"There is a place I like to go to, Charlotte's been there too. It's usually pretty quiet, good selection of teas, good pastries..." Bree shrugged. "If that sounds good to you."

John nodded.

"It sounds great," he said. "Saturday, then?"

"Saturday," Bree agreed with a little grin as the meeting finished up. She stood and grabbed her coat and purse so she could head home.

John nodded and pulled on his jacket. Time to get home and see how Sherlock occupied his time.

Bree headed back home as well, hurrying back and unlocking the door once she was up at the appropriate flat.

"Charlotte, what trouble have you gotten into this time?" She asked the question with a grin, knowing that Charlotte would know she was (mostly) teasing.

"Welcome home," Charlotte replied. "I'm wounded you think I could cause trouble in so little time." She was stretched out on the floor in front of the fireplace (which had not been lit when Bree had left, but was lit now) and there were a handful of what looked like loose gems in front of her. The light from the fire played off of the facets of the gems, and Charlotte was absently playing with them.

"Sometimes it only takes you five minutes," Bree replied easily, going to hang up her coat and purse and get more comfortable for the night. "Just don't leave gems all over the place, last time I stepped on one I nearly broke my foot, remember?"

Charlotte nodded, absently pulling at her collar.

"I will clean them up," she said. She glanced at Bree. "You smell like other humans."

"I was at the meeting," Bree said with a shrug. "There's always lots of other humans there. And clearly everything went fine, as I got home safely."

Charlotte got up, going over to Bree and investigating her scent.

"I don't like it," she said finally. "I don't like so many scents overlaying yours."

Bree sighed tolerantly. "I'll go shower after I've had some dinner," she said, mostly to placate the dragon. "Have you eaten yet?"

Charlotte paused, considering.

"A little," she said after a moment. "I snacked."

"Are you hungry?" Bree prompted as she pulled out a pot from the fridge, setting it on the stove to reheat the stew she'd made a few nights ago.

Charlotte just wrinkled her nose at the stew. She didn't particularly like leftovers; she preferred things cooked fresh, if they were cooked at all. She'd acquired a taste for cooked meat, but she still preferred it rare at the most. Blue, if she could get it. But day-old stew? Not to her taste.

Bree saw the expression and rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, I know. This is for me, not for you. There's meat in the fridge if you decide you're hungry."

"Thank you," Charlotte said, nodding. She settled back down in front of the fire, just lounging. She stretched out languidly, scales rippling up along her skin as she basked.

Bree ate her dinner and then went and took a shower before settling in for the night in her comfy nightgown with a book, curled up in her armchair in the den so she could keep Charlotte company.

Charlotte settled in as well, leaning against the chair so she was near Bree.

"I still don't see why you need to go to those... meetings," she said. "We're not having any trouble."

"No, we're not, but it's required," Bree said. "You know that. Every handler has to go twice a month, just in case, I guess."

"I don't see why," Charlotte said. She made a face. "I don't like you being where I can't look after you."

"It's only twice a month," Bree soothed. "It's not that bad. Besides, I was only gone a few hours, and you know I'm always careful."

Charlotte just made another face and settled in. For the moment, the world was as it should be, and she was going to enjoy it.

The next night at dinner Bree decided she should probably bring up the tea date.

"You want to go have tea tomorrow? I'm supposed to meet someone I met yesterday at the meeting."

Charlotte perked up a little in interest.

"Tea?" she asked. Then she turned a bit skeptical. "Meeting someone?"

"He's nice, don't worry. Yes, there will be tea involved. It's that place we've been to a few times, with the jasmine and the earl gray you really like," Bree said. "And the scones."