As the cab pulled up to 10 Columbus Circle, Megan started to get a lump in her throat. Being a serious foodie, she knew exactly where they were headed.
"Kate, how did you…"
"My brother knows a guy," the blonde shrugged coyly.
Megan continued to shake her head as they got out of the car and walked into the lobby of Per Se.
"Your brother knows a guy?" Megan continued to muse as they were led to their table, which was dimply lit with a candle and the most exquisite arrangement of light pink roses and white orchids. "People make reservations months in advance. How…"
"He called in a favor," Kate continued to play it cool. "I told him it was a special occasion."
"Which is?" Megan blushed.
"Our first real date," Kate smirked.
Megan's cheeks began to hurt, she was smiling so hard.
"Seriously…this is…"
"Just promise you'll explain how it works," Kate whispered. "I'm really more of a late night cheeseburger girl, truth be told, but I'm up for trying new things."
"Is it bad that this is our first date and I'm already planning on breaking my rule about taking things slow?" Megan narrowed her eyes and felt for Kate's ankle with her foot, which she had so smoothly removed from her shoe.
"I'm counting on it," Kate swallowed as her cheeks flushed.
The server promptly greeted them, and they ordered a bottle of champagne and the Chef's Tasting Menu. The evening's fare included Tsar Imperial Oyster Caviar, Sautéed Fillet of Atlantic Striped Bass, "Pave" of Scottish Langoustines, Elysian Fields Farm's Lamb, and what seemed like a dozen other mind-blowing dishes, each brought out in the most teasingly delicious proportions, one after the other. Megan was clearly in heaven, and Kate felt herself getting warmer every time the redhead closed her eyes and moaned as she took a bite. By the time they got to the "Pamplemousse Blanc," they were both full and ready to head back to the hotel.
"Unbelievable," Megan continued to rave. "I have to tell you, Dr. Murphy, no one's ever tried to seduce me quite like this before."
Kate just smiled. Megan took a deep breath, knowing she was about to bring up something she had to get out in the air before she could really, truly let herself be as vulnerable as she wanted to be.
"About earlier," Megan began. "When I sort of jumped in, back on that panel, with the guy who was clearly out of line…I just…"
"Its okay, Megan. I get it. That guy was a pig."
"Yeah, he was."
"Still…I can take care of myself. I know I asked you to stick with me, and I appreciate that, but there are going to be times when I need to just…"
"Not be gay?" Megan boldly surmised, raising an eyebrow somewhat playfully.
Kate glared back.
"Who says I'm gay?"
"You're not?" Megan asked, determined to have this conversation one way or another.
"Are you?" Kate tried to turn the tables.
"I'm not sure," Megan tried to laugh. "But obviously, I'm open to…"
"I'm not sure either," Kate bit back. "And I'm…somewhat open."
"What do you mean 'somewhat'?" Megan hard-lined, starting to get a knot in her stomach.
"'Somewhat,' meaning…. privately I'm happy to explore this. Professionally, I don't think I'll be making an announcement any time soon."
"I'm not saying you need to hold a press conference," Megan joked. "But eventually, if we're really going to do this, people are bound to find out."
"Are they?" Kate raised an eyebrow. "What are we doing, exactly?"
Megan shook her head. "Apparently we have different takes on it."
"I'm not so sure I'll ever be ready to be known as 'that lesbian Chief Medical Examiner.'"
Megan scoffed.
"I don't think you give people enough credit," she argued. "I know your parents were horrible, and there are plenty of people like them out there, but there are also people who get it, or who at least don't care."
"I care," Kate stated firmly.
Megan froze at how serious the woman across the table suddenly was, how straight she sat up in her chair.
"I've worked really, really hard to get where I am today, with very little support. From anyone." Kate continued. "Its a little naïve to think people will just stand behind you and accept you without trying to tear you down."
"Not all people are like the Commissioner, Kate," Megan cut her off. "Weren't you the one who told me you can't fight everyone all the time? At some point, you have to…"
"Okay, you know what?" Kate shifted nervously. "Maybe I'm not ready for this."
Megan tried not to let Kate see just how much she was panicking behind her façade.
"Could have fooled me," Megan swallowed. "Between the flowers, the fancy dinners, waking me up with…"
"Megan…"
"You know, Todd said something once about you being a flake," the redhead continued, trying not to sound too angry, but failing. "I defended you then, but maybe he was right."
Kate's mouth gaped. She couldn't believe Megan had actually gone there.
"Screw Todd," she seethed.
"Funny," Megan scowled. "You already did."
Kate narrowed her eyes and turned completely red. Megan instantly regretted it, knowing she'd gone too far. Kate reached into her purse, pulling out a couple hundred dollar bills and throwing them on the table.
"You can take a cab back to the hotel. I'll walk."
She got up quickly and headed for the exit. Megan stared down at the table, awe-struck at how quickly things had gone sour, before getting up and following her.
"Kate!" she called when she got outside. "You are not walking by yourself. This is insane."
The blonde didn't answer her. She crossed the street, heading towards the park, staying on the sidewalk just outside the gate, not really sure which direction she was headed in.
"Kate, stop," Megan tried again as she caught up with her. "That was a stupid thing for me to say. I'm…"
"What was it you said when we first started this?" Kate interrupted. "That the past didn't matter?"
"It doesn't" Megan insisted. "I don't care about Todd. It was never about him."
"Really?"
"Really. You think I got so upset about it because I cared about him?"
"Seriously, Megan? I should never have even attempted to figure you out."
"Kate, please!" she reached for her arm, taking a chance by pulling her to a halt. Luckily, the woman allowed it, though she continued to look anywhere but into Megan's eyes.
"You were right," Megan continued, breathing heavily. "I was too brazen today at the conference, I get it. And I know it's going to take time for you to feel comfortable. It's not that easy for me either, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let this slip away," she tried not to choke up. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't usually fight for people, not when it comes to love. In fact, I don't think I've ever fought for anyone in my entire life. So if you could just try forgive me for the times I've lashed out at you when I wasn't ready to let someone make me feel this way, I…"
Kate stared at her blankly. Megan was thrown by it, not sure if the woman was completely over everything, or if somehow she was getting through.
"There's that word again," Kate whispered.
"What word?"
"Love."
Shit, Megan thought.
"You're right," she swallowed.
"Is that how you feel?" Kate asked, biting her lip, apparently trying just as hard not to break.
Megan slowly nodded. She had come this far, she figured she had nothing to lose.
Kate took a step forward, looking down at her feet again for a moment before returning her gaze.
"It's taken me almost forty years to come this far," she admitted. "You think you could be a little patient while I try to catch up with you?"
"Meaning?" Megan asked, confused.
"Meaning…I'm scared too, but I'm trying. I'm not exactly ready to tell the whole world," the blonde took another step forward. "But I am ready… to feel this."
Kate pulled Megan's hand against her chest again, just as she had done before kissing her for the first time. Megan slowly released all the tension that had crept into her muscles as she closed her eyes and felt the racing beneath Kate's skin. She tried not to stammer when she spoke next.
"So…are you saying…you love me too?"
Kate looked around only for a few seconds before bringing her lips to Megan's and giving her the softest, sweetest kiss she had ever received, all the while nodding yes. Megan laughed a little as she pulled the woman into her lips again, returning the soft kiss before going deeper.
"Thought so," Megan smirked as she pulled back. "I'm not wrong very often."
Kate rolled her eyes and grabbed Megan's shoulders, kissing her again before hailing a cab. The two tried to keep their hands off each other in the backseat as they made their way back to the hotel.