"It smells absolutely delicious," Stephen commented, straightening the napkin upon his lap.

"Thanks, it's almost done," the girl smiled, "I hope you guys don't mind that the noodles aren't that al dente."

"That's fine," Halle stated.

She avoided the steam as she poured the pasta into the strainer. Five seats at a circular table welcomed them, and the scent of her secret sauce recipe enticed their hunger. She fixed the plates, filling them generously, and placed them in front of the respective consumers. Anthony wasted no time in picking up his fork and spinning the pasta until the girl halted him.

"Wait, just another minute and we'll eat."

Well, it wasn't even a whole minute before Nate entered the kitchen and sat between the girl and Stephen. With her approval, they began dining, helping themselves to whatever they pleased, be it the garlic bread or the salad to accompany the pasta dinner. The young detective looked at the girl for only a second before rolling both of his sleeves up to his elbows- that he made sure not to rest on the table. He twirled the angel hair through his fork until the length barely dangled from it and he took the first bite. The other two men had already been in their second and third bites while the ladies had yet to, using their spoons to aid in the twirling.

"Thanks for cooking again for us," Halle stated before her first taste.

"It's my pleasure. Here, I also got this."

She rose from her seat, went into one of the cupboards, and returned with wine. It was a nicer name and even impressed the older woman.

"Excellent taste, I see."

"I try to be a classy person every now and then. I just happen to know wine in this instance."

The conversation strayed and went on multiple tangents from then on. Nate had little to no contribution to the verbal cesspool; instead, he decided to appreciate every ingredient he could taste. His bites were slow and considerate, and he had yet to stain either his cheeks or clothing with the red sauce. He only looked up whenever the girl had any interjections to add. Halle looked to Stephen, then to Anthony, and the three of them smirked at one another.

"It's been a little too quiet, I think," Stephen stated, "but I'm not complaining."

"I bet. Ever since you guys shut down that ring, it seems like a bunch of assholes realized someone can take them down," She winked at her boss.

"We still owe you thanks for helping us solving that, really," Anthony added between bites.

"I was just at the wrong place at the right time. I didn't do anything. I just got lucky. Too lucky."

Nate was silent. In that moment, the television playing in the background mentioned that there was going to be a farmer's market opening in the city Square in the approaching autumn and made a mental note to go. He also made sure not to say anything as his associates grew the slightest bit heated.

"I've never been more sickened by humans in my life, and that's really saying something," Stephen rambled, barely swallowing his food first, "Ketamine in alcohol is reoccurring, but a waitress drugging the water and working with traffickers!?"

"If anything, as women we're supposed to stick together..." Halle looked down.

"I'm just grateful I didn't get shot. I really don't know how I lived or found my way home. Or at least, made it to our sidewalk."

"As terrible was what happened to you was, it did lead us to some of the pawns, and ultimately the bosses of the whole operation. All because of that stuffed bear," Anthony added.

"I also lucked out with you guys being in charge of evidence. I got it back in the hospital. It's only been days since but it feels so distant."

Though she was passed the incident, talking about it drained her in the slightest, so she retired the topic and it faded from recent memory for all, except, of course, for Nate. Soon the meal was mutually finished by everybody and the girl began collecting the plates. Before she could grasp the third one, Nate had taken it from under her, adding it to the rest he had, including the glasses that he held in his other hand. Words failed the girl as he took her plates, ventured to the sink and began washing them.

"Thank you," she stated, blushing a bit.

Halle had to suppress a tiny giggle as Stephen and Anthony grinned at their boss. After he had completed the chore, he also stored the food away, not allowing the girl to rise from her seat before taking the task upon himself. When all was said and done, he retreated back to his room, asking the girl to join him. Without question, she followed him and they missed hearing the mutual laughter between the three older adults still situated at the table.

"It couldn't be more obvious." Stephen chuckled.

"I can't believe it. How in the hell did she manage to... You know? I just could never picture it." Anthony wondered aloud.

"It takes one hell of a woman," Halle mentioned, "and I made sure that I hired one hell of a woman from the beginning."

The two young adults found themselves sitting inside of Nate's playing cards sphere. In an impulsive action, the girl grabbed two toy robots and engaged them in a battle. With no attention paid to her boss, she continued the game for a few minutes as he watched from his swivel chair. Only muscle memory made him twirl his hair as he subtly grinned at her sound effects.

"Aren't you going to play with me?"

"No, watching you is sufficient enough."

"Alrighty, then."

It didn't take long before she grew tired of the activity. She placed the toys in their respective crevice before sitting beside Nate upon the floor as he slowly spun in his chair.

"Would you do me a favor and visit your crawlspace? You may return after word."

She would have shot him a quizzical look, but she understood that he had a greater intention than to just send her away. Wandering through the corridors, she soon was in her own alcove. She spotted a small box in the center of the floor, neatly wrapped with white wrapping paper. A gasp escaped her lips, and it was decided, right in that moment, he would open the present with Nate. She ran, reaching him in under a minute. He smirked as she sunk to her knees.

"You could have opened it in your area."

"But I wanted to open it with you, and find out why I got a present."

"It's our anniversary-"

"What?!" The girl's face reddened so greatly, all metaphors and smilies would fall to hyperboles in describing it.

"Of your employment. It's been an entire year since you've started working here."

"Oh," she softly stated, relaxing the surprised tension in her face, "So it's been a full year since the first day we met?"

"As it implies, yes."

Wasting no more time, she tore the plain white paper to find a small and regular box that wasn't larger than the palm of her hand. He offered her a curt nod of approval as he twirled his hair and looked at her. She opened the box, pulled the thin layer of fabric, and stared at the gift. It was beautiful, there was no doubting that, but its intent was unclear. She pulled the jewelry from the box and held it from her face, studying the subtle yet vibrant red and holding the crucifix that hung at the bottom.

"Is... Is this a rosary?"

"Yes."

The girl was inherently irreligious; she didn't have a favorable view of it when the multitude of Holy Wars and condemnations associated with it came into mind, but she still held a healthy curiosity with their origins and teachings. She never assumed Nate was a faith based person. In fact, she presumed that with his scientific and analytical nature, he would find such prospects to be preposterous. That lead her to question her own integrity of knowing him as well as she thought she did.

"It's beautiful, and a beautiful gesture, but I'm not sure what it means. You know I'm not religious."

"It had nothing to do with the church. That piece has an important legacy, and I felt it would be most appropriate to trust you with it."

With his vague explanation, she decided not to ask any more questions. She understood it wasn't exactly customary to wear them, but she nonetheless adorned the rosary on her neck. The girl intended to rise and thank him, but he mentioned that she had not yet finished opening her presents. Under his guidance, she removed another layer of fabric and pulled out a pair of dice.

"They were the dice we used when we first met. I put them aside after our game."

Though she was not sad, light pools of tears stung her eyes as a smile was born upon her face. The girl rose and wrapped her arms around him from behind, thanking him and offering a kiss to his cheek. He insisted that there was no trouble in his efforts. Halle stood undetected at the doorway, smiling at his warm gesture.

An odd day had been in fashion since the sunrise, as Nate and his associates didn't have a case in their hand to deal with at the moment. To fill the time the young genius busied himself by playing with various toys, of course, with the girl. At one point, the two were engaged in a robot battle. That in itself wasn't special; what was special was that Nate had given her his favorite robot- the one with a green stripe running down its torso. She understood the gravity of his permission, so she was sure to be careful not to cause any dents or scratches to the toy.

"I must admit, you have a formidable army. I hereby surrender."

She placed the robot in its respective corner and then helped him with the rest. A quick glance at the analog clock revealed that midnight was approaching. The girl stood, stretched her arms, and let out a strong yawn.

"Are you going to sleep now?" He asked.

"I think so, I'm tired. It's been a long day of doing absolutely nothing."

"You didn't 'do nothing'," he defended her while he stood as well, "You're always doing something. Thank you."

"You're more than welcome. I think you should go to bed, too."

Normally he would argue, but he knew that she would point out that he had no specific task at hand. So, he followed her lead after she took his hand and began walking through the card corridors. She bypassed her alcove and lead them down a different path. Eventually, the two were in a small cranny that held a queen mattress nicely settled with a headboard, comforter, and pillows. The girl nudged him onto the bed, promising to return in a moment.

When he was alone, Nate pulled the stuffed bear from under the blankets and placed it in the center. Normally he would take the right side of the mattress and she the left, and with that in mind, he laid himself on her side. He hoped that she would soon return.

All she was doing was grabbing two glasses of water and heating a single glass of milk in the microwave. As she stood in the kitchen, she caught Anthony and Stephen leaving. She offered them a tender goodnight, and in return, they chuckled and looked at one another before leaving. Halle was also on her way out, but she took a few minutes to talk to the girl.

"What's with them? They've been giddy all day."

"Don't pay them any attention," she advised, smiling herself, "It's just that they've been noticing some changes around here."

"Well, that's what separates you detectives from people like myself. I didn't notice anything different."

The older woman giggled a bit, "That's funny, considering it's centered around you."

"Don't tell me: I've become a bitch. Oh my, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"Calm down," she laughed, "If anything, ever since you came into the picture, things have been... Well, a pleasant and noticeable change in the atmosphere came with you."

"That's wonderful to hear," she pulled the warm milk from the microwave, "Can I ask what exactly did I do?"

"The plants around the building was a nice touch, it makes this place feel homely. Actually, on that, you made this place like a home. That's extremely impressive."

"I guess that's what you do when you pretty much live somewhere."

"No," she pulled her jacket on, "I don't thunk anybody else could have made this a home like you. We also noticed the change in him."

"Like what?"

"You need to stop selling yourself short. His hygiene is more or less the same. But he eats more, sleeps more, and his new habit of saying thank you is most certainly welcome. Even with today. He ate nicely, washed the dishes, put dinner away, and...."

"And what?"

"I'm saying too much. Basically, he's become capable of so much more because of you."

"But he was amazing when I first met him."

"What should that tell you?"

The girl pondered the possibilities and implications. With Halle's words in mind, she really did begin to recall the subtle shifts in his personality. Even further, she remembered his mannerism and body language, and their evolutions toward her.

"Wait... You're not saying.."

"We have a hunch," she stated as she walked to the door, "and usually we're not wrong."

Halle left the girl to her thoughts. She walked back to the mattress, surprised to find Nate on her side. Before she could speak he shifted to his side. The girl gave him his milk, set his water on his nightstand, and crawled onto her side. It was very warm, and it induced more drowsiness. She laid on her side and embraced Nate from behind until they were ultimately spooning.

"Would you like to accompany me to the farmer's market this Saturday?" He abruptly asked.

"Certainly. I'll make sure to move some appointments around to-"

"I'm not asking you for a professional obligation."

"Oh... So, a date then?"

"Call it whatever you wish."

"I'd be glad to."

She buried her face in the crook of his neck. He didn't tense at her action; rather, he relaxed into her and gently held her wrist over his chest.He found himself succumbing to fatigue, but not before he heard the girls final interjection of the night:

"If it were the last night on Earth, I'd be fine."

It seemed that she had been frequently alluding to her death, but Nate understood that she simply was unafraid of it. She wasn't suicidal by any means, and he never worried that she would harm herself. That never eliminated the thought that others could harm her, and that made him sometimes wish that he could trade his incendiary wit with brute physical prowess, if only to ensure her safety and freedom.

"Me too. Goodnight."

He slept soundly, unaware of his own smile.