Rose went up to her room to change and get comfortable, and then joined Damien in the kitchen.

"Smells good," she said.

"Thanks." Damien shot her a grin. "I figured this way you won't have to worry about dinner."

"Thanks," Rose said, giving him a kiss.

Damien returned the kiss. "My pleasure. Go play with your kitten, she feels neglected."

"She shouldn't, she sleeps under the covers with me every night I'm home," Rose said as she went to find Terry. She found the cat (now closer to an adult than a kitten, but still not full-grown) curled up on the couch. Picking up the cat, she went back into the kitchen.

Damien just snorted and kept working. At least the kitten was behaving.

Terry promptly climbed onto Rose's shoulder and jumped from there to Damien's shoulder. The cat knew very well who was really in charge of the kitchen for the moment.

Damien laughed quietly. "Hey there, cat," he murmured, rubbing her ears briefly. "Stay up there and you won't be in trouble."

Terry just purred fit to wake the dead and settled on his shoulder. Rose just grinned.

"Little traitor," she said affectionately, reaching up to pet her cat.

Damien laughed quietly and kept cooking, careful not to knock the cat off. She was okay up there. For the moment.

"It's always going to be like this with you and any pets we have, isn't it?" Rose teased as she sat down at the counter.

"Mainly cats," Damien said with a little shrug. "Dogs love everyone. But yeah, with cats, pretty much."

"I'll keep that in mind, then," Rose said teasingly.

Damien laughed quietly and turned off the stove, looking over when he heard Taylor knocking. "You want to go let him in or shall I?"

"I got it," Rose said, getting up and going to get the door.

"Damien must be cooking," Taylor said as soon as the door was opened. He grinned a bit as Rose blinked. "I can smell it practically from out here."

"Yeah, I've got dinner for you both," Damien called back from the kitchen. Because of course he could hear them.

Rose stepped aside to let Taylor in.

"You say for us both, but you and I both know you really mean for Rose." Taylor grinned at his friend. "You'd let me forage in a heartbeat."

"You should know how to forage by now," Damien said, grinning. "You went through college." He moved the pot off the heat and got down bowls for them.

"Theoretically, so did your girlfriend," Taylor pointed out with a grin.

"True, but I have a vested interest in keeping her fed and happy," Damien pointed out. "With you I don't."

Taylor just rolled his eyes and sat down at the table.

Damien left after dark, as he'd said he would. He did kiss Rose before he left, though.

He got back shortly after sunrise, human again and exhausted. He yawned all the way up to bed.

Taylor was asleep on the couch, having decided to stay at least long enough for Damien to get back so Rose wasn't alone in the house. He woke up a bit when he heard the door open, but promptly went back to sleep when he saw it was Damien.

Damien grinned when he passed Taylor, deciding to let him sleep a while longer. And Damien went to sleep as quickly as he could after changing for bed.

Rose woke up a while later, snuggled up close to Damien. She hadn't woken up when he got back, since she was used to it by now, but she did snuggle a bit closer and settle in to doze off again.