Vicky walked downstairs to the living room with a small suitcase slung over her shoulder. She was about halfway through her pregnancy at this point, and she noticed it was becoming more difficult to make the trek up and down the many stairs in the Tanner house without getting winded. When she reached the bottom, she flung her suitcase on the blue-checkered couch and sat down to catch her breath.
"Hey, Vicky, you almost ready?" Danny asked as he walked in from the kitchen.
Vicky stood up from the couch. "Sure thing! So, Danny , when are you going to tell me where you're taking me?"
Danny scoffed as he wrapped his arms around his wife. "If I tell you before we leave, that's not much of a birthday surprise, now, is it?"
Vicky giggled. "I suppose not." He had been planning this trip for weeks, but all she had managed to get out of him was that she would need three days' worth of clothes and that they were going within driving distance. She also figured that this would likely be the last trip that the two of them would get to take alone before their son was born, so Danny would probably want to make the most of it and pull out all the stops.
Danny picked up his own suitcase and headed towards the front door. "Don't you worry, Vicky. I've pulled a few strings, and I can guarantee you this is one birthday you are never going to forget!" He reached for the doorknob with his free hand then turned toward his wife, leaning in for a slow and tender kiss. He smiled softly. "Happy Birthday, Honey Buns."
"Thank you, Sweetheart!" Vicky smiled, then leaned in towards her husband once again. This second display of affection, however, was interrupted by a voice calling "Get a room!" from the kitchen door.
Danny looked up to see Joey walking over to the couch with a bowl of popcorn.
"As a matter of fact, we have one, and we're leaving for it right now. Joey, are you sure you can hold down the fort this weekend? I don't want to see a repeat of what happened over Christmas," Danny warned.
"Relax, Danny, I've got it under control. And, besides, even if I don't, Jesse and Becky are home this time. Everything will be fine. You two go off and enjoy your little Babymoon."
Vicky grinned and put her hand on her stomach. "Babymoon! I like that! Did you come up with it yourself, Joey?"
Joey smiled proudly. "What can I say? I am a man of wit!"
"More like nitwit!" Danny muttered under his breath. "Anyway, Honey, we better get going if we're going to beat the rush hour traffic. Girls, we're leaving!" he called out.
Stephanie and DJ emerged from the kitchen and Michelle came running down the stairs.
"You guys have a great trip!" DJ exclaimed, hugging her stepmom.
"Thanks, DJ! Your dad didn't happen to tell you girls anything about what he has planned for this weekend, did he?" Vicky inquired, raising her eyebrows.
Michelle opened her mouth to speak, but Stephanie quickly clapped her hand over it. "Nope, not a word!"
"Likely story!" Vicky replied, glaring at the girls, then back at her husband.
"OK, well, we better get going!" Danny exclaimed again. "You girls be good, okay?" After a round of goodbye hugs, Danny and Vicky were finally out the door.
"L is for the way you look at me," Danny crooned, singing along with the car radio. He sighed blissfully. "Oh, Vicky, you're going to love this place! The view is incredible!"
"So you've been before?"
"No, I saw it in a magazine."
Vicky chuckled. "How much longer?" she asked.
Danny glanced at the clock on the radio. "Probably about an hour, depending on the traffic."
Vicky pursed her lips, thinking. They had been driving about two hours by that point. "Well, we're going south, so we're definitely not going back to Napa Valley." Danny nodded in confirmation. Vicky furrowed her brow and eyed her husband suspiciously.
"Just trust me, okay? You're going to love it." He leaned over and kissed her forehead, causing her to blush.
As promised, about an hour later they drove past a large wooden billboard which read "Welcome to Big Sur". Once they drove past the sign, the road narrowed to a winding dirt path through the woods. Vicky gawked at the redwood trees towering above them.
Danny smirked. "You ain't seen nothing yet!" he exclaimed smugly. And sure enough, Danny watched as his wife continued to marvel at the lush forest scenery until they finally pulled up to the lodge. They stopped in at the main building to check in and retrieve their key, then drove a little further to a small cottage at the back of the property.
When they arrived at the cottage, Danny held open the passenger door for Vicky and then went around to the trunk to retrieve their luggage. He led her up the cobblestone path to a cream-colored cottage with forest green shutters on the windows. The wooden front porch was painted bright red and decorated with several potted flowers. Two rocking chairs sat on either side of the picture window looking inside to a small, round, mahogany dining table with a vase of multicolored flowers in the center.
The interior of the cottage was rustic, yet luxurious, boasting a queen size bed covered with red and white decorative pillows and a floral-patterned quilt. On the opposite side of the bed was a sliding door which led out to a balcony overlooking the forest.
"Oh, Danny!" Vicky gasped. "This is beautiful!" Danny helped Vicky off with her jacket and then took her by the hand, leading her to the seating area across the room. A red leather couch and two floral armchairs sat facing the fireplace. Hung over the mantle was a vibrant painting of the forest view from the balcony.
Danny wrapped his arms around Vicky's waist as she reached up and wrapped hers around his neck. He pressed his nose against her forehead before moving down to meet her lips. Without breaking their embrace, they melted into the couch.
A few minutes later, the couple was interrupted by a knock on the door. Danny leapt up to answer it, wiping his wife's lipstick from his lips and cheeks. He opened the door and a man wheeled in a cart containing a tray covered by a silver dome.
"I've got room service for Mr. Tanner!" he exclaimed. Danny nodded and he and Vicky watched as the man transferred the two trays from the cart to their dining room table. He uncovered them one by one, revealing two steak dinners accompanied by mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans. Next, he removed a metal bucket full of ice from the bottom shelf of the cart along with two glasses. He pulled a bottle of nonalcoholic sparkling cider from the bucket and filled the glasses for them. He took two napkin-wrapped sets of utensils out of his apron pocket and placed one at each plate. Finally, he pulled out a lighter and lit both candles in the center of the table.
"Bon Appetit!" he declared before wheeling the cart to the door and exiting, leaving the couple to enjoy their feast.
"Oh, how romantic!" Vicky gushed to her husband. Danny pulled out a chair from the table and motioned for Vicky to sit down, but she quickly put up a pointer finger to interject, "I just need a few minutes to freshen up after that car ride," she explained. Danny nodded and chuckled as he watched her remove her makeup bag from her suitcase and head into the bathroom.
After dinner, Danny lit a fire in the fireplace and he and Vicky huddled together on the couch under a blanket.
"I'm sorry, Vicky. I didn't realize it would be this chilly. Do you want me to grab your jacket?"
"No, this is nice." Vicky sighed and rested her head on Danny's shoulder.
"So, would you like to open your present now?" Danny asked.
"Sweetheart, I thought this trip was my present!"
"Oh, no!" Danny exclaimed, getting up from the couch. He walked over to his suitcase and pulled out a small cardboard box topped with a red bow. "Happy Birthday, Honey!" he smiled as he handed her the box.
Vicky removed the bow and opened the box to find a light blue coffee mug.
"Turn it around," Danny urged. When she did, Vicky gasped softly when she saw what was written on the other side. A golden heart encircled the words "Danny & Vicky" and underneath, "Est. 1993".
"Oh, Danny! That's so thoughtful!"
"It gets better," he explained, "This is the mug that you drank from on your first day at Wake Up, San Francisco. I stole it from the station and got it engraved!" Danny grinned mischievously, clearly proud of himself for his semi-delinquent act of stealing from the workplace.
Vicky tilted her head, the corners of her lips curling up into a pressed smile as she tried, but failed, to choke back tears. "Oh, Danny!" She leaned in to hug him, briefly burying her face in his shoulder. "Thank you so much! You sure do know how to make a Birthday Girl feel special."
"You're welcome! I love you, Vicky."
"I love you, too! And you know what?"
"What?" Danny wondered.
"I think," Vicky said, raising her eyebrows, "that it's my turn to make you feel special."
Danny groaned. "Oh, I like the way you think!"
With a playful wink and a smirk, she stood up and grabbed Danny's hand, pulling him up from the couch. Danny eagerly obliged and followed his wife over to the bed.
Vicky awoke the next morning to find the other side of the bed vacant. She rolled over and looked outside to see her husband sitting on the balcony with a newspaper and a cup of coffee. She stood and watched him briefly before sliding the door open to step out and join him.
Danny looked up at the sound of the door opening and beamed at his wife. "Morning, Honey! How'd you sleep?" he asked, setting his coffee back down on the table.
"Once I managed to get comfortable, I slept like a baby! Which is ironic," said Vicky, "Because he clearly didn't," she explained, pointing towards her stomach.
Danny laughed. "Already keeping you up at night, is he?"
"It's like he's got his own jungle gym in there or something!" Vicky exclaimed, and this time they both laughed. "How long have you been up?" She leaned over and gently brushed Danny's arm.
"Oh, just long enough to fix myself a coffee and call home to check in. Sounds like everything's going fine, but Steph and DJ had some kind of fight, so I'll have to have a talk with them when we get home."
Vicky nodded. "I'm sure they're both looking forward to that!" she exclaimed sarcastically.
"Well, they should be! I'll be completely refreshed from the trip, so I should be at the top of my Dad Talk game!" Danny stated proudly, putting his hands on his hips. Vicky rolled her eyes, but chuckled.
"So what are we doing today?" Vicky asked.
"Well, we have a brunch reservation at a local bistro, and then I thought we'd take a walk on the beach. How does that sound?" Danny asked, smiling.
"That sounds wonderful!"
"Then we'd better go get ready. Our reservation is in less than an hour. Oh, and Vicky?"
"Yes, Darling?"
"Wear that sundress with the blue flowers. Trust me on this one." Danny winked and walked back inside.
After enjoying a peaceful brunch on a second-story patio overlooking the forest, Danny and Vicky drove to Pfeifer Beach for the next surprise on Danny's agenda. As Danny had requested, Vicky wore her floor-length white sundress covered in blue flowers while Danny wore a baby blue button-down shirt and khakis to complement his wife's dress.
When they arrived at the beach, Vicky was surprised when a woman with a camera around her neck approached them.
"Danny! It's so good to see you again. How have you been?"
"Marilyn, Hi!" Danny gave the woman a friendly embrace. Marilyn was a tiny, but energetic woman slightly younger than Danny and Vicky. She had a blonde pixie cut and a grunge wardrobe, with a black tank top, tattered jeans, and a plaid flannel shirt tied around her waist.
"Vicky, this is Marilyn Colbert. She was a photography intern at the station back when I first started doing the sportscast. Marilyn, this is my wife, Vicky!" Danny exclaimed proudly.
"Nice to meet you!" Vicky smiled warmly and extended her hand to shake Marilyn's.
"Likewise!" Marilyn replied, "And, Happy Birthday!"
Vicky nodded appreciatively. "Thank you!" She looked back at her husband expectantly.
Taking the hint, Danny explained, "I asked Marilyn to take some pictures of us on the beach for your birthday. A little maternity photoshoot, I guess."
Vicky gasped in surprise. "Oh, Danny, that sounds great!"
"And you couldn't have picked a better spot!" Marilyn exclaimed, gesturing towards the beach. Marilyn was right. The beach was encircled by majestic mountains, and the ocean water was the bluest Vicky had ever seen, which she noticed, matched her and Danny's attire perfectly.
"Why don't we start with some shots of the two of you walking down the shore?" Marilyn suggested. Vicky and Danny nodded in agreement and Marilyn ran ahead to get the perfect shots of the couple as they walked toward her.
A little way down the beach, they stopped to get some posed shots. As Danny stood with his arms wrapped around his wife's waist gazing lovingly into her deep brown eyes, he marveled at just how lucky he was to have found her, and how lucky they were that their love withstood the test of distance, even when it had come so close to driving them apart for good. He made a mental note to thank his son one day when he was old enough to hear his parents' love story.
"Now, Vicky, turn around," Marilyn instructed, "and both of you put your hands on her stomach." Danny did as Marilyn asked while nestling his head on Vicky's shoulder.
"Oh, perfect! Very cute!" Marilyn gushed. Vicky giggled at her husband's impromptu display of affection, making for the perfect candid shot that would ultimately be framed and remain on the Tanners' mantle for decades to come.
After finishing the photoshoot and saying their goodbyes to Marilyn, Vicky and Danny enjoyed a quiet afternoon stroll along sunny Pfeifer Beach.
"Wow. Danny, it is just beautiful out here! Thank you again." Vicky leaned up to give her husband a quick peck.
"Anytime, Honey! You know, Vicky, after all that we've been through the past few months, I just wanted to make sure I took advantage of this opportunity to show you how much you mean to me, and how lucky I am to have you. I love you."
"Oh, sweetheart, I love you, too! This weekend has already been so amazing. I can't imagine how it could get any better."
Danny smiled and winked. "Oh, just you wait!" Following his wife's incredulous scowl, Danny took her hand and led her further up the beach where they came to a marina. They were greeted by a middle-aged man wearing a red polo shirt, khakis, and a white captain's hat.
"Welcome to Redwood Cruises!" he bellowed. "You must be Danny and Vicky." He shook both of their hands, then gestured to his boat. "I'm Captain Dick Swan, and this here is Odette. We're gonna take you two lovebirds on the most romantic cruise since the Love Boat!" he winked and gave a cheeky grin, then reached down and gingerly helped Vicky up the steps to the boat, with Danny following closely behind.
Over the next hour, The Tanners were wowed by a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean as the midday sun made it sparkle like a starry night sky. Their view was accompanied by a sappy soundtrack of the most romantic songs known to man, From James Taylor to Elton John to Frank Sinatra. Somewhere out in the middle of the ocean as Danny heard the familiar opening bars to "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys, he stood and took his wife's hand to pull her in for a dance. Vicky allowed her husband to lead her as they swayed together to the music in the gentle ocean breeze.
"If you should ever leave me, though life would still go on, believe me…"
Danny paused for a moment to look into Vicky's eyes. "I still can't believe I almost lost you," he whispered, the breath catching in his throat.
Vicky put her index finger on Danny's lips to shoosh him. "Danny, that's all behind us now," she assured him, "I'm stuck with you, remember?" she teased, pointing to her wedding band. She could feel Danny's entire body relax as he laughed off her remark. He pulled her in closer to him but chuckled as he could feel their son give a swift kick in protest for intruding on his space. He then spun his wife around to face the ocean, resting his head on her shoulder.
Once their romantic cruise was finished, Danny and Vicky said their goodbyes to Captain Swan and headed back to the car.
"I must say, Daniel, you've really outdone yourself this time!" Vicky enthused once they were in the car on their way back to the cottage.
Danny gave a modest shrug. "Well, I was hoping to take you horseback riding in the forest, but I figured in your condition the boat ride would be safer," he explained.
Vicky nodded. "Good thinking." She beamed in gratitude at her husband, causing him to reach over and grab her hand, holding it for the rest of the ride.
The remainder of Vicky's birthday weekend was spent alternating between lounging on the beach, strolling through the forest, and enjoying each other's company in the privacy of the cottage. All too soon, however, the time came to leave their little paradise and return to the hustle and bustle of life in San Francisco.
Once they returned home, Vicky and Danny stopped for a moment on the front porch before opening the door. Danny sighed as he could hear his daughters arguing on the other side of the door, as well as what sounded like Jesse berating Joey. Finally, he winced when he heard a small thud followed by a yowl from Rocket, which set Comet off barking. He chuckled to himself and turned to his wife. "Happy Birthday, Honey! And Welcome home!" he exclaimed, finally opening the door to see exactly what chaos was awaiting them in the house.
