It's been a while since I wrote an AU 1xR fic, but I'm tickled pink by the numbers I'm seeing, and thank you to all of you. Standard disclaimers apply. Well enjoy and please review!

Chapter Two

Relena looked at the daunting stack of charts in front of her. It was going to be another busy day in the office. At this time of year, the transition from winter to spring was volatile, and viruses were her worst enemy.

She grabbed her fuchsia stethoscope and knocked on the first examination door. Six hours later and fifteen patients seen, her day was finished. It was a day filled with strep throats, viral infections, and one green pea stuck in a little kiddo's nose.

She went to her mini makeshift office and went through her charts. It was going to be another late night until she heard a soft knock on her door. "Come in," as she scribbled some notes.

"Hey stranger, looks like you survived another week."

She placed her pen behind her ear, "You can say that again." She turned towards his direction, "What about yourself?"

"About the same thing," the older doctor walked up to her desk. "Look I was thinking, do you want to have some dinner with me?"

She looked up at him, "Sorry Dave, it looks like I'll be stuck here for awhile," and bit the bottom of her lip and pointed to the ominous pile.

"Let me know when you're free," he smiled and the tall male with dusty brown hair sauntered out to his own office, looking slightly miffed at the moment.

"Phew," she let out a soft sigh. The young physician assistant looked out at her window and watched the sunset take place over the bay. The orange glow radiated off the waters and onto the buildings. She loved the feel of the city as it slowly transitioned to the night life. Her eyes reverted back to her charts and with that, she pulled out her dinner from her mini refrigerator.

…

The next time she saw Dave Schwarz was at a local coffee shop that she loved to hang out on weekends. The aromas of fresh coffee beans were invigorating to her senses, and her eyes trailed across the black ink as she dove deeper into her novel that she was reading.

Her slender fingers turned over a cream colored page, as a familiar face glanced over towards her.

"Fancy meeting you here."

"The same goes to you," she smiled back and put her book down on the black countertop.

"Look it sounds like I got off the wrong foot with you earlier last week," he looked sheepishly and let out a small laugh.

"It's alright, no harm done" as she took a sip of her café mocha, wondering what he wanted this time.

Dave looked around the small shop, taking in the sights and sounds. At one point, he fiddled with his hands until he brought up enough courage. "Look I don't like taking no for an answer. Have dinner with me."

The sentence hit her like a Mack truck, and she didn't know how to respond with that request. Normally, she tried to keep work and her life separate, and being new to the growing practice, she didn't want to jeopardize her spot. "I don't know Dave."

"Like I said I don't take no for an answer." He looked at her, hoping to win her over. "You got me spinning in circles. And…"

She fiddled with partial empty cup, "Say no more, I'm going to put you out of your misery."

"Finally," he let out a breath and started to relax in his seat. He began their conversation with some ice breakers. "I'm from Montana originally…Billings area."

She nodded in response, and soon enough, the two were immersed in their own conversation.

"So why did you pick here?" She continued to sip on her café mocha.

"I needed a change of pace temporarily," he leaned closer to her.

She tucked a loose strand of her honey colored hair behind her ear, "That's what everyone says."

The thirty year old laughed, "And why did the daughter of an American Ambassador choose a field so opposite from her father's?"

"I thought no one pays attention, but apparently you do," she leaned back on her seat. "I don't want to travel a lot." She grabbed her empty cup and started to play with it, "it's hard to make friends when you are constantly moving around." He nodded in response, telling her that he was listening. "I didn't want to become a doctor, since it took too long, but after volunteering at a local hospital, one of the nurses recommended PA school, and so here I am."

"Good choice then," he rubbed his chin.

"I guess so," and her eyes trailed over his round shoulders as she watched customers filter through the door. For a moment, her eyes connected with a familiar flash of Prussian. "It can't be," she thought to herself. The last time she saw Heero was on the night of her eighth birthday, and he had promised her that he would be there for her. And on that very next morning, she tore through the house trying to find him. She search through all their secret hiding places, and to no avail, he simply vanished. For days, she put on a temper tantrum and cried herself to sleep. No matter how many tears she cried, they weren't going to bring him back and slowly she learned to grow up.

Dave noticed her eyes change for a moment and took her hand, "Is everything alright?" He took her hand into his.

The soft touch brought her out of her déjà vu, "Yeah, sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew, but I think work is finally getting to me."

He let out a laugh and distracted her in seconds, "Does seven work?"

"Seven sounds good," and she scribbled her address down and handed him the sheet of paper. "You better not make me regret my decision."

He crossed his heart, "I promise."

…

She looked through her closet and rummaged through her miniscule collection of her dresses. For having a salary, it barely covered her expenses for rent, insurance, food, gas, and utilities, but she still managed to buy some things. She remembered one of her preceptors saying, "live well below your means," and she followed the mantra to some degree. She finally found the dress she was looking for. The soft silver with hues of pinks, purples, and blues shined just right in the fluorescent light. The pleated fabric clung to her body, and yet, it was still lightweight and manageable.

The clock struck at six, and within an hour, Dave would be picking her up at her front door. She gathered her curling iron and started to create soft curls in her long tresses. "Perfect," she whispered beneath her breath, and in minutes, she added the finishing touches to her makeup.

Not a moment too soon, she heard a soft knock at her front door. "Right on time," she smirked. She gave herself a quick final glance and adjusted a loose curled strand with bobby pin, and made her way to the door.

"You look breathtaking," Dave took one sight of her and felt the wind get knocked out of him.

She looked at her co-worker. He was dressed in a light blue shirt with khakis. "You don't look too bad yourself."

"This is for you," he pulled out a plastic case. In it, a delicate white iris wrapped in a violet ribbon.

"It's beautiful," she whispered and offered her hand towards him.

"Call me old fashion," he chuckled. He slipped on the fragile corsage onto her petite wrist. "Shall we?"

The two walked hand in hand down the steps, and eventually arrived at a local Italian bistro. "Where did you find this place?"

"One of my patients recommended it to me. They sure make a mean Tiramisu."

The two talked over a candlelight dinner for the rest of their evening. She was slowly falling in love with his charms. It was about time to let someone back in her life she thought, as she ate the last of the mascarpone cream cheese from her plate.