It had taken a great deal of doubt and second guessing, but Juliette had finally come to a conclusion. She was going to see Booker again.

Her entire life had changed in the matter of a day or two when she put an end to her relationship with Sam and then temporarily moved in with Rebecca. She'd only meant to stay there for a few nights or so, but it had turned into a few weeks already, and Bijou was starting to really like it there. She worried that she might never muster up the courage to move back.

When those two things changed, so did everything else. Sure, her work life was mostly the same, but the way she viewed it was different. Usually, after teaching she'd go see Sam or do some of his paperwork. By that point, she was avoiding even walking near his door.

So, she'd tried her best to maintain some level of normalcy in any other area of her life that she could control. The only other thing that she could think of to do that was to not see Booker again. Possibly ever.

Of course, if their second meeting had been any indication, that was not a possibility with them. They were far too drawn to each other for that. For days, when she should have been focusing on getting over other things, she couldn't seem to think of anything but Booker. She cursed herself for it, but it was a fact of life: if she didn't see him again, she would lose her mind.

The taxi pulled up in front of the gorgeous building, and, for the second time, she ventured into the library, her heart beating as she searched for a family form. She might have gone somewhere other than his work, but she'd never gotten his number, or, really, any other details from him.

Dressed in a light sundress and heeled desert boots, she entered nervously. Already, she could feel her hands shaking and her head whirling.

She spotted him within seconds this time, and she approached cautiously. Things had ended so strangely the last time, but it had to be done. She wanted to see him again, among other things.

"Booker..." she said quietly, announcing her presence. He was facing away from her, and she was glad of that fact. She didn't think it would help any of he was looking at her while she spoke. "I need-" to touch you again "-to talk to you."

Life had been…surreal as of late. It was almost as if Booker had been living a life that wasn’t his. He went about his day with the usual sunshiny demeanor, but when alone the man’s mind tended to fall back to one particular moment of weakness, one that he found himself having a hard time forgiving himself for. Booker had always considered himself someone of good moral standing, but still his mind would drift back to that kiss, the one shared in the Rotunda, the one that felt so amazingly good but yet caused a deep pang in his heart.

Booker B. Bookman was a cheater; or, rather, he was the temptress. That’s right! A temptress. Wait…incubus? Yeah, that sounded better. Poor Juliette, he could still see the look on her face after she had broken the kiss the two of them had shared. Forget the fact that she didn’t pull away at first. As a matter of fact, she pushed just as hungrily against his lips as he did, but it didn’t matter because when she did eventually step away, the look on her face was absolutely heartbreaking. It was at that moment that Booker couldn’t have felt lower.

He had half-heartedly reached out to stop her but didn’t pursue. She had a boyfriend! What was wrong with him? Booker lamented this question to himself the rest of the day, even coming home and admitting it to his sister. She…didn’t take the news well at first. It was understandable, considering the fact that she had just finished getting over her own cheating-break-up story, but she was a loyal sibling in the end and did her best to comfort him. Not that it helped all that much. Booker still felt like crap microwaved twice over.

God he was a mess.

But, today Booker was actually in good spirits. Yes, even while working in the numerous bookstacks of the New York Public Library, he still felt the tings of distraction, but he was willing to accept that this was going to be a process. He would never see Juliette (as much as that pained him deep down) and it wasn’t as if they really carried things too far. It was just one kiss. That didn’t make it absolutely right, but it did make it somewhat better. He only hoped that the raven-haired woman would be okay. Maybe one day she would forgive him.

With a sigh the man pushed his bookcart through the stacks, stopping in a section dedicated to literature. A row of books before him, he carefully reached up, adjusting them so that they were in line with the edge of the shelf. It was just a little thing to make the books seem more presentable, not really a requirement, but for Booker it became habit. Once he had adjusted that shelf, he reached down, plucking up several books in one hand that had already been pre-organized on the cart. Holding them up, he hummed to himself as he started to pull books out and return them to the gaping wounds on the shelf.

It was nice, mindless work and that was exactly what he needed.

Today Booker’s attire was much like his usual style. Dark slacks upon his legs, a deep gray, checkered vest adorned his chest, and a short-sleeved, buttoned up shirt of color reminiscent of lemon meringue pie. Around his neck he wore his usual bowtie, this one depicting the creatures from the old, arcade cabinet Alien Instigators. His style truly was and would always be only his own.

Recoiling after a particularly dusty book clouded near him, Booker frowned and waved his hand to blow the dust away. He’d have to see who was assigned to this area so that he could go over with them how to dust these shelves properly. Ugh! Hearing footsteps nearby, Booker didn’t look up but instead focused on his cart of books. However, assuming that they wanted to get by, he pulled his cart aside and moved in order to give them access to move through the shelf.

”I’ll be outta your way in a second...” he said with distracted cheeriness.

>>"Booker..."

He heard his name but it wasn’t so much the name that drew his attention but the voice that carried it. It had been a bit since he had last seen Juliette, but he could never forget her voice. He turned, jade eyes locking onto her briefly before he curled his lips in, looking just a bit embarrassed. He really had not been expecting this and suddenly all the shame and disappointment he had in himself started to flood back in.

>> "I need-…t-to talk to you."

”M’lady…” he said softly. Immediately, though, he regretted it, closing his eyes and shaking his head at his own mistake. ”Sorry…” he took a calming breath. He could do this. He needed to man up and apologize. ”Um, sure…” he said, finally acknowledging her comment that they needed to talk. He looked around a bit shyly, shifting from foot to foot as he eyed her. God she looked good. The sundress, the boots, they just fit her all to such perfection that Booker could already feel himself not thinking straight. But he had. ”So…h-how can I help you?”

It had been a few weeks since she'd seen Booker, but there were some things that a person never forgot. He had on a similar outfit to the one she'd seen him in last, though the colours and his tie were different. His eyes, though... his eyes were exactly the same. Somewhat intoxicating.

She'd spent her minute or two without eye contact on her opening comment, which she then regretted. She should've just said what she'd intended to say before he made it harder on her. Now, she was going to have to force out her words while he stared her down. That sounded absolutely impossible.

After a minute or two use to compose herself and a deep, deep breath, Juliette searched for the words the explain why she was there. She'd spent the entire taxi ride rehearsing them, and yet in that moment, they escaped her. She was left standing foolishly, unsure of how to tell him how she felt. Part of her wanted to just kiss him and leave the talking until later, but she knew that wouldn't work. They'd tried that before and it had ended poorly.

Then, a thought overtook her. What if she'd waited too long? Or scared off any chance that they may have had before? It had been several weeks since she'd last ran out on him, and she had absolutely no claim on the tall librarian. Perhaps he had moved on to someone that wasn't attached. Someone that wouldn't make him feel so horrible or guilty. She wouldn't blame him in the slightest if that was the case.

Her leg twitched and she thought about just leaving again, leaving him to live his life without the mess that she had become. Deep down, she knew that wasn't an option. It had hurt her to do it the first time, and it would hurt more to do it a second. Even if he had moved on, even if he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her, she had to take a shot. She had to at least present the option of what they could be.

"I broke up with my boyfriend," she heard herself saying in a voice far more sure that she had thought she would be able to summon. That really hadn't been how she'd meant to start. She'd meant to give a bit more lead up, a bit more... fluff. Damn those eyes, making her skip all the cushioning. "I've been doing some thinking, and... that's why I'm here..."

She needed to take a minute. Compose herself. Her eyes wandered down to the book he was holding. A dusty copy of Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Was that fate? She didn't normally believe in things like that, but it was inexplicable. It gave her what she needed to say what she was about to say.

"Booker, I think I'm falling for you," Juliette breathed. Immediately after it came out of her mouth, she regretted it. Wow, what a stupid thing to say.

Standing there, staring down at the young woman that had managed to ensnare him so completely was actually quite difficult for the man. He hadn’t expected to see her again so he had no defenses in place for being able to keep her at an arm’s length. Instinctively, for whatever reason, he wanted to step forward and close the gap between them, but he knew that he could. He forced himself to remain back, using the excuse that he was working in order to keep him from making another dumb move. The last thing he needed was to feel like crap all over again for being unable to control himself around an already taken woman.

So, awkwardly standing back, balancing a book that he had been preparing to put away between his hands, Booker gulped as he watched the woman. She had said that she needed to talk to him so he prepared himself for the onslaught. Maybe she was going to come clean with how guilty she felt? Maybe she was going to put him on blast for making a move on her that he simply shouldn’t have made? Or maybe she was just going to try and discuss a timeshare with him? He didn’t know! All he knew was that there was a cornucopia of things that she could discuss with him but he wouldn’t know until she started talking.

He tried to keep things professional. He asked her how he could have been of services. He knew when all the good tours would be taking place, how to reserve rooms, make an appointment to view books in the rare collection, and how to order books from their depository across town. Really he could help her with any of her library needs but one look of her eyes and it was becoming painfully apparent that another topic had occurred to the woman…

>> "I broke up with my boyfriend,"

The air was completely sucked out of his lungs. The man stood there, a little dumbfounded as he tilted his head, looking at her. In that moment the librarian tried to complete whatever thought she was having. Was she here to blame him for breaking up with her boyfriend? Could she just not handle the weight of what he had done to her? Was he a homewrecker now? Booker’s mind raced as he looked at her, carefully, trying to gage her emotions. The only good thing was that at least she hadn’t reached out and slapped him…good thing?

”…oh…” he said, just a little cautiously. Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long for her to continue.

>>"I've been doing some thinking, and... that's why I'm here..."

It was coming. She was lowering the boom, yet, she looked very strange, nervous almost, as if she were trying to find the right words to say. Booker lowered his gaze, just listening for the moment, trying to stop the shouting in his head. He had ruined this woman’s relationship over what? Just a kiss? Sure it was absolutely amazing and, to be fair, it had been a long time since Booker had felt a kiss like that. The woman was just too intoxicating and being near her, well, it just felt right. But the man had to face up to his actions. He needed to apologize. So, screwing up his courage, the man opened his mouth.

”Juliette, I’m so sor—“

>> "Booker, I think I'm falling for you,"

Though her voice was low, it still managed to cut through his own words like a knife through butter. He was stunned. Absolutely stunned. The man stood there, watching her, his mouth slightly ajar as the words he was going to say quickly evaporated in his mouth. He found that for a few moments, he had no voice and instead just stared at the pretty brunette DJ nurse that had immediately drawn his attention since the first moment he saw her. Honestly, it was hard to form words so, Booker looked away, struggling with his own thoughts briefly before he did finally raised his eyes to meet hers.

”Juliette, I mean…wow….” he started to say. ”…but…just for me?” He asked a bit cautiously.

Considering that they had just met, that would have sounded a bit odd to him. For as much as the man believed in the overwhelming powers of love, he wasn’t one to just throw a relationship away on a whim. As terrible as it sounded, part of him hoped that maybe, just maybe there were other problems there that led to this decision. He leaned against his shelf, still holding the copy of Pride and Prejudice in his hand; ironic wasn’t it?

He gulped. ”I mean…w-we just met…” he started to say. He wasn’t accusing or angered, nor was he really even talking to her. Sporadically it seemed like he was talking to himself, almost trying to convince himself of something. ”We don’t…know one another except for a few things. Do you like salsa dancing? I love salsa dancing. What’s your favorite color? Mine his teal.” Booker continued to rambling, both talking to Juliette and not, but all centered around just how possible was this?

He took a few turns, which was actually a little comical to look at despite the situation, before he stopped and suddenly found himself standing very, very close to her. As close as he was the last right, right before he kissed her. The scent of her shampoo slipped in through his nostrils, filling his head with a familiar lightness that the man had been befuddled by before. His eyes roamed across her shoulders, up her neck, over her cheeks, and finally settling in on those deep, brown eyes of hers and he found himself lost once again. A calming breath and the man shared with her the smallest flash of a smile, one that slowly stretched his lips and puffed up his cheeks a little. It did feel right, didn’t it?

Finally he sighed, his hand reaching out, cautiously grazing against her arm. A quick moistening of the lips and he spoke in a low voice, one only she could hear given their proximity. ”I like you, Juliette…” he said softly. Realize how that could have sounded, he tried to clarify; hopefully his expression would help convey just how much. ”I…really, really, really, really…like you.”

God. He sounded like he was five. Smooth, Booker…as always.

As soon as she closed her mouth, Juliette knew that she'd gone too far. She'd been too forward; revealed too much. Sure, there was definitely a connection between the two of them, but they had only met twice. That was fast for someone to be admitting to feelings, especially since neither of those times had been actual dates. Instead, both of the times had been rather strange meetings where they had pretended that nothing was going on. They were not times to develop feelings in.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. That was stupid and forward of me to say," Juliette shook her head and raised her hands to her face. She wished she could go back and retract that previous statement. Start fresh with a new approach to things.

She was well aware that it was too late for that, though. What had been said had been said, and she couldn't take it back. All she could do was try to fix it from there.

>>”…but…just for me?”

She raised her head and looked back up at him, blinking. "Break up with him just for you? Well, no," she began to explain, "there were other reasons... several of them." She stopped there, deciding that it would be best to not get into the nitty gritty of Sam's drinking, the sleepless nights, the ex-girlfriend that had shown up and made him lose it, his adopted son, or the nagging feelings that she had been more like his parole officer than his girlfriend. No, he did not need to know all that.

"There was an... incident a week or so ago. It made me realize that I want something else," she added slowly. Would she have stayed with Sam if Booker hadn't happened? Would she have mustered up the devotion to stick by his side when he was hurting himself and those around him? Perhaps - Juliette didn't often end things lightly, especially when it was a long-term thing. However, she'd glimpsed a future that was on a different track, and she knew that it would only hurt her more the longer she stayed.

>>”I mean…w-we just met… We don’t…know one another except for a few things. Do you like salsa dancing? I love salsa dancing. What’s your favorite color? Mine is teal.”

He was right; they had just met. Really, it was only the third time that they'd seen each other, and already, things were weird and messy. Plus, Juliette had just been awesome enough to make them worse. Oh, so much worse.

"I've never been salsa dancing," admitted Juliette, her shoulders slightly slumped. "I can't say I dislike it, though. And my favourite colour is forrest green." Further proof that they knew absolutely nothing about each other. She didn't even have his phone number, for God's sake, and she was there, admitting things she shouldn't have admitted. She should have just stayed at Becca's and waited out her breakup like a normal person. She should not have travelled to the library to go ruin Booker's life yet again. Where had her mind gone?

She lowered her head and ran a hand through her hair, trying to think of the easiest way to run out of the room and see the fewest number of people.

>>”I like you, Juliette… I…really, really, really, really…like you.”

The woman looked up, a little shocked. She had expected him to just continue to let her down easy and then leave her life forever. Instead, he'd admitted feelings too. Not quite to the same degree as Juliette, but feelings nonetheless. She gave him a small, slightly shy smile and tried to decide what to do.

His hand was on her arm, and it felt... extraordinarily right. She stepped forward, closing some of the distance between them, and tried to think of words. Any words. "Then... maybe we could try getting to know each other?" she suggested gingerly, not wanting to make anymore crazy leaps of faith without giving him a chance to think things through. She'd probably scared him enough the first time around.

She so wanted to kiss him again, though. That, or just keep staring into his eyes for a while longer.

Admittedly he was a bit shocked by the revelation that Juliette had actually had feelings for him. It was a state of being that must have reflected quite clearly upon his face because no sooner had the man given her that surprised look then Juliette immediately seemed mortified by it. It would have been an amusing tableau to witness had the librarian not been an active participant. Immediately he began to feel a little guilty because he could already sense the apologetic air that settled down around the both of them. Juliette wasted no time voicing her apology.

>>"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. That was stupid and forward of me to say,"

Booker shook his head, trying get her to stop but really he couldn’t find the words to tell her. He wasn’t shocked because of her forward or bluntness, but rather just because it was hard to wrap around the affirmation that she had feelings for him. While that was both elating and a little scary, the man was a little suspicious and inquired whether or not he was the one that caused the break-up. If she dumped her boyfriend just because the two of them shared one kiss, that seemed maybe a little drastic so it better to ask now, rather than wait.

Juliette looked at him with a mask of confusion on her face. It was a moment that made even Booker a little, preparing himself for whatever onslaught she could possibly toss his way. He would be thankful, though, that he wasn’t the direct cause.

>> "There was an... incident a week or so ago. It made me realize that I want something else,"

Relief! Admittedly it was a little selfish of him to think something like that, after all, Juliette still was out of a relationship, but there was a small part of him that at least it wasn’t totally him that ended it. Then again, given the fact that there were issues that she stuck with, he couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if they haven’t crossed paths in that hospital? What if he had never kissed her that day? Maybe he wasn’t the direct cause, but was he a catalyst? How did he feel about that? He really, really wished that he could get just one coherent thought.

Unfortunately, at this point, his mind was such a honeycomb of buzzing bees that he couldn’t quite get a solid thought in his head. Juliette admitted she had feelings for him and while he had an extremely strong affection for her, the fact was that they still didn’t know anything about one another. He started to ramble at this point, asking questions and stating the things that he liked. He wasn’t asking them to demand answers from her, but really just running through the random lists of things that most people say they liked just so that she had some familiarity with him other than him being a clumsy breakdancer and woman-stealing scoundrel.

However, she felt that it was necessary for her to answer in kind…

>> "I've never been salsa dancing," admitted Juliette, her shoulders slightly slumped. "I can't say I dislike it, though. And my favourite colour is forrest green."

Her head tilted down. It was if she were on some gameshow and she just realized that she gave all the wrong answers. It was a little heart rending to witness but Booker wasn’t going to let it end there. He had found himself close to her again, reaching out, his fingers grazing against that electrifying skin. A soft sigh left his lips as he touched her arm, feeling that connection that he had missed since she ran out of the library those weeks ago. It was amazing how it felt, like finding two puzzle pieces that just snapped together. Was that really all that was needed to be compatible? Was it all just chemistry? Surely they should know just a little more about one another.

There were still a lot of things that needed to be figured out, he knew that, but as of this moment, he was more than willing to try.

He admitted it. He liked her. Booker wasn’t one to throw the L-word around easily (he wasn’t in Lesbians with her yet) but she had to know how he felt in return. And that, it would seem, was enough to pull back from the brink. The embarrassment was gone from her eyes, she didn’t look like she wanted to flee anymore, and instead appeared both relieved and intrigued; much the same as he was feeling.

She stepped closer, deeper into his touch. A smile dashed across his lips, one that he couldn’t help. Softly his hand brushed up and down her arm, his thumb casually grazing the skin as the two of them continued to look upon the other before she replied.

>> "Then... maybe we could try getting to know each other?"

His smile widened. He looked a little shyly off the to the side, smirking some more before returning his gaze to her and nodding his head. ”I’d like that…” he softly. ”…I’d like that a lot.”

He took a deep breath, he wanted to kiss her again but…would that be too weird? In the end, he figured there was no way they could continue without one so he leaned in. When he would sense her leaning up, he would give her only a soft and tender kiss on her lips, then leaned back, feeling somewhat relieved. His grin returned, far more innocent and pure as it was when they had first met.

”I…um…get off in an hour. Want to get something to eat?” He said. ”Unless you have work or, you know, other plans, of course.” Of course he couldn’t help a jab as he gave her a faux-suspicious eye. ”Unless you and your unit are shipping off to join war effort or something?” Insert sly grin. ”I’ll admit it now, I do not have a widow’s peak to watch for you day-in and day-out.”

The air felt different than it had when she'd first walked in. It was lighter, happier. It was filled with hope rather than regret, anticipation rather than dread. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off of Juliette's shoulders, and she could look up at Booker with a new excitement.

She asked if he would consider getting to know each other better, to which he agreed. She let out a breath that she didn't know she'd been holding and smiled at him. With any luck, things would actually go right for once and fall into place.

Her step closer had been well-received, by a kiss, in fact. It was just a soft, quick one, but Juliette closed her eyes, letting it sink in. She silently wished that it had gone on longer, but she knew why it couldn't. Things were still strange and awkward, and they were in the state of figuring things out. If they moved too fast, then they ran the risk of ruining things altogether. Plus, Booker was still at work. It wasn't as if he could just drop what he was doing on a whim.

>>”I…um…get off in an hour. Want to get something to eat? Unless you have work or, you know, other plans, of course.”

"I'm free," she responded, quickly wishing she hadn't sounded so eager. Sure, she had finished an early shift that morning and had no classes, which meant that she had the rest of the day to herself, but she could have at least tried to sound like she didn't spend all her time waiting for a man to sweep her off of her feet.

With the very clear fact that she was available, she thought through what she could do for an hour. There were plenty of things to do to kill time in the middle of Manhattan. She could keep herself busy. "Do you know anywhere good?" she asked, realizing as she thought that she didn't really know any restaurants in the area.

>>”Unless you and your unit are shipping off to join war effort or something? I’ll admit it now, I do not have a widow’s peak to watch for you day-in and day-out.”

She grinned, glad that they were back to the point where they could have fun with things again. No, she wasn't shipping out anywhere. Or in a unit, unless he counted her X-team. No, she would not bring up her involvement with the X-Men yet. It really was not the time or place.

"Really? I'd invest in one, then. Saves quite a bit of MyFace stalking," she replied as soon as her thoughts had cleared. "See you in an hour?"

---

The hour moved at an absurdly slow pace. It almost seemed as if it would never end.

Juliette had taken up a place at a little coffee shop near the library, ordered a cappuccino, and tried to get some work done despite all the distractions. The shop was filled with talkative people, and her own thoughts just wouldn't shut up. By the time the hour had finally passed, she had gotten absolutely nothing done.

Still, she was just glad to be able to meet Booker again. She'd made her way back to the library lobby and waited for him near the entrance.

It felt so good, so freeing. The air felt lighter, the sounds of the library sounded clearer, even the colors all around them on books, on their clothing, they appeared so much more vibrant. It was the best that Booker had felt in the longest time. As he pulled back from the second time he had ever kissed this woman, the taste of her lips still linger on his own even though it had been so quick and soft, he found himself smiling broadly at her. He wanted so bad for that kiss to extend just a tad bit longer, but it wasn’t appropriate, not yet. There was still so much they needed to know about one another, so much that they had to discover and talk about; they needed to ensure that this was indeed the right move.

He couldn’t help but let his eyes linger upon her features just a little bit longer. He was at a loss for what else to say, what else to ask. His mind started to ramble again, trying to come up with a solid thought. She just smelled too good, like sunshine on a summer day. But, through the haze that the woman cast over his mind, he managed to actually come up with a fair easy game plan: just go simple.

He was off soon. He would be hunger. Would she like to go out to eat? That seemed like a fairly good starting point, didn’t it? Lot of people meet over dinner when they want to get to know someone better. Good for business dealings, for catching up, for first dates…wait…would this be their official date? Booker began to sweat internally because of how real all this was becoming but reminded himself to keep his cool. Everything would be just fine…

>> "I'm free,"

He didn’t notice any eagerness, all he heard was that she was free. His glee at her admission of that made him smile just a tad wider. He cheeks were starting to hurt with how much this woman made him grin but it was a pain he was willing to suffer through.

>>"Do you know anywhere good?"

Thinking for a second, he nodded his head. ”I got a couple places in mind. Meet me in the lobby in an hour. Isn’t far from here, walking distance, if you’re okay with that, that is.”

Never able to resist his sass, Booker had to casually through in that unless the woman had other plans of shipping off to war, that they could spend time together. He painted her the picture that had been painted of many failed romances from the eras of war. Where individuals would seduce or fall in love, only to ship out overseas with the possibility of never being heard from again. It was just a joke, of course, but Juliette seemed to take it in stride.

>> "Really? I'd invest in one, then. Saves quite a bit of MyFace stalking.. you in an hour?"

He grinned watching her turn on her heel and walk away from him. His eyes never left her as he watched her walk away, drinking in the vision of loveliness that she was from the back, as well as the front. He really had no idea how any of this came about but he couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome. He was excited to see where this would go and, despite the rocky beginnings, he had high hopes that everything would work out in the end.

---

The rest of his day worked off in a bit of a blur. Booker was distracted while he worked, bumping into people he didn’t mean to, not listening when he was spoken to, and even mis-shelving a book or two, something that Booker B. Bookman never did. However, the man was actually willing to forgive his mistakes as inevitably quitting time would be coming and he had a date. It was still a concept that filled him with some slight nerves but remembering the chemistry he felt with Juliette, knowing that they could actually romantically pursue one another, seemed quell his anxieties. Not all the way, but enough for him to function.

When an hour had officially passed, Booker was standing in his office, staring at his clock. He had finished most of his work at least fifteen minutes ago so he had spent the whole time just either leaning on his desk, watching the clock tick away, or standing up and watching it. He didn’t want to appear overly eager either but he was still fairly excited for the possibilities that would present themselves today. He just needed the hour to pass already.

At last Booker could leave his office, closing and locking the door behind him. His bag with the Velcro strap slipped across his firm chest. Nervously he chewed on the inside of his cheek, actually monitoring how fast or slow he was walking. Over all he found himself slightly irritated at his behavior. It was just a date after all! Hell! He had a one nightstand with a Russian bombshell without even trying, surely he would do dinner…right?

Rounding a corner, it didn’t take him long to spot the woman in the sundress and boots. He grinned a little as he strolled up to her, catching her eye and giving her a brilliant smile. After a second, before she could talk, he held up his finger and reached into his shirt pocket. From there, he pulled out what looked like a folded yellow paper. As he felt it out to her, he gave her a cheesy grin – it was an origami flower.

He shrugged. ”I…wanted to go out and get you a real flower but…stacks were kinda of packed today.” Insert innocent smile. ”So I made you this.”

Thankfully, Juliette didn't have to spend that much longer waiting. Booker joined her at the entrance, looking just as ready to leave the building as she was. She grinned at him, at the pack strapped to his chest. He looked so pleasantly, well, bookish. Everything about his style suited him and only him.

>>”I…wanted to go out and get you a real flower but…stacks were kinda of packed today. So I made you this.”

She took the flower from him and held it in her hand. It was cute, and it looked like it had taken a little while to make. "Thank you," she smiled and tucked it behind her ear. "Sorry, I don't have anything to give back."

It was a sweet sentiment, though. She hadn't really been expecting him to give her anything, because, well, she had ambushed him at work for that meeting. The fact that he took some time out to make that for her was really, really sweet. "This will last longer than a real flower," she pointed out.

Juliette nodded to the exit. She would have offered him her hand or her arm, but it felt sort of strange and unnerving to push any more than she had. Despite the fact that she'd gotten affirmation that he felt something for her, too, she didn't want to move too fast. She wasn't going to force him into anything that he wasn't ready for yet.

"Are you ready to go?" She asked. They had a bit of a walk to do before they got there, but she was more than ready for it. They wanted to get to know each other, after all, and, in Juliette's opinion, there was no better way to do that than getting some exercise out in the sun.

He was all smiles has he handed over the origami flower to Juliette. One would wonder how the man could have spared the time to fold an intricate piece of paper and not actually leave the building to purchase the woman a flower. Truth was that Booker had some skill with origami, and had the supplies in his office, so it was a fairly simple construct to make. To purchase flowers would require time and patience as the man would look at each and every bloom in hopes of finding the perfect one; it was time he didn’t have. But, if today went well, then, he could easily make that top priority for the next time.

God, he hoped there was a next time. Otherwise all this pining and chemistry would be an absolute waste. But he was getting far, far, far too ahead of himself. They were just going to eat and talk and the rest of the chips shall fall where they may.

>> "Thank you…Sorry, I don't have anything to give back."

A beaming smile on his face, he watched her take the flower from his hand and inspect it closely. He nodded his head, appreciating the fact that she liked it so much. However when she apologized for not having nothing for him, the man just gave her a small and earnest smile, shaking his head.

”You don’t need to apologize,” he said softly. ”Just spending some time together is enough for me.” Insert goofy grin, a slight turn of his head and a narrowing his eyes. ”Too cheesy? Sorry, binge watching too many sitcoms on Binge.”

>> "This will last longer than a real flower,"

He nodded his head. ”There you go!”

That had totally been his plan the whole time…heh….heh. Ahem. Honestly Booker was a little better at this kind of thing but he was really still trying to feel around about how to interact with the woman. It was like meeting someone you have an unexplainable attraction to and having a first date all rolled into one. He liked her, he really did, but considering that he had only met her twice before, he needed to process how the dynamics would work between them. Of course those things will only be discovered with time and patience together.

This was only the first step on what would hopefully be a good journey, and the librarian needed to keep reminding himself of that. They would take this sow, they would try to get to know one another and see where all this will lead. It had been awhile, but Booker was willing to try.

>> "Are you ready to go?"

After a moment of silence, Juliette was the first to ask if he was ready to go. Realizing that he had been standing around like a gawky, awkward teenager going on his first real date, the man was shocked out of his silence as his attention fully focused on her. Another broad smirk and he gestured towards the door.

”Of course.” He said happily. Stepping past her, he approached the door, pulled it open and held it for her to pass through (he was a gentleman, after all). ”Ladies first.”

Booker waited until Juliette was the first to walk out and followed behind her. Closing the door behind him, Booker sighed as he stepped out into the sunlight, feeling it warm his features. He stretched out. He loved his work but right now he was happy to be off of it; especially considering the company he now had with him. A few quick steps and he was next to her, the two of them descending down the steps of the library and towards the street. The sounds of the day swirled about them, a direct contrast to the silence and stillness within the building. Still, it didn’t bother the librarian as he merely adjusted his bag and kept his hand inside of his pocket. As much as he wanted to take her hand, it wasn’t right just yet, so he occupied his fingers with toying with the keys in his pocket.

Once they had reached street level, Booker sighed and turned to Juliette, guiding her in the direction of where the restaurant he had in mind. It was time for the most pivotal part of all this – the talking. Now it was time to prove that they were more than just combustible-fueled individuals who just wanted to lock lips all the time.

”So, um...you had the day off today?” he asked lightly. They needed to start talking somewhere, right?

If there was one thing to be said about Booker, it was that he knew how to flatter. Juliette had been worried that they might not be on the same page, but it was clear from his response that they were. He gave her a cheesy line about only wanting to spend time with her, to which she grinned a little wider.

"A little cheesy, but that's okay. Just so long as it's mozzarella," she smirked. "What're you binging right now? Honestly, I've been really into Grey." She knew exactly the reputation that show had, but she was a sucker for #Greyisdrama.

The origami flower felt sort of strange against her face, but she didn't dare touch it. The thought of it was so sweet that she didn't dare. With any luck, she would be able to keep it for a while afterward. Assuming that everything went alright over the course of their late lunch.

"Why thank you," she smiled and curtseyed as she exited the door that was being held for her. Booker was the sweet kind of chivalrous. Not at all like that senator that she and Rebecca had been forced to deal with when they'd first met.

They walked out of the building into the sun, which was usually Juliette's chosen environment. Usually, that was. On that day, it felt somehow... different. When she stepped into the sunlight on a normal day, it felt so comforting, and it was never painful. On that day, it was too intense, and she didn't exactly enjoy being out in it. In fact, she almost wanted to go back inside. She wasn't about to dwell on that fact, though. All her thoughts and feelings were off kilter from the rush of emotions. Her powers were probably just playing off of that.

Rather than making any sort of fuss about the strange feeling, she simply raised her hand to block the sun from her eyes and continued on. Booker did not take her hand as they walked, so it was clear that she had made the correct decision by keeping her hands to herself at first. They could figure everything like that out later.

When they had cleared the long set of stone steps, Booker led her in the direction of the restaurant. Or, at least, Juliette assumed that he did. For all she knew, he could be leading her to some secret underground lair. She took her chances anyway.

>>”So, um...you had the day off today?”

Juliette shook her head, "no, I worked an early shift this morning, one to seven, and I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So, I don't have to work again until tomorrow, but I did work this morning." It had been a quiet shift. Allowed her to do some thinking.

"Was your shift alright?" she asked in response. It was petty small talk, but it was all she could really muster in that moment. They hadn't started to dig into anything deep or particularly personal yet, so she stayed on the surface. They still had to find their stride when they weren't just trying not to kiss each other.

The flower in her hair was just absolute perfection. To be fairly honest, he wouldn’t have minded if she had set it in her bag or just held onto it the rest of the day. But actually turning it into an accessory kind of was an awesome move of hers. Booker found himself smiling from ear-to-ear, nodding his head in an approving manner at the look that she now adorned. He didn’t know why but given his profession, and their setting, it was just too perfect. It really was something out of a cheesy television show, but to him, there was absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Of course Booker could never resist a good and overly done line. He delivered it with utmost perfection, the admittance that her gift to him was spending time with her. Always a fan of making fun of himself, Booker tilted his head, smirking, and inquired if that line was really as cheesy as he thought it was. Self-deprecating humor could be a lifesaver from time-to-time.

>> "A little cheesy, but that's okay. Just so long as it's mozzarella…What're you binging right now? Honestly, I've been really into Grey."

He snorted. ”Mozzarella…is there any other kind?” All this smiling was going to hurt his cheeks by the end of the day but it was a pain that he was more than willing to endure. Of course Juliette was quick to ask what it was he was binging on TV wise and that seemed to be a good place for the two of them to continue conversing. ”Oh a lot of things. All My Circuits is finally picking up again. But, like you, I’m surprised with how drawn in I’m getting with Grey! Like, it’s just SO good and normally I don’t go for that much drama.” He said excitedly.

Shaking his head, Booker slipped over to the door to open it for her, smiling as he stepped aside for her to pass. He was really, really having a good feeling about this.

>> "Why thank you,"

Stepping out into the sun, Booker smiled sweetly as he stared up towards the sun. it was late in the afternoon now but the sun was still nice and warm on his skin. It shook off the chill of the library and filled him with a sense of warmth and adventure. Of course, that could also be very much due to the presence of the pretty brunette whom he had followed out of the library.

If there were any discomfort she may have been having, Booker didn’t sense it. Too distracted by the nice day and the promise of the lunch to come, the librarian rejoined the woman at her side and shared the shy, casual glances as they made their way down the steps and onto the sidewalk. There was silence but it wasn’t a bad silence, it was just the two of them trying to handle all this the right way. Of course most would say that there was not “right” way, but for these two, they wanted to keep things calm. They needed to learn about one another, both understood that, least they mess up whatever chemistry they both clearly had.

So they walked, in silence, catching each other’s eye, a small goofy grin, and looking away. Finally, though, Booker tried to initiate some kind of conversation. She had told him earlier that she was free so he wondered if she had taken the day off of work or if it was just a regular day off? From what he understood, nurses had rather flexible and sporadic schedules.

>> "no, I worked an early shift this morning, one to seven, and I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So, I don't have to work again until tomorrow, but I did work this morning."

Walking side-by-side, he hands in his pockets, Booker raised his eyebrows in surprise. To know that she had been working from one in the morning until seven seemed so rough. Part of him wondered how she was even here, standing next to him, speaking coherently. But, if she were a nurse, clearly this was a state that she knew well and was comfortable with. If not, well, then she probably wouldn’t have taken it on as her job, would she.

”Wow talk about your packed work days,” he said with a whistle. He scoffed, smiling at her. ”Please tell me you got some sleep and aren’t running on fumes? Would kinda suck if you were sleep deprived and all I looked like was some kind giant floating potato with googily eyes.”

The image made him giggle a little bit.

>> "Was your shift alright?"

Eventually the question would be turned back to him as she asked about his own day. Booker looked away, his lips pursed to the side in thought as he went over everything that happened today. It wasn’t ALL that exciting; well, to him it was but to someone who didn’t work with books all day, they may find it a little boring. Still, she did ask…

”Oh it was pretty good,” he exclaimed. He stopped himself from wanting to get detailed into his day, there was no need to scare her off with talk of shifting over to a new and exciting LMS (Library Management System). ”Library is installing a new check out system and the beta testing is going well. Found a book that had been misshelved, like, eons ago,” he chuckled. He then skewed his face downward a little. ”Oh, eh, I had to fire one of my interns. She just kept slouching in her shelf maintenance assignments. Third time. Just not good for the books, you know?”

It was amazing just how natural all this felt. To be able to talk a little shop with this person and know that she was actually interested in what he had to say. Steadily he could feel himself coming out of the nervousness that had settled onto him earlier and now he was beginning to just feel like Booker again. Wasn’t that what they said about first dates? To act like yourself? Hopefully himself was still the same man that Juliette had trekked all the way to the library for today.

They continued on down the street, slipping past vendors, people on the way to or from work, and onward. It wasn’t until they got to the corner that Booker looked down the way and spotted their destination – or three. Situated down the way, in this little alcove on the street, were three restaurants, each one of them small, with only enough room for three or four tables inside (as seen through their large, glass windows). This was Trinity Eats. The story was that a family with three brothers were so competitive that when one decided he wanted to open a restaurant, the other two wanted to do the same. They each opened a restaurant, dedicated to a different food or style, and opened them all literally within twenty feet of one another. While it seemed like unhealthy rivalry for the family, it was great business because each made sure their food was up to par.

Booker smirked, turning to fact his date, may as well start calling her that, and gestured to the three restaurants that were all catty-corner to one another. ”Okay. This…is Trinity eats.” He pointed to the far left, then the middle, then the right, and named them each in succession. ”Itallian. American, mostly fancy hot dogs, and Indian…” he paused at that last one. ”Don’t ask me.” He then gave her a wide smile. ”I figure, since I’m not 100% sure what you’d like to eat, I’d bring you someplace you could pick whatever you wanted.”

A nurse's schedule was a weird one. Juliette's was extra weird, given her commitment to teaching at the mansion and training with the X-Men, so in general, it was hard to predict where she would be and when she would be there. It was a little taxing, but she made it work. All the unpredictability was reminiscent of her life moving from place to place with her mother. In a way, it was what she knew.

However, that also meant that she was unpredictable. She sometimes slept at odd hours and was awake when no one else was. It could make having a social life difficult at times, but she made do. For the most part, she'd been on a normal schedule for a few weeks. That day had just been a blip where she'd slept from eight-thirty until around one.

>>”Please tell me you got some sleep and aren’t running on fumes? Would kinda suck if you were sleep deprived and all I looked like was some kind giant floating potato with googily eyes.”

"The eyes are more like tomatoes," Juliette said with a straight face. She'd stopped walking in order to pretend to stare at him with a confused expression. She couldn't help but play it up. "No, of course not. I slept this morning. Besides, the eyes are definitely all red and kaleidoscope-y."

There was the Booker passion again. As soon as she brought up the library, he tumbled straight into conversation. He was clearly holding himself back a bit, though, for which she was grateful; layman's terms were always a friend to people who worked in different industries.

She smiled and nodded along as he told her about the new system that the library was putting in. In all honesty, it went over her head, but she didn't really mind. It felt natural talking to him, like she didn't have to put up any sort of barriers. It didn't really matter that she knew nothing about libraries or the systems they used; she was alright with just listening to him talk. What more was there, really?

>>”Oh, eh, I had to fire one of my interns. She just kept slouching in her shelf maintenance assignments. Third time. Just not good for the books, you know?”

"That's too bad," she commented. Firing people was never fun, and it certainly didn't make for a great shift. "Sorry it had to happen like that. Did she take it alright?" She'd never had to fire someone herself, since she'd never really worked in a position that high, nor had she been fired from a job before. Still, she could see where it would be difficult and taxing.

Eventually, Juliette learned that she'd been following Booker to one of the strangest restaurants she'd ever seen. Typically, there was just one restaurant with one (unless it was a buffet) style of food. What they were standing in front of was... very different. Three very small restaurants resided next to each other, each boasting a different style of food. While it was a cool idea, it was a little strange. Though, perfect for a first date when you had no idea what kind of food the other enjoyed.

>>”I figure, since I’m not 100% sure what you’d like to eat, I’d bring you someplace you could pick whatever you wanted.”

"They all sound good," she said a little lamely. While that fact was true, she didn't want to stand there and be completely indecisive when he'd taken her to a place where she could specifically choose what to eat. No, she wouldn't leave him hanging to have to awkwardly decide for the both of them. "How about Italian?" she offered.

Booker really didn’t know anyone in the medical profession. He didn’t know how the hours affected them, how they got their rest, all he knew was that they dedicated themselves to their craft and worked crazy fluctuating hours. He had seen television shows, reality shows, read books, and articles, and so he knew a little something about the profession, but he was by no means an expert. All his concern could go on was the woman’s word on her wellbeing.

After hearing that she had worked such a difficult sounding set of hours, he inquired after her health, of course, also wanting to make sure that he wasn’t just appearing as some figment of her imagination. Maybe it was a little selfish of him but he really would rather that she were conscious for their last minute date and not hallucinating. Whatever the two of them had going on between them, he wanted to be able to actually explore it with someone who was awake. Would be a little one-sided otherwise.

Thankfully his fears would be addressed, though of course not without a healthy dose of some of the wit that Booker was steadily growing to appreciate in the younger woman…

>> "The eyes are more like tomatoes…No, of course not. I slept this morning. Besides, the eyes are definitely all red and kaleidoscope-y."

He tilted his head, his lips set in a faux-unamused smile at the woman’s overt description that he had tomato eyes, not googily. Psh! The very idea. However, his grin grew more genuine when she admitted that she actually had gotten some Z’s. Though she couldn’t very well let that her description about his eyes go without another dip in the impossible pool by stating that they were red and kaleidoscope-y. He just snorted.

”Oh, good,” he gave her a wide smile. ”Exactly like they should be.” She was such a smart ass…and boy did he like it.

The question of his own day would spur the librarian to consider his thoughts carefully. He could easily go on for hours and hours about all the nuances of his professional, casually using terminology that none but the most seasoned library worker would recognize. But that wasn’t because he was out to impress her, but merely the way he talked. However she didn’t know his world, just as he didn’t know hers. If she went into great detail about trauma patients and or procedures she had to assist in, Booker would have been clearly swept off his feet in confusion. Juliette didn’t deserve to get hit with a torrent of information so he chose his words carefully.

It was a pretty standard day for him. Explained about the new system the library was getting and the unfortunateness with having to fire one of his latest interns. It was a state of affairs that Booker was more than used to now that he had been working as a librarian for a few years now. In the end, he always had to do what was best for the library and for the tomes of information within, even if that meant disappointing someone.

>> "That's too bad…Sorry it had to happen like that. Did she take it alright?"

He nodded his head. ”Oh yeah,” he said with a small smile. ”College students are pretty resilient. And, honestly, I don’t think she totally cared.” he chuckled. ”I get a lot of college students who only take the job to appease an scholarship application or because they think they’ll get all the study time in the world. Used to it by now.”

Making their way around the corner, Booker breathed a hefty sigh of relief. Upon seeing the Trinity Eats signs, the librarian stopped, turned, and present the woman with his idea for dining today. It was a bit strange, yes, but it was probably the best thing he could think of on such short notice. Besides, Booker B. Bookman tended to like the quirky and if this woman wanted to get to know him, she was going to probably have to get used to the antics this man could get up to, just as he was certain the same would apply vice versa.

Still…it was a little strange. Scratching the back of his head, Booker turned and eyed the three establishments, hoping it didn’t look as strange and alien as he thought it did. He wanted to impress the woman, not make her question things. But, his fears would prove to be groundless when he spotted the tiny grin on her lips.

>> "They all sound good…How about Italian?"

Happy that a decision had been so easily made, Booker approved and turned to face the Italian restaurant. ”Sounds like a plan to me. I love their pizza.” He led the way, marching across the way with Juliette by hi side. When he had reached the glass doors with the cartoon monkey wearing a giant fake mustache and a chef’s hat, Booker grabbed the handle to the door and pulled it open, allowing her entry first. ”I suggest the Fiorentina pizza or their house Lasagne, personally.” He said cheerily. ”Both are amazing.”

Once inside the shop, both would be met with a rather quaint setting. The Italian restaurant was small by most standards but with a high rating post in the window and several beaming newspaper reviews blanketing the far wall like wallpaper, it was clear that this was no dive restaurant or anything suspicious like that. It just so happened to be one of those rare hidden gems that hadn’t made it out into the world yet.

Up ahead there was a small line to be seated in one of the four empty tables available but there made it just in time as they were precisely the fourth party in line. Kismet! While they waited, Booker turned and smiled down to the younger woman. Awkwardly he tilted his head, chewing on his lip in thought before he continued. ”You…look very pretty today.” He was apparently channeling his inner fifteen year old with that amazing compliment. He just chuckled. ”Sorry, I’m usually a little better at this. Please tell me I'm not the only one just a little nervous?”

Green eyes. Jade green eyes. That's what they really were. Juliette couldn't help but notice that after teasing him; her eyes just seemed to lock with his without trying to, and she couldn't look away. They were too enticing for her to be able to. Far from the tomato or kaleidoscope image she'd joked about before.

After a minute or so, she was finally able to peel her eyes away from him, and she did so with a somewhat flushed face. As much as she could, she did her best to just focus on the road in front of her rather than the person she was walking with.

>>”College students are pretty resilient. And, honestly, I don’t think she totally cared. I get a lot of college students who only take the job to appease an scholarship application or because they think they’ll get all the study time in the world. Used to it by now.”

"College can be tough. Sometimes it's a shock to get out on your own and realize that the world really isn't everything you expect it to be." It was filled with unexpected twists, deaths, hardships, and feelings. She was getting ahead of herself, though. That was definitely a topic that didn't need to be discussed as they walked toward their first date.

She made the decision to get Italian food. The other places looked good, but Italian just seemed to be the one to go with. Perhaps it was the air of romanticism that the food gave off. Whatever it was, they were quickly approaching the door.

Turning and grinning back at him, Juliette couldn't help but nod at his suggestions for food. Pizza and lasagne both sounded amazing. Really, what kind of person didn't like lasagne? Heathens; that was who.

Inside, the restaurant was not what she had been expecting. It was quaint, but still elegant and interesting to the eye. Compared to the average restaurant, it was absolutely tiny, but that simply added to the charm of the undiscovered place. Plus, rent in NYC was crazy expensive, so Juliette had no doubt that they were paying a fair bit for that small space in a prime location.

>>”You…look very pretty today.”

Surprised, Juliette turned her head away from the front of the queue to look at Booker. He sounded young when he complimented her, like he was having trouble finding the right words. She grinned at him and tilted her head as she looked up. "Thanks, Booker. You look nice, too. The bowtie is a good touch. Do you have a lot of them?" That was the second time she'd seen him in a bowtie like that and it seemed to be a staple of his.

>>”Sorry, I’m usually a little better at this. Please tell me I'm not the only one just a little nervous?”

"Far from it," Juliette admitted with a half-grin. She was pretty sure that her hands were shaking a little bit, and she hadn't taken a full breath in a long, long time. It felt like she'd had something lodged in her throat since she left Becca's. "I think it's been a very long time since I've felt this nervous." It was nice to be able to feel like she could talk openly to him without feeling uncomfortable.

Before she knew it, they had reached the front of the line. "For two?" the host inquired, looking between the two of them, clearly able to feel the air of tension that rested between the two people in front of him.

"Please," Juliette nodded. The host gathered two menus and began to lead them to the only open table in the restaurant. It was the smallest one in the already tiny restaurant. It was nestled next to a fireplace and tucked slightly away from the rest in a slightly darkened corner. It all seemed a little too perfect.