Roy DeSoto shook his head. "And I'm telling you for the last time leave well enough alone."
Chet poured himself a cup of coffee. "No. Gage is right. I mean we messed up the Stoker's Christmas. We should do something for them for Valentine's Day."
Roy gave a slight nod. "Oh, I agree. And that something should be leaving...them...alone."
John huffed. "You know what your trouble is? No sense of romance."
"I'm a happily married man," Roy protested.
John bit slightly on the end of his pen. "Yeah, so you keep telling us."
"Look, I don't need to keep my wife interested with contrived romantic gestures." John and Chet gave each other a look. "All I'm saying is you can't script these things. It has to come naturally." He finished with "Let Stoker take care of romancing his own wife. He's been doing fine without your help so far."
Captain Stanley entered the kitchen area. "Who's been doing fine without whose help so far for what?"
"Nobody," John answered abruptly.
Captain Stanley stopped short and threw a quizzical look around the room. "Okay, what's up?"
"What's up," Chet began, "is that Gage and I here messed up Mike and Michelle's Christmas... you were there..."
"And these two think they're going to make it up to them by surprising them on Valentine's Day," Roy interrupted.
"By doing what?" Hank knew it was the wrong question the minute he asked it.
John toyed with his pen. "Well, we don't exactly know yet."
Roy rose. "And I still say they shouldn't try to do anything.... Just let them be."
Captain Stanley's brow knitted. "You know, Roy's right. We did spoil their Christmas by showing up uninvited. Maybe you should just let them worry about their own Valentine's Day." He and Roy both exited the room.
John leaned back. "Ah, what do they know. Now, let's think...."
*********************************************************
Chet crowded John as he spoke on the phone. "Remember to mention special transportation."
John put his hand over the mouthpiece. "Will you hush. We took care of that." As John continued to talk plans over the phone Roy ambled back in and paused behind Chet. John grinned broadly. "Thanks, Dennis. We couldn't do it without you." He hung up the phone and turned bumping Chet. "It's all set."
Chet beamed. "This is gonna be great!"
Roy's voice cut through their self congratulation. "You went and did it anyway. The Captain and I said to leave it alone."
John moved passed Chet. "We know what you said. But I'm telling you we are going to give the Stokers a Valentine's Day they won't forget."
Roy sighed. "That's what I'm afraid of."
********Valentine's Day Morning*******
This was one of those mornings that Mike and Michelle really appreciated the over sized walk-in shower in the master bathroom. It had spray nozzles on three walls and even a built in bench. They ran the water nice and hot, creating plenty of steam. And the Stokers were enjoying themselves.... very much.
"Surprise! Happy Valentine's Day!" John Gage's voice came from their bedroom. Mike and Michelle stopped enjoying themselves rather abruptly. John stepped into the bathroom, "Guys?" Mike and Michelle peered around either side of the shower curtain to see him standing there with a stupid looking grin on his face. "What are you guys doing?"
Michelle rolled her eyes. "Great, paramedicus interruptus," she muttered.
Annoyed Mike stepped out of the shower stall, not caring that he was naked. He snagged a towel and wrapped it around his waist. "Actually, the question is what are you doing here?" He grabbed Michelle's thick terry cloth robe and slipped it to her behind the curtain.
Michelle donned the robe and stepped from the shower. "And how did you get in here?"
John was unfazed. 'Through the kitchen door... and we're here to surprise you for Valentine's Day."
Michelle reached for a towel. "Swell. So as a surprise you've taken to breaking and entering... Did you say 'we're' as in ''we."
John's hands went to his hips. "Yeah. Chet and me. And we didn't break and enter anywhere. Dennis let us in."
Mike turned to Michelle. "Did Dennis flop here last night?"
Michelle folded her arms. "I didn't let him in."
"He let us in with his key. You know like most people get into their houses." John made a sheesh sound.
Mike threw Michelle a look. Michelle answered back with a slight head shake and, "I didn't give him a key." She looked back to John. "And this is NOT your house." There was a beat before she added, "Or Dennis' for that matter."
Ignoring their irritation John continued, "Anyway, Chet's making an amazing breakfast so see you in the dining-room. Okay? Okay? O-kay." He exited the bathroom, the Stokers right behind. As he left the bedroom Mike shut the door forcefully, with some flourish... but not quite a slam and punctuated the sentiment by locking it.
Michelle ran her towel over her hair then tossed it aside. "Okay, I'll kill Dennis then you kill John and Chet."
Mike shook his head. "No. I'll kill John and Chet. Then you kill Dennis."
Michelle shrugged. "Fine. But before we get down to the serious work maybe we should get dressed."
Several minutes later the Stokers made their way into the dining-room. The table had been set with china and crystal that they did not recognize. At each place setting was a goblet with orange juice and a pedestal bowl filled with fresh fruit. John was standing to the side of the table like a doting waiter and spotting the couple he quickly pulled out chairs and encouraged them to sit. 'You can start in on the melon. Chet found a great vegan waffle recipe." He lifted the cloth napkins from each place setting and clumsily laid them in the Stoker's laps. He disappeared into the kitchen.
Mike threw up his hands. "Okay, let's just eat and then they'll leave," he speculated.
Michelle clenched her jaw. "Oh, you think so?"
"Hey, how's the happy couple?" Dennis entered with a cup of coffee, reached passed Michelle to spoon sugar into it then sat at the opposite end of the table. Wordlessly, Michelle turned her head towards him and gave him a stare that wouldn't kill necessarily but would certainly torture. Dennis gave an exaggerated fake shudder. "Brrr."
Michelle continued to stare him down between bites. John entered to serve the waffles, announcing that they even had warm syrup. Then added, "Hurry up and eat because you're going somewhere."
Michelle reacted. "Mike," she hissed.
Mike touched her hand. "Just...let it go," he sighed. Michelle threw him a look as he continued. "I mean it could be worse."
"How?"
Mike half grinned. "My brother and your sister could be doing something."
The minute they finished eating Dennis jumped up from his chair and made a dash for the kitchen door while John hustled the Stokers through the kitchen. Dennis was in the driveway signaling for something. Within seconds the longest limousine they had ever seen pulled into their driveway and right up to the door. Dennis opened the back door but Mike and Michelle just stood there, arms folded. John Gage came up behind them, startling them by draping either arm around their shoulders. "Look, just get in. If you don't like where you end up Dennis will have the driver bring you right back home. Deal?"
Mike unfolded his arms. "What do you think?" he asked Michelle.
"Right home if we don't like it."
Dennis nodded.
Mike and Michelle climbed into the limo. Dennis joined them and closed the door. The car pulled from the driveway and they were on there way. They rode in silence, Michelle continuing the icy stare she had been giving Dennis since earlier. In fact her stare was so effective after about ten minutes in the limo he reached into his pocket and handed over the house key he had used to gain entrance. "Freddie gave it to me," he confessed.
Michelle accepted the key and turned to her husband. "You're the one who gave Freddie a key when he stayed with us those few days when he first moved out here."
Mike took the key from her. "Yes, but I didn't tell him to make copies for anyone," he said under his breath.
Michelle also spoke under her breath when she replied, "Well, you didn't tell him not to either."
Mike gritted his teeth. "Dennis is your stray."
Michelle glared up at the roof. "Freddie was your stray. And must I remind you he's the one who gave away this key." She faced him and held the key up to his face.
Mike snatched the key from her. "Well, if you hadn't picked up your stray my stray wouldn't had anyone to give a key to."
The tension of the ride ended when the limousine pulled up in front of one of the swankiest hotels in town. A uniform clad bell captain opened the car door to let them emerge. Walking through the lobby they felt way under dressed for all the elegance. Dennis already had them checked in and the three entered the elevator.
The elevator let them off on the top floor of the hotel where they were then led to the magnificent honeymoon suite. The room was huge and it had been filled with flowers. Dennis gave the grand tour. "There's some vegan chocolates and some..." He paused to cringe. "Non alcoholic champagne." He led them back to the door where a man was seating himself just outside.
"Who's he?" Mike asked.
"My cousin. He'll be your unofficial body guard for the night. Keep everyone at bay."
Michelle looked skeptical. "I don't want anyone getting beaten up."
Dennis laughed. "Ah, he wouldn't beat anyone up. So, you two staying... or you want to go back home?"
Mike and Michelle explored their surroundings. Michelle tested the mattress. "I can't believe this."
"Come in here and get a load of this," Mike called from the bathroom. Michelle entered to find a large sunken heart-shaped tub. Mike sat on the edge of the tub and started running the water. "We can pick up where we left off," he said mischievously.
Michelle noticed two large robes hanging by the door. She read the attached tag aloud. "These robes are complimentary and may be taken with you when you check out." She joined Mike on the edge of the tub. "I have to admit this is something."
"Especially considering we never had a proper honeymoon," Mike agreed.
And then they enjoyed themselves... thoroughly.
The next morning they grabbed their complimentary robes and the flowers, dismissed the body guard and took the waiting limo back to their house. They arrived home to find John, Chet and Dennis awaiting their arrival. John had an ear to ear grin. "So, did ya love it?"
Mike grinned back. "Yes, we loved it. Almost hate to admit it but...You guys really did a great job."
John made a gesture in Dennis' direction. "We couldn't have done it without Dennis here."
Dennis shrugged. "It was all your idea."
Chet gave a nod. "Yeah. But we couldn't have pulled it off if you hadn't paid for everything."
Dennis cocked his head. "True."
John grew serious. "Look, maybe we shouldn't have barged in the way we did...."
"Maybe?" Michelle interrupted.
"Okay. Definitely, but you see we had the best intentions and... well...um...I mean.... you know...."
Chet rolled his eyes. "What our silver tongued friend here is trying to say is 'we love you.'"
John's head bobbed. "Yeah... that."
Mike stepped forward and hugged them both simultaneously. "Thanks, guys. It really was great." He pulled back. "Just don't do it again."
John slapped him lightly on the arm. "You got it." He and Chet hugged Michelle and left.
Michelle turned back to see Mike handing a key back to Dennis and Dennis give an impulsive hug of thanks. He made a point of showing it to Michelle as he departed.
Michelle turned to Mike. 'Have you lost your mind?"
Mike dropped a hand on her shoulder. "I know. But I figure if he is going to crash here sometimes I'd rather he let himself in than banging on the doorbell."
Michelle knocked his hand away. "Okay, but he's your stray now."