Milo & Ellie

Rocco really wasn't one to get sentimental. But he didn't like the way Ellie was making him feel so uncomfortable.

"Why don't you like me?" He needed to know. Maybe if he knew he could fix it. After all, he was Milo's best friend. He had been for well over a decade.

"You get everything you want." Ellie was in a pout. It was as if she didn't even want to know him.

"What's that suppose to mean?" He winced while he watched her wash the supper dishes. Finally, he got out a towel and started drying. "I was in love, once..you know." He told her while he was putting away dishes. "I wanted to have a family with her. I..I wanted, kids, you know." He swelled a frown.

Ellie didn't say much else as she turned away from him.

"But she had different plans." He sighed, thinking he'd never been the same since Beth left him. It was so long ago, he could barely remember her face. She didn't live in New York City, anymore. He did his best not to think about her. "I'm not anything like you think I am." He told Ellie.

He could sense that she thought he was too handsome for his own good. Arragont, too. But he wanted to be loved too.

"You don't know how it feels to be the third wheel." He shook his head.

She tilted her head and gave him the eye.

"For months..make that forever, Milo only talked about you." He sighed. "I bet he never mentioned me once, did he?"

Ellie rolled her eyes. She held in a laugh. "I'm starting to think you might be in love with Milo."

She walked away. He didn't even have a chance for a comeback line.

Milo & Ellie

Ellie did her best to stay on the phone with Milo, as much as possible. But it was a lonely summer in the city. She knew she couldn't count on her housemate, Roco for anything. He didn't do the dishes. She doubted he knew anything about laundry.

He might have looked dapper in a track suit, but he was disgusting to live with. Ellie did her best to be quiet about the matter, but the day he didn't put the lid on the peanut-butter jar, she let him have it. Especially, when he had no idea where it went too.

She dug through the kitchen trash, even scoured the fridge for the brown lid. Nothing.

"No wonder no one wants to live with you." She found her self, saying and if an ugly monster lived within her and Roco had awoken it.

"What?" He winced hard as if she was the one with the problem, not him.

"You heard me." She looked him straight in the eye. "You're messy," Ellie informed him. "You probably had a mom who waited on you, all your life and you can't even grow up now." She told him she did all the cleaning. All he did when he was home was lounge around and play video games.

Ellie decided she wouldn't cook for him anymore. Maybe she would be messy too.

Milo & Ellie

Ellie was at her wit's end. Milo was taking a working vacation to the border. She didn't think something like this would be possible. But with so much going on with immigration these days, he felt certain he wanted to be a part of investigating what was really happening.

"You'll be safe here." He sounded as if he was certain she might get deported.

"But, I didn't cross the border of Mexico." She sighed, thinking he was a bit crazy. She also didn't want to stay alone with their roommate Rocco, either. If that wasn't enough, she no longer had her job as Wren's nanny, either.

What was she going to do in New York City without Milo?

"You'll be fine." He held on to her shoulders as if she would be OK. "I trust Rocco, he's like a brother to me."

Still, Ellie winced. She had enough to worry about wondering if Wren was OK in Seoul. It felt like the summer of impossibilities.

"She's fine." Milo reminded her that Violet called her most days and Wren had even called her to chat.

She guessed they were, but now she wasn't so sure about herself with Milo going away for the next few weeks.

Milo & Ellie

Ellie wasn't expecting a tea party when she got to Wren's. Granted school was out now and the teenage girl loved to sleep late and stay up all night.

"What's this about?" Ellie asked.

"Oh, I'm leaving tomorrow for Seoul." Her head was high as is she might be a princess of some kind.

"Tomorrow?" Ellie winced. Was this her way of getting her back to Korea? Yes, she would love to go back and find out what was really going on with her old friend Kaori . Had she really broken up with her husband? After all, she'd found out from Violet that her friend was with child. Did she dare want to go back and be there to take care of all that?

She was torn. She liked her new life with Milo in New York City. Yet, there was the guilt. Not being there for Kaori.

"Well- I..I have so many plans with Milo." She planned to go on a few road trips with her husband to see the great outdoors. They would camp out while he was filming a documentary.

"I know." Wren didn't intend for her to go. She would go there on her own. She hoped to grow up this summer.

Milo and Ellie

Milo wasn't sure if Ellie could take a New York City summer.

"You're used to the cold, not the muggy humidity of the city." He told her he remembered a time when his grandmother didn't have any A/C. "But it seemed like each year got warmer." By the time he was in high school, she had central air put into the Brownstone. Naturally, he'd already put on the air conditioning. He loved it cold at night.

"You're just doing it because you like to cuddle." She told him.

"Maybe," he smirked. He just wasn't up on wanting to hike most of the area. He knew it was her way of wanting to get to know the neighborhood and their surroundings.

Still, he didn't want Ellie to get lost, so he made time for all those picnics she wanted to go on.

Hopefully, she wasn't thinking about home in Korea and this was her real home now. Strangely, she wasn't one of those foreigners who sought out anyone who knew her native language. She always spoke to him in English.

Of course, there was Wren to help with Korean. Ellie still worked with the teenager during the afternoons and evenings. Thankfully, she didn't work too late.

After all, he spent most of his day watching videos. Honestly, he was ready for a vacation. Maybe it was time for them to take a road trip. It was on his mind, but he wasn't sure where they should go.

Milo and Ellie

Ellie hoped Violet didn't hate her for calling her so much. Honestly, she wasn't trying to keep tabs on Nico. She was worried about her old friend Kiora.

Actually, she enjoyed talking to Nico's girlfriend. Violet did have a way of catching up on everything she missed back home. It was spring now. Everything was like a new beginning.

Although, Milo could be stubborn. He was certain she wanted to go back to Seoul.

"Just how is that going to happen?" They didn't have money to get back there. Did he want to max out his credit card? After all, he was learning his new job, archiving videos at the museum and he was always helping somebody to make a documentary, somewhere.

"I know, it's you who misses being an extra in a drama." She didn't know why he didn't try to be in some film in New York City. "Or is it, you have feelings for someone you left behind in Seoul.

Ellie did have a way of turning it around, to stump Milo from going any further with his own little envy about Nico.

"I just want us to be family." Ellie finally told him one night after supper when they'd settle in for the night. "No matter what, Nico was always family to me." She bit her bottom lip, thinking it wasn't possible now that they'd ever been lovers. "We were friends, good friends." She missed that part.

So she felt she had to reach out with Violet. Ellie hoped things were going well with the two. At least, she could count on Violet to take care of Nico.

She knew he could be stubborn and silent, but if Violet were patience enough Ellie was certain those two could make a go of the noodle shop.

They could be close, even if they were far away. Maybe she'd start with a care package.

milo & ellie

Ellie was hoping to hear from her old roommate back in Seoul. Ellie hadn't heard from Kaori since she found out she was pregnant. Ellie knew she should call, but the times she did, Kaori never picked up.

"I can't believe I would make her that mad," she told Milo. "What did I do?"

Milo told her not to worry too much about it. People moved on. "I'm sure she'll let you know, how things are going, once the baby gets here."

Ellie hoped he was right, but still, she had to call Nico in the meantime.

"Have you heard from her?" Ellie wanted to know.

"Look, I've been taking care of your ex, why should I have to know what's going on with your old roommate." He didn't sound to be in a good mood.

"You're right." She agreed. "I've called. I've left messages. You, think she's still with Jay, don't you?"

"I guess," Nico said he hadn't heard anything. He said he saw Minho about once a week. He came over for Friday night dinner. "I think he hangs out with Kenzo, on Saturday night."

"Oh?" Ellie didn't know who Kenzo was. "Do you know him?"

"He's Violet's brother." Nico then told Ellie about his friend from the Philippines, moving in, Manny.

"Are you sure you have room?" She thought Kenzo lived there too.

"He might as well, as much as he eats here." Nico didn't sound too fond of Violet's brother.

"How are you and Violet?" She wondered if he treated her as bad as he always did. Ellie knew the nineteen-year-old was rather fond of him.

"Fine." His voice was so monotone.

"Just fine?" Ellie asked.

"We're good." He wouldn't say much more about Violet.

She wondered now if he would always be miserable. Ellie hated to think he was making Violet miserable.

"Next time I call, I want to talk to Violet." She'd get to the bottom of this. After all, Nico was like family.

"Sure." But she knew that meant NO in his vocabulary.

Ellie was certain she'd get the low-down from Violet. Maybe Violet could find out what was going on with Kaori.

Milo and Ellie

Rocco was a lifesaver! He came through for Milo with a job at the museum. He would be archiving video footage about the museum as well as security too.

It was a tedious job. They wanted more than software, doing the job. Real people needed to go through the video stuff as well. Perhaps, not the job Milo really wanted, where he was behind the camera, but it was a job and he almost got twenty bucks an hour doing it.

"Just think, though, I could really be making the money if I was starring in a K-drama." He chuckled about it. Although, he sort of missed the leisure life of drinking coffee in a cafe all day, reading a newspaper and getting paid, while doing it.

Ellie's laugh was soft as he told her about the job.

"But, I want you to do what you love." She told him. "I want you, to make documentaries." Her eyes lit as if she could imagine the adventures he might go on.

"I will." He winced a laugh. "We'll go on trips. We'll see the world." He assured her, holding her hand, after the one-pot supper she'd made him.

First, though, he would have to do those adventures on the weekend.

"Maybe, we should go to Canada." He told her.

"Canada?" She made it sound of a far-off place.

"It would only take a couple of hours to get there." He was serious. "We could do it in a weekend."

"But..but what would you want to film?" She looked at him as if he needed to be more serious about this venture.

"I dunno." He shrugged.

She dropped his hand and went to get the dishes cleaned up.

"You'll have to figure that out before we take a trip there." Now she sounded like his wise old grandmother.

He couldn't help but burst into laughter. Was Ellie channeling his grandmother? Or was this why he'd been so fond of her all this time?

He went to help Ellie with the dishes. He was grateful she was here, where he could lean in and bump shoulders with her while she was washing dishes. He wasn't so sure if he could go back to video chats and text with a great distance relationship.

Milo & Ellie

"I'm certain its warmer here, than in Seoul." Ellie told Ren while they were catching up on the snowboard Olympics.

Ren only shrugged. She was indifferent as she ever was.

"Is everything really OK, at school?" Ellie wished Ren would tell her. Ren's homework was finished up so Ellie made her ramen.

At least, Ren was happy. She said she liked the way she cooked and wanted to learn from her. Her mother was too busy to cook and Ren wasn't all that happy with the person who delivered the meals.

"But, cooking together is important." She told Ren. "We will have to cook together. Maybe you'll want to come over to my place. You, could eat with my husband and me. Sometimes, our roommate has meals with us, but he's been a mystery lately."

Ellie chopped up some green onion and celery and carrots to go with the ramen. Ren watched. Ellie was beginning to feel that she might actually get to know Ren.

Ellie so wanted to love this job. It was a relief to be working with only one student and not a hundred and eighty students by the hour.

She asked Ren if she played any instruments. Ren shrugged, but finally confessed that she enjoyed playing the piano until she actually had to take piano lessons. Ren could play by ear.

"That's so cool." Ellie smiled. "You'll have to play something for me, after we eat."

Ellie sighed, hoping they were on the right track, and they were as soon as she listened to Ren play the piano of one of her favorite Lady Ga Ga tunes.

Milo & Ellie

Milo did his best to let Ellie rest. That meant, he did more of the housework. After all, she was the one working.

"But this means we have too much time on our hands." She pursed her lips. She didn't want him doing everything. "We should go places." Her eyes lit up when he mentioned the library and the museum.

He guessed she was right, but they couldn't go everywhere in one day. Besides, he told her she would need her strength with a New York City teenager.

She laughed. "Maybe, you should meet Ren."

Milo shook his head, no. No way did he want to have anything to do, with who Ellie was babysitting.

She let it go as they headed out in the cold for the subway. They would take their chances on the library in the city. It was a good time to figure out the best route. Naturally, there was always Central Park, but it was winter.

"I don't care, we should bring a picnic." She wrapped her arm around his. For a moment, he thought they might both be fat marshmallows in their puffy winter coats.

All Milo could think of, was having to lug a huge lunchbox of all of Ellie's delicate treats, some sweet and some savory. She didn't speak of it again, but he doubted she'd forget. Like she said, she was used to the cold. Luckily, she was in love with the New York City sights and of course, taken with the old majestic library.

She was fun to watch, like a kid who had never went to the candy store. Her smile was infectious.

He soon forgot his ominous phone call he'd had with his mother the previous night. What was he going to do with this girl? Marry her?

"Oh, but we're already married." He'd told her. Why was she making such a fuss? Beside, her mother hardly knew her. They'd only met once when his mom came over to get some of Milo's grandmother's stuff. That's when he found out his grandmother had been keeping his mother's old crap for decades and now she was afraid Ellie might go through it.

Milo hated to bring it up, how disappointed he was with his mother.

"What's wrong?" Ellie wanted to know after they'd taken a tour of the first floor of the library.

"It's nothing." Milo knew he needed to focus on finding a good job, not his mother's meddling.

"Let's go for a hot dog." He smiled. At least that was one New York City meal he could afford.

Milo & Ellie

What could Ellie tell Milo? She dreaded this new job? It was only a block or so away from the brownstone.

"I've worked all my life to become a music teacher." She told him, yet Ellie didn't want to go into detail, about how long she'd waited for the opportunity for her own class. She'd been a substitute teacher most of her teaching life. Perhaps, being a para-professional a good part of it had prepared her. Maybe she'd had more than one life back then. It was an escape to be with him, online.

The harsh reality of tending to naughty children lead to being in charge of the whole level of youngsters in a spacious room. None of them wanted to be there.

"I don't know why I ever wanted it." This was true. Maybe that's why she left so easily. Maybe the students had wanted her, it would have been different.

"I don't think I'm a bad teacher." She shrugged, but she might never know.

"Maybe..maybe..this job..just isn't.." Milo started.

"It's all right." She was even lipped, thinking she would be caring for a preschooler. Come to find out, it was a nerdy teenage girl named Ren. Ellie didn't expect her to be so shy. "I dunno why they need me."

Milo handed her the clippers. Maybe she would feel better if she cut his hair. Milo told her. At least, she didn't think of home. Yet, Nico came to mind.

Milo sat on a wooden chair, just like the memories she remembered of Nico. It almost took her breath away.

By the time she cut Milo's hair, it was as if she'd cut winter away. But February was on the way. She guessed she'd have to knit him a hat.

Milo kissed her check when she was done. His smile awoke a certain happiness. They weren't in Seoul, anymore.

Milo & Ellie

Milo was grateful to have Rocco around.

"I missed you, man." Rocco still stressed again and again that he was glad he was back, even if they'd kept in touch from time to time through text and video chats.

"It just wasn't the same." Rocco told him over coffee.

"Yeah," Milo still felt somber. He wasn't sure it was over his grandmother's departure or finally getting what he wanted and wondering what to do next. He didn't exactly have a paying job to come back too. At least, in Seoul he'd made good friends and worked. He had to admit he'd been lucky. A much better luck there than here.

"It'll work out." Rocco's smile was cool and he'd do his best to get him back with a gig, here and there, behind the camera. "Look, you know your skills. You have some great skills."

Milo would try to believe him, but he wasn't sure he was so nimble behind the camera, anymore. As of late, he'd been in front of the camera. Of course, he didn't know what in the hell he was doing most days, other than sitting calmly in the cafe background, reading a newspaper he didn't know the language of.

After all the ordeal of hoping he hadn't ruined Ellie's life by bringing her home with him. Milo wondered if he'd ruined his own. Maybe he should have stayed in Seoul.

Just as he was about to tell Ellie his thoughts, she broke away from her smart phone long enough to tell him she'd found a job.

"What?" He looked at her blankly.

"A nanny position." She told him it was part-time and it was just down the street. It would be afternoons and some evenings.

Milo hadn't expected this to happen. But she was happy as she went to make his dinner of noodles and egg rolls.

It was still cold out, but it felt like spring was already here. He hoped he could tell her soon about a job too, but Milo didn't know where to search.

Milo & Ellie

If it wasn't enough, having a roommate to contend with, it was all the phone calls from Minho.

Naturally, he sent videos trying to prove he was much more romantic than Milo, with videos of their times together. He made it sound as if they traveled and did everything together. Oddly, all she could remember was the laundry and cleaning up. It wasn't nearly as romantic as he remembered.

"What did I do? That was so wrong?" His voice was so mournful. Ellie didn't really know how to respond.

"It's not your fault." She finally said to him during facetime. "Look, you can't..you can't just stop.." She had listened to him talk about his sick leave from the school. "It will get better, if..if you'll let it."

Milo told her the next day not to answer any of his phone calls. He took her phone and blocked him.

"Don't second guess yourself." He told her. "Don't let him spoil..your life."

"I won't." She knew where she wanted to be, and it wasn't with Minho. Milo was right, but she felt the need to call Nico. Maybe they could check up on Minho.

"I..I guess we could do that." Nico sounded as somber as usual, but he told her Violet moved in with him, due to a family misfortune. "Her brother Kenzo hangs around." Of course, the weather was miserably cold, and they didn't do much of anything, other than run the noodle shop. "I'll let you know."

There were no questions about her sudden move to New York City. Instead, Nico said, "Stay safe and be happy."

"You, do the same." She smiled, wishing she could see Nico and Violet together. A part of her felt sure he was happier than he'd ever let her know.

Milo & Ellie

How could he tell Ellie about his one and only friend Rocco? He could see how apprehensive she was. Milo knew she was expecting it to be just the two of them. But if it wasn't for Rocco squatting the place, there would be no home to go, too.

"Look, I..I would trust him with my mother." Milo said the next morning after they woke up late. Naturally, it was only sleep they'd needed. The air travel took a toll on both of them. She made the bed as if she might as well be his maid.

She went to make something semi-international, vegetarian omelettes with lots of hot sauce. Of course, she wouldn't talk about the situation. He had a feeling she'd been is worse living conditions. Rocco was a roommate. Of course, Rocco was pleased with her cooking.

But instead of eating, she watched them eat.

"Aren't you hungry?" Milo looked at her, thinking she did eat like a bird after all.

"Tea and toast is enough." She'd spread some jam and peanut-butter on toast. She washed up the dishes as soon as they ate.

"I didn't want you to come all this way, just to do the dishes." Milo's voice was soft as he came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around, whispering in her ear. He stole a kiss. He could tell he'd tickled her long neck as she edged away, but not too much. "I want you to be happy."

She told him she was glad to be with him. "I'll get used to him." But she was straight lipped as she wiped down the red counter in the skinny galley kitchen. The home was well used by his grandmother. All her fragments of time were from the calendar pictures of lighthouses and beaches along the walls and the photos he taken with her when he was young.

Milo sighed. and dried the dish she was drying. He then put it away.

He wanted to go out with her. He wanted to show her the neighborhood, but it was so cold, in spite of a little snow. It was in the negative numbers and the wind chill was awful.

"We..we could look through my grandmother's things." He then said as he turned her to him. "Its even too cold to ask my mother over." He told Ellie that his mother preferred Florida during the winter months.

 Rocco left for work.

Milo smiled. Oh, the things  they could do while Rocco was out.

Milo & Ellie

Everything was so brand new. It felt like Christmas was hardly over and to land into the hustle and bustle of a crowded New York City... in the most freezing temperatures felt as if Ellie had hardly left home.

But she was a foreigner in this place. Everywhere she looked, everyone was speaking anything but Korean.

Thankfully, Milo didn't let go of her hand for a second. His friend Rocco picked them up at the airport.

Ellie could hardly speak when she saw him. He looked like someone she knew from back home, but who? She was afraid to ask him if he knew Korean, yet from the moment he opened his mouth..she knew couldn't

"We used to work at a radio station together." Milo said when he introduced his friend. "We met at the University."

Ellie nodded and smiled. She didn't know if she should speak. It would probably be better if she let the two of them talk.

"Man, I never thought you were coming back." Rocco was happy to see him as he loaded up their stuff in his little sporty car that said "Spark".

Ellie winced, wondering if it were electric. She nursed her bottom lip, thinking she'd ruined a moment for Milo's friend. She could tell, he'd rather be alone with Milo than to have her around. Still, she noticed he kept looking at her.

"We'll be staying at my grandmother's." Milo told her as they loaded in the backseat.

Rocco gave him a perturbed look. "You're seriously going to make me your chauffeur?"

Milo's impish grin pursed with a nod. He put his arm around Ellie.

"Who would have thunk it? It would really happen." Rocco shook his head as he buckled himself in and got ready to take off into the city.

The little red car weaved in and out of pokey cars, practically stuck in traffic, but not Rocco. At one time, Ellie was certain he was driving on the sidewalk. She clung on to Milo, who chuckled.

"He was a race car driver in another life." He softly told Ellie.

Of course, it was the dead of night in the cold city. But after so many stop lights, they finally made it to the freeway and a half hour later they were at the steps of the brownstone.

Rocco unloaded the car and brought the stuff in.

Ellie wasn't sure what to think. The place did have its charm. Still, it felt so strange to Ellie, who's legs felt so wobbly.

Rocco put on a pot of coffee. He was right at home, evidently.

He poured the cups of coffee.

"I made the room up for you." Rocco told him.

"I knew you would." Milo thanked him.

Ellie couldn't help but look at the two of them, a little strange.

Rocco got out some cookies and fruit.

Rocco took a couple sips of coffee, then got up and put his cup in the sink.

"Well, I'm turning in. Hope you sleep well." He told Ellie he was happy to meet her. She only mumbled something back and watched him go to the guestroom.

"He lives here?" Ellie looked at Milo.

"What are friends for?" Milo grinned back.

Ellie did her best to keep even lipped. She wasn't so sure she could get used to this, but she guessed she would have, too.

Milo & Ellie

"Why is it when you say thank you, it still feels like you're saying I'm sorry." Milo remembered those melancholy words. He guessed he said it, but it sounded like something from a far off K-drama he remembered memorizing in Korean.

The airplane was reaching new altitudes now, and he was somewhere in the clouds. His head was stuffy and he couldn't quite remember yesterday. Other than running around as if everything was one last chance. Getting his belongings at KaRa's and whatever he'd left behind at Yugi's.

He'd said his goodbyes and it was so sad, he felt as if he might be in quicksand. He knew it was asking too much. He knew he was probably wrong.

At every turn he felt the horror of leaving Ellie behind. He didn't want it to happen.

Especially, when he'd felt her true laughter, and he knew it would not change a decade or so from now. He would be happy around her, where ever they might go. There was no need to spend money on frivolous things like fashion nor hipster toys. All he needed was to know how her presence was always warm in the cold, the unknown, the now. It was a certainty that adventure awaited.

He smiled as if Christmas was everyday. The weight of her leaning, slumbering next to him.

Not in a million years did he think it would come to be. After all, they'd talked all night she'd spent with him. Sleep was on neither of their mind. So much to catch up on. Places he'd been. Did she still like cream in her coffee? Did he really know how to make a rice omelete?

Honestly, it had been ages since he'd felt this happiness. And he wasn't typing away... alone... facing a fat screen computer, wondering what sort of room she was in, typing back to him. Now, no words were spoken, just to be here. Together. Letting it be.

Milo & Ellie

Why was that FROZEN song on her mind? "Let it go..let it go.."

Yes, like a sweet bliss that was foreign to Ellie..she embraced the night.

All though, a lot of it was spent out in the cold at the ice rink. For the first time, she felt they might be one of those couples cuddling in the cold. It was easy to be here with Milo and she loved it.

It felt like the holidays. Yes, he did feel like home.

Why had she fought it so long? Maybe she'd been lost in the life she knew. But she'd trudge on for so long to be on her own. Yet, she felt herself bogging back down to what she'd always been. That orphan girl no one really expected much of.

But now, she was with Milo and as much as they waited in the cold, they caught a cab and found a room close to the airport.

"My wife and I, we need a room." Milo told the clerk. "We're leaving for New York City in the morning."

Ellie watched, feeling she was going deaf listening to her heart pound.

Was this really true?

She felt weak yet full of life at the same time. Maybe this would be the best Christmas eve.

She knew she shouldn't be quite this happy, under the circumstances. There was quitting her job, finding her passport....leaving it all behind.

But a smile emerged once they got to their room in the hotel. She knew her courage would see this through. A love that was lost was found.

Milo & Ellie

Was this really happening? Now was not to question it. Ellie was here and finally she would do this for him.

He didn't know where they would go? Would they find a cheap room and sleep?

She told him to eat the sandwich.

"You'll need your strength." Her smile was open and he wondered just what she was inviting. He didn't expect this.

He only smiled back and ate.

"Do you want to call KaRa?" Ellie asked as if she might worry. He shook his head, no. She would figure it out, sooner or later.

"But..but you two are close.." Ellie started.

He looked at her blankly. Did she think they were lovers?

"No, not..look I have my own room." He told her that KaRa's older sister used to live with her. "She helps me with Korean."

Ellie smiled and took a bite of the sandwich. "My English is bad."

"No, its perfect." He promised. She gazed at him as if he were the perfect liar.

"I'm serious, you'll do fine in New York City." He told her.

She almost rolled her eyes at his little revelation. She didn't reply but finished up her sandwich quickly and ate the chips as if it might be her last meal here.

She looked out at the snowy street and then looked back at him.

"Finally, warm enough for snow." She sipped her warm tea. She told him she knew of an ice skating rink, nearby. "That time of year, you know." Holiday lights were in full throttle.

"Its been awhile." He admitted, but he played ice hockey as a kid. "Maybe, I remember."

She promised she didn't have a talent for it as they finished up and bundled for the cold. Suddenly, it felt they were together. Even on the ice rink, it felt at peace. She could hold her own much better than she admitted.

In spite of the clumsiness of it, they found their groove, steadying each other on shaky ice skates. It was then he remembered how to go around and around. He grabbed both of her hands. Slowly, they started to spin.

She gritted a smile. Milo was beginning to think they were capable of anything.

Milo & Ellie

Ellie wasn't so sure why she said yes. Maybe, it was because she'd put Milo off  for so long. She knew it was wrong to leave him hanging, like she did.

Honestly, she hadn't meant for it to turn out this way, but maybe having friends here had turned her against him. As if, no way there could really be any LOVE over the internet.

She felt bad, not standing up to him. Of course, she knew she hadn't been true to Milo, like she should have been.

After all, they'd married on the Internet, but then there were those times, she could count on one hand when she'd been with Nico.

Honestly, what would Milo want with someone like her? After all, it could work out with Minho, couldn't it?

Yet, chances were, if they did find out at school, about the two of them, they would have to be separated. And she wasn't sure she really wanted to start all over as a music teacher somewhere else. Lord knows, he wouldn't give up his position.

They avoided these conversations. And she knew deep down, all Minho really wanted was his own family. Ellie wasn't quite sure she was ready for such a thing. Where was all this adventure? She'd hoped for? All she needed to do was do as she was told and live a quiet life teaching children music.

But there Milo was, waiting for her. He did look distraught. Maybe things weren't working out with KaRa. Of course, Ellie hadn't met her. She didn't really want, too.

"What happened?" She unwound her heavy crochetted scarf. She ordered tea since Milo didn't think he could have another cup of coffee without upsetting his stomach.

He told her about his grandmother then. She'd died of a stroke. Her memory was going, as it was. She hadn't remembered him for some time, but she'd left him her place at the brownstone.

He didn't say much more until after the hot tea arrived. It looked like they'd be staying longer so she asked the waitress to bring sandwiches.  Milo said he didn't feel much like eating. The food here was nothing like he remembered in New York City.

She could see he was homesick, after all.

"I have to go back. I have too." He sighed.

Ellie nodded. She knew he needed too, for more reasons than he'd admit.

"I..I..wish.." He cleared his throat and looked her in the eye. "I want you to come..with me."

Ellie thought she might be shaking. She couldn't say it was delight, perhaps nervousness.

"Do you..do you..really think.." No, she shouldn't say it. She knew she didn't believe it.

"What?" He wanted to know, and a cool as he could come off, she could see how afraid he was, after all, and yet he'd been fearless to come this far to a new country in a time when a war might actually happen.

"You know, I didn't wait for you." She was even lipped. "KaRa is probably..much better..and she.."

"That's not what I'm asking..I only want you." He was about to cry, but she didn't want him to cry, not for her.

"Its just, I'm really the miserable sort. I don't know if I know what love is." She was honest.

"I don't believe you." His face was rather grim, but he still held on to the hope, that she was wrong.

"Can't you see, what I've done." She shook her head. "You, deserve better."

"Why? Why are you like this?" His eyes were sad and he reached for her hand. She felt the embrace of his warmth. She wanted to let go, but she couldn't. "Spend the night with me."

She stared at him a bit bewildered. Her cell rang out. She checked it. It was Minho, of course. She nursed her bottom lip as she let it ring more. Finally, she turned her cell off.

She looked out the window from the coffee shop. It was starting to snow. Ellie winced. Where would they go on a night like this?

She sucked in a breath. She doubted it would change much, but at least she could say goodbye, properly.

Milo & Ellie

Milo listened closely to what his mother was saying over his Android. Yes, he was heartbroken to learn of his grandmother's passing. But..she'd left him a good size dwelling in the Brownstone he'd known most of his life.

"It's yours." his mother told him. "Please come back... Please."

Granted, he was a little dizzy when he heard the news out in the miserable cold of Seoul. Suddenly, it donned on him what he'd came for.

He swelled a frown as if the hole in his heart of emotion grew more intense. He needed to see Ellie now. He didn't want to leave without her.

He left the lot where he'd been an extra at the TV studio. He'd drank so much coffee from all the shoots he doubted he would sleep tonight.

The evenings were frigid, but he managed to catch the right bus. He didn't even think to tell KaRa he was leaving.

A part of him felt so numb. He knew Ellie wouldn't listen to him, but he missed her.

Maybe if he moved back, they would find each other online, again. Was it the only way, they would ever be happy, together?

It was a miserable thought. He doubted he would even catch her. She probably had a new schedule with her new boyfriend, the student counselor, who worked at the elementary school with her.

If Milo was lucky, she might wish him well. Maybe, Ellie would cry a little about his grandmother.

He'd chatted her up some time ago when they did face time. He used to tell Ellie how much she reminded him of his grandmother. Those were the days when he knew he cheered Ellie up and he would see her true smile. He felt good being her friend. Her best friend.

If only, she hadn't ignored him. What had happened to make her this way? It was a mystery that would go unsolved. He guessed.

When he arrived at the school grounds, he text her.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"Still, in the music room." She text back.

"Can I see you? We need to talk." He text back.

Of course, she said it was not a good idea to talk here. She said she would meet him at the coffee shop a block away from the school. She gave him directions. She told him she'd meet him there, in fifteen minutes.

He was happy she would see him, yet he dreaded it too. It would be the same old conversation. She was a grownup now. She didn't have time to be silly with him.

He knew what her friend and old roommate Kaori said about him. He was a creep. An idiot that would always be looking for a freebie. Still, he needed to see Ellie. It was now or never.