When he awoke he could tell Rosie must of gone ahead and left for the morning. He did after all tend to sleep until noon. Good, at least he didn't have to sneak around. He batted the clingy covers off and headed for the bathroom.

A short time later he was out, clean shaven, cologne (Davidoff Cool Water) and feeling great. Towel around his waist, straight for the closet, and once inside he pulled out a covered suit. Rosie had her side and he had his so hiding this within the closet was pretty easy. He pulled the black Armani suit out and laid it out on the bed as his Jack Skellington boxers were pulled out of the dresser drawer, drop of the towel and boxers on. Then that spiffy suit was slowly put on as he admired it, hopefully Rosie would love it as well. Let us not forget the orange tie.


He sighed happily as he looked in the mirror, today was going to be a great day. Quickly finding a piece of paper to leave Rosie a note, he scribbled down a short message.


Petal, I have an appointment with another art dealer.
I will meet you at the Inn after.
See you then.

Love, Dean.

He was out of the bedroom, down the hall, and into the kitchen where he placed the note on the counter near the door. He hoped she would see it, and everything would go as planned.
Out the door he went, to the Market.


Walking in a slightly quicker pace then usual, he entered through the door of a small shop. Where he was greeted by a nice elderly fellow.



"Ah, Mister Dean! Good morning, you are here to pick it up yes?" He greeted Dean with a smile.


"Good morning to you as well, I am here for exactly that." Dean smiled in response, sliding up to the counter and resting his arms upon it.


"You came just in time, we just finished." The man pulled out the large wrapped object from behind the counter and placed it next to Dean's arms.


"You are a life saver Mister Lanton, really." He wrapped his fingers around the object and placed it in to his right arm, holding it against his side. "She is going to love it, I just know it. Thank you so much for doing this for me on such a short notice."


"It was my pleasure Mister Dean. Will there be anything else?" The elderly gentleman smiled once more.


"Well, do you have any recommendations on a good wine?" He snugly kept the object to his right side.


"Oh yes, just go around the corner to the winery there, ask for Sophie. She will fix you right up. Tell her I sent you, even get you a discount." The elderly man nodded, his blue eyes gleaming.


"Thank you so much, I will do that. Well I'm off.." As Dean was out the door, waving to the man with his free hand, over his shoulder, as he stepped out the door and on to the road.


He slipped by a few customers and headed right for the winery. And just as Mister Lanton had said, Sophie gave him an excellent bottle of Pinot Noir.

His next stop was just around the corner, where he would pick out the most beautiful roses he could find, taking two dozen. The shop owner stunned at selling two dozen roses, but took Dean's money with a cheshire grin none the less. Right now, money meant nothing to Dean. This was for her, she deserved the best.



So far everything was going just as smooth as could be.

Hopefully Rosie had seen the note and wouldn't still be at the house....

After the lunch service was over, she left the cleaning of the kitchen in Stratus' capable hands. It had been a rough one, with bratty childen throwing food at each other. She hated when parents let thier children get away with stuff like that. She couldn't wait to get home and spend quality time with Dean before the next dinner service.

The thought brought a smile to Rosie's face as she walked home. It would carry her all the way to the front door. The house was empty, though, when she walked through the door. She frowns slightly, and sighs. Always, to the kitchen first she went. Finding the note she nods slowly.

A little bit later, she emerges from the house and hurries off towards the next dinner service. She's donned a fresh uniform and apron. The dinner service had turned out to be a bore. The food was well received, but the folks there seemed to be a little too uptight for her liking. Ah well, at least the staff was being tipped well and the food had received many compliments. During the service she kept peeking at the note, and would smile.

When it was finally over, she could hardly contain herself to a walk to get to the RDI. He wanted to meet her there, and by golly, she was going to get there as quickly as she could. Luckily the dinner service had been only a few blocks away.

Upon entering the inn, she's a bit disappointed that he's not there yet. She sits at the bar and sips on a bottle of water, and waits.

Her eyes had been on the door the entire time. He said to meet him there, and she had only waited a few minutes when he walked into the door.

She blinked, shook her head and blinked again. Was that Adonis in Armani coming over to see her? He had Dean's eyes... his smile... wait... that Adonis in Armani was Dean! She couldn't take her eyes from him. The orange tie was a playful accent to the silky blackness of the suit. And as he came nearer the heady scent of Cool Water had her sighing dreamily.

Ok, Rosie pinch yourself. This is all a dream and you're going to wake up any minute now. She thought to herself. It had to have been a dream, she didn't even see him take a step. And everybody knows that in dreams your feet never touch the earth. So she pinched her arm, hard. Yep, register of pain, this was real.

She accepts his kiss to her cheek and the gentle caress that followed it. Her eyes rounded and shining as she looked up at him. "Can you do that again? Go out and come back in. I want to watch you do it over and over again."

How was her day? Her heart raced in her chest and she simply could not get enough of looking at him. If ever there was a moment that she was blown out of the water, this was it. By far, the best thing she's seen all day and she will surely let him know it.

"How about a bottle of water, for the road?" She asks as she slides off of her stool. She knew the answer before he uttered it and was heading towards the cooler. Stopping to whisper into Wyheree's ear, "I bet he has on boxers to match." Not even waiting for a reply, she lifted her head just a notch higher and walked to the cooler.

Nabbing the drink, she passes Wyheree and they share a giggle and a knowing glance. Back to her handsome prince she goes, wiping the condensation from the bottle of water before handing it to him. Nothing like water spots to ruin a beautiful suit.

"Ready when you are, m'love."

She tucked her own water bottle into her apron pocket and dried her hands on a corner of the maroon garment. "I've got a bit of a surprise for you too... when we get home." She whispered softly as she took his elbow into her tiny hands.

"Lead the way, m'love."

She looks behind Dean as he leads her to the door, a smile and eye brow wiggle to Wyheree before they're out of the door.

How'd her day go? Well she was never one who was short with words, so she spoke rapidly, replaying her day. "Well I dropped off the rolls to the RDI, like I do every morning. Charlotte was there and you can rest assured I won't have to deal with that drama queen anymore. Then it was off to serve the brunch. The Johanssen's daughter is ready to pop anyday now and they loved the little pink and blue baby booties as a centerpiece to the cake! The lunch was fun. Poor Sadie's going to have a bruise from being kicked by a miniture horse. Those kids tried to play pin the tail on the donkey with it! Oh yea, the dinner service was just boring. Mr. Green fell asleep before dessert. So yea, the day's been a bit boring... "

She watched his face the entire time she spoke and he never once spoke up to interrupt her. He was taking turns at watching where they were going and looking down at her. Her right side pressed against his, her right arm behind his back, her thumb hooked into a belt loop under his coat. Her left hand in his right hand.

And before she knew it, they arrived home.

She did as he requested, hands folded demurely in front of her as she stood there with her eyes closed tightly shut. She wiggles in excitement and can't hold in the soft laughter that simply cannot be contained.

"Hurry! It's getting cold out here!" She called out to him. She wasn't cold, she just wanted to see!

The scent of the rose petals wafted on the air when the door was opened and she sniffs two or three times, then sighs with a smile on her face. Her eyes still closed, she jumps slighlty as he takes her hand and leads her into the house. She heard the door close behind her and felt his kiss before he said to open her eyes. And when she did open her eyes they flew wide with surprise.

"Oh Dean, you've outdone yourself!" Her voice no more than a whisper.

She stoops down to pick up a rose petal as she walks deeper into the room. The soft candle light reflected off of the silver ice bucket caught her eye next. Making her way to the bucket, she places her finger against it and makes a swipe downwards, removing a small bit of condensation.

The last thing she noted was the wrapped object leaning against the wall. It was long, rectangular and slender. Her eyes turn to him once again and they are bright with unshed tears."It's absolutely beautiful." She simply watched his every move. Now that her attention was back on him, it would not waver.

Sitting on the couch as requested, primly on it's edge, hands folded in her lap and feet crossed at the ankles. She watches his every move and can't wait to tear open the gift he had placed before her.

A murmured "thank you" is given as he sets the wine glasses down onto the table. She carefully lifts the package, it's not so heavy as bulky, and places it on the ground before her. Tilting it so that it rests against her knees, she reaches over the back of it and finds the edge of the wrapping paper. Grasping it tightly in her hand, she pulls back and a soft ripping noise is heard. Several more rips and the package is almost completely uncovered.

She gasps softly, tears rush forth and she looks to the marvelous man standing not even a few feet away. "Oh, Dean, it's wonderful."

When he sat down beside her, she shifted her weight and leaned against him. Her feet and legs curled up beneath her, and an inaudible sigh escapes her lips as she gazes up at him. She blushed softly and lowered her eyes demurely when he described how he saw the portrait.

He had held her until she fell asleep one night, and then slipped out of the bed to sketch her while she slept. The portrait that she held before her was an oil on canvas depiction of that night. She almost felt like she was looking in a mirror.

Then he offers her the glass of wine. What could a single glass hurt, right? So she takes the glass from him and takes a single sip, then places it back down onto the coffee table. Reaching a hand up to caress his cheek, she gets a serious look on her face and she whispers. "Now, it's time for my surprise for you."

She had planned out just what she was going to say and do at this particular moment. Every word and movement had been rehearsed a hundred times in her head that day. But now that the moment was upon her, she stutters and is unable to speak clearly. "I... that is.. Dean.. we.. um... "

She needed to pull herself together. She looked deep into those hazel eyes and it dawned on her. She was a goose for being nervous. He had spoken of it a few times and she knew how he felt about the subject.

"Dean,"she utters an inaudible sigh, "We're going to have a baby."

She sat there chewing on her lower lip, waiting for his resposne.

Her eyes caught every little movement on his face. From the blink of slight disbelief, to the widening of his eyes and nares of learning he was to become a dad, to that beautiful smile. And what the smile did to her insides!

She leans into his caress, and when she closed her eyes to receive the kiss, tiny tears were squeezed from the corners of her eyes. She buries her face in his shoulder when he wraps his arms around her. She slides her hands against his chest and sighs softly against his shoulder. "I love you so."