4. Peace

The two of you rode in comfortable silence towards the park you couldn't help but glance at the man sitting beside you and felt a slight blush as he noticed you looking.

"Thank you for joining me tonight. Not many would willingly go out in the cold to watch Shakespeare reenactments." He said as he gave you a small smile.

"Well if I remember correctly I owe you for the broken foot so we will call us even." You said with a bit of humor in your voice as he let out a laugh.

When the Uber pulled up to the park you watched as he quickly got out and went to your side. Before you had the chance to open the door he had pulled it open and held a hand out to help you out of the car.

With a smile between the two of you, you walked shoulder to shoulder down the path. As you allowed him to guide you towards the reenactments you watched as he kept quiet while also occasionally stealing a glance. It seemed he was just as nervous as you were for the evening.

As you came to the grassy area where the show would be held you noticed a few vendors along the edge of the gathering. With a small smile forming on your lips you looked over at him.

"I'll be right back. Why don't you find us a good spot?"

Before he could say anything you left with nothing more than a grin. You watched him smirk and gently shake his head as you skipped away.

While you stood in line you looked over towards where you had left him to see if you could spot him in the crowd. As your eyes crossed the distance you found him instantly.

It was like there was a beacon above his head. You doubted he could see you from the crowd around the vendor but blushed at the idea of him searching for you as you did him.

As you moved back towards where you left him you felt the flutters reappear within your stomach. At the same time you felt giddy at the idea of spending time with him.

"Miss me yet?" You asked as you gave him a smile as you approached.

When you met him you realized he had found a small blanket and laid it on the grass for the two of you to sit as you watched the shows. He flashed a smile as he saw you and eyed the items in your hand.

"They didn't have coffee but they did have hot chocolate."

As you passed a cup to him his fingers grazed yours, causing a spark to appear in your eyes for a split second before he pulled away.

"Thank you. Hot chocolate is perfect.. And in all honesty I should try to lay off the coffee and caffeine. So this.." He started as he took a sip. "This.. is perfect. Thank you."

"I found us a blanket to sit on while we watched the shows. It's a bit small.. I'm sorry I didn't think of it beforehand or I would have brought a bigger one."

"It's perfect." You said as the two of you shared a smile.

As the two of you got settled on the blanket you realized just how small the blanket was. Even with the two of you letting your legs hang off the end, there was still barely enough room for both of you to sit and have space in between. You noticed how he scooted closer to get comfortable and smiled as him as the show started.

As the first short play started you couldn't help but get lost in the scene and in the actors' portrayals. You recognized a few of the young actors as students and felt a sense of pride as you watched them pour their hearts out to the crowd that had gathered in the chilly night.

On more than one occasion your hands would touch or you would bump shoulders as you laughed or cried with the actors. Each of these times led to a smile and blush across each of your faces.

As the second shortened play came to a close and the short intermission started the two of you stayed seated. A quiet peace fell across the two of you as you sat together on the blanket sipping your hot chocolates.

"Thank you for inviting me tonight." You said as you looked at him.

"It was my pleasure. I am still surprised you gave up your wild night to come out here with me." He said with surprise in his voice.

"Shh.. just don't tell my boss!" You stated with a bit of amusement in your voice, making both of you chuckle.

"So what is your story Y/N?" He asked as he leaned back on his arms.

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say I have a way of being able to read people and I have a way of knowing what is in someone's head. When we first met at the bookstore and even when we had coffee I could tell there was something more there on why you ended up in New York."

As he spoke he eyed you with a look you had not seen on him before. It was not a look that made you uncomfortable but instead made you feel that he could see past the barriers you erected, that he could see within your soul.

You didn't answer right away and instead took a few deep breaths trying to form your thoughts into words. Were you really going to let him know just how bad you were burned? Just how damaged you were?

"I.. I came to New York for a fresh start. I had been teaching in Puerto Rico and when I arrived back home.. Let's just say that the world and life I had built was gone."

You watched as he listened to every word you said as watched as he worked through the deeper meanings to the words you stated.

"What is your story Rafael? Regular guys don't just sit at a bookstore looking for something to happen."

As he sat thinking everything over you noticed a look cross his face. It was a look you were familiar with and you felt for him. It was a look of heartbreak and a look of anger at the world.

"Do you want the long or short story?" He asked.

His question caught you off guard as you could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke. You didn't answer and instead allowed him to answer the question for himself. Allowing him the chance to decide just how much he would tell you. In the end he too kept it short and as he leaned up he continued.

"I was the ADA for Manhattan and worked special victims cases. The job.. The job took over and as much as I wanted to make a difference I learned the hard way just how cruel the world can be to everyone."

Without thinking you took his hand in yours and gave him a slight kiss on his cheek. As you pulled away you felt the all too familiar blush creep across your face once again at the realization of what you had done and he gave your hand a squeeze and continued to hold it as the the next scene started.

"He didn't hit you did he?" He asked. His voice a meer whisper in your ear, full of emotion and anger rolled together.

"Rafael.." You whispered back.

You looked at him pleading him to not dig and not go there at this time. He gave you a smile while wrapping an arm around you, pulling you closer to kiss your temple as you leaned into his embrace.

For the first time in a long time both of you were finally starting to feel at peace and, as you watched the scene play out in front of you, you couldn't help but hold his hand tighter as he pulled you closer with the other arm.