The soft sounds of the piano filled the hotel bar, empty save for two figures sitting towards the middle of the room. The lighting was soft, their faces highlighted by a flickering candle.

"It was thoughtful of your father to let you and Alan take some time to relax," Penelope spoke as Virgil refilled their glasses with the last of the expensive alcohol. He returned the bottle to the ice bucket before turning his full attention to his companion.

"I think Grandma thought it might be nice for Alan and Tin Tin to spend some quality time together," Virgil smiled. "We're supposed to be the chaperones." Penelope leaned over to gently place her hand over his, raising her eyebrows.

"We're clearly doing a wonderful job." Virgil smiled, but said nothing, his eyes looking down at her hand over his before he turned his over, linking their fingers together. His simple gesture spoke volumes between the two as with so few opportunities to spend time together, every movement, every word, every moment spent together was fuelled by their feelings for each other. For the best part of a year, they had found any excuse to spend more time with one another, having discovered their shared emotions under some mistletoe that previous Christmas.

No one knew about them. Or at least they both hoped that was the case.

Parker was one to watch, always asking about leaving spare towels in the guest bedroom...

Certainly there had been some gentle joking between the brothers at his visits to London with Penelope, but each could admit that they wouldn't be the obvious choice to attend such outings. The London Symphony Orchestra performing 'The Planets' at the Royal Albert Hall.

Box seats and a champagne reception. Penelope was quite the socialite.

The Tate Museum announcing the Turner Prize winner, which Penelope (plus one) had been invited to. That had been a memorable evening.

Not for the art, Virgil had never been a fan of modern art. He wasn't sure whether a lone bulb flickering in a room counted as art. Most storerooms on Tracy Island could pull off that feat.

No, rather it was their first date. Firstly dinner at London's exclusive 'Waterhouse' restaurant, a feast of organic food and a fine French Chablis to accompany. Then the wander round the Tate Gallery, admiring the works of art found there before the announcement of the winner. Penelope had leaned closer to him, her lips brushing his ear as she spoke of similar distain to the idea of the winner's 'piece of art'.

Virgil couldn't even begin to remember exactly what had been said, he'd been too preoccupied with the very feeling of Penelope being so close to him.

His attention was brought back to the present when the patio doors opened and Alan and Tin Tin entered the room. Virgil dropped Penelope's hand suddenly, but was shocked when she snatched it back, pulling them below the table, resting against her knee casually. He stared at her, part shock, part wonder before she smiled slightly. The corner of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Me and Tin Tin are going to head now. It's late and everything..."

"With the travelling we have tomorrow..." Tin Tin continued. Virgil hardly heard it before Penelope kicked his ankle, nodding towards his youngest brother.

"Uh...yeah, sure..." he murmured, glancing at Alan who was too busy trying to discreetly tuck his arm around Tin Tin's waist.

"Good night," Penelope called over her shoulder.

Alan's and Tin Tin's giggling faded into silence and it was in that moment that Virgil glanced round to see the pianist had obviously left for the night. Penelope glanced at Virgil, a knowing smile crossing her face. An unattended piano was something of a great temptation.

"Just one," she joked lightly as he took her hand, leading her to the piano.

"Any requests?"

"Anything you play will be perfect," she said softly.

"How about Debussy, Suite Bergamasque," Virgil said.

"Claire De Lune," Penelope sighed. "Beautiful...and don't think you can go all maestro musical with me Mr. Tracy. I am very well acquainted with many of your musical tastes." She placed her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as he began the soft piece.

As the piece finished, both remained silent, Virgil's fingers still pressing down on the keys, long after the strings had silenced, the gentle chord fading into the silence. Penelope's hand, which had gently rubbed the top of his arm throughout the piece had suddenly stilled.

Both were afraid to break the moment.

As it happened, they didn't.

Rather Alan Tracy returned to the bar, his impromptu arrival causing Penelope to leap from her position next to Virgil, to standing at, what she hoped, a completely innocent distance away.

"'S'up," Alan shrugged, rubbing his hair and reaching for a tempting glass bottle behind the bar.

"Water," Virgil ordered as Alan's hand moved along the shelf, grabbing hold of the water.

"I was going to," Alan retorted sullenly. Virgil smiled as he slouched back out of the dining room and down the hallway.

Only after she heard the bedroom door closing, did she move towards Virgil again.

"Now, where were we?" she asked, as he took her hand, kissing the underside of her wrist.

"I think I was just about to suggest we turn in for the night."

"After all, all the travelling you have to do tomorrow..." Penelope smiled as she echoed Tin Tin's weak excuses from earlier.

"And it's late and everything..."

****

Virgil certainly hadn't had enough sleep to be happy when his communicator had sounded. It was still dark outside, his eyes were struggling to open and, perhaps most importantly, Penelope was snuggled into his side.

Fumbling on the bedside table, he found the cause of the noise and reluctantly eased away from Penelope before answering the incoming call from Scott.

"You and Alan are needed." Scott's order was brisk and to the point.

"Well, hey there Scott to you too," Virgil mumbled, rubbing his eyes with the base of his hands.

"Where are we needed?"

"It's Hoover Dam Virgil. A freak weather system has caused a huge amount of rainfall and the authorities are concerned about the dam's capabilities to hold the excess water back. We're needed for evacuation purposes. Plus Brains is here to provide advice on securing the structure. We might be required to help with that." Virgil pushed himself to his feet, beginning to gather together his scattered clothing from the previous night.

Or from that night...far as Virgil could tell, a new day was yet to dawn.

"FAB. Me and Alan with be with you shortly, Scott." Virgil replied, pulling his shoes on. He turned to Penelope, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"I'm afraid there are other damsels in distress requiring my assistance." He leaned in to kiss her softly, pulling back after a moment. She laughed softly before reaching out to take his hand.

"I'm sure I can cope...as long as I'm the only damsel you treat in this way."

"Of course," he said, kissing her hand before leaning into her again, intending to leave her with a lingering kiss that would confirm this to her. He resisted the temptation to push her back and ravish her over and over again, painfully aware of the rescue he was required to attend. As he moved back, an apologetic smile crossing his face, she whispered three little words that floored Virgil.

His face must have paled, a look of shock cutting across his usually calm, contented features and the clumsy stumble from the room made him look completely flustered.

If not a bit of an idiot in front of the most unruffled woman he'd ever met.