Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jerry blew a hole in Dakota's roof? What the hell? Candace winced and rubbed her head as she walked down the hall to Dakota's room. Tuck was right, Candace would not be forgetting what he did, she was still feeling it. That was a pretty good feeling.

She carried a bottle of water in hand meant for Dakota. He was most likely hungover, right? And tired. And..well...

Candace didn't want to tell him she was right, but she was right. The party, while it had started fun, had ended up being a bad idea. What had been so bad that Jerry had shot a hole in the ceiling?

She knocked once when she arrived before just letting herself in, grimacing at the sight of the ceiling. "Yeesh...Dakota? I brought you some water."

Well that was a pretty heartbreaking sight right there. Candace gave Dakota a gentle smile as she walked over to sit beside him under the hole, placing the water in his waiting hands before climbing onto his lap and putting her head on his shoulder. "Ohhh, sweetheart." Candace couldn't help but giggle. "I did, several times, but it was fun while it lasted. C'mere," She tapped the underside of his chin to guide him closer for a kiss, pressing a sweet kiss against his lips.

"On the bright side..that's not H or Aria's room." Candace looked up. "I don't know what Caelius' room looks like, it could possibly even be one of the late council members' rooms."

He looked awful. "Do you need me to get aspirin or anything for you?" Candace kept her voice soft, not only for Dakota's sake but for her own. Her head did hurt but probably not as badly as Dakota's.

"Division assistants live on the same floor as us." Candace reminded him gently, toying with his short hair while he drank his water and held her against him. Good boy, small sips not gulps. "Mm, I offered to take it for Jordan's sake but he passed it to Melvin instead." She shrugged.

Candace blinked as Dakota whined about pills. Okay, okay. Fine. No pills. "...Like a breakfast date?" Did Candace sound hopeful just then?

Maybe.

Just a little bit.

Candace involuntarily made a happy little noise as Dakota nuzzled her, kissing the top of his head and massaging his scalp. Cuddling with Tuck after sex had been nice, but somehow it just felt nicer with Dakota. She chuckled as he clarified it wouldn't be in Paris, burying her face in his hair and closing her eyes. "I didn't figure it would be a huge to-do in an exotic country.," she assured him with a smile. "Of course I want to go. We'll go to a quiet little place that won't hurt our heads or make us sick, not a bad second date."

She kissed his head again. "Do you need anything or are we ready to just go?" Candace made no move to leave just yet. She was actually very comfortable where she was.

Candace still didn't make any move to get up off Dakota's lap, her head did shift to tuck underneath his chin. "That sounds fine." Candace's voice was soft.

She stayed that way for a few minutes, nuzzling her face against Dakota, before she suddenly tensed and sat up again. Candace untangled herself from Dakota's arms with a sheepish look of embarrassment. She was getting far too comfortable. This wouldn't work.

She had to get up. Stop getting cuddly. Too close.

"All right," Candace cleared her throat. "so...breakfast. McGrady's sounds good." She stood and straightened herself out, taking off her hunter coat and draping it over the nearest chair. No Hunter coats for civilian trips.

When he tugged on her hand she did fall back into Dakota's lap, her eyes wide and her cheeks feeling warmer. She did try to get back up, a moment of anxiety telling her to run away and get off him before she got too close. Being with him was making her heart ache, it made her feel happy and loved and warm, not hot but warm and fuzzy. She couldn't. No. Things always went wrong when she did.

Dakota wouldn't let her go, his hold on her was surprisingly strong. The kiss wasn't returned in her startled state as Dakota brushed his lips against hers and held her close.

I love you.

Ah ha...right. Yes. He loved her. But he loved Molly, too.

And surely he loved all the women in his life.

But then he spoke of monogamy, and not wanting to force her to do that, and telling her not to run because of how he felt.

...He..he meant it.

There was a quiet, sharp intake of breath right before Candace stopped breathing and her heart skipped a beat, and she just stared him in the eyes. Accept it. Right. Um...

Right..accept it..

This was...hard.

She finally swallowed and looked away, wriggling in Dakota's hold enough to make it clear she wanted him to at least ease up. "I..I see..." was all she could really say at first. "Just.." Just what? Candace rubbed her lips together and looked up at Dakota again, finally leaning in to press a sweet kiss against his lips.

"Let's go get breakfast." It was far too early. She was sore, tired, and slightly hung over. Breakfast please.

Candace breathed out a light, nervous laugh. "It was something."

She allowed herself to be guided to the restaurant, keeping close to the younger man and even putting her own hands over her hair. <******** no not getting this wet with nothing nearby to fix it with.

Candace combed her fingers through her hair as they stepped inside, looking around the place and suddenly feeling rather nostalgic. She tentatively reached down for Dakota's hand, slipping her fingers between his and giving his hand an affectionate squeeze. For the moment she was quiet, though there was a tiny hint of a shy smile on her face, while she was busy thinking about..well...what had just happened. It had been a long while since someone not Molly or Gale had said they loved her, it felt...nice. Terrifying, but still somehow nice.

Candace was surprisingly okay with Dakota sitting beside her, in fact she cuddled up comfortably beside him and tucked her head under his chin again while also looking at the menu. It did look like a very cuddly couple in love from the outside, didn't it?

When Dakota spoke her name she blinked and looked up, feeling oddly passive and calm in her spot beside him. "I like chocolate and strawberry. We could get crepes, if you want. As well as the eggs. Mm..what kind of coffee do they have?"