The afternoon of gaming turns into a night of movie watching.

It didn't end there either. Having so much fun that the next couple of hours simply melted away, and before you knew it it was already dinner time.

"Shit. I'd better get going," you told Allison. "Dad'll be wondering where I am." Presumably having not expected you to stay out this late.

Allison had other ideas however. "Really? Can't you just stay a little bit longer. You can call your dad and tell him you're staying over for dinner. We can order pizza and then watch a movie or something. ...Like we used to."

"I dunno, Allison. I've been gone way longer than I should have been as it is," you replied. Not so sure that was a good idea. Her "like we used to" comment not exactly putting you at ease, seeing how the two of you used to do a lot of things together that you would no longer feel comfortable with, now that she was in the body of your mother. Slightly worrying also that she might be still clinging to something between the two of you that could no feasibly longer be there.

"So? It's a Saturday night," Allison retorted. Not seeing the big deal. "You did tell him you were helping me right?"

"Yeah of course. He was cool with it." In fact he'd been better than cool. He was actually coping amazingly well with all this stuff. Still, that didn't exactly stop you from feeling a little guilty about it. Leaving him alone with his grief while you were out gallivanting with what was essentially his dead wife. "I uh, I just don't want him to think I'm deserting him or anything."

"Either that or you're just trying to get out of hanging around with me," Allison then pouted. Looking rather upset.

"What? No!" you assured her. "Of course that's not it all." This not being the entire truth. It having been a huge leap going from the occasional hour or two visit to spending most of the day with her. You still needed time to adjust too.

It was clear she could see through you though. The paranoia evident in her voice as she nervously asked, "We're having fun right? Kind of like old times..."

"Yeah, sure we are. I mean... obviously its not exactly like old times but..."

"But nothing," she grinned, perking up immediately when she heard this. Glad of the validation. Telling you then that, "It's settled. You'll phone your dad and tell him you'll be staying a little longer." Allison's bossy side having definitely not left her. Having been the much more forceful and proactive one in the relationship. Usually always getting her way.

Before you could say anything else, she crossed her arms over your mother's chest and glared. "Don't make me **** you. I still know your weakness remember." Making out then that she was going to tickle you. This being how she won nearly every fight in the past.

Retreating backwards out of reach, **** not to be tickled, you told her, "Okay, okay. I'll call him. Jeeze!" There still being no winning against her, even in a different body. In that respect things were still very much the same.

"Good. I'll go order the pizza!"

And with that she skipped off, leaving you there to try and work out what exactly had just happened. Having been completely bamboozled by her mind games. She really hasn't changed at all, you thought, smiling rather fondly. Having not really wanted her to. Her sensitivity, her persistence, her inability to let you win an argument all being things that had drawn you to her in the first place and made your relationship work. Hell, if it had been all on your shoulders she would have run for the hills a long time ago.

Doing as instructed then, you phoned your father and explained the situation. Your dad, as always, being pretty relaxed about it. Telling you not to worry and have fun. Having plans himself anyway to watch the football with his friend Todd while David and Tabitha were off doing their own thing. This admittedly made you feel slightly better. Glad that he wasn't wallowing around the house and had company of his own. He did also mention however that he'd spoken to his lawyer and that the divorce proceedings were underway, and that he'd speak to Allison's parents soon about when exactly the time would be right to start telling people about the 'separation'. Although hearing this made you feel a little saddened once again, you assured him that you'd pass on this message to Allison before hanging up the phone. Filling her in a minute or two later once she was done ordering dinner. Though this put a slight damper on things for a while, you were both aware it was for the best, and soon tried to put it out of your mind as you sat down to watch a movie of Allison's choice. Munching away on microwave popcorn while you waited for the pizza to arrive.

As with before you made sure to keep your distance on the couch, even with Allison playfully nudging you every so often or throwing bits of popcorn your way. You made light of it of course, but it still felt kind of weird. This being not really something you and your mother would ever have done (at least not at in the last ten years), and it did make you feel ever so slightly awkward. It almost appearing at times like Allison had forgotten just who's body she was in.

Thankfully though you got a slight reprieve when the pizza got here. Jumping quickly off your seat to take care of it.

"How much was it?" Allison asked, once you'd paid the delivery guy.

"It's cool. I got it," you told her, deciding to be generous. She had made you lunch and kept you entertained all day after all.

"Don't be silly. You were the one who was helping me out with the move," Allison said, making a move for her (formerly your mother's) purse. "Now how much do I owe you?"

"Honestly, Allison, it's cool. I don't mind."

Once again this wasn't an argument you were going to win. Allison pointing out then how you were just a "poor high schooler" and she was the adult now. Having money from the hospital to tide her over for a while. As well as threatening you once again with a tickle if you didn't yield. Not wanting that to happen, you gave in. Compromising in the end and splitting it 50/50. This seeming to satisfy both parties.

Tucking into the pizza then while the movie continued, you had to say you really were struck by how fast everything had happened. It being just over a month since the car accident, and about three weeks since you'd 'buried' your mother (or at least laid her memory to rest). And now here you were, sitting on the couch with the girlfriend you could once barely bring yourself to face, in her brand new apartment, acting like none of it had even taken place. It was very surreal to say the least. How would it be in another month? Or another month after that? Would you eventually forget that was your mother's body she was in. No. No way. You seriously doubted that would ever happen. That being one thing that was impossible to get around. You may be enjoying each others company again and you may be a little less uncomfortable than you'd once been, but still... for all intensive purposes, that was your mom sitting there. Your mom. Nothing was going to make you forget that.