A/N: Okay, this one took a while…sorry…and I finished that in a rush, so that I could post it asap. So, there sure as hell are mistakes in it. I'll find and correct them later…;)

Ficlit, sweetie, this is for you. Your last chapter of The House of Ill Repute had me in a writing mood.

Disclaimer: I finally – finally – own the season one dvd box. Yay! But other than that I own nothing…

2. Damien

"Really?"

She hissed through her smile. "Yes, really."

He looked slightly smug and raised one eyebrow. "Prove it."

She groaned and gripped the packet of coffee with more force than intended. "I don't need to prove anything."

He snorted. "You're unbelievable. You drag some poor man here to play your boyfriend and – "

"Hey! Watch it. You don't know him."

True, but he knew her and the way she was getting all protective and defensive was telling him all he needed. After his failed attempt to get her on a date with his college friend Damien, he told her to come to his little apartment with her alleged boyfriend. Matt was often here on business, so he and his wife decided on buying a small two room apartment in Sacramento. And that was where Grace and he were now trying to make coffee. What he hadn't told her before was he invited Damien nonetheless. He thought she was only bluffing with her boyfriend-speech. But now it was kind of awkward. She really brought someone. And he sure as hell knew there was a lot more going on then she said.

"You're right, Gracie-"

She only glared at him and he instantly corrected her name.

"Grace. I don't really know where you've got that death stare from." While he tried to brighten her mood a bit, she forcefully spooned some coffee into the coffee maker. After shutting it and turning it on, she faced her brother again.

"Why do you keep doing that, Matt? I'm perfectly capable of starting my own relationships."

He snorted. It was supposed to be only inward so she wouldn't hear but no such luck. And she let him know it.

A very creepy frown joined the death glare that was still adorning her beautiful features. These pretty green eyes, that not only she but also all of her three older brothers had, were boring into him as if they wanted to spike his brain and fry it over open fire. Scary. It gave him goosebumps.

Without another word she turned around to go out of the room. Oh, shit. How is he gonna survive that? If his wife hears so much as a rumor about this, she'll have his balls. Gulp. So help him God.

********

He hated awkward situations like this. Not that he wasn't used to them. He'd had enough of them with Grace - but this was ridiculous. The moment they entered the apartment of Grace's brother there was this guy, a college friend, who tried to undress his Grace in his mind. He was sure of that. And he didn't like it. And he didn't know what to make of this guy. Honestly, he felt insecure about this whole situation. Clearly the college friend was here to be sort of a blind date for Grace. Which in turn made him think even more insecure thoughts.

What if she actually wants to go on a date with Daniel … Darren … Donald … or whatever his name was. After all he was only her fake date, what if she started to like the other guy? Maybe he should just go …

Before he could end this thought and somehow act on it, Grace stormed out of the kitchen.

Uh oh, he knew that look on her face. Her brother must have pissed her off pretty badly. Without a word but a very hearable and clear harumph she sat down heavily beside him on the couch.

Now the big question was, should he ask her what's wrong or just keep quiet and let her talk to him if she wanted to. He needn't have worried because a split second after she sat down she sported a saccharine sweet smile, folded her delicate fingers in her lap and spoke to the poor unsuspecting man with a voice of an angel.

"I'm sorry for the awkward situation my brother was putting you in. My boyfriend and I aren't together for long, and I haven't had the chance to tell Matt before today. I apologize for every … inconvenience … this meeting has caused you." You could see the surprise and a strong case of disappointment written clearly on Damien's face, he didn't expect that. He thought he had a chance, he apparently thought she wanted to go out with him desperately. What the hell had Matt told him? "So, I'm afraid we have to go. Now."

Rigsby couldn't process all she said in the short time she said it. And he was openly confused when Grace already stood in front of the couch, waiting for him to get up and out of the apartment. He somehow had to slow her down and make her explain. But for the moment and for the health of all parties involved he better just went along with her. Without saying a word.

So he watched her saying goodbye to the supposed blind date and could only shake his hand shortly, too, before hastily following her. When she came to a still before her brother she lost the fake smile completely. The room instantly grew 30 degrees colder and he couldn't help but feel a shiver running down his spine. Boy, not even Jane would survive this glare. He was even more surprised by her next words.

"We're going."

That's it. Nothing more. No bye, no handshake. Not. Even. A. Wave.

Rigsby exchanged one last look with Matthew and was right behind Grace, out the door in the next second.

The ride down with the elevator was uncomfortable for him. She wasn't talking, wasn't looking at him, didn't even send a glance his way. And he didn't know what to do. He nearly was afraid to say a word, in case of turning her wrath on him. So he did nothing. When the elevator came to a stop and the door opened, she nearly sprinted out the chamber, out of the building and out into the clear night air without waiting for her colleague.

He let her go. He took his time following her out, letting her collect her thoughts, letting her take a deep breath and probably let her build one more wall around her heart.

As he caught up with her, he stayed behind her as close as he could without actually touching her and waited. He was surprised when she leaned slightly backwards. He held her at her upper arms to show her he would never let her fall. She sighed and relaxed against him. Now Rigsby was worried.

"I just had to get out."

He nodded his understanding against her hair. Slowly he turned his favorite red head so she faced him and he could fully embrace her. And the most wonderful thing? She embraced him right back. Held him tight and burrowed her face in his neck.

As much as he loved this position, he wanted to get her someplace more comfortable. But he only dared whispering into her ear.

"You okay to go home?"

She didn't say anything, didn't lift her head, only held him even stronger for a moment and then nodded.

********

Grace needed Wayne's company now more than ever, so she invited him for a coffee in her apartment after all they left her brothers home before his coffee machine had a remote chance to finish.

Now they were seated on her couch in the living room with a steaming cup of coffee in their hands and way too much space between them. Awkward again. And uncomfortable somehow. Although she owned this couch because it was one of the most comfy things in the world.

Not now.

She turned her head to watch his reaction to this whole fiasco. And then frowned, because he frowned. He stared at his coffee with deep lines on his forehead trying to work something out.

She spoke quietly. "I'm sorry." Her voice nearly broke. He almost didn't hear her. The lines on his forehead grew deeper still, a clear sign of confusion.

He began to relax, she spoke again. "What in hell are you sorry for?" Just as quietly.

She shook her head and scooted a little closer to him, so that their legs were lightly touching. She snorted.

"For the last forty minutes. For everything my brother said and did, for – "

"No." He shook his head, embraced her slightly with one arm and began rubbing slight soothing circles.

"No?" She let him, let herself fall more into him, let more of her weight rest against him. It felt so good, so perfectly right.

His voice grew stronger now, a little louder, too. "No. There's nothing you have to be sorry for." He glanced down at her with a brilliant smile to hopefully make her smile a little, too. And she did.

She fixed her eyes on his, trying to read him. But first things first.

"Thank you." Normally she would have looked away, but she couldn't, not now. Instead she leaned closer and up to him. Slowly, to see how he reacted. He followed her example till there was no more space left between them.

Their first kiss was chaste and sweet, so achingly sweet. So when they parted Grace lifted her hand to play with the short hair at his neck and pull him right back into the next longer, bolder kiss.

He shifted their position a little so Grace was able to snuggle even deeper into him. She sighed and ended their second kiss with the loveliest, most genuine smile he ever saw on her.

A/N: *snort* Grant. Looks like I have to write a third chapter…. there's smut missing….or at least a lot of fluff, isn't there?