For notes and disclaimer, please see part one.

Additionally, posting early this week and potentially next week due to mildly entertaining plans... Hope y'all don't mind. ~K

Here's a couple things you might need to know, or maybe you just forgot: Casey and Ellie swap best days ever: when he joined the Marines and when Chuck was born. Ellie also tells her favorite ice cream treat.

Tongue Tied

They'd both wound up working Sunday afternoon. By the time they were able to meet in the laundromat, dusk was just settling in.

Downy, of course, ignored them both when they entered since, clearly, they'd ignored her earlier.

All of Casey's coaxing and Ellie's treats had failed to convince her to be social.

Casey could see the light bulb ignite over Ellie's head. "What?"

"I have an idea. I'll be right back."

He wasn't sure what she was up to but she was cute when she was excited. That thought was sobering. He didn't need to be thinking about her attractiveness at all. The Fourth of July had been close enough. Too close, really. Inhaling deeply through his nose, he exhaled slowly through his mouth, to try to clear his head.

He looked at Downy, who sat quietly on the bottom shelf of the storage unit that lined the back wall. "Whatever your mom is up to, I'm sure it'll make you forgive us."

Downy merely blinked at him.

Ellie returned ten minutes later with her arms full.

Casey stood, to try to help, but she smiled at him.

"I've got it," she assured him, hiding whatever it was she held. "Sit."

He reluctantly sat back down, watching curiously as Ellie placed a saucer in front of Downy.

The cat regarded the contents coolly for a moment before the curiosity got the better of her.

Ellie grinned before finally showing Casey what she'd brought. "For you, sir. Your first sunken drundae... on a Sunday."

He offered her a rare grin.

It was just how she'd described it. A gorgeous confection of ice cream and booze, topped off with two cherries in whipped cream.

"So," he said, accepting the treat and a spoon. "What's special about the cherries with the stem?"

She looked at him, a mix of innocence and embarrassment. "If you want to know, I'll show you later."

He glanced at her, watching as her expression melted into something else, something he couldn't quite pinpoint.

She swallowed her first bite before nudging his shoulder with hers. "Eat."

Casey could see the appeal, certainly, as he finally tried a spoonful. Even Downy lapped at her small amount of vanilla in cream. The cat finished hers first and finally bounded over to her owners. She jumped into Ellie's lap easily.

"The key to any girl's heart... ice cream," she said with a grin.

"I'll remember that." Casey looked up just in time to see that beautiful grin aimed squarely at him.

"Tell me something?"

"Mm."

"How come you aren't married?"

Casey nearly choked. He had a feeling that alcohol and ice cream would be a volatile combination coming out his nose.

"Too personal, isn't it? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

He shook his head. Taking a moment to clear his throat, he answered: "I was engaged once."

"What happened?"

I died. "Just didn't work out."

"I'm sorry."

He shrugged.

"Just... you're an attractive guy. Smart, caring... I can't imagine how you haven't been snapped up yet by someone."

"Luck, I guess."

"Don't you want to be married...?"

"It would have to be the right woman," he told her. Someone who could put up with his hours, with his putting his life on the line on a daily basis. Someone he could tell his secrets to. At this point, he had so many, the burden would be too great for just anyone to bear.

"John..."

He glanced over at her.

"She's out there. Somewhere. Your dream girl. Your soul mate."

"Maybe. Maybe I had her already and lost her." Kathleen had his child, unbeknownst to him. Ilsa, or whatever her real name was, probably would've understood best the job requirements.

"Maybe not," Ellie said softly.

They ate in companionable silence, finishing up their treats. It wasn't enough alcohol to really get a buzz, but it was enough to relax him.

She set her empty sundae glass on the table. "All right, are you sure you want to see...?"

He noticed she was holding up the two cherry stems. He nodded.

Ellie smiled, somewhat sheepishly, before placing both on her tongue and closing her mouth.

Casey watched as she seemed to be... eating them?

She tried not to laugh at the faces he was making, ranging from concerned to utterly confused, as she continued the task at hand.

He'd almost decided she'd gone round the bend, when she opened her mouth. Atop her tongue, the cherry stems were tied together.

She maneuvered the knot, until she was holding onto it with just one end between her teeth. "Old bar trick," she admitted.

He didn't want to say it out loud, but he found that to be... somewhat fascinating, his thoughts drifting places they definitely ought not. "I'm learning more and more about you every week."

She laughed softly, adding the stems to her empty glass.

Stay tuned...