Disclaimer: Not mine, I get it. Do you?

A/N: A quick update, no kidding I have to go to a funeral this afternoon of a distant cousin. Sad but well, it's part of life. So well, I'm in a hurry but this needed to be published today at all cost. Don't ask me why! lol Thank you guys for all your comments and for sending my Ocs, Warren, some much needed love in your reviews!

-25-

The dangerous path to intimacy

Surgeons don't do so well with solitude. It is a known fact. That's why they are so many people in an OR at a time, most of them just observing and doing nothing useful, mind you. But these are like our "TSA rules", you just couldn't leave them alone. Cause surgeons, it's written somewhere, they need the company. On the other hand, Surgeons are as deeply afraid of intimacy as any other human beings. It's almost like what Kryptonite does to Superman. Really it is a painful thing to avoid. And thankfully they taught you in med school how to demonstrate empathy maintaining that all salvaging distance to your patient. For a while, it's like your crutch, your cape, the thing that allows you to hide, and you use it in almost every situation including outside of work. And you're very successful at it… And the more you grew up and the more you believe you got better at this game and you can fool people into thinking they know you and that you always care, that you're always engaged the same way. But then something happened when you meet that person, that special person… That person that comes crashing into your life without warning…. You can have a few of them of course but you just need the one… The one who can easily break down your walls and defenses, and make you believe all this crap about love you read about as a child. Well, that person is a criminal, for sure. He/She is a thief, a monster, a Typhoon, a storm, a cruel beast, as He/She ravages and destroys everything in your heart with a cheap promise of love and acceptance. In other words he ruins you for the rest of us. If… When you yield… When that happened, there is no turning back, it is a contagion, your naked flesh remains always in that same state of constant rawness. And it's this wound that never closes up... And you can no longer build all these walls back… You no longer have any idea how… And you no longer know peace… You always feel a danger coming… What if you lose yourself again? You never feel safe anyway… as it becomes all the more clear that your aging soul can no longer function without this, the intimacy of love.

There is something strange about waking up someplace you're not supposed to. Before your brain was even completely flooded with awareness, you were in disbelief at your own stupidity. How come you let this happen to you? How come you lacked the control? How come? Cristina opened her eye lazily, feeling very much like the King's fool. The draped curtains filtered the sun heavily and the room was plunged in semi-darkness. She got out of bed slowly as she felt sore in all places that were supposed to feel good usually. She'd official been fucked into oblivion. She started to walk like a granny to a table closer to the window balcony where a continental breakfast was seemingly waiting for her. Croissants, baguette, coffee , milk and jam. It looked untouched and therefore delicious. She filled a cup of coffee. An elegantly drawn white card was placed in between a bouquet of white tulips. She sipped on the coffee slowly as she picked up the card. It was just blank. There was nothing written on it. Nothing at all. Cristina dropped the porcelain cup on the table clumsily and looked at the clock. It was half past ten. She wanted to die. She wanted to kill something.

Cristina picked up her clothes quickly and dressed up in a hurry. She was out that door before the remaining of her coffee grew cold. When she pulled her car in the institute parking lot, there was already a large truck parked in front of the stairs. She picked up her hair and tied it in a messy ponytail all the while running up the stairs two by two.

A dozen movers were in great maneuver to empty the truck. She paused on top for a closer look. She watched as they carried file boxes, computer screens, chairs, various medical devices inside the institute . Cristina hastened her pace, her heart beating, already knowing that a disaster was in the making, and knowing she caused herself all this pain again. She arrived in her office breathless.

She made a mistake. She'd been weak. She picked up a phone but couldn't wait as it rang in thin air. What was she doing? She needed her. Why wouldn't she pick up her phone? Then she was reminded of the time difference as she looked up at the two clocks on her wall aligned on Seattle and Zurich's time. She hung up and run in her private bathroom.

She was standing half-naked wrapped in a towel, hair dripping on the floor, looming over her computer when Shane knocked on the door. He didn't wait for her and just came in. As a result, he almost knocked his forehead on the door in his sudden hurry to leave.

"Close the door behind you, idiot."

"I thought I saw you come out of Elevator West. I was not completely sure. You never take this one. But I so wanted to thank you for this opportunity you gave me..."

Oh! It was true she hated Elevator West since it always smells of eggs, vinegar and deodorant there. Don't ask! She had no idea why? She had been in such a hurry earlier and it was the safest and quickest route to her office. So for once, she did suck it up.

"What?" Cristina frowned in confusion.

"You know… You talked to Dr Allenbach for me. That's so nice, Cristina. I honestly never thought you would…"

She picked up a phone again.

"I didn't... And... What?!"

Oh Goddamn Meredith Grey! You better answer that phone!

No answer. She looked at Shane angrily.

"That's his moving truck downstairs, right?" She groaned.

That brainy asshole tricked her!

"Yes, you… He said it was your suggestion and he had your consent."

She glared in his direction. How could he be so dumb!

"I knew it ! He didn't exactly had your consent,right?. But Dr Dupont was over the moon over this. I heard they closed the deal this morning. He was so glad Dr Allenbach could move in so fast. He asked for you! He wanted to invite you for lunch."

"What?"

"Don't worry I covered for you."

"But what? That little… Sneaky treacherous bastard! We were still negotiating!"

"Dr Yang?!"

"He tricked me into getting three orgasms. And now I'm late… And now he is already everywhere in my place of work ! And that was not fair! I was not prepared to fight…yet!"

"Dr Yang?"

She tilted her head frantically.

"Oh! If someone asked you… where I was…"

Haven't she heard him earlier? Shane frowned.

"Like I told you… Everything was taken care of between me and the pack. Though, Erwan is all in his feelings right now. He believed you broke his heart on purpose. He doesn't know he never stood a chance, poor guy! If you could have seen his face, it was priceless! I could kiss the ground you walk on, right now!" Shane snickered.

"That's it! You're brilliant Shane!" Cristina replied. "You're brilliant and I'm being an idiot! I'm pathetic ! Oh my God, it's starting! I've reached my full potential and I'm already regressing. My best years are behind me! I'm done."

Only Cristina Yang could say something so ridiculously dramatic and still looked like a rightfully righteous Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan.

"Cristina?"

"I just…He did this… I could not think… He is so gorgeous and smart… Even in the way he makes love…" She said wistfully.

"Dr Yang?"

"Why is she not answering a phone? She is a mother of three kids. Why is she not answering her damn phone? What is taking her so long that it takes days to be accomplished?"

"So, Dr Grey met someone?"

"Of course not idiot! She is mourning her husband! She is probably sipping on that tequila bottle. " Cristina said dryly. She paused, her thoughts briefly clouded by worry. That couldn't be it! That was silly, tiddling the bottle was definitely not Mer's type. Cristina sighed in frustration as something else dawned on her at the worst possible time.

"That means I can't call Derek's phone to get through to her because well… he is dead! Really dead! And I'm in deep trouble here! You're not helping! She is not helping ! He is certainly not helping! He is dead!"

Oh no! She felt the tears coming! Oh God! Anyone! Help! She grabbed the back of her chair hard. Shane's eyes opened wide as he anticipated the worst. He searched for a box of handkerchiefs.

"Dr Yang?! Calm down!"

Cristina struggled to breath.

"I'm calm. I'm alright. I can do this… There's no need to panic. I can..."

"You did the walk of shame this morning, didn't you?"

She blanched even more before grimacing in disgust.

"I fell asleep and he left a blank note. I was late! He didn't ever bother waking me up… He didn't even bother writing a note with complete sentences… or with words! It's like he already won. Since…I'm here listening to my vagina's whining! I fell asleep. I just fell asleep and what's wrong with me? Only two men had ever managed this great deed… I married one and almost married the other…. I just don't fall asleep! Oh! No offense Shane! "

Shane shrugged as he started picking up her scattered clothes on the floor. Cristina opened her locker. She changed into her scrubs quickly.

"None taken."

"I'm doomed. Meredith, she won't pick up her phone. That's because she knows I'm a mess. She hates my weaknesses!"

"She's probably just sleeping, Dr Yang."

Cristina let herself fall in her chair.

"I did the walk of Shame, Shane."

This was an emergency. Shane decided. So, he searched in the golden box of Yang's godly "pep talk" notes that was sitting on her desk. He had to find a good quote. Oh ! This was a nice one!

" This one… How about we get dressed, Dr Yang, we grabbed some coffee, we go cut something, and we lower our level of girlish hormones in one go?" He read aloud.

She looked up at him, curiously.

"You think? Coffee would be nice. A nice surgery would be even better. "

"Guess what? We may have another aortic repair for you in Room 854? I was on my way to a consult when I spotted you. I'm feeling this!"

"Oh Shane, I don't deserve it. " She said coyly.

"Yes, you do, Dr Yang. You do."

After all, she did secure her job for him knowingly or not with one of the greatest minds of all time. Shane nodded with a grin. He knew it was wrong to be happy when his mentor's misfortune was so tied to his own happiness but well life was good! He was gonna work with Dr Joseph Simon Allenbach, the one and only ! And he could twerk on a table right now from pure joy! Life was just perfect! Though, his smile faded into something more circumstantial. Shane knew better to tell her about his happiness right now. Not when her orgasms were so far and few behind.

" I know I was just trying to be humble."

She frowned in deep concentration.

"I need to up my game here… because Alexander The Great won't leave me a chance. He is good. He is really good. But I'm better… It's probably a good thing you're going to work for him. I bet he thinks you will spy on me for him. Tough luck, dumbass!"

"Why? What?"

"Because you're already my minion… You're mine."

She snickered.

"Huh?"

"I just want to know how close he is to a breakthrough. You will keep an eye on him. Yes, he is feisty. I will give him that. But I will control him at a distance. While he thinks you're spying for him, we're gonna double-cross him. When he thinks I'm being weak, I will show people who's in charge!"

It was scary the thing she did with her eyes right now. Shane took a step back and raised his hands timidly.

"We will? I thought we wanted him to succeed so his mechanical hearts could save millions of people."

Cristina shrugged with a snarky laugh.

"Right…Of course… Of course you're an idiot! He can succeed… after I win a Nobel so I can keep my position on top of the food chain around here and he gets what he deserved for doing this to me and for ever doubting I was better than him. Oh! I feel way better. Now let's go cut something!"

Shane was trying so hard to make sense of all this. He finally nodded with a shrug. It was probably better not to think too much of this.

After a quick shower, Vika was back in her urban clothes and feeling a tiny bit more rejuvenated. Hair still wet from her shower, she went out in the chill. After taking the time to straighten her leather jacket and her hoodie, she looked at her watch. It was closer to four in the morning. She was positively hungry. A few hysterical shrieks in the distance caught her attention. Mya was having a little fit over her brief arrest. Leaning against his Lamborghini Aventador, Kyle Yeahquo was listening to her numerous complaints without a word. Vika tilted her head. Well, he looked entirely bored. And she suspected it was more like he was pretending to listen with that boyish look of his.

"You ignored me all day and they were talking about expelling me from the program. I couldn't let that happen. I had to speak up. But you brought this on yourself. I didn't want to do it! I told you! It was so… That was too risky. "

"Okay." He acknowledged.

Vika brought a cigarette to her lips and pulled out her lighter from the pocket of her jacket. Only thing was missing from this scene was some popcorn for her. But this would do.

"Can you imagine how scared I was? I just… I was so scared. What if they caught me with the transplant? What if they had pressed charges?"

Mya got closer to him, holding his shoulders in her tight possessive grip. Vika noticed he kept his hands stuck in his pockets, all Casablanca-like.

"If I forgive you, will you forgive me?"

"Do I have a choice?" He simply said as she caressed softly his ears.

"I just… I… just wished today never happened."

Stupid silly girl! Vika walked toward them nonchalantly. Let's just bring some action to this sequence! She thought.

"So… Let me get this straight, little skank said she is sorry for giving you up. You, you're too tired to argue with her silly logic so you agree to drop this. But I wonder if you do make it hard for her to get absolution, what is she really prepared to do to make up for the world of crap she put you through today?"

Kyle tilted his head in her directions and smiled. She did have a point. Mya took a step back.

"You're going to let her talk to me like that even outside of the hospital?"

Kyle looked at Mya again his eyes neutral. He sighed.

"You're an asshole." Mya said as she turned to leave. They both watched her drive away in her Pontiac.

"You could have said something nice to Slutty Pie here. "

He looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"We could have shared. That was your idea, right?" Vika continued.

That made him smile.

"We can still go. You know what they say. Only Two can tango."

" Nah, she is a skank but I was all about that ass. Did you see her poor jeans? They were asking for help. Mine."

He could not help but laugh.

"Do you want me to drop you somewhere? "

She shook her head, pointing at her bike, a Kawazaki Ninja Midnight blue. She let out a cloud of smoke in the dark.

"Good night then, Vika."

He slid behind his wheels and started the engine.

"You were great today." He told her.

"I know. " She said smugly. "You were not too bad yourself."

"I know."

Kyle waved her goodbye and drove away.

"I don't know what I'm doing."

Meredith let out a deep breath. She was honest. She was. She had no idea what they were doing right now. Was he really going to ask her out? Would she go ou( with him? Could she? She had no idea what all this meant. She looked in his eyes.

"I don't know either, Meredith. What are you doing? " He whispered.

Then, she followed his hand on the mattress as he shifted position… His forearms. It looked quite strong like big anchors. Of course, he carried her easily this morning in these arms of his... And he grabbed her and held her when she cried. Meredith took another sharp intake of breath. She looked up into his eyes. They were a mottled green, something reminiscent of a dangerous deep lake in Germany she went swimming once with Sadie. He was staring at her in all simplicity however. She grabbed at her own hair, then at her own neck. This was… Meredith let out a soft chuckle. That was definitely awkward but well for what it was worth she was currently enjoying the stream of very inappropriate thoughts in her head. It seemed to her that he was too. Then Alex appeared behind the glass door and the peace and quiet was gone in a minute. He pushed the door open violently and she unconsciously slid farther to the edge of the bed.

"Alex!"

Alex lunged at her and grabbed the bed frame for support.

"You crazy bitch! You did it again!"

Warren immediately stood up, his hands back in his pockets. Alex seemed to notice him for the first time and greeted him curtly. He hadn't meant to do a scene.

"Alex! Dr Karev…This is Dr Fresker…" Meredith started.

"We've met earlier today, Meredith." Warren said one hand on her shoulder gently stopping her.

She nodded.

"Oh right, it's all good then!"

Alex nodded, his brows furrowed.

"I think I will leave you two alone."

"Thanks…" Alex groaned.

He hesitated a bit. Meredith nodded telling him it was okay. She waved him a distant goodbye. Alex watched in confusion as the other man left.

"So what is this?"

"Why is everybody is asking me that? Can't I have a conversation with a man without dating him or helping him cheat on his hypothetical wife?"

Alex just sat down and shook his head in disbelief. She gotta be kidding him !

"Well…If it's true I do not have the best track record with that. I lost the love of my life so cut me some slacks." She said half amused.

"Is that why you did this?"

"I did what?"

"Meredith? It'me. Alex. You're back at it again trying to find innovative ways to kill yourself and die on me! You want to die on me!"

"Alex…"

"I won't take this…As if I would believe all the pseudo bullshit about saving people…That's just self-inflicted pain. Should I call Cristina?"

Meredith crossed her arms on her chest.

"Alex..."

He gave her a pointed angry look.

"Should I?"

"Not yet… I'm sorry, Alex. You have to understand… "

" I can't be losing you too, Mer. While Cristina is your person… and I am your person. Who would be ours?"

She could not say anything to that. She hadn't realized what it could do to her people.

"Meredith… Say something."

"I went to see the kids. Earlier tonight… As she saw my bandages, Zola asked me what happened to me… She was worried. I could see myself in her eyes. When I was scared for my mother… I was incapable of telling her. I lied to her. I am my mother, Alex."

"You're not your mother. I'm not my father. We already agreed on these, years ago."

Meredith and Alex nodded.

"I'm not invincible, Alex." She tried to warn him thought.

"Then don't be… Be Meredith. Be Dark as you want. Twisted as you want. But don't go where I can't find you… where I can't be with you… where I can't reach you… That's all."

"That's the New deal?"

"Yes… That's the New Deal. I was worried out of my mind. It's just the two of us now. No Georges, no Izzie, no Cristina, no Derek, it's just us. We are on our own."

"Indeed, we are. You're right… Cristina wouldn't want me to tell you this. She said it's not good for your ego."

"Fuck off…"

He smiled. Meredith laughed.

"Thanks, Alex. And you? What's up with you?"

"What me?"

"You're hurting. More than usual. I can see it in your eyes. You're conflicted about something."

"I got into a fight with Jo. I always get into a fight with Jo. So I'm fine... I'm used to it."

"She loves you, Alex."

"I know!"

"But she's a baby. She is not a grown-up. We're barely grown… ourselves. So, you have to be patient with her because she doesn't get it, not like you and I get it. You have to understand that too."

"I know but I thought she would with her stupid crappy childhood and all… I thought she'd understand how reluctant I was about this nightmare of a house. I'm just fed up with all this crap, Mer. I worked my ass off to get out of there!"

"I know that."

"It was not easy."

"I know."

"It was hell."

"I know. How is Amber?"

"Third year college student. She wants to be a teacher. She is in Spain for the semester. We're talking to each other through checks and bank wirings. I can't give her much more than that."

"You're sending her through college, are you not?"

"Does that make me less of an asshole for abandoning her?"

"Alex, you're doing the best you can. Not many people can say the same. Did you ever tell her?"

He shook his head. Did he tell her some truth about himself? Yes. He told her a lot of stuff. Did he tell her the whole truth? Not exactly.

"You need to tell her."

Alex sighed heavily from sadness and a bit of regrets to be honest.

"I told Maggie. I don't even know why. You were gone! I got pissed drunk! I talked to her! She … She was like a proxy or something… Now she thinks she knows me."

"Is that such a bad thing, Alex? She is quite intuitive this one. She is my sister I can't deny. Right now, she is home with my children and I cannot thank her enough. I think it's good that someone aside from me and Cristina get to know the real you. We need people, Alex."

"Who are you?"

"I know… I know… It pained me to say but it's something Derek would have said. Before, I couldn't really understand this… He was such a jerk about extending family. But he was always right on that particular topic. He always got it right."

"Mer…"

"I miss him Alex. It's like I'm falling in a big hole and I can't see the ground beneath. I keep on falling… Occasionally, I froze in the air, suspended... But most of the time, I'm falling and... He is not here to catch me. There's no stopping this… I'm so angry all the time because this is not really his doing… This is mine. I jumped. I believed in all this. I got comfortable. I was not prepared. I should have known better. I should have been prepared. Now I'm falling!"

"Mer… I will catch you, okay!" Alex said, stroking her back in circle. "You will get through this. You're not alone. We're not alone!"

She nodded.

"We need people and I know you love Jo, Alex. You wanted to marry her. You probably still want to marry her. I get why you don't want to show her the worst part of you. But give her some credit; I'm not sure she would run. I did not run. Cristina, Lexie… Maggie… Not one of my twisted sisters ran on you. Why would she? Tomorrow is another day."

"Another crappy day…"

"Crappy days are our favorite, Alex. We can hold onto each other. Watch the rain fall. Grow supremely old together. Actually I had planned to do that with Cristina, as we both watch you screw a few hos… but well you got better. You got wiser. You found someone. So, let's not screw this up!"

"You're depressing even when you try not to be. "

Meredith laughed.

" Thanks, Sunshine. You, you're in love with Jo. That's not twisted. That's pure. You're pure like Bambi. My sister is rubbing on you. I like that."

"Well, your sister is alright and she's quite twisted too. She is just really good at hiding it."

"Yes, I think there is more to her too. " Meredith agreed as she leaned on the pillow and Alex followed her on his side of bed, his back to the bed frame.

"I did want to marry Jo, Mer. But I don't know anything anymore. Just like you, I don't have the best track record with that."

"Don't think about Izzie… Don't let her in your head anymore. There's water under that bridge. You're just better off without her. We all are…"

"Am I? Am I better off without her?"

"Am I better off without him? Obviously no… But we have to…and you will. For what it's worth, I do think you're doing fine without her. "

"Pftt…We're just so…damaged, Mer. "

Meredith nodded and leaned on his shoulder. She could not argue with him on that. They were gonna be fine. They had too.

He drove safely. He knew he had to as half blinded by glare of headlights, exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him at each crossroads. He soon left the city streets for the highways and then the open country road where the traffic was almost nonexistent. So, he allowed the Lamborghini to go just a bit faster. He vaguely noticed a biker following close behind but he didn't pay too much attention to it. He stepped on the accelerator again. He skid on the bridge slightly so he slowed down quite a bit climbing a slight hill. The Lamborghini roared in protest of his trivial use of the manual transmission. He looked in his rearview again and again he noted the biker. As he entered his neighborhood, he stopped in front of the red lights abruptly. The biker aligned with him, putting his foot down. They both waited obediently the moment the lights will go green. He was searching his smartphone when it did. So he was surprised when the biker remained next to him, his feet taping the floor. He opened the glove box so that the gun he hid there could be in plain view and easily accessible. It was not that he was the trigger happy type. But he just liked to be safe sometimes. It took him seven more minutes to reach his street and he opened his gate at a reasonable distance. Seeing the bike make the curb along the paved alleyways behind him to stop in front of the porch, he relaxed slightly as he recognized the blue Kawasaki. He cut the engine and got down. Vika Gucic took off her helmet, her hair a wet mess flowing freely on her neck.

He leaned on the sports car again. He had to admit he was surprised to see her there. Vika took a moment to take in her surroundings. The house stood in semi-darkness with only a few background lights to frame its edges. It was large and slightly intimidating. On one side, it had a colonial feel with brownstones and balconies worth of the set of "Gone with the wind", and on the other side, there was definitely a Cheasapeake bay farm architecture influence there. It also looked slightly haunted. The paintwork on the trim was a flawless white just like the columns. The garden seemed well-kept. She turned to catch him staring at her.

She could read easily the question in his eyes.

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't kill anybody on your way home." She lied.

It was not really true. She had been simply curious to discover that part of him. She just couldn't cure her curiosity easily. But she also just wasn't ready to admit this much aloud. Was it the river she heard?

"Thanks. But I thought you didn't care…"

He reminded her as he abandoned his car in the middle of the driveway. She was still staring at the house with fascination. He noted that if she did look at it carefully, she was neither impressed, nor disappointed. She stood there with her eyes neutral and she spoke with the same irony tainting her every words. Could it be she came from her house of Money?

"I don't. But they might pin this on me or Warren, I can't let that happen either. I will go now."

"You called him Warren. Again."

"I did, Kyle."

He nodded. She liked to play games he knew but he was not really in the mood to indulge her.

"Okay, drive safely."

She nodded but instead she took her keys off the ignition and got down the bike. Ivy grew through the crevices of the brownstone. The large windows looked haunted with their white curtains. She grinned. It looked homey and all. She didn't peg him for the kind.

"So this is your house?"

"Yes, it's my house."

"It's big and impressive. You have a pool?"

" Yes."

"How many cars can you park in there?"

"Six."

"Is it full?"

"Yes."

"It's waterfront, I suppose."

" Yes."

"South River?"

Well, as a matter of fact, yes. Kyle nodded and opened the door for her.

"I'm not coming home with you." She said as she pushed past him.

He followed her inside and turned on the lights.

She was staring at the grand stairs with the same blasé gaze. Well, it was one of the main features of the house and it never failed to impress his guests, a grand majestic double stairways black and white on dark wood floor. It went complete with a dining room large enough to serve as a ballroom. But the fewer the furniture he had , the better he seemed to like it. Every piece of furniture he had seemed high-end and designed. Kyle stood next to Vika and noticed for the first time their difference in size. She was quite short for someone with that much spunk and vitality.

"How big ?" She asked.

"22 000 square feet or so."

"Rooms?"

"Seven I think. More probably."

"A wife?"

"No."

" An ex-wife?"

He shook his head as he dropped his leather jacket on the handrail.

"A maid?"

"Three. Very nice ladies. They come three times a week."

" Kitchen is … ?"

He pointed on his right.

"This way."

She made it before him and he could see her excitement growing as soon as she saw the very sophisticated fridge. It stood in its own corner facing the industrial kitchen stove in stainless steel. Vika soon abandoned jacket and mitts on one of the counter to be more at ease. She opened the fridge in a haste and was delighted at seeing it full and stocked to the brim

"Did you bring Mya here?" She asked.

She grabbed a bowl of potato salad, some roast beef slices, and half of a chicken . She mixed everything in one bowl and picked up a clean fork in the dishwasher.

"No… You're gonna eat that cold? You're gonna eat all that?"

Of course, he did not want to food-shamed her if that was her thing but…Well, she was so small.

"Why?"

"Why? What?"

"Why didn't you bring Mya here?"

"We went to her place. It was nicely furnished. You have some more questions."

"You don't bring girls here?"

She was leaving crumbs and stains on the counter. He grabbed a sponge and cleaned after her as she climbed on the counter to sit down.

"As a general rule… No."

"You invited me?"

"Not here… Not really." He denied.

"You're sure? You weren't going to bring me here?" She whispered.

He said nothing.

"Why?"

"There are exceptions to rules. "

"That's the nicest things you said to me tonight, Kyle."

He just sat on a stool and watched her not without fascination. She swallowed the bowl of potato salad in seven ungraceful spoonful (he knew because he counted) and tore the roast beef and the chickens apart like a professional competitive eater.

" That was delicious… But where are the sushi?"

"Do I look japanese to you?" He said half amused.

"Well…" She swallowed slowly and shrugged. " Just teasing. Are you not native? Indian American? Whatever you people call yourself these days?"

He was genuinely surprised as not a lot of people knew of his native American heritage. Most people just assumed he was Asian. He didn't really care either way.

" How do you know ?"

"I didn't know for sure. But you just look like a Redskins hater."

"That's positively offensive."

"But I'm right anyway…"

"You're wrong. I'm not really into football."

"More a basketball and baseball fan I know."

"How do you know that?"

"Your size? You're really tall... Just kidding… You were a nerd in high school, I presume in deep need of social interactions with girls, so you played Varsity to get their attention. But Basket-ball and baseball are a lot about probabilities and geometry. It's all about technique. You don't really need muscle to do that unlike football. So what a guy with a high IQ to do? You did work hard for it. Well, no pain no gain. It also did a lot for your ego. Kinda typical."

"I don't know anything about you."

"I like potato salad… and meat."

"That's good to know."

"And sushi… Anything with fresh fish really. "

"Will stack my fridge with it."

"I don't plan on staying."

"Of course."

"Something you actually like about your house?"

"You know you're something else? Where did he find you? Warren?"

"My question first…"

"The bedroom… Favorite furniture? The bed where I will be going soon."

She rose an eyebrow in doubt.

" The safe room."

"There's a safe room?"

Now she was genuinely surprised.

"Yes, like in the movies. Knock yourself out. "

He activated the door in the hallway of the first floor, and a secret door slid. She took a quick look inside.

"Video games. Comics… Giant TV… another fridge… and a hot dog machine? Did you plan to live there at one point."

"Maybe…"

"At least it seemed like you… It smell and feel like you… You like to sleep there sometimes."

He looked at her again even more perplex.

"You don't know me."

"I don't."

"I'm going to bed. I'm sure you can show yourself out."

"Yup."

He disappeared behind the doors of the Master Bedroom. He took off his shirt, dropped it on a chair next to the modern chimney. He was about to enter the bathroom when the doors opened behind him with Vika just standing there. She was not surprised it had a truly masculine feel to it with various shades of brown leather and black. There was some kind of native art tapestry on the wall.

Unfold – The XX

She slowly pulled her black shirt up, revealing a flat stomach. He let go of the bathroom door as she stood there half naked. He instantly felt the need to touch her but remained at a distance, unsure he could trust her. She sat down on the side of the bed and struggled to take her boots off. When at last they fell on the black plush carpet with a wet splat, she started peeling the jeans off her so slowly he was about to offer his help. She had a tiny waist with boyish hips. He took a step closer to watch as she pulled her pair of panties down. His lips spread into half a smile. There was a skull on them. He kneeled in front of her, half on his hinges. A black ink tattoo of a bleeding scalpel adorned her thigh and she turned to stretch, revealing the snake circling her back dangerously crawling among bushes of roses and apples. He rose behind her slowly. Brushing her hair aside, he studied her neck carefully. But the temptation was too strong and he kissed her neck ever so slowly. She lied down.

"Are you a stray cat?"

" You found me out. Are you going to…"

"No…"

He said in a whisper while gently grabbing her thighs making her slide to the edges.

"I thought you were exhausted."

"I am."

"And hungry?"

"I am. Tell me something true about you, Vika."

"I told you…"

He straightened up.

"You made me believe you."

He leaned and she embraced his strong shoulder in her arms. She felt his breath on her bellybutton and she almost laughed at the soft caress. His hands rubbed gently her belly and circled her waist carefully. He lifted her to move her toward the center of the bed. Suddenly, he held her sides and turned her around, her back to him. She kissed his hand as it travelled across her neck and chest. His lips brushed the back of her neck again and she shivered. Holding his hand in hers, Vika closed her eyes with a contented sigh. He kissed her hair softly. She smelled of cigarettes and citrus. He remembered pulling the covers on them before he drifted to sleep himself.

Oh, out of sight, out of mind

It doesn't mean you're not mine

The feeling goes on and on and on