"Wouldn't that be lovely?" He chuckled, watching her bounce excitedly. This was the way he liked her best, and sadly, a way that had been hesitant to show lately. She grabbed his free hand and tugged him towards Carito's, the little Italian place next to the Bank. "So what's the occasion?"

"Do I need an occasion to spoil you?" he asked as they walked along.

She smiled softly and shrugged a little. "No?" she hazarded.

"Good," he said, grinning, "because I haven't one. It was just an impulse." He squeezed her hand lightly before letting go to hold open the door to Carito's for her. She went inside, eyes quickly adjusting to the intimately candle-lit interior of the restaurant. The scents of tomatoes and garlic and cheese assailed her nose and her stomach woke up and screamed that it had been at least three hours since the last time she'd put anything into it. There was nothing like walking into a good restaurant and smelling the mingled flavors of cooking. It was only heightened when the smelling was done not only by a Lycan, but a Lycan who was a chef himself. He could have written half their menu just from what his nose was picking up. He glanced at Riley and grinned, knowing she was smelling it, too.

The host, Mr Carito himself, grinned hugely when he saw the Minister walk in. It would do wonders for his business when word got out that she ate there. "Buona sera, signora Riley! Signore Daniel! Benvenuto! Venite, venite!" he called from practically the back of the place and rushed forward to vigorously shake Riley and then Daniel's hands.

Daniel laughed, shaking the Mr. Carito's huge hand. He always looked like he just jumped out of a mobster movie, but had the personality of a cheerful kitten. "Good to see you again," he said, still grinning. "How's business?"

"Business is good, Signore Daniel. Better now that La Bella Donna comes to see me," he said, ushering them to his most intimate table. "We have the veal piccata and pappardelle tonight."

"Sounds good to me," he said, holding Riley's chair out for her, all romantic and stuff. She sat down, smoothing her skirt underneath her and nodded her assent. "Yes, and some of that house red, too?" He slid her easily in, and went around to sit across from her. He nodded, fine with whatever she wanted to drink. Even if he rarely touched alcohol, impulsive special occasions were still special occasions.

Mr Carito bustled away, singing softly under his breath as he went into the kitchen to place their orders. Riley reached across the table for Danny's hand, smiling for him. "This is nice. We haven't done this in a long time."

"I know. Everything's been rather crazy lately." His hand slid out to meet hers, fingers entwining. "I think you could use the break."

A new waiter brought the wine and quietly poured two glasses for the couple and then set the bottle down on the table before leaving just as quietly. Riley sighed deeply and took a long sip of the wine. "I desperately need the break. I talked to David about going somewhere once the Bishop/Delahada cases are done. He's in."

"Oh?" He realized she was talking about the vacation they been planning with Mindy and Bones, before things...Changed. "That should be nice, then. I hope it's soon."

"God, me, too." She fell into silence then, sipping the wine, eyes moving over the few other diners who were present. He stroked the back of her hand lightly and watched her look around, then took a taste of his own wine. It was pretty good. Nice and quiet in the restaurant, too.

Mr Carito brought out their plates, piled with pappardelle noodles, and veal piccata fillets topped with capers and lemons. He set them down in front of Danny and Riley with a flourish, gently pinched Riley's cheek, and then disappeared. She smirked at the cheek pinch. "Why does he always do that?" she quietly asked Daniel.

He shrugged. "Maybe he thinks you're pretty. Which is true. Or maybe you remind him of his daughter or something. I don't really know, but it's cute, regardless." He looked down at the food and took a deep breath. It smelled like food of the gods. He was practically drooling already.

She chuckled and then dug in, famished. She groaned ecstatically after the first bite. "God. This is like...sex on a plate or something."

He'd been in the middle of forking a bite into his mouth, and only a heroic effort kept him from spraying it all over her. He coughed, choked, and swallowed it hurriedly, washing it down with a drink of wine. "Naughty," he said, when he'd recovered enough to speak.

She grinned and plowed through her meal. The silence was comfortable between them - they'd long since passed the point where they talked to fill the awkward silences. It was always a pleasure watching her eat. She enjoyed it so much. It was one of the main reasons he liked cooking for her so much. Not that he wasn't eating, either. His food was disappearing with only slightly less alacrity than hers. Riley did nothing by halves, and soon her plate was as clean as it could be barring her picking it up and licking it...which was a distinct possibility with the way she was eyeing it.

A moment or two later, and he was done, as well. "Well," he said, "That was brilliant. Remind me to compliment Mr. Carito when he comes back. Got room for some dessert?"

"Only if he has zabaglione and berries." She eyed Danny's plate. There was three noodles left. They looked lonely. She reached out and stabbed then with her fork. They were gone in a flash.

He smirked as she nicked his remaining noodles. "You're his new favorite customer. I bet he'll make it for you." He turned and looked, hoping to catch a waiter's eye, or that of Mr. Carito himself, since he seemed to be so keen on serving them personally.

She glared at him, eyes tick-tocking back and forth between his face and the box. She reached out hesitantly. He laughed, taking pity on her. "Good ahead, woman. We can't have you blowing a gasket or something."

She grinned and snagged the box, lightning-fast. She drew it back it and cradled it against her chest. She opened it very carefully, almost as if it were going to bite her. He waited, watching her face to see what her reaction was.

"Ooh," she said when the box was finally open. Inside, nestled on a bed of dark blue velvet, was a beautiful silvery-coloured cuff bracelet. She touched it gently, stroking the curve of it before she took it out and looked closer. "Are those...lotuses?"

"They are indeed," he said, smiling broadly. "Go on, try it on." He was as excited as she was, even if he didn't show it quite so openly. She grinned and slipped it on, holding her arm out so the candlelight caught it. "It's so pretty, Danny. Thank you."

"Do you really like it?" It looked great on her, at least in his opinion. Although that honestly didn't mean too much. Sackcloth and ashes would look great on her, too, in his opinion.

She stood up and went around the table to him. She hugged him tightly and then kissed him softly. "I love it. It's gorgeous."

"Mmm," he said against her lips. "Good. There's more," he said quietly after reluctantly breaking the kiss.

"More? More presents?" She was shocked, honestly. She was unused to receiving presents unless it was her birthday. She returned to her seat and leaned forward, her elbows propped on the table, face cradled in her palms. "Are you sure today's not like our three-month anniversary or something?"

"No, it's not. Still a couple weeks left before that," he said, reaching into the bag and pulling out the smaller wooden box. "I just thought this was fitting," he continued, shrugging a bit as he slid it across the table to her.

Her brows rose as she scooped up the second box and opened it. Inside was a simple, silver-coloured ring, with some words carved into it. She peered at the words and read them carefully. " 'Anam Cara'?" She glanced up at him. "Is that Hindi?"

He chuckled. "No, it's Irish Gaelic, actually."

"Irish? Really? What's it mean?" She plucked the ring out of the box and slid it onto the middle finger of her left hand. It was a perfect fit.

"Look on the inside," he said, smiling when he saw how well it fit.

She slid it back off and looked inside. "Oh. 'Soul friend'." She glanced up at him and smiled softly. "It's beautiful," she said, in a voice barely above a whisper. She put the ring back on her finger and then got up again, moving around the table to slide into his lap. She twined her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. "I love you," she whispered against his lips.

He rested his hands lightly on her sides and returned the gentle kiss. "You're beautiful," he whispered, "and I love you." He didn't care one bit if the few remaining patrons stared, he just kissed her some more.

Mr Carito's looming presence appeared above them. He laughed, a great big booming sound that filled the small, intimate room. "The piccata has done it again, Sophia," he said to his wife, head chef of the restaurant.

He glanced up at the immense form of their host, and couldn't help but laugh. "Happens a lot, eh?"

"It is an aphrodisiac, signore Daniel." A huge, ham-sized fist came down and clapped the Leopard gently on the shoulder. "I am glad to see it working for La Bella Donna and you. Let me buy you dinner so that you make go home and enjoy the moonlight." He winked conspiratorially at them both.

"Oh, no," he said. "I couldn't ask you to do that, Mr. Carito."

"It is no trouble, signore Daniel. In fact, it is done." He made shooing motions with his hands. "Go home. Love each other. Enjoy the moonlight. But come back again soon! I love to see you! Arrivederci, bellissimi bambini!"

Well, if he insisted. "Thank you, then. Come by the Bodhi Tree sometime, and let me return the favor to you and your lovely wife." He stood reaching to shake the man's hand again.

Riley stepped into Mr Carito and hugged him tightly and then kissed each of his cheeks. "Mille grazie, Signore Carito." The man in question beamed at Riley's Italian and shooed them out of the doors, into the suddenly cool weather. Rain was pissing down and the skies were split by lightning, thunder rolling over the city.

Daniel glanced up at the sky in surprise. "Where did this all come from?"

"The stupid, schizophrenic weather gods." They were huddled under the awning above the restaurant's front door and windows. "We should run. This is a new dress and I can't bill anyone if it gets ruined."

"I could just go find you a coat," he offered.

"Coats are no fun. Running, on the other hand, is a lot of fun. Shall we?"

"When you put it that way...yes, let's." And without another word, he broke into run in the direction of the WestEnd.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-set/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFlJ2ZmRZckY3M3hHbXFCYTQyWUtOTlEAAAACaWQKAWUAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg