With each and every day that seemed to pass the blue-eyed blonde woman by, it became increasingly harder for her to keep those thoughts, those memories, those fantasies away from her. She could busy herself with cleaning that apartment from top to bottom, dusting and leaving no little thing cleaned though in truth she didn't really know why she bothered being so thorough when Chika's mottled fur would just cover the futon or her blankets mere moments later. It was just another way of trying to keep herself from feeling that warmth overwhelm her, another futile attempt at keeping those wants and desires far from the reach of her thoughts. She would wake up in the middle of the night on some nights, not for the flashbacks to that night when she'd nearly lost her life if not for the fae man that her heart pined for despite the struggles of that logical part of her doing little to nothing anymore in regards to being successful in pushing those images and words back to those darker recesses of her soul that seemed to crave him in his absence. You're being foolish, Lani. He has his own life and his own business that he needs to tend to. You are not and will never hold such a place in his world. You're only going to end up hurt in the end, anyway. This was the only reminder that seemed to help Beylani overcome those longings, and even it would only last so long before something would trigger those thoughts once again, bringing them forth in almost full force as though he were there beside her. Even her part-time job at Inner Sanctum seemed to do so little in keeping Andras from the forethought of the young woman's mind. Thankfully it hardly reflected in her focus and determination as she would work that espresso machine, baby blue eyes so full of determination and the want to further improve her skill at ensuring those shots were pouring right or that the milk was steamed as close to perfection as she could manage. She thanked her lucky stars that Calliel had been so patient with her, so thorough in showing Beylani how to do what to create the best coffees or chais that the blue-eyed blonde's lack of past experience would allow. Besides, if Alexander hadn't yet felt the need to pull her into that impeccable office and lecture or correct her, how badly could she possibly be performing? All those customers she'd helped always seemed pleased or at least satisfied with their drinks when she would call out their name and order, though just as with any occupation in customer service, there were always those very few people that either didn't seem satisfied or dissatisfied, and worse even were the very rare individuals that had complained. In spite of those very few encounters with the less savory of customers, she took their criticism and decided to see it as just another thing that she could work on to improve herself. She wanted to impress the man who had hired her, wanted him to know that he hadn't made the wrong decision in giving her this chance that she was ever grateful for.

In spite of those busy shifts and that fierce determination to drown out all else that did not involve the crafting of those hot, iced, or blended beverages, she would come home at the end of her shift and again those hazel eyes and that smile, even the scent of him, would find her. She would stand there in front of her stove, idly stirring whatever it was that she'd selected to make for dinner with that spatula as she would think back to the Winter Solstice Festival, remember the smile on his face and the laughter that danced between them, recall the delicious fae food and sights and music that she'd indulged so eagerly in. She'd hardly wanted to return to Sacrosanct that day. How she found it increasingly difficult each and every time he would take her to Somnia for the blue-eyed blonde to ready herself for the trip through that swirling portal and back to the city, to her own world. What she wouldn't give to call that beautiful world her home as well, to be able to play with those bright fae children that had nearly begged for Beylani and Andras to join them in their games, to be able to share every morning and every night with three fae king... A soft sigh would pass through her then as she would try and push away those wished that no number for wishing on shooting stars could ever fill. So this was what it was like to be in love? To have the very beings that made one feel lighter than air, warmer than any flame, brighter than any star... It was an amazing feeling, one that the young woman knew she would never be able to forget, even when that time would undoubtedly come that she would have to watch as he moved on. What else would he do when she was nothing more than a mortal, a human being who would only reside in the smallest chapter of his already long life? He deserves so much more than me. She tried so hard to tell herself this whenever those thoughts would find her and she would feel that loving smile dance across blush-colored lips as she would be washing those dirty dinner dishes with baby blue eyes gazing wistfully into the night, imagining the sky full of glittering stars that had once been there when they'd shared that very first kiss. Yet, no matter how many times she told herself this, recited it in her thoughts like it was the fine line between life and death, she still couldn't bring herself to let those memories be nothing more than what they surely were to Andras. Hell, she didn't even really know what those moments they'd shared had meant to the fae man. There was no way that her feelings would ever be returned, that Andras would ever care for her as she cared for him with such an intensity that it threatened to make her heart ache. Yes, they've grown to know one another rather well - to say the very least - in the weeks that they've spent, but for her to even dare to think that she could be so lost in him like he was the one for her and not end up devastated like shattered glass, it was reckless. Oh, the heartache that could only be waiting around that next figurative bend in the river...

Even as she sat there on that black futon with Chika purring contentedly in her lap, the softness of that long and silken mottled fur warming the woman as she smiles down at the tortoiseshell whose partly closed jade green eyes showed every bit the bliss felt with every slow and affectionate stroke, she can feel those memories and the warmth that came with them beginning to wash over her. She needed a distraction today. A slender hand reaches out to grab the smartphone sitting on the cushion beside her, the place where Andras sat the night he'd gifted her with that expensive camera and she'd felt the first of his gentle touches, she pressed the button on the side to check the time. 9:05am flashes across the screen then, and when the blue-eyed blonde pressed that button again, she looks back down to the purring feline."Alright, Missy. I need to get going, I want to stop by Hyde Park before I meet Dorian for lunch", she says gently down to the she-cat like she might actually understand those words she'd spoken. As usual, Chika only turns her head to look up at Beylani and give a soft "mew" as if to say that she didn't want her human companion to leave just yet. It brings a gentle note of laughter from the young woman then."I promise I won't disappear for a few days this time", she promises the cat as she gently moves to stand from the place she sat, the tortoiseshell almost begrudgingly leaping down gracefully onto the floor only to sit there and look at Beylani with a look that the young woman could only imagine as a pouting face that a child might wear when she was told that she couldn't have another cookie from the cookie jar. Brushing what she can of the hair off those dark bootcut jeans and fitted white v-neck short-sleeved shirt, she walks over the front door, retrieving a grey hooded zip-up sweater. Once she's successfully zipped herself into it, she slipped into those black faux fur lined uggs, grabbing that black leather purse and keys sitting beside the front door before she reaches from the handle and steps out not the chilled winter morning. Patting her right jean pocket to make sure she hadn't forgotten her phone so that if Dorian found himself wrapped up in an unexpected engagement of sorts he could call and let her know, she locks the door behind her and walks towards the stairwell, descending slowly down those steps with a single hand tracing lightly along the handrail. Just before reaching the bottom, she finds herself looking from those familiar predatory eyes where he'd surprised her for her birthday though naturally - though there was a pang of sadness in her then - he was nowhere to be seen. Of course he's not going to be there, Lani. A soft sigh ushers lightly through the woman when she finally reaches the paved sidewalk and walks over to the plain white four door sedan. Climbing inside, she starts the car, backs carefully out of that assigned space and turns onto the street.

Driving through the various streets and stoplights, she finally reached the outskirts of the city where that familiar parking lot opens up to those many trees and greenery, her little piece of Willowhaven in the big city. Turning off the car and clos8nf the door behind her, she fishes through her purse and retrieves that camera, slender hands brushing lightly over the sleekness of the device that held just as much meaning, if not more, to Beylani. Before those thoughts can overwhelm her, she walks down that path and towards that trail Dorian had showed her on one of those very first days that she'd arrived here in Sacrosanct. she is careful to avoid that walkway that she knew would lead her towards the wooded area, not for fear of the beings she might encounter there in daylight but simply because she knew it would bring her to that clearing, and the whole point of today was to keep herself busy on her day off. When she reaches that trail, she walks contentedly between the trees, pausing every now and again to capture perhaps a family enjoying the clear winter day or a person playing with their canine companion, remembering fondly the black and tan rottweiler puppy that surely had to be two or three times his size now when she'd first seen him. She takes her time walking to nowhere in particular, snapping those photos of whatever might catch her eye, happy and sad almost at the same time as the whisper of those lingering thoughts brush against her mind though she's successful mostly in keeping them just for enough away from her forethoughts. Nearly losing track of time, she reaches for that phone and when the screen flashes with 11:26am, the young woman realizes now that it was time she needed to leave so that she could reach the Beachside Bar and Bistro in time. Elain was working there now, and it was a new place on the southern side of the city that sounded like it would be a good place for lunch with her dear friend and so the arrangement had been made when she called Dorian a few days ago to see if he had a free moment. And how very excited she was that he had time this afternoon, she'd come to miss him a great deal in the weeks since their to afternoon tea party. And so, she hurriedly along that trail and heads back towards the parking lot, her excitement at getting to see the dark-haired fae with silver hued eyes a stronger and welcomed distraction from everything that was trying to rise from that place in her heart and mind where she kept them away from the world.

Returning to the car, the blue-eyed blonde wastes no time getting into the sedan and turning it on, backing out of her parking space and heading towards where she knew the beach rested. It doesn't take long for the young woman to reach that destination, climbing out and shutting the door behind her to admire the stark white paint of the bistro and its elegant structure, a large wooden deck painted in white wrapping around it with tables placed strategically over the, most of them occupied with guests. It didn't surprise her to see that the place was so full of life, waiters and waitresses moving about with urgency and friendly smiles as they waited on their respective tables. Beylani walks into the front door where she's greeted by none other than that familiar smile and glacier blue eyes sparkling as they spotted Beylani."Lani! Hey! Welcome to Beachside Bar and Bistro! Want a table inside or outside?", the young woman with long honey-blonde hair ties back into a ponytail smiling brightly as she retrieves two menus."Hello, Ellie. A table inside would be perfect. I'm expecting someone here in the next few minutes", Beylani replies and when she sees Elain give her a cheeky grin, she can feel the warmth finding her cheeks. She knew exactly what her friend was thinking."Oh? I'm surprised Andras didn't come with you", she whispers softly before gesturing for Beylani to follow her."It's not Andras I'm waiting for. I'm meeting a good friend for lunch today", she says quickly though Elain simply giggles softly as she stops before a table for two by the window looking out over the ocean."Next time then, I'm sure", she says cheekily before giving Beylani a wink as the blue-eyed blonde lowers herself into one of the polished mahogany chairs, watching Ellie weave through the tables and back towards the entrance where and couple stood waiting to be seated. Thankful for that moment when she is alone, the blush leaving her cheeks, she opens up her menu and glances over it, looking towards the door every few moments as she searches expectantly for the fae man she was expecting.