Cat's out of the bag (Nate)

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Nate took her cheek softly and smiled "I like you Raya.. Probably more than I should... You're a sweet girl.. and You just shouldn't be in a place like this. Not alone."

'Probably more than I should.' He liked her, he said he liked her. Her cheeks felt red hot, before she heard her cat. She laughed and asked, "You think I'm sweet?" It was a bit of a shock to be honest.

He stopped and looked down to see a small kitten rubbing up his leg and mewing up at him.. He chuckled softly and looked at her "I didn't know you had a kid? What else haven't you told me?" 

"Only what you haven't asked." She replied with a wink, picking up her cat and petting the little calico. "Besides, there's still a lot I want to find out about you."

Placing her cat on the old bed, she looked around for her shoulder bag. "Are you serious about having me stay with you?"

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"Only what you haven't asked." She replied with a wink, picking up her cat and petting the little calico. "Besides, there's still a lot I want to find out about you."

Placing her cat on the old bed, she looked around for her shoulder bag. "Are you serious about having me stay with you?"


Nate smiled down at her, reaching over to pet the little calico behind it's ear softly before locking eyes with Raya. He nodded to her last question.. He had thought about it during the concert.. It had been 11 years since he'd enjoyed another person's company. He was worried that one day, Taryn might come back and pick up where things had left off... but since things clearly were over between them... He just smiled down at Raya. "Yes... I mean it."

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He just smiled down at Raya. "Yes... I mean it."

"Alright then, no take backs." She joked, as she collected some of her stuff. After she could keep this place as a storage area if she wanted.

Luckily, packing never took her long, she never had much. And what she did have, was either clothes, and maybe some tools. As soon as she was packed, she picked up her cat.

"I still haven't named him yet." Raya explained, "and I'm all ready to go."

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He smiled, helping her pack up. noting that she really didn't have much. He felt bad in a way. He remembered having a hard childhood, having a drunk for a father.. He took up her few bags so all she had to carry was her cat. As they made their way to the cab, he set her things on the seat with a soft smile. He helped her into the cab and went around to the other side, telling the cabby to head to his estate.

He reached over, gently scritchng the little calico behind it's ear... It was actually a long drive. Outside of the city and into the hilly country side. It took almost 20 minutes to reach their destination. The came to a sprawling estate with a three story mansion.. He looked up at it, almost embarrassed.. It wasnt like he was rich or anything.. it was just a family estate that had been left to him in a will. "we're here.."

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It was only twenty minutes until they made it to their destination. And when she stepped out of the cab, she couldn't help but take it all in.

it was just a family estate that had been left to him in a will. "we're here.."

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you had extra space." Raya commented, giving him a playful smile. Already Walking to the front doors. She wondered what else she didn't know about her detective.

Seeing him with her bags, she asked. "Need any help?"

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He looked at at the sprawling estate with a sigh "Yeah.. and knowing my luck, it's probably also haunted." He smirked at her trying to insist he was kidding and started helping her with the bags. And elderly balding man made his way up to the the cabby with started helping to unload. Nate looked at him. "I didnt tell you I was coming. What are you doing here?" The old man looked up at Nate like he just asked him where babies come from and just shook his head at the stupid question and started bringing bags to the house

"You'll get used to him.. He's a bit creepy at first but he's a good man. Oh yes.. Also, he's mute, but he has a wicked sense of humor" He smiled at the old man and then too Raya. "There's an indoor pool, stables with a few horses if you like to ride, and a kitchen that James is pretty good about keeping stocked. If you need something just let him know"

He began to loosen his tie as they made their way inside.. The house was dark, only a few lights on and most of the furniture was covered in sheets to keep the dust at bay.

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He looked at at the sprawling estate with a sigh "Yeah.. and knowing my luck, it's probably also haunted." He smirked at her trying to insist he was kidding and started helping her with the bags. And elderly balding man made his way up to the the cabby with started helping to unload.

"Doesn't look haunted." Raya replied with a wink, "If it is, then I could find you, and you can calm me down. Deal?"

She smiled at him, obviously joking back. Still holding onto her cat, that she had yet to name.

Nate looked at him. "I didnt tell you I was coming. What are you doing here?" The old man looked up at Nate like he just asked him where babies come from and just shook his head at the stupid question and started bringing bags to the house.

Raya started laughing, mainly at the look Nate got. She bit her bottom lip to muffle her giggles. Okay, so she might actually like it here.

"You'll get used to him.. He's a bit creepy at first but he's a good man. Oh yes.. Also, he's mute, but he has a wicked sense of humor" He smiled at the old man and then too Raya. "There's an indoor pool, stables with a few horses if you like to ride, and a kitchen that James is pretty good about keeping stocked. If you need something just let him know"

"He doesn't seem creepy." She admitted, smiling at James. Trying to wave as she held her cat, which she still had to name. "Seems like I won't be getting bored here. And I will, I like cooking. Even... If I'm not all that great at it. Yet."

As Raya stepped inside to the large house, she spun slowly in a circle. Taking in the entire interior.

"Wow, incredible." She commented, not sure what to do, or where to go from here. So she looked at Nate for help.

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Nate chuckled as James walked away, shaking his head at them. He leaned in and whispered to Raya with a smirk "Dont worry, You'll see what I mean."

As he stepped inside the entryway and sighed, he looked around and reached over taking sheet off of one of the pieces of furniture. "Well, if we're going to be staying here might as well liven the place up" He flipped on the light into the main room , illuminating the house much better. The floors were hard wood solid oak, with intricate inlays. He motioned his head to the right towards a stair case leading to the second and third floor "You got your pick of nine rooms, , most of which have their own bathrooms. "

He clicked his tongue uncertainly as he looked around the house. He felt so odd being here.. it wasn't that he didn't like it, but it was so big and empty feeling. Maybe having someone else in the house would... liven things up a bit

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Nate chuckled as James walked away, shaking his head at them. He leaned in and whispered to Raya with a smirk "Dont worry, You'll see what I mean."

"If you say so." Raya grinned trying to conceal the shiver that ran up her spine, when she felt his warm breath on the back of her ear.

As he stepped inside the entryway and sighed, he looked around and reached over taking sheet off of one of the pieces of furniture. "Well, if we're going to be staying here might as well liven the place up" He flipped on the light into the main room , illuminating the house much better. The floors were hard wood solid oak, with intricate inlays. He motioned his head to the right towards a stair case leading to the second and third floor "You got your pick of nine rooms, , most of which have their own bathrooms."

"Which one is your's?" She asked out of simple curiosity. Quickly adding, "So I know which one is... Off limits to the picking."

She knew that probably sounded strange, maybe suspicious. However, even if he didn't tell her, she could always eliminate all the possibilities. Other than that, she was eager, and if not a little nervous, about her new living situation. She honestly did not expect to be living here. In a mansion! She would had been happy if he had a one room apartment.

Still, she was going to miss her old place. It had been her only home for eight years. And she never even considered leaving it. That old bunker was the only place she could escape to when she got scared, angry, or just tired. It was, to her, a place of content, and a place of calm. Not to mention the one place she did her work in.

This place was amazing, true. Incredible even, but, it wasn't home. At least not yet. This estate, was new, fascinating, large, and several other words she couldn't name at the moment. However, like any new home, she was certain that the first couple nights, she would have a hard time sleeping.

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Nate chuckled softly at her and reached over to pat her rear end. Sure, it was a bold move, but she might as well get used to him. Nate was a flirt after all. He pointed up the right hand stair way and nodded towards a door "Third on the right over there. "

He looked over at her and then noticed James looking at the two of them shaking his head. Nate arched a brow at him and ask "What?" James then smirked and took his two index fingers, using one finger to stroke the other in a 'shame on you' way before heading into the kitchen. Nate groaned and yelled at the old house keeper "It's not like that!!"

He looked down at Raya with a wink, implying that he last statement wasn't entirely true.

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Raya couldn't help it, when she felt his hand pat her bottom, she jumped and let out a surprised squeak. Her face turning bright red not long after. What was she getting herself into?

"Third on the right over there. "

She made a note of where his room was, just in case she might need him. Need him for what exactly? She wasn't quite sure of that, yet.

He looked over at her and then noticed James looking at the two of them shaking his head. Nate arched a brow at him and ask "What?" James then smirked and took his two index fingers, using one finger to stroke the other in a 'shame on you' way before heading into the kitchen. Nate groaned and yelled at the old house keeper "It's not like that!!"

Raya blinked, absolutely missing what had been going on between James and Nate. Her blush that she had almost gotten under control, quickly made it's way back as he winked at her. Then with a quiet yawn, she finally said. "I think I'm going to pick a room and head to bed." Raya gave him a smile, and a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thanks for a really fun night."

She gave him a quick good night, and picked one of the rooms on the opposite side from his. Setting her cat down, and watching as the small kitty jumped onto the end of the bed and quickly fell asleep. Now all she had to do was get in some pj's, then try to get some sleep.

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Nate nodded with a smirk and gently took a strand of Raya's hair, feeling it between his fingers almost affectionately, his eyes studying her face, trying to get a read on her emotions and what she was possibly thinking. He noted the flushed expression and the slight dilation in her eyes. Flustered but attracted. Perhaps he needed to ease off of her a bit.

He wanted her to be comfortable after all. He made his way into the kitchen where he saw his mute house keeper, James, putting a few things away. The elder man stopped and looked at Nate with aged but piercing blue eyes. Though they were stern, the eyes were unfailingly kind. James placed his hands on his hips and nodded towards the other room, indicating his curiosity about the redheaded girl. "She's a friend, James.. I doubt she'll admit it, but she needed help"

James arched a thick dark grey eyebrow at Nate and shook his head and resumed putting things away. Nate smirked and replied "Besides, I figured you could use the company while I'm at work." And James made a lewd gesture with his hands that mimicked a grope motion, while smirking. Nate laughed and shook his head "I think she's a little young for you, James"

James shook his head with what would have been a laugh if he could make a sound. James then made a hand motion to shoo Nate out of the kitchen. Nate rolled his eyes at the old man's antics and decided to head to the library of the house. Nate was an insomniac and sleep just didnt happen for him...

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Raya was staring up at the ceiling from the bed. Three times she had been trying to sleep over the last couple hours. It just felt weird, like there was something missing. Oh! Right! The house was quiet, even outside was quiet. And it was driving her crazy.

Finally, she sat up, and got out of her new bed. Not really caring if she was cold now that she got out of the covers. (Having just some shorts and a t-shirt for pajamas didn't exactly previde much for warmth.) Deciding to find Nate, maybe he could help her sleep.

Only when she looked for him in his room, he hadn't been there. So finding Nate turned out to be similar to a sacavenger hunt. Well in some ways at least.

It wasn't long until she found the library, and Nate. She gave a tired smile, as she sat next to him.

"It's so quiet... I... Can't sleep." Raya explained, looking at him for help.

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Nate looked up at her from the over sized couch against the wall in the library. As she came to sit beside him, he smiled softly and gently put his arm around her shoulders and gingerly pulled her tom him until he was cradling her in one arm as holding up the book in the other.

He smiled down at her fondly. His little sister used to do the same thing. When she was unable to sleep, should would seek him out and the only think that put Nadine to sleep was when Nate read to her.

"It's alright. I'll read to you, if you like."

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Nate looked up at her from the over sized couch against the wall in the library. As she came to sit beside him, he smiled softly and gently put his arm around her shoulders and gingerly pulled her to him until he was cradling her in one arm as holding up the book in the other.

Raya curled her legs up closer to her chest, as she layed her head in his lap. Blushing as she felt his arm around her. A soft, peaceful smile appeared on her lips. Instantly, feeling much calmer than she was about eight minutes ago.

"It's alright. I'll read to you, if you like."

"I'd like that." She said with a nod, and a sleepy smile.

After he began reading from his book, her eyes slowly closed themselves. Before she would open them, as if fighting off sleep so she could listen to the end of the story. Sadly, her efforts to stay awake and listen a bit longer were in vain. For about thirty seconds later, her breathing was in a slow and even pace, her eyelids completely closed, and that was it. Raya had finally fallen asleep in her new home.