The sounds of video game animations and loud voices filled the air as Michael, Sara, their son Jared, and LJ walked through the door. Children were running around, racing from one game to the next as their parents sat at the tables on the side, sipping sodas and watching their children play. Groups of teenagers clustered around in the back, playing the harder games.

They looked around at the games, Jared talking animatedly about everything he was going to play as he held onto his parents' hands, walking between them. As soon as he spotted a car game, he released Michael and Sara's hands, making a beeline for the little red car. Surprised, the couple watched as their son weaving through the people towards the game. Michael ran after him, catching him a few metres from his destination and scooped him up into his arms.

"Not so fast, buddy." Michael said, holding his son tightly as the little boy squirmed, determined to reach his destination. In an attempt to get the little boy's attention, Michael's tone of voice took on a serious note as he said,"Jared, look at me, please."

Jared looked into his father's eyes, both sets an identical shade of steely blue.

"You have to tell me, mommy or LJ where you're going before you go anywhere, okay?" Michael said, his tone gentle yet firm.

Jared nodded, and then pointed to the vacant car seat. "I want to play that one? Can I please, daddy?"

Michael smiled, ruffling the little boy's dark hair. "Of course, buddy. But just remember, don't run off without telling one of us, okay?"

"Okay. LJ, want to play in the car with me?" Jared asked his cousin, his eyes pleading.

LJ smiled, ruffling Jared's hair, "Sure, but we have to get tokens first, Jared."

"Where do we get tokens?" Jared asked.

Sara pointed to the counter, "Right over there. Let's go." They proceeded to the counter and Michael pulled out a twenty dollar bill, handing it to the employee. As they waited for the employee to count out their tokens, they looked at the prizes - colourful rubber balls and rows of stuffed animals surrounded the countertop, along with countless other toys hanging on the wall behind.

"Going to win me a stuffed animal, Scofield?" Sara teased, noticing her husband looking at the large stuffed animals.

Michael smiled. "As a matter of fact, I am." He pointed to a purple stuffed monkey that was roughly the size of their son. "I'm going to win that one for you."

Sara smirked. "Is that so?"

Michael nodded, smiling. "Mhm."

"You're going to somehow get 350 tickets in the next 3 hours?" Sara asked in disbelief.

Michael nodded again. "Yup."

"You're crazy."

"That may be, but I'm still going to do it."

Sara shrugged, grinning as the cashier handed them their tokens. She gave a handful of tokens to their son, and then turned to LJ who waved them away. "I'll take the first shift as babysitter. You guys have some fun."

Michael started to protest, but LJ cut him off, "Uncle Mike, you're going to need all the time and energy you've got if you're going to win that monkey for Sara. Besides, Me and Jared are going to have fun, right Jared?"

"Yeah!" the seven-year-old said enthusiastically. He tugged on his cousin's hand, leading him towards the car. "Have fun," LJ called over his shoulder.

"Thanks, LJ!" Sara called after him, promising they would relieve him soon so he could play some games too. Then, looping her arm through Michael's, they proceeded to the adult area of the arcade, where Michael began the impossible task of getting 350 tickets. But, if anyone could do the impossible, it was Michael.

Two hours, one dinner break, and $30 worth of tokens later, Michael stood, feeding his tickets into the counter. The crowd had started to thin out about an hour ago and all that remained were some teenagers and a few odd couples that were playing some of the two-player games. Sara, Mikey and LJ watched, waiting impatiently as Michael pushed the rows of tickets through.

"358" flashed onto the screen and Michael sighed. He rummaged into his pockets, searching for change, but he came up empty and there wasn't an ATM here. Sara rummaged through her purse and LJ his pockets, trying to come up with some cash, but they had spent all they'd brought with them on tokens and dinner. It looked like the monkey just wasn't in the cards.

"Maybe I could drive to an ATM, I think there's a bank around the corner." Michael suggested, pulling his car keys out of his pocket.

"Ten minutes till closing," an employee called out.

"Michael, there's not enough time. Besides, you got 348 tickets, that's close enough," Sara said, giving him a chaste kiss.

"EW," Jared said, covering his eyes. Sara laughed and bent down to kiss his cheek, to which he ran, screaming "EWWWW," as he wiped his cheek.

"I have to get those last tickets," Michael said, his blue eyes taking on a look that Sara knew all too well. Whenever he got that determined look in his eye, there was no stopping him. So, she gently pushed him forward, smiling as she told him to "hurry back."

He smiled over his shoulder and then ran out, disappearing behind the door. Sara, Jared and LJ sat waiting for him to return, anxiously looking at the clock every few seconds.

"Mommy?"

Sara looked down at Jared, who was pulling on her sleeve. "Yes honey?"

"How many minutes are left?"

"Six, sweetie."

"Is daddy going to make it in time?" Jared asked.

"If there's one thing I know about your daddy," Sara said, watching the door, "it's that he doesn't break his promises.

After another few minutes, Jared asked again, how much time was left. Looking at the clock, Sara replied "four," mentally willing Michael to come through the doors. She didn't actually care about the monkey; all that mattered was that Michael was so close to achieving his goal and it would be terrible if he'd spent all those hours playing games to end up just two tickets short.

"Daddy!" Jared shouted. Sara and LJ looked up to see Michael running through the parking lot. LJ ran and held the door open, just as Michael rushed in, triumphantly waving a five dollar bill in the air. He ran to the token counter, his family not far behind. "One token please."

The employee looked at the time, "Sir, we're about to close up."

"Please? He's just two tickets short of the purple monkey," Sara pleaded. The twenty-something man hesitated, looking at the clock.

"Please, mister? Daddy has to keep his promise to mommy!" Jared shouted excitedly, standing on his tiptoes so he could

The employee smiled down at the little boy, and then shrugged. "Sure, I guess. But please hurry because I'm not supposed to give out tokens during the last half hour."

"We will," Michael said, taking the token from the man's hand and, not even waiting for his change, he ran to the skee ball machine. Sliding the token into the slot, he started playing. Being a pro at skee ball, he got fifteen tickets from the game and, racing to the counter with just under a minute left, Michael triumphantly declared "I'd like the purple monkey, please."

The employee smiled and took the tickets, feeding them into the machine. A large, red, 363 blared onto the screen and they all cheered, Sara leaning over and giving her husband a kiss.

"Told you I'd win you the bear," Michael said, grinning. The employee handed him the giant bear that he gave to his wife and then, using his last 13 tickets, Michael got chocolate bars for Jared, LJ and one for the employee. "As a thank you for helping me keep my promise to my wife."

The man grinned, "Glad to help."

With that, the family left the arcade, along with their new furry, purple friend. It sat in Sara's lap the entire car ride home, held in one of her hands as her other rested comfortably on Michael's, subconsciously drawing circular patterns on it with her fingers. Every now and then, he would entwine their fingers, lifting them to his lips so he could kiss the back of her hand.

"Hey, Sara?" Michael said, later that night as they lay in bed, the only light in their room coming from a streetlamp outside.

"Hmm?" Sara responded, her eyes closed.

"I forgot to tell you something important while we were at the arcade," Michael said, rolling onto his stomach and propping his head up with his hands.

Sara opened her eyes, looking at Michael. "What's that?""

Michael smirked. "I told you so."

Sara laughed, lifting her hand back to grab her pillow and then smacking him with it.

"Hey, hey, no need to get violent Mrs. Scofield," Michael said, playfully, dodging her attacks with ease.

Sara paused, "True." She pushed the blankets off her body and stood up, turning on her lamp.

"What are you doing?" Michael asked.

Sara smiled, mischievously, going to the other side of the room to pick up the giant monkey and carrying it back into bed with her. Placing it between the two of them she wrapped her arms around it and buried her head into its soft fur. "Now that I have this monkey, I don't need you to cuddle with. He'll keep me warm at night."

Michael chuckled. "I'm going to return it tomorrow."

"You can't, I love him." Sara teased.

Michael opened his mouth in mock-shock. "I can't believe I'm in competition with an inanimate object."

Sara giggled, yelling in surprise as Michael grabbed the monkey and pushed it off the bed. He then proceeded to pull her into his arms and hold her against him. "Much better."

Sara laughed, shifting comfortably, her arm wrapped loosely around his torso and her head resting on his shoulder. Placing a gentle kiss to his shoulder blade, she snuggled in his arms, his comforting scent and the feel of his hand lazily stroking her hair cocooning her in a feeling of warmth and familiarity as she drifted off to sleep.

Hope you like it!