Christmas ended without any more incidents. So did New Years, and months passed in something like calm. Tali found herself in Ella’s room, prepping the young girl for her dance, when the phone rang. “Oh crap,” Tali muttered, taking the curling iron out of Ella’s hair and setting it down on her dresser. “I’d better go see who that is real quick. Give me a second sweetie.”

“Yeah, no problem,” Ella said, and Tali saw her glance self-consciously in the mirror, patting at her red hair. Then she ran out of Ella’s room and down to her own to pick up her phone.

“Hello?” she asked, a bit breathlessly.

“Tali, hey,” came the voice on the other end, one she recognized at once.

“Hudson,” she said, a smile forming on her lips. She had a feeling she knew exactly why he was calling. “What’s up?”

“Uh. Nothing...nothing really,” he said. He was probably doing that rubbing-the-back-of-his-neck thing now that he did whenever he felt awkward.

“Is everything all right?” she said, trying to keep the amusement in her voice to a minimum. No easy task.

“Oh. Yeah. Yeah, it’s fine. Nothing to worry about,” he said. “How’s everything there?”

She could no longer hold back her laughter and let it out, shaking her head even though he couldn’t see her. “You are a completely ridiculous human being,” she muttered. “Or completely ridiculous...werebear. But the ridiculous part... that holds.”

“What d’you mean, ridiculous? Tali, what are you laughing at?” he asked, confused and suspicious.

“I know exactly why you’re calling. Idiot.”

“Um...”

“You’re worrying about Ella,” she said, cutting right to it. “Heading out to her first big dance. It’s sweet.”

“So, she’s uh...getting ready, then?” he asked, still trying to keep casual.

“Yes,” Tali said, exasperated. “In fact, I’m helping her with her hair at the moment.”

“What? What’s wrong with her hair the way it is?”

Tali exhaled a mix between a laugh and a sigh. “Nothing, you dope. She wanted to do something special with it. Because she’s going to a dance. A Vaaaalentine’s dance. With a boy.”

“Yeah,” he said darkly. “Yeah, I know she is.”

“Hudson. Just come over here.”

“What?”

“You’re obviously freaking out, and I don’t have time to talk you through it or to worry about you losing it over there on your own. So just come over. Ella might kill me for it, and you’d better swear not to go too hard with your third degree, but yes. Come over. Be the overprotective father figure you need to be. But I’ve got hair to curl, makeup to put on, and about half an hour left to do it all.”

“Makeup?” he asked, horrified, voice a couple of octaves higher than usual.

“Bye, Hudson. See you soon.”

“What’s…. Is that? Is that him already? It’s only...I thought we had another ten minutes at least,” Ella squeaked as the flicker of headlights shone through her curtains.

“Relax,” Tali smiled. “It’s only Hudson.”

“Hudson? What’s he doing— Oh no,” she groaned, looking sharply at Tali. “Did you tell him he could come over?”

“Yep,” Tali admitted, and Ella gave an eye roll that could rival her own when she was particularly exasperated. Tali’s mother had been amazing at it too. She wondered if it was hereditary for Tuesday women. She definitely hadn’t picked it up from Matty, who was always so patient.

“He’s already grilled me about it. I don’t know what else he could…oh God. He probably wants to torture Bobby.”

“I’ll keep him in check,” Tali said, kissing the top of her head. “I felt bad, picturing him freaking out all alone.”

“Yeah, so now he gets to be here and freak out on my date? As if this whole thing isn’t nerve-racking enough? Dammit, Tali, I thought you had my back...” Ella grumbled, but Tali could tell that beneath the frustrated facade, Ella was touched. She felt a sense of relief in knowing she’d made the right choice.

“It’ll be okay. He can let himself in. Let me get your makeup done quick and I’ll go see if I can tame the beast a bit before you come down.”

Tali entered the living room with two beers in her hand and immediately handed one to Hudson.

“Here,” she said, shaking it at him. “Have this.”

“You trying to get me to relax?” he muttered, squinting at her suspiciously.

“Yeah. Obviously.”

“It’s that kid from the hockey game she’s going with? The eighth grader?”

“Yes. Bobby Brannigan.”

“Then I’m gonna need something a lot stronger than this,” Hudson glowered. “Maybe tranquilizers.”

Tali laughed and sat down. “If I’d known you’d be gatecrashing, I would have put in an order with Fish and Wildlife. I’m afraid beer is the best I can offer.”

“What time is she heading out?” he asked.

“Soon. A couple of minutes, probably.”

“And what time is she getting back?”

Tali shrugged and started to say she wasn’t sure, but Hudson interrupted.

“You don’t know?” he demanded. “You didn’t give her a-a curfew or something?”

Tali shook her head at him and took a large sip of her own beer. “Hudson,” she said in the tone she might take while explaining something to a small child, “they’re thirteen years old. They are being driven to and from the dance by Bobby’s mother. I assume they’ll be back shortly after the dance ends. Mrs. Brannigan said she might take them for ice cream after. I know, scandalous.”

He said nothing, just sighed heavily. She could tell he was still tense, but he sipped on his beer quietly. Then they heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up to the house and he sat up straight, alert like an animal.

“Easy, tiger,” she said, patting his leg and getting up to go to the door. “Ella!” she shouted up the stairs as she went. “He’s here.”

When she opened it, Bobby was heading up to the house and she gave him a wave, and another one past his head to acknowledge his mom.

“Hey, Bobby,” she smiled, standing aside so he could head in out of the cold. “You look great. That’s a real nice suit.”

Bobby’s cheeks went red and he tugged at one of the sleeves awkwardly. “Thanks. It’s…it’s my older brother’s. It...doesn’t really fit right, but, uh, I couldn’t get another one in time. My mom tried to alter it but...I dunno...”

“I wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t said anything. It’s a great color.” Tali winked, putting a finger to her lips. “Ella will be down in a minute. I wouldn’t mention it’s a hand-me-down. Confidence is key.”

She glanced over at Hudson, who was glaring over at them. At her, especially. It seemed he viewed her giving Bobby tips on how to score points with Ella to be a deep betrayal.

“Can I get you a soda while you wait?” she asked. “Something to snack on?”

“Um, I dunno,” the kid said, clearly nervous. He was fidgeting and seemed to want something to do with hands. “What do you have?”

“Come on in here with me,” she said warmly, holding the kitchen door open for him.

Hudson stood up.

“What are you doing?” she whispered-yelled at him. “Sit down!”

He was not listening. Not at all. He followed after them, and although Tali let the swinging door close in his face, he opened it a moment later.

“Let’s see,” Tali said loudly, going over to the fridge and opening it. “We’ve got Coke, Dr. Pepper, orange juice…”

“Dr. Pepper sounds good. Thank you,” he said politely as she rooted around for a can.

As she turned to give it to him, Hudson stepped into his space.

“Bobby Brannigan,” he said flatly, towering over the poor boy, who looked up at him with wide blue eyes.

“Um...yeah,” he replied, clearly intimidated, shuffling his feet. “And you’re, uh, Hu—”

“I know your dad. Know him pretty well,” Hudson said, no warmth in his voice. “Did he give you some kinda talk before you came over?”

“Yes, I know him too,” said Tali brightly, stepping up next to Hudson and bumping him with her hip to force him out of the way. She handed the can out to Bobby, who took it, looking somewhat relieved. “I was in his store just a couple of weeks ago. He helped me get the parts I needed to fix our snowmobile after I wrecked it. He’s super nice.”

Bobby gave her a somewhat queasy smile. “Yeah, he’s uh...the store’s been in our family since he was a kid. He knows a lot about...that stuff.”

“He sure does,” Tali said. “He was so helpful.”

Thankfully, Ella chose that moment to enter the kitchen, because Tali could feel Hudson brimming with need to start harassing the kid again.

They all turned to look at her and she stepped in, cheeks a little pink. Tali had already seen her, having helped her get her dress zipped before she’d come downstairs, but she still felt herself beaming at how lovely her niece looked in her flowy green dress and subtle makeup.

“Wow,” Bobby said, putting his unopened can down on the kitchen table and stepping closer to her. “Ella, you look, um...beautiful.”

Tali started to squirm with delight at Ella’s expression and the sheer middle-school awkwardness of it all, but then beside her Hudson literally growled.

Luckily Ella seemed too flustered and focused on trying to figure out how to compliment Bobby back to really notice.

Tali reached up, grabbed Hudson by the ear and pulled him in the direction of the kitchen door. He gave a little yelp at the contact but seemed too surprised to put up much of a fight as she dragged him.

“Hey,” he grumbled as they reached the door. “What are you doing?”

She glared at him and hissed. “Since you can barely hold yourself together, I am revoking your kitchen privileges. Out! Not another word until they’re gone.” She shoved him through the door with a hand on his back and let it swing shut behind him.

When she turned around, Ella looked flushed but gave her a knowing, grateful look.

“So,” Tali smiled. “Bobby, we’d better not keep your mom waiting out there much longer, but let me grab a quick picture of you guys.”

“Ugh, Tali,” Ella groaned. “Everyone’s got phones. We don’t need you to do that.”

“Just one,” Tali pleaded, pulling her phone out of her pocket. She gave Ella a pointed look, which she hoped her niece would understand to mean, I just spent an hour and a half getting you ready and I deserve a damn picture.

“Fine. One. Make it quick,” she sighed.

A few minutes later, she was waving to Mrs. Brannigan from the doorstep as the kids walked toward the car. She’d managed to usher them back into the living room and out the front door before Hudson could get weird again. As they pulled away, she came back inside.

Hudson was sitting on the couch again, looking an odd mix of sheepish and petulant.

“Wow. You have absolutely no chill, man. No chill at all,” she said, coming in to sit on the couch next to him and picking up her beer. “You growled at him!”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Hey, you’re hardly much better. I’ve got good hearing, Tali. I didn’t miss that whole ‘Just one picture’ fiasco. You definitely took twelve.”

She shook her head. “Not even close to the same thing. You looked ready to eat that poor kid alive.”

“You’re being dramatic,” he said. “I only wanted to get a sense of what he was like. Not that you let me get much of a chance. Dragging me out by the ear,” he muttered. “And was that a bear pun you hit me with?”

She chuckled. “Yes,” she said proudly. “Good catch. Sorry for the manhandling, but you were on the brink of being completely...unbearable.”

“Oh. Gross,” he said, shaking his head. “You should be ashamed.”

“I should be ashamed?” she grinned. “I think you should be ashamed. Of how old-fashioned, sexist and frankly….bar-bearic your behavior was.”

She saw him start to look annoyed at her third and arguably worst pun of the evening, but a moment later he cracked a smile. “Do you have an arsenal of these on hand?”

“Yeah,” she admitted. “Cole hates them, too.”

“I guess we do have something in common, then,” he said, shaking his head.

“You mean besides the fact that you can both turn into ten-foot-tall bears at will?”

“Yeah,” Hudson said. “Besides that. Anyway, that wasn’t...what’d you say? Sexist? Barbaric? I’m just…I was just looking out for her…”

“And assuming she lacks the intelligence, judgment, and willpower to look after herself?” Tali suggested, bumping her knee into his.

He frowned. “That’s not…that’s not what it…of course she does. But she’s still tiny and...you know.”

“You can breathe easy, Hudson. You boys raised her well. She’s crazy smart and a lot more mature than I was at that age. She’ll be fine.”

Hudson sighed. “You’re right, probably. Glad you stopped me from embarrassing her too much.” She saw his features darken a bit. “I’m usually more rational about things like this.”

She couldn’t stop herself from scoffing loudly with disbelief.

“No, really,” he said, giving her a half-smile. “Generally speaking, in a situation like this Matty would be the one freaking out, and I’d be there trying to talk him down. He was always calm about pretty much everything. Except his Ella. I was always the voice of reason.”

Tali sighed, reaching over to pat his back. “Well. It’s okay,” she offered. “We worked out a balance. Together, we made sure she feels the appropriate level of loved and pissed. I think we nailed it. Perfectly fulfilled the roles of overprotective cop and overenthusiastic cop.”

He smirked at that. “Right. Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s the phrase.” He took a swig of his beer, and she realized it was almost empty.

In a quiet voice he said, “She looked so grown-up tonight.”

“Yeah,” Tali said. “It must be weird, seeing the whole middle-school transition. I mean, I’ve pretty much watched her grow up in pictures and through screens. Not quite the same.”

“Well,” he said. “I’m glad she has you for all that now. I obviously don’t have a clue about dealing with this stage of development. You made her look really nice, Tali. I’m sure she was really happy to have your help.”

“I did,” Tali said, proudly. “Here, look. I kicked you out before you got much of a look at her.” She pulled her phone out again and leaned closer so he could look at the pictures she’d taken, swiping through.

Hudson looked on with her, laughing when they got to the fourth one. Ella had decided the best way to protest Tali’s excessive picture taking was to start pulling hideous faces, and eventually she’d gotten Bobby to go along with her.

“That’s definitely more than one picture,” he said, smirking at her.

“Yeah. I’m a bold-faced liar.” She shrugged. “She’ll thank me one day. He seems like a nice kid,” she added somewhat seriously.

Hudson sighed. “Yeah. Yeah, he does. Hope I didn’t put him off too much.”

“No,” Tali said, waving her hand. “I evicted you before too much damage was done. Ella may only slightly want to murder you now.”

“Oh man,” he muttered, putting his face in his hands. “I probably shouldn’t have even come.”

“Nah. She was touched. She made a big fuss about it of course, but I could tell. She’s lucky to have someone who cares enough about her that he’d likely kill a boy with his ‘bear’ hands for crossing her.”

He’d listened to her with a warm, soft expression on his face, but then her pun registered and he scowled. “Bear hands? Really? Christ, Tali, you are unbe—” his eyes went wide. “Unrelenting.”

She snickered and he shook his head.

“Well,” he said, glancing at the door. “You were foolish but kind to invite me over in the first place, but I guess I’d better not take up any more of your time.”

“What?” she interrupted. “You think I’m gonna let you go home to brood alone? Cry into your dog’s fur about children growing up and the inevitable passage of time? Probably while playing some croony old-man records on a gramophone? No. No way. That’s too sad. Stay awhile.”

“Really?” he asked, a little surprised. Tali hesitated, thinking more about what she’d said. It would be the first time they’d ever hung out, just the two of them, for no clearly defined reason. It was weird, and he should probably say no.

And yet, she found herself hoping he wouldn’t.

“I mean, if you want to,” she shrugged, face feeling a little warm. “I’m just going to be up waiting to hear how it went too. Might as well keep each other company.”

“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Yeah, okay.”

“Good,” Tali smiled. She reached into a basket on the coffee table and pulled out a deck of cards. “Here,” she said, handing it to him and standing up. “You pick first game. I’ll go get us more bears. Sorry. Beers.”

He snorted loudly at that.

“I changed my mind,” he yelled at her retreating back. “I’m leaving. And never coming back.”

“IPA or lager?” she called back, laughing.

“Lager.”

“Is that a yawn I see? Seems like the kind of slimy move a sore loser at the end of a three-game losing streak might try to pull,” Hudson said an hour and a half later, elbowing her.

“It’s not fake,” she protested, swatting back at him. “And I only began the three-game losing streak because of genuine exhaustion. Before that it was a”—she yawned again—"gadzillion-game winning streak.”

“Okay, you’re making up numbers. I believe you about the exhaustion. It was a million games at best.” He swept up the cards on the table and starting to pack them away.

“Sorry,” she said, yawning again. “I’ve been up since five. Catering the dance. Making a gadzillion hors d’oeuvres that will hopefully be palatable to preteen taste buds. I’ve never cooked for that many kids before.”

Hudson smiled at her fondly. “Well, look at you, Talia Tuesday. Volunteering to make appetizers for the middle-school dance. How domestic. You’ve come a long way in a few months.”

“Hell yeah, I have,” she said with a sleepy smile. “I even went to a PTA meeting last month. I guess you could call me a ‘dedicated member of the community’ now. I mean, Principal Waters already did.” She puffed out her chest. “Feel free to nominate me for Aunt of the Year any day now.”

“I didn’t realize it was a thing.” Hudson grinned. “But I promise I’ll start to write my endorsement letter first thing tomorrow.”

He started to get up, but she put a hand on his arm and he froze. “You don’t have to go yet,” she said, again not quite sure why she was stopping him. “I’m too tired for cards but...I do wanna wait up for Ella and...I’ve been working my way through Matty’s DVD collection. We could throw on a movie.”

“Okay,” he said. “That’d be nice.”

“Tali.”

She gave a sleepy groan and shut her eyes tighter, ignoring the voice. She was warm. And tired. And warm.

“Tali. They’re back.”

“Hmm? Who?” she mumbled, burrowing her face into warm fabric, trying to fight the pull back to consciousness.

It was too late. With a start, she realized that the male voice in her ear was not Cole’s, and neither was the bicep that her right hand and left cheek was resting against.

She sat up quickly. “Oh, shit. Hudson,” she said, red-faced. “I’m sorry. Oh God, I totally drooled on you too,” she added, mortified, wiping at his flannel sleeve with her own. “You should have thrown me off.”

“Nah,” he said, smiling at her warmly. “You were way too peaceful. Although a part of me is a little offended and baffled that you fell asleep during the most exciting part of Die Hard.”

She smiled, grateful to him for powering through the awkwardness that she was too tired to manage on her own. “I guess I’ll just have to watch Bruce Willis beat up Professor Snape another time.”

“I want you to know that I’m putting a lot of effort into not cringing at that statement,” he said, standing up and starting to pick up their empty bottles. She watched him walk into the kitchen, and took a deep breath. Had they been sharing a blanket? She could still smell him.. that rich, piney scent. It was nice.

Looking at the TV, she could see it already went back to the DVD title menu, and she blushed hard again. She couldn’t remember more than thirty minutes of the movie. She must have been out for a while. She wondered at what point she’d drifted over onto Hudson and quickly told herself there was no point in wondering about such things.

A moment later, she was distracted by the front door opening.

“Hey Tali,” Ella said, her breath visible with the cold, her eyes dancing. She shrugged out of her coat and hung it up on the back of the door, and Tali was pleased to see her hair had held up well. Ella turned back around, squinting a little. “Is Hudson still here?”

Oh God.

Even Ella thought it was weird.

“Yeah,” Tali said. “He’s just in the kitchen right now. Anyway, how was it?”

Ella grinned widely, “It was really fun. My friend Paul’s brother DJed and he was really good. We danced so much, and my hair didn’t get messed up at all! Oh, and everyone was raving about your food,” she said, smiling brightly. “It was nice to be able to brag about you. Jade Powers wants to know if you’ll cater her birthday party!”

Tali grinned back, pleased. “I’m glad. I know kids can be picky, but I tried to go for as much variety as I could within the school’s budget.”

“Trust me, you did good. There was nothing left. Hi, Hudson,” she said, turning to Hudson as he came into the room and crossing her arms at him. “I heard you tried to terrify my date into peeing himself. Very classy of you. You’re a real pal.”

Hudson visibly reddened and Tali grinned. “Uh...well,” he stammered. “Honey, I was just—”

“It’s fine,” Ella said with a dismissive wave. “According to Bobby, Tali terrified you into not being too terrifying.”

Tali laughed loudly at that, and Hudson gave her a glare.

“I do have your back, girl. Besides,” she winked. “But you should tell Bobby his roar is worse than his bite.”

Tali squinted at her. “I think the expression is bark.”

“Shoot. You’re right,” she said, giving a mischievous look to Hudson. “I guess I’m just sleepy.”

“Me too,” Ella yawned. “I’d better go take all this stuff off.”

“Use those makeup wipes I left in the bathroom,” Tali said. “They’re the best.”

“Thanks,” Ella said. “Goodnight, doofus.” She punched Hudson in the arm. He caught her with lightning fast reflexes, pulled her into a quick hug and kissed her on top of the head.

“I was just looking out for my favorite girl,” he said.

“Yeah, I know,” she said, eyes rolling as she walked over and gave Tali a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for everything.”

“You got it. Sweet dreams.”

Ella made her way up the stairs and Tali turned her attention back to Hudson.

“See?” she smiled. “Our girl went to a dance, had fun, came home. All is well. The world has not ended.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I mean, I knew she would be fine,” he said, starting to put on the boots he’d left by the door. “But still. Thanks for helping keep me sane for the evening.”

“You’re welcome. For the two-thirds of the evening that I was conscious and able to do so.”

“It’s okay. It was a fun two-thirds. And John McClane took care of the rest.”

“Who?” Tali asked, frowning.

“Bruce Willis. In the movie,” Hudson said with some exasperation. “It’s a…very famous character.”

Tali shrugged, amused by his outrage. “I’ll be sure to update you on my feelings on Bruce versus Snape soon,” she said. “Sorry I fell asleep on you. Literally.”

He smiled down at her, his expression so warm it made her swallow hard. “Don’t worry about it,” he said quietly.

There was an awkward pause, and then they both seemed to realize they’d end the evening with a hug.

Just a hug.

It probably shouldn’t make her face feel so hot or her stomach churn in that way that wasn’t exactly unpleasant, but definitely wasn’t wholly comfortable. But as he wrapped his arms around her, that’s exactly what happened. She held him close, briefly, trying not to let her breathing change too noticeably.

“Goodnight, Tali,” he said, pulling away. “Thanks for the company.”

“Goodnight,” she said, as he turned the handle on the front door and walked out into the snow.