After eighteen years of marriage Sara Scofield was still amazed by her husband. And not in the good way.

It stunned her how he had no quarrels with himself for literately pushing a eighteen year old boy into the back of a door and threatening him.

"So much as think of touching her and you just remember one small thing."

"Sir?"

"I'm not afraid to go to jail again."

The boy's eyes widened fearfully at the again.

Sara rolled her eyes, used to this speech yet still amused by it. She stepped forward, laying a hand on her husbands shoulder. She smiled at the boy, "James why do you go wait outside, I'll send Christina out when she's finished getting ready."

The boy looked ready to ready but he managed a nod and another panic glance at Michael.

"Sara," Michael turned, his eyes on fire.

Sara massaged his shoulder with her fingers, pressing all the tender muscles. "Michael, he's a nice boy. I know his mother, she works at the hospital with me-'

"I don't care if he's St. Peter reborn…he's not going anywhere with my daughter without talking to me first." Michael said, his eyes hard yet tired. "Boys are horn dogs at that age…Christina's to young to date anyhow-"

Sara smiled, dropped her hand to his chest and stepped forward. On instict Michael lifted both hands to settle around her waist.

"She's seventeen, honey…she's old enough. Try and remember what we were doing when we were seventeen." Sara linked her arms around his neck, smiling gently.

Michael sighed, "I know…I do. But I worry. I really wish she'd reconsider and let LJ go with her." Michael looked down at his wife, "I still don't understand why she was mad at me for that suggestion. I thought it was very diplomatic…I promised I wouldn't go if she just let LJ."

Sara bit her bottom lip, "Sweetheart…she can handle herself. I promise. All James wants to do is take her to the dance and at the end of the night he's going to kiss her. That's all that's going to happen. Trust me."

Michael huffed a heavy breath, "Not good enough for her…she's going to regret it she lets him go even that far."

"Oh says the man who kissed his future wife in a prison!" Sara slapped his chest, with an annoyed smirk on her face.

"I couldn't help it-I didn't think I was going to see you again.." Michael defended himself.

"Is James here?" Christina asked, walking into the living room.

Sara smiled over her husbands shoulder at the girl, "He's outside waiting for you."

"Dad tired to eat him alive again?" Christina asked, glaring at her father as he turned to face her, still not letting go of his wife.

"Now you be careful, do you have your cell phone? Is it fully charged? Do you have any money for a cab just in case? Don't hesitate to leave-" Michael said, his voice rising and falling with anxiety.

Their daughter sighed, rolled her eyes then opened the door and left them standing alone.

"Have fun!" Sara shouted after her, barely containing her laughter as Michael stared worriedly out the window.

After a long moment Michael looked back down at his wife. "Thanks for the support."

"Oh come on Michael. To say you're overacting would be the understatement of the century. He's a good boy, she's a smart girl…they'll be fine." Sara patted her husbands cheeks then stepped out of his hold.

"You say that now…but a lot of things can go wrong-"

Sara rolled her eyes and walked into their kitchen, "I'm making dinner…if you want to go stalk Chrissie, be my guest…but you're going to have to deal with her complaining you ruined her life."

Michael stepped into the threshold of the doorway and leaned against a pillar, "No…I'm sure you're right…." He sighed, then frowned slightly, "And just fyi I thought our first kiss was very romantic…every time I see bloody bandages I think of it."

He ducked his head, barely missing the brick of cheese from hitting him.