Darby certainly didn't miss the look of discomfort on Athena's face as Jeremy came in and took control of the situation. And he knew, even as Jeremy's arm was slung about her shoulders that he should ask for his flatmate to take off and leave the two of them alone. It was the right thing to do, afterall.

However, he didn't.

Instead, he reached over, plucked a cookie from the plate and ate it as Jeremy continued to talk.

"Too busy for us? Now, that hurts, love. Hurts deeply even."

"So, can you?

"Ah? So, over for a favor then? Is this the reason for the cookies?" he moved away from her then, heading into the kitchen as he continued to talk. "Seems a lousy thing to do. Butter up a guy. I mean, all you birds need to do, really, is simply smile and bat your lashes and you can get what ya want," he added, tossing a beer to Darby who caught it and, with an expert flick of the cap on the counter, was downing the Newcastle.

"Take a seat, love. You can't drop in after weeks of nothing and expect to get away with anything less than a full fledged visit," he declared pressing an open beer into her own hands. All the while, Darby said nothing, his eyes simply watching her and wondering just why he was being an arse instead of sending Jeremy packing and working to heal whatever it was that had gone wrong with them.