I'm so sorry this has taken me so long! I've been incredibly busy, and I was struggling for inspiration, but I'm back! Please enjoy this chapter. And if anyone is wondering what Seren looks like, please follow this gif link for her dinner dress! :) Please review!

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"...Then I went to Cambridge, it was a beautiful university."

"Really? I got my medical degree from Oxford." It had been three days since the park, and Seren had offered Rajesh her phone number before she had gone home. Two days later, and she was quite enjoying having company. They'd gone to get food, and she was quite content to talk, and roll up small mouthfuls of spaghetti.

"Aren't they nice universities? The buildings remind me of Harry Potter." Raj found himself internally swearing- women never seemed to like Harry Potter references. He'd put his foot in it before he even asked her on a proper date-

"I went to Alnwick to see the castle from the first films. I felt like I was in a Quidditch lesson."

It was a good thing he didn't have his mouth full of food, because he knew he would have choked on it. Or worse, spat it out. Seren seemed quite content, resting her chin against her hand, before speaking again.

"Have you read the books?"

"A… non embarrassing number of times," Raj coughed, reaching to take a sip of his drink.

That made the woman grin. Her books were terribly worn from the number of times she had read them: at least she wasn't the only one. Tapping her fingers against her cheek, using the slight pause in conversation to try to think of another topic. He seemed rather nervous, but she was happy to take charge of the conversation.

"..Do you like Star Wars?" Seren queried, spearing another piece of meatball.

Oh, Raj could quite happily spend more time with this woman.

"Mee krob and chicken satay?"

"Yes."

"With extra peanut sauce?"

"For God's sake, Sheldon, just eat."

Thai food night, and despite all the years that Leonard had managed to get Sheldon's order right, the taller of the two would always question it. The group were meeting for Thai food: Hallie and Michael were visiting their grandparents, so Howard and Bernadette had come over. Penny's pregnancy food aversions had passed, too, so she was quite happy to join them.

"Where's Raj tonight?" Howard queried, sitting down with his no-peanut takeout.

"I don't know, he said he'd be here," Leonard shrugged, returning from the refrigerator with several bottles of water. Handing one to Penny, before taking a seat in the armchair.

"Is it time we advertise for a new friend?"

"Sheldon!" That scold came from his wife: Amy elbowing him gently in the ribs. "He's just running a little late, we don't need to find a replacement."

"I think I'm going to take the rest of this home, I can't eat another mouthful." Seren had ordered a fudge cake for dessert, and halfway through, had decided to get it boxed up. Putting the boxes into her bag, raising a brow in surprise when Raj moved to help her with her coat.

"Oh, thankyou-"

"Of course, of course." Watching as she buttoned up her coat, tucking her leftover boxes into her bag. Her hair was braided up in a simple updo, two strands hanging down each side of her face. The ebony of her hair was a striking contrast to her smooth, porcelain skin: delicate form swathed in a navy and black dress. She really was beautiful. Had he already imagined what their children would be like?

Maybe. But he wasn't about to admit that. He had done that before, he didn't want to blow things. She was nice.

"I'll pay."

"Raj, I'd rather go halves-"

"No, no, my pleasure." He had handed his card over before she could say anything, accepting it back once it had paid the bill. Seren waited for her new companion to finish, before heading out into the street, zipping her bag up as she went. She had rather enjoyed the evening. He was good company, smart, and handsome: and he liked Star Wars! And Harry Potter! If he liked to cook as much as she did, then she'd be delighted.

"If you like Italian food, you should come over some time, I make a killer panna cotta," Seren commented once he had rejoined her, hands in his pockets as they walked to the car park. The response from Raj was one she had definitely not expected, but was delighted to see: his face split into a grin.

"I'd love to, I can never get mine to set- I always eat the failed attempts."

"Me too," Seren beamed, pausing by her BMW as she dug for her keys. "I had fun. Maybe give me a call?"

"I will! And not an embarrassingly short time later, I promise." Great, he was getting nervous again. But the ravenette just smirked, going to unlock her car door.

"I'll speak to you later?"

"Of course."

"Have a good night, Raj." Seren ducked into her car, closing the door after her. She waved as the black sedan pulled away, heading back to her apartment in the city. Seren had had a decent time, actually: he seemed nice. Maybe he could be more than a friend at some point: he was cute. A stark contrast from the rather gruff type she was used to dating, but she liked that. Pausing at a red light, and leaning over to put her food on the passenger seat. Continuing home once it had shifted to green: she was looking forward to some leftover cake before a long day at work the next day.

Eight thirty: wait, what time was Raj supposed to be meeting his friends? Seven thirty- ah, well. Glancing at the elevator as he made it into the building, before deciding to take the stairs instead. He had had a big dinner, and besides, it was strange having the elevator working again. It made a strange creaking noise, too: he wasn't too confident in it.

Taking the last two stairs in one, smoothing a hand over curly hair once he'd got to the top. He'd left his leftovers in the car: he was sure they'd ask where he'd been. There was nothing to say, though- was there? It had just been dinner.. But still, it was with a woman. She was pretty, smart- oh, he was totally going to mention it. If they asked. He didn't want to jinx things..

"Hellooo-"

""Hey, where've you been?" Howard questioned: they had finished food, and were watching the TV. Penny and the girls were lingering around the kitchen to avoid having to watch the tenth Doctor fighting aliens: the tallest blonde glancing over when Raj came in.

"We put your food in the oven, you want it?"

"No, I'm okay, thankyou," Raj took his usual seat on the rug, but accepted a bottle of water from Howard. Unscrewing it, and trying to look innocent, but, the late arrival had definitely gotten the attention of the girls. Penny especially: she wandered over, taking a seat in the armchair. Leonard had vacated it for two seconds to get himself a soda, but this was her seat. Slinging her legs over the arm of it, as her husband took a seat in one of the less comfy chairs.

"Since when do you not want Thai food?" Penny questioned, glancing suspiciously at their friend. Over an hour late, on a weeknight? He would have texted, or called Howard if he was staying late at work.

Raj squirmed a little under the gazes from his friends, taking a long sip of the water. It gave him a few minutes to come up with an answer- even if he knew they wouldn't believe it.

"Staying at work, my battery died."

"Don't you keep a charger in your office?" Howard asked, somewhat curious, too. He knew his best friend better than anyone: he seemed secretive, but subtly happy: was that a hint of fancy cologne, too? Oh, there was definitely a woman involved here.

"Okay, okay, I went for dinner," Raj conceded, shrugging his shoulders.

"With a woman?"

"Don't be silly, Leonard, he wouldn't wear that to a date," Penny gestured to the sweater vest and shirt their friend was wearing: raj pulled a face. He had gone straight from work, Seren insisting it was just a casual hangout, and he hadn't wanted her to think he thought otherwise. He totally did. But he wasn't going to blow this.

"Yes, maybe with a woman."

The reaction from his friends was instantaneous: wide eyes, a smirk from Penny, and an intrigued glance from Amy, Bernadette, Howard and Leonard. Sheldon kept his attention fixed on the Doctor Who episode, though: making an exaggerated point out of pressing the subtitle button on the remote. He was ignored, though: an old episode of a show half of them didn't like wasn't as interesting as their friend meeting a woman.

"What's her name?" Bernadette queried, rather curious too.

"Seren, she's a doctor."

"A you kind of doctor, or a doctor doctor?" Penny queried, leaning forwards in her chair a little. She was fascinated: Raj hadn't seen any women since his breakup with Anu, and to be honest, she was wondering when he'd find someone else. They all had been. Except Sheldon, of course.

"A doctor doctor. She's a neurologist."

"A what?"

"They take care of medical problems concerning the brain, and nervous system," Amy contributed, earning a subtle nod from Penny. She had sold products to enough doctors to get a grasp on that: even if she didn't see many neurologists. Those were hard to sway on drugs that might give you a bit of anal leakage, that was for sure.

"So when do we meet her?" Howard asked, attention still fixed on his friend. Raj shook his head, setting his water down on the table once more.

"No, no, this is very new. I don't even think it was a date."

"Did she ask to see you again?" Bernadette asked.

"Yes, she asked me if I'd like to try her cooking. She said she makes a killer panna cotta- it's like a creme brulee, I'm pretty excited."

"Aaaand there he is-"

"Can you all be quiet? I'm trying to watch David Tennant, he was the best Doctor," Sheldon interrupted Penny, earning an eye roll from her. They would get to meet Seren soon, hopefully. And maybe she would actually be nice, and good for their friend. She sounded nice, anyway: intelligent, and successful: she just hoped that her friend wouldn't blow this one.

The next day dawned bright, and a little too early for Seren's liking. Six in the morning was never her favourite time of day, especially considering she had stayed up until eleven eating cake, and watching Netflix. Had watching Mary Berry critique some British contestant's cookies been worth it? ...Yes, yes it had. It was Friday, and technically, Seren wasn't supposed to be back at work until Monday, but she was ready to go back by now. Five days off were enough for her.

Changing from her nightie into black work pants, and a ruffled coral blouse: it would do. She wanted to be smart, but not too dressy: not that it mattered. Her white coat would cover it anyway. Going through to her kitchen to make herself tea, yawning as she did so. Adding it to her teapot, mind drifting to the work day ahead, occasionally flickering back to the previous evening with Dr. Koothrappali.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted, though: a subtle ringing from her half open laptop broke the silence. Seren reached to take the laptop from her dining table, setting it on the kitchen island. Who was it- ah. 'Mama and Papa.' It was...nine in the evening back home: they were probably just calling her before they went to sleep.

Sitting down with her mug of tea, reaching to press 'answer.'

"Hello, mama, hello, papa."

Her mother, and father were both doctors, like her. Her mother worked as a rheumatologist, and her father was an oncologist. Had Seren been pushed towards the medical field? Perhaps a little, but she didn't mind. Seren loved her career.

"How is California?"

"Very different," Seren admitted, smiling at the soft, sweet face of her mother. Her father looked a little tired: sharp features fatigued from what Seren assumed was a long day at work. Neither of them wanted to retire.

She spent a good half an hour talking to her parents: from their lives back home- they had gotten a new cat- to her life here. Had she moved in properly? Was her neighbourhood nice? Seren confirmed both things, but by the time half past seven came, it was time for her to say goodbye. She had to get to work, get breakfast: she didn't want to be too late. Her job was still pretty new.

"I have to go, mama, papa."

"We love you."

"I love you too. Bye!"

Why did she wave? She didn't know, and yet. she always did it. Closing the lid on her laptop, and moving to set her empty tea cup in the sink. Seren loved her parents: they had both worked a lot, but they had always made sure she was taken care of. Her nanny had been kind, and Seren had paid off the elderly lady's mortgage now that she had retired. Seren loved her little family: she missed her mother and father terribly, but she liked it here. She would visit them when she had built up some vacation days from work: the journey from California to Singapore was a long one. Even more so if her father decided to take her mother to visit his family in China.

Pouring the rest of her tea from the teapot into a Ravenclaw travel mug, before grabbing her phone, and jacket. Time to go. She was excited. Sipping her tea as she headed into the carpark, low heels clicking as she wandered outside. It was a warm day, she was looking forward to it. And maybe she would call Rajesh later, if he didn't call her first-

Now that was timing. Seren fumbled for her phone as she unlocked the car, setting it so the call was on speaker.

"Hello?"

"Seren? Good morning-"

"Hi, Rajesh. Good morning- are you alright?"

"I'm good, very good- well, not very good, it's early, but a regular good-"

That made Seren chuckle, starting her engine and pulling out into the street.

"I'm glad to hear it- I think I'm in a bit of a food coma after that toffee cake."

"I wish I'd ordered some, but, it goes straight to my hips- anyway. I had a good time. I was wondering if you'd like to do something again?"

He sounded a little nervous, in Seren's opinion. But she couldn't blame him: she always felt a little jittery when she was first talking to guys. Taking a shortcut to the coffee shop drive through, smiling as she listened to him.

"Yes, of course. I'm back at work now, but I'm free-" When was she free? Damn it-

"My next day off isn't until next weekend, but if you'd like to come by some time this week, I could make us food?"

"That sounds wonderful, yes! Tuesday?"

"That works for me. I'll text you with more information?"

"Sure!"

"Okay, well, I'll speak to you later. Have a nice weekend."

"You too, google luck with your work."

"Thankyou-" Aw, he was so nice. Seren reached to hang up the call, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel as she waited in line to order her food. They did good breakfast wraps here, better than the cafeteria at her work.

Was this a second date? Was last night a date? Seren didn't know, but she couldn't ask. That would seem scary, right? Still, she couldn't ask. Seren thought Raj was nice, handsome, smart, she'd felt a spark there. Maybe it could develop into something, but she definitely wasn't going to get overexcited, and put her foot in it.

Still, she'd spend a lot of time working on her recipes for Tuesday. No way could she serve an absolute disaster, and still be within a chance of him liking her, right?

Humming to herself as she continued her day. This could be fun. She was looking forward to their plans for the week ahead.