off by coughing and placing the mug down. "A lion! In the city?" She gave an incredulous laugh like it was the silliest thing she'd ever heard, though obviously it made complete sense to her. She knew Cal could never know her secret, though. She didn't trust him enough to let him know that.

Another calm came over them and they both let their eyes wander to Molly. Erin pulled her gaze away to watch Cal a moment while he looked at the little girl, seeing contentment on his face. She could easily see he cared for her. “How about at the bakery? Any drama going on there? Crazy wedding cake requests or anything?” He asked bringing his eyes back to her and attempting to reignite the conversation. "Uhh.." She had to think a moment, spinning the mug around in her hands, the bottom scraping softly against the wooden table as her mind wandered around the question he'd asked. "I had someone ask if we could decorate a cake to look like a pizza." She offered with a smile. Cora work for hours on that one. Molly thought it was a scream.. actually she may have told you about that already." She bit her bottom lip and looked up at the light, considering the question.

"Oh!" She finally said with a smile. "Had someone come in asking if we could make Harry Potter cakes for them. Cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties and treacle fudge.." She shook her head with a smile. "I'm probably talking another language to you.." She had read the books, the first having come out when she was barely a teenager. She'd been a huge fan though her mother had rolled her eyes at it, so she kept her love of the books relatively quiet. Molly had read the first couple but Erin held off letting her get too far into the series, deciding she wasn't old enough yet for the later books. Cal told her that he knew exactly what she was talking about and was also a fan of the books, receiving a look of disbelief from Erin in return. He insisted he was and proved so by throwing facts out that only someone who had read the books, or at least seen the movies, could know. "So you're telling me you've really read every single Harry Potter book? For real?" That was not something she'd expected, and deep down wondered if it was because of his nieces and nephews. No way this guy was really interested in that stuff.. right?

[CALVIN HAGAN]

“Uhh…” Erin looked down at the table, spinning her mug around while Cal patiently waited for her answer. It was kind of a weird question and Cal felt awkward having asked it. This talk was so small, it was hard to really find an answer. “I had someone ask if we could decorate a cake to look like a pizza. Cora worked for hours on that one. Molly thought it was a scream…actually, she may have told you about that already.” Cal smiled at the thoughtful look she gave, her big brown eyes rolling up to the light. Molly had told him about that cake, but he liked to hear about it from Erin too. At least it was something they could both look back on fondly. He was sure Cora might remember it slightly less fondly. Erin’s eyes lit up and Cal blinked blankly in surprise at her “eureka” look. “Oh! Had someone come in asking if we could make Harry Potter cakes for them. Cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties and treacle fudge…I’m probably talking another language to you…” Quickly the man shook his head, leaning in a little more. “No! Actually I’m a pretty big fan of the books.” Erin gave him an incredulous look and Cal gave a smile.

“My nephew started to read them when he was about ten. At that time, to encourage him to read and get better in school, I would read the books he read and talked to him about them. I tore through the first book in about two days. After that I was hooked.” Erin looked totally surprised and Cal couldn’t blame her. Normally, he definitely wasn’t the kind of guy to like that stuff. He’d seen way more Disney movies than a normal man in his late-thirties should have, though, just because of his nieces and nephews. She spent the next several minutes testing his knowledge of the series and Cal answered every one of her questions correctly. It was funny to see her so surprised. “So you’re telling me you’ve really read every single Harry Potter book? For real?” Cal shrugged. “What can I say? I wanted to know what would happen to the Chosen One.” He grinned before sipping his coffee, letting Erin digest this new finding. Setting the mug down again, he cupped it between his large hands to warm them. “Those were the first books that most of my nieces and nephews first devoured. Tessie tried to regulate which ones they were allowed to read, but then the older ones started to ruin the stories for the younger ones. After that it was a free-for-all. Good thing they were all mature for their age. They still like to reread them and I think they understand more as they get older. At least it’s something I can talk to them about.” And man, could they talk about it. His nieces and nephews could spend the better part of a day just discussing Harry Potter. Of course that wasn’t the only thing Cal could talk about with them, but it was a little difficult to find appropriate topics of conversation when he was used to talking about the terrible things people did all day. Usually he let them do all the talking and interjected from time to time.

He looked back at Erin with an almost mischievous smile. “You know, if you wanted to save a sample of each of those, I could eat them and let you know what I think. I don’t mind being a taste tester.” Grinning at her remark, he wondered if she would actually let him sample those treats. Cora might if he asked nicely. Or maybe she would tell him to buzz off. “So when did you get into the books? I bet you’ve always been a bookworm. Were you one of the girls that stood in line at midnight to get your copy?” He was teasing her, but not obnoxiously, and he wore a wide grin as he did so.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

“What can I say? I wanted to know what would happen to the Chosen One.” He told her, shrugging his shoulders with a grin on his face leaving Erin semi baffled. He drank his coffee leaving her digesting his curious words. “Those were the first books that most of my nieces and nephews first devoured. Tessie tried to regulate which ones they were allowed to read, but then the older ones started to ruin the stories for the younger ones. After that it was a free-for-all. Good thing they were all mature for their age. They still like to reread them and I think they understand more as they get older. At least it’s something I can talk to them about.” Again that warm feeling began to seep through her body, burning her stomach and heart. He had read them for the kids, but he'd enjoyed them and continued more so he could have something in common with them. She hated that nagging voice in her head that told her his relationship with Molly was beneficial for everyone; he got to satiate his need to be with his younger loved ones, Molly got a very positive male role model and Erin could feel less guilty for not having provided that male role model all along. If only he weren't so obnoxious..

Cal's smile turned mischievous as she contemplated her mixed feelings. “You know, if you wanted to save a sample of each of those, I could eat them and let you know what I think. I don’t mind being a taste tester.” She rolled her eyes playfully before shaking her head at him. "Well, there's a surprise." Erin was starting to warm up to him again, her eyes moving to Molly to see how she was coming along with that bracelet. Warming up to him made her mildly uncomfortable. “So when did you get into the books? I bet you’ve always been a bookworm. Were you one of the girls that stood in line at midnight to get your copy?” Her cheeks flushed and she narrowed her eyes at him. "No, I never stood in line." She snapped, but the upward tug at the edge of the right side of her lips showed she wasn't as angry as she sounded. "I was.. let's see.. Prisoner of Azkaban was just about to be released so I must have been about fourteen or so?" She bit her bottom lip in concentration. "Yes. I was in ninth grade and checked the first book out in the school library. I got through it in a weekend and devoured the second one just as quickly. I begged my father to take me shopping when the third book came out and when I asked to wander off alone to get some feminine things he handed me money and I got the third." It took a moment to realize how spoiled that made her sound and her nose wrinkled. "I knew my mom would give me a hard time about them so I kept them hidden in my room. I was a bookworm, thankyouverymuch, so it wasn't uncommon for me to hole myself up in my bedroom to read. I would gush about the books to my friends in school. We all dreamed about what it would be like to be a witch and go to Hogwarts." Erin sighed and rolled her shoulders. "It woke up my interest in fantasy and I began seeking other books in the genre. My mother began to notice how much time I was spending reading and decided there were better ways for me to use my time, and by that summer I was enrolled in so many extra curricular activities that by the time I was able to read I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open. I always found time to read the new Harry Potter books, though." Her own smile was mischievous now, and she didn't care how spoiled she sounded. It was the life she'd been given and she'd been thoroughly humbled when she became a college dropout / single teen mother.

A thought flashed into Erin's mind and her cheeks flushed slightly at the thought. She looked up at Cal and then Molly, again biting her lower lip. "You know.. since you're a fan and all, and since you enjoy spending time with Molly, if you ever wanted to read them with her or.. we could have a movie marathon sometime.." She gulped, not believing the words coming out of her own mouth. She was actually inviting Cal to be a part of their little unit, something she had never done to someone who wasn't blood related to them. She cleared her throat, "Only if you really wanted to, don't think for a minute I would ever expect you to read them with her, because.. I mean I'm planning to and all, but since you already have and you miss your nieces and nephews.." She again shrugged. "..the offers on the table is all. If you wanted.." She cleared her throat again turning to look at Molly once more just so she didn't have to look into Cal's eyes, embarrassed at her own invitation to allow him to get closer.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal grinned at the way Erin narrowed her eyes at him and snapped, "No, I never stood in line." He knew she wasn’t really angry, especially when she gave a hint of a smile. "I was…let's see…Prisoner of Azkaban was just about to be released so I must have been about fourteen or so?" Cal felt his age in that moment, knowing he’d been about twenty-three when the third book came out. He had been in his last year of college at that point. There were few times when he noticed the age gap between him and Erin, but this was one of those times. "Yes. I was in ninth grade and checked the first book out in the school library. I got through it in a weekend and devoured the second one just as quickly. I begged my father to take me shopping when the third book came out and when I asked to wander off alone to get some feminine things he handed me money and I got the third." Wow, really? He certainly hadn’t had that growing up. Tessie would have wanted proof that he hadn’t bought anything other than what he said he was going to buy when she gave him the money. Erin must have noticed how her words sounded and she wrinkled her nose slightly. "I knew my mom would give me a hard time about them so I kept them hidden in my room. I was a bookworm, thankyouverymuch, so it wasn't uncommon for me to hole myself up in my bedroom to read. I would gush about the books to my friends in school. We all dreamed about what it would be like to be a witch and go to Hogwarts." Cal grinned, resting his cheek on one fist as he considered Erin as a school girl. It wasn’t a sexual fantasy, but rather an interest in what she had been like as a girl. Probably much sweeter than the woman she was today. In fact, he imagined her much like Molly. Hopefully Molly wouldn’t have to harden herself the way Erin had. "It woke up my interest in fantasy and I began seeking other books in the genre. My mother began to notice how much time I was spending reading and decided there were better ways for me to use my time, and by that summer I was enrolled in so many extra curricular activities that by the time I was able to read I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open. I always found time to read the new Harry Potter books, though." Her mischievous smile only confirmed Cal’s suspicions of her similarity to Molly. She must have been a good girl if that was her rebellion against her mom. Her upbringing was so different from Cal’s, and he found he resented her slightly for it. He’d never had a childhood, never been sheltered like she had; not that it was her fault, but it was hard to relate to such a cushy childhood. But it certainly illustrated the difference between them and also in who they came to be, now that they could sit at a table drinking coffee and talking about Harry Potter.

"You know…since you're a fan and all, and since you enjoy spending time with Molly, if you ever wanted to read them with her or…we could have a movie marathon sometime…" The invitation caught him off-guard and Cal’s green eyes widened slightly. Was…was she inviting him over again? For real? "Only if you really wanted to, don't think for a minute I would ever expect you to read them with her, because…I mean I'm planning to and all, but since you already have and you miss your nieces and nephews…" She gave a shrug and Cal continued to listen, dumbstruck. "…the offer’s on the table is all. If you wanted…" Erin averted her eyes and he swore there was a blush in her pale cheeks. Hell, he could almost feel his own creeping up his neck. She wanted him to come around again. Maybe regularly. She actually wanted him around. What the hell was he waiting for?! He cleared his throat, nodding. “Yeah! That sounds great, actually. Not to brag, but I’m wicked good at voices. I used to have my nieces and nephews cracking up when we read the books together. They thought I was the coolest uncle.” He gave an exaggerated nonchalant shrug, his mouth screwing up a little as he did so as if to say it was no big deal. It actually made Erin smile and her comment made him smile in return. If he was lucky, he would have plenty of opportunities to make her smile in the future. “And if we do the movie night thing, I make wicked pizza. My own dough and everything.” He puts his hands up as if to stop applause. “Please don’t be so impressed. It’s just one of the few things I have in my limited cooking repertoire.” Erin’s response made him chuckle and he finished his coffee. He liked this banter with Erin. It had been virtually impossible to picture even this level of friendship with her just a few months ago.

He looked over at Molly who was now pretty intent on her work on the couch. “How’s that bracelet coming along, Kiddo?” She glanced up and grinned. “Really well! I think you’re going to like it!”[/b] He nodded and smiled wide in return, letting her get back to her work. From what he could see, she was about halfway through the bracelet at this point. The details were hard to pick out from his distance, though. He looked back at Erin. “So what about you, O’Brien? Anything you’re particularly good at cooking? Something tells me you like being in the kitchen.” Shrugging, he looked up at the ceiling like he was thinking playfully. “Call it a hunch.” When he looked back at her, it was with a wide smile. The night had started out awkward, but Cal was slowly starting to feel more at ease. They had found one topic of common ground and he was feeling confident that there would be more. It was no longer such a daunting task to sit alone with Erin O’Brien and talk.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Cal cleared his throat and her eyes moved bashfully back to him, her head still pointing in the direction of Molly over on the couch, some Disney show with preteen girls humming in the background. “Yeah! That sounds great, actually. Not to brag, but I’m wicked good at voices. I used to have my nieces and nephews cracking up when we read the books together. They thought I was the coolest uncle.” His silly carefree attitude and obvious liking of the idea made her grin just a little. "You.. do voices?" She asked with playful disbelief. "Somehow I'm surprised but not really at the same time." He seemed amused but went on. "And if we do the movie night thing, I make wicked pizza. My own dough and everything.” He puts his hands as if to stop her from applauding at him being capable of such a feet, causing her brow to rise and offer a sardonic smile. “Please don’t be so impressed. It’s just one of the few things I have in my limited cooking repertoire.” She rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess Boston is known for their wicked good pizza. Oh, wait.. that's New York. And Chicago, I suppose. I'm wary of this Boston business." She teased receiving a playful grin back from him. He turned and asked Molly if she was nearly finished, and though Erin knew she should have been done by now, the girl replied she was halfway, which meant she was paying for more attention to the TV than to the craft she was making. Though suddenly Erin didn't mind as much. Not that she was enjoying her time with Cal, per se, but she certainly wasn't disliking it. It was natural and forced at the same time.

“So what about you, O’Brien? Anything you’re particularly good at cooking? Something tells me you like being in the kitchen.” He gave a shrug and her eyes narrowed at him, her head leaning to the side as her lips pursed. “Call it a hunch.” He smiled wide and she sighed, shaking her head, bringing the mug to her lips and taking a sip. "That's a question better reserved for my daughter who has to eat my cooking." She grinned back, rolling her shoulders. "And your hunch is a little off. I like baking. I like baking because I'm good at baking. I'm good at baking because my wonderful cousin taught me how. Cooking on the other hand.." Her lips pursed to the side. "No one taught me how to do that. My mother wasn't much of a cook so when it was just me and Molly I really got a rude awakening. I guess I can make a mean lasagna, though. I mean, really there's nothing to a good lasagna. And chili has to be the easiest thing on earth. There was a time when I ate almost nothing but omelets though." She teased feeling a little shy with her inability to really cook. "We end up eating out a lot at the bakery, but when I'm home I cook mostly healthy which Molly isn't fond of, but she deals because she can eat cupcakes pretty much any day of the week and if you're going to eat cupcakes you're going to enjoy some baked chicken and asparagus first." She chuckled looking at her coffee. "We like pizza, though. Even the wicked good Boston kind, I'm sure." That strange feeling twisted in her stomach again, this time thinking about Cal coming over for movie night and making pizza. It would be weird.. like a little family unit that actually wasn't. She knew immediately that Molly would be excited to pretend she had a mom and dad. How could she not? She loved Cal. She was terrified of getting her hopes up and then crushing them.

"So what other hidden talents does the great captain have?" She asked with a smirk, inviting him to go on about himself some more. She felt stupid telling him bits of her past, knowing exactly how entitled she seemed.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

“That’s a question better reserved for my daughter who has to eat my cooking.” Cal chuckled at Erin’s cheeky response, knowing her food couldn’t be all that bad. “And your hunch is a little off.” Oh? His eyebrows rose in curiosity. “I like baking. I like baking because I’m good at baking. I’m good at baking because my wonderful cousin taught me how. Cooking on the other hand…” Her lips pursed to the side and Cal found himself mildly distracted by their plumpness. “No one taught me how to do that. My mother wasn’t much of a cook so when it was just me and Molly I really got a rude awakening. I guess I can make a mean lasagna, though. I mean, really there’s nothing to a good lasagna. And chili has to be the easiest thing on earth. There was a time when I ate almost nothing but omelets though.” It was hard to picture Erin struggling at anything. She had a good head on her shoulders and while it couldn’t have been easy building a comfortable life for her and Molly, she made it look easy. It was nice to see that she had flaws, no matter how small—it made her more human. “We end up eating out a lot at the bakery, but when I’m home I cook pretty much and day of the week and if you’re going to eat cupcakes you’re going to enjoy some baked chicken and asparagus first.” He smiled, admiring her resolve to keep Molly healthy. Some mothers these days went with the easy, cheap option of feeding their kids McDonald’s every night instead of bothering to make them a nice, healthy, home-cooked meal. Sure, he agreed with indulging a kid every now and then, but fast food was far from a balanced diet. “We like pizza, though. Even the wicked good Boston kind, I’m sure.” Cal grinned wide, feeling his pride swell a little and he felt strangely warm towards Erin. Hearing her teasing him for his accent, picturing himself making pizza and watching movie with her and Molly…it seemed so domestic. He was a family man, but he never thought he’d have a family of his own. It was weird to know he could almost pretend he did with Erin and Molly to indulge him. Would that ever even be an attainable dream?

"So what other hidden talents does the great captain have?" The question threw Cal off, but he could sense the mischief of the question in how Erin’s mouth quirked up on one side. Smiling more himself, he cupped the empty mug in his hands and looked down into the dregs of his coffee, contemplating. His mouth screwed up a little to the side, before glancing up at Molly still working slowly on the couch. The grin he gave in return was a little mischievous as he looked back to Erin. “I know how to pick a lock and how to crack a safe. And no, that’s not standard police know-how.” His face got mockingly serious, his brows low over his green eyes. “And no, I’m not going to teach you. You might become the next Catwoman and start robbing jewelry stores blind. I need to protect the citizens of Scriptor Bay.” Her comeback made him grin. Thinking again, he rubbed the scruff on his chin thoughtfully. His eyebrows rose as his mouth slid downward in a nonchalant revelatory look. “I can also name all fifty states in alphabetical order. And I can curl my tongue to look like a clover. Check it out.” He stuck his tongue out and pulled in the tip of his tongue, folding them in a move he’d practiced many times in the mirror as a kid. Sure enough, the tip of his tongue looked like a strange pink clover. Grinning afterward, he felt like a little kid showing off at the lunch table. Even better, it amused Erin who gave an obligatory eye roll, but he could tell she found it funny too. “Other than that, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.”

With the ice broken, he finally felt free enough to relax around Erin. He sat back in his chair a bit, now sliding the coffee mug in semi-circles between his hands as he gazed at Erin. “What about you? Any secret talents? I promise I won’t tell anybody.” His smile was actually kind, much kinder than most people saw him. Then again, Erin had definitely seen him at his best when most people saw a completely different side of him. Hell, she’d seen the worst side of him too since he used to take joy in irritating her. It was funny how people could eventually change their minds.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Cal seemed to be thinking about it for a moment, Erin watching attentively for his answer. Finally he offered a grin that told her what he was about to say was far from serious. “I know how to pick a lock and how to crack a safe. And no, that’s not standard police know-how.” He'd answered her question before she had a chance to and she pursed her lips playfully, her eyes smiling in delight. “And no, I’m not going to teach you. You might become the next Catwoman and start robbing jewelry stores blind. I need to protect the citizens of Scriptor Bay.” She snorted. "Hah, like I would squeeze my ass into black leather and leap around the city." She couldn't help but grin a little, especially at the irony with her turning into an actual cat on the full moon. Cal didn't need to know that, though. He was rubbing his chin now, trying to really come up with some winning answers. “I can also name all fifty states in alphabetical order. And I can curl my tongue to look like a clover. Check it out.” She could do the fifty states also, and she knew every capitol, but at his admittance that he could twist his tongue into a clover she raised her brow. He made good on his claim and she wrinkled her nose a little and then rolled her eyes, finding the trick disgusting and amusing at the same time. “Other than that, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head.” She grinned and looked down into her empty cup, wondering if she should have more. It was late. Having more coffee now was probably a bad idea. “What about you? Any secret talents? I promise I won’t tell anybody.” She looked up and bit her lip and looked to the ceiling, pondering. "Hmm.."

Erin was good at plenty of things, but nothing seemed to be a fun special talent. She was flexible, but that had to do with her cat type reflexes, and that didn't seem like something she should share. Someone could definitely get the wrong idea when saying that's a talent. None of the other things she could do was really very secret. "Uhh.." She pursed her lips to the side, then the other, pushing them from side to side as she contemplated what she could possibly consider a secret talent. "I, can.. do a bridge?" She wrinkled her nose and then laughed a little. "I don't know, nothing is necessarily secret. I mean.. I can climb pretty well, and.. I can play the clarinet? Oh! I can sort of paint. I mean, I'm sort of good with water colors.." She bit her lip again, not wanting to sound like she was bragging and not really wanting to show off any of her work. Molly had seen them but it wasn't something she really like pointing out. It was a wonder that she was even telling Cal. "And don't ask to see them, or the bridge, because you're not going to. You'll just have to take my word on it!" She insisted, sticking her tongue out at him.

Molly suddenly broke the silence by bouncing over, bracelet in tow. "Here!" She chirped, showing Cal his bracelet. His reaction put a genuine smile on Erin's face as Molly beamed with pride at the way Cal fussed. He, of course, put it on and reiterated that he would wear it every day. Erin genuinely loved how excited Molly was, how even at her age she still held onto many of the charming qualities of her younger self, most importantly her naive innocence. "Do you want a matching key chain?" she bubbled, which of course Cal agreed to. Whether he really did or not, he wouldn't dare let her down by saying no, not when her eyes were lighting up the way they were. She made her way back to her spot on the couch, pulling out more bands leaving Erin to try and rekindle the conversation. "Wooould.. you like more coffee?" Cal seemed to share her sentiments about not wanting to drink too much at this hour, but agreed to a half cup. Erin got the coffee pot and brought it to the table, setting a coaster down and pouring them each a half a mugs worth of java. She set the pot down and started dressing the coffee. "I'm not going to lie, it's a weird contradiction being so good with kids and so rough around the edges." She started, eyeing him up and allowing herself to get personal. "Why haven't you married and had kids? There's obviously a softer side to you, I can't imagine you don't actually want a brat of your own." There was that playful gleam in her eye as she watched and waited for his answer.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

Cal couldn’t help but notice how cute Erin looked when she was contemplating her answer, her bottom lip tucking between her teeth. “Hmm…” It was surprising how long it took for her to think of a secret that no one else knew. Was she really that much of an open book? Hell no! He’d been trying to figure out for months if she actually enjoyed his company or not and was just now coming to the conclusion that she did. There had to be something that she could do that he didn’t know about. “Uhh…I can…do a bridge?” It took Cal a minute to figure out what she meant by that, too distracted by the cute way she wrinkled her nose. Jesus, what was it about her that was so distracting? He smiled, though, amused by her almost shy answer. “I don’t know, nothing is necessarily secret. I mean…I can climb pretty well, and…I can play the clarinet? Oh! I can sort of paint. I mean, I’m sort of good with watercolors…” He made a mental note of it all. As a kid growing up in a prim and proper household, he was surprised that she was good at something so scrappy as climbing, but it still suited her in a way. He wanted to hear her play the clarinet and see her paintings, but he didn’t have the courage to ask. The man could take a bullet for somebody, yet he couldn’t ask the woman he liked to show him her talents. It was so peculiar. "And don't ask to see them, or the bridge, because you're not going to. You'll just have to take my word on it!" She stuck her tongue out and Cal grinned before snapping his fingers in playful disappointment. “Damn!” He spoke before he remembered that Molly was within earshot. At first he felt bad, but when he looked at the girl, she didn’t seem to notice his curse at all.

The reason she didn’t notice his curse is because she was too busy bouncing over to him, her newly made bracelet held aloft proudly. “Here!”[/b] Cal’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open with a look of shocked delight. “Wow! That was fast!” He took the black and blue bracelet from the girl, inspecting it and the way the colors interchanging in a sort of twisted design. It actually was pretty neat! “This is awesome, Molly! I can’t believe you made something this neat looking in such a short time!” He beamed at her, reaching his arm out and inviting Molly to give him a hug, which she did happily. One glance at Erin’s face told him she was genuinely happy at seeing their interaction. “Thanks, Kiddo!” he exclaimed, squeezing the girl tight before releasing her to slip the bracelet on. It rolled over his large hand with a little finagling and he displayed it proudly for both females to see. When he smiled again at Molly, it was warm and inviting. “I promise I’m going to wear it everyday. I might never take it off.” Molly looked positively ecstatic. “Would you like a matching keychain?”[/b] He’d been there for a while, but he was actually enjoying his time. Shrugging his shoulders, he smiled brightly. “Sure, why not? I’ll add it to my key ring.” Molly floated away again towards her loom, obviously quite proud of herself. She deserved to be—Cal genuinely loved his gift, almost as much as he liked to see the little girl who made it for him happy. When he looked at Erin again, she was getting to her feet almost expectantly. . "Wooould…you like more coffee?" He looked down at his empty coffee cup. Giving a shrug, he handed it up to Erin. “It’s a little late for caffeine, but I’ll take a half cup if you don’t mind.” The woman took his mug and he thanked her as she walked away, taking a chance to get a glance at her shapely backside. What could he say? He was a man, after all.

It didn’t take long for her to return and place a half full mug of coffee before him. He began dressing it as Erin spoke, his eyes moving between the coffee and her face. "I'm not going to lie, it's a weird contradiction being so good with kids and so rough around the edges." Cal grinned, letting out a soft breath through his nose in a silent chuckle. "Why haven't you married and had kids? There's obviously a softer side to you, I can't imagine you don't actually want a brat of your own." It was a question that Tessie always asked him. His smile warmed a little at seeing so much of his sister in Erin, but there was also something sad in his green eyes. Shrugging gently, he looked down into his cup, stirring the cream and sugar together slowly. “I always wanted kids. At least one, maybe two. Not as big as my family, but a small family would be nice. I guess I just couldn’t find the right woman, though. It’s hard to have relationships when you’re married to your job.” He smiled up at Erin, silently wondering if he’d ever find someone to settle down with. Maybe someone like her…It was a crazy thought, but if the woman could just look something like Erin, he’d be happy. Erin was a beautiful woman. “But if I ever do have kids, I want to be more involved in their lives than my dad was in mine. I guess that also has something to do with it too…my dad was kind of a deadbeat. Without having had a real role model for being a dad, I’m kind of scared I’d mess it all up.” He shrugged again and then sipped from his coffee, looking over the rim at Erin’s pretty face. When he lowered it from his lips again, his brow furrowed gently. “What about you? How come you haven’t gotten hitched yet? Even with a kid, you’re smart, witty, and definitely pretty.” The words slipped out before he could stop them and he immediately felt the heat creeping up his neck and to the tips of his ears. His heart hammered in his chest and he silently chastised himself for being such an idiot. He was going to scare her away again! Clearing his throat, he scrambled to find a way to cover up his blatant compliment. “I mean…who wouldn’t want to date you? You’re a catch.” And in the attempt to cover up his first compliment, he managed to exacerbate the situation with another one. His blush flooded his cheeks and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, unable to look her in the eye now. “Uh…meaning how come none of them has panned out?” He resolved to keep his mouth shut and just let her answer the damn question, afraid he would reveal how much he wanted to ask her out.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Erin had a hard time reading his reaction. He was sort of smiling, but he looked sad at the same time and she wondered if she'd unintentionally hit a nerve. Maybe he had been married and something happened. Bitter divorce? Widowed? She braced herself for the worst. “I always wanted kids. At least one, maybe two. Not as big as my family, but a small family would be nice. I guess I just couldn’t find the right woman, though. It’s hard to have relationships when you’re married to your job.” She breather a little easier, glad it was something as simple as being unable to find someone compatible. She wouldn't say it, but she understood why someone like Cal might have difficulty finding a mate. He wasn't exactly the friendliest person, especially right off the bat. “But if I ever do have kids, I want to be more involved in their lives than my dad was in mine. I guess that also has something to do with it too…my dad was kind of a deadbeat. Without having had a real role model for being a dad, I’m kind of scared I’d mess it all up.” He shrugged and Erin felt compelled to say something, but she was lost for words. She'd had a cushy childhood, and though her father was absent at times, he'd been doting when he was around. She clearly remembered sitting with him and reading the newspaper in the evening. It was quiet time together, and though it was nothing exciting, it was a way to bond with him. When she was older they would discuss current events. She did it with Molly from time to time, but not as much as she'd like, and Molly didn't cherish her time with Erin so much because the girl was around her constantly.

Before she could think of something nice to say, Cal continued. “What about you? How come you haven’t gotten hitched yet? Even with a kid, you’re smart, witty, and definitely pretty.” Pretty? She cocked a brow at him and almost laughed at the way his ears started turning pink. "I mean…who wouldn’t want to date you? You’re a catch.” Erin had no idea if he was trying to flirt with her or just be nice. Why would Cal flirt? Cora was full of it. They were friends. Sort of.. Were they? Erin still had no idea what they were exactly, but she did finally grin thoughtfully as he rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. “Uh…meaning how come none of them has panned out?” There were so many reasons Erin had no one in her life. She bit her lip and looked down into her coffee, contemplating the list.

"I tried a bit when Molly was young." She admitted, "But it's hard finding a solid companion when you have a child in your teens. Most guys that age aren't exactly brimming with maturity." She chuckled softly, remembered how horrible it had been to date, something she had never been completely comfortable with, but Cora told her she needed to be young and enjoy herself, because once it was over there was no going back. Youth was funny that way. "Then I got wrapped up with school and work and Molly.. Not many men are interested in dating a woman with a kid that's not theirs, though, and the fact that I didn't know who her father was painted me in a bad light. Besides, I made my mind up a long time ago that I didn't want to drag Molly into my personal affairs. She didn't need to get attached to someone who then walked out of her life forever. She doesn't need that sort of hurt. I made my bed and I'm willing to lie in it for another eight years until she's off to college. Maybe then I can think about finding some middle aged guy who never married or is recently divorced. Heck, maybe he'll even have some of his own kids so Molly can have step-siblings." She sipped her coffee and sighed. She was quiet a moment before shaking her head. "Truth be told I have enough on my plate without juggling that kind of drama. We're comfortable. I'm comfortable. Dating would just screw it all up, you know what I mean?" Maybe Cal could understand. She felt suddenly pretty good for letting it out, and was starting to like this Cal-friend thing.

[CALVIN HAGAN]

“I tried a bit when Molly was young. But it's hard finding a solid companion when you have a child in your teens. Most guys that age aren't exactly brimming with maturity." Cal could understand that. It was the same complaint he heard a lot of single mothers had. To him, it had never really been an issue in his mind. Then again, he’d never dated a woman with a kid before. He’d never even been interested in one until now. "Then I got wrapped up with school and work and Molly…Not many men are interested in dating a woman with a kid that's not theirs, though, and the fact that I didn't know who her father was painted me in a bad light. Besides, I made my mind up a long time ago that I didn't want to drag Molly into my personal affairs. She didn't need to get attached to someone who then walked out of her life forever. She doesn't need that sort of hurt. I made my bed and I'm willing to lie in it for another eight years until she's off to college. Maybe then I can think about finding some middle aged guy who never married or is recently divorced. Heck, maybe he'll even have some of his own kids so Molly can have step-siblings." He nodded, but couldn’t help feeling sympathetic towards the woman beside him. Even with Molly in her life, it must have been lonely. He knew he felt lonely from time to time, especially seeing guys his age with pretty wives and great kids. He always told himself that it wasn’t the life for him, that he had a more important calling, but was that really true? Was it really true that Erin had to be alone because she couldn’t have a social life outside of her daughter? No, it wasn’t—not in either case. He could understand her desire to protect Molly, but maybe it would be better for both of them to have a male presence in their life. Cal wished he could be that guy, though he didn’t voice that thought. He was still uncertain of Erin’s feelings and he hated to put himself out on emotional limbs.

Erin sighed and Cal’s green eyes came back to her pretty pale face. "Truth be told I have enough on my plate without juggling that kind of drama. We're comfortable. I'm comfortable. Dating would just screw it all up, you know what I mean?" He nodded, forcing a lopsided smile as he looked down at the table with a heavy heart. It was like she was already rejecting him. But if anyone knew his persistence, it was Erin. “I know what you mean. Hell, the last time I dated was years ago. Instead of a kid holding me back, though, it’s the job. It’s dangerous and exhausting and takes up so much of my time, it’s just better to be alone. And I’m comfortable in that life too. There’s nothing to worry about when there’s no one at home waiting for me.” His eyes came back up to hers, a little sad. “But you know what I’ve found? Comfortable doesn’t always mean happy.” It was a truth that had taken him years to discover. For years he thought he was happy in the life he led. But it wasn’t until he dated Rachel that he realized the depth of his unhappiness. True, things didn’t work out between them, but she had woken him up. He wanted someone to love him and someone he could love in return. He wanted to have someone to come home to and spoil. In the end Rachel couldn’t handle how much he worked and the pressures of his job, which is why she left—yet she had left a lasting impression. There was a light in Erin’s eyes and her smile fell a little, almost like she was just coming to this realization too. Perhaps his words had really struck her.

Before they could discuss further, Molly came bounding back over with a keychain made in record time. It wasn’t big, but it was nice and Cal made sure to loop it onto his set of keys in front of her. He wanted her to know how much he appreciated her gifts. Not long after, he got to his feet with a heavy sigh. “Anyway, I think it’s time for me to head home.” Molly grabbed onto his arm, a plaintive look on her face. “No, don’t leave! This is your first time being here with both of us! You should stay longer.” He smiled warmly and ruffled her hair. “Naw, I can’t trouble your mom like that. She wasn’t prepared to feed three people for supper!” Molly gave a slight pout, her big green eyes falling sadly. “Okaaay…” Cal tilted his head to the side, giving her a playfully scolding look. “Uh-uh, I don’t wanna see that face. I’ll be back in a couple of weekends for our movie marathon!” Now Molly began to smile again and she gripped his arm more tightly, her eyes bright. “And your Boston pizza!” He chuckled. “That’s right! I’ll teach you how to make the best pizza on this coast.” Molly giggled at his haughty grin, his eyes catching the amusement on Erin’s face too. He moved to the closet beside the door and pulled his coat out before slipping it across his shoulders and turning to the door. “I’ll see you ladies later. Be good for your mom, Kid.” Molly assured him she would be and he took once last glance over his shoulder at the lovely mother and daughter pair. He gave a big smile, waving one hand as he closed the door with the other. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was leaving on a good note. He felt like he was saying good night to his family.

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