"I don't have that much work. I can just do it later, or something." He smiled slightly. "Tom better be pretty cute, or I'll be disappointed."
She paused and tilted her head. "He's not really cute," she said decisively. "He's a pretty big dog." She glanced at him sideways. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, though."
"I thought all dogs were supposed to be cute," he mumbled, before looking up at her. "I'd love to come."
She grinned and stood up, pushing in her chair. "All dogs are cute," she said. "But I didn't get him because he was cute."
"You got him for security, then. I mean, I have a pet, and I think it's pretty cute." He did the same, then crossed his arms. "And it's a fish."
She stopped, looking at him in surprise. Then, she burst into laughter. Her laugh was joyful and full, and her eyes crinkled in the corners. "Oh no, Francis," she said, coming around the table to join him. "Oh no."
"Are you making fun of me and my fish?" He raised an eyebrow, and crossed his arms. "It's name is Finn, by the way."
"Oh my God," she said, grinning at him. "Finn the Fish." Her eyes met his, and she kissed his cheek quickly. "God, I've missed you."
She frowned thoughtfully. "I haven't laughed like that in six months," she said. She shook off the thought and took his hand. "Come on; my apartment is just down the street."
"Lovely," she said, leading him out the door. She paused for a moment as they stepped out into the open, and a curious expression crossed her face. She shook it off then, and they began to walk down the street. "So, have you heard from Phos at all lately?" she asked conversationally, even though her eyes were alert.
"No, I haven't. Have you? I mean, he's closer to you than to me," he said. "It would only make sense."
She shook her head, slightly melancholy. They approached a large apartment building with brick walls and ivy climbing through the cracks. "Not really," she said. "We write letters sometimes, but I haven't heard from him in a while."
She laughed lightly as they turned into the building. "Phos is almost as bad with technology as you are," she said smoothly. "He doesn't really 'do' phone calls."
