Chapter 23 – Good things come to those who wait

The night had gone so well. After the initial first date nerves had settled down, we had both just ''clicked''. Chase had taken me out to dinner at a restaurant, not much of a choice in town really but the company more than made up for the lack of ambience.

We had then gone to see a movie, what it was about I couldn't really recall because the moment his hand slide along my leg and captured my hand in his, I lost focus. My world narrowed down to the feeling of his calloused hand on mine and the heat being generated. I felt like a teenager all over again but this time a much wiser, surer teenager – one more confident in themselves.

As we left the cinemas, holding hands Chase turned to me and asked, ''Can I interest you in something sweet?''

I arched an eyebrow, ''That depends. What's on offer?'' I looked expectantly at him.

Chase fixed me with an intense stare and stepped closer he leant down towards me and I felt myself tingling in anticipation. He was centimetres from my face when he whispered, ''Ice-cream.''

I drew myself back indignantly and gave him a playful slap on the shoulder, ''You idiot!'' though my laugh gave away how I truly felt.

''Come on gorgeous, let's get an ice-cream and go sit by the beach,'' he captured my hand again and led me off to a nearby shop where we purchased two ice-creams and walked the short distance to the beach.

I kicked off my heels, relieved to be free from their constraints. I hated getting dressed up usually, preferring to be comfortable over glamourous but I wanted to make an effort. Chase was seeming to be worth it. Chase also slide off his shoes and we carried them a few paces until we found a spot suitable to sit down on.

We had strolled around to Eclipse Point and found a spot we could look out across the moonlit waters towards Marianne Point. I momentarily thought about the Autobots, and in particular Prime, hoping they were ok, but I quickly banished any further thoughts of them as Chase sat right beside me, our thighs touching. The ice-cream was delicious, and we slurped and munched happily away in companionable silence. After a moment I felt Chase reach for my hand again and we sat there, side by side, my head resting on his shoulder. I felt so content and also shocked to think I had only known this man for about 48hours and I already felt so at ease with him.

''You know OC, I've got a confession to make,'' Chase spoke up.

My heart stilled. /Oh no/. I knew it was too good to be true. I forced myself to turn and face him and whisper, ''and what would that be?''

Chase turned his grey-green stormy eyes towards my brown and gold flecked ones, staring into them intently. ''I've been wanting to get to know you for a while now.'' My heart started beating again. He turned his gaze towards the stars. ''I noticed you a while ago, kinda hard not to.'' I blushed as he reached his hand up to brush a strand of hair from my face as the wind gently whipped it about.

He sighed softly as his fingers rang down my cheek leaving a trail of fire in their wake. ''You're so - real.''

At my quizzical expression he continued, ''You're not fake. What you see is what you get, there's no bullshit, I like that. I hate to play games. Not to mention you are pretty easy on the eye.'' He leant forward and planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

A small part of my stomach knotted /Oh Chase. There is something you need to know, but I can't bring myself to tell you in case this dream shatters/. I took a deep breath. ''Chase, I'm flattered.'' He broke out in an earth-shattering smile and leant in for a kiss, but I held up a hand to stop him. He looked confused. /Now or never OC, honesty - always demand it, always give it. I just hope your heart can take it/. ''Chase there is something I need to tell you too, something that is very hard for me to tell you, because I…. because I can feel myself falling for you.''

At this comment he rushed forward before I had a chance to stop him and captured my lips in a deep and passionate kiss. I returned the kiss with equal fervour to show him the truth of feelings. After a moment, I regained my senses and put my hands up on his chest to stop the kiss. We broke apart, our breathing slightly laboured. ''Chase! I need you to listen to what I have to say. If we are to go any further in this relationship, I need to tell you something.'' I looked into his eyes pleading for him to listen.

Chase, noticing the tone of my voice, stilled and looked at me intently, ''Of course OC, I'm all yours.''

I closed my eyes momentarily at those words. /Yeah, maybe not after I tell you this/. I took another calming breath, opened my eyes and spoke to him. ''Chase I am not like most other women.''

It was his turn to look confused. I continued, ''I have a special gift, or a curse, depending on your point of view. I was born with it, or picked it up somehow, I don't know. All I know is for many years I have been able to… to… '' /Damn it to hell! Why won't the words come out. Fuck it!/. I concentrated on our shoes laying in the sand and used my powers of psychokinesis to pick his shoes up and ''bring them to me''.

At first Chase didn't notice what was happening as he was staring at me waiting for my ''reveal''. When he became aware of his shoes floating in the air next to his head. He froze. His eyes darted between me and the shoes.

''Ah? OC? Is, is that.. Are you seeing this?'' He looked a little terrified.

I sighed. /Here it comes/. ''Chase – I'm doing it!'' To prove my point, I raised my hand and made a motion with it to move them away and then back towards us. The shoes followed dutifully.

Chase's eyes went wide as dinner plates though he didn't move. He stayed where he was. Watching them float in the air. ''Can, can you put them back?''

I obliged and gently lowered them to the ground. He nodded. ''Can, you do it again?''

I tilted my head in surprise and confusion but once again obliged his request, picking his shoes up and bringing them to him. I sighed as I wrapped my arms about my legs, ''I bet you want to grab them and run now don't you,'' I could not help but let some of the pain and hurt seep through into my tone.

''Actually,'' Chase said with a strange smile plastered on his face, ''I think it is pretty fucking cool!''

My head snapped up and my eyes went wide, ''Are you serious? You aren't freaking out? You aren't terrified of me? You don't want to run away and never see me again?'' The questions were shot out of my mouth in rapid succession.

Chase simply laughed. ''OC, slow down! I'm the one meant to be freaking out here!'' He smiled. My heart melted and I felt tears sting my eyes. ''OC, I just told you how I had wanted to get to know YOU for some time now. I have just told you how I liked your ''no-nonsense what you see is what you get'' attitude. You have been straight up 100% honest with me, even at the risk of allowing yourself to get hurt.'' His hand reached out and traced another line of fire down the side of my face. I closed my eyes, savouring his touch. ''OC, now more than ever, I am so glad I walked up to you that night. You, are the whole package.''

The tears I had been holding back, spilled and went streaming down my cheeks. I grabbed his hands in mine, to stop myself from falling. He brought me forward in his arms and kissed my forehead so gently and reverently bringing fresh tears to my eyes. ''OC, I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me I'm afraid.''

I sniffed and drew in a deep breath, looking up into his beautiful eyes. ''Chase, I… do you have any idea what this means to me? What YOU mean to me? I have waited my whole life to hear someone say something like that to me, to want me for ME. I… I,'' I had no words.

''Shhh'' he simply dried my eyes with his thumbs and captured my lips in a soft, tender kiss. After a moment, that seemed to last forever, he pulled away and gave a low chuckle, ''Ahh OC, haven't you ever heard the saying? Good things come to those who wait. And you, my gorgeous girl, were worth waiting for.''

I surged forward and wrapped him in my arms, my mouth hungrily claiming his as I sought to show him how he had made me feel. We lay there, entwined in each other's grasp. His hands moved from cupping my head to sliding down over my shoulders and along my back, pulling me towards him with desperate need. I felt my own hands gliding over his firm body, a warm, delicious heat rising between us. So lost in each other were we that the Decepticons could have attacked and I wouldn't have known or cared.

Eventually, I broke the kiss off and lay there, my head resting on his chest as it rose and fell, my arm draped over his body. ''Well,'' I panted, ''all in all I'd say this was a pretty good first date.''

Chase laughed a breathy laugh, ''Yeah, not bad as first dates go.'' He looked over to me again and gave me a soft kiss. Then sighed. It was late. Very late. ''Come on Orianna, I had best get you home.''

I groaned. I didn't want this moment to end. However, more training awaited me tomorrow and Chase had his own work to do. Our bubble of happiness had to burst. ''Fine. I guess you're right.''

Standing up, Chase offered his hand to help me up, pulling me into another lingering kiss. ''You know, you are making it very hard to say goodnight!'' I chastised him.

''Maybe that is part of my devious plan OC,'' and he winked at me. I slapped him playfully on the shoulder and we walked back to his car.

On the drive back to the Autobot hanger we held hands. A final nagging thought skittered around in my mind. ''So, does this mean we are officially a couple now?'' I couldn't help but ask hopefully as I looked at him.

Chase turned to me momentarily, ''What do you think OC?'' and he kissed my hand.

I allowed myself to break into a huge smile and laugh. I kissed his hand in turn. ''I'm going to go with a yes.''

Moments later we pulled up out the front of Hanger 2. Although the Autobots no doubt had someone on patrol who would already be aware of our presence, not to mention all of their early warning systems they had personally, I'd wager they all knew I was back. Still, I was trying to be respectful and not cause unnecessary noise and commotion.

Chase got out of the car and came around to hold the door open for me and help me out. ''There you go M'lady,'' he said as I stepped out, ''home sweet home.''

I tucked an errant strand of hair behind my ear. ''Yeah. About that,'' I grinned sheepishly at him. ''Not that I am rushing into this, but I have been thinking for a while now it might be time for me to move back to my old apartment in downtown. I just seem to have found a ''motivation'' to do so sooner. Would you have any objections?'' I arched an eyebrow in silent questioning.

Chase gave a little laugh and kissed me soundly once again. After he pulled away, he breathed, ''What do you think?''

I simply sighed and run my hand down his face, ''Good night Chase, and thank you for an amazing evening.''

''Night OC. Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow sometime?'' he asked hopefully.

'Oh, I think I can arrange that.'' With that he turned and got back into the car, started the engine and took off back towards downtown.

I stood there for a moment, the cool night air gently tugging at my long black and red locks. Surreal. It had been surreal. Nothing could ruin how I felt in this moment.

''OC?'' A deep and familiar baritone voice rolled through the night air. My heart stopped.

/Well, almost nothing/.