For Rachel

[likesthestooges]

Aidan hated to admit it, but the change in scenery had been good for him. He'd never really been a big fan of the old west. He'd been too focused on what was happening with the American Civil War to really experience the wild west, but it still brought him back to a time that he had lived through and with that, a fresh set of memories. The memories helped banish some of the pain that had come with losing Martha and reminded him that life goes on and few people got a second chance at their humanity.

Aidan wasn't going to waste that chance. He still missed Martha and Alfie, still ached at their loss, but it was something he could deal with and move on from. Which was why he had taken up Rachel on her offer of a date, although he had politely not mentioned her offer for a lap dance. No matter how nice that sounded, it wasn't what he wanted or needed right now. Besides, he had a good guess as to how uncomfortable that would be for Rachel.

Instead, he had asked her on a genuine date. He'd found an outfit that he was pleased with and, most importantly, was relatively clean. He'd also managed to gather a bouquet of wildflowers, mostly daisies, to bring her. He thought that was a good way to say, "Hey, I knew we had a one night stand before, but no pressure or expectations this time, okay?"

Even so, he was a bit nervous. It had been a while since he'd been on an actual "first date" so he was feeling a bit of pressure. Smoothing out his vest and wiping his palms on his pants, Aidan knocked on the door and waited for Rachel to answer.

Comments

[starchilde_lost]

Holding up a hand, she chuckled, "Scout's honor."

Rachel reached for the basket to help set things out, trying not to think so hard about the flirting and everything that went with it. It wasn't awkward, really, but it hung over everything they were doing. Which in her mind, wasn't the best way to be spending a first date.

"Hey, Aidan, can I get something off my chest before we go any further?"

[likesthestooges]

"Sure," he said with a nod, shifting to face her fully.

He wasn't surprised she wanted to talk about something, he even had a guess as to what it was. Aidan didn't want to assume though, so Rachel had his full attention. He wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible to share whatever was on her mind.

[starchilde_lost]

"So I just wanted to say that I like you. And obviously I find you really sexy, and I'm pretty sure that feeling was mutual right?" Not waiting for an answer she continued, "I feel like we're just... tip-toeing around the second part."

She didn't really know what to say after that and she suddenly found it really hard to meet his eyes. Whatever this was, she didn't want it to stop before it got started because they were too afraid to just have fun.

[likesthestooges]

"I find you attractive in a lot of ways," he said, smiling at her. She brought up a good point, he certainly didn't want to ruin this because he was too attracted to her or something equally ridiculous.

"And I don't want to ruin anything, friendship or something more, because we've already slept together. I'm not looking to head back to your place once this is all done and before you agreed to come I'd decided I would refuse if you did, because wherever this goes I don't want it to be friends with benefits. So any flirting is... laying groundwork for later, if that makes sense."

[starchilde_lost]

"I think I can be okay with that." Especially since it meant that there would be a later. She kinda liked the idea of there being a later, that maybe this wasn't... some impulse that was happening just because she'd made an offer when he was low and he was just going through the motions. Not that it would have been the worst thing in the world, it was just that since he'd asked, she'd been thinking. She liked the idea of dating someone, it was something she wanted and he was someone she kinda wanted it with.

She had no idea where it would go, but for awhile it sure would be fun.

[likesthestooges]

"Alright, with that settled shall we try the snake?" he asked, passing her a plate.

He didn't want to try and nail down exactly what their relationship was, not right now anyway. That seemed to serious and like it would kill all the fun of it. Aidan knew eventually that would have to come, but he hoped it would be later.