At first, he was overjoyed by her love for the drink he had chosen for her.  Yet, his mind and heart soon had the questions she now laid before him:<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">'Is this your way of asking for a date?'<br/><br/>'Why did you dedicate your life to finding me? What was it? My looks? You are clearly attracted to me, yes, but I wonder…'</span><br/><br/>These were questions he should have thought of ahead of time.  How often had he played this meeting in his dreams, and yet...not one time had these questions been considered.  Now, the moment was at hand, and there was no time for him to think.  Of course, overthinking his answers would only show her there was deciet, and that was the last thing he wanted to show her.  Even as he began to answer; he noted new energy from her...this time openly directed:  fire and power...the fierceness of her very nature....and...something else...<br/><br/>...curiosity.<br/><br/>"I would be honored to have a date with you, Lady Gabrielle, though I do not know the courtship rules for your kin," Chris admitted first before continuing with the other questions she had given him.  He did not look away from her eyes as he continued, "As for what has led me to dedicating my life in searching for you - there are many reasons.  First and foremost, you are a dragon who saved my life.  That is not something one just forgets easily...even at such a young age.  What greater personal quest could there be than to find the dragon who saved your life as if right out of the very legends and stories you already believed in?  Yet, there was more than that as time went on.  I realized in my early teen years that I had absolutely no attraction to any female my age or older.  The reason was not hard to see.  After all, what woman from among my kind could possibly rival that of a dragon's beauty.  In this, yes, you see correctly, for the physical attraction was certainly there.  This, however, was not the only thing connection or reason for my continued search...though it added to the desire to find you.  I realized the enchantment laid upon me was in part from just having been so briefly in your presence, but it was not this enchantment which led me to you.  I came to understand as the dreams of you continued that I could never love another woman.  Yes, mortals use the word 'love' all too easily, but here the word is apt...if one-sided.  Day by day...night by night...I fell in love with you - or more correctly, the idea of you.  Some might say that is obsessive, and perhaps they would be right, but so few mortals seem to understand that to truly love...one must give all of themselves...be ready to give heart, mind, and soul...even body...all that they are to the one they love, or it is nothing but a shadow.  And so, Gabrielle, I have loved you from afar this whole time, and longed to court you - if I should be found worthy in your eyes.  If not, then I would learn to be worthy; for I doubt any mortal would be worthy so easily of a dragon's love.  No matter, I will not turn aside despite the difficulty.  And, now, perhaps I have said too much, but I would not have you think your physical beauty alone drew me to you.  I came, because of the fire in your soul, the fierceness in your heart, the beautiful blend of who you are - dragon though you be to my human mortality."<br/><br/>Every word carried with it the sincere warmth and affection long held at bay for the one he now sat across the table from.  There was no looking away from her rainbow colored eyes, and if he had overstepped - well...time would tell.  Dragons, he heard, favored boldness as well as mystery.  He had provided both.<br/><br/>He did not attempt to reach across the table for her hands again, but sat there gazing steadily...briefly allowing his eyes to rove over her form before returning to her eyes again.