A First Of Many? [Abby/Marius]

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

Dating wasn't something that Marius did often. It was a past time that he didn't particularly enjoy or find very pleasant. Perhaps it was because he was so busy working at the hospital and hardly had time to himself that he put the rest of his life on hold. He rarely went out with friends - not that he had many of those either - and generally kept to himself. But every once in a blue moon he'd meet a beautiful woman who he just absolutely had to spend an evening with and learn more about. Abigail James was one of those women that he took an interest in and the very thought of having a night of (hopefully) intelligent conversation. Abby seemed like a bright young woman when he'd patched up her sprained ankle and he only hoped that her intelligence carried over to the evening they were going to spend together. Nothing bored him more than someone who couldn't hold a decent conversation. He didn't care about who was the latest pop star or who Snooki was hooking up with. He wasn't even sure he knew what a 'Snooki' was and what it hooked up to exactly.

No. Marius didn't care about those things. And he'd gone on plenty of ridiculous dates where his lady friends would speak of those things. Had they nothing better to do with their time than to watch E! and read People?

He'd called Abby the night before to confirm that they were in still on for their date and to his satisfaction she was still willing to spend an evening wine and dined by him. He'd gotten her directions and explained that he would be over the following evening around eight to pick her up.

The day of their date Marius received a call from the hospital telling him that Dr. Braunstein was going to need to leave early for a bat mitzvah so Marius would have to be on call. He was reluctant but in the end he agreed. He always agreed. This only meant he had to carry his pager on him in case he was called in and he hoped beyond hope that they wouldn't call him in that night. He would really hate to cut the date short and even though he debated calling and rescheduling he decided to just go along with it. He could tell her at the beginning of the date and if she wanted to reschedule then that would be perfectly fine with him, but he preferred the idea of doing it in person so she didn't get the suspicion that he was blowing her off.

By 7:47 Marius was already pulling up to the woman's home. As it usually did in Scriptor Bay the weather couldn't have been more horrible. It was pouring rain and the temperature was at the ever cool sixty degrees. You never would have guessed that it was the middle of summer there which was different from Romania where they had four seasons the way the east side of the United States had. If he had to compare Oregon to any other location he would choose the United Kingdom where summer was filled with nothing but showers.

He sat in his silver Mercedes in front of Abby's house peeking out the window and noticed that the woman had an extraordinary garden out front. Even in the rain and from the distance he was from it, he couldn't deny it was vibrant and beautiful. He reached into the back of his car and felt around on the floor for the umbrella that he knew he had in there. When it rained as often as it did in Scriptor Bay you would be a fool not to have an umbrella in your vehicle in his opinion.

When he opened the door the rain grew louder and he stuck the umbrella out the door first and opened it right up, attempting to keep himself dry as he stepped out of the car and shut the door. He'd gone with a nice blue and white small checkered button up dress shirt and some black shoes. Overall he thought he looked rather nice, and that shirt was one he didn't wear often. He wasn't a fan of patterned shirts and although it didn't exactly stand out it was just one of those shirts he wore on special occasions instead of on a daily basis.

Keeping the umbrella up over his head to keep the rain from soaking him through he headed up the walkway to his date's house, getting a better view of her garden. It was much bigger and healthier looking than any garden he'd ever seen. She must really take care of her plants. His index finger mashed into the doorbell and he found himself straightening his posture and running a hand along his hair to make sure it was still in place before the door opened and he was greeted by quite a beauty! "Good evening."

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Abby had been excited all day for her date. She had gone on plenty of dates before, but never with the intention of taking it seriously. Since her tryst with Gavin, she decided she was going to take this seriously. She liked the idea of actually having a relationship with someone, and having one with someone like Marius seemed ideal. If he wanted that. She figured there would have to be a few dates to get to know each other before she or he could determine if they fit well together. That was fine by her. There was something so new and exciting about the good doctor.

Marius was very different from the other men she was used to dating. She usually dated guys around her age, which usually meant they were only dating to go through the motions. They wanted to get laid, and so did she, so the first date or the second often turned to sex. Two weeks later, they were maybe texting occasionally. That was how relationships worked with young people, from what she could gather. But Marius was a whole different breed. For one, he had a good paying job, being a doctor and all, and a stable one at that. He was older, probably wiser, and most likely not nearly as volatile as the men her age. She couldn’t even explain how attracted she was to that. Not to mention how ruggedly handsome he was. If ever she had come across potential relationship material, she had come across it in Marius. That was the most exciting thing of all.

As it neared the time for Marius to show up, Abby got a little more frantic in her movements. Her students had a free for all today, since it was nearing the end of the school year, and they took that literally. She had clay and paint all over her when she got home. She had managed to get most of it off, but there was still some under her fingernails. It was going to be impossible to get out if she wanted to be ready by the time Marius picked her up. She put her hair in soft curls, before putting on her simple make-up and limping back to her room to dress. Abby had ditched the crutches two days back, feeling brave enough to walk on it now. It was tender, but the more she did it, the stronger it got. By now, her limp was hardly noticeable, though during the day, she spent most of it sitting. And she had been avoiding heels like the plague. Even tonight, she was wearing flats.

When the doorbell rang, her heart jumped in her throat. He was here! She was in a strapless but tasteful silver dress that appeared wrapped around her middle and flattened with the skirt. (this!) She wore bronze flats and was slipping silver hoops in her ears when Marius arrived. Her fingers finished clipping them as she made her way to the door, calming the knot in her stomach. She grabbed the clutch sitting on the back of the couch as she passed it and kissed her all black kitten Ham on the head, since he was lying right beside her clutch. When she opened the door, her eyes were wide and she smiled wide when she confirmed it was Marius. He looked so dashing! “Good evening.” She grinned wider, leaning on her doorframe a little. “Good evening to you,” she replied cheerfully. “You look so handsome!” There was a little blush in her cheeks, since she hadn’t expected him to look…well, so good! Better than she remembered, actually. She reached to the back of the chair near the door and grabbed her coat, slipping it on over her bare shoulders and she stepped out onto the small porch with him. “You wouldn’t think it was almost summer from this weather,” she commented, standing with him under his umbrella as she locked her door. When she looked back up at him she had a sweet smile on her lips. “So where to?” she inquired, cocking her head to the side a little. He really was so handsome.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

It was as if Marius had all but forgotten what Abigail James looked like in those few days since he'd last seen her at the hospital. She looked different with her girls and how nice she was dressed, but it was those soft brown eyes that he remembered and he exhaled slowly and offered a smile to her. She looked too good for words and he stood there and didn't say a thing and was thrown off when she said he looked handsome. Half of her disappeared back inside to grab her coat and he watched her slip it on and then step out of her house. He made sure to angle the umbrella so that she wouldn't get wet, "you look stunning yourself." Marius finally managed to utter.

"You wouldn't think it was almost summer from this weather," Abby commented and Marius couldn't agree more with her. "I don't think I'll ever get used to the weather we have here. In the summer time it should be sunny and warm not damp and chilly." He explained in a light tone and walked beside her while his eyes moved down to her ankle. "You look to be walking much better. How is it feeling?" You could take Marius out of the hospital but you couldn't take the doctor out of him and she had been his patient after all. He was concerned about her health and if it was sore he would demand she grabbed the crutches and took them along. But from the looks of it she was doing nicely and he gulped realizing that to a bystander he likely looked as if he was scoping out her legs like some sort of animal.

"So where to?" Her words came just as they arrived at the car and Marius ran his thumb along the little keyless fob that went to his Mercedes to unlock the door. The car chirped and the lights flashed on then off again as he opened up the passenger door and held the umbrella over it so that Abby could get in. He winked at her playfully, clearly a little more relaxed now that he wasn't trying to hit on her inside of the hospital while in a white lab coat, and shut the door when he was certain she was in the car so he wouldn't shut the door on her leg or ankle because that would be a disaster and a half.

After walking around to the other side of the car he opened his door and got in while closing the umbrella simultaneously, trying to wring it out as much as possible before he set it on the floor between his seat and the door then shut it and brought the key into the ignition. "I hope you like seafood, I thought we could go to the Blue Scallop and have a bite?" He didn't know if she wanted to do something else and if she had a suggestion he was all ears, but he figured the best way to get to know her would be over dinner. If she hadn't sprained her ankle just days ago he would have offered to take her to an art gallery or for a stroll down the pier. Then again it was also pouring outside and a leisurely walk outdoors wouldn't be a great idea either. The car came to life and the radio began playing quietly one of those mainstream stations that played a little of everything. He didn't really ever listen to the radio but he figured the noise would be nice to fill any silent gaps during the ride.

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

“You look to be walking much better. How is it feeling?” Abby smiled up at Marius, amused by the question. Apparently, you couldn’t take the doctor out of a man. “Just fine, Dr. Dakanis,” she replied playfully. “It’s a little tender still, but for the most part, it doesn’t really hurt.” It was sweet that he asked, though. She liked when her dates showed genuine concern. There weren’t many in her age group who did. Marius, however, was apparently the perfect gentleman. He even opened her door for her and everything! But he didn’t answer her question about where they were going, he just winked at her. He was so cute! She smiled wide, feeling her heart fluttering a little at his smile.

As he made his way around the car, she buckled herself in and lightly brushed over her hair to get any water to pat down. Thankfully, her hair had stayed dry for the most part. Abby had the kind of hair that would frizz like an afro if given half the chance. But she did like to check out Marius while he walked over to the driver’s side door. He was quite the handsome Romanian devil and she still loved that slight accent of his. When he climbed in, she watched as he tried to shake his umbrella off and put the key in the ignition, still waiting for him to answer her question. “I hope you like seafood. I thought we could go to the Blue Scallop and have bite?” Abby smiled brightly. “That sounds lovely,” she said cheerfully. The Blue Scallop? That place was pricey! She liked that he was trying to make an impression, though, and she loved seafood. She was glad she dressed the part!

As they drove, Abby made idle chitchat about her work as an art teacher, leaving out her side business as an apothecary. If it came up, she would definitely talk about it, or at least her homeopathic cures, as she told people who didn’t know she was witch. That would be an interesting conversation for a first date. But she realized they actually had a lot in common; they were both healers. Maybe it would be a good topic to bring up. It would certainly be a lot to discuss! Possibly over dinner if there was good way to work it in. She also asked about his day at work and found out he was on call. What a bummer if he had to ditch early! She hoped that pager wouldn’t go off during their date. She wanted Marius’ time all to herself tonight, as selfish as that was. Not that she would voice that thought out loud, though.

When they pulled up to the restaurant, he opened her door for her, making her smile wide again. He was such a sweetheart! And a gentleman. When she stepped out under his umbrella, she playfully slipped her arm in his with a smile. The rain just gave her a good excuse to get closer to Marius. They walked toward the restaurant and she said, “I haven’t been here in ages! My parents used to bring me here every year for my birthday, but I’ve been gone for a couple years. This is my favorite restaurant, though.” She gave him a sweet smile. “Good choice!”

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

The drive to the Blue Scallop had been an easy one. The roads were pretty empty because of the hour they had left, and when you added the rain to the mix it made it even better. Marius didn't mind driving in the rain and his car handled quite well on the wet roads. Their conversation remained light as well, talking about what they did for a living and how he was on call. He'd assured her that if he was called in they'd still have plenty of time to end the date on a good note, but he would much rather not have to cut it short.

Once they arrived he walked around and opened her door, keeping the umbrella over their heads until they came up to the doors of the restaurant. Her arm was draped over his and he enjoyed having her close and on his arm. He was aware that she was younger than him and must have looked as if she were arm candy, though he wouldn't possibly think of her like that. She was a sweet young woman who had managed to capture his attention and brought a smile to his face while he'd patched up her ankle. He didn't know if this would lead to more dates or not but if it went well then he would enjoy her company as many times as she'd allow it. The only thing that did make him nervous was the fact that because he was older, he wasn't sure what it was that she expected of a date. He liked to take things easy and slow and find pleasure in the company that was kept not in a single night of meaningless sexual activity. And if that was what she was seeking then there would be no hopes for a relationship in the future for them. But he had a very good feeling that wasn't what she was expecting. If he had an inkling of feeling that she may have wanted that then he wouldn't have asked her out in the first place.

“I haven’t been here in ages! My parents used to bring me here every year for my birthday, but I’ve been gone for a couple years. This is my favorite restaurant, though. Good choice!” He grabbed the door and allowed her to go in before him as he wrung out the umbrella once more and stuck it into the holder that was by the door. He always liked when places had an umbrella holder so he wasn't stuck with the wet, soggy thing by his side all night long. "Has anyone ever told you that you're quite the upbeat young woman?" He asked her as his eyes bore into hers and he let that easy smile come across his lips once again. She was very positive and gave such happy feedback. She'd thanked him so many times at the hospital and now she was praising him for the choice of restaurant he'd selected. He was glad that she didn't object to it and that it was one of her favorites in the city. It might have been a little pricey but money wasn't an option for Marius. He was paid quite well. Medical assistance wasn't cheap.

When they got up to the host that was standing there Marius leaned in to tell him the name that their reservation was under. He called ahead to be sure they weren't left waiting around for a table since that could always put a damper on any date, standing around waiting and then wasting all your dinner conversation before you even sat down at the table. "Right this way!" the enthused host said and scooped up two menus and two table settings into his hands before he guided them to their table.

Marius' hand found its way to the small of Abby's back so he could escort her to their table which happened to be near one of the windows. The nice thing about the Blue Scallop was that the view was always amazing. Although you could see the shore you also got an eyeful of the pier and the beach. The seafood was caught and didn't have to travel far to come to their plates which was what Marius enjoyed most about the restaurant. He pulled out a chair for Abby and then pushed it in so she could sit comfortably at the table before he took his own seat just across from her. He has raised a gentleman and always treated his date like a lady, the way that she deserved to be treated.

"So," he brought his hands together and set them on the edge of the table just in front of him and looked over at her now that she was just across the way. "If I hadn't been concerned for your ankle, I would have taken you to the art exhibition at the museum. I wouldn't have been too far off from your interests I take it, what with you being an art teacher." He enjoyed hearing about her and her career path. Her career choice revealed just what type of person she was; caring, patient, and good with children. They were redeeming qualities in a woman.

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Marius, being the perfect gentleman, held the door for Abby and let her go before him as he wrung his umbrella and put it in the umbrella stand by the door. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re quite the upbeat young woman?” Abby smiled bright, laughing. “Yep! I’m told it’s one of my more redeeming qualities,” she teased, slipping her coat off her bare shoulders and folding it over her arm until they were seated. She wasn’t expecting that Marius had made reservations, though. How classy! She felt so special. It may have been a silly thought, but no one her other dates before the good doctor had ever treated her so well. Her father had taken her out once as a mock date when she was thirteen, to try and teach her how a girl should be treated on a date. Marius could have watched a recording of that dinner with how he was treating. What manual did her father and Marius have that other guys didn’t have? All the men of the world should treat their dates the way Marius did!

Abby was very aware of Marius’ hand at the small of her back as they made their way to the table. Her soft face was made softer by the light blush on her cheeks and the smile on her lips. Marius was so handsome and the perfect gentleman. She couldn’t be happier to have snagged him! Just by being her normal clumsy self, too! It was like being in a fairytale. When they came to their table, she slipped her coat over the back of her chair before he pulled her chair out for her and tucked it back under her. With a soft word of thanks, she smiled at the host and glanced out the rainy window to see the beach. If she ever found the kid that had dug that stupid hole, she would buy them an ice cream. Without that hole, she never would have met Marius!

He took his seat across from her, resting his hands on the table in front of him while she kept hers on her lap, looking at those pretty blue eyes across from her. “So, if I hadn’t been concerned for your ankle, I would have taken you to the art exhibition at the museum. I wouldn’t have been too far off from your interests I take it, what with you being an art teacher. Abby smiled wide and nodded. “I’m actually giving extra credit if my students go visit the exhibit and bring me back a ticket stub and write a one page reaction to it,” she said with a little giggle. “I’ve actually been wanting to go! John William Waterhouse has to be one of my all time favorite painters. When I found out some of his pieces were coming to the museum, I was so excited, but I just haven’t been able to get over there to see them. I love that all of his paintings are some kind of literary reference. I love classical literature, and his paintings bring literature and art together. And his style is so reminiscent of Renaissance art, but a more modern version, like it’s mixed with Impressionism.” She always got so excited talking about art. One of her teachers had told her once that when she started talking about art, a light came on in her eyes.

She cocked her head to the side a little, looking playfully quizzical at him. “If I didn’t know better, Marius, I’d say you could read my mind. First you take me to my favorite restaurant and then you say you almost took me to the art exhibit at the museum,” she teased with a bright smile. “But maybe I’m just an open book.” She gave a playful shrug. “Tell me about your interests, Marius. What do you do in your free time?” she inquired, giving him her undivided attention.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

“I’m actually giving extra credit if my students go visit the exhibit and bring me back a ticket stub and write a one page reaction to it,” Ah, so Abby knew what exhibit was up at the museum. Of course she would, being an art teacher that must have been quite a passion for her. “I’ve actually been wanting to go! John William Waterhouse has to be one of my all time favorite painters. When I found out some of his pieces were coming to the museum, I was so excited, but I just haven’t been able to get over there to see them. I love that all of his paintings are some kind of literary reference. I love classical literature, and his paintings bring literature and art together. And his style is so reminiscent of Renaissance art, but a more modern version, like it’s mixed with Impressionism.”

Marius couldn't help himself and he had to chuckle, shaking his head a bit and looking a bit lost. "To be perfectly honest I don't know much about art. Impressionism and modernism.. the terms mean nothing to me. But I do know beauty when I see it, and just because I might not know what a painting is suppose to make you feel because of colors splashed on the canvas, when it makes sense I enjoy it." He didn't know if he sounded ignorant to art or what, but he felt like maybe he was starting off wrong. His brows furrowed causing his forehead to crease and he held a hand up as if to apologize. "I don't mean that I don't care, I just simply don't understand. But with a decent teacher perhaps I can be taught," he explained and offered her a dashing smile to try and make sure he didn't make a total ass out of himself.

Marius just didn't know how to date well. He knew how to be a gentleman though. He wasn't raised by savages, he had been taught proper manners and the right way to treat a lady. But most women out there these days weren't ladies. They didn't want you to treat them like a lady but like a sack of dirty instead apparently. So far Abby didn't seem that way and it made him a little more comfortable than he had been on other days, feeling at ease speaking frankly with the beautiful woman just across from him.

“Tell me about your interests, Marius. What do you do in your free time?” "Why, I read minds of course!" He said and held his hands up before setting them down on his lap, playing with her from her little comment about how he'd known just where her favorite place and her interests were. He gave a serious face and narrowed his eyes as if he were concentrating while he watched her. "Right now you're thinking about how I clearly can't read your mind." He teased her and chuckled softly.

"I don't have a lot of time to myself. But when I do I study. There's always more to learn in the medical field. I go jogging in the morning." What was there to say? He lived a very quiet life and he made house calls to some very interesting folks at all hours of the night. Marius knew that the Guardians were real in the city and most of the studying he did was to help him better his medical services for Guardians. "I enjoy reading this great city's history. I'm a bit of a history buff. And clearly the museum is a nice past time."

He wasn't sure what else there was to say about himself and he had to say he was a bit glad that they were interrupted by their waiter, it would give him a moment to figure out what else to say if she asked for more. He couldn't very well say that he'd moved there to help the Guardians on a first date. "Good evening can I get you two started with a drink, perhaps the house wine?"

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

“Why, I read minds of course!” Abby laughed wholeheartedly at Marius’ joke. He was so cute! The mock serious look he got made her cock her head to the side as she studied him with a wide smile. His eyes narrowed and she narrowed hers in return, playing back with him. “Right now you’re thinking about how I clearly can’t read your mind.” Abby looked dramatically surprised. “How did you know?” she exclaimed softly so she didn’t disturb the other tables. She gave a giggle as he chuckled, liking this lighter side to Dr. Dakanis. It invited her own playful side, and Abby liked to be silly. He got serious again, and she eased back into attentively listening.

“I don’t have a lot of time to myself. But when I do I study. There’s always something more to learn in the medical field. I go jogging in the morning.” Not only was he sweet and handsome, but he was smart and liked to stay healthy. Marius had to be the full package. How on earth was he still single? And how on earth was she so lucky to have interested him? “I enjoy reading this great city’s history. I’m a bit of a history buff. And clearly the museum is a nice past time.” The more he talked about himself, the more she was attracted to him. He was practically perfect. There had to be a catch, right? She didn’t care about the catch right now; she wanted to enjoy herself.

She was going to react to what he had told her about studying the city’s history, but the waiter, to her, seemed to appear out of thin air. Abby had gotten so wrapped up in talking to Marius that she didn’t notice any other people around them. Her eyes turned up to the waiter with a little surprise, but she kept her smile. “Good evening, can I get you two started with a drink, perhaps the house wine?” Abby hadn’t looked at the menu since sitting down, much less the drink menu and wine sounded awesome. She’d probably make the waiter’s day by actually taking a glass of the house wine for once. “What is the house wine?” she asked. She didn’t really care, she was going to take it, but she didn’t want to seem overeager and uncultured. “The red is a light red wine with hints of red cherries and plums. The white is a sweet wine with hints of strawberries and melon.” Though her internal monologue said, “Awesome,” like a frat boy, she smiled more and replied, “I’ll take the red.” She waited for Marius to make his order patiently, her soft brown eyes on him, finding she liked the way he talked and just watching him do it.

When the waiter left, she remembered her question from earlier. She wanted to get a better feel for Marius. “So, a history buff, huh? I’m sure since you’ve studied the city, you know about the legend here. The one about the Tree of Enlightenment,” she said in a tone that suggested they were casually talking about something clandestine. Wouldn’t that be something if he knew it was real? Of course, he couldn’t know about that. He was from Romania; there was no way he could know this city’s secrets already. She had to admit, it was a little disappointing. It would have made disclosing what she was so much easier.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

"How did you know?" He chuckled along as she played with him and shook his head. It was corny, his little joke, but it made her laugh and that was what he was going for. Abby seemed like such a bright, intelligent young woman who surprisingly was enjoying his company thus far.

When the waiter explained what they had for the house wines he watched Abby while she listened to what the waiter had to say. Marius enjoyed a glass of wine with his meal and when she agreed to the red he gave a closed lip smile. "I'll have the same, thank you." He told the waiter politely and watched him walk off from the corner of his eye before Abby got the change to speak first.

“So, a history buff, huh? I’m sure since you’ve studied the city, you know about the legend here. The one about the Tree of Enlightenment,” Marius hesitated and sucked in a deep breath through his teeth and held it for a moment. Everyone asked him that question when he said he wasn't from there. The people of Scriptor Bay were clearly proud of the tale although most of them thought it was just a myth that had been kept around to try and encourage tourists since they didn't have any other major attractions.

With a slow exhale Marius was ready to talk. "Yes, I've heard of it. I knew the story before I moved here from Romania, in fact. It was told to me by someone who was travelling through the country." He grinned at the thought of the woman who he knew was an Avisaille that told him about her home. It was the reason he'd come to Scriptor Bay, wanting to study and learn from their kind. But that wasn't something that he could tell her. Not on a first date.

"I thought it was so unique that it was why I chose to move here. It sounds foolish, yes, but exciting all the same. What do you make of the story?" The waiter was already heading back to their table with a bottle and two glasses, he could see him heading their way but then he stopped at a different table and set the glasses down. Clearly Marius was wrong. "Do you believe them to be fact or fiction?"

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Marius seemed reluctant to answer her question, and Abby wasn’t sure why. He couldn’t know the truth about the guardians…could he? “Yes, I’ve heard of it. I knew the story before I moved here from Romania, in fact. It was told to me by someone travelling through the country.” Interesting! How many guardians travelled so far around the world? She knew Avisailles did a lot of travelling, and some Gargoyles travelled too, but it could have been a human who told him the story too. There were too many possibilities for her to decipher whether he knew the truth or not. “I thought it was so unique, that is why I chose to move here. It sounds foolish, yes, but exciting all the same. What do you make of the story? Do you believe them to be fact or fiction?” Abby cocked her head to the side. What a strange question for a doctor to ask! Surely he wouldn’t ask it if he didn’t know the truth. As a doctor, he was logical enough to not believe a silly legend unless he knew it was true, right? She knew how she could answer the question and get a better feel for what he knew.

“Fact,” she answered simply with a bright smile and a cheerful voice. If he laughed, gave her a strange look, she would know, and she could play it off as her being silly, but still wanting to believe in magic. Just then the waiter walked up with their wine, however. Abby looked up at him and smiled as he poured their glasses. “Are you ready to order or do you need a few minutes?” “Oh, we’ll need a few more minutes,” Abby replied softly and the waiter nodded. It felt like forever that he was pouring those drinks. She just wanted to gauge Marius’ reaction to what she had said and this guy was butting in! Finally he walked away again and Abby moved her glass in front of her as she turned her eyes back up to Marius.

“You probably think I’m silly, don’t you? For thinking the story is true,” she commented with an almost shy smile. She couldn’t help hoping that he would know, though. It would make telling him what she was so much easier. None of the freaking out and disbelief that she was used to, that Gavin had exhibited. He had calmed down eventually, but she hated that initial part. The fear in his eyes was still burned in her mind. How many times had she seen that look? Too many times. It would be such a relief if Marius already knew the legend.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

"Fact," His pale blue eyes remained on her when she answered and watched her expression. Did she believe the myth was true or did she know it was? His face was almost frozen in an emotionless stare except for the little crease in his lips that showed a hint of a grin from amusement. He couldn't be sure but did that really matter? If she wanted to believe it were fact then he could confirm that her beliefs were true. And if she knew then it would make things that much simpler for him to explain why he'd moved out of country for a story that sounded like it came out of a book.

When the server came over to ask if they were ready Marius blinked and looked over at him. He hadn't even glanced at the menu yet, but Abby told him that they needed another minute and the server headed off once more. You probably think I'm silly, don't you? For thinking the story is true," He had been watching the server walk away and almost bump into a group of people who were leaving the restaurant when she asked her question and his eyes came back to give her his full attention once more.

"Not at all." He said softly and leaned back in his chair to make himself more comfortable. The sound of the rain could be heard hitting the window and it was soothing in his opinion, much better than the smooth music that played over the speakers in the restaurant. The sound of rain had always been a comfort to Marius and even now, talking about the Guardians on a first date did he find it calming. "But do you know it to be fact or do you believe that it is fact? You could believe in something being real but it doesn't make it any more real than the tooth fairy. So which is it?" He found the conversation amusing. If this woman truly knew that the Guardians existed then what was her role in this? Was she one of them? Did he have the pleasure to be on a date with a Guardian, or did she simply know someone who was one, the way that he did.

"Then of course there is the matter of proof. How does one know for sure without evidence," he reached for his glass of wine, the neck of the glass coming between his fingers as he lifted the glass, palming the bottom and swirling the contents with a little movement in his wrist. It opened up the wine and allowed it to breathe. Then the glass was brought to his parted lips and he took a sip, keeping it in his mouth for a few seconds and then swallowing it down.

"You have good taste in wine."

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

“Not at all.” Abby’s eyes were big with surprise. Really? Marius didn’t think she was silly? Could he know?! She felt herself getting excited, too stunned to say anything though. Her eyes watched as he sat back in his chair a little, keeping those blue eyes on her. “But do you know it to be fact, or do you believe that it is fact? You could believe in something being real but it doesn’t make it any more real than the tooth fairy. So which is it?” She saw amusement flickering in his eyes, on his face, and she was skeptical of whether he was testing her or not. Abby wanted to spill her guts about herself, wanted to get it out of the way, but if he was just playing around, she didn’t want him to get freaked out when she told him the truth. Her heart was racing and she was chewing the inside of her lip with her uncertainty. She didn’t realize she was sitting in silence until he spoke again. “Then of course there is the matter of proof. How does one know for sure without evidence?” Would she have to prove it to him? She couldn’t do it here. Abby was still silent, debating.

She watched as he swirled his wine, and decided she would do the same to excuse her silence. The way he sipped it…it distracted her momentarily. Was it strange to think it was seductive? She felt her stomach knotting when she reminded herself she wasn’t a child. Her own glass came to her lips as she finally decided what she would do. It was all or nothing…and if she didn’t say it now…there was no guarantee he would stick around if he found out later anyway. “You have good taste in wine.” The wine passed over her tongue, sparking her taste buds as it did so and she found she was quite satisfied. “I do have good taste in wine!” she said softly with a hint of surprise. She smiled as she brought her large brown eyes back up to his, setting her glass back down as she bit her lip. “I don’t just believe it’s true. I know it is,” she finally said. Her heart was hammering, waiting for the confusion, the fear to set in. “I’m a witch. One of the guardians.” She couldn’t hold his gaze and she glanced to the rain-streaked window.

“Specifically I’m a Geomancer. We need a plant in hand to perform spells, which is why I have such a large garden,” she explained softly, making sure to speak only loud enough for the two of them to hear. She felt brave enough to look back at him, her eyes full of her uncertainty. “Do you think I’m crazy?” she asked, her eyebrows turned up with worry. Her hands were clenched on the skirt of her dress with nervousness. She was praying to whatever higher being would listen that he knew about the guardians, that she wasn’t coming off as batshit crazy. She didn’t want this date to be a complete and utter disaster, not after it had been going so well so far.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

"I don't just believe it's true. I know it is," The look on her face made Marius certain that this wasn't just a hoax. She looked concerned, like she was trying to gauge his reaction to what she was saying to him and he had to admit he wasn't entirely sold just by her saying she knew it was true. "I'm a witch. One of the guardians." His lips parted slightly like he wanted to say something but didn't have the slightest idea of what it was and then confusion swept over his face, knitting his brows up into his forehead.

"Specifically I'm a Geomancer. We need a plant in hand to perform spells, which is why I have such a large garden," The woman he'd known had told him that there were others out there, and he knew a few of them. There were Gargoyles and there were those who could shift into animals. She'd mentioned witches but Marius had yet to stumble across one of them since they were actually human. "Do you think I'm crazy?" His hand came up to his mouth as he paused then ran his fingers down his face while his chest heaved up and down as a laugh escaped his throat. He set his hand back down as he chuckled lightheartedly and shook his head at her.

"Not even in the slightest possible way," he told her as the chuckling simmered down and left her sitting there grinning. Marius leaned forward, careful not to knock into anything but he wanted to be sure he kept his voice down as well. And he was a little worried that his chuckling might have gotten a few glances in their direction, he didn't want anyone to know what was so amusing to him. "I know all about the guardians. I know they live and breathe, very real and look very much like the rest of us." He explained in his quiet, calming voice.

He sat back up and pressed his hands over his shirt to smooth it out not wanting it to get all ruffled. "I moved here because I knew I could help. Everyone gets sick or hurt sometime. I wanted to make it possible for them to have someone to trust. I've just never met a witch before. I apologize if I might have startled you."

[ABIGAIL JAMES]

Marius’ hand came to his mouth and Abby watched while chewing on her lip. As he began laughing, she felt her heart sinking right into the pit of her stomach. He thought she was nuts. She should have kept her mouth shut. Her eyes looked out to the beach as she contemplated just walking home. Or calling Lafayette to come get her. “Not even in the slightest possible way.” Her big eyes looked back to him again. He…he didn’t think she was crazy? She could stay for the whole date? She wouldn’t have to completely give up on dating for life?! He was grinning and she felt her own shocked smile coming to her lips. Marius leaned in and she watched him, astonished and fascinated. “I know all about the guardians. I know they live and breathe, very real and look very much like the rest of us.” A big sigh of relief left Abby and she leaned into him too. “You know?” she asked in an excited but soft voice, a big smile on her pretty face. She let a little breathy laugh leave her. “Oh, thank goodness!” That made her life so much easier! She didn’t scare him! Not even a little!

“I moved here because I knew I could help. Everyone gets sick or hurt sometime. I wanted to make it possible for them to have someone to trust. I’ve just never met a witch before. I apologize if I might have startled you.” Abby shook her head with a little laugh. He might have sat back, but she was still leaned forward in her seat some. Her heart was still pumping hard, but only to make up for the fact that it seemed to have stopped for a long minute. “That’s amazing! I can’t believe you knew! I lucked out finding you!” she enthused with a big smile, her cheeks a little flushed. “I’m always so nervous telling people that. I’m afraid they’re going to think I’m some devil woman and shun me.” She gave a soft laugh, finally sitting back, relaxing again. It was then she noticed she had been gripping to the skirt of her dress like a vise. Her hands unclenched and smoothed over the fabric, trying to get rid of some of the wrinkles. “I don’t think I’ve ever revealed that on a first date, though. I guess you’re just special,” she said playfully as she looked back up at him. There was a big smile on her face and she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop smiling for the rest of the night. She got the jackpot in Marius! How could she not smile?

The waiter was suddenly standing beside her and she jumped a little, looking at him, and then laughing quietly at herself. She was so wrapped up in what just happened, she hadn’t even noticed the man walking up to her. The waiter smiled a little confused at her but politely. “Are you two ready to order?” Abby gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, can you give us just a couple more minutes?” she requested. The waiter nodded vigorously and Abby noticed he had hardly looked at Marius all night. “Sure! Take your time, miss!” He backed up, still giving Abby a goofy smile, and walked right into a busboy’s path. He was lucky the busboy didn’t lose his grip on the tub of dishes he was carrying. She gasped a little as they collided, but the waiter just nodded with that same goofy smile, wiped his hands on his pants, and hurried off. Abby looked back at Marius and laughed softly, shaking her head as she realized suddenly that she had two admirers in the immediate vicinity. It was cute. She looked down at her menu and opened it on the table, glancing over the choices. “Maybe we should figure out what we want to eat,” she said in an amused voice, looking back up to him briefly. “How did you find out about the guardians, anyway?” The question was soft and lighthearted and she gave him a smile before her eyes roamed the menu again.

[MARIUS DAKANIS]

"Oh, thank goodness!" He watched the relief come over his date and realized he must have really given her a scare. She had looked outside like she was trying to figure out a way that she could get home as if he were going to leave her stranded there if he didn't believe her. Marius would never do that. No matter how sour a date turned out to be he would never leave a woman stuck to get her own ride. He'd gone on a few dates but nothing had ever been serious and one time he'd even gone on a date with a woman who wanted nothing more than to go back home and get into bed with him right away. That was the only time that he'd cut the date short and brought her back home. He couldn't take someone hanging all over him when he didn't even know the person.

"That's amazing! I can't believe you knew! I lucked out finding you!" He'd hardly call the way that she 'found' him lucky but he chuckled all the same. He admired her enthusiasm, she was definitely a bright girl who was bubbly and outgoing. He was already enjoying the evening. "I'm always so nervous telling people that. I'm afraid they're going to think I'm some devil woman and shun me." That threw him off and he gave a hearty laugh, hardly finding someone who called them self a witch a devil. "I don't think I've ever revealed that on a first date, though. I guess you're just special," he was pleased with hearing this. He didn't know how often she went on dates but the fact that she didn't go around telling everybody this news was satisfying to hear and his face showed he enjoyed this news. "It's probably smart not to disclose that right away." He said and the grin stayed firm on his lips.

The waiter came back again asking if they were ready, or actually he was asking Abby if she were ready to order. He wouldn't look over at him at all and Marius found that to be a little off putting. He was making eyes at his date and he found that in bad taste. But karma worked quick when Abby asked for a few more minutes and the waiter went colliding with a bus boy. He acted as if this didn't phase him but he was very glad with the results of the server making a fool of himself in front of Abby. Served him right.

"Maybe we should figure out what we want to eat," she couldn't be more correct and he opened up the menu that was set on the table in front of him but his attention was on Abby. He already knew what he enjoyed there and he'd get it if he didn't decide by the time the waiter came back. "How did you find out about the guardians, anyway?" It was a question he expected her to ask. "How about while you look over the menu I'll tell you, otherwise the server is going to keep coming over and next time something might break." He teased lightly and he didn't want the server to keep interrupting their date if it could be helped.

He paused for a long moment to be sure she at least glanced at the menu even if she didn't actually find something before he spoke, "We lived in a rural area and one day when I was outside I heard something in the woods. Came to find out it was a woman who was badly injured, and when I went to help her I saw that she had the most peculiar wings sticking out of her back. Now, in Romania, it isn't normal for a person to be able to fly." He said lightly, knowing it wasn't the norm anywhere. At least not for people like him.

"I patched her up as best as I could and befriended her. She told me all about Scriptor Bay and about the guardians. I decided then that it was my calling to become a doctor." He explained, keeping his voice casual and low so that nobody could eavesdrop their conversation. "And I happened to admire your garden when I picked you up. It's magnificent."