[Tina's quarters - not that kind of threesome]

[rn_chapel]

Most of the people she knew were either teenagers and pre-teens, all of a sudden, or taking care of those teenagers and pre-teens, and Tina felt distinctly weird about spending time alone with James, one of the few adults of her acquaintance left. So when Martha suggested they all hang out one evening and "play some Scrabble or something, I don't

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[axe_kicker]

Martha showed up with a tear in her tunic sleeve and a harassed expression. "Antony Kaphoor," she explained. "That kid gets *everywhere*. I wasn't even on duty and I'm still hauling him out of things."

[rn_chapel]

Tina laughed. "He's not even that small! I'm amazed that he can fit into so many crawlspaces."

[axe_kicker]

"He can't grow fast enough to suit me," Martha grumbled, and handed her a bottle of apple juice with a smile. "Freshest sparkling. And quick, before James gets here, fill me in."

[rn_chapel]

Tina accepted the sparkling juice with a smile. "Ooh, the good stuff. And I assume you mean fill you in on me and James? It's still...weird. There's a lot of stuff we need to work out. If we decide it's worth it. But he's being surprisingly good with Darcy, and God knows I can use the help right now with Jim being unavailable."

She knew it was sort of a justification, and was sure that it sounded like one. He was being helpful with Darcy, giving Tina a little time to herself even at the expense of his dignity when she made him wear the baby sling. But she knew that she was only letting him step into that role because she sort of wanted him there, despite everything.

[axe_kicker]

Martha kicked off her shoes and sat down. "Good! And don't forget I'll babysit any time. Ooh, fresh fruit?" She took a segment of orange and closed her eyes. "Nice. Not that I really mind the vitamin drinks, but it's so much tastier from the source."

[rn_chapel]

Tina nodded. "More access to food that hasn't been replicated is definitely one of the perks of station life, I have to say."

[gold_ambition]

The door signaled, and James, true to his word (which he'd already broken, but not in Tina's presence), waited outside. He'd rather have seen Tina alone, of course, but he wasn't sure that was going to happen anytime soon. Still, Landon didn't seem a bad sort.

[rn_chapel]

Tina went to the door and let him in.

"Hi."

She had, as usual, conflicting impulses. She wanted to kiss him hello. She wanted to slap him.

She stepped back and gestured. "Come on in."

[gold_ambition]

James smiled at her, similar thoughts passing through his mind. He didn't want to slap her, actually, but there was definitely uncertainty, there, in how he'd be received.

Things were different, without her.

"Hi," he said, stepping into the room, eyes lingering on her before he nodded at Martha. "So this is where the adults hang out."

[rn_chapel]

"The adults and the pre-verbal people." Tina smiled. "I've got a snack tray, and Martha brought sparkling juice. But I have beer for you, too, if you'd rather have that."

[gold_ambition]

"You're a marvel," James said. Was a time, he thought, he'd have known that and gone to the kitchen to get it himself. He glanced at Martha. "Sparkling juice?" he said.

[axe_kicker]

"I'm living large," Martha explained. "Also, I'm glad you think I'm one of the adults. Anthony Kapoor seems to think I'm a slightly larger playmate."

[rn_chapel]

"You should introduce Anthony to our temporary adolescents." Tina got some glasses for the juice. "They're bound to start getting bored soon. Maybe chasing littler kids through the jeffries tubes will keep everyone entertained."

[gold_ambition]

"I thought you'd have junior baby-sitting by now," James said. "Seemed pretty keen on you and Darcy. As for playmates," he shifted his attention to Martha, "how's your friend in the brig?"

[rn_chapel]

Tina had thought that "junior" seemed more keen before he knew that Darcy was his daughter, at which point he mostly seemed freaked out. But she didn't say so.

Mostly because she wanted to hear what Martha had to say about her star-crossed crush.

[axe_kicker]

Martha stared moodily at her juice. "Maybe I need something stronger, if we're going to have THIS conversation."

She waved her glass. "It's... I don't know. He says something snarky, I snark back, we glare at each other and look away and then when the silence gets too much, we say something else guaranteed to rile the other."