"Tally, it sounds like your date is here," Raelle was leaning against the door frame looking smug. "Are you ready to go? Cause she's coming to the door, and damn she's hot," She peaked through the living room blinds.

"Raelle Collar!" "What the Hell?" "Raelle!" Scylla, Tally, and Abigail all yelled simultaneously. The blonde just shrugged.

"I can think things too,"

"You can, just not that," Scylla said looking annoyed from where she sat on the couch across from Abigail who looked equally annoyed with Raelle's antics. The blonde had been messing with Tally nonstop since they'd left work. Tally was in the bathroom still getting ready to go.

There was a knock at the door, and they all went silent until there was a large clattering and a thud from down the hall.

"Tally, I think you have a visitor," Abigail yelled.

The redhead stumbled out of the other room, trying to finish the small braid in her hair and pull her jacket on at the same time. "How do I look?" Her hair was braided and tied back, and she was sporting a nice pair of jeans, her favorite pair of black ankle boots, a dark blue blouse, and a black semi fitted jacket.

Both Raelle and Scylla just looked at her and nodded, and Abigail smiled. "You look great, Tal, I think you should take their silence as a compliment as well," she said over her shoulder as she approached Tally. "Have a good time tonight, call anyone of us if you need anything, like to be rescued,"

"Thanks mom," she said sarcastically. "But for real, thanks,"

"Mhmm. No problem. Oh, and don't forget we will be having drinks at mine later too, if you want to stop by after,"

"If you don't end up staying the night that is," Scylla added, and Tally just glared at her, and Raelle laughed.

"Tally? On the first date, stay the night? Ha!" Raelle shook her head and Tally turned bright red. "Tally, we will see you for drinks at Abigail's place,"

Tally didn't even bother with a response; she just made a beeline for the door.

"Have a good time Tally!" Scylla shouted after her.

She opened the door slowly and smiled to see Sarah waiting. The older woman was wearing a leather jacket over a white shirt, a pair of dark jeans, and her hair was down. Tally was shocked, she wasn't sure she'd ever seen her with her hair down, and certainly never in a leather jacket. She was always going to work whenever she came in for coffee, so she was always wearing a suit, which wasn't a bad look either, in fact Tally quite liked the way it fit her, but this other side of her was just as fun to look at. She had to consciously stop her mouth from falling open as she looked at the woman before her. "Hey," she said as she stepped out and closed the door quickly behind her to quiet the noise of her housemates behind her.

Sarah grinned. "What was that about?"

"Nothing. They are just being ridiculous" Tally's face reddened more despite the cold air outside, and ushered Sarah toward the car. "It's good to see you,"

"It's good to see you too," Sarah said softly as she stopped just a few inches away from her before abruptly opening the car door for her. She offered Tally her hand to help her in before shutting the door and getting in the driver's seat.

"So, when do I get to know what we're doing?" Tally asked curiously as the car pulled away from the curb. She had to say she was a little uncomfortable, it wasn't everyday she drove around with someone other than her roommates.

"You'll see. I hope you're hungry," Sarah smirked.

"Yes ma'am," Tally replied eagerly.

They fell into silence; it wasn't too uncomfortable, but Sarah still turned on the radio. They pulled up to a nice Italian restaurant. "Is this okay with you?"

Tally nodded quickly. "I love Italian,"

"Good, because this place is the best," Sarah smirked as she walked around to help Tally out of the car.

Dinner was exquisite. The conversation was light but interesting, and the food was delightful. Tally was already sure that Sarah was wonderful, but hearing her talk about her job, her hobbies, her interests, that just made her like her even more.

Sarah was in the same position, Tally talked about her masters' classes, her projects, and career interests, and she was captivated by all of it. She could listen to her talk for hours, and if she could make it happen, she was going to. There was a large park nearby and it was a fairly clear night considering it was November, she hoped she could convince the redhead to accompany her.

"Do you have homework tonight?" Sarah asked Tally as she handed the waitress her credit card then packed their extra breadsticks into a takeout bag.

Tally shook her head. "No, I try to finish it all at the beginning of the week so I can do more spontaneous things on the weekends,"

She nodded. "If you have no further plans then, would you care to go for a walk?" Sarah stood and pulled her jacket back over her shoulders.

"I would like that,"

They walked and talked for a while, and it was nice. They came across some ducks and Tally insisted she give them some of the bread they had taken from the restaurant. "What should we name them?"

Sarah was bewildered. "Names? for the ducks?"

"Yeah," Tally ripped off a small piece and tossed it. "If you weren't here, I would call them Kai,"

Sarah arched an eyebrow. "Which one?"

"All of them," Tally shrugged.

"Why?"

"Because everything deserves a name, nothing should be nameless, plus I just like the name Kai," Tally tossed another piece of bread. Sarah's heart melted that was very possibly one of the cutest things she had ever heard.

"You are one of the most adorable people I have ever met," Sarah said quietly.

"Oh, stop it," Tally blushed, but she thanked the heavens that it was dark out.

"Come on, you're cute, you can't help it," She offered her a hand to hold as they kept walking. Tally took it, noticing immediately just how soft it actually was to hold, and how nicely their hands fit together.

They kept walking a little further. Sarah got to hear about Tally's work drama and Tally got to hear a little about Sarah's past, but as they walked around the park, they came across an ice-skating rink; one of those pop-up ones that they operate during the cooler months of the year. In the spirit of being spontaneous, as that was the operative word of the evening, Tally suggested they do it. One look at Tally's bright smile and big doe eyes, there was no saying no.


Tally would have never pegged the older woman as someone who got nervous, but the way she was staring down the ice rink in front of them was like she was staring over the edge of a cliff, and she was scared of falling. She reached out and took Sarah's hand, making her jump ever so slightly. "Are you alright?"

Sarah swallowed. Somehow, she had gotten this far in life and had never been. It was never something she had a reason or desire to do, but the girl was so excited when she suggested it that she hadn't had the ability to say she had never been before. Looking out at all the people going around in circles, balancing on the thin blades, she wondered if there was any way to get out of it at this point.

Without looking over at the girl, she nodded slowly. "Yes, but I've never actually been ice skating,"

Tally instinctively squeezed her hand. "Oh. We don't have to do this, we were just walking past, and I thought it could be fun, but..."

That made Sarah look at her then. "No, it was a good idea,"

Tally visibly relaxed. "Okay, as long as you're sure, I want you to have a good time too,"

"Let's just get this over with," She stood on shaky legs, Tally immediately noticed the women's skates were not tight enough as she wobbled. Before she could fall over, without thinking too much about it, like it was just natural, Tally let go of her hands and grabbed her by the waist, steadying her, and Sarah instinctively clutched her shoulders.

They stood like that for a second, getting used to their closeness, neither backing away.

"Careful there," She breathed. "Could you sit down for a second," Tally let her go. She helped her back to sitting and promptly kneeled down on the ground in front of her. She carefully relaced each of her skates, pulling the strings tight, before slowly bringing her eyes up to meet Sarah's icy blue ones. She had dreamt countless nights of being on her knees in front of this woman, not quite like this, but this was still pretty good. She took in all of her beauty. Her long legs in those very fitting blue jeans, her hair down pulled free of their usual braids, and her perfect face. So caught up in all of those thoughts she almost forgot what she was doing. "Uh-um, better? Too loose? Too tight?"

Sarah smiled down at her. "Feels a lot better, thank you," She stood and helped Tally to her feet as well, and they were standing incredibly close. Tally quickly tried to put a little more space between them and ended up stumbling backward, but she managed to catch herself after a moment of mild flailing.

Sarah couldn't help but chuckle lightly at her, which only made Tally blush.

"Come on, I promise it's not as hard as it looks, walking on dry land in ice skates is harder than being on the ice," Tally offered Sarah her hand. Sarah took it and followed her carefully.

Tally got on first, finding her footing quickly. She waited a short distance away for Sarah to step onto the ice one foot at a time.

What have I gotten myself into?! Sarah thought to herself as she clung to the wall of the ice rink for dear life.

A few small children had gotten the hang of it and were going a little fast when they passed them, Tally had to move out of the way. She was fine, she had gone skating with Raelle, Scylla, and Abigail the weekend prior, so it hadn't been that long for her. She could make out the look of fear on Sarah's face though being separated from her. Looking effortless, Tally shifted her weight carefully between her feet and maneuvered herself over to the wall several feet in front of Sarah. All Sarah had to do was somehow get to her.

Sarah looked down at her feet then back up at Tally who was smiling and holding her hands out for her, then back to her feet. It wasn't really that far, and the girl had made it look so easy, she could do it. Carefully she pulled herself along the wall with her arms and tried to figure out what to do with her feet.


"Why don't you show me what it looks like to actually be able to do this, since you're the expert here," Sarah asked, getting frustrated with her lack of inherent ability after a long half hour. She would much rather watch Tally for a little while.

"Are you sure?" Tally cocked her head to the side. "I'm perfectly happy right here with you though,"

"Go do a few laps, I'll be fine here," Sarah nodded.

"Okay, but only because it could be educational, I will be right back," Tally grinned, and Sarah laughed.

The redhead pushed herself off the wall and she was quick to make it look effortless. She glided across the ice, far faster than Sarah expected she would. Clearly this girl knew what she was doing. Sarah was entranced watching every part of the girl's figure as she moved. Every flex of her muscles, the determination in her eyes, the smile on her face, and the way her red hair fluttered in the air as she went. Just after she came out of the turn onto the straight away, she waved then quickly turned around and began skating backwards. Sarah's mouth hung open as she watched, and the girl's smile widened. She turned around to skate forward just before the next turn. Still maintaining her speed, she blew past Sarah and headed into lap two. Sarah got a nice view of her ass as she skated by.

Tally looked at Sarah for just a moment too long when she came out of the turn though and missed when a few kids got right in her path. Tally was quick when she realized so she didn't run into them, but she lost her rhythm and then her balance, and faster than Sarah could really comprehend, Tally was lying flat on her back on the ice.