AN: It Takes Two is a collaborative crossover between the shows Castle and Law & Order: SVU. The story takes place after the episode "Ghost" has occurred and encompasses events from Seasons 1 and 2 of Castle and Season 10 of SVU. Parts of the SVU timeline have been altered to fit the needs of this story, but we tried to remain true to the characters and spirit of both shows. Both Diamond Crush and I hope you enjoy the story. This was written for the Epic Proportions challenge on Passion & Perfection.
It Takes Two
Chapter 1: First Contact
October 2008:
It was a beautiful day in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Kate Beckett had woken up in a very good mood. She was on vacation here for two weeks and despite the fact that she was there by herself, she was determined to enjoy her time away. She had arrived yesterday afternoon, so this was her first full day here and she intended to make the most of it.
At about 11 o'clock, Kate ventured out, map in hand, to find the place that she had come here to find. A few weeks ago, her best friend Lanie was cruising the local rental store and by accident she discovered a film that was based on an oddity here in Santa Fe. The Staircase told the story of the famous winding staircase in the Loretto Chapel. The reason it was so famous was because a mysterious carpenter had crafted the miraculous staircase in the late 1800s without using a single nail to hold it up.
Kate was naturally fascinated by the story and she decided to come here and see it for herself. Although she would've loved to bring Lanie with her, her best friend didn't have any vacation time left over after her trip to Cancun. Lanie promised Kate that someday they'd both take a trip to Santa Fe and since she'd already been there, Kate could show her around.
According to her map, the Loretto Chapel was located in the small area known as Downtown Santa Fe, so she looked at each of the street signs she passed to determine her location. She quickly found herself on Water Street and she knew that she was close. As she went east, she took the time to look at all the shops that lined the tiny street and she was truly charmed by everything she saw. She was so wrapped up in the local culture that she reached the corner of Water St. and Old Santa Fe Trail. She turned her head to the right and just across the street there it stood, the glorious little Chapel.
She approached the Chapel and smiled when she saw how beautiful it was from the outside. She stopped on the sidewalk that led up to the chapel steps and took out her digital camera to take a few pictures of the chapel's facade and then made the short journey up the walk to go inside. She was just about to step through the doors when something stopped her. For some reason, Kate had the weird feeling that someone was watching her, so she took a quick look around. She scanned the area casually so she wouldn't attract attention, but when she didn't see anyone, she shook it off and walked into the Chapel.
Across the street at a small gallery, a leggy blonde named Victoria Harrison was sitting on a bench having her lunch when she spotted a beautiful woman across the street standing outside the Chapel. She'd watched the brunette with fascination as she snapped pictures of the building and although Vicky couldn't put her finger on it, she knew that there was something about that woman that she was attracted to. Maybe it was the swagger of her hip or her impeccable style, but whatever it was, it brought a smile to Vicky's face as she ate her salad.
Meanwhile, inside, Kate walked around the Chapel, taking pictures of the interior's intricate architecture and classic styling. The woodwork was beautiful and the staircase was breathtaking. Kate stood behind the velvet ropes that protected the winding staircase and took pictures from several angles. She knew that Lanie would want to see for herself via photo that the staircase was indeed built without nails.
Once she walked through the whole Chapel, Kate left through the gift shop and found herself on the sidewalk once again. She smiled when she felt the warm October sunshine on her face and it once again hit her that she was somewhere new. Things here weren't like they were back in New York City. They were slower, much more relaxed and she let that sink in. She could spend the entire afternoon walking around without worrying about going this place or that place and she felt free. That was until her stomach growled and she realized that it was time for lunch.
Kate took out her cell phone and typed "restaurants" into the map search. A small arrow popped up for a small cafe that was just across the plaza and she sighed happily because it was only about two blocks away. She started back the way she'd come and crossed the street since the cafe was on the south side of Water Street.
As she was about to round the corner, she happened to walk past a large window with several small sculptures on display. Despite her growing hunger, she paused for a moment to admire each of the unique pieces, but there was one in particular that caught her eye. It was a bronze statue of two women, their arms around each other and an infant cradled between them. She'd never seen anything so beautiful before and though she was considering going inside to get a better look, another growl from her stomach convinced her that food was more important.
Kate forced herself to keep walking and a few minutes later, she walked into the cafe. The hostess told her that she could take a seat anywhere she wanted, so she found an empty stool at the counter and sat down.
The waitress behind the counter, a redhead with too much makeup, handed her a menu and smiled, "Take your time honey."
The redhead walked away to serve coffee while Kate studied the menu. She settled on a burger and fries with a chocolate milkshake. Kate had decided that since she was on vacation she wasn't going to count calories...she'd deal with the fallout from that when she got home to her gym.
The waitress was the chatty type though so whenever there was a moment when no one needed coffee or service, she was standing in front of Kate, chatting. Kate was polite but didn't know how to tell the woman to leave her alone so she talked to her.
"So you're from New York, huh? I've never been there, but I really want to go sometime. I mean, the Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium, the Statue of Liberty..." she said wistfully. Kate smiled, "Yeah, it's a great place. Lived there my whole life."
"Really? That's amazing. I've never met a born and raised New Yorker...We get people in here from New York sometimes, but never anyone like you,"she said with a grin. There was something about the way she looked at Kate, like she was a very delicious piece of cherry pie.
Kate squirmed a little under the gaze of this woman. She was used to being looked at like she was there to be taken but she was never comfortable with it. She shifted her eyes then asked, "Well, um, are there any really good clubs around here? Somewhere to dance and have a good time, but not a meat market kind of place, you know? Just like, a piano bar or something?"Kate was reluctant to ask if this waitress knew of any lesbian nightclubs, not knowing how such a question would be received.
"As a matter of fact I do...and trust me, there's very little chance you'll get hit on by drooling guys. It's right near here on the corner of Grant and Water St. It's called Rouge Cat. I like to go there sometimes on my nights off and the vibe is awesome. Great music, better drinks, and I know the doorman... you tell him Quinn sent you and he'll let you in, no hassles..."
Kate smiled, "Thanks, Quinn. I'll check it out later tonight."Kate finished her lunch and paid her tab then said goodbye to Quinn and left the caf. She took a random left and walked around the plaza for a little while longer before she decided to head back to her hotel and change for her night on the town.
Before she left, she wanted to return to the little art gallery to take one more look at the sculpture that had caught her attention. She was so excited to take a closer look at the statue, but when she got to the entrance, there was note on the door that said the gallery was closed early for a delivery and would open the next day at their usual time. Kate sighed but was content to look at the piece through the window once again.
As she gazed through the glass, she pictured the statue sitting on her mantle at home. Kate could see herself as one of those women one day, though the other woman remained faceless. Kate lightly placed her fingertips to the glass and smiled wistfully before she slowly turned away and headed back to her hotel.
Vicky was standing behind the counter at the gallery when she saw the same woman from earlier standing outside the window. She noticed that she was looking at the statue of the two women with the baby, the one that Vicky loved herself and was planning to buy with her next paycheck. It had just come in two days ago and she'd talked her boss into holding it for her until the end of the week. It made her think back to her old life and how close she was to having the family she'd always wanted.
Before she was put into Witness Protection, Vicky was known as Alexandra Cabot, an Assistant District Attorney for the Manhattan DA's office. She'd had a relationship with Olivia Benson, one of the detectives she worked with while she was assigned to the Special Victims Unit. Alex had always imagined that she and Olivia would get married and have a family, but unfortunately, Olivia wasn't ready to be out of the closet and Alex wasn't willing to start a family with someone who couldn't be honest about who they are.
She stayed with Olivia until the night that she was shot and truth be told, she loved her, but when she returned to New York to testify against Liam Connors, the man who'd pulled the trigger, she found out that Olivia had gone back to dating men and she was relieved that she never brought up the whole family thing with her. She'd never given up the dream of meeting a woman who could be honest about her sexuality and starting a family with her, but for now, the only concrete reminder she had was going to be that statue.
Later that day, Kate was in her hotel room getting changed to go out. She settled on a red halter top with black jeans and 3 inch ankle boots. She wanted to look good but she wasn't looking to meet anyone. Kate wasn't the type to have a fling just because she was on vacation but she was interested in going out, having a drink, and just relaxing for the evening.
Kate left the hotel around 9pm and asked the hotel's doorman to call her a cab because she had no intention of walking around in heels. After a short ride, Kate stepped out of the cab in front of the club and was happy to see there wasn't a line at the door, however there was a bouncer. She smiled at the mountain of a man and dropped Quinn's name. He nodded, knowing Quinn all too well, and let her in.
Kate walked right to the bar, settled on an empty barstool, and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea. The bartender made it a strong one and handed it to Kate. As she sipped, Kate turned to face the crowd and after a quick scan, she realized that this was a lesbian bar. She grinned and took another drink when it dawned on her that Quinn must've known exactly what she was implying when she mentioned not wanting to go out to a "meat market." It was still early, so there weren't a lot of women in the club, but Kate figured it would fill up soon.
After a long day at work, Vicky decided that she wanted to go out for the evening. She hadn't gone to a bar in what seemed like ages and she needed a chance to relax, enjoy some music and have a drink. She went home to get ready, taking a nice hot shower to shrug off all her cares. Wrapped in a towel, she picked out a little black dress that was low cut and fell about 4 inches above her knees. She had a perfect pair of black stilettos to go with it and all she had to do was her make-up and hair. She flat ironed her long blonde locks and then did a gorgeous smoky eye and pale lip to complete the look.
She ventured back across town and arrived outside of her favorite club just before 10. It was starting to pick up, but she didn't have any trouble getting in the door thanks to the fact that she knew the bouncer. She walked in, saw an empty stool at the bar, and admired the woman sitting next to it. She sat down and ordered a whiskey and coke and then smiled when she recognized the woman. She was the same one she'd seen admiring the statue in the window earlier that day.
Kate was getting into the groove of the music, it was a mix of 80's pop music and modern dance music and she liked it. After a while, she noticed out of the corner of her eye someone sit next to her. Not knowing if the woman was alone or not, Kate decided to ignore her and wait to see if the other woman would make a move. The last thing she needed was to get into a cat fight with some local woman over her territory.
Vicky got her drink and took a sip to wet her throat. She turned to the woman and gently tapped her on the shoulder, "I'm sorry, I know this is going to sound odd, but were you here in the plaza this afternoon?"
Kate turned to the woman who tapped her shoulder and was puzzled by the question but she answered anyway, "Um...yeah I was, why?"
"I think I saw you earlier. You walked by the gallery where I work and you stopped to look at some of the artwork in the window?" she said, though it came out as more of a question. She had been struck by this woman from afar, but right up close, she was practically taking Vicky's breath away.
Kate thought back to earlier that afternoon and the gallery window, "Oh yeah, there was a piece in the window that caught my eye. You work there?" Kate smiled as she remembered the statue.
"Yeah. I oversee large sales and coordinate showings. I've gotten to know several local artists and they produce some very amazing work." She gazed into the other woman's chocolate brown eyes and nearly lost herself. When she realized that she'd been looking just a few moments too long, she shook herself back to reality and extended her hand, "I'm Vicky Harrison."
Kate smiled and took the blonde's hand. The woman was very beautiful, with an air of almost regal bearing...she reminded Kate of a younger Grace Kelly. "I'm Kate. Nice to meet you Vicky." Kate felt a slight jolt when her hand touched Vicky's and she tried to hide her reaction.
Vicky could feel her face getting hot and she knew that this woman would notice the flush in her cheeks. She chuckled and replied, "Nice to meet you Kate. Are you new to town?"
Kate picked up her drink for another sip and said, "Actually, I'm on vacation. I'm from New York." Kate paused and then asked, "What about you? Have you always lived in Santa Fe?"Kate was curious about this blonde beauty.
She was nearly knocked off her barstool when Kate mentioned that she was from New York and that's when she realized that that's what it was about this woman that had caught Vicky's eye earlier that day. The confidence and style screamed New Yorker. She took a sip of her drink and remembered her cover story, "Um, n-no, not always. I'm actually new to the area. I actually grew up in Nebraska and I spent some time in Northern California before I moved here."
Kate noticed Vicky's reaction to her question but she shrugged it off. She was determined to put aside her "detective spidey sense" as Lanie called it and just have a good time."Wow, I've never really lived anywhere but Manhattan, though I would love to see California one day. What made you decide to come to New Mexico from there?"Kate was curious to know why someone would move away from California when most people move to California.
"I moved for work. The gallery I was working for closed so I put out some applications and got the job here. It's hard finding opportunities in the art business, especially as a gallery coordinator and buyer."
Kate nodded and smiled. "So do you like it here? I've only been here two days but what little I've seen I like."Kate took another sip of her drink as she kept eye contact with Vicky. The blue of her eyes was mesmerizing and she couldn't look away.
"It's beautiful. There's a lot of tradition and so many different cultures...It's amazing." But it's not home',she thought. She missed New York and no matter how wonderful New Mexico was, she'd always miss the big city.
Kate thought about that and she admitted to herself that as wonderful as Santa Fe had been so far, she couldn't see herself living here. Kate smiled at Vicky, "Hey um, I'm not really very into the club scene much these days, so I was wondering if maybe you would want to go somewhere more quiet?"
Vicky smiled, "Sure. I know a little coffeehouse just around the corner from here." She took one last sip and then set her glass down on the bar. She left a $20 to cover both drinks and the tip and then stood, "Shall we?"
Kate thought about saying something about Vicky paying for the drinks but decided not to make a big deal of it. She'd just pay for the coffee later. She followed Vicky out of the club and decided to just walk after Vicky explained that she had parked close to the coffee shop.
As they rounded a corner Kate said, "I like how even though it's nighttime, it's still nice out. Not too cold and not too warm either. Is it usually like this?"
"Um, yeah, it's usually like this. It only really gets bad during the winter. It can get pretty cold, though it's nothing compared to New York," she said with a chuckle.
Kate turned to look at Vicky then, "How um...how do you know what it's like in New York? Have you ever been there?"
Vicky could've kicked herself for the slip-up, "Um, yeah I have, but I'll tell you more when we get inside."They were right outside the coffee shop and she needed some time to come up with a reason why she knew about how cold New York winters could be.
"Oh, ok." Kate followed Vicky inside and they walked up to the counter. She turned to Vicky, "So what do you recommend? It's my treat."
Vicky smiled, "Well, I usually get the white hot chocolate. It's really amazing."
Kate smiled, "That sounds really good. I think I'll have the same."Kate let Vicky order for them, since she knew the place better.
Vicky walked up to the counter and said, "Hey Megan."
The barista turned around from steaming milk and smiled, "Vicky, hey, I wasn't expecting to see you tonight. You look gorgeous."
Vicky blushed, "Thank you. Um, can I get two white hot chocolates, please?"
Megan noticed the woman with Vicky and nodded, "Yeah, sure. Whipped on both?"She looked Kate over and then returned her attention back to Vicky.
"Yes, please,"Vicky replied and noticed that Megan seemed to be sizing Kate up. She knew that Megan had a bit of a crush on her, but she wasn't really Vicky's type.
Megan smiled warmly at Vicky, "Go ahead and have a seat. I'll bring it out to you."
Kate saw the way this Megan was looking at her and at Vicky and she didn't like it but she kept her mouth shut. She stepped forward and paid for their drinks then turned to Vicky, "So where should we sit?"
Vicky spotted a couch over in the corner and pointed, "How about there?"
Kate looked over and smiled, "Perfect."Kate began walking towards the couch, sensing that Vicky was walking behind her and liking what she saw.
Vicky sank down on the couch and crossed one leg delicately over the other. She leaned against the back and said, "So, I told you I'd give you the skinny on how I know about New York, right?"
Kate smiled, "Well...I wasn't going to push you but, I am a bit curious about how you know about New York."Kate lightly placed her hand on Vicky's knee.
Vicky suddenly felt like giggling when she felt Kate's hand on her knee, but she resisted the urge and cleared her throat, "Well, I have a cousin that I'm very close to and she lives in Manhattan. I'd go visit her every year, sometimes in the spring or the summer, but several times in the winter. I don't think there's anything more beautiful than snow coming down in New York."
Kate nodded as she remembered the last snowfall. "Yes it's very pretty coming down but, let me tell you it stops being pretty once the plows get to it."Kate smiled.
Vicky chucked, "That's very true, but I love walking through Central Park when the snow is still on the grass. It's like a winter wonderland..."
Kate smiled, "Yes it's a great way to spend a winter afternoon."
"Maybe someday if I'm in the city, we could do that...Walk through Central Park after it snows and then go to some little Italian place and have dinner and an amazing dessert,"she said, not sure whether she was overstepping, but she knew for some reason that she'd want to do that with this woman.
Kate smiled, "I'd like that."Before Kate could say anything else, the barista came by and placed their drinks on the small table in front of them with a smile.
"Here you go Vick, hope you like it."The smile was a little bit flirtatious and Kate forced herself not to do something to "stake her claim" on Vicky...mostly because she didn't have any real claim on her.
"Thanks, Meg, they look great." She picked up the cup with more whipped cream on top, the one she was sure Megan had made especially for her, and handed it over to Kate. "Here, I hope you like it."
Kate took the offered mug, noticing that it had more whipped cream and she smiled. She might be reading more into the gesture than was there but Kate preferred to believe that, even if 'Meg' was into Vicky, the feeling wasn't mutual.
Kate liked the thought of that and she said, "Thanks, I'm sure I will." She took a careful sip, being careful not to burn her tongue. Kate closed her eyes as the smooth liquid slid down her throat...it was so good. A tiny moan escaped her throat before she could call it back. She looked at Vicky and blushed, a little embarrassed by the moan and knowing Vicky heard it. "It's really good."
Vicky smiled to herself, God. That was really sexy. She felt a little tingle between her legs but tried to play it off, "I'm glad you like it."She picked up her own mug and licked a little whipped cream off the top.
Kate smiled when she saw Vicky's tongue sneak out to lick up some whipped cream. She felt her entire body grow warm. Kate knew her self-control was hanging by a tenuous thread. She thought about how she always backed away and deflected whenever someone flirted with her and she realized that it usually stemmed from her fear of outing herself and risking her career. But here, she didn't have to worry about that and Kate suddenly had the urge to break her habit and take Vicky up on whatever she might be offering.
"Mmm, this is good, better than usual. Then again, maybe it's the company that's making it even sweeter." She took a sip and sat back, re-crossing her legs gracefully, "I haven't done this in a long time..."
Kate smiled, "Done what? Had a decadent hot chocolate? Cause Meg seemed to know you really well." Kate tried and failed to keep the hint of jealousy she felt towards Meg out of her voice. She kicked herself for letting it seep into her voice. "Sorry, that was uncalled for."
"No, no, it's ok. She's had a crush on me for a while, but I'm keeping it strictly friendship with her. Besides, she's not really my type anyway..." Vicky placed her hand on Kate's knee, "I tend to like my women a lot more like you..."
Kate's eyes dropped to the hand on her knee. She liked the sensations it caused. Kate smiled, "Really? And what is it about me that drew you in?"Kate asked, trying to sound flirtatious but probably failing. It was when she saw that Vicky was smiling that she figured she was doing ok.
"I don't know if it was any one thing, but I did find you very attractive when I first saw you and then when I got to look into your eyes earlier, wow...and of course, I'm definitely drawn to your personality. You seem very confident but maybe a little guarded... You intrigue me."
Kate felt a blush steal across her face. She wasn't expecting such a thought out reply. Usually, people mentioned her looks or tried to play it off by saying something equally shallow. Vicky's answer hit all the right notes. "Well, I guess intriguing is better than boring."
"I'd say so. I don't tend to stick around boring people for very often. I like to be around someone who can keep up an intelligent conversation and make me laugh. I could tell right off that you'd be able to offer that."
Kate took another sip of the hot chocolate. "Well I hope I don't disappoint you. Would be a shame to ruin whatever this is before it really got started."
"I have faith," Vicky said with a smile and then took a big sip of her drink. She could feel her own butterflies fluttering at the idea that she had just taken such a major step with someone she hardly knew, but she couldn't help herself. Kate was...she couldn't even put her finger on it, but she knew she was someone special.
Kate smiled then looked around the coffee shop taking in the decor. Her eyes landed on a wall clock and she was surprised when she saw the time, it was already one am! "Wow, I didn't realize it was so late. It seems like we just met,"Kate said, surprised at how fast the time had flown by. She couldn't remember the last time she'd stayed up so late talking to someone who wasn't Lanie or about something that wasn't case-related.
Vicky looked over to the clock, "You're right...They're going to be closing up here soon..." She finished off her cocoa and then said, "Look, I really don't want this to end...It doesn't have to be anything you don't want it to be, but I'd like to spend more time with you..."
Kate smiled, "I'd like that too. I would definitely like to see you again. I'm only in town for two weeks but I would love to spend as much of that time with you as you can spare. However, I think it would be too soon to spend the night together tonight. But maybe we could meet for lunch tomorrow? I could swing by your gallery and take you to lunch if you want?"Kate wasn't the type to 'put out' on the first date, if this could be called that, but she definitely wanted to see Vicky again.
"I'd like that. I can go anytime, so you don't have to rush." She stood up and then offered a hand up to Kate. "I know all the restaurants around here, so we can go wherever you'd like."
Kate took Vicky's hand and stood up. She got as close as she could to the other woman and, sensing that Meg was watching them, she smiled and decided to give in to her urge to stake a claim just this once. She leaned forward to kiss Vicky and in that moment, Kate knew that Vicky was going to be more to her than just a vacation fling.
When Vicky felt Kate's lips, it was like a flame ignited within her. She craved more, wanted to deepen the kiss, but she wasn't sure if Kate was willing or ready for that.
Kate pulled away for a moment and looked into Vicky's eyes to see if her kiss was welcomed. What she saw in those blue pools only excited her more and she leaned in again for another kiss, this time letting her tongue slip out and lightly touch Vicky's lips. When those soft lips parted, Kate needed no further invitation to deepen the connection.
Vicky eagerly welcomed Kate's tongue into her mouth and caressed back as her arms wrapped around the strong brunette.
Before Kate could really lose herself in the kiss she heard the sound of a throat being cleared, loudly. When they pulled apart, Kate saw Meg standing there.
"I'm sorry ladies but we're closing now," Meg said without a trace of apology in her voice. She didn't like seeing Vicky kissing another woman but she knew Vicky didn't see her as anything more than a friend. Still, that didn't mean she couldn't interrupt them to close the shop.
Kate looked from Meg to Vicky, "I guess that means we should be going."
"Is it all right if I take you back to your hotel?" Vicky asked as she walked Kate out of the coffee shop.
"I'd like that,"Kate said, smiling as she followed Vicky outside.
They walked back to Vicky's car and the blonde opened the door for Kate. She knew exactly where Kate's hotel was and drove slowly down the narrow streets on the way to drop her off. "Tonight's been really amazing,"she said with a smile.
Kate settled into the passenger seat and smiled, "Yes it has. I had a great time with you."
"I'm glad you're here...I...I really needed to meet someone like you."
Kate liked the thought of that, "Well I'm glad I met you too. I haven't had such a good time as I've had tonight in a really long time. I'm looking forward to lunch tomorrow."
"Me too," Vicky replied as butterflies started up in her stomach again. She pulled up outside of the hotel entrance a few minutes later and sighed, "I hate to see you leave..."
Kate reached out and placed her hand on Vicky's cheek. She caressed the soft skin before leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on her lips. "I'm not leaving I'm just going up to my hotel room. I would invite you up but...we've covered why that's not a good idea,"Kate smiled.
"I know and I think it's better that we don't. I don't want to make this about sex, Kate. I want to get to know you better and when the time is right, it'll happen. But for now, you should go upstairs and get some sleep. I'll be waiting for you tomorrow at work."
Kate nodded, "Tomorrow." Kate leaned in and kissed her again before she pulled away, "Goodnight Vicky."Kate opened the car door and let one leg step outside.
Vicky felt something odd when Kate's leg went outside of the vehicle...she was sad. She didn't want to let her go.
Kate turned back to look at Vicky and saw something in her eyes. "Are you ok, Vicky?"Kate was worried she'd said or done something wrong.
"It's...nothing. I'm fine, really,"she said, forcing a smile.
Kate could tell that wasn't true so she slipped her leg back into the car and faced Vicky, "Doesn't seem like nothing...what is it?"
"No, you're going to think I'm absolutely insane if I say it out loud," Vicky said as she lowered her head.
Kate once again placed her hand on Vicky's cheek, gently drawing her face up to look into her eyes, "I promise I won't think you're insane. Trust me?" Kate needed to know what was wrong.
"Ok." She took a breath and then looked into Kate's eyes, "It made me sad when you started to leave..."She waited for Kate to jump out of the car at her confession. She knew she'd think she was crazy.
Kate took a moment to think about that, "Let me get this right, you were sad because I was starting to get out of the car?" Kate smiled, "That's...that's such a sweet thought. Vicky, I wasn't, I'm still not, eager to get out of this car and let this evening end but, we can't stay in the car all night...well we could but it would be the same as if you came up to my hotel room. But hey, tomorrow will be here before you know it and we'll be having lunch together. That's something to look forward to, right?"
"Yes," she said in a mock pout. "Go on. I'll be ok, I just... it's weird that I feel like this about someone that I've just met. I don't think I know how to process it just yet. But like I said, I'll be ok. Go on upstairs and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
Kate smiled. She liked knowing she wasn't the only one who didn't want the night to end. Kate leaned forward again for another kiss and let it linger for a moment before she pulled back, "Sweet dreams Vicky, I'll see you tomorrow at noon for lunch, ok?"
"Ok. Sweet dreams, Kate." She watched as Kate got out of the car and walked inside. Once she was gone from sight, she put the car in drive and made her way across town to her house. She went inside and changed before slipping into bed, but she couldn't stop thinking about Kate. She was the last thing on her mind when she finally drifted off to sleep.
Kate, meanwhile, let herself into her hotel room and plopped down on her bed. On the one hand she commended herself on her self-control to wait and see if this could be more than just about sex but on the other hand, she was kicking herself for not taking Vicky up on her advances. Kate knew she wasn't a one-night stand person but...right now she kind of wished she was. Kate got ready for bed and as she slipped between the sheets, she let herself look forward to her lunch date. Suddenly, a two-week vacation to visit Loretto Chapel had taken on a much better purpose. The last thing Kate did before she fell asleep was wonder if she was destined to meet Vicky. The events of the day seemed like the Gods had preordained them, which it made Kate smile. She liked that thought and drifted off to sleep with a happy expression on her face.
TBC...