Author's Notes:

A mini-arc set immediately before the start of Starclimber, part 2 of 2. Kate gives Matt a surprise. Ties a little into my Airborn-Leviathan crossover fic.

Reviews are highly appreciated!

True to her word, a creamy envelope sat in my mailbox when I got to it. I recognized Kate's elegant handwriting instantly.

Mr. M. Cruse, it read simply.

Now that I had it in my hands, I was suddenly a little apprehensive. She'd been altogether enigmatic today. Telling myself not to be silly, I tore it open; inside was single piece of paper.

I squinted under the dim light of the mailroom. It was a train ticket, I realized. An Express from Paris to Lyon, departing tonight at five thirty. The envelope was otherwise empty — she'd left nothing else.

So she meant for me to take this train, then?

I couldn't help but smile. It was just like her to rope me into this trip out of the city on the very day I came back. I wondered what surprise she had in store to warrant such an elaborate ruse. I shook my head a little at the absurdity of it all — I had only the ticket, so I wouldn't know where to go at all after I got to Lyon. But I trusted her, and in spite of myself, my heart surged with a bit of imagination.

Despite being tired from the final exam, I quickly showered and changed. I had no idea whether our destination required a formal dress code, and I didn't want to put on my uniform again, stinky that it was. In the end I settled for a nice shirt, a pair of dress pants, a tie, and a waistcoat.

I got to the train station around five twenty, and boarded with five minutes to spare. To my surprise, my seat was on the first-class carriage — a cozy two-seater compartment with fancy leather seats facing each other, and a small elegant table in the middle for drinks. It was brass-gilded, and lined with simple smooth mahogany panels. I was glad I hadn't underdressed. The conductor came over almost as soon as I settled in, offering a complimentary beverage.

I grew more and more expectant as I sipped my orange juice. I wondered how long Kate had spent planning this. The final exam training cruise had taken the past five days, and the two weeks before that I'd been too busy preparing. She'd been in the middle of writing theses and putting together her aerozoan presentation as well, so we had contented ourselves with quick telephone calls and notes. She must've already been hammering out the details, even back then. She had kept me completely in the dark!

"En voiture!" called the stationmaster from the platform, his voice carrying over the din. "En voiture!"

The train gave a mighty toot. Steel connectors ground against one another. With a mighty tug and a slight tremor, the cars began to move. I smiled as I looked out the window — apparently I was the only passenger in my compartment. I didn't care much for luxury, but as I stretched my legs out, I had to admit it was nice to be on the receiving end from time to time.

The buildings to the side of the tracks panned from one edge of the window pane to the other, faster and faster as we gathered speed. The evening sun painted their rooftops orange. I finished my juice and leaned back on the cushions. The trip would take just around three hours. I could get a little sleep.

A great crash echoed in the walkway just outside my compartment. I chuckled — it sounded like someone was having some trouble with their luggage. The banging and clanging continued for a few seconds, and then my compartment door busted open with a slam. Confused, my eyes snapped open, and Kate de Vries grinned at me wide, a massive suitcase in tow.

"Good evening!" she said, panting. Her hair was in quite a shape. "I almost didn't make it!"

I felt my mouth open, but I couldn't speak. I just stared at the glow of sunlight from the window dancing in her hair.

"I'd appreciate a little help, you know," she said.

I stood up. "How in the world —?"

"Help first, talk later." She nodded impatiently at her luggage, and together we moved it inside my — our — compartment. It was ridiculously heavy, and I grunted with exertion as I lifted it up onto the storage racks.

"Careful, careful," she said, a hand at my back. "There. Thank you, Mr. Cruse."

I sat back down, and she did too opposite me. We looked at each other. She had changed out of her elaborate flowing gown from earlier when she'd picked me up, and was wearing a more sensible dress, thinner and more suitable for travel. She looked beautiful either way.

"So. I gather you have a few questions," she said, still beaming at me. "Ask away."

"Oh. Er. Why are you here?" I was still astounded.

"I'm going to Lyon. Same as you."

"But why? And… and where's Ms. Simpkins?"

"She's not here. Dropping you off earlier was merely meant to trick her. She thinks I'm alone right now."

"But — but we're going out of town! She could hardly have allowed this." I peered suspiciously through the cracks of the door curtain, convinced the woman must be in a neighboring compartment.

"Ah," Kate said with a wink, "but she did." She waited impatiently, her grey eyes urging me to ask more.

I laughed and squeezed her hand. "Alright. How did you get rid of her this time?"

"I didn't," she said. "She got rid of herself."

"You don't honestly expect me to believe that."

"It's the truth. Here, read this." Triumphantly, she handed me an off-white piece of paper. It was a folded, typewritten letter, obviously read many times but still crisp. Under her prodding gaze, I opened it up.

Dear Miss de Vries,

In light of your recent publication on the previously unknown species, Prionailurus nimbus — tentatively classified under the family Felidae at your suggestion — the London Zoological Society would be honored to have your attendance at the 26th Annual Conference on Fabricative and Explorative Zoology, to be held later this year at the Palais Royale Lyon from June 5 to June 9.

"So that's why we're going to Lyon," I muttered.

"Exciting, isn't it? It's a pity I'll only be there for tomorrow, but I heard Sir Hugh Snuffler was there for the past three days, so it's just as well that I'd missed him."

"Wouldn't want him snuffling about," I agreed. "But what is Prio-nail—"

"Ah, Prionailurus nimbus," she said fluently, grinning. "I'll give you a hint: nimbus means cloud."

It took me all but a split second, and then I gasped. "The cloud cat! They accepted it as a real creature?"

She nodded, her eyes bright. "Isn't it wonderful? I can hardly believe it myself! I submitted my paper to the BJZ as a last resort, because I know for sure Sir Hugh would be on the editorial board for the Canadian one —"

"What is a BJZ?"

"British Journal of Zoology. Anyway, I submitted it ages ago, and afterwards we went on the Hyperion and I quite forgot about it. I thought I got rejected, but the next thing I know, they've published it! Last month!"

"Last month! But you never told me!"

"I found out rather recently myself. I was working so hard on the aerozoan, I hadn't been keeping up with the newest articles. And when I did I thought I'd wait to tell you in person." She gave me a warm smile. "It's our discovery, after all. Our first discovery."

I leaned forward and hugged her tight. She snuggled into me happily, and we shared a long kiss.

"Congratulations," I said. "I'm so proud of you. Your grandfather would be proud, too."

"Ah," she said, her eyes momentarily dim. "I wanted to name it Prionailurus molloyi, you know. Or give it its own genus Molloyi. But the skeletal structures are clearly feline, and the name had to be catchy. Grandpa would understand."

I gave her arm a light squeeze. "I'm sure he would."

She nodded, perking up. "You were asking how I ditched Marjorie, right? Keep reading."

She didn't go back to her own seat, but sat naturally on my lap, her weight settling comfortably on me. I wrapped an arm around her waist and finished the rest of the letter.

Should you choose to accept, please kindly respond with the attached form, and your guest permit will be mailed to you within ten business days. Also attached is the programme schedule, should it be of interest.

We regret to inform you that the Society is not responsible for accommodations during the Conference. Guests are strongly advised to make arrangements as early as possible in accordance with the days of their attendance, as hotels can fill up very quickly.

We look forward to meeting you.

Cordially yours,

Here the letter was signed with an energetic flourish by one N. D. Barlow. Further down, a flurry of words jostled for attention. The fellow had as impressive a record as his signature — I'd never seen so many letters tacked onto a person's name.

N. D. Barlow

OD, OM, FZS, FRS, PhD

Director, His Majesty's London Zoo

Vice-chair, London Zoological Society

Honorary Editor-in-Chief, Darwin

Editor-in-Chief, British Journal of Zoology

Director's Office, His Majesty's London Zoo

Regent's Park, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Eire

"Did you finish?" Kate asked.

"Just now. What are all of these?"

"All of what?" She shifted to look at what I was pointing at. "Oh. Titles, silly." Her finger traced each as she explained. "Order of Darwin, Order of Merit, Fellow of Zoological Society, Fellow of Royal Society, and of course a Doctorate."

I gave a low whistle. "That's an awful lot of titles."

Kate shrugged. "It's a person's work that defines them, not their titles. Plus I like this Dr. Barlow — not at all snooty like old Snuffles. It's amazing that my paper would get noticed by the editor-in-chief himself!" She looked positively aglow.

"I expected no less," I said. "You're brilliant."

"I made sure to credit you as co-discoverer. Anyway, that's the reason Marjorie isn't here. Aren't I clever?"

She looked at me so expectantly, I was slightly ashamed to profess my ignorance. "Actually, you still haven't told me," I said.

"Oh, for goodness' sake Matt, it says so in the letter — 'Guests are strongly advised to make arrangements as early as possible.' 'Hotels can fill up very quickly.'" She grinned. "I simply booked a bedroom for myself, and neglected to tell Marjorie about this event. She found out five days ago, and by then not a single room was available in the whole of Lyon. You should've seen her face!"

She paused to let the brilliance of her plan sink in. I had to admit, it was quite devious. "So she just let you go, all alone? I thought she would have insisted to come."

"Oh, she abhors sharing the bed. Us being in a single room would've killed her. And it would kill her more if she were forced to sleep at a hostel, or a public inn, heaven forbid." She giggled.

"But surely she would've found a way? An extra bed or something."

"She didn't try very hard, to be honest. I told her the room was too small. Plus I'd be staying at the Palais Royale, so I wouldn't have to wander off the hotel premises at all since that's where the Conference is being held anyway. I made her tons of promises. In the end she just gave up."

She beamed, looking so ridiculously smug that I laughed and kissed her.

"Bravo, Ms. de Vries."

"Thank you, thank you. Anyway, I hope you have no qualms about squeezing in a bed with me."

"Wait. Me?" I hadn't considered my own accommodations, and felt suddenly very foolish. Of course I had to have a place to stay.

"Yes, you. It'll be nine when we get there, and midnight after we have dinner. You didn't think I would let you take a sleeper coach back to Paris at some ungodly hour, did you?"

"I don't know what I thought," I said, shaking my head. I imagined what it would be like, and blushed. "But… really? Us… in the Palais Royale, together?"

"I like that look on your face," she remarked with a gleam in her eyes. Then she kissed the tip of my nose. "Surprise," she said. "And happy birthday."

"Happy birthday? But mine —"

"Was over a week ago, I know." She tickled my stomach and smirked as I wriggled. She always enjoyed tickling me for some reason, at least ever since we became intimate with each other. "But we didn't celebrate properly."

"You already gave me cakes," I pointed out.

"A box of cupcakes," she said. "Delivered by my chauffeur. I'm not letting myself off the hook with something so paltry, even if you are."

I grinned. It was just like her to want to excel at everything, including birthday presents.

"Thank you," I said. She was so close, and I'd missed her so much for the past three weeks, I couldn't stop my hands from wandering a little.

She slapped them away playfully. "Not now, airhead. We need to sleep."

To my chagrin she then stood up and moved back to her own seat. I must have looked completely disheartened, for she winked at me with mirthful eyes. "Just a few more hours," she said. "Sleep when you have the chance; you're not getting any tonight."

I felt a rush of blood spread through me. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Good. I'll hold you up on that promise."

We both blushed furiously. Though no longer the timid, virginal pair from six months ago, we rarely talked suggestively outside the bedroom — partly as precaution against eavesdropping chaperones. A compartment of a train was private enough, but something about the semi-publicness of the space made our banter seem especially inappropriate.

Cheeks still red, I reached out to her. She took my hand, and we looked out the window together.

As the train sped along the French countryside, dipped gold by sunset, I leaned my head on the window pane and closed my eyes. A sumptuous dinner awaited us at the Palais Royale, and a night with our own room. It was as perfect a birthday as could be, late though it was.

Kate's birthday was in two weeks. I'd have to come up with a truly dazzling present if I hoped to top this.

Her hand remained in mine, warm and soft, and I soon found myself drifting to sleep. As the train swayed ever so gently, a sky full of stars made its way into my dreams.

Author's Note:

1. Prionailurus is a genus of small cats endemic to East Asia. Given the size of the cloud cat in canon I thought this would be the closest if it were to be classified.

2. For those who forgot, Kate's grandfather Benjamin Molloy was the original discoverer of the cloud cat.

3. N. D. Barlow is a prominent character borrowed from Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy.

4. In British peerage and honors, titles are organized based on their prestige and importance. I think it makes sense that they would place the Order of Darwin above all else, and FZS before FRS.