I hope this chapter meets with your approval, I hadn't meant it to progress this far, and it's a really long one, but….it just happened! Soooooooooenjoy?

There was only really one place in town where you could get decent food so Sybil suggested they go there. Maybe in a more comfortable neutral setting she could pretend they were on more equal footing. The Grantham Arms was a little pub across the street from the dance studio and they made the best chips. It was one of Sybil's favorite places growing up. When her and Father went on their walks to town they always stopped in and split an order. It was their little secret. The grease would linger on her hands and stain whatever pants she was wearing. As soon as they came home they would sneak around the back and Mrs. Hughes would take one look at her and click her tongue, pulling a clean pair of pants from the wash and helping her conceal their little excursion from Mother and Granny.

Sitting across from Tom at a small table near the back of the pub, Sybil couldn't help but recall her happy childhood memories. It had been too long since shed been reminded of that kind of happiness that was a regular occurrence in her life until very recently. Having Tom around helped recall herself before all of the horribleness had happened. She felt much freer, having someone around that wasn't witness to her fall from grace and the shame that came with having everyone you know think you weak and naïve.

Looking up from her menu Sybil caught Tom's eye from the across the wooden table and was happy to find him at ease rather than the uncomfortable posture he'd been displaying since this morning. He seemed much more relaxed and Sybil was thankful that he seemed to be at least playing along with her wishes to be friends, if not something more. But that was all in due time.

"I'm really glad you're here with me, I know it's your job but I'd still like to thank you, properly. You've already been such a big help and I really appreciate it." Sybil said with a shy smile.

"It's been no trouble, the opposite actually. I'm just really glad not to be driving around some daft old lady with a bunch of cats. If the worst I've got to deal with is a cheeky little girl accosting me in the hallway and being forced to dine with beautiful girl, then I'm not too bad off am I? You don't have any cats do you? " he said with a teasing grin.

He was playing along! Even more so, he was like a different person. He was leaned back in his chair, relaxed and laughing. Who was this guy? He looked as though he hadn't a care in the world. And if she wasn't mistaken, he was flirting. She couldn't be sure, but he had just called her beautiful. That was certainly a step in the right direction.

"No cats to speak of, they actually freak me out so no worries there, mate." She said ducking her head back down to pretend to continue scanning the menu.

Studying her face Tom tried to gage her reaction. It almost felt like a real date. If he was collecting data he would say she was pretty receptive. Which he couldn't decide was a good or bad thing yet. He was still undecided at to what he was going to do about this attraction he was no longer blindly denying. She was incredible. She was gorgeous, aside from her amazing body and ample breast that he was having a hard time not imagining in the bright hot pink bra he had glimpsed earlier, he face held magnitudes of wonder. He was finding it difficult to tear his gaze from her eyes, they sucked him in, drowning him in possibilities. He felt like she could really do a number on him with just one look. He craved her approval. He no longer wanted to be held aloof. He wanted her on his level, or to push him away. Either way he couldn't stand on this edge alone anymore.

The waitress came by to take their order. Sybil decided on a grilled chicken salad and a water, trying to be good now that she was back dancing again. Tom went with a sandwich and a side of chips. "What would you like to drink?" the waitress asked.

"I'll have a coke if you've got it." Tom said.

Once the waitress left Tom clasped his hands on the table in between them and stared intently at her. She felt herself unconsciously shift in her seat at having his undivided attention focused on her.

"So….is it my turn then?" he asked her, failing to contain his smile. Looking at him she thought he should always be smiling, it was like the sunrise breaking from the night sky, blindingly bright and intoxicating. She was interrupted from her musing and brought back to earth by their drinks arriving.

"I'm s-s-sorry, what? Turn to what?" she said trying not to look like a fish gaping at him.

"Twenty questions my dear, or whatever it was you were doing this morning. Seems only fair you reciprocate. So where should we begin? I already know the basics but give me something good, best secret you've kept? Biggest lie you've told? Best dream you've had?" Sybil almost choked on the straw she was drinking from. Dream, her last dream. He couldn't know about that but it still made her feel uneasy and very apprehensive. Coughing she looked up and caught him looking at her like he discovered a new toy on Christmas morning.

"Alright there?" he asked as she wiped her eyes with her napkin.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine, just…went down the wrong pipe. Um…what were you saying?"

"I was saying it's my turn to get the background on you. You said yesterday friends, and I'd really like that to happen. I don't imagine you've got a lot here in town besides family and people under the age of six so I'd like to be that if it's not too weird…working for you and all, but it's like you said, this arrangement would be easier for us both without the awkwardness of pretending were not both young intelligent people with a lot in common." He finished, hoping that came out right and not too bold.

He didn't want to freak her out and say something like, "actually I'd love to take you back to my boss's place and shag you all night if that's cool with you?" he figured that wouldn't go over well.

Taking a deep breath he tried to calm his body down and shift the blood flow back to his brain.

Exhaling Sybil replied, "I'd really like that. Especially after what happened yesterday I think it would be even more awkward us pretending to be so formal when I basically had a complete breakdown on you." She laughed nervously. His heart squeezed painfully for her. If it was up to him she wouldn't have to experience anything like that again.

"Are you alright after that? I mean, clearly you are, you seem fine really. I just wanted to ask if it's always like that?" he asked before he could stop himself.

She had ducked her head down looking at her hands in her lap, "well…umm…."

"Ah, shite, sorry. I didn't mean to push or anything, it's just, my Da and brother both have similar reactions sometimes, from the war, or wars really but it's usually something to do with fireworks or cars backfiring so I know it's not the same but I know it does get better, or well, being able to deal with it does anyways, there's no way to stop the triggers except maybe moving to some deserted island." He said with a small laugh, trying to ease some of the tension he was feeling at maybe having overstepped the unspoken line they had established. She was fingering the condensation on her glass for a moment and then looked up at him. Her eyes were a bit sadder than they were before, but thankfully not glistening. He was worried he had upset her but she seemed more contemplative than upset.

"Um…well, I've never had one like that. They've been fairly recent. After…it happened I wasn't really dealing with any of it, I just sort of ignored everything and everyone but the past few weeks I've been trying to acclimate back into my old life and sometimes it just happens out of nowhere. Yesterday though was the first time I've truly felt like I'd accomplished something. I felt stronger afterward, safer. And I think it may have been you, helping me to do that. No one's ever been able to reach me when I'm having….an attack. I'm not sure why when you were basically a stranger but I'm grateful." She said.

Feeling an overwhelming sure of connection to her Tom reached out to grab her hand that was resting on the table. Running his thumb over the top of her knuckles he forced her eyes up to his, and said, "I'm not sure why either but I'm glad. Really and truly, I'd like to be able to help you in whatever way I can. I know we've only just met but I'm not just your driver. I'm here for anything you need. Or if you just want to talk. Just say the word. I'm at your service."

"Thank you Tom. I think friends is a great place to start if you do." She said shyly, removing her hand from his reluctantly when the waitress dropped off their food.

"Indeed. I'm glad were on the same page, although I'm sure Thomas wouldn't approve." He said with a chuckle as he started salting his chips strewn haphazardly about his plate.

"He's your best mate then? How did you guys meet?" and that launched into what Tom would call the true beginning. They sat and talked for a full two hours after they had finished eating. Chatting like lifetime friends, joking and teasing each other. Sybil had even stolen the best chips from his plate and he had nicked forkfuls of her salad in retaliation, although he seemed to get the worse end of the deal when he really thought about it.

They covered their childhoods, their schooldays, why Tom didn't want to go into the military like the other males in his family and why Sybil didn't want to enter into society like the rest of hers, until Larry that is. They talked about past relationships, Tom trying to subtly hint that he was currently unattached and most certainly not gay. They even briefly talked about what happened a few months ago, leading Sybil to where she was now, they didn't go into much detail, but he gathered that it was more than just the physical altercation that lead to the breakup but months of emotional abuse as well.

She seemed to have a low opinion of herself in some aspects but in others was beautifully confident. It was almost as if he could see where that bastard had left his mark and where he didn't quite get to.

She seemed to have a skewed sense of her own beauty, saying things like "I tend to really like things that are obscure and individual, not like most proper ladies should have interest in." And after every statement like that Tom had to stop himself from emphatically denying it and building her up. It would have to be a slow process, you couldn't just tell a girl this damaged that she was beautiful. She had to be shown, and Tom was determined to do that. He was the opposite of detached by the time they had paid and left the pub.

Sybil was feeling elated by the time they decided it was well past time to leave. Her family was out at a charity ball so there was no one waiting for her at home besides the staff and she had the day off from classes tomorrow as Miss Isobel was training a new teacher. She felt like the night was full of possibilities. Tom had more than shown her that he was as interested in her and at the very least being her friend. She felt like she had known him much longer than two days. He brought such a sense of potential whenever he was near her, she felt like she could do anything. He was a comforting presence and she was glad for him in her life now. Even if they stayed as they were this would be more than enough for her.

As they exited the doorway Sybil turned to see how far behind her Tom was and slammed right into him. His hands extend out to her hips to steady her. Her hands automatically came to rest against his broad chest. Had she really thought him unbulky? She couldn't stop her fingers from pressing into the hard muscle, staring at the unyielding flesh beneath the soft black shirt. Her breath caught in her thought. Unable to take air in or out, she felt as if she was vibrating. His hands on her hips clenched the smallest amount as he tensed and stopped breathing as well. Sybil's eyes lifted slowly up past her where her hands were placed to the small amount of hair peeking from the neck of his tee. Gulping in air she raised her eyes to his, noticing his tongue darting out to wet his parted lips as if he meant to say something.

"I….I'm sorry, I didn't know you were that close" she said, her voice having taken on a whispered quality opposite the light happy volume they had been conversing in moments earlier.

"It's my fault, I've got silent feet." He said in a deep husky voice, not releasing her. His hands burning to feel her skin beneath where they rested on top of her flimsy over shirt. She looked just as surprised as he was by how electrically charged the air suddenly became surrounding them. He didn't want to push her but she had to feel this. Looking into her eyes he saw the realization dawn there. They were on the same page. This couldn't be denied with the physical evidence right there between them.

Sliding his hands from her slender hips he wrapped them slowly towards her back, delighting in the feeling of her relaxing into his chest. He felt her tiny fingers running up towards his shoulders, unsure if she was even conscious that she was doing it.

They seemed to be leaning closer, the space disappearing by centimeters as their face reached towards each other, until only a breath separated their mouths. Looking down at her closed eyes he took that as a green light and closed the final space between them, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.

He felt her intake of breath as her hands came to grip at the back of his neck. As she breathed in, he breathed out, feeling like she was taking part his soul into her and he was happy to release it if it meant feeling like this. Her lips were soft and sweet, much like the person attached to them. Fighting the urge to deepen the kiss he pulled back slowly, offering one small peck to her lips to gage her response, it seemed as if she enjoyed it but he didn't want to presume too much.

Sybil felt like she was on fire. Her brain had completely stopped. She was unsure at first if she was having another attack but she didn't feel like she was on pause, she felt like she was on overdrive. Her skin was tingling all over and she felt like she was about to burst. It wasn't enough, she wanted more and he had stopped. Opening her eyes she looked up at his questioning gaze. He looked apprehensive.

"Was that ok?" he asked quietly.

She was sure her face was blank, trying to process everything swirling inside of her.

His face looked panicked by her lack of a reaction and he started to pull away. Snapped out of her own head Sybil grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled him towards her once again. He responded immediately, dragging her body back into his embrace as he deepened the kiss. His tongue snaked into her mouth sweeping over her parted lips. Sybil moaned at the feeling as one of his hands came to fist into her hair that had come undone from her messy bun. Feeling his answering "mmmm" vibrating through him as he walked her backwards the remaining two feet to the car door Sybil craved more of him.

Bracing one hand on the top of the car behind her Tom used his other hand resting on the back of her head to angle her head to allow him more access to her neck, breaking the kiss with a gentle nibble to her bottom lip he continued down licking and kissing her soft skin, faint traces of salt from her day of physical exertion, spurring him onward, down to her collar bone and back up to suckle at the spot right behind her ear. Using his hand to keep her curly locks out of his way, they smelled of vanilla and pine trees, just like Christmas.

Tom tried to suppress a moan as she grabbed him by the hips and crashed her pelvis into his hardened errection. Breathing heavily against her ear as he ground himself against her Tom grabbed her face with both hands, bringing her back to look into his eyes. Her face was flushed, her checks pinkened and her eyes lit with desire. He kissed her fully on the lips, slow and relaxed, coaxing her back down from the frenzy of a few seconds ago. He didn't want to ravage her in the parking lot, no matter what his body was urging him to do. She was delicate, fragile, and demanded to be treated gently. Reminding himself of all of this he offered her one last lingering kiss pulling back slowly as her hands hung limply from his hips, barely registering their presence.

Keeping one hand cupping her cheek he used the other to push the hair back from her face. Trying to regain their breathing Sybil opened her eyes, a faint trace of a smile lingering on her lips, plump from his attentions. "Well, um…I guess friends is off the table then." She said giggling, nervously trying to lighten the mood and ease some of the tension they were both feeling.

Feeling suddenly insecure ashamed of what had just happened, she felt like reality had come crashing down on her, all of the self-doubt returning and not sure if she was worthy of someone as good and kind and beautiful as him. Sybil ducked her head only to feel Tom's strong hand pull her up underneath her chin to look into his eyes. "Sybil, I don't know what just happened but it's nothing to feel awkward about. Did I hurt you?" he asked. Sybil shook her head.

"Did you enjoy that?" she nodded.

"Then everything is ok. It's not the setting I would have preferred that to happen in but I'm not sorry it did. Are you?"

"That was the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me, and I'm not sorry either." She said quietly, smiling at him. His answering smile nearly stopped her heart. He filled her up with light and not just from his touch, his whole being seemed to pump her into a feeling of delight and happiness just being near him and she only felt more so after what they just did.

He kissed her sweetly on the forehead letting his lips rest there as he said, "I've been trying to stop myself from doing that since I first saw you. I've never felt anything this wonderful either but I want you to know that everything I've said tonight still applies. This doesn't change that. I'm still here for you, however you need me, just say the word. Although I wouldn't mind being needed to do some more of that if you're in the market." He said as she pinched him in the side. Laughing, he pulled her into a hug, just enjoying the feel of her his arms. He still felt extremely charged up but was content to just remain like this as long as she needed.

"Well Mr. Branson, I think that the market may need a little recovery time but is tentatively opened for business if you're interested." She said looking up from his embrace.

"You can put me down as interested, very interested." He said.

"Noted. I think it's probably time to be getting back. I've got tomorrow off from the studio but I would like it if you could still pick me at the usual time, I'd like to try shopping again. I think I can do better this time, especially if you're with me."

"I'd be delighted, milady." He said with a grin.

Slapping him away and walking to the other side of the car she was pulled up short by both of his hands grasping hers. Looking into his eyes, all traces of teasing gone he pulled her hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles and caressing her fingers his eyes looking up at her, "I'm really glad to know you Sybil, truly, you are an amazing young woman and I'm going to strive to be worthy of you, that I can promise you." He said seriously.

"See that you do" she said cheekily, bouncing over to him to lay one loud peck onto his cheek before skipping back to the other side of the car and pulling on the handle to get in. Finding it locked she looked over the top of the car at him expectantly. Seeing him doubled over laughing she called over to him "And just what is so funny?"

Catching his breath he pointed to the car, "this isn't our car."

Looking down she noticed the bright red color and looked up surprised at his resumed laughing posture. Bursting out laughing she ran over to him, grabbing his hand. He pulled her to the real car, clicking the keyless entry as they walked over, she thought how nice it was to just be holding his hand and how right it felt.