When date night arrived, Adalind was a little nervous about leaving Kelly with Monroe and Rosalee, but it was overruled by her excitement on getting a romantic evening with Nick.
Nick decided the best place to take Adalind for their date was a small Italian place owned by a friend of Bud Worstner and his wife.
She wore a simple black dress. He wore a blazer and slacks. No tie. The plan was dinner followed by a movie they would choose when they got to the theatre.
They found that they could easily find a lot to talk about. What each of their lives was like when they were kids and as they grew older.
Both discovered that they had each felt great loneliness.
Nick was often by himself most evenings when his aunt "had things to do." He of course realized later that she had been hunting those nights. Moving around so much meant that he had to make new friends every few months, and while he had gotten good at being friendly and social, it still left many moments when he had no choice but to be on his own.
Adalind had dealt with a mother who would rather go to parties and dates with wealthy and powerful men, than spend any time with her daughter. In her teen years, Adalind had been so focused on not becoming her mother, that she had kept her nose in a book, and almost never went to parties. She rarely dated, which may have what made her so easily susceptible to Sean Renard and his charms when he came along. She had been so touch starved and desperate for love and affection that she had easily fallen for and given her whole heart to a man who only wanted to use her to gain power. A man who turned his attentions away once he realized she was no longer of use to him.
Nick could relate, fighting for and hanging on desperately to a relationship where the other person had long since let go. Wanting to not lose what he feared was his only chance at love and happiness.
Both Nick and Adalind had learned the hard and painful way that sometimes there was nothing you could do to save a relationship and that you just had to let go and hope to find what you need with someone else.
It was left unsaid that each hoped they had found that someone in the other.
After dinner they went to the movie theatre and were thrilled to discover they actually liked the same types of movies, having quickly agreed on which film they wanted to see.
During the film, Nick took Adalind's hand in his own and held it for the entire length of the movie. Not once did she even attempt to pull her hand away, though she did find it a little difficult to concentrate on the plot. Especially when he began to glide his thumb over her sensitive skin. She swore her heart was pounding louder than the explosive effects in the movie.
And while there was a happy conclusion to the story, that had nothing to do with the huge smiles that were on the couple's faces.
The entire evening felt strangely easy. And there seemed to be a rightness to the whole thing, as if it was what the couple was meant to be doing.
They picked up their son from Monroe and Rosalee's home and headed back to thiers.
Laying Kelly in his crib, watching the sweet baby boy sleeping so peacefully, it made the couple believe wholeheartedly that things were better for the both of them. That their lives were finally on the right path.
So when Nick looked at Adalind and asked, "Will you go out with me again?"
Adalind quickly answered with a smile and a "Yes"
Nick then cupped Adalind's face gently in his hands and softly pressed his lips to hers. Adalind returned the kiss with equal measure. They revelled in the feel and taste of one another. And each felt a sense of sweet relief, of finally experiencing the first real intimacy of a new love.
In silent agreement, they stopped at the kiss. Both understanding that they needed to take things slow. To still get to know each other and this new relationship better.
Their second date turned out to be the very next day.
It was Nick's day off and he got a call from Monroe.
The blutbad had been given a job at a mini golf course with a replica of big ben as one of their holes.
It was a real working clock that was not working and had the owner near frantic. He had called Monroe and had offered him anything he wanted if he got the clock running again within a couple of hours.
The job had turned out to be a simple one and Monroe was able to get the replica clock tower running again in no time at all.
The owner was so appreciative for the prompt and efficient service, that he offered the blutbad and three of his friends free tickets to play a round.
"It will be like a double date." Monroe remarked. "You said you wanted to try the normal dating thing with Adalind? I think normal couples go on double dates."
While Nick was certain the word normal could apply to any body he knew, especially the couples, he readily accepted his friends offer. Wanting to do anything he could to further the growing bond between himself and Adalind.
Kelly's diaper bag was packed and his stroller loaded. Nick and Adalind knew they could easily handle the baby while they played. When Adalind needed to feed their son, Nick promised to hold a blanket in front of her, blocking the view of anyone who would pitch a tantrum over a natural thing.
"Have you ever been miniature golfing before?" Rosalee asked Adalind.
"Miniature golfing? No. I played regular golf, though. It seems almost a requirement when you want to be a lawyer or a doctor. If you want to talk business with some clients, you have to go on a golf field." Adalind shrugged her shoulders and asked Rosalee, "Have you played?"
"Not since I was a kid." The fuchsbau admitted. "My parents and grandparents took us kids out a few times. That stopped of course when we thought we were too old and too cool to be hanging out with our parents."
The women turned to Nick and Monroe, obviously expecting to know when last they had played.
"I've played mini golf and regular gold before." Nick said. "Group dates in high school for the mini golf. And some friends in college invited me to play with them. One of them had parents that were members at a country club, they invited me as their guest."
"I guess I'm the only person here who has never so much as touched a golf club before." Monroe sighed. "And here I was hoping at least one other person was also a novice."
The rest chuckled.
"Don't worry, honey," Rosalee told her husband, "I'm sure you'll do fine."
One round of mini golf later:
"I did not do fine. I absolutely, one hundred percent, irraquifically did not do fine." Monroe growled.
Nick could almost see his best friends eyes just start to glow red from his frustration. Being so irritated and angry he was on the verge of woging.
"What kind of a sick sadist came up with a game like that." The blutbad continued. "Who other than a complete psycho would create a game where you have to knock a ball into a little tunnel, only to have it shoot out of a hole and you have to hope it wasn't moving too fast so it will go into another hole and not skip over it?"
"For your first time touching a golf club, ever, I think you did a great job." Rosalee comforted her husband.
Nick figured Monroe's real issue had been too many distractions from all the many moving parts of the park, and then getting frustrated and hitting the ball harder than intended a little too many times.
Despite the howling from the wolf, everyone had a great time.
Kelly, sitting in his stroller, was even more distracted by the many movie buildings and figures, and never once became fussy, allowing his parents a peaceful day.
Of which, of course, they took advantage of.
Each had used the excuse of "helping" the other's stance, by placing their hands on the other's hips and "guiding" them into a better position.
Strangely(not so much) their hands seemed to linger long after the other was in a stance to take their turn.
When it was Monroe or Rosalee's turn, Nick and Adalind always stood side by side. Sometimes they held hands. Sometimes Nick had his arm wrapped around the blonde, and she would be smiling bashfully at the attention.
To anyone who noticed them, they looked to be a loving couple having a day out with their baby and some friends.
There was only one thing that was making Adalind a little on edge about the day.
A few times, when either her ball or Nick's seemed a little off course, it would change its path as if someone had pushed it.
In each moment, when the ball looked to be going in the wrong direction, Adalind had been nervous, her mind focusing on her desire for the object to go where she wanted it to, and then she would feel an energy coursing through her body, something she remembered feeling before.
And now, just as she and Nick were starting to make an effort on the relationship she had hoped to have with him, Adalind feared her powers were returning. She worried that should she become a hexenbiest again, Nick would become repulsed by her, and would decide that he had no interest in being with a hexenbiest.
After all, isn't that why he and Juliette had broken up?
Nick could see Adlind was a little distracted. Though she tried to control her features, he could still see the flash of fear and doubt in her eyes.
Having noticed the behavior of the gold balls as well, he had a feeling where her thoughts were taking her.
Nick brought her hand to is lips and kissed her fingers. Their eyes met and he whispered softly, "This has been a great second date." He hoped by saying second date, Adalind would see that he was hoping for more, and maybe it would lesson her fear.
Still, he knew they needed to talk. Really, before they had started dating, they should have made it clear what they were expecting from and willing to put in to their relationship.
They grabbed dinner with Monroe and Rosalee and then headed home. All the while Nick could see Adalind was a little tense and distant. He could tell she was bracing herself for rejection. That beautiful brain of her going on overdrive again and making her plan for the worst possible outcome.
He had to yell at his ego for being a little thrilled that she might feel him rejecting her was a bad outcome.
They entered their "fome" and got their son ready for bed, in relative silence. Adalind thought through what she might need to say to convince Nick to still give them a chance. Nick thought through what he wanted or needed to say to comfort Adalind convince her he still wanted a romantic relationship with her.
Adalind was so distracted by her thoughts, that she didn't see and ended up tripping over one of Kelly's toys. On reflex, Nick swooped in and caught her, gathering her in his arms and pulling her in tight.
Their bodies were pressed together and their mouths were so close they could feel the others warm breath on their skin.
He whispered, "I knew your powers would come back. I knew you would become a hexenbiest again. I don't care about that. I need the woman who is passionate and intelligent and full of warmth. I need you."
Adalind wanted to believe his words, but she still questioned their truth, "Juliette became a hexenbiest, and "
She didn't get to finish.
"Juliette became a monster. Not because she became a hexenbiest, but what she chose to do with her new powers." Nick interrupted her. His voice strong and adamant. "She didn't tell me at first. And then when she did, she was angry, hostile and wouldn't give me a chance to adjust to the new her. She tried to kill an innocent child, one that had yet to even be born. She knew how I felt about kids, but she cared only for revenge. She tried to make me kill Monroe. She sided with the royals and helped them kill my mother.
Nick sat himself and Adalind on the bed and continued. "Everything you did, you did because your heart was broken. It wasn't right, but I can understand it. And for all that you did, you never reached the level of evil Juliette did. I've seen you at your worst. And I know what you're capable of." He actually grinned at her and said. "I figured as long as I don't break your heart, you won't try to rip out mine."
Adalind rolled her eyes at his teasing. And, grateful at his effort to lighten the mood, snuggled herself into him and laid her head on his shoulder.
One of his hands stroked his fingers through her hair, further soothing her, putting her at ease. The gentle caresses were calming to them both. Somehow assuring each of them that neither one was interested in ending their courtship any time soon.
Once fear and doubt were removed, it allowed other things to creep in.
Like hunger and desire.
Adalind tilted her head up and began to press her lips along Nick's neck.
Nick shuddered and tightened his grip on her body. "Adalind" He warned her huskily. "I may be a grimm, but I'm still a man."
"Mmm. Don't I know it." She responded, still kissing his neck and moving one hand down his chest while the other held tightly to his muscular arm.
Nick pulled her head back and claimed her lips in a passionate kiss.
Adalind's hands bunched in his shirt, trying to pull them closer together. Then growing frustrated with her need, she pushed the shirt up, encouraging him to remove it all together, which he did.
With his muscular chest fully exposed, she wasted no time peppering kisses on every inch of flesh she could reach.
Nick's arms wrapped tightly around her, and Adalind moaned softly when his lips moved down her neck.
One of her hands drifted low, found his rock hard bulge and cupped it firmly, inciting a shudder from the powerful grimm.
He shoved his hands beneath her shirt, one cupped her breast over her bra, squeezing with the same firmness she held him in, the other hand splayed on her back, feeling the soft smooth skin there. Then his skilled fingers undid the hook of the garment, freeing the cloth and allowing room for his hands to explore her mounds.
Needing to see as well as touch, Nick pulled away enough to remove her tops completely.
He latched his mouth on a bare nipple, sliding his tongue over the hardening flesh. She buried her fingers through his hair and gripped tight, gasping and whimpering, unable to hold in her enjoyment.
She laid back flat on the bed. Still clinging tight to Nick's head even has he began to wonder lower down her body.
He removed the rest of her clothes, then continued to mouth at her form. Her soft belly was worshipped by his lips and tongue, not an inch was ignored.
His mouth yearned to move lower still. He spread her legs and knelt between her thighs. Adalind's body trembled with anticipation. Her breath caught as he started mouthing along each thigh, slowly moving closer to where she was already wet and aching for her, her little bud as rock hard as the bulge that was still hidden in his pants.
When at last he reached her center, Adalind cried out and her back arched off the bed. She lost full control of her body, unable to stop it from writhing as Nick explored her so thoroughly. His every assault on her sensitive petals causing bolts of pleasure to shoot right through her.
"Nick" She whimpered. "Nick, please. I need you inside me."
Unable to deny her or himself, Nick quickly removed the last of his clothes and laid his body over top of hers.
She cradled him beautifully. Welcoming him perfectly against her.
Their arms wrapped tightly around one another once more, and they joined their mouths together as finally they joined their bodies.
Noether one was silent, but the sounds were constantly muffled as they could never keep their lips off one another.
Nick thrust his tongue into Adalind's mouth in the same rhythm he thrust his member into her hot canal.
She met his every thrust. Held him just as tight as he held her.
Their bodies rolled along the bed. Each tried to take and give their all. Their moans filled the room. Hands continuously explored. Both seemed driven by a primal need to have the other.
And then Nick pushed Adalind on her back and drove into her with an unrelenting force. Pounding into her until they were shot into the sweet oblivion and they cried out as one, clinging to each other as if for survival.