Maximus wiped the steam from the mirror and stared long and hard at his reflection. Even after all this time, he was amazed at the conveniences the Nest offered, especially private baths with hot showers. He towel-dried his hair, combed it quickly and headed into the bedroom to dress.

"Laura?" His lover and soul mate Laura had showered quickly after their ride. Obviously she had dressed quickly as well because she wasn't there. This was titularly her room, though each felt as comfortable in the other's as two people could. This room reflected her warm personality and outgoing nature; it was a haven for them both.

She'd been online; the computer was on...no, "up," she always reminded him. Email astounded him. He could see the title, "Meet me tonight." He didn't usually read her email unless invited to, but this one caught his eye.

"Meet me in the Tavern tonight at 8." He looked at the clock by Laura's side of the bed. 7:55. He pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt and headed to the Tavern. Who could she be meeting?

He pushed the front door open. The lights swirled and dipped, red and blue and green, even though the place was empty. This was odd; the Tavern empty at 8 o'clock?

"Maximus!" It was Laura's voice calling him from a corner. "Over here."

He headed towards the sound of her voice. She was sitting in the middle of a very large booth with another woman, a stranger who seemed oddly familiar.

Maximus wiped the steam from the mirror and stared long and hard at his reflection. Even after all this time, he was amazed at the conveniences the Nest offered, especially private baths with hot showers. He towel-dried his hair, combed it quickly and headed into the bedroom to dress.

"Johanna?" His lover and soul mate Johanna had showered quickly after their ride. Obviously she had dressed quickly as well because she wasn't there. This was titularly her room, though each felt as comfortable in the other's as two people could. This room reflected her warm personality and outgoing nature; it was a haven for them both.

She'd been online; the computer was on...no, "up," she always reminded him. Email astounded him. He could see the title, "Meet me tonight." He didn't usually read her email unless invited to, but this one caught his eye.

"Meet me in the Tavern tonight at 8." He looked at the clock by Johanna's side of the bed. 7:55. He pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt and headed to the Tavern. Who could she be meeting?

He pushed the back door open. The lights swirled and dipped, red and blue and green, even though the place was empty. This was odd; the Tavern empty at 8 o'clock?

"Maximus!" It was Johanna's voice calling him from a corner. "Over here."

He headed towards the sound of her voice. She was sitting in the middle of a very large booth with another woman, a stranger who seemed oddly familiar.