This prompt is a response to GuajolotA who commented on chapter 40: "You HAVE to write a continuation of this... please!"
The first time, Gendry's neighbor called saying that Allysa had a nightmare, and couldn't fall asleep without Gendry.
The second time, it had been Ned who had caught a cold, and Arya had to cancel dinner.
The third time, they hoped it was going better, after all they got to eat the appetizers before the babysitter called, and Gendry had to run home because Allysa had lices.
Fourth time, Arya was looking over the desert menu, when she got the same exact call from her mother - after all her mom had dealed with too many lices infestations when they were kids, and it would be a nightmare if her mother ever caught them again - also Father complaining when Mom had to cut her hair had been awful.
It was on one of the their Wednesday's brunches, that Arya said what they were both thinking, while they tried to agreed on another date.
"Maybe we should quit the date idea."
"What?!"
"It's not working."
"Not working," Gendry repeated sadly, looking at her, and she understood what it seemed she was saying.
"No, not us. The dates, Gendry," she said, and Gendry let go of the breath he was holding. "We need to think of another solution. I really like our Wednesday brunches."
"Me too. But I don't want to quit, we just take some time to think, and come up with another idea."
"We will, Gendry. Now come on, tell me how's Allysa? You told me she had the science fair," Arya asked, changing the subject, but actually interested in what he had to say, so she heard him tell her how Allysa made it on the fair.
It was Saturday morning and Arya was giving Ned a bath when her cellphone rang, leaving her son playing on the water she left to get it.
"I HAVE AN IDEA!" Gendry exclaimed on the phone.
"Gendry, relax," she told him, lauging. "Just tell me."
"Why don't we make a play date for the kids," he suggested. "They can play together and we can talk. I know it's not the best or the most romantic idea, but..."
"...it will work," she interrupted him. "I love that idea. My house or your house?" She asked, and immediately heard a loud noise coming from the bathroom. Taking the phone from her ear, she made it to where her son was. "What are you doing, Ned?"
"The ball flew away," he said, pointing at the ball, obviously thrown to the other side of the room. She decided to talk to him later, so she picked it up and gave it to him.
"Here you go, Ned. And behave, I'll be down with you in a few minutes," she said, leaving the room, this time not further than the hallway. "Sorry, you have to repeat, Gendry. Ned got into trouble."
"Not too much, I hope."
"He was playing in the tub, and just decided to throw his toys to the floor. Now go on."
"I was thinking your house, if it's okay with you - it's much bigger than mine."
"It's okay, by me. But I can't cook," she said, a bit ashamed. She could do some things, enough to feed her and Ned, but not anything special.
"I can come over, and we can cook together," Gendry suggested.
"I like the idea. Are you free tonight?"
"Yes, but..."
"I need to go, Gendry. I can't leave Ned alone any longer. Text me the details. See you later," she said before turning off the cellphone, and joining her son in the bathroom.
It was 7 p.m. and Arya's house looked actually cleaned and tidy, she was dressed in skinny jeans and a blouse, while she had been able to put Ned in a clean shirt and shorts.
"So I've a friend coming over, he has a daughter a bit older than you - her name is Allysa, she goes to your school."
"I don't know her," Ned said. "Why do they have to come over?"
"Because Mommy is allowed to have friends too," she told her son. "Now promise you'll behave, Ned," she said showing him her little finger, that he took in a pinky promise while he nodded his head. "Thanks, kid," she said, kissing his red curls, before the doorbell rang. "Coming!"
Opening the door, she found Gendry, better dressed than she usually saw him like, but also a young girl hiding behind his legs, Arya could only see a bit of dark hair peeking through.
"Sorry, she's a bit shy," Gendry said, kissing her cheek, Allysa didn't let go of his legs, and she heard him whisper. "Don't you want to say hi, sweetie?" But the girl only hid her face again. "She'll come out eventually," he said. "Can you help me with the bags?" He asked, and she finally noticed the bags he brought with him. "I wasn't sure what you had or not."
"Thank you so much, Gendry. And I probably have nothing," she said picking up the bags, and leading him to the kitchen, after they put the things down, she called for her son, who came running. "So Ned, this is Gendry and his daughter Allysa," she said pointing to them, before the girl hid once again.
"Hi!" He said, reaching to shake Gendry's hand, which he immediately took.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ned. Your mother has told me a lot about you."
"My mother has told me nothing about you," he said.
"NED!" Arya yelled, embarassed, and then Gendry smiled at her, laughing a bit. "Do you want to help us with dinner, Ned?"
"We never made dinner, Mom," Ned said, embarassing Arya again.
"Stop embarassing me, Ned," she muttered.
"Why is that embarrassing?" Her son asked again, and Arya wanted to dig a hole for herself, so Gendry intervened.
"I have cookies," he told Ned who cheared. "Allysa, can you help me with the cookies?" He told the little girl, who nodded just a bit and reached for the box, opening it to Ned, and then Arya.
"Thank you," she said taking a bite. "This is so good. WOW! Allysa, this are amazing!"
"What do you say Allysa?"
"Thank you," she whispered.
"So what are we doing for dinner?"
"Pasta, it's very easy to make. I'm pretty sure after I teach you, you can do it alone," he promised her, but she wasn't that convinced.
"Okay, let's go," she said, rolling up her sleeves.
"Glad you're excited," he said, before they both get to work, Allysa was more useful than Arya after everything, while Ned only looked on and tried every piece of food. By the time dinner was ready, Arya and Ned had sauce in their shirts, and Gendry was teaching her how to get it out.
When they finally sat down, everyone was much more relaxed, Allysa was finally talking, giving advice about the first grade teacher, and Arya was listening to it when Gendry reached for her hand, and she smiled to him.
"It's going well, right?" He whispered to her.
"I do think so, I love the food by the way - it's great, Gendry. Maybe we could watch a movie after."
"I like that idea," he said rubbing her fingers, and trying to think of what movie would be the best.
"Dad, look! They have a giant TV," he heard Allysa exclaim, after noticing both children had left the table.
"It's seems the shyness is gone."
"It seems so," Gendry said laughing, he stood up and picked up his daughter. "You shouldn't be looking around."
"We asked if we could get excused, but you and Ned's Mom were talking, and then he said it was okay."
"Don't blame Ned, Allysa," he warned her.
"Hey! What if we take dessert on the couch?" Arya yelled, knowing that her son was probably the one to convince the girl to leave the table.
"YEAH!" Both the children exclaimed.
"You two go and pick a movie. While Allysa's father and I clear the table and get dessert."
"You can call me Ally," Allysa said before running away with Ned.
"You should be proud, she's very picky about who gets to call her Ally," Gendry told her, while they cleared the table. "Also she could have helped with the table."
"I know. But I think we deserve a few minutes alone," she said setting the plates, and finally kissing him like she has been wanting to do since he got here. He quickly picked her and kissed her just as strongly, getting a bit carried away, his hand was drifting under her shirt when they heard little feet running, and they pulled away, just before they got into the kitchen.
The rest of the night went marvelously, both children fell asleep mid-movie, and were put in Ned's room (Arya had an extra bed for when her nephews or nieces stayed over). And after Arya and Gendry got to enjoy a good bottle of wine, lively conversation and other more adult activities.
The morning was another issue, neither of them had thought about having the "birds and bees" talk this early.
