"I can't believe we dashed before dining." Harry beeped his car open. "A date for the history books."

"So, you're more amazed that we dashed before dining and not the fact that I lied about being your wife?" Caitlin wanted to laugh, howl so loud a stranger would stop in their tracks and stare. "It's not even a crime to decide to leave before ordering. You have weird standards." She slid into the car seat and began to giggle helplessly, hiding her face in her hands.

"Truth is often more strange than fiction." Harry started his car. "Since our reservation was a bust, and I'd rather not wait any longer to eat, how about some Big Belly Burger?"

"Sounds perfect." Caitlin kept her eyes trained on the road in front so that she wouldn't have to see any disappointment on Harry's face. "Matter of fact, I bet you're not so secretly happy we're going there."

"Not gonna lie, I adore B to the three." Harry reached over to tap Caitlin's shoulder. "Hey, you don't mind, do you?" He kept tapping until she glanced over and agreed. He smiled. "We don't have to got there, any fast food place will do."

Caitlin let out an amused snort. "You've got me in the mood now, may as well go where you want."

Harry made an agreeing sound, happy enough this date was continuing - and glad Caitlin had no idea what her easy words had stirred in his soul. In the mood? He'd been battling his lust for far too long. How could a patently innocent response send his libido into overdrive? "All right, but let's eat our food at a place of your choosing."

Caitlin fought the self-destructive urge to suggest 'in your bed.' She smothered an inelegant snort and pretended it had always been an imminent cough. "Fair enough. Imma need a minute to think about that, just drive. I'm sure you know where the closest Big Belly Burger is."

"Aw. You know me." Harry said it with undisguised affection. No point in lying about certain truths. "And you're still willing to spend time with me."

"Okay, interesting choice." Harry turned his signal on and waited at the light. The food smelled amazing and highly distracting - but where Caitlin had directed him to drive was odd.

"And my choice, the one you gave me." Caitlin took a sip of her drink and then smirked. "You'd rather eat sooner than later, yeah? This was closer than either of our places, so this made perfect sense."

"You're right. What's not to like about fresh air and calming night breezes?" Harry pulled into the gravel lot of the small park and switched off his ignition. "And bonus, since it's getting late, no kids."

"Well, I was more thinking about the plentiful picnic tables and not having to wait to eat!" Caitlin grabbed her drink and made to lift the bag of food - only for Harry to snatch it first. She laughed. "Hungry much? Okay, let's go then."

The moon was making an appearance now, peeking through the plentiful clouds. And the security lights stationed every thirty feet around the perimeter of the park buzzed. Harry and Caitlin had wolfed most of their food - slowly consuming the last fries and onion rings.

"I'd burp, but I don't want to make a bad impression." Harry confided and then immediately belched.

Caitlin laughed as Harry had intended. "Too late."

"Alas!"

"Pfft." Caitlin shook her head and then looked up at the sky. "Pity there's too many city lights washing out the stars. Wouldn't it be so beautiful to see a true night-scape?"

"It's plenty beautiful from where I sit," Harry answered and then realized how that had sounded. "Um, there's a certain calmness in a quiet playground."

"A quiet playground is calm by definition."

"You know what I mean."

"Maybe." Caitlin smiled. "And maybe I like teasing you."

"I'm too much of a gentleman to take that the wrong way." Harry busied himself with filling the paper bag with their refuse, scrunching used napkins into a ball with the burger wrappers. "I've had fun tonight."

"I'm glad you asked me out." Caitlin looked down at her hands - she'd laced them tight and her fingers were going white. "If I wasn't such a coward, I would have asked you first."

"Don't say that." Harry started to reach across the picnic table but then stopped, dragging his hands back and resting them on his thighs. "I'll let you ask me out on our next date."

Caitlin blinked. Once, twice and again before her brain screamed at her to respond. "Come out with me on the weekend?"

The nerves in the pit of Harry's stomach started rejoicing. "It's a date."

Caitlin waved at the receding car lights, miffed that Harry hadn't tried to give her a good night kiss. It was novel. He'd leaned in and given her a long hug - his hands staying in the safe zone. Harry was strange - but in such a good way.

No longer able to see his car, Caitlin retreated into her house and pulled out her cell phone to dial Iris. She tapped her toe impatiently as she waited. "Hey! You'll never guess!"

"The fact that you're calling me at this time of night means Harry didn't get any." Iris zinged her reply. "Ooh, that sounds harsh - what I mean is you didn't offer." Iris sucked air over her teeth. "Nope, that still sounds like I'm judging you. Um, I guess you had a nice time?"

"I did, thanks." Caitlin cleared her throat, stalked over to her couch and sat. "It was very nice. It got a little weird, but -" Caitlin stopped short. Iris was giggling - but why? And could she hear another voice? A man's voice? Oh…

"What was weird?"

"Why did you answer if you've got company?" Caitlin sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I don't want to ruin your good time to rehash my date. I'm sorry -"

"Because you're my friend and I want to hear everything."

"I don't feel the same," Caitlin said with a mutinous tone. "Barry is with you, isn't he? And from the sounds you're making - he's not keeping his hands to himself."

"We're both consenting adults…" Iris thought more about what Caitlin had said. "You can't hear everything!"

"I heard enough," Caitlin dryly answered, "your giggles and his heavy breathing. Not a good combination. Imma let you go."

"Wait!"

"Iris, I'm not mad, I understand - we can chat at work."

"If you're sure…"

Caitlin teased, "As sure as Barry's getting lucky right now!" and then abruptly ended her call.

Tina snapped her fingers and gave Cisco a regal nod. "Excellent work." She took a sip of her coffee and sighed with pleasure.

"Are you talking about the coffee or the movie?"

"Can't it be both?" Tina put extra oomph into her posh accent. "I'm glad I didn't listen to my sister and replace you with my nephew. Donald does work hard, but I haven't forgiven Sarah for the church fete fiasco. And why should I?"

"I don't know about any of that," Cisco frowned and took a restorative sip of his own coffee before answering further. "Thanks for not firing me, I guess?"

"You're welcome, dear boy." Tina waved her hand and smiled - completely missing Cisco's less than positive response. "We're eighty percent in the can with the movie, all that's left is a few extras to film and the grand finale."

"Wait, saving the world wasn't the big finish?" Cisco flipped through his script rapidly and ran his finger down all the ticked off major scenes they'd already worked on. "The big Tom reveal, the surprise assistance and a back from the dead character…" He sighed. "None of those are the grand finale?"

"Heavens no!" trilled Tina, "Dear boy, did I not give you the update?"

"Um. No." Cisco wondered if Tina was purposefully trying to make him insane. "What, oh great director is the grand finale?"

"The end of ends!" Tina laughed at her joke. "Seriously, what I've decided to include in our movie will melt women's ovaries and stoke men's loins."

"Sounds kinda gross."

"I didn't quite hear you."

"Sounds hella amazing." Cisco smiled. "Show me the pages?"

Caitlin shivered for no good reason as Tina handed her the newest altered scene pages but tried to pass it off as being cold rather than pure irrational dread. "Has the temperature dropped?" She smiled wanly and settled deeper into her chair. "Seems strangely chilly!"

Tina finished handing Harry the new changed script and turned back to face Caitlin. "Don't worry because you two will be providing ever so much heat." She raised both brows and her smile was a terrible travesty of happiness. "It will scorch the earth."

"Has the film rating been raised?" Harry joked.

"As high as I need," agreed Tina, still smiling with an intense and unsettling vigor. "To feed the deepest and darkest of depraved needs."

"I feel that," Caitlin muttered a touch too loud and turned bright pink as everyone turned to stare. "So?"

"I'm up for the challenge." Harry looked at the newly inserted scene - that featured himself and Caitlin in close quarters. "This should prove interesting."

Tina sat, crossing her legs. "Even better, this should prove incendiary." She snapped her fingers. "Excellent, we're going to do a read-through all in one shot. So, once you're ready, Cait, dear - begin."

Caitlin swallowed down a hysterical giggle and began the best and worst read-through in her career. "Slow down Tom, we've got all night." She let her voice be soft but have an edge of bravado. "Let's consider this a marathon, don't spend all your strength in one burst."

Harry kept his eyes trained on the pages in front of himself, scared he might slip and call Caitlin by name. "Danielle. Slow? That was never going to happen." Harry took note of the actions called for in the script, wondering if he'd be able to touch Caitlin's bare shoulder without wanting to kiss her soft skin. His voice lowered without consideration, becoming a throaty growl. "We're going to happen and it won't be stopped by anything."

"Oh my God!" Iris hugged herself then sank into the chair behind herself. "That is the best sex scene I've ever listened to - I cannot freaking wait to see it!"

"It was too much." Caitlin fanned herself with the aforementioned script. "Too damn much. What if I can't?"

"Can't what? Let that snack of a man bend you over a chair? Oh please!" Iris rolled her eyes. "You're lucky it's classy instead of graphic."

"Yeah, I don't have to simulate getting bent over a chair - but it's more action and substance than I thought!"

"Please." Iris held up a silencing hand. "You know it's just acting. This isn't a porno. The camera will do all the lying - all you have to do is react."

"But that's the problem!" Caitlin firmed her lips and shook her head. "Iris, Harry is going to know I want him."

"Tell me something we don't all know."

"This is bullshit! My character was supposed to pair off with Danielle!" Julian grimaced at Cisco. "I wouldn't mind so much all the changes but I look an absolute fool without a love interest. Even the damn weather girl gets action."

Cisco coughed. "Iris is a reporter, not a weather girl - and weather girl sounds like a very sexist term coming out of your mouth."

"You know what I mean. I've been in a wildly successful series of movies and I'm …" Julian finally took note of Cisco's unimpressed expression. "I'm, um, I'm not being utilized to my full potential."

"You want me to mention to Tina you feel underutilized? Fine. She'll find ways to give you more to do. More to do, more to suffer."

Julian closed his mouth with a snap and sighed, rubbing his forehead. He picked up his new script pages and began to walk away.

"Glad to see you're on board." Cisco waited for Julian to exit the room to continue airing his thoughts. "I might tell Tina anyway, 'cause you're more of a douche-canoe than an absolute fool."

Harry was blindsided by Jesse's sudden lunge. She whipped the script free of his grip and ran with it, barricading herself in her room.

"Hey!" Harry tested the doorknob, letting his head thunk against the locked door. "I need to learn my lines!"

"Dad, you're going to need to be more eloquent to get me to give this up." Jesse leaned against the door and started reading the script.

"I don't need to be eloquent to withhold your allowance." Harry pounded his fist on the door. "Or the car keys."

"Dad, there's worse things I could be doing."

"That's true Jesse. There's worse threats I could make." Harry let his voice grow softer and offered up an example. "Remember those videos I took of you learning to ride a bike? I bet any of your current friends would love to see those."

"You win." Jesse had a sudden thought. Caitlin would have the exact same script and she would be way more easy to guilt trip. She opened the door a crack and let the script fall outside, closing it again as fast. "Dad, I was curious because Julian was so upset."

"Didn't I tell you not to meet with that man?"

"How old am I?"

"Old enough to avoid that sort of person. He's a bit of a douche-canoe."

Jesse snorted. "He's not that bad. I'd say he's foolish at worst."

"I don't want to hear it." Harry picked up his script and sighed. "I need a drink."

"Harry, c'mon in." Caitlin gestured inside her house. "I know I said we'd go out somewhere but I was thinking -"

"Don't worry about it." Harry lifted the carrier of coffee he'd brought. "Friends are allowed to change their minds without penalty."

Caitlin shook her head. "Put down the coffees and get inside."

"You need that caffeine bad, huh?" joked Harry.

"I need to get something even more important through to you." Caitlin moved as soon as the drinks were safely set down, taking hold of Harry's jacket lapels, fingers gripping tight. She yanked - not strong enough to shake or put Harry off balance, but to get his attention. "You have no idea what I'm thinking."

"I'm giving you an out. I'm willing to stay friends -"

"Shh!" Caitlin bit her lip and sucked in air. What could she say to make Harry understand? Pfft. Not much right now because he was so sure he knew what she was thinking. The best bet would be something without words. She stood on tip-toe and kissed him - pouring a large amount of passion into the effort.

Harry touched his lips once Caitlin broke away. "So, not just friends."

"Yes. More than friends."

"Am I having a stroke?" His vibrant blue eyes went soft and unfocused. "Is this all in my imagination? Caitlin, help me understand."

"Challenge accepted." Caitlin stroked Harry's cheek with one hand, delicately placing the other over his heart. She tilted her head back and smiled at Harry, giving him a slow and exaggerated wink. "It's a little early for me to give you a stroke - but I'm open to negotiation."

"Is it okay if I admit I'm scared and horny?"

"Nice SNL reference." Caitlin pressed her body against Harry. "I need you to tell me no if you don't want me. Tell me no so I don't humiliate myself. Tell me no and I pretend I have world-class amnesia. But you have to tell me." She licked her lips and waited, still looking into Harry's eyes.

"With everything I am, I want to say yes." Harry didn't care his heart was thundering. He should let Caitlin know her touch excited him. It was good to let this wonderful woman know everything. "But I can't in good conscience allow you to waste yourself on this old man."

"Answer the question I asked - not some bullshit you think I need to hear," spat Caitlin, "I said, do you want me?"

"Do I look dead? Fuck yes, I want you, Caitlin."

"Good."

"Good? Is that all you're going to say?" Harry was uneasy. Big changes in relationships never happened easily. NEVER.

"Good is what I'm feeling." Caitlin thumped Harry's chest. "Let me work with that and then I'll have more to say." She smiled. "Lots more to say and lots more we could be doing - together."