Disclaimer: You know the drill! I do own the restaurant "Chez Paul" (pron. Shay Paul) that is used in this chapter.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, as always! Keep 'um coming! Haha. I don't know when Sarah and Matt got married…so let's make believe. : - D

In The Days Ahead

Chapter 5: A Night on the Town

Winter Break has ended, and it is now Friday, January 23rd.

Matt Camden pulled up in front of the house that belonged to he and his family. He quietly grabbed the bouquet of flowers from his car and held it behind his back. Stealthily, he tip-toed up the walk and opened the door. He saw his wife, who was facing away from him. She was standing at the sink, washing their youngest son, Jack's hands. He snuck up behind her. As soon as Jack's hands were clean and he was getting down Matt put his free hand over his wife's eyes. When Jack opened his mouth to tell his mother who was behind her, Matt motioned for him to be quite. The little boy smiled, happy to be in on his father's plan…whatever it was.

"I know who it is!" Jack sang happily.

"I do too!" Sarah said. She turned around and kissed her husband. She knew him all too well. He laughed and kissed her back. When she backed up again, he pulled out the bouquet. Sarah gasped and took it from him with a huge smile. She brought it up to her nose and smelled it. She sighed happily. "What is this for?" She asked suspiciously.

"Well, Mrs. Camden, get your coat. We're going out tonight." He told her. She looked up at him with a smile.

"Why Mr. Camden, what do you mean?" She asked, playing along.

"You've been so busy lately, and you've been so awesome with the kids. The house is always so nice. You have so many things going on, yet you still manage to have dinner on the table every night. Now it's my turn to have dinner on the table for you." Sarah looked at him nervously.

"You're not going to cook for me…are you?" She asked. She loved almost everything about, but one thing she didn't love about him was his cooking. Matt laughed and shook his head, prompting a sigh of relief on Sarah's part.

"No." He said. "I'm taking you to dinner and a movie. Just like when we were dating." He said. Sarah laughed.

"And the kids?" She asked. "Are they coming?"

"Did the kids come with us when we were dating?" He asked. Sarah looked at him with a furled brow. Where exactly was he going with this?

"No…we didn't have kids when we were dating…" She responded. Matt nodded.

"Precisely." He said. "Since I know Emily's sleeping over at her friend's house tonight so she can't baby sit, it's already been worked out with Lucy and Kevin for Sean, Chloe, and Jack to go over there." Sarah nodded.

"OK…Emily's gone already. She left half an hour ago." She told him.

"OK then, let's go." Sarah placed her flowers in a vase while Matt got the kids to get their things. Sarah again looked at her husband with a confused look when the kids came out, each with their suitcase.

"Matt?" She asked. What on Earth was he up to?

"They're staying the night with the Kinkirks." He said. Sarah didn't feel like questioning him, so she nodded her head. Matt got the kids in the car, then turned to Sarah. "I'm going to drop them off. While I'm gone, get dressed up. This isn't exactly McDonald's that we're going to." Sarah agreed to do so, and Matt pulled out. When he got home, he walked to the door and knocked. When Sarah answered, his draw nearly hit the floor. She was in a form-fitting, knee length ruby red dress with a low neckline. She had a pearl necklace on. Her make up had been refreshed. She had black strappy sandals on. Her dress moved smoothly over every curve. She smiled.

"Should we go?" She asked. Matt nodded. They kissed, and he held out his hand. She took it and he led her to the car. He opened the door for her and after she was seated, he got in the driver's seat. They drove in silence. Sarah laughed when Matt pulled into the parking lot of Chez Paul, only one of the ritziest restaurants in all of Glen Oak. Matt drove over to the chauffeurs. One came around and helped Sarah out of the car. Matt handed over the keys and paid the man for his services. He took his wife by the hand and led her inside. When they got in, they walked over to the main desk.

"Hello. Welcome to Chez Paul. Name please?" The woman asked.

"Sarah and Matt Camden." Matt said. The woman scanned the list in front of her.

"Ahh, hello sir. Mr. Camden, Mrs. Camden, right this way please." She led them to the center of the restaurant, where she seated them at a table for two. There was a live band playing on the stage and people dancing on the floor in the ballroom, which was next to the dining room they were in. After being seated for a few minutes, a server came over to them.

"Hello sir, ma'am." He greeted. He sat down a champagne glass in front of each of them and popped the top of a brand new champagne bottle, filling each glass carefully.

"Thank you." Sarah and Matt said. After he left, Matt turned to his wife and held up his glass.

"To 18 years of marriage. The best 18 years of my life. I've spent them with the most beautiful woman on Earth, and we're together raising four wonderful children. I love you. Happy 18th Anniversary." He said. Sarah's breath caught in her throat. They clinked glasses and each took a sip.

"I really have to use the restroom Matt…I'll be right back, and we can pick up where we left off." She said quickly. Matt, though confused why his wife was picking now to leave, nodded his head. Sarah got up, grabbed her purse, and darted away. Instead of going to the bathroom, she ran outside. OH MY GOSH! It's our anniversary. How could I forget our anniversary? She thought to herself in a panic. She had been so busy that she had completely forgotten. I don't have a present for him, I don't have anything! What am I going to do? This is horrible! She took a deep breath, trying to get a hold of herself. Ok Sarah, think, think. He doesn't have to know that I didn't remember. Suddenly she had an idea.

"Hi Mary…It's Sarah. Listen…can you do me a giant favor…"

It's sure taking her a long time…Matt thought to himself. Well, she is a woman. Women always take a long time in the bathroom. It's just what they do. He looked up and saw Sarah, looking confident, walking over to him.

"Sorry about that." She said, taking her seat.

"It's all right." Matt told her. "I ordered for us, I hope you don't mind. I got a steak for us to split."

"Oh! My favorite." She said with a smile. She lifted her wine-glass to her lips and took a sip. "This is delicious." She said. Matt smiled at her and nodded. Their stake soon came and the couple dug in. When Sarah was about half way done with her half of the food, she stopped and looked down at her stomach in her tight dress, which was beginning to bulge slightly. "I think I'll get the second half boxed up." She told her husband. "I'd like this dress to fit when we leave." Matt laughed and motioned for the waiter. When he came over, Matt asked for the steak to be boxed up, and also had his remaining food boxed as well. The waiter brought back the boxes in a bag a few minutes later and Matt paid the check for their dinner.

"Feel free to take to the dance floor." He told them. "Your purse, madam, can be left at the desk to the right of the door, along with anything you don't want with you while you dance." They thanked him and he left. They stood. Sarah left her purse at the desk. When she finished, Matt turned to her and held out his hand.

"May I have this dance?" He asked. Sarah smiled and took his hand. He kissed it.

"You may." She said. He led her onto the dance floor, and put his arms around her. They began to sway to the slow music. Sarah rested her head on Matt's shoulder. She sighed happily. She was just where she wanted to be. With Matt, she felt safe, and loved, secure, and everything she wanted, needed, or had ever dreamed of. He leaned down and kissed her ear softly.

"I love you." He whispered. She smiled.

"And I love you." She said. They spent the next hour there, dancing in the ballroom, and they knew in their hearts that they were the happiest people in the world.

They had finally decided to leave. After they walked out of the building and the chauffeur brought the car around, Matt helped his wife of 18 years into her seat, then got into his own. He drove her home. Sarah smiled slyly as she saw Mary's car driving away as they turned onto the street. Matt hadn't even noticed. He pulled into the driveway and helped her out. When they walked inside, it was Matt's turn to be surprised. The lights were off. The only light in the room was coming from a fire in the fireplace. There were two steaming cups of coffee sitting on the coffee table, a cozy blanket on the sofa in front of the fire, and soft music playing. They walked inside. Even Sarah was impressed. Boy, had Mary come through or what? Sarah led her husband over to the sofa and they sat down. She scooted close to him as he covered them with the soft blanket. They each sipped from their cup of coffee, still piping hot. Matt had no idea how on earth Sarah could have gotten this done, but what he did know was that he loved it. They sat down their coffee and Matt turned to Sarah.

"Want to know something funny?" He asked. Sarah nodded her head. "I actually thought that you might have forgotten about the anniversary." He said with a soft laugh. She faked a laugh, and even surprised her self at how real it sounded.

"How could I forget our anniversary?" She asked. Matt smiled at her, and she smiled back. This would be her and Mary's little secret.

A/N: Review please!

Credit for the idea to have Sarah and Matt go out goes to SarahMattCamden. It was my idea for the anniversary thing however.