A/N: Sorry this chapter is shorter. The next one will be longer, though. As usual, thank you for the great response!
Nadia heard the click of heals in the hallway, as well as the heavier footsteps that could only belong to a man. She checked the clock: 9:05 pm. Her neighbor coming home with her boyfriend wasn't something unordinary, but they were back unusually early for a date night. It was lucky she'd only closed her fly screen that evening to let the fresh air in after the very heavy heat they'd endured during the day.
She peeked from her hallway. Lisbon had stopped in front of her door and had turned around to face Marcus.
"I'm sorry that I can't give you a straight answer for D.C. right now. It's a big decision, and I need some time to think," she told him sincerely.
He smiled understandingly at her. "I know, Teresa. At least I know you're considering it, and it's enough for now."
She kissed him softly then.
After she pulled away, he looked at her closely. "Not tonight?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"Not tonight," she confirmed, before giving him a small smile. "Thank you for understanding."
He pecked her lips, then wished her goodnight and left down the stairs while she fumbled with her keys.
Nadia headed back to her living room and slowly sat on her couch, taken aback by what she had heard outside her door.
Clearly she - and everyone else in the complex, she reminded herself - had underestimated the pace at which was evolving Lisbon and Pike's relationship. She certainly hadn't seen this coming.
She wondered if Blondie had.