A/N: I hope you're enjoying! Your reviews make me happier than Walter and Ralph doing a project together! Don't worry, there still so much to come!

Xoxo

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"Look Walt… that looks like your little poisonous friend. Oh look, I think he recognizes you!" Paige teased, pointing out a snake that bore a striking resemblance to the one that had bit him a few years prior.

"Uh, yeah, and on that note… how about we move on to the monkeys? With Sly not being here, you could actually see them without screams of terror as a distraction." He squirmed taking in the sight of the slithering being behind the glass, absent-mindedly rubbing his arm as though the bite had just occurred, the memory of venom coursing through his veins still so vivid. The memory of trying to apologize to Paige.

"Now that does sound nice!" She laughed at his grimace as they stepped out of the reptile habitat and back into the glaring California sun, orienting themselves to their location in relation to the Snake Shack.

"I think it's up that way…" Walter suggested pointing up a path ahead, though spinning the map a bit with uncertainty.

"I think you're right." She peered down at the map, smiling when she felt him move his face so that his nose was a mere millimeter from her hair, breathing her in. "I don't smell like a wild animal do I?"

"Hmm?" He bolted upright having been caught. "Uh, no. No, no. You are… umm, quite pleasant… to the olfactory receptors."

She giggled at Walter being so… Walter, squeezing his hand in adoration.

Hand in hand they trekked the path toward the sound of monkeys.

"I think, if I'm looking at this correctly, the giraffes are up the path beyond the monkeys." He offered, becoming increasingly frustrated with the albeit colorful and fun in appearance, but rather useless map in terms of actual navigation.

"Oh awesome. I'm so excited. Do we really get to feed them? Like up close?"

"If their advertising was not misleading, yes. However, I will reserve judgment for when we get there to avoid being bamboozled again. But, I hope they are not deceptive, as I feel that is an activity that will bring you great joy."

She snickered at the way his face scrunched up again at the best coffee false advertising.

"It will bring me great joy, yes." Her head fell to his shoulder in a slurry of humor and pure joy at being with him. "Wait, how did you know I love giraffes so much?" She couldn't recall ever telling him that. It wasn't like she had an I love Giraffes t-shirt, or anything obvious. She had always loved the gentle giants ever since she was a child, they had simply fascinated her. But for the life of her she couldn't think of ever having spoken about it.

"Oh. Um. Well, the first time I came to your apartment right after we met, I noticed that you have a few giraffe…" He scrunched up his face trying to think of the right terminology, using his free hand to try and draw it in the air. "...miniature sculptures? Knick knacks? Figurines?... not an overwhelming amount, nor overbearing. Quite subtle in fact. But they were placed strategically in places of importance, uh, something Toby had taught me. You uh, also have a drawing of a giraffe that Ralph appeared to draw at a very young age framed and hanging in your hallway. I imagine he has made a multitude of pictures for you, especially when he was not vocally communicative, but that was the one you chose to frame. And whenever you see a photo or video of animals, you get excited as you admire animals in general, however, your eyes go wide in wonder and your eyebrows sort of raise with this look that I can't quite understand, but I believe it to be maybe love, or adoration, similar to when old women see newborn infants, but it's only when you see the giraffes, and your finger will try to pet them through the screen as though that were possible. Despite it being horribly illogical, I find it quite endearing to watch."

She just stood there, awestruck and silent as they came upon the monkey habitats, staring at him in complete bewilderment.

"Walter… what? You notice all of that?... about me?"

A

He looked at her confused, not understanding why or how she wouldn't know that, or think he wouldn't do that.

"That's exactly why I notice... It's you." He reclaimed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, giving a slight shrug to his shoulders.

She was right. Nothing, and no one, would ever compare to the marvel that is Walter, and being loved by Walter. Being seen by Walter. The feeling that struck her was powerful and overwhelming. To love and be loved by Walter, it was the most right thing she'd ever felt, and yet, she would likely lose it all. A tear pooled in her eye, slipping just below to her cheek bone, but she was quick to wipe it away, hoping he didn't notice.

He did.

It confused him. Had he said something wrong?

"Is everything okay? Have I said something to upset you?" His voice was riddled with fear, regret, worry, and it knotted her stomach.

Stepping up onto her tippy toes at his side, her free hand cradled his face, and she placed a chaste kiss to his cheek, allowing her lips to rest there for a moment before speaking in a husky whisper meant only for him.

"I do not deserve you, Walter O'Brien."

Her fingers trailed over his jaw, and aside from his hand still holding her other one, he froze. Try as he may, he couldn't formulate the words to tell her she deserved the world.

Before he could make a mess of whatever he would attempt to say, they were sorely interrupted by the dire, and tell tale sound of the chimps right in front of them, being very loud in their enjoyment of each other.

Walter's eyes went wide, and Paige pursed her lips, her face a mere centimeter from his cheek.

"Uhh…" Walter muttered, feeling suddenly very voyeuristic, and possibly perverted.

Paige went back down on her feet, turning her head to watch the chimps, aggressively, going at it, her cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.

"Well… that's a whole new level of curiosity there George." Paige giggled, covering her mouth with her hand in amusement.

"Oh, the children's book. With the chimpanzee and a man with an alarmingly yellow suit." She turned in complete shock toward him.

"Walter O'Brien, knowing a pop culture reference? Is the world ending?" She bumped his side playfully with a laugh.

"I don't believe so. But yes, I do know of that one. My mother enjoyed reading those books to us as children. She said I reminded her of the monkey."

"I can see why. Curious. Mischievous. Always making messes around the city… Utterly adorable." His raised eyebrow made her chuckle. Another scream carried through to assault their ears, and they both turned their heads slightly to try and make sense of the positioning of the chimps which was far from what appeared comfortable. "I wonder what sweet Louise would think of George doing the nasty on full display of children… or if she'd still be reminded of you on this one."

He knew better than to comment on that one.

"I was more so wondering if the chimps are seeing the same sex doctor as your uncle and the lovely, and frightening, Aunt Susan. They seem to be enjoying themselves… greatly. Think that's what they were up to last night?" Walter quipped, laughing at the sight before him.

"Ew! Walter! I do not need that visual!" She feigned a gag, playfully teasing him.

"Alright, we should probably give them some privacy… How about a detour to the giraffes? We can come back… after… when they've, uh, relieved themselves." Her eyebrows rose in laughter, and she couldn't help the thought of wanting to seek relief with Walter in a very similar way.

"Definitely, I wouldn't want poor George to get performance anxiety with us watching. Unless you want a photo with the monkey sex for your collection, which, I will admit, would make me question a few things…"

"Uh, no. Nope, I don't think Ralph needs the full visual. The story shall suffice."

The male chimp waved to them as they turned to walk away making them laugh, sauntering off to find the brilliance that was the giraffe exhibit.

Getting into the short line at the entrance for the feeding pass, Walter watched as Paige eagerly looked over the side of the fencing at the graceful animals enclosed within it.

"What is it that makes you love giraffes so much?"

Paige flashed him a smile that held so much sentiment to it.

"Well, when I was little, like really little, I was very awkward, clumsy, and extremely tall for my age. I towered over all of my classmates, but I was also very scrawny, and had these skinny wobbly legs. Anyway, the kids at school would tease me all the time and call me a giraffe." Her words were disheartening, and yet, her face was pure enthusiasm and it confused him.

"And that's a good thing…?"

"Oh, well, no. Not the kids teasing me part. I came home and was so upset one day about it, and my dad took me to the library and we checked out a book all about giraffes. He said that if you can't beat them, join them and that if they were going to call me a giraffe, I should know all the ways I was like one. Then proceeded to point out every amazing fact there was to know about them. When the kids would tease me after that and call me a giraffe, I would thank them and spout off some fact about how awesome they are. They left me alone after a couple weeks of that. My dad was so happy. I can still picture his face being so proud of me for standing up for myself. So, from there they just sort of become by… spirit animal I guess. Every year for my birthday after that, right up until he died, my dad would get me a giraffe figurine, to remind me that where others see flaws and awkwardness, he would always see beauty and strength, and wanted me to see that too. And thankfully, I did finally grow into my wobbly legs, and the other kids did eventually catch up in size for the most part."

"I understand now. Uh, thank you… for sharing that. And those children were wrong, you have stunning legs." She peered over with a chuckle at his comment, and he just shrugged again. Facts. Just the Walter facts. "It sounds like your father was a really great father to you, Paige." Her grin spread to her eyes, wholesome and elegant, with just a hint of sadness behind her eyes.

"Yeah, he was. The best of the best."

"Well, I hope doing this won't make you sad. In hindsight, I should have asked you--"

"No, Walter. This is incredible. No sadness. I miss my dad, every day. But reminders of him, especially like this, it's not sadness I feel, it's gratefulness that I had such an amazing dad that I have so many fond memories to hold onto. Like you with Megan, and the wolves. The memories bring happiness, not sadness. Does that make sense?"

"It does. I understand."

"Thank you for bringing me here Walter. Truly the best date ever." She wouldn't even attempt to correct herself, as the attendant checked Paige's wrist band and opened the small gate to allow her through. Walter stood, absorbing her words with a smile, before following her into the enclosure.

Best date ever.