It had been almost two days since Regan had seen Vicente and so much had happened. She was actually really excited to tell him that she had finally decided to stay at the mansion permanently. This was a special evening filled with good news and good food, so she decided to get dressed up for this little occasion.

Regan rummaged in her closet for her black pleated mini skirt and put it on. The waistband resting just under her tail so if it moved it wouldn’t raise the back of her skirt causing everyone to see her furry rump. She then pulled out her forest green, strapless corset. It was made of silk and trimmed in gold colored fabric. A Celtic braid design was embroidered on it vertically in black thread. She wrapped it around her small form and closed the clasps in the front. The back was tied with a black silk ribbon that ended on the bottom with a large bow which trailed down her back. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she leaned over and slipped her furry feet into her black combat boots and laced them up. Clawed feet never fit well in any other type of shoe so that was the end of her dressing up.

Taking one last moment to look into the mirror, Regan tried to smile and look confidant, but that quickly faded into a frown as she took in her feline features. God how she hated how she looked, if only she could turn off her mutation and look like a human when she wanted to, things would be so much better. With a hefty sigh, Regan brushed a few strands of her vibrant red hair out of her face and brushed her clawed hands on her skirt to straighten it out. She grabbed the door handle and opened the door to her room and closed it behind her as she got into the hall. She hoped that she didn’t run into anyone on her way to the kitchen since she was all dressed up and someone might make fun of her since she lived in jeans and tank tops.

She quickly made her way to the kitchen and peeked inside to see if Vicente had beat her here or if she was the first to arrive.

Tonight was finally the night! It had been a couple days since he first showed Regan around the mansion and took her to get signed up. So far it seemed as if she were pleased with the place but she was dead set to keep that escape clause open. He could understand that. As fantastic as the mansion was, it was difficult to want to commit, especially when it means loading up a ton of trust. He didn’t want to make it seem like the mansion had ALL the answers. It very well couldn’t for someone like Regan.

But he hoped it would.

That, though, would not be paramount on his mind right now. Instead he just wanted to focus on having a good time tonight with a friend. She had eventually found her way over to him and decided to make good on their promise to have dinner.

Vicente was only too happy to accept.

So tonight was the night! Feeling that he should be a bit more dressed than he normally would, Vicente had opted for a nice pair of jeans and a long gray sweater that still clung slightly to his muscular form. Unfortunately having the small job he did have, he didn’t have much in the way of expendable cash when it came to clothes. But he managed to find a couple of good pieces for cheap.

Feeling like he had accomplished the look he was going for, Vicente had made his way down to the kitchen and found…that he was alone. Huh. A quick glance to the clock proved that he was a tad early. He was sure that she would appear any second. But since he didn’t want to just wait there doing nothing, he figured he could at least be of help! Maybe he could grab a few pots, pans, and such just to get things started?

Yes, that was a good idea.

Opening the doors, Vicente went in search of the necessary cookware. That was why he was bent over, head buried in the cabinet as he began to gather a few pots and pans and not really able to hear anyone approaching from behind…

Looking around the kitchen Regan didn’t see anyone around. She glanced up at the clock and saw that she was right on time. She hoped that Vicente didn’t decide to stand her up since he didn’t seem like the type to be late. She frowned slightly as she thought about being stood up by her large friend and it made her heart sink a little in her chest.

Shoving the thought aside, she took in a deep breath. Maybe Vicente got caught up in traffic, or perhaps was just running late. There were many things that could have happened, she knew he’d let her know what had happened when he did show up. She just hoped that nothing serious had happened to him.

Shrugging her shoulders slightly, she made her way silently around the massive kitchen counter to start doing some prep while she waited. She wasn’t walking silently on purpose it just came to her naturally being a cat and all. She walked over to the fridge and as she was getting ready to open the oversized door, she noticed out of the corner of her eye someone hunched down in the lower cupboards of the kitchen. She took a quick moment to sniff the air and a wide fanged grin crossed over her lips as the scent of Vicente filled her senses. “There you are! Are you trying to hide from me down there?” she asked with a playful giggle before taking a few steps towards him.

Head buried in the cabinet, there was really nothing that Vicente could hear. Instead he entertained himself with the notions of what meal that he and Regan were going to be having today. He had been thinking about this meal for awhile now, especially when it seemed to come on the heels of the knowledge that Regan would be staying. He didn’t know why, but he really liked that idea. She was fun to hang around with and there was just some kind of connection there. They understood one another and Vicente really had yet to experience that.

People around the mansion either fawned over him or were terrified of him. He didn’t know why they would be scared since he generally tried to be a nice guy, but maybe they sensed something like the predator in him. He didn’t want to think that was a possibility since he tried to remain as nice as possible, but it did seem probable. Maybe by instinct they just knew.

But whatever. He wasn’t a bad guy. He knew that, and Regan seemed to know that as well. That made him feel--

>> “There you are! Are you trying to hide from me down there?”

THWACK!![/b]

“OWWW!!”

--pain.

Surprised by the sudden voice, Vicente had attempted to straighten up but had only ended up knocking himself on the back of the head in a rather painful manner. For a moment he only saw red and black stars as he groaned and pulled himself out from the cabinet, a frying pan in his hand. Wincing and rubbing the back of his head, he raised his gaze to kitchen around him. Who was psychotic enough to startle someone with their head in the cabinet!?

“Regan?” he asked, his eyes stinging from the pain at the back of his head.

The crack of Vicente’s skull hitting the top of the cabinet made Regan jump and her blood run cold. She winced as he yelled out in pain. Oh what had she done? She should know better than to startle someone like that, but she was just so excited to see her friend.

She quickly ran over to his side and dropped down to her knees. Placing a clawed hand on his lower back and the other on his upper arm, she started to apologize profusely. “Oh my lord Vicente, I’m so sorry! Are you alright? Oh goodness, I didn’t mean to startle you like that. Do I need to get the first aid kit?”

She felt like such a fool! Regan hoped that Vicente wouldn’t be too mad at her for making him bash his head on the cabinet. She was just so happy to see him. She cursed herself under her breath a few times before looking back towards her large friend with concern in her emerald eyes, slight tears welling in her eyes as she feared he’d be angry with her. “I’m so sorry, I was just so excited to see you Vicente.” Her voice trailed off towards the end of the sentence, still feeling awful for causing his pain.

Ow, that one definitely hurt. Vicente fell back onto his butt while he rubbed the back of his shaved head, feeling the lump already forming where he had bashed his head against the cabinet. This was definitely something that was going to leave a bruise. It was only a good thing that Vicente was no stranger to pain. Had he not been, well, he was fairly certain that this would have hurt a hell of a lot more.

Wincing, Vicente sighed as he rubbed his head but was conscious enough to see that someone had joined him at his side. He recognized the voice as Regan and, when she saw the nicely dressed young woman in the combat boots, he had to smile a tad. Yup, that was definitely her.

>> “Oh my lord Vicente, I’m so sorry! Are you alright? Oh goodness, I didn’t mean to startle you like that. Do I need to get the first aid kit?”

Vicente started to shake his head. His bell was rung, but he knew that he was fine, except for a pretty big bruise and lump by tomorrow. But as he was about to voice this to Regan, he saw the look in her eyes. Wow, she really was taking her little mistake with difficulty, wasn’t she? It was just a mistake! Nothing for her to get overly upset about.

>> “I’m so sorry, I was just so excited to see you Vicente.”

He cracked her a smile as he shook his head.

“Regan, I’m okay,” he said with a smile. “Just a bump on the head. Takes more than that to kill me.” A chuckle fell from his lips as he tilted his head to look at her. “You look nice.”

Regan couldn’t help but smile when Vicente said a bump on the head wouldn’t kill him. She chuckled and placed a clawed hand on either side of his head gently and placed herself in front of him so she could get a better look. “Let me see how bad it is. I’m glad a bump on the head won’t kill you, I’d miss you if it did.”

It was then that he complimented her. She smirked. “Aww, thank you. You look very nice yourself.” She said as she looked at the bump on his head. He was getting a lump and quickly. With that she stood up and went over to the stove and grabbed a towel. She then went to the freezer and grabbed the ice tray, twisting it a little and taking a few of the ice cubes out. She placed them in the towel and pulled the ends together before returning to Vicente’s side. “Here let me put this on your head, it will help with the swelling.” She smiled and ever so gently placed the make shift ice pack on his head.

“What were you doing down in there anyways?” She wondered as she gingerly placed the ice on her friend’s head, trying not to cause him more pain in the process. She smiled softly and kept the ice in place, hoping that she could help make the lump a little smaller so it wouldn’t come back with a vengeance tomorrow.

>> “Let me see how bad it is. I’m glad a bump on the head won’t kill you, I’d miss you if it did.”

Vicente smirked at the fawning attention that Regan was giving him. It was strange to be looked over like this, especially when this was someone whom he had really just met. Maybe it was guilt that motivated her but there was something there that really let him know that she cared. In a way that felt pretty good.

Still, though, the pain was already subsiding so there was no reason to for her to look so concerned. But, there was no reason why he couldn’t just take a moment to bask in the attention that he was getting. Besides, even if he wanted to stop her, Regan was already on her feet and moving through the kitchen, grabbing a towel and raiding the fridge for whatever ice that she could find. In silence he just watched her move around so gracefully and he had to smirk to himself.

Before long, she returned and offered him the ice.

>> “Aww, thank you. You look very nice yourself…Here let me put this on your head, it will help with the swelling…What were you doing down in there anyways?”

“Thanks,” he chuckled as she placed the cool ice on his wounded head. It was already helping to numb the radiating pain that he felt pulsating from his skull. With a satisfied smile he just shrugged as he turned back to face her. “Oh, you weren’t here when I showed up so I thought I would get by getting a few of the pots and pans that you may need ready.” He beamed as he offered her that winning smile. “Was just trying to help.”

Regan smiled softly as she held the ice against his head gently. “You are very welcome; it’s the least I can do since I caused the pain.” She carefully lifted up the make shift ice pack off and peeked at the lump on Vicente’s head and then put it back. “Well that was very thoughtful of you.” She gave him a fanged grin and got lost in those dark brown eyes of his.

After a few moments of silence she shook her head and broke the little trance she was in. She smiled at him a little bashfully and turned on her heels to gather the pots and pans that they were going to need to make their dinner. “I sure hope you are still hungry. I know a bump on the head can sometimes make you feel sick.”

She stood up and placed the pots and pans on the counter before turning back to look down at Vicente. She extended her clawed hand out to him. “Do you feel ready to stand up? I’ll help you up; just take it slowly in case you have a concussion ok?” She was genuinely concerned about his head and wanted to help make him feel better in whatever little ways she could.

>> “You are very welcome; it’s the least I can do since I caused the pain…Well that was very thoughtful of you.”

Vicente grinned. Yaaay, he was thoughtful!

>> “I sure hope you are still hungry. I know a bump on the head can sometimes make you feel sick. Do you feel ready to stand up? I’ll help you up; just take it slowly in case you have a concussion ok?”

Vicente had to chuckle a bit. He didn’t know why she was being so caring towards him. After all, it was not like bumping his head was a mortal injury. Sure he was dazed momentarily and it hurt like a MOTHER but he had definitely taken far worse. He was going to be fine and knew his body well enough to grasp that concept. Unfortunately it seemed as if Regan was intent on making sure that all was well. It was sweet, if a little unfamiliar.

“Don’t you worry about that,” he chuckled as he patted his stomach. “I’m always hungry.” She aided in helping him up once Vicente confirmed (again) that he was fine for it. Moving onto his feet, he did feel a momentary tilt of his world but, other than that, the young man seemed absolutely fine! He was ready to go.

Leaning against the counter, Vicente smiled as he reached up and felt the top of his head that had gotten numb from the ice pack. It was definitely feeling better and, as far as he could tell, he didn’t have a concussion. If only Regan believed that too. But, caring was better than not! So, he gave her a firm nod that he was fine and eyed the kitchen around them.

“I swear, I’m in perfect health,” he beamed. “Except for the fact that I am staaaaarving. Come on! Let’s get started. You talked it up so much before that I can’t wait to have it.”