The week had passed just like that. Saturday was upon me and I had no idea what to do.

I had already gotten ready. I was wearing my very favorite pair of jeans; rhinestones covered the back pockets in some design I couldn't name. I was also wearing a hot pink turtleneck with a scarf that had every color ever known to man. I had on a pair of heels. I had a hard time siding with putting them on. I didn't know where Desmond was taking me and for some reason I didn't think heels were going to be the best thing to wear, but he was just so tall.

I hope I wasn't over dressed. I didn't want to feel awkward, wherever he was taking me.

I grabbed my cell phone and my messenger bag, as well as slinging on my black pea coat on top. I reassuringly looked into the mirror by my door one last time, making sure I was up to par. I studied my hair with scrutiny; it hadn't wanted to work with me today. It still had those golden curls running down the side of my face.

I took a deep breath and turned towards my door. Exiting it quickly I made sure to lock it then I went down the hall to the stairs.

I threw open the door and started to trot down the stairs at a good pace, falling into a rhythm as I flew down the stairs.

Desmond had told me to meet him at the park by the bench. Any other person wouldn't know the bench he was talking about, but I knew which one. We had met up there twice this week just to talk. We seemed to sit there for hours just talking about our days. He always wanted to be there to talk about my life; my childhood, how did I like school, did I ever want to go to college at some point? It seemed like he could never get enough information about me.

As I entered the cool streets I started to wonder on that fact.

It was always me and never Desmond. Trust me I loved talking about my life, but the fact that I knew next to nothing about his childhood or anything seemed to frighten me. What could he be hiding from me? Nothing bad right? I just didn't want something huge to be hiding in his head. Like he's committed some major crime or something. That would be…..well I don't know to be honest.

But anyways, as I walked down the streets of New York I fell into what seemed like a usual pattern to me now. I walked through most of Manhattan till I arrived at the Park. I smiled as the familiarity set in. I meandered down the winding roads and paths of the park. It was the only section of the city that wasn't littered in light. It would almost be peaceful if you didn't hear all the taxis and buses in the background, but it was peaceful enough.

I found my journey coming to an end as I saw our bench coming into view. Our bench. That sounded nice didn't it?

As I closed in on my destination I sat down, waiting for Desmond to arrive.

I'm not going to lie my nerves were on edge at the moment. I tried to tell myself to calm down. It was just Desmond, Gabby. Just good, old Desmond. The guy who could just smile at you and you would feel silly, the guy who had enough muscle to go around, and the guy who when he hugged you it felt like you were suffocating.

Oh yeah, why would I be nervous?

But I knew he wasn't. This must be a walk in the park to him. Getting the girl to fall for him. Whoo-ing them. Making them feel like they were the only one there. I bet he was to good at it really. Oh, shut up Gabby! He's not some player. But how did I know that? He wouldn't tell me about his past anyways!

My thoughts were cut off at that moment.

"Hey Gabs. Gabby?" Desmond was standing there in all his glory. He had on some dark jeans and a button down shirt. I had never seen him in one of those. He looked amazing in it either way. He had a confused look on his face. Oh great. How had I looked when he walked up? Probably at war with myself. Great. I was going crazy now.

"Hey," I breathed out as I stood up walking over to him. He smiled hugely at me, making his way over to me as well. He put his arms around my waist, hugging me. I backed away, "So where are we off too?" He looked down a bit there.

"We're closer than you think." He took my hand and pulled me in the direction of his building. Can I call it that? For some reason I don't consider it his home or his apartment. Something just makes me feel like he doesn't stay there.

"So how are you on this lovely evening, my Gabby?" Sarcasm dripped in his statement. I could play this game. "Oh quite, fabulous I do say. And yours Desmond?" I looked up at him smiling, really smiling, teeth and all.

He became serious then looking down at me; his eyes, god knows what they were doing but they turned me to putty. "Great, now that I'm with the prettiest girl I've ever seen." And there it was, my cheeks were pink within seconds as I looked down. I wanted to giggle like a school girl.

And there was his warm hand, pulling my face up, his hand lingering on the skin of my cheek for a second there. "It's the truth too." He said.

He was always so sincere when he said things like that. Like he actually meant it. Either way it made me melt inside and I leaned into him, him putting his arm around my back as my arms went around his waist. I mumbled a thank-you while I was there. I could picture the grin on his face at the moment to.

We walked on in silence. Just being happy to be with each other I think, well at least that was what I was doing.

After a minute or two of dragging along Desmond stopped me.

I looked up at the building that it seemed I was so familiar with now. It was Desmond, Shaun, and Rebecca's home. The outside I knew like the back of my hand, the inside though was the mystery to me. Desmond pulled me towards the steps once more and I was shocked, so shocked in fact I almost fell.

"Whoa! Easy," He had caught me before I could have even thought of touching the ground. "Your not getting clumsy on me are you?" He laughed at me, smirking. I smacked his arm playfully.

"Oh come on," He pulled me along again, this time making sure I was ready. I walked up the steps, Desmond by my side. He then opened the door for me and waved me in, "Lady's First."

I stepped over the doorway and took in my surroundings as Desmond stepped in too, closing the door behind him.

I was in a small hallway and I saw what seemed to be a sitting room ahead, I stepped forward automatically, the curiousness in me bubbling. I stopped though. I didn't know what we were doing here. I felt a hand on my back though, "No, go ahead."

So I did get to see.

I smiled as I walked a bit farther into the room. A TV was on and I heard a sports announcer clearly coming from it. Seconds later I saw Shaun jumping up and yelling at the TV as I rounded the corner, he abruptly stopped when Desmond cleared his chest behind me.

"Oh right, sorry. Hello Gabby!" Shaun reached his hand out towards me. I smiled and took it, shaking it. "Hi," That was all I could get out really? I looked down then, I felt an arm go around my waist and warmth was instantly at my side. Desmond was reassuring me.

"Oh, yes," Shaun backed up, "Well I'll let you two get to things. Wouldn't want to mess things up for Desmond here, I'll just be here, watching the game. You know this is a big one, Patriots and the Saints-"

Shaun kept babbling on about football as Desmond led me around him towards another doorway. Once we were through it a set of stairs were to my left. I looked at Desmond, who was behind me. He nodded towards the stairs, "Go on up."

I did what he asked of me and started to climb up the steps. Please lord; don't let me fall in these heels. But I could see there was a door at the top of the stairs. Desmond scooted past me. He pulled out a set of keys. They locked a stairs door? Well, that's new.

After he unlocked the door, putting the keys back in his pocket, he pushed the door open. Behind the door were apartment style steps. I followed him as he walked up them with ease. Screw his long legs, not everybody was tall. And heels didn't help the climbing. Where the heck were we going? I mean seriously there were but few things I could think of us doing by now.

We climbed even more; I now saw that there were glass doors that led to the entrance on every level. The first door, when you looked in showed a sort of kitchen, a woman with black hair was looking down in a pan on the stove quizzically. I guessed that it was Rebecca.

The second door brought about a type of sitting area. A TV was on the back wall, a couch, and a shelf on a wall. But then Desmond was telling me to hurry up.

"How far do we have to go again?" I whined out.

"Oh would you just hurry up." Desmond laughed.

"I'm coming!"

The 3rd door brought a room with monitors lining the wall. A lounging chair sat in the middle of the floor and there was a computer desk beside it. Papers with pictures were sitting on empty tables it seemed. Desmond again hurried me along.

Finally we reached the top of the stairwell and another door was in front of us.

He was about to push it open when I stopped him. "No, no, no, let me this time." I pushed right past him, the expression on his face showed that he was amused. Once I pushed through the door I noticed the dimming of the lights. The bitter city air brushed against my cheeks, instantly chilling me a bit. The sun was setting and you could start to see the lights of the city taking over.

We were on top of the building, a rather short one for New York, but still at the top. In front of me was a small table set for two towards the edge of the building. So this was what he was going to do.

That's when I realized there was an absence of Desmond. I turned around; he was standing there, hands behind his back just staring at me. "Are you gonna just stand there or are we going to eat?" He snapped out of his daze then. "Umm Yeah…." He trailed off looking around, "I'm just gonna go get the food, if you wanna sit down or something then go ahead." He turned quickly walking back down the stairs.

He looked flustered. I giggled for a second, could Desmond Miles be nervous?

I shrugged off the thought quickly; deeming it impossible, and then went to sit down.

I looked up and over the view of the park; it really was a different view from up here. The green trees and grass, about the only green in the city I might add, seemed to shine, the sun reflecting off of them. I really could appreciate the beauty in it. I didn't know if Desmond had planned it like this or what. I loved it though.

I heard the door open from behind me and I saw Desmond and Rebecca walking onto the roof with plates in their hands. "Don't mind me Gabby. Desmond thought he wasn't strong enough to bring all these plates up and begged for my assistance and who would ever tell Desmond no?" I liked her. She was teasing him and she knew it got to him.

"Maybe," Desmond started, "Becca should go back downstairs and not make me look bad in front of our honored guest?" She put her hands up and started walking towards the door.

"Keep him in check Gabby! Don't let him get to stupid on you!" With that she had slithered through the door and Desmond was laughing to himself.

"I like her." I said out of nowhere.

"Oh so side with her why don't you? But anyways, where were we?" He slid down into his seat, making sure everything was arranged properly. I looked down. I now saw that I had pasta sitting in front of me. At least he knew what I liked to eat. Candles also now surrounded the table, their warmth radiating onto my skin.

He had a similar dish in front of him. "Dig in?"

And with that we started to eat. The conversation was light and humorous. I think Desmond's ultimate goal was to keep me from eating. "Would you let me eat before my food is cold?"

"Not until you tell me your favorite animated movie." I eyed him suspiciously. That was random. "Mine's Lady and the Tramp." He gave me something that was between a smirk and a smile, I couldn't tell.

I looked down at my pasta then. Oh I get it now. I looked back up at him smirking. "You think your right funny don't you?"

He burst out in laughter, He smiled and my heart melted for a second. He looked so happy. "Your saying you want help me in my life dream of re-living my favorite childhood memory with the prettiest girl I know?"

Kiss Desmond? Yes please.

But that would be to fast wouldn't it? I mean I know this thing was working but do I really need to do that yet? Probably not. "Not a chance Des, at least not yet." His face resumed back to somewhat normalcy.

"So maybe later? I'll take you up on that promise." He winked at me. "But really eat your food." So I did and it was good.

Once we wrapped up with the eating Desmond excused himself, taking all the dishes with him may I add. As he walked towards the doorway to the staircase I heard him mumble, "Yeah, cause I can't handle a couple of dishes Becca."

"What was that?" I answered him. He looked back at me then shook his head, escaping down to the warmth of the building through the door.

When he arrived again he was carrying two thick blankets and a small radio. He sat the radio down and turned it on. Music sputtered out of it as it came to life. "Find a channel?" I walked over and turned the little knob, listening for something of my liking.

As I did that Desmond was spreading one blanket onto the floor and placing the candles from the table around it. He placed the other blanket on top of the first blanket. I finally found a station playing something I knew when I stood up and walked over to Desmond.

"You trying to get all romantic on me, Des?" He looked over at me and smiled. "I thought chicks dig this type of stuff though."

I laughed. He looked at me confused. "Did you seriously just use chicks and dig in the same sentence?" He put his hand on his chest and kinda flinched back into himself, "Ouch that hurt. What I can't say something remotely teenager-ish or something?" I stepped closer to him; it was getting cold up here right?

Desmond got the message, wrapping his arms around me. "It doesn't suit you." I said. "How?" He asked. It was hard to say for me, but I said it anyways. "You just seem older you know? It seems like you've seen more, been through more. It just doesn't sound right coming from you." I looked up at him. Maybe this could get us somewhere. Maybe he would finally tell me something.

"I guess your right. I have been through some stuff. Maybe it does make since."

Finally. Now we are talking.

"What kinda stuff?" I played dumb. I figured it would be the only way of finding out what I wanted to know.

He looked almost uncomfortable, he looked back towards the door then down at me, he sighed. "It's just.. I can't say a lot Gabby." I must have given some sign of resentment to this statement because he was trying to make me happy again within seconds.

"Listen, it's nothing bad. Trust me. You're just… You're just the only thing that doesn't deal with it in my life. Almost life a fresh start. I can be Desmond with you. Care free Desmond who looks for a good time. I can be the guy I was, and you get to see the real me."

I digested that for a sec. What was I supposed to do with that?

"Desmond.. I just don't know what to think when you say stuff like that. I feel like your hiding something important. Something that's that bit of information that you just need to know about someone. And you not telling me worries me. And I know we aren't there yet and that your allowed to have secrets but you want tell me anything."

"Fine." He pulled me down to the ground. We were sitting on the blankets. "What do you wanna know?"

What did I wanna know? I could ask anything here. Why not start off easy?

"Tell me about your parents." He looked in my direction pointing a finger at me. "That I can do."

He started talking about his parents. He loved his mother. She seemed to be the perfect picture of what a mother should be. The glow in his eyes showed that he was happy when thinking about her.

Then he started on the subject of his father. I could tell there was conflict there not only from Desmond's stories but also just from the hint of anger in his voice at some points. His father had been strict on him as a kid. His father had wanted him to be a good kid. I could tell his father loved him as well though. Desmond didn't want to admit it but I could tell he did too.

He just kept on talking. Stories about his childhood friends, or stories about what he had seen around the world. It was all so interesting and I drank it all in. I didn't think I was going to get many of these instances.

We ended up laying on the blankets, one serving as a pillow for his head. I was laying with my head on his chest, his fingers were running through my hair. We ended up just laying there gazing up at the stars. And I know it sounds cheesy, but it was my cheesy moment and I would live in it.

Eventually Desmond heard some song he liked and dragged me up, it was a slow song.

"Come on. We have to dance." I grumbled in response to him. He pulled at my arms and helped me up before he threw his arms around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving into his wishes.

We swayed there for a while to some song by the Fray. Then Desmond wanted to talk, "See not so bad is it?" I smiled. "Just shut up would you?" I said before leaning down into his chest, smiling the whole way.


I had pulled her up to dance. Didn't all the guys in the movies do that?

We stood there swaying lightly to the music when the song changed to a slightly more upbeat one. Oh this should be fun. I pried her arms from out and around my neck so that I was holding one of her hands and her waist with my other.

She raised her eyebrow when she looked at me., "Shall we dance my lady?" She smiled and put her hand on my shoulder. I loved how she just went along with it.

I started to pull her around the roof, sometimes in circles, others in some unknown pattern to me. She looked up at me smiling and giggling. As I pulled her around a laugh started to echo through my head. I looked down at Gabby but Gabby wasn't there.

The hologram like image that I was all to familiar with had popped up. But the girl in front of me, Narina, no Gabby, glowed that gold with splotches of blue. I scrunched my face trying to find my girl in there. I looked into her eyes. They were too similar. I couldn't distinguish it.

"Ezio.. Ezio?"

That voice didn't belong to her, it was his' girl's voice, not mine.

Damn it no this wasn't going to ruin this night.

At that moment the sweet sound of Gabby's voice filled my ears, her hands on the side of my arms as I let go to rub my eyes.

"Des, you okay?" She seemed worried. I nodded. "Yeah I'm good." I looked down at my watch. Damn it. 11:00? Seriously?

"It's getting late. Why don't we get you home?" I swear she pouted when I said that but I don't think I would ever live it down if I said she did. "Sure." She offered in return.

I turned off the radio and we started to make our way down the stairs. She seemed to pause at every door, peering into the rooms to try to find something. Damn the person whoever thought of putting glass in the doors.

But once we finally made it down everything went well. Rebecca told her good-bye as she questioned Shaun, "Shaun who won that game?" He was caught off guard but he started going on about how some play at the last second put the Patriots ahead by 2. I'd probably see the replay on ESPN later anyways so I ignored his babble.

We finally got out the front door. I took her hand in mine and we strolled through the park, pointing out stuff, cracking horribly corny jokes. You name it we probably said it. It was getting late and I could tell she was tired.

When we started to walk through the streets she seemed to wake up a bit more, become more aware, which you had to do when you were walking through New York at night. We walked and walked when we finally arrived at her apartment building.

"So…" She said as she rocked on her heels.

"Thanks for coming tonight Gab." I said. She seemed to be uncomfortable. It didn't need to be that way.

"Thanks for a good time. Seriously. It was fun." She replied. She was smiling now, that's more I like it.

She turned to go to her door when I grabbed her by her arm. "What?" She asked.

I smiled wide, I had this in the bag. "It's our first date. Isn't there a rule somewhere that says I have to give you a goodnight kiss?" The blood then rushed to her cheeks. I loved when that happened. She looked gorgeous standing there.

She rolled her eyes though as she looked back up at me. "You think you're getting smooth don't cha? How bout this. Kiss on the cheek for now?" Oh. So she wanted to compromise huh? No sir, I was going to win this battle.

"Well, I'm wounded Gabby. You mean you don't want to know what it's like to kiss these lips?" Yeah I loved sarcasm, deal with it.

She was battling with herself I could tell. She was unsure. She had to give in though, right?

After what seemed like hours for me, she gave me an answer. "Fine." She barely whispered into the night. Wait. She just agreed.

Shit. How was I supposed to do this?

I grabbed her waist, pulling her to me for what seemed like the billionth time tonight. She melted into me and god did it feel amazing. I wrapped one arm around her waist as I brought one hand up to her face. Her arms came to rest on my chest. She was still looking down, I couldn't stand that.

"Gabby." I breathed as I pulled her face up to look at me. She nervous, I could tell. She didn't need to be though. I could promise you that I was ten times worse on the inside than what I was showing.

I had my thumb resting on her chin and the rest of my hand cupping her face. I leaned in just a bit when I heard her breathing hitch. I leaned down a bit more and my lips were on hers, warm and soft. The moment was perfect.

And then I pulled away. I didn't want to go to far. I wanted her to trust me, and this seemed like the route to it.

Her eyes were downcast then they looked up meeting my eyes as we stood there, bodies pressed together, heads touching. She smiled.

When she finally stepped away she nodded at me then turned towards the building's door. "Goodnight Desmond," I heard her say as she swept open the door, leaving me there alone on the street in an instant.

I turned away, walking back in the direction I came from. I took in a deep breath, tonight had been a success. I had done it, the first date. Now things couldn't go that bad.

Thoughts like that consumed my mind as I walked through the concrete jungle, finding my way back to one of the only patches of green this city had to offer. When I finally got home I sat down on the front steps whipping out my phone. As I thumbed through my contacts to find Gabby's name I came up with the message that I would send her.

Gab,

Didn't get a chance to say goodnight soo….

Goodnight Beautiful, Sweet Dreams.

~D

I clicked the send button and got up, walking up the steps. I eased into the doorway. Becca and Shaun had already gone to bed. I climbed up the stairs in the house up to the level of my bedroom.

Sleep would come at last.


I'm Back! :D

Yeah I know this took absolutely forever like it always does but... Yeah I have no excuses... So sorry you guys big time!

I finally gave you a proper date! To most this chapter would seem to be the epitome of all fluff ever. And It wasn't even that good. (Shoot me now but I don't think I do the over romanticized cheesy stuff really well. I'm awkward and that speaks numbers in my writing) But! This chapter did have meaning to it! It is a turning point I guess, for the story as well as the characters.

So yeah.. Other than saying I'm sorry a thousand times I just want to know how you all liked this? Could we use more? Should I never do this again... Stuff like that.

Any predictions for the future? I love hearing you guy's theories. I've got a few curve balls placed up my sleeve.

And again I would like to issue a thank you to a dear friend Mismatch-Lover. She is my constant motivator and probably the reason why I haven't just given up on this story, like I am so good at doing with my others. She has made me some amazing fan art for the story that I would love to show you all but sadly its to spoilerific!

So you guys can keep doing what you guys are doing, keep reading, tell me your opinion, hell do whatever I don't care! But I hope the lot of you have a splendid week and you will here from me whenever I find the time to post again!

Hugs And Love,

Lauren