A/N: It still surprises me how much feedback I got from the two before this one. xD Really, thanks guys, I've never had such fantastic reviews. So, as you guys wanted, here's the (supposedly) last in my Dr.C PoV series. I think this one will probably end up being longer, depending on how it plays out. These stories tend to take on lives of their own.

Struggles

Chapter 1: Settled In

I'm feeling incredibly light right now. That 'on top of the world' feeling that only seems to come when everything works out alright, even after so many horrible things. And everything had, at least, everything particularly pressing at that moment. Susan seems happy, walking alongside me. She's close enough that her shoulder brushes against mine as we walk, and I find it reassuring.

"You know, if you'd like luxuries like a television without having to pay four hundred dollars for it, my dear, I will have to work sometime."

She smiles and shrugs. "I think I can do without it for a little longer," she responds, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the camp was out of sight before linking her arm with mine. We decided to keep this to ourselves for now. It's not that we don't trust the others not to taunt us in every way imaginable -- although that has been considered -- it's just... we're still getting used to it ourselves. "Although I'm not sure Link would say the same."

I chuckle softly, pushing my hands into the pockets of my coats. One week has gone by since our... um... 'talk'. four out of seven of these days, Susan has decided it'd be good to drag me away from my inventing to go on another walk with her. I don't mind, so long as she gives me those couple of days to work. "Didn't you just buy Link a new board game?"

"BOB ate some of the pieces."

"Ah." There's no need to explain beyond that.

"Yeah." She smiles, pausing at the side of the river, sitting down on a rock and gently pulling me down with her. "It's alright though. I'm starting that job in two days. I can get him something else."

"Well as long as you've got it all figured out, my dear."

Susan leans against me, drawing her legs up closer to her. "I wonder if I should try and save up for a little house around here, an out of the way one. People are starting to wonder where I live."

I frown, glancing at her in the corner of my eye. "I don't think that's a good idea, Susan." She frowns, turning her attention to me again, obviously wanting some sort of explanation. "We're still on the run my dear. Finding an actual place to live, they'll want thinks like... bank statements. Credit reports. Those sort of things show up on Monger's radar." Not to mention I'm not sure how much longer we'll be staying here. We have to be prepared to just get out as soon as possible.

"Oh... right..."

Why am I the only one that seems to remember that? Everyone else has gotten too comfortable in their stay here. I sense trouble in this...

-

"Where you guys been," Link asks, boredom creeping into his tone. It had become routine for us, this week.

"On a walk," my usual answer.

Though it seems as if Link feels like mixing it up today. "You guys have been going 'on a walk' every day for the past week," he points out, raising a suspicious eyebrow.

"There's a lot to see," Susan throws in, sending me a little smile. Very subtle.

Link only seems more convinced that we're lying. "Like what? More trees? More rocks? It's all the same!"

"That's not true," BOB speaks up. "What about that rock?" He points somewhere off to the side. Raising an eyebrow, I follow his gaze.

"It's just a rock, BOB," I point out, seeing no difference between it and any other rock, with the possible exception of the materials it's made of and the color.

"It looks like me!" he answers, sliding up to the thing and throwing an arm around it as if it were his new best friend. If I tilt my head a little bit to the side, it does look something like him... But I'm hoping this will be like the jello. He was in love with the thing for about a week, but then accidentally dropped him while we were flying over the Pacific ocean. He was upset about it for about half an hour. Then we got to Italy and he was effectively distracted.

"Riiiight..." Link speaks slowly before turning his attention back to us, obviously still waiting for an answer.

Rolling my eyes, I decide to ignore him, instead going back to my work.

-

"Look guys! I bought marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers!"

I blink, looking up from my work as Susan stepped back into camp with a few grocery bags.

"Oh! I want some!" BOB reached out to snatch the bags, but Susan quickly held them out of his reach, laughing.

"Hold on, BOB! They're for tonight! Don't you want to make s'mores?"

"Just one?" he asked, holding up a finger.

She tapped her chin, considering that before nodding. "Alright. Just one, but the rest are for tonight." She carefully tore open one of the bags, handing him a marshmallow, which he absorbed immediately. He sunk into himself, smiling in what looks like pure bliss.

Susan laughs again, turning to the rest of us. "I figured it was kind of like camping out here, so we should go for the camping experience," she explains. "I bought hot chocolate too."

"Sounds delightful, my dear," We're not camping.

We can't stay here forever. Monger will find us eventually.