Warning! Slight Lemon and Mushiness! I don't own the characters or setting! Only the plot! Enjoy! Oh yeah, this is back on the day before Beka disapeared. And now edited!

She was walking through Nightmarket looking for some food for breakfast tomorrow. It was after Watch. She had changed clothes at the kennel so that she didn't have to deal with any problems the Night Watch might have. Although that didn't stop any pickpockets from running when they saw her or stop people from staring.

Finally, Beka stopped at a stall that sold Scanran pasties. She had found out recently that Rosto loved a well-made Scanran pasty. She was so preoccupied in imagining Rosto's reaction to the pasties that she didn't notice that the vendor carried daggers hidden on him. It was unusual for a vendor to so many, let alone hidden. Also, if Beka had been paying attention, she would have noticed a red-orange glow leave the vendor's hands and sink into the pasties. Beka paid and moved on to find the Noll's stall.

Gemma Noll had come back from exile just last year. Already, her buisness was thriving. Everyone swore that her goods were better than her mother's. Now that her mother and brother were gone, Gemma was a much happier and livelier person. She looked a decade younger than she had when her mother had been around.

Gemma and her helpers were all busy when Beka got there, but Gemma waved Beka over anyway.

"Here Beka, I knew you'd come by some time tonight, so I got together some food for you," Gemma said over the noise to Beka as she brought out a covered basket. "And don't try to pay me. I will forever be grateful to you for taking down Yates and my mother." Beka tried to pay anyway, but Gemma firmly refused. Sighing, Beka finally accepted the basket of goods and thanked Gemma. She added the Scanran pasties to the basket before she started for home.

As she walked home, Beka peeked into the basket to find a large loaf of fruit bread, four different kinds of pastries, and a bunch of apple fritters. Beka grinned as she pulled out a fritter. She moaned in delight when she took a bite. Slowly she chewed, savoring the taste. But even doing so, the fritter was gone all too soon. She wanted to save the rest for breakfast tomorrow, so she didn't eat anymore. Even though she really wanted to.

Pounce met her a block from the Dancing Dove. He's still doing Rogue buisness; you might want to go through the back door. Beka sighed. Rosto had said that morning that he had a surprise for her that was to be given after she got back from Evening Watch. Beka really wanted to know what it was. Tomorrow she turned twenty-two, so Rosto was probably giving her his birthday present early. Even though it wasn't his birthday, Beka might have a surprise for him also. But she had to wait until tomorrow to make sure.

Using a narrow staircase just inside the backdoor, Beka made it up to her room without anyone seeing her. She put the basket of food in a wood cupboard that hung on the wall over her clothespress. Beka cleaned her teeth and brushed out her hair. She debated on changing into her sleeping clothes, but decided against. They would just be pulled off anyway.

Just as Beka was wondering if she should wait for Rosto in his room or in her own, Rosto opened the door and walked in. Pounce had told Rosto that Beka was home. So the Rogue turned the Court over to his Queen.

Rosto rushed across the room to where Beka sat on her bed. Before Beka could ask what the surprise was, Rosto covered her lips with his own. The passion behind his kisses quickly distracted Beka as she returned the kisses. Promptly, she forgot what she wanted to ask him. To Rosto's protest, Beka broke the kiss and crossed the room to lock the door. As she walked back to the bed, she shed her boots and pulled her shirt off. She climbed back onto the bed in only breeches and a breastcloth. Rosto ogled her body; he could never get over how appealing her body was.

Beka helped Rosto shed his own clothes but kept what was left of her clothes on. She then proceeded to tease Rosto until he could take it no more. He practically ripped her clothes off. In his lust, he didn't notice that Beka's anti-pregnancy charm was missing from around her neck. If he looked, he would have seen it on her desk.

To get his revenge, Rosto grabbed Beka's wrists in one hand and held them above her head. Then with his free hand he stroked Beka's body, her body trembled at the feel of his fingertips lightly gliding across her skin. Every few minutes, Rosto would pause, the only skin contact he gave her was his hand around her wrists. He would alternately pause and touch, leaving Beka wriggling in agony. It was torture what he was doing to her.

Finally, finally, Rosto released Beka's hands and delved inside her. Minutes later they both reached their climax. Gasping for breath, they just held each other, as their hearts tried to calm down. As Beka and Rosto cuddled together, Beka remembered that Rosto had a surprise for her. Curious, she asked him about it. Beka felt him smile into her hair in the dark.

"You want it now?" he asked teasingly.

"Yes!"

"Are you sure?"

"Rosto give it now or I'll leave this bed and not share a bed with you until I get it! Even if that means waiting days! I'm that curious!"

Rosto decided to tease just a little bit more. "But Beka! I don't want to have to get up! Can't you wait 'till morning?"

Beka turned in Rosto's arms so that she now faced him. "Get it now and I may have a present for you tomorrow."

Rosto jumped out of the bed. Every surprise Beka had given him so far was incredible. He couldn't wait for the next one. He pulled on his breeches and told Beka he'd be right back. Beka watched Rosto skip out the door heading to his room. She propped her head on one hand as she lay on her side, waiting a little impatiently for her surprise. Pounce jumped up on the bed and nuzzled Beka's cheek as he purred. You really are going to love his present to you. Personally, I like it too.

"A present that my cat likes…" Beka thought, "Rosto what did you get me?" Just as her thought ended, Rosto practically bounced through the door. He held one hand behind his back, clutching a small box in his hand. Pounce jumped off the bed and walked out the door Rosto held open for him. Didn't want to see the mushiness anyway. Rosto closed the door behind Pounce and then walked slowly over to where Beka still lay on the bed, covered only with sheets. Beka sat up, covering herself with the sheet. Rosto kneeled before Beka and pulled his hand from behind his back, revealing a small, plain, leather box. Beka's eyes widened, she hoped it wasn't what she thought it was. It wouldn't work out.

Rosto suddenly looked nervous. He was silent for a minute, trying to collect himself. When he was ready, he took a quiet breath. "Beka, my love, will you marry me?"

Beka wanted to cry. She had to say no. A Dog and the Rogue could not marry. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to speak. "Rosto… I want to… but…" At this point she couldn't even speak. Rosto stood and put his arms around her.

"Shh Beka. I meant only to marry me with your heart. We won't be married in the eyes of any court magistrate, but in our hearts, it will be like we are married. So please Beka… Do you accept?"

"Yes! Yes! Rosto I love you so much!" Her tears became those that came only when you are so happy you don't know how to act. She laughed and smiled, hugging Rosto tightly to her, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Do you want to know what's in the box Beka?"

"Yes please." Rosto and Beka drew far enough apart so that Rosto could hand the box to Beka. She held it between their two bodies and lifted the lid. "Oh!" Inside was a delicate looking, silver link bracelet. (Imagine chain link except bracelet and thin.) On it was four charms. The first was a silver dog dancing on its feet with ice colored sapphire eyes. The second was a silver flute with onyx details. The third a regal black cat with amthemyst jewel eyes. The last and most beautiful charm was a simple heart cut from a stone Rosto had found years ago at the shore of a river. The simple heart stone was two different colors; ice blue and midnight black.

"Rosto," Beka whispered, gazing at the bracelet. "It's beautiful. Thank you!" Rosto gently took the bracelet from her, opened the clasp and fastened it around her wrist. "Guess what Beka. Although it looks delicate, it would take a forge to destroy it." Beka laughed and hugged him again. The feel of Beka pressed against him proved to be too much for Rosto, and soon the two were back to canoodling.

The next morning, they enjoyed Gemma Noll's delicious goods and the Scanran pasties. Their breakfast mates had to threaten them to make sure Rosto and Beka did not make them all gag and want to leave the room. After breakfast, Rosto and Beka went for a walk before returning to the Dancing Dove so that Beka could change for her Watch. But instead of changing right away like usual, Beka put her gear in a bag and left an hour early. An hour she usually spent talking with Aniki and Kora. They alone knew why Beka was leaving early. Rosto tried to get them to spill, but they refused.

Beka made her way to a healer she knew well. She and the mot talked a while before Beka mentioned why she was there. The healer's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she heard why Beka was visiting at this time of day. She quickly ushered Beka into her rooms above her shop. About ten minutes later, Beka emerged, grinning like a looby. She could not wait to get home to tell Rosto.

Beka shook her head, she could not afford to be distracted during Evening Watch, especially now. Beka winced at how Ahuda would react when she learned of Beka's condition. She was also wondering what the other Dogs would say. Clary, Mattes and most of the senior Dogs would probably congratulate her, but Clary would still mutter something about being "too deep." Beka giggled at what that could imply.

Beka was five blocks away from Jane Street Kennel when she blacked out. As she fell into the mire of the street, she heard Pounce yowling before she totally lost consciousness.