A/N: guess what? I decided to write another chapter to the "Taking Turns" Series and it turned into at least a 3 part thing! Who'da guessed it lol. They're going to be shorter chapters because otherwise it would be one very long story. So here you go, I hope you enjoy it. ~~Arones
They had arrived two days ago and dealt with the crisis that turned into crises which the Panama Sanctuary deemed necessary for them both to be present for. Will wasn't quite sure why he had been brought along except for bait, but each night he had happily slept next to Helen, if they had slept and had awoken to an empty bed. Now that all crises were solved, the Head of House was satisfied and their plane arrangements had been made for the next morning, he didn't really know what to do. He certainly hadn't explored the Sanctuary proper; he'd been mostly out and about trying to catch the abnormal that they'd "accidentally" let on the loose and another two that they had discovered. He'd learned the small city that housed them well enough, but the Sanctuary itself he didn't know at all.
He walked from the office where she had left an hour earlier and made his way back to their room to change into clean clothes and shower. The room was steamy when he exited the tiny glass container that the people there considered a shower. He wrapped the towel loosely around his hips and wiped a hand on the mirror so he could look at his face. He looked older, he was sure of it and he was not happy about it. His eyes were tired, his face had new lines and he certainly had quite a few new scars.
He sighed loudly and looked down to where his clothes had been thrown in a pile on the ground. Only they weren't there. Looking around the room further, he saw them folded neatly on the toilet lid with a piece of parchment on top. Drying his hand again on the cotton around his waist, he reached for the paper and began to read:
William,
Since we have been busy these past few days, I thought we could share a meal to ourselves. However, I also noticed you have not seen the Sanctuary of which we are currently residing in. I have created a bit of a game and need you to collect a few items for the meal we will share. Follow the clues and don't get lost, dinner will be ready in an hour. You have one hour to complete the game.
Love,
H
There was a second piece of paper that was hidden under the first larger one. He set the first on the damp counter and reached for the second reading quickly.
'I am small and black and hide in corners. I like to linger where I meet new faces.'
That one seemed easy enough. That would be wherever the intake of abnormals was, and he certainly had been to that part of the Sanctuary in the past few days. Quickly he pulled his new and fresh clothes onto his body and ran a few fingers through his hair to let it set right. Holding the second piece of paper tightly, he began on his way to Intake.
He got to the room easily enough; however it was a ten sided room with many doors and many corners. It took him a good twenty minutes before he found what he was sure she had placed for him to discover: a leather shoe with nice black laces. Looking at the item intensely, he must have turned it over three or four times before he found where the note was hidden. It was in the toe of the shoe, rolled up tightly and pressed into the sole. The next clue led him to the infirmary, one of her favorite rooms which was how he knew it was where it was going. It would no doubt be on the list somewhere along the line. He found the matching shoe there underneath one of the mattresses. The clue that was stuffed into the toe of that shoe was much harder to figure out.
'I wrap around your middle and hold you tightly. I live where I can dance.'
Will must have walked around the Sanctuary four times before he figured out that she meant the media room. He finally discovered where that room was located and found a cummerbund folded neatly sitting next to the stereo system with a piece of parchment nestled in between the folds. He glanced at his watch before reading the letter and saw that he only had twenty minutes left. If she was planning on making him find every single piece of a tux, this was going to take far longer than the hour she had predicted.
Luckily, with his next two stops—which took him another forty minutes—he had the completed tux. However, there was another clue and he was fairly sure it wouldn't lead to where she was located. Sighing heavily he looked at his watch with nerves in his stomach. He could abandon the hunt and go in search for her, he was already late, or he could continue on. She had said what he would be looking for would be for their dinner so perhaps he should keep going. Certainly Helen would understand his tardiness. If only he'd remembered to grab his phone when he left his room, then he could text her about his sudden lateness.
'A rose knows no bounds, and is a thing of beauty is rare to be found. I love to bask in the sun and feel the warm rays on my petals.'
Will wandered around the gardens and found some roses that had been planted, but none were open and blooming. He looked up and saw the beginning of clouds coming over head, but the sky was darkening and he was losing the ability to see quickly. He let thirty minutes pass outside before he discovered the location of the next clue. He found twelve roses wrapped in ribbon that he was assuming he was to bring with him.
Helen was watching him from the parapet. She had known an hour would not be enough time to find everything she'd asked of him, but she had only planned for him to only take two. With the way he was lingering in the gardens it would most certainly take him closer to three. She had set everything up and was leaning on the rail, just waiting for him to make his last stop. If he was out there, then that meant he only had one more item to find. She sighed heavily and turned back to the meal that was now cold and the candles that had started to burn low. She didn't even have wine to sip at while waiting since he was supposed to bring it.
Heels clacked as she paced back and forth, the sun had all but set and they would be plunged into darkness. She had hoped to be well on their way to their second glass of wine by this time in the evening, but she was still standing alone on the parapet with a gentle breeze waiting for him to show up to the 'date of romance' that she had so carefully planned.
It was not going as planned. And that was something that she did not want to admit, but she was beginning to realize that she might have to. She must have been lost in thought because finally the door to the open balcony opened and out stepped Will, clad in a bowtie tuxedo, holding a dozen red roses and a bottle of merlot that she had been craving.
She smiled softly and moved to him, her dress swirling around her knees to press a gentle, sweet and long kiss to his lips. "There you are; I was beginning to think you had given up."
"You told me never to give up." He pecked her lips quickly before setting the items down in the designated places that she had obviously set up for them. He turned rapidly and took her lips in a passionate embrace. She moaned against him and dragged her fingers through his hair, pressing her body as tightly to his as she possibly could. She had been waiting far too long for his arrival.
She pecked his lips slowly, pulling back incrementally to wean herself off his intoxication. She smiled against him and moved away slightly to look in his eyes, "I did tell you that didn't I?"
"You did, and I just so happened to take it to heart."
She rolled her eyes and kissed his lips softly once again before tugging on his hand. "Come, let's eat. It's a bit cold, but it should still taste excellent."
"I'm sure it will, Helen." He kissed her cheek and pulled out her chair so she could sit.