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It's okay, it's just New York's elite, you thought to yourself as you got ready in one of the guest rooms at Gracie Mansion for your father's Stronger New York fundraiser. You and Buck had been dating for just over three months and were 'soft-launching' your relationship at the event (as in, you were attending it together even though you and Buck were both technically working) and you were admittedly a bit nervous.
You continued your pep-talk to yourself as you sat at the vanity table to finish up your makeup. What are you even afraid of? You've been around these people a million times. Hell, you even like some of them.
You applied some lip stain to your lips and studied yourself in the mirror. Good as I'm going to get, I guess.
You picked up the diamond and purple sapphire necklaces you had brought as options to accessorize your dress with and held one, then the other to your neck. Hmm…
"—The sapphire, I think."
You turned and smiled as you saw Vanessa in the doorway. "Yeah, you're right, the diamond is too showy for a fundraiser."
You and Vanessa were close — while she had never tried to replace your mother, she had naturally fulfilled the role of maternal figure to the best of her ability, guiding you through all of the circumstances of womanhood that your father either didn't know or couldn't understand how to.
Vanessa walked over to you and squeezed your shoulders in an embrace before leaning down next to you. "Buck is waiting downstairs," she said with a smile.
Your heart fluttered. Since this technically was a work function, you had decided to stay at your parents' that evening so you and Buck could still arrive together (and so you would have him for moral support since it had been several years since you had attended an event that involved your father's rich friends). "Okay."
You paused. There was something you needed clarity on and you didn't want to ask your father for advice. "Before we go… Can I ask you something?"
Vanessa nodded. "Of course, dearest."
"When did you know you loved my dad?"
A small smile spread across Vanessa's face. "Dare I ask if there's a particular reason behind your question?"
You'd had the thought regarding Buck for the past few weeks but didn't want to say anything until you were absolutely sure about what you were feeling, especially since the two of you had only been dating for a few months. "Just asking."
"Mmhmm." Vanessa sighed. "I have to admit that it was very early on. Your father was so… formidable, yet I always felt safe with him. And of course, I saw how wonderful he was with you. How could I not fall in love with a man like that?"
"Did you love Adam?"
You knew about Vanessa's affair — some artist from her gallery that she had sought comfort in whilst your father was off on one of his "business trips" (which wasn't a euphamism, as far as you knew he had never so much as even looked at another woman).
If Vanessa was surprised by the question, she didn't show it. "No," she mused. "Not like I love your father."
"How did you know you loved Dad?"
"That I can't tell you." Vanessa shook her head and straightened. "Love isn't on a schedule, my dear. When you do fall in love, you'll know."
You nodded. You still had a bit of self-reflection to do, but you were pretty sure you were in love with Buck. "Thanks, 'Nessa."
You stood and gathered your purse before following Vanessa out of the room and to the staircase, a smile spreading acrosse your face when you spotted Buck.
He was dressed in a simple black suit that you had seen on (and taken off of) him before, but it never ceased to amaze you just how good he looked in it. He was talking with your father but looked up when he heard you and Vanessa coming, a broad smile spreading across his face as you descended the stairs.
He wrapped an arm around your waist and pressed a chase kiss to your temple. "Darling, you look radiant."
You beamed. "Thank you. You look wonderful too."
"All set?"
You shrugged. "As ready as I can be."
Your father nodded, his own arm wrapped around Vanessa's waist. "Shall we, then?"
You and Buck followed your parents to the SUV waiting outside the mansion.
You got in and sat in the back seat, followed by Buck next to you then your parents in the middle seat.
The driver looked in the rearview mirror. "Good evening, Mr. Mayor, sir, madams. We'll have you at your destination in just a bit."
You buckled your seatbelt then looked over at Buck as he took your hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze, your heart fluttering once again. Yep, definitely in love. Now what do I do with that information?
Buck watched you look out the window of the SUV you both currently were riding in along with the Mayor and Mrs. Fisk as the streets of New York City passed by, your hand in his a comfort.
The past three months had been filled with stolen glances across press conferences, secret smiles in meetings where the other was present, and nights spent naked and wrapped in each other's arms, until finally, finally, you had decided it was time to take your relationship public — or as public as attending the Mayor's "Stronger New York" fundraiser together was.
He sighed as the vehicle approached the Waldorf Astoria and slowed to a stop. While this was technically your first public outing as a couple, you were both still on the clock, so Buck would enjoy every moment you had together. Time to go to work.
He waited while Mayor and Mrs. Fisk got out then followed, turning to extend a hand to you as you also exited.
You smiled as you took it. "Thank you."
The two of you followed behind the Mayor and Mrs. Fisk, stopping every few feet once you were near the private club area to greet one the members of New York's high society.
Buck stayed mostly in the background as you (unfortunately unsuccessfully) tried to shore up support for the Mayor's Red Hook Port Revitalization Project.
Artemis Sledge had scoffed while her husband, Arthur, had listened on. "You don't honestly believe that this is for the betterment of the city, do you?"
"I'm sorry, my hands are tied," another man named Michael (unfortunately Buck hadn't caught his last name) had said as you presented him with facts and statistics you had gathered about the port.
Your final attempt with Jacques Duquesne, a French businessman with ties to some of the biggest businesses in New York, also fell on deaf ears.
"My dear," he had said, "there have been quite a few changes since you'd been away. Your father's authority may not quite reach as far as he thinks, even as Mayor. As I told him, all it would take is one phone call from someone with influence for all of his power to be stripped away from him."
"He's being stonewalled," Buck murmured to you as Mr. Duquesne walked away.
You huffed out a frustrated breath. "Yeah, that's what it seems like. I need to go find Dad, form another plan of action."
Buck nodded. "Okay, let's go."
He paused as Daniel came rushing up to him. "Buck, wait a second."
Buck nodded for you to continue on. "Yes, what is it, Daniel?"
"There's been another murder — two, actually." Daniel pulled up an email on the iPad he carried and tapped to open the attachment. "It's that Muse guy."
Buck sighed as Daniel showed him the photos. So much for a quiet, peaceful night. "We need to show the Mayor. Immediately."
He quickly caught up to you and your parents and placed a hand on the Mayor's shoulder. "Sir."
"There's something you need to see," Daniel added, then looked at you. "You too, actually."
You looked to the Mayor, who nodded then turned to speak to Mrs. Fisk. "Vanessa," he said softly, "I am sorry but there's pressing business. Can you make my apologies for me?"
Vanessa nodded. "Yes, of course."
Buck stepped to the side to let you and the Mayor pass then followed you to the SUV waiting outside the Waldorf.
The Mayor asked the driver for some privacy, after which you and Buck climbed into the front seats while the Mayor sat in the middle and Daniel in the back.
Daniel handed the Mayor the tablet. "There's been more murders."
"These came straight from the forensics team, sir," Buck added as the Mayor swiped through the photos. "Man's obviously mocking the police."
"The community is definitely going to have something to say about this." You shook your head before sighing. "Jesus, those poor girls."
The Mayor looked at you, then at Buck. "We can use this."
"How?" you asked.
The Mayor shook his head. "We'll meet tomorrow. In the meantime, get some rest."
Buck nodded. It looked like it would be an early morning for him. "Shall I go get Mrs. Fisk, sir?"
"I can get her," Daniel said, moving to get out.
Mayor Fisk nodded. "Thank you, Daniel."
Buck and you moved to the back seat while you waited for Mrs. Fisk.
Buck sighed. It didn't seem like Muse had been targeting anyone specific, but with several of his murals depicting the Mayor in a negative light he easily could decide to target you in order to make a statement.
While Buck honestly didn't want anyone to be harmed — or worse, killed — by a psychopath masquerading as a street artist, he would be damned if he let anything happen to the woman he loved.
He blinked in surprise. Wait… the woman I love?
He sat with the thought for a few moments before looking over at you.
You seemed to be lost in your own thoughts, nervously chewing on your bottom lip as you looked out the window.
Buck wanted to take you home and reassure you that he would do everything in his power to keep you safe then show you exactly how he felt about you.
He took your hand, his heart warming as the worry melted off of your face as you looked at him and smiled. Yeah, I'm in love with her.
His thoughts were interrupted as Mrs. Fisk exited the hotel. "Everything alright?" she asked as she got in the vehicle.
"That serial killer," Mayor Fisk replied, "that… Muse person, he claimed another two lives tonight."
Mrs. Fisk made a face. "That's terrible."
Mayor Fisk shook his head. "Fortunately I have a plan."
The ride back to Gracie Mansion was silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts.
Buck followed as you, the Mayor, and Mrs. Fisk all climbed the steps leading up to the porch.
You paused near the doorway. "I'll be right in."
Mrs. Fisk nodded and took the Mayor's arm. "Come, dear, let's give them some privacy."
The Mayor nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Buck."
"Yes, sir," Buck replied.
He waited until the Mayor and Mrs. Fisk were inside before turning to you. "Everything alright?"
You shrugged. "Just not how I expected our first public event together to go. I figured we'd be celebrating tonight, not getting nowhere on gathering support for the port restoration project then finding out that there were more Muse murders…"
You shivered.
Buck shook his head and stepped closer to you before wrapping his arms around your waist. "I know, darling, but I have faith that everything will work out."
You sighed and relaxed into his embrace. "You really think so?"
Buck nodded. If there was anything he had learned in his time working for Wilson Fisk, it was that the man always had a contingency plan. "I do."
He gave you a kiss. "Now, you'd better head inside. We have a long day tomorrow."
You nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Good night, Buck."
"Good night, darling."
Buck waited as you went inside, then sighed and turned to walk back to the waiting car that would continue on to his apartment. While he'd wanted to tell you he was in love with you, now unfortunately wasn't the time.