The Rose Bushes

"Not a word." Horatio sighed. "I suppose she knows..why?"

Kiara laughed and played the memory over again just to make sure she interated it right.

"I will never understand you Eglantine" she said with a simle as the memory ended again.

"It is nothing bad Horatio, not at all. it is great, better then great" she said happily.

"And what did she say?" Horatio asked, his smile almost splitting his face. Why did he get the feeling that Kiara was toying with him...

Kiara smiled even more and she eyes sparkled, something they hadn't done in a while.

"Guess... you like games right? I will tell if you are getting warm" she said with laugh as she started humming she favorite song again.

If she had been in a good mood before she was in a even better mood now.

Horatio looked slightly disappointed, but recovered quickly. "Very well, Kiara. Um...she said she enjoyed the dance?" he dared to guess. "How many guesses do I get? Am I any warmer? You do actually speak German?" The flood of questions escaped him before he could stop them.

Kiara laughed "Oh I most certain she did enjoy the dance, that isn't that she said.
though. Horatio for you, you get get as many guesss as it take to get it right, the look on your face whem you figure it out will br worth it."

Pucking a rose she twirled it in her fingers, "and not I do not speack fluet german, I can understand quitte a few words and phrases though. What she said is a common phrase I guess you can say"

"Common phrase eh? Hmm...how about you look handsome in those robes?"

Laughing again Kiara shook her head, she was having entirly to much fun. However she decided to help him for she couldn't wait to see the look on his face.

"Nope but here is a hint" she said as she handed him the Rose she plucked earlier.

Horatio took the rose, his smile fading to an awed expression. "She said that..." he muttered, barely able to conjure a chair before his knees buckled.

Kiara smiled and knelt down in front of him "Are you surprised?"

"Well, no not really. I'm glad she liked the swing. I was just hoping for something else." he sighed.

Kiara gave him the "You've got to be kidding" look.

"Hold on I think we are on a different page, is that what you think she said? Guess again, this time really look at the rose.... and think of her" she said with wink.

Come on Horatio you got to get is now Kiara thought

Horatio stared at the rose as if it would suddenly spring to life an translate the words for him. Finally he sighed. "She liked the crystal rose she found on her desk?" he glanced up, hopefully.

If Kiara could have hit her self "No, although I am sure she loved the rose"

Sighing Kiara said "Think bigger, much bigger then that Horatio, something you probably really want her to say"

Horatio leaned back in his conjured chair. "I'm afraid I'm no good at guessing games, Kiara dear." he murmured. Suddenly he bolted upright. "She said she loved me! Me! She loved me!"

Kiara smiled and nodded "She did" as she continued humming her eye shining even more.

"Thank you!" Horatio exclaimed, pulling Kiara into a tight embrace. Kissing both of her cheeks, he laughed loudly swinging her around in a circle. "I'll be back!" he shouted, releasing the Headmistress and running back toward the castle. He turned several complete flips as he ran...

Kiara laughed, never had she seen someone so happy.

"Congratulations Horatio!! you got through to her"

With that done Kiara continued through her walk humm her favorite song

Sevastyan had decided to take a walk through the rose bushes. The last time he'd ventured into the Nature Gardens, he'd found Amaranth Viper amidst the flower beds. Perhaps he would be lucky a second time.

This was a good spot to come to clear one's head and relax without necessarily leaving the grounds, the Russian decided. The permafrost of his homeland only allowed the heartiest plants to survive without some sort of special aid. It was a refreshing change of pace. Though, he still hadn't managed a complete alteration of wardrobe. And with winter's eventual approach he didn't think now would be a good time to do so.

A sudden -whoosh- as someone or something rushed on by made Sevastyan blink with surprise. Yes, he'd heard the faint sound of delighted voices but hadn't really paid them much heed. Glancing in the direction which the unidentified object or person was going, Sevastyan could hardly hold in a laugh when he recognized that the blur of color had been none other than Horatio McKevin. Though, the Russian couldn't figure out why exactly the elderly gentleman was running. Curiosity overwhelmed him, and Sevastyan headed in the direction from which McKevin had departed.

Whatever he had expected to find, Sevastyan had not expected the Headmistress. The heavy cloth of his robes rustled and disturbed one of the bushes on accident, indicating his presence before he'd even had the chance to say anything. Realizing that Kiara was humming, Sevastyan decided he would stay quiet at least until the song had finished. She really seemed to like that melody, and he for one wasn't about to interrupt.

Kiara twirled around a the sound, and a smiled lit her face when she saw Sevastyan. Continuing to hum she walked over to him.

"Sevastyan lovely day wouldn't you say?" she said praticaly glowing with barely contain happiness.

She was in the best mood she had ever been in... for ages.

Sevastyan smiled somewhat awkwardly at his employer and sister-figure, not quite sure what sparked such a radiantly good mood but glad that she wasn't beating herself up over the whole Goblet thing. Kazimir was an embarrassment, like some over-friendly relative that needed to get his nose into everything, only... the old goat wasn't anywhere near friendly. Unless you just happen to find a best friend in a poison-barbed cactus, that was...

"Yes, qvite," he agreed amiably. Kiara was happy, and he would not let his personal concerns over the fourth champion spoil that mood. "Vot brings you out here?" Sevastyan inquired, genuinely curious.

Kiara continued smiling"Marking essay's" she said, and prove she wasn't being sarcastic she revealed a stack of paper floating behind her.

"Or trying to that is" she said somewhat sheepishly.

Thinking for a moment "Can I ask you something personal?" she asked timidly.

Sevastyan chuckled lightly to himself at her simple answer. She seemed so carefree, it was impossible not to jump on the bandwagon so to speak. At the back of his mind, the Russian decided to take his own work outdoors to grade before it got too cold sometime soon. At her sheepish afterthought, his brow furrowed with concern as he nodded. "You are... distracted?" he offered, though didn't go into any further detail.

He considered for a moment the implications of the word 'personal'. "I don't see vy not... I am listening," Sevastyan answered encouragingly.

Kiara laughed "Oh every, distracted"

"You have been in love before right?" she asked after his permission to ask. She was sure he had been considering he had been engaged before.

"Cause I think I am" she said the smile never leaving her face.

He couldn't help but laugh in response to her mirth. However, the distraction he'd thought was the culprit apparently wasn't it or she likely wouldn't have laughed... unless she'd lost it. Sevastyan didn't think that was the case, though.

"Yes, I have... almost ved, in fact," he replied lightly. He was about to ask why she was curious when his wish for knowledge was instantly granted. "Oh?" Sevastyan queried, keeping his expression neutral. In truth he was a little worried... okay: more than a little worried, about this news.

"Not that it's any of my business, but it vouldn't be Addams, by any chance, vould it?" the Russian asked cautiously. He wasn't quite sure what to make of him yet.