Janet was putting the final touches on her makeup when the doorbell rang.  She opened the door to find Brad, dressed in his customary button-down shirt, sweater vest and slacks.  He looked at her with a combination of surprise and disapproval.

"Do you really call that casual?"

Janet looked down at the dress she had so carefully chosen for the dinner.  It was the newest style – a burgundy print wrap dress, a highly flattering garment that accentuated her curves without being blatantly sexy.  She looked back at Brad, a wounded expression on her face.

"That's all you can say?  You can't say the dress is pretty, or that I look nice?"

Brad quickly tried to make up for his obvious tactical error.  "I didn't mean to suggest the dress isn't attractive, or that you don't look nice.  Believe me, you look very nice." Maybe a little too nice, he thought…but wisely did not add.  "I just thought maybe it's a little dressier than what Frank and the others had in mind.  I didn't want you to feel self-conscious about being overdressed for the occasion."

Janet, somewhat mollified by Brad's explanation, shrugged her shoulders.  "Well, it's intended to be a 'casual' dress…or at least not a formal dress.  I think it should be okay."  She grabbed her coat and purse.  "I'm ready."

They had offered to give Dr. Scott a ride to the castle, but he said he'd prefer to take his own car.  Brad and Janet, therefore, were left alone together to drive in rather awkward silence to a function Janet was eagerly anticipating as much as Brad was actively dreading.  Finally, after a half hour drive that seemed easily three times that long, they arrived at their destination.

At their knock, a butler answered the door…a genuine butler, as opposed to the scientist/faux-handyman they had encountered on their first visit.  He took their coats and led them into a room they had never seen, a cozy, intimate living room with a roaring fire, a large sofa, and several comfortable, overstuffed chairs.  There they were greeted by Rocky, Columbia and Dr. Scott, the latter of whom was already in possession of a large glass of wine and a prime seating location near the fire.

Rocky smiled at the newcomers, gave them glasses of wine, and motioned for them to be seated.  "Adrianna and Frank should be down in a couple of minutes.  They've had a rather busy afternoon and evening."

I'll bet they have, thought Brad and Janet simultaneously.  Before they could give much more consideration to the statement, however, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"I'm sorry we're a bit late.  I hope you haven't been here too long."  They glanced over at the doorway and saw Frank, clad in tight black jeans and a soft black cashmere sweater, the sleeves pushed up to reveal his forearms.  His arm was around the waist of, quite simply, the most gorgeous young woman the three Earthlings had ever seen.

She was petite, probably no taller than 5'4, with thick blonde hair that fell in shimmering golden waves almost to her waist.  Her figure was slender, but with tantalizing curves.  Her eyes were bright violet, her face oval-shaped and classically beautiful.  Her physical perfection would have been incredibly intimidating, were it not for her warm, friendly smile.  Heedless of the season, she was dressed – ironically, if one considered her position – in a gauzy peasant top and coordinating skirt.

Dropping his arm from around her waist, Frank took her hand and led her to Dr. Scott.  "Adrianna, allow me to introduce our visitors.  This is Dr. Everett Scott."  Adrianna smiled and extended her hand to the wheelchair-bound man.  After a brief pause, Dr. Scott collected his wits, smiled and shook her hand.  "It is certainly a pleasure to meet you.  Please excuse me for not rising."

Adrianna laughed.  "You're forgiven.  I'm pleased to meet you."

Next was Janet.  "This is Janet Weiss."

Janet, who was suddenly feeling distinctly frumpy despite her stylish dress, stammered, "I'm pleased to meet you, Your Majesty."

Adrianna smiled at her.  "I'm not your Queen, and certainly don't reign over you.  You don't need to address me as 'Your Majesty'.  'Adrianna' will do nicely."

Janet blushed.  "Thank you, Adrianna."

Finally, there was Brad.  He was staring, open-mouthed, at Adrianna, completely captivated by her beauty.  Frank, suppressing his laughter, cleared his throat meaningfully, and Brad snapped out of his trance with a graceless jolt.  Smiling broadly, Frank said, "This is Janet's fiancé, Brad Majors."

Brad fumbled to his feet, almost spilling his wine in the process.  He stuck out his hand to Adrianna, who took it.  Brad was so busy enjoying the sensation of holding her hand that he forgot to shake it.  She looked at him enquiringly, then pointedly looked at their hands.  He looked back at her with equal curiosity, until he realized what he was doing…or, more to the point, what he wasn't doing.  He quickly shook her hand, released it, and said awkwardly, "Uh, it's wonderful to meet you.  Just wonderful.  Really."  There was no telling how long he would have continued in that vein, had Janet not jabbed him sharply in the leg with her elbow.  He sat back down, his face flushed crimson in embarrassment.

Adrianna, suppressing her own laughter, said, "Likewise, Brad."  Much to Brad's delight, she sat down in the chair closest to his side of the couch.  Unfortunately for Brad, however, Frank perched on the arm of the chair and started to gently caress Adrianna's bare shoulder.  She smiled up at him, and reached up to entwine his hand with her own.

Janet looked at Frank and Adrianna, consumed with jealousy.  It wasn't so much that she wished Frank were touching her…although she certainly wouldn't have objected…it was more that she wished she and Brad had the kind of relationship Frank and Adrianna clearly shared.  It was more than obvious there was both love and lust between them.  Was it possible to cultivate the lust, if love was already present?  She looked over at Brad, his eyes glazed over as he looked at Adrianna, and realized he was indeed in the iron grip of lust…but it was lust for Adrianna, not her.  She wished she had the luxury of being angry with him, but considering the fact that her first reaction upon seeing Frank the day before had been to stick her tongue down his throat, she would have a definite problem trying to maintain the moral high ground.

As Janet looked on, Frank raised Adrianna's hand, still interwoven with his own, and kissed it.  He released it, exchanged a strangely knowing smile with her, stood up, and – to Janet's amazement – approached her.  "Janet, may I speak with you a moment?"

"Um, sure."  As they walked to a corner of the room, Janet happened to spot Adrianna taking the now-vacated spot on the couch next to Brad.  Fleetingly, she wondered what was going on.  However, all thoughts were instantly banished from her brain as Frank took her in his arms, bent his head and began planting a succession of electrifying kisses on her neck.  She had just begun to overcome her shock enough to savor the sensation when she heard his rich voice murmur in her ear, "I have a proposal for you."

Her curiosity to hear his proposal almost overrode her disappointment that he'd stopped kissing her.  Still keeping his arms around her, he drew back slightly and smiled into her bewildered face.

"You, Brad and Dr. Scott did us a great service when you came to us with the information about Riff Raff and Magenta."

Despite herself, Janet interrupted him.  "But it turned out we didn't need to do that at all.  Adrianna was just about to contact you to tell you what was going on."

Frank shook his head.  "That's utterly beside the point.  You were attempting – with some risk to yourselves, I might add – to tell us something that could have not only saved our lives, but the lives of countless others back in Transylvania.  Back home, when someone performs a favor of that magnitude, we have a rather special way of expressing our gratitude.  Adrianna and I discussed it this afternoon, and decided it would be only appropriate to offer to do so for you and Brad."

Janet, suspecting what he was about to say, was suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.  In a voice barely above a whisper, she asked, "What do you do?"

In response, Frank put his index finger under Janet's chin, gently raised her face toward his, and gave her a passionate kiss that made her go weak in the knees.  When he finally broke the kiss, he said softly, "We offer ourselves…offer our bodies…to the person who did us the favor."  He smiled.  "Mind you, it must be a highly significant favor.  Holding a door open, for example, would not qualify."  Again growing serious, he added, "What I am offering to do is take you to bed and, essentially, be your sex slave for precisely one hour.  Adrianna will do the same for Brad.  The only condition is that both of you must accept our offer, or neither of us will follow through.  If there is one thing I've learned during my time on Earth, it is that sex has considerably more emotional significance attached to it here, even when taking place outside the context of a relationship.  It is not our intention to cause problems between you and Brad.  If either of you is uncomfortable about this, I promise you we will not be offended."  He added, "Why don't you talk to Brad, and see how he feels…well, once he gets his tongue out of Adrianna's mouth, that is."

Janet looked sharply toward the sofa.  Adrianna had positioned herself on Brad's lap, and was giving him an ardent kiss he appeared to be enjoying thoroughly.  Against every principle of fairness and logic, she experienced a flash of white-hot jealousy.  She looked back at Frank, blinking back tears.  "Doesn't it make you uncomfortable to see that?"

Frank smiled gently.  "No.  You must understand, our culture is completely different from yours where sex is concerned.  It's merely a biological function, as necessary to us as eating and sleeping.  Taken alone, it means absolutely nothing.  It's no more intimate than sitting next to a stranger at a lunch counter.  Only when we're having sex with someone we love does it attain the significance it has here."

Janet looked over again, and saw Adrianna had gotten up and was approaching the two of them.  Putting her arms around Frank, she asked, "Did you explain our offer to Janet?"

He nodded.  "Yes.  Now she needs to discuss it with Brad.  Don't you, Janet?"

She blushed.  "Yes, I guess I do."  Leaving the lovers behind, she walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Brad.  She was suddenly aware Dr. Scott, Rocky and Columbia were watching them intently, but she tried to ignore them.  She and Brad had too much to think about to worry about their reactions.

Before either of them could say anything, Frank and Adrianna approached them.  Adrianna said, "It would probably be more comfortable for the two of you to discuss this alone.  There's a small study right across the hall.  When you've made your decision, come back here and let us know."

Brad and Janet, with some relief, got to their feet and went into the room Adrianna indicated.  Janet closed the door behind them.  After a moment of awkward silence, she asked, "Well?  What do you want to do?"

Brad was almost afraid to answer.  He walked over to a small desk against the opposite wall, and settled down on its edge.  He stared down at the floor.  Finally, he replied, "I know it's wrong, and I know I shouldn't want to do it…but I do."  Apprehensively, he looked up to see Janet's reaction.  When he saw she didn't look upset, he continued.  "Look, you've been with Frank and Rocky.  I know I was with Frank, but, well, it wasn't the same for me as it was for you."

Janet said softly, "You want the chance to be with another woman, like I've had the chance to be with other men." 

He nodded slightly.  "Yes, I have to admit I do.  Janet, you're the only girl I've ever dated.  Ever.  If I pass up this chance, I'll always regret it.  It isn't like she'll fall in love with me or anything.  I know that won't happen.  But I have to do it anyway.  Can you forgive me?"

Janet sighed.  "It would be pretty hypocritical of me if I couldn't.  I have to admit I don't want to pass up the chance to be with Frank one more time.  If you can forgive me, I'll forgive you."

They stared at each other, both a bit shocked at what they'd agreed to do.  Brad reached out his hand to Janet.  "OK, it's a deal?"

Janet took his hand and shook it.  "It's a deal."

They walked back across the hall and reentered the living room.  Janet said, a bit tentatively,  "We've decided to take you up on your offer."

Frank and Adrianna smiled.  Frank said, "That's fine.  Before we go, however, we need to make sure Dr. Scott receives all due appreciation as well.  Columbia, would you bring in his companion for the next hour?"

Columbia walked out, returning in a couple of minutes with a burly young man sporting an Elvis pompadour in tow.  Dr. Scott's eyes filled with tears.  "Hello, Eddie."

The young man smiled hesitantly at him.  "Hello, Uncle Everett."

Everyone couldn't help but smile at this reunion.  Adrianna said, "We should give them privacy.  Brad, Janet, Frank and I will escort you to our rooms.  Rocky and Columbia, try not to get into too much trouble over the next hour, all right?  When we return, we can sit down to dinner."

Rocky and Columbia quickly took off for parts unknown.  Frank walked over and took Janet's hand, while Adrianna did the same with Brad.  Frank smiled at Adrianna, saying, "Have fun.  We'll see you in an hour."

Adrianna smiled and nodded in acknowledgement, and the two new couples went their separate ways.