Violin music flowed through the room.
Tessa was sitting in a chair in their hotel room in Los Angeles, reading a book she'd picked from a yard sale. Jem was standing across the room, playing a song from long ago on his violin, an old favorite. It was quite an easy tune, but Jem was rusty from years without music and needed the practice. He was doing quite well for one so out of practice. His eyes closed as he played, forgetting the world around him and letting his hands work with a mind of their own.
This was a routine of theirs: if they had nothing to do and Tessa wanted to read, Jem would pull out his violin to practice, giving Tessa some soothing music to read to. It was the same reversed: if Jem felt the need to practice his violin, Tessa would pull out her book. It made Jem feel more relaxed. He could imagine no one was in the room (even though he was always aware of Tessa's presence) and he needn't worry about making mistakes.
It worked for both of them. They could get done that which would be completed during their alone time, but they could do it together. They didn't need to worry about bothering or boring the other. They felt calm and happy, just being near each other, killing time. They could imagine that the last century never happened.
As Tessa read her book, she felt herself get lost in the music. She put her book down and closed her eyes as she lost herself into a song she hadn't heard in over a century. She had missed his playing, missed his calm aura, missed his kind words and loving heart. She had missed him. Never would she have even thought that she would one day be with him like this again, get to hold him and hear him tell her that he loves her. But here he was, himself and healthy, and Tessa was grateful for every moment she got with him, and for the life they would get together, a life that never before had seemed possible.
Tessa started to imagine the life they could have together, when she realized something. She and Jem have not been on many proper dates. She opened her eyes and looked towards Jem.
"Jem," she said.
"Yes?" He looked up and stopped playing.
"Would you like to go to the movie theaters? We could share a popcorn and see a movie, perhaps "Journey to the Center of the Earth". I hear its really good," Tessa suggested.
Jem only blinked in response.
'Of course', Tessa thought, 'Jem has probably never seen a movie.'
Of course, Jem has heard of movies. However, being a Silent Brother for the last century, he had missed the entire history of cinema. He had never even seen a black and white film, not to mention movies in color. He had no idea what he was missing out on.
Tessa waved away the clear confusion on his face, and the question he was about to ask. She stood up and turned to face him.
"No, don't bother asking any questions or making any objections," Tessa declared, walking the full length of the room until she was right in front of him.
"Bu-," Jem began, but his objection barely left his lips before Tessa kissed him briefly to shut him up.
"No 'buts'," she replied, smiling. "James Carstairs, I shall be taking you to see your first movie. AND, to get the full experience, we shall be seeing it in 3D."
"3D?" Jem asked, the confusion clear in his voice and written on his face.
"Yes, there are three-dimensional movies. Now come on. I will not have you oblivious to the wonder that is cinema for another second."