Ben and Sophie traveled all through Rome. It had taken a few weeks but he had shown her nearly all of the city and it's outlying areas. That Thursday she'd agreed to meet him at the pub. He brought her to his car, a sport red 2 seater, and zoomed her around the first quadrant of sightseeing. She'd been okay on the way to the bar—it was just like going to work. But then it had changed. In the car with the top down she felt exposed. Her skin paled as they sped down a one way street and her stomach lurched up in to her throat. He caught her looking around wildly and immediately became concerned and pulled the car to a smooth stop along the curb.

"Are you okay?" Ben asked, shifting into neutral and pushing the brake.

Speeding up and down the streets had been bad, but here, stopped was even worse.

"Car sick," she muttered. "Can you, um, put the top up? That might help."

"Sure, if that'll help." He pushed a button on the dashboard and the whir of a motor pushed up the soft material until it snapped into place against the frame. He locked it and she smiled weakly at him.

"Sorry," she told him, her eyes downcast. "I just---it was fast, and the wind…" He'd wanted to impress her, she knew. Take her for a ride in his car, top down. Be suave.

"Not a problem.." He assured her with his lopsided smile. "As long as you're alright."

She nodded, trying to get herself together. Traffic was light here but up ahead lay the tourist traps. She had to admit that she was excited to see some sights. All she'd seen of Rome thus far were the 9 various routes that took her to and from work, the small grocer where she shopped and the small, still bare apartment. It was true that she tried to run when she could, to keep up her physicality, but with her hours it was difficult and so she relied on her trips up and down the stairs both at home and at work, and the heavy boxes filled with liquor bottles she lifted to do that for her.

"I am," she told him. "I'll be okay." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, turning to smile at him as he shifted the gear into first. "Let's go."

They zipped around town, playing tourists, laughing and eating. They walked around, pointing and reading maps and notes of interest.. Nicky was able to forget that she had lived in Europe for many years and treated this as her first time. Besides, in truth she'd never to Italy. Ben took her hand as they walked through Campo de'Fiori Market and she looked up at him and smiled. They ate an early lunch and found themselves near Gianicolo hill. There they rode the merry go round and stayed for a few minutes of the children's puppet show. Near noon he directed her toward a small crowd gathering.

"What?" she asked. "What is this?"

"Every day at 12 they fire off a cannon. Can you believe that? It's really real. A real cannon." He marveled, obviously excited.

She giggled a bit and her nose wrinkled. "How many times have you been here?" He seemed like such a little boy right now, so excited to see a large weapon detonated. He had no idea what it was like to have the real thing, though arguably smaller yet no less deadly, aimed right at you. "Boys and their toys," she chided gently.

They waited a full moment and the announcement was made that the cannon would be fired. She found herself bracing against the noise that would come and was happily surprised when she felt Ben's arm slide around her waist and pull her in slightly. BOOM! It really was loud and Nicky instinctively put her hands to her ears.

"Neat, huh?" Ben asked, smiling.

"Yeah," she gave him. "Really neat." But it wasn't. It was loud and unnerving and she was ready to go. "Where to now?"

They'd spent days traveling around and it wasn't until their fourth date that he kissed her. She'd been waiting for it, expecting it, and finding herself surprised to be disappointed when it never came. True she could have initiated but she didn't. She wanted to be wanted again.

Their fourth date was simply dinner. Her boss seemed happy to see her taking an interest in something besides her work schedule and would happily adjust her schedule when asked. So she wasn't working and instead preparing for her dinner with Ben. Nicky caught herself in the bathroom mirror and stopped. She'd been smiling, thinking about the upcoming evening. She watched herself, cocking her head, giving herself a quizzical look. When had she fallen for Benjamin Carpenter? She barely knew him —had only known him for a few weeks and still she felt so happy.

They had eaten dinner and now sat on a park bench, talking. His sister would be coming back to town for a visit and his brother's business was doing well. His own job was uneventful if sometimes stressful but ultimately he still liked it. She was quiet and watched him as he spoke. No dimples to speak of but she liked the shape of his mouth and she watched it move. He'd been talking but she didn't hear any of it until she heard her name.

"Sophie?"

Had he said it more than once? "Sorry," she told him, her eyes catching his. "I was just…I…" she didn't have the words to explain.

Even if she'd continued speaking he would have cut her off, his words were so rushed. "I want to kiss you."

Her breath caught in her throat and she shivered involuntarily. "Please." She nodded, not letting go of his gaze.

He leaned down toward her and caught her lips in his while his hand reached up to gently hold the back of her neck and then touch the side of her face.

It had been magic for Nicky. She felt alive again but greedy now. She wanted more.

They kissed and touched and gently explored before Ben reminded her that they were in a park. Shy at first she put her head down then smiled and lifted her chin. "Can we…Do you…My place isn't…" Her head was swimming and she was feeling wonderful except for the fact that she'd lost the ability to make words. She reached to kiss him again, loving the lost feeling.

Thankfully he understood and motioned her up. "Let's go."

It was a quiet ride back to his apartment. She hadn't ever been here before and she was surprised at how small it was. She'd expected more, bigger, lavish. But instead it was small, well decorated and decidedly cozy.

She was inside and turned as Ben closed the door behind them. God, she wanted to hear him call her own name, her real name. But she was still happy when she heard him say her fake one in a husky tone. "Sophia." And she went to him.

The next morning she woke wrapped in the glory of a night of lovemaking. She felt completely satisfied and happy. She stretched languidly, enjoying the feel of high thread count sheets beneath her. Ben was up and making coffee. He offered her the shower and she was delighted to find a variety of scented body washes, gels and lotions. At first she felt bad for going through his cabinets, then came the question of why all the feminine shower items. When the answer that his sister lived here too at times slammed into her she felt like a complete jerk. Had she really thought he kept them here for his women?

Nicky loved her hot shower, left smelling like a combination of rosemary and mint, and wrapped herself into the plush towels. She sat on the edge of the bed and looked up, smiling, as Ben entered the room. She briefly flashed on a choice she'd made, to go left or to go right. As she watched him walk toward her she knew she had chosen well.