Ok. Here's part of the new chapter. And it looks great thanks to my Beta MarzBar.

Disclaimer: Mine, it's all mine! Ha-ha-ha! NOT!

Chapter 9

Dragon..

I made sure her day started happily with an extra thermos of coffee and a large box of pastries I had Cook make. She was still sleeping peacefully this morning, showing no signs of her normal long fight with the dreams from the Witchblade. Thinking this would help improve her mood also I caught the flare of a soft red glow as if the Blade knew what I was thinking and was agreeing. 'Good' I sighed. I could use all the help I could get to convince my beloved of the meeting tonight and then some. I heard her heartbeat pick-up and breathing increase, signaling that she was about to wake, so I raced back out the window before she could see me.

Only half an hour later watching her frown over the gifts I left, did I remember her request from the day before that I start using the door instead of the window. Frowning to myself, thinking I had made another bad move and of the anger to come, I jumped form my perch to the street below and made the second unplanned move of my life.

Standing in front of her door with my hand raised to knock was one of the strangest experiences of my lifetime. The sound of my fist tapping at the door was far too loud; it seemed to echo though the hallway. Preoccupied with the echoes, I was not prepared for the door to be jerked open and my Beloved to say, "Okay let me have it." Some mad force possessed my mouth to answer, "You may look at whatever you wish, but you will have to be more specific, My Lady." The look of shock and amazement was followed by a stunned silence from both of us. I was dumbfounded by having said such a thing, the sexual innuendo of the comment was clear. I may have thought such things many times before, but never have they been voiced, even in private.

My beloved blinked a few times then shook her head as if to clear it, "Nottingham?"

"Clearly you were expecting someone other than me. I apologize if my unexpected appearance has interfered with your plans this morning." Pain and rage tore through me at the thought of whom she might be waiting for so eagerly. "I will leave you now to await your guest." Finishing softly to hide my feelings, I lowered my head as I turned to leave, the vice had returned to my chest as I wondered for whom she waited.

Before I made a full turn she snorted in a very unladylike fashion and said, "Just because you don't have any chocolates doesn't mean you can't stay."

Giving her a very confused look I asked, "Should I have? I was not aware that it was customary to bring such when calling upon a lady's home. I shall return momentarily." And taking a step back to leave, again I cursed Father for my ignorance in social interactions, stopping when I heard her laugh softly and say, "Nottingham, it was a joke, get back here."

Looking at her again with uncertainty, I nodded, stepped back to the door and replied, "As you wish, my lady."

Shaking her head at me once more she stepped back to allow me inside saying, " I was waiting for some of the local kids to stop by this morning with the candy I ordered from their fundraiser." Shutting the door and heading back in to the kitchen for another cup she asked, "Want some coffee? You brought it and the least I can do is share." The frown had returned as if she was not all that happy about losing a single cup of her precious coffee or how it got there.

I quickly reassured her I didn't wish for any and hoped she would return to her previous good mood. " Thank you no. My body does not appreciate the caffeine."

" No, we don't want a jittery assassin on a caffeine spree. My workload is bad enough without that," came the classic Sara sarcasm, fast and sharp.

I lowered my gaze to the floor to hide my reaction to her words, and nodded as if agreeing. I was always caught off guard by her sudden mood changes and no matter what I tried I still could not keep up with her moods, much less predict them. I was saved from the unpleasant (a suggestion: call it an uncomfortable silence) silence by the faint sound of four children storming up the stairs towards Sara's door. Turning my head slightly to gauge their distance, I informed Sara of her coming guests, " I believe the candy you were eagerly awaiting has arrived. There seems to be four young ones approaching at a run with numerous bags."

She looked puzzled at first then returned to the door to wait only 12 more seconds for all the kids to pound on the door. With a smile she opened it arms wide saying, "Gimme, gimme!" With much laughter they each called out a greeting and they pushed one bag each into her waiting arms. Taking the bags and opening the door wide to let them in, they rushed into the kitchen followed by the still laughing Sara. Tossing the bags on the table, she started to dig through and make piles of various types, making assorted noises of approval at each. " So, I guess I'm your first stop this time, I won't keep you long, let me see the damage so I can pay you," Sara" Sara told them as she walked to the bedside table to get her wallet.

I noticed a certain byplay between the kids; two were engaging the youngest to do or say something as the oldest was trying to quiet the two instigators, as the smallest looked shy but determined. As Sara was returning wallet in hand the oldest gave up with a look of disgust and a dismissing turn of his head. "Well come on it can't be that bad." Sara said as they each gave her an order form with the prices. "Wow, it's good you guys don't do this often or I'd be fat and broke." All of a sudden the oldest spoke to the others, "See, I told you this was stupid, she's a cop, everyone knows they don't get paid squat." glaring at the others. Sara started to frown again realizing something was going on, "OK, fess up. What's this all about, D?" Looking at the oldest with a face that said she wanted the truth.

'D' gave his cohorts another disgusted look and finally spoke, "You weren't our fist stop, but the last," nodding towards the remaining bags of stuff he continued, "all the rest people didn't want or couldn't pay for and now we're left short and stuck with the junk we can't sell. The dumb squad here had the bright idea to try and hit you up for the rest. Like you got that kind of dough."

Sara looked at them with surprise, then at all the bags at their feet; with a small sigh she looked back at her wallet. Her look of sadness was followed by sorrow knowing she didn't have enough for what they were asking. I knew her finances better than she did, I also knew that she must have saved a piece out of the last two paychecks to be able to buy all that she had ordered, and the amount of things left would have to be at least three times the amount she had already spent.

I hated seeing the looks on hers and their faces, so I came to a decision that I hoped would not make my life any harder. Speaking up from my corner, I startled all five of them and said, "My Lady, seeing that you do not wish to share in your bounty of confections, I fear I am left to my own devices to obtain and sample such delights for myself."

Sara looked at me and blinked a few times before a slow smile spread across her face, I was knocked breathless for a second because those smiles were reserved for very few people.