KITTY:

How peaceful her life was. The dark haired couple strolled hand in hand down the busy London street. It was hard to believe Kitty could of ever had such a serene life, considering the heated argument between the two now.

"I'm telling you." Nathaniel said, running a bewildered hand through his hair. "The government is never going to outlaw the summoning of spirits as a form of defense or the like, why don't you just suggest they most the capitol to Prague, because I think that would go over a bit better."

"You just have to have an open mind!" She cried. "Think about it, we could increase industry ten times over, dangerous demons would no longer be a problem, and it would destroy the whole magician/commoner divide."

"And a new one will just take its place." He sighed. "Its just too drastic now, I mean-"

"Oh I'll show you drastic." She glowered, but on the inside she was alight with joy. Over the last year they had grown so close...provided every month or so he return back to the Other Place was a small price to pay for getting to be by his side. But some things were bothering her, things she couldn't quite-"Nathaniel!" She cried, tugging on his hand, and pointing.

Down the street, a reckless blue car swerved and honked as it careened through traffic lights and honking cars. The blue car veered up onto the sidewalk and onto a grassy area where some children sat innocently in a sandbox, laughing and scooping up brown sand in delight. Within seconds, the car was upon them.

Without speaking a single word, in a split second he had raised his hand, and a shimmery blue light had descended on the kids. The car barreled on, smashing with surprising power onto the blue light, mere inches from the a child's horrified face, bursting into flames. With another quick jerk of his hand, the roaring flames form the engine blew out, like birthday candles. All of this happened in a split second.

"Not bad huh?" Nathaniel smirked, as they continued on their way, as onlookers rushed to the scene to help. "It's getting easier and easier to control." He said flexing his fist experimentally.

"I'm glad," Kitty replied, wrapping her arms around his own arm. But it troubled her. He was a demon, and it worried her. By her estimations, easily over 20 levels strong.

"It feels good to finally help people." He said. "You know, really help them." He repeated, drawing her closer to him. "Have you eaten yet today?" He smirked as her stomach let out a embarrassingly loud noise. She scowled.

"No..." She admitted.

"We should stop and get something." He suggested, gesturing to a restaurant.

"I'll be okay." She replied quickly, dragging him by it. She didn't like to eat with him around, after all food and drink were things he 'didn't require' anymore, as Bartimaeus had put it.

"What's wrong?" He asked, looking down at her. She didn't return his gaze.

"Nothing." She gritted her teeth. "Its just, someone might recognize you...you know, in that guise..." She said. While the traditional as-he-had-been look was definately her favorite, it was also John Mandrake, the magician who was supposed to be dead.

"I thought you liked this one." He frowned. "How about a dog? A big black dog? Very intimidating, no guy ever goes up to the girl with the big black dog on her side."

"No, its okay."

"Or what about a old man? You could be a trophy wife!" He grinned to himself.

"No, that is quite unnessecary." She frowned. Trophy wife? What?

"Or what about-"

"Nathaniel." She said finally. "It's fine. Okay? Fine. I mean, someone really will recognize you one of these days," She said. They had both agreed not to tell anyone about his, as they called it 'situation', John Mandrake was dead. And that was the end of that.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Its...me." She said, as they reached outside her flat. "Look at me Nathaniel, I'm getting...well old." Nathaniel frowned, he didn't think she looked that old. Certainly she was now a early twentys woman, but she still looked healthy, young, pretty. "You never have to age, you're going to keep on being 18 forever, and I will get wrinkly and ugly..."

"Kitty," He said softly. "You don't have to worry-"

"Yes, I do!" She said. "You're powerful, you can do things that...scare me." She whispered. "I don't know if I can do this."

"Please." He breathed. "I love you Kitty." He said softly.

"I know, I love you too." She said. "But how long can this last?"

-*-

NATHANIEL:

They didn't speak as they made their way up the stairs, past the bar to her flat, but Nathaniel's mind was heavy with worry and anxiety.

"We need to be at the garden in 2 hours," She said, grabbing a towel from a closet and heading to her bathroom. "I'll be out soon." She said.

"Kitty-" He started. But she had slammed the bathroom door without another word. Nathaniel sighed and walked around her room. Everywhere he looked it reminded him somehow of they way things were. Her dresser, while he had no longer any need for clothes; down the hall, a small table and sink where she ate breakfast, but he no longer needed to eat; even the tiny little statue of a cat her mother had given her long ago, it was pure silver-poison to him.

Maybe she was right. Maybe it couldn't last. Maybe he should have just died then and there, she could of grieved, moved on, gotten married, and bought a little house in the suburbs, with a little white fence, and some children to laugh and keep her happy. He knew he could never give her any of that, no matter how much he wished he could. But despite it all, he couldn't help it.

He wanted to be around her, he needed to. She was fire: bright and burning, unpredictable and wild. He loved her the sound of her laugh, the smell of her hair, the way she could just be who she was, and he could be who he was.

"You ready?" She said. Huh? Done alrea-Wow. WOW. Kitty stood in the open door of the bathroom. Now Nathaniel understood what she meant by older. Her form was much fuller, filled out in all the right places and smooth under her short, sleek red dress. Her still damp hair came down in long tendrils, curling ever so slightly, accentuating her flushed and red face from the heat of the shower.

"Uhm..." He stuttered, all brain function ceasing as the pretty girl lips started moving...were those words? Huh? Wow that dress came down just right near her...

"Nathaniel, are you listening?" She said, folding her arms.

"Yeah...uhm, right." He said.

"You are such a guy!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "I said, you can't go like that?"

"Oh. Like what?"

"Like you."

"Why not?"

"This place is for the government officials." She rolled her eyes. "Come on, people who knew you are going to be there!" Nathaniel rolled his eyes and became a blonde boy of exceptional beauty, with shining blue eyes. Meanwhile, Kitty just rolled hers.

"Too much?" The boy murmured, sparkles all but falling from his golden locks. "Fine." He decided, as the blond youth became an older man: simple curled brown hair and blue eyes and a simple suit. "Better?"

"Better." She said, taking his arm and brushing a lock off his forehead. "It's you, right?" She asked. Nathaniel frowned.

"Who else would it be?" He asked.

"No, its nothing." She said, leading him gently towards the door.

"Kitty, I don't have to go if you don't want me to," He offered, gently shifting back into his black haired, human, traditional form.

"I want you to go," She said, opening the door. "It just feels like the world comes along with so much extra baggage."

"I know." He said, holding her back. "I'm sorry Kitty." He said. Wow, she was so cute in this light, her little pout...slowly, slowly, he brought his hand up to her face and drew her closer...and closer...her eyes closing slowly and lips pursing so slightly....then it stopped.

"Yes?" She breathed, waiting.

"This is our first kiss."

"Yes." She agreed, still waiting.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes." She agreed again, still waiting.

"Is this your first kiss?"

"Does it matter?" She asked, getting agitated and a little sore.

"I was just wondering-"

"Damn it Nathaniel!" She growled, slamming her face to his. And it was all wrong: too rushed, too harsh, too unexpected. She loved it.

-*-

KITTY:

The lights of the garden were all different colors, strung in different lights in the dark night. Ministers and commoners mingled alike in the soothing music of the brass band, playing in a little pavilion on the grass. Kitty and the curly haired man walked casually among the booths and snack table as an impromptu dance ground swirled with ladies dresses a little while away.

"We could dance." He suggested.

"You don't know how to." She stated, elbowing him gently.

"Seemed polite to offer." He said, frowning a bit. "I could learn,"

"Thats okay," She replied. "So about that first kiss thing, why'd you ask?" She asked, almost dangerously polite in her tone. "You think I haven't been kissed before? Or was that your first kiss?" Nathaniel looked away a little too quickly.

"Thats a bit rude, and besides I was always too busy to-Hey, isn't that Piper?" He said, pointing at a brown haired woman across the way.

"Shh!" Kitty said. "You're not supposed to know her!"

"What do you-oh right." He remembered. "She's coming over here! How should I act?" He whispered and Piper spotted and waved at Kitty with joy.

"I don't know? Polite?" She whispered back as Piper closed in.

"Miss Jones!" She exclaimed. "So glad you could make it to our little shindig!" She said, beaming. "So who is your friend?"

"Uhm...erm-"

"Nathaniel Underwood." Nathaniel said, extending a hand. Piper took it and shook.

"Pleasure to meet you!" She said, smiling. "Well I best be off, it appears some more guests have arrived!" She said, scurrying off.

"Nathaniel Underwood?" Kitty repeated, turning to him. "Seriously? Thats original."

He shrugged. "No one will get it." He assured. "Come on, I hate crowds." He said, taking her hand and leading her over to a little quiet place by the river. They sat on the grassy bank there, in silence. "I just wanted to say, that, ah, well...I know this whole relationship has been difficult..." He started.

"Nathaniel." She said, cutting in. "Its okay." She said, squeezing his hand a little tighter. "I knew this would be hard, but its worth it." She smiled. Nathaniel all but melted.

"Thank you." He said, casually raising his free hand, little lights of red, blue, and gold began to appear and dance over the dark river in swirling and dancing patterns. Both of them sat there, hand in hand as if they had been just two regular people leading regular lives. While he knew this would never last: the night, the days, even her life; for this one moment of happiness, it was worth it. How he wished this moment would never, ever end.