Chapter 18

A/N #1 I think I am at the verge of losing interest in continuing this story. I began working on this chapter last weekend—but I didn't really get around to actually finishing it. Instead I went shoe shopping and museum hopping. It is raining this weekend and I am broke. So here goes. Dunno. I hope for the sake of anyone who wants to know what happens with this couple I continue to update.

A/N #2 Arkeus—don't read this chapter! Harlequin style warning!Kissing warning Kissing warning

A/N #3 Someone mentioned and said I pace things too slowly—sorry. It is difficult to make things go fast-fast-fast without essentially writing, "They kissed. They fell in love. Then the wraith attacked. Aiden was hurt. Then Willow got mad. Willow saved Aiden. Then Willow kicked wraith booty. Buffy showed up. Ronon showed up. Buffy and Ronon had a fling. Willow and Aiden continued to be in love. Buffy and Ronon decided they were in love too. The end." But anyway—if you want spoilers—that is what will likely happen—if I stay broke and bored.

A/N #4 If you see any mistakes, do let me know.

Aiden had finally reached Willow's door. It was exactly seven thirty and he was more than ready for their first date. As he walked, he had thought about prior memorable first dates. There was the time he had broken his leg while climbing down from a stopped ferris wheel at a carnival and there was the time he had gotten a speeding ticket and spent the rest of the date listening to the girl he had previously thought of as young and gorgeous lecture him about the merits of driving five miles below the speed limit at all times. Aiden didn't know what to expect from a date with Willow, he just knew he was determined to set her at ease and enjoy himself.

It had been quite a long time since he had had the opportunity to relax and he intended on maximizing his chance. Relax to him meant conversation, hand holding, and maybe a kiss --if he was really lucky. Of course, he hadn't exactly found himself to be a lucky man. When he finally reached the door he heard a steady beat. Willow was listening to some music as she got ready. It sounded like really raucous jazz music. She probably wasn't ready. Folks didn't have music blaring if they were ready—surely when they were ready they would just be calmly sitting in a chair with their hands folded in their lap. Or maybe that was just the way things were in the movies. Aiden raised his had to the door in preparation to knock. Instead of touching the door, he instead just found empty space. The door had opened and Willow stood there. If he had moved his hand a few inches inward he would have knocked on her head. She was wearing something semi-formfitting and very flattering. Teyla really had his best interests at heart. Aiden resisted the urge to search her body with his eyes, instead he focused on her very pretty and very worried face.

"We can't go. I mean, I can't go. You can go. I just can't. I have nothing to wear, but this and this just doesn't work. I need to be figuring out how to get back to Sunnydale—not having fun!" Willow frantically spoke her protests. She couldn't believe every thing that Teyla had brought her was so revealing. When she had initially seen the clothing pile she had been ecstatic—after trying things on she had started freaking out. Yeah, she was a single woman and yes these were the clothing of a single woman but maybe they weren't the clothing of a single woman named Willow Rosenberg. She was sure as soon as she walked out the door she would hear giggles from every person she waked past.

She was wearing a fitted brown leather vest. It had a deep v in the front and while it was fully buttoned anyone could clearly see the outline of her breasts. The front of the vest left her belly button showing and a good inch or so of skin. The skirt was completely decent. It was long and just grazed her hips. If she were a size larger it would fit perfectly, of course then she wouldn't be able to wear it in public because her behind would be on full display to everyone. At most, the skirt hinted at skin with its deep slits on the side. Willow assumed the slits were to facilitate movement—but she had honestly not needed the ability to move that much.

The clothes were nice, but they just were not her style.

"I really can't go out in public like this." Willow indicated her chest with her right hand frantically fanning and drawing attention to her upper body. "We just can't do this."

Aiden, found himself on the verge of laughter. Of course he couldn't laugh at Willow. He had a suspicion, if he did so, he would end up having a third disastrous first date. Perhaps they wouldn't even get out of the door, so instead he found himself disagreeing with her.

"Yes we can. You look beautiful." These were just the bare facts, as he and anyone with eyes could see them.

"No. No. No. Look at me. I can't go. Nope. We cannot do this!" Willow found herself on the verge of hysteria. What had convinced her she should go out with this man anyway? She didn't know him. She was virtually stranded in another galaxy. 'Dating' was senseless. Willow shifted her hand in front of the door panel to close the door and turned her back towards Aiden. She walked away from him mumbling to herself. She couldn't believe she had even thought she could have a normal date. What had she been thinking? Her priority should have been to figure out a way to get herself back to Sunnydale. You can't just take the evening off—and go on a date!

She paced back and forth hugging her arms to her body and rubbing her elbows. She knew she needed to change and get back to her computer. She needed to send a message to her friends and figure out how to get back to Sunnydale.

"Willow".

That was Aiden speaking. He was still in the room. She had quickly lost herself to panic and horror and her own foolishness and she had closed the door and Aiden was still there. She couldn't believe she had been so distracted. Her problems hadn't changed between being sucked through the portal and Teyla bringing her the sexy clothes and her trying them on and Aiden showing up at the door. She had blaring music on—and she was still dressed—scantily dressed and she was still stranded in the Pegasus Galaxy. Earlier she had thought she wouldn't worry about being stuck and she would just treat everything as if things were normal. Now she was terrified that if she did this then she would start to get too attached and not work hard enough to get home. So far, this galaxy wasn't exactly scarier than Sunnydale. In fact, it seemed safer. The problem was, it wasn't her world. Should she start to think of it as her world? Would going out with Aiden further attach her? She was happy with Charin. She was amused by McKay and friendly with Dr. Beckett. If she went out with Aiden, what would logically happen? Would she fall in love? Would things just go well? Either was a risk she wasn't sure she needed to take.

Why was Aiden still there? He hadn't slipped out the door when she had clearly told him that, she couldn't go.

Why hadn't he left? Had her babbling been unclear?

"You look great! You should go. I love the cargo pants and your brown shirt." Willow gave Aiden a quick perusal. He really was a good looking guy. "Great hat! Seriously, you should go and enjoy yourself. Aiden, I am sorry, we just can't do this." Willow finished her statements with an encouraging smile. He needed to leave and she needed to wallow in agony. Then it would be a standard and perfect, what was it—Saturday, yes, a standard and perfect Saturday night.

"This? What is this—this that you can't do?" As Aiden spoke he moved closer and closer to Willow. She was really quite ridiculous, gorgeous and ridiculous. He was sure he could help her lose her anxiety. "Why not?" Aiden asked the question and moved one step closer. Willow didn't inch backwards as he moved. Aiden wasn't sure if he should feel happy that she wasn't running from him or alarm that she was maybe too shell shocked to move. He got the point that she wasn't really capable of calming herself on her own.

"You are going to go because of this…" Aiden spoke the words in a low voice. He reached Willow and lowered his hands to her shoulders. He bent his head and captured her lips in a kiss. His kiss was brief—he only intended on touching his lips to hers to illustrate to her the fact there was this—thing, this—something, between them. When he felt her body move and her hands reach up to his shoulders, he deepened the kiss.

Willow heard a low moan and was shocked when she realized the sound came from her own throat. Aiden was teasing her with this kiss and she wanted more. She brought her hands to his shoulders to bring his body closer to hers. She felt her body react well before her mind could form any other coherent thoughts.

Aiden parted her lips with his tongue and deepened the kiss. Time stopped for Aiden when Willow moved her head to the side and lay against his chest her breathing- shallow.

He waited. Their kiss should have convinced her there was something worth exploring. He dropped his hands from her shoulders to her waist and pulled her hips closer to his body. He didn't want her to say anything. Hopefully her body could recognize they were at the beginning of something significant even if her head couldn't grasp it. He maneuvered her body forward. Her head lay still on his chest but they were positioned almost side by side.

Willow couldn't believe this man had intuitively silenced and calmed her with a kiss. There was something about him that reminded her of all the things she wanted—all the normal things a woman wanted. To be cherished, to be loved—these were all dreams she had felt had slipped out of her reach when Oz had cheated and left. His kiss had added fire to the slumbering attraction she felt towards him. Attraction. Sexuality. Passion. Lust. These were all things she was only just exploring and she had never expected something so quicksilver and swift to flare up between the two of them.

"You ready to go?" He asked the question and looked down at her shining hair. He was tempted to reach his hand to her chin and tip it upwards and give her a kiss and another and another. Her warm breath through his shirt and on his chest reminded him just how wonderful it felt to hold a woman or maybe really just how wonderful it felt to hold Willow.

"Yeah." Willow mumbled the word into Aiden's chest and disentangled herself from him. Her legs were a little wobbly as she went to close her laptop and shut off the music. She really hoped Aiden didn't notice her shakiness. She picked up an Athosian style leather poncho/shawl to toss around her shoulders—just in case wherever they were going was cold. Where were they going anyway?

She moved back to Aiden's side. He placed his arm around her shoulders and then dropped his arm to her waist to give her a quick hug. Xander and Giles often did this—but Willow had never felt any desire when they hugged her. She felt that tell tale shiver again.

Aiden forced himself to let go of Willow. He was fast losing his chivalrous streak. He'd seen her move on shaky legs to turn off her laptop and when she had returned to his side, he'd hugged her and lightly touched her exposed waist. She'd shivered and he had been hard pressed not stroke her waist and body. He knew he felt a good deal more than lust for her. He knew she was attracted to him. Hell, they were stranded far from home. The only thing he really needed and wanted was a beautiful woman to cherish and love—and here she was, right beside him.

The only reason why he didn't give her another kiss and then another and another was the simple fact that he didn't want her to wake up in his arms and regret having fallen asleep in them. He didn't want any mysteries, regrets or doubts between the two of them.

They really needed to vacate this room before his gallant nature completely expired.

"Ready!" Willow didn't have to fake her enthusiasm. She was quite ready to leave. She had a suspicion that she would soon pretend she was Faith and grunt and toss Aiden over her shoulder and boink his brains out on the bed, that is—if they didn't leave soon. She had never felt like this with anyone before. She had always felt the love before the lust—not the other way around. While it was obvious to her that there was a good deal of lust between the two of them there was also potential for love. There was this certain gentle nature to Aiden that made her want to dissolve into his arms each time he touched her. Aiden had let go of her—Willow wasn't so sure she liked that. It was the pleasure principal all over again. He body wanted, her mind desired, she had to have closeness. So Willow slipped her hand into his and they exited the room. She walked beside him.

"So where are we going?" Willow turned her head a little to the side to take in Aiden's profile. This didn't work because Aiden turned his head towards hers, to answer her question. Willow found herself staring up into his eyes. They were brown with little flecks of amber.

"I can't tell you… you will just have to be surprised."

"Ooh! Is it the mess hall—are we having dinner?"

"Nope."

"Are we going to watch a movie in someone's quarters or in some extra room?"

"Nope—good idea, though." There was just no way she would guess. He'd always try to keep her on her toes.

"Are we going through the gate to some place like Risa on Star Trek?"

Aiden couldn't answer that one. He just gave her a sideways look and raised an eyebrow. "Risa?" he asked. That wasn't what he had expected. Willow had another layer, one he definitely hadn't expected.

"You've never heard of the place where they always go for shore leave…?" Willow watched as Aiden raised the other eyebrow and gave her a completely bemused look.

"Yeah—but we aren't going there. Sorry." Aiden grinned. There was no Risa in The Pegasus Galaxy.

Willow couldn't believe she had just given herself away—obviously Aiden already knew she was on the other spectrum of coolness, hopefully she hadn't fully tilted herself into geeky.

"Everyone watches a little Star Trek. Except, you know, no T.V. in the Pegasus Galaxy, I am oddly enough no longer impressed by mechanical monsters or space battles. You know—considering my pesky reality…"

Aiden gave her a quick grin. He wanted to coax one out of her. He was rewarded with a small smile. It was the same thing for Willow. She couldn't watch a vampire movie and enjoy it off the premise of willing suspension of disbelief because there was nothing to disbelieve and far too much to accept as true.

"Are there any recreation planets here?" Willow was now more curious than anything.

"Not that we have come across. You know, I don't have a clue. As soon as we defeat the wraith that's what we should do—kick start the entertainment economy of the Pegasus Galaxy with a Risa. And nope, you still haven't guessed—and you aren't even close." Aiden gave her a quick smile. She really didn't have a clue—and so far, everything was going so well, thank goodness.

They continued along the hallway with Aiden leading the way. Aiden placed his right hand on her back and slid it around her shoulders. He was relaxed. It was a little different to pick up a person on foot and then walk to another part of an enclosed space for your date. He was feeling quite relaxed. He had calmed her with a kiss—this was something he had never had to do. Who would have thought? Perhaps this would work for McKay. Maybe he needed to find a woman interested in him and then Atlantis would get some peace from his snark. It did not escape him that he was interested in a woman who definitely had a reservoir of intelligence, not unlike McKay, and a propensity for babbling and rambling on and on. Of course the difference was she was frankly a she and attractive. Of course she didn't have that arrogance, which made a big difference.

"Ooh! Are we going on a scavenger hunt?" Willow was still trying to guess. She found that she really didn't care where they were heading and what they were going to do. Guessing was just the easiest conversation she could handle. She was sure once they had reached their destination they would have real discussion and such but at the moment, things were lighthearted and free. She was free. Free to toy with him and guess and sneak glances at the hotness that was Lieutenant Aiden Ford. She was enjoying herself immensely. Thank the goddess he had kissed her and convinced her to go out—wherever 'out' was.

"No scavenger hunt—though that might be interesting… we do need to fully explore the city before the corridors and excessive rooms can be turned into a game zone."

"Keep guessing—though there really isn't a hope in hell that you will come up with where we are headed."

"Oh really?" Willow had stopped in her tracks. That was a definite challenge. She turned to look Aiden in the eyes and raised an eyebrow in response. She didn't know what it was, but maybe it was something about the kiss that had reassured her. She really felt a good deal more confident with him. That kiss had essentially revealed his motivations. If she had questioned what he wanted from her she would have the answer—he wanted to be around and to be with her. Dating-definitely. Love- maybe. Marriage—not thinking like that. These things were half on her mind and half out of her mind—she knew he wanted her and that simple fact made her heady. Her concerns about him and talking to him had mostly dissipated. She was free to flirt. She had been kissed by a new person—someone she was attracted to and interested in. Willow mentally closed that chapter in her life that had begun and ended with Oz and moved on.

Guessing was a challenge—a challenge she was losing. She took a step closer to Aiden. She took one more step. She stood directly under his chin. She tilted her head upwards and waited. She wasn't sure if her brain knew what she was waiting for, instinct had taken over. Aiden was going to kiss her again. Willow knew this. She welcomed this. Aiden was going to tell her exactly what she wanted to know and then they would head off to the fully disclosed location.

"Ahem."

Both Willow and Aiden jumped a little and bumped into each other as they heard the hastily cleared throat. Willow down the corridor, towards the right and Aiden looked down the corridor towards the left. Willow didn't see a thing until she also looked left.

"Major Sheppard." Sheppard was the last man Aiden wanted to see right now. Now if he were sixteen and looking to garner a few cool points by being seen with a girl, Sheppard would be a welcome sight. As this was far from his interest, Sheppard needed to go the hell back where he came from.

"Ford. Ms. Rosenberg." Sheppard spoke their names and nodded his head in welcome to each. He hadn't missed the fact that he had come across an obvious couple getting ready to kiss, in the hallway—of all places. He honestly hadn't thought Ford had it in him. And to be fully honest, he frankly hadn't thought Willow had it in her, either. That leather she was wearing was quite becoming. She hadn't had that in her bag when she had arrived… the clothes looked Athosian. That was it. He worked it out in his brain. Teyla. Everything always went back to her. Sheppard glanced at Ford, he didn't look like he was too happy to have been interrupted. No matter.

"Dr. Weir wants to see you both." Sheppard delivered the news without inflection. He did want to grin and slap Ford on the shoulder, but he restrained himself.

"Sir?"

"Yes, you can stop by her office on your way to the bal-co-ny." Sheppard drew the word out.

Aiden narrowed his eyes. How did Sheppard know they were headed to a balcony? Who told him? And why had he pronounced the word in such an irritating way? Aiden knew he was on the verge of subordination—but it really couldn't be helped. You can't go back in time, you can only go forward. Aiden gave his commanding officer a slight smile and nod and looped his arm with Willow's and continued to walk. He was now intent on leading her to Dr. Weir's office.

"Don't worry. It is on the way."

"On the way to the balcony?" Willow grinned. She was getting clues. Maybe they would be stargazing or bungee jumping! Well, maybe not bungee jumping.

Left standing in the corridor, John was a little baffled. Had Lieutenant Ford actually dismissed him? Sheppard nodded to himself. Yes, the man had. Humph. And what had Willow been wearing? If he were ten years younger- he would definitely been interested. Of course then he would probably be laid out on the floor at Ford's feet if he even made an indicative gesture or gave a suggestive glance. And there was the simple truth that Willow only had eyes for Ford. Imagine that?

"I wonder what Dr. Weir wants to speak to me about?" Willow walked in step with Aiden.

"Dr. Weir probably just wants to know how you are settling in." Aiden had no worries about Dr. Weir. He was sure she was checking up.

Willow smiled. Dr. Weir had mentioned that she wanted to meet with her after lunch—but somehow it hadn't happened. She had spent the afternoon in the infirmary until Teyla had escorted her to the Athosian wing. Dr. Weir probably just wanted to finally meet with her.

If only her timing wasn't so darn inconvenient.

"Great timing." Willow couldn't help but mumble.

Aiden gave her a quick glance and had to hide his grin. It felt good knowing that she was anxious on getting to their date and irritated by the interruption of this meeting. Life on Atlantis… duty, duty, duty, duty, duty, fun. More often than not you could count the hours of downtime, rather of sleep, on one hand.

They turned the corner almost as a single unit—walking side by side and reached the glass room Dr. Weir considered her office.

Weir looked up as they approached with a slight, but welcoming smile on her face.

"Come in. come in." Elizabeth stood and waved both Ford and Willow in. This was a conversation not an interrogation. She noticed their casual attire and didn't mention a thing. It seemed John was right. "This will only take a moment." Elizabeth continued to stand and waited for Ford and Willow to enter the room.

"I just wanted to make sure you, Willow, were settling in okay? I didn't get a chance to come by after lunch as I had intended."

"Oh. Ma'am. Dr. Weir. Ma'am. Everything is fine." Willow didn't know what to call Dr. Weir and it seemed Dr. Weir was amused and not interested in correcting her.

"Dr. Weir, is fine."

"Okay." Willow exhaled a quick breath of relief. When she'd entered the office she'd suddenly had the thought that perhaps Dr. Weir had called her into the office to tell her dating was illegal or there was a strict dress code.

"I see Ford is showing you around?" Elizabeth couldn't help but make the observation out loud. She turned and glanced at Lieutenant Ford. He seemed a bit nervous—as if he were waiting for her to tell him to go to his room. Sometimes being the leader of the Atlantis Expedition was entirely too amusing.

"Yes." Willow was trying to play it safe—keep responses down to one-two words maximum so she wouldn't degenerate into babbling. Then they would never get to the balcony and whatever surprise awaited her there.

"So are you settling in fine? How was your time with Dr. Beckett?" Weir wanted to get a quick impression from Willow of her time here and then she would dismiss them to head back to whatever recreation Ford had surely planned. What was there to do around Atlantis of the date nature, anyway?

"Oh. I like the lab. I spent half the day there and the other half with Charin learning about herbs." Willow felt herself warming up to the conversation.

"Hmm. The Athosians will likely be setting up a settlement on the mainland soon." Weir noticed a confused look pass over Willow's face. "Oh, Ford will fill you in."

"But we are in the middle of the ocean…" Willow was baffled. How were they even going to get to the mainland? Did the expedition members have helicopters or boats?

"We have transport vehicles we call 'Puddle Jumpers'. The can get to the mainland in…" she turned to Ford to allow him to finish the sentence

"a half hour, tops." "Right—a half hour." She smiled.

"Will I have to discontinue my training with Charin?" Willow felt a little lost. So far she had been quite satisfied with all Atlantis had to offer but it seemed that one big plus was fast turning into one big fat minus.

"No. No. I am sure we can work something out. We have plenty of pilots who need to improve their flying skills. I am sure we can spare a pilot to drop you off and pick you up on a schedule."

"Puddle jumper bus service?"

"Yes, Ford. Puddle jumper bus service." Elizabeth smiled. "Okay, kids. I release you to your fun." It felt good to give the order.

Willow and Aiden smiled and turned to leave. Aiden stepped aside to allow Willow to exit first. As he left he turned to nod to Dr. Weir. He wasn't sure what his nod meant. He was probably just thanking her for her approval of his spending time with Willow. In a million and one ways she could have put the breaks on his developing any sort of relationship with Willow. Instead she had given her tacit approval.

"Lieutenant Ford?"

Aiden paused and turned back to face Dr. Weir.

"Kudos on getting Jonathon to make cake. He said something about—it is just as easy to cook for two as it is to cook for an army." Elizabeth smiled.

"Anytime." Aiden smiled and continued on his way out the office.

"So we are going to a balcony to have cake. Ha!" Willow punctuated her observations with a skinny finger in the shoulder.

"You know—you don't get points for paying attention—and that is not the full schedule of our date."

"Ooh is there more? Is there ice cream? Bowling? Video games?" Willow would have paused to do a little upwards jump—but a. she was wearing something not so appropriate and b. she actually wasn't twelve. She could surely hold off squealing and jumping in excitement.

Aiden tossed his arm around her shoulders and they continued in companionable silence. He idly stroked her shoulder as they walked and

Willow felt tingles travel towards her fingertips. She wanted to shift his hand to her neck and lower and higher towards her ear and temple. It was easy to restrain herself. These were all things that could wait. The waiting and the anticipation had begun a slow fire in her body. Each time his hand dipped from her shoulder to her elbow she repressed her urge to slink closer to him.

Willow had not tired of guessing but had decided she could wait. She sincerely hoped they would not run into another person before reaching their destination.

They were in luck. They walked a short while further and Aiden reached up to the wall panel and entered the code to open the door. With a whoosh the door opened. They were on a balcony. Aiden had set up a picnic spread, complete with candles on a low table and blankets and cushions. There was a higher table in one corner with a laptop with the windows logo bouncing around the screen and another table in the other corner with a bag of something and small closed circular dishes and paint brushes.

"Wow." Willow had been right, she could hold off her squeals until she reached the balcony. "This… this… you set this up for me?" she walked towards the balcony and to the table—taking in everything. The laptop was surely for music. And there was a basket for the food—which looked like cake and sandwiches among other things. There was even a mystery table with some sort of small containers and against the wall there was a large slab of wood. She didn't have a clue what it was all for but she was sure whatever it was she would enjoy herself--even if Aiden wanted her to show her how to face-paint . She had never had a guy set up anything like this for her. With Oz, it had always been a movie and dinner or going to the Bronze, and dinner.

Nothing elaborate. Nothing special. Nothing spectacular.

Here Aiden was, in another galaxy and with limited resources and he had tried his best to make their date as special as it could be. She couldn't help but feel that warm feeling she began with begin to expand more.

Aiden was surprised she seemed so shocked. Surely she'd had dates where the guy had put aside a few moments to make the event special.

When she reached the table with the paints, she stopped and picked up one container. She was altogether too quiet. Aiden quickly walked over to Willow. He was a little concerned. She was staring intently at the container. He bent his knees a little to look into her face. Her face wore a slightly shocked look and unshed tears stood in her eyes.

"Willow? What's wrong?" The last thing he had wanted to do was make her cry.

"Nothing." She mumbled the word. She felt like such a girly baby. She had walked onto the balcony and looked around, giddy, and now she shifted to weepiness.

Aiden, didn't think he was going to get many words out of her. Willow impulsively gave Aiden a quick hug. She grasped his shoulders and briefly squeezed. She shut her eyes and mumbled into his chest. Aiden didn't know where to put his hands. He was unsure if he should really return the hug or do exactly what he wanted, which was to kiss her. It was only his twenty fifth year of living and it was still far too difficult to understand women and their emotional shifts.

"I'm just happy." Willow stepped back and gave him a watery smile.

"Okay."

"Let me light the candles." Aiden stepped aside and dug into his pocket to get his lighter. He needed something to do to get his mind back safely into PG or at least PG-13 territory.

"No. Let me." Willow stepped away and murmured softly to herself. A small flame quickly emanated from her hand and she lit the candles.

"Sweet." Aiden gave Willow a smile and then quickly moved to set up the table.

"So we've got dinner… music… and a mystery for your entertainment pleasure." Aiden had begun to unpack the food from the basket. "Why don't you set up the music?" He actually had already organized a few probable playlists but he wanted to give Willow the sense that she had something to do. Of course, he would also get some hints as to the type of music she liked by her choices—which wouldn't hurt conversation any.

"I'm on it." Willow made her way to the laptop. Aiden couldn't help but pause in his efforts to watch her walk to the table. She really was a graceful woman from the slight tilt of her head to the curve of her hips.

Aiden set up the low table with the plates and the spread of sandwiches, tomato soup and fruit cocktail. He also had a bottle of sweet semi-fermented Athosian hooch. It was their version of hard cider. He left that bottle unopened—he had also packed a container of ice tea- if Willow wasn't interested in the local hooch.

As he worked, the opening strains of Led Zepplin's 'Ramble On' wafted towards him. He couldn't help but grin. That wasn't the way he would have set the mood but, no matter, the mood was set.

"The Hobbit song?" Aiden couldn't help but quip.

"You know it took me ages to figure out what the lyrics meant. And I quote, 'Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear.
How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air. T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair. But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her...yeah.'" Willow walked by the table and had begun organizing the cushions and blankets around on the ground. She was making a space where they could comfortably sit on the ground.

"I guess, Gollum stole his baby- his woman. I have no clue. My friends always assumed it was the drugs talking."

"I agree. That's what Giles always said." Willow felt a shadow pass over her face and she forcibly made it pass. She was so not going to slip into sadness.

"Who is Giles?" Aiden saw the sadness that fell over on Willow and he was determined to make sure she didn't lose herself in it. Maybe the best way to do that would be to give her the opportunity to talk about her friends, this Giles and whatever she was missing.

"Giles is like my father figure-mentor-librarian type guy. He's my friend." Willow looked up from organizing the pillows. She wasn't sure if right now was the time to go into the history of her life on the Hellmouth or if it were just better that she wait. The simple fact that she was hesitating told her that it was best that she wait.

The pause stretched. It didn't seem like Willow was going to explain further so Aiden picked up the conversational slack. "I had a friend like that in high school. He was the basketball coach. Coach Pete. He got me thinking about the Naval Academy, and a future beyond hanging out and getting in trouble."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Willow was glad Aiden had segued into speaking about his coach. She was gathering her courage to 'reveal' herself a little more. His personal information made it seem like they were sharing equally. She felt comfortable to offer a little more information about Giles and maybe even her friends.

"Giles kept me alive in high school—even up to now, actually. I mentioned vampires, right?" Willow reached her hand to her neck and slid the hair off to reveal her angry scar. Aiden couldn't help but walk closer. He raised one hand to her shoulder and bent to inspect the mark.

"My town is a haven for supernatural and demonic activity. Vampires, evil bug people, evil witches, etc. Giles is an expert in supernatural things, languages and etc. He is British and stuffy and like a father to me." Willow tilted her head back and let her hair fall to cover the scar. She looked up at Aiden, trying to read in his face if he believed her or if he believed she was nuts.

"How did he keep you alive? Did he point out danger and stuff?" Aiden was slightly skeptical that a supernatural expert could do much except Mulder/Scully type investigations—after the fact.

"Kind of—but he also trains my friend on how to physically fight evil. She has special powers—speed, strength, accelerated healing ability, weapons expertise, etc… she is a kind of mystical warrior. Her calling is to fight evil." Willow had her eyes trained on the ground. There was just no way he was buying this. In thirty seconds she would be o for four in dating.

"Hmm. I get that you are a witch—and that vampires are real—and that your friend is some kind of supernatural librarian—but there is also a warrior—a with special powers to fight evil?" Aiden wasn't so sure why he was so skeptical. Somehow believing in witches was more sensible than believing in warriors with special powers.

Willow laughed. "Aiden, you believe I am a witch—but you doubt that my best friend has special warrior powers?— In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." Willow spoke the words and felt a chill rush down her spine. Buffy's calling was majestic and inspiring. Being around her had changed her in so many ways--from a wallflower to a witch.

Aiden gave her the beginnings of a nod in the negative.

Willow shrugged, "You will just have to meet her for yourself. Don't call her short—she'll kick your ass."

"Please. I am a United States Marine—I could subdue her in fifteen—no ten seconds. Not that I subdue women—I mean evil alien wraith women… not normal red-blooded women." Aiden glanced to the side to see how Willow was taking his explanatory boast. He was trying to keep things light. The easiest way to do that, the way things were going, was to change the subject. He didn't doubt that Willow was telling the truth—but in his mind women were to be protected, not sent out on the front lines to fight, unless it was their choice. Her friend being, "The Chosen One", it didn't seem like it was her choice—rather her calling.

"I hope you are hungry. We got sandwiches with mystery meat. Tomato soup and fruit cocktail. We also have some sort of lemon tea cake—courtesy of Jonathon. I forgot the spoons so we will be drinking the soup and spearing the fruit cocktail with forks—unless you can do some matrixy thing and make a spoon." Aiden lifted the fork and wagged his eyebrows.

Aiden caught Willow's eye. She was definitely confused. "Never mind. You haven't seen 'The Matrix' have you?"

"Nope. I missed that one." Aiden dropped pop culture references like Xander, but carried himself more like the man than a child..

"I think Dr. Z. has it saved somewhere—we'll have to watch it when we get the chance." He went back to scrounging in the basket for napkins.

They hadn't even sat down to the real meat of their date and Aiden was already making plans for a follow up. Willow couldn't help but feel at peace.

"Slightly alcoholic Athosian hard cider hooch or semi-sweet ice tea?"

"Hooch." Willow organized her skirt so when she sat she wouldn't flash Aiden, though he likely wouldn't mind over much—of course she would die of embarrassment and they just couldn't continue the date if she were dead. Mental breath needed. The music shifted to Nina Simone, and Willow felt herself calm as she listened to the piano and guitar.

They sat down on the blankets and cushions with the soup and drinks before them.

"I like your music choices." Aiden smiled. Willow had so far chosen his favorites.

"I like your music."

Willow found herself quite hungry. As polite as she could be, she quickly finished off her sandwich and reached for a second. The soup was delicious, even though it surely had been made from a powder mix. Aiden filled her consumption pauses with light stories about his childhood growing up on the 'bad streets' of Baltimore. Each little thing he told her reinforced her initial impressions. He was a man to be trusted. He was a man to like. Despite the fact he once stole a bike from a ten year old bully who was terrorizing all the little kids—of course he was fifteen at the time.

"So, did you finally give up/give in/quit/concede/etc?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"The guesses—you were supposed to be trying to figure out what I had planned for our date… remember?"

Somehow, in the last few moments Aiden had shifted position. Instead of being directly across from her he was now at her side. He spoke those words practically in her ear.

"Um, balcony picnic--with cake." Willow stated the obvious—full knowing there was more she didn't know. She felt a shiver course through her body. He was so close to her.

"Check." Aiden spoke the word and gave Willow a light kiss on the temple. Her skin was pale and being so near he could clearly see the shadow of a freckle at her hairline. He wondered if she had others… other places. He stood. PG date. PG-13 tops. This was where he had concluded they needed to be. He extended his hand and she placed her hand in his. He helped her stand.

"Date—that is what we are on, right? According to Merriam Webster's dictionary we are in the middle of a social engagement that has romantic characteristics. We are supposed to learn a little about each other with the explicit goal of determining if we want to learn more. Right?"

Aiden turned towards Willow as he said the last word.

"Right." She wasn't sure how or why it had happened, but she felt a chill run up her spine. What if he was doing some weird marine dating test?

"So—I want to know more. I want you to know more about me." Aiden wasn't sure where he got the guts to just state the truth outright. It probably came somehow between seeing his first commanding officer, Colonel Sumner shrunken and dead. Maybe it was from being electrocuted or perhaps being stuck in the Stargate. Who would have thought life could be so short and so deadly? "Okay?" His last word was a question for her—and a statement of fact for him—as long as she agreed, of course.

"Okay." Willow gave him the answer he wanted and squeezed his hand. She didn't want to ask any questions. She didn't want or need any clarification. Things were perfectly clear to her. They were moving forward in the only plausible direction. On one hand it was obvious that they were moving towards the table in the corner and the small containers and large piece of wood on the other hand it was also equally clear they were taking other steps. Together.

"I like to paint." Aiden lead her to the table. He let go of her hand and went to the bag. He opened it and removed the small plastic bags of powdered tempera pigments. "Here we have pigments and powdered egg yolk. You make paint by mixing a small amount of water with the egg and the pigment." Willow walked and leaned against the table. Aiden had removed small baggies of powdered paints twisted and closed. Each bag was doubled. He had a wide variety of colors.

"What are we going to make?" Willow looked up as she asked the question.

"I don't know. What would you like?" Aiden gave her the option.

"Um… Well. I don't have any talent—whatever we make it has to be simple enough for you to pencil in the numbers…" Aiden interrupted her with a laugh.

"I am sure I can give you that guidance—we aren't limited to paint by numbers portraits."

Willow smiled, "I don't know. Should we make something fanciful or realistic?"

"Maybe a little bit of both. Fantasy is always alluring—especially when you can morph it with reality. How about a dream… why don't we paint one of those?"

Something about the way Aiden spoke those words drew her closer him. Willow found herself staring into his eyes and drifting into her thoughts again. What dreams could she make reality with him? What fantasies?

"We aren't talking about the painting anymore, are we?"

Aiden smiled, "We could be." He gave her the chance to step back from this vein of conversation. He wasn't disappointed when she did—they had time. Willow turned her gaze back to the powdered pigments.

"Why don't we start with a setting—day or night for the painting…"

"Night—ooh this is easy"—Willow rubbed her hands together in anticipation of solving their painting dilemma.

"Okay—outside or inside?"

"Um… outside what? Like in the forest or on our balcony?"

"Hmm… why don't we go with what we know—outside on'… Aiden gave her a pointed look 'our balcony'"

"Okay, stars or black sky?"

"Definitely stars." Willow made the announcement and then looked upwards. "You know, I have never seen any of these constellations before." When she looked up into the night sky she was suddenly reminded as to just where she was. This wasn't Sunnydale, Kansas or even close.

"The Atlantis database has information about the constellations, I am sure Dr. Weir wouldn't mind if you browsed it." Aiden was very happy that Willow had taken to his painting idea. And her Freudian slip about 'our balcony' was quite telling.

"That is a good idea. I can wow you with my knowledge the next time we come out here to work on the painting. You know, I was thinking. It'd be neat to paint this from the perspective of night changing into day—just at the point when the stars begin to disappear and dawn is on the horizon…. That could be a primary focus for the upper portion of the painting. Not too sure about the rest though."

"I am sure we can figure the rest out together."

"So how do we start?" Willow was interested. She had never tried her hand really at anything artistically creative. When she was in school, she had pretty much stuck to academics.

"Well first we have to prep 'the canvas'."

"I am sure you are using that word loosely." Willow gave an askance look to the flattened slab of wood.

"Right." Aiden smiled. What else could he say? Their 'canvas' was wood.

"Are you going to stain it to even out the color?" Willow wasn't sure where she had picked up that slight knowledge.

"Hmm. I am not sure. What do you think? Would you rather have the slight color variations or an even slate?" Aiden gave Willow a sideways glance as he asked the question. Willow was intently staring at the wood and trying to make a decision. He occupied his eyes by giving her a serious once, twice, third over. It was the first chance he'd really had to stare at her without unnerving her or making her uncomfortable.

She was a little below medium height for a woman and small, petite actually. The Athosian clothing fit her well. The brown leather contrasted against her pale skin and brought out the golden undertones. The full skirt she wore hung low on her hips and while a little oversized, fit her well. It gave her the look of a cowboy gypsy, with its leather fullness. When she walked forward to closely study the wood, the skirt swished open and gave him a glimpse of her slim legs.

"Hmm… I think you should leave it. The color variations aren't that distinct. Maybe it will make what ever we come up with more interesting." Silence. "Aiden?"

"Sorry—so leave it as is? Okay." Aiden went back to the table and busied himself opening a few of the small containers. "Which colors do you think we should begin with?

"Um…" Willow pushed around the small bags and separated a few. "I think, dark blue, and black, and maybe that silver, for the stars."

He dumped a small portion of the powdered egg into three of the flat containers.

"Could you get a bottle of water from the basket—and the hooch, please?"

"Uh huh." Willow turned to gather what he had requested. She turned her head as she walked away. Yes, she had been right. He had been checking out her ass, as he obviously had been earlier when he hadn't answered her question. She waffled between a blush and a knowing smirk. Oddly enough, for the first time, the smirk won out. She tossed the smirk over her shoulder as she gathered the hooch and a bottle of water.

Had Willow just sneered at him? It was the cutest sneer possible. Definitely McKay'esque. He'd have to be a bit more surreptitious with his glances. She brought him back the hooch, the water and the glasses.

Willow refilled the glasses and walked over to Aiden. She brought him the bottle of water and the hooch.

"Thanks." Aiden had organized small amounts of the pigments into the containers. He had just begun to put lesser amounts of the powdered egg into the containers. All that was left was for him to add a small splash of water and mix the pigments.

Willow found herself staring at his hands. They were strong and capable, and efficient. His fingernails were short and evenly clipped—much different from dating a musician.

"How can I help?" Willow smiled as Aiden exchanged a small wooden straw for his drink.

"You can stir." Willow stirred each small container and watched as the pigments combined with the water and powdered egg.

"When I was a kid, I used to watch those painting programs on PBS, I never could follow the instructions though." Willow remembered the Saturday mornings spent watching the shows and her oversized flipbook of blurry watercolor attempts.

"Yeah. Well—maybe I can show you a thing or two."

"Maybe you can."

"Why don't I start the background and you can help?"

"Um… why don't I do the stars?" Willow wasn't so sure she wanted to take the chance she would mess anything up.

"Are you wimping out on me? This is our first painting—it's gotta be a shared effort, ya' know?"

"It will be a shared effort if you do the background and I do the stars… are you making chicken noises! I am not a chicken!"

Willow knew Aiden was right, she was wimping out. Surely if she helped with the background he could always paint over it if she messed it up too badly.

"Okay—I will help." Willow drained her drink. It had the tiniest amount of alcohol possible but it still gave her an extra amount of warmth. She watched as Aiden dipped the brush in the dark blue color and began to add swatches of color to the wood. The only thing missing was a place to sit—she decided to use the table as a chair and scooted on top. No matter how she arranged her skirt, the slits ensured she would either show her left or her right leg. She decided exposing her right leg was the least problematic as this was the appendage the further away from Aiden. Willow knew she was far from puritan but she wasn't exactly wanton. She was losing herself in watching his graceful hands holding the brush dip into the paint and then spread the color onto the wood. His movements had a certain rhythm and cadence.

"Why don't you help me?" Aiden knew Willow was watching his movements. He didn't mind her eyes on him but he knew the more she looked the more likely she would consider the art they were making the art he was making. This wasn't the case. This was a shared piece and the only way to give her that sense was to have her help.

"No. No. I'll mess it up." Willow didn't want to muddle up what Aiden had started.

Aiden chuckled, "I laid down a few swatches of blue strips, how could you possibly induce chaos by adding a bit more blue?"

"I don't know… but I could!"

Aiden tilted his head and handed her the brush. He waited. He continued to wait. Finally she took the brush. Willow stood and made her way to the wood canvas.

"I am not so sure about this." She turned to face Aiden. She didn't know if she could do this. Her other artistic failures loomed in her mind's eye. She remembered her mother's laughing face and proclamation that she stick to academics and leave creativity for the creative.

"I am sure you can do this." Aiden walked up behind Willow and covered her hand that held the paint brush with his. He raised her hand to the canvas and began to add sweeping strokes of blue to the wood.

Willow turned her head and grinned. She was creating something. She was painting. Aiden's hand stopped. He paused and looked down at her grinning face. It was the simple things he had been missing for years. Someone to make happy. Willow turned her head back to the canvas and Aiden dropped his lips to her head. He placed a kiss on her forehead. He felt a shiver course through her body.

"Cold?"

"A little. I'll get the blanket." Willow handed him back the brush and went to gather a blanket from the picnic area and the Athosian wrap. She walked back to Aiden and couldn't decide if she'd rather set herself up to sit on the table or to lean against the wall and sit on the floor. In the end she decided to take the floor. The day had been long and she was honestly quite tired. She had a strong suspicion that she would end up half asleep soon. If not because of the drink then definitely because of watching the rhythmic strokes of the paintbrush across the canvas. Aiden stood and painted and Willow watched.

"You know…" Willow started.

"Hmm…"

"Charin gave me homework."

"Really? What was it?"

"Um—I am supposed to come up with a rationale as how to instead of shielding a single person—how to shield everyone else from that person." Willow frowned.

"Are they really moving to the mainland?"

Aiden paused and turned towards Willow. "Honestly, I don't know. Major Sheppard needed to talk to Teyla and Halling to discuss the possibilities.

"Why do they need to go, anyway?"

"Hmm… that is hard to answer. The simple answer is a half truth. They are farmers and they will be better suited to an actual land environment—but the truth of the matter is that there have been some suspicions that perhaps one of the Athosians is a wraith spy." Aiden hadn't wanted to lay the truth out for her but he had to—and he had to do it in the simplest and most direct manner.

"But that is ridiculous. I can't imagine anyone being a wraith spy? What could a demon have to offer to win a person over to their side? They eat you—you can't bargain with your food?"

Aiden shrugged. "I don't disagree with you—but the simple fact is that just about every other mission we have gone on we have encountered the wraith. We are getting injured and coming close to actually losing our lives—remember McKay just earlier today? Something is wrong." Willow nodded. She remembered how the stunner had affected Rodney. If it had been a gun, he would surely have been dead.

"I see your point—but there has to be some other explanation—there just has to be."

"I hope you are right. Dr. Weir has decided that we cannot continue off world missions until the threat has been eliminated." Willow looked just about to protest at his wording. "Okay, eliminated may have been too strong a word—how about neutralized…."

"That works better."

"So we somewhat confine the Athosians to the mainland—when really they thrive and need to be on the mainland anyway—because they are farmers… problem hopefully solved and we get back to off world missions to find a Z.P. M. or other power source." Aiden grimaced. He knew that the plan was logical—it just wasn't diplomatic. They were essentially accusing the Athosians without a trial.

"I don't think you have any other choice." Willow gave Aiden a tight smile. She hadn't really liked the command decision Dr. Weir had obviously made but it was logical and well thought out.

"Me either."

Aiden continued to paint. The music had changed quite a few times. Now they were up to a slew of U2 songs. Willow was obviously also a fan. He hummed quietly to himself, turning to occasionally to catch Willow's eyes on him. She would blush but not say a thing.

"How is that homework working out for you?" He had to ask. How did she come up with a variation of a spell—actually the first question was how did she come up with the first spell.

"Well, I don't know. I haven't a clue how to work it out. I can shield a person or an object just fine. I can do it without herbs—but it takes an immense amount of energy from me if I do it without herbs." Willow frowned. "If I were to do it backward I would be able to target an enemy an essentially block them from doing any damage to anyone. It would be a handy trick—if there were a single enemy—and if that enemy was hard to destroy or if I had little ability or power to destroy the enemy."

Willow lost herself in the musings—she couldn't believe how well things were going between her and Aiden. She had been fed, kissed, entertained, and now she had the pleasure of watching him create something that might well turn out to be beautiful and she had been given free reign to think and study.

She couldn't believe how seamlessly they had fallen in together. Friends. Kissing partners. Companions. All that. It was perfect.

"What is the spell to shield a person?"

Aiden asked all the good questions. It was obvious he was aware of her interests.

"You say, 'Let me not be seen, let it all to them seem a dream'" Willow spoke the words and Aiden watched as she shimmered and disappeared.

"Hm. That is different." He put down his brush and walked to where Willow had been only moments before. He dropped to his haunches right before where she surely sat. He reached his hand towards her just as she shimmered back into view. Aiden slipped his hand behind her neck and pulled her head closer to his. He captured her lips with his. He felt this urgency to ensure she was really right before him and not lost in some magical ether between existence and disappearance.

Willow opened her lips to his foray into her mouth. She didn't know what it was about him or exactly what had prompted this kiss. They had just been discussing disappearing and shielding and then she had practiced. She felt the fire between them flare up again and again- warmth and then searing heat.

"I don't think I like it when you shimmer out of existence."

"Sorry." Willow gave him a half smile. "If I disappear again and reappear, will you kiss me like that?"

"You don't have to disappear to get that reaction."

"Okay."

Aiden found himself exactly where he wasn't so sure he needed to be. He was holding Willow in his arms and really not really giving his next moves too much thought. PG-13, that was where they were right now—and that was exactly where they needed to stay. He untangled Willow's arms from his neck and stood up. Back to work…

"Can't you just change the wording of the spell?"

"What?" Willow had a clue about what he'd said. How was it he could shift from kissing her senseless to actual sensible conversation in a matter of moments. Not a skill she was sure she wanted to know how he had developed.

"The spell, couldn't you just change the words?"

"Oh yeah—that's the first step—the second step is the tricky part. You have to manipulate the mind of the enemy and the physical weapons into believing their actions will have no affect—and then they will have no affect."

"Are you saying magic is a mind game?" Aiden wasn't sure he had ever considered it as such—unless he actually thought about the magicians he had seen on television.

"Eh… kind of—but you also have to mess with the actual physical. What kinds of weapons do the wraith usually carry?"

"Stunners."

"Well in order for this to work then I would have to put up a shield around the wraith and manipulate his mind into believing his actions will have no affect and then I also have to make sure his weapons have no affect. With our standard weapons it is relatively easy- you manipulate the trigger mechanism into not firing or jamming. I am really not sure how it works with an energy weapon. It is definitely something to think about."

Willow settled herself a little more comfortably against the wall and picked up her glass. She watched as Aiden turned his back towards her again and went back to the painting. He had added quite a few swatches of variations of blue to the sky. She kind of wanted to stand up and help out but she had a suspicion that if she stood up she would end up in his arms again. The trouble was, this was exactly the place she wanted to be. There was nothing wrong with being honest with herself. She knew she was going a little too fast—but there was something to be said for honesty. She wanted this man. He gave her no indications that he was looking for anything short term. On the contrary, her fed her all the signs he was looking for something distinctly long term. And that was perfectly fine with her… something long term—something real.

Willow lost her self in thinking about Aiden, about she and Aiden, about her and Aiden, shielding spells, Aiden kissing her, her kissing Aiden and then she found herself slipping into her dreams.

Aiden kept painting. He knew he should allow Willow to help him out but he wasn't so sure that was the best idea. His control was waning and she really wasn't helping. He sure wasn't going to moan and groan because she was responsive to him and obviously wanted him. That would be ludicrous.

He turned around and found her slumped against the wall, completely asleep. The music had ended and she was out like a light. He quietly went and organized the dishes back into the basket and closed each small mixed container of paint. He packed up the laptop and organized the basket and paints and the wood just on the other side of the balcony. In case it began to rain before he returned for everything. It really was late—by earth standards it was past midnight. He had two choices, he could snuggle against the wall with her and fall asleep or he could just carry her back to her room. Carrying her back to the room had far more romantic and common sense appeal. This may have been 'their balcony' but they surely hadn't yet put up a sign. Aiden also didn't really think Dr. Weir would want to hear through the Atlantis rumor mill about him sleeping outside on a balcony.

Aiden organized Willow's arms about his neck and scooped her into his arms, smiling when she snuggled closer to him. He carried her to the transporter and through the corridors towards her room. He got to her door and being too lazy to enter the code for the door, manipulated her hand in front of the reader. Willow's eyes fluttered open when he touched her hand and she somewhat woke up when she heard the door slide open.

"Am I home?" Willow only partly knew what she meant.

"Yeah."

Aiden thought to place her on her feet but as he prepared to lower her to do just that her arms tightened around his neck. It seemed she had little interest in letting go.

He walked further into her room and towards the bed. He sat down on her bed, still holding her in his arms. Willow crawled out of his arms and onto the mattress. She yawned widely and organized herself onto her side- seemingly oblivious to the fact that her position exposed one slender leg to Aiden's view.

"Thanks" Willow patted his shoulder and burrowed into the bed.

"Do you have pajamas or something…?" Aiden had to ask, even though he was sure he hadn't the will power to help her into them.

"Nope. Got a sheet though." Willow giggled softly into the pillow. "Property of the U.S. Military."

"Okay. I will leave you to get ready for bed." Perhaps the Athosian hooch affected her a little more than was expected. Aiden stood and took a few quick strides towards the door. He tried to punch in the release code for the door but it just didn't open. He tried again. Nothing.

This was different. Why wouldn't the room let him leave? Aiden turned back to look at Willow she was completely asleep… and she had the ancient gene. Had she locked him in here? No that really wasn't possible. Right?

Aiden tried again. Nothing.

He had a couple of options. He could continue to try the code or contact McKay and get him to enter some override on the door and completely embarrass Willow, or he could wake her up and get her to open the door and of course embarrass her. He could always just sleep in the room. The bed was more than large enough. Or he could take the chair. Hmm… Aiden decided the best thing to do would be to wake Willow up. He didn't have to tell her one hundred percent truth—maybe just eight five percent truth.

He walked over to Willow and gently shook her.

"Willow, baby. The door is locked. Willow."

"Huh. What." She turned onto her back and then moved slightly towards him. Aiden groaned. She had no idea what she was doing to him. You don't crawl around on your bed towards a man unless you really wanted him to join you in bed.

"Don't wanna you t'go." Aiden felt her hand reach up towards his leg and grab at the cargo pocket.

What the hell was he supposed to do? The hooch had her a good deal inebriated… at least he didn't have a mission in the morning. What else was there to do other than stay? He gave the chair a though and changed his mind. No freaking way. He wasn't a saint. She had locked him in this room with her unconscious mind. The last thing he would do is sit in that uncomfortable chair all night. Aiden took off his shoes and quietly settled onto the bed. He tried to make the least amount of movement as he could. Willow shifted a bit and mumbled in her sleep. Aiden didn't know if it were only his own fanciful thinking of if he had truly heard her say his name. He heard her whisper again, "Aiden".

Aiden couldn't help it; he gathered her into his arms and sighed when she sighed. She squirmed and wriggled a bit until she was tightly spooned against him. Aiden fell asleep listening to her breathe.