A short while later you both arrived at the restaurant, a little café not far from the hospital. You were happy to be with Frederick, but nervous at the same time. People would often be patient with you at first, then slip away with time. You felt as though you were a placeholder for most, someone to spend time with until someone better came along. Marcus being unfaithful didn't help of course. You had thought the two of you would be together forever.

"Are you alright?" Frederick asked gently as the two of you sat down, and you startled slightly, forcing a smile, although the pain in your eyes couldn't be hidden.

"I ...just a little tired, thank you," you replied, having meant to say yes. You didn't want to be so open with another, let them see your pain and what you felt was weakness. But Frederick seemed different, safe somehow. And it felt wrong to lie to him.

"Of course," he said gently, reaching for your hand and giving it a little squeeze. You smiled more fully now. Looking into his emerald eyes, you found yourself wishing you had met Frederick before Marcus. Another time, before you were hurt. You dismissed the thought from your mind, romance and more possible pain was a foolish thought. You didn't want to feel that crushing heartbreak ever again. Surviving divorce nearly killed you, the thought of trying again was enough to keep you up at night.

You both ordered, and after your initial nerves you started to relax, and chatted about other things. Frederick told you how he got his start in psychiatry. How he had trained to be a surgeon, which didn't work out much to his father's chagrin.

"But what is strange is...I do not think I ever wanted to be a surgeon."

"You wanted to please him," you replied, blushing when you realized what you said.

"I'm sorry that was an overstep, I -"

"No, you are right," he said, sighing. His green orbs seemed lost in the past as he spoke. "He always liked my brother Daniel more, he became a surgeon and made our father proud. I was to be next, but I was always too ...soft for him," he whispered. "Too easily sickened by the sight of blood, my hands would shake even when holding a scalpel for practice," he said.

This time you took his hand, squeezing as you smiled at him. "It's alright Frederick, our parents don't always know what's best. And I've read your studies, you were meant for this field," you said, and you meant it. You had read some of his articles in scientific journals and were impressed.

"Thank you," he stuttered, and oh how his cheeks flushed.

Oh my, you thought. He certainly looked more handsome like that.

"And you are so brave after all you've been through, to not give up," you said, and you let out a little gasp when you realized what you had said.

"Oh I'm so sorry," you were horrified, God now for sure he would hate you.

"It is ...it is alright, I am not sure I would call it that….and I suppose I should not be surprised, I am sure you have read about my...attacks," he swallowed, embarrassment flashing in his eyes.

"Oh I ...I didn't mean to upset you Frederick," you said softly.

His face softened, and he surprised you by flipping his hand so your fingers were intertwined.

"It is quite alright ...thank you," he whispered, and gave you a small smile.

The food arrived shortly thereafter, and you took your hand from his to eat. You were reluctant to do so, loving the feeling of his hand in yours. You thought you saw a flash of disappointment in his eyes, but figured you must have been imagining things.

"So how did you get into the field?" Frederick asked as you both ate.

"Well, I had always wanted to help people. And I...I've struggled with anxiety a bit, as you can probably tell," you chuckled softly to try and brush off the topic.

"That is perfectly normal. We all have our own...issues," he said, patting your free hand gently.

"And well one of my close friends in college struggled with depression, and I hated not being able to do more to help her. So that helped push me around in that direction. I've always been interested in medicine but...I can't stomach broken bones," you smiled.

"It's always bothered me how our society doesn't prioritize mental illness, it's just as important as physical health, I think," you said.

"Indeed, I agree," he said, smiling at you. "The two can affect each other of course, as well, as you know."

You nodded. Talking to Frederick was such a breath of fresh air, he really seemed to want to hear what you had to say. So different from Marcus, who never seemed to take your opinion all that seriously.

The two of you spent the rest of your meal discussing psychology, opinions on the latest journals and the like. You started to relax further, enjoying just talking and hearing his opinions. Frederick was, as you had already deduced from reading his articles, quite brilliant.

It seemed like only minutes passed when the waiter came with the bill, which Frederick insisted on paying, despite your protests. You looked at your watch as he paid, realizing you had been at lunch for two hours. Speaking to Frederick had made time fly. You felt like you could have spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with him and barely have noticed until perhaps the sun went down.

Since the café wasn't far from the hospital, you two had walked. It had gotten a bit chillier though, and you shivered a bit as you both started the walk back towards work.

Frederick noticed, he seemed to be so in tune with you and your needs.

"Are you cold?" He asked, not waiting for an answer as he began to remove his coat as you walked side by side.

"Oh, it's okay," you said, "It's not far."

"Nonsense, you look freezing, here," he stopped, holding the coat open for you.

"I insist," he said.

You nodded, blushing a bit as you turned around for him to help you with his coat. You shivered again as he put it on you, only this time it wasn't from the cold. His closeness, and the feel of his hands on your arms, helping you into his jacket. A jacket that smelled of his cologne.

"Thank you Frederick," you said softly, blushing as you buttoned the front.

"You are most welcome," he swallowed thickly as he took you in. Wearing his jacket had an effect on him he hadn't expected. It looked right, you wearing his jacket, and for whatever reason, he found himself more attracted to you. Thinking of how you would look wearing one of his shirts and nothing else.

"Well then, let us get you back where it is warmer," he laughed, blushing with his lustful thoughts.

Your face felt hot as you nodded, following by his side again.

You walked in silence for a few minutes, the awkwardness fading quickly.

"So, will you be staying in Baltimore, after this job? If I can ask," he said nervously, hoping his question wasn't too personal. He found he had made a new friend in you, and was anxious to know if you were only passing through. Perhaps soon you would be gone. He barely knew you and the thought made him incredibly sad.

"Well, yes, I hope to. I'm staying with my cousin for now, but I need to start looking around for a permanent place," you smiled. He seemed to be hopeful, did you imagine it? But seeing his eyes light up when you replied was certainly encouraging.

"That is wonderful. I could...if you want, go with you? I mean, if your cousin is busy, just since I have lived here for so long," he stuttered, worried he had overstepped, or seemed too eager.

You took his hand, giving it a small squeeze. "I would love that Frederick," you replied, feeling your heart skip a beat at the little smile that twitched at his lips.

Baltimore was clearly the right choice.