A/N: Hey you guys? Is there a difference between N/K and K/N?

Chapter 13

A Day of Leisure

"Nice, Nita…"

She proudly caught the keys the grinning salesman tossed her.

"Be careful, now, you hear?" he cautioned. "Volvos are good cars, but no car is safe if you're not wearing a seatbelt."

Nita nodded in acknowledgement.

"Thank you sir. When'll the plates get to me?"

"Oh, they should be with you in a week or so."

"Awright. Well, thanks for the deal, sir."

"Thank you, Miss Callahan. And I need to get over to Tom and Carls' more often. Good to see a few friends again. Tell 'em I said hi, and say I'll be over sometime during September."

"Will do. Thanks a lot."

"No problem. Be safe, alright?"

"Yeah. Well, see you."

Nita climbed into the Volvo, Kit sliding in beside her. She started the car hesitantly, then pressed the gas. The wagon moved forward, engine purring, and rolled out onto Embarcadero. Nita snapped on the left turn signal, looked twice, then rolled out into traffic. Kit sat back in contentment, offering directions.

"Hey, wait. The map says to turn next intersection…no, not here! Next intersection! This one. Right…no, not right. Left! Alright…uh…keep going…"

Nita rolled her eyes.

"Kit, why don't you drive?"

He shrugged.

"Alright. I'll give it a try."

Nita pulled the Volvo over, and they switched places. Kit turned off the emergency blinkers, then pulled confidently back into traffic. He seemed very sure about his driving skills, enough to parallel park when they reached the bus stop. Nita rolled her eyes again.

"Show-off…" she muttered under her breath.

Kit rolled his eyes in return, then sat down with her to wait for the bus.

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"Kit?"

He opened his eyes

"Mmmm?"

"Sorry. I wake you up?"

"Nah."

"Oh. Well, d'you think it'd be okay if we went out for dinner?"

Kit winced, rotating his aching back. He had had the joyful opportunity to test the many sickening laws of G-force, and, needless to say, stumbled out a bit sore. Not to mention having to walk 13.5 miles, according to Nita's pedometer, going from exhibit to exhibit to exhibit to exhibit… He wasn't trying to say he'd had a hard day (which was a lie, he'd had a huge blast), but just that he was aching all over. He sighed.

"Oof. I…"

He cut himself off in midsentence as Nita's eyes flashed the wounded-puppy look she'd mastered over the summer.

"Oh, god, Nita, not the look…"

She increased the power.

"Oh, alright, alright. I'm just a bit sore…"

Nita smiled slightly and flopped down beside him.

"Tell you what. Give me your shoulders and I'll see what I can do."

Kit complied wearily.

Nita gently kneaded Kit's shoulder muscles, feeling him relax slightly. She continued rubbing and kneading until he moved out of the way.

"Oooh, that feels good. Thanks, Nita."

"My pleasure. Now can we get going?"

"Oh, uh, yeah."

Kit grabbed his camera, flashlight, and charm necklace, then dashed after Nita.

Nita and Kit walked hand in hand into the restaurant they'd decided on as they left the hotel: Sealine Grill. They were quickly seated, and a young man waltzed up with a notepad.

"Hello, I'm Arnie, I'm gonna be your waiter for tonight. What would you like?"

Kit blinked.

"Uh…what do you have? We didn't get menus…"

"Anything. Just tell me."

"Uh…clam and shrimp chowder, maybe some jambalaya, and a plate of garlic bread. With a Coke."

"Uh-huh. And you miss?"

"Same."

"Oookay."

Arnie muttered something, then handed them their food that had appeared on the table next to theirs.

He grinned.

"Sticks out all over you. Dai."

Nita stared.

"Uh, Dai. Go well, too."

Kit and Nita exchanged glances, then burst out laughing and began to eat.

"I'm gonna blow up…"

Nita laughed at the look on Kit's face as he mock stumbled out of the restaurant after paying the bill and insisting that Arnie keep the tip of $10. She kicked him lightly with the tip of her shoe.

"C'mon, Kit. I've got plans for us."

"Oh boy…" Kit groaned as she dragged him toward the numerous shops of Fisherman's Wharf and the surrounding area.

Three hours later

Kit and Nita stood in the elevator of the Holiday Inn as it rose to their floor, Kit carrying a shirt, Nita a ceramic replica of the Hyde-Powell cablecar she'd found on clearance for $13. The steel doors slid open, the bell in the elevator dinged a cheerful farewell, and they stepped out. Kit silently walked down the hall to their room, opened the door for Nita. She grinned at him and ducked under his arm. She placed the cablecar sculpture in her claudication, zipped it, and, folding the pocket, stuffed it in her duffel bag. Kit wearily placed the shirt on the dresser knob, then pulled his hat off and expertly tossed it onto his bedpost. Nita, on the other hand, practically bounced into the bathroom to shower. Kit collapsed in his bed, kicking his shoes off before he did so, and was almost instantly asleep.

Fifteen minutes later, Nita came out in a nightgown and got into her separate bed. She had to wait for several minutes before finally falling asleep.

And so their day ended.

A/N: Yes, I know I need more K/N (N/K?) but allow me to get to the appropriate setting. And as for Ethan and Dairine, they're working things out. I'm still focusing on Nita and Kit, so complain if you want me to shift views. I don't have any ideas for D and E right now, and I'm also tied up in projects, so I'm writing a bit more slowly than usual. So, sorry if I don't update for a bit. I'm also writing at 11:00 at night, my only free time, so…on with the story. I need to shuttup, don't I?