Jack held the chair out for Penny before seating himself. {Would you like to use my eyes so you can see the place? Or I could just show you how beautiful you look}}

  She nodded, and said "Yes, please?  I know it will feel very strange."  He could feel her very gently 'take over' receiving his visual feed.  He could still see, but he got a sense of having a 'lens' between him and the world.  She smiled, and said softly "The dress is far prettier than the one wearing it, love.  But the reflection I catch with you in it looks handsome as could be."

"I think we're going to have to agree to disagree there. But I won't lie that I am quite dashing." He said with a grin.

  She let him have his eyes back, and he saw one hand start at her throat, and slide down the bare skin that the plunging neckline left revealed as she said softly "Even though they're gone, I still feel them in memory.  Every one of those lines, not on my flesh, but in my soul, love.  I am so blessed you don't have to look at that ugliness any more."  She caressed his cheek with her other hand, and let him feel through the link how happy she was to look beautiful for him.

"You are beautiful inside and out Penny. I loved you before I even knew what you looked like. I'm just glad I can make you happy."

  She smiled, and said softly "You are worth enduring it all, Jack my love.  As long as you love me, I could endure it all over again, so long as you would be there loving me when it was done."  He could feel the sincerity of her words, telling him how much he meant to her.

He took her hand in his squeezing it gently. "Thats never happening again. I'll die before I let that happen to you."

  Penny shook her head, and said softly "Oh no.  You're not allowed to die, Jack.  Without you . . . there wouldn't be anything worth keeping.  I think I'd do that again, and it would all be gone."  He had a glimmering of what that was.  She'd make everything in her mind gone again.  He knew she MUST have done it before . . . but she hadn't since she'd met him.

"He's not going to hurt you again Penny. He tries and I... I'll kill him. And after all he's done, I'll enjoy it...."

  She ran her fingers gently through his hair, and said softly "He's not worthy of your hate.  He's like a rabid dog, sick.  There is no cure but death for him, and you do not need to sully your hands with his blood.  I'd far rather have your hands holding me close . . . .and making me feel like I am beautiful as only you can."

He nodded squeezing her hand again. "Your right, I'm sorry. I just tend to get carried away when I think about what happened."

  She chuckled, and said softly "No need to apologize, love.  I am here.  I love you.  You love me.  And we will spend the rest of our lives together.  Because you are the only one I will ever love."

"I will always be here for you. No matter what. The fires of hell couldn't keep me away from you. I love you."

  Penny smiled, and said "And I love you.  I think I fell in love with you when you promised to be my knight in shining armor, and defend me forever against anyone who wanted to hurt me."

Jack nodded as he held tight to Penny's hand. He remembered that night well. It was the night after they had found his mother Jack was a mess lost and unsure of what to do. They had broken into an abandoned building and as he was setting up the bedding she asked if she could sleep with him. As upset as he was he didn't want to be alone either. In the middle of the night he woke up having to use the bathroom. As he was relieving himself he heard the sound of screams. That was when he promised her, to protect her to his dying breath. "I don't know if there was a particular moment for me. Just, seeing all that had been done to you and the fact that you didn't give up. That you clung to yourself. Your stronger than you give yourself credit for."

  Penny rose, tugging him up to dance, and leaned her head on his chest as she said "Not as strong as you are."

He stood with her moving nervously to the dance floor. "Well yeah, but I wouldn't be much of a knight if you had to save ME all the time."

  Penny snuggled into his chest, and began to sway in time to the music, making it a slow waltz.  She said softly "Well, we're sort of a brains and brawn team, you're the brawn, I'm the brainpower."

"Also the pretty face." {{And so much more than that}} He smiled as he swayed with her holding her tight against him.

  Penny cuddled into his chest, and whispered "As long as I have my knight in shining armor, I'll be happy."

He leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. "I'll be here for you Penny, always, the hordes of hell couldn't tear me away from you"

  Penny laughed softly, and said "You're so sweet.  I love you, Jack Pride."  She hugged him, even as the waiters were bringing the appetizers, shrimp cocktail and salad.

"And I you, Penny Pride. For now and always." He glanced over at the table. "Looks like the appetizers are here, you want to start eating? Or would you rather dance a while longer?"

  She cuddled into his chest, and said "Dance a little longer."

He smiled and rested his cheek on the top of her head as they swayed in time to the music.