"Thank you son, you really helped us," Dad said and Ted nodded. Dad drove us home and we quietly avoided the topic of whatever terrible happened today.

Poppy was sprawled over mum and Ted and I say beside each other. We kept some fair distance between us. I still held his hand for some odd reason. He didn't question it and I could feel my hand being squeezed at times. I secretly worried that my hands shouldn't be sweaty or clammy.

"Yes, Ted. You should come often and join us for lunch and dinner," Mum offered Ted and I smiled.

"Sure, Aunty - "

"Call me mommy."

"What?" I asked in astonishment. Mum shrugged and I frowned at her. She allowed Ted to call her Mommy? That was so weird. I prayed that Ted didn't listen to her. Ted cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "It's okay, Aunty."

"Oh, boy. Don't be frightened by Abby. She's just jealous. Quit calling me Aunty and you can call me - "

"Mrs. Snow," I interjected quickly.

***

It was such a tiring and long day. We entered our house and I yawned widely like a hippo.

"Just don't accidently swallow somebody, honey," Mum teased and I glared at her.

She was extremely sweet and kind to Ted which made me wonder that she already accepted him as a son. It was so difficult to convince Dad to not drop Ted off to his made up home in Abilene. Finally, I excused that I needed to attend to the brusises of Ted. In that way, we can sneak in our room and from there, Ted can return home to Norway through the closet.

"Do you want anything to say, darling?" Mum asked and I nodded happily. But my head lowered when I realized that she asked Ted and not me. I was fuming and I huffed in annoyance. Ted chuckled lightly.

"No, it's okay. I just want to rest," Ted said and Mum seemed crestfallen.

"Fine, Ted. Let me check on your injuries and then you can go home and rest," I snarled and he nodded.

We walked upstairs when suddenly Ted turned around. He looked towards Poppy and said, "Take care, sweetheart."

I felt a weird sensation in the pit of my stomach. Poppy's eyes twinkled and she nodded. She looked so happy when Ted called her sweetheart. Anyway, who cared about sweetheart bullshit?

I stomped and went upstairs. Ted followed me closely and I shut the door of my room before he could enter. He quietly twisted the knob and entered the room. He looked amused and I just crossed my arms.

"What's up with you?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Nothing," I muttered. He stared at me for a while before heading towards the closet. I tapped my feet impatiently waiting for his exit until I realized that I should treat his injuries.

"Wait, Ted. I-I should give you a first aid before you go back home," I suggested.

"No worries, Grandma would look after it."

"Won't Grandma be angry or upset after knowing that you got into a fight for my sister?" I asked softly. He shrugged.

"She would instead be happy that I helped somebody in some way. And besides, she'll know anyway. I don't hide a thing from her," He explained.

"Right, then er... goodnight?"

"Yeah, goodnight sour jelly," Ted said and nearly sprinted to the closet. Ah! He called me jealous?

"How dare you - "

He disappeared into the darkness of the closet before I could catch him. I wondered, why couldn't he call me a sweatheart too?