There was something incredibly pleasing to her to be able to serve up some food to someone who hadn't decided that green food was "phoey" or who didn't believe that all vegetables were sent by Satan. Gwen smiled at Eli as she watched him eat. It was a good feeling to be able to sit with an adult and, for all that the evening had been what it had been - frankly crappy - Gwen breathed out and watched him. He was hungry, she knew - when he'd agreed to eat, his stomach had grumbled and she'd heard it. There was no doubt in Gwen's mind that Eli needed to take better care of himself. eat better. Again, as she so often was around him, Gwen was suddenly aware that she looked like a complete mess.<br/><br/>Eli looked around at the room; the many photographs and pieces of art and Gwen felt a swell of pride. Toby had a vivid imagination, there was no doubt. He loved everything to do with space and dinosaurs. She followed Elijah's eyes and she smiled slightly.  "Space and dinosaurs," she said with a grin. "I think he's going to be the world's first astronaut archaologist. Or.. something." She watched Elijah eat and Gwen felt herself relax, just a little.<br/><br/>But, putting his fork down without food on it for the first time, Elijah spoke about Mary-Beth Sinclair and Gwen had a moment. It was a moment and, in it, Gwen had a choice. She wanted to be selfish, she really did, but she couldn't be. Gwen Whitmore was many things, but selfish was not one of them and so, she spoke softly after he did. "She doesn't have a child, Elijah. She doesn't understand." Gwen did. There was no doubt that she did. Toby would come first for her, always. She wanted Elijah to have chosen her, too, there was no doubt there. But he hadn't … he<b><i> hadn't</i></b>and Gwen had no interest in being someone's second choice or in being the person who broke up a couple.<br/><br/>"Do you remember, before she was born?" Gwen asked, and she gave a slight smile. "Laying in bed of a morning? Going to sleep in the early hours, knowing that when you woke up didn't matter? Working, but being able to nap when you got home? Sleeping? Really sleeping without one ear open for them crying or getting up?" She smiled at him. "Did that man, really now, Eli, did he understand what it was to be a single parent?" She wanted, more than she was prepared to admit, to decimate this... whatever it was between them. But she couldn't. She wouldn't and she couldn't be that person. "Look. Miss Sinclair doesn't get it," Gwen said and she looked at him with an unwavering gaze. "You and I both know that there's no way that you can ever guarantee that you won't have to cancel. But. Here. Here's my number. If you need to call last minute, if I can I will. But also - have you told her?" Gwen looked at him with a calm and steady gaze. "Talk to her, Eli. If she's worth you time, then she's worth your words."<br/><br/>But then, there was the conversation between them and Gwen considered it. "I'm not taking a loan for the schooling. No. But..." it was unusual for her to even consider anything other than just no, yet Gwen had a thought. "I would consider a partnership. You provide the money, I provide the work, we split everything fifty-fifty. I've had a lot of orders already, and I think I can do it. I really do."<br/><br/>She looked at him with an expression of pure stubbornness, "No to a loan. But if you really think I can make a go of this, then I can focus on it - on this. But we need to work out accounts and stuff, Eli, and if we do that we need to meet and be partners and get our accounts clear?" She gave him a brief, fleeting grin. "If you're prepared to have a partner, not a woman in your debt, I'm in. If not no. "<br/><br/>That was clear, yes?