"No I swear Alucard.  Just around this bend."  This statement was becoming all too familiar as two intrepid explorers made their way through a dim cavern.  The twists and turns were starting to get a little disorienting.  But before too long one could smell the beautiful salted breeze that wafted this far into the cavern.  And as they came around the last bend in the path, the small tunnel opened up onto lightly colored sand.  Fine and soft beneath foot, not a footprint could be seen across the smooth landscape of the sandy beach.  Kat ran onto the sand, beaming wildly as she looked back to Alucard.  "Come on Alucard!  Come Oooooon!  You have to see this!"   The girl giggled in a most undignified manner and one could hardly believe that this was the same girl who was currently helping to build their fair city.  

Katherine ran, pumping those legs hard as she climbed up a somewhat steep dune.  If one paid any mind to their surroundings, they would notice that there was a ring of cliffs jutting right up into the sky that surrounded a small but beautiful little piece of paradise.  As you get up  to the top of the dune, you will see just what the girl is so dag blasted excited about.  Out there, just as far as the eye can see is ocean...  The waves gently lap at the shoreline, the sun glitters off the water's surface.  It was a brilliant and breathtaking sight.  The cliff ring moved right out into the water, all but being devoured by the sea as if the cliffs served no purpose in the sea itself as it's sentries.  Katherine giggled as she looked back to Alucard, her eyes even more alight than they had been only days ago in the glitter store.  "Alucard...  Isn't it...  Amazing?"  

He must have heard her say "it's just around the bend" at least half a dozen times in their trek to wherever it is Kat was taking him.  She emerged from the cavern first, Alucard could see the light from the opening and smell the sweet smell of the ocean when he heard her beckoning him to come to see whatever she was looking at.  Alucard squinted as he broke from the darkness and into the light of day, but as soon as his eyes adjusted to the sun a smile broke across his face. He couldn't help but softly laugh, he found her giggling contagious. 

His eyes scanned over the sandy landscape when his eyes locked on Kat as she pumped her legs to climb to the top of a large sand dune.  He smiled as he took his shoes off and placed them at the entrance of the cavern. Upon seeing the landscape he was glad he took her advice to not wear his usual suit but to dress comfortably.  He quietly made his way up the top of the dune, his eyes taking in the scenery.  The journey up was not difficult for Alucard to make, since he had long legs from being fairly tall.  He made it to the top and looked out over the sparkling ocean it was stunning.  The kind of place he could go to just relax, and recharge.  He stood next to her, his hands casually placed in the pockets of his old worn jeans.

"Kat, this place... is, beautiful,"  Alucard said in a softer tone. "How'd you find it?"

Those eyes shone with excitement and utmost joy as Kat finally found what she was looking for.  Being so small, running up that dune was not the easiest of feats, but it was clear she'd done it a time or two already.  Her tiny feet dug into the sand, but still she made good time up the sand.  Once at the top, she turned and beamed at Alucard as he too made his way up with quite a bit less effort.  She'd be jealous if she weren't so dang excited!  As he came to stand beside her, she turned to half face him even as she looked back out to the ocean.  "Isn't it breathtaking?  The scenery here is just so..." She didn't have words for it, but she quickly turned to fully face him, and if he looked, he'd see just what she didn't have words for dancing there in her eyes.

She looked back out to the endless ocean and then out along the empty secluded beach.  His question caused her to furrow her brows a little.  "Well...  I've been watching that cavern for a little while as I was thinking it would make a good defensive location if everything went to heck.  You know?  Have to be ready for the worst even if we don't want to think about it...  But I found it wouldn't be a good place to hide out...  When the tide comes in, that exit becomes hard to access."  She smiled and shrugged a tad.  "But I came one day at low tide and found this paradise...  It's beyond beautiful..."  She sighed softly as she looked out over the ocean once again.  "I can't believe this place isn't overrun though...  It's so...  Perfect!"

"I agree, it is absolutely breathtaking..." He said with a bright smile on his face.  He could clearly see the excitement written across her face, it was contagious and he couldn't help but feel excited as well.  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the sweet smell of the beach and salt on the wind. 

"What do you plan on doing with it?  I'd probably keep it to myself, as my own private sanctuary.  A sweet little romantic getaway with someone special."

He looked out over the ocean and with a bright smile, he gave himself a little moment and slid down the dune on his bare feet. Laughing once he reached the bottom, he looked up towards Kat.  His amber eyes sparkled with a simple, relaxed happiness as he yelled up to Kat.  

"You coming?! I'm thinking I might jump in and test the waters!"

Her eyes danced with excitement as she watched Alucard take in the same scene that she had so quickly come to love.  As he took a moment for serenity, so too would she.  She forced herself to close her eyes and quietly take in the smells, the sounds...  Everything.  But her rapidly moving thoughts didn't allow her much solace.  Instead she blinked those eyes open and used her eyes again as she took in the beautiful scene.  The untouched sand, the water lapping at the land...  It was perfect!  

Blinking a couple times, she looked up to Alucard as he asked what she meant to do with the place.  She blinked at him with eyes full of confusion for a moment until he elaborated.  She giggled softly and shook her head a little.  "I'm not sure to be honest...  I'll likely tell the crew...  Probably some more of those in the city.  It's far removed enough and highly defensible as I said...  So we'll just have to play it by ear.  But you are right...  It would be perfect for a getaway...  I'll have to warn people to stay away once I decide to bring that special someone here hmm?"  Her eyes glittered with amusement as she teased her friend playfully.

Movement got her squirrely brain's attention.  Just as Alucard started moving, only seconds ahead of her, those tiny feet pounded the sand with all haste.  And even as he reached the bottom and turned, the tiny Kat would be tearing past him towards the water, at least trying to avoid running right into him.  She beamed wildly as she looked over her shoulder at him and nodded eagerly.  "RACE YOU!"  She called out before a carefree giggle bubbled right up from her as she hoped direly that she wouldn't trip.

He raised an eyebrow after hearing what she said when she teased him, and he gave her a questioning grin. Alucard couldn't help but laugh though as he watched Kat run past him, issuing him a race after she was already well past him. He watched her for a second, the smile never leaving his face before he took off after her.  He was quickly shortening the distance between them, and finally caught up to her right before the water's edge.  He wrapped his arms around her from behind and spun around, walking backward into the water.

"I win..."  he playfully said as he set her back down.  He mischievously grinned, as he leaned down and whispered: "So what do I win?"

He let her go, then continued to walk backward into deeper water.  He dunked his head underwater, staying under for a few seconds before popping back out again.  He wiped the water away from his eyes, and slicked his hair back.  He looked up to the sky, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face.  His amber eyes fell back on Kat, and he smiled as his hand wrapped around the back of his neck and he took in the peace and happiness of being in this secluded paradise.

She had this.  Short legs or not, she was winning this race even if she had to cheat to do it!  Alright so nothing too crazy underhanded, but taking off and trying to get a head start?  Totally not out of the realm of reasonable in her book!  Focusing hard, she pumped those little legs as fast as she could manage.  But it was still not enough!  She heard the feet pounding sand that were not her own and it sent her heart to racing even faster.  She grinned and let off a maniacal little giggle as she tried to make this a good race!  But just as she thought she had won, she felt strong arms slip around her slight frame, easily lifting those racing feet from the sand.  Her giggle rose in a carefree manner as she was spun around and suddenly was facing the way they had come.  Her tiny form went rigid as she felt him walking while holding her aloft.  Now she didn't doubt his strength, but she wasn't about to test fate by squirming and making him lose his hold on her.  

But soon enough his words wafted to her ear in a playful manner that caused the corners of her mouth to lift and a mirrored playfulness light up her eyes.  She turned to look up and over her shoulder feeling him very close to her as he questioned as to his prize.  Trying to play it cool even as her heart started beating an erratic and uneven pace in her chest, she merely quirked a brow in response.  "It seems I may have to put my creativity to use."  She managed to speak in a semi even manner and only lost it a tiny bit at the end, betraying the tempo that her heart played out in her chest.

She only turned when she didn't feel his form close against her back and those eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she watched him back right into the gently moving water.  The area was not only secluded by land, but also only allowed a fairly small entrance by water as well giving a cove that was in every sense of the word, perfect.  She sighed gently as she slipped out of her sandals, feeling the damp sand in between her toes.  Stepping into the softly lapping waves, she sighed gently as each step took her deeper.  Like a gentle embrace the water engulfed more of her with each step.  Until finally she would dive right in once she was deep enough.  Carefully swimming over to stand near Alucard, she found herself jumping a bit with each small wave as well as standing up on her toes to keep that head above water.  Coming back around, she chose a spot where she could stand semi comfortably in front of him.  "It's not even too cold..."  She mused softly.

The light warmed his face, and he took a deep breath, taking in everything of the day - the weather, the location, the water, and the beautiful woman who brought him here.  When his eyes fell back to Kat, he softly laughed to himself while he watched her make her way over towards him.  His amber eyes glowed with a warmth, and they locked onto her warm brown ones when she spoke and he smiled down at her. His voice mirrored the warmth in his eyes, when he replied to her. 

"It's not cold at all,  its..." he paused for a moment, "perfect."

His hand seemed to have acted on its own, and he found himself tucking some of her hair behind her ear.

"She's so pretty..."

The recent habit of talking to himself while doing paperwork had betrayed him, as he spoke his thoughts.  He immediately realized he had done it, and swallowed hard.  He recovered quickly but hoped she didn't notice his uncharacteristic slip.  

"If I've never told you, my dear, you are quite pretty.  Now, shall we get you to a place a little easier for you to stand my beautiful little buoy?"

He continued to smile, attempting to hide a laugh, as he watched her appear to bob up and down with the small waves.