Tloj: I'm back! Okay, seriously people. I expected more of a turnout than just Draven. :/ But, I guess I can't do anything about it, so yes, Shade will be the second wife. Back to our irregularly scheduled program.

He pulls a chair back for me and pushes my chair up before sitting in the other chair. "So... how do we get food?" He asked.

I look around, "Typically one waits for a waiter."

"That makes sense." He nods.

A waiter soon came and gave us some menus, saying, "Welcome to Cafe Soleanna. What would you like to drink?"

I look over the menu, "Hm... I would like a glass of you fruit punch please."

"Me too." Chaos nods.

The waiter nods and walks away.

I look over the menu thoughtfully. "Their club sandwiches look tasty."

"I don't know what- what's this fish and chips thing?" He tilts his head.

"Fish deep-fried in vegetable oil, and french fries," I explain.

"Sounds interesting... Don't know what deep-fried or french fried are, but I think I'll try it." He smiles.

The waiter came back with our drinks, and we order our food.

As we wait I try my best to explain. "Essentially they are the same. Fillets of fish are covered with flour, and soaked in boiling vegetable oil. French Fries are simply strips of potato they undergo the same process. People have been known to do this with chicken as well once it's been beheaded, plucked, and washed."

"Wow, sounds delicious." He licks his lips. "I can't remember having a cooked meal."

"Not like this," I agree. "As I understand it when the Empire was in its prime cooking was limited to boiling over a fire, or roasting on a spit."

"Pretty much. But I usually ate raw fish and fruit. Tikal brought me a few cooked items, but those were rare." He sighs happily. "Delicious."

I smile, "Well now you have a whole world of cuisine to explore."

"Bow chicka bow-wow," Smoke calls from the distance.

I sigh, "Never try to keep a secret from a cat, their hearing is almost as good as a bat's."

He chuckles. "He has that June girl. He'll leave us alone if he knows what's good for him."

I chuckle, "I know he's a pain, but Smoke is as good a man as they come. He's simply learned that good, or no it's bad for a man's health to court me."

"So shouldn't he be giving me a talk as opposed to making weird noises?" He tilts his head.

I shake my head, "He knows as well as i the experience is the best teacher there is. Given time we will decide for ourselves. After all, you are no mere man."

He smiles. "That I'm not."

The waiter comes back with our food, and he licks his lips. "That smells delicious!"

I nod to the waiter, "Thank you very much."

The waiter bows before leaving.

Chaos tries a fry, and his eyes widen. "This... is magnificent!" He takes a few more and chews on them hungrily.

"Here, try it with this." I pass him a red bottle, "It's called Ketchup, a sweet condiment made from tomatoes."

He pours a little on the side and dips a few fries devouring them. "Yum!" He licks his lips and drinks some juice.

I try my sandwich, and nod to myself, "Very good."

He bites into a fish. "Mm... Needs a little something." He dips it in the ketchup and tries it. "Ick. Not that." He swallows it and stick out his tongue.

I tap my chin, and hand him a jar, "Try some mayonnaise. I'm not sure how this is made, but I do know one ingredient is Egg Whites."

He nods and pours a little. He tries it and licks his lips. "Better than ketchup... is there anything that could give this a bitter kick? Like fermented fish sauce or something?"

"There is Hot Sauce, a juice squeezed from peppers. However most avoid it for the burning sensation it leaves in your mouth." I look around the table, and pass him a bottle of it.

He tilts his head. "What's this... vine gar thing?" he picks up a bottle of vinegar.

"Careful," I warn. "It's a light acid, nonfatal, but quite potent. If you don't believe me then open it, and smell it."

He obediently does what I say, taking a sniff. He yanks his nose away with a snort. "This is what I am looking for." He sprinkles a tiny amount, and bites into the fish. "Much better!" He licks his lips.

I smile, and clap a hand over my mouth as a giggle escapes me.

He blinks and tilts his head. "What?"

I clear my throat, "The... reaction you had to the vinegar was... amusing."

He smiles. "Thanks?" He takes another bite.

I rub my face, "That was so unlike me. I must be careful, I can't allow myself to grow soft."

"I dunno, it makes you cuter." He says, moving on to the next fish.

I growl in frustration, "You are not helping."

"Sorry." He smirks and offers me a fry.

I take it with a smile, "Thank you... and I apologize if I seemed hostile just now."

"It's okay. You're fighting change." He grins.

I sigh, "How can I have agreed to this? If I can't even control myself like this what hope would I have of being a suitable mate?"

"Quit second guessing yourself." He stated. "We're here together, let's muddle through as best we can. I like you because you're you, not because you're perfect. Don't be perfect, be you."

I exhale through my nose, "The normal me wouldn't be here like this... I've never dated before, I'm worrying constantly that I will break some taboo..."

"I've never dated before, Cinder. If you break some rule, we're doing it together." He smiles.

I smile too, and decide to focus on my sandwich.

He finishes his fish, moving on to his fries. "You're at least enjoying your time so far, right?"

I nod, looking up to him. "And you?"

"Any time spent with you is enjoyable." He says happily.

I feel myself blush, and I take the last bite of my sandwich. "Dessert?"

"Sure?" He tilts his head. "What's dessert?"

"Sweets," I explain. "Treats, and the like that typically are not good for you. Yet they make an excellent ending to a meal."

"Okay." He nods.

I hand him a smaller menu than the one our Waiter gave us. "Personally I prefer cheesecake."

"I'll have that... and this... ice... cream? Yeah, that."

"That comes in many flavors, I suggest picking one. I would recommend the cookie dough flavor."

"Okay." He nods. He waves the waiter over, and orders our desserts for us.

I smile at the triple chocolate cheesecake in front of me, and take small bites to savor it.

Chaos tastes his and hmms thoughtfully. "So this is chocolate. It IS sweet... sweeter than fruit." He takes another bite.

"But far from as healthy," I remind him. "Too much of a good thing is a bad thing after all."

"I think I like fruit better then." He takes another bite.

I nod, and slowly enjoy my cheesecake. "Careful not to eat that too fast either, or you'll give yourself Brain Freeze."

I blink when I see his cheesecake was gone already. "Huh? Brain Freeze?" He blinks.

I blink, "Um... It's a painful headache caused from eating too much cold things."

"Oh, like this ice cream?" He tastes the ice cream. "Mm, creamy. Like cream, but sweeter!"

"...I will assume you are immune to Brain Freeze, and say no more." I take another bite of my desert.

"This is pretty good!" He takes some and offers it to me on his spoon.

I blush, and slowly lean over the table with my mouth open. I think this is how it is done...

He places the spoon in my mouth and smiles. "What do you think?"

I sit in my chair again, and swallow, "...Very good...care to try mine?" I take a small bite onto my fork, and offer it to him.

He nods with a smile, and leans forward, closing his mouth around the cheesecake and pulling away. He swallows it and says, "Mm... chocolate."

I smile, and blush again as I hurry to finish my cheesecake.

He finishes his ice cream with a satisfied sigh. "I like this modern food."

I nod, still feeling my heart fluttering in my chest. I wave over the waiter, and pay for our meal before standing.

He stands too. "Where to now? It's pretty sunny right now, how about something with the canals or the beach?"

"A boat ride perhaps?"

"Okay!" He takes my hand happily.

I nod absentmindedly, and we look around for a dock.

"There's one!" He leads me to a Soleanna ride and steps in, sitting down.

I sit beside him, and after a second lean into him softly.

He leans back with a gentle sigh, content to sit with me as the driver starts pushing the boat with his pole.

I lick my lips, unable to look at Chaos.

He slowly places a hand in my lap, taking one of my hands in his.

I look down, and swallow as I gently squeeze his hand.

He makes a noise in his throat, and rests his head on my shoulder.

I pause, then rest my cheek on his head.

He wraps his other arm around my waist, starting to purr.

I look up at him, and decide to relax. I let myself relax into him, and I start purring quietly too.

He moves, and gives my cheek a kiss, pulling me closer.

I freeze, and my purring stops for a second. Then I turn my eyes towards him, and resume purring. I feel a smile touch my lips as I close my eyes.

He closes his eyes as well, content.

After a minute I turn my head up, and gently put a kiss on his jaw.

His eyes shoot open as his jaw drops. "Did... you kiss me?"

"I... yes... you did..." I look away in embarrassment.

He takes the hand that was holding mine and touches my chin, making me face him. "I think we missed." He brought his lips to mine.

I tense.

POW!

It takes me a second to realize that on a reflex... I punched him out of the boat. I start to panic as I jump onto shore after him.

Chaos sits up and rubs his face with a wince. "Too soon?" He whimpers.

I close my eyes, "I am so sorry!"

"It's okay, it's okay!" He attempts to soothe me, wrapping me in a hug.

I shake myself free, "I knew something would happen, I'm not even a proper girlfriend let alone a Mate. I just punched..."

He cuts me off by pulling me into another kiss, wrapping me in another hug.

I freeze, and I feel a whimper escape me. I try my hardest to relax, and I wrap my arms around his middle.

He takes his lips off of mine and murmurs, "I don't care. I just want you. Not an attempt at romance, just you. Romance will come with time."

I close my eyes, "That... I... will you please let go of me?"

He frowns, but does so.

I stand, and hold my head. "I... Forgive me, but the wording you used made it sound like you simply want my body. At least that is how a perceived it."

"No. I want you to be yourself. If you have trouble with dealing with love, then that's okay. We'll handle it as best we can." He says, frowning.

I nod in understanding, and sigh. "Forgive me... I do not have a pleasant experience with men... if only you knew..."

"You'll tell me eventually. You don't need to share at this instant." He smiles.

I lick my lips, and take his head in my hands. "I know only one spell, one that melds minds. I can only keep it up for five minutes, but... I'd like to show you."

"Are... you sure? You'll be exposed to what I've been through as well..." He frowns.

I nod, and touch my forehead to his, "Ready?"

He closes his eyes and says, "Yes..."

I close my eyes, and start the incantation. Then both our eyes glow sea green as the world fades around up...

We appear in my memory in ghostly forms. A younger version of me sits in a chair, throwing knives at Spike for him to dodge.

Chaos laughs. "He looks a touch terrified."

The younger Cinder gestures for him to retrieve the knives sticking out of the wall when a pack of five wolves come in. The biggest has a scar over his face.

The younger me stands, "Hello Felix."

"Hello brat," he growls. "You'd better have it or-"

The younger me throws him a duffle bag, and money spills out. "Go ahead, count it."

He frowns. "I don't like where this is going..."

I sigh, "I had to borrow money from a loan shark named Reina to stay fed. I met Smoke around then, and Spike not long after. We started hustling street fights so we could pay her back... or she'd throw us to the wolves."

"That's horrid!" He blinks.

"Such was life for me," I say.

Felix nods, and passes the bag to one of his goons. "Not bad kid."

The younger me crosses her arms when they don't leave. "So why are you still here?"

He sneers, "Well you know what Reina always says... every debt comes with interest."

I feel my own body tensing as they advance on my fourteen year old self. Spike, bless his little heart, had no clue what was going on then, but still knows something bad is happening. He summons his sword, still pure white, and puts himself protectively in front of my younger self.

"You..." He gulps, unable to finish his sentence.

I take his hand as Felix sneers, and draws a gun. He makes a grab for Spike, but my younger self throws herself over him. Felix advances with a growl... cut brutally short by Spike stabbing him in the heart under my younger self's arm.

He sighs with relief, but still frowns. "And his minions?"

I snort divisively as the rest of them scramble for the door. "His pack was nothing but Omegas, basically bitches hiding behind a big Alpha. I disliked men from my days sparring at my grandsire's dojo before he passed... but from this day I hated them. I hated any man who would abuse his power over another, who could rob a child of their innocence."

My younger self stares at the body, and then at Spike who's staring at his bloody sword. She takes him by the shoulder, "You did good Spike... I'm proud of you."

I look away, hating myself for having said that.

"Wow..." Chaos blinks. "That's..."

I look down, "So now you know the real me."

"For a second there... I thought the guy was gonna rape you." He clenches his fists, making them crack. "That may have made a flashback come to me."

"He was going to... and he could have. I wasn't as strong back then as I am now."

"People like that... I can see why you hate that Seis guy." Chaos frowns.

I nod, and look up to him, "Shall we go, or would you like to share a memory?"

"Hm... Maybe later. I feel that this is enough for now."

I nod...

The next second we're kneeling in Soleanna again with our heads together. I give him a grim smile.

He hugs me. "I'm sorry."

I close my eyes, "You didn't know, you're forgiven."

"So... Back to the ride, or sit here for a bit?" He asks soberly.

I watch him for a second, and then smile, "I think it's getting close to the time of the meeting."

"Oh, right." He stands and pulls me to my feet. "Let's go!"

I nod, but before we start moving I put a kiss on his cheek.

He smiles. "Thank you for sharing with me."

I lean into him with a hug. "And thank you..."

"For...?" He blinks with a smile.

"For reminding me what it's like to have a heart again."

Tloj: Aw... How cute! :3 And there's the end of that filler, on to the story! R&R, please!