"I haven't even looked at the pictures I took this afternoon," she said as she shook out the dress she'd chosen for supper. "I hope they turned out, Penelope said that she wanted to see them."

"I'm sure they look fine. Come on, we're starting to run into late territory." Erin nodded and picked up her purse, stuffing the camera inside as she hurried over to the door. "You look nice, by the way. I've always liked that color on you."

She blushed at the compliment, smoothing an absent wrinkle in her skirt. "I love wearing navy blue," she said lowly, letting him fit his arm around her waist once more. By the time they got down to the restaurant, Penelope and Derek were already seated in a secluded booth that the host led them to. "Good evening."

"Evening, Erin, Reid. Did you have a good afternoon?" Penelope asked as they sat down.

"Yes. I see you didn't get too burned out there." Penelope nodded, glancing at Derek. "Must be nice to have such a considerate lover."

"Well, when we get home, we'll have to start looking for one for you. Derek has a few friends that are really nice." Erin didn't fail to notice the look Penelope sent Spencer's way, and she wondered what was going on. It almost seemed like she was being set up, but that was absurd. Wasn't it?

"Perhaps. Oh, did you want to see my pictures?" Penelope nodded eagerly and Erin handed over the camera before starting to look over the menu.

"I thought we'd share a pair of lamb kebabs and an order of the Moroccan Couscous," Spencer said lowly. "Unless there's something else that catches your eye." Erin took a cursory glance at the menu and drew in a soft breath. "What would you rather have?"

"This." She pointed to the dish, Mrouzia, smiling gently. "This sounds delicious to me this evening. If you don't mind." He shook his head and her smile widened. "Thank you."

"Did you take this picture, Reid?" Penelope asked, holding the camera up so they could both see it. Erin gasped at how open she looked in the picture, the smile on her face unguarded as she looked up at Spencer.

"Yes. It turned out great." His hand slipped over to rest on her knee and she gulped a little, picking up her water glass and taking a long sip. "I'm finding that I enjoy taking pictures of people, of trying to find their hidden essence that they only reveal in flashes. We hide ourselves away, creating a public face to hide our vulnerabilities so that others won't think less of us. I'm tired of hiding like that. Maeve taught me to not be so caught up on the outer shell, to see to the heart of matters. I want to live for her."

"That is so insanely sweet, Reid," Penelope said as she handed back the camera. "How are you doing?"

"Better. Two months have really helped me to find peace with what happened. We loved each other, she was my first real love, but I know that she'd want me to move on, to find that with someone else." His hand tightened on her knee painfully, and Erin wondered if the other couple knew how big a lie he was telling them. Setting her glass aside, she let her left hand fall into her lap before covering Spencer's, rubbing it lightly with her thumb.

And then he did something totally unexpected. He turned his hand over and clasped hers tightly. Somehow she knew that he needed the contact and she threaded her fingers between his, smiling gently down at the table. "I know how you feel, Spencer. It's hard, but you have to find a way to move on from your first love."

"I don't think I've ever been in love until now." Penelope looked up at Derek, a dreamy smile on her face. "And now that I am, I don't want it to end. Ever."

"Then work very hard to keep your love strong. Alan and I forgot to do that, and he fell out of love with me. We changed when we weren't looking and didn't work those changes into our life together. Sometimes, the center cannot hold."

"Yeats," Spencer murmured, and she nodded, blushing a little at having been caught referencing another person. "You know Yeats well enough to work his words into general conversation."

"Yes. I majored in English. I love his poems." She looked over at him and found his gaze open and soft. They smiled at each other before looking up at the waiter. Erin found she was content with letting Spencer take the lead, ordering for them and getting both the lamb kebabs and the dish she had picked out for them to split. "Oh, and could we get a pot of mint tea as well?" she asked, and the waiter nodded.

Erin settled back in the booth, letting her shoulders relax, knowing she was among friends at the moment. As they talked, she saw David and Alex enter the restaurant, and was relieved when they were shown to a table on the opposite end of the room. That still didn't stop the woman from coming up to their table a few moments later, and she immediately tensed up, plastering on a smile. "How has your first day here been?" the woman asked, not really meeting any of their eyes.

"Great! Derek and I swam for a bit in the ocean, and then we went exploring a little. There's so much to do here, I don't think we'll get half of what we want to do done. And are you and Rossi getting along?"
"So far. I tried to talk him into switching with Reid, since that would probably be more comfortable for all of us, but he disagreed. Said we had to play the hand Fate dealt us." Erin sucked in a low breath, trying desperately to think of something to say to the woman. "Well, I just thought I'd say hi. Have a good evening."

And just like that, Alex was gone and Erin relaxed once more. Letting go of Spencer's hand, she took another sip of her water before adjusting how she sat, unconsciously scooting closer to him. "That was…awkward," Derek said as he frowned in her general direction. "I still don't understand what her beef is with you, Erin. All I know is that she can't move on, like you so obviously have."

"Well, she has every right to be upset with me. I almost got her fired." She held onto her glass, needing something to do with her hands. "I've done everything I could, I offered my apologies, it's up to her to accept them. And if she doesn't, that's all right, since I know I asked for forgiveness."

Penelope smiled at her and she shrugged a little, feeling tears prickle her eyes. "I know how that feels. I'm still waiting on my four stepbrothers." Erin nodded and took another drink of water, feeling her hands start to shake with the onset of a craving. Spencer noticed the tremors first and reached out rest his hand on her shoulder. Something about the gesture calmed her and she unconsciously leaned towards him, seeking out the comfort he offered. She also didn't fail to miss the look that Penelope and Derek shared, and she shook her head, not certain she was ready to handle the meddling those two were sure to do.