A/N: Thank you so much for the kind reviews!

Though April perceived date one as a total failure, she held high hopes for date two, in which Robert had suggested they go to a new-age, trendy museum he had heard of from a flyer.

The day after their first date, April was leaving the hospital while he entered it for a late night shift. Their paths crossed by accident, because she was too busy answering a text from her sister to realize she had walked into him. The surprise in Robert's eyes hadn't startled her, but the smile that faintly spread on his lips did. He wasn't mad at her? Didn't hate her for basically ruining an otherwise wonderful evening?

Robert was cordial and pleasant, and underneath the dim outdoor hospital lights, April found herself accepting an invitation for round two. It was just too hard to resist the temptation of being the presence of someone who wanted to be around her, too.

Robert picked April up at Meredith's house, and even was a gentleman enough to hold the door open for her as she slid into the passenger side. She thanked him with a sweet smile, and within seconds they drove toward the storm clouds that loomed over the horizon.

"Supposed to storm."

And April thought they could go the night without talking about the weather, a fall back for any lack in conversation. Nerves paralyzed her. How was she supposed to jumpstart a conversation when he had to fall back on the cliche? April peered at the darkening clouds. "Sure looks like it. Shouldn't be too bad of a storm though, right?"

"I'm not sure. Why?" He quickly glanced at her. "You scared of storms, Kepner?"

"Only bad ones." April smirked. "And it's April, remember, Robert?"

His grin turned into a smile as he careened a tight left to pull onto the correct street, having almost missed it. "Okay, April, why are you afraid of the bad storms?"

"I can't just be afraid of bad storms?"

"You can. I was just wondering..." He waved a hand through the air and dared to meet her attentive brown eyes only. "I've never met anyone who's been scared of storms just for the hell of being scared of storms."

"I don't like tornadoes. It's...I lived through a bad one when I was seven, and I never really forgot it."

"That must have been scary."

April chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't be scared of storms otherwise, would I?"

"I suppose not." He paused before he pulled into a parking space. Frowning, he surveyed the near empty parking lot and remarked, almost to himself, "Well, I know I'm in the right place..."

"Maybe we just came at a good time." She'd say anything so he didn't end the date prematurely. There was no way she'd let him drop her back off minutes after picking her up. Alex would never let her live it down. "Come on. Let's go."

From the outside, the building looked tasteful and elegant, and April imagined it filled with paintings, photographs, or sculptures from talented hands. April had seen some museums in Ohio, mostly on class field trips, but she wasn't old enough then to understand and appreciate the art she viewed.

Now twenty-eight, April hoped her views of art had matured. The last thing she wanted was for Robert to think her immature – even though April was fifty percent positive he already thought that of her. Everyone else did.

The museum was not what either of them expected. While April had hoped for rich art that would test her intellectually, and Robert for something that would keep him interested, they faced something much different. April didn't exactly want to call herself a prude despite her sexual purity - because she didn't hate sex or think it repulsive, though she was slightly scared of it - but it was hard not to feel like a prude as she stared at pieces of art that reminded her of what she didn't have.

Paintings and pictures of sex and sexuality lined the walls, and April understood why the gallery wasn't as crowded as she expected. People didn't have to pay fifteen dollars for this when they could get it on their computer for free.

It wasn't even that tasteful in her opinion, either.

Somehow April separated from Robert, and they took different paths throughout the gallery. Though they were theoretically supposed to spend the together, April was thankful for the solitude. That way, he wouldn't see the embarrassment, shame, and jaw-dropping surprise on her face when she came across a photograph that nearly forced her to run from the museum and burn her corneas.

April found Robert only moments later. He was easy to pick out when a swarm of people didn't surround him. She tugged at his jacket sleeve with a forced smile. "Hey."

"Hey." He tilted his head at the sculpture in front of him, transfixed, and pointed at it. "What do you think that's supposed to be?"

How the hell am I supposed to know? Instead, she quickly glanced at it, shrugged, and replied as nonchalantly as she could, "Beats me."

Robert murmured and turned to stare at her. "I take it you're ready to go?"

"I was ready to go as soon as we stepped inside."

Robert smiled. "Oh, good. I don't feel so bad then."

"I'm sorry we wasted thirty dollars on this place. It's obviously a bust."

"Eh, I should have figured that when no one was here. I just…I thought it would be so much different. I'm sorry." He smiled weakly in an apology. "Well, I mean, we could back to my place and watch a movie or something. If you want."

April's breath caught as she remembered the last time they watched a movie at his place, how she had so horribly messed things up. She forced a smile. "Okay. Sounds like fun."

His head cocked at her curiously, and green eyes felt like lasers through her as he tried to discern the tone she gave him. The mixture of sincerity and discomfort startled and scared him. "We don't have to, if you don't want to."

"No, no. I want to."

"It's just…?"

April exhaled softly and shrugged. When his chin fell to his chest, she knew she had disappointed him. Robert looked back up at her, and his eyes had hollowed, the glint in them that she so often found herself adoring gone in an instant. She almost would have rather faced his anger, because the disappointment that he tried to hide brought April such an intense guilt. She touched his arm before he could walk away from her.

"I'm sorry, Robert."

"It's all right. I get it. You don't want to spend time with me, I get it."

"No, no! That's not—"

"I just…" he scratched his temple thoughtfully before he met her gaze, "I just don't get why we went through all of this if you didn't want to be here in the first place. I'm a big boy, April. I can handle you not wanting…" His eyes closed before he finished, his voice lowered in a feeling April didn't want to register as pain, "I can handle the truth."

"Robert, that's not it. It's—" She sighed when he shook his head. "It's not that, Robert, I promise."

"Then what is it?"

April swallowed hard before somehow she summoned courage to tell him only a partial truth. "I just don't want to mess things up like I did last time."

"Last—Oh, are you talking about our kiss?"

"When I laughed, yes. I know I messed that up, and I'm so, so sorry, and I don't know where that came from. I just…" April sighed and let her hands fall. "I just knew that I messed everything up and I just don't want to do that again because I'm not sure I can deal with the same humiliation twice. I mean, if you think about it, there's only so much a girl can take, and I am just about—"

"April." Robert put his hands on her shoulders when her rambling accelerated and didn't seem like it would end soon, "April, stop."

Her mouth snapped shut, and she met his eyes hesitantly.

"You didn't mess anything up," Robert reassured her. "And…And if you want, if it'll make you feel better, we can just watch the movie. I promise I won't try to kiss you, if that's what you want. It doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to be awkward."

April raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him. "Really?"

"Yes. Couples do it all the time, I hear."

Couples? Were they a couple now? April was only a little ashamed by the heat that flushed over her body at her thought. She was a little scared, too, at what it potentially meant.

Robert sensed the sudden change in her, the optimism that he took as surprise, concern, or disgust. As if he'd never made the comment that they were a couple, he continued, "There's really nothing to mess up if nothing happens, right?"

April smiled and faintly laughed. "Well…In that case, we can go back to your apartment."

"Okay. Now let's get out of here before that couple over there gives us a live demonstration of what's happening in these pictures."

Laughing, April followed him out of the less than tasteful museum, and gasped in surprise at the downpour that met them outside. It stormed with the thundering clouds and cracks of lightning barreling toward them from the horizon.

April laughed as they ran through the rain, but didn't realize how much rain hit her until they were back at Robert's apartment.

"You're soaked!"

Robert looked down at his clothes and shrugged. He smiled when April wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her arms as she tried to create friction. "You're no better."

"I'm fr-freezing. Do you have a towel I could use? And then maybe a blanket?"

Robert was unable to resist the sweet, innocent, imploring way she stared at him, the plea for warmth that he would be a cruel monster to refuse. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you walked in from the Arctic."

"Shut up."

"I'll be right back with that blanket and towel."

"T-Thank you."

After fifteen minutes, they both dried off and settled against his leather couch, and April was grateful for the throw blanket he offered her. She wrapped it around her body, snuggled against the cushions, and grinned when he chuckled at her. "Hey."

He shook his head, and grabbed for the remote. "You're something else."

"Is-Is that good?"

"Oh, yeah."

April blushed, and tucked her chin to her chest as she avoided his intense gaze. When he laughed again and turned on the television, she glanced up and smiled. The memory of their first date struck her when she watched him toggle with the remote buttons, calculated and full of intent as he turned the television on.

His fingers moved slowly, and the tips of his fingers ghosted over every button as he scanned them. Robert moved with a measured precision April had never seen before, and she wondered for a moment if he contemplated throwing the remote down and calling this whole thing off. That wouldn't surprise her. April wouldn't blame him for ending this date, either. She hadn't given him much to work off anyway.

When he settled over the ON button, but did not press it, April leaned forward on the couch. She wrapped herself tighter in the blanket. "Robert?"

Robert flipped the remote in his hand and met her gaze. "I am so rude, aren't I?"

"I don't think so." Though many of her colleagues would have argued differently. "What is it?"

"Do you want something to eat or drink? You must be starving after a long day. Thirsty maybe?"

"Oh. Sure." She held back her sigh of relief, mostly because she didn't want this date to end just yet, and partly because the blanket was so warm. The thought of shedding the layer was enough for her to tighten her hold and rub her arms.

"Well," he tossed the remote down on the coffee table, and turned back to her, "What do you want?"

"What do you have?"

He smiled, just a simple smile, but didn't answer at first. Delayed reaction, maybe? April wasn't sure, but was glad the silence settled over them. In the silence, April realized she liked it when he smiled. He didn't do it often, especially not at work, so to see it here, to see the warmth on his face shine only for her, because of her, was a nice feeling for April to experience.

April liked that he had the ability to make her feel like the only woman in the room, despite the fact that she was.

"Come on." He extended his hand as he stood. "Let's find out."

"You don't know?"

"You know, with the hours that we have…" Robert shrugged. "It's hard to not just lay down and sleep."

April smiled when he shrugged again, and she accepted his hand. Embarrassed by the swell and redness of her fingers from the change of cold rain to warm heat, April let go of his hand as soon as she was pulled to her fee. She wrapped it nervously in the blanket. He only stared at her before he turned and walked into the kitchen.

Shit! Had she just made a horrible mistake?

Wincing at the thought, April followed Robert into the kitchen. She cursed herself for letting go of his hand too soon, for giving him the impression that she didn't want to be around him, or didn't even want to touch him.

April tried to stop berating herself and forget her insecurities when she joined him in front of the refrigerator. They stared into a barely stocked fridge. "Well," April rubbed her arms with the blanket, "your apartment might not look like a bachelor's, but you sure eat like one."

He didn't respond.

"What do you eat normally?"

"Cafeteria food."

April laughed. "I'm surprised you haven't starved yet, then."

"I have cereal," he shut the fridge and pointed to the pantry to their left. "And oatmeal and some things like that. I'm sorry I don't have more to offer in the way of food."

"That's all right, I wasn't very hungry anyway." As she rubbed her arms, April realized that besides her wet hair, she wasn't very cold anymore, either. She rubbed her arms once more, savored the warmth of the part of the towel that wasn't wet, and slid the blanket off her shoulders. "Where do you want me to throw this?"

"Oh, I'll take it." He did, and threw it over his shoulders. "Well, do you want something to drink?"

"What do you have?"

Robert opened the fridge again. "Milk. Orange juice. Water." He shut the door and pointed to the top. "And wine. You can have your pick. It isn't much, but I'm hoping you like at least one of those. If not...You're screwed."

April smiled. "Wine's fine, I guess." She didn't drink much, but the insecurities that washed over her prompted her to consider achieving a buzzed state. Maybe then she'd finally relax and not worry that every action ruined her chances.

Reaching past her, Robert grabbed the wine and brought it to the countertop. He poured them each a glass, and handed April hers. "If you want more, you're welcome to it. If not, well…You don't have to drink any of it."

His gaze was kind, but April felt awkward and uncomfortable. She was so afraid of what the softness in his eyes and smile on his face meant that she took a gulp of her wine. She hoped the liquor would help her plow through some of her nerves. His smile faded for only a moment, and she could have sworn he hummed. The obvious comment to her action didn't help her nerves. April managed another gulp.

Robert's eyebrow arched when she finished the entire glass moments later. "Do you want more?"

"No."

"Okay. Well, let me take that from you then." His hand cupped the top of the wine glass, but April refused to let go, her grip firm as she hugged the glass close to her body. He let it go instantly, bit back a frown, but did not move from his spot only inches away from her. "Maybe not."

April glanced up at him, shrugged an apology, and relaxed her grip on the glass, allowing him to take it and set it on the counter. A heavy exhale escaped her before Robert turned to face her again, and she instantly wanted that blanket back, to wrap herself up in the protective warmth.

"I'm sorry."

Robert's head turned when she whispered her apology, and he stepped toward her. "About what?"

"Making things awkward."

"You didn't until now."

"Of course I did." Great. She hadn't made things awkward, but then she'd opened her big mouth and here they were, standing in the middle of his kitchen, and April was certain he'd tell her it was all over. She could hear the words in her head, Robert telling her maybe they should just remain friends, and panic gave way to acceptance.

When April reopened her eyes, she met his. He didn't look frustrated, angry, or even sad. He simply stared at her with the same eyes he would at a x-ray scan, as if he couldn't find the solution to a problem he'd never caused.

"I'm sorry," she blurted again.

"Will you stop apologizing?"

Her face scrunched at his flippant response, and she was surprised to see regret flicker in his eyes.

"I was just…" He rubbed his temple. "I was just joking about the awkward thing, April. You didn't make it awkward. I was just trying to make you smile and I guess it didn't work out like I planned."

"I guess I didn't help you that much, either."

"Well…" He whistled and bounced on his feet. "I guess it's awkward now."

April shrugged, and her hair fell over her eyes. She carefully tucked the stray strand behind her ear, and smiled. "You know, it doesn't have to be." But it was, and she knew it, and he knew it, too, by the way he crossed his arms and murmured.

A drop of water dripped from her hair and ran down her neck. Reminded how cold she still was, April asked, "Can I have the blanket back?"

"You're cold?"

"Freezing still." April thanked him when he handed the throw blanket back, and she wrapped it around her upper body with a shiver. Once again enveloped in heat and shielded by the awkward silence, April felt protected and comfortable. She smiled, and thanked him again.

"I'm glad you like the blanket."

"It's soft." She rubbed her cheek against the fuzzy fabric. "Reminds me of a blanket I had when I was little. I carried it wherever I went."

Robert hummed in acknowledgment of her words as he placed the wine bottle back on top the fridge. When he fell back on his feet, his body so close to hers he could feel her warmth, it took everything he had not to wrap his arms around her, to hold her because she shivered but still so lovably warm.

His body broke past the mental barrier he'd tried to put up. A few seconds later, his lips met hers and he kissed her so softly her hitch of breath startled him. Did she not want him? Not want this? Robert remembered his promise, that he wouldn't make a move, but it was one of the hardest promises he'd ever had to make. She looked so beautiful standing there, as water still fell from the ends of her hair, and she shivered despite the blanket. He had longed to take her in his arms, to hold and kiss her, and now that he had one of the two achieved, Robert hoped it was only a short while before he'd have the other one, too.

Surprised by his kiss, but not displeased, April hoped this one would go better than the first. He didn't let her down. Robert pulled away only for a moment to inspect her reaction, but April bridged the distance immediately, her lips seeking his in a desire to make up for her previous mistake.

April swore her knees would buckle just by the electricity she felt in her entire body when he kissed her, so gentle and tentative that she worried he'd abruptly pull away. For a few moments, April thought he would pull away because his kisses grew longer as he seemed to want to moments to stretch forever.

But then he wrapped his arms around her, and his kisses turned passionate and earnest.

April was so grateful she hadn't messed it up so far. She didn't have much sexual experience, but her kissing skills at least held up, even as his experience continued to outweigh hers.

His fingers lit fire on her skin as they moved from her lower back to her shoulder blades. If the blanket hadn't warmed her up already, the way he pulled her body closer to him was enough to send thrilling chills down her spine. It was difficult to touch him, her arms pinned between her body, the blanket, and him, so April only resorted to kissing him back. She hoped it was enough to keep him interested, because the thought of more so soon scared her so much.

She wasn't perfect, but she didn't want this moment to end. Alarmed at how much she enjoyed this simple intimacy, April moaned in reluctance when her cell phone buzzed in her pocket, a text message. She considered for a moment to not answer it, especially when Robert tugged her tighter to him and deepened the kiss between them. The gentle probe of his tongue was pleasant, and it didn't repulse her as it had in the past with others.

She even obtained the bravery to reciprocate. At first, April worried she wasn't doing it right, but she must have because one of his hands cupped her cheek and the other nestled in her damp hair. April could have sworn the temperature shot up ten degrees, because the heat she felt couldn't possibly have come from them; the thought was unnerving, but so satisfying she ignored her cell as it rang in a call.

April started to understand the advantage of dating someone with more experience.

Still, he was so much older than she. How could this feel so right? Or so good? Or not scary at all? All of the above flooded her, and for the first time in her life, April was surprisingly okay with it. She'd expected this sort of intimacy and attraction with someone her own age, like Alex or even Jackson, but never Robert Stark. But here she stood in his kitchen, kissing him and feeling the intense heat of desire, and it was all okay.

Everything was perfect, because not only had April not messed anything up, but she knew she was doing a good job when Robert moaned softly, and pulled away only to allow them a breath.

"Wow…"

He chuckled and kissed her once. "You should check your phone."

She did, and nearly panicked at the text message that buzzed at her. Lexie: 9-11, emergency. April looked up at Robert, and hoped her eyes conveyed the appropriate apology. "I…I should take this."

Robert hummed. "Yeah."

"I should go."

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry."

He smiled, and gently tucked a fallen piece of hair behind her ear. One hand cupped her cheek, and he kissed her. "I'll drive you home. We should definitely do this again sometime."

At this point, she couldn't think of anything better.