Well folks, here we are! We've made it to the final chapter of The Date, and my second completed and posted story. WOW, what a rush! As I've said before this is the first in a series, but don't expect the second installment "Going Public" soon. I've got one-too-many irons in the fire, right now. Once again I'd like to take the opportunity to thank, Melbelle, Ambrosia Rush, 2Distracted, and Shestarsky for the continued support and encouragement I needed to get this done!

Just so you know the locations for this date, and the menu items are accurate! It's important to me to keep the feel of LA in my stories. I do apologize to James' Beach for Bruce. I am certain they'd never hire a guy like him. Just chalk him up to being a convenient plot device.

"Where are we headed?" Nell asked once they pulled out of her building's parking lot and into traffic.

"Venice," Eric replied, not taking his eyes off the road. "There's a restaurant that's pretty popular with just about everyone, from surfers I know to movie tycoons. The food is fantastic, and I thought you'd like it."

Nell smiled. "Well, I'm hungry enough to eat a horse, and it might be nice to run into a movie star. It hasn't happened to me in the six years I've lived here."

He chuckled. "I make no guarantees. Frankly, I don't know if I could compete with some dreamboat actor. The way you look in that dress, I'm sure a lot of guys there will be looking your way."

"Why, Eric Beale what sort of a girl do you think I am?" she gasped, starting to giggle. "I have never gone out with one man and been brought home by another, and I never will!" she stated.

"That's nice to know. It can get awkward when that happens," he said as he stopped the car at a red light.

She whipped her head around to face him. "Tell me you're joking! That hasn't actually happened to you has it?"

A small frown touched his lips and he wouldn't look her in the eyes. "Once or twice. I haven't actually done this in a while."

Anger burned through her veins at the thought of her partner, her best friend, and something else she still didn't want to admit too, treated with such disrespect. Even on her worst date, she'd always gone home alone. "Eric, look at me," she ordered in a soft voice.

He hesitated, not wanting her pity, but he turned to face her. "It's okay, Nell."

"No! It's not okay," she said in a firm tone. "Nobody has the right to treat anyone like that. I admit I'm still not sure if this is a good idea. I'm terrified that we're going to ruin our friendship, our partnership, and everything else, but I would never treat you with such disrespect. You are a good and kind man and I value that above everything else."

The light turned green and Eric returned his attention to the road. "Thank you for the compliment, Nell," he whispered, overwhelmed by her belief in his goodness. Then his voice returned to its normal strength. "You really have to trust me when I say one date isn't going to ruin what we already have. I won't let it, even if it means turning around and taking you home."

Nell turned to look out the window at the sea of cars. "I trust you. That's part of the problem," she whispered.

"I don't understand."

A tiny bitter laugh burst from her lips. "You aren't the issue, Eric. The issue is me. It's always been me. I'm not what most people would refer to as, 'experienced.' I'm nothing like Kensi, or even Hetty was in her day. I've only had three boyfriends, and only one of them I would consider a serious relationship. Each of them was a complete disaster, and every time it was my fault. I am just not a good person for a relationship. As much as I care about you, and I care deeply, I know that I'll end up making a mess of things and hurting you. I don't want that for us. I don't think I can bear it."

He gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles cramped up. "I don't believe it!" he said, his voice almost stern.

She turned and gave him a faint glare. "I only lie about my job, Eric; and only because of National Security. Anything else is a mortal sin."

Eric smirked. "We'll tackle your Catholic guilt complex some other time. For the record, I never said I thought you were lying."

She rolled her eyes. "You just said you didn't believe me!"

"No I believe you think that what you're saying is the truth. I just think you're wrong."

She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "How could you possibly know I'm wrong? Who was in the relationships, you or me?"

Another red light popped up, so he turned to face her. "I know you, Nell Jones. Aside from the dating profile incident where I was entirely too jealous to think straight, I know you. You are kind, caring, and you bring happiness to everyone at OSP. After Dom died, the place was half-dead. Deeks helped bring Callen's team back to life and you did the rest. Sure, you have an ego, and believe it or not, I'm not so besotted with you that I think you're perfect. Guess what? Nobody is perfect! I've never expected it of anyone and I certainly don't from you. However, there is no way I can believe you are single-handedly responsible for three breakups. You're too good a person, Nell."

The light turned green and Eric returned his focus to the road. Nell sat quietly for the next fifteen minutes her eyes stinging, hoping she wouldn't cry again, and grateful to Eric for letting them sit in silence. Finally, she let out a long sigh. "That might be the kindest thing anyone without the last name Jones has ever said to me."

He couldn't take his eyes off the road but he responded. "If that's true, then there are far too many idiots in your life."

"I'm not used to being liked," she whispered.

He bit his cheek to stop his anger at that statement. He did understand it though; too many people had resented his intelligence and his comparative youthfulness throughout his life. People with brilliant minds rarely fit in with so-called 'ordinary people.' He knew both he and Nell had been fortunate having strong loving families to ground them, and surfing had been an outlet for him where his brain didn't matter. It must have been so much harder for her because her brilliance far surpassed his. "You're extremely well liked now."

"I know," she replied, hoping he could 'hear' the small smile in her voice. "These past two years have brought me happiness I didn't think was possible. I owe it all to Nate, Hetty, the team, and you. I never believed I would find a place I belong. Sometimes I have nightmares that this is all a dream and I'll wake up back in graduate school and Blake…" she stopped abruptly.

"I hope you pinch yourself when you wake up," he replied with a grin. "Was Blake one of the relationships you supposedly ruined all by yourself?" he asked, in a more serious, concerned tone.

Nell started fidgeting in her seat and adjusting her seatbelt. "Are we there yet? I'm so hungry."

Eric pulled into a new lane and started laughing. "Okay, this whole day was worth it just to see you regress to an adorable five-year-old. We'll be there in ten minutes; I promise the food is worth it. For future reference, if you don't want to answer a question that's fine."

She blushed and began fiddling with the hem of her dress. "Isn't there some sort of rule that you can't talk about your ex's on the first date."

He cocked his head to the side and thought about it. "I suppose that's true if you're into pop-psychology in magazines and movies. Truthfully, I'd rather just let this date lead where it will. Besides, we're hackers; we both have issues following rules. If you don't want to talk about it fine, but I'm willing to listen."

She stared at him shaking her head in disbelief. "I have no argument for that logic."

He broke out into a wide grin. "You really hate that, don't you?"

"Yes!" she cried out, and then began to giggle.

True to his word, they pulled up to a restaurant located on the beach. The sign read James' Beach. Eric parked the car and walked around to help Nell. She took his offered hand, stepping out of the car. As he closed the door, his stomach loudly grumbled. He blushed as she burst out laughing. "I never said I wasn't hungry you know!"

"Well, let's not waste time. The food smells great and we're still outside!"

Eric unconsciously put his hand on her lower back and gently guided her to the entrance. As they stepped inside, Nell was relieved that Eric had described the place perfectly. It wasn't formal but she didn't feel out-of-place. Eric noticed her grin. "What is it?"

"White table cloths and board shorts hanging from the ceiling. It's just the sort of place I imagined you taking a woman out on a date," she whispered.

Eric raised his eyebrows. "How often do you think about me on dates?"

She froze in her tracks and he felt a shudder run through her and into his hand. "Eric, I-" she trailed off helplessly as her skin broke out into goose bumps.

A woman in a hostess' uniform came out. "Hey, Eric we've got your table all set up. You picked a good time to come; we just finished a Golden Anniversary. Everything is back to normal. Follow me…"

"Thanks," Eric replied with a smile.

Grateful for the interruption and wanting desperately not to return to the awkward conversation, Nell decided to shift gears. "Have you both been friends for long?"

The woman laughed. "We hardly know each other. He surfs with my husband and saved the idiot's sorry neck from drowning last week. I owe him a favor."

Nell turned to Eric, her eyes wide. "You did what?"

"It's nothing," Eric shrugged. "It could have happened to anyone."

The hostess let out a very unprofessional snort. "Nothing my foot! That idiot of mine plowed over Marty and then got himself tangled in some kelp. I'm surprised the three of you are alive to tell the tale."

"We weren't telling," Eric stated with a glare and a sullen tone.

The hostess shrugged as an apology. "Have fun. Bruce will be here in a minute to get your drink order."

Eric held out a chair for Nell, and then sat down across from her. The hostess left the menus and went back to her station. Nell leaned forward and stared hard at him. "Does Kensi know about this little adventure you two had?"

"Did you notice Deeks limping or bleeding last week?" he retorted.

"No," she replied, after thinking about the past week.

"Then I think it's safe to say Kensi doesn't know a thing. If she did, I'd probably be limping too, just for being there."

Nell frowned. She was a mid-western girl, despite her family's rather nomadic existence growing up. She loved the ocean, but she also considered herself to have a healthy fear of its dangers. "Why do you do it?"

Eric cocked his head to the side. "Why do I surf?"

"Yes. Don't get me wrong, I realize done properly it's probably less dangerous that football or hockey. However, you can't control all the variables and drowning is one of the worse deaths there is."

Eric smiled gently; it warmed his heart that she cared about him enough to ask him the question. "Nell, I've been surfing since the fifth grade. Believe me when I tell you that I was taught by a man who wouldn't have let me - or his grandson - out there without a proper fear of the waves."

Her eyebrows went up in surprise. Deeks once told her he'd been surfing since he was sixteen. She hadn't even considered the possibility that Eric was even more experienced. "Tell me how you learned."

Before Eric could reply, the waiter came to their table. "Good evening, folks. My name is Bruce and I'll be your server this evening. May I have your drink order to start things off?" he asked, turning to Nell.

"I'll have an unsweetened Iced Tea, extra ice, and sugar on the side please."

Bruce nodded, jotting the order down. "Very good, and for you sir?"

"I'll have a large Cranberry Juice with a squeeze of lime please."

"Would you like some Vodka in that sir?"

"Not tonight, thank you."

"Very good, sir. Will you be ordering your appetizers now, or do you want your drinks first?"

Eric glanced at Nell and saw her studying the menu. "We'll have our drinks first."

"I'll get those right to you. Enjoy your evening."

Nell glanced up from her menu. "I don't mind driving back and giving you coffee if you want a drink, Eric."

He smiled and shook his head. "I don't drink on dates unless I'm in a group. Even then, I stick to one beer. I've been on dates where I was glad I kept a clear head. It's a habit I picked up in college."

"That's remarkably responsible compared to the last date I was on," Nell replied grimacing at the memory.

"Bad?"

She sighed. "He got so wasted that he threw up on me while I was getting him into a cab."

Eric's face twisted into utter revulsion. "Ouch! He didn't try to hurt you or anything -" he trailed off slowly, unable to say the words.

She laughed softly. "Quite the contrary. He spent the entire time crying about his ex. I felt bad for him actually. Tell me how you learned to surf," she demanded, returning them to their former conversation.

Eric leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in front of him. "In third grade, I met my best friend, Christian Harting. He embodied what the true meaning of, 'The All American Boy.' I used to call him Superman. In fifth grade, a drunk driver killed his parents, so his grandparents moved into our neighborhood. His grandfather was a world champion surfer in the early sixties. Chris had been acting out badly after it happened. His grades went down fast; he was in a fight every day. The only reason they didn't kick him out was because he was grieving. The school wanted him to see a shrink, but Mr. Harting asked them to wait since it was the end of the year, and he would work with him during the summer. If Chris was still a problem come September, then they would get into family counseling immediately."

Bruce returned with the drinks. "Sorry to interrupt," he said, noticing the look of complete attention the young lady was giving her companion. "May I take your orders for your appetizers now?"

"I can't decide between the Wild Mushroom Soup, and the Ahi Tuna Tartare," Nell sighed. "Which would you recommend?"

Before Bruce could answer, Eric spoke. "Get the soup, Nell, you'll love it. I wanted the tuna anyway, so I'll save you some bites."

She smiled and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. "Are you sure?" she asked in a soft voice.

"We share Oreos, don't we?" he asked with a warm grin.

"True." She turned back to Bruce. "I guess I'm having the soup then."

Bruce put on his most charming smile. "You won't regret it. The soup is my personal favorite. The Tuna Tartare for you, sir. I'll be with you shortly."

As soon as Bruce walked away, Eric rolled his eyes. "What a liar he is. The only mushrooms that guy likes are the 'magic' kind."

"How do you know that?" she whispered in shock.

Eric shrugged. "I've seen him around."

Her eyes narrowed. "That isn't much of an answer."

"Look, let's just say not all surfers are like Deeks and I. There's drug use that can go on, especially when surfing is the only thing in your life. Do you want to know how I learned or not?"

She nodded. "Yes, sorry. Go on."

"The last day of school, Mr. Harting picked us up. Chris had a bloody nose and a black eye as usual. I was terrified because if it got much worse, my parents were going to make me stop spending time with him alone. I tried everything an eleven year old could possibly do to help him, but he wouldn't talk to me. I'd follow him around watch him get into fights and all sorts of trouble. I felt helpless. When Mr. Harting didn't take us home right away I had no clue what was about to happen. The next thing I know, we're in Malibu. I'd never been to the surf spots before, my parents couldn't surf and they were afraid if something happened they wouldn't be able to help. Mr. Harting told us to get out of the car; I did, Chris didn't."

Eric took a long pause and sipped at his glass of juice. Nell noticed a shadow creeping into his eyes and grew concerned. "Are you alright, Eric?"

He looked up into her pretty bright eyes and gave her a half-smile. "I'm fine. Anyway, Mr. Harting had finally had enough. He opened the door of the truck and dragged Chris out. He started yelling at him at the top of his lungs. 'Do I have to lose my son, my daughter, and you too? Do you care about your grandmother, me, or Eric and Brigg at all?' I nearly passed out. I didn't want to know the answers because I was convinced he didn't care about us at all."

Without thinking, Nell reached for his hand. "What did he say?"

"He just started screaming back. 'I should be dead! I'm only breathing because I was selfish. The laugh's on me because I died when they died; I'm only waiting for my body to catch up!' I lost it then and there; I threw back my arm and punched him so hard I knocked out his last loose tooth. I called him every name I could think of in English, Spanish, German, and ASL. I yelled so loud I think they heard me all the way to Steven Spielberg's house. I told him he was the most cruel, vicious, evil boy I knew, and that his parents would be ashamed of him. To this day I don't think I've ever felt that kind of rage before or since."

Nell noticed he'd started squeezing her hand, and she gently squeezed back. "What happened?"

"Not what I was expecting that's for sure," he replied taking another sip of his juice. "He stayed lying on the sand and began sobbing. I'd never seen him cry once, not ever! I got scared, dropped to my knees and started begging him to forgive me. Then he let out this long howl, as if all the pain he'd been carrying around for months just erupted from his body in a never-ending noise. I grabbed on to him and held on as tight as I could, certain he'd be dead when it was over. Mr. Harting wrapped his arms around both of us and pulled us tight into his chest. He kept kissing Chris and telling me it would be alright. I didn't believe it, but the only thing I could do was to hold on to them and pray hard. Finally, Chris just went silent. I heard Mr. Harting whispering to him that we all loved him and that we needed him, but he wouldn't answer. Eventually, I started pleading with him to say something. I was a blubbering mess at that point."

"I think I'd be catatonic!" Nell gasped. "I can't imagine experiencing something like that so young."

Eric smirked. "Do you know what he said to me?"

She shot him a look of complete exasperation. "I'm waiting!"

"He said, 'It's about time you knocked some sense into me, Eric. What the heck took you so darn long?' I pulled back just sputtering like an engine that wouldn't start."

Nell nearly knocked over her tea as she stirred in the sugar. Before she could stop herself, she burst out into tiny gasps of laughter. "Oh - he - didn't - really - say - that!"

"He did, I swear!" Eric confirmed, before breaking into a fit of laughter himself.

Bruce came with a tray holding the food that smelled absolutely heavenly. The hunger they had both forgotten during their conversation returned with a vengeance. "Well, it sounds like you two are having a marvelous time and you aren't even drinking. Let's see if this food can't quiet things down," he said in an overly cheerful slightly oily tone.

"Thank you," Nell said with a narrow smile, the look in her eyes plainly saying 'go away'.

"Enjoy your food," Bruce replied with a sly look in his eyes.

Eric had dug into his food with relish and it made Nell smile. It always touched her how much he just loved being alive. They had that in common, but she tended to be more reserved - perhaps more intellectual - about it. She could be as hyper as he was (sometimes more so), she was just as mischievous (and less scared of Hetty's wrath), but he had none of her quietness. His laughter was loud, when he was really happy his voice grew loud, even his smile was loud. Everything about him shouted to the world, 'I'm alive and I love everything about it!' While her love of life stemmed from the thrill of the next challenge, his came from simply being.

She took a bite of her soup and her eyes fluttered shut. It was so good. When they opened again she went hot and cold at the look of awe on his face. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but no words would come. Thankfully, he was as in tune with her in the moment as he was up in OPS. "I told you, you would love the soup."

She tried to glare at him. He wore that smug grin he had when he was certain he was right about something. Unfortunately, her lips turned upward without her consent. She settled for an amused eye-roll. "Show off, she reproached lightly.

Eric spooned some of his tuna tartare onto the wonton crisps and served two of them to her. "Says the woman who likes to steal my puzzles," he chided, with a larger grin.

She quirked an eyebrow at him and gingerly ate one of the shared appetizers, sighing when her eyes fluttered shut with satisfaction once more. The look on his face when she opened them had become even more intense. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized his eyes had gone from warm and tender, to fiercely burning. She took a long drink of her tea, trying to control the butterflies that had suddenly invaded her bloodstream. "Finish telling me about that day on the beach, Eric." Her voice was soft and raspy, and she struggled to get the words out.

He took a deep breath and started questioning the wisdom of not drinking. His heart pounded in his chest, and every tiny hair on his skin stood straight up. It was as if an electric current had enveloped his body dancing over his skin. He was certain that he would to succumb to sensory overload before the night was over, and he was desperate for anything that could calm him down. Nell was the source of the wave of energy currently tormenting and thrilling him, but it felt overwhelming now. She was so beautiful, and the way she'd held his hand as he told her about one of his most intimate experiences had touched a place inside of his soul that he kept closed off from all except the people he needed the most. The realization terrified him. Being in love was one thing, but needing and depending on her for love seemed out-of-reach. He sternly reminded himself that this was the first step, and it would be a long transition for them both. He was not going to ruin his chance by letting his heart get ahead of things.

He finished his story as they finished their first course, explaining to her how the water had healed him and Chris as children and how it still held that power all these years later. She sighed, and true tenderness and admiration filled her eyes. "I'm glad you have that, Eric. I can barely imagine what it must be like to have something so peaceful that your mind actually rests."

Compassion and understanding filled his face. He knew only too well the torture of an overactive mind. He wasn't nearly as brilliant as she was; he wondered if she had trouble sleeping, too. "Any time you want to come and watch, text me and I'll pick you up. Sometimes just sitting quietly can help."

"You don't think I can learn for myself?" she asked, a faint look of warning in her eyes.

He chuckled and squeezed her hand. "If you want to learn I'll make it happen. I don't have to be the one to teach you if you'd like someone else to do it. Just let me know."

She tilted her head to the side. "Why wouldn't I want you to teach me?"

He glanced at his hand still holding hers, his ears turned bright pink, and he let go. "It's very physical, Nell. I'd have to lie on top of you to get you used to the board on water. Some people find it uncomfortable with people they know."

Her heart rate sped up so fast she could hear it and feel the blood racing through her veins at the idea of them being so close. What scared her the most was how much she wanted that. She managed to drink her tea without shaking and replied, "I'd trust you to take care of me, but I need a little more time to think about it."

Eric put the last morsel of tuna tartare on her plate. "Take all the time you need." Then he smiled. "Okay, I've spilled my guts and now it's your turn. I want to know something about Nell Jones I can't find up in OPS."

A million different stories ran through her mind. Her family travels throughout South America and Southeastern Asia, the terrible twins tormenting and protecting her, her bossy and nosey sister convinced that she was destined to a life of seclusion and eccentricity. When she thought about Eric's story, her heart skipped a beat. Despite his carefree nature and outgoing personality, he like most of the members of the OSP kept the world outside away from his work. He'd drop anecdotes occasionally about his family, but nothing specific. Nothing intimate or too personal. Yet his story about learning to surf was about as intimate as it got. She realized that it wasn't a competition, and he would be happy with anything, but she felt like she owed him more. She knew what she had to do.

"I owe you an explanation for how I acted today. You've been nothing but kind, and a loving friend. I know that you've -" she trailed off and gave him a soft smile. "I know that you've liked me for a while now."

"Well, I'm not exactly smooth and suave like the guys. I'm sure it was painfully obvious," he replied with a self-deprecating laugh.

"The guys are only suave if they're using an alias," Nell stated with a small smirk. "Nothing you ever said or did was as painful as some of the things Deeks has said to Kensi. Anyway, I owe you a real explanation. Not just because you are my friend, but because if this can go anywhere you need to know what you're getting into. Therefore, with respect to all pop-psychology I'm going to break the Cardinal Rule of the first date. I need to tell you about my ex's."

Of course once the painful words left her mouth, Bruce the waiter appeared. "Are we ready to order your entrees now?"

Nell sighed, and tried not to glare at the waiter. She was terrible at talking about such things, only her parents and Nate knew the details of her painful breakups. She was hoping that the public space would help her have some measure of control. "I'll have the grilled salmon with sweet corn risotto, sautéed spinach, grilled tomato, and green herb sauce; please."

"Very good, Miss. And for you sir?"

Eric didn't even bother to look at the menu. "I'll have the jumbo shrimp tacos, with a double side order of truffle fries."

"Very good, sir. I'll get those orders out as quickly as possible, and bring some fresh drinks as well."

"Thank you," they both replied in unison.

After Bruce walked away, Eric leaned over the table a fraction more than usual. "Nell, I'm happy to hear anything you want to say, but don't push yourself. I don't think I could stand to see you so upset again. I'm happy with whatever you want."

Before she could let herself panic, she found herself taking his hand again. "I care about you, Eric. I care so much. If I didn't, I would have given the flowers back and been done with it. I don't know if I can be with anyone, but I know we can't even try until you understand. Maybe I can control myself better in public."

He squeezed her hand gently wishing he could hold her close again. "Okay. I'm listening; I might have a few questions later."

She nodded her head and took a deep breath; then she raised her eyes to his and began. "The first thing you have to know is that my family is fairly conservative. You know I'm a Catholic, and we were very much practicing Catholics. My sister, my brothers and I knew we had to follow our parent's rules and deal with the consequences if we didn't. Drinking under age was not an option, any sort of drugs or cigarettes were not an option, and absolutely no pre-marital sex while living at home. None of us were allowed to date at all until our senior year in high school." She paused and took a final sip of her tea.

"Any rebels?" He asked, with a slight grin.

The corners of her mouth turned up. "My sister snuck out as a freshman to the senior prom. My first set of twin brothers came home falling down drunk every weekend for a month. My parents always stuck to their principles. Wherever we were we always had an extra space, where anyone who rebelled was kept separate until they decided to follow the rules. It was never harsh or long, except with the twins. They were relentless. My parents always said that when we left we could make our own choices and they would accept it; but until then we had to follow their guidelines. It probably sounds terribly cruel and unusual, but it wasn't really. My parents loved us and they never separated us unless we repeated the behavior over and over again. I guess since I'm the baby I just watched the others and decided not to rebel. Miss goody-two-shoes I guess."

Eric gave her an encouraging smile. "Sounds like you were putting your beautiful mind to good use."

She rolled her eyes. "I'll tell my brothers you said so. Anyway, we moved back here permanently when I was twelve so everyone knows Jones' rules in our town. I guess it made me a hot commodity in my senior year. On my eighteenth birthday, six guys asked me on a date. I barely knew any of them except my lab partner, Wilson Wyler. Yes, that is his real name. I thought he was nice, he wasn't the handsomest guy in school, but I wasn't that type. I said yes, and we dated all school year."

"I only went out on one date my entire time in high school," Eric confessed. "I never had time, and I wasn't good with girls at all," he said with a grin.

There was sadness in his eyes that made her want to know more, but she could sense he wasn't ready.

"I envy you," she whispered.

He saw the pain flare up in her eyes and made a mental note to look up whoever this creep was. "What happened?" he asked in his tender voice rubbing his thumb back and forth on her hand.

"He used me to cheat on all of his finals!" she spat out in a venomous tone. "He stole all of my notes and homework assignments, then when he was caught said that I gave them to him. It almost worked and I nearly lost my college acceptance here in California. Fortunately, his sister was madly in love with my brother Matt and backed me up. Later when I asked him why he did that to me he said, 'It was nice in the beginning, Nell but you're an awful girlfriend. I thought I should get something out of it.' Relationship disaster number one."

Outrage flared in his eyes, making the darker flecks of gold stand out, but he tried to keep calm. He wanted so badly to tell her that it was Wilson Wyler's fault her first relationship ended badly, that she had done nothing to deserve such treatment. He also wanted to make the man's life a living hell for daring to hurt the precious woman that had entrenched herself into his life. He took a breath to calm himself a tried to speak. "Nell -"

She squeezed his hand tightly and cut him off. "Please don't, I can probably finish every sentence running through your brain. I understand, but I would rather just get the rest of this over with; please."

Her voice was so soft and her eyes pleaded with him. He didn't want to let her finish, he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her how wonderful she was until he'd sunk it so deep into her brain that she couldn't remember anything else. However, this conversation wasn't about what he wanted. If she needed this to give him a chance, then he'd give her this. He reached for her other hand tangling his fingers with hers trying to anchor himself to her. "Whatever you need, Nell, I'll listen."

Heat started flaring up in her blood and stomach when she felt the smooth, slightly calloused skin of his hands. She'd always thought they were the most beautiful pair of hands she'd ever seen. Watching his fingers fly across a key board nearly hypnotized her. Watching them wave around in emphatic gestures while he told a funny story almost made her smile more than the joke made her laugh. Now, feeling them so strong and gentle while holding her small ones was something she could easily start needing, and it equally thrilled and horrified her.

Gathering up her more rational tone, she continued. "I met Blake Matthews in my sophomore year at UCLA. As you can probably imagine Wilson soured me a good deal about dating in school, but I never did anything else so there weren't many options. I hadn't really been looking much, but I don't think you can plan such things."

Bruce came to the table and set down the fresh drinks. "It will just be a few more minutes. They had a bit of an accident in the kitchen, but you'll each get your meal piping hot I promise."

"Thanks," Eric replied in a brusque tone.

Bruce tilted his head with a knowing look on his face but quietly walked away. Nell let go of his hands to fix her tea the way she liked it, and he hated losing their warmth. Still, it made him smile to see the way she meticulously prepared her drink. He knew she'd done the math in her head calculating the exact amount of force needed to dissolve the sugar in the cold liquid. It was one of the many things that made her, her, and he adored it. When she was done he realized that she caught him staring, but instead of looking uncomfortable like usual, she had a faint grin on her lips.

"I suppose I should mention I have a mild form of OCD," she said shrugging.

"Sometime you'll have to see me wax my board," he replied with a wink.

She glanced at his hands on the table and wrapped hers in them. It was such a comfort to be touched in even a small way, and it had been so long. "I'd like that," she whispered. "I met Blake in my Trig class. The first day we got into a screaming match on theories and formulas. He was brilliant, but so wrong. It turned into a two-week war, and I finally won. It was euphoric, and he invited me out for coffee. It all happened so fast, we just -" she trailed off, feeling her eyes started to sting. 'NO!' her logic-brain shouted, 'Not another tear wasted on him!'

"Sounds like you and he caught fire, Nell. It happens," he spoke with his most gentle voice, repressing the nearly overwhelming jealousy wanting to consume him.

A devastated expression bloomed on her face and her sparkling eyes went dull. "It was like fire, a deadly, destructive fire that nearly destroyed my life. You know how competitive I am, and as you said in the car, I do have an ego. Blake was like me, everything was a competition that each of us would do anything to win. He'd send me flowers; I'd pay for his coffee for a month. It never ended. I tried to be a gracious loser; the problem was I rarely lost."

Eric felt his throat get tight. "How was that a problem?" he asked in a very professional tone.

She started clenching his hands so tight that her knuckles turned white. Her voice went so low that he automatically focused to read her lips. "He hated it when I bested him. It didn't matter what it was, or what I did. He was bitingly sarcastic at first; I thought it was just humor. He could be very sweet, romantic, and I didn't try to stop it. I needed the challenge, I still do. We were together for two years, and it just kept getting fiercer between us. I'd do anything I could to control it and I was determined to fix the problems. Finally, about three months before graduation, I realized it was never going to change. We were out with some friends at dinner, discussing something in class when he turned to me and said, 'would you just shut your mouth you stupid, domineering, workaholic, controlling, frigid, b-' well you get the idea."

Rage poured through him, and he briefly wondered if the feeling was anything close to what Callen felt when he heard the name Comescu. "Do not tell me that was your fault," he said when he felt he was calm enough.

"Do you think I was an angel? Do you think that I usually just put up with it? Let me tell you something: I pushed him just as hard. I encouraged every battle we had, and I never once gave an inch to him. Don't start thinking that I was just a scared little girl, I wasn't," she replied, her voice hard and her eyes sharp.

Eric sat up straight, and his eyes burned into hers. "I have no doubt that you were every bit as stubborn and exasperating as you say you were. God knows you drive me nuts at times. I told you before I already know you're not perfect. Let me ask you something: did you say things like that to him? Did you make him feel like crap on the rare times when you lost your 'battles'?"

She tried pull her hands away, but he tangled their fingers and gripped them. She glared at him, but he only ran his thumbs over her skin. The fight drained out of her, and she just shook her head, unable to speak. Eric knew that she could nod all she wanted, but it wouldn't matter unless she said it aloud. He gently squeezed her hands again to prompt her, and she sighed. "No, okay I never did or said anything to him like that. However, I didn't care that it upset him that I always had to be right. I didn't care that I put school and work before him. How is that any more right than what he did with me?"

His face softened again, and he gave her a half-smile. "It isn't, Nell. Two wrongs don't make a right, but his wrong was worse than yours."

She looked into his eyes and saw none of the emotions she expected. No pity, judgment, or condescension. He only accepted her, and while she was sure he was angry about her ex-boyfriend's treatment of her, he didn't try to turn her into anything she wasn't. She gave him a tiny smile of appreciation and ran her thumb along the back of his hand. "I know," she whispered.

They sat in silence for a moment, letting the intense emotions settle down. Bruce, for the first time during the whole evening, had impeccable timing and appeared with the food. "I'm sorry folks you'll have to let go now," he said, glancing at their entwined hands resting in the center of the table.

They brought their hands back to their own sides of the table and enjoyed the aromas of their meal.

"Thanks," Eric began.

"This looks great," Nell finished seamlessly, sharing a grin with Eric.

Bruce gave Eric a sly thumbs up and left them to eat in peace. Eric began by arranging the condiments on his tacos, and then he placed a small helping of truffle French fries on a plate for Nell. "You'll thank me, these are to die for."

She took a bite of her salmon and smiled. "Everything I've put in my mouth is amazing. This is by far the best food I've ever had on a date."

"I'm glad. Going on a date is hard enough without choking down bad food too," he said with a beaming smile.

They ate quietly, enjoying the delicious flavors and the relaxing atmosphere. When they finished the last of the addictive fries, Nell spoke. "Only one more real ex to tell you about might as well be done with it."

Eric reached for her hand and gave her his complete attention. "I'm listening."

She enjoyed the feeling of her hand in his for a moment before she spoke. "Number three was actually a friend to both Blake and me. After the meltdown, he asked me out. I was an idiot. I had something to prove, and I wasn't about to let anyone think that I was going to sit home feeling sorry for myself. So, for six weeks, I went out with him. Then he had one too many drinks and informed me that he usually scored on the third date and was tired of waiting. I told him that was too bad because I wasn't going to sleep with him. He groped me; I broke his nose, end of story. I only consider him an ex because it lasted more than a month."

His eyes darkened. "You're not telling me this guy's name?" he asked, his tone overly sweet.

A sly smile appeared on her lips as she shook her head no. "Eric, if I tell you his name, you'll look it up and tell Sam and Callen. I already broke his nose, I have four brothers, I know how to take care of myself, and it happened well over two years ago. He does not need put into the hospital for one stupid half-drunk mistake."

"It's not just a stupid mistake to treat a woman like that," Eric softly growled.

Her lips turned into a gentler smile, and she squeezed his hand. "You're right, but nobody should be condemned for life by one serious sin. I had no business being with him at all; he'd just broken up with someone and so had I. We were both out for revenge and there were other circumstances I didn't find out until later."

"I can't believe you're defending this guy!" he snapped.

Annoyed that he didn't seem to want to listen to her, she pulled her hand out of his. "I'm not defending what he did! Maybe if you'd let me finish you'll understand!"

"Fine!" he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.

She took a deep breath to control her temper and slowly let it out. "What I didn't know was that he was a functioning Schizophrenic. Unfortunately, he had a new doctor's care and given a different drug program that didn't work! He almost killed himself a week later. That's why I won't tell you his name. He doesn't deserve it! Yes, what he did to me was wrong, but he would have never even asked me out if he hadn't been given the wrong drugs!"

All the rage left, and shame began burning inside of him. "Is he okay now?" he whispered.

Nell felt her blood cool and laid her hand close to his again. "Yeah, thankfully he was able to get into the school counseling program and on his old drug regimen. After I heard about it, I was so shaken up that I got into the program myself. I was homesick, depressed, and seriously doubting my judgment. That's how I know Nate!"

Confusion filled his face, but then the answer dawned on him. "Nate was your therapist! He told me he'd fill in for the campus psychiatrist on weekends."

She took the last sip of her tea. "Only for about eight weeks. I recovered quickly. He put me in touch with Hetty, and that led me to y-" her face turned bright red. "OSP," she weakly finished. "So there it is, the short disastrous dating history of Nell Louise Jones, of course omitting a dozen or so first dates that never went anywhere."

The affection, tenderness, and - most importantly - intense friendship he felt for her washed over him like a wave. He slid his hand closer to hers and let his index finger gently tickle hers. A mischievous flame danced in his eyes, but he waited for her to choose to take his hand again. "I know that telling me all of that was very hard for you," he said gently, his voice completely serious. "I want you to know that even if you decide that this is a first date that is going nowhere, I am honored and humbled that you even gave me the chance."

She could feel her face turning red even as her eyes began to sting. "I've been terrified of this ever since Nate came back and woke me up about being attracted to you; I am going to make his life miserable when he comes back. However, it wasn't until this moment that I figured out you are too good for me." Her voice was raw, as if she had swallowed a fist full of sand.

"No!" he spoke with such force that she nearly jumped in her seat. "Do you think I don't have relationship disasters? We'd be sitting at this table for a week if I tried to get through them all!"

Her eyes went wide, and she started swirling the ice in her glass with the straw. "Have you had that many relationships?" she asked, her voice filling with dread.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I've only had four real girlfriends, but we tended to break-up and then get back together. I have one engagement to my name. Obviously, it didn't work out. You're the first woman that I've really wanted to be with in a very long time."

Unable and unwilling to think about an ex-fiancée, Nell said the first thing that came to her mind. "I heard you were very interested in Abby Sciuto."

Eric smiled at the name. "Abby is seriously one of the most awesome people on the planet, no question. Yes, I was attracted to her, but I just wanted a date with her. I guess I just wanted to be able to say I was cool enough to go out with THE Abby! She'd never leave DC, I'd never leave LA, and her soul mate is Tim McGee, who is a great friend of mine. That wasn't going anywhere, and we both knew it. Besides, she got kidnapped by a serial killer. That alone ruined any possibilities."

Nell had to smile at his affection for arguably most famous forensic scientist for a Federal agency. Her thoughts turned to his other confession and she sobered. "I want to hear all about your past, Eric and not just as your friend. I think today has just been so topsy-turvy and emotional that we both need a break for now." She reached for his hand and ran her thumb gently over the delicate skin of his inner-wrist. "I - I - I do want to try this. Just promise me that we can go slowly, and remember that I don't really know how to do this right. I've never put anyone that wasn't my family before myself. I never had to before."

"Hey," he whispered tenderly. "We can go as slow as you want. I don't expect anything; the pleasure of your company without tracking down murderers or terrorists is more than enough."

A shy smile tugged at her lips. "I think you could make me happy. I'm just not sure I won't make you unhappy."

He gave her a reassuring grin. "Don't let the board shorts and video gaming in OPS fool you, Nell. I'm a grown man and perfectly capable of deciding what makes me happy."

Her shining eyes grew very serious and met his straight on. "I've never thought of you as a boy, Eric not once."

His fingers glided across the silky skin of her palm. "I've never thought of you as a little girl."

"Hey folks are you ready for dessert?" Bruce chirped, obliterating the tender moment.

"Can you give us just a second?" Nell asked.

"Sure," he replied and skulked away again.

"We can have dessert here or, we can hit my favorite gelato spot and go for a walk on the beach." Eric said, shrugging his shoulders.

A knowing grin broke out on her lips. "You want to hear the waves."

He just nodded, looking irresistible with an angelic smile. Suddenly, Bruce appeared again. "Have you decided yet, or should I bring you coffee?"

Nell stood up. "I'm just going to freshen up, but I think I'm tired of sitting and a walk is in order after all that delicious food." She gave Eric a wink as he stood when she did.

His heart beat faster as he watched her glide away so unlike the driven stride she used at work. Bruce let out a soft sound of appreciation. "Dude, when did you land her?"

Eric shot him a sharp glare. "I'd keep my eyes off her and my mouth shut if I were you, Bruce," he replied in a quiet tone.

Wanting to keep his job, and knowing the other man knew entirely too much about his leisure activities, Bruce chose discretion over valor. "I'll just bring your check."

Nell stood in front of the mirror and checked carefully for any flyaway strands of hair, and smudges of makeup. It wasn't an act of vanity; she just needed a few moments to process everything. Just as she was about to reapply her lip-gloss it hit her: she was happy. She gripped the vanity and took a deep breath, but there it was, happiness. Despite recounting her most painful and humiliating experiences, she felt lighter, as if she'd unknowingly been carrying a terrible weight around. Intellectually, she knew this was true. She had been faithfully avoiding any type of romantic connections for ages, which had spawned her sister's need to write that horribly inaccurate dating profile. Now she had let it all go, and Eric was still sitting there with her. A wave of giddiness rushed through her. She quickly finished her touch-ups and practically skipped back to the table. It was time to start having fun!

Eric smiled as he saw her practically bouncing back to their table. He wasn't sure what was going on in her mind but whatever it was, it made her happy. That was good enough for him. He tried to stand and hold out her chair, but she waved him off with a smile. "We won't be sitting too long I hope. I just thought of something - tonight's a new moon. How are we going to see at the beach?" she asked with a grin.

He chuckled. "I have a flashlight, and I can always build a fire with some driftwood and kelp if we want to stay."

"Eric," she drew out the syllables of his name and made her voice coy, "were you ever a boy scout?"

He raised his eyebrows at this coquettish, flirtatious Nell and grinned. "No, I just spend more time on the beach than off it when I'm not working."

She let out a long sigh but a smile was dancing in her eyes. "I suppose I'll have to get used to near constant sunburn aren't I? I burn like a lobster."

The insinuation that she was willing to make this more than one date sent a shot of adrenaline through his blood that nearly sent him vaulting out of his chair. Thankfully, he was able to gulp down the last of his drink. When it was finished he replied, "I'd always make sure we had enough sunscreen. I'm not about to get a case of skin cancer, and neither are you. Hetty would kill me!"

"Here's the check, and I hope you both come and visit us again soon," Bruce interjected.

Eric pulled out his American Express and got the receipts in order. "Thanks, Bruce."

"You'll get this back in just a minute," the man replied with a huge grin at seeing his cash tip double the normal amount.

Nell's eyes narrowed and she swatted Eric's hand gently. "You over-tipped him!"

He shrugged. "As my mom used to say, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' That was prevention."

Before she could ask what he was preventing, Bruce came back. "All set. Have a great night, and don't do anything I wouldn't do," he added with a salacious wink in Nell's direction.

Eric held out Nell's chair for her, and they left. Nell felt his hand on her back again and smiled. "I was going to ask what you thought you were preventing, but I think I know. Is he always like that?"

He nodded slightly. "He wouldn't have pestered you while working, but he lives in your neighborhood. The tip is to make sure if he bothers you he'd have to deal with too much trouble."

Her eyebrows came together in confusion. "I don't get it."

"I scribbled a note on the back of the receipt."

"Eric," she said, drawing out his name in a warning.

"Relax. All I said was, 'Marty is watching.' He'll know what that means."

Nell sighed in frustration. Part of her wanted to push, to demand that he tell her everything. She sensed that he wasn't trying to be possessive; otherwise, he would have just threatened him with his own reprisals. Instead, he used Deeks, which meant there was more to it than her. She knew that if she started falling back into her old patterns of needing to control everything, they didn't have a prayer. She still wasn't sure she could make a commitment, but she desperately wanted to give this the best chance possible. She didn't want to lose the happy feeling coursing through her. The breeze coming off the ocean had picked up, and she rubbed her arms to ward off a chill. "I didn't bring anything to put over my dress, and the weather report didn't say anything about a strong breeze for tonight."

His hand left her back, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. He didn't pull her closer to keep her warm, but waited, giving her the choice. "We don't have to go to the beach. We can get the gelato and head back if you'd like."

The instant his arm wrapped around her, she leaned into his side. She couldn't remember the last time she'd let herself go and felt like this. Her logic-brain whispered a faint warning, 'don't move too fast,' to which her emotional-brain replied, 'relax; let him take care of you.' Eric opened the car door for her and she smiled, feeling like a grand lady in one of her treasured books. When he got in himself, she smiled at him brightly. "I don't mind going down to the beach. I don't think I've ever been there on a new moon."

Eric smiled back and turned on the car. "It's nothing life-changing, but I like to just sit in the dark and hear the waves sometimes. Its soothing, especially after a bad day. I have a light and a jacket in the trunk. If we don't hurry, the gelato shop will close. As it is, there might not be the full selection."

"Let's go!"

They pulled up to N'iceCream just in time. Eric ordered two scoops, one of chocolate biscotti one of chocolate hazelnut, on a waffle cone. Nell ordered a cup with two scoops of strawberry cheesecake. The beach was only steps away, so they locked the car and decided to take their treats to the shore. True to his word, Eric was prepared. He took out a lined denim jacket, a high power flashlight, and a thick blanket to sit on. He placed the jacket over her shoulders and handed her his dessert. He kept the flashlight in one hand and somehow managed to hold the blanket and lead Nell at the same time. It didn't take him long to find the perfect spot, and he set it up and helped her sit comfortably. She handed him his gelato, and they sat in a warm safe silence, listening to the waves and enjoying their sweets.

After about ten minutes, Eric spoke. "Are you still cold, Nell?"

A small laugh escaped her lips. "It's a little chilly, but I haven't been truly cold since my last full winter in Illinois."

Despite the darkness, he smiled. "If you catch a chill, I'm a dead man. Do you mind if I put my arm around you?"

A playful, impish quality filled her voice. "Is that your standard request with a girl when you do this?"

He thought seriously for a moment. "Usually, if the girl I take out isn't someone I've met here, I do ask. To be completely honest though, I've never brought a girl I didn't know from the beach to the beach on a first date. I usually find it too personal."

Nell's breath caught in her throat. "Why?"

He shrugged, even though she could barely see him. "Here is where I am most myself. The job doesn't exist, people's expectations of who I am and what I am don't interfere. I'm just Eric Kurt Beale, a guy who loves this ocean and hopes to have everything that most people want out of life."

Seeing that he had finished his dessert, Nell took his right arm and wrapped it around her as she cuddled into his warmth. "Why did you want to bring me here, Eric?"

He closed his eyes and soaked in the feeling of holding her close. Then he took a deep breath and spoke just loud enough for her to hear him over the gentle waves. "You know the part of me not even the people closest to me can know. Sam, you, and I, we're fortunate that we have connections to the outside that are good and strong. We're the lucky ones, but even Sam can't be his whole self with the people he loves most. I don't want to live my life like that. I don't want the woman that I love, or any children that I have, only getting bits and pieces of me. If I had met you on the outside, I would have still ended up feeling this way, but I don't have to hide, and that is a blessing. It's only right that if we do this, I won't go half-way."

Emotions washed over her like the surf coming into the shore. This time, though, none of them were scary or bad; there was only warmth, overwhelming affection, gratitude, and determination filling her heart. She lifted her face off his shoulder and leaned as close as she could until her cheek brushed his and she could find his ear. "Thank you," she whispered.

He pulled her tighter, and they sat there for another half hour, not speaking just, listening to the waves under a new moon. Nell shivered in earnest, and he felt it. "Time to go home, it's late. The fish will be getting worried," he said with a grin she could practically hear.

"I guess," she replied, reluctance oozing in her voice.

He helped her off the blanket and began gathering his things. "My sister is going to kill me," he muttered.

"You never have mentioned her name," Nell said, curiosity clear in her voice.

Pride filled his voice. "Brigitta Elizabeth Beale, but everyone calls her Brigg. I'm sure she'll want to friend you at the very least but I won't let her until you tell me it's okay. She is like a tigress when it comes to women and me, and she has her reasons, but it's not something we have to deal with right now. It's only fair that you know that she's involved with everything in my life, as long as it doesn't involve work or anything you would want kept between us."

Her heart began to race at the thought that he was willing to keep things from the sister he clearly loved above anything else just for her. "I just hope she likes me when we do start to get to know each other."

Eric wrapped his arm around her to lead them to the car. "She will, I know my sister better than anyone. Another thing I should mention is that when she was six months old, she caught meningitis. She lost all of her hearing, but she can speak and read lips, so when you want you can SKYPE."

She narrowly missed slipping on a rock, but his strong arm steadied her. "Tomorrow when you come to fix the pump, come early. I'll make breakfast, and you can start teaching me ASL."

He stopped in his tracks. "Nell -"

"You don't have to, I won't push you like that, and it's only a first date!" she finished for him. "First date or not I will meet your sister one day, and I will not make her do all of the work! Now, let's get to the car before I really do get cold. I still have to call mama and it's getting late."

Eric gently guided her to the car, literally biting his tongue, hoping the sharp pain would prevent him from blurting out a completely inappropriate declaration of love. Neither of them was ready for it, yet in the complete happiness of the moment, the temptation nearly consumed him. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief when it worked. They started back to Nell's place still quiet, but not awkward. Eric felt a rush of fatigue run through him, and given the upheaval and wonder of the day, he wasn't surprised. "Do you mind if I turn on the radio, Nell?"

"Not at all," she replied.

"Is there anything you don't like?"

She shrugged. "Not that I can think of right now. Play anything you like."

Eric had his iPod connected to his stereo and activated his current playlist, and Lady Antebellum came flowing through the speakers. He started singing along without realizing it, but when he pulled to stop at a red light Nell, shocked him by joining in. "You can sing!" he practically shouted over the music.

She turned the music down a bit and giggled. "I might have been in the school choir."

"How many times have we gone to team night and you insisted that there isn't enough alcohol in the world to make you get up there and sing? You have a wonderful voice!"

Nell blushed and was thankful the light turned green. "There isn't enough alcohol in the world to make me go up there alone. Besides, who else is going to drive Kensi and Deeks home? Callen drives Hetty and Sam, and you take a cab, but somehow those two always insist I have to drive them. I think it's because they know if they take a cab, they'll end up in bed together. However, I am a good friend and the designated driver."

"You were singing just now."

"I'm with you, and not singing in front of a crowd of strangers. Believe it or not, I'm not completely invulnerable. I don't like people staring at me," she sighed.

He smiled, but didn't take his eyes off the road. "People stare at what's beautiful, Nell. They can't help that."

The burst of happiness that exploded in her made her eyes tear. She didn't know what to say and when "American Honey" began to play she let the music take over and sang along. Eric joined her on the harmonies, and she realized that he had inadvertently reawakened a passion of hers too long dormant. Her heart fluttered like a humming bird's wings, eagerly waiting what would come next. The traffic was fairly decent and they managed to get back a little before midnight. Eric walked her to her door, and Nell found herself not wanting him to go. She sighed, knowing that he had to; she could see he was beginning to get tired, and he would be back in a few hours anyway.

"Thank you, Eric. I had a wonderful time, even if I did have to drag things along with my horrible stories." The smile on her face was lovely in its serenity and contentment.

"Don't worry about that. I'll have to return the favor myself soon enough. I think I can safely say this might have been my best date ever!" he replied with a matching smile.

"If I didn't know you were one of the worst liars ever I wouldn't believe you," she teased.

He chuckled. "Then I'm glad I am." He reached into his pocket, and pulled out the small box. "I completely forgot all about this. I wanted to get you something to say thanks."

Her eyes went wide. "But you already spent so much on the flowers and the food, I can't -"

"This didn't cost me anything. I ran into a friend at the beach who is starting a new business. The flowers were for your anniversary and to tell you how I feel. This is to show my gratitude for your faith in me. Please take it," he whispered.

Her hands trembled as she took the box out of his hand and opened it. A tiny gasp escaped her mouth when she saw the tiny hair clip fashioned out of gold wire, chips of bright green and blue sea glass, and a few sparkly crystal beads. "It's so beautiful!" she said hoarsely. She looked up into his eyes and couldn't contain her joy. She pulled him into a tight hug. "Thank you for everything! Thank you for tonight and for just being you!"

He held her, knowing it was absolutely going to kill him to let go, but knowing he had to before he went too far. "You're welcome. Now get inside, you have to call your parents and let them know I tried my best to take care of you. I have to get home and call my very irritated sister who will yell at me for making her stay up past three waiting for me to report that I didn't blow this."

She sighed but let him go. "You tell her that not only did you not screw this date up, you've made me happier than I have been in a very long time, and I didn't even realize it." Then, before she could think about it, she brushed a whisper of a peck on the corner of his mouth. "See you in a few hours; I make a mean stack of chocolate chip pancakes with strawberry syrup."

Eric had to take a very deep breath to get himself back to reality after the feeling of her lips barely touching his skin. Somehow, he managed to hear her, and reply. "I'll be here at around 0900?"

She smiled. "Perfect! Good night."

"Good night."

She disappeared behind her door, leaning up against it when her knees went weak. A joyful burst of laughter sprung from her lips, and she ran to her bed, jumping on it as she had as a child. She grabbed the phone and immediately dialed home before she even slipped her shoes off. Her mother's sleepy voice greeted her. "Nell, sweetie it's 2:00 AM here. We were getting worried precious."

The happiness in her voice was impossible to tone down. "I'm sorry, mama. We just got in. I'm fine, I promise. Eric said I had to tell you and daddy that he did his best to take care of me, and he did!"

"You sound so happy, Nell. I'm so glad you had a nice time," Katie Jones replied, still sleepy but without worry.

"Oh I did, mama! I told him everything, and it was okay."

"Is the boy still with you?" The deep yet mumbling voice of her father came through the phone.

"No, daddy. He's gone home, just as I said he would. He couldn't have been any sweeter, or kinder. He didn't ask me for anything."

"I think I'll like this one, Nell Louise. Now let your mother and I sleep. You can call at a decent time tomorrow and tell us all about it."

She giggled and rolled her eyes. "Yes, daddy. Good night you two, I love you."

"We love you too, baby. I'm so glad you're happy," her mother replied, then hung up.

He stood there until he heard the locks turn. Knowing she was safe, he started running to his car. He drove extra carefully, knowing that he was slightly distracted. It took him a bit longer to get to his place than usual, but the minute he got in, he headed to his computer to call Brigg. Sure enough, the connection went through and he saw her sitting in her room, wearing pajamas and tearing through another pint of Hagen Dazs. The minute she saw his face she spoke to the camera. "Well it took you long enough! What happened?"

He couldn't think to sign or speak he had too much joy bursting to get out. So instinct took over letting out a shout of happiness he started jumping up and down like a lunatic. Brigitta could do nothing but laugh and let tears of joy fall down her face. Finally, after so many years, she saw her beloved brother perfectly happy. 'Yes,' she thought to herself, 'I approve of Nell Jones.'

Finis