Another snippet from my "Journey's End" world. Hope you enjoy!

Gillian was beyond excited when Cal mentioned the dinner reservations he had made for their anniversary. The Italian restaurant was amazingly difficult to get into and she figured he'd blackmailed or threatened someone but for tonight, she'd forgive him.

She could feel his eyes on her as she finished applying finishing touches to her make up before choosing earrings and a delicate necklace.

"You look beautiful." His voice was low and full of meaning and she shifted slightly to look back at him. He was ready to go with his charcoal suit and deep red tie. His eyes were dark and she felt a little flutter. He looked so damned hot leaning against the door frame like that.

"Thank you." Her eyes dropped shyly and she blushed and he grinned.

Cal stepped behind her, hands on her waist and leaned in to gently kiss the side of her neck, inhaling deeply. "You smell…delicious." The kiss turned into a tiny nibble as she startled with a giggle.

"Go away, you're distracting!"

"In a good way I hope." He ran the tip of his tongue up the curve of her throat.

"Uhhhhhh…." She almost went limp against him before whirling around and giving him a push. "We'll never make our reservation if you keep that up."

"And how is that a bad thing?" He wiggled his eyebrows with a smirk but stepped back to give her some space anyway. She was so damned excited to go to this place and although he personally couldn't care less, the look on her face was worth the effort.

"Sitter here yet?" Gillian tilted her head to line up one earring.

"Uh, no, not yet. Should be here any minute though." He frowned and glanced at his watch.

Normally Emily would step up to sit for her baby brother but she and her fiancée had taken off for the weekend, so they had had to make other arrangements.

"Where's James anyway?"

"Munching a banana and watching "Totoro."" He turned to head into the hallway and down the stairs to make sure what he said was still the truth.

Sure enough the almost three-year-old was plopped on the floor in front of the television with his legs folded under him. His head swiveled when Cal left the bottom step. "Hi Daddy!" He gave a big cheesy grin.

"Hey yourself bud." Cal raised an eyebrow. "Where does the banana peel go?"

"Oh!" The boy jumped up and grabbed the mushy thing by his foot. "Forgot!" He ran, fell over once while Cal cringed, pushed himself up and made it to the garbage in the kitchen before coming back and running at Cal's legs. The kid was always running. It seemed like he'd gone from crawling to running, effectively leaping over the walking part.

The boy almost knocked him off balance but looked up, his grin exactly like his own but the eyes and freckles were Gillian's. Cal swooped him up for kisses and the boy screeched in delight. "You gonna be good for Crystal tonight?"

"UH HUH!"

"Are you sure?" His fingers found tickle spots.

"UH HUH!" The boy exploded with laughter and Cal caught some flying banana debris and spittle.

Cal put him down and ran a hand across his own freshly shaven cheek, removing a tiny bit of goo and shoving it at the boy. "Ewwww."

James' eyes widened as he laughed. "Ewwww."

At that moment Cal's cell rang. Without looking at the ID he answered while still wiping some of the psychological effects of chewed banana goo off his skin. "Lightman." His face quickly sobered as he listened. "Oh wow. Sorry luv. No it's okay. You just take care." He disconnected as Gillian stepped up behind him.

"Cal, what's the matter?" Her voice was sharp with worry.

"Um, well darlin', there's a slight hitch in our plans." He turned to look at her helplessly.

"What happened?"

"Seems Crystal had a little accident. Broke her wrist."

"Oh no! She okay?"

"Will be but she's currently sitting in the ER waiting for her cast."

James had plopped back on the floor to watch his movie but kept casting furtive looks over his shoulder at his parents.

They stared at one another, Gillian's face filled with disappointment. "Now what?" Then they both stared down at James who looked up, completely oblivious and making a face like a bullfrog.

Cal allowed a sigh. "You think you could be a big boy tonight?"

The bullfrog disappeared as the boy caught his lower lip with his top two teeth and impersonated a beaver instead. He gave a slow nod, blue eyes large.

"Wanna come to dinner with us?"

Once again, slow nod.

Not looking completely convinced that it was a good idea, Gillian held a hand out to her son. "Let's get you changed, 'kay?"

"Need to go pee."

"Well, that too then."

(BREAK)

La Vostra Casa was filled to capacity with well-dressed people, white tablecloths and subdued lighting. There was a murmur of conversation but the noise level was remarkably low for the amount of human beings stuffed in there.

And Cal had a very bad feeling.

The hostess showed them to their table before handing over a couple of menus. Cal caught the woman giving James a slightly suspicious look. Apparently kids were not the norm here.

"Menu for me?" The little boy looked up hopefully.

"I'm sorry, we don't have a children's menu." The woman apologized but she didn't sound particularly apologetic.

His little face fell.

Gillian put an arm around him and gave him a little hug. "It's okay honey. Daddy and I will share with you. It'll be good. You'll see."

"O-kay."

Cal ordered some wine that he knew was a favorite of Gillian's while James had some juice poured into his sippy cup.

Gillian had brought a coloring book and crayons which James now busied himself with.

"Happy Anniversary darlin'." Cal initiated the toast. "Just a nice romantic evening with you and me…and the kid."

Gillian gave him a scolding look but not without humor. "Happy Anniversary."

"I wanna toast too!" The boy stood on his chair and knocked his sippy into both wine glasses with a little too much gusto. The previously white tablecloth now held lovely shades of red.

"I'm sorry!" Tears started to fill the little boy's eyes, his voice carrying.

"Shhh…it's alright. It was an accident." Gillian rocked James as Cal sopped up the mess with several napkins.

Their waiter swooped by, quickly stripped the table and replaced everything.

"Sorry mate." Cal's face twisted ever so slightly.

The man grunted before a tight smile pulled at his lips. "Not a problem."

"You have kids?"

"No sir I don't." He didn't even have to tack on the 'thank God' for both Cal and Gillian to hear it.

"You were one yourself at one point though so maybe you should give him a break."

"Sorry sir. Are you ready to order?"

"Not quite."

The man made a little sound of impatience in the back of his throat. "I'll be back momentarily." He moved away quickly.

"Tosser."

"Cal!"

"Sorry luv but he is."

"I in trouble?" James was looking at his parents with wide eyes.

"No buddy, you're not."

"Why is he mad?"

"Cause he's a tosser."

"Cal!"

"Sorry."

James went back to his coloring. He started singing softly to himself.

"Well luv, havin' fun?"

Gillian rolled her eyes. It was odd how she'd been so looking forward to this but now was definitely unimpressed. Maybe the food was amazing but the atmosphere didn't lend itself to much. As a parent, the world shifted a little. You started seeing things through the eyes of your children and she wasn't happy with what she was seeing. The restaurant was elegant but cold.

The waiter swooped by once again and at that moment the little song James was singing held only one word. Tosser. To the tune of "Waltzing Matilda." It sounded something like toss-er ta toss-er, toss-er ta toss-er.

Cal coughed harshly into his hand to hide his laughter and Gillian turned away as her own smile threatened.

The man's eyes were instantly wary, suspecting that he was the butt of a joke but not catching the British slang. "Um, ready to order yet?"

Hazel met blue in silent communication before Cal looked up. "Nah, think we're not as hungry as we thought."

"Oh." The simple word held relief.

James stopped his song long enough for his eyes to become quite serious as he addressed his mother. Loudly. "I have to poop!"

Several heads turned. Some decidedly unfriendly. Some actually amused.

There was a long moment of quiet.

Cal quirked an eyebrow. "Think we're gonna need the check."

(BREAK)

Less than an hour later James was happily nibbling on a chicken nugget and jigging around to loud 80's music.

"Okay, let's try this again." Gillian held up her Strawberry Freckled Lemonade.

Cal followed suit with his unsweetened iced tea.

James imitated them once again.

"To our wonderful little family."

"I'll drink to that darlin'."

"Me too!" James went to hit their glasses again and they both deftly moved their drinks out of his path of destruction.

"Gently sweetie."

They tried again with a bit more success.

"So much for La Vostra Casa." He wasn't sorry about leaving, just sorry about Gillian's disappointment.

"It's okay. This is much more comfortable." Gillian smiled, just happy to be with her boys.

"Sorry, can't hear ya over the The Human League."

"Very funny."

Cal just grinned.

"But I do expect to be well compensated."

"Oh…?" He leaned forward slightly, eyes smiling while he reached out and took her hand.

"Several times tonight if possible."

"Well darlin', I'm sure that can be arranged."

"I'm counting on it."