done_in_3 | The Vow au bc I love this plot twist and Aqua/Jim are adorable

"When don't you? Ouch, man. Very ouch." he chuckled. "I assume you work as a nanny as well as a wife then? How much do I pay you?"

He bounded out of the car once they were at the cafe and slid right into the book section, digging around the historical novels and biographies.

"No, not your nanny. I'm part wife and...." Aqua had to think for a moment. Yes, they were best friends and lovers, but what else could she add to their playful banter?

"Lifesaver. I try and keep you from making an ass out of yourself, or make sure you're not hanging by a thread." Whatever Jim did, she was there. They were always there for each other and she certainly hoped some of that was coming back.

In the bookstore she let him go out on his way, slowly trailing behind him. The smell of old books was exciting, thrilling even. Nostalgia filled her then, recalling the many nights and days she spent in her old library. Staying quiet, she looked over several books before picking up one to gloss through.

He smiled "But hanging by a thread is the fun part. You should try it, it's a great adrenaline rush. Bones thinks I have a problem with thrills, I say nae." except he did, totally and absolutely did. But when Aqua happened, he calmed down, started being more responsible. With his amnesia, he lost that personality change along with his memory.

He wandered the books only returning to her with an old recipe book and several historical novels about the creation of starships, various wars, as well as the history of other planets and folk stories from them.

He doesn't speak to her at first. He finds a perch and sits, reading his first book.

Aqua had plenty of adrenaline rushing through her body when she was younger, trying to save the worlds from darkness and her friends. She didn't much of it in her life these days, save for the surprises Jim gave her. When they first started to date he gave her plenty of near heart attacks, but as they grew older he calmed down. Right now she missed that side of him. Then again, she missed him in general.

She placed the book back on the shelf, surprised to see him back with more books than before. Not wanting to disturb him she wandered away from the historical section and into the fantasy section. She lost herself there, wandering from one book to another. If Jim went out to look for her, he'd find her in one of the aisles talking to the one of the other customers. Though by the way the male customer was talking to Aqua, it could pass for flirting on his end.

Even married, Aqua didn't realize when other people were flirting with her.

Jim did spy for her once he looked up. He'd noticed she walked away but this was a rather... interesting passage in his book. It wasn't paid for but he'd already bought it in his head. When he found her again he felt a twinge defensive of her. Already he was marching over and clearing his throat behind her.

"Hey there's a cool display over here, you want to see?" he tried to make it clear he was with her. As clear as he could make it... though he had no real motivation as to why other than the subtle annoyance that this man dared flirt with a woman wearing a wedding ring.

Well, considering all Aqua was wedding was her wedding band. If she was wearing the complete set then it might ward off other men from looking at her. To them it was just a ring a woman wore. She was smiling at him, not taking anything personal while he was talking to her. Their conversation was cut short hearing someone clear their throat.

While the other patron didn't look too pleased to have Aqua's attention snatched from him, she turned her head to look at Jim.

"What display?" she asked, trying to peer behind him.

"I thought you were enjoying your books."

He may have thrown a threatening glare to the other patron as he walked away, putting his arm around her shoulders for good measure.

"Just a little something I thought was cool. I read it when I was younger." it was a display of vintage books about wayward kids and orphans who all had magical powers.

Aqua blinked feeling his arm come around her shoulder. Was he getting his memories back? Or was he falling into a familiar posture with her? It was hard to tell without actually asking...

She'd bring it up later, after looking at the cool display.

"Hmm, magic? I never thought you'd be into that sort of thing." she leaned in a little, keeping her voice low so just the two of them could hear.

"What was that about? I think you threw a glare at the guy I was talking to."

"What? I thought magic was awesome as a kid. I wished I had powers. I mean I am pretty awesome now but what kid doesn't get into flying and fighting bad guys? I mean I know it's not real but it's fun to think about. Shooting fire from your hands or something. That'd be so awesome, don't you think?" he flipped through one of the books.

"They have the whole set here, this is hard to find. I must have read it ten times when I was a kid. And you do think that, because I did. Because he was flirting with you."

"Yeah...having magic would be pretty amazing.." Oh if only he knew the truth, but that might freak him out a little bit. When he regained more of his memories then she'd tell him.

"We could buy it. Take it home with us..." she paused, trying to wrap her head around what he said.

"He wasn't flirting with me. What made you think he was flirting with me?"

"Meh, it's more of a kid's series. It's not something I would really read again. Someone age appropriate should have it." he looked over at her surprised.

"Uh, the fact that he was? Did you not notice any of that? He was totally coming on to you." seriously, was she playing dumb? It wasn't a sin to let a guy flirt with you but he wonders if this isn't just a one time thing.

"but it would still be fun to have. It's from your childhood. We could keep it in case you change your mind. Like you said, it's rare to find a complete series."

Now it was her turn to be surprised. Seriously, she had no idea what people were flirting with her.

"No he wasn't. He was being nice. He was asking questions and trying to make conversation--wait. Were you getting jealous?" Oh if he was, she'd so tease him for it.

"No He was totally coming on to you, he was about to ask for your number or something, I know that look and you're my wif--- You what that's a great idea. The book set is nice. I'm getting it, gonna go pay now. You getting those? Awesome."

He made a quick getaway once he realized she was about to tease him and he'd shown emotional vulnerability around her.

Oh no, the great and powerful Captain Kirk was not going to slip through her fingers just like that. It was fun seeing him get all riled up. Besides, it might help with his memories. Maybe if she pushed him a little more, he'd return to his normal self. She grabbed his arm, moving herself in front of him, effectively blocking his path.

"You know that look? What sort of look is that? Huh? besides, why would he come onto me? I'm not that interesting, am I?"

He tries to sidestep her to keep walking, but he's tethered to her by the arm. He listens and wonders if he should engage. But that's short lived because he's already talking.

"Oh don't play like that. You're adorable and you know it. You think I'd have let you go one day without knowing that? Please."

No Jim, you weren't getting away. Aqua had a good grip on his arm. She wanted to keep engaging him. In a way it was fun, hankering back to their early days. Back when they were teasing and mildly arguing with each other. Their version of flirting.

"Adorable? Me? I don't know about that. I mean, I suppose I'm pretty. But.." she shrugged then, continuing to play innocent with him.

"How would you know? I was glancing around in the aisle, minding my own business. Why? Would you have done the same thing?"

"Yes, stop faking it. And-- you know what maybe I would have." he could play this game. He looked over at her eagerly "That guy had no style though, it was just sad to see. Here's how you do it... Oh hey I was just noticing... I have those EXACT shoes!" he smiled charmingly, knowing she had on a woman-only pair.

"Maybe? So I'm maybe the type of girl you'd flirt with?" She began to pout then, trying to guilt him into giving her another compliment. When he began to flirt with her, she grinned.

"Really? That's the best you got?" she looked down at her shoes and shrugged. They ere basic ballet flats.

"I thought Captain Kirk had better pick up lines than that."

"Maybe, maybe not." he wasn't going to put out with the compliments. She had to earn those.

"Oh ouch, you're a tough one to crack. Hmmm... alright. This one made me laugh, I heard it back at the academy. Hey. I just wanted to let you know that they might ask you to leave soon.....you're making the other women here look bad." it was horrible but in a funny way. The kid he saw use it was being totally serious with it which made it that much better to watch.

She had to earn compliments from her husband? Oh, the game was on.

"I'm not that hard to crack, you know." And the pick up line he used didn't go over too well. Aqua just stared at him, tilting her head to the side.

"Try again. Something original this time. Or is that too hard for you to accomplish, Captain?"

"Hmmm I normally just make things up in-context." he looked her over. "Hey is this the meeting for the book club? I always wanted to talk about Pruse." he shrugged.

"Pass or fail?"

Aqua gave it some thought then shook her head. Sorry Jim, that was a fail.

"Fail. I never thought I'd be here to witness your lack of charm." The smile on her face was meant to show she was teasing. If that didn't get the message across then a light poke to his chest should.

"Come on, Kirk. If you like I'll even stand in the aisle and look around. Bring your A game."

He knew it failed. Bombed, sank to the bottom, dead.

"I'm just pretending to be bad, you're so intimidating." he chuckled. He pretended the poke hurt him. "Oh oh that's tender. Why are you being mean, I was in a car crash!"

"Oh sure, we can pretend we just met and run off together. Wait is that how we ended up together? That sounds fun. We should do that actually. You go get another guy to hit on you and just... let him keep going and think he's getting somewhere, let me swoop in and sweep you off your feet. It'll be funny."

"You'd actually want me to lead someone on and give them false hope?" Aqua tilted her head then, trying to figure out just how playful Jim was being...or if he was really set on doing that. She could go along for a joke, but that was taking it too far.

"Come on, I thought you could charm anyone. Why is it hard to charm me?" It was a little...disappointing to have him off his A-game. Was it her? Or was it the circumstances they were in? They weren't on his ship, where he was in control and they were slowly learning about each other.

He paused, looking a bit hurt, honestly his ego wasn't the thing that suffered. His concentration and morale took hits too. Why was it so hard to work on her? This was supposed to be easy, why was she not falling for his charms? Normally women didn't.... oh... oh he got it.

"I'm not being natural. I'm trying to find what you want to hear." he was more self aware than people thought, he knew himself rather well even if he didn't advertize it.

"I thought I was being natural but you're right, I'm straining to say what I think I am supposed to say..."

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omg this is so cute

Indeed. :D

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