Hasil could see her moving inside the store from where he was standing. He had to look around periodically to make sure the law wasn't on his tail, sure, but it had been worth it for the chance to see her again. He caught up to her as she exited, ending her work for the night.

"Hey!" he called.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone derisive despite her, internally, being surprised to see him again after the events that had transpired last time. He could tell she was still miffed about his run in with a cop and subsequent jailing, but he was determined to win her over, whatever the cost. He sighed, catching up to her steps.

"Well, I ah… wanted to apologize about our… date. Got in a little bit of trouble there. You mad?"

"It's not the first time I've been stood up," she answered, apathetic. "Won't be the last."

Hasil's mind searched for a proper response but he only managed a confused, "I'm not sure what that means, but…"

Sally Ann stopped him. "Don't worry about it. Gotta get home."

"You ain't..." he started. "You ain't gonna let me apologize? Got me a good one worked out. Had a long time to think about it."

"Could you just leave me alone?"

"Why would I do that?" Hasil chuckled. He knew it was a dangerous thing to do, but he couldn't help it. Leaving Sally Ann alone was, by far, the most absurd thing he'd heard in all his years. And considering the majority of that time had been spent on the mountain, that was saying something.

"It's not going to work, Hasil. We're too different."

"What you mean? Come on, we're both people! I'm mean, sure, you're a woman, I'm a man, but that sorta helps the situation, don't it?"

"'cept I live in the real world. And you live up there." The words cut into him in a way he could have only compared to the pain he'd felt upon losing two of his fingers not long ago. He didn't enjoy being reminded of that pain, and it was steadily increasing as she continued, pointing out their differences and all the reasons why they could never be together. The thought made his stomach sour. "I'm Black and you are weird. Just go away."

"Well look…" he tried. "Can I at least give you this?"

She turned and came forward, looking closer at his hands. "What is it?"

"Well, I made you a present 'cuz to be honest with you, I kinda knew my apology wasn't gonna be that good…" He waited for her, but she seemed hesitant, much to his dismay. "Come on, please?"

She relented, beckoning for it and coming forward to take the gift. Looking at her hands move to unwrap it, the anxiety began, making his own fingers twitch. "Be careful with it, it might…" he nervously voiced, hands moving to mimic hers. He worried about the more delicate parts of it, wanting it to be perfect for her… but she was already being careful, so he stopped, not wanting to ruin the big reveal. Hasil cleared his throat, becoming silent.

He could only gasp silently when she smiled and breathed approval at the sight of the bear. "It's a bear," he offered. "You know, bears… they're strong. They're fierce. Just like my caring for you."

"It's beautiful," she whispered, making Hasil's eyes move from hers, to her lips, and up, being caught by the apples of her cheeks. How he loved the way they made him melt and his heartbeat patter against his chest.

"Well, I'm glad you like it, because it took me…" the sound of car tires distracted him and he looked up, recognizing the familiar lights and shape coming toward them. He inched around the tree to hide from view, eyes watching the car cruise past as he finished. "…took me a lonnnng time to… make."

"What's wrong?" Sally Ann asked.

"Nothing."

But Sally Ann had followed Hasil's line of sight and, looking between Hasil and the car, immediately put the two together, remembering his recent experience at the receiving end of a tazering. "You're in trouble with the law?"

Hasil scoffed, giving her a sheepish look. "Well, to be honest with ya, I'm not really 'sposedtah… be down here.

Sally Ann mulled over his words, her fingers absently picking at the bark of the tree they hid behind. "…because of your people or mine?"

Chuckling darkly, Hasil released an equally sheepish, "…Both."

Holding the bear tightly, she thought for a moment, considering the danger he'd put himself in. It was one thing to break the law – everyone on the ground knew the mountain folk held no care for the law or its enforcement. But to defy his family just to see her? The gravity of that sacrifice filled her with butterflies and a surge of empathy that pushed her forward and into him. Gently, her lips found his, expressing a feeling of thanks she'd found no words adequate enough to describe.

Moving away, she looked up at him, coming quickly to her conclusion.

"I know a place that we can go."

It had gotten darker by the time they'd made it to the quiet little house Sally Ann had grown to find comfort in the sight of. She imagined he was used to this by now – being in the middle of nowhere and surrounded on all sides by vegetation. She was surprised when he touched her, stopping her in her tracks.

"Wait… who lives here?" he asked, peering up towards the darkened windows.

"A lady from my church," she said, thinking, Ah… situational awareness. Must come in handy living the life that they do. She couldn't help but appreciate his care and consideration. "It's okay… she's dead now."

"Okay…." She could tell the thought weirded him out a bit, so upon lifting the window to enter and beginning to light candles throughout the house, she explained. "She passed a couple of months ago. I come here to read sometimes. Other times, I draw or even play the piano. I like how quiet it is. Simple."

"Simple?" Hasil laughed quietly, not wanting to disturb the house's pleasant silence. He held his hand over the small warmth coming from one of the candles. "You call this simple?" If this was simple, he could only wonder what she'd consider his own home to be.

"I do!" Sally Ann softly responded with a giggle, before moving through a door and going deeper into the house to finish with the candles. Leaving the last one on a nearby desk, she returned to the main room to find Hasil undressing. She leaned to the side, resting against the door, before resting her knuckles against her lips demurely. She had to fight the desire to cover her eyes if only to stop her from staring and watching the light filter through the window and illuminate every rise and fall along the length of his body against the dim, candlelit room. The sight made her mouth dry.

"What… are you doing?" she asked, voice small.

Hasil gave an impish smile, looking her way. "What does it look like I'm doing? Co'mere," he motioned.

She spoke her words carefully as she moved closer, her hands finding the waistband of his clothes. Her fingers curved over his gently, ceasing their motion. She looked up at him, amused, "It looks like you've… got your clothes off."

"Not quite…" he teased, and she could feel his hands begin to tug down his underwear.

Sally Ann rose on her toes and kissed his cheek before shaking her head. "Not going to happen tonight, Hasil," she whispered. His face fell and he looked away, worried that he'd done something wrong. Had she not liked what she'd seen? he wondered. Reading the conflict on his face, she continued, elaborating to soften the blow. "Hasil, it's not you. For one, I just don't do that. And two, I have to get going soon."

A look of surprise replaced the sadness. "Don't do that? Ya mean… Ever?

"Well," she answered, "never have, at least. Really want to, though, but I'm not married."

"Is that what your people do here? Only if married?"

"'course not. Few see a reason to wait, actually." Sally Ann looked down, growing quiet. "But I do."

Hasil tilted his head, curious now. "Why?"

"Because…" Sally Ann pursed her lips, thinking of how best to respond. "You know how you gave me that bear today?" She continued at Hasil's small nod, "Well, there's only one of those, right? Only one bear that you made, and only one that you've made for me?"

He nodded again, looking over at the bear on the table. Seeing it made him smile. He'd been working on it since the night they met at the store, making sure every detail was correct. He'd never spent that much time on anything for anyone but his parents, and he certainly hadn't created anything for an outsider before.

Sally Ann's voice called him back to her. "The fact that there's only one in the whole wide world… that makes it special. That's how I feel about being intimate. Having… sex. I can only do it for the first time once and I want it to be special. I want the person I'm with to know I saved my first time for them."

Hasil looked down, swallowing. On the mountain, they had rules for marriage and even monogamy, but not for sex, itself. And although, to him and his people, it was a strange thing to hold oneself back from a pleasure they wanted, he understood the aversion, having never felt comfortable enough with anyone on the mountain to do much past a kiss or two here. It never felt right. No one had ever caught his eye the way Sally Ann had and most women in the clan, tired of being the more forceful of the two, had grown weary of his inactivity and left him be as quickly as they'd started pursuing him.

Maybe he and Sally Ann weren't so different, he thought. Both outsiders within their own respective homes. "I think I get whatcha mean. You're different, Sally Ann. I like that."

Sally Ann's hand found his cheek and she smiled, grateful for his understanding. She kissed him softly, before responding. "I like you, Hasil. I'm sorry I have to go so soon."

Hasil leaned forward, his forehead finding her's as his eyes closed. "Mm, 't's okay. Can I see you again, though?" He felt her nose press against his, her breath soft against his lips.

"I have Bible study after work tomorrow... down the road at the local church? But after that, I'm free. I'll meet you here tomorrow if you want."

Hasil couldn't stop his cheeks from cresting into happy grin. He hadn't thought he'd be able to see her again so soon. "Sure…. Sure, that'd do me just fine." He moved closer to her, and kissed her nose slowly, happy to finally have her comfortable enough with him to allow it. He shivered at the smile she gave in response, feeling as if he'd float away were it not for her holding his hand.

"See you tomorrow, Hasil." He watched her leave.

And it was in that moment that knew those words would signify the beginning of the rest of his life.

A/N: Undoing some subliminals. Sasil's really grown on me and I adore this coupling. :) Will add to this as needed, so it may be just one-shots or a larger AU story. We'll see. Depends on feedback.

Disclaimer: I don't own the canon characters. Everything pre-owned belongs to its owner(s). No copyright infringement intended.