S'agapo...ti amo...always

Seeing the wheels turning in her head, Bastian felt a small sense of relief. To know she must have seen the truth in his words, and that she wasn't going to fight him outright on it was really more than he had expected.

"If they aren't eager, it's probably because they're still hurting. Unfortunately, until some sort of reconciliation is begun, do they have a reason to stop?"

She wasn't agreeing, but she was considering it. Ground had been won, and he was damned if he'd risk losing it.

"Not that you need it, but if you'd like moral support, I'd be willing to brave the lion's den. In fact, with me along chances are everyone would concentrate on beating me up, and consequently they'd probably not give your return a second thought."

He chuckled, but he believed what he'd said, to an extent. He had no illusions that her family blamed him for what she'd gone through, and he couldn't find fault with that. That's what families were supposed to do. It wouldn't be a pleasant experience for him, but he'd weather it, and if it brought Reign and her family back together, it would make her happier - thus making him happier in the long run. It was a risk well worth taking.

Trying to work out a plan on getting her back to Chicago, Bastian had momentarily forgotten her impending absence. But now he revisited the idea. That she was considering his feelings at all gave him a jolt of faith. She may have spoke out of habit, but Bastian knew she'd never say anything she didn't truly mean.

"And?"

His offer, generous as it was, made her laugh out loud. Still grinning she shook her head.

“No I think you’d be better off sitting this one out. There would be an attempt on your life.”

He folks would not be happy to see him, a majority of her sibs would be irked with him, and Vince would be… … be… less than tolerant of Bastian’s presence. And if she saw her family she’d make it a point to see her ex.

“I think I’d need to have them get over my disappearing act before I made any attempt of reintroducing you.”

Good lord… were they that far into this? Was she really considering taking him home again? Yes, yes she was and that was scary, it was far too soon to do that, she wasn’t even sure what her feelings for him were right now.

There were too many memories and forgotten feelings clouding her judgment. She still needed time, at least she thought she did.

And? Oh shit, well teach her to open her big mouth he caught that.

“And I haven’t decided which one I’ll do yet. I might be able to pass for one more round yet, but I’ll have to pick one up soon.”

Well thank goodness she came up with a plausible cover for her laps. It was still too soon to even think about going away together. Besides these weren’t pleasure trips and she had to keep odd hours… noon to three or four in the morning some times and on top of that she tended to get very focused and rather unpleasant if things didn’t go well.

"You know, I may have no right, but I will miss you. Yet, I don't think this could come at a better time."

Even he could see he'd thrown a lot on her plate the past couple weeks, and having time away might give her space to put it all into order, and perspective. He would have to trust that in the end he'd come out okay.

"It's too bad the Chicago dates aren't after the Virginia ones, but a few weeks really do give you plenty of time to make some decisions, and plans. Again...my opinion is nothing you need to consider, but I still think you should take both gigs. It's what you do...if you don't go, won't you run the risk of losing your standings?"

He wasn't sure that was the correct term, or how the circuits worked actually, but it sounded plausible. Besides, he never said he wouldn't join her at some point. If he was able to work it, he'd show up, if only to have dinner...or breakfast with her. Being able to make your own hours was one of the best perks in running your own business.

The main course was presented, and Bastian just stared at his plate for a few seconds. So caught up in being with her, and talking...just like the old days...he had forgotten what he had ordered. When he remembered he'd chosen Ahi, he half grinned, and cut into it. It was reassuring to know Reign still had the power to muddle with his brain. It was a comforting, if still strange thing to experience after all these years.

“I’m not sure you’d have time to miss me. I wouldn’t be gone that long and you’re busy.”

And what was a few weeks compared to years… oh there she went being upset again. Huh, that was apparently a deeper wound than Reign herself was even aware of. At least she had the good sense not to throw it in his face every time those thoughts reared their ugly head.

“Hmmmm… you know the more I think about this the more I’m inclined to day yes to both Jane and Hans. In fact, if I have any sense at all I’ll take the next three or four. I’m too young to make a ‘come back’ hell I’ve never really gone away have I?”

Well if nothing else that would be a shot in hr bank account and get her manager off her back. Reign was fond of Jane but the woman could be a royal pain too.

It felt oddly good to have that settled, at least in her own mind it was settled and Reign cut into her steak with a bit of gusto. Now the only question was would she try and see her family while she was in Chicago. She just wasn’t sure.]

“Actually, I am going to call Jane tomorrow and get things in place for at least those two. It will be good.”

He didn't contradict her, mainly because she was correct. If he did get to missing her, he'd go through with his plan to surprise her. Plus, things between them were going so incredibly well that from now on he'd do his best to keep them that way. Getting into an argument now would serve no purpose at all.

"Hey there...no need in going overboard." A couple weeks was one thing, but taking on more than that would make their time together even rarer, and right now he needed the exposure. He did keep his tone jokingly light however, pretending whatever it was she wanted would be okay with him.

"I hope you'll keep me in the loop about your schedule?" Not that he couldn't find out all the details without her help, but keeping the lines of communication open between them was how he really wanted it.

It gave him a feeling of pride, to see her get so excited about pursuing her passions. She played pool very well, as was proven by her standings, winnings, and reputation. But it was because she loved what she did that not only did she do it well, but became even more beautiful because of it. Not that she needed help in that.

It was also good that Bastian didn't feel jealous of her time playing any longer. Their separation had been rough, and they'd both suffered, but he'd also learned and gained a great deal from it. He could be happy about the other things in her life that gave her satisfaction, and pleased her, and not feel short changed.

Though it wasn't like he'd ever been 'crazy' jealous. He was not a stupid man, and learned very early that to be obsessively jealous would do nothing but ruin their relationship, drive him insane, and her so far away from him that he'd never get her back. Further, he had confidence in his self, and abilities, and Reign. If she were to love him again, he knew she would be true, through and through.

"Trade?"

Eyeing her steak had him wanting a bite in the worst way. His ahi was delicious, but he'd gladly give over a bite, in exchange, and cut off one. Pointing his bite filled fork towards her, while holding it over his plate, he grinned in expectation.

"Do you take Sirius with you on tour? Do all the hotels you stay at accommodate him, because I know an excellent kennel you could take him to if the need ever arises."

Besides the time away being good for her, the time with Sirius could be good for Bastian. He was doubtless he could convince the animal that there was nothing wrong with his being in their life. An understanding between Bastian and the dog was necessary, and the sooner the better.

She laughed at the idea of going over board, just because she could potentially travel for tournaments and appearance 40 plus weeks of the year didn’t mean she would. When it came right down to it Reign was a home body and didn’t enjoy being away for too long.

“I’ll keep you posted, but you know you have my cell number and Jane’s number too. If any one is going to know where I am she will.”

Now, was that interest, jealousy or genuine ‘missing her’. Knowing Bas the way she had Reign decided it was a combination of the three. However, he wasn’t being overly possessive or clingy so she couldn’t fault him at all.

This tournament couldn’t have come at a better time, she decided. It would give her time to think about him and Will and what she wanted and the way things were going it was likely to be a very heavy bit of thinking.

Fortunately, Bastian broke that train of thought as he eyed her meal. She’d wondered about his dietary requirements and his choice of entrée and giggled slightly as he eyed her steak. Looking to be sure no one was in hearing distance she leaned in a bit.

“Wouldn’t you prefer it moving?”

Reign was a bit stunned at her own humor. She really should be terrified, knowing what Bastian was, but she couldn’t bring herself to be afraid of him. Despite her teasing she cut a large bite of her steak and set it on his plate.

“Generally he goes with me. Some times it a pain to find a place that will take him and some times the places that host the tournaments will make allowances for the two of us. But if I’m just gone for a day or two it might be easier on him to stay home. But I’d rather he stay at my place. You couldn’t recommend a good pet sitter could you?”

It was better for the dog and better for her house that he stay there. At least that was Reign’s theory, she didn’t like risking kennel cough and minimum wage assistance, Sirius was too important to her. That and folks were likely to think twice about breaking into a house with a large German Shepard living there.

He thought he had a good sense of humor, though he wasn't at all what someone might call a comedian. In fact, he often wished he had more of a knack for being clever and funny, if for no other reason than to her Reign laugh.

Her laughter was something else he'd forgotten through the years, but now he remembered it, and the way it lifted his heart. She, above anyone else, had the power to make him feel better, when he found himself getting down. To hear the happiness pour out from within her, he'd challenge anyone to remain unaffected.

And her joke about his meat being alive prodded him back into laughing as well.

"Sometimes, yes...but overall I prefer to not eat meat these days. I occasionally do, because I find it's necessary for my body. I tried the vegetarian route a few years back, and wound up getting pretty sick and run down. This..." He indicated his semi-raw tuna. "Is something I still love the taste of, but even now have difficulty swallowing." And the fact that he was taking small bites, and eating slowly was a tip off.

That Bastian still felt somewhat revulsed by hunting and killing was something he had learned to live with. He would go through phases when he would just not hunt, but after several weeks he'd find himself thinking of nothing else. So to try and balance his needs with his desires, he had put himself on a schedule of sorts, hunting on the one night of the month he had no choice in being what he was, and eating meet of some sort at least once a week. So far, over the past couple years, the schedule seemed to work well for him. These details would be held back for another time, as he was still trying to refrain from dumping too much of his foreign lifestyle in her lap.

As he'd done with the ahi, Bastian cut off a small bit of the steak she'd given him. Chewing it was simple, and he again enjoyed the flavor, but swallowing was the part he had to chase down with a gulp of water. At least his stomach wasn't going to revolt tonight.

"I was going to suggest he stay with me. I've got lots of room at the moment, and might even have a cute little collie to introduce him to...you know...just someone friendly for him to talk to." Bastian's eyes were crinkled with humor. If he could find a way to give Sirius something to think about besides Bastian's invasion into his life, he would have pretty successfully won the battle they were fighting.

"But if you're set on leaving him at your house, I'd be happy to check on him a couple times a day. I could feed him, take him out for a run, maybe even have a couple 'man to man' talks...show him I don't mean anything bad to him...or you."

The last words were again spoken with his eyes peering deeply into hers. Without continuing to overkill with his intentions, Bastian still felt the need to reinforce them whenever possible.

"Of course, if you'd rather hire someone more qualified..."

He laughed. He wasn't trying to be challenging, but he couldn't let such an idea go without some addressing.

He was willing to share what he was, at least some information. He did still seem to be holding back. Oddly enough Reign couldn’t fault him for that. It was something pretty major, turning into a wolf and all and they weren’t sure what they were to each other yet so it made sense to keep some of it private. Again though the thought, ‘What in hell’s name do I think I’m doing… dating a werewolf…’ ran through her head. There was no good answer to that though. And so far things hadn’t been strange enough to warrant her ruling out a relationship with Bastian and gravitating towards the nice normal guy.

“I can’t quite see you as a vegetarian no matter what the circumstances, it just doesn’t seem right.”

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Bas was trying to win ground with Sirius and she couldn’t fault him. The mutt loved Will, but he was just barley tolerant of Bastian and she just couldn’t figure out why. Perhaps he could sense the wolf in Bas.

While she was fairly certain she could trust Bastian with Sirius she wasn’t quite willing to risk it, not blindly any way. The mutt was far too important to her and it wouldn’t be fair to Bastian to take that on knowing that if something happened to the dog she would have a hard time forgiving him. Still and all…

“It’s not a bad idea. I’m not sure who else would be willing to watch him if I left him here. But what if we take him out together and see how you boys get along first? Maybe if you meet on ‘neutral ground’ he’ll take it better.”

She could see Sirius protecting his turf and resenting being forced into a relationship on Bastions home field. Yes… maybe neutral ground would be best for both of them.

It wasn't the answer he'd hoped for, knowing there was still an issue of trust that kept her reserved around him. But it was a better answer than it might have been, so Bastian didn't argue.

When she spoke of having no one else to watch Sirius, Bastian almost joked about the other man. Thinking he really didn't need to give her any ideas, he wisely kept quiet instead.

"I'm ready whenever the two of you are." Which wasn't exactly true, but what else could he say?

Bastian was ninety nine percent sure he knew what Sirius' problem was. Not only did the dog sense Bastian's connection to Reign, but Bastian was also convinced Sirius could smell his wolf. The natural desire to assert his alpha maleness, and protect what he thought to be his, gave Sirius a legitimate reason to react as he had towards Bastian. There in lay the rub. Bastian had to show Sirius that he could no longer hold the position of alpha male, and hoped to do it without any dire consequences. There was a battle to be fought, and no way around it, but that didn't mean blood had to be drawn.

Satisfied with his meal, and now having a hot cup of coffee in his hands, Bastian leaned back in his chair, and regarded Reign over the rim of the cup. He said nothing, preferring to just gaze at her, and again thank his lucky stars they'd again found each other. He thought he could tell that she was still leery, and not ready for any commitments, but he saw more than interest in her eyes. Whether she admitted it to herself or not didn't matter now. Eventually she'd come to understand things could again be good between them, and they could get on with life together.

Of course it would be a lot easier with Will out of the picture, but Bastian refused to see the other man as anything more than a speed bump. Soon Reign would come to her senses, and the road for the two of them would be smooth again.

As smooth as it could ever be.

“No I’m not taking you two for a romp on the beach tonight. Its cold out damned it. But maybe in a day or two when its sunny out.”

She grinned, deliberately misinterpreting his silence and amiably kicking him under the table. It was probably wrong to assume such familiarity with him after all these years but it was also Impossible not to.

Deciding she wasn’t going to let him sit quietly staring at her, which always made her want to blush, she tossed another topic out there.

“What about you Lupo, I swear you’ve not said much about your self at least other than… and well that hardly covers ten years. How was Professor Beauchamp when you last saw her? Have you heard from her since Katrina because I can’t imagine she’d leave New Orleans for anything. Have you kept any steak in the vineyards at all? Have you been traveling a lot lately?”

He had loved their trip and been considerably well traveled before they met and Reign felt safe in assuming that that interest had continued. Somehow it was hard to imagine Bastian tied down in one place too long, it was almost as if he’d stagnate if not given room to run.

He chuckled at her dismissal of possibly picking up Sirius later. He had in no way considered doing anything with the dog tonight. As far as Bastian was concerned there were much more important and fun things ahead. But to give her a sense of making the decision he threw up his hands in surrender, after setting the coffee cup down. He didn't throw them up far, but enough to get the point across, and then let one wander under the table to try and catch the foot she'd used to kick him with. Unfortunately he was too slow, and his arms weren't quite long enough, but the chuckle continued for a few seconds.

He could tell he was making her somewhat uncomfortable, but it was nothing she couldn't ultimately take. It was the way they were together sometimes, and if they were to reunite he couldn't let her think he'd changed that much. Sure, he had mellowed, and let some things roll of his back that he would have taken exception to years ago, but he found her as attractive now, as he had before, and couldn't help but take the time to appreciate it.

Besides, what would a date with Reign be, without a kick, or jab, or poke in the side?

"But I have told you everything that was important. What can I say? I won't serve my case with you much, but I'm still pretty much the same boring Sebastian I always was."

For all she wondered about why he loved her, Bastian had wondered the same about himself. Once he knew Reign wasn't interested in his money, he never had figured out why she had loved him...did love him?

"And hard as it might be to believe, I really have spent a large part of the past few years researching this...affliction...no gift, I believe they're calling it. That did involve substantial travel, which yes, I still enjoy. Funny enough though, I'm finding I enjoy getting away a lot more when I have someplace to come back to."

Idly he covered her hand with his, and moved his fingers across the top as he spoke.

"Sabine is fine, and both feisty and caring as ever. I swear there were times when I would have certainly gone mad if I hadn't had her to call on. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...had I been older when I met her...well, and had not met you before hand..."

Bastian grinned and winked at Reign. The statement held some truth, but only from the standpoint that his interest in Sabine would never be more than a fleeting thought. Reign had been, and apparently would always be, the only woman who could fill his heart.

Clouds filtered through his eyes, as he thought and addressed her next question.

"The vineyards are a thing of the past, at least when it comes to the Romallo family. Those who remain behind are financially secure because of them, but they do not play any part in my life now. I would be lying if I didn't admit there was a period of adjustment for me...after...but I was fortunate to find buyers quickly, and that the remaining family was agreeable on my decision to sell."

And with the sale of the vineyards, and dispersal of the profits, Bastian had closed that chapter on his life, and moved on with a huge weight off his shoulders. He didn't think he needed to elaborate further. Reign had met his family, and seen that his place there had been peripheral, and extraneous. Until she had seen the way they treated him with her own eyes, he got the impression she hadn't believed him. Coming from a family like hers, he understood her position better too, once he'd met Mom and Pop Sorenson.

"But for the most part traveling for fun and pleasure just isn't quite the same anymore. I miss my cabin mate."

Squeezing her hand now, Bastian grinned lovingly, before wrapping his fingers around his coffee cup again.

“I’ve got to wonder how one goes about researching something like that. It doesn’t seem to me the local library would have much information or that the folks involved would be terribly forthcoming. Something like trying to find your birth mother in a closed adoption. How is it working out for you?”

More than her basic curiosity about his ‘gift’ as he called it was the hope that Bas had found some sort of family, some base. It wasn’t healthy not to have an anchor… not that she had much room to talk these days but still.

She looked down at her hands as his covered them. Something so familiar and so foreign at the same time and something she’d missed, Reign grudgingly admitted to herself. She turned her right hand so that their fingers could intertwine.

“Professor Beauchamp is too sweet for you. You would have driven each other mad inside of five years.”

Reign grinned wickedly as she teased him. In this case she didn’t feel any sort of jealousy, not something that had always held true with Bas but…

It was also good to hear the Professor was well. Reign had been a bit worried about her for the longest time but had no way to get in contact with her. That and it was good to know someone was still looking out for Bastian.

That he seemed at all bothered by the mention of the vineyards made her frown. She hadn’t meant to bring up anything difficult or painful and out of instinct held his hand tighter, remind him she was there.

“You know I haven’t really gone any where in years. Any traveling I’ve done has been work or school related.”

Well except for her honeymoon but it didn’t seem tactful to bring that up, besides it wasn’t that big a trip just down to Mexico for a week.

"There's no mystery really. When you have money you can hire just about anyone to do just about anything...and I did."

Chuckling he shook his head. "But no, I didn't get a lot of help from the libraries. Book stores...those specializing in the occult, and supernatural were my starting point, though very disappointing at first. So much of what there is for a person to read about is complete absurdity, whether its touted as being non-fiction or not. But after a lot of reading, and a lot of talking to people who said they knew things, you learn to weed out the ones who were less than honest...or altogether there.

Once I was able to find out something about Michael, I found the tie to others like me here, in Nachton...others of my...pack. I can't tell you how exciting that was for me...to find there were more like me...REALLY like me, and to again have hope of figuring some things out."

And he chuckled again.

"But just about the time I started meeting those akin to me, I found you again too, and put the former on the back burner for a time."

No longer holding his coffee cup, Bastian now took Reign's hand in both of his, and seriously looked into her eyes.

"You...are the only thing that really matters now. But one day I do hope to get to know more of them, and learn more about them...and me."

Lifting her hand to his lips, Bastian pressed a short, but somewhat 'nibbling' kiss to her fingertips, before he released it again.

"Funny you should say that about Sabine...because I have thought the same thing. But only briefly...it's a moot issue, and I don't normally fantasize about such things. She has truly been my best friend though, and I know I wouldn't have made it anywhere near this far had it not been for her help."

He no longer felt strange calling the professor by her first name. Bastian truly did not see her as being older than he was, and though he respected and admired the woman greatly, since he'd been out of school their relationship was on a much more friendly level.

"Traveling for work or school can still be fun and entertaining...if you let it, Cara." Though for him, unless she was along, he couldn't honestly say he enjoyed travel very much at all.

"But having someone to share it with makes all the difference in the world."

And the tabs he'd kept on her over the years had given him the sketchiest of details when it came to her honeymoon travels. Her business travels had been harder to keep up with. But once she'd moved away from Chicago, all news of her had been sketchier, and rarer.

"If things...well...maybe someday we can plan for another trip...together."

As he toyed with her, fingers Reign felt a flush steal up her neck. She couldn't stop it either He could still get to her with little or no effort and it made it very hard to concentrate on what he was saying and far too easy to forget they were in the middle of a very public place. God bless first the museum and now here what the hell was going on with her, this wasn't normal.

"I'm glad you had some one through this..."Â?

Her voice was distracted as she'd been concentrating on the feel of his lips on her fingers and was now rather missing the sensation.

It was hard to determine if his tone was hopeful or possessive as he mentioned them traveling together. Bastian had made it rather clear he wasn't thrilled with the idea that she was seeing Will but he wasn't pushing her on that either. He knew when he could push and when not to, most of the time. She finally decided that it was both, but perhaps more hope than any thing.

That hope was beautiful and sweet, it was a very good thing. If she hadn't been so conscious of the fact that he'd been having quite an effect on her this evening Reign would have leaned across the table and kissed him. Maybe she'd steal that kiss later but now she behaved herself.

"Maybe... maybe... where would you like to go?"Â?

He didn't miss the way she seemed to blush at various times during the evening. It did funny things to his heart, as well as his libido to know he still had such an effect on her. Plus, it gave him added confidence, and strengthened his resolve. He was right to come back, and to pursue her again. And until he convinced her they belonged together again, he wouldn't rest.

There was no turning back now, or even considering defeat. Whatever she thought she felt for Will was a passing thing...something to tie her over until she admitted Bastian was it for her. Bastian could live with that, and definitely work around it.

Grinning at her lovingly, Bastian was glad he didn't need to appear disinterested. He'd never had to develop skills at the dating games, and consequently didn't do them well. That suited him though, since he would rather spend his time doing the direct things that yielded more immediate, and substantial returns.

The only games he played, so to speak, were at trying to tone down his desires. Any fool could see how he felt about Reign, but what he didn't want was to scare her away by unleashing his passion at this point. It was there though, pushing to get out, and the longer he looked at her, the hotter he felt his eyes become.

"Where?" He had momentarily lost his place in the conversation, but luckily recovered just as quickly.

"How about a shuttle ride...into space? I've heard they're booking seats already, though the time hasn't yet been set. Any desires to see the stars up close?"

He smiled when he spoke, but he was dead serious in his invitation. He was ready to go tomorrow, if there was way, but to take Reign with him would be too incredible to pass up.

"Of course if we do that...I'll probably never find anything as exciting to follow it up with."

Well he'd never been one to beat around the bush. Reign could feel his eyes on her, almost looking through her. It was slightly overwhelming, but it had been the first time he'd ever looked like that. She'd almost ran then, but she hadn't and she wouldn't now either.

"Space the final frontier?"Â?

Lots of people were closet trekkies, it wasn't anything to be ashamed of. Just not necessarily advertised.

She grinned at his enthusiastic suggestion. Actually, that might be fun, but part of Reign was quite happy to leave that to science fiction.

"But I've never been that hard to please have I? I'm sure we can find... well something slightly less spectacular that would be every bit as rewarding."Â?

"No...not you...you've always been so easy going, and flexible, yep, never met a woman less opinionated, who didn't fight me on every decision to be made about anything...why, if you look in the dictionary under the word 'amiable' there you'd be, pretty blond hair, blue eyes..."

Bastian slowly pulled his legs towards himself from under the table, tucking them beneath his chair. He was trying to put sufficient distance between the two of them so that should Reign start kicking again, she'd have less chance to connect. At the same time he tried to keep a straight face, but it was obvious he was fighting it, and perilously close to losing the battle.

Finally, before he pushed too far or hard, he did laugh, but again grabbed her hands, and squeezed them.

"I'm sure we can find some place new to visit, or even revisit."

When he picked up his coffee cup, he found it was empty again, and he debated another refill.

"Did you want to get some dessert here, or come back to my place for chocolate cake? Oh...and to see the pups, of course."

As long as she didn't ask him to take her home, Bastian was happy to do whatever Reign wanted.

"If the weather was warmer, I'd suggest going for a walk, but I don't think it would do much for my cause if I'm the reason you come down with pneumonia."

As me mocked her Reign leaned forward menacingly a scowl on her face but laughter in her eyes. He knew he was going to pay for that, she was sure. He snatced her hands up and she gave a friendly tug pulling him a bit forward.

"And you'll be filed right under the word flirt, possibly masochist I'm not sure which. But I'll get you for that comment later either way."Â?

She should stay here. She should ask him to drive her home, but she didn't want to. It was far too easy to be in his company again and she didn't feel like doing anything she didn't want to.

"Tempting me with chocolate -and- puppies? I'm sure I don't have a choice. Did you want me to drive?"Â?

"Flirt I understand, and can accept, but how is it...ohhhhh, yes...the fact that I apparently like to have you inflict pain upon me?"

Bastian laughed a bit too loudly, and then tried to recover with the people at the table next to them, by casting an apologetic grin their way.

"I really don't doubt that you may try to 'get me' later, but we'll have to see how successful you'll be. Along with some of my other...talents...I've become much more intuitive, and my reflexes have become almost lightning quick."

That he was exaggerating a bit was probably evident to Reign, but Bastian wasn't about to come clean with his duplicity right now. He thought it would be more fun to keep her guessing a while, or for as long as he could anyway. There would always be time later for clarifications. Having Reign in this light-hearted mood now, was worth a sharp jab in the ribs later.

He slipped several bills into the waiter's leather folder, and placed it back on the table, as he stood to come up from behind Reign. Pulling out her chair, he chucked her lightly under her chin, grinning still.

"If you think you can handle that machine, you're welcome to drive."

Not that he was at all concerned about his blood alcohol level, or the condition of the snowy roads. Bastian was more interested in watching her on the drive home, than the rode. And knowing she really was more experienced at these driving conditions, he trusted she could handle things beyond well.

Holding his keys above her hand, he let them drop into her palm. Placing her coat about her bare shoulders, before it was settled there he still stood behind her, leaned forward and placed a kiss to one, catching the eye of the patrons at the other table. Winking, he returned his attention to Reign, slipped an arm about her waist again, and turned her towards the door.

"My life is now in your hands."

His laugh made her grin it was a wonderful sound and she'd missed it.

She also wasn't at all intimidated by his threat of super human reflexes. If Bastian could joke about it she wasn't going to be worried about it. There was no way he'd kid about something that would be dangerous.

He'd gotten to her chair before she had a chance to move and for once she was happy to let him.

"I think I can manage that machine of yours with out much trouble."Â?

Managing him, and even her own feelings that was another story all together. At least she had more confidence in her ability to drive on snowy roads than sort out everything else.

The kiss to her shoulder caught her by surprise and she could only gently touch his cheek as they left.

"You do have air bags right?"Â?

((OOC... both out.))