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Daren reached over and took Tim's hand, holding it softly, "look. i know it is probably hard for you, hearing that, but i only told you-" he made Tim look him in the eye, "i only told you because i wanted to share this with you. This place was special for Nevi and me and i want it to be special for us too. i've never brought anyone else here, not Iroh or anyone else, i couldn't. i couldn't stand seeing someone else here with me, i knew it would hurt too much. but when i see you sitting there? it doesn't hurt, Tim." he smiled, "it feels right."

Daren laughed a little, "oh, my buger's going to be big and meaty and full of bad things for me." the back of his head was smacked as a middle aged woman walked up behind him with a tray. "Ow! Mrs. Kate!"

Mrs. Kate put their food down and shook her hand at Daren, "don't give me that! here you are insulting my food." she huffed and then smiled at Tim, "hello, dear. I'm Mrs. Kate, owner, chef and whatever else you want to call me. it's nice to see this lug back here with someone." she held out her hand, the tray pinned between her arm and side.

Mrs. Kate gave Tim a once over before she smiled, "Pleasure is mine. so, how long have you two been at it?"

Daren blushed bright red, "Mrs. Kate!"

She lifted an eyebrow, "don't give me that. Nev was like a little sister to me and it's the big sister's job to make sure that those left behind are taken care of. i'm glad you found someone, she wouldn't have wanted you to be alone." there was a tiny tear in her eye as she spoke of their old friend, but it was quickly hidden by a smirk, "i knew you were bi. had a bet going with dad. he owe me twenty bucks!" she laughed and leaned down to kiss Daren's cheek and then kissed Tim's, "need to get back to work, but don't be strangers, you hear?" she turned towards the kitchen, "oh, Daren? come here when your propose, i'll help out again." she laughed as she went through the swinging doors and went back to cooking, feeling a little bit better than she had before.

Daren groaned, "if i'd known she was working the grill today, i'd never have come here."

Daren didn't think he could turn any more red, but he was wrong. At Tim's question he flushed brighter red and looked away, his chin resting on his hand. "No, i did not," he muttered from behind his hand, "i had them put the ring on her straw," he added, his words barely loud enough to be heard. "just eat your food." he grabbed his burger, which took both hands to hold, and bit down into it, ignoring Tim as he glared towards the kitchen. He'd get back at Mrs. Kate for this someday.

Daren glanced over, having missed Tim's attempt to make and balance a ring, "what does flavor have to do-" but he shook his head, not wanting to continue that line of conversation. "how do you like it?" he asked before taking a bite of one of the handcut french fries, "pretty good, right? everything is from scratch, including the buns and the ice cream." which is why everything was so good. there really was no comparing the Shack to any other burger joint, it just wasn't fair to the other place. "they have amazing pies here too, on par with Anna and Tarte's."

Daren glanced at Tim, making sure that he was ok, "we can try the pumpkin tart when we get home," he suggested, not sure Tim was ready for the little cakes they had gotten or not. "cookies are good too. i don't think we have any, but we could make some, if you want." he ate a couple more fries, savoring the spices used on them before he starting dipping them in the side of ranch he'd asked for. he didn't want too push Tim, but if Tim wanted to try something, he would be there to support him 100% of the way.

Daren thought about that, "might not be a bad idea..." he could help people a lot like that, pairing up with an ambulance to be called out at any given time. didn't sound too bad. "i'll look into it. i want to be back to my former build before i try." he felt weak like this, even though he knew he could still take on most people, it was just a sense of being less than what he had been. "you just want to have sex with a fireman, don't you?" Daren smirked and lifted an eyebrow, "you know, i've some friends in the department that would let me borrow a uniform. just saying-" he winked and finished his burger, left with only a few more tots.