On the roof tops of San Francisco, RP for bettercop

[hadtobe_said]

"Sixty seconds, kid, and I'm taking Marlow to dinner and leaving you here."  Bosco rocked on his heel, standing nervously in the entry hall and calling up the stairs.  Though it was rare that Teresa took long to get ready, today was a special occasion and it was taking her longer then usual.  He'd promised her a night out to celebrate her birthday

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[bettercop]

She finally appeared at the top of the stairs, shooting him a snarky look, even from this distance.

"I hear I'm a better kisser."

She was wearing a sleek black dress and a simple, elegant pearl necklace. A very, very light hint of perfume disseminated in the air around her as she walked down the stairs. When she finally met him at the bottom, she took his hand, squeezing it lightly.

"But he is pretty cute."

[hadtobe_said]

"He is cute, but he hogs the bed." God she looked good, he thought to himself as she came down the stairs. "

"You might have to convince me about your superior kissing skills, though," he teased.

[bettercop]

She smirked, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning in close to him, pressing a very light kiss to his jaw.

"That can be arranged."

[hadtobe_said]

He shivered a little, knowing from experience just what she could do with her mouth. If he didn't have plans for tonight he'd be temped to take her back upstairs.

"Later, Teresa. Definitely later." He closed Marlow up in the laundry room, knowing that Van Pelt would be by in an hour to let him back out. Teresa was unaware of the fact that they wouldn't be back tonight, but he'd taken care of things. When he'd asked the red head for a favor she'd given him a look that told him she guessed what he was up to, but he hadn't confirmed it.

He held the car door open for her, something she let him get away with only on nights like this. "You might want to kick off your shoes and get comfortable. We have a bit of a drive."

[bettercop]

She was about to ask where they were going, but knew better than that. He wanted it to be a surprise, and he absolutely would not tell her where they were going until they'd arrived. And...she liked the idea of it.

She did kick off her shoes, leaning back in her seat after she'd buckled.

"If there's cannoli in our future, I'll be a very happy birthday girl."

[hadtobe_said]

"Me, take you to someplace with cannoli? What are the chances?" he tease.

The next hour and a half passed quickly, and soon they were driving through their old stomping ground. Bosco pulled into a lot in the middle of North Beach and turned off the car. "Hungry?"

[bettercop]

"Ravenous," she replied, surprised and delighted to see that they'd ended up in San Francisco. Where it all started, so many years ago.

"God, we haven't been here in ages. I'm liking it already."

[hadtobe_said]

"Do you remember your thirtieth, at Tosca's? The entire precinct was there, except the few sorry bastards stuck watching the house." More then a decade ago, but he'd been in love with her then too. He'd also celebrated his 15th anniversary not long after. Strange, how much was the same and yet so different. Strange, and blessed.

The bells of St. Pete's were ringing eight when he led her to Franchino's and held open the door for her. He wasn't even fully inside when Frank and Mamá rushed over, catching them both up in a flurry of hugs and kissed cheeks.

"Teresa, it's been too long. You're too skinny, don't they have food in Sacramento?"

[bettercop]

"Couldn't forget that night. We always had fun at Tosca's."

She smiled warmly when Frank and Mamá smothered her with affection, returning the hugs and kisses. Her hand slipped her around Bosco's.

"Sam does all the cooking, talk to him," she grinned wickedly at him and kissed his cheek.

[hadtobe_said]

"I do the cooking, but ask her how often she skips lunch." He held up his hands in mock surrender, making Mamá laugh.

"Come, Samuele. Everything, she is arranged just as you said." Frank led them through the restaurant and to the kitchens, nodding to a staircase. "The wine is waiting. Louisa will be up shortly for your orders."

From there it was the two of them, and Bosco led Lisbon up the stairs to the room, where a table and two chairs were set up in the middle of the tiny rooftop garden.

[bettercop]

Well, this was certainly a surprise. Dinner at Franchino's? Nostalgic, familiar, not at all unexpected. But dinner in the middle of the rooftop garden of Franchino's, with a full view of the gorgeous San Francisco skyline? A complete, and wonderful surprise.

She let Sam pull her chair out for her, biting back a sarcastic retort; he was allowed to do gentlemanly things once in a while, she supposed. The romance, though, was fairly common, and something she enjoyed quite a lot.

"This is...definitely a surprise, Sam. A good one. I love being back in the city with you."

[hadtobe_said]

He lingered behind her chair for a moment, letting his fingers trace the curve of her neck before bending down to kiss her cheek.

"We had some good times here, in the city. plus i wanted the best Italian food possible for your birthday, and that meant either here or Jersey. This commute is shorter." He slid into the chair across from her, sliding his hand across the table.

[bettercop]

Lisbon slid her hand across the table as well, to meet his, her palm facing upward as she brushed her fingers against his.

"We did. We always have good times, Chief. It was just different back then." Back then, he was married. And she was in love with him, even though she hadn't realized it until years later. But he'd always been her best friend and family; that hadn't changed.

"We should do Jersey again for Christmas," she mentioned, knowing it had been a long time since he'd actually made it back East for the holidays.

[hadtobe_said]

"You're a brave woman, Teresa Lisbon." They'd done one Christmas in Jersey, a year and a half ago. Christmas, in the Bosco family, meant dozens of people and dozens of celebrations. He found the noise and questions and fights and food to be comforting, but for someone who hadn't grown up with an extended Italian family he knew it could be overwhelming.

"Why don't we ask Laura and Allie if they're going? Mama would be please to have all of us." And, with any luck, there's be a ring to show off.

[bettercop]

"Your relatives seem to like me, especially your Uncle Bruno." She almost smirked when she mentioned his uncle, remembering how...taken with her the man had been. Purely innocent, of course, but he made no secret of the fact that he adored Teresa.

"That'd be fun. And handling your family is nothing compared to Jane."

She didn't even need to look at the menu. As soon as they walked in, she knew what she was getting. Baked Ziti, as cheesy as they could make it.

[hadtobe_said]

"Uncle Bruno would try to take you to Italy on a honeymoon, if I didn't keep an eye on him." Bosco grinned; his uncle was a terrible flirt and a life long bachelor, but harmless. He was pleased at how much Lisbon liked his family, and visa verse. Even living on the opposite coast, it would have been a challenge if they hadn't gotten along.

"Did you want something to drink?" After the waitress came to take their orders he nodded at the already opened bottle of wine.