Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and especially to those who are now following and/or took the time to leave a comment. I forgot how addictive this sort of thing can be.

Nell grabbed her purse and jacket and made her way toward the door where Eric was waiting, the wheels still turning in her mind. She knew it was going to take more than one round of drinks to get Eric out of safe mode and if she succeeded, she wanted them to be in a location where they could go with where the moment lead them.

Eric held the door open for her to pass through. "Lead the way," he offered with a gallant sweep of his arm.

Nell passed through the door then paused, turning back towards Eric. "Why don't we leave the cars at my place. Stella's is within walking distance," Nell suggested, referring to the one of the local bars. "I like the music there and it shouldn't be too hard to get a booth this time of night."

"Good plan," said Eric as they resumed walking to the parking garage. They walked in comfortable silence until they reached their respective vehicles. The reached Nell's vehicle first and Eric gave her a nod and a wave. "Reconvening at your house in ten minutes."

Nell chuckled softly. "Probably closer to twenty the way you drive Grandpa."

"Hey," Eric complained in mock offense. "My driving isn't that bad."

"Wanna put your money where your mouth is Grandpa?" Nell teased. "I'll start my stop watch when I get home. Make it to my front door within five minutes and round two is also on me. Take longer and you owe me a drink.

Eric's brow raised and he went to say something but stopped.

"What's the matter Mr Beale? Chicken?" She prodded as she opened her door and moved to get inside.

"Not chicken," he countered. "But you have a head start, you know the way and a you have a parking space waiting for you at your apartment. And how do I know you won't start the timer running early?"

"You can trust me," she assured him. "But if it makes you feel better I will use the timer on my Polar that is at home. That way I can't start it until I get inside." She entered her vehicle putting the keys in the ignition and continuing to talk to him through the open door. "As for the head start and the parking, that is what the five minutes are for. And you have been to my place before. So you better get a move on." With a laugh she pulled her door shut and started the engine.

Eric was still standing watching her as she began to reverse out of her spot before his competitive nature finally caught up and he turned and jogged to his own vehicle. He pulled up Nell's address in his GPS, stored from a previous gathering at her house and set off, cursing to himself at every red light he encountered along the way.

Not surprisingly Nell arrived home well ahead of Eric. She pulled into her spot and made her way inside. Retrieving her polar sports watch from the basket by the door she did not start it right away however. Instead she made her way upstairs to the landing and kept an eye out the window until she saw Eric'c car turn into her street. Only at this point did she start the timer.

Feeling like he had caught every light on his journey, Eric had no doubt he had lost the bet. Eighteen minutes in to what his GPS claimed to be a ten minute trip, not even finding an empty space directly across from Nell's place had him feeling like he would be successful. He knocked on the door fully expecting to be met with a triumphant smile.

Nell opened the door, watch in hand. She tipped her head slightly to one side, eyebrows raised, feigning surprise. "Wow!" she observed. "Looks like I owe you two drinks." She held the watch out for him to inspect as the second minute ticked over on the screen. Raising her hand to rub at her temple she gestured for Eric to follow her inside. "Have a seat for a moment. I just want to grab some water and a Tylenol before we go."

Eric frowned and looked at her with concern. "Are you sure you want to head out tonight? It's okay if you just want to have a quiet one?"

Nell shook her head. "Nope, I owe you a couple of drinks and I a am good for my word."

"I can always take a rain check," Eric offered. "It's not like I don't know where to find you."

"I'll be fine," Nell reassured as she made her way up the stairs. Just give me a moment and I will be good to go."

Eric made his way over to her lounge and sat down. Caught off guard by how soft and comfortable it was after a long day he stretched out and leaned back into the cushions. He knew he shouldn't be surprised as Nell had good taste but this lounge left the one in his apartment for dead. Suddenly exhausted he could picture himself coming home and falling asleep in front of the TV on a lounge like this.

Footsteps on the stairs jolted him back to the present a moment later as Nell returned to the room, still rubbing her temples.

"Are you sure you want to head out tonight," Eric asked again. "I know you keep saying you are okay but you haven't been completely yourself today. Maybe you are coming down with something."

"I'm just exhausted," Nell assured him. "But I think some company would be good for me. It's been a crazy week."

"It has," agreed Eric. He liked the idea of company too and didn't want to push he on the subject but he was genuinely concerned for her well being. He watched her carefully from his position on the couch considering the right course of action.

Recognizing his hesitation, Nell suggested what she had secretly been angling for all along. "If you feel bad dragging me out, we could always stay in. I have drinks here and I am sure we could find something to watch."

"That'd be awesome," Eric enthused. "I have to admit I wasn't really looking forward to having to part company with your lounge anyway."

Nell chuckled. "Okay then. You stay here and keep my furniture company and I will get us a drink and some food. DVD's are in the cabinet by the lamp if you find the will to move."

Nell made her way to the kitchen, retrieving some cheese from her well stocked fridge and placing it on a platter with some crackers. See carried it back to the lounge room and placed it in on the small table next to the lounge. "How does whiskey sound," She asked Eric.

"Works for me," he responded. "I'll try and move and choose a DVD while you are gone this time," he continued with a grin.

Nell laughed and nodded as she returned to the kitchen, returning a short while later with two glasses and an unopened bottle of whiskey. True to his word Eric had left the couch and was perusing the varied contents of her DVD cabinet. "What are you in the mood for?" he asked. "Action? Comedy? Modern? Classic?"

Tipping her head slightly to one side and screwing up her mouth a little as she considered the options she offered, "Maybe a classic action film."

"Bond it is," said Eric grabbing 'You Only Live Twice,' from the shelf. "At least if that is okay with you?"

Nell smiled. "Works for me," she agreed, extending her hand to take the disc.

Nell powered up the player and loaded the disc, collecting a throw rug from the chest below the television on her way back to the lounge. Eric opened the whiskey, pouring some into each of the glasses and handing one to her as she sat down beside him on the lounge. Nell thanked him and they settled into a comfortable silence and the film began to play.

Confident in her ability to hold her liquor, Nell's glass was soon approaching empty. Eric's in comparison was closer to half full. "Drink up slowpoke," she teased, holding her glass up. "I am nearly ready for seconds."

"Trying to make good on our deal quickly so you can get rid of me are you Miss Jones?" he asked with a smile.

"Not at all," she assured him. "I'm enjoying the company. I am just saying that you are a slowpoke."

"Maybe I am just savoring the flavor," Eric laughed.

Nell shook her head. "No. I am still going with slowpoke. Try to keep up or you will make me feel bad."

Eric shook his head but took a large drink from him glass in response and their attentions turned back to the movie once more. Continuing to glance at Eric out of the corner of her eye, Nell pounced as soon as he finished, applying a new larger helping to both glasses and was pleased to note that Eric had increased the rate at which he was consuming his. Still not as much as she was aiming for, but an improvement none the less. Towards the end of the movie their glasses were both nearly empty once more and Eric had excused himself to use the bathroom. Nell took the opportunity to refill both glasses. Noting this upon returning from the bathroom Eric protested that he was never going to be able to finish a third before the movie ended.

"It's still early," Nell observed. "We can always watch another." While lowering his inhibitions was her primary goal she was not going to be disappointed if either alcohol or tiredness rendered him unsafe to make his way home that evening.

Eric considered this for a moment before agreeing and before long Nell was exchanging discs in he player. She returned to the lounge beside Eric, this time curling her legs up beside her and pulling the throw rug she had collected earlier over her legs. As she did the edge of it brushed passed Eric's arm causing him to shiver slightly.

"You are welcome to share if you are cold," she offered. "It should be big enough."

Eric wasn't cold but agreeing to share the blanket struck him as a better idea than admitting to being ticklish so he accepted and she scooted closer to allow him to pull part of the small throw over his legs as well. Their new closer position on the couch made it awkward for him to move his arm without knocking her so he draped it across the back of the lounge behind her. Enjoying the closeness and no longer able to sneak glances without Eric noticing in his peripheral vision, Nell leaned back and watched the movie, continuing to sip her whiskey.

While no giant leaps had been made, Nell was happy with the baby steps of progress she felt had been made. She was content enough in his company that she stopped trying to provoke him into drinking more and focused instead on the strong, warm arm she was now leaning against and breathing in his unique scent. She observed that since he was quite a bit taller than she was and due to the fact his arm was already along the back of the lounge, his shoulder would make the perfect place for her to rest her head. Towards the end of the movie, under the guise of tiredness she dared to do just that and was pleasantly surprised when his arm lowered from the couch and wrapped around her in return. Not daring to look just yet for fear of breaking the moment, Nell smiled to herself and let herself rest against him further.

As the credits started to roll she expected him to say something, or move him arm away from around her. When he did neither she craned her neck, finally daring to look him in the eye. At least she intended to look him in the eye. Instead she found his eyes gentle closed and finally connected the relaxed, regular rise and fall of his chest to be that of a man who was sound asleep. So much for celebrating the fact his arm was around her. It had probably slid there when he fell asleep without him realizing.

Nell shook her head, inwardly groaning at her silliness and freed herself from his arm. She covered him more completely with the throw now it was no longer shared between the two of them and retrieved a spare pillow which she left beside him on the lounge. She removed the glassed and remnants of the cheese and crackers from the small table and replaced them with a note before making her way upstairs to her bedroom.

"Sweet dreams, Mr Beale."