Antonia stood in the bathroom, finally showered and dressed. She had probably been in there for the better part of a half hour. Her mother had checked on her, letting her know that they had guests. Her nephews had pounded on the door on their way down the hallway chasing one another, and she growled through the door at them, listening to them scatter.

She just stared at herself in the mirror, not really knowing what had come over her. Her stomach was churning, her heart pounding in her chest, and she was feeling a little dizzy. The embarrassment of earlier had just faded into a strange vertigo that she wasn't quite sure how to handle. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she growled at herself in the mirror, narrowing her dark eyes as she closed them for a moment.

She jumped at the knock on the door. "I'll be out in a second!" She turned sharply. "Will you people just please give me a moment of…" She swung the door open, facing the same green eyes that she had seen a half hour earlier. "Peace." She muttered.

"Hey, Tex." He smiled, though it faded when he watched her eyes narrow at him.

"Don't call me that." She whispered, pushing past him in the hallway, she walked quickly toward the room she had been staying in, her childhood bedroom, Aiden followed. She opened the door and turned around in the doorway. "How did you get up here?" She asked, her voice almost accusatory.

"Um, I took the stairs." He said, nodding down the hallway, his eyes not leaving hers for a second. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes.

"No." She shook her head. "No. Why? Why are you up here? Why are you up… why are you here now?" She asked.

"Your mother invited me to dinner." He said softly. "She told me to come check on you."

"So, my mother sent you up here?" She asked, watching as his brow furrowed.

"Yes. Does it matter who sent me up here?"

"Yes." She said, grabbing his good arm, she pulled him into the bedroom, closing the door behind her, flicking the lock on the door. She turned around, and watched Aiden give her an amused smile.

"Are you okay? You did hit your head pretty hard the other day." He teased.

"Quiet." She said, walking past him, she bent down and looked under the bed. She looked around and walked to the window, pulling the curtains away, then headed toward the closet. She swung the doors open.

"Are you alright? What are you looking for?" He asked as she started lifting the blankets of the disheveled bed.

"Nephews." She said, looking up at him, she watched as he laughed. "What?"

"They're downstairs. I saw them right before I came upstairs." He said, glancing to the door. "I promise."

"You're sure you saw both of them?" She asked, standing up, she walked toward him. "They're pretty quick, you may have thought you saw both of them, but you just saw one of them run from one side of the room to the other." She smiled.

"I saw both of them." He nodded. "They were connected to Jack Hodgins' legs."

"Good." She said, stepping closer to him, she could feel the butterflies in her stomach intensifying. She glanced to the door, before entering his personal space.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, giving her a playful glance, he touched her arm and gently ran his hand up and down it for a moment, watching her eyes explore his for a moment. "I've missed seeing you." He said softly.

She smiled just a little, her nose nearly touching his. "Did you get my gift?"

"Was that from you?" He laughed gently. "I was wondering who would send me a tiny pink bear with balloons that said 'It's a girl.' I thought maybe they found the wrong room."

"Well, after your little display out there in the cabin, before we left." She shrugged, leaning her head on his shoulder for a moment, she laughed a little.

"You thought you'd rub it in?"

"It's in my nature." She shrugged, lifting her head, she looked into his eyes and he watched her suddenly become serious. "I must keep the upper hand at all times." She mumbled at his serious expression.

"May I kiss you?" He whispered, feeling the electricity between them spark a little, he heard the catch in her breath. She said nothing, just let out a small puff of air as his hand moved to her side, and pulled her closer, she kept her eyes on his for a moment and she leaned forward, gently pressing her lips against his. The kiss deepened gently, and he could hear the gentle sighs against his mouth. They became lost in the moment, and neither jumped when two thuds came against the door in quick succession, followed by the feet of two little boys running back down the stairs.

"I'm going to kill them both." She whispered against his lips, pulling away gently, she watched his green eyes darken, his smile gentle and kind. She took a deep breath and her brow furrowed.

"What?" He asked, seeing a sudden concern in her eyes.

"Jack is downstairs? Which one?"

"Jack and Angela." He said, watching her concern clear for a moment, his arm still on her side. He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

"Not JV?" She asked, looking into his eyes, he gave her a strange look.

She suddenly heard her sister's laughter from downstairs, and her eyes were wide with a strange look of concern. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Crap, Grace is here." She said, taking a step back, he held fast to her. "Aiden." She whispered.

"Who cares if Grace is here." He shrugged, stealing another kiss, she laughed against him a little. "I wasn't looking for Grace, I was looking for you."

"But we're up here… in my room, with the door closed. It's a situation that's rife with innuendo and…"

"So what? You're an adult." He whispered. "Besides, I've heard you are pretty bad ass." He whispered in her ear, watching the goosebumps rise on her skin as his warm breath raked across it. He kissed her neck, peppering her skin with small kisses. She leaned into him and let out a soft whimper. "But we should probably go downstairs." He whispered. She made no move, just rested her head on his shoulder. "Tex?" He whispered. She took a step back, turned and sat down on the bed. Resting her face in her hands as she rubbed her red cheeks with the palms of her hands. He sat beside her, giving her a bit of space, watching as she lay back on the bed, her eyes staring at the ceiling for a minute. "Are you okay?"

"You keep asking me that." She said, putting her hands on her face.

"Because you haven't answered me." He said, watching her for a moment as she just lay there, her hands over her eyes.

"And what if I said that I was not okay?" She asked, lifting one hand, she saw his eyebrow lift and she put her hands back over them.

"Then I'd ask you what I can do to help you feel okay." He said, staring down at his feet for a moment.

"Ugh, stop it." She said, pushing against the floor, she moved herself on her back, up the bed to the blankets, where she promptly covered herself completely.

"Stop what?" He asked, his voice holding a bit of humor as he turned his body to watch the lump of blankets on the bed.

"Stop being so nice, and perfect, and cute." She mumbled from under the blankets.

"I can't help it, Tex." He shrugged, watching as the blanket flopped up and she glared at him and then pulled the blanket back over herself.

"And stop calling me Tex." She said from beneath the blanket.

"Why?"

"Because nicknames and alternative monikers are indications of affection." She said from beneath the blanket. She listened for a moment and he said nothing. Then she felt pressure on the bed beside her, and could feel his body against hers as he lay his head on the pillow. He was lying on his good shoulder, so she knew he couldn't pull the blanket down, so she slowly pulled it down to come eye to eye with him.

"Are you done with your little pity party?" he whispered, his eyes challenging her for a moment as he watched a sparkle appear in her eyes.

"Maybe." She whispered, pulling the blanket down a bit, he could see that she had something in her arms. She lifted it slightly, and he could see the worn gray fur of a stuffed animal, gripped tightly in her arms.

He smiled tenderly at her and rolled onto his back slightly, tucking his arm beneath her, he pulled her closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder. He turned his head and kissed her forehead, right beside her stitches. Her arm came up a bit, and he got a better look at what she had in her hands, as she cuddled it close to him, but just out of his line of sight. "So, who is this?" He asked, watching as she gave him a curious smile, but her eyes were still guarded.

Gently, she pulled the worn stuffed elephant from his hiding place. Aiden could see that this toy had been very well loved, its patchy fur and gently sewn tears were evidence of this. His dark eyes were made of fabric, and ears seemed worn and almost tattered. "This is Deuce." She said softly, tilting her head so she could see his eyes, she watched them solemnly.

"It's nice to meet you, Deuce." He smiled, watching her eyes smile gently. She could see that the name hadn't surprised him, so she left it there.

"He's been with me since I was a very little girl." She said, sounding almost sad. "We've been through a lot together." She said softly, her eyes still on the elephant.

"I bet he knows everything about you." He said softly.

"Mmhm." She nodded knowingly. "He does."

"I bet you tell him about your fears, and your dreams. I bet you tell him about all of the things you like, don't like…" He said, shrugging a bit, he watched her eyes glittering at his. "I bet you tell him about people you like."

"Yep." She said softly.

"I bet you tell him when you're scared you're going to get hurt, because the person you like doesn't know you well, or will find out something about you that will scare them away.

"I do." She sighed.

"I bet he tells you not to be so worried about it, because maybe that person you like, and likes you back, also might feel the same way."

"He's too perfect to have secrets." She sighed, pulling Deuce to her face, she closed her eyes.

"Well, Deuce, that's pretty presumptuous of Antonia, don't you think?" He asked, watching her eyes stay closed behind the little stuffed elephant. "I've never claimed to be perfect, and I can assure you that I have plenty of secrets that I would be more than happy to share, when the opportunity arises." He said with a smile. "I like Antonia because she seems pure of heart, she's smart and lovely, she's tough but sensitive, and because she gives me butterflies in my stomach." He smiled as he watched her eyes open behind the little stuffed animal. "She makes me lose my train of thought, and makes my mouth a little dry, and my heart beat a little faster."

"Are you sure that's not just an allergic reaction?" She whispered.

He narrowed his eyes, but a slight smile appeared on his lips. "I don't want to just kiss her." He whispered. "I want to hold her, and talk to her, and get to know her like you do. I want to take her out, or make her dinner in. I want to keep laughing with her, and learn everything there is to know about her. What do you think Deuce? Do you think she'll let me in?"

She lifted her head, pulling Deuce closer to her as she leaned up to meet him eye to eye. She watched him for a moment, her eyes seeming looking past just the green hues and dark pupils, she seemed to be reading him, studying him, evaluating the truth in his eyes. "I'm scared of letting people in." She whispered.

"So am I." He said, honestly. "That doesn't mean I'm above trying." He smiled, and tipped his head. "Will you be scared with me?" He whispered.

She smiled tenderly, leaning forward to touch his face. "My family will torment you." She whispered.

"I can handle it." He said, watching her wince a little.

"I will probably drive you to alcoholism, or worse." She whispered.

"I think I'm safe from that." He smiled.

"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into." She said softly as she sat up, looking down at him. She took a slow, deep breath, releasing it slowly.

He sat up, and pulled his legs off the bed to stand. He turned around and reached his hand out to her, waiting for her to grasp it. "It's time to stop running." He whispered. "Aren't you tired?"

She tilted her head, watching the genuine sincerity in his eyes. "Yes." She whispered, as she carefully pulled herself to the edge of the bed. She turned around and carefully tucked Deuce beneath the covers, she turned around and took his hand. She looked up at him and smiled brightly, her eyes twinkling at his. "This is crazy." She whispered.

"Not crazy." He whispered, bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed it softly.

She unlocked the door, and they walked into the hallway hand in hand, down the hallway to the top of the stairs. The volume downstairs had increased tremendously since she had gone upstairs, and she wondered briefly how long she had actually been up there. She turned to Aiden and sighed. "I like you." She said, leaning up to kiss him softly, he pulled her closer, looking into her eyes.

"I like you." He said, squeezing her hand, they were about to go downstairs when he took a step back stopping her for a moment. He reached into his pocket and gently pulled out the Saint Anthony medal, dangling it from its chain. "I think this belongs to you." He whispered, watching as she smiled, carefully pulling it from his hand. She then carefully clasped it around her neck, watching as he admired her. "Thank you for your protection."

"Anytime, Partner." She whispered, kissing his cheek softly, she grasped his hand, and with that, the two of them descended the stairs together.