((This thread takes place in late March, after Tarin has woken up and mostly recovered from his month long coma, but before he and Lee head off to Columbia.))


Lee was finally getting her Valentine's dinner with Tarin. Originally, it was supposed to have been the day before Valentine's Day, but things had a habit of ruining their lives, and Tarin had ended up at the mansion In what DocProf had called a coma with minimal brain activity.

Lee still didn't fully understand how what Tarin said had happened was possible, or really understand how Slate had managed to get Tarin to wake up, but he thankfully had, and they had finally managed to plan their makeup dinner. Which had sent Lee shopping; not only was this supposed to have been their Valentine's dinner, but this was also the first time the two of them had really been out since Tarin had woken from his coma, and Lee wanted things to be as good as possible.

What Lee had managed to come up with was a black pencil skirt, a blue halter shirt, and strappy heels. Her hair was done in loose curls to finish off the look, and the colour of blue eye shadow she had chosen that night actually brought out a slight hint of blue in her grey eyes.

Dinner had gone incredibly, nice and relaxed, and likely not nearly as busy as it would have been if they had managed to make it out when they first planned.

But after dinner, a much more expensive dinner than their usual at the Chinese restaurant, they decided that it would be an extreme waste to just go home after dressing up as they had. So while dinner had been unique, they decided to fall back on an old favourite.

Getting out of the cab (yes, Lee had given in and let Tarin hail a cab because she didn't want to have him push things more than necessary and actually walk the distance from the restaurant to the bar, which were in opposite directions from their apartment), Lee waited for Tarin to get out behind her before walking quickly up to the door. It was quite chilly outside,, so Lee wanted to get in and get a drink in her hand quickly.

There was already a bit of a line at the door as Lee grabbed Tarin's hand and walked up. Not bothering with the line at all. Since the first time that Tarin had brought her here, she had never had to stand in line; the bouncers all knew Tarin, and through him knew her, and even on their busiest nights had always just let the two of them in.

"End of the line."

Lee's face dropped when she saw the bouncer who had spoken looking toward her and Tarin. Ok, so she had never had to wait to get into this bar until tonight. Didn't that suck? She hadn't been expecting to actually wait outside, so she hadn't brought a coat or anything.

Apparently, they had finally been gone from the bar long enough, hadn't gone out in long enough, that they weren't able to just walk in any more.

"Oi! It's not true, is it?"

Turning, at the sound of the English accent, Lee saw another bouncer behind the first, this one who she did recognize. "What?" Lee asked, confused. First they were turned away, told to wait in line, and now this?

"I didn't believe it at first, but there's no way that Matt would have lied to lose a bet. But he's been telling everyone that you two are actually engaged."

Is that what this was about, Lee wondered with a slight laugh. "No, we're not engaged. We're married, actually," Lee responded with a knowing , happy grin. Seeing the look on the bouncer's face, Lee just laughed more. "Did you want to come in and see the look on Matt's face when he finds out, or do you have to stay out here?"

They were finally getting to have their Valentines dinner. Tarin was slightly somber as he was getting ready, though. Lee had looked so gorgeous the first time that they were supposed to do this. Tarin had planned for that night, but it had all been ruined. It had all been ruined and Tarin had nearly died by it was all said and done. He was going to make all of that up to Lee though.

His outfit was simple: black shoes and pants with a slightly iridescent red shirt. It was supposed to be their Valentine's dinner after all. His hair was just how Lee liked it, spiked to the extreme, the multi-hued chunks sticking in different directions. Tarin was still a little somber though, Lee was holding him with what could almost be considered kid gloves. She was worried about him working too much, she was worried about him walking too much, she was worried about pretty much anything that could put him in danger. And he was more tired than he could ever remember being after a normal day of working, just a normal day of being up and around. He was getting stronger every day, though, Tarin could feel it. There were things different about his powers too.

When he demanded it...the spirits were almost completely silent now. Something had happened to him while he was in that 'coma' and he hadn't quite figured out what it was. It was easier now though, somehow all of it was easier. Tarin hadn't brought it up to Lee or talked to her about it yet, it was still too soon to be sure it was actually easier or if it had just felt that odd to not have his powers.

Tarin walked out of the room that he and Lee shared some of the time at almost the exact time that she came out of the bathroom and he simply stopped in the doorway, leaning on the frame and staring. These were the things that he'd missed the most, the pure feelings that surged through him when he looked at Lee. It was almost enough to make Tarin want to simly stay in for the night. Lee had dressed up so nicely though...it would simply be a travesty to stay in.

Dinner was great, conversation every bit as easy as it had ever been between the two of them and while the bill was higher than what they usually payed for a night out on the town, Tarin had to admit that the food had been worth it. They were leaving, and Lee surprised Tarin by suggesting that they head to the bar instead of going home. Tarin had grinned and agreed that it was a great deal to stay out. He'd even refrained from complaining when Lee insisted on a cab. If they were going to be out late, it would probably be a good idea.

It didn't take long for them to ride to their favorite haunt and Tarin prepared for the more laid back setting as they rode by undoing the first couple of buttons on his shirt and untucking it from his pants. The wrinkles would fall out quickly enough.

Sooner than Tarin would actually have expected, they were at the bar and he sent Lee ahead as he stayed behind to pay the cabbie. That done, he climbed from the cab to join Lee, only to find her standing outside the bar, looking slightly confused. A familiar accent with Welsh inflection assailed his ears and Tarin laughed as he came up behind Lee, slipping an arm around her waist.

"You heard right, Mick..." Tarin said with a laugh, shrugging his shoulders, "And I told Matt that he was an idiot to take that bet in the first place."

Mick chuckled, a rumble that rolled through his large frame as he moved forward, and Tarin shook his hand, then nodded towards the inside of the bar. "I'm freezing my bits off...can we continue this conversation inside...besides, like Lee said, you'll want to see Matt's face when he finds out."

"Oi...I still think I'd like to see the look that was on my face when I found out. You were the last one I ever pegged for a one woman man."

Tarin just grinned and shook his head, "All it took was the right woman."

As it turned out, Mick did want to see the look on Matt's face when he found out that Tarin had gotten married. Tarin was almost giddy with excitement, and he really wanted a beer. The bar was packed already, but with a six foot seven bouncer walking with you, it was amazing how easy it was to get a spot at the bar.

Matt De Vries was a professional. He hadn't gotten to the illustrious position of lead bartender at his still tender age any other way. As he saw his bouncer approaching he looked up, instantly concerned that something had happened. Then his eyes fell on the couple approaching in front of him. "Hey you two! I thought you'd fallen off the face of the Earth!"

"You wish." Tarin said, "Though it doesn't look like this place has been too worse for wear without us."

Matt waved his hand dismissively, "This is nothing...you should see it when we have a favorite local band in." Tarin's eyebrows rose, this place was changing. Him and Lee didn't even look that out of place in their forman clothes, a year ago that would not have been the case.

Matt grinned at Tarin's look, already setting two beers on the bar in front of him and Lee, who he grinned at, "I can't believe you're still letting this loser sniff around you Lee...when are you going to come to your senses and leave him for me?"

Tarin just rolled his eyes with a bright grin and held up his left hand, wiggling his fourth finger. The one with his wedding ring. "Don't hold your breath." he said...and Lee had been right. Matt's face was priceless.

Lee smiled as she felt Tarin wrap his arm around her waist. At least with him there, she had his body heat to help keep her warm. Not that it was really doing a whole lot of good, since she had no sleeves at all to her shirt and Tarin was only one the one side of her, but it did help.

Apparently since Mick, Lee knew his face, had talked to him briefly a couple of times, but didn't think she had ever gotten his name, was dealing with him and Tarin, the other bouncer shrugged and turned to deal with the rest of the line. Well, that was good, Lee thought as she turned her attention back to Mick. Maybe they'd be able to get inside now without having to wait in the line.

Tarin and Mick were chatting easily at this point, so Lee simply stood there, through the handshake and all, shivering slightly. Damn it, didn't they realize it was damn cold out there? At least Tarin's shirt was long sleeved, but that didn't do a single thing to help her out.

Finally! Tarin asked if they could continue talking, inside, and the moment that Mick stepped out of the way, Lee was moving. Maybe she really should have brought at least a light wrap or something with her, but it had been warm during the day.

The bar was rather full, Lee noticed as they made their way to the bar. More full than it normally was at this time of night. But despite the crowd, Lee noticed that they were making rather quick progress up to the bar. A quick glance behind her showed that Mick was right behind them; apparently the bouncer did want to see the look on Matt's face when he found out that they were married.

Which wasn't going to take much longer, since at that moment, Matt called out to them. "Nice to see you too, Matt," Lee said with a slight rolling of her eyes and shake of her head.

But according to what Matt said, the bar being crowded like it was that night was nothing compared to what it was like when a good band was playing. Lee blinked and glanced around. Had they really not come out in that long, Lee wondered. Because she didn't recall it really being this busy this early in the night before. And this was normal.

Lee was brought back to the men she was standing with as she heard the clink of beer bottles being set down on the bar in front of her. And Matt's question of when she would be leaving Tarin for him. Lee grinned and was starting to lean across the bar to talk to Matt when she saw Tarin raising his left hand, the hand that his wedding ring was on, and wiggling his finger toward the bartender. Oh, that was so much better, Lee thought as she saw the look that crossed Matt's face.

She had been right, the look on Matt's face was great to see. And probably more entertaining seeing the realization dawn on his face as he saw the ring than it would have been if she had said anything. And Mick seemed to enjoy the show as well, since Lee heard a boom of a laugh behind her, slowly moving away.

But Matt seemed to be the only man on the planet that Tarin didn't get upset when he flirted with her, or when she teased and almost flirted back. She didn't understand why, but that was the reality, so Lee thought she'd have a bit of fun with it. It's not like it was going to hurt anyone, if anything Matt seemed to do it to try and get under Tarin's skin which didn't work when she would play along.

"Sorry, Matt, I didn't mean to break your heart," Lee said, still leaning over the bar slightly and toward the bartender. "If I'd have walked in here and met you before I saw Tarin, things might have been different, but...Maybe you'll luck out in our next life."

Grinning, Lee grabbed her beer off the bar and straightened up, taking a swig as she turned to smile at Tarin. "So hon, did you have any other Valentine's surprises for me tonight, or are we just going to go with the flow?"

"Valentines?" Lee looked over, and saw that Matt had a slightly incredulous look on his face. "Did you two fall off the face of the Earth? Valentine's Day was over a month ago."

Usually when someone was flirting with Lee as heavily as Matt was, Tarin had a problem with it. This was Matt though. Lee knew that he and Tarin were pretty close, but she didn’t know all the history, didn’t understand why Tarin’s marriage would be so surprising to Matt.
Lee hopefully wouldn’t ever know just how close Tarin and Matt had been, either. There were a couple nights that Tarin had gone home with company that were probably a direct result of Matt. Tarin didn’t think his wife needed to know that. Because of that, though, Tarin knew that this was the way that Matt acted with all attractive women. Sure, he was very fond of Lee or he wouldn’t have already put the beers on the bar, but the flirting, was harmless. It was also fun to watch Lee turn on the charm. Especially when he knew just how “with him” she was.

Tarin had picked up his beer and taken a generous swig when Lee suggested that maybe Matt might have had a chance if she’d met him first. Managing to swallow the beer without choking, Tarin laughed and shot Matt a slightly smug look, “But as it is…I did get to her first..and once a woman’s had me…they just can’t get enough.” Tarin couldn’t help it, and he actually bristled a little when Matt burst into raucous laughter. ”Yeah…that’s it.” He said, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes a few moments later, looking back to Lee, ”Just so you know…I still haven’t completely counted out mind control…so if he’s holding you against your will…blink twice.”

“Hey!” Tarin said, but then Lee was asking him if he had any other Valentine’s day surprises lined up for her and he completely forgot about Matt and pulled Lee closer, “Hmm…not any that I can give you in public.” He hadn’t done presents, not this year anyway. Their foray tonight had been slightly impromptu and there’d only really been time for anything other than clothes shopping…Tarin had found his dress pants far too big to wear out. A month on a liquid only diet apparently did that to a person.

Coincidentally, Matt chose this time to point out how odd their timing was for a Valentine’s night out on the town. Tarin smiled, a twisted little smile as he took another swig of beer and tried to figure out exactly how to explain to Matt why they’d been gone so long. He’d asked if they’d fallen off the face of the Earth. As far as Tarin knew, Matt was oblivious to the fact that either he or Lee was a mutant. A crowded night was not the time to share that particularly story, so Tarin just smiled and shook his head. “Fall off the Earth? Not exactly Matt…I had some health troubles and Lee was by my bedside nursing me back to health.”

That illicited a raised eyebrow and a frown from Matt, ”Well…I’m glad it worked out.” Just then someone from the other side of the bar started yelling about not being able to get a drink and Matt cast an irritated look over his shoulder, ”You guys drink those…on the house to celebrate your nuptials. I’ll be back in a while.“ and he was gone.

As he walked away, Tarin shook his head and turned to look around the bar, grinning over at Lee. “The last time I remember this place being so busy…we slowly got pushed closer and closer together.” He said, taking a step closer to Lee so that he was so close they were just barely touching. “You kissed me…” he stated, “Think there might be a repeat performance?”

They really needed to get out more often, Lee decided. Dinners and movie nights at home were nice and all, but actually getting out was great, as was this bantering back and forth with Matt. It was a whole different kind of relaxing and letting loose that they just couldn't get at home.

But Matt wasn't giving up on the whole surprised that she had actually married Tarin thing. And was even considering the idea that he had somehow brainwashed her. That was humourous. Instead of blinking, Lee simply rolled her eyes at the bartender. If Matt had ever seen the look on Tarin's face when she walked out of her bedroom ready to go out, he would have known that if there was any brainwashing going on at all, it was her having brainwashed Tarin.

Lee blushed when Tarin pointed out the fact that any other surprises he had planned for their Valentine's night couldn't be given to her in public. That was...Yeah, Lee had a good idea what Tarin had had in mind and she just couldn't keep that blush off her face.

But then Tarin was explaining, very vaguely, why they had seemed to have fallen off the face of the Earth and why they were celebrating Valentine's Day so late. And just before he turned to head further down the bar to deal with an irritated customer, Matt told them to go ahead and drink the beers he'd put on the bar for them on the house.

Well, that was a bit of a surprise. But Tarin was so close to her, and after Matt had left, Tarin took another step closer to her, closing the already small distance between them. As he spoke, Lee's smile grew. She remembered that night that Tarin was talking about. That was the first night that they had come to the bar together, what would probably have been considered their first date, though neither of them had really thought of it like that at the time. And it had also been the night of their first kiss, after which Lee had tried to run, shocked at the fact that she had actually kissed Tarin.

"I did kiss you, didn't I?" Lee asked, grinning as she looked into Tarin's eyes. Slowly, Lee raised her arms to wrap around Tarin's neck, bringing them even closer together so that their noses were practically touching as she looked at him. "But yeah, I think there might be a very good possibility of a repeat performance."

With that, the smile still on her face, Lee closed the remaining inch between their lips and kissed Tarin.

Going out was definitely not overrated and Tarin suddenly had the realization that he needed to take more initiative in getting them out of the apartment. Then again, that might have had something to do with the fact that he’d basically been laying in a bed for the last month, unable to communicate with anyone in the living plane of the world.

A moment later, when Lee had reached her arms up and around his neck in that way that brought her body, and all the bumps and curves that went with it, right up against him, Tarin decided that this probably had more to do with it. Lee was in heels, of course, and she was just below eye level and her arm wrapping brought them close, so that their noses were almost touching. He almost didn’t hear her speak. “Yup. You did. You just couldn’t resist me…standing this close.”

Tarin wouldn’t forget that moment as long as he lived. That first time that they’d come to this bar together. Tarin had been mentally berating himself for thinking about Lee in less than savory terms for most of the night. Lee had been so shy, so tentative at that point. So afraid that every touch was going to do something horrible. God, things had changed. That first kiss had been so clumsy, so almost accidental, so perfect. It had been the only way that anything would have ever happened between them. Lee had been so different than any woman he’d ever spent time with.

All of that ran through Tarin’s head in the time it too Lee to close the almost miniscule distance between their lips. As they had a tendency to do, Tarin and Lee forgot they were in the middle of a public establishment for the next few minutes. It was only when a familiar voice, raised above the noise of the bar cut through the haze that Tarin pulled away from Lee, ”For the love you two!” Matt yelled from across the bar. ”I didn’t give you those beers so I could watch them get warm on the bar while you played tonsil hockey in the middle of my bar.”


Tarin had the good grace to blush slightly at that, and chuckled, taking a step back from Lee and picking up his beer. Then he raised it in a silent toast to Matt and took a drink. “You’re just jealous!” Tarin called back and Matt shrugged his shoulders, still dealing with customers at the other end of the bar. Then he started showing off, spinning bottles, tossing them around. Tarin looked at Lee and rolled his eyes, “What a damn show off.” He said as Matt finished with the drinks, ran the tab and got to work on the next order, but he paused and looked at Lee, then winked, ”I think you might be right though, Tarin…I think I am jealous. Does she have any sisters?”

Tarin laughed, “One actually…” he said, then the laughter faded from his face and wheels started turning and a wider, more calculating smile spreading across his features. Tarin turned to Lee, “And isn’t that sister of yours supposed to be here sometime in the next couple of weeks or months or something?”

Tarin still claimed that she hadn't been able to resist his charms that first night here at the bar. At the time, Lee had done almost everything she could to deny that, but the fact was that he had been rather hard to resist that night, what with how Tarin had worn that suit jacket with his jeans, just how he had kept looking at her...

Lee was more than used to those looks now, and much more intense ones, but at that point in time, yeah, it had been nearly impossible for her to resist. Even if she had tried to run right after the kiss.

By the time that Tarin was pulling away from the kiss, Lee wasn't thinking of that. She was simply wondering why the hell he had stopped kissing her. Then she heard Matt's words, and she blushed deeper than Tarin had. Matt was right, despite how often things like that happened, they really shouldn't be standing there making out in the middle of a very public place. Even if they had done it from their very first kiss.

But then Tarin replied, claiming that Matt was simply jealous, and Lee couldn't stop the laugh that erupted as Tarin toasted the bartender. Sure, they did joke and flirt a fair bit, but really, Matt jealous that Tarin was with her?

The more surprising thing was that a minute later, after he had winked at her, Matt was calling down the bar once more, saying that Tarin was right, that he was jealous. That...wow, that was something Lee was not expecting to be hearing.

Nor was the asking whether she had a sister, or Tarin turning to ask when Rachael was supposed to be back in New York. So Lee turned to look directly at Tarin once more, a slightly confused and questioning expression on her face. "You want to set Rachael and Matt up?" She asked, bemused, rather than answer Tarin's question right away. Then Lee glanced over her shoulder toward Matt, who was still throwing bottles around as he served those demanding customers further down the bar who apparently preferred something other than beer.

"I'm not exactly sure when she'll be back," Lee continued, still looking over at Matt. "I've been more than a little distracted from outside things lately." Then Lee shook her head and took a breath, having made a decision, turning back to look at Tarin before she spoke again. "She's way too young for him."

Tarin was momentarily considering retracting his previous thoughts about the merits of being out in public. Out in public, people complained when he wanted to kiss his wife long and well. Out in public, he needed to move his hands away from her lovely frame before they wandered away from where it was appropriate for them to be. Out in public, Tarin had to act like he was some kind of gentleman, most of the time.

Matt was doing a good job distracting him from that though. Lee’s sister was funny, warm, intelligent, and from what Tarin had seen, she could be a total knockout when she tried. Of course, she didn’t light a candle to Lee, but they’d established a few moments earlier that Lee was taken. Tarin liked this idea, even if t was only going to amount to a flash in the pan. Rachael was just the kind of girl a devout bachelor like Matt needed to shake things up. Plus, maybe he’d stop hitting on Lee if he had someone more distracting, and single, to lavish some attention on.

Lee didn’t seem to get it. The matchmaking wheels in her head weren’t turning nearly as quickly as the ones in Tarin’s head had started moving. Rachael was in New York fairly often, her career in fashion was blossoming and she made trips at reasonable intervals to see this show or that. Why not? Why couldn’t they try to hook her up with someone like Matt?

Matt was distracted by customers again and Tarin turned his attention back to Lee, who seemed more amused by the idea of setting them up than anything. Tarin suddenly felt a little silly for the suggestion and he shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not going to lie and say that the idea didn’t just cross my mind as we were standing here. What’s wrong with it?”

Then Lee spoke, explaining exactly what was wrong with the idea. Tarin laughed out loud, a bark that sounded slightly harsh in the bar. “Rachael is what? 23 or so, now? Matt’s thirty-one if I remember correctly.” Tarin’s eyebrows slowly raised and he laughed again, an exaggerated look of pained anguish on his face, “God..it’s like he’s thirty-three and she’s twenty-six or something.”

Tarin laughed again as he shook his head and gave Lee what could only be considered a look. “Is there something particularly wrong with that?”

Lee nodded as Tarin asked for confirmation on Rachael's age. Her sister was two years younger than her, and since she had just turned twenty-five the previous December, that would make Rachael 23.

And Tarin said that Matt was 31 if he remembered correctly. Yeah, so, Lee wondered. What was the deal with that, why didn't Tarin think that that wasn't too big of a gap in age? Rachael just seemed so young.

Next thing she knew, Tarin was laughing at her, almost a harsh laugh, before he pointed out how the age difference between Rachael and Matt was quite similar to the difference between 25 and 33.

Lee blinked. Wasn't she the one who normally pointed out the difference between their ages, yet now she was the one who was saying that that same age difference was too much for Rachael and Matt.

Frowning, Lee glanced at Matt again briefly before looking back at Tarin. "I guess it is the same difference in numbers," Lee admitted slowly as she reached for her beer. "But it's different for Rachael. She's..."

Lee paused as she tried to figure out how exactly to explain what she was feeling about it. What she was feeling about the idea of Rachael dating someone as old as Matt. "She hasn't gone through as much as me. I noticed when I was up there, she's so young and naive in a lot of ways still."

It took Lee a moment realize exactly what it was that she’d said and Tarin watched the different emotions flit across her face. Then she looked at Matt, then back at Tarin and frowned as she explained how even though the difference was the same in numbers, things were different for Rachael. Tarin took another drink of beer and waited. This was going to be good.

Lee stopped for a moment after starting her explanation about exactly why the world was so different for Rachael and Matt than it was for them. Lee was really having a problem with this. Then she spoke and Tarin had to really work to not start laughing again. Lee really believed what she was saying, he didn’t think that laugher would go over well, though, so he refrained and took another drink of beer while he mulled over his own thoughts. Words needed to be selected carefully here to avoid giving offense to his wife where none was meant.

“Lee…I kind of understand where you’re coming from…but if Rachael told me the truth, she’s the one who tricked you into coming back to New York in the first place.” Sure, the bar was a slightly strange place to be having this conversation, but Tarin was keeping it general enough that people probably wouldn’t have a clue what the conversation was really about.

“She was also the first one perceptive enough at our wedding to realize that it was time for us to go.” He said, giving his wife a meaningful look then moving on before he got distracted by those particular memories. “I don’t think you’re giving your sister enough credit.” He added, then took another drink of beer while he thought, then spoke again.

“No, she hasn’t been through as much as you have. Few have.” He allowed, then tilted his head and leaned slightly closer so he could lower his voice, “But I can’t remember the last time that Matt went pyro on Times Square …or the last time he had a fist fight with a cop.” He let that sink in for a minute.

“People don’t live like we do, Lee.” Tarin paused and shrugged, then leaned forward and kissed Lee on the forehead, as gentle and reassuring gesture as the last kiss had been passionate and heated. “It was just a suggestion anyway. Matt really is a great guy. Rachael probably isn’t in town enough to really entertain the notion anyway.”

As is usual when you’re talking about someone, the object of half their conversation reappeared at their end of the bar just as Tarin finished speaking.

”Now. What was that I heard about a sister?” Matt said with a wink, already moving to work on a drink order.

Damn it, Tarin did have kind of a point. Yes, her sister hadn't had to go through nearly as much as she had in life, but did that mean that she was really as inexperienced and naive as Lee was thinking Rachael was? Lee had been on her own, living on the streets at the age of 16. Rachael, meanwhile, had probably only moved out because school was too far to commute.

But at the same time, despite not having had a difficult life, and even not considering the car she had been given by her parents, Rachael was doing so much better in Toronto than Lee ever had managed for herself, was doing so much better than Lee had until after she and Tarin had started dating.

And Tarin thought that she wasn't giving Rachael enough credit for what she was capable of. Was he right about that? Was she treating Rachael here in the same way that she hated Robert for treating her, like the little sister you couldn't believe has grown up yet?

Damn it.

Then Tarin was pointing out that most people didn't live like them. that for most people, you didn't have to worry about your fiance turning into a pyromaniac who burned half of Times Square, or ex-cops coming into your apartment and fist fights ensuing. Even if they were to set up Matt and Rachael and they started dating, the worst that could happen with them wouldn't even hold a flame to what she and Tarin had gone through already.

That was very true, Lee realized as she felt Tarin's lips pressing gently against her forehead. "I guess we could introduce them next time she's in town," Lee allowed with a slight roll of her eyes as Matt made his way back over to them.

And started asking again, now that he was closer, about this whole thing with her having a sister. "Yes, I have a younger sister," Lee said, turning to look over at Matt. "She is rather cute, but when she comes to town, she's rather busy with work because she can really only afford to come down a few times a year.

"But I'll give you fair warning now," Lee stated, no hint of doubt, hesitation, or even threat in her voice whatsoever. She was simply stating a fact, just like if she were saying that the sky was blue. "If you break her heart, I will kick your ass."

Now she was listening to him. Tarin could see the truth of his words striking him in Lee one after another. Heh…that was probably the wisdom of his more advanced years shining through in his words. Tarin didn’t comment though, Lee hadn’t meant anything by the commentary on Matt’s age compared to her sisters. It really was kind of a large gap though…just like the gap between him and Lee. Tarin almost chuckled when he remembered that conversation. He’d been shocked at how young Lee was, her time on the streets and on her own had matured her far beyond her years, though. His nomadic lifestyle had had the opposite effect on Tarin. They just worked.

After he kissed her forehead, Lee looked up at him and commented that she didn’t think it would hurt to introduce Rachael to Matt the next time she was in town. Tarin grinned and shrugged his shoulders, “If you think so.” He said simply, glad to have had such a nice discussion on something they’d initially agreed on. Even if Lee had rolled her eyes, she’d agreed. If Tarin was correct, which he figured he was, Rachael’s trips to New York were going to be getting more and more frequent as she built her fashion portfolio and got deeper into the business. From what Tarin had seen, there was nowhere better for a blossoming designer to be.

Matt was back now, and he’d asked Lee about her sister. Tarin kept his mouth shut, giving Lee the final decision on whether or not she acknowledged the question seriously or blew it off as a joke. She took it seriously. Tarin had to laugh at the wildcat that came out in Lee when it came to her sister. Funny how that worked…funny how that worked with girls. Tarin’s brothers had never gone out of their way to protect him when they’d been kids. In fact, as they’d gotten older, they’d just left him alone for the most part. Then again, Ash had been dealing with his own mutant powers and Josh had been helping his mother run the ranch. It was cute that Lee was so protective of her younger sister, though Tarin doubted Rachael would find it as cute as he did.

As Lee spoke, Matt’s face got more and more amused and he ended up almost doubled over on the bar laughing. ”Oh Lee…if she’s anything like you, I think I’ll be lucky to get out with my heart intact.” he looked at Lee for a long moment then over at Tarin, shaking his head before turning back to Lee again.

”Bring her in next time she’s in town. I’ve got to meet the girl. Just out of curiosity…older sister or younger sister? I’d guess younger from the protective wildcat that just sprung forth from you.”

Tarin had to grin at that, Matt had almost subconsciously picked out the topic of their earlier conversation, “She’s younger…” Tarin said, then poked Lee gently in the ribs as he took another drink of beer, “Lee was worried your dirty old man vibes would scare Rachael off though. I promised her you’d pack away the depends for the night though and she seems okay with the idea now.”

Mat just stared at Tarin for a minute, then burst into laughter, flipping him a quick bird before turning and getting back to the work at the bar. Once he was gone, Tarin wrapped his free arm around Lee and chuckled, “I’m glad you’re so protective of Rachael though. It’s good that she has someone to watch her back while she’s in the city.”

Tarin looked at his mostly empty beer, then back at Lee, switching subjects abruptly. "So." he said, "Did you have anything else you felt like you needed for a complete Valentines day?"

When Lee heard Matt start laughing as she warned him about what would happen if he broke Rachael's heart, she started bristling. Yes, as Tarin had pointed out to her on any number of occasions, she was quite small, and she knew that people didn't expect the power that could come out of her, but hadn't Matt seen, at least some, of what she was able to do one Halloween when she and Tarin had been here?

All thoughts of anger were wiped from her mind once Matt told her why he was laughing. He didn't think it was funny or impossible for her to beat him, he thought that it would be very unlikely that he'd be the one left without a broken heart. At least if Rachael was anything like she was.

Hearing that reason, Lee chuckled slightly and shrugged as she glanced over at Tarin. "Is Rach enough like me that Matt would get his heart broken?" She asked him. It might be true, but Lee certainly did not see herself as a heart breaker, though apparently Matt did.

Then Matt was talking again, and Lee looked over to him. Apparently, what with the noise of the bar all around them, Matt hadn't heard her say that Rachael was her younger sister. But he was suggesting that they bring her into the bar next time she was in town so he could meet her.

"Sounds like a plan," Lee agreed. "She dragged me out to the bar often enough, it's only fair that I return the favour."

Tarin beat her to telling Matt that yes, Rachael was younger than her. And how he told the bartender, Lee simply shook her head and rolled her eyes. Yeah, cause that was nice...

"She's only 23, so I was more worried about her being too young," Lee said, trailing off slightly. But there it was, all out in the open. For all she knew, Matt might share Lee's initial reaction and think that 23 was far too young for him. It was quite possible, eight years was quite a gap for most people, and Lee was fairly sure that Matt wasn't aware of how great the age difference between her and Tarin was.

Matt had to get back to work, though, the bar was full, and the patrons were growing rather impatient with the slower than normal service since Matt was chatting with them. So off he went, which resulted in Tarin wrapping his arm around her, so Lee was certainly not going to complain.

She did, however, frown slightly when he spoke. "I'm not sure it's such a good thing," Lee replied slowly, the frown still on her face. "That's what I hate about Robert, treating me like I'm still some little girl who doesn't know any better, yet here I was doing it to Rachael. Sure she's not here, but I still shouldn't be doing that."

Taking a breath, Lee also took a large sip of her beer before looking back at Tarin. It was time to push all of that to the side for now, especially since she was being asked what she needed for a complete Valentine's Day.

Really, what kind of question was that? It's not like Lee had really celebrated all that many Valentine's Days in the past, and Tarin had already brought flowers home for her, they'd gone to dinner, they were now at the bar...

Then she had an idea and grinned up at Tarin. "I think we need to go get some dessert on the way home," she told him with a slight nod. "I haven't had any good cheese cake in forever, and you did promise to take me there again."

Lee asked if Tarin thought Rachael was enough like her that Matt was in danger of getting his heart broken. Tarin thought for a moment and nodded slowly as he smiled over at Lee, “I think Rachael is more than enough like you that Matt’s in serious danger of heartbreak if she finds him wanting.”
Lee pointed out how many times that Rachael had drug her out to the bar and how it was time to repay the favor and Tarin couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head, the smile fading slightly as he more fully remembered one of those nights. The night that Rachael had brought Lee to the karaoke bar. The night that Lee had seen Tarin with another woman. The night that…Tarin shook it off. This was not the time to drag up nightmarish old memories. It was in the past.

Tarin forced a smile, “Exactly. Turnabout is fair play.” He said jovially, even if the joy didn’t quite reach his eyes. Lee went on to talk about her sister, how young she was and how she’d worried about that. Matt didn’t seem phased in the least though. He just shrugged, ”Age is just a number…right?” he said before the crowd demanded his attention and Tarin poked fun at his ‘advanced years’.

It was just Lee and him now, and though the thoughts from earlier had sobered him somewhat, Tarin still smiled genuinely at Lee as she turned and spoke about her fears. “Lee…” he said, looking into her eyes, “Your relationship with Rachael is nothing like your relationship with Robert. I think she’d understand better than you think…and appreciate more than you know.” Rachael had been the one seeking the relationship with Lee, the one who’d wanted it so badly. Tarin had a distinct feeling Rachael would appreciate the sentiment from Lee. As long as it didn’t interfere.

Then on they went to the rest of their perfectly belated Valentine’s evening. Lee seemed to really be thinking about what else she would need to make it great. Tarin was ready to hear her request too, Lee rarely insisted on anything and he loved to indulge her when she did. When Lee finally spoke, Tarin broke into a broad grin and actually laughed out loud. “Lee…I think I should have you pick out things you want more often…it always ends up being such a mutually beneficial situation…think Matt will get too angry if we take off now? I can almost taste the cheesecake…I think I want it more than another beer.”

It was an odd situation, but there it was. Then again, maybe it simply had to do with the fact that the sooner he got Lee to the little bakery, the sooner he would get her home. Then the night could really begin.

Rachael had only been 14 when Lee had left home, it was only really in the last year that they had even talked to each other since then, and yet somehow they were similar enough that even in the short time that Tarin had actually seen her sister, he knew that they were enough alike in this respect.

But when Matt pointed out that age was just a number, Lee simply blinked at him. Maybe him and Tarin were much more alike than she had thought before now, since that's almost exactly what Tarin had said to her once he had stopped freaking out about how much younger than him she was.

Tarin didn't think that her concern about Rachael was anything to be worried about, didn't think it was anything like what Robert did with her. In fact, Tarin seemed to think that Rachael would be happy that Lee was taking this sort of concern over her.

Lee really wasn't so sure about that, it might very well be true, but Tarin's next words made a smile spring to her face. "He probably will be angry, but he'll get over it," Lee said, glancing over her shoulder at Matt, the smile still on her face. "But yeah, let's get going." Tipping her beer bottle up, Lee finished what was left and set the bottle back on the bar. Grinning, Lee leaned over and gave Tarin a quick kiss, then grabbed his hand and started pulling him away from the bar.

It wasn't until they were outside and they had gone a block and a half that Lee realized that maybe this whole cheese cake thing might not have been her best idea. The bar had been quite warm, but out here on the street was more than a little chilly, and Lee was simply wearing a halter top, with no jacket. And Tarin wasn't wearing a suit jacket, either, just his dress shirt.

Stepping closer to Tarin, Lee huddled against him for a bit of warmth as they walked. "How much further?" She asked, not entirely sure where the cheese cake shop was, having only been there the once and having not paid much attention at the time.