Author's note: I hadn't started this as more than a one shot, but I enjoyed writing the two lovebirds so much I kept going. I have a few more chapters in mind. I welcome any input and feedback! Enjoy!

Tess sat and watched the waves, occasionally flexing her foot; After a moment Harrison came out of the Coffee Hut and put two cups on the table. "One vanilla iced chai," he said, running a hand through his hair to brush it back out of his face.

"I'm sorry about your hat," Tess said, taking her cup and the straw he offered. He waved a hand and picked up his own cup, removing the lid as he leaned back.

"Forget about the hat. All that matters is you're alright." He meant what he said to her, one hat was nothing compared to her life.

"I feel responsible. You did lose it saving my life," Tess argued. Once more Harrison waved her concerns away. "I can't believe I nearly drowned like that."

"Could have happened to anyone," Harrison assured her. Sitting up rapidly, he grabbed a napkin and patted down his wet pockets.

"What are you doing?" Tess watched as he pulled out a pencil, wiped it dry and started to doodle on the napkin.

"Sorry. I have a hard time sitting still," he answered, looking up at her with a boyish grin.

"Well Harrison Wells, what do you do when you aren't building castles in the sand and rescuing damsels in distress?" Tess leaned back, watching him as a gentle breeze ghosted over her wet skin. He seemed unaware of her gaze, focused on his drawing.

"I'd hardly call you a damsel," Harrison said without looking up from his doodle. "No damsel could be as beautiful as you." The words filtered into his brain and he realized what he said. Looking up he blushed under her steady gaze. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize." Tess grinned and sipped at her drink. "Seriously, what do you do?"

"I don't know yet," he answered honestly. "I just finished my defense for my PHD." He'd returned to his doodle so he missed the look on her face.

Something nagged at the back of Tess's brain. Realization struck. "Oh my gosh, you're the jerk who built that generator and negated all of Dr. Putt's work!" Right after she'd spoken, Tess slapped a hand over her own mouth. She'd not meant to call the handsome man sitting across from her a jerk.

"Ouch," Harrison said, looking up from his doodle, the pencil suddenly forgotten in his hand. "Tell me how you really feel."

"I'm sorry, it's just… He might lose his job," Tess said.

"In my defense, Dr. Putt actually bet me that I couldn't disprove his theory. He also said if I couldn't provide physical evidence, he'd bury me." Harrison managed a half smile, wondering if he'd lost all chances with the beautiful woman sitting across from him.

"Okay. But did you have to do it in such a public manner?" Tess felt bad for judging her savior.

"Now that," Harrison said, pausing to sip his drink, "was completely his idea. Guess he thought I was just going to embarrass myself." Shrugging, Harrison sat back, slipping the pencil back into his pocket.

A heavy silence fell between the two, but it was broken by the shouts of a young boy who came running up carrying a battered backpack. "Mr. Harrison, Mr. Harrison, we're done." The boy stopped by Harrison and held out the backpack he'd been carrying.

"Yeah?" Harrison sat up, digging into his back pocket to pull out his wallet.

"Yes Mr. Harrison. And I brought your bag." Smiling, Harrison took the bag, depositing it on the ground between his feet.

"Alright. Good work. Here, sorry that it's soggy," Harrison said, handing the boy a wet ten dollar bill. Taking it, the boy nodded and took off back the way he'd come. "Tell the others I'll be back tomorrow!" Harrison's shout earned him a wave from the boy and then the child vanished into the falling night.

"What was that all about?" Tess asked, finishing her last sip of her tea and pushing her cup away.

"Oh, I pay some of the local boys to tear down my sandcastles and fill in any holes at the end of the day," Harrison said. Deciding that his chances with the beautiful woman were pretty much zilch, he finished his own drink, and stood, picking up her cup as well. "If you're done, I'll take these back."

"Yeah. Thanks." Tess nodded and watched him turn and take the cups back inside. When he came back out, she saw him shiver in the evening breeze. While he'd been gone, she'd pulled on her sweatshirt to keep warm.

"Well," Harrison began, coming back over to the table. "I have to get headed out. Do you need any more help?" Once more he had to run his hand through his nearly shoulder-length hair to keep it out of his face.

"I parked at the public access," Tess supplied. She stood, wincing a little as she put weight on her leg, and lifted her own bag to her shoulder. "So, if you'd be willing to walk me that far, I'd really appreciate it."

"Of course." Smiling, he offered her a hand, using his other hand to sling his bag over his shoulder.

"That bag of yours is pretty banged up," Tess said, as she took the hand and clung to the arm attached to it.

"Yeah," he agreed. He didn't see the point in saying much more. She wasn't interested in him, so he wasn't going to put much effort into talking with her.

Tess fell silent, leaning heavily on the man as they strolled slowly down the boardwalk. She found her gaze turning to the last few street vendors who were slowly packing up for the day. Harrison ran his hand through his hair again, still losing the battle to the now loose locks. They were slowly walking past one vendor when something caught her eye. Pulling on his arm, she stopped.

Harrison wasn't expecting her to stop, so he stumbled backwards a little as she tugged on him. "What's up?" Looking up from the thoughts he'd been lost in, he was surprised to find her gazing at a clothing vendor.

"I'm going to get you a new hat," Tess declared. Stepping forwards on her good leg, she picked up a blue newsboy cap and set it on his head. "We'll take this one," she said, pushing the money into the vendor's hands. "Come on." Taking Harrison by his arm again, she started pulling him on towards her car. She wasn't going to let him return the hat.

"This isn't exactly my style," he said, rolling his eyes up. With a frown, he reached up and spun the cap, so that it was backwards.

"I think you look great in it," Tess said, reaching up to spin it around, only he turned his head away.

"Nope, nope. Don't touch the hat." He grinned a bit cheekily at her and she laughed. "You have a beautiful laugh."

"Thank you," Tess said. They stopped as they came to her car. "Well, this is me. Thank you, for being my knight in sandy armor." Reaching up, she pulled his head to hers and kissed him. As they broke apart, Harrison couldn't help but look a little confused.

"Not that I didn't enjoy that, but I thought you didn't like me cause I embarrassed Dr. Putt," Harrison said, nervously shoving a hand into his pocket.

"That man is a putz and had it coming. Good night Harrison." Unlocking her car, Tess tossed her bag into the passenger seat and climbed in, rolling her window down.

"Good night, Tess," Harrison said. Smiling at her, he pulled something out of his backpack and handed it to her. "It was nice meeting you." He handed her the thing in his hand and turned and headed back to the now dark beach.

"What a weird guy," Tess said to herself. She watched him walk away for a minute before looking at the napkin he'd handed her. It was the napkin he'd been drawing on at the Coffee Hut. Her jaw nearly dropped when she realized he'd sketched a portrait of her. "Very weird," she said, smiling as she memorized the phone number he'd included in the signature at the bottom of the drawing. "I am so going to have to call him." Laughing, she started her car and headed for home.