Picture Perfect (Marc Dahlmaine)

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Vicki appreciated that Marc was old-fashioned.  When he had finished making his points and asked her to see him for what he was, the adorable expression on his face made her smile.

“Do you know what I see when I look at you?” she asked, her gaze melting into his.  “When I look at you, I see your eyes so deep inside.  I see skin that tells a story.”

She took his right hand and patted it with her own.  Then she held it with both hands -- one over and one under it.

“When I look at you, I see comfort and discomfort all at once.”

In her heart of hearts, Vicki wished Marc didn’t hurt so much, but she knew firsthand that loving someone deeply did that.  It was part of the risk involved.

“When I look at you, Marc, I . . . I get lost in everything about you -- what’s nice and what’s not.”

She reached over and tickled his chin with her index finger.

“When I look at you, I see your smile -- even though you’re not always smiling.”

She laughed, hoping Marc would laugh, too.  She loved seeing his face light up with his gorgeous smile.

“When I look at you, I’m blind.  I don’t see ‘you’, and I don’t see ‘me’.  I see ‘us’.  And I don’t see all the baggage that comes with ‘us’.  I see two people taking a chance to fall in love with each other and experiencing something unique and special along the way.”

She smiled.

“When I look at you, I wonder what you see when you look at me.”

She frowned because she didn't know that answer.

“When I look at you, I’m angry because you had to experience growing pains, and I’m hurt because your’re hurting.  I’m glad you went through those experiences, though, because they’ve made you the man you are today, and that’s the man I fell in love with.”

She took a deep breath.  She searched for more words to convey her thoughts.

“When I look at you, I dream and hope.  When I look at you, I feel strong.  I feel powerful and weak all at once.  When I look at you . . .”

She choked on her words.

“ . . . I see me.”

Vicki thought they had more in common than Marc thought they did.

“When I look at you, I hear a noise.  I hear my heart.  I hear my thoughts, and I hear your voice, even though you are not always talking.”

She was speaking the truth.  The honesty hurt, but she couldn’t stop herself.

“When I look at you, I look deep inside my own soul to make sure I’m still me, ‘cause I get lost in you.”

She shrugged and laughed that one off.

“When I look at you, I see everything you have become, and I see how you seem so proud of who you are.  When I look at you, I see the world as a happier place because you’re in it and we’re together.”

That was the damn truth.

Her final thought was this:

“When I look at you, I see a past, but I also see a future. You and me.  Us.  Together.”

For a moment Vicki just sat there, feeling happiness, excitement, optimism, and fear all at the same time.

“Yes, Marc, I’m ready to risk again.  I’m ready to love again.  I’m ready to hurt again.  I think you’re a person worth knowing.” 

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He shook his head to her question. When their hands entwined he listened with rapt attention. As she continued to somehow peel layer after layer away, his eyes narrowed. He was amazed she could see so much, even if it could be said about many. But more at the fact her frank, honest wording caused him discomfort because she had been able to read him in such a short time of knowing him.

He scoffed lightly at her thinking she knew the more rough 'not nice' aspects of him. Those aspects did not usually surface with women. But had in the past.

While she reached out to touch him he withdrew slightly from her teasing not seeing it as prudent to the conversation. A relationship to him, was serious. The heart was one thing he did not gamble with. "I hope that in these visions, you do not entirely lose yourself, Vicki. There can, and could be an us. There will always be issues, but if there is the dedication to overcome it, then there is always a hope." He closed his eyes for a moment, realizing certain feelings were welling in his chest.

But she did pose a strong question. What did he see? Someone with strong convictions. But also, she was a full-speeding train of emotion as well.

So when he absorbed her admissions, and her emotions not only into his mind but his heart as well he nodded.

"I agree. You have a certain fearlessness and depth of love, Vicki. But you are correct. I have been hurt. Deeply. And in that case, I am not saying no to you. I am not going to deny you anything you have told me. We will get to know one another. First as friends. Go on dates. But it will need to be paced. I cannot jump so quickly. Not yet. So if you are willing to walk this path of 'us,' in it's ups, downs, trials, and happy moments, then I could only hope to safeguard you from further pains and hurting."

He raised their gathered hands to his lips, those ice blue eyes un-thawing slightly. Her willingness and fearlessness was refreshing. She was bold in her proclamations. Abandon-less and risking how she felt- at first sight when he had only been a frustrated newcomer to the city. Tumultuous feelings flooded in his chest at her words. But he knew this was something he'd need to try a different tact with. A new path. A new possibility.

"Let me guide us," he stated, eyes meeting hers again.

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As she sat there listening to Marc, Vicki focused her attention on his face, particularly his eyes, the windows to his soul.  Her heart hammered in her chest at the realization that he was the most attractive man she’d met in a very long time.  With his ice-blue eyes and his brown hair framing his face, he was so handsome.  She tried not to stare, but she couldn’t help it.  The haircut and shave made her fall in love with him all over again.  She was mesmerized.

Vicki made no response when Marc concluded by kissing her hands and gazing into her eyes.  She knew he was being careful.  She wanted to put his fears to rest, but time would have to do that for her.  When he revealed that he had been deeply hurt in the past, Vicki had noticed the slight twinge in his voice, and the hint of struggle and restlessness in his spirit through his body language, as if he was dealing with emotions that hadn’t surfaced in a long time.  It was obvious to her that he’d never had any real closure with Sia.  From what he had shared that afternoon, she assumed he still loved her very much.  Sia had a part of Marc’s heart that Vicki could never claim, but Vicki was okay with that.  She knew Marc had met a lot of women in his past.  She wasn’t the first, and she wouldn’t be the last.  She just wanted to be the one he would spend the rest of his life with.

That day, Vicki had done her best to treat Marc with respect, warmth, and compassion.  She had a gift for making people feel appreciated.  She smiled to herself as she watched him.  She hoped he felt valued by her, because he was.  His voice had conveyed strength, but now his eyes swam with emotion.  Seeing his anguish, she leaned toward him.  His lips were so close, so touchable, and she was so excited and so happy that he was open to giving them a chance.

Suddenly, Vicki pressed her lips against Marc’s uneasy smile, hoping it would convey to him what she couldn’t say with words in that moment.  When she did, a rush of feeling -- long held hostage by her fear -- flooded to the surface.  Her lips trembled.  All she could feel was genuine love, care, and concern for this man.  It was overwhelming and all-consuming.

“I’m scared, too,” she whispered on his lips.  Closing her eyes, she had to stop herself.  Her blunt honesty was what was really frightening her.  She sat back in shock and disbelief.  How could Marc have this effect on her?  They had just met!  She shook her head as her gaze swept her lap and then rose to meet his again.  The answer was obvious.  She couldn’t deny it.  She had fallen hard, fast, and totally for him.  He held the power to make her want him.  She knew she would never be free of these feelings for him.  Not ever.

“A date,” she finally said perkily, breaking the silence.  “Okay.  Let’s make one -- better sooner than later, right?  Today’s Tuesday.  We’ll have dinner at my house this Friday night.  I’ll make the meal, and you can bring the wine.  How does that sound?  Will that work with your schedule?”

In three days, Vicki knew she’d be suffering with Marc Dahlmaine withdrawal.  He was like catnip to her, so addictive.

With that, Vicki reached over and held Marc’s hand again.  She could tell by the way his face lit up that he enjoyed physical contact just as much as she did.

“This is a whole new road for me, Marc,” she added, “so, yes, let’s pace ourselves.  I’m more than willing to journey with you on this path of ‘us’.  I don’t have a problem with you taking the lead and guiding us either.  Take all the time you think we’ll need, my friend.  Whatever we experience, all that matters to me is that we experience it together.  Okay?”

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Thankfully he noticed Vicki didn't get pissed at him for being honest in his own way. She didn't throw water in his face, or even leave the table in a huff. She did try to tickle him under his chin. He was not a fan of that but had dealt with worse transgressions than this lessor act of endearment.

So he was partially shocked and taken aback when she kissed him. Making a move first. Yes he had shown her endearments through their afternoon, pressing his lips here, and there to her. But not to her mouth. He had been raised to be affectionate by his parents and as was his culture, and nature. But there was a difference between a friendly kiss, and something as this. And this was not a disappointment.

When she didn't pull away to speak, his fingers wound through her hair, pulling her back to his mouth to calm her fears. She would linger at his mouth and then sit back, her thoughts clear on her face.

Sitting back in his chair he cleared his throat as she spoke a hand running through his newly shorn and shorter hair. "That should work. Any specifics I need to know about wine? Do you have preferences?" His mind was already flipping through his Rolodex of wines, red, white, blush. Tart, sweet, dry. It would also depend on the meal served. Reaching into his pocket to withdraw his wallet he would pull a card out, circling a number on it and writing down an address.

"My number. And the location of my suite in Gotham. Whenever between now and then, call me and give me your address and the time."

They grasped hands and entwined fingertips once more as she spoke, echoing his own words and wishes. "I agree, Vicki."

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“Chicken,” Vicki answered when Marc inquired about the meal.  “Coq au vin.”

Vicki was looking forward to being with Marc, to have him focused totally on her.  It was selfish, perhaps, but she wanted to keep their hearts afire for one another.  She wondered if he wanted her right now as much as she wanted him.

Vicki was convinced that she and Marc had so much to look forward to.  Even if problems arose, she knew they would make the best of it and sort through them.  And they still had a major problem – he had to trust that she would put him first – that she would never walk away from him.  Ever.

Vicki wasn’t stupid.  She knew for Marc to learn that would take time.  She also knew she wasn’t a quitter.  Once she set her mind to achieving something, she was determined to get it.  And right now, her eyes were on Marc Dahlmaine, in every sense of the word.  In the end, Marc would be her prize.  She wanted him to learn that there was no one else in the world who could make him happy the way she could.  It would be a realization that was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

When Marc offered her his business card with his personal information written on it, Vicki took it and tucked it safely away in her purse.  She knew by the look he was giving her that he was hopeful about their future, too.  “I promise I’ll call you tomorrow,” she whispered.  “It’ll give us both something to look forward to.”

Smiling, Vicki squeezed Marc’s hand in show of support and love for him.

“Sometimes our love for one another will get messed up with other painful things going on in our lives,” she sighed, her hand still in his.  “When that happens, love can get buried in the troubles a friend or colleague might be going through.  If that happens, let’s try not to lose sight of one another, okay?  If we do that, we’ll always be together.”

Relieved to see the look of understanding in Marc’s eyes, Vicki leaned in and kissed him passionately on the lips again.  She didn’t care who was watching.  She just wanted Marc to know that she loved him with all her heart.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

That night, Vicki felt melancholy as she sat on her bed and stared at the photograph of her and Bruce Wayne on her nightstand.  Then she opened the frame and took the picture out to examine it closer.

She had mixed feelings, but she knew what she was going to do. Marc was a new chapter in her life.  She was finally ready to turn the page on her and Bruce and move on.  She was ready to make new memories with someone else – with someone who wanted to be in her life and who wanted to show her the love she wanted and needed.  This parting was bitter-sweet, but it had to happen.  It was inevitable.

“Good-bye, Bruce,” she whispered, tearing up the photo and replacing it with the new picture of her and Marc in the frame.  “I’ll always love you.  Always.”



~ Fini ~