A/N I just want to thank all of you who favorited this story and for sticking with me even after a long pause. You are all very appreciated and wonderful. Oh and your reviews are magic! 3

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Venus Noire

The scent of vanilla filled the entire kitchen, only getting more and more potent as the oven reached higher temperatures. Cupcakes. I thought myself poetic for the idea, but in reality it was probably more cheesy than anything.

Still fitting in my opinion. Twelve cupcakes were in the oven, getting a beautiful golden color on top, just waiting to be topped with buttercream, when suddenly doubt started creeping in. Will he like them? Did he even eat desserts? Oh god, what if he thinks this compensation is lame?

I shook my head, he never said anything specific and don't people say it's the thought that counts?

I left the packed treats on the table while I went to get ready for work. I didn't want to think about why I decided to put a little more effort into my appearance. A swipe of mascara and a tinted lip balm.

I took a look at myself in the mirror. I looked better, fresher. Yes, the nightmares were still there but the daily routine and a sense of security consistency gave me were working well for me. The fear of Brandon calling or god forbid showing up was under the surface, but the intensity of it was lesser since he didn't try to contact me again after that intimidation attempt.

I took and then let out a deep breath and gathered my things along with the cupcakes and left for work.

''Hey girl! Don't you look nice this morning! Ain't that right, Tom?'' Annete yelled as I walked through the door turning her head to the chef's station. ''Damn right she does, absolutely smashing if I say so.'' Tom winked and looked me up and down in an exaggerated way.

Great, and now I was blushing from the attention of the two and slight embarrassment. ''Oh please you two, I know that working at the diner exhausts, but not so much that one forgets their annual eye check ups.'' I said as I walked passed them on my way to change into my uniform. ''Wow Birdy, you should use today's tips to buy yourself a mirror back at home!'' Tom yelled as I was entering the small dressing room. I smiled as I entered shaking my head and began putting on my work clothes.

Exiting I put the box with cupcakes on the counter by the register just in time for Annete to see it and inquire as to what it is. ''Just repaying some acts of kindness.'' I answered trying not to let my nerves show. ''Does that have anything to do with a certain mysterious an' handsome customer?'' she continued with a knowing smile. I gave her a smile as a response, not willing to go into details. I haven't shared anything with her about my second encounter with John that night and I wasn't planning on doing it now either. It felt private, I don't really know why, but it did. Perhaps because he was reluctant to share anything about himself, I feel like I owe him the privacy.

With each passing hour and no sign of him, my anxiety was rising and I busied myself with orders and meaningless chatter with Tom and Annete just to stop myself from overthinking this and convincing myself it was a stupid Idea.

As it was nearing two o'clock and my shift was coming to an end I almost gave up and handed the cupcakes to Annete to take home to her children, he came in. Brown leather jacket and all. There was that familiar feeling of the room being too small and other people becoming just a background noise, that I have come to associate with him. I waited for him to head straight to his regular table, but instead he started walking towards me. I could feel Annete's surprised gaze from across the diner but my eyes remained fixed on his approaching form.

''Hello Millie.'' he said in a low tone and my breath caught, but before I could return the greeting he continued ''You requested my presence today so, here I am.'' I looked at the clock on the wall indicating that it was a few minutes past two. ''I didn't think you would come.'' He looked away. ''I didn't think so either.'' My stomach dropped. What now? Do I just hand him the baked goods then send him on his way? I didn't want that. I fiddled with the tie on my apron and an idea struck. ''How about you wait here a minute till I change, and we can take a walk maybe? Sit on a bench somewhere nearby?'' He drew his gaze back on me and opened his mouth to refuse judging by his expression, but then he snapped his lips shut and gave a slight nod. I gave him a small smile in return and went to the changing room.

I leaned on the door as I entered the room taking in a big breath and letting it out, trying to calm my nerves. This was actually happening. I fumbled with my uniform thinking about this chance to talk to the man in circumstances other than him showing up unexpectedly or exchanging a few words as I take his order at the diner. I put on my jeans and the nice light blue sweater that I absolutely did not carefully choose this morning and went to grab my coat. I exited the room and looked around the diner but he was nowhere to be found. ''Outside.'' Annete said from my left while wiping down the table. I nodded and went to take the cupcakes. ''You never mentioned this new development girl.'' Annete's curious tone reached me. ''What new development?'' Tom interjected from the kitchen. ''That is because there is nothing to mention tell. See you on Monday guys!'' I yelled and while exiting the diner, completely ignoring Tom's involvement too now. No doubt Annete would fill him on on today. I like those two, they are kind to me and they have helped me a lot with adjusting, but they were also big gossips and I had no time for that now. I have to focus on calming my accelerating heart rate caused by this man standing in front of the diner, waiting for me.

He looked uncomfortable and I gave him a small smile as I approached him. ''Well, Miss Nightingale, shall we?'' he asked with a slight tilt of his head. ''Yes, there is a nice small park just around the corner, not very many people visit it, but I find it nice and peaceful, so I was wondering maybe we can go there?'' I rambled a little. He looked at me and after a few seconds of silence he just said ''Sure. Yeah. Lead the way.'' while gesturing with his hand for me to move.

We walked in silence, he seemed comfortable enough now that we were moving, looking straight ahead not bothering to fill the quiet. I on the other hand, was bursting with questions I instinctively knew I wouldn't get the answers to even if I had the courage to pose them. So I used the time to glance at him every now and then and study his features.

He looked severe and very much in his own thoughts. There was a slight tension in his forehead that was more or less always present. But other than that and the intensity that his eyes constantly held, his face showed no other indications of anything he might be thinking. If he noticed my staring , he didn't comment on it, but just pointed to the park as we rounded the corner and said ''That one?''. I nodded and went to sit on the bench that was more isolated than the others. When he joined me, I turned so I would face him and offered the box of baked goods ''Here, your payback.'' He took the box slowly out of my hands and carefully lifted the lid, like it would explode or something. ''Cupcakes?'' he lifted an eyebrow. ''They smell delicious. Thank you.'' He offered me one from the box and took one for himself. He took a bite a closed his eyes in what I hope to be enjoyment. ''And they taste delicious too. You made these?''. ''Yes.'' I could feel a slight blush rise to my cheeks because of the compliment. He proceeded to eat the rest of his while mine remained untouched due to the nerves I was feeling and because he turned his gaze towards me. It wasn't unsettling but I still felt vulnerable with the way he was looking at me, as if he was trying to figure something out.

''Why?'' he simply asked. ''What do you mean?'' I didn't expect that question. ''Why the cupcakes?'' he elaborated. ''Oh, it's silly now that I think about it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Remember the supermarket?'' he nodded. ''Well, the reason I was short on the money was because of the spur of the moment decision to bake some cupcakes that day. Since you technically paid for those, I figured you get to eat them now.'' I felt stupid explaining. ''Not the same ones! Obviously! I made you new ones, but...'' I stopped the nervous rambling when I heard the silent laughter that ended quickly and then he was back to his usual, brooding self.

''You do that often? The spur of the moment baking or was there an occasion?'' he inquired. ''Yes and no. I usually don't need an occasion but that day I felt like I had one.'' He just lifted his eyebrow and waited for me to explain. ''It was my birthday.'' I said. ''And I got the job, so I guessed I could indulge a bit. Math obviously isn't my forte as you may have noticed.'' I smiled slightly. ''Happy birthday.'' He said simply. ''Thank you. Twenty nine and counting.'' I smiled. ''When's yours?'' I jumped at the chance to find out more about him. ''November 11th.'' He said after a pause. ''Twenty nine?'' he looked pensive. ''What? You say that like you are old.''

''Old enough to retire.'' His lip quirked up slightly. ''Retire?'' my mouth fell open in shock. ''How old are you anyway?'' I asked. ''Forty four.'' I blew out a breath. ''That must have been some job.'' I joked, but he didn't look amused, instead he went back to frowning. ''Hmm. So no more late night walks for you then?'' it was posed as a question but somehow felt like a warning. I shook my head. ''Good.'' he said looking right into my eyes. I couldn't look away. ''Why did you say you almost didn't show up today?'' I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. We were closer to each other now. ''I'm more concerned about why I did.'' He answered still not taking his gaze off me. I blinked, my stomach dropping. ''What? '' I murmured confused. He stood abruptly. ''I should go. I'm sorry Miss Nightingale.'' He turned to me, opened his mouth to say something, closed it and then just said ''Thank you for the cupcakes.'' Then turned around and left. I sat on the bench too dumbfounded to react. What the fuck was that?