FIFTY-EIGHT

"Mmmmffff..." Cate protested feebly as again Jon devoured her mouth. She whimpered when his hand moved to her breast, cupping it needfully.  He wasn't making this easy.

Summoning her willpower, Cate pulled her hand from Jon's jeans pocket and grasped his hip.  Her other hand flattened against his chest.  She pulled back her head, disengaging her lips from her husband's with a wet smack.

"Jon."  Her voice was a husky sigh.  "Now isn't the time."

"Why not?  They're occupied, and it's gonna take 'em awhile to find us.  We've got at least a few minutes."  He reached again for her mouth, but Cate pulled back.

"Jon, the doors are wide open."  She snorted softly as a wry smile turned her shiny lips.  "And a few minutes?  Oh, Gee.  That's just what every girl wants to hear."  Cate rolled her eyes with her sarcastic observation.

"It's called a quickie, Baby.  You never complained before."

"Before I wasn't worried about your sons walking in on us."

"Oh?  Just Christmas party guests?"

Cate blushed, her body instantly sparking at the vivid memory of their daring holiday tryst in the wine pantry several months ago.  That time they had nearly been interrupted by Jon's brother.

"We almost got caught then, too."  Cate shook her head lightly, making her copper locks ripple over her shoulders.  "You shoulda learned your lesson."

"Maybe I like the danger."  Jon arched a brow, his lips curving into a dirty smirk.

"Well, even if you do, I don't want to have to explain to your sons' mother what they witnessed on our family vacation." 

Jon snorted.  "Oh, believe me, Baby.  That discussion would be all on me, not you.  Dorothea would be too happy to have a reason to rip me a new one."

That made Cate's lips twist amusedly, even as she inwardly cringed at the thought of facing Jon's ex-wife after such a humiliating mishap.  It had been hard enough to see her in the aftermath of Jon's boozy birthday-party slip of the tongue, when Cate had been only the innocent victim.

"So we're gonna be sure it doesn't happen."  Cate firmly pushed Jon's hand off of her breast.  "Got it?"

Jon grumbled a sigh.  "Yeah, yeah.  But Christ, Cate.... you gotta lighten up a little.  Relax.  You're on vacation, for fuck's sake."

Cate's smile faltered as she heard the surly note buried in his smooth voice.  "Lighten up?  I need to lighten up?  Just because I won't let you have your way with me whenever -- and wherever -- you want?"

"No, because you won't even entertain the possibility.  I'm barely gettin' revved up and you're already shuttin' down the engine."

She felt a pang of annoyance at his sulky accusation.  Cate reached behind her, grasping Jon's forearm.  He didn't resist, recognizing her displeasure at his flip remark.  Remaining silent, Jon slid his hand from inside Cate's pants and let it fall to the mattress.  Cate pushed herself up until she sat on one hip, then looked down at him through narrowed azure eyes.

"Maybe you should think with the head on your shoulders instead of the one in your pants.  Then you wouldn't have to limp around with blue balls." 

Cate's response was calm but biting.  She had felt guilty last night after halting their brief makeout session in the Navigator's back seat.  But she admitted some culpability in that encounter; this time Jon had brought about his discomfort all on his own. 

Jon peered back up at her, feeling a jolt in his gut and in his crotch at the ice in her sapphire glare.  There was no doubt his wife was pissed at his stupid, snarky comment.  There was also no doubt her simmering anger made her look twice as hot.

He couldn't help himself, though he knew the words were a mistake before they passed his lips.

"And maybe you should just stop thinking and let yourself get fucked."

Cate's jaw dropped.  Her eyes sparked with shock and indignation as she gaped at her husband, hardly believing what she had just heard.

"I... WHAT???"  Cate couldn't formulate a coherent response.

Jon's lips pressed into a line as he pushed himself up on one elbow.  He winced slightly when the change in position stretched the already-tight denim across his crotch.  Jon gave Cate a direct look, his own blue eyes darkening with his agitation.

"Just stop it, Cate.  Stop worrying.  Stop over-thinking and over-analyzing every fucking little thing.  For Christ's sake!"  Jon reached up to run a hand through his hair as he growled another sigh, gathering himself before he went way too far.  He had already put more than a toe over the line.  He pulled his hand from the back of his neck to wave it animatedly as he spoke, emphasizing his argument.

"This is supposed to be a family vacation, yes.  But it's also supposed to be a time for us... all of us... to just live in the moment.  Just be here.  Together.  Forget about all the other shit going on in our crazy damned lives.  Forget about work, forget about school, forget about bosses and partners and teachers and annoying kids and directors and agents and assistants and exes and..." 

He stopped to take a breath after his sing-song tirade.  His hand dropped to his thigh with a dull smack of flesh on denim, then he continued.

"...And to forget about all the daily bullshit."  Jon's frown softened.  "To let it go, Cate.  Just for awhile."      

He saw her lips part to protest, and cut her off.

"Look, I know.  I know we have to be discrete around the boys.  For fuck's sake, Cate!  Do you really think I want them to know what goes on in our bedroom?  Of course I don't.  And here, now?"  Jon waved his hand vaguely at their surroundings, then let it fall again to his thigh.  "I wouldn't have gone so far that they would have walked in on anything graphic.  Hell, not even anything R-rated.   Even if it does leave me with a case of blue balls."  He sighed.  "I would hope you think I'm a better father than that."

Cate swallowed hard.  Her anger was slowly subsiding, replaced by a creeping guilt.  She nodded mutely.

Jon lowered his chin, continuing despite his better judgment.  "Is it so fucking wrong that I want to be affectionate with my wife, Cate?  That I want to touch her, hold her, kiss her... To try to find that spark that's gone missing?"

His blunt admission stunned her.  Jon had never before so starkly admitted their sex life had diminished. 

Cate found her voice somewhere behind the lump in her throat.  It was hoarse.  "Of course not.  I'm just... just...  uncomfortable."

"With the boys?"  Jon's voice matched hers in timbre.  "Or with me?"

Cate's eyes moistened as she stared at him for a long moment before answering truthfully.

"Both."

Jon stared back at her, his recoil visible not in his expression but in his stormy gaze.  He licked his suddenly-dry lips.  "Oh.  I see."

Cate dropped her gaze as another pang of guilt prodded dully at her gut. She couldn't bring herself to apologize this time.    Still, she needed to say something, to at least try to explain.

"Jon,  I..."

"No."  Jon shook his head as he held up a hand.  "Just... don't."

"I'm not..."  Cate heeded his repeated head-shake, then sighed heavily.  "I shouldn't have...

"No, I shouldn't have started.  You're right.  I should ask if you're comfortable with me touching you first."

Cate felt her eyes moisten again, his intentionally-brusque words needling her guilt.  "That's not what I..."  She let out an exasperated sigh.  "Baby, it's not that I don't want you to... to kiss me, or hold my hand..."  Cate frowned, struggling to find words that could explain but not make matters worse.  "But when it's more than that, I just... with Jake and Romeo here, I just can't..."

"Well, they're here.  For the whole trip.  So I guess I'll just keep my hands to myself, then."  Jon's statement came out more bluntly than he intended, but he stifled his cringe.  Instead he gave Cate a half-hearted glare.

"That's not what I said, Jon.  Or what I want."

"Oh?  Coulda fooled me."  His brow arched with his sarcastic reply.

Cate mirrored his response, now starting to get annoyed with his pissiness.  "You wanted a family vacation, Jon.  You wanted to drive to Florida.  And I'm glad.  It's nice that you wanted to do something so... normal... with your boys."  Her voice gained strength as she saw he wasn't going to interrupt her. 

"And I'm glad that you wanted me to be part of it.  I'm touched, honestly.  That the boys want me around while they spend time with their Dad.  That you want me to be a part of their lives, of their happy memories.  To be a... a mother to them.  Even if just a surrogate one, for a few days."  Her voice quavered slightly as she verbalized how she felt about her untested role.

This time Jon couldn't hide his reaction.  He winced at the break in her voice, now realizing he had inadvertently touched a more sensitive nerve with his flippant horny frustration.

"Cate..."

"I want them to have fun, Jon.  Like they would if we were a real family, if I was their mother.  But how are they supposed to see me as more than... than their father's..."  Cate's voice wavered again and she cleared her throat.  "...than their Dad's girlfriend... if..."

Her voice trailed off and she turned her glittering eyes to Jon's.  His expression softened with his voice. 

"Jake and Romeo don't think of you as a surrogate, Cate.  Or an outsider. Hell, they don't even think twice about you anymore.  You're part of their world.  You're just... Cate."  He gave her a little smile.  "They know I love you, and I want them to love you.  So they do."

When she didn't answer or look up, Jon sighed.  "Look, I'm sorry.  It was stupid, what I said.  I didn't mean it."

That made her eyes narrow.  "Yes you did, Jon.  It's obviously how you feel.  That I'm the reason we..."  She sighed again, suddenly realizing she was weary of this argument and didn't want to pursue it further.  She wasn't even sure how they had gone from affectionate to antagonistic in the blink of an eye. 

"Okay.  It's... okay.  I'm sorry too.  I'll try... try not to be so... prudish."

Now Jon's eyes narrowed at her begrudging apology.  It was clear they hadn't resolved this issue, the real reason for their argument.  "I don't think you're a prude, Cate.  And I'm not saying I want you to act like a horny fucking schoolgirl, either."  He added the qualification hastily, when he saw her lips part to argue.  "I just want you to relax, and to realize you don't have to try to be anything.  Just... be Cate. Be my wife."

He reached for her hand and was silently relieved when she didn't pull it away.  "Look, I promise you.  You don't have to worry about Jake and Romeo.  I'll back off when they're around.  Okay?   But Cate, I'm not gonna completely ignore you just because they're here with us."  Jon squeezed Cate's hand.  "I think it's good that they see some affection between us. That's what people who love each other do.  Hold hands, embrace, kiss..."

Cate nodded slowly.  She couldn't disagree with Jon's statement, but her in her mind the caution flag still waved.

"Yeah, but nothing too... PDA... Okay?"  Cate winced.  The juvenile acronym was all she could come up with to explain the boundary of her discomfort.

"Okay."  Jon chuckled and nodded, then gave her a long look.  "But when it's just us, when the boys are asleep or off doing something... then I'm gonna want more of you, Cate.  I need more of you."  His voice softened, carrying a note of wistfulness.  "I miss us, Baby, how things used to be." 

Cate sighed.  "I miss us too, Jon.  But I need you to understand that things can't change overnight.  Not for me, anyway."

"But we can find ourselves again, Cate, if we try.  But we have to fuckin' try.  We have to make an effort, then once we're started, just let it go, let things happen..."  Jon paused as a lyric floated through his mind, then he chuckled before letting it escape in a husky croon, knowing  it would make her smile.  "Show a little faith, there's magic in the night..."

He was right.  Cate's lips curved into an involuntary sheepish smile. She snorted softly, then sighed her surrender.   "Well, this is allegedly the Happiest Place on Earth..."

"For boys and girls of all ages," Jon agreed.  He tugged lightly on her hand, encouraging her to move closer.  "This place is all about fairy tales and fantasies, Baby.  Why should they all be for kids?"

Cate gave Jon a long look before answering softly.  "But fairy tales aren't real, Jon.  And they don't come true."

Jon stared back at her, his indigo eyes brightening as his lips curved.  He leaned closer, until his breath warmed her skin.  His response was soft. 

"Don't they?"

Cate's heart clenched as he reminded her of the truth.  She blinked as again her eyes moistened.  Not so long ago she would have considered this very moment to be nothing more than a fantasy:  to be here in this beautiful place with him beside her, gazing so earnestly at her from his place beside her on the bed.  The life that was now her reality would have been incomprehensible just a few short years ago.

She hesitated before acquiescing, then leaned to accept the apology on his offered lips.  When his hand moved to stroke her cheek, Cate's heart squeezed.  She let him urge her a little closer, settling onto her side and propping on an elbow, mirroring Jon's repose.  Cate rested her free hand lightly on Jon's side as again their mouths joined in a languorously bittersweet kiss.  He didn't move closer, respecting the subtle boundary she imposed with her body position.

Cate sighed softly as the last traces of her anger and guilt slipped away, taken by Jon's breath.  She silently resolved to do as he asked, to try to rekindle the romance that had once come to them so effortlessly.  Maybe she needed this vacation too, not to escape reality but to prepare herself for what lay ahead. 

"DAAAAAAAD!!!!!   CAAAAAATE!" 

The voice was nearby, ringing through the suite from the hall. 

Cate turned her head, making Jon's mouth slip from hers.  "And there he is..." she mumbled, unable to keep an "I told you so" smirk from her lips.  She quickly pushed herself back up to her prior position, seated beside Jon's prone form on the mattress.  Clearing her throat, she fixed a smile and looked expectantly at the doorway.

Jon didn't reply, instead rolling onto his belly.  A soft grunt emitted from his throat at the extra pressure on his crotch, the firm mattress yielding only slightly to his movement.  He let his cheek drop against the coverlet as he sighed, mentally preparing himself for the energetic encounter he knew was coming.

"Dad?"  Romeo bounced through the suite's door and stopped, looking around the sitting room.  Cate stifled a giggle at the boy's bewildered expression when he spied the zebra-hide rug beneath the furniture.

"In here, Romey."  Cate called, directing his attention to the bedchamber.  Romeo's head swiveled at the sound of her voice.

"Dad!  There's a zebra rug on your floor!"

"Yeah?  So?"  Jon mumbled against the mattress.

"But you're not supposed to skin zebras!"  Romeo's voice carried a note of panic.  "They're like horses!"

Cate quickly intervened.  "Romey, it's not a real zebra skin.  It's fake." 

Romeo glanced skeptically again at the rug, then looked back toward Cate.  "Oh."  He considered her reassurance for a moment, then shrugged.  As Romeo skipped through the wide doorway into the bedroom Cate let out a silent sigh of relief.  Thankfully her stepson wasn't going to challenge her false supposition.

"What're you doin'?"  Romeo stopped beside the bed and craned his neck, looking up into the canopy.  "Wow.  Your bed is made of trees."

"Sleeping."  Jon's voice was a monotone mumble, again muffled by the coverlet.

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"Then why are you talking?"  Romeo giggled and climbed onto the bed, using the twisted-wood footboard as a ladder of sorts.

"I'm not."

"Yes you are!"  Romeo giggled again and stood on his knees next to his father's prone form.  He wiggled, trying to pull his feet over the footboard without losing his balance.

"Romeo, don't get your shoes on the bed," Cate chided, though she was certain her warning would be ignored.

"Okay."  Romeo answered absently, a mischievous grin splitting his lips.  With another giggle he pounced onto Jon's back.  He waved his feet in the air, causing Cate to duck backward to avoid an inadvertent kick to her jaw.

"OOOOFFFF!" The sound was squeezed out of Jon as his son's weight pinned him to the bed.  He groaned as his swollen balls were squashed against the mattress, then again as his tight back muscles protested the blow.  "Gahh...Romeo!"

The boy giggled.  "Wake up."

"Okay, okay!  I'm awake!  Get offa me!" 

Jon grunted again as Romeo rolled over his back and onto the mattress.  Romeo grinned as he lay beside his father, his legs propped across the backs of Jon's thighs.  Slowly Jon raised his head to give the boy a mild glare.  His attempted stink-eye was foiled by another involuntary wince as his balls throbbed.

"Can we go see the animals?"  Romeo wiggled himself into an upright position.

"I think they're already in for the night," Cate commented.  Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed Romeo's feet and tugged off his sneakers.

"Hey!" the boy protested as Cate tossed the shoes onto the floor.

"I told you, no dirty shoes on the white bed."  Cate gave him a smug look and patted the duvet.

"You're wearing your shoes.  And Dad's wearing his."

"And our feet aren't on the bed."  Cate ducked down until she was eye-to-eye with Jon's son.  She made a silly face to punctuate her argument.

"But your butts are."  Romeo giggled with his counter-argument.

"Hey..." Jon warned.  With another uncomfortable grunt he shifted, propping himself up onto his elbows and turning to peer over his shoulder at his son.  "Watch it."

"Can we?  Go see the animals?"

Jon shook his head slightly.  "Not tonight.  Like Cate said, they're all in the barn.  We watched 'em go in, remember?"

"There's probably more animals somewhere else."

"Nope, they're all in for the night."

"How do you know?"  Romeo gave his father a comically-suspicious look.

"Because I've been here before.  And I read it on the website.  The animals all go inside at dark, then they come back out in the morning."  Jon's rebuttal was half-surly.  "Where's your brother?"

"I dunno."

"Did you guys look around the rest of the villa?"

Romeo nodded.  "Yeah.  We couldn't figure out how to turn on the TV."

Jon snorted.  "Good."

"Oh!  But guess what?"  Romeo's face brightened as he recalled something else.  "There's a hot tub outside!  It has lights that change colors.  And it's got a waterfall!"

"What?"  Cate answered for Jon.  "You were outside?"

"Yeah!  There's a door at the bottom of the stairs that goes outside to the hill.  There's like a kinda cave cut into the rocks, and it has a waterfall that goes into a hot tub!"

"Stairs?"  Jon shifted, half-rolling onto a hip to relieve the pressure on his crotch.  He grunted again and resisted the urge to rub at the source of his discomfort.  "Where are there stairs?"

"Behind the wall.  The one with the big stone head on it."

"Huh."  Jon looked at Cate and shrugged.  She mirrored his movement.  "How do you know it's a hot tub?"

Romeo rolled his eyes.  "Because.  It said Jacuzzi on it, and there were buttons to push to make the bubbles and the lights go.  DUH."

"Did Jake go out there with you?"

"Yeah."

"Did he come back in with you?"

"Uh huh."

"Then why don't you know where he is?"

Romeo shrugged.  " 'Cause I don't care."

"Romeo!"  Cate chastised him again, this time more sternly.  "Don't say that.  He's your brother!"

"So?"

Jon sighed and reached up to lightly biff Romeo on the back of the head.  "Stop it.  We agreed, no fighting.  Remember?"

Romeo shrugged again.  "I'm not fighting."

"For the moment, you're not."  Jon sarcastically countered his son's statement.  He fidgeted again, causing another twinge of discomfort in his jeans.  Jon turned his head toward the door leading to the hallway before bellowing.  "JAKE!"

"Jon, don't yell.  I'll go find him."  Cate slid toward the bed's edge. 

"Yeah?"  Jacob's reply floated through the doorway, immediate but more distant than Romeo's had been.

Jon turned his blue eyes to his wife.  He gave her a smug smirk.  "Don't bother."  Again he addressed the doorway and shouted.

"C'MERE!" 

Less than a minute later Jacob's dirty-blonde head poked through the doorway.  He quickly dropped his gaze when Cate smiled at him from her perch on the edge of the big canopy bed.

"Can we go eat somewhere?  I'm hungry."  Jake's question was half-mumbled.

"Yeah, I guess so."  Jon looked down at his wrist.  "It's almost seven-thirty."

"Can we order a pizza?"  Romeo's suggestion made Jon smile despite himself.

"No, we can't order a pizza."

"Why not?"

"Because."  Jon took a deep breath before rolling sideways and pushing himself up.  He winced again at the pinch of tight denim, then finished his answer.  "They don't have pizza on the African savanna.  Besides, we're at Disney World, Dude.  We're not gonna just sit in this place -- as amazing as it is -- all night.  There's gotta be something going on."

Taking his cue, Cate slid off the edge of the bed.  "There's probably a park schedule somewhere around here."  She drifted across the bedroom and into the sitting room, her gaze sweeping over the tables in search of some sort of literature.

"There's a hotel book-thing in the living room," Jacob offered.  "Want me to get it?"

Cate turned to give him another smile.  "Sure.  Thanks."

Jacob nodded curtly and disappeared from the doorway without answering.  Cate looked at Jon, her smile turning to a look of bewilderment.  Jake had been uncharacteristically cool to her all day. 

"Did I do something....?"

Jon shook his head brusquely, cutting her off before Romeo could pick up on her concern.  "Naw, he's just being Jake.  I'll talk to him."

"It's not a big deal, Jon..."

He shook his head again, repeating his assurance.  "I'll talk to him, Cate."  Jon reached for Romeo, capturing the boy in his arm and pulling him to his side before rubbing his head playfully with his free hand.  Romeo giggled and struggled against the sudden entrapment.  "From this point on, nobody is gonna be a pain in the ass.  We're all gonna get along.  Right?"

"Yeah, Dad..." Romeo could barely get the words out through his giggles.  He managed to slip from Jon's grasp, then bounced onto his knees.  The boy launched his own counterassault, lurching toward his father and wrapping his arms around his neck.

"Alright, alright..." Jon protested hoarsely, half-choked by Romeo's clutch.  "Enough.  No wrestling on the bed."  He raised his hands to tickle Romeo's exposed midriff, causing the boy to squeal and recoil, releasing Jon.  Romeo fell back onto the bed, holding his stomach and giggling madly.

"Here."  At the word Cate turned away from the amusing distraction in the bedroom, just as Jake thrusted a leather-cover binder into her hands. 

"Oh!  Thanks..."  Before Cate could finish a response Jake had darted past her and into the bedroom.  He slouched across the big room and around the bed to stand before the windows, his shoulders slumped and hands in his pockets as he stared out at the view.

Jon frowned.  Jacob's shortness with Cate was bordering on disrespect.  Even in light of the previous evening's incident, there was no excuse for Jake to be rude.

"Jake.  Turn around."

Recognizing the displeased tone in his father's quiet voice, Jacob did as he was told.

"C'mere." 

Jon waited for the boy to move.  When Jacob had silently traversed the few steps to the bedside, Jon continued.

"Now, listen.  Both of you."  Jon poked at Romeo's arm, making sure he had the younger boy's attention.  "We're here to have fun.  As a family.  So I expect you two to act like young men, not wild animals.  Got it?" 

He paused and gave Romeo a sideways stink-eye when the boy giggled at the inadvertent pun.  "I'm not kidding.  No picking at each other, no fighting.  This ain't the first vacation we've ever gone on together, and I know you can get along.  Let's all have a nice time, okay?"  Jon turned to nod at Romeo.  "Okay?"

Romeo nodded and grinned.  "Okay, Daddy-Oh."

Jon looked at Jake.  "Jake?  Okay?"

"Okay."  The boy nodded, then looked up to meet his father's gaze.  His sulky frown relaxed when he saw Jon's half-smile.

"Good.  And..." Jon paused, his smile broadening.  "We also have a responsibility, we Bongiovi Men."  As Romeo giggled again Jon tipped his head toward the bedroom's doorway, where Cate stood leafing through the binder Jacob had delivered.  "This is the first time Cate has ever been to Disney World for fun.  Can you believe that?  So we owe it to your Stepmama to show her a good time.  Give her a real family vacation experience.  Got it?"

At the mention of her name, Cate looked up.  She hadn't been paying full attention to what Jon was saying to his boys as she scanned the park schedules, searching for evening activity options.  She smiled self-consciously as she found three sets of shining eyes fixed on her now.

"Ummm.... What?"

Jon chuckled at her puzzled reaction.  "I said, this is the first time you've been to Disney for fun.  So we have to show you how to do a vacation."

"You've never been here before?"  Jacob's question was a surprise.

Cate shook her head, then shrugged.  "Well, I have, but only for work.  When I was doing protective service details I used to come here every now and then with our Principals and their families..."  She stopped herself, realizing she had lapsed into cop-speak.  Jake's puzzled expression confirmed her suspicion, that he had no idea what she was saying.  She chuckled and tried again.

"I mean, yes.  I've been here, but when I came I was working.  I was a bodyguard for important government people and their families while they were here on vacation.  But that was quite a few years ago."

Jacob's expression brightened.  "Really?  You were a bodyguard?" 

Cate nodded.  "Yeah.  Used to be part of my duties before I became an instructor.  Long before I met your Dad."  She smiled at Jacob, encouraged by his interest in her backstory.

"So did you follow them around with guns?"  Romeo bounced again on the bed as he asked his excited question.  "Can you be our bodyguard?"

Cate laughed.  "No, Romey.  No guns."  She smirked at her fib.  Of course she had been armed, but her weapon had been well-concealed.  Disney security frowned upon display of weaponry at the Happiest Place on Earth.  "I just made sure everyone stayed safe and people left them alone so they could enjoy their vacation."

"And no, she's not playing Bodyguard on our trip," Jon interjected firmly.  "She's the one on vacation.  We're gonna protect her."  He gave Cate a nod to emphasize his declaration.  "So she can enjoy herself and do the stuff she didn't get to do before."

"Like go on Space Mountain?"  Romeo grinned and bounced again on his knees.

"Yep, like go on Space Mountain."  Jon reached out to clamp a hand on Romeo's shoulder, stilling the fidgety boy's bounce.  Every spring of the mattress caused a denim pinch against his still-tender nuts.

Cate snorted softly at Jon's interaction with Romeo before returning her attention to Jake.  She wanted to be sure she had fully satisfied his query, since he had been so distant to her all day.  "Disney security is pretty cool.  They have some really ingenious surveillance stuff in the parks.  If you're interested, I can show you some of their tricks while we're there."

Jacob shrugged but didn't frown.  "I guess."  He tried to appear nonchalant, but Cate saw the corners of his mouth curve a little.

"Okay."  Cate smiled and nodded.  She didn't want to push Jake now that he seemed to be warming to her, so she would leave it at that.

"I'm huuuuuungryyyyyy....." Romeo announced in a pretend-whine.  "Can we go eeeeeeeeat?"

Jon nodded his agreement and clapped his hands together.  "Yes.  Let's get outta here for awhile."  He gave Romeo a little shove with a gentle hand.  "Get off the bed and go get your jacket."

Romeo shifted on the bed, uncurling his feet from under behind before sliding to the floor.  "I don't need a coat," he announced, standing up straight.

"Yes, you do.  The sun's down and it's chilly."

"I'm not cold."

"And you're not outside, Doofus."  Jon took a breath before pushing himself up off the mattress.  Again his strangled groin protested, another throb emanating from his testicles.  Jon couldn't control a muffled grunt.  "Go.  Get your jackets.  Both of you."

"C'mon, Romey."  Jake quietly prodded his brother, waiting for the boy to pick up his sneakers and bounce ahead of him toward the doorway.  Jake's glance upward was met by an approving smile from his father.  His mouth curved in response and he shuffled from the room.

"Uuughhhh..." Jon half-sighed, half-groaned as he turned to face Cate.  "Well, that went well."

"Actually, it did."  Cate nodded sincerely.

"Yeah, well... we'll see how long it lasts."  Jon reached to cup his hand over his crotch, finally able to make the adjustment he had desperately needed for the past ten minutes.  He gingerly shifted his genitals, loosening the bunched denim and cotton that had held them constricted.  Again he groaned with relief.

Cate snorted quietly, feeling the slightest bit of smug satisfaction at his discomfort.  Romeo's sudden, boisterous interruption of their private moment had perfectly underscored her point to Jon, that her guard would be up as long as the boys were around.  Maybe now he would understand, and not take her caution so personally.

Not eager to resume that conversation, Cate cleared her throat and again consulted the binder.  "Okay, so we have a couple options for tonight, depending how far we want to go and what you want to eat."

"I'm not that hungry," Jon commented, shaking his head.  "Those two say they are, but you know what they'll do.  They'll take a few bites of whatever and declare they're full."

Cate chuckled her agreement.  "Yeah, well."  She flipped a page, then turned the binder to show Jon the literature.  "There are six or seven places to eat here at the Animal Kingdom resort, if you don't want to go too far afield tonight.  There's even a place for pizza."

Jon moved over to where she stood, walking carefully since his discomfort had not yet fully subsided.  He took the binder from her hands and quickly scanned the page.  "Sounds fine to me."

"Or..." Cate reached up to flip a couple more pages.  Her fingers brushed across his with the effort, making him smile.  She pointed at a printed schedule.  "If you think the boys might like it, we could go over to one of the other properties and get something to eat, then watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks."

Jon's lips pursed as he considered that suggestion.  Disney's fireworks were legendary; his boys always enjoyed the spectacle.  But this was only their first night here, and they would have many other opportunities to take part in that tradition.

"Or..."  When Jon didn't respond, Cate reached again to flip the page.  "We could just go to Downtown Disney and grab something to eat there.  Maybe walk around a little, look at the shops."

Jon peered at the page for a moment before shaking his head.  "Nah, let's do that another night.  I don't want to deal with crowds."

Cate chuckled at his comment.  "Well, then you're definitely in the wrong place.  Disney World at Spring Break?  Nothin' but crowds."

Jon smirked and nodded his agreement.  "Then let's avoid from it as long as we can, yeah?  We'll just stay here tonight.  Go up to the resort, get a bite to eat, check out the pool, maybe find something else to do for awhile..."  He flipped the binder closed and turned to toss it toward the bed.  It landed on the mattress with a light thump. 

"Then come back here and get settled.  Maybe check out that fancy-ass waterfall jacuzzi that's supposedly outside.  Or play a game or something, until the Chuckleheads finally pass out."  Jon stepped closer to Cate, smiling down at her.  "And I promise, I'll be a perfect gentleman." 

Cate felt a twinge of guilt, knowing under Jon's purr there was a tiny bit of snark.  But she chose to ignore it.  She looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly.

"That sounds lovely.  Like a wonderful family evening."  She reached for his hand, twining her fingers gently into his. 

"DAAAAAD!!!!! We got our COOOOOOATS!!!!  Can we GO?"

Jon sighed and shook his head before dropping his forehead against Cate's. "S'gonna be a long week, ain't it?"

Cate chuckled.  "Could be."

Jon smiled and kissed the end of her nose before stepping back and turning toward the door.  He gave Cate's hand a little tug, cueing her to follow him. 

"ALRIGHT!"  Jon bellowed back toward the villa's main space, not having any idea where his boys may be at the moment.  "We're COMIN'!  Who wants fried WILDEBEEST for dinner?"

"EEEWWW!  DAD!"

*****

"Uggghhh.... UNCLE." 

Jon dropped his spoon and slumped back in his chair.  He stifled a burp, then rubbed his belly.  An amused smile turned up the corners of his mouth as he regarded his sons.  Both were practically sitting on the table, still enthusiastically attacking the remnants of the massive ice cream sundae.

"You don' wan' no more, Dad?"  Romeo tried to ask the question through a mouthful of strawberry, chocolate sauce and whipped cream.

"God, no.  And don't talk with your mouth full, Buddy."  Jon wrinkled his nose and looked sideways at Cate.  She had given up her ice-cream spoon after only a few bites.  "Where the hell are they putting all of it?"

"I have no idea."  Cate shook her head in response.  "I guess they were hungrier than we thought."  She chuckled with quiet amusement, watching Jake shovel a huge spoonful of dessert into his mouth. 

"Jesus, I'm afraid of what woulda happened if we took them to the buffet," Jon joked.   When they arrived at the main resort several hours ago there had been a spirited debate about what to eat for dinner.  The boys had ultimately prevailed, convincing Cate and Jon that pizza was in fact a viable option in "Africa."  They had then proceeded to devour an entire large cheese pie while the adults opted for lighter fare of chicken and vegetable flatbreads with salad. 

Their appetites sated, the family had spent the next hour exploring the resort before the boys begged for dessert at the ice cream parlor.  Jon had quickly caved when confronted with the myriad dessert options, letting Jacob and Romeo build a custom sundae.  While the boys were happy, he now saw the error of his lazy parenting.  It would be hours before they came down off their sugar high.

Jon groaned and patted his gorged belly again as his intestines grumbled.  He wondered how long he would be in the bathroom, experiencing the aftermath of his dairy-overdose.  At least Cate wouldn't have to worry about the boys walking in on any salacious acts tonight.  She probably wouldn't even want to be in the same room as him, let alone get too close.  Not that he would blame her.

Jon smirked to himself and stifled a hiccup.  Ah, the joys of marriage.  Sharing a bed with a gassy rockstar would rank high on his wife's list of marital blisses, no doubt.

Cate's eyes narrowed at Jon's smug little chortle.  "What?"  Her tone was gently suspicious.

"Oh, nothin'."  Jon grinned and reached for her hand.  He gave it a reassuring squeeze.  "Just remember in a few hours, Baby... those vows said 'for better or for worse'."

Cate sighed, picking up on his implication.  She shook her head, though she couldn't help a smile.  "Fabulous."

"Can we come back here tomorrow?"  Romeo swiped his finger around the edge of the huge platter that had served as an ice cream bowl, collecting remnants of hot fudge and whipped cream.  He popped the finger in his mouth before sticking it back into the sugary debris where the ice-cream mountain had once stood.

"Nuh-uh."  Jon shook his head vigorously.  "No way.  You've already exceeded your ice cream quota for the entire week."

"But Dad!" 

Cate quickly interjected.  "He's kidding, Romeo.  We'll have ice cream again.  Just not tomorrow."

"Or maybe not for a month," Jon mumbled, again rubbing his belly and letting out a half-stifled burp.  His reaction made Jacob and Romeo giggle.

"Where are we gonna go tomorrow?"  Jake asked.  He dropped his long-handled spoon into the dish and reached for his water bottle.

"Can we go see the animals in the morning?"  Romeo interjected excitedly.

"Romey, chill out.  We'll see the animals."  Jon raised a hand with his reassurance.  "Don't worry.  I'm gonna call the concierge in the morning and have them set up a tour or something."  He looked at Cate.  "Actually, we should probably give them a couple things, so they can work on whatever it is they have to do."

Cate cocked her head.  "Didn't you have Renee set up an itinerary for us?"

"No.  I figured we'd decide when we got here what we wanted to do."  Jon frowned.  "Why?" 

His wife was an obsessive planner, but he had never had such an inclination when it came to personal travels.  Jon had learned long ago that money and celebrity could get him pretty much anything he wanted or needed when it came to leisure.  That was one of the perqs of fame he wasn't hesitant to use.

"Because, Jon... it's Disney World.  At Spring Break."  People book these tours and stuff months in advance.  Even dinner reservations."  She looked at the boys, then back to Jon.  "A lot of things will probably already be sold out." 

Jon chuckled.  "Cate.  We're paying for a luxury villa.  I'm pretty sure we can go wherever we want and do whatever we want.  With reasonable notice, of course."

She gave Jon a skeptical look, hoping she hadn't physically cringed.  Though she knew he didn't mean it, her husband's statement had sounded pretty arrogant.  "I don't know, Jon..."

Jon sighed and again patted his belly.  "Baby, it's fine.  Seriously.  Disney has a VIP staff for a reason.  You can't tell me the dignitaries and their families you protected didn't get special treatment, right?"

"Of course they did.  But we coordinated all that far in advance.  And a lot of it was for security reasons, for protection of the family from...." Cate stopped, realizing Jacob and Romeo were listening intently.  She cleared her throat quietly.  "It was all handled before they arrived."

"Cate, we're not going to ask for anything crazy.  Just some tours and stuff."  Jon shook his head and gave her a little smile.  "Relax.  You're the VIP now.  Enjoy it.  Let people do for you."

"Well... okay."  Cate sat back in her chair, trying to mask her skepticism.  She was sure Jon was far from the most notable celebrity served by Disney's VIP program.  This might be one of those times when his status wasn't quite enough to get him all he requested.  She just hoped Jake and Romeo wouldn't be disappointed.

"Alright.  Now."  Jon reached for the glossy folder he had obtained earlier from the Guest Services Manager.  The effort of his stretch made him grunt.  He relaxed against his chair back as he flipped open the folder and rifled through the sheaf of flyers.  "Since this is a family vacation, each one of us is gonna pick one thing that we most want to do while we're here.  A show, a tour, whatever.  Then we'll go to all four places and enjoy them together.  As a family."  

"We're only gonna do four things?"  Romeo's eyes widened.

Jon snorted at his younger son's alarm.  "No, Silly.  We didn't drive all this way to only do four things then go home."  He chuckled through his grin.  "Don't worry.  We're gonna do plenty of other things.  But everybody gets to pick one special thing for our family to do together.  Okay?"

"Oh.  Okay!"  Romeo shrugged and dragged his fingers again through the chocolate pool at the bottom of the ice cream dish before sticking them in his mouth.

Jon winced as he watched Romeo's action, then shook his head resignedly.

"Okay.  So, since I'm the one who planned this trip, and I'm the one who drove all the way here.... I get to pick first."  Jon grinned smugly. 

"Hey!  That's not fair!"  Jacob protested. 

"Yeah!  Kids get to go first!"  Romeo agreed.

Jon shook his head.  "Haha! Nope!  Not this time!"

"Dad!"  Romeo looked to his stepmother.  "Cate!  Make him let us pick first!"

Cate raised her hands, chuckling her reply.  "I'm not getting in the middle of this mess.  Sorry."

"C'mon, Dad!"

"Nuh uh."  Jon grinned as he plucked a colorful brochure from the pack.  "I'm picking first.  And I pick..."  He held up the paper.  "Wide World of Sports."

Cate couldn't help but roll her eyes.  "Of course you do."  She snickered softly.  Actually, spending a few hours at the sports complex sounded like fun to her, too.

"Dad!  That's not part of Disney!"  Romeo protested. 

"Yeah it is," Jake countered.  "My friend Dawson went there for a soccer tournament.  And his sister's cheerleading team came here for some kinda competition, too."  Jacob looked at Jon, his mouth curving with an eager smirk.  "Are we gonna see cheerleaders, Dad?"

Jon arched a brow at Jacob's question as he grinned back at the boy.  "Do you wanna see cheerleaders?"

Jake shrugged, a light blush tinting his cheeks.  "Maybe."

"Well... maybe we will.  There might be a competition going on.  I'm sure the Disney people will let us know."  Jon gave his son a wink, knowing full well that Jake wouldn't act his usual sullen self if surrounded by cute girls bearing pom poms.

"Uuuuuucccchhhhh!"  Romeo made known his displeasure at the idea of spending a day with a bunch of strange girls.  "Dad, that's not fair.  You should have to pick something that's inside one of the parks."

"Nope.  I can pick anything I want.  In fact, I don't even have to pick something Disney.  It could be anything around Orlando.  Another theme park, or shopping, or golfing, or spending a whole day at an art museum...."  Jon grinned as he further needled his son. 

"NOOOO!"  Romeo moaned.  He slumped forward, dramatically faux-collapsing onto the table.

"Get up," Jake sighed, poking his brother in the ribs.  "Dad picked sports.  There's all kindsa stuff to do there.  Like ESPN Zone."

Romeo gave his brother a skeptical look, but remained slumped against the table.

Jon ignored his younger boy's dramatics and pointed to Cate.  "Okay.  Your turn, Babe.  What do you pick for your special day?"

"Please don't say shopping..." Romeo's whine was muffled, his face buried in his folded arms.

Cate swallowed a chuckle, giving Jon an amused smile.  He rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"It doesn't have to be something on Disney property, right?"  Cate's smile broadened as an idea came to her.  She honestly hadn't even considered the week's events until now.  She had assumed they had a pre-arranged itinerary within the Disney park and resort complex.

"Nope."

"Well then...." Cate paused and looked across the table at Jacob and Romeo.  Jacob was staring apprehensively at her and Romeo wasn't even looking up.  She chuckled.  "I think I want to go to Harry Potter World."

Jon grinned as Romeo's head popped up from his sulk.  "That's at Universal Studios, I think."  He pulled a pen from the folder and grabbed a napkin from the holder.  He chuckled softly as he scribbled his and Cate's choices on the napkin.

"Yes."  Cate nodded as she watched the boys exchange surprised looks.  "We don't  have to spend the whole day there, but I think it would be fun for a few hours at least."

"Okay.  Got it.  Cate's choice is Harry Potter Land, or whatever it's called.  Jake, you're up."

Jake's smile faded and he shrugged.  "I dunno."

"Aw, c'mon Dude.  There's gotta be something you wanna do."  Jon gave his boy an encouraging smile. "Besides check out cute girls."

"Dad!"  Jake blushed again, dropping his chin.  His shaggy blonde bangs obscured his blues eyes as he shrugged again.  "I guess Harry Potter, too."

"We're already gonna go there.  You can pick something else, something you wanna do."

Jake shrugged again.  "I don't care.  I just wanna ride the rides and stuff."

Jon sighed.  Of his three sons Jacob had always been the most laid-back, the one who rarely asked for anything.  Of course, the boy hadn't really needed to ask; because of family circumstances Jon had admittedly gone out of his way to spend more time with Jake than he had his older children when they were very young.  As a result, Jon had probably spoiled Jacob a bit more than his siblings, something he secretly didn't regret.

"Jake," Jon's voice was more gentle, encouraging.  "Everybody gets to pick something special.  You too.  Do you want to look at this stuff?"  He indicated brochures on the table.

Jacob shrugged.  "I guess."  Jon slid the folder across the table to him, and Jacob picked up a couple glossy pages.

"Can I pick now?"  Romeo was clearly impatient with his brother's indecision. 

Jon raised an inquiring brow at Jacob.  "You okay if Romey picks before you?"

"I don't care."  Jacob flipped over a brochure and perused its contents.  Unimpressed, he stuffed it into a pocket of the folder.

"I want to see the animals!"  Romeo announced loudly, not waiting for his father's prompt.  "Can we take the safari ride?"  Pleeeease?"

Jon shook his head, grinning as he dropped the pen to the napkin.  "Okay.  Lunch with Cinderella it is..."

"DAD!  NOOO!"

Jon laughed at the boy's protest.  "Alright, alright.  Calm down."  He looked up at his littlest boy, his bright blue eyes shining.  "How about we do more than a safari?  There's a behind-the-scenes tour where you get to go talk to the animal keepers, visit the vet clinic, and see the facilities where they keep and feed the animals.  Does that sound good?"

"Yeah!"  Romeo jumped up from his chair with excitement.  "Can we do it tomorrow?"

"Well, probably not tomorrow, Romey.  It may take a couple days for the people to set it up for us."  Jon's smile gentled, his heart squeezing at his son's beaming little face.  "But I promise we'll do it before we leave.  Okay, Buddy?"

"Okay, Dad."  Romeo nodded.  Grinning happily, he settled back onto his chair.

Jon returned his attention to his older son.  "So, Jake... anything there catch your eye?"

"This looks kinda cool."  Jacob held up a shiny black brochure emblazoned with futuristic font. 

"What is it?"

Jacob looked at the brochure again, then handed it across the table to his father.  "A space mission thing, at Epcot."

Jon's eyes narrowed as he scanned the brochure.  "Jake, I think this is just a ride."  He squinted as he tried to make out the smaller print, then held the paper further from his face.  Pretty soon he was going to have to put vanity aside and start carrying his reading glasses with him.

Cate chuckled, recognizing her husband's difficulty.  She took the brochure from his hand and quickly perused it.  She nodded, then looked up at Jacob.

"This is a ride, Jake.  It looks really cool and we can definitely do it, but it's not really an experience, like a tour or a show or something."

Jon nodded along with Cate's assessment.  "Yeah, Jake.  We'll absolutely go on the ride, but don't you want to do something bigger than that?  I mean, there's all kinds of VIP tours and stuff..."

Jake shrugged.  "I don't really care.  Just... whatever."

"Well, didn't anything else catch your eye?" Jon gestured to the brochure.  "Cate, do they have some kinda space-tour or something?"

Cate scanned the remainder of the brochure's text and shook her head.  "No, but..." she looked up at Jacob as an idea flashed in her mind.  Maybe there was something special that Jake would enjoy... something she could facilitate.

"Jake, are you interested in space?  Like, astronauts, the shuttle, that kind of stuff?"

Jacob gave Cate a wary look, then nodded.  "Yeah, kinda."  He nodded at the brochure in Cate's hand.  "That's supposed to be like a launch simulator or something."

A broad smile curved Cate's lips.  "Would you like to do something bigger and better than a simulator ride?  Way better?"

Jon's brow furrowed as he fixed his wife with a half-confused, half-amused look.  He could tell from her smile she was excited about something, but he wasn't quite sure what.

"Yeah, I guess."  Jacob shrugged again.

"I know a couple guys over at Cape Kennedy, in the security office.  I could give them a call, see if they can set up a private tour for us." 

Jon's smile widened and  he nodded, unconsciously encouraging his son to agree to Cate's suggestion.  "Jake you know what Cape Kennedy is, right?  The Kennedy Space Center?"

"Yeah, isn't that where they launch the shuttle from?"  Jacob's response was less drab, his interest piqued by the option.

"Well, they used to launch the space shuttle from there," Cate corrected him.  "The shuttle program is officially over.  But before the shuttle there were the Apollo missions, and they still launch payload rockets from the Cape.  They have a big museum, an Astronaut Hall of Fame, some memorials, and a really cool rocket garden...."  She smiled.  "And we can probably go into the big hangars where they build some of the space equipment."

"That sounds really cool!"  Jon interjected before Jacob could comment.  He reached over to squeeze Cate's knee.  "I think I wanna change mine to that!  Forget the sports thing..."    

"No!"  Jacob's exclamation slipped out.  He grinned sheepishly, unable to hide his interest in his stepmother's offer.  "I mean... it sounds cool.  If it's not a big deal to set it up."

"For you, Jake..."  Cate waited until the boy looked up at her, then she gave him a smile.  "No problem."

Jacob's shy smile warmed her heart.  It was followed by a gentle pat of Jon's hand upon her thigh, a silent, affectionate thank-you. 

Cate's blue eyes sparkled as she felt a reconnection with Jon's reticent son.  She hoped the unexplained awkwardness between Jacob and her was passing; it had happened suddenly after what she thought was a breakthrough in their relationship.  Perhaps the boy hadn't been quite ready to call her "Mom."  Whatever the case, Cate hoped he would open up to her on this vacation.  This seemed to be a good start.

Jon's smile gentled as he watched Cate's exchange with Jacob.  He could almost read her mind, seeing the happy relief written across her face.  A tiny prick of guilt stabbed his swollen gut as he saw the seeds of tears in her sparkling blue eyes; Jake's distance wasn't her fault.  It was simple embarrassment, the result of an inadvertent and awkward pubescent experience.  And it was something his son had to come to terms with on his own.

Jon sighed softly, glad the issue seemed to be working itself out.  Now he could focus on solving a more complicated physical and emotional matter.  Then maybe he could relax and enjoy his vacation, too.

"Okay, so we got it.  Wide World of Sports, Harry Potter, Kennedy Space Center, and Wild Kingdom."  Jon clicked the pen and dropped it on the table, then folded the napkin on which he had scribbled.  "I'll get the Disney people on it."

"I'll text Gus, have him send me Steve's number so I can call him in the morning,"  Cate added. 

"Steve?"

"Former student of mine, works at KSC.  He's Deputy Chief of Security now."    

"Ah."  Jon nodded his understanding.

"What are we gonna do now?"  Romeo fidgeted.

"How about go back to the villa and go to bed?"  Jon chuckled as he made the suggestion, knowing what the response would be.  It would be hours before Romeo collapsed into sleep.

"No!  Can we stay here?"

Jacob nodded.  "Yeah, Dad... can we maybe do that Quest game thing?"  While waiting for their pizza the family had perused the Lodge's amenities guide, and had discovered a number of family activities.  One of the nightly events was an African-themed guided scavenger hunt that took players throughout the complex, to encounter various role-players and eventually discover a prize.

Jon and Cate exchanged a look, then he shrugged.  "Yeah, I guess."

"We have to go get wands.  They're at the gift shop."

Jon sighed and nodded at Jacob.  "Okay.  If I can heave my butt outta this chair I guess we can go.  But we're not buying anything else at the gift shop tonight.  We're gonna be here all week, and you'll have plenty of time to pick out souvenirs."

"Okay."

"Alright, then."  With an exaggerated groan Jon pushed himself upright.  He stood and pulled out Cate's chair for her, then burped again and rubbed his belly.  "Don't be surprised if that quest-wand-thing points us toward a bathroom pretty soon."

"Da-AAD!"  Romeo gave his father a disapproving frown.  "Come on!  You gotta get movin'!"  He grabbed his father's hand and tugged.

Jon turned to Cate, giving her a bemused smile.  "Oh.  Guess I gotta get movin'.  Lardass that I am."

Cate laughed softly, picking up her purse from the table.  "Yep,  guess you better."  She reached out to give Jon a playful pat on the back pocket. "You're not feelin' too lardy yet."

"You wanna check that later?"  Jon waggled his brows playfully.

"Not the way all that ice cream's gonna affect you.  I don't wanna be anywhere near your butt later."  Cate grinned cheekily.

"Wise plan."  Jon replied over his shoulder as Romeo towed him several steps away from the table. "Oh, I guess we're going now..."

Cate giggled.  "I'll meet you in the gift shop.  I'm gonna stop at the ladies' room, then text Gus."

Jon acknowledged her plan with a wave as he followed his sons toward their destination.

Cate watched their departure, then headed the opposite direction toward the restroom.  After completing her necessities there and sending a text message to her partner, she wandered slowly through the resort's shopping arcade.  A number of small, themed boutiques featured everything from Disney and resort souvenirs to baked goods, housewares, fashions, jewelry, and fine chocolates.  At the end of the arcade loomed the entrance to a massive gift shop styled to look like a village marketplace, the retail centerpiece of the resort.

Cate strolled into the shop entrance and paused to look around.  She saw no familiar heads among the nearby displays, which didn't surprise her.  Cate doubted she would easily find Jon and his boys in the gigantic space, nor was she in a hurry to locate them.  She was rather enjoying her leisurely stroll through the marketplace.

As she wandered through the displays of wares, Cate stopped to check prices of several items that caught her attention.  She would have to remember to bring back a few souvenirs for friends and co-workers.  Slowly Cate worked her way past racks of clothing, shelves of kitchen wares, bins of toys, and piles of stuffed animals until she found herself in a softly-lit alcove of the shop.  This was clearly the high-end area of the shop, as the walls were adorned with framed paintings and prints and African-themed sculpture sat in glass cases.  A jewelry counter housed diamond necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, and other cases displayed other handmade African jewelry pieces and artifacts.

Cate strolled slowly along the cases, stopping to look at several pieces and gently rebuffing offers of assistance from  attentive sales clerks.  She had no intention of making any purchases; she was simply drawn to the beautiful things for sale here. 

As she followed the displays around the room's perimeter, Cate found herself facing a small section of elegant women's clothing.  In the center of the display a sleek ebony mannequin stood atop a pedestal made from a wide cross-section of tree trunk.  Adorning the figure was a striking garment that made Cate pause and gaze in wonder; it reminded her of the ethereal canopy covering the beautiful bed back at the villa. 

The sheer, flowing gown was translucent, sewn of delicate cream-colored chiffon gathered into an exquisitely-beaded scooped neckline.  Long drapes of gauzy fabric cascaded from neck to fingertip, forming wide, flowing sleeves.  The body of the gown was also free-flowing, hanging in soft drapes from neck to toe.  Through the yards of gathered fabric Cate could clearly see the mannequin's silhouette; this was not a modest gown.  It looked as if it would be worn in the boudoir by a leading lady in a romantic "Out of Africa" period film.  Cate couldn't resist reaching out to touch the elegant garment.  It was so soft, it seemed as if she were touching mist.

"It is beautiful, yes?"

The rich, melodious voice made her turn.  Cate smiled sheepishly at the ebony-skinned saleswoman.  "Stunning."

"From Senegal.  This gown was hand-sewn and beaded by women of a village collective.  The Disney company supports artisans in developing regions of the continent by selling their goods here in America.  The money earned by the collective pays for food, water, electricity, sanitation, and schools in African villages."

Cate nodded.  She had heard of such enterprises through her work, and was impressed by the innovative ways companies were able to help third-world villages without having to deal with bureaucratic red-tape. 

"That's wonderful.  I can imagine you sell many items such as this, made by such women."

"Yes.  But we can always sell more, to help."

Cate smiled at the woman's subtle sales pitch.  She glanced at the name tag on her tunic.  "I imagine so, Elodie.  But I'm just browsing right now.  We've only just arrived here."

"Well, if you like, I can hold it for you."

Cate chuckled softly.  "I don't think so.  It is beautiful... truly... but not really my style."

"Ah, well.  If you change your mind, Miss... you may call, or come back to the shop.  We can also deliver to your room."

"Yes, well... I'll think about it.  Thank you."  Cate's nose wrinkled as she saw the saleswoman's eyes shift, looking past her.  In a second she realized why.

"Aha.  Though you were going to hide from me, huh?"  Jon's husky voice filled her ear as his hands settled on her shoulders.  Cate smiled.

"Drat.  You found me."

"Mmm hmmm."

Cate turned to look at him.  "Where are the boys?"

"Back there."  Jon waved a hand over his shoulder.  "They found a video game demo model.  They'll be there until we drag them away."

A soft chuckle from the saleswoman reminded Cate she was still there.

"Miss, if you wish for any other assistance, please don't hesitate to ask."  Elodie nodded respectfully, then glided away.

"What did you need assistance with?"  Jon asked, his mouth curving slyly.  "Did you find something you like?"

Cate shook her head slightly.  "No.  I was just looking around, and I wandered in here.  There's some incredible art, some beautiful jewelry.   But nothing I need."

"Mmmm...."  Jon looked up at the gown-draped mannequin."  "That's pretty."

"The saleswoman was just telling me it's handmade, by a women's cooperative in Senegal.  Part of Disney's world outreach program, supporting indigenous artisans and improving third-world villages."  Cate looked up at the gown again.  "Nice that they do that."

"It is," Jon agreed.  His hand dropped to hers and he gave it a squeeze.  "So, you about ready to go?  Game time is in..."  He raised his hand and consulted the dial of his Rolex.  "T-minus twelve minutes."

"You got the wands, huh?"

"Oh yeah.  And the hats, and the costumes, and the guide-hyena..."

Cate chuckled.  "So much for 'no souvenirs', huh?"

"Eh, what can I say?  I'm too tired and too full to argue."  Jon shrugged.  "Romey's got somethin' for you, too."

"I'm afraid to ask."

Jon grinned.  "Go see."  He pointed toward a large fake tree that held a display of brightly-feathered stuffed fowl.  "They're right over there, under the bird-tree."

Cate nodded.  "Okay.  You comin'?"

"Yeah, in a minute.  I wanna check out those masks over there.  Dean may like one for his collection."  Jon nodded toward the wall behind a glass case, upon which a collection of hand-carved wooden African masks hung.

"Alright.  I'll go find the boys."  Cate gave Jon a stern look.  "You really shouldn't leave them alone in a place like this, you know."

"Cate, they're thirty feet away.  As soon as you get around that totem-pole-thing you'll see 'em."  Jon waved at a large sculpture near the entrance to the upscale enclave.

"Still.  Can't be too careful."  Cate pulled her hand from Jon's and shook a gentle finger at him. 

"Yes, Officer."  Jon smirked through his reply.  "I'll be over in a minute."

He waited until Cate had turned her back to him and moved past the large sculpture.  Then he sauntered over to the case in front of the mask wall.   Jon smiled and pulled out his wallet as Elodie glided over to his assistance.