Disclaimer - OK, is it just me or do you feel like you really shouldn't have to do this so often... Don't own.

Chapter Three – Lunch, Laughter ….. Love?

Well, this was not where Emily would have expected the son of one of the wealthiest men in the world to take someone for lunch. But she was enjoying herself.

John looked at Emily, slightly wary. Had he screwed this up big time? He smiled when she began to laugh. John wasn't sure what Emily was laughing at but it was as melodious as Virgil at his piano. "What, dare I ask, is so funny?"

"OK, you are a son of one of the richest men in the world."

"Guilty as charged."

"You are a successful scientist, a man of education and breeding."

"Allegedly."

"You could have probably taken me to one of the finest restaurants in the city, ferry me out to one of the islands or head out of the city to the vineyards if you wanted to impress me."

"Easily done, yes."

Emily seemed to smile even wider. "But instead, you took me to a little hole in the wall burger joint. Either you couldn't care less about impressing me or you are testing me to see if I am only interested in the Tracy name and wealth."

"If you were interested in wealth and prestige, Emily Haas, you would be living off your trust fund or your grandfather's inheritance, back in New York, probably engaged to some junior partner in your father's law firm. Or worse, either you'd be a plastic surgeon on Fifth Avenue or married to one." John comtinued. "Second, I get the feeling if I tried to impress you in such a manner, it would be impossible and a waste of both our time. Finally, these are some of the best burgers I have ever had in my life, I try to get here every time I come to Auckland and I have never, ever taken a girl here before. So yes, you should actually be impressed."

Looking back down at her burger, Emily couldn't seem to stop smiling. Looking at Emily Haas, John Tracy couldn't seem to stop smiling either.

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Before leaving the hospital, the Chief of Staff had admonished Emily in front of John, telling her she worked too hard and was suppose to be off that afternoon, and for the next day or two. Emily was puzzled, Dr. Brady pushing her out of the hospital instead of looking for a way to chain her in? John was just cynical enough to know the check now secured in the man's pocket, and the hope of future donations from the Tracys had purchased the chief's generosity. But even if she had known that, Emily Haas – probably – wouldn't have cared. She was with John Tracy, a man she had wanted to meet for three years. It was perfect.

After finishing lunch, John had directed their path towards one of Auckland's many beautiful beaches. Making their way through the crowds, he finally found a rocky path that was, if not deserted, was sparsely enough populated that they could be assured privacy. What he had to ask her was not for the ears of most.

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"Dr. Haas… Emily. You know what we do." Emily nodded, figuring out what the Tracys were, that they were secretly International Rescue would have been hard under normal circumstances. But the situation she had been pulled into when she had followed Alan Tracy back to his family's island was not normal. And you wouldn't have to be a genius – which Emily was – to have figured it out. "My father asked me to come talk to you."

"John, as I assured your father, I consider anything I learned that day to be under doctor-patient confidentiality. You don't have to worry."

John smiled at the young doctor. "Emily, Dad knows you can be trusted with secrets. That's why he wants to know if you would be interested in a proposition."

"Hmmm. Propositioned by Jeff Tracy, alert the media."

A startled look later, John realized what an off-beat sense of humor Emily kept hidden. Smiling, he continued. "You know the village of Akaroa?" Emily nodded, she had been an early responder to the tsunami crisis. "Well, Tracy Charitable Trust is funding the building of a medical clinic to be located in the village but supporting the surrounding communities and even some of the smaller islands. But we need a doctor. Maybe even a doctor who could work with" John furtively scanned the area and made sure no one could hear him. "International Rescue. Sometimes we are at risk of injuries that go beyond our EMT training. We could, and should, have someone skilled at say, Emergency Medicine."

Emily was saddened. What the Tracys were proposing was wonderful. It was what she truly wanted. To be a small town doctor, with the occasional rush of adrenaline. It should be perfect for her. So why was the disappointment threatening to drown her?

Staring off into the horizon, Emily shrugged. "I would have to give my notice at the hospital. I presume the position would come with some kind of transportation to get around." At John's nod, she continued. "So, in my background check, you found my pilot's license. " Another nod. "Tell your father I would love that and to overnight me the details and the contract. I will need a start date so I can give proper notice. If that is all, I will be heading back to the hospital now."

John panicked. He couldn't let her walk away. "Wait!" Emily turned back to John, confused. His azure eyes were wide, filled with something she could not define. It was almost…fear?

Taking her hands in his, John smiled again. The smile was shakier this time, but it still sent flutters to her stomach. "Emily that was why my father sent me. Now that it is out of the way, there is no Tracy Industries, no Thunderbirds. Just the two of us." John drew in a deep breath. "I want to take you to dinner tonight, someplace with soft music and candlelight. Then, I want to take you someplace where I can dance with you under the stars. Somewhere I can hold you close and pretend we are the only two people in the world. I'll be wearing a suit and tie; you'll be in some little black dress with heels that show off what promise to be great legs. So what do you say? Pick you up at seven?"

Emily frowned. "We can't John." The astronomer looked crushed as she leaned forward. "I'm afraid I don't own a black dress. However," she smiled as his disappointment turned to hope. "I do own a little navy blue dress with some killer matching high heeled sandals that will make your hair stand up – oops, it already does." Laughing at the myriad of emotions passing the man's usually oh, so controlled face, Emily began to walk away once more. "Make it six thirty. I'm guessing you already know my home address? Phone number? Cell? Blood type?"

John Glenn Tracy smiled at the laughter that floated back to him. Actually, she was right. He did.

a/n - Emily and John's romance is moving a little fast, isn't it? But Scott moved fast, as well. And John has that whole time limit thingy... Do you like this so far? Is it OK? Then please tell me... John's logic will be explained soon enough, honest.