"Joan?"

She coughed, choking on her water. "Hades? I mean... Thane?"

"Hey, how are you? Besides the whole still can't drink water thing?" He asked in amuse tone and she grinned at him as she blushed.

"I'm okay. You?"

"Still working. Business is always busy. I am staying at St. George Tower while I'm in town. Do you live near here?" He still looked at her with those intense eyes, like he wanted to know everything about her.

"Uhm, yes. My, uhm, Catherine... I'm staying in Catherine's house. She is... she was Paul's mother," Joan stammered, mentally berating herself for not being able to carry on an adult conversation as she glanced up and down his lean, well-muscled form.

"About your business card," she started.

"Would you like to have dinner?" he asked at the same time. They both laughed then he repeated the question, "May I take you to dinner? I have a thing early tomorrow, but I'd stay up late for you."

When she hesitated, he smiled sadly, "Too soon?"

"What?"

"Since Paul?"

"No, I just," pausing, she inhaled slowly before continuing, "I'd like to have dinner with you. But isn't it too late to get reservations? Or would you rather something casual and quick."

"I have a reservation tonight at Bevacco over on..."

"I know where it is," she interrupted too quickly, then groaned in a self-deprecating way. "I'm sorry. I'm not very good at the dating thing, I'm out of practice."

His broad grin took her breath away as he admitted, "Me too. I'm all work all the time." Then he glanced past her at another jogger before looking back to her.

"All work and no play makes Death a dull boy?" She teased and he laughed heartily.

"Something like that, A.D.A. Joan of Arc. Meet you there in an hour?" He glanced toward the bridge again.

"Sure. See you in an hour," Joan answered.

He nodded and jogged the opposite way as she was going so, she ran at almost a sprint to get home. She searched her closet frantically as she waited for the tub to fill. She had never regretted not having a shower more than then. The side door closed loudly, and she knew Olivia was home.

"Liv, help!" Joan called out, then laughed as Olivia ran in to the room, looking around like she was ready to attack someone.

"Are you okay? Where's the emergency?" Olivia huffed.

"The emergency is I have a date and nothing to wear!" Joan revealed in exasperation.

"A date?" Olivia's excited screech hurt Joan's ear. "With whom?"

"Thane," Joan answered with a nervous laugh. "I ran into him in the park while I was jogging. He's staying at the tower."

"Please tell me you didn't runover Death?" Olivia smacked her forehead. "You're such a hazard even when you aren't driving."

"He's not Death, you weirdo! He's just a guy whose parents like Greek theatre," Joan snapped as she threw another discarded dress on the bed. "Liv, help me! I haven't dated since... since Paul."

Making a disgusted face, Olivia walked over to the tub and turned off the water. "Get in, shave your legs and pits, and trim the hedges... I'll get you a dress."

She walked out as Joan called after her, "Not red."

"You'll wear what I pick for your date with Death, and you'll like it," Olivia shouted good naturedly down the stairs.

"He's not Death. His name is Thane," Joan refuted her, yelling up through the floor as she got in the tub.

"His last name is Hades... Take the hint." Came the muffled, shouted reply.

Giggling, Joan sank down into the hot water for a moment and closed her eyes. She could imagine his smile and tenor voice. Ducking her head under, she sat up and began shampooing it as her mind did the math. It was a five-minute walk to the restaurant. She rinsed her hair and smooshed the conditioning treatment in. While it set, she shaved as quickly as she could. Outside, an ambulance raced by. Hearing Olivia in the bedroom, Joan rinsed out her hair and climbed out of the deep tub. Toweling dry as quickly as she could, she blow-dried her hair straight because she didn't have time to wait for it to dry on its own.

Olivia curtsied to her when she came out, speaking with a horrible British accent, "Your clothes are ready, ma'am. Be you needing any help into your dress, my lady."

"You watch too much BBC television," Joan declared then she shook her head. "I said no red."

"It isn't red, it's currant, like the berry," Olivia announced, waving a pair of matching velvet walking heels. "These or are you driving."

"No, I an walking but I have to hurry. I am meeting him at Bevacco."

Outside, another siren went by. "What is going on out there?" Demanding, Joan scowled while she dressed.

"It sounded like the 205 was headed down Willow Street when I was upstairs," Olivia said, shrugging. "Somebody probably turned the wrong way again and had an accident."

Joan started her makeup, then frowned. She needed to keep it simple so it wouldn't run if she started sweating. It was still warm outside, and she was very nervous. Suddenly, she started shaking. Fear and worry mixed with insecurity like a whirlpool. She rotated to look at Olivia with desperate eyes.

"What am I doing? I can't do this; it's too soon, isn't it?" Joan suddenly doubted herself. Her mother's cold voice spat bitterly hurtful words about how love and attraction were useless things that only weak people needed, muttered in the back of her mind.

"You can and you will. You deserve to be happy with someone who doesn't treat you like a doormat." Olivia's concerned voice broke through to her. "Paul's been gone for months, and your relationship was struggling a long time before that."

"We were," Joan admitted, then looked up at her bestie. "What am I doing?"

"Going on a date with a gorgeous gentleman who might even pay for your dinner instead of making you pay for your food and half of his booze. If it goes well, bring him back here for a night cap. I'll make some sangria from that Italian Amarone and leave it in the fridge."

"Liv..."

"Don't you Liv me. Sweetie, I saw happiness and excitement in your eyes for the first time in years." Olivia took her hand to encourage her. "You got this, and you're a catch. Beautiful, smart, and you're one of the best A.D.A.s in the city."

"Actually, I'm not. I was fired today," Joan admitted in shame.

"What? That's... that's... How were you fired?" Olivia demanded in rage.

"Not exactly fired fired but told to take a month off. Jack thinks I need take time to make peace with my grief, because I was emotionally affected by a case where a mistake killed a father of three," Joan groaned. "It was a bad day at work even though I won."

"We'll talk tomorrow morning over breakfast," Olivia promised then grinned cheekily, "Unless you have a guest, then text me."

"Seriously?" Joan demanded incredulously as she picked up her small purse and put her wallet in it.

"Honestly, I'm a ghost. You'll never know I'm here." Olivia grinned then she hugged Joan. Looking at her with intense concern and reassurance, as she declared, "You deserve this. You deserve to have more than shampoo days and paying someone else's the bills. I love you. Now, go."

"You're the best. I am so sorry I let Paul come between us. Nothing will ever come between us again, I promise." Joan kissed her bestie's cheek then hurried out to make the one block walk to the restaurant.

Olivia waited a few moments then went into the kitchen to make the sangria. As she sliced the fruit, a warm breeze blew open the side door and filled the house with the scent of spring flowers. Pouring two glasses, Olivia walked out to the garden. A beautiful woman was touching the flowers. They seemed to revive into fresh spring blossoms under her ministrations.

"My Lady Persephone," Oliva said respectfully, holding out one of the glasses.

"Please call me Seph." She accepted the glass and sat down. "Well?"

Olivia sighed and took a sip before she spoke, "She's afraid, she feels unworthy of love, and she still hears her mother's voice telling her emotions are foolish... She's having dinner with your brother tonight."

Persephone's lips pursed. "I'm aware. Thane thinks he can mix business and pleasure... I hope it doesn't backfire on him. He has several collections he must attend to personally this week." She sipped from the glass. "This is very delicious, Olivia. Thank you for staying here and helping us with this. I just want my brother to have what our parents have."

The trees stirred causing Olivia to look up, when she turned back to her guest, Persephone and her wine glass were gone.  "I want that for Joan... I want for her to never be alone," Olivia admitted quietly then she rubbed her temple like she was getting a headache before she sipped her wine.