Damien laughed.

"Only if they find the body," he said quite cheerfully. "Not to mention pinning it on you. See, if I don't like someone, I can throw them in with the tigers and say they broke in and no one will blame me."

"There's one of the techs that I work with who is the senior tech and she's vegan. Not even vegetarian. Not to mention she's rail-thin and gorgeous and a total bitch." Sera made a face.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not on your bad side," Rose replied, grinning.

"She's only rail thin because she doesn't eat," Taylor replied. "I knew someone like that, once. Personally, I don't like women that thin, it's unnatural."

Damien grinned. "The only time you'd ever be going in there was if I was there with you. They listen to me. As long as I say you're okay, you're okay. Oh, and the lioness is pregnant; I managed to get in there to check."

Sera nodded her agreement. "Yeah. I don't think I've ever seen her eat more than maybe a salad through an entire day of work, which is either an eight or ten hour shift."

Rose grinned.

"You'll have to let me know when the cubs are born, then, so I can coo and squeal and generally be a girl about it," she said.

"Yeah, that's just not normal," Taylor agreed.

"Oh don't worry." Damien smiled and started cutting up his chicken once it arrived. "I'm sure you'll be there multiple times while they're still cute cubs."

Sera nodded and took a bite of her hamburger, settling down to eat for a few minutes in silence, relaxing. It had been a while since she'd been out to a hamburger place.

"I'd like that," Rose replied as she started on her pasta.

Taylor snagged one more onion ring before he started on his burger.

Damien smiled and let his chicken cool a bit so he wouldn't burn his tongue on it before he started eating carefully. "Just wait until they're a couple weeks old and can see," he said after a few minutes. "And then another week or two and they're pouncing on everything that moves."

Sera chuckled when she saw that and shook her head a little, eating in silence for the time being. She'd had an idea earlier, but she wasn't sure how to bring it up tactfully...

Rose grinned.

"It'll be adorable," she said.

Taylor glanced at Sera.

"You look like you have something on your mind," he commented. "Need a sounding board?"

Damien laughed. "You only say that until you've had a fifty-pound, ten week old kitten pounce on your stomach with all four feet."

"Well... You don't have a tech that works with you, do you?" Sera looked rather sheepish, almost shy, as she asked.

Rose giggled.

"Still adorable," she said, nodding. "Of course, that's when I get to watch them jump on you."

"We have a couple of interns," Taylor replied. "But they aren't going to be permanent." He grinned. "Why, did you want the job?"

Damien stuck out his tongue at her--oh so mature--before he took another bite of chicken. "We'll see how you fare with them pouncing on you," he muttered.

"It would be better than the one I have now," Sera said feebly with a little shrug. "And we know we get along."

Rose grinned and went back to her pasta.

"Well, one of the interns will have moved on in a couple of weeks," Taylor said. "If you want, I could try to get you in..."

Damien shook his head and went back to his chicken, letting her eat.

"That would be a welcome relief. As long as you don't mind, that is." Sera smiled a little.

Rose finished up fairly quickly, though the dish wasn't that big to begin with.

"I don't mind at all," Taylor replied. He grinned. "It's always nice to work with just a wonderful woman."

Damien sat back with a happy sigh once he was done. "Are you still hungry at all? Do you want a dessert?"

Sera smiled a little and nodded. "Well, if you don't mind looking into that then. Could be fun."

"Acutally, I think I'm alright for now," Rose replied. "I mean, unless you want dessert or something."

"I'll look into it," Taylor promised.

"I'm good." Damien smiled and snagged the bill when it arrived before she could protest, paying for their food. "Well, you still want to go on that walk?"

Sera smiled. "Thanks. I'd appreciate that." She finished up her food quietly and then sat back.

Rose nodded.

"I'm enough of a romantic at heart that a moonlight walk still holds its appeal," she said.

"So, was there anything else you wanted to do?" Taylor asked. "I'm sure there are a couple of late-showing movies tonight, if you'd like."

Damien smiled. "Good. Shall we?" He stood and offered her his arm, still smiling at her. A walk shouldn't be too bad.

"Hmm..." Sera pursed her lips. "Well, if you know of any horror movies that are out, especially bad-looking ones. Or any movie that we can make fun of, really."

Rose stood as well, and took his arm, linking hers with his.

"Let's go," she said.

"We might be able to find something," Taylor said.

Damien smiled and hed her out to his car, opening her door before he got in and drove over to the park. Then he got out and looked over at her.

Everything was illuminated by the full moon, which Damien noticed more than anything. He wanted to shift, to go run through the trees, go hunting. But he couldn't. Not yet.

Sera smiled. "Sounds good. Unless you have a better idea." She motioned for him to hand over the bill when it came.

Rose stepped out of the car at the park, and seemed to immediately relax. There was something about a quiet, moonlit night that made her feel calm and serene. She didn't notice how the moonlight glinted oddly in Damien's eyes.

Taylor shook his head and kept hold of the bill.

"I've got it," he said.

Damien shook himself mentally and smiled at her, starting to walk slowly and aimlessly. But he kept himself in check, so that when a bunny scampered off into the underbrush at the sound of them, he didn't run after it.

"At least let me get the tip, then." Sera made the weaker version of her puppy dog face, with big eyes.

"It's beautiful out here," Rose said softly. The moonlight was bright, and the area seemed softer than during the day. Not quite so clear and sharp.

Taylor looked at her for a moment.

"Alright," he said. "I can compromise that way."

"This is one of my favorite places to come if I need some time away from everything," Damien said quietly. "I've been coming here after dark for years."

Sera nodded and figured out the tip before leaving the cash on the table. "There. Now we can see about that movie."