AU } Maybe in another life, we wouldn't be alone tonight

[songofsong]

Saturdays were always big days, but today, well, it was even bigger.

The World Museum was open to the trawls of parents and children that flooded in every weekend, a spell of bad weather driving in an even bigger amount than normal. What also helped, was the fact that a new space exhibition had arrived on the science level, one that Melody Pond had been angling for some time, and today was the big opening.

It had taken a lot of hard work and a lot of money, but it was finally here, and Melody was practically bursting with excitement as she zoomed around the museum, making sure everything was going smoothly. She'd heard there might be some special guests making a visit later, the kind of special guest that could possibly see her head hunted. Therefore, everything had to be running perfectly.

Passing one of her colleagues, Melody stopped him with a hand on the arm, requesting in hopefully pleading voice that usually got her her own way.

"Malcolm, would you mind standing by for the 3D showing? Just make sure everything goes to plan? Thank you, sweetie."

He was all too happy to oblige, which was why Melody had asked him in particular, and she watched him go with knowing look, unable to feel much happier than she did in this moment. With her hands by her sides, she did a little spin on the spot before she bounced off to continue with her duties, nothing able to wipe the smile from her face.

Everything was going to plan.

Comments

[bowtimeandspace]

"No, no course not!" he says, quick to dissuade her of any thoughts like that. It doesn't put him off, simply surprises him. "You just don't look old enough!" he says, trying to say something nice that maybe doesn't quite fall so well as he intends.

"What I mean is-- Well. Long as it's not a problem for you."

[songofsong]

She gives a small sort of chuckle, shrugging her shoulders somewhat. "Well.." she begins, without really taking it anywhere. It's not a problem for her. If it had been, she would never have allowed herself to get involved with James in the first place. Whatever age he is, he's clearly too young for her.

"Let me guess, you're younger than him?" They might as well get it out in the open, there's no use pretending now.

[bowtimeandspace]

He looks almost guilty when she asks him, like she's uncovered some secret of his that he had been hoping to keep to himself.

"27," he tells her. And not long that. A good 2 years younger than her son, almost three. Is that weird? Well it's probably a bit weird, she can't imagine her son would be too pleased about it, after all he'd have been two years or more above him in school. It's weird to think Melody already had a toddler when he was born. He wonders whatever happened to his dad, but it's maybe not a question for now. Not really his business.

[songofsong]

She takes in a small breath when he tells her his age, before nodding with some reluctance. That's that. She's sleeping with someone twenty five years her junior.

"Well, then," she says somewhat breathily, going to take a necessary gulp of wine to soften the blow. It's not that she can't see the attraction, for her, he's a young, attractive man, the kind of man she would've killed for when she was his age. For him, she can only assume it's something different, perhaps she's a little more experienced, maybe even a little more desperate. Maybe he likes that.

Either way, she's fairly sure there's nothing long term about this at all, and now they've got an idea of their age difference, it could be even less so. But it still doesn't make sense why she likes him the way she does, why, despite how wrong this feels, it also feels right.

[bowtimeandspace]

James feels more than a little awkward. It's almost as though he's done something wrong by simply being his age. He's never felt young, though. In fact sometimes he feels impossibly old. He could tell her that, but he doesn't expect it would make sense.

His head lifts towards her, looking at her, the way she breathes out.

"Has that made a difference?" he asks her. "I think maybe from the look on your face that it has."

[songofsong]

The wine glass pulls away from her lips and she gestures it aside in a way that has the contents splashing. She's a little strung now, because she's torn between what she should do, and what she wants, and that's upsetting her.

"Well, of course it's made a difference," she says, dropping her voice somewhat and trying not to look too crestfallen. She doesn't know why it's hitting her now, when she knew he was younger than her from the moment she met him. Perhaps she had hoped he was on the right side of 30, just a little closer, a little more realistic. It's not that she ever expected him to want something long term with her, but him telling her his age makes it feel like all possibility has been shot.

"It's like you said. I keep picking the wrong men," she grimaces out a smile and takes another deep drink.

[bowtimeandspace]

Where before they'd joked about his being amongst that number, now it stings. Because now he knows for sure he's being counted, and knows for sure it's no longer joking.

"Right," he says, almost visibly deflated.

He turns his glass a little in his hand. He's about to say more, but just at that moment the waiter arrives, setting down their plates of food before them. But James finds his appetite isn't what it was.

"Well this looks nice," he says, trying to sound brighter, using the food as a bit of an excuse.

[songofsong]

When the waiter arrives, she sits straighter in her seat, giving him a forced smile. She hopes she doesn't look too upset, though she can feel it on the inside. It's ridiculous, it somehow feels like all her dreams have come crashing down, when it's only the second time she's met this man. But it hurts. The idea that this might all mean nothing, hurts.

"Yes, it does, doesn't it?" she says, trying to follow his lead. She hopes that eating something might help her feel better. She's sure the wine on an empty stomach can't be helping.

[bowtimeandspace]

James nods a bit as he starts to eat, working on his dinner as something to focus on. But he can't focus for too long, pausing after eating a chip to look up at her.

She doesn't look like she's enjoying herself any more, and maybe that's the worst bit. Maybe too the thought that he was worth something for a night between the sheets but somehow this is a step too far? It makes him feel just as awkward as she might.

"Would you rather I just go?" he asks. "Because to be quite honest you look like you'd rather be anywhere else but here."

[songofsong]

When he says that, she feels like she's been called out on her behaviour, and her eyes close, laying her knife and fork down. "No," she tells him, voice softer as she lets out a sigh. "No, that's not what I want at all. I'm sorry, James. It's just a bit of a shock, that's all."

[bowtimeandspace]

"Look," he says with a small sigh. "I don't care how old you are. I don't care how old I am. It's just a a number, it doesn't mean anything. But what does is that I like you. And I think you like me. And you know Mel, I think this could actually go somewhere. If you want it to. Because I think I would. You're not just some quick shag."

[songofsong]

She carefully looks towards him when he begins to speak, getting a sense that he was trying to say something important and it would be wrong of her not to give him her full attention. What he tells her, it gives her some hope, but in the same breath she ridicules herself for thinking such. He's young, he's infatuated, it's all too easy to dream of a future when it's as far away as his.

But she tries to take away the positives, that he does seem to care, and as he said himself, she wasn't 'just some quick shag'.

"Well, thank you for clarifying that," she points out a little dryly, her lips twisting into a small smile. "And I do like you, James. Very much. I just can't help but wonder what's in it for you?" There's that insecurity again.

[bowtimeandspace]

"What's ever in it for anybody?" he asks, not really understanding her point. Does everything have to be so planned, so worked out? He's never lived life that way. Plans don't come before, they're made up as he goes along. One way or another things have a tendency to work out.

"Can't we just enjoy ourselves?"

[songofsong]

Perhaps herein lies the age difference. The fact he can so easily leave life to chance, and she's spent so much of hers under control. She smiles wryly to herself, looking down at her plate for a moment before she nods.

"You're right," she agrees. That could be just what she needs, to stop trying to plan head, to know what's going to happen to them. Just enjoy it while it lasts, even if it does come to an end. At least it got a chance to begin.

"Here's to enjoying ourselves," she decides, picking up her glass and offering it towards him in gesture.

[bowtimeandspace]

Picking up her glass softens him a little, and he does the same in return.

"To enjoying ourselves," he agrees, tapping his own glass against hers.

"Right then, were were we?"

[songofsong]

With that in mind, Melody happily goes back to her meal, having made a promise to herself to do just that. For the rest of the meal, the conversation remains far lighter, and with the wine and jokes flowing, Melody has a smile on her face once more.

As the meal comes to an end, she sits forward upon the table, nursing the glass of wine in front of her as she smiles across at him.

"You know, you should come up to the museum again. It's nice sharing that place with someone who cares."

[bowtimeandspace]

After the little hump in their conversation, the evening goes much more smoothly, laughing and joking as they enjoy their meal. He sits back now, the dregs of his wine sipped from the glass.

"Do I get that private tour?" he asks, teasing. "Because I think that might just be worth the train fare."

[songofsong]

Melody purses her lips in playful thought. "Maybe. Depends on what the boss says," she replies naughtily, then taking a drink of her wine before she raises an eyebrow. "Hm. She's ok with it."

[bowtimeandspace]

"Glad to hear it," he says with a smile. "I'd have had to had words with her otherwise. Can't have these bosses getting all above their station now, can we?"

He sets his glass down and gestures over for a waiter to bring them their bill. His brows raise at it when it arrives, but he pulls his wallet out and sets his card out to get

"I've had a good night," he tells her. "Thanks for asking me, Mel"

[songofsong]

As the bill comes, Melody sits up in her seat. She hadn't expected him to pay for their meal, but she appreciates the gesture nonetheless. It somehow makes things feel a little more real. A little more like a date. She smiles at that.

"Me too. I'm glad we could get together," she says, though she's hoping the night isn't going to end there. She waits until the waiter has been and gone with their payment before she makes her suggestion. "You know, my hotel isn't too far from here.."

[bowtimeandspace]

He breathes in a little as he keys his pin into the machine. Quick and painless, like ripping off a plaster. That's what he tells himself.

The vague suggestion raises his eyebrows, and he smirks a little. It's hardly like it's an unexpected turn of events, after all in a way he wonders if all of this wasn't in some way just a preamble to that.

"Well then, I best walk you back, hadn't I?"

[songofsong]

"In these shoes?" Melody replies, then giving a small laugh as she gets to her feet, showing him the heels she towers on, and the long legs that lead down to them. "No chance, sweetie. We'll hail a cab."

[bowtimeandspace]

And so they do. It's not difficult to hail a cab, and the drive is a few minutes at that. Before long they're stepping out into the street by her hotel.

"So am I coming up?" he asks plainly, standing outside the hotel doors.

[songofsong]

Melody pays for the cab, much to the relief of James' wallet, and as they step out into the cool night air, she can't help but feel a little excited about heading inside.

His question makes her smirk, because she's sure there's no doubt in either of their minds where this is going. Which is why she can afford to be a little playful about it.

"I don't know. Are you?" she replies naughtily, giving him a grin before she begins heading on inside the building.

[bowtimeandspace]

There's no response to her words, just a smirk that says it all. He follows, just as she knows he will, stepping into the foyer and following her up to the lift. They wait outside and step in when it opens. It's only when the doors open that he turns towards her.

And when he does? He steps against her, hand out about her waist, pulling her against him as he steps against her, his head leaning in to steal an eager kiss he'd undoubtedly been waiting for all night.