Tiggy smiled broadly at the man and watched as the spinner landed on green. "Alright, left hand green. And don't you worry, Milo... I will bring it," she said with a chuckle as she reached down and placed her hand on a green dot. "You won't be able to keep up I'm sure," she taunted him a smidge.

Left hand green? Now which one was green? All he could see was blur. He placed his hand on what he presumed to be green. "I can keep up. I have the stamina." He smiled. He would prove it to her.

END SCENE

Antigone came to be in her sitting room with a loud pop. She was very emotional and happy and and and oh she had no idea what to do with herself. She kicked off her shoes and walked over and took a seat on her plush sofa, waiting for him to arrive.

Ethan followed with a popping sound as he appeared in Antigone's house once more. Things were beginning to change right before his eyes, some good, some just plain scary. Either way, he knew what he wanted but things needed to move at a slow pace. No need in rushing into something.

"Hi," he grinned as he walked over and sat on the couch. This meant one thing, he had to say what was on his mind, something he was not good at and not used too. Merlin help me, please!

Antigone smiled sweetly at Ethan as he came to sit next to her. She didn't move any closer, she didn't want to smother him. She simply held out her hand for him to take and said, "Hi there."

She knew that this was a difficult thing for him and she wanted to ease him into it. Hell, she still had Milo and poor Malachi hanging on by a thread as it was. She had some loosed ends to tie up before they could get serious any way.

"Would you like something to drink or eat before we start talking, love?" she offered in a gentle voice as she stood up.

"Anything to drink would be find...I mean fine," Ethan spoke up in a nervous voice then sighed happily with a smile. So much was going on inside of him that it was hard to even concentrate on where to begin. "Is it...always this hard to just...talk?" He stood up with her as there were going to be moments that he couldn't just sit and do absolutely nothing. If he was going to finally share something of himself to someone other than Milo, and there was a question with him, then he needed a way to ease into things. Share from a different point of view.

Antigone smiled and led the way into the kitchen and opened the icebox and pulled out a bottle of white wine she had been chilling. She uncorked the bottle, summoned two glasses and poured.

She watched Ethan intently as she swirled the wine around in her glass letting it breathe a bit. "It's hard to just talk when you are afraid of saying what you feel. You don't have to be afraid with me though, Ethan... I won't ever hurt you intentionally and I am sorry that I hurt you without my knowledge. I really thought you didn't care," she said as she bit her lip and swirled her wine some more. That pain was still fresh for her. The things he had said to her, the way he had said them, the look on his face.... It nearly broke her heart. Again.

Taking another sip from her glass she walked nearer to him and held out her arms. He could come hug her if he wanted... if not that was okay too. She just thought he looked as though he needed one.

Ethan finally began to follow Antigone towards the kitchen, crossing one arm across his firm stomach while the other rested his chin. It was thinking time, sharing time, something he desperately wanted to do and at this very moment. It was strange how things worked out at times.

"I didn't want you to know that I cared," he began as his eyes landed on hers with a sorrowful look. "I didn't want to know that I cared. It's not something that I was brought up doing and certainly not something I've ever encountered. But you..." His voice trailed off as if he wanted to say more but he couldn't. She was just different from the rest. He loved her determination, her stamina, her ability to get people to talk...namely himself. However did she do it?

Antigone dropped her arms and leaned against the work surface of her kitchen and watch Ethan with kind eyes. "I understand, love. I really do. I did the same thing until the night... well you know which night. I apologize for causing you any harm or confusion. I never figured I'd.. uh... starttofallforyou..." she jumbled the last together in a rather Matteo way and smiled.

Moving closer to him she rested one hand on his arm and said, "Well I care for you greatly and I am willing to take this slowly so you can get used to this. I will help you anyway I can. I know the feelings are scary, trust me I know... When I realized it I wanted to hurt you and I fear that I did so. It is really frightening to let someone hold your heart and give them the ability to break it. We have both been there it seems to me."

She watched the lovely man and her heart swelled. They could heal and grow together... But she still needed to end things with Milo... maybe.

Ethan's eyes looked to where her hand felt warm against his upper arm as she spoke. Her words flowed like velvet at time, calming and soothing to the touch, each syllable captured in ways he never understood and still didn't understand at this very moment. They both wanted to hurt each other to the point to push the other away, something about that was not right and it was definitely not a healthy choice as a human being. Together they were afraid to love but seeming to give things a shot between the two of them.

"Please, do not take it to heart when I back away at times and run scared," he said as his fingers reached down to capture her hand yet not moving it from where it was laying against him. "And...what about work? This has to be a secret for a while, right?" There was no way that they could tell others. He didn't want her to jeopardize her position as Department Head as he could careless about his own position at the moment.

Antigone smiled and looked down at their hands that fit so perfectly together. "Ethan, I intend to make things so easy and be so understanding that you never run away again... but in the odd chance that they were to happen, then I will definitely understand," she said sweetly.

She laced her fingers through his own and said, "I suppose things will have to be a secret got a while. I will speak with the Undersecretary and ask her some hypothetical questions about interdepartmental relationships." She smiled at him but shut her eyes, could this man really not hurt her again? SHe hoped that was the case for she was certain she... GULP... Loved the dude.

"Ethan, I just want to be close to you, I want to be near you, I want to feel you around me. I will do whatever it takes to make this work," she told him, eyes still shut tightly thinking this would be a perfect time for him to kiss her. Sigh.

Ethan watched Antigone as she began to speak. He began to notice the little things, the way her eyes flashed brightly then disappeared as she closed them, the way her fingers fit so perfectly between his, the way she smelled even if she was not wearing any scent at all. This was the perfect time for him to inform her of one thing.

"Please, call me Cy," he spoke as he moved closer to her. He allowed his free hand to trace along her lips, taking in every curve, ever dip. It was then that he leaned in to gently kiss her cheek then moved to finally capture her lips with his own.

Antigone felt her heart swell more so as he seemed to be taking in all of her at this point in time. She smiled with her eyes still shut tightly. She took in his scent and felt every inch of her body alive like a live wire. He was the one for her, she knew it with her heart and soul.

Whe he spoke she opened her eyes and smiled brightly, "Okay, Cy. Call me Tiggy then." She shuddered lightly as his hand traced her body. Leaning her slender body into his she sighed as he kissed her cheek and made his way to her lips. She kissed him sweetly and tenderly, her hand still over his heart. "Cy, will you stay with me tonight?" she asked softly, still in his embrace.

"Tiggy," Ethan whispered at she asked him to stay with her for the night. He could be protective, make sure that no one caused her harm, be the type of man that would care for a woman a little more than just a friend. "As long as...your couch is comfortable." It was time to learn to be a gentleman, more than just on a nightly date.

"Maybe...a night of," he paused as he leaned in and kissed her cheek once again then moved to the other cheek with a grin. "...old movies, lots of popcorn and...a few glasses of something good to drink."

"THe couch folds out into a bed, we can lie here, watch old films, eat popcorn, and drink whatever you'd like, love," she said with a smile.

Unholstering her wand she flicked it toward the couch causing it to unfold do that they could get comfy. "My film collection is just over there, have a look see and choose a few, love. I will be back with popcorn and drinks as soon as I change clothes," she said as she kissed him softly on the cheek.

With that she let him go (reluctantly and ran off to get things fixed up for their night of fun.

Ethan watched as Tiggy ran off to gather the necessary things to lounge and watch a movie. It was up to him exactly what movie they watched. He walked over to where the movies were and began shuffling through them one at a time. He was not in the mood for a romance, that was more of a female thing, maybe a comedy? Hmm. Action? Action sounded like a good in between for the two of them. He set the movie up, took off his shoes and made himself comfortable on the couch, fulling his pillow and lounging away.

Antigone returned dressed in her sleep shorts and tank, levitating a HUGE bowl of yummy buttery popcorn, a bottle of firewhisky and two glasses. She had a huge smile on her face when she spotted Cy lying back on the couch with the film ready to go.

"So what have you chosen for us to watch, dear?" she asked as she directed their goodies to an end table and hopped onto the bed beside Cy. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then laid down beside him, snuggling into the nook of his arm.

Ethan lifted his arm for Tiggy as she snuggled against him, reading herself for the movie. "Well, I...thought that a good action movie would be good. Something that might make you jump a bit, but only as long as you jumped towards me." A sly smile emerged causing a slight chuckle of his voice. He lifted a finger, poking her playfully in her side. She was comfortable in her lounge wear so what better way to lighten his mood than to play with her.

Tiggy got comfy just as Cy poked her. Oh no... she was like insanely ticklish when she wasn't expecting it. So she did indeed jump and giggle a little. She swat him playfully, remembering that he was not ticklish himself so she began to poke and prod him mercilessly as she giggled. Movie forgotten. She felt like they had started fresh. No more awkward moments, no more stress, just fun.

After she tired of poking him she leaned herself over and kissed him softly and said, "Well then let's watch the film, we can play later. I am afraid that you would win this playfight anyhow and I am not okay with that." She chuckled gleefully and kissed him once more before snuggling back into his nook.

"Ahh HA! You admit that I can win at something," Ethan raised a brow to Tiggy's statement. He couldn't believe it. The woman had admitted something he never thought his ears would hear, although there was a lot of that going on. He stiffened his body as she poked around on him, being careful to not let her know that there were areas that tickled just...he had a way about hiding them. Once again, he needed to allow his feelings to flow freely around her.

"I will hold you to the playing later," he said as he pushed the play button to begin the movie. This was nice. It was relaxing and calming to his nerves, yet there was something about her that kept him wondering about more, more of what she was like and more about the mystery that told of who she was. "Thank you for a wonderful evening so far," he mumbled, being as nice as he could and enjoying every moment.

Antigone smirked at Cy and said, "Yes, well... it may very well be the only thing you can beat me st so relish the moment, love." She giggled and settled into him as he pressed play on the film.

She couldn't keep the grin off of her face. This was so nice, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. There was no pressure here... they could relax. Raising up to look at him in his beautiful brown eyes she said, "Thank YOU for being here with me. That is truly what makes this evening great. And yes, we will play later, maybe I can beat you at Twister again." She snuggled into him and sighed as the opening credits of the film began.

"And beat you I will," Ethan purred as he leaned in and kissed the end of her nose with a smile. As the movie began, he crossed his feet, ankle over ankle, sighing for comfort and twitching slightly for the last little push to sit still. So far so good on the movie but at this moment, his thoughts were only directed in her position, the way she smelled, the way she looked up at him.

Tiggy giggled as he kissed the end of her nose and raised an eyebrow. "Well, we will have to see about that then won't we," she dared as she lay in his nook, arm across his chest.

Oh Merlin... he smelled like... MAN. She was so aware of him that she could hardly pay attention to the film. She just wanted to.... she didn't know what she wanted to do, but he was making her feel... love, or something like it.


End Scene

Milo apparated to Tiggy's front door. He had in his hand a bottle of wine. He didn't fancy drinking firewhisky again. His head still hurt from the last time. He knocked on the door three times. It was polite to not just burst in.

Antigone heard the knock on her door and smiled brightly to herself. She checked the mirror one last time to make sure she looked alright, made sure her outfit was just right.

She pulled open the door and smiled crookedly at Milo when she saw the wine in his hand. "No Firewhisky this time round, eh? I can't blame you really... that was a terrible day after, wasn't it," she said with a chuckle. She then opened her door all the way and said, "Get in here and let's have a drink."