A/N I don't work nor have I ever worked in a restaurant. And I know you shouldn't drink water after eating something spicy.

She carried their plates towards the table and sat down opposite of him. "So, this isn't a real quiet table.."

"It's great, Veronica."

"Are you sure?"

"Seeing you in your natural habitat?" He joked. "I'm sure. So, curry?"

"M-hm."

"Doesn't smell that spicy."

"Yeah I didn't know how spicy you'd like it." She smiled as she took a bite. She always liked curry but her mother didn't like it and most Canadians found it too spicy so she couldn't put it on a menu either. "Besides, it hasn't been cooking since this morning.. so it's a little.."

He took a bite and swallowed it, taking a sip of his water. "Spicy." He cleared his throat. "Wow.." He took another bite and Veronica raised her eyebrows.

"You like it?" She asked. "Because you don't have to eat it if you don't.. I can get you something else."

"I told you, I like spicy food."

"Really?"

He smiled reassuringly. "Yes, really. It just caught me by surprise, though it shouldn't have since you studied there for a year."

"Yeah, the chef I was studying under kicked my ass a lot. Told me I had to stop making tourist curry."

He smiled. "In those words?"

"He doesn't speak English, so no.."

"Right, 'cause you are the mastermind that speaks English, French, Italian and Hindi."

"You forgot Spanish.." She took another bite. They both turned around when the fire alarm went off, automatically turning on the sprinklers. "Dammit, not on Valentine's.." Veronica shot up and walked towards the source, she pushed a man aside before putting a lid on the pan, then a blanket, pushed the button to turn off the sprinklers and walked out into the restaurant. Ed got up and followed her there. "Everyone, please sit back down." She got their attention. "It was a false alarm, nothing to worry about." They all looked at her. "Please sit back down, there's nothing to worry about." She watched as everyone started to sit back down. "Maria, call the fire department, tell them it was a false alarm." Maria nodded. Veronica walked back to her kitchen and towards the man. "Dammit Eduardo" She grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the freezer. "How many fucking times have I told you not to use too much alcohol!"

He looked at the ground.

"It's supposed to be a flambé, not a ceiling reaching flame!" She pointed in the general direction the restaurant is in. "It's Valentine's day! People just had their romantic dinners rudely disturbed."

"I'm sorry.."'

"Sorry doesn't cut it, we're all working our ass off to make everything run smooth and you light the kitchen on fire!"

He opened his mouth to say something about her eating more then she was working but decided against it and closed his mouth.

"That's a wise decision. If you weren't Jen's brother I would fire your ass.. Hell I would've fired your ass the second time that happened, half a year ago!" She took a calming breath. "Go home, I have no more place for you tonight."

"Veronica.." She glared at him. "Yes chef.." Then he went back into the kitchen while she stayed there. It wasn't long before Angela walked in.

"Did you finally fire his ass?"

"I can't, he's Jen's brother."

"Jennifer would get it, he's set the kitchen on fire like 8 times.."

"He didn't actually set it on fire.. I just sent him home for the night. How's the cleaning up all the water going?"

"Good, we're almost done."

"Good." She and Angela walked back out. "Let's get this cleaned up fast so we can try to save Valentine's."

"Yes chef!" came a dozen replies.

"Good, now I'll go do my job and help Maria with the angry mob." She smiled at Angela. "What do you reckon it sets us back? Half an hour?" Maria nodded. "Great.." She walked towards Ed. "I'll be right back." He smiled and nodded.

"Maria." Veronica got her attention.

"Veronica, good. Got Jennifer on line 2." She handed her the phone.

"Thanks." She accepted the phone and pushed the button. "Jen, hi."

"Thank god, Maria just called me. What the hell happened?"

"Your brother.. Jen, I gave him a million shots.."

Jennifer sighed. "I know.. it's just a rough time."

"I know, he has a wife and kids and bills to pay.. just talk to him or something, 'cause we can't go on like this.."

"I know, everybody is okay though?"

"Yeah, no one got hurt. Guests are getting impatient though.."

"Please offer them a glass of sparkling wine or something each, please?"

"Yeah sure.. Go enjoy your dinner, say hi to Freddy for me."

"He hates that you call him that."

"I know." She chuckled. "Gotta take care of some stuff here, bye." She hung up the phone and walked towards the middle of the dining area. "Ladies and gentleman, if I could have your attention please." Everyone turned towards her. "My name is Veronica Mancini, I'm the chef. I apologize for the fire alarm, but like I said earlier it was a false alarm. Unfortunately it did activate the sprinklers in the kitchen. This will set us back about half an hour, please be patient. In the mean time you will be offered a glass of prosecco on the house." She smiled at them. "Thank you for your understanding, and again I apologize for the inconvenience."

It was another 20 minutes before everybody was enjoying their dessert and Veronica had the time to sit with Ed.

"You were yelling at him pretty loud."

She put his desert down in front of him and sat across from him. "You could hear me out here?"

"Muffled, yeah. Another couple of minutes and I would've started negotiating."

She smiled t him. "Not the first time he set off the alarm." She rubbed her face. "It can happen to anyone, it just happens a lot with him. I got sick off it."

"Did you fire him?"

"No."

"Sweet of you."

"The owner, Jennifer, he's her brother. He's got a wife and kids and bills to pay.."

"Still, nice of you."

She shrugged. "I guess, anyway, I have to clean up here before going home.. you can go if you want?"

"Are you kidding me? I think I was promised Valentine's day sex.."

Her brow furrowed. "I never.."

"Well, not in those words.. but you told me to come by your room and gave me a key.."

She smiled at him. "I did. Did you like your lunch?"

"I loved my lunch. Of course now everyone in SRU knows we're dating.."

"I didn't deliver it myself.."

"Spike grabbed the letter."

"Aah.. anyway," She smiled at him as she got up. "I'll start cleaning up, the sooner we can go to my hotel room."