It was late evening on St. Patrick's Day when Sid arrived back in Coffs with his new bride. Katherine, exhausted from her wedding night, had slept for the entire flight. Now they had landed, he sent her off to the large onboard bathroom to change into her coming home outfit.

Sid had bought Kate the best of everything while they were away on their "house-touring" trip, so she had a bit of a time deciding on just the right dress for the occasion. Finally, she had opted for the black satin Armani gown, matching shoes, and topped off with diamond and emerald dangling earrings and necklace. She wore her hair up, with a few strands of curls loosely framing her face,

and tiny diamond and emerald hair pins strategically placed throughout. Yes, she'd definitely make an impression tonight when she stepped off of the plane dressed like this and Sid - her new husband - at her side.

A white limo waited for them on the tarmac. Sid had little use for terminals and avoided them whenever possible. He was planning to sweep grandly back into the Glen, possibly stopping by the pitiful little inn for the single purpose of showing off his bride and having it clearly known that she WAS his bride. Her wedding rings were suitably large to brand her as his. He smiled in anticipation. Perhaps that lout she used to be with might even show up.

Kate glanced in the mirror one last time and smiled, knowing that tonight was definitely going to be a night to remember, then quickly opened the bathroom door and stepped out to get Sid's approval on her appearance. Truly, she thought she looked amazing, but it was what Sid thought that counted. She walked slowly towards him, stopping just a foot in front of where he was seated, and smiled.

"What do you think?" she asked, softly.

He smiled, showing white teeth in satisfaction. "Elegant," he said, "and I like your hair up that way. Shows off your lovely neck."  He stood and ran the back of his fingers down the length of her throat.  "Let's not keep our public
waiting." He extended his elbow and together they left the plane.

On the ride out to the Glen, he found he had a hard time keeping his hands off her. She was just entirely...delectable.
He contented himself with an occasional nibble at her earrings and keeping a hand curved high over her thigh. They needn't stay at the inn long. Only so long as he felt entertained. Then he'd take his bride back to his house. His tongue
wiped slowly across his lower lip as he thought of that.

Kate was excited by the thought of everyone's reaction when she and Sid stepped out of the limo together, arm-in-arm, as husband and wife. She smiled as she thought about how surprised they would all be to find out that she was now Mrs. Sidney Harbor. She also smiled at the thought about how her new husband couldn't seem to keep his hands off of her and at the moment was busily nibbling on her earlobe, sending shivers through her body. The man did know how to turn her on, that was for sure.

Finally, the limo pulled up in front of the Inn and the driver quickly stepped out and opened the door for them. Kate's heart beat faster and she took a deep breath as Sid took her by the hand and led her out of the limo.

He pulled her arm through his,laying his free hand possessively over the top of her hand as it rested on his forearm.
Leaning close, he whispered, "Showtime!" smiled widely, and escorted her into the main room. As it was St. Patrick's
Day, the inn was crowded. It seemed many of the little burg's residents had come to the shabby watering hole to partake of various libations. Why anyone should wish to ingest alcoholic beverages to celebrate the demise of Irish snakes was quite beyond him. To him, it was time to celebrate when he'd pulled off a hostile takeover of a major corporation. He stopped in the center of the room, waiting.

Kate's eyes scanned the room, trying to see a friendly face or two she recognized through the crowded room. Unfortunately, the first face she recognized was the last one she actually wanted to see...Colin. Not tonight...of all nights! The night she returned home as Sid's wife! Her body tensed and she absently clenched Sid's hand in hers. He was here...of course, he was here....why wouldn't he be? She had to have known she'd run into him sooner or later, didn't she? Though, later would have been better, of course. She knew if he saw them there would most likely be trouble - there always was with Colin. She quickly turned away, hoping he hadn't seen her.

"Sid, I'm not so sure if this was a good idea or not," she said, nervously, still trying to avoid being seen by Colin.

"Nonsense, darling. What would you like to drink?" Good, the dumb mechanic was here. He'd hoped for that.

Kate bit her bottom lip, glanced quickly back to where Colin sat chatting with some girl, then turned back to Sid and answered, "Wine, please. White."

Sid reached unobtrusively into his pocket, palmed a large set of keys, then dropped them with a noisy clatter on the floor.

"Oops!" he said loudly, bending with great fanfare to retrieve them as every eye in the place turned to the source of the sound.

Colin had been sitting across the room with his date, Abby, when he heard the loud noise and looked up. "Shit," he cursed under his breath, as he saw Sid

retrieving a set of keys from the floor.

"Who's that?" Abby asked, also looking in Sid's direction.

"No one you'd want to meet, believe me," Colin replied, gruffly, then took a swig of beer.

"She's gorgeous," Abby commented again, still staring off across the room.

Colin set his beer down and spun around, "Who...?" he stopped mid-sentence, though, as his eyes fell upon Kate. Abby was right, she was gorgeous - like a princess, and he stared at her for a moment longer until his eyes met Sid's. Colin's jaw clenched and he quickly turned back to Abby, a grimace on his face. "Kate." was all he said.

Abby cocked an eyebrow at him, "Kate? That's Kate? Your ex-girlfriend?"

Colin nodded.

"Wow!" Abby couldn't help but exclaimed.

"Yeah, well, I can't say I'm as impressed by her, since that wanker she's with - Sid -  is obviously buying his way into her life."

Abby opened her mouth to comment when Sid came strolling up behind them, Kate proudly on his arm.

"Why, hello, Colin. I don't believe you've had the pleasure of meeting...my wife."

Colin spun around, shocked by what he thought he had just heard come out of Sid's mouth. "Wife?!" he exclaimed, then broke out laughing. "Kate, you actually...married this asshole?"

"Colin..." Abby warned, placing a hand on top of his. Colin cleared his throat, biting back the words he surely wanted to spew fourth at Sid, who just stood smugly, smiling down at them.

Kate tried to keep her composure, not wanting to cause a big scene in front of the crowd that was now beginning to watch. "Yes, Sid and I are in love and I am honored to be his wife." she told him, managing a smile and showing off the huge diamond ring on her finger.

"Umm...congratulations...I guess. The two of you... deserve each other, that's for sure," Colin replied, sarcastically.

"Yes," Sid smiled genially, ignoring Colin's insult for the moment, "she most definitely did deserve me, someone who can take care of her in the manner in which such a beautiful," he looked right in Colin's eyes, "sexually proficient...woman, should be taken care of."

"And just what the fuck is that supposed to mean?!" Colin snapped back. He wanted nothing more than to knock that smug grin off Sid's face.

Kate tried not to giggle, but couldn't help herself. "Well, if you have to ask, it's no wonder I'm not still with you," she shot back at him, still laughing.

Abby took a deep breath, not wanting to get involved here, but not wanting their first date to end in a bar brawl, either. This was not going well...she had to do something.

"Hi, I'm Abby, by the way," she said, smiling warmly at Sid and Kate. "Congratulations on your wedding."

Kate managed a smile and nodded. She didn't know this woman and really didn't care to befriend Colin's new girlfriend.

"Hello, Abby," Sid purred, looking from her to Colin, pausing there a second, then back to Abby. "Better luck
next time."

Abby opened her mouth and shook her head, quite shocked at Sid's obvious rudeness.

"Oh, I don't know, Sid, I think I've done a hell of a lot better than Kate there has," she shot back, smirking at him.

Colin smiled up at Sid, quite pleased with Abby's quick comeback.

Sid was in a good humor, quite enjoying himself. He knew, of course, there was nothing, not a thing, Colin
could do to hurt him physically so it was easy to get what pleasure he might out of this little interchange.
"You think so, do you?" he smiled. "I would beg to differ with your...humble...opinion, but then, I never
beg for anything." He looked back at Colin. "Unlike your friend here with the earflaps who most likely has
spent many a night in some alleyway."

Kate made a little sound in her throat and his attention turned again to her. This was making her terribly
uncomfortable and he did want her in a pleasant mood when he got her to his bedroom. That took priority over
baiting the mechanic. "Come, my dear," he said, sliding his arm around her waist. "I've a large bed awaiting
our presence."  

"I can hardly wait," she purred, then turned and frowned at Colin and Abby as Sid led her away from their table and

out of the tavern.