John sat Joss on the edge of the bed gently. He took off his shoes, removed his socks and sat next to her. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out an envelope.
"Your real gift," John murmured, "But it's for me, too." He smiled.
"John," she warned, immediately noticing that he did not give her this gift at the restaurant.
"Joss?" he questioned.
"John," she said again.
"Please," he urged. "You do so much for me, for others, and you never ever ask anything for yourself. Please...," he repeated, the plea in his voice almost moving Joss to tears.
She slowly took the envelope from his hands. This had better not be those damned Bahamas tickets again, she thought. He wouldn't, would he? But then again this was John.
Joss opened the envelope finding that he would and he did! Only it wasn't tickets for a weeklong trip to the Bahamas, but for a 17-day cruise from Dubai, to Croatia, Greece, Italy and Spain! They would spend 3 days in Dubai at the Burj and end the cruise in Barcelona, flying home from there. There was also a $5000 American Express gift card.
After staring at the gifts in disbelief, Joss dropped everything to the floor, cupped her hands over her mouth and began to sob uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking, tears falling freely down her face.
John was mortified.
"Honey. Sweetheart. What's wrong, Joss?" He didn't know if he should be apologizing or wait for Joss to explain. He decided to wait.
"John, my head says to give this present back. And $5000? It's too much - way, way too much. But my heart is full that you would want to do a trip like this with me. The Middle East shaped so much of who we are and given your world travels...No one has ever done anything like this for me...this would be so meaningful for me and for us too." Joss began to sob again. "Today has been so...so..." She hid her face in her hands again.
"Dear Heart, don't cry. Please don't cry. The card is for you to get what you want or need for the trip and for spending cash while travelling. Only please just tell me we can take this trip together."
"Yes! Yes!" Joss exclaimed happily.
She quickly stood and threw herself onto John, flattening him on the mattress. She planted kisses all over his face and neck. John laughed, the richness of which warmed Joss's soul and he put his arms around her, thrilled that she was so happy.
"Thank you, Baby. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she said to him between smooches. After peppering his face with a few more kisses, she straddled him.
"So when do we leave?" she asked, her radiant face tear streaked.
John grabbed Joss's waist more tightly and rolled them over to their sides, facing each other. Their legs were tangled together in the long train of the kimono.
"Ship sails in June," he stated simply, "and I can hardly wait to rewrite some of the chapters of my life with you."
John moved over Joss's body so that he could spoon her, which he did, whispering in her ear of his love. After a bit, he turned off the light and fell silent.
After a bit longer, he heard Joss's small voice.
"John, what are you doing?"
"I'm not doing anything," he answered innocently.
"I know that," she said. "But what are you doing?"
"I'm cuddling with you."
"Cuddling," Joss repeated. Cuddling?"
"Yes."
Joss sucked her teeth, too annoyed (and aroused) to argue with this magnificent man about "cuddling".
"Listen," she said, turning to face him in the dimly lit room. "There is a time and place for cuddling, John." She waved her finger for emphasis. "This ain't it. So get yourself naked, then get back in this bed and get this outfit off me, as much as I love it. Then you and me? To paraphrase the immortal words of Charlie Hunam, we got business."
"Yes, Ma'am!" John answered, having no idea who Charlie Hunam was, but giving Joss a military salute and hopping to it just the same.
The lovers commenced their "business" (which was pleasure) and it lasted far, far, far into the morning hours of February 14th on the 15th. [Or was it the 15th on the 16th? Or the 15th and the 16th? Oh well, you figure it out.]
Whatever the date, it was nonetheless a stunning close to the Valentine's Day that would live in infamy.
A/N: Finally! John got it right this time and the lovers now have a life changing trip to look forward to. John owes Lionel, big time! I am thinking about a story where the debt is repaid, but I will post nothing new until I get John and Joss out of Atlantic City! After all, it's only Wednesday there and they just had THE conversation. I hope you enjoyed February 14th (smile). As always, I love reviews and PMs. Hugs!
PS. Charlie Hunam was the guy who played Jax on Sons of Anarchy and he was describing his real life encounter with an armed robber on a talk show. "We got business, M-F?"