Chapter 1

She looked at herself for about the 10th time in the last thirty minutes. Carefully smoothing out the creases on her blue, knee high dress. Observing every hair on her head, every spec of makeup. Standing there, Sasha couldn't remember a time when she had been so nervous. Better yet, she didn't know *why* she was so nervous. It wasn't exactly a first date. Sure, tonight was going to be their first...re-date? "Is that even a thing?" She mumbled to herself.

"Stop looking in that damn mirror, it's going to make you even more crazy then you are already acting" Azima said, walking into Sasha's room.

Sasha smiled softly, turning to look at her friend "two months of living together and you still haven't learned to knock"'

Azima scoffed and waved her hand in the air "please, two months of living together and I know that there is nothing to walk in, on. Although, hopefully that's all about to change tonight" she smirked.

Sasha rolled her eyes and shook her head. "It's a date. Just dinner, it took two month just for him to ask me to dinner, there will be no..." she mumbled waving her arm flippantly towards her bed "whatever it is your thinking" she said firmly, as she grabbed her purse and jacket and walked past Azima, to the living room.

"Well if you ask me, that man should pay you in spades, for making you wait that long" Azima smiled, nodding back towards Sasha's bedroom.

"Stop it, you never stop" she laughed tossing a pillow at her. "Besides, I hardly need any when, I am forced to sleep with ear plugs every time Wolfe comes over"

Azima smirked, but a knock at the door silenced her...for a moment. "I'll get it" she said almost racing for the door, before Sasha could get there.

"Admiral Tom" she smiled, opening the door "how nice of you to finally stop by"

Sasha shot her a warning look, as put her coat on.

"It's nice to see you too, Azima" Tom said softly, but his eyes were on Sasha.

To him, she was absolutely the most beautiful woman in the world. Her perfectly styled dark brown hair, and blue dress, that made her eyes pop. For a moment, he wondered why it had taken him so long to get, to this moment.

"You look beautiful" he smiled, as Sasha walked towards him.

"Thank you" she smiled, a small blush forming across her cheeks, "you don't look so bad yourself"

Tom chuckled softly, then looked at Azima "I promise I'll have her home by midnight" he said holding his arm out for Sasha, who quicky grabbed it and cut in before her friend could reply something that would surely be inappropriate "I'll see you in the morning for our run" she said almost pushing Tom out the door and closing it behind her.

"Did I say something wrong?" He asked a little confused, silently cursing himself if he had already screwed up.

"No, no" she laughed "well, not for normal people anyway, but you were digging yourself, into a hole, I saved you" she she smiled.

Tom stopped and looked at her. That laugh, her infectious smile. If he had to narrow it down, it's what made him fall in love with her 15 years ago, and could still make his heart flutter.

"So, where are you taking me?" He heard her ask, pulling him from his thoughts.

"You're the intelligence officer, you tell me" he teased as they walked to his truck.

Sasha couldn't help but laugh. Banter like this had always been easy when they had dated all those years ago, and over the last two months although they hadn't been dating or even gone on a date until tonight, it had seemed like they picked up right where they left off.

That day on the ship, Tom had told her he wanted a fresh start. When they arrived back in Norfolk, he had only confirmed it, but stressed that he needed to get his kids and well, his life settled. Sasha understood. In fact, she was happy to have time to decompress from her own troubles. Try to stop blaming herself for James, for getting played, to get over the hurt and anger of how he betrayed her. All of them, really. And she supposed that she would always carry around a piece of that.

Tom had been there for her, as a friend over the last two months. As she was for him. They would meet up for coffee, or lunch, or just chat on the phone once or twice a week. Keeping each other up to date on their lives, and jobs. There was usually a senior crew member hosting a BBQ every other week, that all family and friends were invited too, so Sasha found herself even getting to know his kids. Even if it was just as their dads friend, from the ship. All of that, had been leading up to this. A date. An official date.

Twenty minutes later, Tom pulled in front of a small restaurant Sasha recognized instantly "I don't believe it" she whispered, as Tom walked around and opened her door. "How is this even possible?"

Tom smirked, resting his arm around her shoulders "I was doing some recruiting down here a month ago. I saw there were contractors working on it, so I asked what was going on. They told me, someone had bought the place and were planning on keeping it a restaurant. Kept the same name too" he smiled.

They now stood in front of the same restaurant that hosted their original date, all those years ago.

Sasha bit her lip and looked up at him. Into his beautiful blue eyes that could make her go weak In the knees "this is amazing, Tom. Thank you" she said softly.

Tom smiled, looking down at Sasha, and had to fight the urge to kiss her "you're welcome" he smiled, kissing her forehead instead "come on, I have a table saved for us" he said guiding her towards the door.

The couple were seated in a small, intimate table at the back, away from prying eyes. Even though Tom had been off the grid for almost a year and a half, he was still very recognizable and as Ashly constantly liked to remind him, famous.

"So" Sasha said taking a sip of her wine "your kids started school this week, right?"

"Mmmm" Tom nodded, instantly smiling. A trait, Sasha observed, that happened anytime his children were mentioned "Yes, Ashley can hardly contain her excitement, while Sam is...a little less enthusiastic" Tom chided causing Sasha to laugh.

"I'm sure once he makes a few friends, and if they were to start up a few recreational sports for the school, he'd fall right into place"

Tom nodded, holding Sasha's gaze "I just hope there is some sense of normality that returns. For their sake. Sometimes I don't know how they do it. Everything they have been through. Everything I dragged them through" he said, breaking their eye contact, looking down at his glass.

"Hey" Sasha said softly, reaching for his hand and squeezing it gently. "You did the best you could do. The best anyone could do in your situation. And they are wonderful kids Tom, they really are. Whatever you think you've done wrong, all you have to do is look at them, and I see everything you've done right"

He smiled softly, lifting his head up to look at her once again "thank you Sasha" he whispered, squeezing her hand. "Speaking of which, when I told them I was taking you out on a date tonight, Ashley said -finally- and Sam said -I thought you already were- "

Sasha laughed a little taking another sip of wine "I presume that means they are okay...with me, as more then just your friend?" She asked cautiously. This aspect had always scared her. If his kids hated her or refused to accept her, that would be it. There would be no -Tom and I-

"I told you Sasha, there is nothing to worry about. Sam adores you, and Ashley doesn't hate you. Which from her, is a big compliment. I'm pretty sure she hates me some days"

Sasha scoffed shaking her head with a smile. She was a teenage girl once, and could remember the feeling. "Well that's a bonus I suppose" she smiled, rubbing small circles on toms hand, with her thumb.

"That's very distracting" he whispered

Sasha gave a quick raise of her eyebrows before looking back down to her menu "it's meant to be". As much as she both understood and appreciated the time both of them needed, before diving in head first, that didn't mean she didn't think about or want more. More of him, all to herself.

two can play at this game* Tom thought to himself, he removed his hand from hers, and brought it up to the nape of her neck, carefully brushing aside her hair, as his fingers Caressed behind her ear, he leaned in placing a feather light kiss, just behind her ear lobe "thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me" he whispered, before pulling away.

He could drive her crazy. In an instant. And the worst part, or maybe not so bad, Sasha thought to herself, was that he knew exactly what to do. A simple touch, kiss, whisper, brought back a flood of memories that were neither appropriate for a restaurant or the timeframe of their current relationship. She had never been so happy for a waiter to walk up and take their order.

They didn't leave until three hours later. Both enjoying the evening too much, so they ordered s few drinks after dinner, then finished off with coffee and a shared piece of cake. They talked endlessly about what each had done, after their break up, leading right up to their reunion In Hong Kong.

By the time Tom, pulled up outside the condo, Sasha shared with azima, it was 15 minutes to midnight. "Well admiral, 15 minutes to spare. Looks like I just might be able to go on another date with you" Sasha smiled "if of course, that's what you want"

Tom stopped as they reached her door "I want that, very, very much" he smiled, bringing a hand up to gently caress her cheek "maybe this weekend...you could come over to my place. Have dinner with the kids and I. They can get to know you, as more then my friend"

Sasha smiled and nodded "I'd love to" she whispered, staring into his crystal blue eyes "thank you, for a wonderful evening Tom. I can't remember the last time, I had this much fun" she said as their faces inched closer together.

"Same here" he mumbled, leaning in, lightly brushing his lips against hers. When she didn't pull back, he pulled her closer, kissing her gently.

Sasha responded in kind, returning the kiss, parting her lips as his tongue brushed across them, silently asking for entrance. As soon as she did, they were lost in each other. Each pouring their want for each other into it. Tom snaked his arm around her waist, holding Sasha close to his body, while his other tangled in her hair. Sasha meanwhile wrapped her hand around toms neck, her fingers running through his hair at the base of his neck, while her free hand latched on to his bicep, steadying herself. When they finally broke apart for a breath of air, it was Tom who spoke first "I should go" he smiled, his forehead leaning against hers, as his thumb gently caressed her cheek "before I can't".

Sasha blushed leaning into his hand "goodnight Tom" she whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek before stepping back and going into her condo. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it, smiling to herself.

Tom meanwhile, stared at the door running his hand over his face "goodnight Sasha" he whispered, smiling softly as he left to go home.