When Paige woke, she was just as happy and quickly got up and started making pancakes for breakfast.
Ralph eventually shuffled into the kitchen, no doubt summoned by the smell of cooking pancakes.
"Good morning, honey. How did you sleep?" Paige asked as she flipped a pancake when it started to bubble.
"Okay. Yesterday was more tiring than I anticipated." Ralph mused.
"Oh, I could tell." Paige laughed. "How about you take a seat. Breakfast will be ready in a minute. OJ?"
"Yes, please." Paige answered and Paige grabbed the carton out of the fridge to fill his glass.
"Hey, Mom?" Ralph asked.
"Yeah, honey." Paige answered, waiting for Ralph to ask his question as she poured his orange juice.
"Why did Walter kiss you last night?"
Paige cried out as she sent orange juice spilling across the breakfast counter. She took a deep breath as she started cleaning up the mess and theorising how she would explain everything to Ralph.
"Sorry honey, we thought you were asleep." Paige told Ralph as she momentarily distracted herself by serving him some pancakes and another glass of orange juice.
"I was but I woke up when Walter put me in the car." Ralph explained with a shrug.
"I know it might be a little bit different and hard to understand but things are going to change a little bit between Walter and I." Paige began.
"Will we still go over to the garage?" Ralph asked with a worried tone.
"Of course we would." Paige reassured Ralph, brushing his hair out of his face as he began eating his pancakes. "We might even be spending more time over there. Or Walter might come here more."
"Cool." Ralph said through a mouthful of breakfast.
"So you would be okay if Walter and I went to dinner together tonight?" Paige asked.
"Can I come?" Ralph asked hopefully.
"We were kind of just thinking it would be us." Paige said, feeling horribly for excluding him. "Sometimes adults go out together to get to know each other better."
"Like a date?" Ralph asked simply.
Paige was a bit surprised that Ralph knew anything about dating. She had never really dated anyone seriously since his father.
"Well yeah, actually." Paige answered.
"Oh, okay." Ralph said and went back to eating his pancakes.
Paige watched, surprised as Ralph completely accept things and didn't even ask any more questions.
"So you are okay with Walter and I going on a date?" Paige asked, a bit disconcerted by her son's easy acceptance.
"Sure. I mean Walter looks at you the same way Billy's dad looks at his mom and they go on dates." Ralph shrugged as though it was the most obvious correlation in the world.
After Paige had her own breakfast, which mostly consisted of chewing idly while she was deep in thought, she finished cleaning up the mess she had made in the kitchen. Afterwards, she decided to call her regular sitter to watch Ralph that night instead of asking one of her colleagues. As much as she trusted them with Ralph whole heatedly, she kind of wanted to keep whatever was just starting between her and Walter between them, at least for know. Besides, she wasn't sure she was ready to endure Toby's smug grin and probing interrogations about her personal life just yet.
Luckily her sitter was available and they quickly organised for her to come over a 6:30 and hung up the phone. Paige was left staring at her recently called list when she hung up and grinned when she saw Walter's name more than any other on her caller history. Without overthinking it, she quickly hit the dial button.
"Paige?" Walter answered after only two rings.
"Hi." Paige answered back.
"Is something wrong?" Walter asked, worried that maybe she had called to cancel.
"No of course not, I just felt like calling you." Paige said quickly, smiling to herself about how strange simply calling to hear his voice seemed to Walter.
"Oh." Walter said with a relieved sigh.
"Relax, Walter." Paige reassured him. "I'm still very much looking forward to tonight."
"Me too." Walter said, smiling at the fact that Paige seemed so eager for their date.
"I organised Ralph's sitter to come over tonight." Paige explained. "I would have called Happy or Toby but I kind thought we might want to keep things to ourselves for a while."
"Good idea." Walter agreed. "The longer we can keep Toby out of our relationship, the better."
"Our relationship, huh?" Paige asked, liking the way the words rolled of her tounge but only half as much as when Walter had said them.
"I thought that was what we were beginning." Walter started stammering. "I'm not trying to be presumptuous… and of course if you would rather we didn't think of it that way…"
"Walter." Paige cut of his back peddling. "I like the sounds of 'our relationship', that's all."
"Oh." Walter said softly. "Me too."
"So, I um…" Paige began, knowing she should probably tell Walter about Ralph's big question over breakfast that morning. "Ralph kind of saw you kiss me last night."
"I'm so sorry, Paige. I thought he was asleep." Walter rushed out, feeling like he had put her in an awkward position. "I can talk to him if you want me to. To help in understand. I promise I will be more careful around him in the future."
"Walter. Stop apologising for kissing me." Paige urged him once again to calm down. "And definitely don't stop doing it. He was actually pretty okay with it all, even when I told him about our date tonight."
"He was?" Walter asked hopefully.
"Yeah, his only question was if he could come with us." Paige laughed.
"Oh, I don't want him to feel like I'm trying to exclude him." Walter said, worried. "Maybe I could make it up to him by taking him to the observatory tomorrow. I mean if it is okay we could all go."
Paige was struck by just how caring a man who had once insisted he had no feelings could be.
"That sounds great, Walter." Paige said with a smile. "I'm sure he will like that. Why don't you tell me when you pick me up."
"Sounds good." Walter replied and felt his stomach flip at the thought of their plans. "See you tonight?"
"See you." Paige said, her own stomach fluttering too. "I can't wait."
With a wide grin that still hadn't left her face, she ended the call and went about running her usual Saturday morning errands. Meanwhile at the garage, Walter started making the many calls to set his plans into motion.
The day passed slowly for them both as they watched their clocks, waiting desperately for them to say 7 o'clock. By five Paige couldn't wait anymore and started getting ready. She knew it was probably excessive but if you can't waste a ton of time to look perfect before a date, when can you?
She carefully styled her hair so it was a little curlier than normal and applied her natural looking makeup. When it came time to choose her clothes, Paige basically ended up emptying her entire closet onto her bed to try and find something. She had no idea where Walter was taking her so trying to find a outfit was frustrating to say the least.
She ended up deciding on a floaty blue dress she had bought ages ago but had never worn, paired with her favourite tan boots and a cream coat just in case it got too cold. Paige took a look in the mirror and decided she was happy with the full effect so she went out to fix dinner for Ralph.
"Ralph, honey." Paige called out to her son who was absorbed in a book on the sofa. "What do you feel like for dinner?"
"Mac and cheese?" Ralph asked, putting down his book and coming over to sit at the breakfast bench.
"Sure thing." Paige answered and quickly set about making his dinner.
Ralph sat watching her in easy silence.
"You look really pretty, Mom." Ralph spoke up as Paige set the steaming bowl of pasta in front of him.
"Thank you, honey." Paige said, surprised by her son's perception to how nervous she was. She kissed his head as he ate his dinner just as the doorbell rang.
"That will be Katie." Paige said as she went to answer the door for Ralph's sitter.
Paige invited Katie in and ran her through Ralph's night routine urged her to make herself at home. Paige had met Katie in her political science class last semester and as a freshman she was always looking for some extra work. Paige was pretty sure Ralph had a tiny bit of a crush on the her with her bright blue eyes and long blonde hair so he was always happy when Katie came over.
"Hi, Katie." Ralph said shyly as they came back into the kitchen.
It always amazed Paige at how far Ralph had come. He had gone from not saying a word to anyone but her, to talking to most people he met. The transformation was incredible and while Paige always knew he would be shy, the fact that he was becoming more and more comfortable around other people warmed her heart.
"Hi Ralph." Katie said brightly and started to clear up his dishes.
"Oh I've got that." Paige said as she moved to clean up.
"No, you're all dressed up and looking gorgeous." Katie insisted. "Who's the lucky guy?"
Paige laughed at Katie's young energy.
"Walter." Ralph answered for her.
"Cute genius, Walter?" Katie asked with a raised eyebrow. "Your boss?"
Paige couldn't help but giggle at Katie's description. She had only met him in passing a handful of times when she picked up or dropped Ralph off at the garage.
"Yeah, that Walter." Paige answered with an infectious smile.
"Ooooh, I might need details when you get home." Katie said with a sly grin.
"If you get home." She added with conspiratorial wink.
"Katie!" Paige chided, though she couldn't help but laugh and enjoy with the closest thing she had to a girlfriend since her life had become a lot more crazy but perfect when Ralph had come along.
They both heard the doorbell ring through their laughter and Paige quickly jumped up to grab her bag.
"I will be home by 11 at the latest!" Paige said pointedly at a grinning Katie.
"Sure, sure." Katie laughed as Paige turned to give Ralph a kiss only to find he had already bolted to the front door to see Walter.
"Hey, Ralph." Paige heard Walter say from the front door.
Paige rounded the corner and grinned as she watched Walter look up at her and freeze. He looked at her intensely, noticing as his eyes lingered on her.
"Paige…" Walter trailed of. "You ahhh… you look beautiful."
"Thanks, Walter." Paige answered with a smile.
"You don't look so bad yourself." Paige teased as she took in his typical dark blue shirt and dark pants she had always admired the slim fit of.
Katie cleared her throat as she joined them in the living room.
"Oh, hi." Walter said, trying his best to be friendly. "Uh, Katie right?"
"Yeah, hi Walter." Katie said, giving him a friendly smile.
"Well, we better go." Paige, ruffling her sons head. "Promise to at least try to go to sleep before I get home."
"Okay, Mom." Ralph groaned. Paige knew he would still be wide awake but it was worth a try.
"Sorry you couldn't come tonight, buddy." Walter said sincerely, kneeling down to look at Ralph. "I was talking to your mom and we thought we could all go to the observatory tomorrow. Or the museum, wherever you want to."
"Really?" Ralph asked excitedly, turning to Paige.
"Sure, honey." Paige answered. "I'm sure you and Katie could look up what exhibitions are on tonight and decide where you want to go tomorrow."
"Sounds good." Katie said. "How about we let Walter and your Mom go and get ourselves some dessert, Ralph?"
"Okay. Bye, Mom." Ralph said happily, always happy to go along with any plans that involved ice cream. "Bye, Walter."
They all said their goodbyes and Walter and Paige shared a quiet chuckle as Ralph went running after the pretty blonde.
They both walked out into the hall and Paige pulled the door shut behind them. She noticed that Walter looked a bit awkward, as though he was uncomfortable in his own skin and didn't know quite how to act. Paige took his hand firmly with the hope that he might relax and just be himself.
"So where to?" Paige asked.
"You'll see." Walter answered and led her out to his car, surprising her by even rushing ahead to open her door for her.
Paige sat in the passenger seat, watching the streetlamps fly by before she realised they were taking a familiar route.
"We're going to the garage?" Paige asked.
"I hope that's okay." Walter replied as his grin faltered, starting to second guess his plans. "I mean I ran through the possibilities; dinner at a restaurant, Santa Monica pier, and many other options but I figured it might be nice if things were more quiet."
"I'm sure whatever you have planned will be perfect." Paige reassured him with a gentle hand on his arm.
Walter just answered her with a smile, instantly relaxing. It was amazing that already Paige's touch no longer made him freeze, but rather quite the opposite.
Walter pulled his car into the back alley and quickly got out to open Paige's door for her.
"Thank you." Paige smiled as he helped her out. She felt the skin on her back warm where Walter placed his hand to lead her inside.
Walter led them up to the roof and Paige felt her breath catch when he opened the access door.
The first thing she saw was soft glowing blue and green light all around her. Paige couldn't contain a gasp when she saw what had to be at least a hundred jars scattered all around her.
"Walter, it's beautiful!" Paige marvelled, but her awe only intensified as she saw a small table set in the middle of the glowing circle.
"Just a simple mix of hydrogen peroxide and biphenyl oxalate." Walter answered, watching Paige's reaction closely. "Otherwise found in glow sticks."
"It's perfect." Paige whispered and she couldn't help but lean up to kiss him.
"I have to admit I had help." Walter said sheepishly. "Megan suggested candles but this seemed like a safer and more efficient solution considering I had to pick you up."
"This is so much better." Paige agreed, letting Walter lead her over to the table. He gently pulled her chair out for her, once again surprising her with his chivalry. She knew Walter was the kindest person she had ever met but she also knew that he wasn't necessarily aware of all the customs of dating. Paige had to wonder if he had interrogated his sister for more than just decorating advice.
Walter quickly went over to the grill where he had been keeping their prepared meals warm. He served out a beautiful dinner of grilled fish and sautéed vegetables and set it down on the table along with a glass bottle of chilled water. He had offered Paige wine but she didn't want him to feel like he needed to drink with her.
"Walter, this looks amazing." Paige said and although she knew he was a genius, she also knew his culinary skills were limited.
"Don't worry, I didn't cook it, you're safe." Walter joked and Paige couldn't help but laugh. She had suspected as much but she appreciated all his effort all the same.
It was so nice to see him more at ease. Paige had been worried that he might freeze up on her but she knew immediately that she needed to have more faith in him. He mightn't be entirely familiar with dating but he was trying so hard to make things perfect and he was better at it than he probably realised.
They ate and chatted comfortably as they ate. They talked about Ralph, Scorpion and anything that came to mind. The conversation stretched from one hour to two and neither of them really wanted to move.
"Hey, Walter?" Paige asked softly as they both finished their dinner. "Was this what you wanted for that business dinner?"
Her curiosity had gotten the better of her and she simply had to ask. She had thought as much when Walter mentioned he wanted to have dinner with her on Valentine's Day but his insistence that is was merely about work and the earlier stage in their relationship had made her doubt her intuition that maybe Walter had felt something for her even then.
Walter looked sheepish again and she knew she had her answer, and it made her smile wholeheartedly.
"Yeah i guess it wasn't the first time I used work as an excuse to be closer to you." Walter admitted. "I hate it when Toby is right."
They both laughed together because Paige hadn't been completely oblivious to all of Toby's ribbing over the last couple of months.
"Wait…" Paige said suddenly, realising what Walter had said. "Not the first time?"
"Oh, um it's nothing." Walter dismissed though Paige could see it clearly wasn't.
"Please, Walter?" Paige pressed.
"Do you remember when we went undercover to find that painting?" Walter asked.
"Mr and Mrs Gauguin?" Paige laughed. "How could I forget?"
"And do you remember the cloner? How it malfunctioned?" Walter asked further.
"Yeah it accidentally reset. We had to keep dancing." Paige remebered fondly.
"It wasn't an accident." Walter admitted quickly before he lost his nerve.
"I don't understand." Paige said, still unsure of what he was trying to say.
"I reset it on purpose." Walter clarified sheepishly. "So we could keep dancing."
"But you hate dancing, Walter." Paige said. "You even said so."
"I liked dancing with you." Walter so softly and sincerely that it made Paige's breath catch.
They shared a moment and Paige smiled at the knowledge that Walter had been caught up in feelings for her just as long as she had been for him. Her mind flashed back to her odd dream just before their case with Sima but she thought that might be a little too much honesty for their first date.
"Well you know." Paige said, getting up from her seat and walking around the table to take Walter's hands. "The advantage of dating is that you can ask me to dance any time you like."
Walter laughed softly as he allowed her to pull him to his feet.
"Paige, there's no music." Walter noted as Paige ran her hands up to rest on his shoulders.
"Well someone once told me I have a nice voice." Paige whispered close to Walter's ear as she pulled him close and began humming the tune the orchestra had been playing that night, recalling it with perfect accuracy.
She sighed happily as Walter took her hand and place the other on the small of her back. Paige noted with a smile that he didn't need any guidance with placement this time around.
They danced slowly for what seemed like forever with neither of them wanting to stop. The glow from the jars scattered around them seemed to dim and it was only when Paige thought about her son at home that she was able to bring herself to stop her slow shuffling steps.
Walter paused to look down at her though he didn't let her out of his embrace. They were so impossibly close together all it took was the slightest movement for Walter lean down and kiss her.
Paige hummed happily as Walter kissed her with more passion than he had before. Slowly at first, then building to where she barely knew where she ended and he began. It was slow, soft and perfect, surrounded by the dimming glow and still night air.
When he pulled away, Paige groaned in protest though she knew she should probably be getting home as much as she didn't ever want to leave.
"I should take you home." Walter said as he pushed a stray curl behind her ear. "We both know Ralph will be waiting up for you."
"That's true." Paige laughed though she was reluctant to leave the prefect bubble they were in, slowly dancing in the moonlight. It might be cliched, but Paige didn't care. It was perfect.
"Come on." Walter reluctantly urged as he picked up her bag for her and led the way back downstairs. He held her hand in his as they walked out to his car and they both got in.
As they set off Paige found herself wishing that Walter didn't have a stick shift car so that she could keep her hand in his. They drove back to her apartment in comfortable silence. He pulled up out front of her building and quickly came over to her as she was climbing out. She knew he was trying to be chivalrous but at the same time Paige wanted to let him know that he could relax around her.
Paige smiled as Walter his arm around her back as he closed her door for her. She was so happy that he had become so at ease with touching her because she honestly wanted him to never stop. Her skin warmed and her heart hummed whenever he touched her. Walter walked her up to her door and paused as they got to the end of her hall.
"Tonight was perfect, Walter." Paige said with a soft smile as she stopped and wound her arms around his waist, linking her hands behind his back.
"I agree." Walter said, smiling back at her and lifting his hand to brush her curls from her face.
Paige found herself leaning into his hand, humming happily at the contact. She leaned into his body, enjoying the contact and reached up on her tip toes to capture his lips with hers.
Paige did her best not to get too carried away with the kiss though it was becoming harder and harder to pull away with every touch. They were both acutely aware that Ralph was probably just inside the door waiting for his mother to return, despite all instructions earlier that evening to the contrary.
"Do you want to stop in and say goodnight to Ralph?" Paige asked as they reluctantly tore their lips away from each other and finished walking to the front door.
"Sure." Walter answered, his hand coming to rest on her lower back as she unlocked the door.
Katie peered up from the couch to great them.
"Hey guys, how was your night?" Katie asked with a grin.
"Very enjoyable." Walter answered simply and efficiently.
"Good to hear." Katie said, sending Paige a smile and a raised eyebrow.
"Walter just came in to say goodnight to Ralph since we all know he will still be up." Paige said, answering Katie's unanswered but exceedingly obvious question.
"He thinks I can't hear him on his computer in there." Katie said with a laugh as she got up to get gather her things. "I think that's my cue to leave though."
"Thanks so much for tonight." Paige said as she handed her a fifty. "I owe you one."
"Don't be silly, I love babysitting Ralph." Katie assured her. "It was nice to meet you more officially, Walter."
"You too." Walter said with a smile, trying his best to be friendly.
"Night!" Katie called as she left.
After they had finished saying their goodbyes to Katie, Paige and Walter headed to Ralph's room. They both noticed the telltale tenting of the duvet and the light filtering out from under it which meant Ralph was predictably still up and doing something on his computer.
"I thought I told you to be asleep when I got home, Mister." Paige said with a half-hearted scolding voice. She knew her son and Walter had let her know that insomnia was sometimes just an unwanted and unavoidable side effect of an over active brain so she couldn't be too mad.
They both watched with amusement as Ralph slammed the laptop lid shut and pulled the blanket down from over his head.
"Sorry, Mom." Ralph said as he realised that Walter was with her. "Hey, Walter."
"Hey buddy." Walter replied as Paige walked to her son's bed to take his laptop. "Did you have a good night?"
"It was okay." Ralph answered. "Katie looked up all the current exhibitions with me so that was good."
"Oh yeah, and what did you decide on for tomorrow?" Walter asked.
"There is a new aeronautical and space travel exhibition at the science centre." Ralph said excitedly. "Could we go."
"That depends on what your mom says." Walter said, turning to Paige.
"I think that sounds great." Paige assured them, pulling Ralph's covers back over him to tuck him in. "But if we are going to go tomorrow you need to go to sleep now. Deal?"
"Okay." Ralph said, lying back down. Sleeping was now the most efficient choice so he would be well rested for their plans the next day so he was finally happy to fall asleep.
"Night, Honey." Paige said as she kissed her sons forehead.
"Night, Mom." Ralph answered before turning to Walter. "Goodnight, Walter."
"Goodnight, bud." Walter said with a smile enjoying the easy domesticity of the situation.
Paige and Walter both left Ralph's room, turning of the light and shutting the door as they went. They both walked back out to the living room so they wouldn't keep Ralph awake.
"I really enjoyed tonight." Walter said genuinely.
"Me too." Paige answered as she wound her arms around Walter's waist again, pleased when he didn't tense at all beneath her touch anymore.
"So I'll see you tomorrow?" Walter asked, his hands resting on her neck to tilt her chin up so he could kiss her again. It was a pleasure he simply couldn't get enough of since he was granted permission.
"Mmmm hmmm." Paige mumbled against his lips as they broke apart.
"I should go." Walter said though he made no move towards the door.
"Mmmm hmmm." Paige giggled again as she reached up on her tip toes to kiss Walter again, this time much more fiercely than the last.
Paige grabbed the at his shirt, leading him over to the sofa where she pushed him down and immediately straddled his hips.
"Paige, I think…" Walter began through kissed though he couldn't quite bring himself to pull away completely.
"Don't think, Walter. Just kiss me." Paige breathed as she recaptured his lips with a ferocity that not even Walter could argue with.
Their hands soon began wandering as Paige pawed at the buttons on his shirt while Walter carefully began sliding Paige's coat of her shoulders. The room was soon filled with the sounds of soft moans and breathy sighs as they enjoyed exploring each other though they still had enough presence of mind to realise that they were still in the living room and a hopefully sleeping Ralph was just down the hall. As much as both wanted to tear off each other's clothes they knew that it wasn't the right time. In the meantime though, Paige was perfectly happy to rake her hungry fingers through Walter's hair as his hands tightly gripped her back, pressing her impossibly closer.
After a while their kisses began to slow and Walter finally found the strength to tear his lips from Paige's neck.
"I really should go." Walter said, surprised to find his voice come out at least an octave lower and significantly breathier than normal. "I don't want to but I should."
"I know." Paige groaned, resting her forehead against his.
Eventually Paige got off Walter to stand up and Walter quickly followed. The started walking to the door before either of them lost the small shred of self control they had left.
"Ralph and I will come around at about ten." Paige said, referring to their plans tomorrow. "Is that okay?"
"Sounds good." Walter said as Paige opened her front door.
Walter paused in the threshold to kiss Paige one last time.
"Goodnight, Paige." Walter said softly against her lips.
"Goodnight." Paige replied, sighing softly as Walter left and she closed the door.
Paige found herself leaning against the shut door, her mind racing through everything that had happened. The night had been completely perfect and Walter had shown himself to be quite the romantic, although albeit in his own special way. Her mind raced through the perfect date, their dance, the comfortable sense of family as they had both tucked Ralph in and she came to one inescapable conclusion...
She was already in love with Walter O'Brien.
