Date Night (off-timeline Milliverse, locked to Karen)

[sbpd_papabear]

Henry pulls up in his truck ten minutes early - across the street. He still can't bring himself to park in her driveway even when her husband's car isn't there... somehow it just seems to make everything feel wrong. Just like walking into her house and feeling the tight squeeze of her life that he doesn't feel like he has the right to be part of.

Instead, he steps out of the truck in his pressed suit and leans against the door - watching the light in her bedroom window as he gives her a little extra time to get ready, her unmistakeable shadow dancing across the curtains. It's the sort of moment he loves, when he can just exist and love her without her even knowing it because when she looks him in the eyes it's written clear as day across the lines in his face.

After maybe five minutes of listening to the quite Santa Barbra evening, he sends a text:

Your chariot and driver await, m'lady.

Comments

[chief_mom]

"Mmm, that's a whole different sort of amazing though." She smiles in a way that she's realizing is just for him, even as his focus is on the road. It warms her right down to her toes.

"Not that I don't love both. And you."

[sbpd_papabear]

The implication makes him flush a little hot under the collar and Henry lets out an almost nervous laugh, once more looking back to her just to catch the warm tinged smile before looking back out at the city rolling past.

"Same here, babe... you know that, though."

Why else would he be wearing a suit well after clocking out? Only for someone he really loves.

"I, uh... I hope you like Italian."

[chief_mom]

"Oh, I love it!" And she hasn't had good Italian lately, and there are only a couple of places in town that are Italian and take reservations and would have Henry in a suit, and they're both pretty terrific.

"But you knew that, you saw me inhale that manicotti that night, when we were working on the Strauman case, and ordered in?"

That gives her a good segue to make small talk as they drive, nothing that will take his attention too far off the road. It's lovely just to be with him, riding in his truck, feeling like a girlfriend.

[sbpd_papabear]

He laughs again, another slight flush coloring his ears. He knows, of course, that she loves Italian - he knows that he's seen her scarf down even the most faux-talian stuff they bring in the station. And he also knows that Raphael's has the best selection of warm red wine in the county.

"I saw a lot of things," he murmurs, stealing another glance. "I might have been distracted that night."

[chief_mom]

"See, this is me, not taking the bait. I'm not going to ask what you were distracted by, because as a professional I know that you were distracted by the case," she says crisply, in her matter of fact voice.

But as they pull to a red light, she touches his arm and laughs. "I can't do that convincingly anymore, can I?"

[sbpd_papabear]

Professional, right. They've got that one covered in spades.

His smile doesn't fade as they pull into the parking lot, the place isn't too busy and he's honestly glad for it. The less chance of running into someone they'd have to explain it to, the better. And thankfully, it's the sort of place Shawn and Gus couldn't afford and would refuse to wear a tie to get into.

"You can," he murmurs, leaning close to brush a kiss against her ear; "to anyone but me."

[chief_mom]

"I'll remember that," she laughs as she slides out of the truck, crossing around to take his hand.

"Thank you for this. I love this place. This is a treat."

[sbpd_papabear]

It's comfortable to twine their fingers, walking in close step toward the door - little things he took for granted for a long time.

Giving her hand a tight squeeze, he gave her an almost bashful look; "Well, I thought you deserved a bit of a treat after the last few weeks."

[chief_mom]

The past few weeks have been quite busy, and they haven't had the time together she might've liked. But that wasn't down to him, by any means.

"We both do," she smiles gently, moving closer to his side. "It's quite a treat just to be with you, special dinner or hot dogs in front of a ballgame on TV."

[sbpd_papabear]

He leans in and brushes a kiss against her ear, inhaling the hint of perfume in her hair that he's come to almost thrive off of the last few months.

"I love being with you too," he murmurs as they enter the restaurant. "And I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep that under wraps."

[chief_mom]

It's kind of killing her too, planning how to be together without being seen, staying in, or going to out of the way locations. She'd give a lot to just walk down the beach promenade, holding his hand.

"I'm trying to, you know, expedite the whole marriage part of it." At least once she's officially divorcing, if not divorced fully, that barrier to their relationship being known -- at least to some people -- will fall. "I have another meeting with my lawyer tomorrow afternoon, actually." Extricating herself without letting hr bum husband use their child as leverage is tricky business but she's determined.

[sbpd_papabear]

He lets the thought linger with him as they're shown to a table with a freshly lit candle. He hadn't intended to bring it up, but at the same time he knows they can't let reality be the gorilla in the room either - it is what it is. It's the reason he scans the dining room even after he sits down to ensure their privacy before reaching across the table to trace over the back of her hand.

"I know you're doing the best that you can to make this as painless as possible for everyone." His strong fingers fold easily into her hand and he lets out a soft sigh; "We'll get there. I know we will. Together."

[chief_mom]

She squeezes his hand tightly, all she can do, though she'd really like to lean right over the table and kiss him. "Your patience means everything to me. I can promise you that there are great rewards for being such a good sport about all this." A wiggle of her eyebrows punctuates her point.

"I'm bad. We haven't even ordered drinks and I'm making innuendo."

[sbpd_papabear]

Henry lowers his head a moment, chuckling under his breath. "Well, I can appreciate it."

When he looks back up at her, his amused smile still lingers and he squeezes her hand even tighter. "I think you'll find that I'm a very, very patient man. You don't spend twenty years alone without learning a few tricks."

[chief_mom]

"Why have you?" It's something she's wondered. She knows Henry's dated. He had that fling with Susan, brief though it was. But it seems like there hasn't been anything lasting, in two decades, and she can't figure it out.

"You're very handsome, not broke, you don't have any of the sorts of habits that ruin relationships that I've found, though I suppose you could be secretly heading to casinos on nights when I'm not with you. Or you're maybe a closet kazoo player," she smiles, not wanting him to feel like she's making an accusation. "You're a wonderful lover. You're pretty much a catch. But you've remained uncaught."

[sbpd_papabear]

He's pretty sure the only thing in his life that runs women off - ran women off, he hopes - is Shawn, but that's not really appropriate to say, so he simply squeezes her hand again.

"Nothing like that. I guess I was just waiting for the right one to come along."