Knee Deep

[Lucien Holt]

A little over a year had passed since the Hayes couple had discussed taking a belated honeymoon, finally having found time to do so. Liam and Kelly were nearly six months old, and Bridget and Elliot had convinced the pair that their parenting job could be put on hold for a few weeks so they could take some much-needed time for themselves. It was with a massive amount of trepidation that the two had left the house and boarded their plane to Greece. Little coaxing had been needed to convince Mr. Hayes that his wife had chosen a brilliant location - though he had wondered at first if the idea had come from the Ivanovs' trip the year before.

Upon landing in Athens, Keiran found himself glad of the Greek Avery had taught him before leaving, catching words here and there and being able to read signs in the airports that hadn't been translated for them. Not long after, they had boarded a much smaller plane on their way to Santorini, a small island between the coast of the mainland and Crete, where they would be spending the first part of their trip. The trip was only a forty-minute one, but Keiran certainly couldn't find reason to complain when he had his arm around Melissa as they leaned towards the window to take in the teals and blues of the water mixing with the whitecaps as they broke against small islands or against themselves.

It wasn't until Millie looked over at him and grinned that it really set into his mind: they had all of this time for themselves, and could do whatever they pleased. Melissa was eighteen, a weird thing to think about sometimes, and though Greece didn't have any sort of drinking age (not that he or Millie had ever really cared about that sort of thing) he felt a little less strange about taking her across Europe without having spoken to her mother about it. At least Elliot hadn't put up any argument against it - well, not that Keiran heard about anyway. Maybe Millie had covered it up. Either way, they were finally on a trip together and knew that their twins were in safe hands.

Rather than traveling in the summer, when most people would choose to take vacation, the Hayes had opted to take a February trip and avoid both the heat and the majority of the tourists. Getting through the small airport took no time at all, and before Keiran knew it, he and his wife were pulling up to a small marketplace a little ways from the house they had rented for their stay on the island. Taking their bags, he left Millie with her hands free so she could focus on the surroundings. He found that he was far more interested in focusing on her and her reaction to everything they encountered.

Donkeys were being led up the street as their driver opened a gate and led them down a winding path towards the cave house, which was built into the side of the island after the volcano had torn through the center and left the falling cliffs that they walked down. The buildings glowed white against the blue roofs as the sun sliced through the air and bounced off of them. It almost make Keiran's eyes sting, but the excitement of being there overruled any discomfort he felt.

At the bottom of the pathway, Keiran waited for the door to be unlocked so he could set the bags down in the main room. Unpacking could be done later, after they had taken in the view and taken some time to settle in. The driver handed Keiran the key and left, leaving them to each other and the place.

Stepping out onto the deck, he stuffed his hands in his pockets, staring out at the top of the volcano where it sat on the water, the island arcing around it in a crescent. It was certainly a sight he could put up with seeing every morning. From the kitchen, he was certain they could see the sunrise as they ate breakfast. With their schedule being essentially the same as home - only having lost an hour - Keiran would have to set an alarm and convince her to get up in time to see it.

Glancing over his shoulder, he searched out his wife, finding her in front of the house. Her blonde hair was glinting in the sunlight and Keiran couldn't seem to keep the grin off of his face. Offering a hand, he gestured for her to join him on the far side of the deck. "Missie. C'mere, love."

Although he was already wondering after Liam and Kelly, Keiran had no doubt that Bridget and Elliot had everything covered; it wasn't the first time they had been asked to look after the twins. Instead of thinking about it, he resolved to instead take in at least the first few minutes as a man who finally had been graced with a trip with his wife. In truth, it was exactly how he felt. He would just have to remind both of them about it when they got to worrying.

[Melissa Finnigan]

The preceding twelve months had rumbled by on a whirlwind, throwing up a mess of miniature clothes, even tinier socks and all of the other bits of regalia that a child, let alone two, demanded from the frazzled adults that fretted after his (and her) eager footfalls. In between chasing after her children who had, seemingly as soon as they’d mastered sitting up, went after the mischief that could only be reached on their hands and knees, Millie had slowly but surely working up to doing a handful of Muggle qualifications that would, somehow, make up for the dismal O.W.L results and abandonment of her N.E.W.T exams in light of entering motherhood. It was all coming together quite nicely and in the February break between the half terms, it was decided that, finally, the Hayes’ would finally get round to having some semblance of a honeymoon or, at least, a few weeks to themselves to breathe.

When the idea was finally proposed, or insisted upon by Bridget and Elliot who more or less threw Kieran and Millie out of their own home, the young woman had all but forgotten about the ideas that she’d thrown out to Kieran a Christmas ago that now felt as though it had transpired a lifetime ago. Jamaica no longer held the appeal and while Millie had been traipsing around England and Ireland for the sake of her qualifications, she hadn’t actually left the United Kingdom for good. She didn’t want to be so far away, either, that it would take longer than a few moments to Apparate back to the sides of her children if the situation called upon that to become necessary. Thus, remembering, Greece was suggested. Then, all of a sudden, there they were packed and ready to go.

At some point between getting up early in the cold and the damp of the winter morning, between arriving at the airport and boarding the plane, Millie gave up the ghost and fell asleep on her husband’s shoulder, a night of the children being less than agreeable – seemingly sensing their parents’ inevitable disappearance – having left her exhausted. When she finally came round it was to the smell of a barely edible breakfast which reluctantly went down and stayed where it was. From then on in, as though she’d barely been out for the count, Millie was an excitable bubble of energy, a child herself again, as she peered out of the window and complained brightly about the plane not really having much leg room.

The world that had enveloped them so steadily was almost laughably bizarre. Kieran was, inexplicably, still her husband. She had found herself a calling in arranging flowers, much to Elliot’s delight and amusement, and they had two beautiful children who, as the all-knowing Lucius-cat had asserted, were the prettiest of all of their contemporaries. Millie was loathe to leave them too, unsure about what it meant to be without her babies. Actually packing clothes that she would have lived in a year ago was the strangest part, let alone putting them on. Whether it was right or wrong, since having found herself a mother at eighteen, she hadn’t exactly thought about trying to maintain a sense of style. T-shirts and jeans had been the options available and track trousers above all were what she preferred. Shorts made her feel naked.

Then, they were there. A million (slightly hyperbolic but that was how it felt) miles away from their children, in a world so very much unlike their own. Sunshine seemed to cover every surface unlike the sheen of rain that seemed to perpetuate the wintertime home in Ireland. The air was sweet and crisp, salty and smooth as well. Everything seemed clear and clean and in every nook it felt as though there was an adventure waiting for them.

Millie, caught up with examining every piece of the world she now found herself in, didn’t even notice Kieran had left her side until he returned. She turned, a smile lighting up her face as she set her eyes on him. Millie followed him out onto the deck and her mouth fell agog at the sight of the water spread out before them, shining onto the horizon.

“Hello, love,” Millie greeted playfully, kissing Kieran softly as she laced her fingers with his. “You look bizarrely familiar. Do I know you? Would you happen to be my husband?”

Though she didn’t regret it, she knew it had been weeks, if not months, since they’d had a real moment to themselves. There was always a crash or a bang or a squeal or a cry demanding their attention and in between that, Kieran had to work, Elliot needed Millie to do the same and in there somewhere she still found the time to do all of her assignments. There hadn’t been nearly enough time for them to just be, well, them and while she didn’t think it had made a huge impact on their relationship, Millie knew she’d enjoy the holiday – even if they did nothing, as long as she was with Kieran she didn’t care.

[Lucien Holt]

The deck, though filled out with furniture from a dining table and chairs to a small pool sized for a few people to lounge around, was immediately improved by Millie’s presence. Or he thought so at least. Then again, anyone who could claim her as their wife should have felt that way; Keiran would have told them off if they hadn’t. To make the trip even more important (if not a little cheesy), they would be in the country for Valentines. That was certainly something he had to think about and prepare for. He wouldn’t forgive him self if he messed it up – not after everything that had gone wrong at their wedding and at the beginning of their marriage. No, this trip was incredibly important and couldn’t be messed up.

Her fingers slipped between his allowing him to tug her towards him gently as she spoke. Keiran pretended to think over her question, furrowing his brow as if he were deep in thought. “You know, I think I might be. But that question may call for further investigation.”

Grinning at his own reply, he wrapped his arms around her as his hands released hers, leaning down to claim her lips for what felt like the first time in forever. It wasn’t true, of course, but the freedom they were allowed certainly made it feel different.

Keiran could admit to his being slightly nervous about the trip, as after all that time he was still overly protective of her. It didn’t matter that Millie was no longer pregnant, or that he wasn’t getting in trouble for his school and trying to keep her from the danger of it all (not that she listened). They were in a country and a place they didn’t quite understand, going about for the first time and trying to make sense of things. If she had any idea that he would let her out of his sight, she was mad.

As if to prove his point, he bent his knees to sink enough to pick her up, and holding her to him, he moved them inside the house. Although it was not exactly carrying her over the threshold or anything, the action still felt somehow necessary. He pulled away to set her down, eyes dancing over her face.

“So!” Keiran began, hands falling away from her sides as he moved their bags into the bedroom – although it all sort of merged together into one room, aside from the bathroom. “Mission for today is what exactly? Find the best food place in the town? Take the bus into the main city? Or head over to the ruins? I hear the story is fantastic.” Glancing at Millie over his shoulder, Keiran turned and fell onto the end of the bed and watched for her reaction.

[Melissa Finnigan]

“I don’t know who you are,” Millie crowed playfully as she bumped hips with her husband, falling against him with a dopey smile on her face. “It is a mystery to me! You look familiar tho-”

When Kieran’s mouth covered her own, Melissa Hayes actually shut up. For a few moments she was completely and utterly his, jelly against him. She responded to the kiss with equal, electric fervour and her hands crawled up from his to grip onto the back of his neck for what seemed like dear life. This was for her husband but for a few months now they could have been anybody to each other. Strangers, even. But that kiss had woken her up from what felt like a blessed but slightly isolated dream and she couldn’t bear to go back to it without at least knowing, for a few days at worst, the man she had come to love as intimately as she had done before their children had tugged them off of their cloud and brought them down to their screaming, cabbage averting reality.

“Mmmmmm….” She licked her lips when they parted ways and quirked open an eye as a smile took her mouth upwards. “I think I remember you, Mr Hayes.” She bobbed a kiss onto his nose and would have been content to just stand and stare at him forever on that deck, until time itself snuffed out its last flare. Their holiday, it seemed, would not be without activity, however, and suddenly she was up and in his arms as though she was feather light again and not still a little bit mummified in the non-preservative sense. She’d lost her pregnancy weight, the majority of it at least. All of it bar a little bit had gone and that little bit was what actually kept her at a healthy weight, not slightly almost scarily underweight like she had been beforehand.

When Millie found her feet again she happily followed Kieran into what would be their bedroom. It was sparsely furnished, their little nook in the middle of the ocean and it was, truly, all she needed. She sheets were clean and smelt faintly of something aromatic. The rooms were bright and swept clear of any dust, dirt and lint. There were paintings on the walls, vases of wild flowers in the kitchen and it seemed as though only happiness could be found upon the island – there was no room for toil, abject misery or hardship.

Millie had used her college’s library to research their little island and had found a wealth of materials that depicted what had happened to the people that had lived there so long ago. The idea of seeing what was left was a terrifying prospect for her. Despite trawling through images and books it had never quite seemed real. Ruins always contained bits of pot, paintings and occasionally even textiles and often tools and other bits of workable metal. Ruins contained life. It was a slightly scary prospect to fully face that reality.

“Do you know how far away the ruins are from here?” She inquired brightly, taking her hair from the plait she’d put it in before beginning to travel earlier that day, beginning to comb it through with her fingers.

“Would it be better to find something to eat this afternoon and this evening, maybe get some swimming in and explore tomorrow or do you reckon we’ll have the time?” She bit her lip, straightening up for a moment, rolling her hairband between her fingers.

[Lucien Holt]

(OOC: Blech. This is lame. Sorry.)


Millie’s snark and sarcasm was something that Keiran knew quite well, so any lines she tossed his way were taken easily. After everything they had gone through – both at the beginning of their time together as well as her pregnancy and learning to be parents somewhere along the way – he had a feeling that he could bear most anything she tossed his way. Or he hoped so, at least. The idea that something could happen that would take her from him was a painful one.

Pushing the thought away completely, he watched as she toyed with her hair. “Perhaps we should wait,” he shrugged, extending a hand to pull her towards him. “The ruins are on the other end of the island, so it would take a good while to get there.”

Keiran’s eyes flicked over her face, memorizing the way it looked with the background it was given – an open door and window showing their deck and the bit of volcano sticking out of the nearly-teal water. His free hand came up to brush her cheek, the thumb tugging gently on her chin in an attempt to make her release the lip she was worrying.

“Love, if you keep doing that we won’t ever leave this house.” He warned gently, his heart not really in it. Keiran couldn’t have cared less if they stayed in the entire time. He wasn't entirely sure, but Keiran thought his voice had dropped a few notches, clearly betraying his intent and what he knew could be called possessiveness.

Sure, beaches sounded lovely, and he was certain Millie would adore being out and having some semblance of an adventure. But that didn’t mean that he really liked the idea of taking her out and about when there were undoubtedly other men around. No, indeed, he was not a man who liked the idea of sharing.

“But yes,” he added, finally answering her question after his warning had filled the air for a moment. “It might be wiser to stick around in Oia today, then travel to the other towns in the morning. We’ve got buckets of time to see everything, besides.”

[Melissa Finnigan]

Her husband had a tell. It was a terrible one, too. It was a certain giveaway that time had enabled Melissa to pick out from a mile away. His eyelids seemed to lower, his pupils saturating his gaze with darkness as his eyelashes seemed to inexplicably thicken, adding to the smokiness that he suddenly seemed to emit. His guidance would be stronger, his hands guiding her with a little more force than which he would have done usually. His heart would quicken and his breathing would rise, changing the way his voice met the air. Thus, Millie knew exactly what her husband wanted regardless of whether he did or not. Oftentimes, she became aware sooner than him. That was why, when she found herself before him at his volition, Millie had a feeling before he even sought to articulate the fact that they wouldn’t be heading anywhere near the ruins that afternoon. They would perhaps be lucky if they made it out for dinner. Millie didn’t find that she cared, regardless.

“But I so wanted to go,” Millie complained, smoothly lowering herself down into Kieran’s lap, her hands coming to settle on his shoulders. A little smirk found her lips as they in turn sought his jawline and as they peppered their familiar path along it, Millie realised with a start that she really hadn’t had the heart in it to go anywhere. Travel would never sit well with her regardless of how long she slept. Any amount of activity that would take place beyond the bed that Kieran was now seated on was an act to strenuous to bear contemplating. It was there that they were destined to stay for at least until their stomachs turned to rumbling and the intention was to go and find sustenance.

Millie was after a different sustenance, however – one that didn’t include any particular kind of exotic cuisine unless the Irishman counted as exotic. Millie’s hands found the hem of her shirt and she lifted it from her head, discarding it somewhere across the room as her eyes looped around Kieran’s neck, her fingers curling into his hair. Once her lips raked over his, the end was nigh and their day was set. Clothes were shed and the sun drifted on by as noise from their little villa rose, fluttering out the windows only to go unheard, thankfully, by passers-by. Time was finally stolen for themselves with no interference or need for their presence. They could just have each other, finally.

[Lucien Holt]

It wasn’t until Keiran watched her step closer and sink to his eye-level that he realized that any attempt at discovering the town or finding a beach wouldn’t be done. At least not that day. Besides, airplanes almost assuredly made him tired, so he always had a backup excuse handy. Sure, he had perhaps hoped that a good amount of time would be spent indoors – he had confided, once, that he would likely turn into a bit of a lobster at the first sign of real sunlight. Then again, hiding from the sun wasn’t the only reason to stay inside.

“Missie,” he started finally, glancing over at her where she had curled herself around a pillow. A hand extended to brush her hair out of her eyes as he continued. “We’ve got to get some food into you.” Ever since she had found out she was expecting Liam and Kelly, Keiran had been careful to make sure she hadn’t worried about the inevitable gain that came along with it. She had been fair lighter than she should’ve been when he first met her and Keiran wasn’t about to let her fall into that again.

“I’d be willing to bet there’s a good place that looks over the water,” he pointed out, tone cool and nearly singsong in an attempt to ease her out of bed and into the world of the Greek Island he had heard so much about. A kiss on her nose later, he had pushed back sheets in search of his bits of fabric, which had been tossed previously.

As ever, his wife seemed reluctant to abandon the pillow she was cuddling to spend time with her husband. Apparently this included when food was within reach. Gathering up her things, he tossed them onto the bed with one hand, the other reaching over to steal the pillow away. “C’mon then. I’ll go by myself if you don’t get moving, nipper.” Chuckling to himself, he sat on the edge, pillow between his hands and his knees. “Or, you know, I can just sleep on that couch thing in the living room instead, if you’re so in love with the bed already.”

Dropping the pillow back onto the sheets next to her, Keiran stood and started gathering up things like his wallet and a jacket – it was said to get almost like a desert on the island. Freezing at night but pleasantly warm during the day, even for February. Stuffing that into his back pocket, he glanced at her with an amused smile playing across his face.

[Melissa Finnigan]

“Missie,”

The said Missie cracked half an eye open at the sound of her husband’s voice and a smile roved across her lips as she turned away from him, flopping her body onto its other side as she snuggled down that bit deeper into the achingly soft mattress that the bed supported. The thin sheets covered her body, giving it the little bit of protection from the cooling breeze that she needed, and there she laid in the afternoon light, her hair splayed across her features, tickling at her nose as she slept on, drifting in and out of dreamland and wakefulness, electing to masquerade somewhere in the middle.

The idea of food was not nearly as exciting as one would think. She would have quite happily preferred to languish in her pit for as long as the twilight hours persisted. A rumbly tummy rejected her desire to sleep, however, but despite the indicator that she would eventually relent and follow, Millie wriggled out from under Kieran’s hand, snuggling further into the pillow. She smiled to herself and sighed happily, twisting her legs around the sheets, letting them fall down around the base of her spine where the wings of her tattoo still lapped happily to their own delight.

“Oof!” Millie’s head hit the mattress and her eyes burst open, the dark blue irises darting around in search of her offending husband who knew not the meaning of tact nor the tell that suggested his wife was perfectly happy for a round two or a round three as long as it meant she could snooze and didn’t get out of bed. He was missing out on what was most assuredly going to be happiness in favour for food. If he’d possessed a brain he would’ve gone out, got the food and come back but Millie had been summoned, seemingly. Her dolt of a husband, though, would not be forgiven for separating her from her pillow – thus, one of the other ones that didn’t smell as nice as the one she claimed was launched at his head.

“Piss off then,” she grumbled, clawing her pillow back under her head as she pulled up the sheets once more. She burrowed her face happily back into the pillow, into the smell that was ironically belonging to the man who was trying to rouse her and as if to prove her point she threw her arms and legs out this way and that – declaring that she wasn’t going to move at all come rain or come shine, food or otherwise.

But of course, the idea that he was just going to leave her began to play on Millie’s mind as she heard Kieran rummaging around for his things. It was not lost on her that, while he was a dolt, her husband was a good looking sod and that wasn’t lost on the rest of the female population either. As if the wedding ring wasn’t a tether enough, some women had selective height and as a spark of sudden, irrational jealousy roved through her, Millie shot up out of the bed, forgoing modesty as she launched herself across the room, pausing to plant an impromptu kiss on Kieran’s cheek before hurrying into the living room in search of her suitcase.

Soon enough, Millie became a clothed version of herself. A dress was sourced from her suitcase along with some underwear – always a helpful feature – and donned a pair of silver, strappy sandals. She took a few moments to curl her hair with her wand and then fixed a pair of studs into her ears. After brushing a little bit of make up onto her face, Millie fastened a necklace around her neck, the pendant of which crept into the crevice that her bust had made. Pregnancy had done wonders for her figure, bizarrely. Bridget’s meals had fed her up during those nine months and it seemed as though the habit the Hayes’ had gotten into – the Feed Missie Game – wasn’t going to be dropped just because she wasn’t a balloon anymore.

Millie brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and she smoothed out her dress with her hands before glancing round to look at Kieran, a smirk tugging at her lips. It was a record time, she inferred from the look on his face. She packed up her purse a moment or two later and looked at her husband pointedly, ready with an acid tongue to throw his words back at him as a quick retribution for waking her up.

“C’mon Kieran, I’ll have to go by myself and find a nice Greek man to buy me dinner if you don’t hurry up,” she waggled her eyebrows playfully, a grin rising on her features, and she laughed despite herself. “Stavros is waiting, my love. There’s some free lamb and a snog in it for me yet – you just wait.” She inclined her head wickedly and laughed before hurrying away, darting out of their little villa and out onto the paved street, crossing quickly in front of a cart rumbling by before catching herself on a lamppost that had already flickered into life. Another laugh escaped her chest and she spun herself around so that she was facing the open door once more, knowing that her husband would be grumbly and on his way – bless his heart.

[Lucien Holt]

Keiran wanted to pretend that he was surprised when Melissa refused to get out of bed, but it definitely was a recurring theme for her. Even regarding classes, he’d learned. Thus, when she snapped at him, he just frowned and didn’t bother replying. He couldn’t quite tell exactly why she got up, when she finally did, but he just glanced at her as she set a kiss on his cheek and moved away to get ready. Honestly, he grumbled to himself, why did she feel the need to get dressed up when it was just the two of them? He had seen her on her worst days, and she had done the same on his.

Frowning again, he settled onto one of the chairs in the main room to wait. An eyebrow lifted of its own accord when she bounded back into the room, clearly not expecting her so soon. He stood to join her, but her words made him stop in his leading her outside. Instead, he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and watched her dance across the street. It wasn't like she would be seeing anyone they knew, or anyone she needed to impress.

To say he was displeased would be an understatement. Keiran wasn’t sure exactly why it had gotten under his skin so much, but he supposed it probably had something to do with the fact that this was the first time they were truly alone in a good year. If not longer. Now, she was being stubborn and making him frustrated – and not in the way she usually managed to.

Maybe it was just the fact that he didn’t have other things to worry about – no school, no kids, just Millie. And here he was with all of the time he didn’t have before their trip to focus on her and she would rather sleep. Or dance about in the street in a dress he wished she had left at home. It looked far too good on her, and the necklace wasn’t helping. Well, it was, but he wasn’t the only guy around.

Keiran was massively tempted to just walk over, take her by the arm, and lock her back inside the house so he could go get food himself. That, obviously, was not an option. He didn’t want her to burn the house down or try to murder him in his sleep. Instead, his brow furrowed and he watched her for a few moments before pushing off of the doorway and letting his arms fall to his sides. Keiran took his time to lock up the door, not even caring if she became concerned or tired of waiting on him. His feet carried him across the street between people and running children until he reached her side, half waiting for her to bolt and head out on her own again.

Draping his arm over her shoulders, he glanced up and down the street before spotting a sign that looked rather like a menu and pressing his fingers lightly into her shoulder to direct her. “Come on, then.”

[Melissa Finnigan]

The gentle warmth of the air seemed to freeze, tugging goose bumps up from beneath the surface of her skin. With the atmosphere, he too had grown icy and the endearment evaporated, tearing away the romance. The arm around her shoulders felt heavy and constraining. In that moment it wasn’t an embrace that Millie wanted to lean into. Neither did she wish to lift her hand up to mingle her fingers with his. It all felt foreign and for a moment they were strangers again and the nudge of his touch was enough to make her temper flare. Despite herself, though, she didn’t wish to argue with Keiran. There was something in her that made her stop herself before she opened her mouth and left damage behind. That didn’t, however, stop her from shrugging off his arm, her head turning away from his.

At that point, Millie realised the fact that she had gone too far and that she wouldn’t be able to take back the decision she’d made. She wanted to assure him that she had only been joking and that she had always meant to get up and that the whole anger he had going on for a start was ridiculous. She wanted to then follow it up by telling him she’d continued to kid when she’d left the house but apparently he’d taken exception to all of the above and, not considering either of them in the wrong, Millie decided she’d remain silent until Keiran extracted himself from his irritation. Thus, she did move along but remained at Keiran’s side, a few breaths of space between her and him.

There were a number of tavernas to be found a short walk from their little home which would be theirs for the week or for however long they were staying. The smell of sweet lamb crackled through the air and Millie found that she was possessing a hunger that she hadn’t quite realised the full extent of. Stepping up to view the menu suspended on the board outside one of the first restaurants they came to. The mixture of Greek and English at first confused the young witch but soon she discerned what it was she relaxed somewhat and took some time to read. However soon enough her concentration was disrupted by a new presence – one of a waiter whose task was to bring in wandering tourists for something to eat.

“Kalispéra! If you’re looking for something good to eat-”

“-this is the place,” Millie interrupted with a smile as she turned to the waiter. He was young – perhaps in his early twenties or late teens. With a mop of curly hair and sun-kissed skin he looked every part like he belonged in his setting, though granted perhaps he was better suited to a beach. Nevertheless, a warm smile and a kind eye. It soothed some of the chilliness she could feel beside her.

“Are you looking for a job?” The waiter joked with a throaty chuckle. Millie smirked and shook her head, allowing the waiter to feign disappointment, only making her smile more. “Synécheia mou, ómorfi̱ kyría.” The waiter extended his arm and stepped back, allowing Millie to walk past and begin to climb the steps. “Do you know what you want to eat?” The waiter then asked, jumping up the steps with them, addressing both Millie and Keiran this time.

Millie shrugged her shoulders, sending her curls falling down her back and the waiter chuckled, pausing at the mouth of the restaurant to pick up two menus before leading the couple through the restaurant to a small table where, from that vantage point, they could peak at the water through the buildings overlooking it. The waiter took out Millie’s chair for her and she sat down, smiling in thanks. He then laid down the menus and assured that he would return with a bread basket and a jug of water before disappearing.

Setting down her bag, Millie picked up the menu and opened it. She could hide behind that for a while, she knew, under the pretence of trying to decide what she wanted to eat. Soon enough, bread and water was provided with and their waiter promised to return when they were ready to order. Millie, after thanking him, returned to her menu to hide amongst the tzatziki and flat bread. Keiran couldn’t get her to gripe at her there. He’d just get tirokafteri thrown at his head instead.