"Where's Tom?" Eva asks as Tristan escorts her to his car. She's rather surprised that he's driving and doesn't have a chauffeur drive him around.

Tristan notices her expression and is amused by it.

"I do drive myself, Eva. Although I have many servants and even a driver there are times I prefer to take myself places." Eva blushes at his words. "Tom has things to do and has left to deal with them."

"Oh, sorry, for assuming things. Since I'm not dressed appropriately for any of the places you usually go, where are you taking me?"

Tristan looks at her with amusement glinting in his eyes, although he doesn't let it show on his face. "Would you allow me the chance to keep this a surprise. I promise, if you don't like it, I will take you someplace different."

A bit nervous since she just met him, Eva nods once and gets in the car. Soon she finds herself relaxing enough that she falls asleep. Tristan isn't sure if he should take that as a compliment or be offended by her sleeping in his company. He decides that he'll take it as a compliment. For the first time since he's seen her she is fully relaxed.

She said that she didn't even like to sleep in houses because she didn't feel safe, when she was growing up. She truly is giving him a great deal of trust by sleeping in the car.

It is almost with regret Tristan pulls off the main road onto a much rougher dirt road and the bouncing wakes Eva up. "Where the hell are we?" Eva demands as she takes in the surroundings. Woods take up one side of the road and empty fields the other side.

Tristan pulls into a flat area and turns off the car. Then turns to Eva, "We need to get out of the car and go into the woods for our lunch. If you don't feel comfortable with the idea, then I'll take us back into the city and to a restaurant. I'll even let you choose the place we'll eat at."

Tristan can see Eva shaking and sighs. As he goes to turn on the car, "I trust you."

Tristan turns so fast towards Eva that he thinks he might get whiplash. "Are you sure? I don't want you uncomfortable with me. I really hadn't thought about how hard it might be for you to be here."

Eva smiles, pleased that he's willing to change all his plans just to make her feel comfortable. "I'm sure, but I still won't sleep with you."

Tristan chuckles at her words. "I don't want you to. At least not until you are ready to do so. I won't ever pressure you to have sex, Eva, but know that I won't be upset if you do want it." That last was said with a little purr and a quick kiss to her cheek.

Eva is so shocked that all she can do is put her hand up to her cheek where he left that little peck. She doesn't even notice that Tristan had left the car until he opens her door. That wakes her up and she quickly undoes her seat belt and takes the hand he offers to help her out of the car.

Only then does Tristan realize that Eva is wearing sandals. "Shit, not the best for walking on uneven paths littered with all kinds of things that will hurt your feet."

Eva shrugs, "At least they aren't heels. I can deal with whatever the path might throw my way. Lead on oh, fearless leader."

Now it's Tristan's turn to snort, "Fearless leader?"

"It fits does it not? You lead your mafia and must be fearless to do so."

Now Tristan chuckles, "I guess it does fit. You are right, my men won't listen to me if they think that I'm scared."

Tristan stays by her side as they walk towards the trees, he goes before when the path isn't wide enough for two. He does his best to make sure that obstacles in the path are moved so that Eva isn't injured. He silently curses himself for not thinking ahead and having the path cleared up a bit.

He hears Eva give a small cry and he stops. She is rubbing her ankle. "Okay, I can either carry you or you can get on my back and I'll give you a piggy back ride. Your choice, but I won't let you be hurt any further."

Embarrassed Eva tells him that she'll take the piggy back ride. She figures that he'll need at least one hand to move things out of their way.

Tristan turns around and squats a bit so Eva can easily get on his back. Once she puts her legs around him he stands up and uses one hand to hold her and the other to move objects. It doesn't take them long to come to a clearing where the sound of a creek is heard.

He hears Eva inhale sharply, "It's beautiful, Tristan. Just where are we?"

"We are actually on part of my estate. You go that direction through the woods and you'll come into my back yard." Tristan points in a direction. Eva looks around the clearing and goes to the creek.

The water is so clear and inviting. The day is not yet mid day, but the heat is already building. Eva can't resist the call of the water. She takes off her sandals and wades out into the water. Her laughter gains her Tristan's attention and he leaves off setting up the picnic and joins her at the water.

He laughs with her at her delight and takes off his shoes and socks and rolls up his pants legs and wades out to join her. For some time they play around in the water like little kids. For the first time in years, Tristan is able to relax. Some of the tension in his shoulders and neck leaving him and making him feel lighter and in a way younger.

After some time his stomach starts growling and he ends the fun by heading out of the water. Eva follows and with his help exits the water. She can't remember ever laughing before and found it more than enjoyable.

"Thank you, Tristan. If for nothing else, for giving me laughter for the first time in my life."

Tristan had been entranced by her laughter and had endeavored to make her laugh as much as possible. He swallows down his tears at her words. No one should have such a horrible life that they never find laughter.

"It is my pleasure, Eva and I'll try to make you laugh again. Now our food is here, how about we eat?" Tristan says and waits for Eva to put her sandals back on before escorting her over to the picnic blanket. 

After he assists her in sitting down and making sure that she is comfortable he starts taking out the food from the basket.

"So how often have you brought dates here?" Eva asks him while he serves her food.

"Me? This is the first picnic I've ever been on and I've never brought any one here. My parents were wealthy entitled snobs and wouldn't deign to eat a picnic. It was difficult enough to convince them to eat outdoors at all. As for going on a date to a picnic, normally the females I go out with are just as snobby as my parents. They wouldn't dream of eating like this or, gasp, get wet in the creek. There might be fish or other animals in the water."

Eva snickers at the sarcastic words and tone Tristan uses to portray the females he normally dates.

For the next several hours they talk and laugh about a great many things. As the sunsets their stomach start growling once more.

"I should take you back to your home. I find that I don't want to end the date just yet, though. Would you permit me to take you out to eat?" Tristan says sighing at the inevitable ending of the day.

Eva smiles at him, "I think I could handle that, Tristan. I'm not ready to end the day either."

Tristan helps her to her feet and turns so that she can once more get on his back. Only then does she realize that the path they came in on is now lit by lights. "I had people put the lights up and clear the path way a bit while we were eating." Tristan explains, "They are solar lights and were charged earlier in the day." That answers Eva's question about how they are run before she even asked it.

"What about the remains of the picnic?"

"Servants will come out and clean it up shortly." Tristan tells her as they walk back to his car. Eva stops talking and just enjoys being carried by him and not having to worry about the trail. It is so nice to feel safe for a change.