>> "Why, actually, I do…I am hoping they are the same as yours."

He saw the wink and Jorge had to just smile in response.

“Oh, I’m fairly certain they are,” he responded with a certain tone in his voice. One that was catching onto her hint and offered his own. “But first, the night is young, we haven’t seen each other outside of work in awhile and I would like to take this opportunity to impress you with some sights of this most beauty city. After all I believe you deserve that much from this most insensitive officer.”

He really did love this woman. Regardless of the awkward conversation that had come up between the two of them, they had managed to disregard it and move on. Though of course it would be a subject that they would to eventually deal with and discuss, for the moment it was little more than a joke between the pair of them. They did not need to go crazy thinking about it, nor did they need to obsess about where such circumstances would lead them.

They were going to take a much needed break from the rest of the world, they were going to have a good time, and best of all, they were going to be together. And Jorge made particular sure that most of the criminals he had investigated or put away in the last few months were securely locked up.

The last thing they needed was for Mittens suddenly show up and declare revenge after…what…almost a year now? That was definitely due, but not tonight. It was not going to happen tonight at all.

He chuckled as he glanced down to his food, which looked so appetizing and smelled so wonderful. One bite and once more he felt like their evening was on track. Granny’s comments would melt away as their night went on, he knew that they would. They were adults, after all, and not as easily shaken as some teenagers.

>>“Oh, I’m fairly certain they are. But first, the night is young, we haven’t seen each other outside of work in awhile and I would like to take this opportunity to impress you with some sights of this most beauty city. After all I believe you deserve that much from this most insensitive officer.”

Gemma nodded, very seriously.

"I will take you up on that offer, officer. Gladly."

He was right, they needed to spend more time together. The teenages she once was, in the back of her mind, was demanding more attention and a whole different kind of activities, but at the same time, she enjoyed their night out. And it was time she'd had some decent food without cooking it herself.

Dinner was excellent, and it almost seemed to disappear by itself while they talked. One thing she really liked about Jorge was how much they could talk without ever stopping in awkward silence. Sure, they broke the rules of 'not talking about work' occasionally, but all in all, time just flew by whenever they were together.

Once dinner was over, and they'd even had desserts, Gemma sat back and smiled at him.

"Thank you. This was great... a meal that I do not have to cook is always greatly appreciated."

Especially if it was such a fine meal.

The dinner was great and the conversation was utterly sublime. He found that his conversations with Gemma were always some of the best. Even though that had managed to revert back to their old ways of discussing work, it was not anything bad in it. They chatted, joked about not only themselves but their co-workers as well. Jorge found himself laughing along with Gemma as she described several incidents that had happened back at the mansion and vice versa. He could listen to her voice all day. As a matter of fact that’s what they had been doing. Because of their limited time to spend together the phone had become their only connecting factor.

But she was much better in person.

He sighed contentedly as once the remains of their meal were taken away. It really was great food and of course the company was excellent as always. But thankfully their night was young and there was still a sight or two that he wanted to take her to.

>> "Thank you. This was great... a meal that I do not have to cook is always greatly appreciated."

He nodded with a satisfied smile. “I whole heartedly agree. But trust me,” he said with a nod. “Next time I’m definitely cooking for you.” The restaurant food was absolutely great, but that did not mean he could not get off his lazy keister and cook the woman a decent meal.

Once their food had settled sufficiently, Jorge flagged down the waiter and set about paying for meal. It was worth every penny of it. It was only when his receipt came back that the detective beamed at his girlfriend, stood up from his chair and offered her his hand.

“Well, time for the next stage of my most brilliant plan,” he said with a knowing smile. “Shall we?”

>>“I whole heartedly agree. But trust me. Next time I’m definitely cooking for you.”

"I will take you up on that offer."

Never turn down a man who offers to cook. For one, if they do, they usually can, and that is always a plus; also, if you turn them down once, they might not offer again. Gemma was smart enough to know that much about men.
And she liked Jorge's cooking. He really was good, even is he did not say it himself.

The dinner they just had was also good. And it was not the end of the date, apparently.

>>“Well, time for the next stage of my most brilliant plan. Shall we?”

"Yes" she smiled, taking his hand and walking with him. "Can I ask what the brilliant plan is, or I'll just have to see?"

>> "Yes…Can I ask what the brilliant plan is, or I'll just have to see?"

Jorge smirked as she just seemed look around in a clueless manner that denoted that he was not about to tell her where the rest of their evening was going to go. As a matter of fact, he really did want to tell her but it was tough work finding the right things to do for this evening. After all, it seemed as if it had been eons since he had actually attempted to woo this woman. Sure they already said the “I love yous” to one another, but that did not excuse him from making her feel special ever again.

At least now that they found time to spend together after their crazy schedules. Which meant that he would definitely have to do his best tonight.

“You, my love,” he smirked as she walked with him, “Are simply going to have to wait.”

Once they were out of Persephone’s, Jorge led Gemma back to his car, where he proceeded to slip into the driver’s seat as well. The food they had was satisfying and the evening was still young. Casting her with a quick glance and a smile, Jorge pulled out of the drive way and moved into the street.

***

The drive was short but Jorge relished every second of it. Just being out alone with this woman seemed to do them both a world of good. On top of that just the energy of the nightlife of New York seemed to pump him up with an almost youthfulness that Jorge had felt waning every day of work; or maybe it was being in the presence of Gemma that did that to him? Whatever the case, the detective was not going to over think it, he simply wanted to spend time with this woman whom he cared about so much.

A few minutes later and Jorge pulled up to a parking lot situated at Central Park. The park was nothing new, after all when you live in New York, you tend to gravitate towards the park often enough. But tonight Jorge had heard of other plans that would be held here. Hopefully plans that Gemma would enjoy as well.

Once he pulled the car to a stop, she flashed Gemma a smile.

“Hope you won’t mind a little stroll?”

>>“You, my love. Are simply going to have to wait.”

Gemma chuckled. "I would have been surprised if you actually told me." she nodded with a smirk.
Guys liked their surprises. She could tell Jorge was looking forward to being mysterious just a little bit longer. She did not blame him for it. Mysterious suited him just fine.

Central Park. Hmm.

>>“Hope you won’t mind a little stroll?”

"Not at all" she smiled, stepping out of the car "As long as you promise no mutants or monsters are going to jump out from behind a tree, I'm fine with walking."

With Central Park involved, one could never be sure. Especially at night. Then again, she was with Jorge. They could take on anything and everything.

>> "Not at all…As long as you promise no mutants or monsters are going to jump out from behind a tree, I'm fine with walking."

Jorge chuckled as he offered Gemma’s assistance in getting out of the car. Once she out, he shook his head as he stepped back.

“Don’t worry,” he said with a very confident nod. “I had a couple of my precinct friends do a sweep. There are no mutated killer apples or large handed brutes within 20 miles of here. We’re safe.”

Once she had taken his arm, Jorge led her slowly into the park. It was still fairly well lit with people jogging or going on late strolls. There was really nothing to be scared of out here. Sure where was always the chance of being mugged or something, but Jorge was a good cop and he knew they would be alright. After all, it was not like he was leading her to secluded and unpopulated spots in the wilderness of the park. He was keeping to the jogging, well lit trails.

Leaning over, Jorge very gently kissed her cheek as they walked on in silence, simply listening to the sounds of the world around them. Central Park at night could be very peaceful in certain routes. The stars above their heads, the sight of the lit buildings all around them just seemed to capture them in this majestic piece of art that revolved all around.

But walking on, chatting casually, Jorge smirked when he saw the twinkle of some lights up ahead. Good, they were not going to late after all.

His hand at the small of her back, Jorge gradually led her around the edge of some bushes into something that could only be described as a fairy tale . Lights were strung up through the trees, where was a beautifully lit path around the water that led to what looked like a fairly medium sized festival of sorts where gentle music and the smells of sweets and food hung heavy in the air.

Jorge smirked as he glanced to Gemma. “This…is the next part of our date,” he said as he waved his hand towards the festival for them to join.

>>“Don’t worry, I had a couple of my precinct friends do a sweep. There are no mutated killer apples or large handed brutes within 20 miles of here. We’re safe.”

"All is well then" Gemma smiled, leaning against him as they walked. She felt safe. And the park was really nice this time of the evening. She had no idea where they were going, but she knew it was going to bre great. Jorge clearly had a talent for organizing dates, too bad he did so few of them lately. But then again, that was not entirely his fault.

And then, suddenly, there were light everywhere. Beautiful fairy tale lights.

"Oh my god" Gemma gasped in surprise and awe.

>>“This…is the next part of our date,”

"Wow..." she whispered, looking around. It really looked like something out of a fairy tale. Or some romance movie. "This... is beautiful."

Finally turning back to Jorge, she kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you. I mean it. This is perfect."

Jorge led Gemma on to the lights. They were twinkling, like several tiny stars that had been captured and hung through the trees for people to enjoy. What made the scene even more beautiful was that as he walked, they passed the large in-park pond that shimmered and reflected the light with a variety of sparkles that nearly doubled and tripled the amount of lights they saw. It was absolutely everywhere and every square inch of the scene of was utterly gorgeous.

He sighed thankfully. He was not disappointed with this festival yet. He had heard of its beauty and they indeed delivered.

Arms clasped behind his back, he smirked as he noted the gasp and finally the expression on Gemma’s face. He could feel his nerves begin to loosen just a tiny bit. He was most afraid that this part of their evening was not going to go well.

But, just by her reaction, she seemed to be enjoying it just fine…

>> "Oh my god…Wow...This... is beautiful."

He smiled a bit wider, in relief. He wished that he alone had something to do with the décor, but unfortunately that was simply not true. The man simply had a knack for find the good destinations and stumbling on the right places. But despite all that, he was mostly thankful for the fact that Gemma really seemed to enthralled by the beauty of the setting.

Jorge stepped up to her side, his hands stuffed in his coat pockets as he watched the lights twinkle and shimmer from inside of the foliage. The smell of the sweets wafted past them on the small breeze and the seemed to entice them to follow closer. But he paused when Gemma moved and leaned over to kiss his cheek…

>> "Thank you. I mean it. This is perfect."

He smirked and nodded.

“My pleasure,” he whispered as he leaned in to give her a small kiss on the lips. With that he offered his arm. “Come on, why don’t we join the festivities?” Once she took his arm, Jorge began to lead her towards the sweet and warm smelling festival. As they walked he began to explain exactly what this was they were walking into. “Since Summer is going to be over in a few weeks, this group calling themselves the Summer Ones, hold a festival every year that celebrates the last of the season. I figured,” he said with a small shrug, “That this would be a good way to send off the summer, maybe start the next season anew.”

>>“My pleasure. Come on, why don’t we join the festivities? Since Summer is going to be over in a few weeks, this group calling themselves the Summer Ones, hold a festival every year that celebrates the last of the season. I figured that this would be a good way to send off the summer, maybe start the next season anew.”

Gemma smiled, and took his arm as they walked into the festival. She could see people, mostly couples, wandering around just like they were, with the fairy lights shining above, and she felt content. And happy.

"It really is the perfect way" she sighed "We don't pay enoug attention to changing seasons anymore. There should be a lot more celebrations like this, to show us how time passes."

There was music as they walked on, and all in all, it felt peaceful.

"And that reminds me I should start preparing for the autumn holidays in the Mansion. We will have a lot of kids staying around for them. I want to make them feel at home."

>> "It really is the perfect way…We don't pay enoug attention to changing seasons anymore. There should be a lot more celebrations like this, to show us how time passes."

“I couldn’t agree more,” he responded with a smile.

Jorge continued to walk with Gemma into the festivities. The Summer Ones certainly knew how to throw a celebration. Stands were laid out in patterns that did not make the area seem utterly cluttered. Instead it gave it a very organic flow that seemed to make the whole party have a life and pulsing energy of its own. And it was certainly infectious.

A large dance area had been set aside where people slowly danced to the music inspired by a declining summer. The twinkling lights that hung above their heads seemed to pull the night sky and stars down directly over them, and scents of various foods offered by the stands were tantalizing to the senses. As Jorge walked along with Gemma, he had his arm gently wrapped around her waist. The sounds of the mirthful people around them brought smile to his face as they strolled. So much to do and yet he really did not know where to start…

>> "And that reminds me I should start preparing for the autumn holidays in the Mansion. We will have a lot of kids staying around for them. I want to make them feel at home."

Jorge smiled warmly. “That sounds nice. If you want any help, I think I know a handsome, strapping detective that will only be too glad to offer his services.” He grinned, but his offer was legit.

The detective was only too glad to offer his help around the mansion. In the past year that he has lived in New York, he had been visiting the mansion more and more. He was growing quite fond of all the residents and wanted to protect that place as much as if he lived there himself. But on top of that he did not mind participating in keeping the students there happy. He had met quite a few of them and knew of the hard lives that they had. Maybe of autumn holiday cheer would be exactly what they needed to make themselves feel at home.

>>“That sounds nice. If you want any help, I think I know a handsome, strapping detective that will only be too glad to offer his services.”

"Oh, please do give him my number" he grinned at Jorge "And of course, you can also help when you have the time."

She could see in his face that he was amused and generally happy; she laughed.

"You just make these things to easy, Jorge."

He really did. And she liked teasing him. And the evening was beautiful.

"Would you like to dance?" she asked him, moving closer as they alked towards the source of the music. "One year..." she sighed "It was almost one year ago right around here that the God of the Oceans was hitting on me."

Jorge smirked. She was teasing him but he did not mind in the least. If there was one thing he knew how to have was a sense of humor. And to be honest, he really did want to help out all those kids. He was not the type to just sit back and let everyone else do all the work. Besides, Gemma surely needed the help. She always took so much onto herself to make those kids feel especially at home so it was only natural that she would need some assistance and he was only too glad to offer his services.

After all, who would really turn down the help of a broad-shouldered police officer who was volunteering to put up decorations without asking to be paid? Few people do anything for free anymore.

They continued to stroll when suddenly Gemma proposed an idea to him...

>> "Would you like to dance?"

He just grinned in response. Holding out his hand for her to take, he simply nodded his head. If there was one thing that this grizzly detective knew how to do, it was dance. Her hand in his, they walked out to the appropriate dance space. The music of summer, which was the only way it could be described, spun and fluttered about their ears. This was the sounds of summer closing, of people wishing it a good jounrey, and of praying to see it once again next year. It certainly a magical space in a magical time.

>> "One year...It was almost one year ago right around here that the God of the Oceans was hitting on me."

Jorge laughed. Just outright laughed at Gemma's comment. He had nearly forgotten everything that had occured in this park nearly a year ago. She was right, it was almost a year when that young mutant unleashed her powers and turned the whole of Central Park into an absolute madhouse. People were running around, pretending they were the identities of their costumes, people died, people got hurt, it really was a bad time. The funny thing was how Jorge himself had been affected. He was ironically dressed as Poseidon, the god of the oceans and in being affected by the mutant, thought that's really who he was.

It was a terrible time. But also one which Gemma never allowed him to live down.

He shook his head as he sighed.

"Yeah," he smirked and shook his head. "I still can't believe you kissed that guy. So...pompous."

>>"Yeah, I still can't believe you kissed that guy. So...pompous."

"Well, technically, he kissed me." she noted, smiling as they got closer to the music and the place where people were dancing. Turning to face Jorge, she rested her hands on his shoulders. They started to sway to the music. Not really dancing, just moving in sync with each other, enjoying the moment.

"But, he was also very handsome, and kind of dashing, in a grand, Olympian way" she chuckled "I mean, how many mortal women can resist a god and avoid the consequences?..."

Mythology was not Gemma's main interest, but she nejoyed reading the colorful stories form time to time. Especially when it came to oceans and their gods. Go figure.

"And, he saved my life more than once that night. I kind of owed the guy that much."

>> "Well, technically, he kissed me…But, he was also very handsome, and kind of dashing, in a grand, Olympian way…I mean, how many mortal women can resist a god and avoid the consequences?..."

Out in the dance floor, the pair of adults carefully pressed closer and began to sway with the music. His hands on her waist, Jorge gently moved, not really in tune to the music, but simply in tune with her. It did not take long for them to move into the underlining rhythm of the music that was carefully fluttering around the both of them.

A grin crept across his face as he listened to Gemma speak about her interactions with his “alternate self”. That incident really was not his fault. Because of that mutant, Jorge could have sworn that he was a god of the oceans and he truly believed it. Gemma,that whole night, apparently had to fend off his advances because he wanted to take the mortal woman as his lover. It was definitely an awkward situation after the whole thing was over and done with.

He grinned as he shook his head.

“Well, I can’t say that I blame you,” Jorge smirked. “After all, I do make a rather handsome god.” he chuckled. “Besides, how could a god resist the beauty of a mortal queen such as yourself?”

A wink followed his laugh as he found that they were now indeed sway to the music. It was so gentle and sweet and just sounded like Summer. They were giving it a grand farewell and they were sharing the moment together.

>> "And, he saved my life more than once that night. I kind of owed the guy that much."

Jorge laughed another mirthful laugh. Just being with this woman seemed to bring out the best in him and he was thankful for it every second of the day. Shaking his head he leaned over and gave her a small kiss that spoke volumes.

“Trust me, I’m sure that it was more than his pleasure to do so.” he whispered. “Besides, I’m sure you pulled his bacon out of the fire more than once as well.”