Bridget woke up Wensday morning to blinding sun and wonderful smells arousing from the kitchen. Bridget rubbed her emerald eyes straight and sat up in bed. She peered around the room, her fatigued eyelids heavying her vision, but she made it out of bed and into the kitchen.

"Finally arising, Sunshine?" Carmen asked with a cheery smile as she mixed pancake batter in a large blue bowl.

"It's only 9:30," Bridget moaned as she made a Frankenstein walk to the counter. "Even Jared...he's still snoozin'."

"Babies need their rest," Carmen informed her, her back turned as she plopped the batter onto a pan.

"Yeah," Bridget agreed, scratching at her head, "His birthday's next month."

"Yes," Carmen replied, licking some batter off her clean hands, "and you've got a date with Frankie today, right?"

"What?" Bridget asked, her ears not awake with her body, "Oh yes, he's comin' over at 1 to meet you and then we're going out to lunch." Bridget rested her heavy head on her arms as her mother fished through the refridgerator for some orange juice.

"Then you'll need your strenght," Carmen assured her as she left the juice on the counter. "And it looks like a shower, too," she laughed walking over to her beautiful daughter and giving her a kiss on the forehead.

Bridget was relishing a good Teen Magazine when Frankie knocked on the door. With ears like a watch dog, she bolted from her room, screaming "I got it, I got it!" She made sure her sky blue tank top wasn't wrinkled or anything as she opened the door to a smiling Frankie. "Hey," she greeted him as she placed a thoughtful kiss on his cheek.

"Hi," he replied as she lead him in.

"Mom...Mom!" Bridget called as she closed the door behind them. "Frankie's here."

Carmen walked down the hall with Jared cradled in her arms, a tired but shining smile on her face. "A mother's work is never done," Carmen joked as she approached the two. She placed Jared in his playpen and outreached her arm. "Hi Frankie. I'm Carmen Kepler; You can call me Carmen. Bridget has nothing but nice things to say about you."

"It's a pleasure, Carmen," Frankie informed her as he shook her hand firmly. "Bridget has spoken of you highly also."

Bridget could tell her mother was smitten by Frankie's charm. They talked with each other for a little while about Dream Street, Carmen's homelife and Jared.

"We better get going," Frankie told Bridget as he turned to her and smiled.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Frankie," Carmen informed him with a head nod. "Come by anytime."

"Thanks, and you, too," Frankie told her as he waved goodbye. Bridget and Frankie walked side by side to Frankie's car as Bridget started to crack-up laughing.

"You'd be a good actor," Bridget informed him as he unlocked the doors.

"What?!" Frankie implored innocently.

"'Oh, Bridget has spoken of you highly also,'" Bridget mimicked him as she took his hand and giggled, "Gimmie a break!"

"First impressions count, right?" Frankie asked her as they pulled away from the house.

After a few minuetes of radio time, they arrived at their destination, a small italian resteraunt called "Italiano Amore" (go figure, right? :p). Frankie, the gentlemen he is, opened the black door for his lady and helped her inside. They sat down at a red-and-white checkered table and looked at the menu.

"Oh, Frankie, you found my weak spot," Bridget informed him as she gazed at the menu with eager eyes.

"So you like Italian?" Frankie asked as he put the tan menu face down on the table.

"Like? I like live for it," Bridget giggled looking into Frankie's hazel peepers. "So what's your fancy?"

"Raviolis," Frankie responded passionatley, "This Italian loves his pasta."

"I can tell," Bridget replied with a smile. A small young man took their orders and they got back to the task of getting to know each other.

"I haven't met your dad yet," Frankie told her as he took a gulp of Pepsi. Bridget's grip on her cup tightened with the mentioning of her father.

"I...I don't know where he is," Bridget informed him as she her melancholy eyes gazed into the questinable sky. "He split a little while after Jared was born. They never got married; I didn't know why. I guess it was just as well because he started to drink...Alot. My mom couldn't take it anymore; she told him to chose between the booze or the family. I guess he made the selfish choice..."

After a few seconds of silence, Frankie whispered, "I'm sorry." Frankie hated the errie silence between them when it came to sensitive subjects.

"Hey," Bridget replied, shrugging it off, "I guess us Kepler women make the wrong choices in men..."

"I hope not this time," Frankie informed her as his eyes followed his gentle hand, grazing it with hers. Bridget looked down at his kind gesture, looked back up and smiled a reassuring smile.

"Anyway," Bridget sighed, getting off the subject. "Tell me more about you. Who is Frankie Galasso?" "

A complicated guy," Frankie joked as they laughed in unison. "But really, I'm honest, sincere...a realy family guy; I love my family. I just like to kick back and enjoy the ride of life."

"Oooh, interesting" Bridget replied with a shy smile, her index finger resting on the side of her chin. "Fess up...favorite cereal?"

"Frosted Flakes," he simply stated with his head held up high, "They're Grrreat!"

Bridget laughed as their food arrive steaming and ready for testing. They made small talk about the weather and Chris and Tiyanna as they tasted the goodness of life through pasta. They were in harmony throught the whole luncheon until it was time to pay.

"I think I will take that, Mister," Bridget told him as she attempted to take the check from his grasp.

"Hey, Gentlemen pay for the ladies," Frankie reminded him as they got up from the table. "Don't you think you've done enough for me?!" Bridget implored as they approached the cashier with linked arms.

"Nope," he replied smart-assly as Bridget peered at him with puppy dog eyes. "Oh no," he groaned as the cashier grew impatient, "What's with girls doing that when they don't get their way?" She whined just like his dog Max would and Frankie finally gave in.

"Thank you," she replied greatefully as she took the check from him. She layed a kiss on his cheek for his good deed.

The day being still bright, They walked over to the park. Frankie suggested some ice cream for dessert. "You can't go a day without babying me, huh?" Bridget asked jokingly as Frankie handed her a chocolate ice cream cone.

"You sure are something else," Frankie told her as he layed his arm across her waist.

"Guess that why ya like me," Bridget told him as she licked her ice cream playfully. Her eyes wandered as everything was a magnet. She couldn't help but notice the lucious trees, the glorious flowers, the motherly geese with her babies. It gave her a new appreciation for life.

"Let's sit, I'm tiiiired," Frankie whined as he dragged her down with him on the grass.

"There's duckie poop all over!" Bridget protested as Frankie's armed wrapped around her like she was a Christmas present. Bridget could feel Frankie's rhythmic heart beat through her back as they gaze at the geese in the pond. "These moments are going to be few and far between huh?" she softly implored, downcasting her face as her hands intertwined with his, "I mean, when Dream Street Mania starts up."

"Ridge," he replied nuzzling her neck, "We aren't *NSYNC, ya know." Bridget let out a little laugh as he continued, "Sure, it's going to be a little more time consuming, but I will always make time for you. When I can't be with you, my heart and tears will always be." Leaning over Bridget's shoulder, he held the symbol of his connection with her in the palm of his left hand. She silently clasped her hand over his as she turned to him and kissed his mouth. The picturesque moment was what was meant to be; Frankie and Bridget, together.