NOTE: This is a long chapter compared to the others, but I hope you enjoy it. It won't be long until we start getting into the actual plot for Saints Row IV. I have quite a bit planned for this story and I think it will wind up surprising you. Anyway, let me know what you think! The next chapter will reveal a new relationship, but I won't say who they are. You'll have to wait and see. I think it's pretty funny and I hope you do too. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: A Defining Past

"Hi, welcome to Pilomena Ristorante. How many in your party?"

"Two," said Ethan. The hostess smiled and grabbed two menus before showing him and Shaundi to their table. Once at the table, Ethan felt for a chair and pulled it out for Shaundi. She grinned and thanked him before sitting down. She watched as he carefully touched the edge of the table with his hand and walked around until finding his seat.

"Your server will be right with you," said the hostess as she set the menus on the table. Shaundi furrowed her brow as she looked at her menu, wondering how Ethan would choose what to eat. She looked up to see him quietly resting his hands on the table.

"Do-do you want me to read off the menu?" she asked. He smiled and shook his head.

"Thank you, but I already know what I'm going to get," he told her. "I'm friends with the chef here."

"Oh? Well, then what do you recommend?"

"The pasta primavera."

As he finished talking, a man walked by and dropped his change on the ground. Ethan tilted his head toward the clinging of the coins on the tile floor and got the stranger's attention.

"Excuse me? I think you dropped fifty cents," said Ethan, pointing toward the discarded change. The man turned around and looked down.

"Thank you," he said, picking the change up. Ethan nodded in response and heard the man walk away. Shaundi put her menu down and leaned her elbows on the table.

"Okay, how do you do that?" she asked, curiously. "How'd you know the amount he dropped? And, don't give me some bullshit excuse that it was a lucky guess because I won't believe it."

Ethan smiled, "You know how they say losing one sense makes your other senses grow stronger?"

"I've heard that, yes."

"Well, they don't grow stronger as much as you just pay more attention. You learn your surroundings through touch, through smells, and through sound. When you've been doing it as long as I have, it becomes second nature. The way the coins hit the floor, the ping they gave off, I was able to tell the amount," he said as Shaundi's elbow slipped from underneath her, knocking her fork off the table. Ethan quickly caught it before it hit the floor. He flipped it in his fingers before handing it back to her and saying, "Then again, sometimes you just know."

Shaundi smiled and gently took her fork from him. He tugged at it playfully before letting go and hearing their waiter approach the table. Shaundi didn't notice and continued to softly smile, staring at Ethan.

"Hello, I'm Steven. I'll be your server. What can I get you?" said the waiter, pouring water into their glasses.

Ethan waited for Shaundi to order and she cleared her throat, "I'll have the pasta primavera."

"I'll have the same," said Ethan.

"Two primaveras," said Steven. "Would you like to see a wine list?"

"No need, just bring us your best bottle of red wine."

"Yes, sir."

Steven left with their order and Shaundi leaned over the table, "Wine? Are you trying to impress me?"

"Is it working?" asked Ethan.

"Maybe," she said, softly. "But, you should know that I'd be just as happy with a burger and fries."

"Good to know," he said with a smile.

After they'd finished eating, the waiter brought them their check. Ethan pulled out his wallet as Shaundi reached for the bill folder, ready to pay for dinner. He put his hand on hers to stop her.

"I got this one," said Ethan, taking notice of her soft skin under his fingers. "Don't worry about it."

Shaundi let him have the check and saw him pull out several folded bills. He placed them in the bill folder and the waiter, Steven, came by to pick it up.

"Please, fold fives in half width wise and leave ones unfolded," said Ethan. "I have a bit of a system."

"No problem," said Steven.

When Steven brought his change, Ethan gave him a generous tip before standing up. He walked to Shaundi, feeling the edge of the table for reference, and softly touched her arm.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

"I'm ready if you are," she replied. He smiled and they walked outside. After climbing into the car, Shaundi turned to him, curious about their next destination. "So, where to next?"

"You choose," he said, happily. "What's something fun that you haven't done in awhile?"

Shaundi sat back in her seat and lightly bit her lip in thought before smiling, "I have something in mind."

Later, at a local arcade, Shaundi stood next to Ethan as he threw a skee ball. It bounced before skipping into the lane next to them. He took a breath and threw another one, getting it into the twenty point hole. A few red tickets spit out of the machine and she grinned before letting out a small laugh, "Not bad, but let the master show you how it's done."

"Master, huh?" he asked, with his brow raised. He stepped aside as she stepped up for her turn. She threw her balls, making it in both the 50 and 100 point holes respectively, causing lights and sirens to flash each time. A long string of tickets spit out and she patted him on the back.

"I'll go easy on you next time," she said, causing him to smile. He stepped up for his turn and heard the balls come down. He felt for the slot and picked up a skee ball, still smiling. Giving the ball a generous toss, he made it into the 100 point hole three times in a row. He heard the sirens and straightened up, triumphant.

"Your turn," he said, smiling even more. Shaundi laughed and watched the tickets spit out of the machine.

"Okay, it's on, Mr. Magoo."

They played a few more games, each winning a few, but Shaundi wound up winning in the end. As they stood at the prize counter, Ethan waited patiently beside her as she picked out her prize. She turned to him with two pairs of enormous blue sunglasses.

"I got you a new pair of glasses," she said, placing them on his head, over his existing pair.

"Sweet," he said, pushing them up his nose. "What about you?"

"I got a pair, too," she replied, putting them on. They practically engulfed her face and she laughed seeing Ethan through the large blue lenses. "Those glasses make you look like Elton John."

"I have no idea what he looks like, but he must be a damn good looking man." He smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder as they walked back to the car.

"Thank you," said Shaundi, glancing at him as they walked. "I haven't done anything like this in awhile."

"You're welcome," he said. "I'm glad you were able to go out."

"Me too," she said, her voice soft and sincere. He smiled and slowly slid his hand down her arm until he found her hand. He slowly intertwined his fingers with hers and she returned his grasp. They continued to hold hands until they reached the car.

Shaundi pulled up to the front of Ethan's apartment building and turned off the car. She sat quietly in her seat as he unbuckled his seat belt. He leaned back and joined in her silence for a moment.

"Do you...want to come up?" he asked. "There's something I want to show you."

Shaundi didn't answer and quietly contemplated his question. She wasn't sure if she was ready to go up to his apartment, or perhaps, she was worried about what she might do once they got inside, it had been so long since she'd been with a man. She bit at her lip again before answering, "Okay."

He grinned and stepped out of the car. She got out and he waited for her to reach the sidewalk before putting his hand out for her. She gently took his hand in hers and they walked up the steps and into the building. Once inside, Ethan led her to his apartment on the third floor.

"Sorry about the steps," he said, as they walked to his door. "The elevator can be a little confusing for me."

"It's fine. I needed to work off dinner anyway."

He grinned and unlocked his door. He let Shaundi enter first and followed her in. His apartment was completely dark until he clapped his hands. The lights turned on and he placed his keys in a glass bowl.

"Are they on?" asked Ethan. "It's been awhile since I've tested that."

"Yes."

"Good. As you can probably guess, I don't have much use for lights," he said, pointing to his eyes. "I had that installed for when my little sister visits. She hasn't been over in awhile."

Shaundi looked around the apartment. Not only was it clean, but it was also very organized with everything in its own special place.

"Do you want something to drink?" he asked.

"Yes, please."

He walked a few steps and turned into the kitchen. Shaundi walked into his living room and looked around some more, noticing his saxophone in the corner, until he came in with two bottles of beer. Shaundi gently took her bottle from him and took a sip.

"So, what was it that you wanted to show me?" she asked, turning to him.

"I'm told this building has a great view of D.C."

On the roof the building, Shaundi stood next to the railing, looking at the city. A soft breeze blew her hair to one side as she admired the glowing amber lights below her.

"Wow," she said in awe. "I don't think I've ever looked at the city like this before. It's beautiful."

"That's what I was told," said Ethan, placing his hands on the railing, his right hand softly grazing her left.

"Thank you," said Shaundi.

"For what?"

"For being a gentleman. When you invited me up, I kind of half expected you to make a move on me. Given my reputation, I wouldn't have blamed you."

"Reputation?" he asked. Shaundi took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I have a history of being a tad...promiscuous," she said, nervously. "It's something I've been trying to run away from, but it keeps following me wherever I go. When I was younger, I did nothing but party, do drugs, and...sleep around. I was useless, always needing to be protected, never contributing anything of value. Looking back now, I hate the person I used to be."

"What made you change?"

"The Saints, my boss, and...and Johnny." Shaundi bowed her head closed her eyes again.

"You really care about him...Johnny, I mean. I can tell by the tone of your voice."

"I did...I do," she said, softly.

"What happened exactly?"

"He died and it's all because of me," she said, fighting a lump in her throat. "We were on a plane, getting gunned down, and he stayed behind so that my boss and I could get to safety. I needed protection, I wasn't fit to stay for the fight. If my Boss didn't need to protect me, he'd still be here. I was a liability and it got him killed."

Ethan remained silent and waited for her to continue.

"It's ironic," she said, looking back at the city. "I'm the one who needs the most protection, yet I'm placed with protecting one of the most important people in my life. I want to do a good job, not only to prove a point to my boss, but to myself. I'm just so tired of feeling useless."

"Obviously he doesn't think that if he gave you the job," said Ethan.

"I know. It's just that, I owe him my life, him and Johnny. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for them," she continued. "And, I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for The Saints. I'd probably still be in Stillwater, smoking drugs from a broken light bulb, and spreading my legs for any man who came my way. It makes me sick just thinking about it."

Ethan gently placed his hand on hers, "You're not that person anymore and you can't let your past define who you are," he said, tenderly. "You grew up, you learned from your mistakes, and you became a better person for it...a person I really like."

Shaundi looked up at him and then down her hand as he intertwined his fingers with hers. She looked up again and into his sunglasses, wanting desperately to see his eyes.

"When I invited you up here," he said to her, caressing her hand with his thumb. "I wasn't expecting anything. I just wanted an excuse to spend more time with you...which is something I'd like to do more of."

"I'd like that," said Shaundi, before her phone rang. She sighed and regretfully answered it. "This is Shaundi...what do you mean you 'lost' the president?"

Ethan stood quietly beside her, waiting for her to finish.

"Fine, I'm on my way," she said, before hanging up. She turned back to Ethan and sighed again. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"I understand, duty calls," he said, disappointment apparent in his voice. "'See' you later?"

"Yeah, you will."