[GrayGriffin]

For once, Marty and Laurie had managed to find a babysitter for their daughter. Sure, Ship could handle her most of the time, but if you told someone you were leaving your daughter with a Yingshee who possessed a weird relationship with the concept of existence, they would definitely call in an investigation on you. And they didn't want the two of them running off on an adventure of their own, no matter how well they thought they could handle it.

[GrayGriffin]

But with their daughter and family gaurdian settled, it was time for the two to finally have a date of their own. While most couples would look to the Idalani waterfalls for a romantic setting, they figured today was the day it was most likely to be crowded.

Besides, the smell of fresh fish was captivating enough to both of them. They had actually purchased a pawful of wrapped fried fish, and were carefully taking bites out of it as they strolled along.

[GrayGriffin]

"Shall we go down to the sea, love?" asked Marty, nuzzling Katie's cheek. Sometimes he still couldn't believe he was so lucky. His death had been a horrible accident, an unforeseen tragedy-and then he'd gotten a second chance. And instead of fearing him like he'd thought might happen, his family had embraced him with open arms.

Laurie chuckled, a deep growling sound. "Once we're finished with this," she suggested. "Wouldn't want it to get soggy, after all."

[GrayGriffin]

"Oh, that's true," he said. "A little salt's fine for seasoning, but I suspect adding the whole sea would be a bit too much."

"It certainly would!" exclaimed Laurie with a gentle laugh, taking another bite. "And sand has far too rough a texture to chew on."

Marty laughed. Oh, he really had missed this. The banter between them that seemed to come as easily as breathing, from the very first moment they had met.

[GrayGriffin]

Laurie chewed on the fried fish as they started strolling down towards the sea itself. Sometimes, she still couldn't believe her prayers had been answered. She had asked for Marty to come back, somehow, some way, in whatever form-and then he had been there. She hadn't considered the true depths of her plea when she said she'd love him even as a zombie-but the instant she saw him, she knew that what she said had been the truth.

[GrayGriffin]

For it was plain as day for anyone to see, that the zombielike creature floating in front of their door was her husband. He hadn't even needed to speak before she knew, just looking in his eyes, who it was.

She had let out a cry of joy as she threw her paws around him, pulling him to her chest in a fierce bear hug. She remembered both Katie and Ship rushing to see what was the matter, and their eyes widening in surprise.

[GrayGriffin]

It was Ship who'd first realized the true nature of the Bandol now clutched to her chest, and rushed forwards to greet the man who he'd entrusted his Laurie's heart to. And almost immediately after that, Katie had let out a joyful cry for her dad and threw herself into the hug.

And now, it was as if the tragedy that took Marty from them had never happened. He was back beside them, happily accompanying them on family outings and quietly comforting his daughter whenever she was scared of the darkness.

[GrayGriffin]

As the couple finished off the last of the fish, Laurie licking grease off her paws and Marty flicking the tips of his bandages to get rid of the worst of the grease, another smell caught their noses. It was Laurie who first lumbered in that direction, eyes wide with excitement.

"It's their famous Broiled Sea Scalla!" she exclaimed, looking back over her shoulder at Marty. "Come on, we can't miss trying some of this!"

"We can't indeed," agreed Marty, floating up to her side.

[GrayGriffin]

They'd already prepared quite a bit of Keystones, anticipating that they'd have dinner together at the end of their date, with an extra budget for assorted shopping. And they could certainly afford enough for the two of them to share.

So it came to be that the two of them were sitting at a table nearby, Laurie scooping up bites of scalla with her paws and chomping down on them while Marty wielded a spoon in his bandages, taking far more delicate bites.

[GrayGriffin]

"Let's get some to go on our way back," suggested Marty in between bites. "Otherwise I'm sure Katie's going to cry about missing out."

"You know Ship will be mopey too," murmured Laurie. "He just won't show it as much." The Yingshee liked to try and keep a stiff upper lip, after all. His role was a guardian, but he was still young at heart and liked to be included.

"True, true, I suppose," said Marty.

[GrayGriffin]

Ship had always been Laurie's companion, and later Katie's, after all. So he'd seen more of the Yingshee's serious side, the protective side that would gladly stand between Katie and all the monsters in the closet. He was only slowly getting to see that side of Ship, himself.

"So I suppose that means we'll have to bring back double the amount, then, if we don't want to disappoint either of them," he said with a slight smile.

[GrayGriffin]

"Indeed not," said Laurie. She'd been trying to slow down her pace, but she still took bigger bites than her husband by nature. So she was already done with her half, and now waiting for Marty to finish up his. Noticing this, he smiled a little and passed her a spoonful of his dish, hovering in front of her jaws as he held it up with a floating bandage.

"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, waving her paw to push it back in his direction. "I couldn't possibly eat more. You should finish your half!"

[GrayGriffin]

"Aw Laurie, come on!" said Marty, nudging the food towards her snout again. "I like seeing you eat some of my food! It's been so long since I got to feed you like this!"

"Alright, alright," she said. "But only if I get to return the favor later."

Marty laughed as she leaned forward, practically the entire spoon disappearing into her maw. "Alright, deal! But what are you going to feed me?"

"It's a surprise!" replied Laurie, nudging her paw against his cheek. "But I bet you'll love it!"

[GrayGriffin]

With Laurie's help and a bit more insisting, soon the broiled scalla was all finished and the couple was ready to continue down to the sea. Before leaving, they confirmed the stand would still be around when they returned, as long as they came back before it got dark.

"Well, we definitely won't stay there that long," said Laurie.

"Who knows?" asked Marty, bumping his nose against the light hovering over her head. "You shine bright enough we might mistake night for day."

[GrayGriffin]

"Oh, you charmer," laughed Laurie, bumping her muzzle against his. The vendor let out a soft "ahem," and both of them quickly separated.

"Sorry!" exclaimed Laurie. "We'll be off now!" With that, the two of them headed down towards the sea, rushing a bit faster than they originally had. Still, once they were a distance from the vendor, their embarrassment melted away quite fast, and soon they were laughing about it.

"At least no one's going to be bothering us about that down there. There's plenty of space, after all," said Marty.