Author's notes: Thanks to everyone for the reviews of the last chapter, they're so welcome and kind. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Cho's standing on the porch when Teresa opens the door.
"Hi Cho, come on in."
Teresa leads the way to the living room.
"Patrick's just putting Maddy down, Austin's watching television, after the programme is over I've told him he had half an hour to spend with you and then to bed. I'm glad you could watch them at such short notice, Austin always loves having you over."
"No problem. I've missed him."
"Yes it's been a long time."
When they enter the living room Austin looks up from his programme and with a big smile he jumps up and runs to Cho.
"Uncle Cho. Daddy and Mommy are going out to dinner, don't you think Mommy looks beautiful."
Cho bends down and picks up the excited boy.
"I certainly do, but then your Mommy always looks beautiful."
Teresa rolls her eyes at Cho, while Austin nods his head enthusiastically, but is not satisfied.
"But she looks extra beautiful today."
"I totally agree with Austin."
Teresa feels her cheeks turning red as Patrick enters the room and joins in the conversation. Patrick doesn't miss it and gives her an innocent smile, his eyes twinkling. Teresa takes Austin away from Cho to cover her embarrassment.
"You give Mommy a big hug and a kiss as she's going to miss you. Be good for Uncle Cho."
Austin takes Teresa face in his little hands.
"I will Mommy."
He kisses her and wraps his arms around her neck.
"Well that looked so good, I hope you have a hug left for me."
Austin releases his hold and turns to Patrick.
"I have hundreds of hugs Daddy, I don't think I will ever run out."
Patrick takes him in his arms.
"Well that's great news."
They exchange hugs and a kiss. Patrick puts him down on the floor and rubs his hair.
"See you later."
His eyes turn to Teresa.
"Shall we go?"
She nods her head, Patrick picks up her purse and hands it to her. He takes her gently by the arm and guides her to the front door. He makes sure She's is sat comfortably in the passenger seat before making his way to the driver's side. He starts the car and looks over to her.
"I meant what I said about you looking extra beautiful tonight."
Teresa looks away and then turns back, a smile on her face.
"Thank you. It's lovely to get dressed up, it's been a while, not since…"
Teresa stops and a cloud crosses her face. Patrick finishes for her:
"…Not since the shooting."
"I'm sorry."
Patrick rushes to reassure her.
"There's nothing to be sorry about. It happened, it changed our lives, it's why I want us to go out tonight. My memory, or lack of it, is a cloud that's hanging over us all the time. I don't know about you but I'm a little fed up with it."
Teresa looks at him warily.
"Are you saying you want to leave, because I would have preferred.."
Patrick interrupts horrified:
"No, no, that's not what I meant at all."
"Then what?"
Patrick looks at her.
"Patrick, watch out!"
Patrick turns his eyes to the road and quickly swerves to avoid a car that suddenly braked in front of him.
"Let's talk about it at the restaurant. Deep conversations and driving are not very conducive with one another.
"I..I..I ..guess."
Patrick reaches out and touches her arm.
"It's nothing bad, I promise. Just relax."
The restaurant isn't very busy and they are shown to a table a little out of the way. Patrick pulls out Teresa's chair and she sits down, looking around at the subdued lighting, the expensive tablecloths and the beautiful glasses on the table waiting to be filled. The owners have managed to pull off expensive in a subtle way.
As Patrick takes the wine list she leans towards him and speaks under her breath.
"I hope the food is as good the décor advertises."
"I'm told it is."
He orders the wine and they are passed the menus, which they study for a few minutes. Teresa places hers on the table when she decided on her order. She sits back and studies Patrick. His hair is more styled than she's seen it for a long time, she realises that he's taken a lot of care with his appearance tonight. His face has just the right length of stubble that exudes his sexiness, his nails are trimmed and he's managed to remove all the dirt trapped under them after the hours of tunnel digging he and Austin did this afternoon, it explains the length of time he took in the shower.
"What are you smiling at?"
Teresa protests as she knows he hasn't looked at her.
"You don't know I'm smiling!"
Patrick keep his eyes on the menu.
"Yes I do, it's so wide, I can hear your cheekbones straining in protest."
She can't supress a laugh.
"No you can't."
"Come on, enough protesting, out with it."
"I was just thinking about how long it must have taken you to get the dirt out from under your fingernails."
There's silence for a moment.
"Mmmmm thinking about me in the shower.."
He looks up from the menu with a smile on his face, which can only be described as seductive, and sends Teresa weak at the knees.
"….no wonder you're smiling."
Teresa weakly blusters:
"I wasn't."
She looks down and fingers her menu and then peeks up at him, she can't hide the 'caught in the act' blush and smile on her face.
Patrick lays down his menu. His mood suddenly changed from playful, the look in his eyes so hot, she feels it burning her skin.
"It's okay Teresa, I imagine it too."
Teresa can't help herself.
"Imagine yourself in the shower?"
Patrick smiles gently.
"No, you."
Teresa catches her breath, the thought of him imagining her quickening her senses even more. She breaks his stare and looks down, her fingers finding comfort in the menu once more. She's buried her desire for so long now, hiding it from him, she missed him so much, she doesn't dare to hope. She hears her name spoken softly.
"Teresa."
She looks at him.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
She finds herself fighting back tears.
"Don't apologise, if you meant what you said, if it means…"
The words stick in her throat, unable to vocalise her desire. He reaches across the table and touches her hand, it feels like it's burning a hole through her skin, her face burns. She looks at him, unable to hide the need coursing through her. His eyes reflect her own.
"It does. I've desired you for a while. I've battled with myself, it seemed so selfish to satisfy my needs, without being able to commit to you with my heart as well."
Teresa feels the tears falling down her cheeks, she sees something catch Patrick's eye and he shakes his head, she presumes he's stalling the waiter wanting their order.
"I don't know if I love you as deeply as I did before, but I know you fascinate me, I know that I'm a happier person when you're around, I know I look forward to the end of the day when you walk through that door. I know I feel there's something missing when you're not home."
Teresa grabs her napkin and wipes at her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'm blubbering like an idiot."
He smiles kindly at her.
"It's okay, I don't know how I'm keeping them at bay."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I want to be your husband, I want to share your..our bed. Our lives can't stay on hold waiting for my memories to return and what are they going to tell me? That I love you, it will bring back all the memories we have made together, and I hope they will return but I want now to make new ones, for us to make new ones together."
Teresa manages to compose herself, her smile growing wider at his words.
"I want that too."
Patrick sighs deeply, and beams back at her.
"Good."
He looks at the menu before him.
"I know what I don't want."
"What?"
"Dinner."
She laughs.
"Yea, I've lost my appetite."
His eyes turn hungry once more, igniting her once more. He looks almost sheepish as he pulls out a key card.
"I took the liberty of booking a room, just in case."
Teresa stares at the card. He looks unsure of himself as she doesn't reply.
"Was it the wrong thing to do?"
Teresa reaches out and takes the key.
"Certainly not."
She stands up.
"Are you coming?"
Patrick closes the door behind them and catches Teresa's wrist and pulls her to him. She turns her face to his, his eyes burn in to her soul, his hands caresses her face as his lips move, almost imperceptively towards hers. She groans when finally they touch soft and warm. She savours the moment, they feel familiar and strange all at the same time, and then he moves to her face and neck, the warmth of his breath against her skin heating her. She feels his fingers working the zipper of her dress and a shiver runs up and down her spine…..
Author's notes: Sorry the rest is to your imagination. I hope it feels right and that I haven't rushed to this point. Not many chapters left.