Hours passed and it was soon 11 o'clock. Denise was having a wonderful time carrying on a conversation with Xanda. She was happy that her son had finally brought home a smart woman. 'No more tits for brains.' She thought as Xanda explained what was happening with the stock market, something Denise had heavily invested in. AJ seemed slightly bored with the conversation but was happy to see that his mom was making no effort to talk with Xanda. She didn't need to make one. "AJ, where's your bathroom?" Xanda's voice broke into his thoughts. "Oh, c'mon. I'll show you." He said as he stood up and held out a hand for Xanda. She hesitated before accepting his hand in front of his mother while Denise let out a low chuckle when she realized how nervous Xanda was around her.

"I like your mom." Xanda said as they walked slowly down the hallway. "Yeah, and she likes you. She NEVER likes the women I bring home and trust me, I've brought home a lot." AJ quickly regretted saying those words but was put at ease when Xanda laughed. "I forgot for a second that commitment is a four-letter word to you." AJ turned Xanda around to face him and frowned. "No one's happy alone and that's how I've been for the past few years. I've been trying to change but it's not that easy. Like we've been saying, one day at a time, right?" They were talking in the doorway of the bathroom. "AJ, commitment is easy. If you stopped thinking with the wrong head then maybe you'd understand that." Xanda explained as AJ shook his head. "Sex used to be like a drug. Well, I'm recovering so it's one day at a time." AJ defended with a smirk. Xanda laughed before leaning over to give him a slight peck on his forehead. "I'll be out in a few." She explained, trying to close the door that AJ was blocking. "Can't I come in with you?" He pleaded with puppy dog eyes. "No! Now get out of here!" She playfully shouted at him.

AJ laughed as he walked down the stairs toward the living room where his mother was waiting. "I like her, Alex. Don't fuck this up, too." She warned. AJ rolled his eyes. "I know, mom. But, I've only known her for two days. Right now we're going through that purely sexual attraction phase." This time his mother rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that 'sexual attraction phase' because that's bullshit. You've brought home many, and I strongly emphasize MANY women and not one had a brain other than the one you found between her tits. You've finally brought home someone who is intelligent and polite. You fuck this up in any way and you're never gonna hear the end of it." AJ chucked to himself at the warning he had received the year before when he brought home an intelligent woman who was only after his money. "Mom, we're just friends right now. We agreed to take it one day at a time." AJ explained. "You two didn't look like 'just friends' when I opened the door." His mother smirked. "I've already heard this warning from Howie, mom." AJ stated. "Good. If you fuck this up then hopefully she'll have enough sense to go to Howie. At least he knows how to commit." AJ rolled his eyes again with a slight laugh. "Alex, I've seen you go from woman to woman for as long as I can remember. I didn't bring you up to disrespect women like that so you better watch out."

Xanda decided to stop eavesdropping and cleared her throat as she walked down the stairs. "Sorry I took so long. I had to call the office." AJ looked at her like she was crazy. "At 11 o'clock at night?" Denise watched Xanda, waiting for an answer. "Yes, I was checking my office voicemail. I've been busy the last two days because of a certain someone." She smiled back at AJ. "Well kids, I'm gonna let you two have the rest of the evening to yourselves. Alex, don't keep her from her work! I'm sure she wouldn't do that to you." Xanda stood up to walk Denise to the door. "I wouldn't keep him from his work. I still don't understand it but once I get into this new office, I'll be so swamped with my own work that I will hardly notice how busy he is." Denise looked from AJ to Xanda and smiled to herself. 'I hope things work out for them.' "Oh, weren't you here to talk to AJ about 'business?'" Xanda asked, remembering Denise's words from early in the evening. "Yes, but we can talk about that any day. Honestly, I wanted to see who Howie was talking about. Any woman who can take care of my Boys is approved by me." Denise replied as she and Xanda exchanged hugs. "Take care?" AJ asked. "She tucked Howie and Nick in last night when they fell asleep, didn't she?" Denise asked back. "How did you know that?" Xanda asked with shock. "Howie and Nick weren't asleep. They were eavesdropping." Denise replied with a smirk. Xanda started to laugh as she watched AJ make a mental note to lecture them later. He didn't need his friends reporting to his mother about his private life no matter how trivial it was.

***

Xanda walked around AJ's house, giving herself a private tour. From the staircase window she watched AJ walk his mother out to her car. She felt jealous at the fact that AJ had a decent mother. She was obviously doing well off of her sons career but she was working for everything she was receiving. She cared about her son as well. Xanda could only wish that her mother did the same. After watching Denise get into her Mercedes and drive away Xanda found herself waving good-bye. "God, I hope he knows how lucky his is to have a mother like her. Some of us would kill for that." Xanda mumbled, wiping a few tears away. "Trust me, I know. I thank god every day for giving me to her." She heard AJ's reply. Xanda jumped slightly as she quickly tried to wipe the tears away. "Alexandra." He whispered over her shoulder when he realized how upset she was. "I'm fine, don't worry about me." She insisted as she continued to stare out the window. "I can't do that. What's wrong?" He pried. "Nothing, AJ." She answered. AJ forced Xanda to turn around and as she did so, he wiped away the tears. "No, don't cry, baby." He whispered. Xanda stared down at the ground, trying to stop herself from crying but realized that it was useless. She had too much anger and hurt inside to stop. AJ looked down the hall and saw his bedroom door opened. "C'mon." He whispered as he lead her to his room.

AJ crawled into bed and dragged Xanda along with him. He placed his pillows up against the headboard so he could sit up. Xanda laid with her head on his chest as she continued to cry softly. AJ stroked her hair and didn't say anything. He knew she would talk if she was ready to open up but he didn't hold his breath. Half an hour passed by when he realized that she had stopped crying. AJ glanced down and grinned when he noticed that she had fallen asleep.