Vini looked at herself in the full length mirror. She had her hair down, a pretty knee length dress and a light layer of makeup on. She never wore makeup usually but she needed it tonight because she looked like utter dross. She slipped on a pair of sparkly sandals; I look better than I usually do she mused.

She had spent the afternoon silently crying on the inside, she had refused to go with Storm to his cabin, so she was getting dressed and ready at Creeks mini apartment in the hotel. Storm was positively furious at her refusal to go with him but what was she supposed to do? If some man had tried to kiss her she would have decked him. Not sat there passively while someone rubbed all over her.

She was grateful to her new friend; she was so upset after the confrontation with Kitt earlier and her subsequent inability to do anything coherent. Creek had taken her in and given her somewhere to stay until this exhibit was over and she could leave. Creek had even gone to Storms and retrieved the items she had left there including Sam's blanket.

Now as she looked at herself in the mirror she had no idea why Storm would have wanted to be with her in the first place, she wasn't particularly pretty, she had nice full lips and an unusual eye colour but that was about it. She had lumps and bumps everywhere her breasts were too big and her legs looked like they had cankles; and if Vini pushed her chin down and back she had about three chins. She did exactly that and made herself laugh.

"Are you ok in there? Are you laughing?" said Creek softly through the door.

Vini opened the door and stepped out "I did laugh, I need to brighten up a bit for tonight" Vini sighed.

"What were you laughing at?" said Creek with a curiously smile.

"Oh, Erm, this" Vini proceeded to push her chin down and back and to give the face a bit more oomph she crossed her eyes at the same time.

Creek looked at her confused for a second and then burst out laughing; by the time she had stopped she had tears running down her cheeks.

"You are a very strange human Vini, you have certainly brightened my day" she said as she wiped her cheeks.

"Do you think I look appropriate for tonight?" Vini said with a hand wave down her body.

"You look very pretty Vini, although I advise you not to do that funny face in public; you might not be taken seriously. Are you going to be ok? I will of course be with you the entire time." Vini guessed Creek thought she might have a breakdown or something during the exhibition.

"Ill be fine, this is what I do. I want to sell some art and give everyone a good time" Vini said seriously.

Once Creek had used the bathroom and dressed in a beautiful dress they made their way downstairs. Vini sneaked a peak at her friend, she truly was stunning. Her long luscious hair fell in perfect waves down her back; her creamy skin tone was enough to make her sigh.

No wonder Storm didn't push Kitt off; New Species were beautiful and everything that Vini wasn't. How could Storm of given her the impression she had a chance with him? It wasn't fair of him. He must have known how much she was attracted to him when they first met, with that nose of his he could probably know everything he needed to know about her.

They walked the short distance to the gallery, the sun was setting now but the exhibit wouldn't start for an hour yet so plenty of time for Vini to make sure everything was as it should be. New Species had organised the catering and going by the food she had already sampled it would be a delicious spread of canapés and champagne.

As she listened to their shoes tapping on the concrete pavement she thought about how much she had been missing out on since Sam had died. She hadn't paid any special attention to anything since that day. Since being at Reservation she had been the happiest she had ever been since that dark time.

She felt the hot prickling of her anger again at Storm and took a breath. Fuck him.

Creek stole a look at Vini and gave a sniff, she could smell her anger, she imagined she was reliving the scene before; she turned to Vini and pulled her to a stop by her arm.

"Just before we go in and everyone is around us, please do the face again" she said with a sneaky grin.

Distracted for her angry thoughts she obliged Creek and pressed her chin in and back and crossed her eyes; she even poked her tongue out a bit this time.

"That will never get old Vini" she giggled.

When they entered the gallery Vini's heart leapt. It looked amazing, the only lighting in the room was overhead spot lights above each painting and there were standing height tables for people to stand and chat at.

At the entrance there was a makeshift desk with a beautiful woman behind it. She would be the one to take any sales and place red stickers in the corner of each sold painting.

There were wait staff dressed in black and white ready to hand out glasses of champagne and soft drinks for the New Species.

The canapés smelt delicious and were being kept in the room adjoining the gallery. The exit Vini had been out of before was open and welcoming for people to sit outside and relax. She walked through the exit and saw the comfortable seating area had been decorated with twinkling fairy lights and an outdoor heater for when the night got chilly.

She was very happy with how it had all turned out; suddenly Storm was at the back of her mind as she took a final turn around the gallery.

She stopped in front of her favourite painting. It wasn't a drawing as such but a collision of colours; dark blue and pale blue with hints of purple and lilac colliding together. It was a very large piece and done a few months after Sam's passing. She had felt like her love for Sam and his love for her had fit the colours nicely. She suddenly had an ache to have a smell of his blanket.

Guests would be arriving soon and that snapped Vini out of it, she brushed down the front of her dress and rubbed her face; she hated make up.

"That's a very beautiful piece" said a cool voice from behind her. She turned and nearly squashed herself against a hard chest. She looked up into the eyes of Storm. He looked down at her with piercing eyes. He looked amazing, his broad muscled torso was covered in a shirt open at the collar. He wore smart jeans and boots; he looked good enough to eat.

"Thank you" she said clipped. He held out a flute of champagne to her and sighed.

She took the cold flute and had a sip; she never drank, the after effects of even a glass were enough to put her off but tonight she would make an exception.

"Vini I don't know what I need to do to make this better, you are my mate, I hate that you are angry with me. What do I need to do to prove I am the male for you?"

Vini was taken back by his uncomplicated question and statement. She pretty much knew from the moment they kissed that she loved him; she had no intention of leaving before Kittgate.

She looked at him and her heart thawed; but not enough that the vision of Kitt all over him went away.