Ellie jumped when her cell phone beeped, but grinned after she grabbed it and found herself looking at a sweet and romantic text from Julian:

Hey, beautiful! Let's meet at 2:30 this afternoon at the entrance of the mini-golf course at the Central Amusement Park. I can't wait to see you again, and I can't stop thinking about how wonderful you are.

XXX

Julian

PS: I've given you three kisses. One for each cheek, and you know I would never forget about those lovely, delicious lips of yours.

Ellie giggled and bit her lip, a blush coloring her cheeks as she read it again and again. It was nothing scandalous, of course, not really. But when you were having an affair, you couldn't really say anything was innocent. But it was still very exciting.

She put her phone down on the dresser, and raised her eyes to the mirror, stepping back so she could look over her outfit for the day one last time. She wore a pair of black skinny jeans tucked into knee-high brown leather boots with a little bit of a heel. Along with that was a red sweater with a deep neckline (which would allow Julian a peek at the new lace bra that she'd gotten) and a matching black gilet for extra warmth in case of a chill in the air. Matching red lipstick was cherry on top of the sundae that was her look.

She then grabbed her crossbody bag, and then left her bedroom to walk through the winding halls of the mansion, full of intrigue about what her day's adventure would be. Mini-golf was not on her list of usual dating choices, but that was one of her favorite things about Julian: He always seemed to be able to surprise her in the most wonderful ways. And even if he wasn't surprising her, she also loved the idea of just doing everyday things with him. She would watch paint dry on a wall with him by her side if that was all they could do.

And it was a possibility. She was only staying in the mansion at this point to have a roof over her head until her job at the Council was secure and she had her own funds, and so she could tell the children in person about her decision to leave. She knew it would be surprising, and that it might even make one or more of them angry, but they were all adults or at least no longer children, so it wasn't like she was abandoning her babies.

Ellie carefully descended the stairs, feeling light and happy as a large grin spread over her lips. The door that would let her out of the mansion, which had become her own personal hell, was getting closer and closer, and when she reached it, she would pull it open and run free of this place, even if it was only for a few hours. But as her hand wrapped around the doorknob and began to turn it, a voice made her freeze: his.

"Abandoning your duties as a mother to go spend time with your parents, Eleanor? Of course, you are. You've never passed up a chance to run out on your children whenever the mood suited you!"

The words stung, especially since they were slightly true, but since her back was turned, Lucifer couldn't see her look of doubt. Finally, she stopped turning the knob and turned to face her husband-turned-jailer.

As much as she hated to admit it, a part of her still really liked looking at him, especially now that the sleeves of his tight blue silk shirt were rolled up over his forearms and the top few buttons of his shirt were undone. If they weren't fighting, she'd have jumped him by now, but they were thankfully past the point where she went to him so easily. He couldn't control her with his beautiful face anymore. Now she had more sense. And the fact that his eyes were narrowed, and he was scowling made it much easier to resist him, compared to when he smiled and had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

But even then, she had to remind herself, that was just sex. Julian had finally taught her what it was like to be with someone who had a good, loving heart along with a beautiful face, something she'd discovered much later than she should have. Now, it didn't mean she loved him. She wasn't sure she knew how to love anyone, especially a human. But for a human, he was good, and he was kind, and she owed it to herself and to him to see where it all went.

"My whereabouts are none of your business anymore, Lucifer," she snapped. "Believe what you want to believe. It doesn't matter to me at all. And it just…it's making me smile to realize how little you, the devil himself, who has been my husband for years knows about me. It just proves that ending this marriage is right, and that I deserve someone who actually gives a damn about me and my thoughts and feelings." She gave him a wicked grin. "As for my skipping out on my parental obligations, I would take a good long look at yourself in the mirror before throwing that stone at me. Do you know anything about your children's lives? Like how Milo is taking part in a dance competition at school? Or that Charlotte is thinking about opening another store? Or is sticking your nose in Angelica's and my business the only thing that matters to you anymore?"

Lucifer gasped, his eyes widened as he let out a soft growl.

"That's what I thought," Elie returned sarcastically. "You're so full of yourself, and you put so much energy into one of your children, that you've forgotten about the others. And I think Milo, out of all of them, could really use some paternal attention. More than just a Corvette, I mean."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "Don't think you could ever play this game with me, Eleanor. You'd be sorely mistaken about how successful you'd be. You'd lose and you'd lose badly. Just because I don't devote every moment of my life to them does not mean that I don't love them!"

"I'm not saying you don't!" Ellie assured him. "I am saying that you love yourself more and you're not above using your children for your own gain. It's a very different thing." She paused. "Trust me, I have intention of playing this or any other game with you ever again. It's a thing of the past." She tried to keep her tone dry as she talked. "I don't intend to abuse your hospitality much longer; soon I'll move into a place of my own, but until then, I have every intention of staying out of your way."

Lucifer chuckled, not believing her, just as she knew he wouldn't. "Eleanor, we've played this game before! You've gotten angry, we've fought, you've locked yourself in the guesthouse for a time…but you always let me in. You told me you wanted my attention. Is this a new way to try and get it? Do you want me to chase you?"

"No, Lucifer," Ellie shook her head, wincing internally because that's just the tactic she would have used not too long ago. "It's me telling you that I'm leaving you and ending this game we've been playing for way too long. I don't want to play anymore. I'm done, and I intend to serve you with the divorce papers the second Alistair tells me I've secured the prosecutor job at the Council."

He'd been grinning smugly before, but her words suddenly wiped the grin off his face, making him go pale. He put a hand on the wall to steady himself and then took a few steps forward so he was right in her face. "What are you saying, Eleanor?" He muttered through clenched teeth.

"You heard me," she told him. "But it will give me great pleasure to say it again: you and I are done, Lucifer." She kept her eyes on his, swallowed, and prayed he couldn't hear how fast her heart was beating.

She'd thrown him off balance for a moment, but it didn't take long for him to get his equilibrium back., an evil grin curving his lips as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him forcefully while ignoring her cry of pain. "I thought you'd grown up," he whispered in her ear. "But you're still the delusional, spoiled little girl you've always been if you believe you'll just be able to leave me and get away with it. If you believe this fancy of yours will ever be anything more. You will never, ever be free of me! Not now, not ever!"

"Believe what you want," she snapped, pulling herself free of his grip. "I thank you for the warning. It just makes it even easier for me to pull away. Now if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere much better to be. Goodbye!" Then she grabbed the doorknob, opened the door, and then, without so much as another glance at him, slammed the door loudly in his face.

As usual, Ellie arrived early, and Julian was nowhere to be seen. She paced restlessly in front of the mini-golf entrance, smiling at parents who were there with their children to enjoy the lovely autumn day.

Finally, a lovely, deep voice stopped her in her tracks. "Well if it isn't Eleanor Mikaelson!"

Grinning, she turned around and found herself facing Julian Johnson, and as usual, she couldn't stop herself from looking him over and thinking that he looked good enough to eat! His curly brown hair was clean and shiny, he had the beginnings of a beard, which looked very good on him, along with brown biker boots on his feet, light blue jeans, a thick black rolled neck sweater, and a khaki-colored gilet.

"Well, if it isn't Julian Johnson!" She grinned, her cheeks blushing a light pink.

"It's nice to see you again, Ms. Mikaelson," he told her before gently grabbing her chin so he could turn her face to meet his. "You look very cute today, if it's not too bold for me to say."

"It's not," Ellie told him. "You're very kind. And you look wonderful too! I'll tell you that, even though you only told me I was cute." She winked.

"Well," he leaned in, brushing her soft skin with his fingers and whispering in her, his slightly bearded cheek brushing her own. "I can't very well tell you how much I like the peekaboo view of that bra of yours underneath your sweater, can I? There are children present!" He gently kissed her cheek and gave her one more wink.

Ellie blushed as red as her sweater. "I guess you're right. Some things can't be said in front of children."

"Blushing suits you well, Miss Mikaelson," he teased, laughing as he grabbed her hand to kiss the knuckles. "You're not cold, I hope. Your hands are." He began to rub her hands. "If you need an extra sweater or something I can get you one out of my car."

"Oh, no, I'm fine," Ellie shook her head and gave him a grin. "I don't notice the cold at all. But I've been waiting here for you in this spot so you wouldn't lose me, and I wouldn't lose you."

Now it was Julian's turn to blush a little. "I won't deny that I like hearing that from your lips," he admitted shyly.

"Hearing what?" She asked, not thinking she'd said anything remarkable. She kept her hand tight in his as they made their way to get in line to enter the mini-golf course.

He leaned in close, his lips on her earlobe. "That you're waiting for me and only me. I like that." He gave her a wink and she nodded and blushed. It was true that she'd waited all week for this date, for the opportunity to see him again. She'd been stunned by her patience, she who had never really been made to wait for anything like dates or sex. "So…mini-golf? What an unconventional place for a second date. I like it."

Julian turned his head and narrowed his eyes at her before gently spanking her bottom, something that surprised her.

"Hey," she whispered, surprised as she cast a look around at all the kids playing. But luckily they didn't seem to have noticed. "What did you do that for?"

"Because mini-golf is serious!" Julian replied. "Very important to me."

"Oh," Ellie bit her lip. "I thought it was because you're kinky."

"We'll discuss that subject later, miss I want to know my sexual preferences," Julian told her. "Now it's time to play!"

"Right," Ellie gave an awkward laugh and followed him to the place where the golf clubs were, trying to ignore the fact that being spanked like that had made her feel an intense heat in her core, which made her also remember how long it had been since she had had sex. Was he kinky? Would he spank her like that if she asked nice? Or if she asked not-so-nice?" She shut her eyes tight and tried not picture him spanking her and ordering her around while wearing nothing at all. It didn't work as well as she hoped and let out a small moan, gritting her teeth so she wouldn't start rubbing herself in public.

"Ellie? Ellie? Are you all right?"

She opened her eyes and found Julian looking at her with concern. "What? Did you say something? I'm sorry. My brain was elsewhere."

"I was just saying that I've won at lot of mini-golf competitions," he told her proudly. "So be prepared to be spanked!"

"You…you don't say!" Ellie told him and bit her lip to keep from laughing or saying something ridiculous.

"I do!" Julian grinned. "I wasn't called 'Lucky Julian' for nothing, you know. Mini-golf is tougher than it looks." His gaze became serious as he waved a finger under her nose. "You need to be able to have deep concentration and an impeccable technique."

"Oh, so there's more to it than giving the ball a good whack?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah," Julian nodded. "You have to aim, at the very least."

"Right," Ellie nodded and tried not to laugh as she looked around at the course and tried not to laugh. It was hard to take a sport seriously that was full of cartoon characters and happy kiddie music.

"Hi!" The cheerful voice of a booth attendant broke into her thoughts. "Welcome to Winnie the Pooh Mini Golf!"

That was the last straw for Ellie, and she burst out laughing, but tried to keep it quiet.

"Is she all right?" The attendant asked Julian.

"Oh, yeah, she's fine," Julian nodded. "You're going to have to excuse her. She's my date and all but doesn't feel like mini golf is a serious matter; we're here so I can prove her wrong."

"I think you can do it," the clerk, whose name was Anne, encouraged him. "I bet it'll only take one game, maybe two. And you're not the type to let someone go because they hate mini golf, are you? Because you make such a cute couple!" She paused and got back to her professional manner. "So would you like two clubs?"

"Yes, please," Julian nodded. "She's definitely playing with me. I'll get her through the course, even if it takes all day!" He turned and gave a wide-eyed Ellie a wink.

"Of course! Coming right up!" Anne then left the window and went to get two clubs.

She'd called them a cute couple, Ellie thought to herself as her heart began pounding in her chest again. She liked the thought of it, even though, since she was still married, it was an awkward thought, to say the least. And a strange one, because she'd never really considered being a couple with anyone else before now. Lucifer had always been her only option and her only desire, but now…now that that was out the window, she was very excited to discover what a future with Julian, a man she chose, and who had chosen her, could be like.

Ellie swore under her breath and sighed as her ball rolled off course yet again. Then she looked up hopefully at the darkening sky, thinking that since there wasn't much light anymore, it being autumn, they could pack up and go home.

She'd never considered herself a petty person or a sore loser before, but over the last hour, it had become apparent to her that mini golf was not her game, and not only was she losing, she was losing badly. It stung, especially since she should be able to hit a ball into a stupid hole! She had lot of fondness for Julian Johnson, but she couldn't understand how someone who had such a nice ass could like such a boring game. Oh, well. The view made up for it, she supposed. He was absolutely yummy, and her mind was beginning to wander into places it shouldn't that involved him and little to no clothing.

"Hey!" He snapped, suddenly bringing her back to reality. "What's going on? Did I just see you roll your eyes, young lady?" His voice was teasing, though, and they both smiled.

"Did I?' She asked. "Maybe I did." She shrugged and bit her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing. "My bad!"

"You're being very insolent," he pretended to scold her, the grin still on his lips. "Have more respect for your teacher and bring your ass over here!"

"Yes, sir," she nodded and gave him a salute. "Clearly I suck, so how about you show me how to play this stupid game?"

"Behave, Miss Mikaelson," he said. When she was standing in front of him, he placed the club between her legs, then raised it between her thighs, lowering his head so he was whispering in her ear. "Now, spread your legs wide and get into position."

She let out a whimper before slowly turning her head, brushing his five o'clock shadow as she looked in his eyes. "Do you really think this is the best place to ask me to open my legs and position myself, Mr. Johnson?"

Julian chuckled. "You're pushing it, Miss Mikaelson. I'm only talking about how to properly hit a ball with a golf club. I can't believe your mind went into the gutter like that."

"You can't?" Ellie teased and bit her lip. "It was an honest mistake. You're so sexy can you blame my mind for going elsewhere?"

"Well," Julian chuckled, pleased at her words as he whispered in her ear. "I've been thinking of stuff like that too, but I'm not the type to do it in a public place. It's not gentlemanly."

"What a shame," Ellie shook her head and clicked her tongue. "Because it would be way more enjoyable than this boring game!" She rolled her eyes and then cried out as he gently slapped her bottom again.

"Focus," he scolded as he helped her place her hands properly on the club.

"Oh, I'm very focused," she chuckled, rubbing against him.

"You're playing with my patience, Miss Mikaelson," he chided, semi-serious.

"Really? I thought we were playing mini-golf."

"We are, but I wouldn't call what you're doing 'playing'," he told her with a roll of his eyes.

She pouted adorably. "Hey, give me a break! Not everyone can be a champion golfer with trophies!"

"True, but they can at least try, and so can you!" He smirked and took a step back from her.

"Fine," she sighed. "I've got my hands on the club. What do I do now? And just so you know, we're gonna bowl some time because that's what I'm good at! I'll kick your butt!"

Julian laughed. "I look forward to it. You know, I really think that you and my grandmother would get along well. She's the champ in her seniors bowling league."

"Is she?" Ellie asked. "She sounds nice. Does she like golf?"

Julian shook his head. "No."

"I think we'd get along famously."

"Okay, now, back to golf," Julian told her. Raise your club up two or three inches from the green, keep focused on the hole, and aim straight to get your ball in it." He then stepped away and watched, his arms crossed over his bulging chest.

"And now," she drawled after doing that, still bored as ever. "Now what happens?"

"Now you dance the tango."

"What?" Her jaw dropped in shock.

"You hit the damn ball! That's the whole point of mini-golf!"

"Is it?" Ellie asked dryly. "I thought the point was to bore me to death!"

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing," Ellie replied and gave the ball a whack. It didn't get anywhere near the hole and in fact, nearly hit some passersby.

"Sorry!" Julian called after them. "Are you hurt? I'm teaching my girlfriend how to golf and she's really bad at it."

"No worries," the man assured him. "We're fine. Enjoy your night with your girlfriend!"

"Will do!" Julian assured him as they walked away. Then he strode over to Ellie and set another ball down on the green. "Did you hear that? Does it bother you that he called you my girlfriend?"

"No," she blushed slightly and shook her head. "Does it bother you?"

"Well, kind of," he teased. "As a former golf champion, I don't want to be associated with a woman who can't even hit a ball straight." But his eyes were sparkling.

"You are such an ass," she told him and placed the club in front of the ball. Then she got an idea. She muttered a few words, then the ball began rolling toward the hole and went right in. "Yes!" She cried triumphantly. "Yay me!" She pumped a fist in the air. "See? I'm not that bad! I'm starting to get the hang of this. I'm starting to see why you love it! I bet I could beat you at it if I wanted to!"

"Really?" Julian raised an eyebrow and got close to her, to get right in her face. "You liar. You used magic, didn't you?"

"How dare you!" She cried, full of the same pretend outrage. "That's really not nice, Julian. I mean, maybe the wind was nice enough to give me some good fortune, and…okay, fine, I did it!" She confessed with a cute pout before stomping both her feet. "I cheated because I hate losing and this is the first time I've ever lost anything, and I didn't want you to think I was awful!"

Julian heard this, then threw his head back and laughed before pulling her to him, arms around her waist and hand under her chin so that their eyes met. "You're so adorable," he smiled.

"You're not mad at me?" She asked, her bright brown eyes wide and staring. This was not what she'd expected. "I know you love this game and I'd hate to think I was ruining it for you."

"Of course not, you silly!" Julian told her with a chuckle as he took her in his arms and held her close, his breath ruffling her hair. "I'm having such a good time here with you, even if you can't play miniature golf to save your life."

Her jaw dropped and she was about to protest when he quickly shut her mouth with a kiss.

When he tried to pull away, she just pulled him close and kissed him harder.

"Well," he breathed when she finally let him go with a wink. "We know you're terrible at miniature golf, but I have to say that you kiss very well."

Ellie smiled. "First part of this game I like. I like you kissing me."

Then he heard her stomach rumble. "Do you want to eat or drink something?" He asked politely. Then he lowered his voice a little. "I know not all vampires eat, but…are you one of them? Truly? Our date eating the Killer wasn't just a fluke? I mean there's funnel cake and cotton candy, and—"

"Cotton candy!" She interrupted with excitement. "Pink, please! I always have room for food, trust me, Julian. Is it okay if I have pink?"

"You can have whatever your heart desires, young lady," he promised her, kissing her lips again.

"Well, that sounds promising," she said and gave him a shy smile. "And generous of you. I'm not too hard to figure out."

"Oh?" Julian asked. "And why is that? What is it you want?"

"What I want the most is to spend time with the wonderful man in front of me," she replied, standing on her tiptoes to give him a kiss of her own.

"Well, let's not wait another minute then," he told her. "Come with me. The snack stands aren't far from here."

Julian couldn't help but smile as he and Ellie settled on a park bench with everything they'd gotten from the snack stand. She'd asked for enough sugary treats to feed an army and was now trying to hold onto all of them for dear life. "Are you sure you have enough goodies?" He teased. "It seems like you need more!"

"No, I'm good," Ellie told him. She knew she'd probably taken advantage of his kindness, but the stand had so many good things it was hard to pick just one or two. "I know I probably took advantage and if you think I'm selfish and spoiled, I understand. If not, thank you for being so incredibly generous and making it so I didn't have to miss out on things." Besides the pink cotton candy, she'd also asked for a bag of caramel popcorn, several chocolate bars, and a bottle of Coca-Cola. She paused, her eyes wide. "Why? Why did you ask me that?"

"Well, I was just thinking that if you get hyper and then have a sugar crash that'll be your own fault, young lady," he joked.

"Thank goodness you're joking and taking it in such good humor because I'm just starting to realize now that over the course of my life, I've developed some habits regarding stuff and asking for whatever I desire whenever I desire it that are bad and need to change."

Julian chuckled and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "That's admirable, but I promise, you don't have to feel bad. You look so happy, like a kid in a candy store. It gives me pleasure to put a smile on your face."

"Thanks," she smiled and popped some cotton candy in her mouth. "Things happened in my life that made me have to be an adult before my time. But now, at last, here with you…I finally have a chance to just let go and enjoy myself. Like a kid would do. And I love it a lot."

"Well, I'm glad you're happy and I'm sorry to hear things were so difficult before," Julian told her, his voice full of compassion as he put a firm hand on her back. "And just so you know…I love this more carefree side of yourself. I don't care if it means buying lots of sugar!" He then opened he bag of M and M's that he'd bought for himself and began sorting out the brown ones from the rest in the bag.

"What are you doing with your candy?" She asked, eying him curiously. She'd seen Angelica sort out her Skittles by color and eat them in a specific way before, but she'd never seen anyone sort out M and M's and only eat the brown ones.

"I'm taking out all the brown ones because they're the least affected by chemical coloring and all that cause chocolate is already brown. I think the fewer chemicals I put in my body, the longer I'll live."

Ellie bit her lip and tried not to laugh because he was serious and it was obviously something that truly mattered to him, but failed.

"Okay, okay, you're laughing at me," he nodded. "I know, it's weird and neurotic, but remember that not everyone is immortal like you, and I need to be as healthy and in shape as I can be.

She nodded and lowered her eyes, hoping he wouldn't see her blush. She was uneasy as the subject of her immortality and his lack of it came up again. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "It was thoughtless of me. I didn't mean to make fun. I'm not a jerk, I swear, and-"

"Oh, Eleanor," he tried to reassure her, "I didn't mean it like that. I don't give a fuck that you're from the supernatural world and I'm human, and I never will. Please believe me when I say that, beautiful." He paused. "But if you care…"

"What?" Ellie asked, shaking her head. "No, no! I don't care about it at all! I just thought you did."

"No," he shook his head and grinned widely. "Remember who my boss is?"

"Yeah," Ellie chuckled and took another big bite of chocolate bar. "I suppose if you can handle Mikael Mikaelson, not much more will faze you."

"He's really not bad at all once you get to know him. I really think he has a much bigger heart than people give him credit for." Julian then let out a cry as he was hit by an errant soccer ball before it landed on the ground next to him. He leaned down to grab it as a young boy approached them.

"Sorry," he apologized.

"It's okay," Julian told him. "Catch."

"Thank you, sir," the boy told him, caught it, and ran back to his parents.

"That boy called me 'sir'!" Julian cried dramatically with a wince. "He might as well have called me 'Grandpa'! And I mean sure, I'm over thirty, but…" he paused and shook his head. "Never mind." He turned and gave her a small smile as she had a laugh at his expense. "Do you like children, Eleanor?"

She was surprised by the question. He certainly was someone she could see herself having kids with if she were given a little time with him first to just be his…whatever they were, but…to talk about it now, it was too early. "Um…" she trailed off, trying to find the right words, occupying herself with a napkin to try and hide her shaking hands.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I'm so damn sorry! Here we are just out for a day of fun and I ask you to think about something serious that has no place there."

"No, really, you don't have to feel bad," Ellie assured him. "It's just that…I'm…as you know, the Mikaelsons are high up enough in the supernatural world that sometimes, some of us are used to make alliances and deals with other people that will mean success all around. And sometimes, in the alliances, it's expected that if you're a woman, you have children, but no say in when or how many. So, it it's like, even if you want motherhood, and love your kids, you still feel like the timing, and all made it more of an obligation rather than a choice."

Julian scoffed, taking her hand to kiss it. "That just sounds absolutely barbaric. Like something that happened centuries ago." He finished his candy and threw the bag in the trash. "If that…that has been hanging over your life, no wonder you feel ambivalent about children."

"Yeah," Ellie nodded. "That's what I feel." A slight blush was coloring her cheeks and she was finding it hard to look him in the eye. That wasn't the whole truth, or even most of it, considering how many children she'd borne and that she loved, but to say she'd never wished for fewer of them or that they'd been able to wait…that wasn't true either. "Now it's your turn. What do you think about having children, Julian?"

"Well, it's how I was raised and it might seem horribly old fashioned, but…" he trailed off, looking up at the night sky as he took her hand and squeezed it. "I believe that when you have a child, the best situation is that it comes out of love between two people who want it. It shouldn't just be brought into the world because it's going to be used to fulfill some stupid family obligation or something." He gazed into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes. "Am I just way too sentimental?"

"No," Ellie shook her head, tears filling her eyes. "It's a beautiful thought, Julian."

"Hey, no tears!" He smiled at her, caressing her hair and cheeks. "Look, there are shooting booths and games just over there." He pointed. "We could win something! I don't think either of us should leave here without a prize. Do you?"

"Nope, I want a prize," Ellie grinned. "Let's do it!"

"Okay, but just to be sure…you're done filling yourself up with sugar? Cause I can wait if you need to eat more," he assured her.

"Thanks for asking, but…I'm good!" Ellie hopped up from the bench, jumped up and down a few times with a laugh, and then took his hand.

"I can't believe you won me something," Julian remarked with a smile when they met up again, each holding a prize behind their backs. "That's for me, right? That was our deal."

"It could be," Ellie grinned sneakily. "I'm very good at darts. And pool, too, but they don't have a table here." She smiled, trying hard not to laugh.

"Is that so?" Julian raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Well, coincidentally, it just so happens I'm good at shooting plastic ducks."

"You don't say," Ellie grinned, pulling out a stuffed animal in a super hero costume from behind her back. "Ta-da!"

"I like it," Julian grinned. "But may I ask why you chose a bear in a super hero costume for me?"

"Because even though it's something I never thought would happen, you, a wonderful human man, you're my super hero who gives me a break from the daily grind of my life and grants me fun evenings like this one." She smiled and kissed his cheek, handing him the bear. "Thank you for a wonderful, marvelous, unforgettable second date, Julian."

"You're welcome," he mumbled with a blush after taking his bear from her. "No one's ever won me a prize before."

"Now…where's mine?" She grinned and clapped excitedly. "Did you win something for me?"

He chuckled. "What a mature way to ask, Miss Mikaelson."

"Come on," Ellie whined, stomping her foot on the pavement. "Stop stalling. If you didn't win anything, just say so!"

"I won something, don't worry," he assured her as he pulled it out from behind his back. "A stuffed animal that looks like Nemo from Finding Nemo!"

Ellie looked at the fish, tears in her eyes. "It's beautiful, Julian…thank you!"

"I'm sorry I picked the wrong thing," Julian apologized. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

"No, no, it's perfect!" Ellie was quick to reassure him. "It's just that…I had this fish, and he was my best friend who lived with me for a long time, and he had to be flushed." She shook her head. "It's dumb to cry for a fish, isn't it?"

"Of course not!" Julian shook his head, taking her in his arms and kissing her hair. "I had a ferret when I was a teenager and one day he ran out into the street and got hit by a car. I cried for weeks."

"I'm so sorry!" Ellie said and hugged him back. "It must've been awful for you."

"Yep," Julian nodded. "It was."

"Well," Ellie cleared her throat and released him. "Thanks for my stuffed animal Nemo. I will," she rose on her tiptoes to reach his ear. "I will bring it to bed with me and think of you." She stroked his five o'clock shadow and kissed him softly.

"Come with me," he instructed, suddenly overcome with desire for her. He grabbed her hand and led her to a secluded spot in the alley behind the snack bar, put both of their prizes on the ground beside them, and grabbed her by the waist, pushing her gently against the brick wall.

"Julian!" She cried, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn't expected him to do something so bold, but she didn't hate it. She bit her lip and sneaked her hands under his gilet and shirt to feel his bare chest.

He growled, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at her. "It looks like we've left the PG part of the evening behind," he told her. "I, for one, am ready."

"Me too," Ellie panted. "You have no idea how ready I am. And doing it in a dark alley is so…so much like a super hero, Mr. Johnson." She chuckled and let out cry as he slapped her bottom. "Hey!"

"I just wanted to kiss you," he told her. "Are you always so talkative?"

Ellie shut her mouth as he bent his head and kissed down the soft skin of her neck. "Julian," she moaned, running her fingers through his hair and stroking his bare stomach with her other hand.

Then he picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as his teeth gently traced a line up the delicate skin of her jaw, finally nibbling gently on her jawline and crashing his lips against hers.

It didn't take long for their kisses to get deeper, their tongues intertwined and their panting getting heavy as he pushed down the low cut neck of her sweater so he could move her bra out of the way and gently bite her nipple.

"Oooooh!" She moaned, eyes closed tight. It was wonderful! Julian seemed to have quite a sexual appetite after all!"

"Everything all right, you two?" Came a voice, which abruptly brought them both back to reality and they found themselves staring at a man who'd come out of the snack bar to put garbage in the dumpster.

"Yeah," Julian assured him, waving his concern away as he put Ellie down and she straightened her sweater. "Thank you for checking."

"No problem," the man said, and then walked back into the snack bar without another look at them.

Julian then turned back to Ellie and took her chin in his hands. "Look what you're making me do, Miss Mikaelson!"

"I have no complaints whatsoever," She said with a grin.

"Me neither," Julian assured her. "But I think…I think we should grab our stuff and head back to the car before we do something bad." He gave her a wink, they got good grips on their things, and headed back to his car. There was always next time.