It was a sleepless night for Atem, he was far to worried about Tara, every time he closed his eyes he was awake in a matter of seconds, stressing if Tara was okay or not. He paced the room, watching the sun rise slowly. Anu was up a few hours later and sat down to let Atem explain what happened the night before.
"You think she's okay?" Anu asked.
"I don't know, but we need to re create this engagement thing as soon as we can, she's getting weaker." Atem said.
"I am ready to go, it's up to you." Anu said.
"Let me see how she is today and then we'll decide." Atem told her. Anu nodded and let Atem move into the bathroom to shower and change.
He had just finished dressing and slipping his earpiece in when Tara called him, he was lucky Anu had learned how to work these things.
"Atem are you there?" Her voice cut into his thoughts.
"Yes I am here." He answered.
"Hey, listen I hate to sound winey but I am still not feelin to great, would you mind coming over? I feel safer with you here." She said. He could tell she wasn't back to herself , he voice sounded tired.
"Yeah that's fine, give me a few minutes, I'll be right over." He said.
"Thanks Atem, I'll see you soon." The connection was closed off and he continued getting himself ready. Anu was resting on the bed when he emerged.
"Tara called, she's still not feeling well, she wants me to come over." He told her.
"Okay, call me around lunch time, let me know how she's doing." She asked. Atem nodded.
It didn't take him long to reach Tara's apartment, he knocked quietly on the door, waiting patiently for Tara to answer.
"Hey." She said quietly, as she opened the door. Atem stepped in and pulled her close, he could tell she wasn't feeling well.
"You need to lie down." He said, closing the door behind him.
"I just think I haven't gotten over what happened yesterday." She said as Atem led her to the bed.
"Well then you need to rest." He said, letting her lay down.
"Will you lay with me?" She asked. The confusion and worry written over her face upset him.
"Of course." She moved over, making room for him. He lay down next to her, pulling her close and letting her rest against his chest. He let his fingers run through her hair, slowly lulling her to sleep. She slept for a while and Atem drifted off once or twice himself. It was around noon when she finally woke up, burring her head against Atem's chest to block out the sun.
"Good morning." Atem said, a hint of humor in his voice. She mumbled back what sounded like a good morning and he laughed.
"You've been asleep for a while, how are you feeling?" He asked. She lifted her head, her deep blue eyes gazing into his.
Better, thanks." She said.
"You want some lunch?" He asked, she smiled and nodded.
"I'd love some."
Atem slipped out of the bed and moved into the kitchen to find something to eat. Tara got up as well, grabbing some clothes and moving into the bathroom to freshen up. She emerged a while later in a black pair of pajama pants and a bright blue tank top, her hair pulled into a high ponytail.
"Looks delicious." She said as she walked up to the kitchen table. Atem had made some sandwiches while Tara changing. It was the only thing he remembered how to make from his time spent with Yugi.
Tara sat down cross legged on the chair and Atem joined her.
"So you know how to cook?" She asked.
"I know how to make a sandwich." He told her, they laughed.
"Well that's something." She said, taking a bite of her sandwich.
Atem smiled and enjoyed lunch with her, happy that she seemed back to her normal self.
Whey they'd finished eating Atem sat down with her on the sofa, her head resting against his shoulder.
"I have to work tonight, do you and Anu want to come by?" She asked.
"Oh, Anu, I was supposed to call and let her know you were doing okay." Atem said, Tara laughed.
"Let me call." She said, grabbing her earpiece off the small table in front of her and pressing some buttons on the flat adapter.
"Hey Anu, it's Tara." She said.
"Yeah Atem said he was gonna call but I decided to instead." She told her. Anu must have said something funny because Tara laughed.
"Yeah I am feeling much better thanks." She said.
"I wanted to ask if you and Atem wanted to stop by the restaurant tonight." She asked. Anu spoke for a bit and Tara laughed again, then said.
"Okay, well I'll see you there." And took the earpiece out of her ear, setting it back down on the table.
"Sounds like we'll be going." Atem said. Tara nodded, sitting back and resting against him.
He stayed until it was time for Tara to get ready for work, then he made his way back home. He let Anu change and then they started out.
"I am gonna ask her tonight." He told Anu as they made their way to the restaurant.
"I'll tell her there's something important I want to ask and that I want to get together with her tomorrow evening." He explained.
"I'll try and get her alone, I'll make sure she'll be wearing the dress." Anu said, Atem nodded.
The restaurant was bustling when they arrived. They were seated in a booth near the back of the room and Tara quickly made her way up to them, taking their order with a smile and returning a while later with their food.
"How are you going to get her alone?" Anu asked watching Tara flit about tables taking orders and laughing.
"I am working on it." He said.
As they ate he kept a close eye on Tara. Eventually he saw her slip out a side door. He glanced at Anu who had noticed as well, she nodded and Atem quickly followed her out the door.
She wasn't anywhere to be seen but Atem had a pretty good idea of where she was. He climbed the ladder to the roof and saw her standing a few feet in front of him. He walked up slowly, his hand finding hers.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, just needed some fresh air." She said, letting him pull her in close.
"I wanted to ask you something." He said, she nodded.
" I wanted to know if you wanted to get together tomorrow night, there was something I wanted to ask you." He said.
"Oh, of course, I'd love to." She said.
"Great, we can meet at your house around seven for dinner?"
"That sounds wonderful." She said, smiling.
He kissed her gently and smiled back.
"Walk me back inside?" She asked, pulling him over to the ladder.
"I'd love to."
Tara went right back to work while Atem returned to the table with Anu.
"How'd it go?" She asked.
"Good, tomorrow at seven." He told her, she nodded.
"Okay, my turn." She said.
The restaurant was just about to close when Tara made her way back over to their table. Atem excused himself giving Anu a chance to talk to Tara on her own.
"So I saw Atem follow you outside, what'd he want to talk about?" Anu asked. Tara took a seat next to her.
"He wants to get together tomorrow night, he has something to ask me." She said.
"Sounds important." Anu was beginning to have some déjà vu of her own.
"You think so?" Tara asked.
"Well if he wants to get together and everything, make a date for it, it must be something important. Otherwise he would have just asked you." Anu said.
"Wow, your right." Tara said, her voice falling into worry.
"What's wrong?"
"Well if it's something important." She mused.
"Anu, do you remember when I asked you about making a dress for me sometime?" She said. Anu's face brightened.
"I have just the thing." Anu said.
"Come over sometime tomorrow, I'll make sure Atem is out of the house." She told her. Tara nodded.
"Thank you so much Anu." Tara said, wrapping her in a hug.
"No problem." Anu said.
Tara left to finish cleaning up and Atem was waiting for Anu at the door. They paid and walked out into the cool night air.
"So?" Atem asked.
"She's coming over tomorrow to try on the dress." Anu said.
"Good, I'll leave you two to that." Atem said.
"Hopefully this all goes okay." Anu said.
"It's already been set in motion, we'll see it through." Atem told her, hopeful that after tomorrow night things would be back to normal.
Thanks to everyone who is continuing to read! keep sending in reviews, the next chapter should be up soon!