Chapter 3: Understanding

A quick trip to the store got Emma and Lilly some new clothes and a few other necessities while Grillby waited patiently for them. He noted that Lilly stuck by her mother's side and looked longingly at some toys, but didn't ask for any. That made him wonder if she had any toys and decided to see about that later.

Emma was careful to select what she and her daughter needed and she did make a purchase for her plans tonight when her daughter was asleep. Thanking the clerk, they headed out to find Grillby waiting by the store entrance patiently. "Sorry that took so long," Emma apologized.

The fire elemental smiled. "I wouldn't call fifteen minutes long," he said. "Did you find everything you need?"

"Yes," the young woman said.

It wasn't long before they had returned and after an eventful day, Emma told Lilly a bedtime story and the little girl settled for the night, seeing Grillby standing in the doorway and she smiled. "Mr. Grillby, can I have a goodnight hug?" She asked.

He was a little surprised by the request, but smiled and came in, hugging the child who hugged him back. "Sweet dreams, young one," he said, brushing his hand over her head in a fatherly manner while Emma tucked her daughter in. The child fell asleep instantly and the two adults headed out quietly.

"She trusts you, Grillby," the young woman said. "She never once asked her father for a goodnight hug."

He was surprised, but then saddened. "He wouldn't even give her the time of day?" He asked.

"Sadly, no," she said with a sad look. "When her father got abusive, she would take her blanket and hide under her bed and sleep there. I'd find her in the morning like that and she admitted she felt safer there when her father would start yelling."

Grillby felt his fire flare up again when he heard that. He took a moment to calm down. "Do you think she'll be alright tonight?" He asked.

Emma nodded. "Because she feels safe here, as do I," she said. "You made quite an impression on her."

"A good one, I hope," he admitted.

She smiled before taking a deep breath. "Come on," she said. "I promised you that I'd dance for you."

"You did," he said, following her to the bedroom. She grabbed something and slipped into the bathroom. Curious by this, he decided to sit on the bed and wait patiently. Five minutes later, Emma emerged from the bathroom and Grillby felt shock fill him as he took in the sight.

Emma wore a two piece dancing dress that had a top that showed off her shoulders and her stomach and the skirt was ruffled, but just barely went to mid-thigh. She lowered her eyes as if afraid to look at him before she began belly dancing.

Now Grillby wouldn't deny that Emma was a graceful dancer, but this hadn't been what he expected when she had said she'd dance for him. He got up and went up to her. "Emma," he said, making her stop and look at him. "I...What are you doing?"

She gave him a confused look. "I'm dancing for you," she said.

He blinked at that. "I...I didn't think you meant this kind of dancing," he admitted before seeing her look away. He gently turned her face to look at him. "I'm not saying you're not a good dancer. You are, but...I didn't realize what you meant when you said you'd dance."

Emma still looked confused. "What kind of dancing did you think I meant?" She asked.

"Well, ballroom dancing," he admitted.

She blinked. "What's that?" She asked.

Grillby looked at her. "You've never heard of ballroom dancing?"

She shook her head. "I...I thought there was just this kind of dancing my folks made me learn," she admitted. "They said a man wouldn't look at me unless I danced like a belly dancer."

The fire elemental knew that some women did belly dancing and were good at it, but he would never ask someone to do so for him. He thought for a moment before he chuckled as something came to him. Emma gave him another confused look. "What's so funny?" She asked.

"Your parents told you a man wouldn't look at you unless you danced," he said. "But...I looked at you and that was before I knew you could dance."

She blinked, realizing he just made a point. He wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. "Emma, you don't have to do belly dancing for me," he said.

She looked at him before realizing something. She wanted to dance for him, unlike the times she had danced for her ex-husband, who had made her uncomfortable, but Grillby didn't. "Grillby, I want to dance for you," she admitted. "Because I know you won't hurt me."

That statement alone told the fire elemental just how much trust this woman had in him and how badly her self-esteem had been knocked down as she had been told that no man would even look at her unless she danced the way they had taught her. He hugged her and his fingers ran gently through her long hair. "How about I show you how to ballroom dance?" He suggested. "That way, we can dance together."

She bit her lip. "I'm...I'm not good with a partner," she admitted.

"Perhaps you haven't found the right partner yet," he said gently. "Let me teach you how to ballroom dance, Emma."

She took a deep breath and looked at him, seeing he was being truthful and she leaned into his hug. "Should I change first?" She asked.

He nodded. "Wear what you feel comfortable in," he said.

She gave him a grateful look and went into the bathroom after grabbing something else, breathing a sigh of relief and looking at herself in the mirror, wondering if Grillby found her beautiful. He certainly was nothing like her ex-husband. He had complimented her, but had also shown he wouldn't force her to dance like that for his amusement. Maybe I can belly dance for him another time when we know each other better, she thought to herself. She had been truthful when she told the fire elemental that she wanted to dance for him because she knew he'd be a gentleman and she now smiled. He's a gentleman a thousand times over.

She exited the bathroom, wearing black yoga pants and a t-shirt that was a size larger than she was, but it was shade of green that she liked. Grillby smiled when he saw her. "Wow," he said softly.

Emma blinked. "What?" She asked softly and curiously.

He went up to her and pulled her closer to him, brushing her face with the back of his fingers of his left hand. "You're beautiful," he said. "And I'm not just saying that because of the other outfit."

She blushed a bit before smirking. "Maybe I can belly dance for you some other time," she said before realizing what she said and her face turned bright red as she looked away.

Grillby chuckled a little. "Ah, you are a bit fiesty," he said, amused before looking serious. "But let's hold off on that for a bit. I don't want you to feel you have to do that kind of dancing to keep me interested."

Emma blinked in shock. "You're...interested in me?" She asked.

He nodded. "I'm not going to lie," he said. "I am interested in you, Emma, and I want to show you that not all men are like that monster."

She smiled at him. "You've already proven you're not," she said before leaning closer to him, resting her head on his chest, her eyes closing as she heard his heartbeat.

The fire elemental smiled at her before gently taking her right hand in his left, placing his right hand on her waist and leading her into the waltz. To his surprise and delight, she placed her left arm on his right arm, following smoothly and in time with him. "Well, one good thing came out of you learning how to belly dance," he said gently.

"What's that?" She asked.

"You're following smoothly and in time," he said.

She blinked in surprise before looking a bit bashful. "I...I guess so," she admitted.

Grillby smiled and leaned close so that his mouth was by her ear. "You're doing wonderful," he said in a low voice to her. "Trust me."

Emma felt something that she hadn't felt before when he said that and she grew curious as it felt nice and she wanted to feel it again. "Grillby?" She asked softly.

"Yes?" He replied just as softly.

She moved her arms to wrap them around his neck and hugged him. "Thank you," she said softly.

Warm arms wrapped around her. "You're welcome, beautiful Emma," he said softly in her ear.

The same feeling she felt moments ago filled her again and she began to wonder what it was until it hit her.

Is it love? She asked herself. Could I be falling for Grillby even though I just met him?

She instantly came to her answer. Yes. I've fallen for him. I wonder if he's falling for me?

Unknown to her, Grillby was asking himself the same questions and his response to himself was just as instantaneous.

I'm falling for her.

Looks like the ship is getting ready to sail. :)

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GoldGuardian2418