They Bought the Farm?? - 4

[Shava]

Rosalie nodded, she didn't know much about this topic, but she was proud of him and how much research he'd obviously done already. She resolved to learn, to be an asset rather than a liability. She spoke softly, "I've never seen an alpaca up close before. I think there might have been one at a zoo once." Her father coughed then, and looked as though he was trying not too laugh at his only child. "That was a llama darling", he spoke in much the same tone he used with her mother when Aryssa said something amusing. Rosalie blushed, and gave Taranis a look that dared him to laugh at her and hinted dire consequences if he did. Her father spoke again, "Alpacas hmm? Seems like you've done a bit of looking into this already."

Rose nodded her understanding, "it makes for a fairly entertaining parlor trick for small children", she answered. The mood between them shifted suddenly, and the look in his eyes changed, darkened. Her breath caught as she recognized an expression that was becoming familiar. She met his eyes with a smile that bordered on flirtatious, "such a shame", she repeated softly. Her eyes took on an almost mischievous light. "And what is it you'd like to do exactly?" The knowledge that her father was nearby gave the whole exchange the air of being somewhat forbidden. It gave Rose a feeling similar to that she got from the DA meetings, only with a touch of something entirely new. She hated to break the moment, but knew that if she didn't she might very well kiss him in a way that was entirely inappropriate for parental audiences.

He kissed her on the nose, the electric tension between them momentarily broken. "Always", she answered with a grin, trying to ignore the odd sense of disappoinment she felt at having missed out on something and not being entirely sure what the something was. The ease with which he lifted her was still somewhat unnerving, but she trusted him, more than she had originally been prepared to in fact. From her spot on the window ledge, she peaked over the frame and out over the view. She smiled, "its beautiful Taranis, if I ever stay, can I sleep here?" She gave him a pleading expression with wide eyes and a slight pout. "Pretty please?" Listening to his voice, and watching the surf, Rose found herself relaxing, drifting, but she managed to rouse herself long enough to respond. "I would love to, it can be our next adventure." She gave him a sleepy, contented sort of smile.

When Taranis turned, she knew immediately that her father had returned. "We'll definitely have to look into it", he responded warmly. "It is quite an impressive place." Rose sat up, and her father smiled, "I was actually hoping to find my way back to the house, have to make sure Aryssa is behaving herself." He winked at the two of them. "If you two would like to finish the tour on your own, I imagine that would be all right."

[I'm So sorry it took me so long, first of the year has been hectic. If there's a problem with anything I did in either post just PM me and I'll get it fixed]

[Shava]

Rosalie's father seemed to be accepting him more and maybe relaxing a bit about the whole dating thing of his daughter's. If he had done nothing else, he wanted to be sure that both parents walked away today knowing things were good and their daughter was on the right track. He knew personally that his looks were a handicap to the way some people looked at their children's dating habits and certainly when they heard about the contract that would bring the worry back that Taranis might be after her for her money. Hopefully he had headed both those thoughts off at least with her father if nothing else. That was his job in today's meeting after all, his personal goal if this was all to work out for them.

"Well it's a major change and I have not just my future to consider, but my family's. I'd be happy to stabilize things enough my sisters don't have to feel anxiety about how people see them when they want to get married. If they do, that is." Any marriage they had to hold here would have to be in the manor house anyway to be honest and that was tricky enough as it was. Taranis knew he was poor, but he did have pride in what he did and accomplished. When her father was off looking around and she gave him that 'such a shame' line his eyes laughed and he placed one set on fingers at her neck, gliding them caressingly down. "I think kisses working their way down would fit the bill rather well right now..."

"Where it led from there, of course, would be up to you..." He found himself amused by the idea of her fascination with the ocean. Certainly that had to be a plus on his side, that if nothing else she would get to live by it if things ended up that way. And by the way she was relaxing in the sun there he thought as long as he promised her that and got her here, eventually she'd agree to almost anything to stay there. "Once it has some more protection from the weather, sure. I wouldn't want your parents blaming me for your getting sick, silly one." Adolescent boy's pipe dreams floated through his head but he held them at bay and was glad he did as her father showed back up. The idea of both of them here wrapped in blankets as he kept her safe and warm got more attention from those dreams then they should have.

"That's fine with me if it's okay with Rosalie. We won't be very long behind you I think if this contented cat ever wants to leave the sunny patch here," he chuckled and added with his face shifting to some concern "be sure to watch your step on the way back up unless you want to appirate. You'd need to step in front of the house in the grass first if you want to try that way sir." Soon as her father had left (and Taranis could see him actually exit the house from the window) He turned his head back to her and winked saying "Well now, I must have been approved if I get to be trusted with you here. You like the spot still or do you want to see the upper areas? This is the last stop on the tour unless you think of something you'd like to do..."

[Shava]

"I don't ever get sick!" she insisted petulently, and pouted at him in a manner that was very near mocking. She jabbed him in the side for emphasis. "Besides, you could always volunteer to come keep me warm if you're that worried about it." She'd said it softly, and was grateful for that fact a moment later when her father appeared. If her father noticed her flushed face, he didn't comment, and she was content to withdraw to the background.

She listened to the voices of both father and...well...she wasn't sure what Taranis was exactly. They were friends, but she hadn't ever had a friend she felt this way about before. They weren't exactly dating, since dating belied a certain amount of familiarity both emotional and physical that they didn't yet possess, and while she guessed they were technically engaged, the piece of paper that made it legally official hardly made it anything else.

"I think apparition might be just the ticket", Rose vaguely registered her father's voice, and his departing footsteps. She waited until they'd faded before answering Taranis. "I think my parents like you very much, though they still might not take it very well when the contract comes out" she answered honestly. She rolled over carefully so that she was facing him. "I'd like to see the upper areas", she agreed, "but I'm not so sure I want to move." She sat up a few moments later, and stretched languidly. "But if I must, I must", she said sleepily. "I really think I would have fallen asleep there given a few more minutes", she sounded somewhat surprised.

"But then, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night", the statement came out sounding a bit like a confession. "I was a little nervous about today." She was suddenly aware that for the first time perhaps since they'd known each other, they were very much alone, and not on school property. The thought struck her oddly, and she found herself uncertain of what to do next.

[Shava]

As soon as he saw her father step out into the grass and then appirate, he felt truly safe to talk for once. Looking at her he nodded at her agreement with how her parents were feeling about him. Scooting closer as she sat up he smiled at her and said "Well here then, let's make this as pleasant a private moment as we can." He lay back beside her slipping his jacket off which he rolled up under his head. Opening his arm up for her to lie along beside him he patted his shoulder with his free hand. "Put your head here. I won't fall asleep and we can talk quietly here well enough."

Sleep was not something Taranis had much trouble with, often working long enough hours that his body was staying solidly awake today with so little to do. It felt odd to be here and not working on something to be honest, but he was glad of the distraction. "Nerves I can understand. I worked myself to exhaustion yesterday on purpose though and I slept like a log so you're safe enough with me watching time."Snuggling her close he slid the arm underneath down a tad so his hand fell naturally around the middle of her waist and let his free arm stay on his other side as he stared up. The sunlight crossed them easily and he could see why she had felt so comfortable here.

"The upstairs are more for the view at the moment, though the top apartment is both roomy and has a tower view spot on it. There are a pair of open air balconies which I always thought would be interesting to try broom landing on. Tricky, to say the least." She felt good lying down against him, though she was stiff as if she wasn't sure what she was doing. He glanced at her and chuckled realizing she really did not. "See, this is why I say we should have practiced more. As my girlfriend, putting your hand on my chest or resting it around my waist is fine. My hand won't drop any lower unless you want it too, silly."

[Shava]

Laying next to him felt good, but the setting made her nervous, and being close to him still bordered on a foreign concept. She obliged, laying her head on his chest and hoping he wouldn't notice her awkwardness. "If the upstairs is for the view", she said somewhat cheekily, "what is this spot for?" She nodded when he spoke of landing a broom on the balconies. "I haven't done any flying since the holidays started, Luisa is going to kill me if I'm rusty for our next game." She blushed when she realized that he had indeed noticed her discomfort.

She turned her body so that she was facing him, her head still on his shoulder, and laid a hand cautiously across his chest. She felt very out of her element, and was aware that it probably showed. Being semi-alone in a tower of a well-populated school was one thing. Being very much alone in a half finished house with her extremely attractive almost-fiance was quite another. His barely concealed inuendo didn't help, and she buried her face in his chest, mumbling something that sounded like "Oh Merlin Taranis" into his shirt. Okay, so she was attracted to him, there was no longer any chance of denying that fact. That was a good thing wasn't it? Or was it? They were still supposed to be pretending weren't they? But how much of this was pretending, practicing, and how much of it was real red blooded teenage attraction? She had no earthly idea at this point.

She raised up slightly so that she could meet his eyes through the curtain of hair behind which she was currently hiding her flushed face. Rosalie knew there were several girls at hogwarts who would have cast an unforgivable to be in her shoes right now, most likely on Rosalie herself. Girls with experience, girls who would know what to do in a situation like this, girls like the one from last summer. The thought came unbidden, and definitely unwelcome. She wondered what the nameless neighbor looked like. She had almost certainly been pretty if she had overridden Taranis moral guidelines, she'd also very likely known how to push his buttons. Rosalie found herself wishing she knew those things, if not to use them then just to be comforted in the fact that she understood them.

She lowered her head back to his chest, and then, hesitantly pressed her lips to a spot on his neck just above his collar. She pressed herself closer to him, her manner almost experimentally curious. She brushed her lips over his jaw, and then to a spot just under his ear. She didn't like feeling inadequate, and she'd be damned if she let herself be intimidated by a girl she'd never even met.

[Shava]

Not catching the cheek in her statement at first he said softly "I think he meant it as an observation spot really, not that I see the point in that, but as a window seat it would be good..." Brooms. Well, it was often the case that he got no flying practice in during the holidays. How others had the time he didn't know, he was always busy. "I don't how you could, personally, not when we have so much going on already this break..." When she suddenly buried her face in his chest and he thought she said 'Merlin' but he couldn't really tell, his eyebrows went up, wondering what had happened.

"Ah don't worry about it, Rosalie, I'm sure she expects everyone to be a little off coming back from break." She looked at him questioningly he thought, but he didn't know how else to phrase it since he didn't know that much about her team's operations. He was about to take another stab at being reassuring when she did something which surprised him. Greatly. He felt her kiss a spot on his neck and suddenly everything changed. How had she gotten from broomstick training to...? Awkwardly, or maybe trying out stuff to see what worked, she brushed along the length of his jaw and he felt his heat rising.

Wow, he damn well wished he knew what had brought this on!

The hand he had at her waist he moved to her back and began running it up and down her spine, giving her a back scratch in a way as she continued under his ear and he closed his eyes to slits, trying to concentrate on the sensation. Taranis hadn't meant to start anything exploratory today certainly, he had sat down to be her pillow as she was feeling sleepy, but had somehow set off an entirely different set of thoughts. "Oh my..." If this was a reward for doing well with her parents she would have him falling over in attempts to keep this going!

Capturing her free hand off his chest, he brought it up to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm tenderly, surprised again at how much he wanted to protect her, keep her safe. Trophy wife indeed; did she not realize how many guys would work hard to have a woman like that in the first place? Taranis had never sought one, always wanting a partner, someone to live and work with really and until this moment he had never contemplated marrying someone who would do nothing but...please him. "Ree-love," he kissed the inside of her wrist softly, "I'll give you about six days to stop that..."

[Shava]

Rosalie found it rather endearing that he missed the sarcasm in her statement entirely, but rather than point this out, she nodded her agreement. “I think it makes a lovely window seat personally”, she commented. Her lips quirked in a rather sardonic expression “that’s true, but it isn’t as if everyone knows that, and I’m a little hesitant to announce to the Gryffindor quidditch team at large that I’m…” She let the sentence trail for a moment, seeming to struggle with the next word, “betrothed.” She wrinkled her nose. The word sounded so archaic and out of place between two twentieth century teenagers. Looking into Taranis’ eyes, she found herself wondering what being married to him would be like. There would be the working of course, but there would also be…other things. She blushed when she caught up to her line of thinking. There would be time enough for that train of thought later on, should she choose to pursue it.

She shrugged, “I suppose you’re right”, she answered. As she kissed him, she thought she heard him speak, but wasn’t sure exactly what it meant. When he spoke again, she thought at first that she was being scolded, but after a moment she registered exactly what he’d said and smiled shyly. “So that was…what I mean is…that was okay then?” She met his eyes, her own wide, questioning, and uncertain. She felt his lips on the sensitive skin of her wrist, and somewhere in a more disconnected part of her mind, she acknowledged that the sensation almost tickled, but it was best not to tell him that she was sure. “Six days?” her tone was teasing, “is that all?” She returned to her relaxed posture, curled comfortably into his side, her head on his chest. “I was just curious”, she said by way of a half-true explanation, “about what would happen if I kissed you that way?”

She shrugged as best she could in her current place. “Might as well get the practice in while we can I guess.” She was silent for a few moments, enjoying the stillness of the moment, and then: “I wonder what our parents are talking about?” The thought made her somewhat nervous. She could just picture her mum and dad regaling his sisters with embarrassing stories of her childhood. “I hope my parents don’t volunteer too much information”, she lamented softly; “they tend to do that.” As she spoke, she began tracing absent-minded patterns across his chest with her fingertips. Her eyes lit up, “Oh I bet I could learn all sorts of things about you from your sisters!” She glanced up at him mischievously. “I mean…we need to get to know each other better…right?”

[Shava]

Even as she said it, he found himself trying the word out on his tongue. "Betrothed? Engaged? They do sound a bit odd to say don't they. Fiancée? I doubt I'll think any of them sound right for awhile really. I suspect most of my teammates will be surprised, that's for sure." Her kisses were surprising, really, though she didn't see his initial surprise she did see his smile of interest after that. "Oh yes, that was fine. You can feel free to experiment as much as you want, of course." Curious? Well, maybe she didn't really understand the spots to hit really. It wasn't like there was a manual for this kind of thing, not that she could ever turn herself up enough to read it if there was.

He would have liked one himself actually as girls were far more confusing then he had ever imagined, though the physical aspect he felt much more comfortable with then he had. "Well if you like we can play a game of simon says, that would probably help you understand a lot more." A simple game his sisters had told him about, though in this case it would be far more interesting then their version. As for parents, he felt a smile tugging at his mouth corners again. The longer he stayed here with her, the more his stsers might hear about her which meant he'd hear it later. Whereas any stories his mom told she might not hear all of, though her parents might get him with it in the future. It seemed to him to be in his advantage to keep her here at least a little while longer. She made the logical decision about his sisters though and he knew she was right about that!

"Heh, they know better then to blurt out stuff in front of adults though, you'd have to get them alone and comfortable for awhile before you get stuff out of them." But he decided it was about time to turn the tables on distractions. "You want to learn more? That's not hard at all and I can give you information they wouldn't have any way of knowing..." Turning his head he placed one hand on her chin and lifted her head gently off his chest and kissed her in the same first place at her neck like she had done for him. "First this spot..." then he slid his lips along her jaw as well, getting in several breathy soft kisses along the way. "Then along your soft jaw..." and then a final one right under her ear as well.

"And now you know those feelings," and he nibbled lightly on her ear, letting her feel his breath on her cheek and ear. From there he moved down her neck slowly, stopping only when he reached that spot between her neck and shoulder again, the one he had distracted her with so well at school before he pulled back and said "Now, Ree-love, what can you learn from that?"

[Shava]

Rosalie shook her head ruefully. "Don't remind me, I can't even fathom telling my best mates yet, much less Luisa and the rest of the team." She could just picture her friends' shocked expressions, could hear the gossip, about what they must have been doing during rounds all this time. The whole thing was enough to give her a headache, and in fact she felt as though one could come calling any moment now. She could just picture the conversation, 'oh, by the way, I'm getting married because if I don't my parents will probably be killed and my grandmother won't let me inherrit the mad sum of money that's currently in a trust fund with my name on it at Gringotts right now.' She could feel herself paling, and perhaps turning slightly green. "Do you think anyone would notice if we just stayed here? For the rest of our lives?" Rose knew she was being a bit silly, but at the moment that idea seemed far more attractive than the concept of revealing to her friends that she was as caught up in the web of pureblood social propriety as any of the Slytherins could hope to be.

Rosalie wrinkled her nose, arching an eyebrow in confusion. "Simon says?" She had played the game as a child, but failed to see how it had bearing on their current situation. "How would that work exactly?" As they discussed his sisters, she gave him an affronted look. "I'll have you know that I can be quite disarming when I put my mind to it!" she insisted smiling. "Just because I don't feel it necessary to charm you all the time doesn't mean I can't." She stuck her tongue out at him in a playfully childish manner. She could tell from his tone that he was attempting to convey more than he was actually saying. "Like what?" she said softly, her curiosity getting the jump over her better judgment. "You know you can tell me anything." She batted her eyelashes at him a few seconds before she winked. "We could go back and forth, a question for a question?" she suggested hesitantly. An arrangement like that had the potential to get personal very quickly, but as they were about to sign a semi-binding contract together they probably needed the boost.

His kisses didn't so much surprise her as the sensations they caused. Each spot his lips touched tingled oddly, shooting an odd sense of both calm and excitement through her system. She felt herself melting, and while she wasn't entirely sure she liked that he had the power to do that, she found herself unwilling and possibly even unable to ask him to stop. His breath on her neck gave her chills that had nothing to do with the temperature, and when he finally stopped to ask his question, she spoke before she thought better of her words. "That I'd like you to do it again." When she realized what she'd said, her mouth closed with an almost audible 'snap' and she blushed. "I mean...that's not what I meant...well, it is but..." nothing was coming out right, and she was getting even more flustered by her inability to communicate herself properly. "You're going to be the death of me Taran."

[Shava]

He nodded, understanding what she meant indeed. "Well...what's wrong with us just saying this was arranged by our parents and it's better then alternatives? No details or anything, but entirely truthful." The game she seemed a mix of surprised and curious about and he figured she would understand it pretty easy. "It's simple enough. You do one thing to me like that set of kisses and then I do the same back. That way whatever you want to try, you can see how it feels for you as well. If you want to learn what feels right and wrong, that is the easiest way to see." Her comments about his sisters he just smiled at; he had no doubt she could charm them, but in front of adults nothing was going to happen. Then she mentioned a question for a question and he nodded as if giving it thought, serious thought.

"We could do that same time too, first one then the other, but if you want to do questions, we'd have to set a level of...sensitivity. Like, how far your questions can go. Or else limit it some way. Any ideas on how you would like to set the limits?" He knew with her past nerves about physical contact it certainly wouldn't be on that subject, not from her at least. Taranis chuckled softly in her ear as her confused words came out. It hadn't occurred to him how much fun a slow seduction could be, especially based on how things were going really in the current situation. There was a certain temptation to go too far too fast with such a fate hanging over their heads to make sure they would both be feeling comfortable with ending up married should it come to that. But he also didn't want to rush her, but- - well what was the word really? Enjoy? No, he had it, savor her reactions to him and what he did.

"Your wish, my dear Ree-love, is certainly granted." This time first he gave her a brush of his lips on hers, just a tease, then he made his way down her jaw again, more soft kisses around the bottom of her ear plus a nibble, and then he went for the real spot, that base of the neck making sure she felt him going down her neck along the way. This time he spent more time down there, the neck of her clothes sliding away a bit as he expanded his attention and then fairly slowly back up her neck to finish with a much more lengthy kiss on her lips, growing a bit more energetic before the end. When he did break off it was to look down into her eyes and say in a whisper "Somehow I don't think you have to worry about faking enjoying being around me close..."

He heard a noise from the direction of the stairs and rolled over slightly so he wasn't looking down into her eyes and saw Aimid just as she turned their way, her face making a bit of an 'O' as she saw them lying down. "Taranus Summerby!" He looked at her and shook his head "Aimid, why are you here? And why are you acting shocked when we're just talking?" Her hesitation showed he had surprised her and she stopped in the middle of an assumption easily seen on her face. "Talking? Then why are you lying down?" Thinking quickly, he spoke while still formulating answers as he often had to do with little sisters around. "Playing Simon says and I was being challenge to a staring contest till you interrupted me and made me lose a point."

Rolling over farther he reached out a hand and caught her arm, pulling her close. As she squealed a protest he got her in a very light headlock clearly playing with her and said "You deserve noogies for that..." "No Taranus! You can't! Mom worked on my hair to braid it for guests!" He hesitated, throwing Rosalie a wink. "Well darn it. Then you owe me a fault, goofball, for making me lose the game."

[Shava]

Rosalie was about to respond, to tell him exactly what was wrong with that idea when she stopped suddenly, realizing she couldn't think of a single thing. "I guess that works", she grudgingly admitted. "I just don't want everyone to pity us, an arranged marriage has an air to it of being trapped, like a business arrangment." She shrugged, "honestly I don't feel very trapped, a bit worried maybe, a bit anxious certainly, but not particularly trapped." And that, she realized, was a miracle unto itself. She gave a contented little sigh, enjoying the feel of being in his arms, and at least for the moment completely alone, without the need to pretend, or to perpetuate any part of this ridiculously complicated scheme they'd both concocoted. The game did indeed sound simple, and at the moment infinitely tempting. "That sounds...promising", it was the only word she could think of that encompassed how she felt. She was struck by the idea that that was all they had really, a promise, of things that were, of things to come, a promise they'd both willingly made without fully understanding the ramifications or the consequences.

She nuzzled his neck, brushing her lips over a soft spot between his ear and the his jawline. "I'm not sure, I'm fairly certain there won't be a lot we don't know by the time this all comes to a head, whichever way it turns out." She pointed out somewhat hesitantly. The fact that they were going straight from good friends to a betrothal meant they had a lot of ground to cover in between. As if reading her thoughts, and obliging her half-uttered confession, he was kissing her again in a way that seemed to be a cross between the two she'd experienced thus far. His attentions weren't exactly gentle, but neither were they particularly heated, she could tell he was intent on taking his time, on taking things slowly, and really, who was she to complain when that meant that the sensations he was causing might last a few seconds longer...When he finally pulled away to look into her eyes, she was struggling to breathe normally, she felt a foreign sense of excitement, a kind of adrenalline pumping through her body.

So focused was she on those eyes that she almost missed his whispered words. "I think you're right", she managed, softly, her tone and expression bequeathed a sense of abject wonderment that can only be found when one is exploring something entirely new and decidedly exciting. She reached up, and placed a hand lightly on his chest, before tugging him gently down so that she could kiss him again. The moment was short-lived however, as the sound of footsteps echoing off the stone had her releasing him so quickly she felt a bit disoriented. When Aimidd appeared, she let Taranis handle the situation, for two reasons: one because she was his sister and he knew her best, and two because she didn't trust her voice not to betray her still-recovering senses. Just talking? Right! Amidd didn't look as though she believed him either, but without proof she was forced to concede the point.

A staring contest? Well, whatever worked. Having mostly recovered herself, Rosalie got in on the act. "Yep, I won!" she gave him a smug look that only barely covered her mild sense of disapointment. "Thank you Aimidd, we'd have been at it forever if you hadn't come along." Rosalie smiled at the girl, while simultaneously knowing Taranis had very likely ascertained the double meaning in her words. She was however, distracted momentarily, "a fault?" she asked them both, "what does that mean?"

[Shava]

Damn it. This was the problem with having little sisters, there was never any real privacy to be honest, even when you thought they were entirely asleep. A momentary regret since she had been about to try something and he was going to be up all night wondering what, but then he turned and distracted his sister, giving Rosalie a moment. "Since it was her fault I lost, next time we have to compete on something I can call in the win automatically if I want." She nodded, not happy about it obviously so she turned and gave him the news she had been sent with.

"Mom wants you back at the house, both of you. She's been bragging on you, Taranus." She poked him in the side similar to the way Rosalie had been trying to get him and he slipped an arm around Aimid's neck pulling her closer, trapped. "Okay okay, we're coming. We were just enjoying the sun. Rosalie really likes hearing the surf so she likes this spot." Aimid however did not run off ahead of them which told him she had been sent to be around them as well. "Looks like we've been sent a chaperon, Rosalie," he said softly as he gave her his arm heading for the stairs behind Aimid.

Back across the bridge to the stairs, then to the tunnel, Aimid chattering away and asking Rosalie questions about where she lived and such as they walked. Through the tunnel she carried the light as Taranis guided Rosalie behind her and sneakily while guiding her let his hands slide down to her waist. Aimid didn't notice a thing in the dark, but he expected to see Rosalie's face red by the time they got out of there. He didn't let her trip however guiding her confidently through the tunnel and telling her as they got near the steps in each part before they exited behind the old barn.

Once they were out and the light put away, Aimid skipped ahead abit ahead of them and he chuckled, watching her while slipping his hand back in Rosalie's. "Seems your father figured out there wasn't much more to see and decided to mention that. Either that or mom send Aimid before he got back. You know I'll be sitting up tonight sleepless wondering what you were about to try back there, darn little sister... Ah well, maybe Mom has some russian tea ready about now. Do you know that stuff?"

[Shava]

The frustrated look on Taranis' face was almost comical, and Rosalie felt for him, felt for him but couldn't quite rach him. When he explained the idea of owing a fault, Rose wrinkled her nose, but then her expression brightened. "That sounds..useful", she sent Taranis a wicked grin before asking in an innocent tone. "Do those rules apply for girlfriends too Taran?" She gave him a wide-eyed seemingly innocent look. She could just imagine the battles between them in the future...well...maybe not battles exactly...No! She would not get into that train of thought in front of Taranis' little sister, or in front of Taranis for that matter. Her head cleared, and she could rather unfortunately see quite clearly where this was going. They were going to have to leave this house, which further meant she was going to have to move.

She allowed herself one last longing look at the view outside, but sure enough, Aimid's next words confirmed her suspicions. She nodded her agreement emphatically, as though the only thing on her mind was the house, and the resulting view of the ocean. "Oh absolutely, its so beautiful out here." Rosalie sent Taranis a wink before commenting. "Oh I'm sure she has, Taranis is such a wonderful guy, what's not to brag about?" While she meant what she said, her tone was teasing. She knew quite certainly how much Taranis hated being fussed over, but she couldn't resist the opprotunity, both for the fun and for Aimid's benefit. She sat up from her spot on the ledge and stretched, sorry to see their moment pass but resigned to the fact that she was indeed going to have to let it.

Rosalie nodded, smiling brightly at Aimid as she answered his sister's questions. No she didn't live in a mansion, yes she did look very much like her mother. Aimid had seemed very interested in Concerto, and Rose had emphatically promised that she would get to meet him some day. She could tell they would get along fine, and for that fact she was glad, if only she felt so confident about the rest of his family. Rosalie felt rather than saw Taranis arms sneaking down slowly to her waist. She couldn't do anything about it now because of Aimid, and he wasn't really making her uncomforable. Still, she would have to swat him for that later, she decided, and maybe get a little revenge right now while she was at it. With equal swiftness, she worked her arm around his back, and into the hip pocket of his jeans. She squeezed his hip swiftly, in a gesture that promised consequenses for his sneaky behavior the moment they were a. alone and b. she could see where she was going.

Rosalie nodded at his assertions about their parents. He was probably right. Though she was disappointed. Rose had to admit there was probably wisdom in not allowing two red blooded european teenagers very much alone time. Though she hated to admit it, and probably wouldn't have under pressure. She looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think so", she answered, "Gran favors japananese tea, and mum usually buys whatever the corner market is selling that week. "What's it like?"

[Shava]

Surprised by her reaction, he shot her a swift look as Aimid giggled, seeing she had caused him trouble accidentally. A sigh at her face and he raised up a finger as if to say there was an exception. He didn't point it in her face, mind, but up at the ceiling beams. "Yes, but it doesn't ever apply to activities involving more people then the two involved so Quidditch can't be used for that. Otherwise, sure we can play that too, it just works both ways, be warned." Turning he patted Aimid on the rear as she squeaked and ran to get out of range as he said "As for you, little sister, we're going to have to have a talk about this when company is gone."

His smile belied the seriousness of his response of course.

On the way back he listened to the two of them talk and smiled when she didn't stop him from being sneaky with his hands. However, she did surprise him quite a bit with the jeans pocket trick and he gave her a surprised look. Followed by a slight blush, before he let go of her waist and returned the gesture, sliding his hand into her back pocket as well. Softly he said "Well okay then, simon says." Unexpectedly his arm over hers into her pocket also trapped hers so she couldn't pull hers easily out of his own. Nice! His eyes dancing with mischief he said softer as they came around the edge of the last barn and were almost in view of the house "Ah well, have to look respectable again I guess."

Timing it so they were coming right into sight from the window as Aimid looked back to see what was taking so long he removed his hand and slid it around her waist, though respectfully in the zone it was supposed to be in. However, hearing she didn't know what the tea was he said enthusiastically "Well first off, it's not russian at all and mom learned to make it over a pot, though we usually keep an instant version around. You make it yourself and it's a bit like a mulled tea, but with a lot of orange and clove flavor to it. It's one of the best wintertime drinks I've ever had." as they reached the doors, Aimid was waiting for them impatiently. "Come on, it's too cold to walk slow, Rosalie! Pinch him or something to make him go faster!"

Glaring at her as he grabbed the door to open it for them both he said right to Aimid's face. "One day munchkin you're going to have a boy ion your arm and I'm going to pinch you to make you move faster and maybe you'll understand why couples like their siblings to keep their mouths shut." She at least had the sense to shut her mouth and looks a tad bit regretful she had said it as he opened the door and motioned them both in, taking their coats as they got the door closed to hang back up.

[Shava]

Rosalie laughed, a bit discomfitted by how well he knew her, but amused all the same. "I'm shaking in my boots", she warned. She was fully confident they would find ways to be more comfortable with each other. She had missed their easy comradarie over the last few weeks, and was relieved to see it return so easily. "Besides, I don't need a free fault to beat you in quidditch", she stuck her tongue out at him. Watching him tease his sister, Rose couldn't help but think he'd make a good father some day, and the thought jarred her, since when had she started having thoughts like that about the future. "Don't be too hard on her Taran", she jabbed him in the side gently. "You know what they say about shooting the messenger." She winked at Aimid, "besides, wouldn't want all that bragging to go to waste would you?" she managed a pout for only a few seconds before it melted into a grin once more.

She hadn't expected him to trap her, and she found herself blushing. Something about his whispered words reminded her of the few moments before Aimid's arrival, and she found herself wishing for a repeat performance. Her major concern for the moment, however, was negotiating her way back to his house, preferrably without causing herself serious injury. She gave him an affronted look and leaned up to whisper softly, "I always look respectable, thank you very much." Then, as if recalling a few choice moments from before, her eyes changed, "well, almost always...." He waited until the last moment to move his hand, freeing hers as well. So long in fact that Rosalie worried Aimid might have seen something she'd think was inappropriate, or worse, something she wouldn't understand and would go asking her mum about later. Rose wasn't exactly certain which was the least preferable option.

His description did sound good, and she hoped there might be some inside for her to try. She heard his sister's voice a moment later and laughed. "Already tried it!" she called back, "He's determined not to make it home before Christmas!" she added. Listening to Taranis response, she couldn't resist teasing him. "Depending on how everything turns out, you may have other things to do on a cold winter day than teasing your besotted younger sister." She whispered the words, and winked at him for good measure, determined to have the last word in their little game of cat and mouse. Once they were back in the house, however, her manner changed. "That house is unbelievable", she told his mum, "I can't wait to see it when it's finished." She smiled, looking a bit like a little girl after candy. "You wouldn't happen to have any russian tea on hand? Taranis has been describing it since we started the trip back, and it sounds really really good."