Aly was silent again, before smiling softly.

"That's so sweet." she said, hugging him.

"I'm sure he'll love it." she told him.

"And I'll do whatever I can to help." she then said further.

"Just tell me what to do, and how I can help." she added, conviction in her tone now.

Aly watched him head to the door, and started to follow, but paused when she saw him stop at the door with his hand on the handle.

"...Eke?" she asked.

"Are you ok?" she asked further.

"Why'd you suddenly stop like that?" she then inquired.

She couldn't deny the concern that was rising from within her, but she didn't want to panic just yet. Maybe this was nothing. Maybe it was just Eke forgetting something, or trying to recall something.

Aly continued to follow him, and thought for a moment.

"That might be good." she agreed.

"More accessibility is always a good thing." she reasoned.

"What would you want?" she asked.

"A van? A car? A truck? Something else?"

Aly followed him, thinking about it.

'I'll need to talk to Ryker about that.' she thought.

"All right." she said.

"How can I help?" she asked.

"Is there anything you'd like me to grab to help speed up the trip?" she asked further.

".....hm." Aly muttered.

"Well, rice is good as a side for fish." she said.

"Oh, and if you like, I can help make dinner." she offered. "I know how to make really good sushi rolls." she told him.

"I mean, as another dish in the dinner. Obviously the cooked fish will be what shines." she quickly added.

"But for spices and seasoning, lemon and dill are classics."

Aly looked skyward, and was silent.

"Looks like it, yeah." she said.

"....wonder if it'll be bad..." she then mused.

"I hope not." she went on. "Ryker doesn't need to be caught out in this." she reasoned.

"We headed back?" she then asked Eke.

"Or do you have any more stops to make?"

Aly watched him go, and smiled.

"At least he seems energetic." she commented.

She then proceeded to unpack everything they had, and organize it. Once she did that, she started to chop and cut everything that needed to be chopped or cut.

She wanted all the prep work to be done for Eke when he came back down.

'...I wonder if what's been happening is concern-worthy...' she then thought.

'Am I just overthinking this...?' she wondered further.

Aly returned the kiss, and smiled.

"Well, I thought I'd be helpful and make sure all the prep work was done." she said.

"Help speed things up a bit." she went on.

"Of course, I mostly just did the vegetables..." she then admitted, looking at what had been done.

"Regardless, feel better after your shower?" she asked him.

Aly responded by nodding.

"Of course." she replied.

"I'll go do that now." she told him.

She then gave him a kiss on his cheek, before heading off to go and clean.

Aly spent the time cleaning the living room, and cleaning other areas around as well.

Ryker was actually about 30 minutes late, and when he stepped inside, he was soaking wet, and clutching at a plastic bag, with a smaller paper bag inside.

"Ugh." he grunted.

"This weather is the pits." he grumbled, before sniffing the air.

"Eh?" he muttered.

"What smells so good?" he wondered aloud.