Hi!

Ahem. This is not the meaty plot-twisting story that I alluded to at the end of PB II…I'm really trying to put that one together, but all the research involved in save-the-world plots is pretty extensive and leaves me feeling uninspired. Only 800 words into that one, but major props to those writers on ffn who have successfully created multi-chapter stories like that. I really am in awe of you! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this little story. It's pure fluff and rated T for now.

Disclaimer: I do not own any little bit of Scorpion.

This story is set at some point during season 3? Tim is not in the picture and Walter and Paige have gone back to their normal, awkward denial at prospects of couplehood.

A Glimpse of Glory

Walter leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, allowing the backpack to rest at his feet for a moment. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the vivid images replayed themselves as if on loop in his mind and he forced his eyelids to open again, searching for an object to focus on. The elevator button, an artificial potted plant in the corner, the shiny penny someone had left behind on the tan carpet. Anything. He needed anything to clear his head. But his brain just wasn't cooperating.

Ralph.

He needed to get to Ralph who was still waiting for him. Oh God, how was he going to face the boy after what he had just seen?

Walter managed to slow his breathing and scooped up the bag. He straightened. Ralph was expecting him to return. He needed to get it together.

-oooo-

Earlier….

Paige hummed to herself as she pushed her front door closed with her hip, her hands filled with several bags of groceries. "Ralph? I'm home. Are you just about ready?" Now that Ralph was getting a little older, and had proven on several occasions to be more competent than the sitters she'd been hiring, Paige felt comfortable leaving him alone for short periods. She never left for more than an hour at a time and made certain her cell phone was set to obnoxious in case he needed her, but she was enjoying a little freedom as she indulged in solo trips to the bank, grocery store, or to pick-up dinner on the nights she didn't have time to cook, to save a little money on delivery fees.

As Paige set the grocery bags down on a small table next to the door and hung her keys on the wall hook, she called to Ralph again. "Ralph? Walter will be here any minute. Can you answer me, please?"

Ralph stuck his head out of his bedroom with a grin on his face. "I'm just finishing packing. I'm almost ready mom!" His head disappeared and Paige smiled to herself. He was so excited to be spending the night at the garage with Walter and Sylvester. They were going to be recording something or other during a meteor shower with a new DSLR camera that Sylvester had. Ever since Megan had passed, photography had become somewhat of a hobby for Sly. Paige suspected that he was deeply grateful for the pictures he had taken of her before she died and photography now helped to fill a bit of that void. At any rate, the three of them would be camping out on the roof tonight. She shook her head as she finished putting the perishables in the refrigerator. She couldn't quite picture Sylvester "camping," even if it was just on the roof of the garage. She wondered if he knew the details of their meteorological adventure tonight.

She had offered to drop Ralph off at the garage, but Walter had insisted on picking him up, pointing out that her condo was on the way to the REI store where he would be purchasing the tent they'd be using for the night and that if he picked up Ralph first, he could help him pick it out.

She paused in her unpacking as she heard a knock at the door. Ralph came racing out of his room, nearly knocking his mother over as he rushed to let Walter in. "Hey buddy," she heard from the kitchen and walked out to see Walter smiling down at Ralph as her son beamed up at him. It melted her heart, as the sight of the two of them together often did. Walter looked up at her, and noticed her eyes looked watery. Misunderstanding the reason for her almost tears, he offered, "Are you sure you don't want to join us tonight?"

When he had originally suggested the roof camp out during the meteor shower, he had assumed it would be just the three of them – Ralph, Paige and himself. The thought of sleeping in the same space with her, even with a twelve year old likely asleep between them, still created currents he didn't fully understand to course through his body. When Sylvester overheard and asked if he could come too, quickly starting to explain to Ralph how the intervalometer on his new camera would allow them to potentially take time-lapse photos of the meteors, Walter knew he didn't have the heart to tell him no. Paige had responded by saying it sounded like a guys' night and politely declined the invitation for herself. As much as she knew she would have truly enjoyed the evening of star-gazing, especially in the company of a certain curly haired genius, she wanted Ralph to experience some male bonding. Well, at least the kind of male bonding that would likely occur between the three geniuses.

And if she was being completely honest with herself, she was looking forward to a little alone time. At the store she had picked out a new shade of nail polish, some bubble bath, four fashion magazines and a bottle of Pinot. All of these combined with some guilty pleasure romantic comedies courtesy of Netflix, and she had an evening of "me time" she was looking forward to indulging in.

Paige shook her head. "I am sure. Sounds like you guys have some big plans for the night, and I have a few plans of my own."

"Oh?" Walter started. "Big date?" he questioned, hoping fervently that her answer was no, failing in his attempt to force an air of nonchalance. He knew he should want her to be happy, but the thought of her in another man's company quickly made Walter's mood decline.

"Hardly," Paige scoffed. "Just me and a bubble bath and some-" Paige stopped as Walter had visibly tensed. She placed her hand on his arm, "Hey," she cocked her head. "Are you ok?"

Paige couldn't know a bath was one of his fantasies about her, and he cursed inwardly at himself for being so transparent. He didn't know why it was a bubble bath he'd conjured in his mind, the use of that much soap being highly inefficient, but he liked to picture her, all of her, just out of sight under a layer of bubbles, and then imagine her slowly emerging from them, over to him. Oh God. He needed to stop this train of thought. He couldn't speak for a moment as he watched her face, eyebrows arched in concern, waiting for a response, soaking in her hold on his arm.

Ralph was the one to break the tension.

"Can we go?" he begged impatiently, looking at the weird exchange between his mother and Walter.

"Yes!" Walter quickly responded, determined to return to the task at hand.

"Wait, just one second," Paige said, dropping her hand and returning her attention to the remaining grocery sacks that still needed to be emptied. "Here," she offered, rearranging the items that remained to put together one bag that contained only three items. "Graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows." Walter stared at her blankly. "Come on," she laughed. What's a campout without some s'mores?" Ralph tugged on Walter's sleeve. "I'll explain it to you on the way to the car. Can we go?" he asked anxiously again. Paige lovingly ran her hand through her son's hair. "I guess someone's a little excited for the evening's festivities," she giggled, then knelt to him. "Do you have everything? Toothbrush, pj's-"

"MOM! I'm quite prepared!" Ralph rolled his eyes and wiggled away from her, towards Walter.

Paige sighed and stood. The teenage years were going to be interesting ones. She eyed the small bag in his hand that appeared to only have his tablet, courtesy of Walter, and his telescope, and wondered how he managed to fit in the essentials she had just mentioned and a change of clothes for the next day, but decided to keep quiet, determined to raise a young man who planned, and could pack a bag without the assistance of his mother (or in Drew's case, girlfriend). She reminded herself that the garage was only a 15 minute car ride away and if he didn't brush his teeth for one night or had to sleep in his own clothes, it wasn't the end of the world, and might help him plan more efficiently in the future.

Paige stood and sighed, looking back to Walter. "Ok, so instructions," she paused to brush an imaginary piece of something from his shoulder. She so enjoyed touching him, and loved that he didn't tense nearly as much as he used to when she initiated contact. He'd even started to reciprocate on occasion, small pats on the back or shoulder, and once even moving her hair away from her face. Each time, she'd nearly convulsed on the spot, but managed to keep what she hoped was a reserved façade on the outside. Even with him becoming accustomed to her minor advances, she still reveled how his brown eyes would widen and the deep breath he'd inhale each time it happened. "Maybe, just maybe, he feels this too," she allowed herself to hope.

"Nine o'clock is Ralph's usual bedtime-" Ralph started to protest, "BUT," she quickly inserted, giving Ralph a little bit of a raised eyebrow before continuing, "I understand these are special circumstances. Tonight, if you make sure he eats dinner, brushes his teeth, and gets at least 6 hours of sleep, I'll be a happy mama." Paige bent down so she was face level with Ralph. "Don't get used to it," she teased, poking a finger at his nose and then pulled him in for a brief hug.

"Thanks, mom! See you tomorrow!" Ralph said as he squirmed away. And with that, he ran out the door.

Walter chuckled as Paige straightened and sighed. "Call me if you need to, ok?" she said.

"Of course," Walter replied. "And we'll call you in the morning too to let you know when we're up and about." He paused. "M-maybe we could all get breakfast?" he added, hopefully.

Paige beamed. "Sounds perfect. Have fun tonight." She almost reached up to give him a quick peck on the cheek, but thought better of it and simply put her hand lightly on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. Walter gave her a smile and a nod and walked out the door.

Paige took a breath and grabbed another sack of groceries before heading back toward the kitchen. She wondered if she and Walter would ever find a comfort zone that wasn't tinged with awkwardness and hesitation.

More coming really soon! I would love to hear any reviews you might have. They mean so very much.