Alex Moen and Eliza Dushku: Ch-ch-ch-changes
Alex clicks off her mobile and stares at it thoughtfully, as if it could give answers to the million and one questions floating through her mind. It can't, of course, and she puts it down, still thinking. She walks out into the kitchen, and starts making tea, staring out of the window and thinking about the conversation she'd just had and about another one, not so long ago, with Eliza, where they'd found her something to do. But that's what it had been. The situation right now, with Eliza not working - understandable as it is - has changed Alex's role and reason for being here. And she's thinking more seriously about that now than she was before the call she just finished.

Eliza comes in, wiping her hands on her thighs. When she looks up, she sees Alex and cocks her head. "Hey. You okay?"

"Just thinking," Alex says, turning to Eliza and smiling. "Would you like some tea? It's herbal," she says, knowing Eliza is being careful. "This is... really different than we planned, isn't it?" she asks.

"Just water, if you don't mind?" Sitting on one of the stools that looks into the kitchen, Eliza has to smile. "Yeah, I guess so, huh?"

"No problem," Alex gets that for her and makes her tea. "I mean, not that it's not wonderful for you, but there was, well, supposed to be more work, you know? And it's... slow. I think that's the word for it. I mean if you were acting there'd be a lot more for me to do."

"Yeah, definitely." Hands wrapped around her glass, Eliza looks up at Alex. "Wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to stay."

"It's more," Alex says, thinking, "that I feel like I'm marking time. It's not that I don't like it here, I mean, this is really nice and Channing's a good man, but..."

"But." Eliza nods. "What're you thinking?"

"I'm not wanting to do anything major," Alex says. "Not without thinking a lot. But I do want to look for more than just the charity work, outside of here... I heard from my mother earlier and so many of my family are doing great things... and I was like, we're getting ready for the baby and I'm doing those things... and it's like... not competition, but like... where am I? Why am I here?"

Smiling softly, sadly, Eliza nods again. "Makes total sense. It does. And you know I have your back for whatever you decide to do, right?"

"I know, but a part of me doesn't want to leave, at all," Alex says. "That's what makes thinking about it so hard, I think. If I had a real... part in all this, I could stay here happily but I feel... and not in a way that you could do anything about, outside of you and Channing and the baby..."

"Yeah." And Eliza feels a flush of guilt. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's not your fault. I've held back some too," Alex says. "You need time to settle in with Channing and your baby."

Studying her, Eliza cocks her head. "Life's kinda crazy, isn't it?"

"Insane," Alex has to agree. "It's... really not what I was expecting."

Sliding off the bench, Eliza walks around and into the kitchen, reaching for Alex's hand and pulling the other woman closer to kiss her cheek. "You do what you need to do. I got your back."

Alex's arms move around Eliza. "Same goes for you, from me, you know that, right?"

"I know." Her arms around Alex's neck, Eliza closes her eyes.

Not saying any more, Alex just holds Eliza for a long time.