Chapter Text
Frederick spent Sunday with his grandmother. She was as sweet as ever and it did him a world of good. When he showed up at her apartment door with a bag full of avocados and plantains, she had smiled and stroked his face.
“You finally shaved! I’ve always said you got too handsome a face to hide it.” she told him, letting him in.
“You only say that because you think I look like abuelo.”
“So? You do and I had great appreciation for his face, even when he wrinkled up. Ah!” she exclaimed as she tapped his cane with her own, “Look at that, now we match!”
Frederick helped her cook. Well, helped by chopping up ingredients and keeping her company. They talked about his recovery, work, and her health. He indulged her in remembering his grandfather and her youth, and he stressed his offer to buy her a house in the outskirts of the city so she could have her own garden. She refused him again, “I thank you but don’t bother, hijo. I may have accepted it when your grandfather died, but I’m too old now to leave this neighborhood.”
“I don’t like you being here alone.” He replied cutting into an Italian pepper.
“I don’t mind it, dear. I still got my friends around. Your mother and aunt are close by and they visit every other day. I miss Emmanuel terribly some days but I’ve accepted that this is how it must be and here is where we shared our lives. I would be lonesome then if I left the place I’ve truly lived away from home.” They fell into silence, standing side by side in front of the kitchen counter.
He took a moment to look up from the cutting board, to contemplate the dining table close by and the living room beyond it. His grandparents had lived in that apartment for almost the same time as they had been living in the United States. They had had their children there and raised them, it was from where both their daughters stepped out into their own lives in their wedding dresses. His grandfather used to entertain their friends in the living room with lively chatter, playing domino or cards or belting out familiar tunes on his piano while his wife sang along. This was the place Frederick would more often than not run straight to after a particularly rough day at school. He realized he would not feel the same way if he were to leave his own house. Even when he has been living there for years and he was proud of it, the place held very little in terms of quality memories beyond calm and lonesome nights.
“You know, I don’t like you being alone in that big house of yours either.” She told him after a while, and she must have seen him roll his eyes at that. “I know you don’t like when I do this, but I just want you be cared for and by someone good who can appreciate you. Now, Maria’s daughter is charming girl. She is a darling, very caring and humble, looks just like a young Anita Eckberg. I think she wants to continue in the food bussi-“
“Tata, please!” He interrupted her, trying to make her stop.
“Or Rosalind’s grandson! Such a lovely fellow. He is finishing his doctorate in Russian literature…or was it Fren-”
“Stop! I don’t – I don’t want matchmaking. Don’t need anyone to take care of me.” He started chopping the last of the peppers to not look at her, his cheeks a faint pink. After fencing off three more subtle date proposals he finally gave in, told her he had had date that Saturday and about you.
She hummed at the end and kept stirring the chopped peppers into the sauce in silence. “What's her full name?”
He told her while frowning, “Why?”.
“I’ll put her name in honey for you. She doesn’t sound the bad sort, we’ll sweeten her up.”
“Abuela, please stop it.”
“Hush now. I just worry for you. I’m sure you can sweeten her up all on your own, but a little help never hurts.” She tried to hold back a smile when he groaned in embarrassment. “Leave the onions to me, go and play me something. That way you can start practicing for when you want to romance your girl. ”
That is one of the reasons why he never told any of his family anything about his personal life, even when he actually had to opportunity to.
--
He was early at the office that following Monday morning. He really needed to get his sleeping schedule in line, maybe he should get some prescription pills. His restless train of thought and the more than occasional nightmare were doing a great job at keeping him exhausted.
He knew he shouldn’t be giving it much thought, but he wasn’t very happy about your I’ll call you. when he dropped you off at your apartment late on Saturday. He’s heard that before. It was usually followed by a long silence until, if he was still interested, he decided to call only to get a I don’t think I want to see you again. He was getting old to be dismissed like that, he thought.
But he was very interested in seeing you again. It had been so long since he even gone out on a date, especially one as good as last Saturday, at least for him. He had wanted to impress, taken you to one of the most expensive and nicest places in town, gone to pick you up in his freshly washed car, worn his best suit. Had tried hard to make sure you’ll like to stick around. He had been so nervous as you walked down the walk way in front of your building, looking lovely in a deep green cocktail dress. By the time you were seated at the restaurant he had managed to calm down, thanks in big part to your peaceful and inviting disposition. The conversation had flowed as effortlessly as on Thursday night once he had managed to let himself go.
You had kissed his cheek tenderly on greeting him and when saying goodnight. He would have wanted to return the gesture and perhaps reach for your hand over the table, but he wasn’t sure if the touch would be as welcomed and he didn’t feel that comfortable yet. You were sweet and attentive; he liked it a lot even if it overwhelmed him a little. He’ll just have to give you the benefit of doubt and wait, now he had the conversations of psychopaths to listen to.
It was later that day, while he was reheating some of the food his grandmother gave him for dinner, when you called back. He tried to tone it down, but you heard the smile in his voice after you asked him if he was free for drinks that Wednesday.
--
Unfortunately, a last minute emergency at the hospital had kept Chilton from seeing you. He called you again later that night, sounding genuinely regretful. You were disappointed but it was nothing he could control.
“As long as you’re available for an early dinner on Saturday, you have nothing to be sorry about.” You told him in teasing tone before adding, “There’s a small Turskish restaurant close to Pier 3 where the food is incredible. We could walk a little afterwards; the harbor is lovely at night.”
You had fun on the first date, you really did. Frederick had been quite nervous, probably hadn’t been on a date in a while. The restaurant had been extravagant, the food and drink fantastic and he looked very handsome.
He was trying very hard to impress you, you thought, as he commented in who was who and made snarky remarks. He had a tendency for sarcasm and sassiness, which had you in near-equal parts amused and slightly irritated. But he was always well-mannered and polite toward you. Once he relaxed into the date, he showed that shy sweet side of his you encountered last Thursday. You complemented each other well in conversation. He had a quality that just pulled at you and made you tender to him. For all his flash seemed to cover his own vulnerability. He was smart, interesting and smelled really good, so you were happy to meet with him again.
You figured that perhaps going to a place with a more intimate atmosphere would help relax him. Plus, the food there was amazing and it was one of your favorite places in town. Frederick had commented on being on a strict diet due to an accident (thought you may have googled him and Tattle Crime was more than a little informative about his ‘accident’), and this restaurant had a great spread of vegetarian dishes.
He picked you up again; he looked very charming dressed more casual. Thought he still wore a tie under his cozy blue sweater. But it didn’t take the extra smack out that kiss on cheek, which made him fluster a little.
You lost track of time inside the restaurant. It was a lovely place you always thought as romantic with its warm colors, spicy smell and soft lights. Seated in a rather small table in the back, your legs brushed constantly but you didn’t mind, thought you notice he would tense at the touch. He complained a little about the cramp space and the odd odor outside, but once the food arrived he couldn’t find a negative thing. From them on everything went smoothly.
After complete culinary satisfaction, you proposed to a walk along the harbor. That’s how you find yourself leisurely walking along the waterfront promenade with Frederick, trying to make him laugh with a silly story about when you tried to fool your way out of going to a cousin’s wedding. Smiles look really good on him.
You’ve been inching closer to brush your hand against his left as you walked. You reach out hold his hand gently. When he doesn’t pull away, you intertwine your fingers loosely until you feel his grip tighten a little. You give him a soft smile; he returns it before looking ahead quickly, his ears turning red. You would like to pull him to you for a kiss, you’ve been musing about those tempting lips of his since he dropped you off last Saturday. But everything in due time.
Frederick felt his chest constrict pleasantly when you took his hand. It was such an unusual and pleasurable thing, walking hand in hand with someone. It almost felt alien to be happening to him. You walk like that for a while, having lapsed into a comfortable silence and enjoy each other’s company. He thinks about the tender looks you kept giving him over dinner that made him swiftly look away, not know what to make of them. He thought of how your legs bumped and touched under the table when you stretched yours in the cramped space, how when he said something amusing and it made you smile. The sudden and almost too-easy intimacy overwhelmed him and made him blush.
You stop by the railing to admire the light of the harbor.
“I-I’d like to see you again.” He tells you, giving your hand a quick squeeze to catch your attention.
You turn to him fully and smiling coyly, take a step closer. He stiffens as you near, the hand holding his lets go to move up his arm. Hmm, maybe now… “You know what I’d like, Frederick?” you say to him softly, your other hands moving up his chest to stop and touch the skin of his neck just at the edge of his collar.
His breath hitches as he feels your fingertips on his neck, at the drop of your voice and your eyes flickering to his lips before looking back at him. “What?” he finds himself whispering,before swallowing nervously. He raises the hand you were holding to grab your arm, while his other tightens its hold on the handle of his cane.
“I would like to kiss you.” You respond, moving your body flushed against his.
“Can I?”you whisper, tilting you face up, you warm breath caressing his chin. The hand at his collar moves up to cup the side of his neck, your thumb starting to gently trace his jaw. His lips part slightly on their own.
He feels hot all over, he can’t feel the chilly night breeze. He feels a shock of disbelieve, you want to kiss him? He glances at your face, your chin tilted in invitation, your gaze warm under heavy eyelids, a sultry look that makes him want to give in to whatever you want. His breathing starts to pick up.
“Yes..." his breathy response as he nods as well, looking at your lips.
You lean in, closing your eyes, and he meets you half way.
It’s at first a gentle brush of lips before you tilt your head to kiss him fully. He sighs into the touch, his right hand changing its clutch on his cane to raise his arm around your waist to pull you closer. It’s a soft but ardent kiss, your hand cups his cheek. He dwells on the warmth and suppleness of your lips, feels them part, your tongue a teasing press against his lower lip. He slants his mouths at your request, allowing you access and he moans into your mouth. His arms tighten around you, he’s starting to feel drunk. He feels you shiver and he wishes he could clutch you closer to his body. You suck on his lower lip slightly before pulling away, he chases after your mouth before catching himself. You chuckle quietly, your thumb touches his chin fondly as he you looks at you a bit embarrassed.
You give his lips a quick, chaste kiss. You smile brightly at him, enjoying that fact that he’s still holding you close. “I’d like to continue seeing you too.”