Sea Creatures (Arista/Devon)

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

"Tomorrow is good." He suddenly said. Then realized how over eager that must have sounded. "I... don't have anything going on at that time." It was the OFF SEASON: he never had anything going on! But she didn't have to know that. He watched as she wrote her number down and accepted the little piece of paper. her writing was so neat.

"Okay, so tomorrow... can I bring anything?" He asked. "I mean... I can't really cook, but maybe I could pick something up? Desert maybe?"

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

"Wonderful, um you don't have to bring anything maybe a bottle of wine if you would like? Oh and I'll go back an process these shots so I can show you tomorrow. So around 5 will that work? Oh and here is my address." Arista wrote that down on the card as well.

Arista packed up the stuff, "Would you like to take home the rest of the salad?" She asked him.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

Devon helped her clear the plates and cups. He looked up at her clear blue eyes. "Yeah... 5 sounds good." He smiled back. "I'll bring wine." It was a date. It HAD to be: wine was involved.

"Are you SURE you don't want it? It's really good..." He asked her, as she practically forced the pasta in his hands. Not that he didn't want it. It was amazing... but he didn't want her to think he was foodless.

...Okay, he WAS... and homeless... but she didn't have to know that. She was so beautiful and so... together. He really didn't want her feeling sorry for him. He didn't mind it at all.

"Sure, I'll take it." Though he didn't have a refrigerator to keep it. But to be honest, despite the container's huge size, it would be GONE before this evening.

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

"Great then I will see you tomorrow, have a good night Gill." Arista smiled, she liked him. His shy ways were so different from what she was used to.

Terence was kind and sweet as well...to bad he was in love with someone else. Arista sighed as she walked home. Maybe she should call Alana and talk to her or even Ariel. It might help to just talk to her sisters about dating since Arista didn't have a clue. Ariel was dating that Jefferson fellow after Hook right? Arista had no idea.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

The day of the date, Devon took a few extra laps in the water just to get the jitters out. He had already gone to Granny's and ask if he could wash the now empty pastabowl. Granny looked at him as if he was odd at first, but then just laughed and let him go right ahead back to the kitchen.

After swimming, he had "bathed" which literally meant jumping back in the water after soaping down and shampooing up, then toweled off. He had no idea what to wear on a date. He chose some khaki pants and a black turtle neck that always seemed to draw some attention. He thought it had been a bad thing at first... until Ruby filled him in that he looked VERY nice. It 'looked damn fine' on his build, as she had said once. For that very reason he rarely wore it...

He went to the liquor store and got a Riesling wine... Again, Ruby had suggested it. Because she apparently KNEW that he was a 'wine virgin' comparatively to others. It was light, but sweet and quick working enough to get the job done.

He was ready to go. When he looked down at his watch, he saw it was an hour and a half until 5.

...shit...

Well... what was he going to do UNTIL then... He suddenly felt self-conscious, wanted to duck back to his shed on the beach. But he was already in town, close to her apartment. Maybe he could hang out at Granny's until then? She didn't seem to mind him so much.

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

Arista was putting the finishing touches on her Salmon and mashed red potatoes. She was humming to herself, happy then she had been in a long time.

She had the table all set and was even wearing a cute lacy sundress it was light purple and went with her eyes perfectly. She still wasn't sure if this was a date or not but it began to feel like one. She tried not to think about it as she put out the salad.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

Gill kept staring up at the clock in the diner. It was nearly time. He got up, ready to head out the door when Granny called to him.

She excused herself from the cash register long enough to make her way over to him, smoothing his shirt down. She then plucked some of the best flowers out of an arrangement that Holly Short had brought in and handed them to him. He blinked at her.

"GO!" She shooed at him. "Have a good time, handsome." How did she even KNOW? Now it HAD to be a date. flowers, wine... and Granny's approval!

He made his way to Arista's apartment and knocked on her door. "It's... it's me. Gill." He announced from outside, hoping she wouldn't mistake him for her crazy ex.

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

Arista smoothed out her dress unconsciously before opening the door.

"Hi," She smiled at him, "I am so glad you could make it! Dinner is actually almost ready. So come on in and make yourself at home." Arista opened the door wider.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

Gill thought she looked so beautiful in her dress. He stood there for a few beats, then realized she was keeping the door open for him. He held the flowers in his hand out to her. "For you..." He said.

He walked in as she took the flowers, setting the wine down on the kitchen counter. The food smelled great. And the apartment was so... her. Even though he didn't REALLY know her... it just seemed like it would be...

"...I like the place." He ventured to say, looking around. "...Um... do you have a bathroom?" He asked.

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

Arista took the flowers, "Oh Gill these are so pretty why thank you," She followed him inside and for once didn't feel the need to lock the door. Let James burst in he would be in for a shock.

"Yes its right down the hall." Arista told him getting a vase for the flowers.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

Gill nodded and headed in the direction. Once he reached the bathroom, he splashed cold water on his face. He always could feel his skin dry up when he was nervous. Once he had doused himself enough, he toweled off, and headed back in. He leaned his tall, slender body against the cooking island in the middle of the kitchen where she was prepping the food. It looked AMAZING.

"So... how did the pictures turn out?" He asked, watching as she artfully dressed the meal.

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

Arista looked up, "They look amazing, I can show you after we eat if you want." Arista asked him as she carried the salmon to the table.

"I think I have everything we need if you want to eat?" She put everything on the table, "Oh I made rolls too," Arista went to get them. "There everything is perfect." She sat down.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

Everything DID look perfect. He waited for her to sit down, waiting for the go ahead to eat. She smiled, motioning for him to start. They ate in silence for a bit.

"This is DELICIOUS, Arista." He finally worked up the nerve to say. "You are an excellent cook." The salmon was done to PERFECTION. But he was trying not to eat too fast. He put his fork down just to pace himself. "So you mentioned you have a family?" Gill asked. Trying to make conversation.

[Arista/Rita Hawthorne]

"Why thank you Gill I have never cooked for anyone who actually enjoyed it normally they just took it for granted." Arista told him taking a bite herself she loved her salmon it was one of the best things she cooked.

"Yes I have 5 sisters my youngest one had some issues with a pirate very long story. My father owns an auto repair shop and my other sister Alana lives with him." Arista said, she didn't want to go into her story but she would if he asked.

He was so pleasant to be around unlike so many other guys she had known.

[The Gill-Man/ Devon Arnold]

Gill gave her a weak smile. "You're very lucky. To still have them... even a troubled sister. Family is...the only sure link to your past. Who you are..." He looked down at his plate. It had been so long since he could remember who he was; even BEFORE the curse. He was instead plagued with thoughts of WHY he was the only one left... WHY he was allowed to live on while no one else was. Why he was left to be alone in that Lagoon.