"Do I look all right?" Penelope asked as she reversed the camera so that Erin could see her reflection in the mirror. She had tried to dress down a little, wanting Alex to feel more comfortable with the date, and if she blended in a little, that would probably be accomplished. Still, she wanted someone else's opinion on her outfit before she met Alex downstairs and they went out.

"You look beautiful, Penny. Alex will pleased no matter what you wear, though. I think she likes you exactly how you are."

"I know that, but I still want to impress her!" she whinged, and Erin giggled. "What?"

"You're adorable when you're flustered and anxious, darling. Try not to treat this like anything more than a dinner with a dear friend, so that you don't work yourself up so much. Trust me. It's not like you can pretend to be aloof and hard to get, she already knows how much you care for her."

"True. Um. Do you mind if I call you after the date? I think that I might need to decompress a little."

"Just text first, please. David and I might be in bed."

"Oh?" she asked, her voice raising a few octaves in pitch at the implication.

"We cuddle. That's all I can handle right now, and we have to be fully clothed, but it is so wonderful to be intimate like this with him. Now, before I prattle on too long, please, go and enjoy your date, and tell me all the details later. Love you."

"Love you, too." She waved to Erin before ending the call and then smoothed her skirt down her legs before taking a deep breath and grabbing her clutch. This was going to be a good date, she just had to take Erin's advice and not act over the top. Slowly, she made her way down the stairs, finding it easier to calm her nerves when she concentrated on taking small steps. And then, she felt her breath stolen from her body when she looked at Alex waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. She was wearing high heels, a fitted skirt, and a lowcut blouse that immediately drew Penelope's attention.

"My eyes are a little further north, Penelope." There was a slight laugh in her voice which made her feel a tad bit better about staring at her so openly. "I didn't realise that this would have quite that effect on you. I dressed like this when we were out on the road."

"Um, no, you did not wear a blouse like that, Alexandra." She closed the distance between them and reached out to brush her fingers against Alex's chest, watching her shiver a little. "See? I wouldn't have been able to keep my hands to myself if you had worn that earlier. I mean, I would have asked before straight up groping you, but the instinct would be more carnal than friendly."

A deep blush stole across Alex's face as she looked away from Penelope before leaning in and kissing Penelope deeply. "I hope I didn't muss your lipstick, darling," she whispered against her lips before pulling away and dragging her fingers along the neckline of her dress. Penelope nodded a little, feeling like the movement was jerky, hoping that she wasn't breathing as unsteadily as she felt like she was. "Are you ready to head out?"

Again, she nodded, and then sighed a little as Alex took hold of her hand, guiding her over to the door and into the garage. "Where are we heading?"

"I bought tickets to the symphony, they're playing the music of Final Fantasy tonight, and I know that you like that video game, so I thought that you would enjoy that. And we have reservations at Chez Rouge."

"That fancy?"

"You deserve fancy, Penelope." They sighed in unison, and then she was getting into Alex's car, watching the woman as she drove to the restaurant. They didn't talk, but it was a comfortable silence, one that she allowed herself to swim in as she focused on the fact that Alex had even gone so far as to paint her nails a deep burgundy to match her skirt. It was a beautiful sight to see, and she wished that she had thought to take the time to match her outfit as well. "What is it?" Alex finally asked as she pulled into the parking lot.

"I just find myself thoroughly enamoured with you," she murmured with a dreamy smile on her lips. Alex shook her head a little as she climbed out of the vehicle, and Penelope hurriedly followed after her, hooking arms with her as they leisurely made their way to the door. Alex gave her name, and they were soon seated at a semi-secluded table. The meal seemed to pass by so quickly, but they filled it with a steady stream of chatter, and everything started to feel so comfortable to Penelope that she wondered how she had ever lived without this sweet back and forth in her life.

Finally, though, they pushed away from the table and then Alex was guiding her back out to the car, her hand on the small of Penelope's back the entire way. The move felt a little territorial, and she reveled in it. When they reached the car, Penelope stopped her, looking around to make certain that there weren't many people watching them. "Penelope?"

"One hunger was sated in there, but another seems to have struck me just now," she replied huskily before leaning in and kissing her. "I need to reapply my lipstick anyway, so I'll use this free time to kiss you senseless before we head to the performance hall."

Alex nodded before kissing her again. Penelope laughed against her lips as her back hit the cool glass of the car window, and then she moaned as Alex slid a hand up and cupped one of her breasts, her thumb rubbing against her nipple, causing it to tighten with want. "I live for these kisses."

"I do, too." They broke apart, and Penelope smoothed her dress as she opened her door and climbed inside, ready for Alex to drive them to the concert venue. "But that's all we're doing, yes? I mean, you are still married to James."

"I am. And I still want to honor our vows, even though my marriage is irreparably broken. Though I wouldn't mind finding you in my bed tonight. You're always so warm."

"My mom was like that, too. And don't think I haven't noticed your cold fingers spreading out across my torso some nights."

Alex laughed as she shrugged a little. "I don't mean to do it, Penny. I guess that you're a bit of a siren as well?"

"Sure, keep telling yourself that," she shot back, rolling her eyes a little as she settled back in her seat. "But I don't mind your cold hands so much. They remind me that I'm useful to you in some small way."

"In more ways than just that, Penelope." Alex glanced over at her and the expression on her face was so lovely that it hurt Penelope to look at it for very long. Instead, she reached over and wrapped her hand around Alex's forearm, squeezing lightly as she nodded, knowing that she would always remember this moment in time.