It's complicated

At least he doesn't have an Oedipus complex

When she woke up on an unfamiliar couch she wasn't exactly thrilled. She hadn't blacked out by any stretch but it did take her a minute to remember why she wasn't back at her apartment. A sense of dread filled her body when she remembered why she had come to East Highland in the first place.

There was a bottle of water and 800 mg of Ibuprofen on the table next to her. She took them and laid back down. The next time she opened her eyes she was greeted with the smell of pancakes and quiet music.

"Mornin sleepy head," Fez said from the kitchen.

"Shit what time is it?" she asked frantically, reaching around for her phone. It wasn't in her pocket and it wasn't on the table so she must have left it in the car.

"Chill out, it's only like eight. Where you gotta be all early and shit?" he asked, walking over to the couch so he could talk to her.

She was sitting up now with her head in her hands, rubbing her eyes and trying to wake up. "I kinda blew up at Nate and then ran off last night. I need to go back and make sure he's ok," she explained, getting up and pacing around the living room.

"Shit, girl. Do you ever think about what you need? Cuz it seems to me like you need some pancakes," he offered, gesturing to the table where there was a plate set for her.

She thought for a second. She really didn't want to go back to Nate's house. She didn't want to see him after last night. And she didn't want to see Cal either. There was always something off about him to her. He was her father's brother so that didn't help his image in her mind.

Whatever it was, he set her on edge. He made her skin crawl and all the other things of that nature.

So she agreed. She didn't owe Nate anything. She'd be back when she was back. But for now she was going to enjoy these pancakes and her time with Fez.

"So why do you have to take care of that dumbass anyways?" Fez asks, while shoveling pancakes into his mouth.

She sighs and pokes at her food, losing her appetite for a moment. The long answer is that their parents were bad people. And they had promised each other that they would never be like them. And she had kept her promise as best as she could. But she saw that Nate was failing to keep his and she knew she was the only one who could help him. And if she was the only one who could help him that means if she doesn't everything is her fault. "It's just always been that way," she said, forgoing the rest of the details.

"I get it. Responsibility and all that," Fez says. He would be the one to understand unfortunate responsibilities. He had inherited a drug empire when he was in middle school. It was his responsibility to run the business in his grandmother's absence.

Of course he had his little brother around for help. Ashtray had been in the game from an even younger age than him. And he knew he was nothing but capable but he still felt the need to care for him.

She nodded, staying silent and taking a swig of her orange juice. When she finished the food she got up and washed her hands. There was still a silence between them. It was like too much had been said but at the same time it wasn't enough.

Before the silence could get too uncomfortable Fez spoke. "I know you said you hate that party shit but there's a halloween party coming up if you want to go," he offered. It wasn't a question, it was just a statement. But there was something unsure about his voice.

"Are you gonna dress up?" she teased, already knowing the answer.

"Hell nah," he replied furrowing his brow at the line of questioning.