Alec couldn't really remember why they were doing this. He hadn't minded drinking at home with her, and avoiding the club completely. But Victoria had convinced him that she didn't want to change everything about him, and that being his love of clubs and drinking in them.

He smirked at the bouncer and pulled Victoria in, it was good to know people, for one thing they avoided the hour long wait. He turned to face her and knew she looked beautiful, that part was very pleasant. Pleasant indeed.

"Are you sure you want to do this? We can just dance and leave you know..I don't need this."

He wondered if he had gone to a tamer place, not his own hunting grounds, he inwardly groaned at the terrible analogy. He knew that it was going to be a challenge but nothing he couldn't overcome.

"Come on I'm thirsty"

Victoria didn't doubt her suggest that they go to the club, not one bit. She knew what Alec thought he was giving up by being with her, and she wanted to show him that life could still be fun while having a significant other. When she'd been getting ready, though, she felt more like a teenager before a big date, than a woman who'd tamed dragons. Alec made her feel like this.

His demeanor at the restaurant on their first date had intimidated her. But now, when they were easily let into the club, she felt more at ease and accepting of the realities of the man she was dating. At his comment, she leaned into him, having to lean her cheek against his to be heard over the loud music, and smiled.

"I'm sure, Alec. Let's just have fun tonight, okay?" She couldn't help the twinkle in her eyes when he steered her towards the bar. Setting on a bar stool, she relaxed, ordering a fire whiskey. It was going to be interesting having a night out with someone. She'd never actually done so, and was excited at the new territory.

"How's Dorian doing, by the way?"

Alec couldn't really fathom why she was allowing him this. Not that he needed permission...women were confusing and he wasn't even going to try to get into the mind of one. Still at her ordering a firewhiskey he clearly remembered the night they "met". He ordered one for himself and took a long sip once it came.

He gave her a once over and knew that she purposely looked this stunning. Whether it was to keep his attention or to get attention from the other attendees, which was working, he felt that she fit into his world, which was rare indeed.

At the mention of Dorian, he sighed. The bastard hadn't really contacted him, he knew that he was recovering, since he had been released the day before. From what he knew he had someone taking care of him and Dorian refused to be visited when he wasn't 'on his deathbed' as the bastard had said.

"He's fine, recovering from the injury, but refuses to be seen until better" he said shaking his head.

Victoria matched him drink for drink. She never considered herself an alcoholic, but she knew how to ride the high. Or at least she used to before Alec. Smiling at him, she turned her chair to watch the dance floor. There was so much movement that it was hard to tell where one person started and another stopped.

She laid her hand on his, lacing their fingers. She gave him a soft smile. "Sounds like another stubborn someone I know." As much as she wished Alec didn't have such a dangerous job, she was happy he had someone like Dorian with him. Someone who understood him.

Seeing a few women come out of the restroom, she stood. "I'll be back, gotta powder my nose." She couldn't help but smirk at the phrase, leaning in to kiss him lightly before moving across the room.

Alec rolled his eyes at her comment of his stubbornness. It was natural for him to be stubborn, every Black family member was, that was just the way. But as she played with their fingers, he found it amusing how something so mundane was comforting.

At the comment of powdering her nose, he snorted and kissed her back before she was off. His eyes trailed her as he absentmindedly drank his drink. If he was more attentive to his surroundings he would have noticed the auburn woman coming towards him. As he did notice her, he did see that she wasn't some stranger, but Linda, an old...flame.

He was going to greet her and be a gentleman, but before he could even utter a word, she had her tongue down his mouth. In another time, he could have gladly followed her lead and have left early, but warning bells were ringing at the idea of Victoria coming back any second. He tried pulling back but that woman was clinging, and he knew he was going to pay for this, and it was going to hurt.

Victoria almost didn't recognize herself as she washed her hands. She normally opted to wear minimal makeup, only using it to give herself definition. But tonight, tonight she'd gone all out. She'd thickened her eyeliner just a bit and used gold shadows to compliment her eyes and the golden brown cocktail dress that showed off her curves.

Reapplying her lip gloss, she stepped out of the restroom, surrounded again by the loud music. Moving through the crowd, she was surprised to feel people brushing up against her, and some not by accident. She breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the bar, but realized it was a few feet down from where they'd been.

Looking back at their spot, she froze. Part of her mind tried to explain what was going on. That there was some explanation.

The other part of her wanted to rip that woman's throat out. She signaled for the bartender to give her another shot of whiskey, downing it in one gulp. She didn't trust herself to walk over there yet, so delighted in slamming the glass down on the bar, getting some of her anger out.

Thank Merlin the woman needed air and Alec finally managed to push the strong but petite woman away. She had the reddest lipstick he'd seen on her and when he would once take as alluring, he preferred the minimal and simplistic now that he had a...his eyes widened as he saw her near them as if nothing had happened.

"Linda enough" he hissed as she tried to cling to him once more.

He wondered why she wasn't yelling, Merlin had he gone deaf at the large amount of screaming? Was that possible? He hoped not. But she looked so casual, as if he hadn't done anything wrong. Well...HE hadn't, at least not on purpose. Linda whined trying to attach herself like a leech but he pushed her trying to get Victoria to look at him. So much for being suave, so much for being committed, when in a second his old flames clung to him like a dog in heat.

"Linda I'm here with someone control yourself"

At the mention of someone Linda tensed up and looked around before returning her heated gaze at him.

"I don't see anyone worth wasting time on" she replied snarly. "Come home with me."

He would have gladly taken it, had it not been the present. Before he would have dragged her and enjoyed a long night of pleasure, but now, he was attached.

"She's right there" he said "Victoria" he called out through the booming music.

Victoria had given herself enough time to get composed. Once her initial anger had subsided, she felt calm. Too calm. She still wanted to rip the woman's throat out, but knew it was illogical. And as for Alec?

This is what she'd brought upon herself. He hadn't wanted to come here, and now she was why. She'd seen first had the night they met...again...how he worked, how he lived. And if she hadn't been in the mental state she had been in that night, she might have went home with him too. So, logically, she understood what she hoped was going on.

But a small part of her, the part that had been in that bar the night they met, wanted to run away and cry. While Alec had not given her a chance to doubt him yet, she still felt the pain of Bronn's betrayal stinging fiercely. It almost froze her in fear, but she shook herself and pressed on.

The Gryffindor in her was not going to back down. Walking coolly towards them, she knew the moment Alec saw her. He looked confused and...lost. It meant that he hadn't exactly asked for this onslaught. Good. She was in earshot when she heard the woman's last comment, and couldn't help but smirk. Pulling her wand from her small hand purse, she pressed it's tip into the small of her back firmly.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure. I'm 'someone worth wasting your time on.'" At the last part, she twisted her wand and pressed it into the woman further, hoping it hurt. She knew the woman would be more afraid if she could see the fire burning in her eyes.

Alec was definitely not expecting this. Where he once would find this very attractive, right now he was wondering if he could just disappear. Victoria was acting fierce, especially once she felt Linda press herself closer in shock of the action that Victoria did. A wand really? This was not a good moment.

Getting up tentatively, he let go of Linda's wrists who cried out once she was poked again. He knew that they might cause a scene, again, and he needed to stop this. He grabbed Victoria's arm and tugged her away, pulling the wand and glaring at her. People could easily put her into custody, oh hell his custody since it was her job to keep order.

"Behave! Linda for Merlin's sake leave before she hurts you" he said.

Linda pouted and mumbled a call me before scurrying off towards her friends who were looking at wide eyed. Alec himself was trying not to yell at Victoria; it was obvious that she did it to prove a point, but she could have handled herself better. Who let their anger get the best of them? He bit back a remark and took a deep breath trying to figure this out.

"We're leaving" he said firmly.

Victoria was caught off guard by Alec's reaction. She didn't understand why he was being so short with her. Yes, she knew she was being overly aggressive to the woman, Linda. But she didn't like the way she talked, and the way she was pushing herself on Alec. Even if it hadn't been Alec, her...boyfriend, she would have been disgusted by the behavior.

Picking up on his anger, she opted not to say anything until they were out of the club. But she didn't let him push her the whole way, breaking his hold and leading the way. When she walked outside she was happy the owners had cast a warming spell around the club. It seemed to extend a few feet out from all sides, that way patrons could apparate to and from without having to worry about the winter cold.

She walked around the side, to a quieter place where no one seemed to be. She turned to Alec, waiting. "She seemed pleasant. Co-worker?" She knew she was being petty, but she'd only ever felt this degree of anger before once, and that wasn't a wonderful feeling.

Alec glared at her the moment she opened her mouth. Really, were they really going to do this now? It was one thing that she pulled away when he was dragging her, but it was a whole other thing that she was looking for fight.

He didn't want to yell at her, he didn't want to escalate this, especially when people in line were looking at them. Giving her a stern look, he grabbed her arm and before she could protest apparated them in front of his flat.

"If you want to argue we'll argue" he hissed at her.

Victoria felt the tears sting her eyes at his hiss, but she'd be damned if she cried right now. She knew she'd overreacted. But seeing that woman all over him! She'd felt like her blood was boiling.

Not wanting to do this on the front lawn, she walk through his door and into the living room. Crossing her arms, she tried to look everywhere but at Alec. "Okay. I'm sorry. Is that what you want to hear?"

She didn't know what to do, what to say. She'd basically asked for this when she asked him to take her out. The looks he'd gotten from girls? That was one thing. But the second she saw that woman kissing him, she'd seen red.

Alec sighed and knew that this was bound to happen. Women always got jealous really fast, it didn't matter that he didn't kiss back or that he didn't just leave without her. He stayed, pushed Linda back, and tried to make peace only for a scene to be made.

Hearing her comment he looked down at her his face stoic, avoiding to show his clear anger that he was feeling at the moment.

"Why couldn't you control yourself?" he asked steadily. "I would like an apology when you mean it."

Control? Victoria still felt like she wasn't in control. She hid her hands under her crossed arms, trying to hide the fact that they were still shaking. She was sorry. Sorry for dragging him there. Sorry for wanting to show him that she could share his world. Sorry that she wasn't strong enough to deal with the pitfalls there.

Clenching her jaw, she swallowed back her tears. "I...I really am sorry, Alec. I tried to stay cool. But hearing her stupid comment..." She'd never been one to deal with bullshit. She had connected with Tess automatically because neither of them played into the pettiness of the other students.

"I should have dragged you there. It was stupid." She turned away from him, trying to casually wipe away a stray tear that had creeped out.

Alec felt like crap now. She was crying, women always cried, and when they did, he felt like the asshole who made them do that. He couldn't just immediately apologize too, because he felt like it could happen again.

"Don't cry" he said touching her shoulder lightly. "Did you ever think that I could handle it? You are so rash sometimes.."

He didn't want to be mad but she was young, that was something he tended to forget. The age gap was another issue, and his reputation.

"It was bound you happen you know, there was a life before you."

Victoria sniffed lightly. "I'm crying because I'm mad at myself, Alec." She was. One of the things she hated about having such a temper was that it was usually accompanied by tears. She couldn't help but cover his hand with hers.

"I know you could handle it. I just...I couldn't deal with seeing her kissing you. It just hurt too much." She'd always believed in embracing emotions before she went to Wales. But afterwards, she'd felt ruled by them.

With his last comment she turned to look into his eyes. "I know there was a life before me. That's why I asked to go there. I don't want you to feel like you have to give everything up for me." She knew he may not be asking for all of this honesty, but she couldn't not be honest. Some women, she knew, tried to play coy and be manipulative, but Victoria couldn't stand the idea of doing that. Even if it hurt, honesty was the only way.

Alec was confused; why would she cry in anger? He never understood why people did that, Tess did that often too, she'd start screaming before breaking out into tears. He sighed; he wasn't an expert in talking to women when it became serious.

"She meant nothing you get that right? I said I was committed to you didn't I? You didn't have to just..let your emotions take over and act so aggressive so blind because of rage. Control is always important."

He didn't want to remind her how he felt about when people couldn't control their emotions, it was a sign of weakness. Still, her wanting to be a part of his old life frustrated him.

"I never was going to give up things for you, you know?" he said confused. "Going out was one small portion, my life is more than just going out and drinking. Do you think that's all I am? Is that how simple minded you find me?"

Victoria couldn't believe his narrow-mindedness. "So what, if I was in control, I would have just said 'hey, it's okay that you snogged my...whatever he wants to be called, have a nice day'?!?" What did he think she should have done, invited her to tea? She'd be damned if she wasn't fighting to keep the happiness she'd felt in the last few weeks.

At his next comment she froze. Never going to give things up for you. A numb feeling spread from her chest, chilling the anger from before. "Oh. Okay." She nodded, not fearing falling tears now. They were all gone.

She never had thought going out was all he did. But she figured getting shagged wasn't the only reason he went. There had to be something about that atmosphere that sucked people in night after night. So she had thought to share that with him, whatever it was. But apparently sharing lives was never his intention. "Nice to know I mean that much."

Her whole body itched to leave, not wanting to stay. But she knew that would look even more childish to the man who probably viewed her that way already. She simply stood there, looking at him, all of her anger gone.

Alec growled and looked away trying to calm himself down. He closed his eyes tight and rubbed his forehead trying to figure out why she reacted like this. He replayed what he said over in his head and was surprised to find out that she had misunderstood him. Figures.

"You think I'd sleep around don't you?" he asked softly. "You would actually think that despite the fact I am trying a commitment with you, I would go sleep around? When I said I am not changing my ways and not giving things up you automatically go to sleeping around?! I knew women played the victim, and you're no different"

He walked towards the brandy and put it in the cup before gulping it down. He wasn't going to yell, there was no use yelling, yelling got you know where.

"Going out to drink is one thing that I was already trying to quit. I am more than just sleeping around, and I figured you, more than anyone would see that. You are important to me so stop belittling yourself."

Taking in a deep breath, he turned to face her.

"I am more than going out, having sex...my job, my motivation, my dreams that's what matters, but no, you just think sex is all I'm about. Maybe I should live up to your expectations"

Victoria felt like a rug had been pulled out from under her. That had never entered her mind. She didn't even know how to respond to it. Trying to keep her composure, she slowly sat down in a chair next to the fireplace, clutching her hands together.

"No! That never even entered my mind, Alec." She couldn't believe he actually believe she thought so little of him. That she whittled his entire existence down to sex. "If I thought that's all there was to you I would have just shagged you and got it over with."

She sighed, dropping her forehead into her hands. "I know there's more to you. But I know you can't talk about your work. And it's hard to ask you about your dreams, because I feel like it's all logical for you. Like I won't get an honest answer." It had never occurred to her before now how little they actually knew about each other.

Alec was having around the same thoughts. They didn't know a damn thing about one another and yet here they were trying to do something so domestic and out of character at least for him. He noticed her gripping the chair tightly and he sighed.

"We don't know each other that well do we?" he said aloud oblivious that she was thinking the same thing.

He walked in front of her to see her eye to eye.

"What do you think of me? What are your thoughts on me?" he asked. "Do you think I would do anything to hurt you?"

He was genuinely curious if she thought that he was capable of hurting her. He knew that in his mind, he wouldn't purposely hurt her, that was unlike him, but did she believe that little of him? He didn't even know a lot about her either and that was the problem.

Victoria looked up at Alec. For a few seconds, she could do nothing but stare at the man that had become so important to her so quickly. She swallowed slowly, knowing that this was the moment for honesty.

She stood, reaching to take his hand lightly. If he wasn't going to believe her, and accept her, at least she would get to hold his hand one last time. First off, "I think you're more than I could ever say. I never thought that you simply went to clubs to get shagged. I always figured that there had to be more to it. The energy. The people. The luxury, that drew you to it. That's what I wanted to share with you, to be a part of."

She cleared her throat. "I think you have courage. To be an Auror. Even if I can't know about what you do, I know that. To go out there and to your job. I think you care about people more than you show. Especially Tess." It was one of the things she loved about him. How, even though he never let it show, he would do anything for his sister.

Placing her other hand to his cheek, she felt her heart fluttering. "As far as hurting me? I've never met anyone who could hurt me more." It was one of her fears about being with him at all. "But I've never thought that you would do something on purpose, no."

She let her hand fall and closed her eyes. Tears formed in her eyes and threatened to spill over as she waited for his response.

Alec forced himself not to flinch as she grabbed his hand. He didn't want to be more vulnerable because that would cause him to break, and do something stupid. As he heard her talk, he felt a twinge, and knew that he misunderstood her the whole time. He thought that she wanted to go simply because she thought that it was important to him.

"You have to realize that I didn't need to go anywhere to go anywhere. I don't need to go out when you're with me. It called out to me because I wanted someone to talk to, but I have you. I don't want to go out, at least not those places. If I want to drink, I have my drinks here," he explained to her.

As he hand moved to his cheek, he nuzzled her hand softly, trying to show her comfort as his hands automatically moved to her hips to hold her close. He didn't want to talk about him caring about others and things of the sort especially not Tess because for some reason he wanted to keep that to himself.

"I care about you...and I try to be the best I can for you. But know that I don't need to go out, to drink there, to see the night life. I can be just fine relaxing here, especially since I am tired from work. What do I need to make you happy?"

Victoria felt a little more grounded when he put his hands on her hips. After all the arguing, she felt normal again. When he said he tries, she smiled softly. "I know you do. And it means a lot to me." She stepped in closer to him, snaking his arms around his shoulders. "And I'll remember that you don't need to go out. But if you ever need to, I'll do better, I promise."

She was really surprised when he asked what he could do to make her happy. He never seemed like a man that would ask such a question, or even have to. She bit her lip and tried to think of an honest, clear answer.

"I want to know more about you. What you like. What you do. What you think." She could imagine the bombs going off in his mind. "I'm not asking for your heart on your sleeve, or for tears. I just want to know you. All of you." She wasn't sure if he could do that, but she hoped he'd try. She thought for a while honesty was one of the things that had been missing with Bronn, from Bronn. Maybe being upfront in asking for it would hopefully shield her from more pain.

Alec nodded and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He was glad that the argument was over and he had kept control. He didn't want to break and say hurtful things to her that could be detrimental for the pair. Still as she explained herself he was glad.

"I won't go to those places if I need to get out, I'd go with Dorian if you don't mind" he mumbled.

He didn't want a repeat like this night. He wanted to avoid everything that caused an argument because he would shut down.

"I can't promise you that it will be quick, but I will try to show you want you want. I want you to know me, eventually, and I ask the same of you."