Gwen hadn't really paid attention to his words in the car park of what seemed to be an<i>awfully </i>bright  place. Damn him, he even smelled good, she thought and  then,  as she lifted her eyes to meet his, beneath his shirt collar she spied some ink. Gwen bit back a slight moan of despair. Elijah was doing it on purpose, she decided. He was a single parent, or seemed to be, he was tall, handsome, kind, and inked. She needed to remind herself that<b> all</b>men were vile, disgusting, and untrustworthy. She held on to Toby's hand and thought about the damage Paul had done to her boy.<br/><br/>Never again, she vowed.<br/><br/>Yet, she could not deny the slight flutter in her stomach as he winked at her.  And then, he held the door open and they walked in.<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 16px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><div style="text-align: left"><i>"Oh....."</i>​</div><div style="text-align: left">​</div><div style="text-align: left">She found it hard to say anything other than that and, frankly, that she'd got the utterance out in and of itself was a miracle. Her eyes widened as she looked around. It was bright and cheerful -- this was good. There were balloons, also a good thing. But then, she looked more closely.<i> "Elijah,"</i> Gwen whispered, her voice sounding about one tenth as amazed as she felt.<i> "The waiting staff are on roller-skates. Is that safe?"</i>  There were...<i> "Are those clowns? Surely, that scares more people than it... oh my."</i> Gwen was suddenly unsure whether she'd walked into a restaurant or a circus. It was a hubbub of activity and … noise and … chaos.​</div><div style="text-align: left">​</div><div style="text-align: left">And she turned to look at Elijah with an almost child-like delight in her vivid green eyes.<i> "This place is amazing!"</i> Toby, too, was looking at him - and Rosalie - like they were gods of some kind. They were approached by a tall blonde woman who skated up to them and expertly came to a stop. "Hello, I'm Liz, and I'll be your Gonzo Time Guide for tonight," she said. Of course, Elijah knew her - and she him - but Liz was a professional and if Mr Primeau was bringing people here, then she wasn't going to say anything about the 'phone call. "Hello, Mr Primeau, nice to see you again. Hi, Rosalie, how's my favourite girl?" She then smiled at Gwen and Toby.  "And what's your name, young man?"​</div><div style="text-align: left">​</div><div style="text-align: left">"I'm Toby Whitmore, this is my mom, her name's Gwen." Toby said and then added, because honestly, why wouldn't he? "Mr Primeau isn't her boyfriend, and they're not gettin' married. She's never dating again." At that, Gwen did let out a slight moan of sheer embarrassment. She breathed in and smiled a bright smile, although she could feel her cheeks burning red.​</div><div style="text-align: left">​</div><div style="text-align: left"><i>"It's nice to meet you Liz,"</i>  she said. Well, she thought, if there was any chance of Mr Primeau being her boyfriend before - and they were slim to none, and she was fairly sure she was ok with that - then there was a negative number now.  Liz, appearing not to notice Toby's incessant need to just say it like he saw it, showed them to their "cabin" - a small booth with it's own roof.​</div><div style="text-align: left">​</div><div style="text-align: left">"You two want to come choose colouring pens and things?" Liz asked and, after a glance at his mom to see if it was alright, Toby shot off the seat and went with her. Gwen immediately turned to Elijah and her face was still flushed.<i> "I'm so sorry about him. He just... he has no filter, between his brain and his mouth,"</i>  like that wasn't obvious, she thought with an ironic pang,<i> "and my husband.. well, the man I thought was... his father. He hurt him, badly. He's a good kid, he really is.  I'm so sorry, I wasn't suggesting that you were my boyfriend, I didn't mention it, he asked me,"</i> she was still talking, she realised. Why was she still talking? Stop talking Guinevere, she insisted and clamped her mouth shut.​</div><div style="text-align: left">​</div><div style="text-align: left"><i>"It's just that I wouldn't want you thinking that.. I mean, you ... well, you're very,"</i> Oh look at that, she thought. Was this what happened with Toby? Probably. Whatever he was "very" Elijah would have to interpret via the vague waving of her hand in his direction,<i> "it's just he's full of questions, and he's terrified of being abandoned again. I'm so sorry. He just talks too much."</i>  On a general level, she looked pretty miserable and flustered, but there was a flash of mischief as she realised what she'd just said.<i> "I don't know where he gets it from, frankly. So, maybe, if you don't mind, we could talk about you? Or politics? Paint colours, or how quickly it dries?  Actually, any DIY tips you have would be welcome. "</i>  Just so long as they didn't talk about her, or her private life, that would be just fine.  With one eye on the children, Gwen lapsed into silence, her hands worrying at each other rather nervously.  Pulling herself together, she folded her hands together and lifted her gaze to look at him. Gwen was very rarely able to keep a sour mood or even remain negative - she was a fundamentally optimistic and cheerful person. So, there again was that expression of mischief.<i>  "Do you come here often?"</i>​</div></span></span>