It was only a month into summer at the warehouse and it was shaping out to be a very long one. Pete and Myka had spent the last few weeks tracking down artifacts on the top 10 most wanted list which left Claudia and Artie cooped up in the office together for hours upon hours, and the lack of space was starting to take a toll on them. A couple weeks ago Claudia had tried to talk to Artie about how she was feeling for him but Artie blew it off, telling Claudia it was just a crush because of all the time they spend together. Claudia on the other hand begged to differ, trying to tell him that it was more than a crush but after feeling like she was talking to a brick wall she gave up the talk and went on with her work. Since then she had found herself avoiding Artie only talking to him when she had too. Artie knew Claudia was mad at him the day she tried to tell him how she felt he wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and hold her tight and too tell her he felt the same way. But over thinking things as usual Artie's brain told his heart to shut up, convincing him that it would never work and that there was too much of an age gap. Claudia deserved so much more then what Artie felt like he could give her, and she definitely deserved someone lots younger. So tucking his own feelings away for Claudia Artie sat at his desk behind her and watched her work at her computer. Claudia could feel that Artie was staring at her.

"Do you have something you need to say Artie?" Claudia asked without stopping what she was doing on the computer. Artie raised an eyebrow and looked at her for a moment.

"No I don't think so." He answered back.

"Then do ya wanna stop staring at me!" Claudia was short with him as she snapped back.

Artie sat there for a moment as an argument started in his head. "You need to talk to her Artie!" he yelled at himself. Taking a deep breath and pulling his glasses off he pinched the bridge of his nose thinking what to say. Artie was never good with words and right now he had to pick the right ones.

"Clad, I think we need to talk." Artie spoke softly trying to convey to Claudia that he was serious.

The typing on Claudia computer stopped and she spun around in her chair and looked at him. Artie gave her a reassuring smile. The look on Claudia's face told Artie that she was confused.

"What?" he asked her cautiously

"You wanna talk?" Claudia asked. "Yes" Artie replied quickly

"Now?" Claudia asked again.

Shaking his head, "Yes Claudia I want to talk"

Claudia again just looked at him again; the look in her eyes telling Artie that she had a million thoughts flying through her mind.

"NO!" Claudia said, quickly turning and returning back to her work.

"What do you mean no?" Artie asked slamming his hands down on his desk, spinning back around in her Chair.

"No, out of all the words in your vocabulary do you not know what the word No means? It means I don't want to talk Artie, it means leave me alone I'm busy! It means I'm tired of trying to talk to you because you never want to listen!" Claudia was getting more and more upset as she spoke and found herself almost yelling at Artie. She stood up and started to talk up the spiral stair case, she needed a few minutes to herself and something cold to drink. But before she could get out of the room Artie stated in.

"Claudia, what is your problem? I told you I wanted to talk and you flip out of me! Will you please talk to me?" Artie was almost begging her. Claudia stopped on the first step of the stair well and turned back around.

"You want to know what my problem is Artie? Ok fine, I'll tell you! My problem is you!" Claudia was on the edge of yelling again as she pointed at Artie.

"Oh come on, don't stand there and act like you don't know what is wrong Artie, I tried to talk to you last week and you wanted nothing to do with it. I don't know what to do about this Artie. I love you and I know you love me, hell even Pete and Myka can see it. You're the only one that can see what is blatantly obvious. You told me last year that you had given up on ever finding love, and now that it's staring you right in the face you are just going to turn your back on it. I don't know how much longer I can be around you Artie, and be able to fight these feelings. Claudia started crying and just stood there for a moment.

Artie clasped his hands together and held them up to his mouth.

"I don't know what to do about this Claudia."

Claudia wiped a few tears off her face giving Artie a weak smile.

"But I do Artie, if you would only give me that change." Claudia's hands fell to her side as she moved past him to the door. Before Artie could even turn to stop her the heavy metal door slammed shut behind Claudia. At this point Artie knew it was best to let Claudia calm down, he figured she was heading back to the B & B. he found his chair and sat down throwing his glasses off and rubbing the sides of his head trying to ease the headache that was forming.

"Artie" A familiar voice from behind him startled him as he quickly turned.

"Mrs. Fredrick's, what are you doing here?" Mrs. Fredrick's walked over to Artie and leaned against his desk.

"The life of a warehouse agent can be one of two things; it can be full of long days, lonely nights and the endless feeling that you're missing out on something. " Mrs. Fredrick lightly touched Artie's arm bringing his attention from the floor to her as she rose an eye brow at him. "It can be full of endless wonder. It's your choice Artie." Artie took a deep breath closing his eyes, giving in that Mrs. Fredrick's was right he went to look up at her again and like normal she was gone. "How the hell does she do that?" Artie asked himself before grabbing his keys and heading out the door.

Artie's car came to a sliding stop in the driveway of the B&B, seeing Claudia's car there he knew she would be hiding out in her room. Leena met him at the door way.

"What did you do to her know?" She asked Artie slightly mad.

"What are you talking about?" Artie was trying to snake by her, he was on a mission. Leena stepped in front of him and put her hand on his chest bringing Artie to a full stop.

"Claudia's aura is all out of whack, what did you do?" Leena eyed him readying is aura too. Artie leaned back and shot her a look.

"Stop readying my aura Leena and I'm going to fix this, you'll see." Having spoken his peace Artie pushed past her and made his way up the stair case to Claudia's room. Artie took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Claudia was sitting on her bed her mascara running down her face, eyes and nose red. She just looked at the door, part of her hoping it was Artie and the other half just wishing whoever it was would just go away. When the knock came again she knew she was going getting out of it.

"Come in" Claudia chocked out just loud enough for Artie to hear, he cracked the door open and stuck his head inside. When Claudia saw him her heart sank, he had actually followed her. But what was he going to say? Claudia's heart started to race at Artie walked in closing the door and making his way to the bed, pulling his coat off and setting it in the chair next his glasses. Claudia watched him closely trying to figure out what he was doing. Artie kicked his shoes off next and then climbed into the bed with Claudia leaning back against the headboard. He stretched one arm out and patched his chest with the other one. Claudia was flaggergasted she didn't know what to do, was Artie wanting to hold me? She was asking herself a million questions.

"Claudia." Artie speaking snapped Claudia out of her thoughts. "Come here please" Artie motioned again for Claudia to snuggle up to him. Claudia was so nervous that she was shaking as she scooted across the bed and wrapped herself against him. She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her right arm around his body and sank into him, finally feeling self and warm it was the feeling she had been waiting for. Artie wrapped his arms around her tiny frame and rested his cheek against her forehead; Claudia liked the feel of his stubbly face against hers. Nothing was said between them for a while until Clauida finally lifted her head up and looked at him.

"What are you doing Artie?" she was almost whispering, their faces were only a few inches away, their lips almost touching already.

Artie licked his lips before he spoke, his eyes dance all over her face he cupped his hand around the side of Claudia's face.

"You said you knew what to do, show me?" Artie spoke softly. Claudia couldn't believe what she was hearing. She slowly closed the little bit of space between them as her lips softly came down to rest on Arties. Instinct takes over and Artie quickly falls deeper into the kiss his arms wrapping tight around Claudia and hers resting on his neck and side of his face. Their tongues explore each other's mouths for a while before they have to break for air. Claudia's eyes flutter open to find Artie looking at her.

"I think I might like that." Artie said with a smile.

"I think I might like it too" Claudia added.

"Do you think we might be able to try that again, just to make sure you know?" Artie said playfully wiggling his eyebrow. Claudia ran her hands down his chest and back up his neck while her lips found his again, her tongue running across his bottom lip it was driving Artie nuts and he quickly gives in give Claudia full access to explore his mouth and tongue with hers. A low grown comes from Artie's throat as their kissing deepens and hands start to explore. Before things get out of control Artie gently pulled himself back. Claudia feared that Artie had changed his mind and was going to shut her out again.

"What? What's wrong?" She asked tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"Nothing's wrong I promise. I think we might want to keep things slow for just a bit, it's been a while for this old man and I don't want to screw this up." Claudia smiled at him and nodded in agreement.

"I think that would be a good idea too." Both smiled at each other and Artie pulled her in for a gentle kiss.