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"Well," he said, gratefully letting it drop for now, noticing a moment too late that the light had turned green while they'd sat there as a car behind them impatiently blipped its horn at them. Getting the car moving again, he finished his thought "I thought we'd go back to the one we met at, since we didn't really get to sit down for very long last time." he told her.

...that and it was the only coffee shop he really knew how to get to offhand.

Truthfully, that particular moment had been swept into the nether of his subconscious, given the events of the last week or so, but as she mentioned it, it was brought back to mind with glaring clarity and made him squirm a bit in his seat.

Had he really done that....? Oyy. He'd had no idea who she was at the time aside from a name on the internet, or if she had anybody in her life who'd have taken offense to such a gesture from a near-stranger.

"I guess, after all that had happened..." he said, clearing his throat "I just started to take it for a given that the whole thing was some sort of dream." he said, giving a small chuckle as he tried to fathom what she must have even thought at the time.

"And, if it HAD just been a dream..." he went on, flicking his eyes in her direction. "...I wasn't going to kick myself when I woke up over the fact that I hadn't kissed the pretty girl who had just shown me one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen."

Her words made his chest feel as if it were swelling, finding he liked the idea of her being happy, and moreso him being the reason. "I'm glad, Nani." he said softly, having to keep his eyes on the road, but nonetheless beaming.

A few turns took them off of the busy main streets and onto the well-lit familiar side streets of the downtown area.

It was a bit harder to find a place to park this time, but he managed to find a spot relatively near to the coffee shop to settle them into. As he killed the engine again, he sat where he was a moment, then turned to look at her fully.

"You know what? You make me happy too." he said, even though the topic had been silent for the last span of minutes. "I always thought it'd be a lot harder than this. But everything just feels like..." he left the statement open-ended, fishing for the word.

His eyes closed a moment, not wanting her to pull away, but he felt himself nod as his hand fumbled for the door handle, cracking it open to let himself into the growing chill of the evening air.

It wouldn't be much longer and he wasn't going to be able to get away with going out without a jacket anymore...and after that, the woods would be dead and gray until Spring again, leaving his options for excitement limited during the winter months.

Getting Nani's door for her, he gazed up at the soft glow of the shop's sign, remembering the first time he'd seen it. Had it really only been a few days ago he'd stood out here uncertainly wondering if he really wanted to meet Nani or not?

He smirked a bit at her question, starting toward the shop. "Coffee first, I think." he said, realizing only after he'd said it how it might have sounded and inwardly groaned at himself.

Oh well, not like he could take it back now. And if she could tease, so could he, he supposed. He nudged open the glass-paned door with one hand, holding it for her as they passed inside out of the chilly outdoor air and into the heated interior.

It was busier than it had been the night they'd agreed to meet there, but he supposed it was just as well. It would draw less attention to whatever conversation they struck up.

For a moment, there was silence, as he waited for her to order....and then realized she was waiting right back on him.

Smooth, Zhane...

"Sorry..." he said to both Nani and the clerk at the same time, clearing his throat as he quickly eyed over the menu. He wasn't a big coffee drinker, so he wasn't sure what was good and what might be too strong for his liking.

In the end, he decided to stick to what he knew. "I'll have a hot chocolate. Haven't had one of those in forever." That done, he looked to Nani.

He turned his head to watch her go, smiling as she got settled on the couch. The way the fire's light danced over her, putting her in half-shadow, half-glow, made her look almost unreal. He wasn't sure, exactly, what his fascination was with studying her in different lightings...perhaps the budding photographer in him. She really was something else...

"Sir...?" a hesitant voice said at his shoulder, shaking him out of his reverie as he turned back to the clerk.

"Hn?"

"Seven-eighty..." she said with a chuckle, making him jolt and fish for his wallet.

"Sorry, got lost for a second." he muttered with embarrassment, fishing out the appropriate money to give her as she fed it to the register, handed him his change, and then went about preparing the drinks.

A few moments later, he wove through the patrons to join her on the couch, a hot chocolate in each hand. The one that smelled of peppermint, he handed to her as he made himself comfortable beside her.