I spare a glance at a clock from the paperwork I’ve been doing. It’s a little after three in the afternoon and I get an idea. Putting down the pen, I take my cell phone from my back pocket. It only takes a second for me to find Henry’s number and I shoot him a text saying to call my work phone when he gets a chance. I add my direct extension so he doesn’t get passed around.

Almost as soon as I pick up my pen again, my phone rings. I answer with a smile, “New York City Homicide Unit, Detective Ashton speaking.”

“Blain?” Henry’s voice is questioning.

I chuckle, “Hey, I didn’t think you would call so quickly.”

“Yea,” he tells me, “they don’t have me doing much today. I just got done hanging my favorite new painting.”

“The one I helped with?” I ask with a grin.

“The very one. I picked it up from the studio at lunchtime. This office is bigger than I expected. It needed something.”

I start to fill out the paperwork I had been working on as I talk to him, “How is it; the new office and all?”

“Big,” he answers with a chuckle, “and really modern. The one wall is all windows. I feel really important.”

I laugh with him, but then get to what I’d had him call for anyway, “Hey, do you have plans tonight?”

“If you call a pint of Rocky Road and ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ plans, then I’m totally booked.”

I chuckle again, “Well if you can pull yourself away, I was going to see if you wanted to go out to eat tonight.”

“All of us?”

“No,” I look up from my desk and smile at nothing, “just the two of us.”

If we’re going to take this slow, I’m going to do it right.

“So, kind of like a date?”

“Exactly like a date,” I tell him honestly. “My family is friends with the owner of this high end Italian restaurant. I can get us reservations for around seven.”

“Are you going to be off work in time?”

“I should be. Unless something happens in the next hour or so, all I have to do is finish up this paperwork,” I motion to the pile of papers in front of me even though he can’t see them. “It’s shouldn’t take more than a few hours.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yea, it’s only like ten sheets – tops.”

“No, I mean,” he pauses and I can just imagine his cheeks turning pink. “I mean, are you sure you want to go on a date with me?”

“Of course,” I shake my head and roll my eyes, “why else would I ask?”

“I don’t know,” he admits.

“So, what do you say? I’ll call right now.”

There’s silence for a second and then his voice come back, “Yea, that sounds good.”

“Awesome,” a smile that takes over my face. “Wear a suit, it’s a nice place. I’ll be home around six and we’ll leave after I’m dressed.”

“I’m not sure-”

“And don’t worry about the money, I’m paying. You can pay next time we go out.”

“There’s already a next time?” He chuckles. “We haven’t even had a this time yet.”

“Captain’s coming,” Sanders warns looking up from his papers with a grin. “Call him back later.”

“Hey, I’ll see you when I get home. Captain’s coming. And text me your work number just in case I need to get a hold of you during the day.”

“Alright. I guess, I’ll see you tonight.”

“You certainly will,” I answer and whisper, "Bye, Henry," before hanging the phone up.

Just as Captain approaches, I sit back and pick up my pen.

“How’s the paperwork, detectives?” our boss asks, stopping at the side of our desks.

I nod and Sanders answers, “Going good, Captain. I think we’re going to get out of here at a reasonable time tonight.”

“Good, good,” he smiles and then knocks on the surface of his desk. “Keep it up, boys.”

When he walks away, my partner looks at me, “Was that the mysterious roommate that you were talking about the other day?”

“Yea,” I start to work on sheets in front of me again, “we’ve gotten really close in the couple days we had off.”

“Are you sure a date is a good idea?” he raises an eyebrow at me and tilts his head.

I shake mine, “Not at all, but I’m going to do it anyway. I’ve never felt like this for anyone.”

“Did you sleep with him?”

“No,” I chuckle. My phone vibrates from my pocket and I take it out with a smile, “He’s new to everything so we’re taking it slow.”

“What the hell does that mean; he’s new to everything?”

“I was his first kiss and that was yesterday,” I explain after I read the text and put it back. I look up at my partner and give him an accusing look, “Aren’t you the one that keeps telling me I need to settle down?”

He nods, “Alright, I get it.” He straightens the stack he’s working on, “So you’re where are you taking this date?”

“You remember the fancy Italian restaurant by my place I was telling you about?”

“The one your dads really like?”

“Yea, it’s called Del Posto,” I tell him. “Dads know the owners. I’ll have to call Pops. Can you cover me for a few minutes?”

He nods with a smile, “Of course, but make it quick.”

Without another word, I slip out of the office and walk out to where everyone takes their smoke breaks. Quickly finding Pops in the contacts part of my phone, I call him up.

He answers on the third ring, “Hello?”

“Hey Pops,” I greet him as I lean against the side of the building.

“Blain, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Pops,” I chuckle.

“You never call in the middle of the day; especially not a work day.”

“I need a favor,” I admit.

“That sounds more like my son. What can I do for you?”

I sigh because I know this is going to be turned into a big deal, “Listen, you can’t freak out.”

“Alright,” there’s a pause, “and you’re sure you’re okay?”

I nod at no one, “I’m fine. I need you to call Del Posto and make me a reservation for two around seven.”

“Del Posto?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, but you have to tell me something first.”

“I knew I would,” I admit. “I’m taking Henry. And I would really-”

He cuts me off saying, “Wait, wait, wait, I’m putting you on speaker so your father can hear. It’ll save me the trouble of explaining.” I sigh again and run my hand down my face. I hear a few buttons being pressed and then Pops’ voice again, “Alright, start over.”

“All of it?”

“No, no,” he clarifies. “Start where you’re telling me why you want reservations to Del Posto.” He emphasizes the name of the restaurant and I’m sure it’s for Dad’s benefit. “And speak louder – we both want to hear you.”

“I’m pretty sure I have the most ridiculous family-”

“Oi,” he interrupts again, “go on. Tell us what you want them for.”

Taking another deep breath, I let it out quickly, “I’m taking Henry out to dinner – just the two of us.”

“I knew it,” I hear Dad in the background clap once and then he’s closer to the phone, “did you finally make a move?”

“Finally?” I question. “We only talked about it a couple days ago, old man. But to answer your question,” I straighten my back, “yes, I made a move.”

“Woo!” Dad’s little celebration makes both me and Pops laugh. “I’m so glad you’re admitting it.”

“Listen, it’s just a date, Dad,” I stress the word ‘date’ a little. “I’m not marrying him.”

“Not yet you’re not,” Dad agrees, kind of. “I’m going to book a car to pick you guys up. What kind of flowers does he like? Do you think you’ll have time for a walk in the park after? Is a present too much?”

“Dad!” I use my warning tone, but he continues talking.

“What’s his favorite color? Does he like dessert?”

“Dad!” I shout it a little louder with no prevail.

“Oh,” he shouts, “does he know how to dance!?”

“Oh my – Dad!” I try again.

Then Pops voice comes back and I can tell I’m no longer on speaker phone, “He left.”

“He’s out of his mind!” I shout at my father.

“Yes,” he chuckles, “that’s true.”

“And you married him,” I accuse.

“Twice,” I can tell he’s smiling when he says so. “I must be absolutely mad.”

I shake my head and push away from the wall, “Can you try and calm him down? This is Henry’s first date. I don’t want to freak him out.”

“Blain,” Pops says it almost quietly as if trying to draw my attention.

“Yea?”

“He’s just excited is all,” he explains calmly. “It’s your first date too. He wants to make it special for you, yea?”

This brings a smile to my face and I sigh, “Just make sure he doesn’t overdo it. And if he makes any plans, will you at least make sure I know about them? And please,” I know I’m begging now, but I also know how Dad can be, “please nothing over the top. Henry and his parents aren’t famous; he’s not used to that lifestyle. Just something simple, please.”

“I’ll try to rein him in,” he promises.

It sounds sincere, so I relax a little. If there is one person that can get Dad to calm down, it’s Pops. Let’s just hope he can this time.

“One more thing,” Pops adds. “I know you said seven, but could it be any other time? Just in case they’re booked?”

“Nothing before that,” I tell him, “but I guess after would be okay.”

“Got it.”

“Thanks Pops,” I smile, knowing that whatever Dad plans, it’ll be a good night. It may be slightly embarrassing, but good none-the-less.

He chuckles, “Don’t thank me yet. You have no idea what your father has planned.”

“He has no idea what he has planned,” I laugh with him. “Alright,” I sigh again, “I have to finish up this paper work so I can actually go on the date. Can you text me the details?”

“Will do.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too, son.”

I hang up the phone after that and make my way back up to the office.

When I sit down, Sanders looks over at me with a smirk, “You should thank your lucky stars Duke got here on time.”

“Did he catch a case?”

My partner nods, “We almost go it; would have ruined your date to Del Posto.”

As I chuckle, Duke sits on the corner of my desk, “Del Posto, huh? How can you afford that on this salary?”

“I don’t think my money is your concern, Duke,” I look up at him with annoyance.

He shakes his head, “Must be nice to have rich daddies who can pay all your bills.”

“Cut it out, Duke,” Sanders warns from where he sits at his desk.

“All I’m saying is,” he holds his hands up in surrender, “that pretty boy as a sweet gig. This is probably just chump change for him.”

“I pay my own bills just like you,” I tell him with a sarcastic smile. “Now, if you could kindly remove your ass from my desk, I would like to finish my work. I have plans tonight.”

“Yea I heard, some date,” he laughs outright. “Probably some fairy, like those ‘dads’,” he puts finger quotations around the word, “of yours.”

I take a deep breath as to not hit him, but Sanders is on his feet before I can say anything. His eyes connect with Duke’s and he leans in closer, “If you don’t get your bigot ass off my partner’s desk right now, I’m going to put my foot through it. And if that doesn’t stop this bullshit,” he gets threateningly quiet, “I’m going to rip off your balls and hand them to the Captain myself.”

Duke stands with a scowl, but doesn’t say anything.

“Now go do your job like you’re supposed to and leave my partner to his work,” he straightens his tie and sits back down in his chair.

Duke saunters away with his metaphorical tail between his legs and I continue on with my paperwork. I don’t say anything for a while. We just work in silence.

But after a few minutes, I can’t help it, “Thanks, man.”

“After everything you’ve told me about your parents and knowing you like I do,” he doesn’t even look up as he talks. He just continues on like he didn’t just make a fool out of someone, “I’m not going to let someone talk about you like that. You’re a good guy,” he does look up for a second then with a nod, but resumes moments later, “and you don’t deserve the bullshit of a jealous man that took twice the time and half the courage to get to where you’re already at.”

~A/N~

Happy Sunday!

Thank you for all the AMAZING birthday wishes. I couldn't thank you all individually, but I read every single one! I have the best fans in the whole world. You're amazing.

Blain on the side!