InsaneJournal

"Still think we're moving too fast?"
Who: Kitty and Xi'an
What: Some alone time in London
Where: A fancy restaurant, then ending inside Big Ben
When: Last night
Status: Complete
Rating: PG-13 for implied sexytimes in the bell tower.



Kitty had assured that the kids had an olympic-sized babysitter, though she wondered at the wisdom of being left with Jubilee and company. She'd also told Lockheed to keep an eye on them, and hoped he would behave. She wanted her night with Xi'an. Just the one, to be a little selfish. She finished putting on some dangly, sparkly earrings and then smoothed out the folds on a shimmering blue dress.

Xi'an was happy to get a night out alone with Kitty. It was an extra special date, in her mind. She half expected the twins not to sleep at all, or else completely tire themselves out while in Jubilee's care. But she trusted Jubilee, and Lockheed, to look after them. She wore a shimmery black dress.

Kitty almost didn't let them make it out of the hotel, but she mostly behaved herself, flagging down a cab and giving the name of a swanky restaurant. It was one she'd always wanted to go to, but could never afford before. Her hand closed the space between them in the cab and rested on Xi'an's knee, "I've been looking forward to this."

Xi'an smiled and gave Kitty a quick kiss. "I've been looking forward to this as well. It's nice, having a night here all to ourselves."

"Date night is our thing. Even in London." She winked, wondering what Xi'an's reaction would be when they got to the restaraunt. It was worth it just to wear these dresses.

"..I can't get over how much doing this means to me..you know?"

"I'm really glad we had the chance to come," Xi'an said. "Seeing London with you has been an amazing adventure." She smiled and gave Kitty's hand a squeeze.

Kitty bit her lip, squeezing Xi'an's hand back, a little too tightly. She didn't really notice she was doing that, "..this city has always felt like a second home to me. I mean, I know why now. I'm just glad I got to share it with you."

In internet parlance, Kitty was having so many feels, right now.

Xi'an leaned her head against Kitty's shoulder and closed her eyes for a moment. It really was a beautiful evening, and she couldn't ask for a better way to spend it than with Kitty.

Resting her cheek against the top of Xi'an's head, Kitty was reminded of one of the things she really wanted, badly. That she had now. Could she risk it by going along with this response team idea?

Could she stand aside and do nothing if something bad happened?

Pushing those thoughts aside, Kitty kissed the top of her head, "I could spend the rest of my life like this."

"Mmm. So could I." Xi'an sighed contentedly. She really would be perfectly happy if this moment could last longer than she knew it actually could.And they'd have more moments like this, too.

Kitty slipped her arms around Xi'an, kissing her ear, then her cheek, then finally her lips in a searing slow burn kind of kiss.

It was a promise, and a plea for a life time together.

Xi'an returned the kiss, infusing it with a return of that unspoken promise. She could feel a slight prickle of tears in her eyes.

"Okay.." Kitty whispered, adding a little amusedly, "Okay...we'll continue that conversation later."

She sounded thick throated and her eyes were on the verge of watering up. Trailing her fingers down Xi'an's cheek, she got out of the cab and then held the door for her. She felt like something had shifted inside of her.

Xi'an flushed and smiled. "That's...probably a good idea," she said. She could definitely use a drink of cold water right now.

Cold water, and maybe a shot of whiskey. Kitty took Xi'an's hand and led her up to the restaraunt, and inside. She already had reservations, and so they were quickly seated in an intimate table, complete with candles.

Kitty thought the candle-light made Xi'an look a little otherworldly.

Xi'an smiled at Kitty in the candlelight. "You look amazing, you know. And you are amazing for managing to get something like this set up!"

Kitty grinned, flushing a bit. She reached across the table to squeeze Xi'an's hands, "Pick out a wine, you're better at that than I am, lover. And you're the amazing one."

"Okay," she said, squeezing Kitty's hand back. She picked out a wine that sounded very nice and smiled across the table at Kitty.

It was a simple menu, and Kitty went with seafood for her main course and a salad for an appetizer. She thought it sounded delicious and would be really light, too. Comparitively, anyway.

Under the table, she slid her foot out of a heel and stroked Xi'an's ankle, giving her a cheeky smile.

"There are days when I can't get enough of you."

Xi'an ordered similarly to Kitty, wondering what all her lover had planned for the evening. Xi'an smiled and ducked her head slightly. "I can definitely say the same about you..."

Really, dinner, a romantic trip around the city and then sharing the massive tub in their hotel room was about all that was on Kitty's agenda, tonight.

"Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday," Kitty said lightly, grinning. "And so on...kinda feels like we're courting again."

..Did she just say courting?

Xi'an couldn't help but smile at that. "That's probably partly the change of scenery. We have all new places to go," she said.

"Yeah, I think you're right. I also think it's getting easier for me to be able to ...be committed. I've screwed up so much before, y'know?" She was saying 'you know' a lot, a sure indicator she was nervous. But she didn't have any reason to be.

"I don't always know how to really tell you how you make me feel."

Willing to buy a house for her and co-adopt her siblings didn't seem to cut it. Really, it should.

Xi'an took Kitty's hand, stroking the top with her thumb. "I'm glad it's getting easier." She smiled. "And I think you do a pretty good job..."

"Can we skip the engagement part and go straight to the married with kids part?" Kitty said, half-jokingly. "I think I wouldn't run away from that. Not that I'm as scared of the idea as I was last month."

Xi'an chuckled. "We could manage to skip the engagement, probably. We sort of have the kids already, even if they'd be your in-laws." Xi'an's eyes twinkled.

Kitty grinned a little bit, then said without thinking, "I don't think God cares about a little piece of paper when I'm already married to you in my heart."

Xi'an's breath caught in her throat for a moment. "You really feel like you are?" she asked softly.

Face turning bright red, Kitty ducked her head and nodded a little bit.

"I mean, I know a piece of paper is important, but it's not as important as what's in our hearts, right? And except for legal issues which we can take care of we can't get married and..." She took a breath, "And I want it to ...I don't want to ask you to domestic partner me."

She put her hand on her chest, "You're in here."

Xi’an swallowed against the lump in her throat. She took Kitty’s other hand and kissed it. “I love you, Kitty. And...” She took a deep breath. “...I do want to marry you. Even if the legally recognized side of it has to wait.”

She kissed Kitty’s hand again and held it against her cheek. “You will always be in my heart.”

Inwardly, Kitty searched for that feeling of terror, that anxiety that should have welled up inside her. But it didn't. It was more a feeling of relief, and the sort of fear of the unknown that was less familiar but welcome. She'd put so much thought and effort into ensuring Xi'an, Leong and Nya would be cared for that she'd sort of stepped around whatever hurdle she'd mentally put in her way when it came to long term commitment.

It didn't mean she still wasn't scared, but it did mean she was learning to get past that fear.

"Someday we can put action to words." Kitty stroked Xi'an's cheek with her thumb, "Still think we're moving too fast?"

Xi’an leaned into the caress and smiled. “No. We’re not moving too fast,” she said. “I think the pace is just right, now.”

"I have this problem, sometimes, where I can never tell if I'm pushing too much or not enough." Continuing to caresses Xi'an's cheek, Kitty admired her in the candle light. She kind of wanted to hug onto her and never, ever let go.

She glanced behind Xi'an, "I think that's our food!"

“Hm? Oh, the food, right!” Xi’an chuckled and leaned back in her seat. She’d forgotten all about the food for a moment.

The food looked absolutely amazing as the waiter set it down. It smelled amazing, too. “I think we really made good choices with this,” Xi’an said.

So had Kitty, until she'd seen the waiter approaching. She grinned, picking up her fork to try a bite of her fish. It was juicy and fresh, and cooked with all the right seasonings, "Oh..oh...that's so good."

Xi’an took a bit of her shrimp. “Mmm. Delicious.” The salad was excellent, too.

Kitty watched Xi'an closely, then picked up a piece of shrimp on her fork and waggled it playfully in front of Xi'an's nose, "How bad do you want it?"

Oh that sounded dirty.

It was supposed to.

Xi’an raised an eyebrow. Then she leaned toward the fork and slipped her mouth around the shrimp, eyes locked on Kitty’s.

Now Kitty was the one swallowing a lump on her throat, as she pulled her fork slowly back, unable to look away. Her ears were tinged red, quickly followed by her cheeks. It was nice to be taken off guard.

Kitty opened her mouth, closed it, then picked up a glass of wine to wet her suddenly dry mouth.

Xi'an 1, Kitty 0.

Xi’an smirked and took a sip of her own wine after finishing the shrimp. Kitty was adorable when she blushed like that. And it was fun to make her blush like that, too.

“How do you like the wine?” Xi’an asked.

Kitty took a moment to let her throat settle, then took another sip to really taste it. And to also compose herself, "It's pretty good. Almost sweet."

For some reason she felt an intense desire to fangirl her own girlfriend. The thought amused her and she grinned against her glass.

Xi’an grinned back at Kitty. “I’m glad you like it. I’m glad it turned out to be a good choice.” She took another sip and then ate some more of her food.

"It goes with the food," Kitty replied. Then she fell silent as she dug in, alternately wanting to savor the food but also wanting to get eating over with so she could be closer to Xi'an.

She's lucked out, she thought. In many ways, more ways than one.

"So uhm...Dad wants to meet you. I haven't really brought it up again with mom, though."

“He does?” Xi’an paused for a moment. “Wow. That’s great.” Hopefully, at least. “Your mom’s still trying to get used to the idea, I think you said?” While Kitty’s mother might need more time, Xi’an was a little more excited than she’d expected that Kitty’s father wanted to meet her. She really wanted to be on good terms with Kitty’s parents, or even on good terms with just one of them. It would make things easier, and it would mean the twins got to having someone around in a grandparent-like role.

Kitty nodded, "I've kept up my promise to keep calling her but we kind of try to avoid this subject. Dad has kind of embraced the idea though."

She sounded both disappointed and relieved at that. But she knew she couldn't push her mom. She had to come into it on her own.

She reached across the table and took Xi'an's hand, "I think you'll like Dad."

Xi’an gave Kitty’s hand a squeeze. She smiled. “I just hope he likes me,” she said with a slight chuckle.

"Pfft." Rolling her eyes, the brunette squeezed back, "I'm sure he will love you."

Most of her meal was finished, so Kitty then asked, "Dessert?"

Xi’an grinned. “Dessert sounds wonderful.”

Kitty grinned back, almost bouncing in her seat, "I saw this chocolate cheesecake on the way in that looked utterly evil." So clearly, she had to try it, being the secretly 'evil' woman that she could be.

1: Eat cake in such a way it distracts Xi'an.
2: Make it to cab.
3: ???
4: Profit.

Kitty waved the waiter over to order, "Get whatever you want."

“Did you?” Xi’an grinned. “I’ll try some of that chocolate cheesecake, as well.”

Winking, Kitty ordered two slices, then rubbed her hands together greedily. Two minutes later, there was cake, and it was not a lie.

It did look like one could OD on chocolate, though. She held Xi'an's eyes as she took a bite, and groaned. Like Kaylee. And strawberries.

Xi’an took a deep breath. Oh. Two could play at that game. And so she, too, took a bite of cheesecake. And it really was worth groaning over.

Well. That made Kitty dig in, though she kept trying to eat slowly, torn between wanting to savor the cake, drive Xi'an nuts, and being driven nuts, herself.

A smile continued to play at her lips, because there were a dozen levels of enjoyment to this.

Dessert turned out to be both delicious and distracting, but that made it all the more pleasant. Xi’an finished her cheesecake and took a sip of her water.

"I kind of have this urge to cart you around and show you off." The younger woman all but purred the words out, "Or float up the the top of Big Ben."

She shifted in her seat, and said, "..do you want to go dancing? Or just tour around the city? Is there anything you really want to see?"

“I...don’t really care where we go right now,” Xi’an said. “I’m with you, and that’s the part that matters most to me about tonight.”

"Sure, make me make the decisions." Kitty flashed a grin. She grabbed the bill before Xi'an could see it, and slipped her card into the folder before handing it back to the waiter.

"Someplace romantic...." She mused. Then she'd added, winking, "Of course we'd need to share a bath after I'm done with you."

Xi’an chuckled, flushing slightly.

Once she signed off on the bill, Kitty took Xi'an's hand, helping her to her feet, then slipped an arm around her as they walked outside the restaurant. She nuzzled her nose against the back of Xi'an's ear, and whispered huskily, "Lets go see the inside of Big Ben."

Courtesy a personal sneaky tour.

Xi’an grinned. “Having you around to walk me through walls is certainly a perk when it comes to exploring,” she said. “Just let’s make sure we don’t get caught.” They didn’t need that.

"We'll make it quick," Kitty promised, as they got into the cab. She planned to save the slow, sensual savoring for back at the hotel room.

Hopefully the acoustics in the bell room weren't too good.

“Okay,” she said with a chuckle. “Lead on, fearless adventurer.”

"I love you, Xi'an..." Kitty pulled her close, not caring that they were in a cab, and gave her a deep, passionate kiss.

Big Ben was going to get a show.