Go ahead, what was it we were waiting for?

 "Well, you're always here," Olivia looked at Tristan, blankly. "You're probably a menace back at your apartment." She crossed her arms, trying to decide if this was the right thing to do. Ask Tristan to move in.

They worked together at the Zoo hospital, which was working out better than she ever thought. She was learning so much about animals that weren't domestic. And she and Tristan were partners.

"Now I'm Tristan the Menace," he pouted back and then smiled. He was chopping away at some veg to make a stew. He'd already made a loaf of quick bread that he hadn't put in the oven yet. He could be so busy in the kitchen. Olivia was used to microwave meals from the grocery store.

Olivia gritted a grin. Honestly, she'd never been around someone who loved homemade food. It was nice, but sometimes, he left a mess behind, so she did her best to clean up while he cooked. 

"You know what I mean, maybe Randy and Monica could be on their own. You're hardly there."

"I sleep there, you know." He looked at her seriously, as if he had a part-time job he needed to see to.

"Yeah, if I wake you up when you're on the couch snoozing." This was his bad habit. She knew he wanted to be here, but then they hadn't exactly been completely intimate, either. There was that time he kissed her as if it were an accident. Like maybe she was his magnet to his steel. But he caught himself from going any further as if he might spoil the situation.

"I just want you to be happy," Tristan finally said. "I know you need your space, and I don't mean to be taking so much of it."

He stirred in the carrots and spinach into the pot before it started bubbling.

"I am happy," She smiled back at him. 

He wrapped his arms around her, even if he did smell of garlic. "I just jump into the deep end with much thought, you know."

He looked down at her with his hair in his eyes. She looked up at him with an open smile.

"How about we just do a trial run. See how it goes and just let it happen." Olivia felt he was holding back, and she wasn't certain why. What was he not telling her? She knew he'd been pretty rotten as a teenager, but she didn't think it was entirely his fault. She didn't think about his past as if he might still feel he should be punished.

"OK," He laughed, then as if this was the best news he'd heard. He kissed her forehead, swaying her about as if she had better get to know him.