AN: A look at the flipside of what might happen if MSW was a show about relationships instead of murder mysteries and if as opposed to the first chapter, they did speak up. Of course speaking up go them a little sappy and therefore out of tone with the show. Oh well, no beta, all mistakes solely my own. As before, this story is for those who can enjoy imagining Jessica and Seth as a couple vs solely friends.

Thoughts Spoken

"It's hard to believe it's already been a month since our last dinner together," Jessica smiled as she finished working on a salad while Seth began preparing ingredients for their evening meal. This time they had opted for the classic American Chop Suey, which was not at all Chinese as it may have sounded but a pasta casserole made with ground beef, macaroni, and a seasoned tomato sauce.

"It wouldn't have been so long if you hadn't been traipsing around New York for the past 3 weeks." Seth said with his usual gruff tone as he began checked the progress of the macaroni boiling on the stove.

"I can't argue with you there," Jessica laughed as she turned back to cover the salad she had just finished. "I don't know if I would have gotten into writing if I knew how much of it was traveling, book promotions, signings, and the like. I just wanted to sit here and write in peace."

"That's the price you pay for being a good writer." Seth quipped back.

"Please, have you ever even read any of my books?" Jessica bantered with her friend.

"Don't need to read them, the way you talk about them and pick my brain for information I feel I already know what's going to happen before your books are even published" Seth shaded the truth a little, not ready to admit to his friend that he had a copy of every book she had written on his bookshelf at home.

The two friends had an easy practiced routine by now for when they decided to have dinner together. Seth always taking charge of the entrée, while Jessica would handle setting the table and the salad, bread or any other sides that would be part of the meal. She was a good cook in her own right and enjoyed it almost as much as Seth but having the better kitchen she knew he preferred to use it when he could. The few times she had seen his kitchen the countertops were littered with mail, papers from various medical organizations and sometimes even a patient file he had brought home to work on. She had talked with him more than once about getting Beverly to help more with the administrative work, hiring someone to help manage his practice but he would grumble about money and say he had time to do what he needed to himself. His home was functional but clearly lacking a woman's touch.

Jessica moved towards the cabinet to get the dishes to set the table and stopped when she reached the counter just as he moved a pot to a different burner, his movement catching her attention as she stopped to watch him as Seth started stirring and mixing his homemade tomato sauce. Before she had time to think about it, she was watching him work, her thoughts started following a now familiar refrain about how nice it was to have him there, how accustomed she had grown to his presence. How in rare moments she felt a faint yearning she had never thought she would experience again. "And yet I can never tell him," she thought before her mind quickly retorted with a "Why not?" She pondered the question. "What would happen if I was honest with him, would he reject me and leave, would it make our friendship awkward?" There was too much that could go wrong she argued with herself as her thoughts started debating with each other.

Initially oblivious to her gaze Seth was busily talking about his workday when he suddenly looked up, directly meeting her eyes. She felt a flutter in her stomach as their eyes met and she had to fight the urge to look away before he would see what she felt like must be clearly on her face.

"You sure like standing around watching me work don't you woman?" Seth exclaimed. His tone cranky. While the tone was gruff and could be construed as insulting to an outsider, Jessica knew better and simply smiled as she turned for the plates on the counter. "That's the second time I've caught you watching me, do you think I need supervision?" Seth asked, wondering at the expression he had seen before she had turned away.

"Not at all, I was thinking about…." Jessica paused, about to come up with a lie about a book, then impulse took over. "I was thinking about how nice it is to have you here, how important you and our companionship are to me, and you probably don't even realize it." She said her bold admission stunning them both.

There was nothing but the sound of the sauce starting to bubble as Seth just looked at her holding a wooden spoon, uncharacteristically speechless at her admission. "Well, ok then." He finally acknowledged, a roughened edge to his voice as he turned back to the stove and busied himself with his task, her words still reverberating through his mind as he considered how to respond even as he felt his pulse accelerating at what he had just heard.

"Well at least he didn't run away." Jessica tried to act as if nothing had changed as she continued to set the table in the silence broken only by the sound of their work. Even though she wasn't sure how he would respond, or if he even would, she was glad she had finally been open.

It was Seth's turn to watch her setting the table out of the corner of his eye as he busied himself dishing up the food and moving dirty pans to the sink to soak before sitting across from her at the table. They ate in silence for a minute, "this is really good Seth," Jessica complimented his cooking as usual, determined to now act as though nothing had happened and leave the ball in his court as she took another savory bite of the dinner he had prepared.

"It's the same for me," Seth was almost surprised to hear himself talking, surprising them both as he hadn't thought through what he might say next. Jessica watched him curiously but didn't say anything, waiting for him to continue. "These evenings we have together, they mean so much more than I may make them appear. Without Ruth, the house is so empty, I feel the most alive when I'm here with you. You could have your pick of other men to spend your evenings with. I always feel honored when you've chosen to spend it with me." He stopped, feeling like he had said too much.

"Thank you Seth, but don't sell yourself short, there's no one I'd rather spend my evenings with than you." Jessica smiled and reached across to pat his hand.

Seth felt the urge to blush as they returned to a mostly companionable silence, each processing the words spoken trying to determine if they had been spoken in terms of friendship and simple loneliness or something more. They returned to safer topics as they ate their meal, talks of Jessica's latest book and some of the latest Cabot Cove gossip. Their habitual post dinner chess game went quickly, whether it was Seth's distraction or her luck, Jessica was able to defeat him with much less effort than it usually took when she was able to win. While both were intelligent, he often won more often than she did due to his many years of experience with the game.

"I guess that's our evening." Jessica announced brightly as they began putting the pieces up, wishing the game had lasted longer as he rose from the table.

"I can't leave yet, it's rude to leave you with all the dishes." Seth said as he rolled up his sleeves and headed to the sink.

"Then let me help you," Jessica insisted as she started rolling up her sleeves and moved beside him to help rinse after he washed. The load of dishes was fortunately much lighter than from the last meal and they would have them done in no time. "I like this, us working together." She chanced a comment

"It is very domestic isn't it," Seth chuckled as he considered their routine. "I didn't think I would ever have this again, after Ruth." He said keeping his eyes on the dishes

"What, dirty dishes?" Jessica asked knowing very well he meant more, feeling her pulse quickening that they were putting feelings out in the open for a change, whatever those feelings might be.

"Very funny," he muttered "Someone to enjoy sharing whatever time is left in this life with." Seth paused, knowing he had overplayed his hand but once he had started sharing the feelings that he had spent so long stuffing inside, he couldn't seem to put the cork back in the bottle even though he knew that his words could have been taken in different ways but tired of trying to pretend otherwise.

"Are we just talking about loneliness and friendship?" Jessica asked boldly, feeling a lump in her throat at the question, wondering how far they could take this conversation before one of them backed down.

"I'm not," Seth said, feeling foolish but unable to turn back now that the topic was in the open. "I don't want just anyone else in my life, lord knows I have an inordinate number of mature ladies, some not even single, who keep finding a reason to come to my office and try to undress for things as simple as a broken toe. Even Beverly periodically makes innuendos." He looked stricken at the idea as he handed her a plate.

"I see," Jessica said, studying the soapy dish in her hand and feeling a little deflated, taking his words to mean that he had his pick of women in town.

"Don't misunderstand me woman," Seth said having heard the drop in her voice, "I didn't say I wanted any of them, frankly they're a little scary, many are desperate, just looking for someone to latch onto, especially after Deputy Martin left town."

"There is a definite ratio issue between men and women in this town," Jessica laughed, her spirits lifting at the dismissiveness Seth had showed in relation to the women who attempted to gain his attention, noting he hadn't even seemed flattered with the idea.

"Indeed, there are a lot of lonely people in this town. But what I said, don't worry Jess, I'm not trying to make any unwelcome moves on you." Seth finally decided it was time to backtrack before things got uncomfortable as the air in the room was starting to feel charged. "I'm not going to try change our friendship if you don't want that."

"I'm not worried," Jessica said softly. Taking the last plate from his hand to rinse, she let her fingertips purposefully brush his. "I'm not saying they're unwelcome either." She admitted, knowing there was now no turning back as his eyes widened. He was momentarily taken aback as he started to let the water drain from the sink.

"I'm just an old country Doctor., you travel and meet all sorts of sophisticated, affluent men…" Seth felt foolish for voicing his insecurities as he diverted his attention to wiping the countertop with a damp dishcloth as if his life depended on it.

"And I'm a retired high school English teacher, who much prefers the company of a down to earth, handsome intelligent man who doesn't care how many books I write or how much money I make." She said watching him carefully to see how he would react next, knowing everything had led up to this moment, one that would determine what step they next took, together or apart.

"This evening has taken an unexpected turn" Seth finally said chancing a look in her direction. "I should have told you all this sooner."

"Obviously we've both been holding back" Jessica 's tone was gentle, "I was afraid to do anything to damage our friendship."

"That was what I was worried about also," Seth confessed. "I know you'll always love Frank and I don't want to intrude on his memory."

"Yes, I will always love Frank, and you'll always love Ruth. But that doesn't mean there's not room to care about someone else in the time we have left." Jessica said softly as Seth kept rubbing at an imaginary spot on the counter, not able to look up at her again. "Maybe we've talked enough for tonight," she finally said sensing that they both needed more time to think about everything that had been said that evening.

"I agree," Seth turned and dropped the dishcloth back into the now empty sink. "We've talked enough tonight," he said with a boldness he did not feel as with his heart pounding so loud he was sure the neighbors could hear it, he purposefully stepped towards Jessica, relieved when not only did she not back away from him but there was a spark in her vivid blue eyes. He had been planning to ask permission, but he could see the welcoming response on her expression as he put his hands softly on the nape of her neck and tilted his head slightly down towards hers. Jessica wasn't reluctant in the least as she met him halfway for a short gentle kiss before Seth took a short step back to gauge her reaction as they watched each other.

"That was nice," Jessica said with a smile that matched his own as they pecked their lips together again before parting to look at each other, wondering if this was really happening as the sound of their breaths mingling was all that could be heard. In unspoken mutual agreement they decided to indulge themselves one more time, this time lingering a little longer than their earlier pecks before Seth let his hands slide down her shoulders then away as he took a step back. Jessica's lips were tingling from the contact as they both studied the other, looking for any signs of regret or discomfort but seeing none.

"I'm not sure what we have started, but I'm looking forward to finding out, no more hiding from each other." Jessica said as they walked slowly to the door together.

"No more hiding," Seth agreed as he started reaching for his coat by the door.

Jessica wanted to invite him to stay for a cup of coffee, to be able to talk longer as they explored all that was happening. Yet she was also mindful of the neighbors or any other town busybodies and was not yet ready for anyone else to know that something was happening before she and Seth had a chance to come to terms with it and savor it themselves.

"You're going to be the death of me woman," Seth said, his voice thick as he started pulling on his hat and coat, stealing a final peck before walking to his car, an obvious spring in his step. Jessica watched him start up his car and start to pull away from the curb. She felt like a schoolgirl as she waved goodbye before closing the door behind her as she started dreamily turning off the lights. She sighed as she climbed the stairs, wondering if she or Seth either one would be able to sleep tonight as they considered all the possibilities ahead.