(Untitled)

[piehole_shut_it]

Who: Ned and Haley Hotchner
What: Still not understanding his new situation
When: Early afternoon
Where: The Pie Hole
Rating: PG
Status: Incomplete

Comments

[haley_notbrooks]

"Hello!" Haley said brightly, as the bell tinkled, announcing her presence. Aaron was working on a profile at their apartment, and she wanted to bring him a surprise for lunch. Maybe she should pick up something for Dr. Reid as well; it looked like the poor man could use something to cheer him up.

She crossed over to the counter and looked at the pies on display. They all looked delicious... "What's freshest, sir? Any recommendations?" Despite living in town for three months, she felt like she hardly knew anyone. Why hadn't she come into this shop before? It was only a block or so away from their apartment.

Then she spotted the pretty golden retriever curled up on the floor. "Oh! You have a dog! What's his name?" Sure, a dog in a restaurant wasn't a great idea, but he looked very well trained. (She'd considered getting a dog to keep her company when Aaron was away with the team, but had never gotten around to actually doing it.)

[piehole_shut_it]

When the pretty young woman entered, Ned looked over his shoulder instinctively for Olive to get it before remembering that he was alone for the time being. Clearing his throat, he stood up a bit straighter and offered a hint of a smile. "They're all pretty fresh, I just made them this morning." Mostly because he'd had to go out and get all new fruits anyway. "The peach-caramel is pretty popular, lately, and the pie of the month is the kiwi-melon one right there," he added, pointing towards the one in question. After all. St. Patrick's Day. Green. It made sense, honestly. In his head.

She pointed out the dog, and he flushed a bit guiltily. "Um. I don't know, to be honest," Ned admitted with a shrug. "I know it sounds nuts, but he's been in my apartment since Monday morning. No one's stepped up to claim him so I guess he lives with me now. You need a name, though, don't you big guy?"

[haley_notbrooks]

"Okay, give me a slice of the kiwi-melon then. I think the peach-caramel would be just a bit too sweet for me. And a cup of tea?" She took a seat at the counter and smiled. Why hadn't she come into the Pie Hole before? It seemed so pleasant!

"I guess that means he likes you then. Are you a dog person? They can always tell." Haley smiled at the dog and whistled. "Yes he does need a name. How about...David? That's a nice name. It means 'beloved.' I had a scottie named Samantha when I was growing up, but not for too long. Just long enough for Dad to tell me he was a Samuel."

[piehole_shut_it]

Ned really wished he made tea just half as well as that British guy, but then, he supposed, it was in their blood to do so. He could still brew a pot, however, and Ned put the water on while he prepared the piece of pie, green filling oozing out the sides. He had to admit, he was proud of how this one had turned out. It actually sort of matched the color Olive had picked for the stools. Olive who wasn't around much lately. Weird, that.

"I guess so," he said with a shrug, looking down as the dog got to his feet and went trotting over as requested. "I had a dog when I was a kid, looked a lot like him. Well...almost exactly like him, but I guess a lot of golden retrievers look alike, wouldn't you think?" David. "That seems like such a human name," Ned commented with a grin. "I like it. Half the time he acts like he's human. I'm Ned, by the way. My shop and all. I don't know that I've seen you here before?"

[haley_notbrooks]

"Oh, you are a pretty boy." She slid off the chair to run her hand through his coat. "You seem smart enough for a people name." Once she'd sufficiently quenched her urge to pet the puppy, she sat back down and started in on the pie.

"Oh, this is delicious, thank you." Haley had never tried kiwi-melon pie before, but it was worth taking a jump. "And I guess a lot of goldens look similar, but he does look a little more intelligent. I'm Haley Hotchner; I moved here with my husband Aaron a few months ago. You might of met him, or our friend Dr. Reid. I think they've explored more of the town than I have. It's lovely to meet you, Ned."

[piehole_shut_it]

"What do you think of that, David?" Ned asked, looking over the counter at the dog who was eating up the attention being lavished on him. So strange. The dog refused to go anywhere near Ned, but it wasn't as if he didn't like people. So why, then, didn't he want to go anywhere else? Maybe he just really liked the smell of pie. And the taste. Admittedly, Ned had slipped the retriever a slice or two.

In Haley's defense, most people hadn't tried kiwi-melon pie. Most people had never made it. As most of his creations were, it was Ned's own idea that had put it into the oven. "You're welcome, I'm glad you like it." He commented, setting the pot of tea near Haley for her refilling privileges. "We only just opened a few weeks ago. I... Actually, I think I did meet Dr. Reid, then. Well, just after then. A Valentine's party."

[haley_notbrooks]

"David is a pretty good dog name." Of course, the most prominent David she knew was Dave Rossi, and he would probably be jokingly offended at the thought of naming a dog after him. David-the-dog was much friendlier. "And that's pretty good luck, finding such a nice stray. Did he have tags?"

"Reid went to a Valentine's party?" Her mouth quirked up into a smile, "That's not like him." She took another sip of tea. "Well, I definitely know I'll be coming back here. This is wonderful."