A/N - just wanted to say that of course I don't own the beatles and since I forgot in the last chapter, I don't own Nina Simone either. Or 10 things I hate about you, for that matter. Though owning Ethan Peck would be a joy beyond measure. And about the tasteless Beatles comment - Patrick's disclaimer goes ditto for me.

It hadn't been about seducing her. That wasn't his plan when he brought her here. It was about taking her mind off everything. But as he looked around he saw that the whole thing could have easily been misconstrued as a seduction and he was very glad, as he laid back on the blanket listening to the storm outside and the Beatles drifting from the laptop with Kat curled into his side, her head resting in the crook of his arm, that she hadn't taken the whole thing the wrong way.

Maybe they were getting somewhere. And maybe it was time to tell her that. He had to admit that he felt a little guilty for stinging her along for so long while keeping her at arm's length. It was his way. He had his reasons. People could hurt you far more easily when they knew they meant something to you. It was a simple fact, one he had learned the hard way. Keeping everything casual was the best way of avoiding that.

Still it was becoming undeniable that the girl laying next to him meant something to him. A lot of something. And he accused her of being obsessed.

She shifted, turning her face upwards so that she could see his.

" Thank you for all this." She whispered quietly.

" You don't have to thank me. I'm glad I helped." He answered holding her just a little tighter.

She sat up beside him and tugged his leather jacket a little closer to her body. " I don't want to fight with you, especially not after, " She gestured around her at the food and the fire and the laptop "But..."

He sat up as well and eyed her carefully. " But what ? If you don't want to fight, it's easy. Just don't. Whatever it is you want to say, can't it wait until tomorrow if you think it might start a fight ?"

She tugged her hair behind her ear. It was a habit that he was getting very used to. " See, that's the problem. This conversation keeps waiting. I keep putting it off and I don't want to anymore. It's time we talked about this."

He sighed, thinking that maybe she hadn't let the whole seduction thing go like he thought she had.

" I didn't bring you here to get you to have sex with me. That wasn't the point of all this."

Her eyes widened in surprise for a moment. " What ? I know that." She glanced around her and suddenly didn't look so sure. " At least I think I know that. That's not what I'm talking about."

" Then what 'this' do you want to talk about ?" He folded his arms over his chest and eyed her suspiciously.

" We need to talk about us, about this thing we're doing. I don't even know what to call it." She began and he could feel a nice long tirade coming on so he unfolded his arms and put them behind him. Leaning back on them and getting comfortable, he decided to just let her go for a while at least even though he was a little shocked that she had seemingly read his mind. " Are we dating ? Are you my boyfriend ? Is that what I call you when I introduce you to people ? And if it isn't then what are we ? Are we just friends, because I'm friends with Mandela and I don't ever let her put her tongue down my throat. I just want some clarification. What if someone else came along ? Are we exclusive ? Are you seeing anyone else ?"

Finally he stopped her by leaning forward and putting his hand on her arm. " Alright, enough. I get it. You want to know where we stand."

She nodded decisively. " Exactly."

He sighed again. " I still don't understand why its necessary to label everything like that -" He began, but she cut him off before he could finish.

" It's important because I'm confused and I really hate being confused." She interjected.

" Let me finish." He told her with a warning look. " How bout this ? How about you tell me what you think is going on here and I'll tell you if I agree."

She rolled her eyes and chuckled in a completely non humorous way. " So that way, I get to put myself out there and you take no risk whatsoever."

" That wasn't what I was thinking. I think we both know what this is." He said.

" I think this is a date." She told him finally. " And it isn't our first. I think we've been dating for a while now."

He nodded reluctantly. " Alright. I guess that's true."

" I think everyone I know assumes you're my boyfriend and I'm finding myself less and less inclined to tell them they're wrong lately." She ventured carefully.

" Okay, I can see that too."

" Could you be any more vague ? Is that alright with you, that people assume you're my boyfriend ? Do you let people assume I'm your girlfriend ? Am I your girlfriend ?"

He smirked, unable to keep himself from tweaking her buttons just a tad. " You are a girl and you're my friend, at least most of the time, so no I don't correct them when they make that assumption."

Her eyes sparked with anger and she let out a frustrated growl. " Patrick !" She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. " I'm kinda going out on a limb here. Join me, there's plenty of room and I'm pretty sure it's sturdy enough not to break."

" You're pretty sure? Sounds a little dangerous." He chuckled. " I'd hate to fall."

Her arms fell to her side and she looked down at her legs folded in front of her. " I'm pretty sure I already have. What I need to know is, have you ?"

There was suddenly so much vulnerability in her face that he couldn't help but scoot closer to her and enfold her in his arms. She felt fragile as she melted into him and he mentally kicked himself for teasing her. He could be such an ass sometimes.

" Kat." He whispered as he smoothed her hair. " I'm sorry. I shouldn't have teased you."

She pushed away from him forcefully and got quickly to her feet. " No, you shouldn't have." She said stepping away from him.

He wanted to tell her that, of course, he had fallen for her. That had happened months ago. She was just about all he thought about. He wanted to say that yes, she was is girlfriend, that he wasn't dating anyone else and he didn't have any intention of it. He needed her to know that he couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to find out she was dating someone else. He wanted to tell her that he thought he might be in love with her. But none of those words came even as he tried to force them past her lips. Something inside him seemed to shut down before he had a chance to confess, as if some internal defense mechanism had gone into override mode and he was helpless to bypass it.

She stood staring down at him with her arms crossed, her hip jutting out and an expectant look on her face. After a few moments of nothing from him, she dropped her arms and eyed him coldly.

He wanted to jump to his feet and take her in her arms and tell her everything he felt for her. He didn't want to fight with her.

The laptop droned on to the Beatles Hello Goodbye, until it finally faded out and was suddenly replaced by something that caused him to pay attention to it instead of her angry face.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her into your heart

then you can start to make it better

The words echoed through the small cavern and he found himself staring at the laptop as if Paul McCartney were actually inside it singing those words directly to him.

Hey Jude, don't be afraid

You were made to go out and get her

The minute you let her under your skin

Then you begin to make it better

Kat opened her mouth to speak but stop herself as she let her gaze follow his to see what he was finding so interesting.

And any time you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders.

For well you know, that's it a fool who plays it cool

By making his world a little colder.

She watched him closely. He could feel her eyes on him, never faltering as he let the words of the song sink into his brain. As if she somehow understood from the look on his face that there was an epiphany forming in his brain, she stayed silent and let him work out his thoughts on his own.

Hey Jude, don't let me down.

You have found her, now go and get her.

Remember to let her into your heart,

Then you can start to make it better.

It was his father's favorite song. Always had been. When he thought of his Dad that song was one of the specific things he remembered about him. And now it seemed like he was reaching out to him from where ever he was, trying to guide him in the right direction, advise him somehow.

So let it out and let it in, Hey Jude begin.

You're waiting for someone to preform with.

And don't you know that it's just you, Hey Jude, you'll do.

The movement you need is on your shoulder.

He got the message loud and clear. He didn't want to lose her and if he didn't act fast, that was exactly what was going to happen. He needed to tell her. She had put herself out there for him. Now it was his turn. He got slowly to his feet and sauntered over to where she was standing, still with her arms crossed and a look of anger etched over her features.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad.

Take a sad song and make it better.

Remember to let her under your skin,

Then you begin to make it better.

Better, better, better, better, better, better, yeah

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na Hey Jude.

" I know I'm terrible at this." He began as he came to stand so close his chest brushed against her arms as he took each deep, stabilizing breath. " And I don't think that's ever going to change."

" I don't need it to change." She answered. " I know you aren't a great sharer. Neither am I. But sometimes it's what it takes."

He nodded. " I think I fell for you the day I almost crashed into your car door." He stated in a rush as if pausing would cause that defense mechanism to kick in again. " It's only gotten worse since then."

He watched as the anger on her face turned immediately into a smile and he took a huge breath in relief. He felt as if he had just lived through something terrible was grateful that he came out the other side unscathed.

" That wasn't so hard, now was it ?" She teased as her arms came around his neck.

"It was torture." He smiled. " But I'm glad I said it."

She let her eyes fall to the computer and smiled serenely at it. " And the Beatles helped. That's so sweet. Maybe we should them a thank you card."

He laughed, " What's left of them."

She drew back and punched his arm, spinning out of his embrace with outrage on her face. " That's a horrible thing to say. John Lennon and George Harrison were great men. Do not belittle them by making jokes about their deaths."

He held up his hands in defense. " I'm sorry. I didn't know you three were close."

She slapped him again.

" Okay, it was a truly tasteless joke and I take it back completely. I meant no disrespect for Mr. Lennon or Mr. Harrison or any other member of the band for that matter." He disclaimed quickly. " The comment was meant with the best of intentions and shouldn't be taken to heart or treated as if it really reflects the view of the speaker."

She laughed out loud at his speech and came back into his arms. " You should think about going into politics that was some speedy backpedaling you just maneuvered."

" Are you sure it wasn't just a load of manure ?" He smirked.

She looked at him for a moment. " No, I think it was meant sincerely. I don't think you have any ill feelings towards George Harrison or John Lennon."

He sighed and gave her a self congratulatory smile. " Damn, I am good."

" Stop." She smacked him yet again.

" Yet again with all the violence. What happened to the pacifist you're supposed to be ?" He winced as her fist came into contact with his bicep.

" I told you, you inspire me." She answered smugly.

He leaned down to kiss her but she pulled away before his lips met hers. " What ?" He asked, not wanting to talk anymore.

" You haven't really answered my questions yet. Did you think I'd forget about them just like that ?"

" What questions ?" He sighed in frustration.

" Are you my boyfriend ? And don't give me any of that runaround crap this time or I'll hit you again and this time I won't do it playfully."

The look in her eyes said she was being completely honest and he winced inwardly at the thought. There were times, even when she was playing that her punches hurt like hell. He hated to think about how much pain she could inflict if she were trying. " I guess I qualify as your boyfriend, if you really feel like you have to label me like that."

" I do and so do you if you expect that this is ever going to go any further." She answered solemnly.

" Then yes, for God's sake, yes. I am your boyfriend." He repeated, dramatically, before leaning into her again. But she pulled back once more and he huffed at her impatiently.
"I'm not done. Are you seeing anyone else ?"

He rolled his eyes again. " Have you seen me with anyone else ?"

" Well no, but that doesn't mean anything. I'm not with you all the time."

He tugged her into him and held her tightly. " I'm not seeing anyone else, nor do I want to, nor have I in a really long time. Are you ?" He raised his eyebrow and there was a part of him, albeit a small part, since he was pretty sure he already knew the answer, that braced for her answer.

She shook her head. " I haven't seen anyone but you since I moved here."

" Good." He took a breath of relief. " Now it's your turn."

" You want to ask me questions about my feelings ?" She smirked.

" No, I think I've had enough of that particular topic for now." He pulled her against him, letting his hands cover her back and his hips brush into her stomach. " I want to know that this conversation isn't going to change things."

She shrugged, but it was half-hearted because of his close proximity. " Why would it ?"

" Because now this is a thing. It isn't the same. We aren't just enjoying hanging out together." He tried to explain. " This is a relationship now. Now there are expectations and responsibilities."

" Patrick, I've never expected anything from you and talking about how we feel doesn't change that. I don't require anything from you other than you being yourself. You know that, right ?" She asked, all humor suddenly gone from the room.

His arms flexed around her. " You say that now. But what happens the first time I accidentally forget your birthday or get busy and don't call you for a day ? Will you still not be expecting anything from me ?"

She smiled as she reached up to brush a strand of hair from his forehead. " I can promise you that I won't let you forget my birthday. So no worries there. And I don't expect you to attach yourself to my hip simply because we like each other."

" Is that what you call this, liking each other ?" He smiled this time.

" Okay, maybe that's an understatement. But it's as far as I'm willing to go for now. How about deeply like ? How about we agree that we are deeply in like with each other ?"

He found her grinning lips with his and kissed her soundly. " I like that." He nodded when he finally pulled away. " I'm deeply in like with you."

" I'm deeply in like with you, too." she answered as she pulled him back down for another kiss.