Dogwood Point Estate was never the quietest of neighbourhoods to walk through, and tonight was no exception. However, Beni had been at home for a few hours, only now choosing to step out and run to the shop. She was expecting company of the tall, dark, handsome and stubborn type tonight, though he hadn't given her a time to expect him. It had been while she was hurrying back toward her house that things had gotten ... exciting. But Beni hadn't been raised on this estate for nothing, and there is nothing quite so painful and debillitating as a spray of perfume right in the eyes. With two of her assailants down, she snarled at the third. "You want some? Do you?"

Edward had kept a close distance between them, trailing and shadowing Beni as he had promised he would. The distance seemed to be a bit too far as her attack happened so fast that she'd downed two of the three assailants as Edward ran up behind the third. "I'd say no, he doesn't, do you friend?" The arms that came up behind the assailant wrapped around his arms and his hands clasped behind the assailant's head, forcing the assailant's arms outward at awkward angles, making them useless. "Now I suggest you apologize to this nice lady here." Edward applied downward pressure on the guy's neck. "I'll pull your ears off if I don't hear a right proper apology, too."

Beni stopped short as Edward loomed out of the shadows, taking charge of her third problem. The man in question actually whimpered at the amount of pressure applied to his arms, his face paling in the dim light. "I'm sorry, alright! I'm sorry - let go!" He twisted in Edward's grip, trying to free himself.

Edward grit his teeth and his hands moved to the man's ears, pinching and pulling. "Do you honestly think that was a sincere apology? I don't. Do you, sweetheart?" He looked over at Beni with a grin on his face. Ed was really enjoying what he was doing.

Beni's eyes widened as the man grunted, swallowing an astonished gasp at Edward's method of addressing her. This, from the man who insisted that everything that could possibly be termed 'them' be kept well and truly hidden? "I ... well, no, not really," she admitted, blinking in confusion.

The would-be thief groaned in pain. "Alright, alright, leave off! I'm very sorry, miss, and I promise I'll never do it again. Happy now?"

Edward winked to Beni and redoubled his efforts. "Hmm, does this mean you're never going to rob, mug or attack innocent women or men anymore? Or just her?" Ed could hardly keep the laugh from his voice.

There was a moment of quiet as the thief considered his answer. "Anyone?" he offered, wanting now more than anything to get away from this insane bitch and her murderous shadow.

"Ah, good answer." Ed let the attacker go, shoving him with his boot to the behind, away from Beni. "And you better be telling the truth because I have eyes everywhere." Now he moved closer to Beni, standing between the man and her. "Everywhere!"

The man staggered, slamming into the wall. His compatriots were already on their feet, stumbling away as they swore and scrubbed at their eyes, and he was fast to follow them. Beni felt her heartbeat begin to slow, her breath calming as they disappeared into the shadows. With a start, she realised she still held her perfume in her hand, ready to spray. She looked up at Edward in amazement. "Since when did you become The Phantom?"

Edward dusted his hands off and turned to look down at Beni as the assailants fled the scene. "The Phantom?" He cocked his head and grinned. "I promised to protect you, Beni. You didn't think I'd let you walk these streets unattended, did you?"

She blinked, staring at him. "How long have you been following me?" she demanded. "I only stepped out to get cream, and that was less than ten minutes ago!" She couldn't help it; she chuckled softly, shaking her head at his attitude. "You were supposed to come in, not lurk in the shadows in case I decided to go for a walk!"

"Now Beni. If you and I were around each other all of the time, you'd grow very tired of my presence. You might even begin to become annoyed. I really don't want that, and neither do you. You were able to defend yourself this time, but those men were stupid enough to attack from the front. What if they had from the back?" he put his hands on his hips and shook his head. "I'll lurk in the shadows just to make sure you're safe."

"Oh, no no no!" He put his hands up to try to stop her from going back upstairs. "No, you look gorgeous! Don't you dare go change out of that dress. In fact, wear it every day!"

Her jaw dropped open at the sudden insistence as he prevented her from turning away. Laughing, she raised her hands to calm him down. "I can hardly wear this at work, now, can I?" she smiled, laying her hands on his arms. "But I am glad you like it."

"I do like it, a lot." He nodded his head. His hands curled around her arms and he smiled. "You really do look beautiful, Beni. You're making it hard for me to keep you behind closed doors. I'd love to take you out and show you off."

Her smile softened as he spoke. "I don't need to be shown off," she assured him warmly. "It's enough that you still enjoy my company after a month or so." She chuckled softly, her hands squeezing on his arms as she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Which would you prefer first, dinner or a movie?"

"Dinner, please," he smiled and studied her face, as if memorizing every little detail. "And I think it's more a testament that you still find me good company after all this time."

"Don't put yourself down, you're a fine man, Edward," she scolded him affectionately, letting her hands slip down his arms to curl her fingers into his. Slowly, she began to walk backwards toward the kitchen, leading him toward his dinner.

"I must be," he smiled as he was led into the kitchen. "I've managed to catch me one fine woman." He couldn't deny it anymore and felt like a fool for doing so. "You put up with a lot of stuff from me, yet you're still here."

Her brow rose as she couldn't help smiling back. "You may have noticed, I am rather stubborn," she chuckled, nudging the kitchen door open with her backside. "Once I set my sights on something, there is very little that can change my mind." Once in the kitchen, the aroma of the cooking became stronger, sweet and spicy all at once.

"I hadn't noticed at all," he laughed at the lie he told. "I think that's just what I needed, Beni. A stubborn woman who pushes back." The aromas in the kitchen were heady and he sighed happily. "And a crack chef to boot. How lucky can a man get?" His eyes danced as he tightened his grip on her hands and gazed down at her. "I guess you grew up believing that old saying that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach. And you're right."

She laughed, pleased and humbled by all the compliments. "I was taught by the best," she assured him, squeezing his hands. "Here, sit down. I hope you like Indian - I made korma, in case you're not used to the heat of the spices."

"Who taught you?" He did take a seat, releasing her reluctantly. His tall frame in the small chair seemed a bit awkward, but he was truly comfortable. He picked up a fork in anticipation. "I've not had Indian food before. What's korma?"

"Clara Wilson, the woman who took me in when I was a child, taught me," she smiled back to him, spooning out rice onto plates before adding the curry. "It's a creamy, mildly spiced curry," she went on, turning to bring the plates over to the table. "Usually a little sweeter than the other types." Another trip to the counter brought poppadums and naan bread to set between them, before she slipped down into her own seat.

"Well my hat's off to her, because this smells delicious." He reached up and the fedora came off of his head. He hooked it onto the chair behind him before turning to look down at the dish in front of him. "if it's even half as good as it looks, I'm going to want seconds." He reached for a piece of bread then and dug his fork in.

"She was very good at almost anything she turned her hand to," Beni smiled fondly at the past, tearing naan to dip into the korma sauce. "I didn't really pick up the other skills, the sewing and knitting and everything. But I did enjoy the cooking, and after she died, I kept up the skills."

Squealing with laughter, Beni had no chance of evading Edward - he was too big and too quick. Added to that, she managed to corner herself within seconds, hands flailing as she giggled, trying to keep him from getting too close.

By this time, he was laughing so hard that when he did get to touching her face, the bubbles had disappeared by either flying off of his hands or simply dissolving. He had her cornered though, and took advantage. As his hands cradled her cheeks, he bent his head to brush his lips along hers. The kiss was tentative and a precursor to the real thing. It was a milisecond before his lips melded with hers and parted.

Her grin pressed to his lips, the expression fading into soft, eager retaliation as her hands crept up his back, her tongue tasting his as she made a faint sound of pleasure into his mouth. Her fingers spread against his back, clutching him to her as she drowned willingly in the overwhelming sense of him pressed to her, her world narrowing down to this one moment, this one man.

Edward wasn't prepared for the emotions that single kiss brought forth in himself. The kiss was initiated from a lustful need to touch her in an safe, intimate way. But it went from lustful to gentle and loving in seconds flat. His hands softened their grip on her head and moved down to her neck as his brain warred with the emotions.

She allowed him to explore what it was he was feeling, slowly slipping her hands from his back to his sides, palms resting warm against his hips as her head tilted back for him, lips soft and willing beneath his. She shivered faintly as his fingers dragged down her neck, a tender shudder of pleasure as she murmured his name against his lips, caught up in that strange mix of desire and affection.

Finally, his brain won over and he gently broke the kiss. His eyes went wide as the space between them began to feel like a chasm. "I.. I'm sorry." He whispered and pressed his lips against hers once more.

"Don-" She didn't have the chance to finish as his lips crashed to hers once again, this time her hand rising to curl against his cheek as she leaned into him, warm and soft and hardly resistant to his affection. But she knew he would never forgive himself if he acted entirely on instinct, and slowly, gently, drew back, stroking her fingers against his cheek. "Don't be sorry," she whispered to him. "Be sure."

His hands folded into the small of her back, this second go round and when she pulled away, he looked down at her, conflicted. "I know what I want," he started and clamped his mouth shut and shook his head. "I just need to hear it from you that you're willing to take the risks that goes with this."

She studied him for a long moment, knowing that any swift answer would be taken as instinct and not truth. "I am," she said quietly after a long moment. "You're not asking anything of me that I am not prepared to do, Edward, I promise you."

Edward watched her eyes, and he saw nothing but the pure, unadulterated truth in them. He swallowed, hard and bent his head to place another kiss to her pillow soft lips. His arms tightened, pulling her to him.

Her hands pressed to his chest as he drew her to him, gentle, but keeping that smidgeon of distance between them as they kissed. For all her bold words and wicked play at seduction, Beni found herself nervous now they came to it, and she knew she needed more time. But how to explain that without offending him, without making him feel she was rejecting him? She did not want to risk losing this very special man.

When Edward's head lifted this time, he bore a crooked smile. "This is great and all, but what about the movie you promised?" There was something about how she kept that bit of distance between them that spoke volumes to Edward. He didn't understand, but instincts told him that if they continued as they were, they were both heading for a place neither was ready to be.

She smiled, relieved that he could turn off the heat as quickly as he turned it on. Her hands stroked against his sides as she answered. "You're right, where are my manners?" she chuckled softly, nuzzling a soft kiss to his cheek. "Let's just ... take it slowly," she whispered then, her voice warm and aching with longing. "We'll get there, together."

But for now, at least, dinner, a movie, and a little snuggling was all they needed to make the evening complete.

((Scene posted with permission.))