Perhaps she'd been foolish to allow such nervousness to find her at the idea of having the most important people in her world all in the same room together from the very beginning. Actually, no, she had been worried for absolutely no sound reason whatsoever. In the young woman's own defense, she knew from past moments when she would invite Brayden over for dinner with her and her parents or when he'd wanted to ask her to prom that her father had always been wary - if not suspicious - of anyone that might have taken an interest in his one and only daughter, especially boys. It had taken the gentle yet loving reprimands from her mother as the older woman would fell Zameir that he was being "just ridiculous and needed to trust their little Lamb's judgment in her companions" for Brayden to have been accepted over for that first night and the very sparse moments in between them and when he'd broken up with her, so almost reflexively, she had expected her father to treat Andras the same way as he has Brayden. The idea had been enough to make her nervous for what had seemed like a sound enough reason at the time. But now, watching the ease that seemed to surround the conversations over dinner and the fae man's flawless ability to satisfy her father with answers that were far from lies and yet vague enough that it kept his wholly true self and "occupation" from finding the light, Beylani knew that she had been worried over nothing. How could she have even dared to think that her father would have not liked Andras? And how could she have even dared to think that Andras might have been uncomfortable? She was almost entirely sure, now that her mind was finally calm like a puddle of water after having moments ago been unsettled by drops of rain, that the fae man had likely dealt with much more intimidating individuals. After all, he did run an entire court. He was over a thousand years old, and he was royalty. What were the odds that a simple human could have unnerved him? The more she thought about it, the more sheepish she felt, and so she decides to push away those contemplations on her past anxieties so that she could enjoy the company of her parents and the one that she loved. She knew that moments like this would be few and far between, and so she certainly didn't want to miss a single moment if she could help it.

The fae man answers the question of where it was that he'd flown to, and the blue-eyed blonde woman finds that she could easily believe this. It dawns on her then and there that there'd hardly been a moment between the two of them when they were alone that she would find the time to ask him where it was that he truly had been, ask him about the cities he'd seen and the sights that were surely so unlike anything that Beylani herself could ever hope to see in her lifetime. She'd never really had a want to travel the world really, content to allow for her life path to lead her wherever it so chose to. Not many believed in fate these days, and while the young woman believed that to a certain degree each and every being was able to make their life as they desired, there were surely things that were unavoidable. One can think all they want about the what if's and the just maybe's, they could wonder how their present would be had things from their past been entirely different or even just slightly varied from what they'd been, but that hardly meant that there would have been anything they could have done to change anything. What was in the past was written in metaphorical stone, and no amount of wishing for things to have been different would ever fix that. Beylani had little to no regrets as she would look back on her own life. Yes, there were moments like that night when she'd allowed for Jordan and Brittany to pressure her into skinny dipping. Something like that she wished she could forget altogether. But again, what might have happened if she had said no? There truly was no telling, and she really didn't wish to think of such matters. It was a lesson learned, as was every mistake for any that would take life's blows with a grain of salt. She simply smiles as she takes those forkfuls of the casserole, lifting her wine glass to blush-colored lips every few bites or so between interjecting her own words into the conversation at hand until dinner was finished almost as quickly as it started. It was Andras he speaks of the meal first, and then suddenly his hand brushes against her though and instantly she'd fighting to keep herself from showing the sudden change within her, praying silently that her parents wouldn't look this way as she fought the warmth that threatened to color her cheeks.

Oh, how he could so easily torture her with those gentle caresses as his hand words slowly up her leg, her thoughts once clear suddenly becoming thicker than fog on a cold winter morning. Midnight tenor tones murmur softly to her and she's speechless, feeling that light dizziness further weaken her as his fingers brush against her core and she knows she is teetering dangerously on the edge, remembering well how she'd fainted in the hotsprings at the lodge. She definitely did not want a repeat of that incident. It is when her mother rises from her seat, her smooth voice that sees the man's hand away from the blue-eyed blonde's ledge, Beylani breathing a soft sigh warring between relief and remorse, the young woman forcing herself to focus on her mother and offer the older woman a loving smile from Beylani, Andras' reply only warming her heart further. The idea of him joining her family for a camping trip... How she would like to think that such a thing would be more than just a wistful invitation. Her father is next to move over to the kitchen, quickly followed by herself and Andras as the fae man before the foursome make their way towards the front door. Zameir gives Andras a final friendly look and nod farewell before slipping out the open door and towards the stairwell where he waits for Ruth, the older woman giving Andras a warm and almost grateful smile at his answer before looking once more to the young woman and walks over to where her husband waited patiently for her. They descend together and Beylani stands there in the doorway with that familiar heaviness in her heart as she watched them leave. She can feel the strong and comforting arm of Andras wrap around her waist and she leans into him, finding that comfort as she lingers there. It was incredible how quickly she could feel that sorrow ease at the simple warmth of her frame pressed gently against his, chasing away that sorrow and twinge of homesickness that finds her in that moment as the sound of that old truck starting up echoes through the cold evening air. The fae man says nothing to her words then, instead only leaning down to place a soft kiss into those elegant and loosely curled blonde locks that fell over her shoulders. One last heavy sigh ushers through her and nearly escapes that slight sadness when suddenly, baby blue eyes find him standing there, almost as though he were waiting, and she's overwhelmed by another emotion entirely.

Beylani can feel Andras tighten his grip on her in that moment before she's quickly stepping back into the apartment and closing the door, her heart pounding in her chest and nearly reaching her ears as her breathing quickens. That afternoon comes flooding back and she can remember that wild fear that gripped her so fiercely. She can practically fell his calloused hands on her chin, remember those eyes and how he'd violated her. She's so wrapped up in that nightmare that she doesn't even feel herself bump into Andras with those nearly rushed motions as she turns her back to the door, like doing so would make the fae man no doubt waiting for her to be entirely alone disappear altogether. At first, she wraps her own arms around her, but they were not enough as she asks Andras to stay with her tonight, confessing that she didn't want to be alone, and she throws her arms around him, burying her face into his chest as she surrounds herself in all that was familiar, all that gave her courage... all that she loved without words enough to express it. He holds her tight then, his soft murmurs almost missed by the young woman that fights to still herself once more."I just don't want you to go...", she says quietly into his chest, that familiar threat of tears swelling as she lingers there for a moment, hardly ready to allow for him to pull her away and yet she does not fight him as a devilish smile etches itself into his lips. It was that familiar look, the way those dark hazel eyes looked into her baby blues that subdue her fear as he agrees to say, those pliable emotions swinging onto the far end of the other spectrum as that fear dies quickly and she gives him an affectionate smile in return. It was his question, that use of her nickname that he seemed to have taken a liking to, that allows for that buried impishness of her own to rise, though perhaps it came forth as it does with a need. A need to forget who had been waiting there outside for her. She hums a soft "hmmm" as she dares to amuse the idea of all that they could, once again so very alone."Well, we could watch a movie maybe? Some popcorn, hot coco... cuddling?", she says softly, that impish look glittering in her baby blue gaze as the fear she'd felt only moments ago is entirely forgotten in this moment.

Freed from his touch, his tenor tones reach out for her again and she smiles warmly up to him as he suggests that she change while he tended to dishes, trying to keep herself from imagining tonight as something that could easily become a routine thing..."Okay. Thank you", she answers warmly as she watches him move into the kitchen. She turns and walks into her bedroom, quick to shut the door behind her so that Chika didn't try to make a dash for the door. Beylani finds the tortoiseshell feline curled up contentedly on the bed, jade eyes cracking open as the young woman moves over to the side of the bed to pet the cat."You'll have to stay in here for the night, okay girl?", she whispers softly to her feline companion who simply purrs and closes those eyes once more. Of course she wouldn't mind. She moves over to her dresser now and then, she remembers... Baby blue eyes find that black lace night gown she'd found in her closet at the lodge in Somnia...."I merely picked out what I wanted to see you in".... She hadn't told him that she'd gone through that large walk-in closet that night in search for fresh pajamas when she came across that little piece of lingerie and snuck it into her purse before he'd brought her home the morning following the Winter Solstice Festival. The very thought has her blushing gently as she slips off her clothes and into that little black lace nightgown that only fell halfway down her thighs. I wonder what he'll think... I mean, this is just payback for his little tease at the dinner table. Slowly, she opens the door and steps into the living room, the fae man's back to her now as he washes those dishes. She only stops to lean against the fridge, watching him as those baby blue eyes travel over his frame. His midnight tenor tones are casual as he has yet to turn and look at her, the young woman's smile shifting into something sultry as she leans her head against the fridge."I hardly believe you", she purrs to him then as that boldness comes rushing forward, curiosity tickling the edges of her mind as to what he might do, though she was all too familiar with this little game they played together, this little dance that he always seemed to out-do her at."Can I not admire the High Lord as he washes the dishes?", she teases impishly then as she continues to watch him, knowing just how dangerous her words were. After all, she would like to think that she knew the fae man well enough by now to guess that he would have her words more than enough to draw his attention to her.