canon au } { post-s4, of protective older sisters and snarky boyfriends

[impetere]

Cora: [is currently snuggled up against Stiles, one of his arms tucked around her as he eats his ice cream so her back is pressed against his side. They moved to the back seat once they parked and for right now, she's just enjoying the quiet]

Stiles: [and he's holding firm on not sharing his chunky monkey here, looking over the city while they still have daylight] Oh, I got my SAT rescheduled, so I will be back in study mode next weekend.

Cora: [that's okay, she promises not to steal any. probably] Want me to help? Or will I just be too much of a distraction?

Stiles: No, you can totally help. I'm helping Malia too, so we can do like a big study group thing.

Cora: Malia's talking to us again?

Stiles: Well, I was helping her before, and I have class with her. She can't really ignore me forever. [the rest of the Hales....]

Cora: Oh. Right. [sighs a bit before nodding] Maybe I should skip, then.

Stiles: Well, I can tell her and see what she says? I mean, you guys are part of the same pack. You're going to have to figure this out.

Cora: No, I know, but the SATs are important. We have time to fix whatever this is - I don't want to distract her when it's something like that.

Stiles: Even so, still up to her.

Cora: I know. I just don't want to make things too complicated for her. I feel like we've already done that enough.

Stiles: Yeah, but you and Derek have done nothing but help her. And she's very pragmatic like that. It's Peter who has to fix things.

Cora: I'm still a Hale. I'd understand if she wouldn't want anything to do with us by extension, and so would Derek. Especially since I'm the one who introduced the two of them in the first place.

Stiles: Cora. [putting his ice cream down and looking at her] Stop trying to make excuses for Malia's reasoning.

Cora: I'm not making excuses. I'm just trying to not make it seem like I'm forcing myself on her.

Stiles: You're not. If anything, you're trying not to see her at all. It's still Malia's choice, and I'll ask her. That's all.

Cora: [sigh] Fine.

Stiles: [shakes his head and goes back to his ice cream]

Cora: [just leans into him like before, but with the added addition of quietly stewing in her own head]

Stiles: [looks over at her, and there's a deep sigh. He finishes his ice cream, and then going to put the stuff down, look at her... and nope, tickling her]

Cora: [she squirms a bit, as a giggle slips through, trying to get away from his hands] What are you doing?

Stiles: Making you stop brooding.

Cora: By tickling me?

Stiles: Yes. [goes back to try to again] Is it working?

Cora: [shrieks a little as she pulls away, before giving a mock glare back at him] There's an easier way to do it.

Stiles: Oh, I know, but this is more amusing to me. [wiggles his fingers playfully]

Cora: [gives him a look at that, before using her hands to block his, lacing her fingers to lock them together, then pushing forward to kiss him]

Stiles: [No, he's not going to complain about that either. he was eventually going to do that too, but eh, now works as well. he may try and get his fingers free though]

Cora: [she notices that, and she'll hold his hands there for a moment, before breaking the kiss just enough to say] Not if you're going to use them for evil.

Stiles: Depends on whose definition of evil we're talking about here. [smirks and kisses her again, still trying to get them free]

Cora: [kisses him back, but nope, those fingers still aren't budging] No tickling.

Stiles: But I like your laughing. [wiggling now to try and get them, laughing against her lips] Oh my god Cora give me back my hands.

Cora: [she laughs a bit at that, before doing as he asked and letting his hands go] Better?

Stiles: [he leans back a bit, rubbing at his hands a bit. They didn't hurt, but still] Yes, thank you.

Cora: [smirks as she resettles next to him, letting her chin rest on his shoulder for a moment. A night of seeing Peter and Stiles actually getting along has dredged up feelings that she hadn't anticipated and it makes her want to ask a question she doesn't have to. She feels like she knows the answer, but there are some moments where those doubts Peter tried to put in her head aren't as gone as she may like] Can I ask you a kind of stupid question?

Stiles: Sure. I'm good at answering stupid questions.

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, her hand wandering down to rest against his stomach, as though she's pulling something from him to help her ask.] When we talked about you getting the Bite, you said you did want to because of your dad. That's it, right?

Stiles: You mean back when Peter asked me the first time, or like if you were to ask me now?

Cora: Now. [she doesn't really care about back then. She knows that back then it was probably just the principle of it being Peter.]

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, I mean, it's a big part. I mean, my dad's got enough to worry about, he doesn't need a werewolf son running around trying to deal with control issues. [small laugh there] But I just... I mean especially now seeing Liam and Malia... and remembering Scott... I kinda think someone needs to stay human. For them. Keep them grounded and remember what they used to be.

Cora: [she nods, because that's a good answer. She accepts this answer.] I just - [she shakes her head] As I said. Stupid question.

Stiles: No, it's not stupid. [he bites his lip, having a feeling he was going to regret this] What made you need to know?

Cora: [she pauses for a moment] Just something Peter said when Scott and I were in his head. It's not a big deal.

Stiles: Well, I'm assuming that whatever this was came from 100% crazy side of his head which is why it's upsetting you?

Cora: [she nods a bit] I mean, we've only talked about it once or twice. And Peter may be crazy but that doesn't mean he doesn't get it right.

Stiles: [rubs the back of his neck] This wasn't about him talking about how it could have been me that night in the woods when he bit Scott, right?

Cora: [she makes a bit of a face at that that says ... yeah.] He said you would have made the better beta. And that I was holding you back from having what you wanted. [except that last part came right from Stiles' mouth, so. there's that. but she doesn't have to say that.]

Stiles: [he looks down at his hands a moment, then shook his head] Wanted - no. he's wrong about that. But I'm pretty sure I would have been a kick ass wolf if it had been me. [he's trying to lighten the mood]

Cora: [she laughs a bit at that] I'm sure you would have been. [one hand comes up to brush through his hair, though the gesture's more for her than for him] Just ... if you change your mind, and you do - I don't care whether you are or aren't. I just want you to be happy.

Stiles: [he grins at her, his hands going around her waist to just hold her] Let me deal with college first, and once I'm graduated and everything, we can come back to this topic?

Cora: [she nods, before leaning in to kiss him softly. a lot of the nerves are ebbing away with that and she definitely feels better about it all]

Stiles: [good, he's glad about that. Especially because that is also a big you better be here with me in 4+ years too in that phrase]

Cora: [she is not planning on going anywhere. Unlike her Spamalot self she is good right where she is.]

Stiles: [and he is going to enjoy kissing her and maybe a bit of necking that will eventually get interrupted]

Cora: [yep. typical teenage makeouts. Which she wants more of, stupid interruptions]

Stiles: [grins against her lips] Is that your cell phone vibrating or are you really just that happy to be kissing me?

Cora: [mumble grumble] It's just a text. Ignore it, it'll go away. [and back to kissing him again]

Stiles: [considers it ignored. Until the next one. and the one after that. and then...] I'm starting to think I need to be jealous here.

Cora: [sighs heavily, and pulls back to check her phone, looking to start paging through the messages and see what's there]

Stiles: [and nope, going to be nosy and read over her shoulder] I take it that's Laura?

Cora: Yep. She wants to know if I'm Peter-sitting tonight.

Stiles: No, you're Stiles sitting tonight. [pouting.]

Cora: [what she actually texts back is "hanging out with a friend" because they still haven't had the Stiles talk yet. there's another minute before "for how long?"]

Stiles: [is going to sit back, letting her deal with the sister while he looks all trying to be sexy and looking goofy and pouting]

Cora: [she glances anxiously between her phone and Stiles and as much as she wants boyfriend time - and she really, really wants boyfriend time - she wants sister time too. so when the second text comes back with "thinking about seeing a movie. They could come if they want." she glances back to him with an innocent smile] Want to see a movie with my sister?

Stiles: [blinks] Um.... I don't mind? You sure you're good with introducing your sister to your boyfriend?

Cora: It's gonna happen eventually? And it's not like we're just messing around. [it's more like she's in love with him and he's not going anywhere, so ...]

Stiles: She can't be any worse than Derek was, right?

Cora: Yeah. It'll be fine. At least she doesn't know you already? [and, you know, you never got her arrested for murder]

Stiles: I shouldn't point out that I'm one of the two who helped find her dead body, right? At least the top half....

Cora: [winces a bit at that before shaking her head] No, I'd leave that out.

Stiles: [nods] Got it.

Cora: [goes back to texting again, and she nods] Come on. We can pick her up at the loft.

Stiles: Alright. Um... there's a thing of Febreeze in the back though. Do we need to spray things down? [will it even help?]

Cora: [she makes a face] Laura was always pretty intuitive, I don't think it will matter.

Stiles: Okay. I just don't want to piss older siblings off on first meeting them because my jeep smells like we've been doing things that well, we've been doing and I really like doing with you in the back seat.

Cora: Unless you're planning on changing your clothes too, I think she'll catch on.

Stiles: [hangs his head] Damnit. Should we swing by my place first?

Cora: Stiles. It'll be okay. Teenagers make out. She can't get that offended about that.

Stiles: [nods] Okay. Just making sure. Because you're going to be the one saving me if she does.

Cora: I won't let her kill you.

Stiles: Good, because I have a feeling we're going to be running out of "get out of dead free" cards soon.

Cora: [she huffs a bit at that, before pulling away from him to crawl back into the front seat]

Stiles: What?! [sighs, and goes to get in driver's seat]

Cora: [it was a good huff not a bad huff. she shakes her head] Nothing.

Stiles: Just making sure. [and off he goes, driving to the loft and doing his best to will away the stiffness in his pants so things aren't awkward at all.]

Cora: [is trying to calm down herself, as there's still a part of her that would rather get back to what they were doing at Lookout Point.]

Stiles: [she's so not alone in that. But they will be at the loft soon enough and he looks over at her] She meeting us down here or we need to go up and get her?

Laura: [Cora goes to check her phone as Laura comes out the front to meet them. She stops next to the passenger's side of the Jeep, takes both of them in, and sighs. Of course.] You must be Stiles.

Stiles: That's me. Nice to meet you, you know. Alive. [grins]

Cora: [gives Laura a bit of a look at that because how ... ?]

Laura: Derek mentioned a Stiles, and at the time, it didn't make any sense. Now I have context. [yeah, she's not as thrilled to meet you, Stiles. You are definitely getting the eye right about now.]

Stiles: [he's making that "okay, I can deal with this" face.] Yup, you've got those Hale judging eyes. Totally not a zombie. [not helping your case either, Cora]

Cora: [...Stiles, she trusted you not to make zombie jokes.] So. Movie.

Laura: Uh-huh. [they start shifting forward as she looks at the Jeep with a critical eye] Is this thing even safe?

Stiles: [no, you said not to make comment that he found her body. He didn't agree to not make any zombie comments.] I've had just about everything replaced in the last year so totally safe.

Laura: [yep, well, she's just going to settle in the backseat loaded with teenage hormones and judge some more.]

Cora: [sighs, running a hand through her hair]

Stiles: [nods to Cora because nope, this is going better than he expected!] So movie - I'll drive to the theater, you two figure out what we're going to see?

Laura: [ shakes her head] You guys can pick. I have no idea what's even good anymore.

Stiles: [looks over at Cora] Well, fall is when all the horror blockbusters come out. Or are we avoiding those?

Cora: [shakes her head] I think something lighter would be better.

Stiles: Expendables 3? Lots of old guys blowing shit up?

Cora: [shrugs] Works for me. [glances back to Laura]

Laura: [nods] Sure. That's fine.

Stiles: [and he's going to just drive then, because really what do you say?]

Laura: So. How long have you two been ... ?

Stiles: Um - [looks at Cora -as I do mental math] - a while now.

Cora: Six months, maybe? Might be closer to a year.

Stiles: It was sometime after Halloween but before Christmas, so yeah, almost a year. [nods]

Laura: Long time. Surprised she didn't mention you sooner.

Stiles: Yeah, me too. [looking at Cora, but it's a playful smirk]

Cora: [ducks her head a bit] I was getting there.

Stiles: I'm sure she was just caught up in the Oh My God I have my sister again feelings.

Laura: Mmmmhmmm. [she doesn't sound impressed]

Stiles: Well, you know, until Derek and Buffy lost Dawn and had to go find her, which put us on crazy uncle sitting.

Laura: Both of you were babysitting Peter?

Stiles: Well, Cora was babysitting Peter. I was sitting around ordering pizza or helping clean the place up.

Laura: Huh.

Cora: It was Stiles' idea to try and fix him the way we did. [which Laura hasn't really cared to hear about but she felt it was worth saying]

Laura: [her eyes flicker to Stiles for a moment, before going neutral again] How did you get dragged into all this anyway?

Stiles: The alpha is my best friend.

Laura: Right. This true alpha that I still haven't met yet.

Stiles: Well, to be fair I'm not sure anyone's told him about you yet either.

Laura: [tips her head towards Cora about that too] A former alpha and a Hale comes back from the dead and you haven't told your alpha yet?

Cora: [looks a little sheepish] He's had a lot of other stuff going on.

Stiles: And wasn't it Derek who was supposed to be breaking the news anyway?

Laura: You want to take that or should I?

Cora: [sighs] Even if Derek was, Scott's my alpha. That makes it my responsibility.

Stiles: Ah. [thinks] I wonder if Derek's going to stay as an omega still after all this.

Laura: He's not an omega.

Cora: He thinks he is.

Laura: The way he's loyal to this Scott kid? He needs to man up and just admit it.

Stiles: Looking at it from outside the whole werewolf alliance point of view, pretty sure Peter's the reason he won't.

Laura: Which is a bullshit reason.

Cora: Laura.

Laura: Peter's been doing this to him since he was a kid. Eventually they both have to get their own lives and stop leeching off each other. Especially when it's hurting the other.

Stiles: And just how many more times does Peter need to be abandoned by his family before the next time it causes him a mental snap that sends assassins to come kill off the entire city?

Laura: I'm not saying abandon Peter. But omegas don't survive. Derek knows it and Peter knows it and Derek can still do what's best for him without letting Peter drag him down like an anchor. [she grits her teeth a bit as she leans forward] And you try being twenty-one years old, suddenly inheriting your mother's alpha abilities after your family burn to death, and see how well you handle it. I'm not saying I didn't make mistakes, but until you've been there, kid, let's not start judging my choices.

Stiles: Try being possessed by a nogitsune, driven to the point of insanity that you are actually committed, and then having to make a choice giving yourself over to him completely or watching a member of your pack be brutally murdered in front of you at sixteen. [nope, still with the judging] Oh, and then having full cognitive awareness as he uses you and your face to manipulate your family, try to kill most of them, and succeed with one.

Cora: Guys! [no, stop, let's not fight, please. She buries her face in her hands before shaking her head] This was a bad idea.

Stiles: [looks over at Cora, then reaches over to put one of his hands on her knee] I'm sorry.

Laura: No, she's right, this was a bad idea. [she takes a breath before inching towards the door on her side of the car] I'm crashing your evening. You guys should have fun.

Stiles: Oh my god. [and he's just going to pull over and park the car, then turn to look at both of them] Seriously, both of you stop this. I know you're Hales and all, but the drama level here is way too high for me. We’re going out and we're going to watch a movie and laugh until we're choking on popcorn and if either of you try and complain I will personally start smacking you around with my lacrosse stick. Got it?

Laura: [her head tips to the side as she studies him for a moment, before glancing out to the window again. Guess who Derek got that from?]

Cora: Can we just agree that all Peter related topics are off the table?

Laura: Fine by me.

Stiles: Sure.

Cora: Okay then. Let's go.

Stiles: [and off they go to the theatre]

Cora: [wheeee movie! And Laura and Stiles manage to ... somewhat get along for the rest of the evening?]

Stiles: [yes, totally avoiding all topics of Peter Hale]

Cora: [and eventually they drop Laura back off at the loft] I'll be up in a minute.

Laura: [eyes her and Stiles] Uh-huh.

Cora: [there's a pause] Maybe.

Laura: [sighs heavily] I'll see you tomorrow.

Stiles: [blinks, and looks at Cora] You're not going up?

Cora: I wanted to spend a little more time with you first.

Stiles: Oh... okay. Um, well we could go back to my place?

Cora: [nods with a small smile] Sounds good to me.

Stiles: [watches Laura get inside, and then pulls off back towards his side of town]

Cora: Sorry my family kept crashing.

Stiles: No, it's fine. I mean, that's what family does best, right? And hey, that first meeting could have gone much worse.

Cora: True. You could have been there when she eventually sees Peter.

Stiles: Yeah, when I'm fifty. Because that's what it sounds like is going to be how long before she will be ready for that family reunion.

Cora: [she nods] I know it was her decision, and it was the wrong one? But if things were the other way around, he probably would have done the same thing.

Stiles: I just.... I mean, it's hard for me to feel sorry for Peter with everything I've seen and all? But when it comes to his time between the fire and everything... that I get. That I can feel sorry for him, because I'd hate to have that done to me. [like what could have happened to him at Eichen house]

Cora: I know. But it was strategy. Laura had to choose. She could have kept her and Derek in Beacon Hills, but they would have been sitting ducks. A blue eyed omega automatically has a target painted on his back and a big culling like that would have hunters coming in to pick off whoever was left. As he was, Peter wasn't a threat. Derek being there would get Peter killed faster and she wasn't going to leave Derek alone.

Stiles: Yeah, I get that. Still doesn't make it suck any less.

Cora: No, it doesn't. And I don't think it was easy on her either. Probably why she let Derek think that Peter was dead.

Stiles: [and they pull into his driveway] Yeah, well point still stands. Sucks all around.

Cora: Yeah. [she sighs] We go inside, no more talk about my family?

Stiles: I'm good with that, but you know... you can go back and be with them, Cora. We can hang out tomorrow. I'm not going to be heartbroken or anything.

Cora: No. Derek and Dawn are ... I don't even want to know, and Laura probably wants a break from me after tonight, and I want to be alone with you.

Stiles: [nods, then goes to lean over and kiss her] Then you can have me all to yourself.

Cora: [smiles a bit into the kiss] Good.

Stiles: Though I have no idea what my dad's schedule is tonight. [cringe]

Cora: That's okay. If he is there, I'm sure you could find other things to do.

Stiles: But it's not what I want to do. [pouty face]

Cora: [she laughs a bit at that, before peering over to the driveway] No cruiser. He might be out for a while. If we're going to do what we want to do, then we should probably move fast.

Stiles: I can do fast. [grins and takes her hand, running to the house like the Doctor and his companion running from the world]

Cora: [laughs a bit as she runs after him, letting him pull her through the house to his room. Once the door is closed behind them, she'll happily pull herself in to kiss him.]

Stiles: [totally kissing her back, pressing her up against the door]

Cora: [hums as she leans back against it, her hands wandering up his arms to his shoulders and pulling him closer]

Stiles: [Takes that step in closer, grinning in the kiss.]

Sheriff: [clears his throat from behind them in the dining room]

Stiles: [his lips leave hers as he goes to just hit his head against the door] Hi Dad.

Cora: [pinches her eyes closed, before peeking around Stiles' shoulder at the sheriff] We didn't see the cruiser. Sorry.

Sheriff: That's because it's in the shop and McCall gave me a lift home. [shakes his head and turns to go back to the table where he was paying bills]

Stiles: I guess today is family keeping Stiles and Cora in their separate corners day.

Sheriff: I like the sound of that.

Cora: [she sighs a bit, leaning back against the door as she looks up at him] Maybe I should go home.

Stiles: [presses his forehead against hers] Maybe. Talk to you tomorrow?

Cora: [she nods, pressing up on her toes to kiss him one last time, before turning to head out the door] Night, Sheriff.

Sheriff: Night Cora.

Stiles: [shows her out, then closes the door and looks at his dad] Really?

Sheriff: Mexico, Stiles.

Stiles: You can't keep hanging that over my head as punishment!

Sheriff: I can until you're 18. Now go do your homework.

Stiles: [grumbles and heads upstairs]

Cora: [... is actually not going to go home right away. She's going to make a detour over to the McCalls and hope it's not too later to bug her alpha. Because apparently she has to do everything]

Scott:]well, part of it is really Scott's fault. He's been hiding in his room. A very un-alpha-y thing to do, but yeah, he's doing it.]

Cora: [she doesn't blame Scott. She blames Derek. But Melissa happily lets Cora in to try and dig her son out of hiding she knocks lightly on Scott's door] Scott?

Scott:]is laying on his bed, the SAT book open in front of him. He looks up though, giving her that Scott smile] Hey Cora. What's going on?

Cora: [smiles back before making her way over to sit next to him] Just wanted to talk to you about something.

Scott:]shuts the book, moving to sit up] Shoot.

Cora: [sighs as she settles on the bed before deciding the blunt approach is best] My sister is back.

Scott:]blinks] You have another sister? How many siblings do you guys have?!

Cora: [shakes her head] Not another sibling. The first one.

Scott:.... Laura?

Cora: [she nods] Yeah.

Scott:]and he's standing up because wait, what?] How is that even possible? No, no wait this is Beacon Hills. It apparently happens every semester. But she was cut in half - that's hard to come back from.

Cora: Not when you're being resurrected by the Powers that Be.

Scott:The Powers that What?

Cora: The Powers that Be. They're ... the Good side, where demons and such are the Bad side.

Scott:And they just brought your sister back for random good things?

Cora: [shakes her head] I think Dawn was trying to bring Derek back but since he wasn't actually dead, it might have boomeranged into Laura. Either that or they thought they could use her as a distraction so that he wouldn't go looking for Dawn.

Scott:... Okay, I can get the first. The latter just shows they obviously don't know Derek at all.

Cora: I never said they were smart. Just a lot of power and a little too much free time on their hands.

Scott:So what now, she's back and not a zombie? Is she an alpha again?

Cora: [she shakes her head] She's a beta. Or ... an omega, technically, as she doesn't have a pack. But not a zombie. Still her - at least according to Derek.

Scott:You know, Derek once told me that I was an alpha of my pack long before I started to show signs of being a true alpha. With what he's become... I wouldn't be surprised if he did that too.

Cora: Did what?

Scott:Became like an alpha. I mean, the alpha really is just the color of your eyes and a spark of power, right?

Cora: ... Maybe. I don't know. I don't know enough about this stuff - Derek and Laura always knew more than I did.

Scott:Derek's still teaching me. I'm... pretty sure he's always going to be teaching me.

Cora: That's not a bad thing. My mom always used to say that if you always think you know what you're doing then you're probably doing it wrong. You should want to learn.

Scott:Well, I never really think I know what I'm doing, so I'm good on that part.

Cora: [she laughs a bit] Yeah, sounds about right.

Scott:]nods, scrunching his face up a bit] Hopefully I'll figure a few things out soon though.

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, before frowning] Want to talk about it?

Scott:]shakes his head] I just... I don't know what to even say to her.

Cora: To Kira?

Scott:Yeah. I mean, I almost killed her. I stabbed her. That's not really something good to have in a relationship, right?

Cora: No. Not really. [she pulls her legs up so that she's sitting cross-legged on his bed] Maybe it's not something you need to say. Maybe you just need to let her talk first.

Scott:]goes to sit next to her] I'm just afraid she's going to tell me to leave her alone.

Cora: She might. But avoiding her isn't going to get her to want to be around you either. [a beat] And she also might not. You don't know until you try.

Scott:Yeah, well how do you apologize to someone for stabbing them and almost killing them?

Cora: "I'm sorry" is usually a good place to start? Then listen. You ... if you overthink this too much going in, you won't be listening to her. I don't think you can really ... prepare an apology for this until you know what she needs you to apologize for.

Scott:]rubs at the back of his neck] I guess you're right.

Cora: I don't think she really wants you to go away forever.

Scott:I don't want to go away forever.

Cora: Then make sure she knows that. I don't think she won't believe you, Scott, you're too honest for her not too. [everything is always written all over his face, because he has no poker face, but in this case, that's not a bad thing]

Scott:]nods, then shrugs] I don't like lying to people anyway.

Cora: She knows that, too. So just ... say what you feel.

Scott:I can do that.

Cora: Good.

Scott:I should probably call her, right? Texting is bad in this instance...?

Cora: Yeah. Or just ... go see her.

Scott:]nods] I'll go see her. That way we actually talk. [looks at window, then her] Um, in the morning. Cause she may be sleeping and pretty sure her folks won't let me in.

Cora: [small smile at that before nodding] Good plan. I should probably go too.

Scott:Before you go... how's Peter doing?

Cora: He held a conversation with Stiles about sci-fi movies today. [so ... better] It's a little better every day.

Scott:That's... good, actually. And how are you? I mean, between Peter's recovery, your brother dying and coming back all super wolf, and now your sister... you sure you're okay?

Cora: Honestly? [she takes a deep breath] Ask me again tomorrow night. [because right now all she really wants is some time alone with Stiles to try and get her head on straight so if she can get just a day with him tomorrow, then maybe things'll feel a little less crazy]

Scott:I'll call tomorrow then. Let you know how it went with Kira too.

Cora: [she nods] Sounds good. [and with that she'll get up to go, saying goodnight to Melissa on the way out]