Another short chapter, I'm breaking what would have been page breaks into chapters just so I can put content out. And this was coincidentally the next scene in the story; they are not cooking Thanksgiving dinner, but at least for the USians who read this, it's a timely vibe. Enjoy some semi-serious, semi-adorable Waige.


Walter was hovering. Standing near Paige as she made dinner, offering to help time and time again (no, Walter, you cooked yesterday, it's okay), placing his hand on her back or her butt or her shoulder and complimenting anything she did. It was sweet. It was also annoying the everloving shit out of her.

"Walt, is everything okay?"

"Yes," he said. "I'm just being affectionate."

"Well," she said, giving a little laugh at his diction, "I do need some space to move around." She'd been glad when Ralph offered to take Amber to the science center. Amber recently decided that she loved sitting on the counter while her parents cooked, offering them her advice and critiques like she was a judge on Chopped.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He took a step back. "Am I already losing my ability to read social cues?"

"No," she said. "You're being sweet. I just have a lot to do." She realized there was genuine concern on his face. "Walt." She took off her oven mitts. "You can't let your worry over a possible cognitive decline make you second and third guess everything you do."

"But-"

"I'm sure it's much easier said than done. I'm sure. But it's important. Me asking you to give me a couple feet of breathing room while I cook is not a situation of you drastically misreading a situation." She walked over to him, touching his elbow gently. "You have not regressed nearly as much as you think."

"It's so very hard," he said. "I worked so hard. I worked so hard to be good enough. For you, for the team, for everyone we have helped…" he stepped away from her, walking over to the couch and putting his head in his hands.

Paige hurried over to him. "Are you...crying?"

"No."

He seemed to be telling the truth. It didn't sound like he was crying. But it did sound like he was trying very, very, very hard not to.

"Oh, my love," she said, sinking down on the couch next to him. She kissed his cheek. "You know, that money, we could do research."

He knew what she meant. "I don't want to use the money for me," he said.

"But there are other people who have had head trauma. We could help them, too. Helping you would be a happy coincidence."

"That's not what a coincidence is."

"Fair." She slid her hand down to his jaw, making him look her in the eyes. "If this bothers you so much, let's let Scorpion try to help. But trust me, love, when it comes to our relationship, I still want to be with you every bit as much as you want to be with me. I promise. Promise."

"Because I'm still mostly me. Remember how...terribly different I was when we met?"

Paige smirked. "Have I ever told you about the day we met?"

"No, but I was there, so I know what happened."

She rolled her eyes, and the way he grinned in response told her that he'd wanted that reaction. "What I mean is, when you came over that night to offer me the job."

"If you have," he said, "I don't remember, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, it just means I get to tell you again." She grinned. "So you and I meet, we go through that crazy experience together, right, you were so good with my s- with Ralph, and then that night you just...show up at my door."

"Well, yes, I offered you the job."

"Yeah, but…do you know why I thought you were there?" Without waiting for an answer, Paige kissed him. He kissed her back, pulling her closer, both of them relaxing and sinking into the couch, and just as Paige was wondering if he'd forgotten about her story, he caught up. Jerking his head back slightly, he looked at her incredulously. "You thought I'd come over to…"

She giggled. "I totally thought it was a booty call."

His surprised expression didn't change. "You...you…"

"You wanna know something else?"

"I'm not sure," he said with a small laugh.

She leaned closer. "I probably almost definitely would have done it."

They both started laughing. I cannot believe this," he said. "That was the absolute last thing on my mind that night."

"It's more than likely for the best, that things worked out the way they did," Paige said. "But I…" she started laughing again, burying her head into his neck. "I totally would have."

"So, uh, what about now?" Walter raised his eyebrows.

Paige caught on quickly, finding herself blushing. "Now? You feel okay?"

"I think so."

Paige bit her lower lip, grinning. She got up from the couch, peering at the timer on the oven. "We got time."

Walter grinned back at her.

Paige went to the kitchen island, picking up her phone and texting Ralph. Kill an extra hour before you guys come back.

The reply came almost immediately. Gross. Ok.

"So," she said flirtatiously as she put the phone down and walked back toward Walter. "Mr. O'Brien. Tell me why you really came over here tonight."

"I-" Walter was briefly confused, but caught on quickly. "I mean, I know, we just met, but I couldn't help but, I couldn't help but think there was this chemistry between us, and, this is probably way too forward-"

"Oh, no, no," Paige said, "I was thinking the same thing."

"I don't normally-"

"Me either. But first time for everything, right?"

They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Paige grabbed Walter's hand and they walked to their room, still giggling as they kissed and fell onto the mattress.