Biting her lip even more, she smiles softly at him, her eyes lowering she reaches for her glass with her other hand, and takes a drink. Well she got the point...she thought. She knew he wasn't ready but...fighting the urge to sigh, she looks back at him, her foot moving up his ankle a little.

Wondering what he was really thinking, she doesn't respond, really, good or bad. She had noticed though he had mentioned being in Scotland. That was something wasn't it?

Erik read the headlining story but wasn't able to concentrate long as he felt her foot on his leg. Smirking he glanced at her and raised an eyebrow, "Don't start anythin' ye can't finish," he said teasingly before taking another sip of his water and looking back at the paper.

Sighing he shook his head. Nope too late. Shifting in his seat he looked at her and decided to focus his mind elsewhere, like her question. "So what did ye have in mind fer our 'future'?" He asked curiously but warily. There was a good chance he didn't want to hear it but a part of him wanted to know what she was thinking.

A smile appearing on her face, she lifts an eyebrow. "Hmmm ever heard of footsie?" she asks teasingly, with laughter in her voice.

Looking up as he asks her about what her thoughts were, she can hear the wariness in his voice. Remembering the last time she mentioned anything about the two of them doing something and his reaction, she wonders if maybe she should stop before she upset him again.

Cautiously she decides to at least answer his question, trying to avoid his eyes, because she really didn't want to see how he reacted. She knew though she'd be able to sense it...but just couldn't bring herself to watch it again. "I....umm...I thought of bringing it to the next level." Maybe he'd understand...she didn't know. They were technically living together, considering they were at each others houses each night...but was he ready for the big "E" she had no idea. They'd known each other for years, and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

Did he have doubts? she wondered...maybe that was why it bothered him to talk about it.

"Not what I meant love," he said with a smirk as he still felt her foot around his leg. "But fer the record yes I have heard o' it," he smirked and leaned back in his chair catching her own leg with his foot.

Hearing her answer to his question though he swallowed. Yup he had known the answer. "Well...a lot can happen in a year," he said vaguely and looked up as the waiter approached again, "Ummm I'll have the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, thanks." Well that was good timing now to think again. Looking at her again he fiddled with the paper, "I know what yer askin'...and I can't give ye that answer."

Giggling her eyes twinkle with laughter, as his foot goes around her leg. She was definitely gonna enjoy this kind of teasing back and forth with him.

Nodding she agrees, a lot could happen in a year, and she knew that. Looking up as the waiter came, she looks briefly at the menu again. "And I'll have the Chicken Salad sandwich with the soup of the day." Her thoughts tumbling around in her head, she was more confused then before she'd even asked the question.

Reaching for her ice water, she isn't sure how to respond at all. She wished he'd just talk about it, but she knew how he tried to avoid that kind of conversation topics...frustrating as it was, she would not push him. Though deep within her she wanted to, to at least get an answer as to what was going through his mind.

Biting her lip hard again, she looks down at the paper, really not even registering what was on it, but noticing that his fingers were fiddling with it. She wants to talk more about it, but something held her back...maybe fear of pushing him away, she didn't know.

"ummm...did you ever catch that man?" she asks in effort to change the subject.

Zoe was pacing.... she had never felt this anxious. Marie, an old friend, had called earlier that day by something called a fellytone, a kind of muggle communication, and asked Zoe if they could meet here. She could tell by the tone of Marie's voice that the meeting was essential. Zoe had only been working at the Ministry for 5 days, and already she had to face a problem? Where was Marie?

Erik looked at Kenzie as she ordered and noticed how she didn't make eye contact with him. Sighing he stopped his fingers and was about to say...well something...when he heard her question. "What man?" Had he been in search of a man?

Shaking his head he caught her hand with his other one as well. "Look...I don't want ta plan ahead. I want ta take things as they come because in mah experience when ye start plannin' ye end up disappointed..." Could she respect that? It may very well be that they do get engaged at some point within the year but he'd much rather things be a surprise. Much rather take it one day at a time. Was that so wrong?

Looking up at him, so he knew she wasn't mad at him, she gives him a small smile "The odd man in the cafe. The one who well...threw the water and ran off."

Feeling both hands now around hers, she bites her lip once again. Fighting the tears that were threatening to show themselves, she refuses to let them even come to her eyes. She hadn't meant... Shaking her head she let out the sigh that she had been holding back the entire evening. "I agree, I don't want to plan what's to come." And she didn't. She wanted to know where they were at, but how did she get that across to him.

Her eyes searching his "I..." Sighing again, she lowers her eyes murmuring quietly she ends it with "I just wanted...thought I'd like to know where...you thought we were heading...eventually." She knew they were meant for each other, but not knowing...exactly how he felt was well...frustrating.

"Ohhhh, yes. Oddly enough he apparated straight ta mah department," shaking his head he smirked. The man was a right nutcase that was for sure and now he was in his department. Figure that one out.

Listening to her try and explain what she had wanted to know his confusion seemed to grow more. He moved one hand and leaned into the table so he could reach her face. Resting his hand on her cheek he smiled, "Wherever we're headin' we'll be headin' there tagether." He really didn't know what else she wanted. He told her he loved her every day...did she not believe him?

Her eyebrow lifting, to his department? "Odd..." she murmurs. What a strange man...why didn't he just go quietly. She wonders to herself, glad it wasn't someone she had to deal with that's for sure.

Resting her cheek on his hand, she closes her eyes. She would trust him with it then. She loved him so much, and him saying that they were heading whereever it was together told her more, then she had hoped to learn. She'd known he'd loved her, but just wanted to know if he just loved her or wanted more...someday.

Her eyes opening, her eyes shine with unshed tears. Darn it, she wanted those to stay away. At least they were of happiness though, she thought wryly. Looking at him softly in his eyes "I love you."

As the waiter comes with their food, she chuckles looking up. Impeccible timing as usual.

Erik smiled at Kenzie watching as she leaned into his hand and closed her eyes. Seeing her open her eyes and the unshed tears there he swallowed. "I love ye more," he said cheekily and sighed as the waiter came up. Figures.

Moving his hands back he nodded as he set the plate in front of him. He looked up at Kenzie and smiled at her, "Can I ask ye a question...why did ye ask me that?"

Marie had been walking and walking even further down as she said Zoe, an old friend of hers. "Zoe!", she called out to her hoping that she would hear.

Zoe continued to pace.....
Marie, late as usual. Zoe laughed as she thought to herself. Even when she's the one to call on me! She continued to babble to herself until she heard name called. She turned on the spot to find herself facing a woman named Marie Bonnie Potter.

"Why'd you call on me so early?" Zoe inquired. "What's so urgent?"

"I got held up in traffic. You know what it's like when you can't use magic", she said to Zoe. "It's not that early", she added. "I was wondering if you want to catch up. We haven't really exactly that much", she told Zoe.

Her eyes warming to his she smiles at him. She knew he loved her and she should just except that, and wait to see what happens. Hard as the waiting was, she would wait for eternity for him. No matter how long it took.

Swallowing she looks up at him when he asked her that. "I just...ummm. I guess I want to know what your thoughts are, about moving forward...that's all." The food being placed in front of her, she looks around for where the restrooms were. Spotting them near the back entrance, she moves her bag to the other side of her, leaving it on the seat.

Looking up at Erik with a smile, her eyes full of love she slides out "Excuse me a minute, please." Hoping he didn't feel she was mad or anything, she heads quickly to the restroom.

Zoe pulled Marie into a booth. "I already ordered," she said loudly so many people could hear, and they turned to stare. Wow, she wasn't doing a very good job of staying inconspicuous.
She then whispered to Marie, "Nice cover Marie. Now tell me the real reason you called me here. And there is no point hiding it because you are the one who called me here and if you didn't want to, you shouldn't have! Really, why?"

Marie should have cut Zoe off from there because when she starts she goes on for hours.

"Okay, okay", she said. Sometimes Zoe just lost it at times. "That's the actual reason. When was the last time we caught up? Months ago", she said to Marie loudly. "Why does everything have to land on me?", she added.

"No, it's NOT!" Zoe snapped. "You called me on a tefellone and said it was urgent Ministry Business. She tried to calm down but she couldn't, and she was really trying. She didn't want to get in a fight with one of her best buddies.
She stood up. If Marie wasn't going to tell her the reason she called on her, she would leave. She was almost to the door when...............

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you", she ssaid to Zoe quietly. Zoe was one of her best friends at the Ministry. After all the Ministry was huge. "What happens if some loses their job? I mean, you never know. It could happen some day", she told Zoe hoping it would cover this problem all up.

"Marie I know you are lying to me," she said in a calm, quiet tone. She had controlled herself knowing Marie would lie to her just to make her feel important. "I know what this is about,"she said in even more hushed tones. "Your disagreement with the Minister of Magic."

Erik smiled when he saw Kenzie smile. That was all he wanted. Hearing her answer to his question he pursed his lips. Was she afraid he'd run? Probably. Before he had time to answer though she was heading toward the restroom.

Leaning back in his chair he sighed and put his feet up on her chair across from him and his hands on his head. "Ugh...." he said more to himself as he closed his eyes. Why did girls have to be so complicated? Things were going great so what more did she want? His appetite seemed to have vanished as quickly as she had actually as he stared up at the ceiling.

Dan was hungry. Which was why he was at a restaurant really. Because people didn't really go to restaurants if they weren't hungry. Restaurants were also a good place to go if you wanted to see your friends and take some of their food.

Speaking of friends with food...

He made a beeline right towards Erik, who was sitting alone.

Taking a seat across from the man, he started digging in to the food that was left. Apparently Kenzie had wandered off.

"So where did your chick go?" he asked curiously.

"I'm not", she said to her in a nice voice. "It's a part of it", she added. "It was nothing. Doesn't the Minister disagree with loads of people?", she repiled.

Erik jumped as he felt someone sit down on his feet and a lot heavier than Kenzie. Jumping he dropped his feet down to the floor and stared wide eyed at Dan he snapped, "Mate....what in the hell are ye doin'?" Seriously...if he wanted to eat he'd buy him something. Groaning he grabbed the waiters attention, "Can ye get me another plate o' what mah girlfriend ordered since mah friend here has no manners?" He glared at Dan and sat back up in his chair.

Looking towards the bathroom he picked up his glass of water, "She went to the bathroom...and her name is Kenzie not, 'mah chick'"

No. Zoe said. Look, I've got to run, I'll see you later.
And Zoe walked out.