Candlelight for Four

Khaat and Brian arrived just a few minutes before 8 pm for their reservation. The host showed them to their table where a magnum of champagne waited as it chilled. Brian removed Khaat's cloak off her shoulders and the host took it to check it into the cloakroom. Brian helped her with the chair at the table before taking his seat across from her.

"You know this is the first time you and I have ever been her," he said to her.

"And well overdue," she said.

"You look exceptionally beautiful," he said to her, "And perfectly at ease."

"I don't know which part of that is the bigger illusion," she laughed slightly.

"If you get too uncomfortable, let me know."

"I will. Thank you."

Jack escorted jessica into the restaraunt he was in a smart black suit jess wore a short red dress and matiching shoes and cloak witch jack removed and gave ti the checking clerk before the were shown to the table "Hi Khaat ,Brian you both look wonderful , I hardly recognised you both2 she said grinned as she placed a red sparkly purse on the table beside her jack pushed her chair in as she sat down then went to sit next to her and Khaat.

"So do you two," Khaat smiled. "I love the dress. And you know how I love really great shoes."

"Champagne?" Brian asked. He removed the oversized bottle from the ice bucket and poured four flutes of champagne and replaced the bottle. "The host said they have some exceptional prime rib and filet mignons tonight. And Khaat says they have incredible Italian food."

"Actually, I like everything Blaire has on the menu. I 've never been disappointed with anything I've ever gotten here," Khaat said. "Well, truth is, I've crashed in here on Blaire a few times late at night when I've worked too late at St. Mungos and needed something to eat. I can always be sure I'm going to get something I really like, and getting away from the office never hurts either. I already know what I'm having. I'm having the filet mignon. If you like Caesar Salad, try theirs. I've never had better."

"I think I'd like something a bit more substantial," Brian said. "I think I might try a nice large slab of prime rib."

"A slab?" Khaat echoed. "You'll be in the gym for hours."

"I'll suffer through it. What do you say, Jack? You game?" Brian asked.

Jess nodded "ow got to agree this were a find they fit like a dream" she said and brozed the menu "yeah think i'll have the samke she chuckled as she saw Jack eyes light up at the mention of prime rib he looked in her direction and she smild nodding "go on its not every day you take me out " she said and laughed lightly as jack did a 'yesss' and grinned at Brian "Im game2 he said grinning , jess shook her head 2well got to let them play once in a whjile " she said plaing her menu down and ordering the same as Khaat .

Once the order was placed, Khaat looked at all the beautifully dressed people in the room. If she had not known better, it could well have been any other elegant muggle restaurant. None of these men and women looked like what they really were or showed much inclunation of the powers they really wielded.

"Have either you or Jack eaten in a muggle restaurant, outside of where we ate in Venice this summer?" Khaat asked Jess. "You know, if a muggle came in here, they'd expect to find all of us in our robes and wearing pointy little hats. And I know that I, for one, have not worn a pointy hat since the last time I was made to do it as a student in Hogwarts. I hated those. American muggles used to wear hats that looked a lot like the hats we had as students, except that they were only worn by idiots as punishment. There's something really odd in that."

Brian laughed. "Maybe its because those pointy little hats did look fairly stupid," he said. "I tossed mine. At graduation as I recall."

"No, you burned it."

"Oh, yeah. I did. Is that where you got that need to turn everyone you didn't like into some cheeky hat?"

"I don't remember," she frowned. "I'm not sure where I got that. Probably something I inherited from Daddy."

"Well, that could be. He likes transfiguration much too much," Brian said. He lifted his glass. "A toast. To many more elegant evenings with our elegant women."

Khaat just smiled and raised her glass.

jess smiled as she watched the two of them together "I don't rember Khaat , I haven't since coming back but before that im not sure remember my meory is still scetchy even now " she said and chuckledas she watched the two of them together happy. She rsted on Jasck as Biran toates she held her glass and took a sip smiling as she foound red wine to her liking.

"this is a nice fruity wine though i have toi admit i could not drink a lot of it" she said and smiled as jack slid his arm around her .

"Jess turned her hat into a bird and watched it fly away on her graduation or so I was told " jack said softly as he too smiled "and I agree, heres to hopefully many more to come and lots of love inbetween" he kissed jes's cheek lightly and pulled away when the waiter brough their food .

"Well, that's one way to get rid of that stupid hat," Khaat said. "I always liked Minerva McGonnegall's hats. She had style."

Brian scowled at her. "Minerva wore pointy hats too, Khaat."

"Yes, but they were hats with style," Khaat said. Brian frowned even deeper at her and sighed, not understanding. He looked at Jack.

"Somehow I just don't understand women's logic sometimes. Did you understand how Minerva's hats were cool and ours were stupid? They looked alike to me."

Khaat looked at Jess, "He really doesn't get it. That's why I don't take him shopping with me most of the time."

"I thought it was because it bores me."

"That too," Khaat laughed. Khaat decided to eat her Caesar salad first. She liked the freshly made dressing over the romaine with the freshly shaved cheese and homemade croutons. She thought their salads were the perfect beginning to a great dinner.

Sess laughed as Khaat asked if jack got womens intuiton and designs "ow your so talking to a man who thinks having black on his bed is sheek " she said "thats black silk" she chuckled as she started on her salad which she found she enjoyed it and smiled seeing how the two of them looked together in her mind as if they ahd ben together as a couple for along time, it looked good to see and hear Khaat being happy.

When the salad course was overwith, the server brought the entrees. Khaat had ordered a filet mignon, cooked medium, and rice pilaf with grilled asparagus. Her steak was perfectly cooked, and she throughly enjoyed it. She liked the signature Italian spice rub that was on Blaire's filet so that the filets never needed any sauce of any kind. The meat was always perfectly lean and tender like butter. Just the perfect steak.

Brian seemed to be completely enjoying his prime rib, cooked medium rare. He liked his beef a bit more rare than Khaat did, and he had chosesn a loaded baked potato. Khaat just laughed when she saw the huge slab of beef on his plate, the enormous potato, and the Italian mixed vegetables.

"You're going to be swimming a mighty long time to work all that off," she told him.

"Not a problem. I'll just take you jogging."

"You'll be jogging long after I've stopped," she said.

"That's because you can't jog as long as I can."

"Don't test me, Brian," she frowned. "I lasted longer than you did the last time. I'm sure I could do it again."

"Care to make a bet on that?"

"It'll cost you."

"What exactly will it cost me?" he grinned.

"Diamond stud earrings."

"I don't wear earrings."

"Not for you. For me!"

"Deal," he laughed. "You're on."

"I thought that would talk him out of it," she looked at Jess, sighing.

jess laughed at the bet nodding to Khaat about talking him out of it "you should know by now it never works, well almost" she chuckled placing ehr hand on Jacks as she had a chicken dish she was not too sure what she had ordered but it smelt wonderful and she smiled always open to trying new things for how would she know if she liked it if she didn't try it first "yumm try this jack?" she said adn smiled as she handewd him a small pice he took it and nodded he agreed that it was good.