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Neze realized that Sjajan probably didn't know how to count. She also thought that the little one wouldn't have a good hiding place.

I'll just pretend not to know where she is. That way I can kill time until Indu gets here, as well as getting on her good side.

"Okay, Sjajan. I'll count first."

Neze leaned her head against a wall and closed her eyes.

"1... 2... 3..."

"48... 49... 50! Ready or not... Here I come!"

Neze looked around the room. No sign of her. She peered behind the couch and chairs, no Sjajan. Behind the curtains, No Sjajan. She wandered around peering into rooms, but not really looking for a little bit.

Occasionally she would peak under or behind things and doors, but the thought of looking under the couch never came to her. Perhaps Indu would come home and then Sjajan would come out. It was obvious she didn't like that Indu had just left.

Neze did start to get a little worried when she did actually start looking and couldn't seem to find the child. Perhaps she knew how to get the front door open? She didn't know what would happen if she had lost Indu's child. It wouldn't be good, though.

Neze screamed. She screamed like she had never... Almost never had screamed before. Then she realized it was just Sjajan and she laughed.

"My aren't you really good at hiding. You out-witted me! Which I suppose I should suspect from a daughter of Indu's."

She chuckled again.

"Speaking of Indu, I wonder how long she's going to be at the store."

Neze carefully removed Sjajan from her leg and picked her up. She moved over to the window and peered out to see if Indu was there. Then she turned her attention to Sjajan once again.

"Did you like that game? I really hope so. Do you want to play another?"

Neze returned Sjajan's affection with a broad smile. Just then Indu walked in. Finally she was back. It wasn't that she disliked being alone with Sjajan. It wasn't akward anymore. She was just relieve a little.

"Where have you been? Some nerve you have leaving like that! Although, I did have a good time playing hide and go seek with Sjajan here. She's really good at hiding."

Neze giggled.

Neze didn't buy that Indu went shopping at all, but whatever. Maybe it was window shopping. She did let a a bit a of snort-chuckle thing when Indu asked if she wanted her. Then she noticed the serious look.

"Indu! She's..."

Neze realized that this was not the conversation to have in front of Sjajan. She set the girl down on the couch and told her to stay put for a few moments while she and Indu talked. Then she took Indu by the arm and dragged her into the first room with a door she could find.

Whispering, she said, "She's your daughter! Why would you just abandon her like that! Please, please tell me you're not serious!"

"Jesus, Indu! I thought you were ******** serious. Gah. Yeah, I don't know how you manage to do it all, but I'm sure if my mother had her way I'd have a bunch of my own by now. My mom tends to think raising a family is more important then persuing secondary education or a career. Am I rambling too much? I bet I'm talking too much."

Neze opened the door and returned to the room with Sjajan in it.

"It's okay to move now if you want, Sjajan. You're mom was just kidding around with Aunty Neze, and I believed her because I'm a little slow at getting things sometimes."

She laughed a little at herself.

"It would really irk my mother if I moved in with you. She would be convinced I've gone 'to the dark side' and gone all lesbian. She never liked you to start with. It would be just... Beautiful."

The thought of the look on her mother's face when she told her was priceless.

"I suppose I could move in, but only because it'll really piss my mom off, and not perminantly. I don't want to overstay my welcome. I don't think I would even have to tell my mom we were doing... erm... That. She would just assume."

Neze felt really uncomfortable having this conversation in front on Sjajan.