She glanced up, smiling as the man pointed to the seat, "Is this taken?"

"No and I'd rather share anyway." She closed her book, "If we're going to share the space, though, I should probably insist that you tell me your name."

"Is that bad experience talking?"

"More like a desire to get to know people who might be sharing conversation. I've had too many good conversations with people whose names I don't know and then, when they leave, I'm only left with a good memory.'

"But what a memory."

"I didn't say they were bad. Only that I'd want your name to better remember this event."

"In that case it's John," He reached a hand over, shaking hers. "John Bates."

"You're not local with a voice like that."

"No, I'm from Ireland originally."

"Never goes away does it?"

"What?"

"The accent."

"They're pretty ingrained." John laughed, "A bit like yours I'd imagine."

"Oh you're so right," She feigned embarrassment, "My native Yorkshire does tend to show rather obviously."

"I can't mind since it's lovely and I like it." He paused, "I'd like it better if I had a name to go with it."

"Does that work with everyone?"

"No because you need an accent I actually like for it to work."

"Aren't you a charmer," She smiled, "Anna Smith."

"What brings you to Paris, Ms. Smith?"

"Touring the world, now that I've got the time."

"Just escape a confining job?"

"More like I decided to expand my horizons and make the time." She opened a hand to him, "And you? What brings you to Paris?"

"It's my first time." He frowned, "Though, I've got the strangest sense I've been here before but maybe it's just that I've seen so many pictures of it I feel it's like an old friend."

Anna nodded, pursing her lips slightly, "I get that feeling about people sometimes. Like I've known them forever when we've only just met."

John nodded in agreement, "It's part of the reason why I sat down at this table."

"I did wonder." She grinned, pointing to the empty tables around them. "Given the plethora of options available."

"It's two-fold, actually." He leaned forward, lowering his voice like he wanted to share a secret. "First, I hate eating dessert alone, since it's an indulgence, and second I felt I'd hate myself forever if I didn't at least take a chance introducing myself to you."

"But you've got no dessert with you so your first excuse seems a little flimsy as a cover for the second."

"I'll have you know," A waiter set a large, decadent, chocolate cake between the two of them with two forks, "That I planned that first excuse rather determinedly. It's only as flimsy as the mousse on this cake."

"Not very then."

"So, what do you think about my reasoning now?"

"I think you made the right decision on both counts." She pointed to the dessert. "Mind if we share? I wouldn't want you to lose your first justification for sharing my table."

"It is why I ordered two forks to go with it." He extended a fork to her. "I hope your not a picky eater."

"Not with cake." She dug into the cake. "How are you settling into Paris?"

"It's about as taken with me as I am with it."

"What, like two dogs sniffing each other out?" Anna teased, going for another bite as she chewed her first.

"About like that." He grinned, "Obviously you're settling in well."

"How'd you mean?" She put her hand under her fork, scraping the bite from the tines.

He pointed to her book, "You're not reading a guidebook at an outdoor café like a tourist."

"Who said I'm a tourist?"

"You said you were touring the world."

"It's a longer process." She opened her hands, "This is my base of operations and I tour from here."

"Ah," John nodded, swallowing his own bite. "I guess I'll have to be more specific in my questioning."

"Yes you will."

He leaned over the table, kissing the chocolate off her lips, "I'll remember that next time I surprise you in a café so you don't bring a medical journal with you."

"You're the one who was late." Anna put a hand on his cheek, kissing him again before she let him return to his seat.

He dragged it closer to her, putting a hand around the back of her chair. "It took longer than I thought to arrange our room for our… celebrations later."

"Celebrations?" Anna raised an eyebrow, "Someone's sure of themselves."

"You've never complained before."

"There's a first for everything."

"Like a first time for the… fourth time we've met?"

"Just like that." Anna took his free hand in hers, linking their fingers. "Happy anniversary."

"Happy anniversary." He kissed over her knuckles and then her mouth. "I love you Anna."

"And I love you John." She took another forkful of cake, holding it to his lips. "Eat this and then you can show me why you were late."

"My pleasure."

"Oh," Anna drew the fork back and John clamped his teeth on air. "I rather think it'll be mine."

"That's my intention." He kissed her again, "From now until forever."