It was well before breakfast, the sun hadn't broke through the pre-dawn yet. Jen had been awake for only a little bit as she hurried from her morning bath. She was careful though, she had learned the lesson about wet feet on tile once or twice with a smack of her butt to the floor. That was not so hot on one that liked to wear the smallest shorts possible.

She was mindful of everyone sleeping as the music her room played big band as the lowest level. Not even the super ears of Rae would hear it. A slide and shimmy later she was dressed in her black mini shorts and hunting halter. Sure these where for night, but she didn't plan on coming back in the house at all today. She had plans.

She stopped and posed in front of the mirror, the secret ways girls did, turning every which way looking for every flaw or blemish. The black looked good against her heavy sun kissed skin and set off the flame red of her hair. Scathach would be proud. As the young and vibrant girl in the mirror looked back at Jenai, she wondered who that was. It was too hard to put into words... it didn't look like the sweet field flower Jen, but a sweet fire rose instead.

She pulled up her hair high into a massive pony tail of red, and the bedside lamp light sparkled on the golden disks hanging from her earlobes. No one ever really saw her earrings... but then, she never had a real reason to wear them. This was her first date, ever, she wanted to look special. Thats what everyone does right? Rationalizing?

At the end of "sleep walk" was the perfect cue, she picked up a bundle under her arms and snapped off the radio. Quietly she opened her door and looked both ways down the hall before she slipped out. She wasn't doing anything wrong! So why was she feeling like she was sneaking out of the house? She just didn't like waking the others up. Rationalizing again?

Brian arrived at the Sanctuary a bit late in the evening. His impromptu patrol with Eddie had gone a bit long in the tooth, then again exacting ass whup in the name is justice sometimes did that. So quietly, Brian made his way inside and headed straight to his room. All was quite, as he crept the halls and slipped inside. His gear taken off, and a fresh change of shorts found and then it was off to bathe.

The bath felt heavenly, there was no other way to truly describe it. It was a nice end to wonderful day. Letting himself soak a bit, Brian dipped back and pondered the events of the day, and smiled to himself. The last month had been a rough one, but a day like the one he had was more than enough to forget about that rough patch. So the soaking, and relaxing commenced for a bit.

Finishing up, he dried off and slid on his shorts, gathered his clothing and crept into his room once more. That cold tile was something else on his feet, and caused him to creep a bit faster than usual. After tossing his old clothing in the laundry hamper, he took a moment and looked in the mirror a bit. It had been a while since he had looked at himself with his hair down, and in truth he felt a bit vain in doing so, as his hand slid through his dark locks a bit. Thinking of the past day he smiled, while he looked in the mirror and had to laugh at himself a bit. He truly wondered if he looked that sappy, as he watched her at times. Shaking his head a bit, he moved from the mirror and inspected his closet and looked over his clothing.

His mind raced a bit, as he pondered randomly about water melons, hammocks, fireworks and star gazing. He wanted something for the summer, yet something that stood out, and was not his usual attire. After all one couldn't very well wear armani when they lay out in a hammock and eat watermelon, but one had to look good in any event. It had been a good while since Brian was so concerned with how he looked, and in truth it made him a bit nervous.

After a laugh at himself for some courage he continued, and selected a nice pair of pressed khaki shorts, a light coloured polo shirt, and some very comfortable, yet nice looking leather docker shoes. Very out of sorts for him, but nice enough to look good and enjoy the weather. So that done, he grinned to his two hundred pound Moor Cat, Jean-Luc a moment.

"Well, this is as good as it gets, buddy."

The Moor Cat responded with a lazy yawn and a smack of his mouth as he crept into a corner, and as Brian cut off the lights, faded out of view. The only evidence left, were his golden eyes which also faded as he into the darkness. Laying in bed, Brian simply stared at the ceiling and waited to fall alseep. But that was far easier said than done as he couldn't do it. His thoughts were on what was going to be a day he hoped to not forget for a long time to come. Yet again he thought to himself, how long it had truly been since he felt like this. Nervous, yet eager. She was a nice person, and was a true joy to be with. He found himself staring when he shouldn't have been, and of course the plate comment was hilarious, and uncalled for, still it was what it was. Evetually, sleep came. And then...

"Brian?"

His eyes opened instantly, as the soft voice woke him from whatever slumber he was in. A tremble down his spine a moment, as he laid still pondering if it was a sweet dream. The he heard the door click. Still he remained as he was, laying in his side as still as the dead.

"Brian. It's Jenai...."

He blinked a moment, then heard her approach. Such a featherlight grace to her steps, as she made her way. He smiled a bit to himself, and pondered how to play this. His senses ran wild, as he felt a hand near him, and then draw back. He had told her, it was alright to wake him for anything, and said his door was always open to her and that was in fact the truth, she could and it was, and here they were. He heard silence a moment, and figured a response was in order. His voice soft, as he held back a bit of the excitement he felt.

"G'morning, Jenai.. If this is a dream I don't wanna wake up. Unless, this isn't a dream and we can start our day."

A soft chuckle escaped his lips, as he turned to face her. His eyes settling upon the sight before him, even in the darkness she was a sight to behold, and instantly he was awake and ready to head out.

"Guess I need to get dressed, eh?"

That smile of hers... Enough to to simply shut him up.. It was something he couldn't quite put to words, but liked a great deal none the less. His eyes adjusting more so, as he found himself almost staring once more at her. Then her words brought him back to the present matter at hand.

"If you don't want to keep the melon man waiting too long, I guess you could get dressed."

If she only knew what the sound of her voice felt like upon his ears.. He nodded silently a moment, as he still was staring a bit hoping the darkness would cover for him. Then once more she spoke with but a whisper.

"But no rush. None of the others are up yet, and besides... I took care of breakfast already."

Yup the whisper did it. He was that close from not wanting to wake in hope this was in fact a dream among dreams, yet he also wanted to ask if she could pinch him to prove in fact this was reality and she was truly there in front of him in all her Jentacularness. (Yes folks, a new word. Learn it!)
Still he found himself watching her.. More and more her visage became more clear to his eyes, and caused him to smile more so.

Then she moved foward, and in reply he simply blinked. This was one of those deer int eh head light deals folks, and even quick than a quick kill he felt it.. The faintest of lips to his cheek. To quote a most valiant Colonial Marine... "Game over".

"see you outside."

Brian blinked a few times.. If this had been an attempt on his life he would have been dead long before the strike, but that didn't matter, he felt it! He had proof this was in fact no dream, but reality! Yet he could not say anything.. No... Wait.. Come back, please? Wow... All that ran through his mind, yet the feel of her lips against his cheek stunned him to silence. Then she slipped out of the room...

Brian waited a moment, and looked to the corner. Jean's eyes could be seen, and yet no reaction from the large cat, who no doubt sensed his master was indeed an idiot to some degree. Brian waited a bit longer, and lifted his hand to his cheek and simply sighed a moment. He rose from bed, and turned on the light and looked to the mirror a moment. The dazed look still upon his face a bit, as he grinned and went to the closet, letting out a light yell of some kind, whatever it was it sounded very joyful.

Washing his face and brushing his chompers, he then went to the closet once more. Dressing was no problem, a bit of primping never hurt either, I mean he did have the hair for it. A quick check of his shorts, and polo, and he even went as far as to dig out a small gold hoop earring and set it on. This time Ren's charm was left behind. Clothing check was good, hair check was good, as he tied it back into a low pony tail. Yet he still felt like he was all of seventeen or so, and what an interesting feeling it was. Then he was door bound, and through the hall. Out towards the back, as he followed her directions towards the hidden part of the garden, and more importantly... Jenai.

Slowly, Brian made his way outside, and followed the directions to the hidden part of the garden, as Jenai had instructed. His steps slow and cautious as he carefully made his way along. His blues darting back and forth to hopefully not be seen. While it was dead quite all around him, it was a much different matter inside him. His heart was indeed racing, and it seemed loud enough he was worried he might alert someone to his presence based on that alone.

The incredible sight of a newly dawned sky caused him to pause a moment, he marveled as just how much more golden the sky truly seemed this morning, opposed to others.. Of course that may have been because of something else entirely. He continued on, his walk slow yet again, while he yet again thought back to Jenai.

Thoughts of the last few days came to mind, the talks they shared.. The laughter and fun, the glances and sometime stares. As he pondered more so, a nervousness became apparent in the pit of his stomach. He had to pause once more and shake his head to attempt to regain himself.. He could not believe after all this time, after all that had happened, that he could feel this way once more. Yet here he was, there she waited and nervousness was indeed what he truly felt. Once more he moved, swearing it took an eternity to clear the garden and near that hidden locale.

Pausing yet again, and much to his own frustration mind you, Brian sighed softly, and took one more look around. He made sure to remind himself, this was not some sordid dealing, or some back alley meet with a brigand, this was Jenai.. Someone he indeed was used to, and was fond of.. Someone who.. Well, who had just given him a wake up he would be hard pressed to ever forget. Yup.. Just like that, that nervousness kicked in. Part of Bri told him to run and never come back, and somehow his feet wanted to as well. Still, the rest of him fought tooth and nail and the battle was quite evident if one could see the face of the normally collected Ravenlock. In the end, he remained and step by step and nervous as a seventeen year old on a first date, Brian rounded the stone and made his way towards the hammock spot.

"Stop shaking knucklehead."

That is what he heard, as he paused and looked ahead and saw Jenai rocking back and forth looking simply amazing, the glow of the sun adding to her already stunning features.. He found himself staring once more, and the nervousness subsiding.

"He's not gonna bite you. Just no Jen isms girl!"

That brought him right back, as he found himself watching her closely, and smiled to himself. While he didn't want to bite her, the comment was understandable and was something he could relate to more than she ever knew. And while Brian had no idea what a Jen ism was, he sure knew what a Bri-moment was, and figured they might be similar in some way, and reassured himself not to have a Brian moment like on some days prior. Watch what ya say, manners... And gods do NOT let me fall out of that hammock and or make an ass out of myself. Let us just enjoy each other's company and have a great time. Please, Por favor, Onegai, S'il vous plait, and any other language I do not know. That is what ran through his mind, and quite the mantra indeed.

Brian watched her lay back, arms extended and smiled to himself once more, his nervousness still present a bit, as he moved forward and heard the exasperated moan, and chuckled inside a moment, and noticed her eyes closed. Deftly and quietly, he slid off his shoes and crept closer to her.. Closer.. It was like he had no nervousness at all, but in truth he did.. Still he continued closer and closer... Until he was just near enough to lean over the edge of the hammock somewhat inverted, and her arm and in a bold move plant a soft near upside down kiss upon her cheek, and softly spoke as he rightened himself once more and moved back a bit, while at the same time praying he wouldn't get pummeled to death by her. A warm smile on his face, his eyes full of promise.

"I see you outside.."