Recliner now reclining, thanks to Charlette, she continued petting his hair.  Although her focus remained on the images splashed across the TV screen, Paul could tell she was on her way to<i>Dream World.  </i>Soon, her eyes were shut, yet her hand rested on his head.  He smiled at this, realizing that even as sleep claimed her, she still laid claim to his hair.<br/><br/>Allowing a minute or so to pass, he gently removed her hand and tucked it under the blanket.  For now, Paul left the television on, but reduced the volume a little.  He remembered all the times he’d fall asleep on the recliner or the couch, and as soon as Jemma turned the TV off, he’d immediately wake up.  Figuring everyone was like that, too, he let the sound serve as a sort of lullaby for her.  Meanwhile, he lay beside her, gazing at her lovely, youthful face.  This close, he enjoyed her scent, as well as the rhythm of her breathing.<br/><br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">NOTE TO READERS: <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">Green=The Voice;</span> <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Orange=Paul<br/>
</span>​</div><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">What are you looking at, Old Man?</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Trouble.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">Aye, matey.  That she is, that she is.  But you like her.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">What’s not to like?</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">That’s no answer.  Are you having another senior moment?</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">With our age difference, I’ll always have senior moments with her.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">Oh, that again.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Yeah, that again.  It’s never going away, and it’s not like I can close that gap.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">This is true.  So what are you gonna do?</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">I need to step aside, let her get on with her life.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">You’re kicking her out?</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">No!  I didn’t say that.  She pays her rent.  She’s more than welcome to stay as long as she likes.  Besides, the house is within walking distance to her college, if she so chose.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">Not sure what that has to do with anything.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Yeah, me neither.  I’m tired.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">You can always try to avoid her.  Wait until she catches the hint.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Are you kidding?!  She’s like my shadow.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">Maybe.  But your shadow never went down on you.  Twice!</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Hmmm, good point.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00ff00">G’night.  Don’t forget the TV.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ff8000">Oh, yeah.  Thanks.</span><br/><br/><i>&gt;CLICK&lt;</i>