The shop had been reopened, and Tarin was still doing sessions with customers. He was definitely trying to come up with a way to cut down on the number of sessions he was doing, it seemed to Lee, but he was still working.

But that wasn't a concern that night. That night, they were not going to worry about the shop, they were going out. Back to the bar that they hadn't actually been to in what felt like forever.

Lee did have a couple of concerns, or rather she had a couple of major things on her mind. The first being that Tarin told her that his brother had ended up in the shop that day; Ashley Brooks, the brother that apparently hated him, had randomly shown up and Tarin had actually been able to talk to him, something that had not happened yet to that point. The other thing that was on her mind was the fact that even though it had been a couple of days, Tarin had not said anything about the engagement ring being back on her left hand.

But even those were thoughts for later, Lee decided as she got ready. That took a while to sort out, since this was a sort of important night, things finally being more normal between them, and Lee wanted to make sure that she looked good. Finally, she settled on a short red and black plaid skirt, a black corset with off the shoulder sleeves, and red heels that laced up to just below the knee.

Stepping out of her room, Lee saw Tarin sitting on the couch and smiled at him. "Ready to go?" She asked.

It was taking Lee time to get ready, and Tarin had to smile when he thought about that. When Lee took her time getting ready it always meant something good. The result was always worth the wait. It usually didn't really take her all that long. Tarin, on the other hand, had been ready for a full fifteen minutes. Getting ready for him hadn't been as hard, Tarin knew what suited him and with the amount of Lee was taking to get ready he knew that the night called for something more formal than the usual wear.

The suit jacket had hung in his closet for a long time, since before Lee had left. It looked perfect with the jeans though, and the button up shirt he wore under it felt good. It felt good in general to be going out, especially with the way the last few nights had gone.

Tarin thought about it and his leg started bouncing. The first night, during the movie had been unexpected, unexpected and great. Talking about moving leaps and bounds all of a sudden. Tarin grinned again, his self restraint was amazing, everything was moving at Lee's pace and he hadn't even wanted to move faster. Well...maybe he'd wanted to move faster...but he hadn't tried...and that totally meant something.

"Ready to go?"

Tarin's head jerked up and he grinned, then he stopped grinning as he took in what Lee was wearing. Yeah...worth the wait. Suddenly, going out sounded like the stupidest idea he'd ever heard. "Uh...I was..."

Tarin stood, eyes starting at the toes of those incredible shoes, following the laces up Lee's legs to the knees...then up...up....up to where the skirt finally started. That shirt was so nearly a corset that Tarin actually groaned out loud, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back to look at the ceiling.

"We need to go...now..." he said, abruptly striding to the door and almost tapping his foot as he waited for her to get her coat and purse.

"You're trying to kill me...you're actually trying to kill me." Death by below the belt suffocation...a new and torturous death. "Needless to say...you look amazing."

Finally they were outside and by carefully avoiding looks in Lee's direction, Tarin managed to walk beside her down the street towards the familiar little bar they had once frequented.

It didn't take long to get inside and Tarin smiled at the familiar nods and smiles he received from the bouncers and other staff.

It didn't take long for them to make their way to the bar and by some stroke of luck there was an empty seat. Offering it to Lee and helping her remove her coat, Tarin waited for her to sit and then stood behind her.

"Service in this place sucks!" Tarin called out, drawing a few surprised glances from the people around him and the attention of a single bartender who wheeled with an incredulous and angry look on his face. It took a moment for recognition to dawn, but when it did the scowl was replaced with a wide smile, "Tarin!" he exclaimed, coming forward and placing his hands on the bar, "And Lee" what can I get you guys?

"Ladies choice..." Tarin said, "Order away Lee...beer or jagerbombs?" he teased. A good night was definitely in the works.

Lee was already in a good mood when she stepped out of her room to find Tarin. However, when he stood and started looking her over, that good mood got even better as she both grinned and blushed. And that slight groan she heard coming from him...there really was no denying it, Lee loved making Tarin react like that.

"We need to go...now... You're trying to kill me...you're actually trying to kill me." Death by below the belt suffocation...a new and torturous death. "Needless to say...you look amazing.""

Lee grinned even wider as she heard Tarin speak and made her way to the closet. "Just let me grab my coat, and I'll be ready," she told him, then laughed slightly as she noticed his foot tapping. "Just hold your horses, Tarin."

It really didn't take long after they had left the apartment till they had reached the bar. After how long it had been since they were last there, Lee was surprised by the fact that the bouncers seemed to still recognize the two of them, but at the same time was glad of that fact since it allowed them to go right in without any wait or hassle.

Reaching the bar, they found a single empty seat and she sat down as Tarin took the spot right behind her before complaining about the service at the bar. A complaint that drew looks from both the nearest bartender as well as other people around them. But a moment later, Matt the bartend recognized them as well, and grinned. "Hey Matt," Lee said, her happy mood still clearly evident. "Let's start with the jagerbombs, then I think I'd like a beer."

Tarin pretty much couldn't believe what he was hearing when Lee actually ordered the jagerbombs. He'd been joking when he'd suggested them, but since Lee seemed to be rolling with the punches and in the mood to drink. Even better. Tarin grinned brightly and nodded his head at Matt. "Jagerbombs it is...and a beer for me as well."

Tarin looked around the crowded bar and at Lee's smiling face as she looked at Matt. It was weird, almost sureal to be back in here after everything that had happened.

They were pretty much undercover the last time that they were here. The registration had still been in effect. It was almost strange to be there now, it wasn't like anything had changed, the same regulars were still there, the bar was the same but they were different. Tarin and Lee were different, as a unit they were different, but here they were, having come full circle, back to the place where it all began. This bar.

"Order up!" Matt called, and the two shots and two beers were there, in front of them on the bar. Grabbing his and nudging Lee, Tarin grinned brightly, "Ready?" he said.

As Matt turned to get their drinks, Lee leaned back against Tarin who was standing behind her. Leaned back in such a comfortable, normal way that hadn't actually been normal for so long for them. But even after all that time, even after all the lack of contact they had had, Lee still felt it was right.

It really didn't take Matt long to come back with the drinks, setting them down on the bar in front of them. Sitting up straight again, Lee smiled over her shoulder at Tarin as he asked if she was ready. "Of course I am," she replied, reaching out and grabbing the shot of jager in one hand, the glass of red bull in the other. Waiting just a moment to make sure Tarin was ready enough to do the shot with her. Then she dropped the jager into the glass and downed it.

Just in time to hear Matt start to complain. "Damn it. Can't you let me win a single bet?"

Setting the glass down on the bar in front of her, Lee frowned at Matt in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I already lost one because you two started dating, but now this?" Matt explained, gesturing to the ring on Lee's hand. "I mean really, Tarin, I never would have pegged you for the marrying kind."

The Jager burned, it had been way too long since he'd done a shot like this. In fact, the last time he'd done one was with Lee. Possibly the last time they'd done them at this very bar.

His eyes were watering and there was a little red bull running down the side of his face. Tarin wiped it away just in time to hear Matt wail in mock dismay about the fact that Lee had caused him to lose another bet.

Tarin was incredibly confused. Matt had to be an idiot, something Tarin hadn't figure on because that ring was on Lee's...left hand? Tarin stared at the hand that was now resting on the bar that had been wrapped around the glass of alcohol. Instantly his breath quickened and he turned startled eyes to Lee. Matt mentioned that he'd never pegged Tarin as the marrying type and Tarin looked at him, a little dazed by the whole conversation.

"Uh...I...well...we...it...I'm a lucky guy..." He finally managed to stammer out. Matt looked at him like he was dumb. Tarin felt dumb, even as the bartender walked away, "Don't worry!" he called out as he left, "I wouldn't miss seeing what that was all about for the world."

From his vantage point behind her, Tarin could clearly see the ring and after establishing that it was indeed on the fourth finger of her left hand, Tarin put his hand on Lee's shoulder, sliding it down her arm to her hand, which he grasped, then picked up, holding it to eye level.

"When did this happen, and why wasn't I informed that I'm back among the ranks of the betrothed?" he asked into her ear, before leaning forward to kiss Lee's hand.

Matt spoke, explaining what he had been talking about with him losing another bet, and Lee's confused expression disappeared. And then Tarin started stammering, saying that he was a lucky man. She had been pretty sure that Tarin hadn't noticed that the ring had changed hands because he hadn't said anything yet, but she hadn't exactly expected him to find out about her decision this way.

"I thought we established that you're a lucky man to be with me the last time," Lee said, smiling over her shoulder at Tarin. But as Matt left, Lee turned slightly in her chair to look at Tarin a little easier. A moment later, she felt his hand on her shoulder, then sliding down her arm, causing a slight shiver to run through her body.

"When did this happen, and why wasn't I informed that I'm back among the ranks of the betrothed?"

Smiling slightly nervously, looking at Tarin as he kissed her hand, Lee shrugged. "When was I ready, or when did I move the ring back?" She asked him, giving his hand a little squeeze. "I'm still not ready for us to set a date or anything, but I had a lot of time to think a couple nights ago. I'm not exactly in practise of those long makeout sessions anymore, you know."

But then Lee bit her lip as she thought about Tarin's last question. She hadn't exactly come out and told him about her decision, had she? Um...yeah...

"I kind of went to bed after I decided that," Lee told him, still chewing on her lip a bit. "And then we reopened the shop the next day..."

"Well, we had that established from the beginning." Tarin said softly and with a grin as Lee commented that they he'd been lucky to be with her from the start.

Lee asked whether Tarin wanted to know when she decided or when she made the actual move and he chuckled, getting ready to specify, but Lee continued on her own, and Tarin chuckled again. "Yeah...needless to say, I'm not either. It would appear that we need more practice huh...and as far as a date is concerned, don't worry about it. Just knowing that ring is back where it should be makes a world of difference. I don't think we were planning to elope anytime soon anyway."

Tarin took a long drink of beer, digesting everything that had just happened. Beer was good, beer was very good. It made things come even more into perspective. Lee was explaining now, explaining what had happened and why she hadn't told him.

Tarin took another swig of beer and grinned, "Again, darlin'. None of it matters just so long as the deed is done."

Matt was back by this point and Tarin grinned at him, completely recovered from his surprise. Matt noticed and the disappointment was evident on his face, "Maybe you should start betting with me instead of against me." Tarin said, toasting the bartender.

Lee smiled when Tarin started laughing at her explanations. At least he didn't seem upset. He was happy that the ring was back on her left hand, he was alright with the fact that she hadn't actually told him about her decision to move the ring.

"Yeah, I think some more practise would do us good," Lee said, the smile still on her face. "Can't have me up all night just because we kiss a bit, now can we?"

Tarin was still holding her hand as he reached for his beer and took a sip. So Lee reached for her beer as well as she squeezed Tarin's hand. And then he called her darlin' and Lee couldn't help the small blush that joined the smile on her face. "It is done," Lee said, looking down at her hand in Tarin's at the ring shining on her finger there.

But then Matt was was back, not exactly looking the happiest. Not upset, but clearly not happy, and then Tarin was reacting, much better this time, even toasting the bartender. Smiling, Lee lifted her bottle toward Matt as well. "I think you should have figured that out a while ago," she said over the bar. "I mean, I did get him to settle down, so why wouldn't I be able to talk him into marrying me?"

"Practise makes perfect." Tarin said, releasing Lee's hand to run his through his hair as thoughts of such practice made the temperature in the bar raise several degrees in the matter of a few moments. "And you're right. You need your sleep, though I'm sure I could think of a few different ways to occupy the time." Yup...he could think of lots of ways, he wasn't sure how agreeable Lee would feel to them at that point in time though so he changed the subject...changed the subject rather abruptly.

"We can talk about that stuff later though. In other news I think I've made a decision about the check. I know this is an odd time to bring it up, but I'm going to keep it." The bar was starting to get busy now, and Tarin leaned down close to Lee again so he didn't have to yell. "I can't imagine myself doing something awful to get the money...besides, if I'd had you out of the shop by design I would have had to plan it before that day and I remember everything all the way up to lunch. There has to be another explanation...an I think I earned the money. And if running into Ash today was any indication, I think we need to start planning that trip to Texas sooner rather than later."

Tarin couldn't help but chuckle when Lee blushed at something as simple as a term of endearment. "It's never going to fail to amaze me how that makes you blush." he said, still close to her ear, still looking at the ring that was back on Lee's finger. He was still looking at the ring when Lee stepped up and showed that she had his back. It was a nice feeling and her words made Tarin laugh out loud, straightening up to nod it Matt's general direction.

"I keep letting her think that I've settled down for her own peace of mind..." Lee went on to comment that she'd talked him into marrying her and Tarin burst out laughing, nearly snorting beer up his nose in the process and turning to give Lee a slightly arch look, "She's exaggerating there Matt. She brought me to heel on that one, I've practically been begging her to agree to put up with me forever. Don't let her fool you there."

"All which would leave me awake most of the night while you're passed out," Lee pointed out, though she did have a one sided smile on her face as she said it.

But then Tarin changed subjects, and Lee's face sobered. The million dollar cheque that was still sitting in the apartment had felt like it had been hanging over their heads even if they hadn't exactly talked about it much since that first day. Tarin did have a point there, if he had actually have been doing something wrong to get that money, he would have had to plan getting her out of the shop sooner than he had, sooner than the last minute suggestion/demand that she actually take a day off after all the work she'd been putting into the shop. And what would have happened if she'd refused had it been something nefarious?

The trip to Texas. Despite everything that had been going on at the time, everything she had been thinking about Tarin, thoughts about that trip to Texas had been what had gotten her through her time in the camp. "I think that's a good idea," Lee said as softly as she could manage in the bar. "I'd love to go, and if it makes things better with Ash, all the better."

But then Matt and Tarin were talking, and Lee couldn't help but roll her eyes at the two of them as she sipped her beer. "You're letting me think you've settled down, yet you've begged me to put up with you?" Lee shook her head as she looked over at Tarin. "There's no shame in admitting you settled down to be with me, especially not when we're actually going to get married, is there?" Lee finished up, a smile growing on her face as the words came out.

A wide grin spread across Tarin's features as Lee explained what would happen if he had his way about what they did to occupy the time when Lee couldn't sleep. "Well, I need my beauty sleep more than you do. So it's only fair that I sleep while you're awake. We can work our way up to that though."

slow and steady wins the race...slow and steady wins the race...

Tarin's heart was racing and the temperature had raised a further few degrees with Lee's lack of distaste towards the idea. He'd thought she'd withdraw, be frightened of the idea still. That didn't seem like the case though. The hand on the back of her chair tightened until Tairin was white knuckling. He took a deep breath and a deeper swig of beer, thank god for beer.

Lee didn't react to the news about the check, at least not verbally. Tarin took mental note of that and filed it away to bring up later. This wasn't a good place for a serious conversation like that anyway. She didn't wholeheartedly disagree though, Tarin knew she wouldn't have just sat there if her feelings had been too strong.

{i]and[/i] she wanted to go to Texas still?! This was seriously like the best night ever. They were having a great time together, Lee was making risque inside jokes with him, and she was all for the trip to Texas. "We'll get on planning that as soon as possible then." he said into her ear.

Tarin was starting to wonder if he was dreaming and would wake up and still feel like shit after a chance encounter with his brother earlier in the afternoon. Ten minutes ago, Tarin hadn't even realized they were still engaged...now Lee was talking about going to Texas...spending time together...time that would leave him passed out and her wide awake.

"Fair enough..." he said with a wide grin, then spun the chair Lee was sitting on so she was facing him, pausing a second to try and let Lee catch on to his intention before he bent and kissed her, some of the intensity he was feeling flowing into the kiss.

"Christ...get a room you two..." Matt groaned and Tarin flipped him off behind Lee's back as he walked away.

"Yeah, cause I look so good when I've been awake for three days straight," Lee said quietly, shaking her head at Tarin as she did, though she did still have a bit of a smile on her face. It was rather hard not to smile at least a bit with how he was grinning at her, after all. Tarin was right about one thing, though; it was definitely going to take time to work up to that point again, where he'd be that passed out and she'd be up all night. Time, but it was possible they'd get back there, some day.

Then Lee felt Tarin leaning in, whispering in her ear as he told her that they'd get planning their trip to Texas as soon as possible, and Lee shivered at the feel of his breath on her neck. "Sounds good," Lee replied into Tarin's ear since he was still leaning down to her. "We'll talk about it in the morning."

Next thing she knew, Lee was spinning in her chair, coming to a sudden stop so that she was directly facing Tarin, who was staring down at her. Looking directly into her eyes is such a way that made her heart skip a beat. And then he was right there, leaning down, his lips pressing against hers.

If her heart skipped a beat simply because of how Tarin had looked at her just a moment before, that was nothing compared to how she was feeling right then. Letting go of her beer bottle where it was sitting on the bar, Lee wrapped her arms around Tarin's neck as she returned the kiss.

It was only because he spoke as soon after the kiss had started that Lee actually noticed what Matt had said. Pulling away slightly, Lee glanced over to the side at the bartender. "Don't watch, then," Lee told him before turning her attention back to Tarin. So what if they were about to forget themselves out in public again, Lee didn't really care at that point.

"You always look good." Tarin said, watching Lee's head as she shook it to the negative. "I could be way more poetic, but it's starting to get too loud in here." he continued, settling for a little people watching as Lee sat in silence, thinking, or watching, or simply being there.

Things were almost back to normal, almost and if Lee thought he'd missed the shiver or the goosebumps that rose on her neck after he whispered in her ear, then she was dead wrong. She might think herself not ready, but it would only be a matter of time. Lee was a warm and passionate kind of woman and she'd been forced to be withdrawn for a long time. She was already reacting in ways that she'd hardly allowed a possibility of when she'd returned from Canada. That, along with a hundred other things had prompted the kiss and Lee had leaped into it with almost reckless abandon considering the fact that they were in an astonishingly public place.

It had happened before, this phenomenon of completely forgetting where they were when they were together. Sometimes it was like they were the only two people in the world, and Tarin honestly couldn't find anything wrong with that. Especially with Lee's arms wrapped around his neck and her enthusiastic return of the kiss, Tarin wouldn't have cared if they were in the middle of Sunday mass at the Vatican.

Things were starting to get slightly out of hand though, raging hormones had a way of ruining wonderful moments and Tarin's were running the risk of going on a mad elephant rampage in the middle of a crowded bar. Thankfully Matt decided to run his mouth and Lee had to pull away to tell him not to watch. Those two little words of confirmation almost built up the resolve that Tarin had built up in the two seconds they'd had of no contact and he was half tempted to dive right back in as Lee turned to him, but instead he took a deep albeit shaky breath.

"I think...we'd better stop." he said, blinking a little rapidly and trying to clear his thoughts as he ran his hand through his hair. "You, that outfit, that kiss...I'm starting to ask a little much of myself. You know...kind of like tossing an ant hill into a sugar factory and asking them not to touch anything." Tarin looked around the bar, almost desperately seeking a place where they could be a little more in the middle of things. The live band had started a while ago, and a large group of people were starting to dance in the middle of the floor.

Picking up his quarter-full beer, Tarin downed it in a couple of gulps, then looked at Lee and grinned brightly, grabbing her hand, "Let's go dance before I completely embarrass myself."

Lee couldn't help the blush from crossing her face again when Tarin pointed out the fact that they should probably stop with that whole kissing thing at the moment. It had been getting a little heated, after all, and Lee hadn't exactly been worrying too much about keeping it at an acceptable level, especially for where they were. In public. With Matt still somewhat scowling in their direction though he had moved further down the bar to help other customers.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Lee said as she reached out for her beer once more. Best to keep her hand and mouth busy in a way that didn't involve touching Tarin.

Then Tarin was talking, and all Lee could do was stare at him in slight shock at first. That definitely was different than what they had just been doing there. "Your idea of avoiding embarrassment is to ask me to dance?" Lee asked him worriedly. Suddenly coming to the bar that night wasn't looking like such a good idea to her. Sure, thanks to Tarin teaching her, Lee had gotten a bit better at two-step, but they also hadn't practised that a whole lot since their two month anniversary, and they hadn't exactly done any other dancing. But this sure as hell wasn't a country bar.

"Dancing?" Lee questioned again. But despite her worry about dancing, Lee knew they had to do something; they didn't exactly have a good track record for keeping their hands off each other while standing at the bar. So nervously, reluctantly, Lee finished her beer and took Tarin's hand, letting him lead her to the dance floor.