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Post by Ricki Crawford on Apr 28, 2011 23:59:05 GMT -5
Maybe that was Ricki's problem. She had always loved the relationship between her parents (both of whom were alive and well and living in Tuscany). Her mother had always taken care of her father, and he of her, so that it had always seemed impossible to imagine the two of them ever separating. They had grown together, as a single unit. And Ricki was always looking for that kind of relationship for herself. She had foolishly thought she had it with Tom, but for all her observational skills, she had somehow missed the fact that he was a lying jerk. It seemed like she always missed what was closest to her.
Now, though, it seemed she really did have that kind of relationship with Milo... without the love, or the commitment, or all those other good things. But she took care of him, and he looked out for her. It was kind of strange to think of it that way.
"Oh, good idea," she said. "We've got to finish up the paperwork for those case files. I know it's boring, but it has to be done..."
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Post by Milo Chevalier on May 2, 2011 9:27:12 GMT -5
"Oh nothing is ever boring when I'm around sweetheart," he said with a smile. Milo tried to keep things easy, laid-back, and fun. There were times when he wanted to just close himself off in his office and figure out the case Joe wanted him to. The case itself angered him, and it made him even more angry because the woman continued to disappear. He didn't want Ricki to see him angry. Even on the days he didn't feel happy, he always put on a smile, just for her (even though he didn't realize it).
"And while we work on paperwork, we can eat. I'll even cook your favorite." If only Milo wasn't entirely clueless of the situation. For almost anyone else, he could tell that there was a connection, but for him, it was a complete failure.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on May 8, 2011 22:55:46 GMT -5
"Oh, don't I know it," she teased, winking at him. "And to think, I could have been stuck at the boring old Ministry, catching Dark wizards and death eaters.... I think I definitely got the better end of this deal, don't you think?"
Yes, there were times when she wondered if she had done the right thing, leaving the Ministry. Aurors were on the front lines in a growing war, and Ricki was not ignorant of that fact. Every day, the Daily Prophet seemed to bring more bad news. She could have been out there, fighting in that war, but she had chosen to work with Milo instead. And even though he didn't feel the same way about her that she felt about him, most days, she felt that just being near him was enough to make her happy. They did important work, too... it wasn't all just tracking down cheating spouses. But if she was honest with herself, it wasn't the work she cared about. It was Milo.
"Ooh, my favorite?" she joked. "You're finally going to try making steak and kidney pie?"
She knew that Milo, being an American, had a particular dislike for some of the more bizarre-sounding British dishes, and she liked to tease him about that.
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Post by Milo Chevalier on May 9, 2011 8:04:25 GMT -5
Seeing Ricki wink at him caused him to feel weak in the knees. If only she knew. "Of course you got the better end of the deal. What Ministry person would cook for you every so often or bring you tea?"
Working this job was the next best option from being an auror. Sometimes they would even work with the aurors if they were tracking someone important so they could give them the general area where the person was last seen. Both Milo and Ricki were great at their jobs, and Milo doubted that he would have ever hired anyone else other than her.
As far as food went, Milo didn't understand why the British had such odd sounded dishes. Most of them sounded completely awful and being the stubborn person he was, he wasn't going to try them. However, as far as Ricki's favorite was concerned, he could make an exception.
"Yes, I'm going to finally try making steak and kidney pie." Even just saying out loud sounded odd. "I found a decent recipe that I can use. I already bought all the ingredients."
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Post by Ricki Crawford on May 17, 2011 23:18:04 GMT -5
Now Ricki was impressed. Although she enjoyed a good steak and kidney pie as much as the average Brit, she never really expected him to make it for her. She would have been just as happy with his famous spaghetti and meatballs--he made a homemade sauce that would have made an Italian chef weep. But that he would go out of his way to make something that he knew she liked and that he had always been a little uncertain of.... that should have set off little alarm bells in her head. It meant he really cared about her.
And yet, she was almost resolutely clueless where he was concerned. She realized that he cared about her, but she still thought it was only as a very good friend. She would take it, of course, because she would rather be just his friend than not be with him at all. If only she knew the truth....
"Really? Now I'm really impressed," she said, smiling at him. "I can't wait to try it. Maybe I'll finally make a proper Brit of you yet!"
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Post by Milo Chevalier on May 19, 2011 18:07:34 GMT -5
Milo was attempting to remember some of the things that he and Joe talked about earlier, but for the life of him he couldn't see what exactly Joe was telling him. He was going to attempt to hint to her that he liked her. Naturally, Milo already thought he did. He didn't flirt with her like he did other women because after all, he didn't want her to think she was just one of them. He cooked her meals, brought her tea, and he even followed her suggestions. He thought maybe during all that, she'd notice something but he didn't have much luck. What if she just didn't care about him in that way?
A smile spread across Milo's face. He liked to try to impress her. At her comment about her making him into a proper Brit, Milo laughed. "I highly doubt that I will ever be a proper Brit," he said.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on May 22, 2011 0:27:58 GMT -5
Ricki smiled back, and if he looked closely enough, he would be able to see the warmth and adoration in her eyes for just a moment. "Well, good," she replied. "I get enough proper Brits every day. They're so bloody boring. I like you just as you are, because you're not like them."
Her tone was light and playful, but her words were completely sincere. She had fallen for Milo precisely because he wasn't stuffy and pompous and obnoxious like so many of the British men she knew. She didn't know if his carefree, casual, unpretentious personality was typical of all Americans, but she did know that he was never boring. He made her laugh and smile every day, and that never failed to have a profound effect on her.
"Anyway, I think I may actually be looking forward to working on paperwork now."
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Post by Milo Chevalier on May 24, 2011 10:56:33 GMT -5
Milo's smile was still evident. He was glad she liked him, even if that meant she just liked him as a friend. He let out another laugh. "Paperwork is never boring when I'm around." That was true. Milo tried to make the fact of going through papers more enjoyable rather than just the tedious work of jotting down everything. He tried to be a little more outgoing on nights that they used to do paperwork.
The statement of her liking him just the way he was was still ringing in his mind, as was Joe's comments from earlier. His thoughts didn't have anything to do with paperwork at the moment. "You know," he said with his smile fading a little. He had never asked her the question, but right now seemed like an okay time to ask. "I know it changes the topic, but I've always wondered something. Why did you accept the invitation of coming to work with me? I mean, you don't have to answer it, but you probably wouldn't have to worry about as much boring paperwork if you had stayed at the Ministry." He added the last bit to attempt to keep some sort of lightness to the conversation.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on May 26, 2011 0:46:04 GMT -5
Because I love you, Ricki thought to herself. Because I couldn't bear the thought of you walking out of my life and not seeing you again. Because I would follow you anywhere.
These were the answers that popped into her head, and she froze, resembling, for just a moment, a deer caught in the headlights of a muggle automobile. She couldn't tell him the truth, couldn't face the rejection he would surely give her when he knew how she felt about him.
"Don't be ridiculous," she said in a tone that she hoped sounded casual, even though her heart was actually beating rather fast. "Paperwork at the Ministry is far more tedious and annoying. I'd much rather do paperwork with you, especially when you cook."
It didn't answer the question, and she wondered whether he would call her on it.
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Post by Milo Chevalier on Jun 4, 2011 21:34:58 GMT -5
Milo studied Ricki for a moment. He attempted to read her facial expressions and take clues as to what was going on in her mind. For some reason he couldn't explain it, he couldn't see anything. He didn't understand why he couldn't read Ricki like he could read anyone else. Maybe it was because of the fact that he was scared to know the truth. Milo didn't want his worst nightmare coming true. He would much rather face a dementor than having Ricki tell him to his face that she didn't love him or have some kind of other feelings for him other than just being friends. That was one of the reasons he never told her.
Raising an eyebrow, he did notice that she didn't answer his question. However, what sort of answer was he looking for? That she was madly and deeply in love with him that she would follow him? Milo highly doubted that, but it still caused him to wonder. What if she really did follow him because she felt something more than friends for him?
He let a half smile appear. "So that's really the only reason you accepted my invitation? So I could end up cooking for you while you did paperwork?"
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Jun 5, 2011 23:53:08 GMT -5
How was she supposed to answer that?
For a split second, Ricki was tempted to tell him the truth. Just lay it all on the line and let whatever happened happen. But if she told him that she loved him, and he didn't return her feelings (as she believed he didn't), it might make things awkward around the office. The reason they worked so well together was that they were friends; they understood each other (or they thought they did, anyway). They were friends, but they still kept a slight bit of distance from each other, and if she crossed that line, where would they end up? Would he be able to work with her?
She couldn't tell him. What good would come of it?
"Oh, don't be silly, I didn't know you could cook so well back then," she said, trying to act casual. "I just liked working with you. You made me laugh, unlike all the stuffy Brits I used to work with. It's like Marilyn Monroe once said, if you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything... even quit her high-paying job at the Ministry of Magic and work as an underpaid private detective."
She said this last part with a laugh, trying to keep it casual. But even though she played it off as a joke, there was hidden meaning there. She was telling him, in as subtle a way as possible, that she would do anything for him.
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Post by Milo Chevalier on Jun 9, 2011 22:03:10 GMT -5
If only Milo would use his brain he could have read her like an open book. Part of him, however, didn't want to study Ricki as she answered his questions or the way her body language was around him. If he would really pay attention to what was going on, he would have already figured it out by now, but Milo wasn't paying that much attention.
Hearing that she liked working with him made him feel a little more confident, even if she meant it as friends. That meant something and that was enough for the time being. He smiled. "Well, I can say that I'm proud to be an American then," he said in a joking manner. "I'm glad you decided to come along. We've had good times, and hopefully many more ahead of us. I don't think I would have really liked any other Brit to work with me. You, I can handle, the other ones are iffy." Milo winked.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Jun 14, 2011 13:23:44 GMT -5
Ricki privately thought that Milo could have easily won over anyone, if he wanted to. He had an energy, a humor, and a charm that was magnetic in many ways, especially to women. Ricki was not at all embarrassed to admit that she had fallen for his charms... but she always seemed to hesitate to tell him just exactly how much.
"Oh, I'm sure you could have found some other equally crazy person willing to join up with you. Or you could have been a lone wolf type... I bet you would get loads of girls that way. Who knows, I might actually be holding you back."
She was teasing, of course, but there was still truth to her comment. She secretly hoped thought of Milo as "hers" and she could better keep an eye out for him this way. And if she ever thought he was getting serious about another woman, she would be sure to to a background check on that woman, just to make sure he wasn't getting himself into trouble.
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Post by Milo Chevalier on Jun 15, 2011 20:29:02 GMT -5
Milo waved his hand. "I highly doubt someone would have just join me. You know I'm picky about the people I work with." He smiled. Yes, he could have gone off and done the business by himself, but he couldn't imagine not working with Ricki. She filled in all the missing blanks he had.
"I couldn't work by myself anyway. Being in an office alone would not be my style. I'd go insane. I have to have that one person that keeps my feet on the ground." He gave her a wink. Ricki did keep his feet on the ground, and she also kept him on his toes. "You're not holding me back from anything. I enjoy working with you and I wouldn't change that for anything."
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Jun 19, 2011 22:53:23 GMT -5
Sometimes, like now, Ricki wondered what would happen if she just grabbed him and kissed him. She wouldn't even have to say a word... just kiss him and see how he reacted. And yet, it wasn't like she kept her distance from him. She touched him often... under the guise of fixing his tie, smoothing his hair, or brushing a bit of dirt from his shirt. Each time was like torture. She wanted to touch him longer, and to have him touch her. But she always got nervous and pulled away too soon.
"Well, anyway," she replied, trying to change the subject, "if you ever thought I regretted joining up with you, I assure you I haven't. In fact, it was the best decision I ever made. Of course, I've made some really crap decisions in the past, so that's not saying much..."
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Post by Milo Chevalier on Jun 19, 2011 23:03:14 GMT -5
Hearing that it was the best decision she ever made to work with him increased his self-esteem. Milo thought maybe there might be a chance that there was something else there. He always thought that, but he never pushed it because he was scared he was going to get his hopes up and they come crashing down. That had happened before with Katie. He had hopes of asking her to marry him, but all of that came crashing down a long time ago and Milo didn't want a repeat of something like that.
"Well, I feel honored that you enjoy working here. After all, you fill in where I don't." It was a subtle hint, or at least he thought that it was a subtle hint, that he needed her. Of course if Ricki wasn't there, he was pretty sure he'd be a mess.
"I think you're the one British woman I don't mind being around all day and the only one I would have chosen to work with." Again, Milo subtly hinted once again. Wouldn't that be what Joe would want him to do? "And you take great care of me. I have no complaints whatsoever." Okay, maybe he did have some complaints but that was only because they weren't together.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Jun 20, 2011 23:18:05 GMT -5
His hints were much too subtle, and Ricki didn't think anything of them. Most likely she probably wouldn't get any hints he tried to drop; he was going to have to tell her straight out. Even if he told her that he loved her, she probably would still think he meant as a friend.
"Well, I'm glad to be of use to you," Ricki said. "I don't think I really got a lot of respect back at the Ministry, anyway. They always treated me like I didn't know what I was doing, just because I was a woman. And the bloke who used to be the head of the Auror department back then was such a creep.... he tried to hit on me a few times." She shuddered in horror at the very idea, not aware that she might be giving Milo a sign that would make him think she wasn't interested in him.
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Post by Milo Chevalier on Jun 22, 2011 22:20:00 GMT -5
Milo's jaw tightened at the mention of the old head of the Auror department. He never liked the man and the thought of him hitting on Ricki caused him to dislike him even more. "I remember," he said. "No one really liked him." Even if Ricki didn't return his same feelings, he didn't like the idea of a creep hitting on her.
"But I always thought highly of you," he admitted. "I thought you worked really well and in some cases were a lot better than me. That's one of the reasons I asked you to join me. I figured you could handle me, and you'd probably be the only one that really could." Milo gave a laugh. If Ricki hadn't caught onto the subtle hints now, she probably wouldn't have caught that one either. "Besides, I like working with you. You keep me on my toes."
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Jun 25, 2011 19:18:45 GMT -5
Once again, Ricki missed the obvious. The way Milo tightened his jaw when she mentioned the old head of the auror department hitting on her should have clued her in to the fact that he cared for her more than as just a friend. But she simply couldn't see it.
"I was so happy to hear that Vincent was named head of the department--he really deserved it. And I also feel better with him as Minister now... Minister Craven really was just about the creepiest guy I've ever seen. I'm sure Vincent will do better."
His other hints also went completely over her head, and she let out a little laugh. "Well, you're no picnic, I'll grant you that," she teased. "But I like working with you, and I'm proud to keep you on your toes. Someone's got to do it, and it may as well be me."
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Post by Milo Chevalier on Jun 26, 2011 23:08:24 GMT -5
Why couldn't he just tell her? Or maybe it was just she did already know and just didn't return the same sort of feelings. After all, maybe she did it to entertain him. One day he was going to have to just admit it out loud to her that he loved her because if he never told her, he was sure that it would probably be the death of him since it was starting to drive him insane.
Milo laughed again. "You're no picnic either miss," he said with a joking tone, "but I like you. I can't say that about too many of you Brits. The majority of you seem so stuffy." He winked. "Besides, I like you taking care of me. It makes me feel at home."
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