February 06, 1938

The last week had been the most difficult Siegfried had faced in the past six months, at least. Not even the anxiety of the first date had caused him so much tension or created so many doubts. It seemed clear and obvious to him what the next step should be. Their desire had been more than evident. They were compatible in every way. They knew each other like no one and, above all, they had deep feelings for each other, even if not openly stated.

And to think that before, the mere thought of venturing out on a date with a woman and create expectations seemed like a real nightmare, the seventh hell on earth. Now he did not feel contrary in any way to propose to her, on the contrary, he wanted to. Proposing would combine the useful and the pleasant, solve all problems and they would finally have the freedom they so desire.

Wrong reasons to propose, isn't it? An irritating voice, much like Tristan's, liked to observe whenever he was thinking about it and how he should propose.

Proposing to her would be easier than the alternative. She hadn't brought it up and he didn't know how to approach it. Letting things happen naturally didn't seem to work either. Last week there was no shortage of opportunities if it was their intention to go that route, but they found themselves playing scrabble night after night.

He watched her closely, trying to capture something strange, something that showed discontent or dissatisfaction. But Audrey laughed at his stories, complained when he played under his own rules (read: cheated) and did not seem at all unhappy or dissatisfied. If everything seemed normal when they were together, things didn't look so good when they were not and he caught her lost eye as she immersed herself in deep reflections more than once while doing her tasks throughout the day.

That Sunday morning they went to mass. They sat in the usual row, beside the stone pillar, isolated from the rest of the people and with enough privacy to allow themselves to hold hands before the service began.

For what seemed like endless hours he pondered James and Tristan's observations throughout the week. The brother's comments had irritated him, but James seemed to have a point. Where and when Herriot had learned so much about this subject he had no idea, but it was a valid enough observation to encourage him to think. And he did.

Although inclined to propose, the possibility that Audrey might be interested in making their relationship carnal didn't seem so absurd, after all. She had not hesitated once on Christmas Eve and in the exam room, although not saying a single word, she seemed eager for more. Even there, during mass, he continues to analyze that moment. The way she pulled him to her, the way she looked at him and how everything looked so right. Not that this was the right kind of thinking to have during a service. But he just couldn't help it. He had had a very simple idea of how to maybe bring up the subject and maybe solve it in the end.

Father Tom seemed more wordy than ever. That man must love the sound of his own voice, that could only be it. Siegfried shifted his position on the bench for the tenth time, and when he consulted his watch a second time, he saw Audrey look at him disapprovingly.

"Today you look especially agitated." She commented as they went down the path to the cemetery to leave the church grounds.

"I was just checking the time."

"Looking forward to the end of the mass, you mean. Or do you have an appointment?" If people were sincere, he had no doubt that he would discover that he was not the only one eager for freedom.

"Not thir morning and we both already agreed that Father Tom is a long-winded man and today he seemed very excited to make the sermon last as long as possible."

Audrey just shook her head in disapproval. The silence that settled between them was comfortable. They walked arm in arm on the street and it seemed like the perfect time for him to try to bring it up.

"I've been thinking..." He started, unable to contain himself any longer. "Valentine's Day is coming and I think it's about time we had our second date."

"I thought that was what we were doing in the living room every night." A sardonic smile curved her lips and Siegfried frowned.

"Not. Yes! I mean..." Siegfried had been thinking and rethinking how to bring it up. He had rehearsed in his mind many times, although it didn't seem. "Yes, but we never had the opportunity to leave the house and do something different. I thought maybe we could go to the dance. Tristan doesn't talk about anything else, but then I remembered all the people watching us and I wish we could have a more peaceful night. I think we deserve to go out to dinner and dance in the city without anyone noticing what we are or are not doing. " That part he managed to overcome. What a relief. Audrey, on the other hand, seemed to be considering the proposal. The sky was clear as a promise of spring to come, so he continued. "And before you ask about a possible change in weather, I am widely aware that it can happen at any time, so I thought of something else."

"In what, exactly? Because the prospect of being isolated on a frozen road is not very attractive."

"We can only come back in the morning to avoid this possibility." He wanted to look relaxed, but the words sounded anxious and he avoided looking at her, looking at the street as if checking the cars before crossing the street, despite the quiet silence. "That is, if you want." Siegfried was quick to add.

There was an implicit proposal to spend the night, not to return, perhaps to change or not the nature of their relationship. Change was the wrong word, confirm. Yes, confirm the relationship nature. Leaving the platonic (which still had little platonic left) to become completely physical and real.

Thinking about the uncertain possibility of what they might do was a little terrifying to him, although he was sure that the timing in practice would be exquisite.

Audrey's silence went on and he suddenly felt sick. He feared that he had overcome all the barriers of the proper and respectful. The last thing he wanted to do was offend her. He wanted her and if she wanted him he would be hers, regardless of the status of their relationship. That was all he wanted to make clear to her.

Risking a look in her direction, he saw her raised eyebrows. Surprise could be a good thing, after all. She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue and her hand squeezed his biceps lightly. Audrey turned her face towards him and he saw her give a small shy smile.

"It doesn't seem like a bad idea."

"No?" He repeats, showing his relief.

"No."

February 11, 1938

That night Audrey paid no attention to the conversation at dinner and ate little. She was counting the minutes for the boys to go out to the dance and the closer the moment came, the longer it seemed to take.

Dorothy's words and Siegfried's invitation had been decisive. She was ready for the next step, she was ready before, but now she was sure that she would not see her with more eyes for openly proposing that they surrender to their passion.

James and Tristan dined in a hurry, devouring the food while talking excitedly about the ball. Helen and Maggie would accompany them, of course, and they were both very excited about the prospect of spending Valentine's Day with someone, although none of the relationships had become official. James and Helen were still just good friends.

The words came through her ears, but she did not register them. Her attention was focused on Siegfried, who ate making mocking comments and laughed at the two boys. That night he would be on call if an emergency arose. She prayed that she wouldn't be none.

When the boys went upstairs to get ready, Audrey washed the dinner dishes, taking more time than necessary and paying attention to the sounds of the house. Girls usually took a long time to get ready, but that night it took Tristan and James a long time to go down the stairs. She met them in the hall and escorted them to the door.

"Have fun!" She said excitedly.

"And be careful with the car!" Siegfried screamed over the shoulder from the room.

Audrey locked the door after making sure they were both taking their keys and blew out a breath that she hadn't remembered to hold. Siegfried was in the living room fiddling with the gramophone records. One had been separated from the pile, but he looked doubtful, searching for another. When he noticed her, he left the search aside and set the record to play. Soft music filled the room and was accompanied by a significant decrease in lighting.

"Here." He held out a glass of cherry to her with an inviting smile. "I was thinking that we could have our own ball."

Audrey took a sip and put the drink aside when he approached.

"Valentine's Day got into you." She teased by taking a step towards him. Their bodies came closer and they wrapped their arms around each other.

"Well, it is a time for lovers, I thought it would be appropriate to take advantage of it." Siegfried said in her ear. Her body reacted immediately and a bright smile curved her lips. If he wanted to enjoy that time and she wanted to do the same, there was no reason not to.

Still, she let herself go and they slowly danced the first and second songs immersed in that comfortable and familiar feeling that was being embraced by one another. When the third song started Audrey moved her hands on his back, sliding them to his sides.

"Siegfried?" She asked. It was now or never. Her heart had become a pulsating engine. It could easily replace the Rover's if necessary.

"Hmm?" He grunted, choosing that moment to start kissing her neck.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" The words sounded low, but they had their effect. They stopped dancing.

Siegfried moved far enough away from her to be able to look at her. Opening and closing his mouth, he searched for words while studying her with the utmost attention. It was not something they had no intention of possibly doing from there three nights, but the certainty that they would do it and would do it at that moment left him unsettled.

She knew that the question might arouse some anxiety in him, but he didn't just look anxious, for a brief moment he looked terrified. Touching his face with her fingertips, she smiled. A dose of shyness mixed with malice and she felt her face hot, as if she were a young girl.

The invitation, so open and expressive, took him by surprise, but her touch was all he needed to relax. Then he nodded, still rather rigid, before letting out his breath.

We are finally there!:D