A/N: I envisioned this one taking place sometime after Audrey is rescued from the kidnapper(s) who took her at the end of Season 2.

"I was hoping I'd run into you." Greeted Duke as Nathan came down the steps from the upstairs apartment. He appeared non plussed at the sight of Audrey's landlord.

"Duke, really, it's late and I'm tired. You can whine to me about your parking tickets in the morning. Better yet, whine to Audrey. She tolerates it better." Nathan replied when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Actually, I wasn't going to bring those up. Why do you always think I want something?"

"Would you like the full list, or, the compressed version?" Nathan asked dryly. Before the other man had a chance to feign offense he asked, "So, if this isn't about the tickets that were so important earlier today, what is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Something that would go better with a drink. Come on in." Answered Duke, walking back into the Gull. Nathan followed with a sigh. Whatever this was about, it would go faster if he humored him. After snagging a bottle of Nathan's preferred beer and a glass of scotch for himself, Duke led him out onto the deck. It was a quiet mid week night. Aside from a few locals, the place was empty. The two men had the deck to themselves. Nathan leaned against the wall, sipped his beer, and waited for Duke to get to the point.

"First off, congratulations." Duke began after a swallow from his glass.

"Thanks." Nathan smirked as he recalled just how Duke had discovered the romantic side to his and Audrey's relationship earlier that day. They really needed to get a better lock for his office.

"Although, I'm sure we'd all have preferred me finding out some other way. Sorry about that." He apologized, taking another swallow.

"That'll teach you to knock." Nathan chuckled, sipping more of his beer. "It's not like barging into my office demanding I fix your ticket problem has ever actually worked."

"Believe me, it won't happen again. The barging in part at least." Duke promised with a shudder. While Nathan was pretty sure that it was just the lighting, it looked like Duke was blushing. "I hope Audrey wasn't too upset."

"Are you kidding me? She was still giggling over your horrified stare when I said goodnight a few minutes ago." Nathan teased. "From the look on your face, you'd have thought we were doing something far worse than kissing."

"Well that's a relief…I think." Duke punctuated the sentiment with a final gulp from his glass. Nathan offered him a smile as he nursed his beer. The silence that fell between them wasn't uncomfortable. However, Duke still seemed restless.

"Did you bring me over here just to apologize?" Nathan ventured after a moment. "Because, really, we weren't angry-"

"Was it before or after you knew you could feel her?" Duke asked, suddenly wishing he'd put more in his glass.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, Nate, it was obvious that you were getting something out of it too. Makes sense, given that she's, um, gifted." Duke explained with a grin. "What I'm wondering is when did you fall in love with her: Before or after you realized you could feel her?"

"And why do you want to know this?" Nathan demanded, incredulous.

"Because."

"Because, what?" He pushed, growing aggravated. While he would tolerate taunting and prodding from Duke on a lot of things for Audrey's sake, this was off limits.

"Because, I need to know what this is." Duke answered calmly. "Are you with her because you can feel her, or, because she is Audrey?"

"How the hell could you even ask me that! How is it any of your business?" Nathan exclaimed, growing angry. He wasn't about to justify his romance life to Duke-Love'Em and Leave'Em-Crocker.

"It's my business because she's my friend and I care about her." Duke answered. His voice was still calm, but, there was an edge to it.

"Duke, please. Don't tell me you're-"

"No." He stated firmly. "I don't blame you for thinking of it, but, no I'm not jealous. For once, this isn't about me."

"Then what is it then?" Nathan pressed, still angry, but, also curious. If it wasn't jealousy, and it wasn't a chance to torment him, what could it be?

"Look, I know you're crazy about her. The whole town knows it. It's about whether you're crazy about her for the right reasons. She deserves someone who is in love with her, not just what she can do. The last thing she needs is to have just another person who wants her only for whatever it is about her that shuts the troubles off. I don't want to see her…"

Normally, this was the point in past conversations where Nathan would walk away in disgust, or, punch Duke in the mouth. Who did he think he was to question Nathan's motives anyways? Still, there was something in the other man's voice that gave him pause. Nathan played the scene at the station and their recent conversation over in his head as Duke continued to ramble and pace. The uncharacteristic embarrassment over seeing them kiss, the apology beer, and the concern over the sincerity of Nathan's feelings were pointing towards something utterly bizarre. Something he never would've believed possible before Audrey showed up and made both of them into better men.

"And another thing about that is-Nathan! What is so funny!" Duke shouted as he stopped in his tracks and glared at the bemused smile on the other man's face.

"Calm down, Duke. I'm not laughing at you." Nathan soothed. "Okay, maybe I am just a little. It's just that I never thought I'd see the day where you were demanding to know if another man had honorable intentions."

"What are you talking about?"

"Seriously, you're acting like I asked your baby sister to the prom without your permission." Nathan pointed out with a quiet laugh. "Which, by the way, is funny considering what happened to you after your prom date's brother got a hold of you."

Duke deflated as he processed why Nathan was laughing at him. It was ridiculous. He was acting like a meddling, overprotective, big brother to a woman who was Haven's equivalent to a superhero. Hopefully, the hero in question would never find out. He'd get an earful and then some. Maybe he'd get lucky and Nathan would be satisfied with just mocking him. Probably not. Sighing, Duke turned towards the water and leaned against the railing.

"You're right. It's none of my business. Forget I said anything." Duke pleaded quietly. Instead of taking the hint and leaving, Nathan walked over to join him against the railing.

"Hey," Nathan said, nudging him with his elbow. When Duke looked over at him, he smiled and added, "To answer your question: I cared for Audrey long before I knew I could feel her. How could I not? Her smile alone is…well, you get the idea."

"Yeah, I think I do." Duke replied, finally smiling a little.

"Here's an example you would appreciate." Nathan offered with a smirk. "On the McShaw's opening night, she and I had just sat down when you came over. I was all I could do not to break your jaw, and, not for the regular reasons. I had to remind myself that I was her partner, not her boyfriend, and that I had no claim on her. You have no idea how hard that was."

"Well, thank you for your restraint." He chuckled.

"I liked her from the moment I met her. Everything about her made me smile. From that night, I also knew I wanted her too. Maybe, even loved her." Nathan explained. Duke nodded and went back to staring at the water. An unasked question hung in the air. Nathan finished the last of his beer as he waited for Duke to muster up the nerve. When it looked like that wasn't going to happen, he sighed and answered it anyways.

"From the moment we pulled her out of that trunk. The very thought that she was dead had almost killed me too. When I saw her again, and knew she was going to be all right, I just knew."

"What took you so long then?" Duke asked. "That was almost a year ago."

"Because I needed to be damned sure it wasn't just that I could feel her." He answered. "As you were saying earlier, she deserves better than that."

"That she does." Duke agreed. "Um, about that: You're not going to tell her about our little talk, right?"

"No, absolutely not!" Nathan protested with a laugh. "First, she'd kick your ass for thinking that she needed protecting. Then, she'd kick mine for laughing at you."

"Good point!" He affirmed with a chuckle of his own. In a slightly more serious tone he added, "Look, I'm sorry if I crossed a line a moment ago. Or, two. Or, three."

"If I were in your shoes, I'd have asked the same thing." Nathan admitted, giving him another friendly nudge.

"Thanks," Duke sighed.

"Now, if that's all, I have work in the morning."

"G'night Chief." Duke said as the other man pushed away from the railing. "Oh, and Nate?"

"Yeah?" Nathan asked, turning back around.

"Screw this up, and, I don't care how mad she'll get. I will find a way to make it hurt." Duke warned. Instead of becoming angry again, Nathan just smiled, nodded, and headed out the door. After he left, Duke let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His head tilted upward as he took in the roof of his deck, which was also the bottom of Audrey's balcony.

"Sweetheart, you really are going to be the death of me."