Nope, not mine.

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"So. How about that dinner?" Vic had been back at work for almost two weeks and since the meeting in Walt's office, there had been nothing to indicate that they were anything more than the Sheriff and his Deputy. Vic had begun to think that Walt had completely forgotten the whole conversation relating to the possible new developments in their relationship. She glanced at him over her shoulder as he stood leaning against the doorway to his office, arms crossed.

"I could do with getting out of the flat for something more than just work. When?" she admitted, butterflies erupting in her stomach as she turned back to straighten the pile of papers in the file she'd been going through in preparation to handing it over to the prosecutor. They were alone in the office as it was half past six in the evening, Ruby and Ferg having signed out and Branch being on call for the night. She closed the file and spun her chair around to face him all the way as he spoke again.

"I was thinking tonight. If that's alright with you."

"Tonight?"

"Too quick?"

"No, I'd just like to not wear my uniform to what I assume is meant to be a date." She teased him, smiling at the slightest blush that rose on his face. She knew him well enough now that she could see it when most people would probably miss it.

"I was hoping it would be a date. Pick you up at eight?"

"Make it eight thirty and we have a date, cowboy. Where are we going?" He nodded before replying.

"I was going to surprise you."

"I'd like to know what to wear. Is it the Red Pony? Or something else."

"Something else. I think you'll like it."

"Ooh, mysterious."

"Yep."

"In that case, Boss I'd like to call it a night now. I have a big date tonight and I need to get ready." Vic winked at Walt and his lips were twitching into a smile as they looked at each other.

"Okay Deputy Moretti. I hope you have a good night tonight. See you later."

"Thanks boss. See you at eight thirty."

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A little after two hours later, Walt pulled up outside the rundown apartment complex Vic called home. Jumping out of his Bronco, he straightened his tie and shrugged his shoulders inside his best, dark leather jacket, before marching towards the front door of the apartments. He rang the bell for Vic's apartment and eventually he heard her through the speaker.

"Yes?"

"Vic. It's me. Ready to go?"

"Sure thing Walt. Give me a moment, I'll be right there."

The speaker went quiet, but before a few seconds had passed, Walt could hear a door slam in the hallway and then he saw her. She emerged from the gloom of the hallway like an apparition and even through the grimy door he could see she was a vision. Her hair was curled and loose, brushing her chest. She was wearing a short, long sleeved, dark blue lacy dress that was see through, except where a black slip was underneath it, covering everything except her shoulders and arms, where her skin glowed through the lace. Her black heels were high and he thought her legs would never end.

"Wow." It was the single most clichéd thing he could have said, but it was also the only thing that his brain could produce, the sight of her seemed to have completely addled him.

"You clean up well too." She said, a small smile lingering on her lips as she stepped fully out the door, letting it close behind her. The slamming of the door shook him from his reverie and proffered his arm out to her and she grasped it gratefully as they made their way to the Bronco.

She struggled slightly with the high step up into the truck, even with his help, but managed it in the end only giving him the briefest, tantalising little glimpse of thigh. He knew that he shouldn't look, that he was behaving like some kind of old lecher, but he was just a man after all and there was only so much temptation a man could resist. And Victoria Moretti was proving to be more temptation than he knew how to deal with.

He had chosen a new steak restaurant in town for their date. He knew that tongues would be wagging well before their night was over, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He had checked the city charter and there were no limitations on the relationships between the people working at the sheriff's station, so there was nothing anyone could do about them seeing each other. That didn't mean he wasn't nervous. He was full well aware of the kind of rumour mill they were about to start and what the consequences might be for their lives in the community. He needed to make sure that Vic knew exactly what she was doing as well.

"Vic, we need to talk." He glanced over at her and could see the surprise on her face.

"This sounds serious. Go ahead." He had half expected her to throw a joke about him wanting to talk, but was grateful that she seemed to comprehend that what he had to say was serious.

"You do know what this could mean for us. I mean that there will be talk and gossip and accusations of favouritism. This might affect everything from doing your groceries to having your hair done."

"Walt…" she hesitated before continuing, "If I didn't know you so well, I would think you're trying to talk me out of this date." He went to interrupt, but she wouldn't let him. "However, I know what you're trying to do. I never grew up in a small town. In Philly you could always escape the gossip by blending into the masses, but here there is no choice. Everyone knows everyone else's business. And as the Sheriff and his Deputy everyone knows us, therefore everyone knows even more of our business, or think they do. So yes, I am prepared to take the gossip and everything that comes with it. Are you?"

"Won't lie and say I'm looking forward to it, but we're doing nothing wrong and I for one am very happy we're doing this. Screw them." Her smile was radiant as she scooted a little closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder, her hand resting on his thigh seemed to burn him through his jeans.

He pulled up at the restaurant and hurried to the other side of the car to help Vic down. She took his hand and the door before stepping down.

"Thank you." She said quietly looking up at him her heels bringing them almost but not quite eye to eye. Despite the fact that all his senses were screaming at him to kiss her right there in the parking lot, his gentlemanly instincts kicked in and he merely offered her his arm as they turned towards the restaurant.

As the waiter came to direct them to a table, he asked for a secluded one in the vain hope that the busy restaurant would have a quiet one tucked away in a corner somewhere. No such luck. The ended up being seated in the middle of one of the sides next to a window, which had to be better than sitting in the middle of the floor. He realised that despite being ready and willing to take the consequences of what they were doing, he still didn't want to flaunt their new connection.

The conversation flowed quite normally as they discussed everything from recent news to things they enjoyed on their free time. Without ever having made a verbal agreement, there was no shop talk. The food was good and the beer selection was excellent according to Vic, although Walt stuck to one bottle of Renier with his meal. They decided to skip desert in favour of heading to the Red Pony for a night cap before calling it a night. Being out of practice he still managed to remember to make sure he paid the bill, help her with her chair and the door and was feeling pretty good about the way things were going.

The Red Pony was as busy as it always was, but they managed to find seats at the bar. It was obvious that Henry noticed them as soon as they got in, but all Walt got was a raised eyebrow and a twist of his lips, at least until Henry approached them to take their orders.

"Walt. Vic. What can I get you?"

"I'll have a beer."

"Make that two. Thanks Henry." Vic smiled at Henry as he nodded and retreated to fetch their beers. He was back very quickly and handed the bottles over. The look on his face told Walt that he was about to land in hot water thanks to his best friend, and sure enough…

"So he finally plucked up the courage to ask you out. I did suggest that a date was how normal people approached getting closer to those they like." To Walt's relief Vic threw her head back as she laughed before turning to him and asking:

"You asked Henry for advice?"

"Not so much for advice. Just what he thought of the situation."

"Well he gave you good advice cowboy. Thanks Henry."

"Not a problem Vic. You take care of him now." Henry nodded solemnly looking at Vic closely.

"I'll do my best." She smiled again and turned to look at Walt, her eyes full of happiness and affection. Henry retreated to serve other customers and the couple sank back into their previous conversation about football and what teams looked to be doing well. Their beers were quickly finished and despite the early hour they decided to call it a night since they both had to be at the office in the morning.

The short walk to the car did nothing to stop Walt from yearning to spend more time with Vic now that he'd had the chance to do so. He was greedy and wanted more, possibly for every evening for the rest of their lives. He was about to say as much as they got to the bronco and turned to face her. But she was already there, standing so close he would only need to breathe in deeply and their chests would brush together. She leaned forward just a little more and he didn't stop himself from leaning towards her. Their lips met softly, no other parts of their bodies touching until he raised a hand to gently touch the back of her head and pull her closer. Her hands suddenly moved as well, winding themselves around him, one resting on his waist the other rising behind his back to stroke his neck. He used his other hand to pull her even closer, making sure to eliminate all space between them as the kiss morphed from a simple, fairly innocent touching of lips into something else. With one touch of her tongue to his lips the kiss became a hungry thing, demanding and hot.

The kiss seemed to never end and he didn't want it to. Kissing Vic was like breathing for the first time in a long time. She was air itself and he had been without her for so long he was loath to let go. The irony was that it was the need for air that separated them. Neither retreated far, as they stood toe to toe breathing heavily. Vic let her forehead fall against Walt's chest and let out a breathy chuckle. He couldn't help himself smiling and as she lifted her face to his, he only had to see her eyes to renew their previous contact.

This time they skipped the tentative part and went straight to trying to consume each other. After a moment, holding her close was no longer enough, so he spun them around so she was next to the bronco and he could press her against the side of the car, his hands sliding from her hair to her waist, ending on her hips, his thumbs stroking the arches of her hip bones through the dress. The manoeuvre earned him a muffled gasp and she lifted up one leg to twine it behind his thigh, using it to bring him even closer. Before his brain could acknowledge the rather precarious situation they were already in, his hand slid down the thigh wrapped around him and reached the edge of her dress. He moved his lips from hers to her neck and at the same time moved his hand back up her thigh, pushing up the dress as he went. The way her hand tightened on his hair and pulled his hips closer by his belt loop he knew he was on the right track.

They were both brought back to reality by the sudden glare of lights that swung over them as another car pulled up to the parking lot. Suddenly very glad he had parked in the back corner where there was little light, Walt carefully let go of Vic's thigh, smoothing the dress down as he went. Her hands loosened their grip rather reluctantly, allowing him to step back. Walt looked at the full picture she presented for the first time since they'd arrived at the car and he had to admit she was a sight. Her hair mussed by his fingers, her lips and neck slightly redder and swollen from his kisses, her legs still a bit unsteady, judging by the way she was leaning against the side of the bronco.

After having taken a moment to take control of himself, he stepped closer to her again and smoothed her hair down to the best of his ability. She seemed to have gained control too and looked up at him, a crooked smile on her lips, her eyes twinkling in the distant light of the streetlights.

"Who knew… Is that why you don't talk a lot?"

"What?"

"You prefer to save the use of your mouth for more enjoyable activities."

He smiled at her and she chuckled as he leant down to rest his forehead against hers. They stood like that for a while before he could feel Vic shivering in the cool night air. Reluctantly they separated and he pulled the door open for her and helped her in. Once he had gotten to the driver's seat and turned on the heating he looked over at her, only to find her already staring at him.

"I don't want this night to end." He said, about as boldly as he could manage without begging her to come home with him and let him wake up next to her.

"I don't want it to end either. Can you take me to yours cowboy?" she smiled, nervousness only evident in the slight apprehension in her eyes and the little twitch of her lips.

"Yes. I don't think I could compete with your neighbours." Her laughter filled the car and his heart.

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His lips were burning her, leaving a fiery trail across the skin of her neck. In response she tightened her hands on his hair and waist, pulling him closer, hiking up her leg to angle him where she needed him most. The ridge in his jeans was rubbing up and down as he seemingly unconsciously moved his hips against her. Walt's hand was hot on her leg, sliding up underneath the hem of her dress and she didn't have the brainpower or desire to stop him.

The flash of headlights jerked them out of the cocoon of intimacy they'd been wrapped up in, reminding them that they were in fact in a public place. After having caught their breaths they got into the bronco and decided to continue the night at Walt's cabin.

Vic could hardly believe the turn her day had taken. She knew her near death experience had shaken Walt, especially considering he'd lost Martha to violence as well, but she never would have guessed that they'd moved straight from colleagues to spending the night together in one day. Not that she was complaining. Not at all. If the kissing was any indication she was about to be a very lucky girl since Walt's general attitude of slow and thorough seemed to be reflected to his personal relationships too. The smile curled her lips as she pondered on what else she might learn of her friend tonight.