Tempe sat bolt upright when the door slammed, looking at him in slight alarm. For the briefest moment, she looked like she been caught in the act of thinking, specifically about him, before she forced herself to relax. She watched him shut the door intently, her gaze tracing his fingers quietly as he latched the door. She brought her gaze back to him and offered a slight, less-than-bright smile. "I'm doing... better." She shrugged. Physically, yes. Mentally? She was a deer in headlights. She reached over to pat the seat beside her on the bench gently, giving him an intent look. "Come sit with me." She ordered softly.

Of all the things she had enjoyed most about her time with Nate, it was sometimes just the faint near-cuddling she managed to rope him into, before she had decided that wasn't an option. She loved the embrace, the warmth, the touch, the comfort. Even when he buzzed around her in his own, caring, motherly way. The constant reassurance that he wouldn't let her fall, the closeness. She had been starved of physical affection since she died, it was only reasonable to be a slight bit needy. Which is what she told herself. It wasn't him; it was just the comfort that she enjoyed. Surely it would've been the same as an embrace from anyone else.

Nate would like to say he hadn't been a little startled by her jump but that would be a lie. He wasn't sure how to respond to her, but her invite left little to wonder.

He sat beside her, sitting back, one of his ankles on his knee, a hand on it. His eyes wouldn't meet hers as he put an arm around her shoulders. "Good. Stay better. I like it like that." He looked down at her innocently.
He took a deep breath. "Is there anything you want to do? Go hunting or stay or?" He asked genuinely. He didn't know where to go next. He didn't have to ask, she was his guardian angel. But he couldn't help it, he seemed to long for her.

The scenery was lovely despite their awkwardness. Trees, bushes, surprisingly well kept ones, the cars in the sticky weeds even looked nice, birds were everywhere. He was starting to wonder if there was a bird feeder somewhere. Would Russ put a bird feeder out? ...probably.

Tempe watched him approach calmly, drawing in a tight breath as he slung his arm casually over her shoulders. She tensed ever so slightly, fighting the urge to relax before she gave in. A little friendly contact was fine, right? She slid a little closer to him, curling her legs up beside her and setting her head gently on his shoulder. She smiled faintly at his comment, lifting her eyes to meet his. "Alright. I'll stay better, just for you." She joked quietly, devoid of her normal energy, but still there.

She brought her gaze back out to the yard in front of them, observing it as he spoke. After, she curled her left arm around him in a half-hug and set her forehead against the side of his neck, closing her eyes. She blew out a small breath before she responded. "Whatever you want is what I want." She shrugged.