Aftermath.

Paige went on vacation. Paige went on vacation with Ralph. Paige went on a vacation with Ralph for a week. Paige and Ralph are gone for a week. Paige is gone for a week.

I miss them.

I really miss her.

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Walter yawned as he climbed down the stairs and into the garage. It was Thursday, the day before the end of Paige's vacation and Walter was taking a personal day. Not in the way one might think. He was still going to work but he was going to dress in clothes that were comfortable, not comb his hair and also wear mismatching socks. He didn't understand American's fascination for matched socks. No matter the color or style, they still kept your feet clean and warm. He was rubbing his face, the sleep still lingering in his eyes. He almost stopped short when he entered the kitchen and saw his stool was occupied at the counter.

Occupied by the Paige Dineen, the individual that was supposed to be on the fifth day of her vacation. Walter cocked his head and puzzlement settled on his face. He noticed she was wearing one of those shirts that was long sleeve but had cutouts on the shoulders. Something about fashion, and another thing about women, he would never understand. Her skin tone seemed to be a healthy glow, so he figured she got some sun, and there were blonde strands in her hair. She was eating a bowl of frosted shredded wheat. His cereal.

The last of it.

Walter shook his head and moved into the kitchen letting his presence be known. He could feel her eyes focused on him but he went directly to the teapot.

"Are you going for a new look?" Paige asked taking in his attire. Dark sweat pants, a bright blue hoodie, and a lime green sock on his left foot and then a blue and white striped on his right. She put another spoon of shredded wheat to her mouth and she watched his fist tighten on the teapot handle. He was tense for a reason.

"What are you doing here?" Walter asked when he dropped the teapot to the stove top. He started the gas burner and then focused on Paige. He noticed that the skin on her nose was red, most likely from a sunburn. Walter stretched his arms over his head, his shirt riding up on his hips.

"I." Paige shook her head distracted by inch of flesh on the Scorpion leader. She was sad when his arms came back down, and allowed for his shirt to settle.

"I thought you were going to be gone for a week." Walter said and turned away as the teapot began to scream from the heat.

"Well, I am back early." Paige explained simply.

"And eating my cereal." Walter said looking at the bowl of half eaten breakfast. Paige glanced down at the bowl, she gave him a cheeky smile and took another bite. Slowly as if taunting her boss. Walter rolled his eyes and poured the water into the cup. The tea bag starting to diffuse the minute the water soaked the bag. Walter let it steep. "Did you have a nice vacation?"

Paige gave him a hand gesture to explain it was so/so. "It could have been better." She took another bite of cereal, savoring the bite and noticing the eyebrow arching. Paige had to restrain from rolling her eyes. Taking the last bite of the cereal and then pulled the bowl to her lips to drink the milk. Paige knew that how much it annoyed Walter to slurp the contents of the milk. She did it only to annoy him and that she did not particularly care for it but it was just to rile the genius.

Walter opened his mouth but shut it, stumped by her actions. It had been a long week, and an even longer month. After the ordeal with Ralph and the video game incident on the dark web, the pair had been distanced. They seemed to take a few steps back, being friendly acquaintances and barely any touches. The distance had difficult on Walter, he would reach for Paige when she would walk past, but he would stop his actions. He tried to work mostly with Happy and Sylvester, and having Paige remain at the garage. To keep her safe, and to keep him from being in an enclosed space. Paige, at first, was thankful of Walter's respect for her needing space. Then he started to distance her at work, keeping her on desk duty and answering phone. Her life was boxed in the four walls and she was beginning to feel stir crazy. So Paige decided she was going to take a week vacation. Travel down the coast, spend some time with a few friends at their summer place in Santa Barbara. Paige had made plans with Drew, so she could take Ralph for the first four days, and then Drew would come and the father and son would take off for the Grand Canyon for a week. Paige was going to spend the rest of the time with her friends but she grew restless.

And she missed Walter.

She missed his touch, his smile, the way his eyes would brighten when he got excited about a new idea, but mostly she missed his laugh. So she returned. With a plan to be mildly annoying until Walter made a move. Hence, the cereal, the stool and the comment about his attire. She knew nothing irked him more than some ribbing about his clothing. Paige hopped from the stool carrying the empty bowl and moved to the sink.

"Walter." Paige said as she placed the bowl to her sink and starting the faucet. "Your socks don't match." She smirked when she heard the sharp intake of breath, the slamming of a mug to the countertop and then felt a presence. A hand wrapped about her upper arm and Paige looked over her shoulder.

"What is it with you Americans and socks?" He snapped but his mouth fell upon her lips before she could respond to his question. Walter turned Paige, his hand on her hips and pressing her into the counter. Paige smiled into the kiss wrapping her arms about his neck. Paige tugged at the hair on the back of his neck while Walter turned them again so he was lining against the sink. Walter started to pull at her shirt, loosening it from her pants. Paige had already pulled his hoodie down off his shoulders and it dropped to the floor.

"Walter." Paige moaned as his lips left hers and trailed to her neck. He found the sensitive spot on his on her neck where it met her chin. His fingers were moving beneath her shirt, tracing patterns and design along her stomach. She arched into his touch as his thumb brushed across the silky cup of her bra. "Walter." Paige groaned yanking his head from her neck and brought them back to her lips. Walter chuckled but it was muffled against her lips. He backed them down the hall until her back made contact with a wall.

"Walter." Paige sighed as his lips started to trail away from her lips again and moved down her body. Her shirt was immediately tossed to the floor, as was his. "Walter."

"Busy." He said into her neck. One hand gripped her hip, the other moving to cup her jaw, encouraging her head back to allow him better access to her neck. She smiled at how focused he was in his attention to detail. Her hands were resting on his back, feeling some old scars. Paige pulled him closer wanting to feel more of his skin.

In the corner of her eye she noticed some movement. Walter's hand had moved from her hip and to her back. He started to toy with the clasp of her bra. "Walter." Paige tried to grab his attention. It was the screech that caught Walter's attention. He yanked his head back, looking to Paige but she seemed to be silently chuckling. Walter's hands on her stomach stilled and he dropped his head to her shoulder. Paige smiled into his ear mumbling words of apologies, kissing his hair line.

"Is this really the safest place to be conducting these activities?" Sylvester asked his hands clasped tightly and he seemed to be looking in any direction but towards Walter and Paige. For their propriety and his prudish mind.

"Paige." Walter rasped against her neck.

"Ralph is with Drew for the next four days in Arizona." Paige said she felt him kiss her neck. He scooped up their discarded clothing, tossing his hoodie in her direction. He remained standing blocking her body as she pulled his arms through the sleeves and then helped her zip the sides together. He kissed her nose and then pulled his shirt over his head.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the kitchen.

They spent the remainder of her vacation in her apartment.

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Fin…

A cute little ficlet to keep you guys happy.