She'd done well. She hadn't felt panicked or nervous or trapped and there hadn't been a single hint of bad
memories. Of course, it had been quiet and she'd been amply distracted by Hector - but still... she thought it was a
step, however small, forward.
When they reached the car she took the boxes from Hector and set them on the floor so that, worse came to worse
and they somehow did find a way to spill, the clean up would be easier. Then she turned around and wound her
arms around his shoulders, looking up at him, eyes soft. She was going to ask for a proper kiss in a moment - or
several of them - but first...
"Thank you." Her voice was soft as she found his dark eyes with her own. "Thank you for this. For everything." Her
hand shifted off of his shoulder and cupped his cheek. "For you."
"All I did was feed you." He said. "And drive, and get the car...okay, you're welcome." He said with a chuckle, pulling
her close. She looked a lot more at peace right now, and that went a long way on moving him forward on his own
journey to find complete peace.
It was a hard journey, he knew, for the both of them. But it was so much easier traveling that road with someone than
trying to make the way alone. He'd learned that so far. He'd been wavering on whether or not it had been smart to
bring her here, after all that, especially when she had been ambushed by some of the neighbors (he honestly hadn't
expected anything like that), but tonight, here at the restaurant...
Africa was far across the ocean just for a little while. For the both of them.
Her body softened against his with a peaceful exhale. Relaxing in the solid strength of his arms, his embrace - him.
Grace was being given something you didn't deserve. She'd grown up knowing you didn't try to become worthy
because you never could. You just - opened your arms and spent the rest of you life cherishing what you'd been
given. She didn't deserve Hector. Or the sweet, soft, gentle, loving, protective, complete, breath stealing way he
treated her. But she couldn't fight it. Or him. It wasn't in her to even try. She couldn't do anything but open her arms
and spend the rest of her life so - hopelessly lost in him and the way he loved her. And she knew he felt awkward
about it when she tried to tell him so. Because he didn't realize how amazing and rare he really was.
But he was...
With tender fingers she brushed at his slightly curling hair. Gently combing it back from his forehead, short nails
trailing lightly.
"You take such good care of me." She murmured softly. Finding his eyes with her own again as she gave him a
smile. "Even when you're trying to pack me out like a sausage with meals." The smile softened. "I do love you, you
know." She told him softly. Touching his cheek lightly with her fingers. "Quite over the moon, in fact."
"Yeah, I know." He said. "You're probably the only one who would put up with me anyway." He said and kissed her
then in the dim parking lot lights and glimmering moon.
She was, really. Anyone else, had they seen what he really did for a living, seen it up close in the shadows of night,
would have politely thanked him (maybe) and gracefully (maybe) excused their way out of his life.
But, oh so lucky for him, the only one he would have minded doing that was her, and she showed no sign of it. She'd
had plenty of chance after returning to the Red Cross camp. Private conversations with her mother to not leave her
alone with him. Perhaps siccing her father or Mike on her.
But she'd done none of that, which meant he didn't have to resort to stalking or something else as extreme. He'd
given her her chance, she hadn't taken it, so she was more or less stuck with him.
And the rare thing, she didn't seem to mind.
Her arms wound around him again as he kissed her and she sank into that kiss with a quiet, pleased sound. Melting.
Mouth answering his completely. So - hopelessly lost to him. She would always be - so lost to him... And it wasn't a
bad place to be.
He'd made tonight precious for her. He made every night precious to her now. And the days too... He found ways to
wind his love into every corner of her life and her world. She knew it. Knew it was intentional. Knew it was his way of
keeping her. Keeping her safe, keeping her happy, keeping her spoiled. Keeping her in his life... She managed to fit
herself closer somehow, fingers winding into his thick hair. It was where she wanted to be. In his life. The thought of
not - now - what she was inside, what she was becoming as she healed, and what she'd always been and had to
push aside - she couldn't imagine not being a part of his life. Not having him so central to hers. Self preservation was
a distant memory and she was long past the point she could have clung to that as an excuse. She was his now. And
he was hers. And the kiss simply melted together what was already there in her heart.
The waitress, in the process of locking the front door for the night, had to pause and wave over her husband with a
grin. Seeing - need in the embrace in their parking lot. And fulfillment too.
"Ah now there's repayment enough for staying up late, eh?" The husband said in the waitress' ear as they watched
the couple with his hands on her shoulders as he stood behind her. "I don't even think they knew they were alone for
that long." He chuckled at that as they watched the couple.
Hector rested his forehead against Andi's. "Come on, before they call their friends to join in spectating." He said with
a laugh.
She exhaled a laughing, content sound. The rest of the world still only vague and blurred at the edges of her mind.
Touched the tip of her nose lightly to his. Smiling.
"But we're so used to having an audience." She teased low. After all, 'private time' was hard to find with the lifestyles
they'd both been leading. Though - private time had a great deal to be said for it... Tender she brushed her fingers
along his cheek. Kissed him again, gentle and sweet before softly smoothing down the front of his jacket just to touch
him.
"Home?" She asked softly. Meaning that word and its choice as she drew back a bit, her long fingers slipping down to
brush against his palms and met his eyes, her own soft.
"That's the plan. Borrowed car and all." He said with a laugh, reaching behind him to open the door, then moved
away to fully open it for her, waving at their watchers with a half embarrassed wave before making it over to the
driver's side to get in himself.
There was also the whole thought of getting home, kicking Tommy back to his place with his car, and no more
spectators, he thought as he looked at her with a smile as he pulled out of the parking lot.
That warm content feeling had settled in her chest and was pooling in her stomach as she gave him a warm, wide
smile of her own. Reaching over to touch his arm lightly with her fingertips before settling back in the seat and sliding
on the seatbelt.
It seemed a shame to get all dressed up and not spend the entire night 'on the town'. Which was something she
hadn't done in years easily. But the warmth in his eyes and the slow, melting kiss... there was something sweet and
sliding about the thought of simply being home and in his arms again that easily beat out any and everything else
without needing to try.
She hoped Tommy didn't mind a quick send off.
She leaned her head back against the seat, smile soft. Stars overhead easy to see through the windshield once
they'd left the town behind. Content with the hum of the car and the world passing away outside. This was what
dreams were made of. The kind you woke up longing for and could never remember... She turned her head to watch
Hector's profile.
"I'm glad we came here." She murmured softly. And, vague, it covered everything. From the restaurant tonight to his
home in the States. 'Here' being right where they were on all its different levels.
"Even if everything's closed by eleven?" He asked with a chuckle. The whole area was nothing but small towns,
everything closed early, especially in the middle of the week. A gas station and the drug store were really the only
things that stayed open all night. Neither exciting places to say the least.
But a bright city filled with external things to do wouldn't do either of them any good. And they weren't needing of
distractions, seemed to him they found each other plenty distracting when you came right down to it! He took his time
on the ride home, but even he couldn't make it stretch forever as he pulled back into his driveway. "He's probably
passed out on the couch, the game still on."
"Especially if everything's closed by eleven." Andi agreed with a humming laugh. Content to do nothing but simply
soak in the feel of this evening. Of now. Of Hector and the quiet night and peace. She almost regretted it when they
got home. Almost... but not quite.
She laughed quietly at his summarization of how Tommy had probably spent the 'exciting' evening and slipped her
hand into his as she got out of the car. Giving it a last lingering look. It was, indeed, a very, very nice car.
"I'd say we should let him sleep." She slipped under Hector's arm. Raised her face with a smile. "But he does have
school tomorrow..." she managed to put a great deal of sincerity into her voice considering the way her eyes were
laughing. "We really shouldn't keep him up later than it already is."
Hector laughed. "Of course. We wouldn't want him to disappoint his students." He said as he opened the door.
Tommy had spread some papers to correct out on the coffee table before settling down to play the game, which he
fell asleep with his head on one end of the couch and his feet hanging off the other, controller resting on his
stomach. "And believe it or not, he really is a grown man. Even has a game system of his own at home." Hector said
with a chuckle before going over and swinging Tommy's legs off the couch. "Play you two out of three." He offered.
Tommy woke up. "Wha-?" He mumbled, rubbing at his eyes and looked at the clock. "Naw man, some of us have to
work in the morning. Besides, if I don't get home and call Amy she's going to swear I'm out with another woman."
"You two back on?" Hector asked.
"For the moment. We'll see." Tommy said with a grin.
Andi chuckled, stepping over the cord before leaning over and turning off the TV which had gone into a 'holding'
screen in which the idling sports car on screen vibrated slightly in place while 'fans' from the stadium seating nearby
did various odd and distracting things like answering cell phones, throwing soda and - she could have sworn there
was a random clown popping up in the audience for brief moments.
"You can bring her tomorrow you know." She offered. "If you think it’s safe and all." She added with a smile over her
shoulder as she figured out how to turn off the video game console.
"Already feeling the need for some other sources of estrogen?" Tommy asked with a laugh as he stood up and
stretched. "To combat and equalize the outpouring testosterone and motor oil that's sure to pour tomorrow? Smart
girl." He stooped then to pack up his papers. "Car in one piece?"
"Yeah." Hector said. "Except for the teeny dent in the bumper from where I rear ended a pick up truck...and the trunk
won't close now...and I think there's something wrong with your transmission. Tops out when I reach 140 or so...."
"Bastard. You're lucky she's cute or I'd really get you back for that."
Andi grinned at Tommy. Delighted to be referred to as 'cute'. With her height there weren't many people that thought
that adjective first when they looked at her. Tommy definitely could though.
"Nice taste in cars and you think I'm 'cute.'" She chuckled it as she leaned over and kissed the larger man's cheek
lightly. "I do like you. I'll have to think up excuses to ask to borrow your car again." She moved over to rest her hands
on Hector's chest and look up at him, warm eyes dancing. "You did mention a road trip, didn't you?" She asked,
putting the right amount of hopefulness into her tone.
Tommy laughed as if it were the funniest thing he had heard in his whole life. "Girl, you're cute, but you're not that
cute. Nice try though." He said.
"Can't blame us for trying." Hector said with a chuckle.
"Yeah, yeah." Tommy said good naturedly. "See you tomorrow. I'll show my own way out." Tommy said then, and did
so, even using his own key to lock the door behind him.
"So we're free until about five tomorrow." Hector said.