Inara slips into the inn alone once more, dressed in a thick sweater and a lose fitting black skirt that compliment the white and black knit sweater. She sheds her leather jacket and gloves hanging the jacket on the coat hook before moving to the bar to pour herself a cup of tea. Another night spent alone she heads to the couch and drops onto it and tugs out a book she hasn't touched sense meeting Gav and starts paging through it, opening to the page she left off on and kicking off her boots she tucks her feet under her and leaning on the couch arm starts reading and nursing her mug of tea.

Gavilean steps quietly into the Inn having seen Inara's horse outside. Sees her reading a book on the couch.

She lifts her gaze from the book her eyes locking on her husband, at first not moving, then smiles and pushes off the couch rushing to him, throwing herself into his arms. His strong arms envelope her, lifting her off the floor as they kiss and she buries her fingers in his hair, "I've missed you," she breaths in his scent.

"I've missed you more," he said with a smile of pure love for his wife. He picked her up into his arms and walked over and sat with Inara upon his lap. "You look so beautiful. Surely the sun is afraid to rise lest it be shamed by your beauty and warmth."

Inara smiles softly, "Mmm, I've missed those compliments too," she grins and kisses him softly again and snuggles into his arms.

Gavilean holds her close, his cheek against her forehead, "Thank you for marrying me," he whispered. "I don't think you really know how happy you have made me."

She smiles softly, "All I know right now is how much I have missed you the last few days and that I want to go out just the two of us some place nice. If it was summer I would suggest a picnic or something, but a fine restaurant or a candle lit dinner will have to do."

"Lets do that, my love. A candlelight dinner at a fine restaurant, maybe a dance or two. We need that."

She nods, "Yes we do, very much," she answers and grins.

"How have you been feeling? Still getting that morning sickness?" Gav asked, his hand moving over her bare arm.

"Only at night, and only on occasion, it will pass," she smiles sweetly.

"Good! Then tonight we will have a date," he said with a wink. "Care to ride with me? While you still can?" he added with a grin, knowing how much she loves to ride.

"Honey I would ride you....errr ride with you, anywhere," grins at the slip up.

Gavilean laughed hard. "I know what's on your mind! Same thing that's on mine. Let's go."

Inara grins and slips from his laps, grabbing up her book and heading for the door, "The quicker the better."

Gavilean heads out with Inara

Their horses were waiting outside the inn, and Gav went to Inara's and held the reins. "You like a leg up?"

"Please," Inara nodded, offering him her booted foot.

He cupped his hands for her and easily lifted up, allowing her to settle comfortably on her saddle. Gavilean then mounted Nasrullah and neck reined the destrier in the opposite direction, heading southwest along the cobblestone roads of Rhydin.

Inara collected the reins of her horse and turned him to follow Gav, settling herself carefully in the saddle, adjusting her cloak to cover her legs, sitting side saddle and moved Nick close to Nasrullah, "So you won't tell me where were going?"

He shook his head, "No, my lady. You are to be surprised. But it's not too far, so you will not have to wait long.

"At least your not blind folding me," Inara answered with a grin.

"Hmmmm...good idea!" he teased. "Actually, the blind fold comes after dinner when we get home."

Inara grins and looks at Gav, "But then I'll have to feel around," she mock pouted.

He couldn't help but grin, "Oh well...guess I'll have to put up with it. After several minutes then came to an old, stone building with a sign on the front that read - 'The Catacombs'.

Inara looked across at Gav then the restaurant, "This is a place for food right? Not just somewhere dark and scary?"

"Oh...don't let the name fool you. It's really quite exquisite." He dismounted and then stood on the left side of Nick to help Inara down.
Inara says:
Inara slipped down into his arms, pausing there for a minute to kiss him deeply once more, "I can't wait to try your restaurant."

Her mouth tasted so delicious he was tempted to say they should just skip dinner and go right home, but it had been a while since they went out together, and they were both looking forward to this. He pulled open a heavy oak door with rounded top and large iron hinges. The outside light was provided by a lantern. Inside the entrance it was dimly lit and reception table was ahead of them. The place looked like a very old monastery, for that is exactly what it had been at one time. There were stone floors, tapestries, portraits on the walls. Sconces upon the walls provided the light.

Inara looked around curiously as she stood beside her husband.

Gavilean took Inara's coat and his own and checked them at the door. He spoke to the receptionist and they checked off his name. A woman in a white blouse and black skirt asked them to follow her.

Inara smiled softly, curling her fingers in Gav's and moved to follow him, still looking around.

They walked down a hallway that had several out coves where people were eating and talking and laughing. They were then led down a set of stairs to a lower level were there were many more out coves, all lit by candles. In the center of a larger eating area was a small stage. A small group of people were playing a harp, a violin and a flute and singing Celtic type songs, sounding very nice.

Inara smiled softly, "This is all very beautiful my love."

"It's different. I love the way everything is lit by the glow of candles and the age of these stones." They were led to a table in a small out cove that was not far from the stage. Their seats would allow them to see the stage, yet still have privacy. The table had a candle on it and a vase with a rose. The seats were well-padded with deep red cushions.

Inara moved to take her seat, sweeping her skirts under her, and nodded her thanks to the host.

Gav was handed a wine list and they were both given menus. There was just enough light to allow them to read their menus. Gav moved close to Inara and gave her a kiss. "I love you so much, darling."

"I love you too, I have missed you so, I'm just glad you are back," she leans in to pillow her head on his shoulder while reading from his menu instead of her own.

"I think I'm going to have the Shepherd's Pie. I hear it's very good. See anything that appeals to you?"

She looks over the menu, "The duck sounds good," she answered softly.

"Sounds good. A red wine would go well with our choices. Is that okay with you?"

Inara nods, "It sounds great."

The waitress came over and Gav ordered for them both, "The lady will have the duck, and I'll have the Shepherd's Pie; and I think we'd like a nice Cabernet with that. Thank you." When the waitress left, Gav put his arm around Inara and laid his head on hers and listened to the song sung by the four women on stage.

"This nice," she muttered softly, "I needed this," she muttered softly.

"I did too, my love. I needed to just have a romantic evening with you." When the meal arrived he explained how this used to be a Benedictine monastery for centuries. It was abandoned twenty years ago, and ten years later it was purchased by a few investors and made into a restaurant called "The Catacombs". It was secluded, yet quite popular amongst the residents with the money to pay.

"You spoil me my love," she stated softly between bites and smiled softly at him, "Very spoiled."

The entire restaurant had a certain ambiance that was unique. Stone walls and floors, fairly low ceilings, candles and sconces all over, large wooden beams, and the music all blended to create a warm, romantic atmosphere....until the women finished and a "jester" came out and started to juggle and tell jokes. Gav looked at Inara and laughed. "They have a variety of entertainment."

Inara looked up at grinned, "I see that, what other little surprises do you have planned for this night? hmmm?"

His eyes shown with mischief in the light of the candles, his hair was long and wavy and perfect. He looked at her, "The next surprise happens when we get home."

"Oh really," she chuckles, "you in a loin cloth?" she teases.

He had a mock shocked look. "Who told you!?" He laughed and gave her kiss that tasted like shepherd's pie.

She grinned, "Mmm, now there?s a surprise worth waiting for."

When the dinner was over (including the dessert of cheesecake with whole strawberries) and the plates cleared, they sat together and sipped a cordial while listening to the Celtic Lady Quartet once more. Gavilean had his arm around Inara and his hand was holding hers, playing with her fingers.

"Have I told you lately I love you?"

He shook his head, "Not in the last hour. I was beginning to doubt it," he said with a smile.

"Well I do, and don't you dare doubt it," she kisses him softly once more, "So, you want to head home for that surprise?"

"Yes! I'm ready to go." He set down his napkin and stood and helped Inara with her chair. He held her hand as they retraced their steps, found the stairs and went up to the first floor where he retrieved their coats. The ride home was refreshing but Gav couldn't wait for them to be back at the house.

Inara entered the inn in her husband's arm laughing, "Did you see the look on the livery owners face when you told him you were my husband?"

Gavilean entered the inn with Inara on his arm. He's has his heavy leather jacket with fur collar, and the gloves that Inara had given to him whilst in England, "Yeah....I saw! He'll never give Nick that small stall again."

She took off her own gloves and jacket, "Oh it was priceless, I love you so. When your not making fun of me that is."

"I never make fun of you...," grins, "well, almost never." he takes Inara's gloves and jacket and hangs them with his own.

"No, just the times when I stand up for myself. You know, I'm starting to think you think I'm cute when I'm indignant."

Gavilean waves to a few friends, "But honey, you are!!" he answers Inara.

Inara grumbled, "See you make fun of me," she can't hide the smile though.

Gavilean kissed that smile "I love you, darlin'."

Inara waved to a few friends as well. "You better," she grinned.

He hugged Inara "I couldn't love you more, my sweet."

Inara grinned and looked around, "Okay, couch or drinks? You choose."

"Well, I'm so tired from the shopping, I think the couch would be great."

Inara grinned, "Alright, I'll get the drinks," she headed for the bar, swaying hips just to taunt him.

Gavilean watched Inara's hips swing...knowing she'll be paying for that later.

Inara leaned on the bar smiling at the double staff tonight.

"Inara, Gav!" The bartender moved down the bar before them "What can I get you?"

Gavilean laughed "Hi Jewell, baby!"

"I want a mint tea please, and" lowered her voice to Jewell to a conspirators whisper, "Something very strong and spicy for Gav."

"Strong and spicy? Captain Morgan and something perhaps?" She suggested as she moved to set the water on the kettle

Gavilean is thinking he's getting mint tea also.

"No, no...darling. That's my job! I'm as good at painting as I am at driving a sled!"

"Oh gods the room is going to look like a paint can exploded," she muttered under her breath.

Gavilean heard Inara....takes the cup out of her hand and set it down...then attacked her with tickles

Inara jumped and squealed falling back on the couch, fighting torturing fingers, "What I didn't say anything," she gasped between giggles.

"Oh yeah? I heard what you said...a paint can exploding??" loves tickling her, then replaces tickles with kisses

Inara smiled, "Its not my fault you can't drive a team of horses, or a single horse for that matter," snickers.

Gavilean laughed and beings to bit and nibble on her neck to tickle her "I happen to be an expert!"

She laughs, "Yes on letting horses run away and drag you behind," a wise person would stop digging the hole, but she had struck gold.

"Oh?? So...now you are calling me a moron, huh??" teasing beings more tickles and nibbles until his mouth is upon hers

"I never said that..." words cut off by the kiss.

Gavilean kissed her deeply

Inara sunk very readily into the kiss, fingers slipping into his hair.

As the kiss ended he stopped the tickles "Okay, that should teach you!"

She grins, "Mmm, that ticking off the husband is a good thing," nods.

Gavilean loved his wife so much "Maybe we should go home now, sweetheart."

She nods, "Yes, that would be a very good idea, noon comes all too soon," she jokes, when it comes to her habit, and now his, of sleeping in till late so they could stay up late with one another.

Gavilean laughed "It's amazing how half the day just disappears when you're in my arms in bed."

She grinned, "Could have something to do with that snoring too," she moved to stand.

"Honey, you don't snore.....too much." he winks and stands with her

Inara grinned, "No but you do," she moved to gather their coats.

"I do not!!! You are going to get it!!" follows her and helps her on with her coat

Inara smirked, and let him help her on with her coat before tugging on her gloves and kissing him softly. "You have to catch me first," she breathed against his
lips a second before turning and rushing out the door giggling like a school girl.

"HEY!!!" He grabbed his coat and runs for Inara...dropping his gloves and stopped to pick them up. Inara rushed to mount Nick and turn the horse heeling him into a hard gallop away from the inn. Gavilean was quick to follow Inara on Nasrullah