He regrets the argument as soon as the door closes (well then, slams) behind him. But - blast the woman, she will go around moving his things without a second thought to where he might want them, where he might come looking for them later. Meddling in all his affairs as though she alone knows best. Although in most cases, a tenacious voice in the back of his head pipes up, she does. But not all cases! Specifically not where to put his brand new instruments. He's the vet, isn't he? And anyway, he was getting along just fine until she came along! Although actually, the annoying voice reminds him, no, he wasn't. He was perfectly miserable before she came into his life. Not to mention the unholy state of the house... She does put up with quite a lot, doesn't she?...
He's forgiven her by the time he opens the Rover door. He misses her by the time his bag hits the passenger side seat. He hesitates, about to step in. It feels wrong to leave her like that. And he doesn't want to go all the way from... When did he last kiss her? While he was putting on his trousers, when she left their room to start breakfast. From then until dinner... It's a long time to go without a kiss.
Oh, damn the woman. She has him wrapped around her little finger. What would he do, march back into the kitchen and admit defeat in front of Tristan and the kids? His pride won't allow it. He steps into the Rover and cranks the engine resolutely.
It's barely started before he loses his nerve again. There's nothing for it. He'll feel miserable and guilty all day if he doesn't make amends.
"Oh, for God's sake!" He exclaims shrilly, yanking the keys from the ignition.
She looks up from the washing as the back door opens noisily, half annoyed by the racket, half hoping for some sign of reconciliation.
"Forget something?" she asks, then takes a small step back as he rounds the corner into the kitchen with a look of dogged determination. All hands on deck, she thinks grimly, readying herself for another onslaught of petulance.
The preparation is in vain. In three strides he's reached her. He takes hold of her arms and kisses her firmly.
Tristan, mopping up the last of his soft boiled egg with a bit of toast, exchanges a raised-eyebrow grin with the twins. Kelly Ann doesn't quite manage to stifle a giggle.
Siegfried's eyes are softer when he pulls away. "See you tonight," he says contritely. He pauses, eyes sliding toward the breakfast table. Without looking directly at the breakfasting youths, he knows Tristan is grinning cheekily at them. The cad.
A good natured smirk tugs at the corners of Audrey's mouth, teasing him for his embarrassment. He raises a defiant eyebrow at her and kisses her once more, soundly. "See you tonight, my dear," he repeats gently, and leaves the way he came, though with a decidedly lighter step.
Audrey is resigned to find that she's utterly forgiven him his tantrum. Although, she takes heart in the fact that she's not completely spineless for the man: she can still muster umbrage at the muddy prints he's left through the kitchen.
