The night is not exactly planned. After everything, Steven and Viola are fine with that. A quiet night sounds wonderful!

Steven brings dinner and the movies; just a few movies. After all, it would not be a good test of her new furniture if it is too short. Plus, several of them highlight his nickname’s origin.

His surprise is that her new furniture is a couch and a recliner, in navy blue. A red blanket and a couple of colorful pattern pillows complete the set. Also, most of the boxes are cleaned up too! It looks like a real home.

The take-out goes fast before they drift to different spots. 

Viola curls around the end of the couch as Steven melts into the recliner. “See? That’s why I had to get it,” Viola chuckles as his feet come up. 

He gives his sound of approval while she continues to laugh.  

It does not take an entire movie to test their spots but that does not make a marathon. The pair keep watching movies and chatting. Steven encourages her theories even though he knows how everything works out.

After a break to stretch their legs. They decide to put on what he warns was a ‘jumper movie’. It has that effect on him. She goes with it anyway. Though it does test how tight she could squeeze the blanket.

After another movie Viola wants to try the recliner, “Come on! Let’s switch spots.”

“No way. This chair is actually big enough for me to grow into!” he teases wiggling into the seat. He sees her pout with the blanket around her. “You get to sit here every night. I’m just testing it,” he continues with a smirk.

She rolls her head acknowledging the truth.

He scoots towards one side, “Or we could test if two fit.”

Viola jumps into the chair. “You silly guy,” she tussles his hair as she laughs.

He laughs as his arm came around her. He pulls the blanket across their laps. His shoulders take up most of the chair, only causing Viola to readjust before the movie begins.

She does not mind the tight fit because he is warmer than the blanket covering them making the scary movie oddly relaxing.

Partway through the movie, a new sound starts up. 'What’s that?’ Viola thinks something is wrong with her rental home. After a moment she looks up to see Steven’s eyes closed.

'He’s snoring!’ Viola chuckles. She smiles as she watches him sleep for a moment. She curls back upon him and watches as much of the movie as she can before falling asleep.    

After the furniture visit and some more questionable health moments, Steven becomes more supportive about checking in. His calls and general conversation while eager never focus entirely on Viola’s health any more than anyone else would.

His willingness to talk and eat together causes something to begin growing in the back of Viola’s mind. Roughhousing and playfulness were common but this feeling is new.

She manages to invite Steven on a late-night outing with her, after a workout session and some fidgeting on her part. She wants to share something with him equal to his helping out.

Large smiles are on the others' faces as she leaves; unleashing the beast. Everyone else enjoys teasing Steven. That is not going to sour his mood. His smiles last longer than the gym hours.

He goes to Viola’s house to pick her up at the mentioned time. The time is surprising; it is very late. The sun is already pretty low in the sky. That is when he realizes, the pick-up time is the only thing he knows about tonight! She did not mention anything else.

Several thoughts begin racing through his mind as he knocks on the door.

When she opens the door, greets him with a soft smile, and asks, “Would you like to eat when we get there?”

All his worries disappear, “Always!”

Viola leads him inside to the table where she motions to a large basket, grandfather of all picnic baskets, and a duffle bag. She takes a duffle bag, while he takes the basket, to the truck.

He offers to carry both; even if she is doing better today, she is still sick. She just smiles and begins asking him about the rest of his day.

They load up and leave. He drives how she navigates. During the trip, she asks if he likes camping, picnics, or outdoor activities.

He shrugs, “I’m all right with them, just don’t do them too often. Not a lot of people going on nature hikes around the city limits despite it being a good workout.”

Viola nods and calms her fidgeting.

They arrive at the spot, a small lookout park just outside of town. He parks while Viola looks over the sky and checks her phone. “We have some time before it gets dark enough to see the stars. Want to go for a walk?”

“Oh! That’s what we’re doing out here, stargazing,” he teases.

It brings up the fact that she never told him what they were doing.

He smirks as she gives a halfhearted apology smirk as they get out of the truck. “A walk sounds nice. Lead the way,” he gives a grand motion playfully smirking the entire time. 

It is a nice walk, on a short trail around the lookout. Just enough to stretch their legs before they come back to his truck.

She moves the picnic basket to the table, begins unloading, and reveals a lot of the food she sees Steven eating most often. He chuckles as they begin eating by the setting sun.

She watches the sun go down after finishing her share. “Excuse me,” after she notices the time. She hurries over to the truck.

He watches her climb into the back while he finishes eating, only turning away for a moment. A noise catches his attention. He finishes the last bites quickly and hurries over.

He discovers Viola fussing at a rapidly inflated bed. “An airbed?” he blushes at the concept. “What do you have in mind?” he plays cocking one eyebrow.

“I don’t know about you but truck beds aren’t the greatest for my back,” she returns the playful tone. “But if we cleanup we should have just enough time.” She climbs out of the truck and heads for the table.

“Time for what?”

“The show,” she smiles.

Steven, still wrestling confusion, likes how she is smiling. It is the first time it feels so warm.

After they clean up the table, they do climb into the bed of the truck together. Steven can not help but chuckle as he watches her try to figure out the position for something. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not sure what the best spot is going to be.”

“For what?”

“The meteor shower.”

“Oh. That’s the show,” he teases her not saying again.

“I wasn’t sure if you were into this type of thing or not,” she admits while curling into her shoulders. “But was the offer to get to know each other better still open?” she asks sitting up for a moment from trying to move the mattress so they could lean on it.

“Always,” he cheers while taking the other side. 

They both sit on the mattress. “Good. Because I want to,” she declares as she turns to face him; only to realize he is barely a shoulder-width away from her. Both of their faces get red tinges as the mattress wiggles causing their faces to get closer together.

They sit back up straight. “Steven you’ve been more help than a coach should be since I came here. And you’ve been an incredible friend. Especially since you found out…” she itches her chest a little. “So, I wanted to share something with you,” she finishes while rubbing her arm.

Steven feels his face warm up as he processes her statement, ‘I think that is the best compliment she’s given me.’ He smiles as he watches her for a moment. “You like astronomy?” he tries to ease the conversation a little.

Viola turns towards the sky; the stars are starting to come out. “Not exactly. It's just... I used to have a lot of ‘treatments’ but after a very trying one, my dad began getting me out of bed and would take me outside. He wanted me to see the stars, the showers, the planets, all of it. He was a huge guy, bigger than Raph is, but he always thought it was amazing how grand the universe is with everything it has to offer. Especially when the rest of the world was not looking.” She snickers while holding back some tears.

‘This is the first time she spoke about her father, without Doc or someone else bringing him up,’ Steven realizes as his hand reaches out. He begins rubbing her back. She gives him a nod as she leans into it for a moment.

“You have your celebrations, probably, and I have this,” she offers as she leans back onto the mattress, looking at the sky.

“This is good,” Steven says while sitting next to her. “And I do.” They chuckle for a moment before just sitting together.

“Hey... About your dad... I know his...” drags out of Steven. The words catch in his throat as he tries to bring himself to say gone but all that happens are hand motions.

“But what do you think he would have thought of me?” finally comes out as his hands come together.

Viola blinks.

“Vi!”

His pouting shout causes Viola to chuckle, only causing him to sit back and pout more. ‘I think this is the shyest I’ve ever seen him,’ Viola thinks to herself as she scoots closer. “He would have liked you, a lot I think.”

Steven begins to loosen up his shoulders.

“But he would have definitely picked on your squat weight,” she quickly adds without even looking at Steven.

“What?! My weight is great!” he shrieks.

“But not killer,” she chuckles as he returns to pouting. He crosses his arms mutters about bench weights.

“Yeah. He would have loved teasing you,” she smiles and leans on his shoulder.

Steven catches a quick breath at the contact causing his shoulder to tense up. Only for a moment though as his expression softens, his shoulders relax, a soft smile comes over his warming face before he leans a little closer.

His arms uncross, letting one arm drop. He feels Viola’s hand cause pressure, moving on her arm but drawing closer to his. His other hand comes to rest on his arm, barely letting their fingers grace each other.

Her hand touches his arm, “It’s starting!” That probably comes out softer than she means it to but the meteor shower begins. Viola’s eyes light up as she begins watching one, two, then three stars.

Steven smiles at her expression, one of the purest joys he’s seen since they met. He leans back and enjoys the show.

The last meteor trails off but they still give the sky a few moments to make sure. “That was the last one,” she declares as she sits up.

Steven watches her stretch. “All right. What do you want to do now?” he wonders with a soft smile.

She just smiles, “It’s pretty late. I think it’s time we head home.” Steven’s eyebrows play as he smirks and makes a little noise. She tussles his hair, “Our own homes.”

“Had to ask. Since the bed is ready,” he teases. Viola snickers. He helps her move down to the end of the truck bed. “I’ll get the basket while you deal with this,” he suggests before jumping down.

He hears the mattress start deflating as he goes for the basket. ‘It’s been so long I forget. Does it sound like that? That would be bad,’ he thought to himself as he begins to imagine deflating in front of Viola.

He grabs the basket, double checks the area, and turns back to the truck only to see Viola hugging and squeezing the last bits of air out of the mattress. ‘That would be nice though,’ Steven catches himself grinning at the thought.

He walks back over and puts the basket in the back of the truck, “Ready to go?”

“Yes,” Viola acknowledges.

Steven did not wait for her to move out of the truck bed he just reaches in and scoops her out. He grins at the surprise written on her face as he puts her down.

Before he could comment about how light she is she cuts him off with, “My seat is on the other side.”

He motions across, “Just scoot across.” He snickers at her expression before she does just that.

The drive back to her place feels warm. Steven notices, for the first time, how nice nighttime is. Tonight though, the warmth of the night begins to give ‘home’ new meaning.

The ride back seems quiet. For a moment too quiet, Steven looks over to see Viola nodding off every so often. Each time he chuckles though it seems to wake her up just enough for her to watch the sky before beginning to nod off again. Finally, they make it back to her place before she can fall asleep.

He walks her to the door while carrying the bed; since she has the empty basket. “You sure you don’t want me to carry you?” he playfully suggests as her tiredness is showing.

“No. It’s fine,” she smirks as she opens the door. “You can just put that there. I’ll get it later,” she says mentioning next to the door.

‘I’m probably not even going to do these dishes tonight. That’s what dishwashers are for anyway,’ thinking to herself.

“Ok.” He puts it down just inside the door. “This was nice. I enjoyed tonight.”

Viola smiles, “Good. I’m glad.”

“Next time let me know the plan beforehand and I’ll bring something a little more comfortable. And easier to use,” he teases as he leans on the doorframe.

Viola chuckles, “Deal.”

He smiles as he watches a playful smile come to her lips. His hand automatically cups her cheek. After a moment he realizes where his hand is and immediately shots it behind his head while turning red.

He tries to laugh, begin waving, but immediately runs for his truck. “Then I’ll see you later. Go to bed soon!” he teases as he gets in his truck.

“Yes coach,” She waves and closes the door. She hears his truck pull away. It does not her long to peel off the few layers she has on, move the items onto the kitchen table and collapse on the couch. Her phone chimes.

A message from Steven appears- ‘Not on the couch.’

Viola jolts up, “How did he know?!”