Tuscany Trip

When the day started to fade a bit, Brian said, "I have plans for us for the evening. I suggest we either get cleaned up enough to go back on the water taxi, or we use portkeys to get back to our hotel rooms. We need to get ready to go out. I have dinner reservations for us. And this is not a blue jeans affair. Nor is it a wet bathing suit affair."

"Then I vote for a portkey," Khaat said. "It would be far quicker. And I can spend a bit more time. Looking like I"m ready for a night of elegance takes me a bit of time."

"You have never in your life had an issue with looking good," Brian frowned at her.

"You're very sweet," she kissed his cheek. "But you're also full of it. This takes time. Portkey. Definitely."

Brian apparated Khaat and himself back to the hotel suite, and he showered first, so she didnt feel pressured into rushing for him. He chose a very elegant black tuxedo for dinner, with a gold and diamond tie tack and large squre diamond cufflinks.

Khaat had a white evening gown that she had had for a very long time and had never had occasion to wear it. She decided tonight might be the night. She got out of the shower, dressed in white and asked Brian, "Do you think I have a deep enough tan to wear a white dress and have it look good?"

"I do indeed," he smiled at her. "I think I'll be beating them off you with sticks."

"Don't do that. My second husband might be in that lot. Don't beat him off," she laughed. "And if you're busy beating him off, you might miss your connection with the wife of your dreams."

"Hm," he sighed. "I doubt that. Nobody would want me, Khaat."

"Brian Quinn! You stop that negative self talk right now! Any woman in the world would be lucky to have you. You're spectacularly good looking, strong, wise, and you have the best heart of any man I've ever known in my life." She tied her robe and went over and kissed his forehead. "Don't wait too long, Brian. Don't throw your life away. Some things really are more important."

"Get dressed," he diverted her softly.

She chose her white gown and some tall, clear stillettos. She wore the emerald hoop earrings Brian had bought her and chose a green silk shawl as an evening wrap--just in case. She left her hair long and added a lot of body and curl for fullness and glamour. Tonight, she was dressing just for him. She wanted him to like it. For a brief second, her mind went back to the last time she had put this much effort into dressing for the evening. It had been the ministry ball. And the red dress she had worn had almost knocked Rob on his arse. She had cleaned up rather well that night. She wanted this to be better. She wanted to be the perfect accessory at Brian's side tonight. She didn't mind being an accessory when the man she was with was so elegant all on his own.

She slipped on the dress and did a final check. She stepped into her stillettos and tried to calm her nerves. She felt a bit anxious for some reason tonight. She pulled a green satin clutch purse out of her dresser and put her wand in it. She guessed she was about as ready as she was going to be.

She went out to the sitting room where Brian was waiting. He turned and looked at her, utterly speechless, frozen, as if he had never seen her before in his life. Like he didn't know her.

"Brian? Is it alright?" she asked.

He took as second and found his voice. "You're amazing. Don't change a thing. You have never looked more beautiful in your life."


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"Yes. You do. You look beautiful," Brian smiled.

"Thanks. You both look great. I know what you mean, Jess," Khaat said, "its been a long time for me too."

"Well, shall we then?" Brian asked. He had hired a water taxi for them. They took it to the best restaurant in the city, where Brian had arranged two of the best tables in the house. He figured that Jack and Jess deserved to have a romantic evening all for themselves. He made sure that the tables were not more than a few short steps apart, but he did make sure they were separate. He had arranged the finest in Italian prosecco for each table, and had a dozen red roses for at each table--one bouquet for Jess and one for Khaat. He had left nothing out.

The staff opened the door for them, and they found they were, by far, not the only ones in evening wear in the restaurant. This was a special black tie seating in the restaurant tonight. It wasn't normally open this night of the week, but this was different. They had live music--traditional romantic Italian classical music--and hosts escorted each couple to their tables. The nice part was that they did not have to order tonight. Brian had arranged a chef's tasting for each table, so they got to taste a wide variety of the restaurant's signature dishes--the best of the best. Khaat was impressed. She'd never been at a chef's tasting before, and she was looking forward to tasting the best that Venice had to offer.

Brian poured champagne for Khaat and for him. "A toast," he told her, "To many more happy, peaceful memories in our lives." She smiled, lightly touching her glass against his. She sipped the champagne.

"It's wonderful," she smiled. "And so are you. Thank you. The roses, the champagne, these wonderful tables with a view of the Grand Canal, the chef's tasting menu--you've thought of absolutely everything."

"The night is young," he smiled. "There is more to come. Enjoy it."

Khaat felt like she was in a fairy tale. Every course of their meal, the music, the wine, the incredible desserts. She didn't know when she had been happier. She hadn't ever dreamed that she would have an evening when she would, ever again, be able to forget every little bit of pain and fear and anxiety and just totally be free of it. It meant more to her than words would ever express--to feel at peace again. And right now, she was completely content.

Over dessert, he said to her, "Khaat, I have something for you. If I could give you the world, you know I would." He drew a box out of, seemingly, nowhere, and presented it to her. "For you."

She opened it to see a breathtaking gold tennis bracelet set with emeralds and diamonds. She looked at him, amazed. "Brian? Really? For me?"

"Well, I can't wear it," he laughed. "Here, let me." He took the delicate little bracelet and fastened it around her wrist. It glistened in the candlelight like a million stars.

"You're wonderful. Thank you," she smiled. "Somehow you manage to make me forget everything but how much fun we always have together."

"That is the only thing I ever need to hear," he smiled, feeling truly content now himself. That had been his whole goal. That was everything to him tonight.

Brian noticed the dancing had begun, and he reached out his hand to her. "May I have this dance?" he asked.

She smiled, taking his hand, " I thought you would never ask." He led her to the dance floor and folded her into his arms, and they simply enjoyed a few slow dances together. She laid her head on his shoulder. Brian brought her stability, strength, comfort, happiness. Almost everything she ever wanted. Almost. Her mind began to wander. They had talked about it before. The whole concept of forever. If neither of them ever found someone else, could they? Could they be happy living together for the rest of their lives? She wondered. She looked back at their years of being the very best of friends. The best memories she had in her life were of her and Brian or her and Remus. Or of the three of them. They could do worse than each to be alone forever. That seemed, tonight, like a far worse fate than being together, even if there wasn't really love. Not like each of them seemed to want somewhere inside. She had had it for a fleeting spark with Rob, and then the spark had somehow gone out. She was terrified to take that risk with Brian and have that spark go out and lose him forever. No, he meant far too much to her for her to risk ever losing him. No, she wasn't willing to do that. Not ever.

He kissed her hair softly. "What are you thinking so hard about?" he asked her in almost a whisper.

"What forever might be like," she said into his neck.

"Oh boy. That's a deep subject," he smiled. "Do we need to do that tonight?"

"No. We don't, " she nuzzled closer. "Not tonight."