Morning
Roz yawned as she began waking up, it felt so wonderful to be able to luxuriate in bed without an alarm clock going off. She found herself automatically reaching for Frasier, sitting up when she realized he wasn't there, she could tell by looking at the sheets that he hadn't spent the night there. "Of course, we're away from his apartment, he's probably relieved to be able to sleep alone again." She stumbled to the bathroom for a shower.
After her shower she quickly dressed and walked out, smelling the wonderful odors coming from the kitchen. "Mmmm.... what are you cooking." She asked Frasier, her mouth already watering.
"It's about time you woke up," Frasier said cheerfully, not turning from the stove. "I went grocery shopping earlier while you slept, and started cooking when I heard the shower start. I hope you like this, it's a garden fresh omelette. It contains roasted red pepper, spinach leaves, sauteed mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and for garnishment just a sprinkle of fresh basil" Frasier finished the mouthwatering description as he flipped the omelet out of the pan and turned around while sprinking the basil on top.
"There is one good thing about you being such a morning person, having breakfast ready for me when I wake up." Roz grinned as she eyed the omelette, trying to restrain herself from jumping right in while Frasier was busily fixing another.
"There's toast and juice on the table if you'd like to sit down, I'll be there in a minute." He called over his shoulder as she was already moving to sit down.
"Mmmmmm...... this is delicious" she practically moaned as she savored the first bite, you should give up psychiatry and become a chef.
"Now Roz, where are your manners, you're supposed to wait for me you know." Frasier announced, seemingly offended as he approached the table with his own plate. Though he was secretly pleased at how much she was enjoying it. Nothing more was said as they both busily concentrated on cleaning their plates .
"I think I need to go back to bed now," Roz yawned as she rubbed her now full stomach.
"Well if you like, it's your vacation also, I however am going to go out and look at the beach." Frasier arose and carried the two plates to the kitchen, taking only moments to get all the dishes in the dishwasher and wipe off the counters.
"Oh that's right, we're at the beach, I almost forgot," Roz ran to the windows to look out. "Oh wow, what a view. I want to go with you, just let me get my bathing suit." She scrambled back to the room almost like an excited child. She emerged a few moments later in shorts and t-shirt, with her hair up in a ponytail.
LATER
"I love the smell of the salt air, and this warm breeze." Roz said later as they walked along the beach. "The sound of the waves is so relaxing, I can almost forget for a moment that my whole world could fall apart at any time."
"Yes, many psychologists have written on the therapeutic effects that the sound of the ocean is suppose to have, I believe Carl Jung was one of the first..." Frasier began.
"Oh hush Frasier, can't you talk like a normal person for a change. I'm not Niles, I don't thrill in or even understand all this psychiatric history stuff. I just know I like the beach and the feelings it brings." Roz said gently, trying not to sound too critical.
"Of course Roz, no more shop talk." Frasier agreed sighing as they continued their walk.
"Ooooh look over there," Roz pointed to a group of guys playing volleyball on the beach.
"Roz, I hate to remind you but you're not exactly free to date around at the moment." Frasier smiled, aware of the thoughts going through her mind.
"I know I know, but I can look can't I?" Roz pouted.
"Certainly, just as I can. Now there's one lifeguard that might make almost drowning worth it." Frasier said as his eyes drifted up to a young female lifeguard watching the people in the water.
"Ok, ok -- I get your point." Roz laughed in mock jealousy as she swatted him on the shoulder.
Laughing companionably they continued down the beach, pointing at various sailboats and parts of the scenery.
"You know Fras, this is one of the best times I've had in......." Roz's voice broke off as she had turned to look at Frasier and noticed someone else out of the corner of her eye.
"Something wrong Roz," Frasier noticed how her voice had broken off.
"Just keep walking" she said, suddenly loosing the carefree attitude.
"What's the matter Roz."
"That guy from the airplane, Vince. The guy I used to date is walking behind us. Has been for several moments now." She seemed nervous.
"So was he a criminal or something, should we be worried. You do have a strange taste in boyfriends," Frasier almost whispered back.
"No, actually he was a private investigator. Not a very good one, but that was his profession."
"Could his presence here just be coincidence?"
"I don't know but I intend to find out," Roz said as she suddenly slowed giving Vince time to catch up, then quickly whirled around and walked up to him, grabbing him by the camera strap around his neck and dragging him to the trees nearby. Frasier just followed dumbstruck at her sudden aggressiveness.
"OK Vince, spill!" Roz commanded.
"Oh, nice to see you again, Roz isn't it?" Vince smiled weakly.
"Spare me the innocence act, what are you doing walking around the beach behind us with a Polaroid camera." Roz wouldn't release the hold on him.
"Roz, calm down. It could be just a coincidence." Frasier tried to smooth over the situation, embarrassed over Roz's behavior and the obvious panic in Vince's face.
"Yeah, just a coincidence." Vince echoed meekly.
"Oh please, you couldn't find a missing dog in a dog pound, much less making enough money to make a trip like this. So who's paying you?"
"Look, I'm just down here on vacation," he persisted. "Hey you can't look in there." He got anxious as she picked up his camera bag and started looking through it. Suddenly realizing Roz might be onto something Frasier grabbed the guys arm to keep him from interfering with her search.
"Well would you look at these," Roz announced triumphantly as she picked up sever pictures. "I suppose you just happened to be walking by the beachhouse patio last night as well." She said as she passed the pictures to Frasier.
Knowing he was caught Vince gulped and sat down. "OK, fine then, you caught me, but that still doesn't mean that I don't already have evidence to bury this sham of a marriage you two have going on." He shot back, suddenly trying to sound brave.
"Oh stuff it Vince," Roz took the pictures away. I don't suppose you want your little secret to get out do you?" Vince audibly gulped and the false bravado disappeared at her threat.
"What secret?" Frasier asked, obviously lost.
"Oh just a little something about a certain private eye using his skills to enter a highly restricted access building, just to impress his girlfriend." Roz said in a sing-song voice, obviously enjoying tormenting Vince.
"OK, ok.... what do you want me to do?" He caved. "I knew I shouldn't take this assignment when I heard the details, but I was so desperate for cash..."
"Oh quit whimpering, just cooperate and we'll all get along just fine." Roz sat back smiling.
Frasier meanwhile was completely astonished at how quickly Roz had turned the tables and turned a potentially bad situation into their favor. He could tell Vince wasn't the most strong-willed person, but it was obvious he had just been completely overpowered. Roz was definitely not one that let people walk over her, he marveled as he listened to Roz lay out the plan.
"Since you were hired to investigate this marriage I assume that Rick and that little wife of his are worried, correct?"
"I'm not sure, I just know that I was told that it was highly important that I find out the truth behind the marriage, and a bonus if I proved it to be false." Vince gulped.
"Well forget your bonus from them, because you are going to do no such thing." Roz grinned. "We will have a few photo shoots where all you get are pictures of the "happy newlyweds", and you'll sadly have to report to your boss that everything seems on the level. Look at the bright side though, now you don't have to work as much and can spend a little more time relaxing."
Vince visibly brightened at the suggestion, there were a lot of things he wouldn't mind doing on the bosses tab besides spying on Roz and Frasier. Besides he wasn't the most ethical guy in the world, didn't really care if they're marriage was real or not. And from the little bit he had heard, he realized what the stakes were. So he didn't especially care to see Roz lose her kid over this whole mess. So it wasn't a stretch for him to drop his morals and go along with her plan.
"Have you got a phone number where we can reach you?" Roz said, shaking him out of his daze.
"Oh uhh, yeah, here's my cellphone number." He said pulling out a piece of paper and writing. "I'll be calling the office to check in a little later, and will be sure to tell them that so far things are looking normal."
"Be sure that you do, because we will find out if you turn double agent, and you will pay." Roz said in the most threatening tone she could.
"Right, just let me know when and where and I'll be there with my camera." Vince agreed readily.
"No time like the present is there Frasier, since you're already here Vince. Why don't you pull out that film and put in a new roll." Roz suggested as Vince hastily complied.
"So let's see here, Scene 1, newlyweds at the beach." She grabbed Frasiers hand and pulled herself back up.
"Right, just make sure it doesn't look to staged." Vince suggested.
"What are we going to do Roz," Frasier seemed unsure of himself at the sudden change in events.
"Relax Fras, I'm not saying we're going to do anything involving public nudity, though if we were this would be the place..." She teased lightly causing Frasier to gasp. "Chill, we're just going to be a little more affectionate than usual, ready Vince?"
"Now lets continue that walk shall we?" She said as she fell back into step beside Frasier, Vince once again following as she put her arm around Frasiers back and stood closely beside him. Following her lead Frasier draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close as sthey walked down the beach draped together. Frasier couldn't help enjoying closeness as they walked a few hundered feet, before Roz stopped and turned towards Vince, "get enough shots there?"
"Yup, sure did, can I go now, there's a waitress I'm interested in getting to know better over at the motel I'm staying at." Vince was in a hurry.
"Hmm..... how about a quick photo or two of us in swimsuits, applying suntan and entering the water or something before you go." Roz suggested, "sound ok to you Fras?"
"Sure, but do we actually have to get in the water?" Frasiers tone suddenly took on a remarkable resemblance to Roz's when she had gotten on the plane.
"Ahh, someone a little afraid of the water." Roz bantered.
"Not the water, just the ocean. Haven't you seen all those discovery channel programs about sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, the undertow, not to mention the sanitation concerns of sharing water with hundreds of strange people." Frasier tried to justify his concerns.
"Guys, could we please hurry this up. The waitress gets off at two" Vince prodded.
"Right, now come on Frasier, surely you remember what newlyweds act like, just pretend we're Niles and Daphne if that helps" Roz kept teasing as Frasier blushed.
"Oh alright, fine!" He exclaimed taking off his shirt so that he was clad only in modest swim trunks and pulling out the suntan lotion.
Roz also shed her t-shirt and shorts to display a one-piece very flattering black bathing suit that while modest, was very alluring.
Vince looked on, keeping one eye on his watch as he kept wishing they could hurry this up, the least they could do after making him switch sides.
"Alright I'm ready" Roz stated after she had laid down a towel, Frasier smiled up at the camera as he began to tentatively rub the lotion onto her shoulders.
"Umm not to criticize Dr. Crane, but most surveillance objects aren't grinning at the camera. Just pretend I'm not here." Vince sighed.
"And for heavens sake Frasier, quit acting like I have leprosy, you're barely touching me and I'm going to get burned." Roz complained.
"Fine fine, everyone just lay off." Frasier growled as he put more lotion on his hands, and began massaging Roz's shoulders in earnest, still frowning. But after a few moments he calmed down and began concentrating on the task at hand. He forgot all about Vince as he moved her hair to the side and began rubbing the lotion on her neck and then moving down to her arms.
Roz couldn't help enjoying the feel of Frasier's hands on her back. For being a psychiatrist he certainly had strong hands, she observed to herself, feeling a twinge of regret when all to soon he had finished.
"Wow, what a display of affection, I could just feel the love." Vince said dryly as he waited for them to change positions.
"Just chill Vince, this will be over in a few more minutes and you can go romance your little waitress." Roz rolled her eyes, "Just remember who the boss is and quit complaining."
Frasier lay on his stomach as Roz began steadily rubbing in the lotion on his entire back. He could feel the tension almost melting away as the knotted muscles in his neck and shoulders began to relax as her fingers loosened the muscles. By the time she reached his lower back he was so relaxed he was almost asleep, and mechanically rolled over when she told him to. He almost jumped when her hands started spreading lotion on his chest and stomach. "Roz, umm I can reach here." He almost squeaked.
"Just relax Frasier and look like you're enjoying it for the camera, remember we're supposed to be honeymooners, we're going to have to look a little romantic, maybe even kiss." Roz teased him as she stopped to get more lotion. She marveled as she began massaging the planes and muscles in his chest. She had never really thought that such a well built body was lurking beneath all those stuffy suits he usually wore.
"Relax she say's" Frasier agonized to himself, "I can barely think straight. I never realized how soft her hands were before." He involuntarily groaned as she put a little extra pressure on his ribcage. He closed his eyes savoring the sensations, suddenly startled as he felt her hands move back up his neck and to the side of his face. He just started opening his eyes to see what was going on when he felt her lips on his as she leaned over him. Completely forgetting about Vince, Frasier found himself responding tentatively at first and then almost eagerly as he reached up and pulled Roz closer to him as their kiss deepened so that she was practically laying on top of him. They pulled away breathless moments later, each trying to hide their surprise at the intensity of the kiss they had just shared.
"Well guys, that's great. Just call me on the cellphone when you want me to come take pictures again." Vince said as he hurriedly started packing up his equipment, breaking the stare between Roz and Frasier.
"Sure Vince," Roz found her voice as she rolled off Frasier and
sat beside him on the towel, both valiantly trying to regain control of
their senses.