Peter and Mary Margaret entered the diner in higher spirits, laughing as the entered the somewhat crowded restaurant.
"Hey you guys" Ruby greeted them, looking tall and amazon-like in her tall heels. "Geez, you look hott" Ruby said to Mary Margaret.
"Thanks Ruby" Mary blushed. "Emma fixed me up."
"Hey Ruby, can we get a table- one that's farthest away from everyone." Peter requested.
"Of course, you can. Take your pick." she flashed them a smile and grabbed a couple old menus, following them to wherever they choose to sit. It wasn't a huge diner so they were limited to how away from everyone they got.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Ruby asked when Mary Margaret and Peter were seated next to each other.
"What brand was the Pinot Grigio?" Mary Margaret asked Peter. "I don't normally like Pinot Grigio but the one that was served at the opening was really rather good."
"It was Woodridge, but they don't serve it here. Sutter Winery has an equally good Pinot Grigio, thought ; it has about the same dryness as the Woodridge." He looked from Mary Margaret to Ruby "We'll have two glasses. Please and thank you, Ruby."
"You know if you wanted fancy wine, you should've gone to a fancy restaurant. Now I have to go dig in the back and actually work." she said.
"Isn't it your job?" Peter asked her with a frown.
"Yea and I'm happy to do it for Margie, cuz I love her-"
-Awe I love you too- Mary Margaret threw in.
- Thanks Margie-but not for you, you sure you don't want chocolate milk with a bendy straw?" she grinned and rolled her eyes as she left.
"Oh she is lovely." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Yea bunches and bunches" he said sarcastically. "She calls you 'Margie'?
"It's just a nickname for me instead of having to call me Mary Margaret, all the time. It works…." She answered and changed the subject. "I didn't know you were a winey."
"I'm not; after you expressed your fondness about the wine at the gallery I cha cha'd other good Pinot Grigio's to impress you. It came in handy."
"Really, you cha cha'd wine for me?" she laughed.
"No," he laughed. "I'm a whiny"
Mary Margaret laughed along with him. "Too bad, you could've won points for that."
"That so?"
"Nope."
"You know you've gotten a lot bolder when you talk to me."
"I know right? It's the new Mary Margaret. Besides I got you all down in my book, so I'm not afraid." she gave him a fierce and proud look, then smiled when he laughed.
"You have a nice smile" Peter looked at her with adoration. "You have these cute dimples and smile lines. It's irresistible to look it."
"Thank you" she said bashfully. "And yes."
"Yes what?"
"You get points"
"I didn't ask" he shifted a little to get a better view of her.
"Didn't need to." She took a sip of wine.
"Points didn't matter that time. I was being honest."
Mary Margaret gave him another smile. "See, I like it when you say things like that and behave like the perfect gentleman." She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Let's hurry up and look at the menu before Ruby returns."
"I'm starving" Peter told Mary Margaret and he swiftly pulled her closer and embraced her. Mary Margaret went into his arms willingly and happily. She caught herself smiling to herself as they looked at the menu together.
"Excuse me for a moment" Peter said to Mary Margaret after they ordered.
Mary Margaret felt the warmth leave with him, when he quickly let her go. She watched him as he moved quick and smoothly over to Ruby. His blue eyes were amused and observant, his smile charming. He moved his hands as he talked to Ruby, like a doctor making a point- he was a doctor after all. Maybe he could give her an examination; Mary Margaret thought and felt her face go red for thinking such a thing. Mary Margaret watched Ruby laugh at whatever Peter was saying to her. Ruby retrieved paper and crayons and handed it to Peter. Peter walked towards Mary Margaret with a silly little boy grin.
"What do you have there?" she asked.
"You'll have to wait and see" he said and she waited as he slowly made his way over and slid beside her,Mary Margaret immediatly scooted into to his form.
"A kids menu,Rhett?" she gave him a look.
"It has a game and coloring section,Scarlet." he looked at her like she shouldn't been surprised.
"How old are you?" Mary Margaret asked.
"30" he laughed. "I thought it was something that we could do creative and imaginative. You know you're never too old to color, I would think you of all people would understand- especially since you're a teacher."
"Your right, I'm very sorry."
" Your forgiven. My dreams aren't crushed."
"Good, I can go to sleep with a clear conscience." She leaned over and reached for a purple crayon, chuckling as she began to color...Mary Margaret noticed moments later that the theme of the menu was Snow Margaret gave a small smile.
Mary Margaret and Peter sat intimately close as they did the crossword and word search. By the time Peter finished his second glass of wine, the menu was covered in dozens of notes that they wrote to each other as well as little drawings.
"I can only find 6 of the hidden dwarf silhouettes" she said and looked at Peter. Her look of determination made him laugh. He just nuzzled his face against her short hair – inhaling her lavender scent, then rested his head against the crook of her shoulder as she continued to look for the final dwarf.
"Help me" she nudged him. Peter turned his face towards the colorful menu. Mary Margaret had circled 6 of the 7 dwarves in bright orange, crayon.
"Hmmm" he thought for a second, his eyes surveying the menu. Mary Margaret alternatively looked from his face to the paper. Peter took the crayon from her light grasp.
"Right there." He pointed.
"Where?" she exclaimed.
"Right here, underneath where you drew a diamond. Ironic isn't it? You drew a diamond above one of the seven mining dwarves."
"Yea…strange coincidence" Mary Margaret said thoughtfully and then took the crayon back from Peter.
"Very nice eyes, doctor" she said as she circled the last dwarves. She looked at him a moment longer, something familiar hit her but when she tried to remember what went through her mind it was gone. "Henry" she sighed and smiled.
"What about Henry?" Peter asked.
"Nothing" she waved off. "My mind is wandering, is all."
"How about I put something else in your mind?" He leaned towards her, unexpectedly.
Mary Margaret was a little surprised when his mouth connected to hers. The heat of her mouth made him melt into her. She kissed him back. It was a sweet and insistent kiss, blanking out all thoughts that came to mind when she kissed him once again. Peter let the taste and scent of her wash over him. This one, his mind said again. When Mary Margaret finally pulled back he almost fell into her lap. Peter stopped to look at her. Her chest was rising and falling from quick breaths, her eyes dark and flashing. Her lips lush and parted for him.
"That was…intense." Mary Margaret said. "Not going to lie."
"You're not so bad yourself. That was Olympic winning status." he said. "I thi-
Mary Margaret stopped him with another completely forgot what he was going to say and dove into kiss her back this time. His mouth fitting hers perfectly, that it made Mary Margaret tremble. She licked his lips and felt his tongue against hers- hot and devastating. When she broke the kiss she was breathless and dizzy and aching or more. Peter held her eyes for a moment and smiled. He would've kissed her again but Ruby interrupted them with plates of hot food.
"Monte Cristo with Sweet Potatoes fries for the sexy lady and grilled cheese for the toddler" she set the plates down.
"Hey" Peter said to Ruby when she called him a toddler.
"Enjoy" she smiled and left.
"She probably spit in this" Peter looked at his food.
"Most Likely." Mary Margaret put a dollop of raspberry jelly on her sandwhich and took a bite of her sandwich. She waited until she swallowed her bite then lifted a fry, putting it to Peter's lips, kissing him after he took a bite.
"I can get used to this" Peter chewed.
" I'm sure you could" Mary Margaret grinned.
Peter waited till she was half way done eating to ask her the question that he had been wanting to ask for a while.
"That night….when we…." Peter spoke gently. "You know..."
"Yea I know" she blushed and nudged him.
"Why were you upset?" he asked.
He had to ask. He found himself wanting to know everything about her-especially about the things that upset her. He watched her face carefully, not failing to notice the sudden shift of expression. Her happy face was replaced by anger, regret, and hands fell onto her lap and she looked down at them.
"You can tell me." He lifted her face to look at him. His face was flushed and concerned. He was so close to her, she leaned forward as her heart pounded and kissed him slowly and gently.
"What upset you?" he cupped her cheek.
"You mean 'who'" she said softly.
"Who did?" his jaw tightened.
"You know what? It doesn't matter. He doesn't matter. He is no one to me anymore." She shook her head, angrily.
"He?" Peters frowned deepened even more.
"David" she answered acrimoniously.
"Nolan?" he asked.
It took a good 10 seconds before she finally nodded, slowly.
"We…he…and I..." she closed her eyes as the memories and unhappy feelings filled her.
"What do you mean 'he and you'? He's married." Peter glowered.
"It's a long story" she looked away.
"It's alright. I'm 10% Russian, I like long stories" he said.
He knew whatever it was; it was serious because not even his little joke made her laugh or smile. She looked at him for a long moment before she finally spoke. But she told him. He had asked.
"Ah" was the only word he could think to say at the moment. "That's why you were so hostile and why he was looking at you like that."
"Yup" she took his hand. "But I'm moving on."
"Are you?" Peter asked her boldly, demanding an answer.
"Yes. I think me being here should answer that for you" her grip on him tightened.
"Alright then" he relaxed and took his glass of wine. "Here's to new beginnings" he toasted.
Mary Margaret took her glass. "Ill drink to that" she smiled and clanked his glass with his.
Mary Margaret cuddled into Peter's large form when they had finished their meal. She took his hand and placed a kissed on it.
"I like you" Peter looked at her. "A lot."
"Good because I like you a lot too" she told him.
"Would you like to go on a date with me tomorrow night? Not that this date is over. It's far from over, its just I want to know this isn't the last I'll be seeing from you, Mary Margaret."
"It's not" she promised. "And I'd love too."
"Really?"
"Yes really" she laughed.
"You want to catch a movie?" he threw out there.
"Sure. I haven't been to the movies in ages." She said.
"Well, we'll just have to change that." Peter took out his wallet and paid for dinner.
"What movie do you have in mind to see tomorrow?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I'm not sure. It doesn't really matter." They stood. " If it isn't any good, we don't- have to pay attention- I don't plan on paying any heed anyways."
Mary Margaret put her coat on. " Well then whats the point of seeing a movie if were not going to pay att- oh" realiazation hit her and she laughed. " I get it."
"I think the wine has gotten the best of you" Peter laughed.
"Nah, I just don't have a dirty mind like you" she playfully hit him.
"Owie" he caught her hand and took it.
"Where we going now?" Mary Margaret asked when they exited the diner.
"Lets go on a walk or can do anything. The night is young and so are we. The night is ours" he said romantically.
"Then lead on, doctor" she told him and he whisked her away on her feet.