Hank, Madelyn

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When the reception is finally winding down, Hank and Madelyn slip away for a walk in the moonlight and a few private moments.




The air was cool, but not overly chilly - it was handy, knowing someone who could control the weather. But Madelyn walked close to Hank any way, both her hands wrapped around his arm. She was no empath, to sense others' emotions, but even she could feel bouyed by the happy vibes generated by the wedding, and she liked the closeness. Besides, she rationalised, it was rocky on this path, and her shoes weren't exactly designed for walking on uneven surfaces. "It's a lovely night," she reflected after several minutes' silent strolling. "A good way to end a day like today, I think."

"A very good way... and it was a wonderful day." Hank smiled, covering her hands with his large one. "One of my dearest friends is happily married, everyone enjoyed the party.... and I got to spend rather a lot of it with you. A very good day, to my mind." She was lovelier than ever, in the cool moonlight. He kept finding a silly beam on his face, and it was increasingly difficult to get rid of.

"It's good to see them both so happy. We need more weddings," Madelyn decided, glancing over at him and smiling in return. The silly grin was rather cute. "They put everyone in a much better mood. Besides which, we do dress up rather well - you looked rather dashing today, Doctor McCoy. Not every man can manage that in a kilt."

Hank laughed. "Well, when you have fur, every outfit has a certain element of costume," he said, a little ruefully. "And thus a more formal costume works, because it looks like you're doing it on purpose." He smiled at her, touching her soft cheek lightly. "And you, my dear, are absolutely stunning. I'd compliment on how much blue suits you, if it wouldn't come off as such a double entendre."

She tilted her face into the touch slightly, blushing only a little. "Oh, I think blue suits me just fine," she replied, the general good mood created by the wedding and a couple of glasses of champagne inspiring her to flirt a bit with him. Besides, you didn't get much more romantic than a Scottish island in the moonlight, and Hank had been nothing if attentive all day... and patient.

"I am very glad to hear that." He wondered if she knew how alluring the distance made her... that moving slowly, taking things one tiny step at a time, offered an irresistable combination of elusiveness and promise. All she had to do was smile at him and his heart speeded up. "I will do my level best to ensure that it continues to do so." He took one of her hands, turning it over to kiss the palm very lightly. Not a push, not an overt gesture... but a promise for what might be.

Her skin tingled at the kiss, and she stopped, turning to face him. The light breeze blew the curls that had escaped the knot at the back of her head across her face, and she brushed them back. "There's something about weddings, isn't there?" she said softly, stepping in just a little closer to him.

"There truly is." There was also something about moonlit nights, and a soft breeze, and Maddie's curls brushing over her perfect skin. "And about being in the company of a beautiful, elusive woman on the night of such an event." He touched her cheek again, very lightly. "Would it be rushing things too much, Madelyn, if I were to ask whether you would mind if I kissed you?" He hoped not... she was entirely irresistible, just now, even more so than usual...

She was already leaning in as he began his question, and she paused just a little as he finsihed it, before tilting her face up and kissing him softly on the mouth. The fur tickled, and the shape of his mouth was a little different... but she felt it all the way down to her toes. "Something like that?" she asked, pulling back slightly.

"Ahhh...." Hank said, a little dazed. Wow. That had.... wow. "I... yes. Something very much like that," he agreed, drawing her gently into his arms, careful not to hold on too tight or too close. "I believe I ought to reciprocate." He suited the action to the word, kissing her just a little more lingeringly. Yes. Every bit as toe-curlingly thrilling the second time.

Her hands tightened on his forearms, and when the kiss ended, she was slightly breathless. "That's certainly some reciprocating you've got going there," she managed, the smile on her face every bit as silly as his had been earlier. Her skin was tingling, right down to her toes, goosebumps raising on her arms. Going slow had its merits, but sometimes... sometimes things needed to progress.

A silly grin looked wonderful on her, Hank decided, knowing he was wearing one just like it. "If a man doesn't have decent reciprocation, he doesn't have anything," he said solemly, then laughed a quiet, delighted laugh. "My dear, you play utter havoc with my heart, mind, and ability to make sense," he said seriously, resting his forehead lightly against hers. "I believe you do it on purpose."

"Not entirely on purpose," she said, reaching up to stroke his furry cheek gently. "But a girl likes to know she still has it." She shivered a little, pulling herself a little closer into his arms. "And I think if you took my pulse right now you'd find it was definitely faster than usual."

"I know mine is," he murmured, wrapping his arms around her, ostensibly to keep her warmer... and, well, because he liked to hold her. And having a furry... whatever he was... had to be good for something. "And you definitely have it. You have far too much of it for my stability of mind."

Madelyn snuggled up, laying her head on his shoulder, careful not to smudge her makeup on his pristine shirt front. "And you do good things to mine," she murmured, closing her eyes and just enjoying the feel of his arms around her. Exhilirating and soothing all at the same time. Strange. "Things make a lot more sense like this."

"Right now the whole world seems to make sense. And that doesn't happen often, for people in our little group," he said softly, resting his cheek against her soft hair. She smelled wonderful. "I hope you won't think me too forward, Doctor Bartlet, but when we have returned home, will you do me the honour of permitting me to take you out for dinner?" Somewhere nice, this time. With dancing. Dancing with Madelyn was positively addictive.

"I think that would be acceptable, Doctor McCoy," she said with a small, happy sigh. She'd quite happily stay this way for... well, forever sounded good.

"Good." Hank spread his hand over her back, feeling her heartbeat against his palm. It was, indeed, going a little faster than normal. "Madelyn, I... thank you. For this. For everything." He sighed contentedly. "You are... astounding. And I am very fortunate."

"Good." Hank spread his hand over her back, feeling her heartbeat against his palm. It was, indeed, going a little faster than normal. "Madelyn, I... thank you. For this. For everything." He sighed contentedly. "You are... astounding. And I am very fortunate."

"And I'm not?" Pulling her head up off his shoulder, she looked at him, face suddenly serious. "You are a wonderful man, Hank. And you make me feel like... I can't even begin to describe it. But lucky is definitely one of the words I'd use." To punctuate her words, she kissed him again, much less tentatively than before.

Hank kissed back, and by the time the kiss broke, his heart had definitely speeded up a bit more. "I'm glad you feel that way," he murmured, cupping her cheek in one large hand. "I suspect... no." He smiled ruefully. "I promised. No jokes about this. So... I wonder, sometimes, what exactly you see in me. But whatever it is, I'm glad you see it, and hope you keep seeing it."

Her face had gone very warm, and it wasn't from the hand cupping her cheek. "There's a lot there to admire, Hank," she said. "Remember that night after that date with that dreadful woman? When I told you what an amazing person you were? I meant every word." She gave him her own rueful smile. "I was just too dense to realise I was wanting to take advantage of the opportunity myself."

Hank was blushing too, and glad it didn't show. "It meant a great deal to me," he said softly. "Although it was.... a little painful. There you were, being sweeter and more wonderful at every moment, and I was sure that I didn't stand a chance... with you or with any other woman, at that point."

"Well, it just goes to show, for all our giant brains, we don't know everything, hmm?" she teased gently.