"Mmm, no," he mumbled in agreement, nuzzling his face into her neck and breathing in the scent of her perfume. "But your brothers might. Or your sisters." He kissed her again, a little more firmly, against the place where her neck curved down to her shoulders. His hands wandered down further, moving briefly over her sides before coming to rest in the small of her back, hugging her to him.

"You know, I don't think Xena hates me yet," he joked lightly. "But I imagine she would if I bruised your neck again just before her big ceremony." Or got this beautiful dress dirty — he was glad he'd worn his new coat, though he hadn't expected to be all over her when he'd dressed for this little excursion. (Perhaps he ought to have expected it — it seemed to be happening more and more frequently when he saw Zelda).