Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills

Warnings: Mild Violence, OOC(Out of Character)

Rating: FRT

italics and/or indicates thoughts

Bold and/or indicates the balladeer

Surprising Love

Chapter 2

"Rosco! It's beautiful," Daisy sighed, looking at the beautiful painting of wolves that hung on the wall.

"I know," Rosco agreed.

"This is a wonderful place, how'd you know about it?" she asked, wrapping one arm around his waist.

"Oh, I come here all the time. I just enjoy looking at the art, even though I'd never be able to afford any of it."

"You really do like it, don't you?" Daisy asked, surprised at the look of pleasure on her date's face.

"Well you don't have to sound so surprised."

"I'm sorry Rosco, it's just that I never pictured you hanging out in an art gallery."

"That's funny," Rosco observed through his laughter.

"What? Oh, guess it is," Daisy agreed, realizing what she'd said. "So how long have you been interested in art?"

"Since grade school," came the unexpected reply. "My art teacher in fifth grade had a way of making the paintings come to life. She tried to teach us to look beyond the surface for the deeper meaning, but not lose our appreciation for the beauty on the surface either. I guess it struck a chord in me cause I never have lost my love for beautiful things."

"Rosco! You're a romantic," Daisy said, smiling softly at him.

"I guess I am, you won't tell nobody will ya?" he asked, clearly embarassed.

"Not if you don't want me to, but I think it's sweet."

"That's why you can't tell nobody Daisy. It wouldn't do for people to go thinking I'm a softy, bad enough they think I'm stupid."

"I wish you didn't think you had to work for Boss," Daisy said, hugging him lightly.

"I can't afford not to, not since my pension was defeated. You know it's kind of a good thing in a way."

"How do you figure that?"

"Well this way I can make sure Boss doesn't succeed in sending innocent people to prison," he explained.

"I hadn't thought of that," Daisy softly said. "I suppose it's kind of like you're undercover then?"

"I suppose so," he agreed, looking uncomfortable.

"You said your art teacher got you interested in all of this, did you ever try to paint anything?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Actually I have painted a few things," he admitted, a blush coloring his cheeks.

"Really? I'd love to see them."

"Oh you don't want to do that, it's just a few landscapes. They ain't anything like these paintings," he protested, flinging out his arm in a sweeping gesture.

"I'd still like to see them sometime."

"I'll think about it," he reluctantly offered.

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Enos pulled into the parking lot of the Boar's Nest, his tires spitting gravel as he brought the patrol car to a screeching stop. Climbing from behind the wheel, he started for the door, hesitating when he saw the General Lee parked in the lot. Giving himself a shake, he resolved to ignore his discomfort and went on inside.

"Hey Luke, look who just walked in," Bo said, pointing towards the door with his beer mug.

"He don't seem too happy, you suppose he knows?" Luke asked, turning back to his cousin.

"One way to find out. Hey Enos!" Bo called out, motioning the deputy to their table.

For a moment, Enos considered ignoring Bo, but then he realized that they might know where Rosco and Daisy were going. With a deep breath, he weaved his way through the crowd until he reached their table. Pulling out a chair, he slid into the seat, "Bo, Luke," he greeted.

"You okay there Enos? Ya don't look so good," Bo asked.

"I don't? No I guess I wouldn't," Enos observed in a sullen voice.

"Ya want to talk about it?" Bo offered.

"I don't kno...yeah actually I do. Do you know where Daisy was going with the sheriff?"

"Oh, well, um..." Bo stumbled over the words, nervously running one finger around the rim of his mug.

"The thing is Enos, she's on a date with him," Luke finally supplied.

"I figured that much out Luke!" the deputy snapped. "I thought maybe you fellas would know where they were going."

"I'm sorry Enos but she didn't tell us. I guess she was afraid we'd follow her or something," Luke told him.

"Dang it! I know they was headed towards Cedar City, but they could've been going anywhere."

"Cedar City? You sure?" Bo quickly asked.

"Yeah, but I don't know if they were stopping there," Enos replied. "I just don't understand why she'd go out with the sheriff. I thought she cared about me," he groaned miserably, picking up his buttermilk and taking a drink. "Y'all know something don't ya?" Enos asked when he caught a look pass between the boys. "Tell me."

"I, well Enos we're not real sure about why she's going out with Rosco ourselves. She did say, um, well she said that you ain't been talking to her much lately. Not since you found out about us," Bo explained.

"So she's going out with the sheriff cause she's mad at me?"

"Well no, I don't think that's exactly it," Bo tried to explain.

"Then what is it exactly?" Enos snapped.

Drawing back in surprise, Bo felt his own temper igniting. "Now you just hold on a minute Enos! It ain't my fault that Daisy went out with Rosco."

"Seems to me it kind of is Bo!" Enos responded, coming quickly to his feet.

"How do you figure that?" Bo asked, standing up, facing the deputy.

"Bo! Enos!" Luke yelled, moving between the two men.

"How do I figure that? I'll tell ya how Bo, cause you and Luke here are the reason I ain't been talking to her much."

"Don't you be blaming us cause you can't talk to Daisy!"

"Well if you two acted like normal men I wouldn't be uncomfortable!"

Pushing Luke to the side, Bo drew back his fist, hitting Enos square in the face. "How's that for normal?"

"You shouldn't have done that Bo," Enos replied, wiping the blood from his split lip. Pushing himself back to his feet, he hit Bo with an uppercut that knocked the younger man to the floor. "Now I'm gonna let it go this time, on account of we been friends for so long," Enos told him, breathing heavily. "But if you ever hit me again..."

"You'll what?" Bo demanded, climbing back to his own feet and shaking off Luke's helping hand.

"I'll throw ya in jail, that's what I'll do," Enos answered.

"That's about right, you come in here, start a fight and then threaten to arrest me."

"Bo, shut up!" Luke snapped, worried that his cousin was about to talk himself into jail.

"Luke?" Bo asked, bewildered that Luke seemed to be taking Enos' side.

"Look Enos, I'm sorry that you're uncomfortable around us," Luke offered. "That don't make it our fault though that you can't talk to Daisy like always."

Enos stood, staring at the floor for several minutes. Finally raising his eyes, he gave his friend a sheepish look, "I guess that's true. I'm sorry y'all," he offered, holding out his hand.

"I'm sorry too Enos," Bo said, taking the offered hand.

"I guess I better get back out on patrol."

"We'll talk to her if ya want us to," Bo offered.

"Nah, that's okay Bo, it'd probably just make her mad," Enos declined the offer, turning back for the door.

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In a small restaurant in Cedar City, Rosco and Daisy sat across from each other at a candlelit table. Glancing around the building, Daisy was surprised by the simple, yet elegant decor. When she had agreed to go out with Rosco, she had never expected anything like this.

"What do you think?" Rosco asked, startling her.

"It's amazing Rosco," she sighed happily.

"Yeah it is," Rosco said, though he wasn't referring to the restaurant.

"Can I be honest with you Rosco?"

"Of course you can," he quietly replied. Here it comes. I had a nice time Rosco, but I think we should just be friends. This was nice Rosco, but I'm a Duke and you work for Boss Hogg, I don't think we can go out again. Rosco couldn't help imagining the possible ways for Daisy to let him down. Of course he never doubted she would be nice about it, but he knew their first date, would be their last.

"Rosco, did you hear me?"

"I'm sorry Daisy, guess I got distracted, what did you say?"

"I said, when you asked me out I thought it would be for a movie and burgers. I never expected that you would know about things like art, or would take me to such a nice, romantic restaurant. I just wish I'd gotten to see this side of you sooner."

"Huh? You're not regretting going out with me?"

"Regret? How could I regret tonight, it's been a wonderful night, spent with a man I think I could really get to like."

"You don't mean...?"

"I don't mean what?"

"It sounds like you'd go out with me again," Rosco explained, getting flustered at the thought.

"Are you asking?"

"No!"

"Oh," Daisy softly said, looking down at her lap, embarassed to think she'd misread him.

"I'm sorry Daisy, guess ya caught me off-guard."

"Does that mean what I think it means?"

"If you think it means that I'd like to go out with you again, then yeah," he replied, reaching for her hand.

"I'd like to go on another date with you too."

Before anything else could be said, their waiter appeared with their drink orders. "Are you ready to order?"

"Could you give us a few more minutes Mario?" Rosco asked.

"Of course Signore Coltrane," Mario replied, walking quickly away.

"Guess we better look at the menus," Daisy said, finally opening hers.

"I know what I want," Rosco softly said, never taking his eyes from his date.

"Rosco!" she protested, blushing prettily.

"You know you're even more beautiful when you blush."

"Thank you," she whispered, blushing even more. Forcing herself to concentrate on her menu, Daisy made her selection. "I'm ready," she told her date.

Motioning Mario back to the table, Rosco gave the young man their order. Handing the menus to their waiter, Rosco leaned forward, again picking up Daisy's hand. "Daisy, are you sure you want to go out with me again?"

"Of course I'm sure Rosco," she quickly answered.

"I just don't want you to feel like you have to..."

"Rosco P. Coltrane, do you really think I'd go out with you again if I didn't want to?" Though she kept her voice low, inside Daisy was seething at those who had made him feel inadequate.

"Well no, but you're so beautiful and I'm...well I'm me. I can't figure out why you'd want to date me more than once. Heck I ain't real sure why you agreed to even one date."

"Rosco I won't lie to you," she began. "Before all that stuff with Jud happened, I probably wouldn't have considered going out with you. Thanks to Jud though, I got to see a side of you that I didn't even know existed. That's why I agreed to go out with you, and the more I get to know you, the more inclined I am to date you again."

"What about your family?"

"What about them? I've never let them decide who I date before, why would I start now? Besides, once they get to know you I think they'll change their minds about you."

"Get to know me?" Rosco squeaked out, just realizing what would happen if he continued to date Daisy.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," he rasped. Grabbing his water glass, he took a quick swallow, nearly choking on it. "Sorry, I just hadn't realized..."

"They ain't gonna bite," she soothed.

"Of course they ain't, but they might shoot," he pointed out.

"They didn't tonight."

"No they didn't, but I'll bet Bo and Luke both wanted to."

"Don't you worry about Bo and Luke, they just need to get used to the idea."

"If you say so," he agreed, not willing to argue tonight.

"Oh look our dinner's here," she said, sighing with relief when she saw Mario headed towards them.

For several minutes, they ate in silence, neither knowing what to say next. "Daisy," Rosco called, waiting for her to look up before continuing. "Next weekend they're putting on Romeo and Juliet in Atlanta, at the community theater. Would you like to go?"

"I'd love to go Rosco," she softly answered, smiling at him, her eyes bright with pleasure.

"Well, they're doing it on Friday and Saturday night, then again Sunday afternoon. Which would be best for you?"

"I guess Sunday afternoon, I don't think I'll be able to talk Boss into giving me Friday or Saturday off."

"Sunday it is then," he agreed, a grin spreading across his face. "Would you like desert?" he asked a short time later.

"I don't think I could eat another bite, thank you."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

Signaling the waiter for the check, Rosco glanced at it quickly. Taking the necessary amount from his wallet, he handed it to Mario, along with a generous tip for the young waiter. Standing up, he moved to help Daisy to her feet. Smiling down at her, he took her arm in his and led her out the door. "When do you need to get home?"

"I don't have a curfew Rosco."

"I know, but still Jesse ain't gonna like it if I keep you out too late."

"I still have plenty of time, unless you're ready to take me home?"

"No it's not that, actually there was one more place I wanted to take you. I just didn't know if there'd be time."

"Oh," she said, feeling silly for worrying.

"So you have time?"

"Mmmmhmmm," she murmurred, leaning her head against his arm.

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"Rosco, I hate to tell ya this, but I've seen Eagle Point before," she teased when she saw where they were headed.

"Not like this ya haven't."

"Rosco Coltrane, what are you up to?"

"I'm not up to anything," he protested. Parking the car, he got out, hurrying to the other side to open the door for Daisy. "Come on," he said, taking her hand and helping her out of the car. Leading her to a flat boulder, he climbed up to the top. Grasping Daisy's hand, he quickly helped her up the short distance. Sitting down, he pulled her against him and waited for the show to begin.

"Rosco, what are we doing here?"

"Making wishes," came the cryptic reply.

"Wishes? Oh Rosco!" she cried out as the first of many shooting stars began to streak across the sky. "How did you know?"

"I always keep up on when there's gonna be a meteor shower. This one is the Leonid shower, we can't usually see it in this part of the world, but this year we got lucky."

"We sure did," she agreed. Snuggling into his warm embrace, Daisy turned her gaze back to the night sky.

Well I didn't know old Rosco had it in him. Bet y'all are surprised too.

TBC

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please review and let me know what ya think.