"How did it go?" Aaron asked Penelope as soon as she entered his office.

Derek entered quietly behind his wife and stood behind her chair. He was also interested in learning how his wife's shopping trip with Norah Greenway had gone.

"It went fine considering," Penelope said, as she sat down as soon as Aaron indicated the chair in front of his desk.

"Considering what?" Aaron inquired.

"Considering that she protested about you buying so many expensive clothes and accessories for her. I told her it was what you wanted and that I would purchase something for her if she didn't want to pick out her own clothes, shoes and jewelry. JJ went along as she and Norah were together when I knocked on her apartment door. JJ seemed to understand what I was doing and also likely knows Norah size if I had to do that. Luckily, she gave in rather easily that she didn't look happy to be spending someone else's money."

"I'm sure she has her pride and she's also not the greedy type, so spending so much of someone else's money in one go would likely have made her very uncomfortable," Derek mentioned and Aaron nodded in agreement.

"And it doesn't help she's from a upper middle class background, not a wealthy one," Aaron agreed.

"It might not make Norah so uncomfortable once you and her get closer and she's sure you have something solid," Penelope said. "Right now, she's probably uncertain if your relationship is going to last. Yes, I know you talked to her, but you didn't necessarily erase her doubts."

"Probably," Aaron agreed. "She did admit that she wasn't sure getting involved in a relationship with someone who is technically her boss was a good idea or not."

"And mostly it isn't," Derek said. "Both Penny and I know that you're totally different from most wealthy businessmen, but then, you've known our families for several hundred years and really, you're just like normal folks considering your position in society and your extreme wealth."

"You don't put on any airs like so many wealthy people do or act like the little people are beneath you, which is what I believe has attracted Norah to you in the first place. If you were an arrogant snob it's unlikely she'd want anything to do with you, as she's too to down to earth to want to deal with someone like that on a regular basis," Penelope said.

"I have to agree with my wife about Norah. We've talked quite a bit after she arrives nearly every day, so I've gotten to know her pretty well over the last few months."

"You might not want to give her anymore expensive gifts bossman, at least until you solidify your relationship," Penelope suggested.

"Other than flowers or chocolates, as those are normal things that a boyfriend buys for his significant other."

"Both good suggestions," Aaron said thoughtfully. "I was perhaps a bit preemptive offering to buy her gown for our date tomorrow. I was only trying to make up for my mistake in not asking if she had any appropriate outfits or at least in giving her our destination, so she could buy the appropriate attire. I have no idea what's involved in a woman getting ready for an important date, particularly a first date."

"She knows that bossman, as I explained it to her and JJ," Penelope assured him. "I would just keep the gifts to flowers and chocolates for awhile. Maybe tickets for a vid as well. Not every women needs expensive presents, especially not when a relationship is just starting."

"Alright then," Aaron said taking Derek's and Penelope's advice to heart. He knew they were right as Norah wasn't the type to wear expensive clothes or jewelry. He had only wanted her to fit in at the place he was taking her and she would. They wouldn't be able to tell Norah was different from all the high class women that ate at Charles Chophouse regularly. They wouldn't be able to snicker behind their hands at her middle class upbringing. They wouldn't be able to think that no she doesn't belong because she wasn't part of their set. Aaron knew that Norah wouldn't care one way or the other unless they got in her face, which they wouldn't dare to do with him right there.

Not all wealthy people were like that, not even most of them, but still, he'd rather not have it happen at all. He didn't really care what they said about him, as he had made his own fortune a long time ago, even though most people assumed he had inherited it and that he was the son of Michael Hotchner. Michael was his middle name. After all, immortality couldn't possibly exist in reality, so the possibility never entered anyone's mind. Not if they were sane anyway.

"Believe me you're going to want to rip her clothes off her when you see the dress she bought. She looks absolutely spectacular when wearing that dress and the jewelry and shoes will only add to that," Penelope added and watched in satisfaction as Aaron gulped his imagination clearly taking over.

"I can hardly wait," Aaron said finally regaining his composure.

~~~Aaron and Norah~~~

"You look stunning," Aaron complimented his date.

"Thank you," Norah flushed at the compliment. She was all decked out in the dress and everything else that had been bought yesterday. She had to admit that she did look spectacular. She had studied herself in the mirror for a full 10 minutes in amazement at the transformation. Penelope had come to help her do her hair and her makeup and had done a wonderful job.

She had always considered herself moderately attractive but not gorgeous, though she had never tried to dress up either and she never used more than the minimum of makeup.

Even though Penny had warned him that Norah looked stunning in the dress she had chosen he was still rather taken aback at the transformation. Norah was usually a very beautiful woman, but now she was stunningly gorgeous. She had washed her blond hair and used something so that it curled softly around her face. Usually it was back in a messy ponytail, with a few tendrils escaping to hang in front of her ears. Of course, since she worked out in a garden and could understand not having her hair done in some sort of fancy arrangement. Working in a garden was dirty work, where you often got clumps of dirt and other plant life in your hair. It wasn't the kind of profession where you needed some kind of fancy hairstyle, that would take too much time to take care of and hard to maintain in the humidity. Norah's face was made up more so than usual, her blue eyes somehow seeming enhanced and her lips practically popped. As for the dress Aaron had no words, as the dark red dress accentuated her delicate frame and the shoes had at least 5 inch heels and were also the same red. The heels almost brought her up to his height, so that they were almost nose to nose.

"You are absolutely gorgeous," Aaron told her as he kissed her gently, something she not only didn't object to but seemed to enjoy very much. It was only their second kiss, and it was absolute perfection, just like the first.

"As much as I'd like to continue this we had better go before we're late for our reservation," Aaron said. Aaron seemed rather reluctant to break away from Norah. He enjoyed way too much holding her in his arms, as her body was soft and pliable, and practically melted against his.

"I suppose so," Norah said sounding just as reluctant.

Norah grabbed her shawl that went with the dress, and draped it over her shoulders.

"That's a very pretty shawl," Aaron said, as he examined it.

"Thank you it was given to me by my parents, as a Christmas present last year. It's one of the reasons I chose this dress as they matched. I knew it would be perfect for tonight. The shawl was lovely made out of some translucent material that was see-through and while it was red like the dress it was also shot through with threads of gold

"Well your parents have good taste," Aaron smiled, as he proudly escorted her out of a small apartment.

"Did I tell you you look absolutely delectable?" Norah asked Aaron as soon as they were in the elevator.

Aaron was wearing a three piece suit, of dark blue and it was clear that the tailoring was impeccable, which meant expensive, but than, Norah wouldn't expect Aaron to wear a suit off the rack. She had no doubt that it was specifically tailored to him. His dark hair was slightly below the collar as if he hadn't been to see his barber to get it trimmed in the last couple of months. For all she knew he liked it a little longer even though when she met him it had been short.

"No, but thank you," Aaron said smiling. "I had to look as good as my date, as Penelope warned me that you looked spectacular in the dress you bought. I have to say, I more than agree with her opinion. You do look absolutely spectacular and will make every woman present jealous of your beauty."

"Too much flattery could go to girl's head," Norah chided Aaron, though she was smiling at the same time.

"It's not flattery when it's the truth," Aaron told her, his tone more serious than hers had been. "You outshine the stars, put their brilliance to shame."

Norah blushed a deep red for at least the third or fourth time that night.

"There's no need to throw so many compliments at me Aaron," Norah told him. "I did agree to give dating a try."

"What if I want too?" Aaron asked her with a subtle amusement lacing his voice. "I want you to know how much you already mean to me. You make my days brighter, even if we only spend a few minutes together in the early morning. My life has been lonely for a long time now, but you change that with your mere presence."

Norah said nothing, and in fact, she was stunned into silence at Aaron's words. The fact that they were sincere was the main reason she was stunned. She knew that Aaron was a sincere guy, but she had never imagined that he really felt that way about her.

"Too much, too soon?" Aaron asked a little worriedly.

"No," Norah said her voice merely a whisper. "I never figured you were really serious about me no matter how much you tried to convince me you were. I figured you would eventually marry someone closer to you in social status and have a child or two. I mean people like you don't normally marry people like me at least not for their first marriages. I'm well aware that older men on their second or third marriages will marry somebody most would consider inappropriate for someone in their position a stripper for example, but you've never been married before and so those kinds of things don't apply. For one thing you're still young and not someone in their 60s

"Of course, they apply," Aaron told her firmly. "Why should I make myself miserable by marrying someone that would never understand me? Understand my passion, my dreams, my goals, someone who would complain when I was gone on some kind of business trip for a week or more? Someone who would make demands of me and not because they cared about me, but because they were selfish and self-centered. Someone that might try to cheat me blind, even though they'll definitely be a prenup agreement, that any woman I intend to marry will have to sign.

"While I've met a lot of women in my social circle or even ones that made their own fortune through their own hard work none of them were right for me. I won't say I don't have some female friends that I dated at one time, but it wouldn't have worked between us if we had taken that step for one reason or another. I want someone that can be my full partner and someone I can love for a lifetime. If I had married any of those woman's, even the ones I am still friends with it would've ended in divorce eventually, even if that was 15 years down the road. Even if there were children involved by then."

"But how can you be so certain I'm the right one for you?" Norah asked. "I won't say I don't make a good living but I'm hardly wealthy."

"Do you think that really matters to me?" Aaron asked, even as he drove keeping his eyes on the road. "You think I give a damn what people will say? People will talk whether or not it's the truth. People can just mind their own damn business or I'll sue their butts off if they go to far. I have a whole platoon of attorneys that would be happy do so to whoever annoys me or you, past the point of tolerance. I have plenty of money for both of us.

"Let's not argue about it tonight," Norah said. "This is our first official date. Let's see how it goes for a few weeks at least. I know you believe you're in love with me, but once you spend more time with me you might decide I don't suit you after all. I'm not saying that what you're feeling is not real, I'm just saying let us date for awhile first and see where it goes.

"Alright," Aaron said without arguing. He was sure of his feelings and had been for sometime, but Norah had never truly been in love, even if that was for a brief amount of time, while he had loved several women over his long life they had eventually died while he remained young. None of them had wanted to be turned immortal and he couldn't exactly blame them for that as it would have meant their lives would have been extended indefinitely and while he had loved them at the time it hadn't been enough to last an eternity. Norah though was a totally different kettle of fish, as he loved her beyond reason, beyond rational thought.

Aaron had another reasons for being so choosy in who he wanted to settle down with. While what he had told Norah was the absolute truth, one of the reasons he was so careful, was that immortality was a hard pill to swallow. Most modern women would never believe it and call him crazy or delusional if he revealed his secret. They might even advertise it, not that many people would believe it, but it would start rumors, something he definitely didn't need. People would start coming after him trying to kidnap him to get what he had and while he was confident of his ability to defend himself, there were such things as stunners that would knock him out for a time, at least a few minutes if not hours as he was basically human. He would have to change his identity for at least the next generation until it all died down or at least change his surname since it was so unusual.

Aaron truly believed that Norah would accept his explanation and if he wasn't nearly a 100 percent sure he wouldn't even consider telling her, as such a secret could be dangerous to know, not just for him but her. That Derek agreed with him as he know her pretty well by now just cemented his decision. Penelope, the only other one that knew about the situation, was uncertain, but then, she hadn't had as much chance to spend time with Norah as she was always doing tasks for him, so that definitely factored into her uncertainty in telling Norah about his immortality.

Of course, Aaron wasn't stupid and had a background check run on Norah Greenway just as a safety precaution. It had come back normal. Norah Robbin Greenway, Father, Arnold Damien Greenway, mother, Irene Lindsay Greenway nee Castillo. One sibling, female, Rose Natalie Greenway. The father, Arnold, was former military and had mustered out after his first tour. Had married Irene Lindsay, nearly 40 years ago. First marriage for both of them, which was a pretty good stint for anybody.

There had been absolutely nothing in Norah's background that caused alarm. She had done good in school, but had excelled at taking care of plants and had helped the school gardener in taking care of the garden that was on school property. While it hadn't been an actual class, it had still been noted in her file, that it might be a good career path for her once she finished high school, as she seemed to have a very green thumb.

Aaron could see why Norah had chosen horticulture as her career, as it was one thing she excelled at. Her college grades were excellent in those particular classes, which told him that she did indeed excel in that area. It seemed to run in the family, as Irene Greenway worked at a garden center and had done well there, as she had been the manager for 15 years.

They were just a normal family with no hidden secrets as far as Penelope could tell, though she hadn't gone past the second level. Of course, some secrets never made it onto a computer, but if one of Norah's parents had that kind of secret he doubted the daughters knew about it.

"You're right this is our first official date, even though I consider those early mornings, just sitting on the bench sharing a conversation, and sometimes breakfast as dates too. You just didn't know we were dating," Aaron said with a mischievous grin. "Those are some of the happiest times in my life recently."

"You seem to enjoy expanding your empire," Norah said.

"And I do," Aaron said. "I buy businesses that're dying for pennies on the dollar and revamp them. In that way, I save a lot of peoples jobs, though of course, the incompetent ones are fired or reassigned. In this way, I help the community in which I live."

"I bet you've found some shady dealings that way," Norah commented. "Embezzling, drug trafficking..."

"Yes, I have and those people find themselves in the hands of the police," Aaron said. "It's no wonder why some businesses fail. Sometimes that's due to sheer incompetence and others is because someone is embezzling the money and take more than they should, so the business starts to fail because of someone's sheer greed."

Norah didn't have a chance to reply as Aaron had arrived at the restaurant. He gently hovered over a parking spot and then cut the thrusters, gently landing with no help from the guidance computer.

"Wow! You're a really good driver," Norah said impressed. "I don't believe I've ever seen anyone take a parking spot so perfectly without help from the computer."

"Practice, lots of practice," Aaron said before he got out of the car and came around to Norah's side and helping her emerge from the vehicles as the car doors had opened automatically as soon as they had been unlocked. "Well, shall we go my lady?"

"Of course," Norah said smiling, as she took Aaron's offered hand.

Norah smoothed her dress once she was out of the car and then joined Aaron on the sidewalk.

"This is a pretty popular place. We were lucky to get a parking place on the street."

"Yeah, we were," Aaron agreed, as he took Norah by the arm and escorted her towards the restaurant, which was over a block away.

Norah pulled her shawl around her shoulders as they were bare it was just a little chilly.

"Cold?" Aaron asked solicitously.

"Just a little chilled," Norah answered. "It's a nice, cool night."

"We'll be there in just a few minutes," Aaron said, pulling her close to his side.

"That's actually better as you throw off a lot of body heat, which makes me all warm and toasty," Norah said.

"Good," Aaron said smiling.

They arrived at Charles Chophouse and were immediately escorted to their table.

"Order anything you want," Aaron told her.

"It all looks so good," Norah said, as she read the menu.

Finally, she decided on the salmon on a bed of rice and green beans and corn.

Both Aaron and Norah ignored the elephant in the room as tonight was just for them, but know that such a conversation would be coming sometime in the near future.

~~~Aaron and Norah~~~