Zaria jerked away, her eyes wide and startled. Love. Where had that thought come from?

"I..." Her heart raced, and her breathing quickened to match pace. "I need to breathe. I have to -"

Zaria pushed against the firm chest until Gu Cheng moved back. As soon as there was enough room she walked as far as she could go without leaving the apartment, resting her hands on the sill of the window in the living room that looked out toward the expansive greenspace across the street.

"What happened?" Gu Cheng's quiet voice asked. She did not need to turn around to know that he was trying to give her space while staying as close as he could.

For a moment, Zaria thought about keeping the thoughts to herself, but she refused to lie to him, and if she said nothing, he would likely assume he did something wrong.

"I was just thinking that you were being so considerate of me, and so careful in your actions, and that it was one of the things I love about you." She hastened to continue when she saw his face stiffen in his reflection in the window. "But even though we have been through so much together these last couple of months, it seems too fast to be thinking words like that. You don't even know me!"

"Why do you think that?"

"Why do I think which part?"

"Why do you think that I don't know you? Do you think you have been doing a good job of hiding who you are inside? Your kindness, your concerns for others, your strength, your weaknesses? I may not know all the details of your life, but I know who you are inside, and I have been in love with you for a long time."

Zaria whipped her head around at the casual confession. "You can't just say things like that!"

"Why not?"

Words stopped and started again, a jumble of nonsensical sounds. Finally, she threw her hands up into the air and groaned in defeat. "Fine! But it's embarrassing to hear you talk about me like that!"

"Why?"

"It just is! And stop asking me why!"

"Why?" The only thing that saved him was the broad smile covering his face. After a moment of enjoying how flustered he was making her, Gu Cheng grew serious and approached her cautiously. "Joseph Zaria, do you not want to have feelings for me?"

"No, I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I knew that I liked you, but it hasn't been that long since I let myself consider a future with you, and it just seems like I am rushing the feeling."

"Ah. It feels natural to me, but we are not the same person. I don't know what I could say to make you okay with the word that seems to be upsetting you."

Zaria moved closer so that she was standing directly in front of Gu Cheng. "I think I just need to get my brain to accept a lot of things. I haven't really had time to work things out, what with dinosaurs and zombies and stuff." She looked at him closely, tilting her head as she traced her eyes over his features. "What about you, though? I know that we are going very slowly, and you said I was...uhm...handsy when we were back in City C. Are you upset that we are not doing more?"

"No. I am happy just having you here and getting to hold you every night. I am not saying I don't want more at all," his gaze grew darker and more intense. Zaria gulped loudly. "But I will never push you to do anything that you aren't ready for. I am happy with how things are, as long as you are with me."

Gu Cheng took Zaria's slender fingers into his hands and rubbed his thumb pads over her knuckles. Zaria watched his movements,letting herself be lulled into a sense of contentment. When the washing machine dinged down the hall, alerting them that the cycle was complete,she shook her head and looked around confused.

"Has it already been that long?"

"Mmm. You stay here, I will move things to the dryer." Releasing her hands, he left her to brood alone.

Another 30 minutes was all it took for the first load of laundry to be washed and dried. Any kissing that was being done was stopped with sheepish smiles, and clothes were handed in to those waiting for them. The bathrooms were free at last.

The final two survivors took their first showers in weeks. Gu Cheng raised an eyebrow and whispered something in Zaria's ear about showering together, chuckling magnetically when she flushed and pushed him toward a bathroom of his very own. Alone under the hot spray, she thought over what he said in the living room. She couldn't explain to herself why it felt bad that he was so sure of his feelings while she was deliberating over her own. Did it say something bad about her that she was so cautious? Would he grow tired eventually if she did not return his feelings the same way? Then, there was the fact that he looked so...

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Zaria sighed loudly inside the white tile shower. She poked at her belly a few times. The last month had toned her up quite a bit, but at best, she was average in her own world, in Gu Cheng's? Even his secretary looked like a super model. But...

If it was just that she was 'interesting' or 'different' from what he was used to, that would not have held up after being tortured, or almost eaten, would it have? Zaria dried off with a towel so soft she could imagine it being made of baby clouds. Maybe the world couldn't be TOO evil with such wonderful towels. Unless they really harvested baby clouds... Could a cloud be sentient? Even more than the hot shower, the ability to just let her mind wander over silly things without worrying about death and dismemberment lurking outside the walls was a treat. Almost as good as the feeling of clean, dry clothing that no longer had the buildup that resulted from half-hearted outdoor tub washing.

"Doesn't it feel so good on your skin?" She asked Rika as she reentered the living room, smoothing her t-shirt against her abdomen.

Rika did not need to ask what she meant. "I forgot that these pants could feel so soft!"

The living room was bright with voices that seemed to be testing out the feeling of cheerfulness. Zaria looked at the smiling faces she brought with her from the last universe, glad that they could all smile still. It was amazing what a shower and clean clothes could do. Still, it seemed...off somehow...

The buzzer went off to switch the last batch of clothes and emptied packs to the dryer. Zaria did the duty, rushing when a doorbell chimed through the apartment. The last items were shoved in the dryer, followed by what she had been assuming were dryer balls, and she was hurrying down the hall before the front door finished opening.

"Hello!" A bright and cheery voice rang out from somewhere on the landing outside. Zaria skidded to a stop just to the side, out of sight of their visitor.

"My name is Cathy," the sounds drawn out at the beginning of the name, Key-athy, "My father asked me to come by with some food for our new visitors? Would it be alright if I brought everything in?"

Gu Cheng nodded his agreement and reached out to grab something through the door opening..

"No, no, there is no need! It barely weighs a thing!"

Gu Cheng was pushed out of the way, not physically, but by the desire not to bump into the mountain that was walking through the door. Two denim clad legs and an enormous belly stuck out below a pile consisting of boxes, cartons, and a large bag with steam coming out of it teetering on top.

"Out of the way! Food is coming through!" The voice like the laughter of birds came through the wall of items. After moving past Gu Cheng, it turned right toward the open concept dining room and kitchen. Zaria pressed herself against the wall to stay out of the way. With a thump, everything landed in one piece on the quartz countertop. "Whew!"

A tall woman stepped back from the pile, dusting her hands off dramatically. "Oh, don't you fret, it wasn't heavy. But I WAS worried it was all going to wibble wobble and come down!" She laughed and began moving things around to less precarious positions as she continued talking. "Father said that I should bring a portable mattress so that nobody has to sleep on a couch. So here is that."

A navy blue box with a picture of a person sleeping on the lid was tossed through the air to Gu Cheng. He caught it with one hand but quickly supported it with a second, throwing Zaria a cocked eyebrow that was as close to a bewildered look as he would manage.

"Okay, and these," two large shopping bags were tossed over her shoulder toward the teenagers on the couch, "May or may not fit you. My husband isn't the best at guessing sizes, but he tries, that dear sweetheart. If any of it doesn't fit, just let me know! I can either show you where to go to exchange or return, or I can do it for you if you don't feel comfortable leaving the apartment!" Two bags were handed to Zaria, and a head jerk backward indicated she should hand one to Rika, but which one? She handed them both to the other woman to figure it out later. One more in a lime green color went over the woman's other shoulder to Gu Cheng, who quickly juggled the bed box to grab the flying bag as well.

The remaining cartons were lined up on the counter, the bag with steam coming out of it at the end. "And this is all some basic food and care things to get you going! I didn't know what everyone would want to eat or even if you all CAN eat any of it, so I just grabbed staples I keep in my own cabinet!"

With a flourish and a pose, Cathy spun around and smiled at them all. Her smile drooped just a little when she saw they were all staring at her with wide open mouths. "What...what's wrong?"

Now that all the items were distributed or laid out, they could get their first good look at their guest.

Bubblegum pink hair fell in loose waves just past narrow shoulders draped in some kind of loose and billowy blouse with an eye-opening geometric design in neon colors. A belly that looked to be at least 8 months pregnant poked out over black denim that wrapped around narrow hips like a second skin. Swollen ankles ballooned out over plain black loafers. "Is there something wrong with my clothes?"

"How did you carry all that?" Shock and concern warred on Rika's face. Zaria could tell the nurse wanted to admonish their guest for risky actions while pregnant.

"Ohhhh," a long, drawn-out sound punctuated by a giggle. Cherry red eyes crinkled up at them. "So the Sanguine in your worlds are not very strong?"

"None of our universes have Sanguine," Zaria spoke up softly. She was surprised by how much she did not want to upset the chipper woman. "My universe was inspired to create stories I believe based off of your world, but they are just stories. And embellished ones at that, I am beginning to think."

"Oh, my! So I suppose you must have all been shocked, I apologize! Sparkle me, I was certainly rude not explaining things. Nobody told me anything about your world!" The bow shaped mouth twisted in a mewl. "Father told me there were visitors from another universe, and they needed an extra bed, food, and clothes!"

Instantly, her face transformed again, from distraught to cheerful. "Well, that just means that we have so much to learn about each other, doesn't it! Learning about people is the best part!"

Cathy faced the counter again and waved everyone over to explain to them what the different foods and items left on the counter were. Gu Cheng set his items down carefully on the glass coffee table and took Zaria's hand before crowding around the counter with everyone else.