2031 ~ Pie Are Squared (A Pie Place)

Welcome to Pie Are Squared - making the best pies since... well since Pies were circular.

__________

Nicolas opened the door.

Still smirking slightly, Ana slipped through the doors as the smell of pies seemed to physically hit her. A good smell, but almost overpowering.

"Pie time." She muttered as she glanced around, seeking anything to say.

Nicolas lead them towards a small booth in the corner.

Ana followed, pondering quite why she was continually following him around the muggle world. It was...odd.

Perhaps a booth was best- discussing magic in public was probably just a bit dense, she reasoned, while examining the board on her way past to investigate possible pie options. Hm...maybe blackcurrant?

"Do you know what pie you're getting?" Nicolas asked. "I recommend blueberry but that's the only one I've ever tried."

"Well, I'm thinking blackcurrant- expand the range just a little bit." She grinned, sitting opposite him.

"Wouldn't want to be too predictable." She joked, although it was mostly to avoid mimicking Nick too much- she could at least choose her own pie, on that she was determined.

"All right." Nicolas grinned. "Blackcurrant it is. I'll be back with ze pies Milady." And he went off.

Ana rolled her eyes at the 'milady', but made no comment.

She couldn't fully believe that she was having an enjoyable time with Nick. The same Nicolas Casillas from Hogwarts, who she had been told to despise. Who she had despised.

Why was that in the past tense?

And a few minutes later, Nicolas was back with a slice of a blackcurrant pie for Ana and blueberry for himself.

"Here you go," he said passing her the pie and a fork with it.

"Cheers." Ana smiled, separating a small triangle of pie from the end and tasted it.

She couldn't resist a mild joking moment of 'gloating'. "Adventurousness pays off, this is fantastic."

It was almost tempting to ask him to try it, but that would be...well, date-like. Even if they were married, it wasn't- was it? Deciding that such thoughts were far too complicated, she continued to eat the pie. Much wiser plan.

"I don't know." Nicolas said after taking a bite of off his pie. He wasn't usually the one to back down from a challenge. "Blueberry... it's well just a tad better than heavenly."

Ana smirked in response, taking another bite of her pie. "I would describe this pie as rather a lot better than heavenly."

Yep, it was a challenge. A far friendlier one than it would have been in the past.

"My mistake." Nicolas smirked as well. "This is so good it's practically bad. It's sinfully bad. One bite of this baby and it's a ticket down there." He pointed to the floor.

Ana laughed aloud. "You clearly haven't tried this one."

Shameless. Probably. For some odd reason, an impish disregard was blocking out the rather persistent voice in her head, advising her to just shut up. This was Nick!

Nicolas' eyes twinkled at the contest. He took another bite. Made sure he did it nice and slow. "Hmmmm, oh my... it's so good... words can't even describe."

Ana mimicked him, in what she considered a slightly more dignified manner, but unable to stop a grin sliding onto her face.

"There's no way it's better than blackcurrant. Not a chance." She continued, before devouring more pie. It was damn good pie.

"I think there is only one way to end this contest." Nicolas said his face slightly flushed.

He pushed his plate of pie towards Ana. "Taste." He commanded simply.

Ana pushed her own plate in Nick's direction, still smirking as she stole a piece of his pie.

Well, it was pretty good.

Pretty damn good in fact.

She feigned deep thought. "Not bad, I suppose." Mirth danced in her eyes.

And he in turn tasted hers.

Blackcurrant wasn't really his sort of thing.

But hey this was pretty darn good.

"But... yours is better."

He folded.

He would have argued but he wanted her to be in the best of moods for what he was about to purpose.

Ana raised an eyebrow in slight suspicion, but she wasn't about to argue when victory was hers.

"Damn right." She smirked. "Although, yours is pretty damn exquisite as well." She added, for fear of gloating excessively.

"Nope, blackcurrant won fair and square." Nicolas pushed.

"...Okay then, if you insist." Ana's tone grew slightly suspicious.

Why was he pushing for her to win?

Alright. Here was an opening and he was going to bring it in.

Here goes nothing.

"Listen Ana, I..." How was he going to do this?

"There have been some... recent developments," Oh great now he's sounded like a total prat.

"I've been thinking a lot lately. About certain things."

Ana wasn't entirely sure where he was going with this, but she had a suspicion it might not be good.

Therefore, her reply was quite wary. "What about?"

He started fiddling with his wedding band. "I was thinking..." He looked at her, took a deep breath and began. "I don't really like to beat around the brush, so I'll just say it straight. I like you Ana, I like you a lot. And I was wondering if you would maybe want to make this pretend marriage of ours into something a little bit more."

"Now before you say anything, I just want you to feel to pressure or anything. If you would rather not, I completely understand." He added as if it was an afterthought.