The Union RPG

he looked into his glass, "because I wanted you to have a chance to talk to him while he was still..." he raised his eyes to hers, "himself."

"Thank you," she said quietly. "Diana's not going to let him live, is she?" She asked, looking him in the eye

"Diana is..." he sighed setting his glass down, "she is on a power trip and thinks she can do whatever she pleases and I think Xander is just sort of caught in her cross fire at this point."

Brit looked down at her glass. "I can't help but feel that part of this is my fault. Diana hates me, I don't know why but she does. She's just using Xander to hurt me."

"Its not your fault," he said shaking his head, "Its juts Diana...she is...hard to explain."

Brit looked up at him. "Are you and her...close?" She asked cautiously, even though she knew it was none of her busness.

"No," he said with a chuckle, "not at all."

Brit smiled. "Good, I mean she doesn't seem like the type of person you'd be close to...not that I care." She gulped down the rest of her wine. "Want more wine?" She asked, reaching for the bottle, hoping to cover her embarresment.

she was amusing,"yeah no I'm pretty sure she is the last person I would ever get close to." he took another drink, " you and Xander though..."

Brit slowly refilled her glass. "He left," her eyes returned to his. "He can't be trusted."

he bit his bottom lip resting on her arm in front of him on the table, "I see your point but...that doesn't realy change much does it?"

"Doesn't it?" She asked. "Loren, if there's something you want to know, just ask."

He shook his head, "no its your birthday " and with that he pulled out a little box and put it on the table. "i wasnt sure what to get you."

"You didn't have to get me anything," she said, looking at the little box. "What is it?"

"I know but I wanted to. its not much...I wasn't sure what you would like," the little box contained a simple but well crafted watch with a silver rim and a real leather band. the band had more ornate detailing on it looking like an Irish knot was braided into it. on the inside of the band there was an inscription and it read, 'To a friend, may you never loose hope and always find your way.' There was also a little note in the box with this Irish blessing, "May you have:
A world of wishes at your command. God and his angels close to hand. Friends and family their love impart, and Irish blessings in your heart!

"Its beautiful," she said as she took the watch out of the box. "Thank you. Can you help me put it on?"

he reached across the table fastening the dainty buckle around her wrist, "I know you have Irish decent in your family and since...I thought you might like something of home."

She looked at the watch for a moment, tracing the pattern with her finger. "Loren, there's something I need to ask you and I need you to tell me the truth." She looked up at him. "Did Diana kill my parents?"

he leaned back in his chair his eyes fixed on hers, "who told you that?"

"Xander, and I know what you're going to say, that he's a traitor and he was jus trying to get to me. But he wouldn't lie to me, not about this," she said.

Loren shook his head, "I wasn't going to say that at all. Yes Xander betrayed us and left everything behind and saddled you with the responsibility of finishing his project but I'm not sure I would go so far as calling him a traitor." he hoped that would change the subject enough that she would drop it. but knowing her...she probably wouldn't

"I would, he betrayed us." She leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "But you didn't answer my question."

"That kiss would say otherwise." he said still avoiding the question. if she pressed again he would tell her but he didn't want to. not today

"He asked me to kiss him, it was his last request, I guess." She shrugged. "It didn't seem like a big deal, I'll never see him again."

he raised an eyebrow, "I see."

"What's the look for?" She asked, taking another sip of her wine. "Don't you believe me?"

the pictures had looked like more, "I believe you." he said after a moment of thought. and right then dinner was brought over. it was a wonderful meal of filet mignon, green beans, salad, and mashed potatoes.

"That was fantastic," brit said after she finished her meal. She wanted to ask him about her parents again, it was obvious he knew something but she didn't want to push

he was glad that the food had distracted her so thoroughly, "I'm glad you liked it."

"Nicholas is going to meet us at the bar for drink," she said, realizing that she had forgotten to tell Loren he was coming.

"oh," he was a tad disappointed but not surprised, "what time should we meet him?"

"Ten. You don't have to look so sad, he's a nice guy," she said. "You'll like him once you get to know him."

his lips turned up into a smile but it didn't go anywhere near the ballpark of having a happy emotion behind it, "I'm sure I will. would you like desert or are you full?"

"What's wrong?" She asked, ignoring his question. "I've known you long enough to know when your faking a smile."

this made him chuckle, "nothing...just...don't like sharing you I guess."

"Jealous that he gets to spend all day with me," she teased, smiling

"perhaps," he said a coy grin on his face

She laughed, shaking her head. "You'd get tired of me, I can be very boring."

"Not sure...haven't bored me yet."

"Well the night is still young," she joked. "So, should we get dessert or go for a walk before we meet Nicolas?"