I was watching D and Donna the other day on STFBE, and I felt compelled to write about them. New love is so different from the multifaceted love you find in marriage. So many of our stories are about the thrill of realizing or finding that new love (which is wonderful). Yet, I wanted to share something about the love between a husband and wife that deepens and strengthens over time, years, developing a rich patina of togetherness.

Chance of Rain

Snaking his arms around his wife’s robed waist as she fried bacon, Dimitrius Gans kissed the back of her neck. He could feel her shiver, and he loved knowing he had caused the reaction. “Happy anniversary,” he whispered.

“You’re going to make me burn your breakfast,” Donna replied, breathless.

“Mmmm,” he murmured, kissing her jaw line, “it’s worth it.”

Just as he reached her lips, fighting erupted in the family room.

“Daddy! Davey took the remote and won’t give it back,” Tanya wailed. “He knows it’s time for Trading Spaces.”

Davey skidded to halt in the kitchen, holding the remote control high in the air. “I was watching my show first! She doesn’t always have to get her way!”

Donna turned in D’s arms and grinned. “Happy anniversary, dear.”

<center>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</center>

For a Friday, D thought, things were remarkably calm. He had no new cases to assign his best team. There had been no serial murders to investigate or kidnapper to find. Aside from the occasional side glances Jack and Sue cast towards one another and the paper airplanes Bobby insisted on sailing at Tara, D watched them work steadily on finishing their current cases. Perhaps he could elicit their help this one time for personal reasons.

He strode to the front of the room and stood before the white board. “Can I have all of your attention, please?” D waited for everyone to face him. Levi placed a paw on Sue’s leg and she looked up. “Something really important has come up, and I’d like your help with Operation Anniversary. It’s completely voluntary.”

“What are we volunteering for on this Friday morning, mate?”

“Today, Donna and I have been married 15 years. I want to take the afternoon off and do something special.”

Jack sat down his file. “Just the afternoon? Why not the whole weekend?”

“Two words: Tanya and Davey,” D admitted. “I’d like nothing more than to sweep her away for at least twenty-four hours.”

Tara rounded her desk and perched on the corner. She twirled a fuzzy pen and it caught in her hair. Bobby immediately moved closer and help set her free. She blushed, slightly embarrassed. “Tanya could stay with me. We were just going to have a girls’ night out. She’d be fine coming along, right ladies?”

“We’d love for her to join us,” Lucy said.

“And I’m sure Jack or Bobby could handle Davey,” Myles quipped.

D shrugged. “Davey’s harder. He has little league practice tomorrow morning.”

“Sounds right up my alley,” Bobby said with a grin. “Jack and I were taking in a game tonight. I’m sure we can come up with another ticket, and Davey can bunk at my house.”

Sue smiled at her supervisor. “Well, D, it looks like you’ve got your twenty-four hours. What are you going to do with it?”

“That’s where I need your help. I’ve got some ideas, but I need some help getting it all pulled together. Are you all in on my Operation Anniversary?”

“Does the Easter Bunny hide eggs?” Tara said. Climbing off the desk, she offered a mock salute. “Have computer. Will plan.”

“I’m in too, mate.”

“Far be it from me to stand in the way of federally funded anniversary planning,” Myles said dryly.

“We’ll all be glad to help,” Sue summarized. “Just tell us what to do.”

“Thanks everybody. This means a lot to me.”

<center>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</center>


As D shared his ideas, it was decided that Operation Anniversary should be placed under the capable direction of Lucy. After brainstorming with her team, Lucy jotted down specific jobs on her notepad and doled out the tasks.

“Okay everybody, it’s time to get moving.” She stood and held out a slip of paper torn from her yellow legal pad. “Jack, you and Bobby need to go pick up these items and bring them back here by 12:00.”

She ripped another sheet. “Tara, can you arrange some reservations? Then, could you pick up the items on this list?”

“Already on it,” she said, accepting her paper.

“Myles, will you go with D? He’s picking out an anniversary gift and it needs to keep with our theme?”

Myles raised an eyebrow. “We have an anniversary theme?”

“Of course. Weren’t you listening?” She tucked the legal pad under her arm. “If D will give us the keys to his house, D and I will go pack bags for Tanya, Davey, and Donna.”

D fished them out of his pocket and tossed them to her. Lucy caught them and glanced at her watch. “Okay, people we rendevouz here at noon.”

“Let’s meet at Charlie’s,” D told them. “The least I can do is buy you all lunch for all your help.”

Wonderful start, Lorna! Is there going to be a continuation?

Hoorah!!!! I love D and Donna too. Loved their anniversary morning! And the team divying up the kids. What are they in for? And the little hints of Bobby and Tara

kav

Lucy and Sue quickly packed duffel bags for the Tanya and Davey. Since Donna had just placed piles of freshly laundered clothes on their dressers, it was easy to pick out things for the kids to wear. Depositing the bags by the front door, they hurried up to master bedroom. D had told them Donna would be doing volunteer work until noon that day, but they still wanted to hurry as to not spoil the surprise.

D had told them he had extra clothes for himself packed in his car. He only needed them to pick up one of his black suits. Lucy had found it and tossed it on the bed while Sue gathered some of the other items they needed. Riffling through the closet, Lucy held up a midnight blue dress. “I’ve already packed her a pair of jeans and a shirt. What do you think about this dress?”

“It’s pretty, but somehow I think D’s more of a red guy.” Sue punctuated her comment by dangling a silky red negligee on her finger.

Lucy giggled. “Good detective work. Red it is. How’s this?” She removed a spaghetti strapped sparkly red dress with a flared skirt that would be perfect for dancing.

Sue smiled broadly. “I love it. More importantly, I think D will, too.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack and Bobby stepped into the small shop and took in the myriad of colors. “Why do you think we got this assignment?” Jack wondered.

Bobby chuckled. “ ‘Cause Lucy’s got a wicked sense of humor?”

“Wouldn’t Tara have better at finding the perfect one, though? There are just so many to choose from.”

“And Commander Lucy Dobson says that the whole weekend will be ruined if we pick the wrong one.”

Jack fingered the sheer fabric. “Well, which do you like?”

Bobby scanned the room. “I like the one with the tail over there.”

A petite college girl approached them. “Can I help you gentlemen find something?”

Bobby flashed her a broad, dimpled grin. “You sure can, sheila. We don’t have a clue what we’re doing.”

I love this! Can't wait to see what Bobby and Jack's assignment is! And D and Donna are gonna love this anniversary!

Jill

are bobby and jack picking out new neglige..i would so love to see that...but maybe i'm way off...great job

How fun! A Donna and D story!!! This is great! I can't wait to see what they have planned!

This is great. Operation D and Donna has the markings of being hilarious yet heart warming.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Myles, that price is a little steep for my wallet,” Dimitrius admitted. “Maybe we should try somewhere else.”

“You aren’t putting a price tag on love, are you?”

“No, but when you have two kids to send to college and mortgage, you can’t give your wife the world even if you’d like to.”

D wondered what Lucy was thinking when she sent Myles with him to find a gift. He had no doubt that Myles had impeccable taste, but Myles had also always had the financial means to support that. Running his hand along the glass case, D sighed.

“D, come over here. I’ve found something.”

Joining Myles, he studied what his friend had discovered. “It certainly goes with the theme, and it is beautiful. What’s the price tag like?”

Myles flipped it over and D smiled. “Ma’am,” he called, flagging down the clerk, “could we get this in a gift box, please?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While eating lunch, Lucy checked off each item on her master list. “Great work everybody. Now, we’re ready for Phase 2 of Operation Anniversary. We have to get Donna and D out of town? Ideas?”

“Kidnap her?” Jack suggested.

D frowned. “Not very conducive to a romantic evening. She’d spend half the night yelling at me for scaring her.”

“Why don’t we make it fun? Like a scavenger hunt,” Tara suggested.

Bobby draped his arm around her shoulders. “I think it’s a great idea, sheila.”

“So do I,” Dimitrius said. “But, to be honest, I think I’d rather just pick her up at home if you guys will pick up the kids after school.”

Lucy eyed him skeptically. “D, that doesn’t sound very romantic?”

D chuckled. “Trust me on this, Lucy. Any time you get to spend alone with the woman you’ve loved for fifteen years, it’s romantic.”

Jack raised his eyebrows and cast D a knowing smile. “But we do want you to at least get to the B and B.”

Oh my! I love this story! I love seeing D and Donna together... they are so sweet and I can totally see the team helping D to surprise Donna! Great Job!

That is just so sweet!

Amazing what your priorities are after 15 years, 2 kids and a mortgage !!

In a rare moment of solitude, Donna curled up on the couch with her latest issue of Ladies Home Journal, a turkey sandwich, and a tall glass of iced tea. Polishing off the sandwich, she opened the magazine. She read the title aloud. “Romancing the Home: How to Get Your Husband to Court You.” She sighed. “Yeah, right. Like that’s going to happen when he has two kids, a mortgage and a job with the FBI.”

Within minutes, the warm sun tranquilized her and she dozed off. When D arrived home, he found her with the magazine laid open across her chest. Easing it off, he glanced at what she was reading and laughed softly. She so deserved this day.

Slipping his arms under her, he lifted his sleeping wife into his arms. She startled awake immediately. “D! What are you doing?”

“Sweeping you off your feet and kidnapping you for the next 24 hours.” He made for the front door despite her protests.

“What about the kids?”

“Taken care of.”

“But Davey has a game.”

“I know.

“And clothes. We need clothes.”

“Do we?” Her cheeks reddened and he grinned. Being able to make her blush after all these years delighted him. Depositing her in the front seat of their Suburban, he kissed her cheek. “Happy anniversary, sweetheart.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour and a half later, D pulled into the Brampton Bed and Breakfast Inn in Chestertown, Maryland. A slight gasp escaped Donna’s lips. She’d read about the eighteenth century, spacious brick home which had been meticulously restored. She’d wanted to go to a B and B for years, but D had resisted afraid he’d have to mingle with other houseguests. When he was off, he didn’t want to have to make conversation; he wanted to relax.

http://www.bramptoninn.com/

The wrap around front porch called them to climb the stairs to the entrance. Donna touched the flowered wreath on the door as if she had to make sure that this wasn’t all a dream. “It’s all so – romantic,” she breathed taking in the wicker furniture on the porch. “Thank you.”

“We aren’t even inside yet.”

“Still.”

The owner of the Brampton greeted them and within minutes they were shown to the Sunset Room in the Garden Cottage. D had to nudge Donna through the door as the cherry wood floors, canopy bed, and oriental rugs seemed to paralyze her. “If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us,” the man said. “I know you planned on a picnic in the gardens, so you might want to do it soon, since there’s a chance of rain. We have your picnic basket ready in the kitchen.”

D smiled broadly. “Thanks.”

As soon as the man left, Donna ran her hand along the mantle of the fireplace. “I feel like we’re in our own little cottage in the country somewhere.” She hurried to see the bathroom which sported a whirlpool tub for two with a forest view. Fluffy robes hung from the door. Donna buried her nose in their softness.

“Donna, you ready to go?”

“But we just got here.”

“We’ll be back in here soon,” he offered. Then with a seductive grin, he added, “I promise. But right now, I have more plans for us.”

can't wait to read about the surprises, love this story

cath

It's the weekend and my time is my own...sort of, maybe, possibly...on a good day. Anyway, I got to catch up and I love this. I'm trying to figure out the theme. I think I might know what Jack and Bobby's assignment was -- but I may be way off base so I'll keep mum for now. Loved Sue finding the red negligee

kav

I am pleased that the team was successful at getting them to the B&B. D sounds like man with some delightful plans.

The weekend hasn't started yet, and already I'm ...

Thank you all for reading this. I really appreciate all the comments. It's certainly different for me to write D and Donna and not Tara and Bobby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


With a wicker picnic basket in one hand and a large nylon bag in the other, D refused to tell Donna what he had in store for her. He’d retrieved the bag from the trunk of the car after he picked up the picnic from the kitchen. Laughing and talking about everything and nothing at all, they wandered through the inn’s gardens. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth lined the walkway. Overhead, boughs of cherry blossoms kissed the sky. Donna started to spread the blanket under on the trees, but D stopped her. “Keep going. We’re headed for the meadow.”

The end of the walkway revealed a large open meadow. Wild flowers dotted the grass. D shuffled his parcel so that his hand was free. Capturing Donna’s hand, he ran with her down the down the gentle slope. At the bottom, he captured her in the crook of his arm and kissed her before choosing a spot in the warm spring sun to spread the blanket.

“Let’s see what we’ve got here.” He lifted the lid of the basket and pulled out the contents: cheese wedges, strawberries and grapes, a loaf of crusty French bread, rich chocolate truffles and champagne.

Donna reached for a strawberry and he snatched it. “Uh, uh, uh. The only way you get to eat on this picnic is if I feed you.” He raised the fruit to her lips and watched her nip at it. Strawberry juice dripped down her chin and she licked it off slowly. D reached for a cheese wedge and, mesmerized by her lips, watched her savor the taste.

“Oh, this is sooo good,” she moaned. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Your turn. Lie down and close your eyes.”

“I don’t get to see what you’re feeding me?”

“No. It’ll be a surprise.” She lifted the ample bunch of grapes and straddled his waist. “Keep you eyes closed, mister,” she warned. Then, placing a grape half-way in her mouth, she lowered her lips to his. D opened his mouth and discovered the fruit and the full lips attached to it. He tried to pull her closer, but she resisted. “You’ll starve at this rate.”

“There’s more than one kind of hunger.” He rolled her over and molded his body to hers.

“But I’m still hungry for food.” Reaching over her for the bread, he broke off a piece and ran it across her lips. She nipped at it several times, before he allowed her to eat it. He followed the bread with a chocolate truffle. She moaned with pleasure and D captured her lips in his own. The kiss told his wife of fifteen years all she needed to know: they had all the time in world, he found her incredibly desirable, and he loved her dearly.

When they’d had there fill of both food and kisses, D sat up and gathered the second bag into his hands. “What do you have there?” Donna asked.

“Our next surprise.” He pulled out a long narrow package and passed it to her. “Bobby and Jack picked it out.”

Donna peeled the plastic away and spread out the red nylon fabric inside. “A heart shaped kite! D, I haven’t been kite flying in years.” D helped her attach the string and tail.

http://www.gwtw-kites.com/showproduct.asp?...Name=Heart+Kite

Looking up at the sky, he saw that pale gray clouds had rolled in and was glad the breeze had picked up. It was perfect for kite flying. Donna followed his gaze to the sky. “It looks like its going to rain. Maybe we should postpone this.”

“Let’s take our chances. Go on. Run. I’ll hold it for you.” Donna took off across the meadow and within minutes, had the puffy red heart dipping and rising on the wind’s currents. “You did it!” D ran up behind her and wrapped her in his arms. They stood, swaying in the wind, watching the kite for endless perfect moments.

“You want to try?” Donna asked, offering her the string.

“I don’t need yours. Bobby and Jack got me my own.” He released her and retrieved the sack. He pulled out the kite and the note attached. “They left you a message, Donna. It says, ‘We hope D turns out to be your prince. Please ignore his warts.” D opened the kite and laughed. It was a large frog whose legs made up the tail.

http://www.gwtw-kites.com/showproduct.asp?...asy+Flyer+Large

He hooked the crossbar in place and attached the string. However, he didn’t have the luck Donna had had in getting her kite up. After several attempts where the kite took a nose dive into the soft grass, he slumped to ground to catch his breath.

“Want me to try?” Donna offered.

“I think I can manage. I just need to wait for the right breeze.” She laughed as he climbed to his feet determined to get his frog in the air. Finally, he was successful. The frog kite dove and criss-crossed the sky. “It’s got a mind of its own,” D called to Donna as he let out more string.

“Just keep your frog away from my heart.”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, the frog swooped towards the heart, entangling its strings. D tried to cross under Donna’s string and untangle it. Instead, the efforts seem to make matters worse. The tension on the smaller frog kite was too much and the string snapped. D watched the little frog sail into the trees beyond just as he saw a flash of lightening in the distance. “Time to bring it in, Donna.”

She made a face at him. “Spoil sport.”

He started to pull the string down. “I wanted this time to be electrifying by not in the Benjamin Franklin sense. Why don’t you take care of the picnic stuff and I’ll do this?”

The storm picked up quickly. D wrestled to bring the heart shaped kite in feeling the first raindrops fall. “Donna, there’s an umbrella in the bag,” he called as he wadded the downed kite in a ball.

Donna located the umbrella and popped it open. “Uh, D, I don’t think this is going to do us a lot of good.”

D turned to see Tara’s contribution to the week end – a child sized Winnie the Pooh umbrella. There was a tag hanging off the handle. “What’s the tag say?”

Donna picked it up and read it, “You two will have to huddle close to use this or just enjoy taking a walk in the rain, hand in hand. Either way, I figure you’ll weather the storm together.”

Holding out his hands as the downpour soaked through his shirt, he invited Donna into his arms. “So what do you say? Care to join me.”

Donna lowered the umbrella and gasped when the water pelted her face. She melted into his embrace and he kissed her deeply. They broke apart when a clap of thunder boomed. “You’d better make this worth my while Dimetrius Gans,” she teased.

“Oh, I will, Mrs. Gans. I will.”

Kites? ... KITES?? ... I would never have guessed, Oreo. This is so romantic, and teh small umbrellla ... so Tara!

Wonderful story Oreo!

I will never look at kite flying quite the same way again.


“Just keep your frog away from my heart.”

WOW oreo !!! that was great !!!


wonderful story!!! BRAVO!!


thank you for sharing it with us!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wiggling endlessly, Davey shifted in his chair waiting for the Capitals vs. Panthers hockey game to start. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen a real hockey game,” he told Bobby and Jack for the tenth time.

Bobby chuckled. “Really, mate? We never would have guessed.”

“You’re going to explain everything to me, aren’t you Jack?”

“Sure Davey. Remember, it’s a lot like soccer. Similar positions, etc.”

“But we sure don’t have a penalty box at our games and no fist fights either. Do you think there will be a really big fight? That would be totally awesome.”

“Who knows? You might get lucky,” Bobby said with a grin.

“Bobby, that is not what hockey is all about,” Jack explained sternly.

“Yeah, I know. It's about checking, too.” He laughed. “Relax, Sparky. Davey knows that it’s not good sportsmanship to deck a drongo on the rink. Right, mate?”

Davey looked up at the tall Aussie puzzled. “I think so.”

“G’ onya, mate.”

Davey turned to Jack. “Does he always talk like that?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Girl’s night had taken on a new meaning lately. In order to liven things up, Tara, Sue, and Lucy had agreed to take turns planning the night once a month. It could be as low key as having dinner at a favorite restaurant or as wild as going sky diving. In reality, Tara hoped no one ever chose that one. Still, the three ladies had enjoyed some new experiences including hot rock massages, attending a deaf theater production, and going to a high school football game.

Tonight, it was Tara’s turn to be hostess. She had purchased a game called “That Guy” a few weeks ago in honor of the evening, but with Tanya along, they’d have to make a few adjustments. Perhaps they’d just remove a few of the “dare” cards.

“Tanya, you about done in there,” Tara called to D and Donna’s fifteen-year-old primping in Tara’s bathroom. “Sue and Lucy will be here any minute.”

The teen emerged only after she heard the door bell. She plopped on the couch next to Lucy. “So, Tara, what’s the plan tonight?” Sue asked.

Tara held up her deck of cards. “We’re playing “That Guy”. It’s a kind of scavenger hunt for guys.”

“Do we get to bring them back here,” Tanya eagerly asked.

Tara giggled. “No, we just have to spot them. The object is simple. We hit the town and find real-life guys who match the cartoon characters on the cards that you've been dealt. They’re pictures of guys like ‘Bad Dancer Guy’ and ‘Mohawk Man’. So if you had those cards, you’d have to spot a guy we all agreed had to be a bad dancer and another guy with a mullet. Got it?”

“Where did you find this?” Lucy asked.

“It was in Glamour. Apparently Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore, Charlize Theron and Minnie Driver all love it.”

“Well, if Julia Roberts plays it, …” Sue teased.

“Come on. It’ll be fun. We’ll go have supper and then go to the mall for a little guy watching. Here, I’ll deal the cards now so you know what you’ll be looking for.”

“Are you sure all the cards are appropriate for…” Lucy inclined her head towards Tanya.

“Oh yeah. I took out any of the questionable ones.”

“Okay, girl, deal the cards.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

when will we get some J/S fuzzies!!?!?!

Bobby you're supposed to set a good example for Davey !!!


A guy scavenger hunt D may never let her daughter stay with the girls once he learns about it!

Suejack05, about the J/S fuzzies - I'll try, but you do realize I only have about 36 hours left to finish this. I guess I should have started earlier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With lightening streaking the air, D and Donna decided to forgo the leisurely walk in the rain and instead opted for a mad dash to their cottage. Laughing hysterically, D dug in his pocket for the key card. Even under the protection of the cottage’s eaves, yet more rain doused them. “Hurry up, honey,” Donna begged. “I feel like a drowned kitten.”

“My jeans are soaked. It’s hard to get the key out. Ta-da!” He held up the key card. “What are you going to give me if I open the door?”

Donna snatched at the card and he effectively held it out of her reach. “No way, sweetheart.”

“This means war, Dimitrius Gans.” She eyed him with a twinkle in her eyes. Pulling his head down to meet hers, she gave him a world-ending, earth shattering, cataclysmic kiss. His key card holding hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her even closer. Donna seized the moment and reached behind her back to secure the card.

With the card now in hand, she pulled back abruptly, swung around, opened the door, and slammed it shut, leaving a stunned husband on the doorstep. D pounded on the door. “Hey, let me in!”

Donna leaned her back against the door and giggled. “What are you going to give me if I do?”

“More of what you just gave me?”

“Nice try, but nope.”

“A dinner for two at a great restaurant?”

“A start.”

“How about dry clothes?”

“Deal.” She hooked the chain on the door and opened it a crack. “But I want to see them first.”

D trudged over the wet pavement to their car and extracted the bags Sue and Lucy had packed wishing he’d unpacked them earlier. Then again, he thought, he wouldn’t have had them for to bargain with, and Donna always drove a mean bargain. He grinned at the thought of that kiss she’d given him. Sure, he was getting even more wet, but that kiss was worth it. He knocked on the door again.

Donna opened the door wearing only a towel and stepped back. D entered, set down the bags, and D frowned. “You showered without me?”

“No, I’m filling the whirlpool bath for both us right now. Thought we could use something to warm us up. That is, if you care to join me.”

His eyes took in her mahogany skin glistening from the rain and he made no attempt to hide his desire. “I’m feeling warmer already.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dipping her speared piece of bread into the cheese fondue at the restaurant, Lucy asked, “Are we going to see Jack tonight?”

Sue’s eyebrows shot up. “Why do you ask that?”

“One of my cards is ‘All Talk and No Action Guy.’ He’d be perfect.” She turned just in time to catch Sue rolling her eyes.

“He and Bobby are taking Davey to a hockey game,” Tara explained. “I wish we were going to see them though.”

“Why’s that, Tara?” Tanya asked.

“ ‘Cause I’ve got ‘To-Die-For Dimples Guy’.”

“And you like Bobbie’s dimples?” Lucy teased.

Tara blushed. “Well can you honestly you think of anyone with better dimples than him?”

Sue submerged a piece of sausage in the cheese fondue. “She has a point Lucy.”

“You know, ladies, I’ve been thinking.” Lucy waved her fondue fork in the air as she spoke. “Do you really think the mall is the best place for guy watching? After all it is Friday night, I think the only guys at the mall would all be married.”

“Or gay,” Tanya added to everyone’s surprise.

“But where else could we go?” Tara asked.

Sue took a drink of Coke. “Where would single guys be on a Friday night? Wait. Before anyone says the obvious, let me clarify. Where would the single guys be that we might be interested in.”

“If we’re talking about guys you and Tara are interested in, there’s only one place to go…”

In chorus, the four of them answered, “The hockey game.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was nearly six o’clock by the time the bath and subsequent activities were completed. Donna rested her hand over D’s heart, feeling the beat gradually return to normal. With her nestled on his arm, his fingers lazily stroked her bare shoulder. She marveled at his touch - hands with the strength of leather that could turn to velvet in seconds.

“Didn’t you say something about dinner?” she mused.

“We have reservations at 7:30 in town.”

“I hope you packed something for me to wear.”

“I didn’t.”

“D!”

He laughed softly. “Sue and Lucy did. They packed for you.”

She slid away from him, opened the suitcase, and pulled out the negligee. “Are you sure you didn’t pack?

A mischievous smile crossed his face. “It is my favorite, but no, it wasn’t my idea.”

She then extracted the red dress. “But you must have told them red was your favorite color.”

“Hey, what can I say? They’re FBI. Nothing escapes their notice.”

While Donna got ready in the bathroom, D hurried into his charcoal suit. Adjusting the red striped tie, he hoped it wouldn’t look like he and Donna tried to match. He just wasn’t into the cutesy couple stuff. He quickly dialed the front desk and asked them to bring up the flower he’d ordered. Then, he turned his attention to the side pocket of his suitcase. He extracted the surprises he planned for after dinner and set them in the side table drawer just the flowers were delivered.

“And you’ll put the other things in place while we’re out?” he confirmed.

“Yes, sir,” the young woman told him. “It’s a very romantic idea. I’m so glad we get to help.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to us.” He closed the door with a gentle click.

“Did I just hear you talking to someone?” Donna asked from the bathroom doorway.

D turned around and stared at her. She looked stunning, glowing. He approached her slowly and held out the single red rose in his hand. “You are amazing.”

She accepted the rose and touched it to her nose, inhaling the scent. “Thank you. You look great, too. Are you ready to go?”

“You know, you’re lucky. The rains stopped. Do you want to take the umbrella along just in case?”

She giggled. “No, I don’t think so. I’ll just take my chances.”

WOW THIS IS WONDERFUL

I like how teenager Tanya is instantly a part of the girls-group. Hockey game is indeed the best place to go!!!

So D has got something special planned...can't wait to find out!!

That is so beautiful !

The girls meeting with the boys? ... Could be very interesting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey, watch what you’re doing!” Bobby yelled at the inebriated man sitting behind Davey. He’d gone to prop his foot on the back of the seat and kicked Davey instead. “Put your foot down.”

“You gonna make me,” the barrel chested man asked, rising to his feet.

Bobby stood up and, with a steely glare, faced him. “Do I need to, mate?”

“Let it go, Crash. Let’s just call security.”

“Hey, Mike, the man wants me to take my foot off his kid’s chair. How’s this?” He lifted his boot, deliberately kicking Davey, and swung it at Bobby.

“Ow,” Davey cried and jumped to his feet. In one swift movement, Bobby grabbed the man’s foot and pushed him back into his chair.

“We need security to section…” Jack said into his cell phone just as he saw the man’s friend, Mike, dive at Bobby out of the corner of his eye. The man caught Bobby in the midsection and sent him sprawling into the aisle. Jack pulled Davey out of the way and then struggled to pull Mike off his friend. Foot kicker joined the foray again climbing down onto Jack and Bobby’s row. Jack spun and the man took a swing at him. Jack ducked and nailed the man’s jaw with a right jab. A second punch to his abdomen caused the man to buckle, but he came up swinging.

Meanwhile, Bobby got to his feet just in time to defend himself from Mike’s onslaught of punches. The man had obviously boxing training. Bobby’s only hope was he knew the man was pumped full of beer. A powerful jab glanced off Bobby’s eye and he felt the searing burn of the skin splitting.

Bobby saw security personnel approach and felt relief wash over him. They grabbed Mike and secured his arms. Bobby reached to wipe away the trickle of blood, but felt his own arm violently yanked back and cuffed. “Come with us peacefully,” a security officer told him.

“Wait! We’re FBI. These clowns were…”

“Save it,” another guard who had Jack in hand ordered.

The fans around Jack and Bobby came to their defense, but the security officers were more interested in removing the offending parties than determining guilt. The four men were ushered out of the stands to the applause of those around them with Davey trailing silently behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a romantic dinner at Julia’s in downtown Centerville, D and Donna returned to the Brampton Inn. A cool breeze wafted the fresh scent from the afternoon’s rain, but D noticed the dark cloud hung heavy in the sky covering the stars.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested. Donna agreed, but when D slipped his arm around her, he felt her shiver. Removing his suit jacket, he draped it over her shoulders. “Better?”

“With you – always.”

Hand in hand they followed a different pathway than they took earlier. Tiny lights dotted the way. “Look, a gazebo!” Donna exclaimed. “And look, it’s all lit up with Christmas lights.”

“Hmmm, I wonder why.”

A sprinkling of rain started to fall. “Oh no, not again.” Donna moaned, covering her head with D’s jacket.

“Let’s make a run for the gazebo.”

Donna shook the rain from the suit coat as she removed it from her head. They’d made it just in time. The rain now pattered steadily on the rooftop.

“So, now what are we going to do?” she asked.

“Dance.”

“We don’t have any music.”

D tilted his head up and Donna smiled in understanding. “God provided the music?”

“No one makes it better.” D placed his broad hands on her hips and pulled her closer. Her arms encircled his neck. Swaying to the whispering music of the rain, a mountain of missed suppers, going to bed alone, and lost opportunities melted away. Donna felt her heart nearly burst with love. How could she love this man any more?

Please tell m e the ladies come to save the day

That fan was some first class jerk. Bobby appears to have taken quite a punch to the eye. Those security men were not too swift. They should have realized that Mike and Kicker were plastered. I wonder what the girls will think when they get there? Maybe they will figure that fellows need a little TLC?

D and Donna are doing nicely.

Note: There really is a game called That Guy! However, I made up the names used on the cards in this story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tara parked the car in the parking garage and the troupe of ladies emerged from the vehicle. “Okay, now that we’re here, what do we do? We don’t have tickets to get in.”

Lucy glanced at her watch. “The game should be about half over, maybe we can get half price tickets.”

“It’s worth a try,” Tara admitted. “Everyone got their cards?”

Tanya splayed hers out in front of her. “Yeah, but if anyone sees Mr. Perfect Kisser, you’ll have to clue me in. I don’t have a lot of experience in that area.”

Sue draped her arm around the girl’s shoulder. “And we are all very glad to hear that.”

After some finagling and showing her FBI badge, Tara secured four half-price tickets in the nose bleed section. The steep climb up the steps made her almost dizzy. She hoped they’d be able to see some hunks because from back here, they sure wouldn’t see the game.

“Do you know what section Jack and Bobby were in?” she asked Sue.

Sue shook her head. “No idea. Hey, do you think that guy fits this card?” She held out a card with the title “Sports FanWannabe”. The short, skinny man she’d pointed to was wearing a Capital’s hockey jersey, hat, and carried a foam hockey stick. He cheered at the wrong times and within minutes, all four girls were sure this was his first hockey game.

“Score one for Sue,” Tara announced with a giggle, passing Sue a new card. “Look! There’s mine. “Undertaker by Day, Wild Man by Night.”

“No, he doesn’t look like an undertaker,” Lucy protested.

“And how do you know what an undertaker looks like?” Tara asked.

“I dated one.”

Tanya’s mouth dropped open. “Your kidding. You dated a guy who dresses dead people!”

“Someone’s got to do it.”

Sue laughed. “What date an undertaker or dress dead people?”

“Either way, he doesn’t fit your card Tara.”

“Look at those bozo’s fighting down there.” Tanya pointed to the commotion three sections below them.

Tara jumped to her feet. “That’s no bozo. That’s Bobby!”

Busted . . . lol i would love to see how the guys explain this one to the girls while making themselves look good. Then explainto D later on how their son came to witness it.

The girls to the rescue


Dancing under the rain ... you're making it so romantic

Some night for guy-hunting, eh? I feel sorry for Davey though...first he gets kicked in the head, then he has to tag along with 4 cuffed men...... poor kid!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When a break in the rain occurred, D reluctantly separated from Donna. Cupping her face in his hand, he kissed her slowly and sweetly. This was not a night to be rushed. As much as he wanted her, one advantage years of marriage gave him was to savor each moment.

As they made their way back to the cottage, D hoped the staff had arranged everything as he’d asked. Opening the door, he peeked inside before he let her enter.

“What’s going on Dimitrius Gans?”

“You’ll see.” With his hand on the small of her back, he nudged her inside.

Donna gasped. “How? Why? Who?” she stuttered.

“Choose one of the above,” he teased. “How? The inn’s staff helped me out. Why? Because I love you more than you can imagine. Who? I guess I covered that one.”

Walking around the room, Donna took in everything. A fire in the fireplace cast a warm glow on the room, staving off the night airs chill. Single roses, in various colors with notes attached, lie strewn throughout the room. Most amazing was the curtain of raindrops hanging from the canopy enveloping all four sides of the bed. Donna ran her hand through the beads and listens to their tinkling sound.
“You did all this for me?”

“For us,” D clarified. “Are you ready for your presents?”

“As in plural?”

D laughed. “Yes. Here’s the first one.” He handed her a white rose. “Read the card.”

White stands for purity. On our wedding night, you gave me a gift that I have always cherished – your purity. You saved yourself for me and only me. Thank you, my love.

Donna brushed a tear away and D took her hand and led her to the next rose, a delicate pink one. He handed it to her. “D, your going to have to read the card this time. I don’t think I can.”

D’s voice cracked as he read the card, “Pink roses stand for friendship. Our friendship has been the heart of our love. Every joy is greater when shared with you and every disappointment easier with you to help me handle it. We laugh together, play together, and celebrate together. You make my life full. You are my best friend.”

A solitary tear trickled down Donna’s cheek and D thumbed it away. “Don’t start that yet. We’ve got three roses to go.”

Wow, is this guy romantic or what? It's wonderful that even after 15 years of marriage he still takes the time to sweep his wife of her feet with these wonderful romantic gestures...

I will try not to start crying yet either since there are three more to read ...

That was a great scene between D and Donna. Purity, friendship...I wonder what the next three roses will signify?

Sprinting down the stairs, the four ladies, led by Tara, apologized profusely as they pushed people out of their way. Twice they nearly toppled someone holding beverages. “Sorry!” Tara called racing on.

“For someone who says they’re no good at sports, she sure can run fast,” Lucy told Tanya.

“I guess she just needed the right motivation.”

Tara’s eyes never let the brawler’s area. She watched in horror as security arrived, hand cuffing both Bobby and Jack, and then leading them out the nearest exit. Using the hand rail to anchor them, both she and Sue took the corner at record speeds and stopped abruptly in front of the first concession stand. “Where’d they go?” she asked Sue, searching the area.

“I don’t see them. You think there’s some kind of security office?” Lucy and Tanya caught up. “We can’t see them,” Sue explained.

Tanya tapped Sue’s arm and motioned towards the far end of the complex where Bobby and Jack were being ushered into some sort of office. “Isn’t that Mr. Hunkilicious over there?”

“Good job, Tanya!”

Tara sighed. “I just hope they’re as happy to see us as we are to see them.”



Just two more posts to go.

Oh i am sure Jack will be happy to see Sue and Bobby, Tara. What better way to bring about other romances then with the weddign ann. of another. )

I don't think you have to be at all concerned, Tara. The guys will be thrilled.

Oops, there are three left. Here they come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next rose, a yellow one, lay only a few feet away. Donna’s long fingers caressed the petals while D read the attached card. “A yellow rose means excitement. You are an incredibly exciting woman. I could talk about how much excitement you bring to home for hours with your planning for perfect Easters, Christmases and birthdays, but that’s not the kind of excitement this rose stands for. Because you are such an amazing woman, you are constantly changing and growing. You bring new insights and ideas into our marriage. (And creative ones, I might add.) I want you to know how much it means to me that you keep our love so exciting and fresh.”

On the mantle, two roses lie in the midst of a trio of pillar candles. D handed the red and white variegated rose to Donna. “It’s your turn to read,” he said, pressing the card into her hand.

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Try.”

“The red and white rose stands for unity. When we first married, I thought I understood what unity was. I thought I knew what it meant to ‘become one.’ But how could I have understood that we would be one spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Just as the two colors merge to create a unique beauty, our lives have united to create something more wonderful than either of us imagined.”

“Did you write all this yourself?” Donna asked.

“Of course I did.”

“No help from Tara, Lucy, or Sue?”

“I promise.”

“Wow.”

“What can I say? You bring out the best in me. Ready for the last rose.”

Donna nodded and ran the bud of the red rose across her cheek before presenting it to her. “Here’s the card.”

“The red rose stands for passionate love and I do so love you passionately. I long for your touch, your kisses, your being. You are my forever love.”

His eyes dropped to Donna’s full lips and she licked them in anticipation. Running his hand slowly up her arm, then around her neck, he pulled her gently towards him. “You’re my forever love,” he whispered. She sighed into his kiss. With a passion borne of years and many facets of love, the kiss exploded and flamed with intensity, leaving them breathless.

Forcing himself to let go of her, D took her hand and let her towards the bed. Parting the raindrop curtains, he motioned for her to sit down. He then bent and removed her strappy sandals. Popping the cork on the champagne bottle on ice next to the bed, he poured two glasses and handed her one. She sipped the liquid and the bubbles made her giggle.

“Why don’t you join me?” she asked patting the bed beside her.

“I’ve got one more surprise.” He reached into the drawer of the night stand and removed the gift he’d purchase with Myles. “There’s no note with this one. I want you to hear it all from me – first try, no revisions. Fifteen years ago when we married, we thought we had it all planned. Life would be wonderful – perfect – smooth. It hasn’t always been that way. We’ve struggled. We’ve fought. We’ve even lost a child. The storms of life have been difficult, but we weathered them and grew closer because of them.” He paused to clear his throat. “This whole weekend was based on one idea. Let’s see if you can guess it after you open your gift.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The four young women stood in front of the door marked “Security Office: Private – Do Not Enter” pondering their next move.

“I say we go right in there and demand they let us see them,” Lucy said.

“Demanding things doesn’t usually help the ones in the hand cuffs,” Tara explained.

“But why would they keep them?” Sue wondered. “They’d never start anything.”

“Enough is enough,” Tanya declared as she marched up to the door and knocked soundly on it twice. “Daddy always says if you want to know something, you’ve got to ask the people who know.”

The door cracked open. “May I help you ladies?” a young security guard asked. Sue nudged Tanya out of the way.

“Yes, two friends of ours were just escorted in here. We’d like to see them.”

“I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.”

He started to close the door and Tara stuck her foot inside to stop him. Flashing her badge at the young man, she said authoritatively, “You’re hold two FBI agents. I need to see them right away. You don’t want to obstruct the federal government, do you?”

“N..n…n…no,” he stammered. “Let me just go check with my supervisor.”

A few minutes later, the door swung open. “He said two of you can come in. There isn’t room for everyone.”

Lucy nodded and took hold of Tanya who was prepared to go in with Tara. “Sorry, young lady, we’re staying out here.”

“But I have the Chocolate Eyes Guy card,” Tanya whined.

Sue and Tara stepped inside and followed the security guard down a short hallway. He pushed open a door on the right side. “Go on in.”

“Hi, guys,” Sue said. “Been in any brawls lately?” ”At least they’ve removed the handcuffs,” Sue thought.

“Sue! What are you doing here?” Jack crowed.

“Tara, luv, what’s going on?” Bobby asked.

Tara felt her knees turn to gelatin when Bobby called her “luv” and forced herself to look him in the eyes. In the process, she saw he’d been injured. “Bobby! You’re bleeding.” She moved to examine the wound unaware of how close the plunging neckline of her shirt was to Bobby’s direct line of sight. He felt his eyes drift to the creamy exposed skin and swallowed hard. Placing his hands on her hips, he gently pushed her back. “It’ll be fine, luv. They’re bringing in a bandage.”

“What happened?” Sue asked, sitting down across from Jack and Davey.

Jack explained the whole story and Sue and Tara listened carefully. “If the other two guys are drunk, why are they still keeping you two?” Sue asked.

“Apparently, one of the blokes claim we started it.”

“But they didn’t,” Davey protested. “I told them the truth and they’re just not listening.”

“Are you okay, Davey?” Tara asked, ruffling the boy’s hair.

“I’m great! Wait ‘til I tell Dad about this!”

“Uh, mate, about that….”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Tara confirmed that Jack and Bobby were indeed FBI agents and they were holding them at their own risk, the security supervisor became incredibly accommodating. Not only were they released immediately, but the four women and the three guys were escorted to an empty box seat.

“So, what brought the four of you out to a hockey game. If you wanted to come, why didn’t you say so? We could have gotten seats all together.”

“We’re playing a game,” Tanya volunteered. Tara’s hand clamped down on the girl’s leg. “Ow. What’s wrong? You’re the one who needed to see Bobby for the To Die For Dimples card.”

“You think I have To Die For Dimples, Tara?” he teased, flashing her a immense dimpled grin while slipping his arm around her shoulders.

“Tell me about the game,” Jack told Tanya, “and don’t stop her, Tara.”

Tanya gave the guys a brief explanation. “But I don’t know who gets to claim you. I have the card the Chocolate Eyes Guy, but Lucy has All Talk and No Action. I’m not sure what that means, but I think it has something to do with Sue.”

Sue could have slithered to the floor in embarrassment. She prayed over and over, “Please God, make me invisible.”

“Well, I can’t have you loosing because of me.” His smile melted the young girl. “And there’s only one way to let you win.”

Suddenly, the crowd roared. Bobby, Tara, Lucy, Davey, and Tanya jumped to their feet to see what was happening. Sue, still paralyzed in her chair, couldn’t hear the fans. Jack turned to her and pulled her to her feet. “You got a card for No More Talking, Just Acting?”

The message behind his words emboldened her. It was now or never. “No, but I have this one.” She held up her Mr. Wonderful card.

His eyes dropped to her lips and an invisible force drew them together. While crowds continued to cheer around them, the kiss deepened and exploded, giving and taking, needing and fulfilling.

After long moments they parted and turned to face their surprised friends. Bobby pulled Tara close to his side, “Hey, Sparky, guess what? We won.”

“We certainly did, Crash.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tentatively, Donna accepted the small box wrapped in glittery silver paper. She eased off the wrapping and opened the box. “They’re gorgeous,” she breathed. A necklace and matching earrings laid nestled in the box. She lifted the silver chain and watched the pear shaped faceted crystals fall gracefully. The card inside said, “Swarovski Raindrop Jewelry Set.”

Donna stood up and D helped her put the necklace on. The feel on his fingers on her neck sent shivers coursing through her. “So, my love, what’s your guess?”

“Something to do with rain? But how do the roses fit?”

“What’s your favorite musical?”

“’The Sound of Music.’”

“Think about your favorite things.”

“Raindrops on roses!”

D chuckled. “The rain theme did seem to go with the weather forecast.” He turned her in his arms and cupped her face with his hand. “Honestly, sweetheart, if I could I would promise you all sunny days and rainbows for the next twenty-five years, but I can’t do that. You and I both know there’s always a chance of rain. What I can promise you is this. No matter what happens, you will never face a storm alone. No matter what life throws at us, I will be by your side. You, Donna Gans, are my forever love.”

Lying in her husbands arms an hour later, Donna listened to the sounds around her. Rain drops pelted the roof in a steady rhythm. It was now a music which spoke to her soul. She would never hear rain quite the way she did before. To love and be loved – it was worth the chance of rain.

I'm so impressed by D ... so romantic


And Jack ... I guess you were ready for the no talk, all action phase

I was already in bed when I remembered that I had left out the link to see the necklace D gave Donna. I had to get up and post this.

http://www.sincerityweddings.com/images/Rh...welrySet_XL.jpg

Lorna, that was beautiful! The weekend D planned for his love spoke of so much love, intimacy and 'togetherness' (is that a word? Well, I guess you know what I mean). It was romantic and beyond that - it came from the soul. I loved the way he acknowledged their third child...a very sad period of their lives, but a very real period, which shouldn't be hidden. The jewelry-set is magnificent...I really hope to meet a guy one day who would give me presents like this! And I don't only mean jewelry (as lovely as that is) but also something as simple as a rose, or as profound as a message from the heart.....

Jack and Sue...awwwww, aren't they just a cute couple?! And just so that Tanya didn't loose the game...yeah right!!!!!!

Oreo, That was a splendid story, D was so romantic and I loved reading about them together like that. Loved the 'That Guy' game, sounds like a great time!