A/N This chapter is fluff nonsense. I should feel bad, but I don't.

Home. A place where I can go. To take this off my shoulders.

At first, I think he's blown me off because I don't see his police SUV, but it makes sense he wouldn't have it if he's off duty. I see his hand stick out of an older black single cab truck. "Good day," I greet him as stiff as my mannerisms. You idiot. Good day? You just saw him ten minutes ago, and it's the evening. I wonder if he's wearing his uniform to dinner? Not that I mind. It'd just be nice to know anything about him at this point, even something as minor as his style.

Neither of us say one word on the ride to my apartment. We're off to a great start.

"I'll return." I'll return? I guess I should be proud of myself though. At least I've managed to get the courage to say something to him.

It takes me so long to get ready that Jakoby actually thinks I'm in trouble and comes looking for me. "I was concerned. Will you be much longer?"

The truth is, I don't have anything nice to wear and I'm frustrated. These jeans have a rip in the back pocket that I've been trying to hand sew. I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

"Boyfriend," Kodgah giggles as he points at Jakoby from his apartment.

"What did he say?" Jakoby asks me as we walk to his truck.

Really? Like an Orc can't hear at least half a mile out. Well, I assume at least. Still, I try to lie to Jakoby and follow it up with insecurity. "Are you sure you want to go out to eat? Your lungs-"

"I wouldn't have offered otherwise." Jakoby puts in a CD. It's Cannibal Corpse's Hammer Smashed Face.

It helps settle my nerves. I really like them. I turn it up a little past three minutes into the song because the riff is my favorite. I'm completely unaware that I've used my left hand to do it.

Jakoby seems more interested in the fact that I'm not fleeing his truck from the music than with my hand.

This song is four minutes, and conveniently as it ends he stops. We're not at a restaurant, we're at some apartments.

"Come on."

Now I understand why he said my attire makes no difference to him if we're just eating at his place. Though I have to say, it's nice to know he's only four minutes from me.

Before I go in his door, he puts his hand against the frame to stop me. "I want to take you out. You… deserve to be taken out, but we both know how tense things are between Orcs and Humans. Especially with me after my partner was shot and with him returning tomorrow to the force. The entire world seems to be at every turn and home is the only place I feel that I can be myself."

I can see that. He's already said more to me tonight than all the other times combined. "Ok," I smile.

I notice he doesn't have a table. Where are we supposed to have dinner? Oh, no. Am I just a booty call? Is that what he thinks of me?

"This way," he says, sliding his back door open.

It leads into a modest backyard with a small pond and a beautiful garden. He's taken the liberty of making up a place for us to sit and have dinner. My nerves settle and I feel guilty thinking Jakoby would treat me like that. "Thank you, this is lovely."

He nods, his ears having the slightest twitch in excitement to them. Like my praises mean something to him. "Make yourself at home."

After having a look around the backyard, I run my fingers through the pond as some of the fish follow. I smell the food before I hear Jakoby.

He's changed from his tactical vest and police shirt and is just wearing a white undershirt with his pants and boots. "Eggplant lasagna, ok? I remember you said you didn't eat cow flesh either."

Oh! He remembered something about me? Luckily, my freckles hide the blushing.

"I actually made it last night because it always tastes better the next day. I was just hoping you'd want to have dinner."

The fact that asking me to dinner wasn't just some on the spot thing makes me feel more special than I ever have. He is perfect. This is better than a restaurant. "I really appreciate all this."

He puts the dish on the steel table, then pulls out my chair.

I try and hold back my tears of joy. I'm in such disbelief right now. It's also nice that for once someone plates my food. Takes care of me. I figured he'd sit across from me, but he pulls the chair next to me to sit. Jakoby is about an inch shy of six feet so he towers over me. And I love those broad shoulders of his. Especially, in the white undershirt. "Don't spill any on your shirt," I joke.

"Why would I spill?"

My cheeks are as red as the sauce now. "It was a joke." I forget that Orcs tend to take everything literally. I wish I could read him. He's close physically, but I feel alone. Until his words catch me off guard.

"A lot of times, well when you worked there, I'd go to the diner and just sit in my truck. Too intimidated to go in and talk to you. That I'd say something and you'd think I was stupid. But now I see that it's true for you, too. You don't have to be nervous around me, or make small talk."

"Maybe it would be easier if you'd speak up once in a while."

"You want me to speak? I don't want you living in that Orcish community."

"You don't have to worry about me, Jakoby."

"It's not worry I have for you. I want better for you. More for you. You deserve more."

"Well, I worry for you. Worry that you'll be shot or injured on duty."

"Don't be. You can't worry about something that hasn't happened."

"Have you ever had to fire your weapon?"

"Never. I don't believe in violence solving violence."

That makes me feel a little better. "Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"You're always so serious."

"Being earnest and being angry is not the same thing. Which I'm neither, especially when it comes to you."

"How about a smile then? Maybe something to assure me."

He lets out a huff, his nostrils flaring.

"It's because your teeth are filed, isn't it?"

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't have very many redeeming qualities, and let's just say my teeth aren't one."

"But I think it is. Filling them down would take a great deal of courage. If you went as far to do it, be proud of it."

His eyes move up and I'm given a smile. Not because I asked, but because of my words.

"Better," I say, returning the smile. Every time Jakoby looks at me, I wonder if he's studying the vitiligo. I can only hide so much with my left hand and long sleeves. Or my hair cascading around my face to hide my neck.

"Eat."

Maybe it's because I didn't cook, but it's the best meal I've ever had.

Jakoby seems less tense.

I'm less tense.

So what do I do? Start asking questions that could possibly ruin it. "If we can't be seen in public together, how is this going to work?"

"This is for your protection."

"Jakoby, that doesn't answer my question."

His large fingers coil around mine. "Why do you call me Jakoby and not Nick?"

"Because you never told me your name was Nick."

He slowly shakes his head side to side.

I drop mine because I'm not ready to admit that's what I've always known him as from when I was a little girl.

"I like it. Our little thing. I don't know how it's going to work, but it will. Does that answer your question?"

I nod. Though I'm still a bit unclear on where we stand. I wish he'd just say he has feelings for me instead of being cryptic. Still, this evening is even more than I could ever ask for.

His thumb rubs across my fingers. "Let's get you home."

That entire drive, the words are right there.

I was that little girl.

My name is Oz.

I have thought about you every day since then.

Now that I'm grown up, I just want to be with you.

You are everything to me, Nicolas.

Except, I just can't. I want him to see me for me, and not the pity I saw in his eyes when he took me from that house.

I'm so disappointed to be back home. Despite my thoughts about Jakoby only wanting me over to have sex, I desperately want to invite him inside. For anything other than an awkward goodbye. I want a hug. A kiss. For him to make love to me. Anything other than-

"Goodnight."

-that word. My eyes sink as I start inside.

"Hey," he calls.

I turn back around to see he's at my feet. "Yes?"

"Do you want to have dinner again with me? Maybe some dessert next time?"

Oh, gosh. Is that sexual? Is he implying… I nod my head furiously because I can't speak.

He takes me by the right hand and kisses my fingers. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I giggle.

"Better," he winks.

I have to hold myself up by the doorframe because my knees are weak from that expression of his. One that I believe is only reserved for me. Hmm, Oz Jakoby. I do like the sound of that. Alright, I'm getting ahead of myself.