I decided to post chapter two as well since it gets the main plot going. I'll probably post chapters once a week or so after this. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Two "The Last Lecture"

When Mia arrived at Steve's house, he had changed into jeans and a shirt with buttons. Even Danny would have to approve, but he had already left to pick up Rachel and the kids for the zoo. Steve shook his head and smiled thinking about it. He was so glad Danny had his life back, but it did mean less time the two of them could spend together. Steve knew that was why Danny insisted Steve go out with Mia.

But Steve had never imagined it would actually work. Under normal circumstances, Steve wouldn't have given her a second thought. Sure, she was pretty and nice, but at the outset, there didn't seem to be anything that particularly attracted him to her. But that had changed after last night.

Still, Steve met Mia in the driveway, not sure he wanted to invite her into his father's home yet. It would bring up too many things he didn't want to talk about now. Mia did seem to notice, but she didn't say anything.

"Confession," she said, standing next to her car door. "I haven't gone out to eat much while I've been here, so I don't know where we should go."

Steve smiled. "I'll navigate," he said.

They got in the car, and while Steve was genuinely uncomfortable being driven around, he tried his best to ignore it. Maybe Danny was right about his control issues.

Steve directed Mia to a little cafe that his mother had loved when she was alive. He hadn't been there since then, but it hadn't changed. Mia seemed happy with the atmosphere as they sat down.

"I suppose you know all the great places to go around here?" she asked.

"Well, not exactly," Steve said. "A lot has changed since I lived here before. There are a few places like this though."

"Yeah. I've been here two years, and I still don't get out much."

"At least tell me you don't hate the beach."

"What? Who hates the beach?"

"Danny."

"Oh. No, I don't. I grew up in LA. I've always loved the ocean. I guess I just meant that I don't have much of a social life. I got to the beach, and I ride my bike sometimes, but that's about as exciting as things get."

"So what about this lecture?"

"Oh, that's exciting for me, but not many other people. I really hope you're not bored to death."

"I think I'll survive."

"You know, I'm actually surprised that you agreed to come so quickly. It doesn't seem like something you would like."

"I'm interested to know what you do. What I do is a little more obvious."

"Yes, I remember reading about it in the newspaper."

"Oh, don't listen to them. They say all kinds of nasty, untrue things."

"So, now I get to hear the whole story."

"Some other time. It's depressing."

"At least it had a happy ending."

Steve thought about arguing with that, but he didn't really want to talk about it, so he only nodded stiffly. Mia got the hint.

H-5-O

Steve enjoyed the lecture. He wasn't always sure what Mia was talking about, but when she got up in front of everyone, she was dynamic and engaging. He had thought she was soft spoken, but when she addressed the entire room, her voice carried and she spoke with enthusiasm.

After the lecture there was a question time, and even though Steve didn't understand all the questions, he could tell that Mia answered even the most challenging ones very well. He could tell she knew her stuff and was very passionate about it.

Afterward, Mia introduced Steve to some of her colleagues. He was a little nervous about that, but she handled it well, calling him her date. Steve did feel a little out of place amongst college professors and literature students, but Mia kept him feeling at ease.

When they left, Steve almost didn't feel the discomfort of not driving. He decided he really needed to get over that. On the ride back to his house, they talked about Mia's lecture and she tried to explain the more complex facets of her analysis. In the end, Steve was sure there were things he didn't grasp, but it was interesting anyway, and Mia was good at clarifying it.

When they got to Steve's house, Mia followed him to the door. Steve found himself wanting to hold her hand, but he knew she probably wouldn't like that.

"Well, it was educational," he said with a smile.

Mia smiled back. "I'm glad you didn't fall asleep or anything."

Steve laughed. "No. You're a great speaker."

"Makes up for the flaws in my analysis I guess."

"If it makes you feel any better, I couldn't find them if I wanted to."

"It does."

They were still smiling at each other and felt like there was something more to be said or done. Finally, Steve said,

"I'll call you."

"I'll be expecting it," Mia replied.

She turned to leave and Steve watched her back, noticing the spring in her step, and he wasn't sure if it was the excitement of her successful speech, or something else. Steve found himself hoping it was the latter.

H-5-O

That night, the Williams family came over to Steve's house after their zoo adventure. Grace had all sorts of stories about all the animals she saw.

"And Uncle Steve, you should have seen the monkeys," she said. Steve was sitting on the couch, holding the baby and Grace was up on her knees next to him.

"Patrick laughed like crazy when he saw them," Grace continued.

"Almost as funny looking as Danno, huh?" Steve asked.

"I heard that!" Danny called from the other room. He and Rachel came into the living room after finishing the dishes from dinner.

"I know," Steve said, smiling widely.

"So," Rachel said, sitting down. "How did you and Mia get on?"

Steve had known this would come up, but he wasn't thrilled about the conversation. "Well," he said. "She's very interesting."

"We told you."

"Yeah, I know."

"How was the lecture?" Danny asked, with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"She's very good," Steve said. "I actually got most of what she was saying."

"What was the topic?"

"Ancient themes in modern literature. Now, if I had read any 'modern literature,' I'm sure I would have understood it better."

"I've read her paper," Rachel said. "It was very good. She has a way of saying things so that they make sense to everyone, but still seem profound."

"Like you." Steve nodded at Danny.

"Aw, thanks." Danny grinned.

"Uncle Steve?" Grace asked. "Are you and Mia gonna get married?"

Steve felt the color drain out of his face at the question. He was nowhere near ready to think about that yet. "Uh, Gracie," he said. "I just met her and you have to know someone a long time before you know if you want to marry them."

"Oh." Grace seemed a little disappointed. "But if you do, can I be the flower girl?"

Steve laughed. "Grace, if I ever get married, you can be the flower girl."

Somewhere between the amused laughter and Grace's excitement at the prospect, Steve's phone rang. Looking at the caller ID he was surprised.

"Hello?" he answered.

The first thing he heard was heavy breathing. Then a shaky voice: "Steve?"

"Mia?" Steve immediately switched gears, his voice betraying concern. "Are you okay?"

"Steve, I'm sorry, but I didn't know who else to call..."

"What's going on? Are you hurt?" Steve handed Patrick to Rachel and headed for the door, not really knowing why.

"I—I need you to meet me. At the beach. I didn't want to drag you into this, but... you're the only one who can help me. Please meet me. Alone."

"The beach? Where we were last night?"

"Yes. Please hurry."

Steve hung up and after a quick glance at Danny, he kept walking toward the door.

"Whoa, wait a second," Danny insisted, following his partner across the living room. "You want to tell me what that was."

"I don't know," Steve replied. "But she's in trouble, so I'm going to help."

"Great." Danny spread his hands. "And you don't think that, I don't know, maybe you should take me with you?"

"She said to come alone."

"I'll wait it the car." Danny's voice rose to the annoyed, I'm talking to an idiot tone.

"Fine," Steve said. "Let's go."

"Be careful," Rachel called after them.