Hi guys! My muse is singing, so here's a new chapter! This is the longest chapter on this story to date, capping off at 7.6K words, so I hope you do enjoy it and constructive criticism is always welcome!

I do not own Harry Potter or Type-Moon.

Food and a Good View Can Solve Nearly Anything

Some time after the London Singularity…

"I must say, your tea is as excellent as always Tamamo."

"Why, thank you Margaretha. I only wish that I still had some of my homeland's teas. Then you could see how good I really am!"

"I find it hard to believe that your tea could get any better, Lady Tamamo."

The fox-woman's ears twitched at the praise she was given. Mata Hari and Jeanne D'Arc giggled at the sight from behind their teacups. Currently, the three beautiful women were sitting in a room that looked like it was taken out of a fairy tale or medieval palace; gorgeous velvet walls, large and comfortable sofas, elegant drawings and paintings courtesy of the more artistic servants, a dazzling crystal chandelier and other minutiae that served to further enrich the room.

Sitting in various other soft chairs were the architects of the room, in addition to a few guests: Queen Marie Antoinette, who was flanked by Charles-Henri Sanson and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In another chair was Mash Kyrielight, who was invited to the impromptu tea-party by Jeanne.

After the Orleans Singularity, the French Servants who accompanied Harry on his return to Chaldea had the idea of sprucing up the dull rooms of the facility (at least, one of them) and gave the suggestion of transforming this particular room into a lounge worthy of European royalty, to allow the Servants and staff a place to unwind in peace. Da Vinci was intrigued by the idea, and with the help of the recently-summoned Paracelsus (and copious abuse of the two's Item Construction Skill – A and EX rank, respectively), they transformed the once spartan lounge into "La Salle de L'élégance", a room that made even the halls of Versailles look tame in comparison. It had been a resounding hit with everyone, from the newcomers to even Harry, who would sometimes be seen there with one of the children and an older Servant, doing whatever caught his fancy.

"Tamamo, I have a question, if you would indulge me" asked Mata Hari.

"Of course. What is it?"

"You've been with us for a good amount of time now, but I haven't got the chance to ask how you were acclimating. Not to be rude, but I'm sure, that like the rest of us, a place like Chaldea is starkly different from any place that existed from your time, even more so for you."

Tamamo put her teacup down and looked up in thought. "Well, you're right in that this place is completely different than anything I saw in Japan, or even Takamagahara. I might have seen a place like this before…or was it something else? Maybe the last time I was summoned…" she trailed off for a moment, but then quickly shook her head. "But it's amazing! To think that I would have the opportunity to do something like…this" she gestured at the group "with fellow legends as myself is nothing that I would ever dream of!"

"Besides…I think it's better this way" The other females shot her a confused look while Mozart and Sanson raised a questioning eyebrow. "Whenever Servants like us get summoned, it's usually for a Holy Grail War, right?" The others nodded.

"Well, in such a war, we don't get to have a friendly talk with anyone but our Master, if we're lucky. All we are to them are means to an end, and our Masters' wishes are above our own, whatever they may be. But here? I'm surrounded by so many interesting people, from different eras and different places! I can talk to them freely, I have fun with them, I'm…free, in a way" She rubbed her eye as the group smiled at her. All of what she said was true. Here in Chaldea, they were essentially given an odd second chance at life, the looming threat to humanity notwithstanding.

"What you say is correct, Lady Tamamo" said Jeanne. "As a Ruler, I am only summoned as an arbitrator if a Grand Holy Grail War occurs. I ensure that no-one breaks the rules of the War, but other than that, I do nothing but watch as the Servants and Masters kill each other off for the Grail, and better yet, most of the time it ends in failure" A small round of chuckles went around the group. "So having this opportunity to talk and be with other Servants peacefully is…refreshing to say the least."

The Japanese Caster nodded as she poured herself some more tea. "Of course, it helps that we all have such a cutie for a Master! Margaretha, how is the little kitsune doing?"

"Oh, as well as always" the dancer replied. "Da Vinci and his teachers say that he's keeping up with his studies very well, and he's gotten better at issuing orders on the battlefield thanks to Mordred and Altoria. There's also always someone to play with him or look after him, so I'm very pleased to say that he's enjoying himself."

"I'm very happy to hear that. Did you know that he helped me cook those cookies we ate for our tea party last week?"

"Did he? Oh, I didn't know. I thought for sure they were yours or Emiya's. I'll make sure to thank him later."

"Well, at this rate, he'll be a master chef in no time with all the times he is with us in the kitchen."

Mata Hari giggled at the thought of her little Harry with a chef's hat on his head. "I'll hold you to it Tamamo. You are keeping an eye on him when cooks though, right?"

"Of course, both me and Emiya. None of us want the little kitsune getting injured like that."

The group nodded and went back to their teas. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Sanson spoke up.

"Forgive me if the question is a little too prying, Mademoiselle Zelle, but how are things going with Harry's father?"

The group all turned to Mata Hari, who blinked at the attention before fiddling with her teacup.

"He is…still the same, mostly. He joins us at lunchtime more often, but he tends to hide away most of the time. He plays with Harry if he finds him of course, usually they read together, but he doesn't spend time with him as much as me or Jackie. Socializing is just not his…forte."

A chuckle escaped Sanson's lips. "Indeed, that does sound like Monsieur Dantès. Have you tried to talk to him about it?"

"Of course, several times in fact, it's just…it's not that he doesn't listen, but more like he hesitates to try, and he gets rather antsy when anyone who isn't Harry gets into his personal space. You've all seen what happened to Mordred or Cú Chulainn the few times they goaded Dantès to a fight."

The group all winced at the mention of those particular incidents. They barely lasted a minute, yet Dantès smashed both of them to the wall with minimal effort – once, both at the same time!

"I understand why he's like that, but I wish he just wasn't so difficult to talk to…" Mata Hari trailed off as she stared into her cup, a worried expression on her beautiful face. The others gained a similarly worried look as well. Jeanne however, seemed to look the most worried. Along with Tamamo, she was the Dutch dancer's best friend. They talked to each other all the time, and trusted each other well enough to share their concerns, their joys…

…as well as the darker parts of their respective pasts.

"Margaretha…I am your friend, right?"

"Yes…" the dancer responded.

"You know that you can tell me or Lady Tamamo anything, right?"

"Yes…" Mata Hari tilted her head in confusion. Where was she going with this?

Jeanne took a deep breath, praying that her friend wouldn't get upset, and asked her:

"Has Dantès ever…hurt you?"

…

…

…

Maragaretha stared at Jeanne wide-eyed and open-mouthed in shock. Tamamo did the same, but covered her mouth with her hand. The French Servants simply settled on being wide-eyed.

"NO! No! Why would you think…?" the Assassin shook her head. "No, he never so much as touched me! I know that he can give off that feeling sometimes, but Dantès never did such a thing! He never even so much as insulted me! Do you really think that I would try to help someone who does that!?"

Jeanne winced at her friend's remark, the guilt even more so considering her history.

"Besides, if you don't trust my word, think of Harry! Do you think that Harry, with his own past, would ever consider someone like that as a father!?"

"…" Jeanne looked down in shame. She was right; how could she even think that!?

"…I am sorry, Margaretha, if I have insulted you. I thank you for reminding me that your son would not have chosen Dantès if he was as uncaring as I thought he was. I'm just concerned about you."

Mata Hari closed her eyes and exhaled slightly. She knew that, she shouldn't get mad at Jeanne (nor would she), but still, as a saint, she should have a little more faith her.

Tamamo looked at her two friends with concern before raising the teapot. "Would you both like some more tea? It'll help you calm down."

The two responded with a "yes, please" and the Caster refilled their teacups (the French Servants declined). The group sat in silence, trying to dissipate the tension.

It was then that Marie Antoinette chimed up.

"If you all don't mind, then I have a suggestion" The group turned to look at her. "I agree that you need to talk to Monsieur Dantès, but I also agree that trying to force the issue onto him won't work. So why don't we try a more…delicate solution."

The dancer raised an eyebrow. "Delicate solution? What do you mean?"

The former queen of France clapped her hands together and replied with a smile:

"Facile; go with Monsieur Dantès on a date."

…

…

…

"WHAT!?"

The palatial room echoed with the dumbfounded yell of the group, with Mata Hari's being the loudest. Marie blinked at the outburst, but didn't seem upset at it.

"A d-date?" the dancer stammered. "With Dantès?"

"Yes, a date. It is the best solution for this petit problème."

"…I would like an explanation as to how is this exactly a solution, Marie-jou" said Tamamo with an incredulous expression.

"Well, you told us that Monsieur Dantès seems to try and dodge the issue, non? He listens to what you have to say, but he keeps trying to dodge the issue, in some cases literally. So we just provide you both with a setting that you can talk about it while not making it seem feel too forced, that way maybe the issue will finally settle in his mind."

Everyone blinked at Marie's surprisingly insightful explanation. It…sounded reasonable, on paper at least, which was rather a surprise for anyone who knew the flighty queen.

"But…why a date?"

"Because it's more romantic this way of course!"

Aah, there it was.

"Umm…Marie, I appreciate your enthusiasm and your willingness to help me, but what does romance exactly have to do with this?"

The former queen tilted her head innocently. "What do mean? Are you not both Harry's parents?"

"Yes…but we're not romantically involved."

"O-oh. Well, then surely you have at least spent some time together, just the two of you?"

Mata Hari looked down with a blush as she fiddled with her cup. Marie's eyes widened at the action before she gasped in shock.

"You haven't even spent time together!?"

"…you know what he's like" muttered the dancer. Marie slammed her fist on her open palm.

"That won't do at all! This is even more important than I thought! Tonight, my dear Margaretha, you and Dantès will go on a date!"

The Dutch woman tried to utter a response, but gave up when she saw her friend's determined expression. When she got like this, there was no changing her mind.

"…um, one problem" interjected Tamamo. "How are you going to convince Dantès to come?"

Marie paused for a moment, placing a finger on her chin, before turning to look at Sanson with an imploring glint in her eye. The executioner tried to look away, but soon relented at his queen's unspoken command with a sigh.

"Don't worry, Mademoiselle Zelle, I will convince Monsieur Dantès to come. I promise you."

Mata Hari nodded hesitantly, an unsure look on her face before Marie turned to her and smiled.

"Oh, cheer up Margaretha! I'll make sure you two have the best first date ever! I'll just need to enlist some help from…"

The dancer shook her head mirthfully as Marie babbled on enthusiastically. 'Maybe this won't turn out so bad…I just hope Dantès will feel the same way."

"Eeh? A date with Margaretha and Dantès?" asked a shocked Da Vinci.

"Yes!" Marie nodded. "And I was hoping that you could let us use the Rayshift for that!"

"…could you elaborate on that?" asked Dr. Roman, a similarly puzzled look on his face.

The two women and the doctor were sitting in the command room, where the monitors for the Rayshift system and part of the CHALDEAS computer resided.

"You see, our dear Margaretha has a few issues with Monsieur Dantès that need to be addressed. Nothing too bad mind you, just things that need to be said. So I suggested that they go out on a date to resolve these issues."

"…I would ask why a date, but knowing you Marie, I'm not sure I want to know" muttered the inventor before rubbing her forehead. "Do you really think it would help them?"

"Of course! I wouldn't have even suggested it if I didn't think it would help!" She ignored Da Vinci's deadpan stare. "Leonora, I truly believe that this little date will help bring them closer together. Even if they don't resolve everything, it will help them get more comfortable around each other, and I'm certain that our little Master would be very happy if his parents didn't shrug the other off all the time; maybe even Dantès won't be so hesitant to spend more time with him." While Da Vinci still looked skeptical, Romani rubbed his chin in thought.

"She has a point." Da Vinci snapped her head at him in shock. "What? It wouldn't hurt for them to have a little one-on-one, and if it will help Harry, then all the better."

The Renaissance (wo)man tried to mutter a response, but the more she thought it over, the more logical it seemed. In the end, she relented with a sigh.

"…well, the main Singularities are stable enough not to collapse…alright, you convinced me. I'll let them use the Rayshift. Mind you, I don't know if any food they bring over will survive the trip."

"Oh" muttered Marie before scratching her chin. "Then we'll just have to prepare the food there and leave it for them!"

"You've certainly given this a lot of thought…" said Romani. "Where do you plan on them having this date?"

"Don't worry, I know just the place! One of my former subjects talked about it quite often..."

"I'll do it."

Tamamo blinked at the response. She was prepared for him to doubt her and give him the explanation (the one that Marie gave), but she didn't expect the Archer to agree so quickly.

"What?" asked Emiya, noticing the Caster's surprised look. "I think it's a good idea. It'll give them a chance to talk, and I'm sure some good food will help with the conversation."

"Y-yes, that's what I was thinking" Tamamo quickly shook herself out of her stupor and pulled open a drawer next to the kitchen sink. The state-of-the-art kitchen of Chaldea had become her and Emiya's little kingdom, and many a Servant and staff member were left weeping with joy at their creations. "Marie told me we'll have to cook in the Singularity using ingredients we'll find there, so we can only bring utensils or cooking equipment."

"Oh really? Well, that might pose a problem." Tamamo shook her head.

"Not as much as you think. I read up a bit on the area, and where we're going should have plenty of ingredients to make good food."

"I see. Let me get a few things and we'll be off." The fox-woman nodded and they began gathering the cooking equipment. Tamamo was about to reach for a cutting board when a stray thought came to her mind.

"Say, Emiya, how did you guess that this date could help them?"

The tanned Archer just shrugged, but a small, nearly unnoticeable blush could be seen on his cheeks.

'Experience is both a reward and a curse…at least Dantès doesn't have to think of three…'

"Ooh, I am indeed intrigued by this prospect!"

Mata Hari and Marie were sitting in front of a blond woman with green eyes wearing a gorgeous red dress. The blonde had welcomed them into her room, and grew starry-eyed at Marie's plan. Mata Hari though, just blushed in embarrassment and fiddled with her dress.

"I am glad you came to me, amicis meis! I feel for your cause so do not fret! For I, Emperor Nero, shall help you in your endeavor!" replied the woman as she gestured to herself dramatically.

"…what's wrong with my dress?" asked the dancer, red-faced. Nero walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Margaretha, a woman of your beauty should always look the best no matter where she is! The fact that this is your first outing with a man since your arrival, even with one as odd as Edmond Dantès, only makes this even more necessary!"

The Roman Emperor turned to her closet and opened a slew of rich, high-quality fabrics. "So you can put your trust in me, and I assure you, I will have a dress perfect for the occasion!"

The Dutch woman sighed once more in resignation as Marie patted her on the shoulder. "Impératrice Néron? The date will not be in an indoor setting, so just keep that in mind."

"Umu! Do not worry, by the time I'm done, not even Dantès will look coldly at you! Now, come here for a second while I measure your…"

"…and that's why I would be very grateful if you could watch over Harry for the evening and tuck him in if I return too late."

Atalanta raised an eyebrow in a mixture of amusement and disbelief at the Assassin. The children's laughter in the background took away part of her attention, but she still had plenty left to process what Mata Hari just said.

"A date with Count Dantès? I would say that whoever thought of this idea might need to check their head – no offense – but considering what I've heard about Marie Antoinette, I guess I'm not too off the mark…" the cat-eared huntress smiled softly. "Of course I'll watch over Harry for the evening. It will give me a chance to bond more with the little kitten."

Mata Hari let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Atalante. Harry's very happy that there's another Servant who's so willing to play with him."

"Think nothing of it; I'm always happy to be with the children. Should I call him over and explain?"

"Yes, it would make him happy to hear that."

The Archer nodded and turned around. "Oh Harry! Could you come over here for a second?"

A few seconds later and the young Master of Chaldea came scurrying towards the two, and the smile on his face grew at the sight of his mother.

"Mommy!" he jumped at the dancer, who caught him laughing and hugged him close.

"Hello there, schatje. Are you having fun with Jackie?"

"Mmm-hmm! We're playing with this really cool toy Miss Da Vinci made us! Do you wanna see?"

A giggle came from the mother's lips. "Of course Harry. I'm sure that Da Vinci's toy is a wonder, like everything else she makes. How is Miss Atalanta treating you?"

"She's really nice! She says she loved being with me and Jackie" he turned to the huntress. "Thank you, Miss Atlanta!"

The huntress paid no mind to the mispronunciation, instead she giggled warmly. "You're welcome little kitten. I'm always happy to be with a child as cute as you."

Harry looked down with a blush on his little cheeks, to which the two women giggled again.

"Harry" the child looked up at his mother. "Mommy is going to spend some time with Daddy tonight, so you're going to have more fun with Miss Atalanta! If you need anything, ask her!" Harry tilted his head in thought.

"You're going to spend some time with Daddy? Why?"

"Well, Mommy just feels like she and Daddy need to spend more time together. You know how I always spend time with you? I've been feeling lately that I haven't paid enough attention to Daddy."

"Oh…I'm sorry" Harry looked down, only for Mata Hari to gently pull him back up by the chin.

"Schatje, none of this is your fault. It's just that Daddy is always…" she paused as she thought of the best way to phrase it to him. "Lonely. I want him to feel less lonely, that way we can both spend more time with you."

"Oh, okay!" Harry replied. "When you're done…can you and Daddy come and put me to sleep?" he asked with pleading eyes.

Mata Hari didn't hesitate as she leaned down and pressed her forehead to his. "I promise."

Harry smiled and nuzzled her before jumping off her lap and dashed to hug Atalanta, who picked him up and rubbed her cheek at his face while lightly purring.

"Don't worry, little kitten. We'll have a lot of fun together this evening. How about I tell you and Jackie a few stories from my adventures?"

"I must have misheard you, what?"

The question came from an incredulous Dantès, who was sitting in the library with Sanson standing in front of him, the executioner's face not showing a trace of emotion.

"I want you to attend this date with Mademoiselle Zelle."

"…I do not even have the words to reply to this."

"That's good, because you're going."

The Count of Monte Cristo dragged his gloved hand over his face and let out a sound that was halfway between a sigh and a growl, something that would have sent most people cowering. But not Sanson.

"Tell me, why should I even entertain the thought of this…utterly ridiculous idea?"

"Only if you tell me why are you so opposed to the idea in the first place."

"Because I have better things to do than that!"

"Like what? Reading a book, which you can do at any time?"

Dantès growled and stood up, staring Sanson with his yellow eyes that flickered a dangerous light. He stood a few centimeters taller than the executioner, and combined with his cloak and intimidating aura, it certainly showed.

"Give me one good reason why should I even consider this."

"Comme tu veux: ton fils."

The Avenger's glare lessened ever-so-slightly. "Harry? What's he to do with this?"

"It is because that you are his father. Mademoiselle Zelle is afraid that you are going to push Harry away at some point when his desire for your affection crosses whatever personal line you have set for yourself. From what I have heard, it is only by luck, the help of other Servants or when you wish it that he finds you when he wishes to simply be with you. She hopes that on this date, you can both talk about this issue properly and understand you better so nothing bad will happen. Is that enough of a reason? Or is the famed Comte de Monte Cristo so entrenched in his solitude and bitterness that he is willing to push away his own son, who admires him as much as his mother?"

Dantès clenched his gloved fists to hold himself and his flames back at the executioner's suggestion that he would even think of doing that to Harry, staring him down with barely restrained anger. Yet Sanson didn't twitch and calmly met his yellow eyes with his own icy-blue ones. They locked gazes for what seemed like hours (but was little more than a minute), and the more stared at Sanson, the more he started to mull the over in his mind.

He knew that he was rather unsocial, but was he being that unsocial that he was driving away Harry?

Sanson saw the nearly-unseen 'crack' in the Count's aura and continued. "It is nothing more than a simple dinner. No-one else will observe you, it will be just the two of you, so you needn't worry about unnecessary invasion of privacy. Besides, do you have any problem with Mademoiselle Zelle herself?"

"…No." As far as women went, Mata Hari was interesting. She was polite, respected his personal space, never tried to pester him too much, accepted (read: encouraged) his acceptance of being his Master's adoptive father, yet unlike most women of his time, had very much a backbone and was willing to defend both Harry and himself despite her being one of the weakest Servants in Chaldea.

Her physical beauty was high too, although that was of little concern to him. In many ways, she was like… 'no, she is not her. Like Harry is not Haydee. Yet, that is a good thing.'

Dantès pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Very well."

Sanson gestured to him with a roll of his wrist. "Very well…?"

"I'll attend this…date. For Harry."

"Of course. For our little Master." The executioner gave a courteous nod and headed for the exit, but then stopped and called over his shoulder.

"Be at the Rayshift Deployment Room at 20:30, and wear something respectable!" With that, he left the library, leaving Dantès by himself.

He shook his head in dismay as he wondered what he got himself into. 'Well, with her at least I can expect it not to end terribly. I now once again must thank my old noble lessons…this had better be worth the headache.'

20:30, Rayshift Deplyoment Room

"Don't get so stressed, it'll ruin your look."

"Don't you have anything better to do than pester me?"

"I already did a full diagnostic on the system and Da Vinci is up in the command room, so until your date arrives? Not really."

Dantès took a deep breath to avoid throttling the annoying doctor. He abandoned his cloak, and his outfit was just his usual suit and hat, albeit they looked cleaner than usual. The two were standing next to the Deployment Coffins waiting for Mata Hari to show up.

The Count looked up at the holographic globe that was the CHALDEAS Terminal. "I was never told where exactly we would be going."

"That's because it's a surprise for the both of you. It's well out of the way of any villages or people so no-one will intrude, and there are little to no beasts or monsters there. Nothing should interrupt you."

"'Should'?"

Roman shrugged helplessly. "It's a Singularity; we've cleared it, but there's always a chance of something happening."

"Hm. Fair enough. Even if something should arise, I will take care of it."

The two were drawn from their conversation at the sound of footsteps echoing throughout the chamber. Dantès turned and raised an intrigued eyebrow at the source, while the doctor's jaw dropped.

Into the chamber came Mata Hari, wearing a dress he had never seen her in before. It was emerald-green in design, with black and purple embroideries on the lower half, which opened in the middle. Two straps held the dress up by the shoulders, while helping to press the top part to her chest. The dress hugged her figure, not too tight to be too revealing, but enough to accentuate her beauty. Her brown hair fell freely below her shoulders and down to her waist, and her large earrings and red hair-flowers were not present.

"I'm sorry!" she said, walking up to the two men. "I'm not late, am I?"

"Ah, n-no, y-you're just in time" stuttered a blushing Roman. "I-if you'll e-excuse m-me, I'll go upstairs a-and just…" he trailed off and ran to the command room before the blush completely overtook his face.

Mata Hari waved to the flustered doctor and turn to Dantès, looking him up and down. "You know, that is exactly how I expected you to show up in."

"Oh? Should I have worn something else?" The dancer giggled.

"No, this suits you the best. It makes you look rather dashing." The Count did nothing but give her a silent stare that lasted a few seconds before nodding.

"Your dress is…unique. I didn't know you had something like that in your possession."

"Oh, this?" she gestured to her dress. "This is something Nero prepared for me. She was very adamant about giving me a new dress."

"The Roman Empress, a seamstress? Well, I suppose it isn't too ludicrous considering her flair for the theatrical."

"Can I have everyone's attention?" Da Vinci's voice boomed out of the loudspeakers. "Alright, you know the drill, since Harry isn't coming, we'll have to beam you down individually, so into the coffins you go. Margaretha, I just want to say that your dress is stunning and knowing who made it, it won't get ruined on the trip. Dantès? Try to have fun."

Dantès grumbled at the remark while Mata Hari smiled in thanks. She turned to the Count and curtseyed to him. "I'll see you on the other side, Count Dantès."

The Count's lips twitched. "Hm. Likewise, Sunlit Dancer."

The two turned and headed for the Coffins. Once they were each in front of one, the Coffin doors opened with a loud hiss and they stepped in. After adjusting themselves, the doors closed over them with a hiss.

"Ok, let's do this. Destination set, Spiritron Conversion activated, CHALDEAS System stable and functioning, commencing Rayshift in three, two, one…"

-SHIFT-

Dantès heard Mata Hari's groan first before his eyesight quickly adjusted.

"Urgh…are you okay?" she asked, rubbing her head.

"Hrn...yes" he took in the view for the first time, illuminated by the moon. A canopy of trees obscured the night sky and the cool evening air flew past their faces. They seemed to have landed in a forest. But where?

A familiar voice in the Avenger's head made him pause.

"Dantès, can you hear me?" asked Da Vinci.

"Yes, I hear you."

"Oh good, the Spiritron Comms System is working. In some ways communication with the Servants directly is easier. Anyways, you'll find the spot for your date just a little up ahead. Enjoy your date!"

"Hrn" he looked to see the female Assassin giving him a 'what was that?' look.

"Da Vinci says our spot is just up ahead." She gave him an 'oh' of acknowledgement and got up from the ground, Dantès following suit. They both began heading into the forest, and the Count could see the flickering of a fire from behind the trees. They went past the last line of green, and Dantès stared in barely-concealed surprise at the view.

In front of them was a green clearing, the trees surrounding it in a crescent shape. Small rocks and flowers were scattered throughout it, the moonlight bathing it in an ethereal glow. A small campfire was in the center of the clearing with various items near it, illuminating the clearing even further, along with a wooden table and two short logs carved in the shape of chairs, no doubt the spot that Da Vinci referred to. While the thoughts behind the setting up of this spot intrigued him, it wasn't what caught Dantès by surprise: it was the view after the clearing. An enormous valley lay out before them, surrounded by towering mountains that bore spots of green and black. Up further was a large shadow that stretched out to the horizon, bordered by more patches of yellow and green. But Dantès knew exactly what that shadow was, how could he not?

A sailor never forgets the sea.

A tap on his shoulder jolted him from his stupor, and he turned to see Mata Hari's arm back away, her eyes showing glimmers of concern. "Are you alright?"

Dantès blinked and stood still for a moment before nodding. "Nothing, I just…didn't expect it to be this. Although, considering who set up this whole endeavor, I really should have seen it coming."

The dancer giggled. "I suppose you're right" She turned to take in the view herself. "Though I haven't been to this specific place before. Do you recognize it?"

"If my geography is still accurate…I believe that we are somewhere in the Pyrenees, the eastern part if the shape of the cove is anything to go by."

"Oh? You've been here before?" The Count's lips thinned as a very murky memory flashed in his mind.

"…nearby. Enough to recognize the mountains."

Mata Hari's eyes widened by a fraction, but returned them to normal and nodded. She looked at the campfire and gestured to it with flair. "Shall we, my Count?"

Dantès responded to her playful smile with his own amused smirk. "After you, mademoiselle."

The two walked to the campfire and saw that two pots lay next to it. Dantès gently lifted the pots, his gloved hands ignoring their heat, and placed them on the wooden table's sides, where two dinner sets were placed opposite each other (a plate, a bowl, a knife, a fork and a spoon). He opened the first pot's lid to reveal a shimmering soup filled with vegetables. He uncovered the second pot and saw a beef stew simmering in liquid, topped with carrots and herbs.

"Daube Provencal, huh? It's been a while" he muttered. He saw the dancer's inquisitive gaze. "These are local dishes. Looks like your friends did their research."

"Are they good?"

"Knowing who cooked them? I would be appalled if they weren't." Dantès grabbed a ladle from next to the fire. "Soup, mademoiselle?"

"Tee-hee. Of course, monsieur."

He poured the soup into her bowl before his, letting its aroma waft over them. It definitely smelt good, even more so by the pleased expression on Mata Hari's face. He gestured her to sit down, which she did with a smile. He followed suit, took off his hat and put it on the ground.

"Bon Appetit."

"Bon Appetit."

They started sipping the soup at a leisurely pace, no words exchanged between them as they enjoyed the dish. As expected, the soup was magnificent; fresh, balanced and fulfilling. Mata Hari looked at Dantès as she lowered her spoon for another sip; while his face retained its usual stoic expression, the way he calmly drank the soup and the lack of rigidness in his movements meant he was relaxed, or as relaxed as he could be. 'He's calm and enjoying this. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen him like that, outside of him spending time with Harry.'

Her smile persisted as she kept sipping.

A few minutes later, their bowls were empty.

"More soup, or can we move on to the entrée?"

"The entrée, please." Dantès nodded and served her a generous portion of the stew, giving himself a similar portion. They began to dine once more, once again savoring the meal's taste. A good wine was used in making it, probably something from a village nearby. The dancer looked at her date and his calm didn't fade. She decided to try and restart the conversation.

"I must say, I didn't expect you to have such knowledge of cuisine."

He shrugged while stabbing a piece of beef. "I am a Count. I was expected to have a more refined palate, and a great many meals were offered at the various parties I attended. Same goes for etiquette."

"That does make sense. I've had a lot of meals like this in my childhood, although with a different cuisine."

Dantès raised an eyebrow, but then nodded. "You were born into a rich family correct?"

"My father was well-off, and he could afford such a childhood for us." Mata Hari cut a piece of beef with her knife. "What was being a Count like?"

Something dark flashed in the Avenger's eyes for a moment, and she feared she might have asked a wrong question, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

"…it had its upsides. The comforts wealth can provide you are nothing to scoff at, especially with the fortune I had amassed."

She let out a silent breath and went back to her stew. They resumed their meal in silence, not knowing what else to say, and occasionally helped themselves to seconds. The tranquil mood that surrounded them remained throughout the meal, the night further accentuating the calmness. It was towards the end of the meal that Mata Hari decided she was finally going to bring up the issue that had started this whole scenario.

"Dantès?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

The Count knew what she meant: 'can I ask you a question and will you not ignore it?'

…he should have expected this.

"Ask."

"Why are you avoiding Harry?"

"…I'm not avoiding him."

The beautiful Assassin gave him a skeptical glance. "He always says that he barely sees you, and he usually needs Serenity or another Servant to find you. Whenever you don't join us for meals, he gets upset, although he barely shows it since me and others are with him. Why? You know how much he looks up to you. Why are you so persistent in avoiding your own son?"

Dantès crossed his arms and looked slightly to the side. "…it's not him."

"The other Servants then? It doesn't change what I'm asking."

The Avenger sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Who and what I am should give you enough of an answer as to why."

Mata Hari looked at him strangely, before the look changed to a hurt one.

"You mean your story?" she leaned forward on the table. "Dantès, I know what it's like to be betrayed. I know what it can do to a person's trust. I was executed after my country used me as a scapegoat. You got your revenge. But isolating yourself is not going to help, it's going to make it worse. I'm afraid that…that you'll end up hurting Harry at some point."

Dantès tried to argue, but she kept talking. "I know, you'll never hurt him intentionally. But your pushing him away will be an even bigger blow to him than any wound he has or will have, and not just him; I want to get to know you better as well, not just because we're Harry's parents, but because I want to understand you better as a person. Not the legend of the King of the Cavern, not the figure of vengeance you portray yourself as, but Edmond Dantès."

"I am the 'figure of vengeance'! The King of the Cavern, the Count of Monte Cristo, they are all who I am!"

"But they are all Edmond Dantès! They are not replacements for what you are!" the dancer shook her and looked at him with desperation. "This is exactly what I'm talking about! You're going to push everyone away if you keep this, not just me or Harry! It's like you're putting yourself back into that prison you hated so much, except this time, it's one of your own making! You're going to cause a…a cycle of self-isolation. And when you have no-one to talk to, no-one to be with…the pit you'll find yourself in…I've seen what it can to do men. What it turns them into. Please Dantès," her gaze turned imploring. "I don't want that to happen to you."

Dantès widened his eyes at her words and tried to speak, but no words came out. He swallowed and bit his lip, his shoulders lowering ever-so slightly. "…what would you have me do?"

"I want you to try. Try spending more time with Harry and other Servants. Talk to them, find out common interests, join in a conversation, and I promise you, you'll grow to like it. If your son asks you to be with him, don't run away."

The Count looked up and met the dancer's pleading gaze. They stayed like this for a few seconds, before he sighed and let an arm fall to his side.

"I…I will try."

"Swear it."

"…I swear on my title as the King of the Cavern that I will try."

Mata Hari smiled in satisfaction. "Thank you, Dantès. You don't know how much this means to me." He nodded. Looking at his and his date's plates, he saw they were empty.

"…do you want more of the Daube?" She looked at her plate and shook her head.

"No, I think I'm done for tonight." He nodded again, feeling the same. He closed his eyes and activated the communication system.

"Doctor, Da Vinci, can you hear me?"

A burst of static sounded in his ear and Roman's voice followed. "We hear you loud and clear Dantès. What is it?"

"We are both ready to leave."

"Really? How was the date?"

"…it was fine."

"Not a waste of time then?"

The Count growled through the comms. "Don't push yourself."

"Heh-heh, just kidding. Ok, we'll get the system up and running in a minute, so sit tight. You can leave the plates and campfire here; we'll take care of it."

He nodded before he saw Mata Hari get up and walk towards the edge of the clearing where the view lay. She turned around and motioned for him to join her with a smile.

"…actually, can you hold that for a minute?"

"Why? Something wrong?"

"No, just a little something." He disconnected the comms and went to her side. He wanted to ask what did she want, but she just kept smiling and stared at the valley laid out before them. They both stared at the moonlight view for a few minutes, allowing the distant scent of the sea to drift over them.

"Did you enjoy this date?"

"…I didn't find anything wrong with it."

She giggled at his response, before looking at him from the corner of her eye. "If I were to ask..." a small blush appeared on her cheeks. "Would you be willing to come here again, just the two of us?"

Dantès said nothing at first, taking in the view once more. He had to admit, the location was very peaceful; the mountains, the grass, the smell and sight of the sea…he wished he could have been here when he was alive. Also, tonight had proven Mata Hari was good company, at least.

"I wouldn't…object."

The dancer's smile widened with joy and she hooked her arm through his. At his questioning look, she responded with: "A noble gentleman is supposed to escort a lady home, no?"

It might have been her imagination, but Mata Hari swore she saw a flash of a warm smile on the Count's face.

"Of course. Do hold tight, mademoiselle." He activated the comms again. "Doctor, we're ready."

"Okay, beginning retrieval in three…two…one…"

One flashing white-and-blue vortex later, they found themselves climbing out of the Coffins back in Chaldea. Dantès watched as Da Vinci rushed over to Mata Hari and the two chatted briefly, marked by the occasional giggle. She saw him staring and gave him a thumbs-up, much to his annoyance. He heard the dancer thank the inventor, who responded with a wave of her hand and leaving. He was about to do the same when he heard her call to him.

"What is it?"

"I want us to say good night to Harry. He should be in bed by now."

"…very well."

She hooked her arm with his again, to which he responded with a roll of his yellow eyes and she giggled. The two walked out of the chamber and through the halls until they reached the door to Harry's room, where Atalanta stood watch. She saw the two coming and turned to face them.

"Atalanta, good to see you!"

The huntress smiled at the dancer. "Likewise, Mata Hari" she turned to Dantès and gave him a curt nod. "You too, Count Dantès." He responded with a hum of acknowledgment.

"How was the evening? I hope Harry was fine with you."

"The little kitten was adorable; he and Jackie loved hearing my stories. We played with those toys Da Vinci made, and he always found an excuse to hug me. I hope you'll let me play with him more."

"Of course! You don't need my permission to play with him. How is he?"

Atalanta turned and opened the door to reveal Harry's room with the lights off. The three entered and saw him sleeping on the bed, the covers hiding all but his little face.

"He wanted to wait for you to come" the Archer whispered. "But he tired himself out so I brought him here."

Mata Hari smiled at the sight of her sleeping little child and bent forward to press a kiss on his cheek. "Good night, my schatje."

Harry's lips curved into a smile as he snuggled into the pillow. She looked at Dantès and gestured him to do the same. His fingers twitched, not sure as how to follow, before he simply settled on bringing his hand up and gently ruffling his son's black hair, the child leaning into the touch. He didn't pull away.

"Good night."

Mata Hari nearly shed a tear at the sight.

'Don't worry, my Harry. Mommy and Daddy are here. We'll always be here with you…'

Ta-da! What's up! This is something I have been wanting to write since the first chapter, and now felt like the best time! Just to be clear, they went out on a date as friends, I'm going to have a little fun regarding their relationship. I'm so happy with all the reviews and attention you've given me, it warms my heart as an author that so many people appreciate this story.

Shout out to 38Solaire, Jostanos (who helps me with some of the writing) and Helioson for reviewing every chapter! You guys are legends! Hope the rest follow your example! Another shout out to Arawn D. Draven, a long time author who helped with writing this chapter and whom I consider a mentor.

Schatje means "little treasure" in Dutch, Mata Hari's nickname for Harry. The dishes are all real regional dishes, I unfortunately haven't had the pleasure of trying them.

As always, feel free to give out suggestions to future scenarios in reviews or PMs, and go check out my Spacebattles and AO3 account for the story!

I hope a TVTropes page or fanart will pop up one day, but a guy can dream.

If you liked this story, go check out my profile for my other stories and challenges!

Read and Review!