"Hi," she said softly as she drew closer. "I thought that if you were
finished for the evening you might like to have dinner with me?"

H'tor looked up from where he was stacking weights away. He glanced from
her to the far main entrance and then back at her again. He smiled
gently.

"I would love to join you Naomi," he said. "But I've got plans. Perhaps
you'd consider becoming a part of them?"

"Is that a polite was of saying you don't like my cooking?"

"Never in life," he said seriously. "I could actually use your help. I
haven't cooked for anyone but myself in years...and I've never cooked
for six."

"Six?" Naomi said, her eyes registering her surprise. She smiled
merrily. "You're just full of surprises aren't you H'tor? Somehow you
don't seem the dinner party type. Of course I'll join you. Do I have
time to change?"

"If you like," H'tor said as he began to stretch. "But you look
beautiful."

"In this? You flatter me," she said, pleased just the same. "How formal
are we getting tonight?"

"Not too formal," H'tor said absently. She waited for him to continue,
struck by the flexibility he displayed as he cooled down from his
exercises. "K'lestide and his daughter will be there as well as two of
his riders."

"K'lestide is at Daere," Naomi said. "He's not due back until tomorrow."

"His daughter went to fetch him," H'tor explained. "She can be very
convincing."

"So I've heard," Naomi said ruefully. "So straight from Daere the Beta
Wingleader is coming to your apartment for dinner? How much time do we
have?"

"About an hour," H'tor said from where he stood bent double at the
waist, his forehead held against his knees.

"An hour!" Naomi exclaimed. "Men! No sense of time at all! How can you
possibly organize things in an hour? What are you serving? Sandwiches
and beer?"

"Now there's an idea," H'tor said as he stood upright and appeared to
consider the proposal while stretching out his his upper and lower back.
"The old man deserves nothing less than one of my delicious sandwiches."

"H'tor--" Naomi began, she could almost feel the time slipping away.

"But, since the soup is ready and the roast is almost done, unless my
apartment is on fire, I think we'd better stick with the menu I worked
out this morning." He started towards her. "What say we try sandwiches
and beer another night?"

She looked up at him as he came to a stop before her and slowly shook
her head.

"H'tor," she said again, valiantly resisting the urge to be drawn in by
the twinkle in his eye. "You are a sad rogue."

"I'm out of practice milady," he said softly. "Give me some time and
I'll get it right."

"I will consider that a promise," she said, maintaining her serious
aspect with difficulty. "Go shower and I'll run and get ready. Shall we
meet on the green or shall I just come up to your apartment?"

"Can you make the dining hall in fifteen minutes? I'll need you to pick
out some wine while I'm gathering a few things."

"No sense of time at all," Naomi said softly. "I'll try to make it in
twenty. If I'm not there in twenty-five go save the roast and have Haroc
tell Amethyst what we're having." She raised her hand to stop him from
speaking. "Don't! Don't tell me now, I've got too many things to think
about already H'tor! Go now," she said, waving him away. "Don't speak!
Go! Shower! Now!"

H'tor smiled, bowed, turned and started towards the showers. Enroute he
picked up a large bag that Naomi hoped contained something besides a
towel and his armor.

She watched him move for several seconds before she shook her head and
turned away. As much as she'd like to, there wasn't time to be
distracted.

She started towards the main entrance. She woke Amethyst and asked the
queen to meet her at the door, that would save a minute or so. She ran
down her mental checklist of things to do before meeting H'tor at
Uncle's. She wished that all her emergencies were this benign...

**************

Submitted by Abe Barker < H'tor and Haroc >