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With the dogs racing around the yard, Mathias steps back from the work he's completed on his hut and dusts his hands off on his jeans. Even if Veronica decides that moving in is not in the cards just yet -- although he thinks she will decide to do it -- he's glad that he's built the extension. The hut was large enough with the two bedrooms, but it's nice to have the extra room for the dogs now.

And for Sam, of course, if they move in that direction.

He doesn't mind being up in the air, especially since he thinks Veronica likes the idea of living together. She hasn't said no and she hasn't run away, so he's hoping her response in the long run will be a positive one.

"There is more room for you now," he tells Hal in German. Ever since adopting them, he's fallen into the habit of speaking to them more in German than in English, with the exception of their names and the commands they know. It isn't the same as having an entire conversation with someone who speaks German, but there is little opportunity for it on the island and he enjoys the chance.

"You two can run around all you want, but if Sam and Veronica move in, you will have to be careful," he continues, rubbing the dog's ears when she comes over to him, wagging her tail. They're good dogs. They're his dogs now.

This is, he thinks, a good life.

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For a moment, Mathias says nothing, just pauses with his mouth partly open. Then he smiles, his arms tightening around Veronica briefly and he nods. "You're right, that would make it easier," he agrees, then looks toward the hut. It looks good, he knows that, and he's proud of the work he's done, but even more now, it means something. It means moving forward with a life he was never supposed to have.

"And I think you and I could find time for extra tutoring sessions," he adds, looking back to Veronica, still smiling. "I don't think that would be a problem at all."

There's a part of her still uncertain about all this, nervous, but Veronica has the sense, too, that will be true until she goes through with it. It's got nothing to do with not wanting to; she just needs to be sure firsthand this won't screw them up and the only way to find out is to go through with it. It's such a big step, she doesn't know if there's any going back, and she's good at backpedaling, even with him. "How does this work?" she asks, a touch more serious when she looks up again, though her smile doesn't altogether disappear. "How do we make this happen?"

"I guess we... we make it happen however you would like for it to happen," he says, knowing as soon as he says it that it sounds like he's trying to pass it off on her. That isn't the case, so he shakes his head. "I mean that if you would like to do it in small steps, we can. Or if you would like to move everything at once, we can do that, too."

At this point, he's willing to do anything to make the move easier on both Veronica and Sam.

Veronica purses her lips, nodding slowly as she thinks about her options here. It's not like she hasn't considered this, but every time she does, it's like making the decision all over again. "I think," she says slowly, "maybe if we just do it gradually, that would be best. Not too slowly, but... just to get Sam used to the idea. Do it in stages, spend a night here before we're fully in. I don't know if she'll adapt easily or freak out, it's always a toss up with her." She hopes Sam takes to it readily. Living in a new house wasn't the problem when she moved in with Veronica, after all; it was being without her parents.

"Of course," Mathias answers, arms still around Veronica. He gives her a reassuring smile, hoping that he's making this easier on both of them, knowing that it will probably be an adjustment no matter what he does. "That is probably the best way to do it. It will help her adjust to the idea of being here more often."

At least, he certainly hopes that's how it will work. This isn't something he's ever done before, especially not with a child involved, and he's doing his best, but even his best is still a guess.

"I'm mostly just concerned about her," Veronica admits. "She's had a lot of upheaval in the last year, but... I... think this could be good for her, too. For me. For us, all of us." Sam is her primary worry these days, a change in situation she's still not always sure about, but she has to do what's best for them, too, for herself. One of these days she's going to have to grow up, instead of hiding behind the kid she's raising, and she doesn't want that day to come when he's not around.

"I can understand that," Mathias says, because although he's never raised a child before, he knows that too many big changes can be difficult to adjust to. Even as an adult, these things can be hard. "Have you talked to her about the possibility of staying here more often?"

She's still a very little girl, but even little children can have some strong opinions. Mathias has learned this from cousins and children he's seen on vacation.

Veronica nods. "I'm not sure she entirely gets the idea of moving in completely," she admits. "Sometimes I think she does and sometimes it's hard to tell. A lot of things are just stories to her. But she doesn't seem to be against it." She doesn't want to do this and then have to back out, but then, part of her thinks, she won't. Sam can adapt, Sam is good at adapting, as small children all seem to be, better than she is, and she needs to be able to do some things just because she wants them. This relationship has to be a priority, too.

"I think she'll be okay. In time," he ventures. Sam still isn't his own and he's very aware of that, very conscious of the boundaries that his relationship with the little girl has, but at the same time, he's gotten to know her much better since she's come under Veronica's care.

"She likes me well enough so far," he adds with a smile. "That, at the very least, gives me hope."

"She does not hate you," Veronica agrees, breaking into a grin as she finishes, almost laughing. "That's enormous." As a rule, Sam is friendly, loving, but it's still a big deal, knowing the girl approves to some extent. If anything's going to smooth the process over, it's that. "I will start packing. You just... say the word."

"Any time you're ready," he says with a smile. "The extension is finished and although it's empty inside, it's still ready. I think all I have left to do is find something that I can use as curtains in that awful box." Besides the fact that the box is awful, he doesn't exactly have a decorator's eye and trying to find something that wouldn't be completely hideous is a challenge at the best of times.

"Or maybe I should leave that to you," he decides.

"The box?" Veronica echoes, laughing. "Is that what we're calling it? I'll look into seeing what I can coax out of that box, but I don't think it's anymore qualified for interior design than you are. Maybe less." She's pleased, though, to know they can start soon, since now she's got her nerve up, she'd rather do it now and take advantage of the fact. What he designed, she's sure, is perfect anyway.

"The box," Mathias says seriously, although he's smiling. "That is what I always refer to that thing in the basement that tries to give me exceptionally inappropriate underwear." Every time he goes down there, it's the same thing, and he's had to work long and hard to have anything even resembling a wardrobe.

"Maybe we should let Sam choose," he continues. "It would be her room, after all." If Veronica had decided against moving in, it would just be an extra room, but since they seem to be going ahead with it, it's Sam's room.

"Oh, it's gonna be all dragons," Veronica says, serious, though she laughs. "It was ponies with me, but no, she's obsessed with dragons." It remains Sam's strongest memory of their time in the caves the other month, so far as Veronica can tell: the disappointment that they didn't go exploring and find some. "If the box can be convinced, but I'm told I'm very persuasive."

"Dragons," Mathias repeats appreciatively. "With me it was dinosaurs, but dragons are very close." It doesn't matter at all to Sam, he figures, but he approves of dragons very much.

"Then we should find her dragon curtains," he decides. "If that's something she would like." More than anything, he wants to make sure this feels like home to all of them.

"We'll see how cooperative the box is," Veronica says wryly. She doesn't expect much, but for Sam's sake, she'll sure as hell try. "Can I see the finished product?" She grins, glancing back over her shoulder at the house. She's been inside before, but this is different. Now it's her new home, and she hasn't had too many of those in her life, let alone ones that seemed like a positive change.

"Of course," Mathias says, taking her by the hand and leading her toward the front door. The dogs are content enough to play in the yard and he doesn't need to worry about them as they head inside.

The first room is much the same as it was before; a larger room with other rooms leading off it. To the left there's the room that used to be Stacy's and straight ahead is the one he'll share with Veronica.

"This is the addition," he says, taking her toward the slightly smaller room to the right.

Veronica smiles as she walks inside, grasp on his hand tightening for just a second. Turning slowly, she looks it over, though there isn't yet much to see. "This will definitely do," she says, though she had no doubt it would. "I think she'll be pleased." She is, at least, even if it still leaves her nervous. It's just such a big step, and some part of her can't help remembering how many people she's known who finally took a leap only to fall on their faces.

"Good," Mathias says, his smile growing wider, genuinely glad to hear that Veronica thinks Sam will like it. It's hard to know what is the right way to make this happen, but he thinks they're both doing a fairly good job without knowing.

"So you think some sleepovers at first is the way to start?" he asks. He thinks Sam might adjust better to the transition that way.

"Yeah," Veronica says, nodding, though she's finding now she hasn't really given it as much consideration as she should have. She put so many energy into debating whether or not she should, whether or not Sam can deal with this, that she failed to account for how they would put it all into action when — if — the time came. This isn't an abstract, though, a hypothetical. "Tomorrow night? We can test run, see how everyone feels about it, if there's anything that needs to be adjusted. I, I don't know what, but... yes, I think that's a good idea."

"Tomorrow," Mathias confirms with a nod. He's excited, more than he's letting on, and the thought of starting so soon, of helping Sam adjust as of tomorrow is enough to bring another smile to his face.

"I will have to try and find dragon curtains tomorrow during the day, then," he says. "Just to make sure she feels at home in the room." And he'll have to furnish it as best he can, make sure there's somewhere for her to sleep and to put her things.

"I'll help," Veronica says. "We can look together. And I'm sure she'd be fine with something that isn't dragons." She grins, though, stepping back toward him for a quick kiss, pleased both that he's pleased and that he's taking these things so much to heart, so intent on getting it right. It bolsters her own desire to do so. For once, she can't afford to be flippant, though she might be anyway.

Mathias leans down to meet her in the kiss, his arm on her shoulder briefly. He's sure this can work, the three of them living together, even with all the animals that will have to be considered. Although he's never lived with anyone before and has nothing to compare it to, he's sure that everything will work out. It may not always be simple, but it will work out.

"I feel that dragons are necessary," he insists with a grin.

"Oh, well, if they're necessary," Veronica says, tipping her head up to kiss him again, a laugh in her throat. "I'm sure we can figure it out." It may all seem daunting now, but it's not enough to keep her from moving forward. That's the real challenge, always has been — not the part where she keeps moving, but doing it in spite of everything else. He makes it easier than she thinks it has any right to be.

"Can you think of anything else she might like? Storing some of her toys here so that she doesn't have to pack them all for each sleepover?" he suggests, scratching his beard absently. He's looking around the room, trying to picture it with a little girl living in it, all the things he'll still need to improve upon. Building an extra bedroom is one thing, but actually filling it with all her needs is another entirely. They're up to it, but he knows it will take a little bit of time to have everything figured out the way Sam might want it.

"And what about you?" he asks. "What of yours should we bring over?"

"Oh, well, me," Veronica says, "just... clothes, overnight things, I guess. I mean, I'll, I'll actually pack everything else to bring over anyway, so... we can just do that in stages. Uh, she's not that keen on parting with most of her toys, but there is a wooden horse she got a couple Christmas back. She can't take that to bed with her anyway, so it can stay here as we start the transition." Now she's thinking about it, they have more material goods than she'd realized, more than she would have imagined when she got here. "Some of her coloring books, too, that would probably help."

Mathias wonders if Veronica is just nervous and that's why she seems more interested in talking about how it will be to move Sam over instead of herself. Instead of asking, he nods, rubbing his fingers up the outside of her arm. "I will have to add some furniture to the room," he says. "A place for her to sleep is very important, obviously, but maybe some shelves for her to put the things we bring over here."

He's a little nervous now, too, but still excited.

Veronica nods. "It'll be fine," she says, as much for herself as for him. She'd still be skittish, she thinks, if it were just them, but adding a toddler to the mix seems incredibly volatile, a commitment easier to make in words than actions although he's never been anything less than supportive. She scrunches up her mouth, looking up at him. "And if it isn't? If this doesn't work out? What then?"

Considering, Mathias tips his head slightly and asks, "Because Sam has a hard time?" The two of them, there's no question, as far as he's concerned. He isn't going anywhere, even if Sam isn't comfortable in the new hut, and if she and Veronica need to move out again, then it's something he's prepared to deal with.

"If you want, you can keep your place for awhile, see how she adjusts," he suggests. "Or if you don't want to do that, we could always build something nearby if she isn't comfortable here."

Veronica dips her head. "I mean, if... living together doesn't agree with... us," she says, gesturing between them. "It's, it's a big step — even without a toddler — and I've... never done this before." She's not sure if she's communicating it properly — that isn't something she's ever been much good at either. No matter how sure she is of them, there always seems to be room for doubt.

"I've never done this before either," Mathias points out, but he understands what she means, even if he doesn't want to talk about it or think about it. To prepare for the end seems a little unromantic, which feels strange to think, given that he's never considered himself much of a romantic at all.

"There are many things that might not agree with us," he says slowly, considering each word. "But we have taken each risk. I don't know what will happen, but I do know where I want to be and I know we work well together."

Veronica prefers to be the one with the answers, no matter how many questions she asks; not being certain or able to fake it never sits well with her. He's right, though, she knows that. It just isn't always easy to reconcile the truth he offers with the fact of all she saw growing up. "Well, we got this far," she says, light, trying. "That's gotta mean something."

Mathias makes a little face at her, his eyebrow lifting, but he nods his agreement. She has a right to be scared, he knows that, and he's scared, too. There's a fear that this will start to put pressure on the good relationship they have, but he wants so badly to take this next step.

"We have made it fairly far, haven't we?" he asks. Longer than any relationship he's ever been in and the only relationship he's had on the island.

Veronica huffs out a laugh, nodding. "Longest I've ever been with anyone," she says, which probably isn't that reassuring, since her track record would then suggest it's time for this to come to a crashing halt. It hasn't yet, though, that's the thing. It hasn't and she doesn't really think it will.

"Me too," he tells her, just so she knows she isn't alone there either. There was his first real girlfriend in Munich, but that was a long time ago and they hadn't lasted this long, although it sometimes felt as though she'd left far too large an imprint on him for only a year together. Still, he hasn't thought about her much these past few years. Not since meeting Veronica.

"I'm not just going to give up," he says finally. "You are too good for me to do that. If things get hard, then we will figure it out."

It seems like such strange terminology to apply to her: 'too good.' It's been a long time since Veronica saw herself as good precisely (right, but not necessarily good) and certainly not overly so. From him, though, she believes it. She believes, at least, that he does, and she thinks he might be just about the only person who sees her that way. She used to wait for him to figure out it isn't true, but she doesn't anymore. "Okay," she says, nodding. "We'll find a way through."

"Besides, I did a lot of work here," Mathias says with a smile, one that he's trying to fight down and failing. "I have definitely gone out of my way." He doesn't mind doing it, though, not at all, and he's glad that it's done now. The extra space is needed, no matter what, especially with the additional animals. Even if Veronica and Sam don't stay full time, if they ever want to stay at all, the space is there.

"That's true," Veronica says, and it's enough to get her to crack a smile, too. "You've put a lot into this, the least I can do is not run away like a chicken with my head off." That may happen eventually, but she can at least do him the justice of not jumping right for it. They've managed to get this far and he is, in spite of his past and his issues, quite possibly the most low maintenance boyfriend she's ever had (and given how high maintenance she can be, maybe that's why this works — part of it, at least).

"A chicken with your head off," he repeats with obvious amusement. Despite all the time he's spent outside of Germany, there are still expressions that occasionally surprise him, things he never would have thought to say on his own and this is definitely one of them. "I am very glad you are not running away like a chicken with your head off," he agrees with a grin, having given it some thought and deciding that the image it gives works in an interesting way.

Veronica laughs, letting herself be distracted by the way he takes to it, how much she likes when she still manages to happen upon something he's not familiar with. "You and me both," she says. "I'm pretty fond of my head. I like it right here."

"As do I," he says, reaching up to smooth one hand over her hair, then leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. "It would be very awkward were I asking a headless woman to move in with me. That would add too many complications. Where would we keep her head, for example."

He's being silly not, as silly as he gets, to let her know that everything will be alright in the end. He's sure of this.

"You think of all the important things," sighs Veronica, tugging him toward her for a kiss, though she starts laughing. "I wouldn't even know what to do with my own head." They'll be fine, she tells herself. If they can talk about it and they can make jokes, they'll be better than fine. This is them, after all, and they've made it this far for a reason.

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