A/N: While this isn't a typical Fantasy Island-format story, I think the theme would have made a good subject for an episode (possibly a two-parter, due to its length). There's also a large amount of additional backstory for Christian in this one; in some future tale I'll add to Leslie's backstory as well. As ever, I truly appreciate your feedback and your thoughts, and look forward to hearing those that you have for this tale.

§ § § - June 25, 2001

Christian loaded the last box into the back of a rover and blew out his breath, dusting off his hands. "That's that," he said. "The flatbed trucks with my furniture should be at the house already, so all we need to do is get over there ourselves." He peered at Leslie over the canopy and asked teasingly, "How often did your father have to bring you back from making plans for interior decorating this past weekend, my Rose?"

"Only six or eight times," she teased back, and they both laughed. "I really couldn't wait for today to get here, but moving in isn't the only reason." Leslie came around to the back of the car and slid her arms around him, kissing him long enough to leave him more than a little breathless. "Happy birthday, Christian, my darling. This is perfect timing—moving into our new home on your birthday. And I hope you don't have too many pressing plans for this evening or tonight."

"No, half the time I don't notice the passage of my own birthday," Christian admitted, "but it looks as if this year will be different. Thank you, my Rose, and hold that thought. Come on, let's go…I think your excitement is contagious." He grinned, pressed the car key into her palm and closed her fingers around it, then winked at her and headed for the front passenger seat. She jogged around to the driver's seat and paused, looking back at Glen Cottage and feeling a surprising surge of sadness.

Christian, just about to get into the car, saw her expression and caught himself on the edge of the canopy. "What's wrong, my Rose?"

"Remember the night of our wedding, when you said we'd be spoiled by this house? I'm glad we're finally moving into ours, but I'll miss this place. Let's face it, we were here for five months, and it was really feeling like home."

"Our house will start feeling like home in no time," Christian assured his wife, giving her a reassuring smile across the top of the car. "No time like now to begin, right? To tell you the truth, I'm impatient to get started."

Leslie grinned. "Onward and upward, is that it? In that case, let's get out of here." Christian laughed at that, and they settled into the car and made their last trip from Glen Cottage, heading for their home in the Enclave.

The house had been completed just the previous week, and on Wednesday afternoon Christian and Leslie had been ceremoniously presented with a house key apiece by Grady Harding, with Roarke there as a witness. After that things had started moving with speed. During the first week of June Christian's furniture had finally arrived from Lilla Jordsö and had been in storage since then; Roarke had taken them to the storage facility a couple of days afterward so Christian could check for damage and he and Leslie could take inventory of what they had and what they might still need for their home. Maureen, who by mere proximity as Leslie's immediate neighbor had suddenly become most privy to the goings-on at the Enstad home site, had suggested to Leslie that if she and Christian were in the house by his birthday, their entire group could throw him a birthday party there, and Leslie had cheerfully agreed. After that she hadn't heard a word from any of her friends, but she had hardly noticed because there was so much preparation to be done for the move.

The previous Saturday, with Christian and Leslie both working and the island's telephone company asserting that this was the only day they could get out there to install the phone, Grady had volunteered to wait for the workers. They had been and gone by early afternoon, at which point Grady called Christian at work and let him know the phone was in and what the number was. Christian had then e-mailed Leslie to pass on the information, and in turn Leslie had sent it along to her friends, with a reminder not to bother calling for a few days since there wouldn't be anyone there to answer. Christian had also taken the time to e-mail the phone number to his family in Lilla Jordsö.

Now Leslie and Christian made the ten-minute trip between Glen Cottage and the Enclave with the last of their boxed belongings, going over a checklist of what had been done and what still remained. "Did we get the power hooked up?" Leslie asked.

"I handled that last Friday," Christian said, making a check mark on the pad of paper he held. "And I got the computers over here as well…"

"Oh yes, the all-important computers," Leslie said teasingly, making the turn into the Enclave's main access road. "Can't forget those! I'm assuming you handled internet service when you called about the phone." Christian nodded and drew another check mark while Leslie continued, "And then there's the water service, and those guys were supposed to come out and level the driveway."

"I told them to just pave it," Christian said, shrugging. "We raise enough dust clouds in front of your father's house and on our own street as it is. Did you talk to Rogan about those seeds and shrubs you wanted for the front of the house?"

"Rogan said he'd do all that himself," Leslie said and grinned a little sheepishly at him. "He's aware of my black thumb and doesn't trust me as far as he can throw an amakarna seed. It's probably just as well."

Christian laughed. "Maybe I'd better make room in our budget for a gardener, in that case." He tipped his head out far enough to check the sky overhead. "I hope it doesn't decide to rain. Did you know that's bad luck in jordiska folklore? If it rains while you're moving into your new house, you'll have every problem imaginable with the place from then on. Come to think of it, it was raining when I moved into my flat in Sundborg."

"I hope you don't actually believe that stuff," Leslie said lightly, navigating the lane to their house. "But the forecast says it's supposed to be clear for the next five days."

"Well, that's encouraging," Christian said with exaggerated relief, then grinned when Leslie rolled her eyes. "But I thought it was worth noting, considering the events that happened while I was living there. Rain or shine, I can't see life in our home being anything but happy. Oh, good, they did finish the paving. Looks like a perfect job."

"Yes, it does," Leslie agreed, turning the car into their newly-paved driveway and then grinning at him. "Well, here we go. I guess it's time to start using muscles that haven't gotten their share of exercise."

For about fifteen minutes Christian and Leslie trooped back and forth toting boxes into the house and dropping them around the still-empty living room; then they paused in the kitchen once the last of the cartons were inside and looked at each other. "Where's the furniture truck?" Leslie wondered.

"I don't know, I thought they'd be here before we were," Christian said, frowning. "I suppose if you want to get the last of your things from the main house, my Rose, you can do that now, and I'll wait for the truck." His expression changed abruptly. "Herregud, I forgot. Did you happen to notice if the washer and dryer arrived?"

"I'll take a look," Leslie said and made her way out of the kitchen, down the entry into the living room, where there was a fifteen-foot-square laundry alcove in the corner, set off by folding shuttered doors. She pushed these back and was rewarded by the sight of two brand-new machines waiting to process the first loads of laundry. "They're here, my love."

"Good, that's one thing anyway," Christian said, strolling back to join her and survey the alcove for himself. "They look fine right there. You were planning a grocery-shopping trip, weren't you, my darling? If you want, you could do that while you're taking your trip to the main house."

"I'll wait for you," Leslie said, shaking her head. "I'd rather you were with me so we can double-check each other…we need so much stuff. I'd completely forgotten moving was this much work. The last really major move was the one we made from Connecticut to California after mormor died, and I was only eight then."

"But you moved here, and then you moved to Finland and back later," Christian said, looking puzzled.

"I had almost nothing to my name when I first came here," said Leslie. "Everything I owned fit into one aging duffel bag. And I didn't take a whole lot when I went to Finland with Teppo. Mostly I took just my clothes and some favorite things I couldn't do without. I'd planned to get the rest whenever Teppo and I came here for a visit, but we never had enough money to make the trip, and then he was killed. So even then it wasn't a major undertaking. I had two suitcases and another, bigger, duffel bag, and that was it."

"I see," said Christian, grinning. "Well, it seems to me that if—" He was interrupted by the sound of an air horn, and they both ran to the door to find that the furniture truck had finally arrived. "They're late, but they're here."

"So's the cavalry," Leslie exclaimed, scanning the vehicles behind the truck. Of all her friends, only Grady and Maureen, as well as Fernando and Tabitha, owned cars; the Hardings' was the one Grady used in his work, while the Ordoñezes boasted Fernando's green medical jeep. That very jeep was behind the truck now, crammed with people, and on its tail were two of Roarke's jeeps: Roarke drove one, bearing more people, and behind that was another with Rogan at the wheel, Julie beside him and still more folks stuffed inside.

"Is that your entire group of friends?" Christian asked, astonished.

"And their husbands, and even the kids!" Leslie confirmed. As she spoke, Grady and Maureen, with Brianna between them, appeared from their own house across the way, circling the furniture truck and pausing halfway across the front yard.

"Right on time," Grady said approvingly, while Maureen let go her daughter's hand and ran across the yard to hug Leslie.

"Congratulations, you two," she said. "And you'd better brace yourselves, because you've got loads of help moving in. Everybody's here to lend a hand, and not only that, we all come bearing gifts." She grinned at Christian. "This is a two-in-one party—a housewarming for this place, and a birthday celebration for you."

"A what?" Christian asked, looking blindsided.

"You're kidding…a housewarming party?" Leslie cried, wide-eyed. "I knew you were planning something for Christian's birthday, but the housewarming…!"

Maureen smirked and turned to the small crowd that was pouring out of the cars and crossing the yard in the Enstads' direction. "It worked," she yelled cheerfully at them. "Leslie didn't have a clue about the housewarming!"

A teasing cheer went up, and for a few minutes Christian and Leslie found themselves fielding congratulations on their new home. In addition, Christian endured a barrage of enthusiastic birthday wishes; by the time everyone had settled down and was ready to start working, he looked rather dazed. Leslie tucked her hand into his, catching his attention, and returned his earlier wink at her, making him blink in the sunshine. "Definitely the most memorable birthday I've ever celebrated," he remarked, shaking his head.

"I think that was the idea, my love," Leslie said, grinning. "Well, let's go!"

For the next three hours a steady stream of humans moved around the house, waiting till the professional movers had brought the furniture in and then going about pushing items into whatever spots Christian and Leslie designated. Moving the bed upstairs was a massive team effort from which the men banned the women, who gave in with good grace and retreated to the kitchen to mix up lemonade for everyone. Grady, Fernando, Christian, Rogan, Jimmy, Nick, Brian and Kazuo insisted that Roarke take a break from this particular project while they wrestled a queen-size mattress and box spring up the three-foot-wide spiral staircase that provided access to the second story. Roarke agreed with some reluctance, and thus found himself laughing at the good-natured jeering Christian got for having designed the house with a spiral staircase instead of a regular one.

By the time the furniture was in place, the bed assembled and most of the boxes unpacked, it was dusk and everyone was ready to take a break. Leslie, with her friends and the older girls in the kitchen where they had been putting away plates, silverware, pots and pans, and other kitchenware, clapped a hand over her mouth. "What kind of party is this going to be without food?" she wailed, so distraught that the men turned in the living room to stare at her. "Oh my God, I have to be the worst hostess on the whole island!"

"We were supposed to go to the grocery store," Christian said in apology.

"Fear not, we handled that too," Maureen told them smugly. "Mom's catering service is handling all the eats. See, guys, I promised you there'd be ample rewards for all the work you did here. Let me give Mom a call and let her know we're ready."

Christian came into the kitchen and stopped behind Leslie, wrapping his arms around her from behind, while they both watched Maureen go to the phone and make the call. "We really never expected this," Christian remarked, surveying the women. "We told each other last evening at supper that we might as well consider this a lost weekend because of all the moving work we needed to do. And now, here it's all but done."

"You guys are priceless," Leslie agreed, her hands folded over Christian's. "All we have to do is the decorating, for heaven's sake. Hey, I just noticed, who hung the curtains in here? They look terrific!"

"We did," said Haruko Miyamoto, now almost eleven, with a proud smile. "I mean, me, Brianna, Noelle and Cristina. Even Chikako helped a little bit." She indicated her 3½-year-old sister, who gave Leslie a huge smile. "Noelle's mom did the curtain rods, but we put the curtains on them, and then she hung them up."

"What a super job!" Leslie exclaimed, grinning back. "You did great, Chikako, all five of you did. Thank you, Haruko…and Myeko too!"

"They do look good," Christian said appreciatively. "Maybe we'll have you hang the rest of our curtains too." The girls giggled; Myeko winked and patted her pregnant middle.

Maureen hung up then and grinned. "The food's on its way," she said. "Don't worry, Leslie and Christian, everything's under control. All you two have to do now is sit back and relax and enjoy your own party."

"You'll have to sit down anyway. There's a nice stack of presents for you two to open, and you might as well get comfortable," Julie said.

"Oh, geez," said Leslie, shifting in Christian's arms to meet his incredulous gaze. "We might not have to do that grocery shopping after all."

Christian had to laugh. "You might be right, my Rose! All of you, thank you so much for all you've done for us. There's no way we can repay you for this."

An hour later the food had arrived and everyone was enjoying the bountiful spread that Tomai's Catering had put out; the children, of course, finished first and tumbled out back at the behest of various parents to chase fireflies and play tag. At that point Julie got up, telling the seven-months-pregnant Myeko not to move, and tugged at Rogan's hand as she passed him. "Come on, Callaghan, let's play Santa here."

"It's June, lass," Rogan reminded her.

"Oh, so what? I bet Leslie and Christian feel like it's Christmas," Julie retorted cheerfully, lifting a few gifts in her arms at once. "Here, I'll give Leslie the housewarming stuff, and you take Christian his birthday presents." Rogan pretended to grumble, but willingly toted wrapped parcels over to an increasingly bewildered Christian while Julie piled up boxes at Leslie's feet.

Roarke, watching their expressions, laughed. "Why the disbelief?" he asked. "As a matter of fact, Leslie, I have a little something for you as well." He arose and placed another box in her hands; this wasn't wrapped, and Leslie shortly realized that the reason for this was that it contained most of the things she had meant to bring over from the main house. She shook her head at him.

"There you go again, Father, reading my mind," she said, drawing a collective laugh. "Thank you for doing that for me. I never got around to it."

Another hour slipped away while Christian and Leslie unwrapped presents; Leslie was amazed at the variety of items she unearthed, everything from a slow cooker (from Julie) to a collage-style photo frame (from Camille) to a garden hose and sprinkler (from Nick). Rogan contributed a bonsai tree, and Grady and Maureen together had presented the Enstads with a round mirror framed in silver.

Christian, despite his apparent wish to downplay his birthday, was nonetheless delighted at his gifts, most of which were computer-related. The only exceptions were from his wife and father-in-law: Roarke, to the shock of both Christian and Leslie, gave them the spare keys to the rover they had been using for the last few months, telling them to keep the car for their own. And Leslie gave Christian two bottles of the extremely unusual cologne he preferred, stunning him. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.

"I had a little help from a certain niece," she said, grinning. "I noticed you were close to running out, and thought you might like some more."

"But…this is nearly impossible to get!" Christian protested. He caught sight of the curious expressions of their friends, and explained, "It's custom-blended in Paris; my father used it exclusively, and my grandfather before him. Neither of my brothers liked it, but I found it preferable to anything on the general market, so I started wearing it as well. Just before Arnulf accepted Rogan's business contract and told me I was free to marry Leslie, I had ordered one more bottle, and it arrived the day before I departed Lilla Jordsö. I had resigned myself to having to find something else, and now my wife presents me with enough to last me till my next birthday. Leslie, my Rose, I can't believe you managed to pull off that little stunt. Didn't Anna-Kristina tell you that I always had to make a trip to the company that manufactures this, in person, whenever I needed more? They refused to deal with me in any other way. You must have had help from your father."

"I had nothing to do with it, Christian," Roarke assured him. "In fact, I admit to being impressed myself. I recall hearing about that company through Tattoo, years ago. Whatever you did to obtain that cologne, Leslie, I sincerely hope you can continue to do it, lest your husband be forced to settle for something inferior." Everyone laughed.

"This is amazing," Christian said, sighing and surveying the wealth of gifts around his and Leslie's feet. "I don't know what to say. A mere 'thank you' seems so little."

"It's enough," Maureen said. "Just knowing you two appreciated our help and the things we chose for you was plenty of reward. We saw your faces whenever you opened a new present."

"You got it," Myeko agreed. "Although I guess we ought to apologize for not filling up your pantry."

Amid the laughter, Leslie rolled her eyes. "Hey, we've got to do something for ourselves, don't we. You're the best, all of you, and we'll never forget this. You turned this into a real event, something for us to look back on and smile about."