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Weeks after their return from Belrea, Kauff was still looking for ways to extend their vacation. The trip had been educational, lucrative, and an unexpected workout, and despite that one dark moment during their museum heist that he still thought about when it was too quiet, they had made it home mostly unscathed.

He had gone back to his odd jobs when they'd gotten back, but today Kauff had awoken early for a different reason. With the kids sufficiently bribed over the past few days, he and Xariy would hopefully have an hour to themselves, barring any emergencies. On the kitchen counter there was a box, large enough for a poscuta, though none of the animals were in the vicinity.

Kauff sat across the room, drinking some juice and pretending he hadn't put it there.

"It's a box full of fish. Absolutely overflowing." He tried to grab the juice back, settling his hand at her hip when he missed. "I didn't do anything," he said, his voice bright with amusement. "It's a gift. And there's no fish."

He almost advised against moving it in any direction that wasn't strictly vertically, but in the interest of surprise, he kept that to himself. Everything would be fiiiiine.

"I promise it's not a poscuta," he replied. "Speaking of poscutas, Linnea's getting really good with them. I bet she could get them to put on a show if she really wanted." He laughed to himself. This morning wasn't supposed to be about the kids, but everything was these days. Kauff didn't mind.

The contents of the box moved easily when it was shifted, the feel of a heavier item being cushioned from sliding all the way to the edge by a lighter one. Inside was a small bundle of fresh flowers with wide, red petals, held together by a patterned ribbon. There was also a dagger, too pretty to be used and left behind with any anonymity, perhaps, but still functional. It was dark steel with a simple feather etched on the blade and a black leather sheath. Two little matching red stones sparkled at the end of the handle.

"Don't you remember? The day we met? You kicked my a** and I fell in love...eventually." He paused, trying to keep his expression serious, but the attempt only lasted a few seconds. "Okay, I have no idea when that day really was, but I did feel like celebrating it. Just because. It changed my life." He covered the sentiment by taking another sip.

"But seriously though... it was summer, right?"

It was a blurry memory, as many of the ones from that time were, but Kauff recalled his embarrassment and wounded pride most of all. She had dared to beat him when no one else had. He hadn't stopped thinking about it for months after that.

"I'm glad you beat me up too." He laughed. "I'm also glad you even talked to me the next time we met up." At that point he probably would have pursued her, but giving chase had never been guaranteed. In hindsight, it all felt very lucky.

"I gotta ask... how do you think you'd do against me now? You should've seen me fighting those guards in Belrea. It was pretty badass."

He had been fishing for an amusing jab at his skills or a cheeky backhanded compliment, so when Xariy said she thought he would beat her, Kauff had a moment of smug speechlessness. She sounded sincere, no matter how her statement ended. It felt nice.

"Maybe." He grinned. "We should spar again sometime." As the years passed they had kept up their training, but all out fighting to win hadn't held the same kind of priority. "When the kids are older."

"Never. I would go even harder on you because you're my favorite." Kauff paused for a long moment, the mirth in his eyes remaining as his smile faded to pleased neutrality. "And yeah, they'd learn a lot no matter who wins. It'll help them decide if they want to take up a weapon too." He couldn't imagine a world where he hadn't been a fighter, but things were very different now that the war was long over.

"So, yeah. Happy sort-of anniversary. We should have a couple of hours to ourselves." The smile was back. "And for once, I don't even mean anything by that."

"I mean... if you want." He laughed, the sound echoing around the empty room. It had been a while since they had truly been alone, but now that he'd arranged it, he found he didn't know what to do with the time... beyond the obvious.

"Oh! No, you know what we should do? That girl... that woman in town? Resa?" He had heard amazing things about the traveling toymaker. "She's supposed to be really talented. You think we should get a couple of things?" Even when the kids weren't around, he couldn't help thinking of them.

"We can find somewhere to eat downtown too."