A/N- Um... um... unh... Don't kill me. It hurts me worse than you.

nebulia- Cyber-cookie for reviewing! Only two reviews... that hurts. Yeah, they definitely have a strange relationship.

Marion- Stalking people is crazy fun! I stalk a hothothot senior named Squishy. Okay, that's not his real name. That's what I call him. But your stalkee is named Mark? Sexy. I love the name Mark as of writing these stories. Speaking of Mark... -bursts into tears- Please don't kill me!

The kitchen phone rang and Nina went to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Nina, don't wash those dishes."

"Mark? You just left, why're you calling me?"

"To remind you I said I'd wash the dishes. Don't wash them."

"Where are you?"

"In the car. I'm about to pull into a gas station."

"You're driving and talking on the phone?"

"Yeah..."

"I've said not to do that a thousand times."

"Why? I'm not about to wreck."

"It has been said, Mark, 'chances are, if you need both hands to do something, your brain should be in on it too.'"

"But I'm only using one hand to drive."

Nina couldn't help but laugh. "And you're missing the point."

"It's okay, I've stopped at the gas station now."

"Good."

"Hey... it's Montparnasse..."

"What?"

"There's a teenage hoodlum standing outside the gas station, looking suspicious."

"And he makes you think of Parnasse?"

"Yup. The lady inside looks like... whatsername... Sister... the one who never lied."

"Simplice," Nina said automatically.

"That's her. Listen, I'm gonna need both hands and a brain to pump gas and pay for it."

"Great. See you later. Love you, Mark."

"I love you."

Nina hung up the phone and turned with a smile to the dishes. Mark always promised to do these things, but he often forgot or put it off too long. She filled the sink with water and slid all the dishes into it. A note had been hidden under the last plate.

I told you to leave me these. –Mark

PS Look in the closet...

Leaving the dishes in the sink, Nina went to their bedroom and opened the closet. A red rose lay on the floor, accompanied by another note.

DVD Cabinet.

When Nina found another rose and note with directions wedged between Jesus Christ Superstar and Moulin Rouge, she realized what he was doing and smiled. After a while she had twelve roses, which she put into a vase on the kitchen table.

It was just like Mark to do something randomly sweet like that. She thought back to their honeymoon, when he had insisted on buying everything but telling her nothing in advance, leaving everything to be a surprise.

Nina finished the dishes and settled herself on the couch with another book in the Scarlet Pimpernel series.

The phone rang again.

"Hello?"

"Mom?"

"Jehan, what's wrong?"

"Didn't Dad come to pick me up?"

"Yeah, Jé, he left about half an hour ago. He's not there yet?"

"No. Amy's mom picked her up a long time ago. I'm calling from a payphone."

"I guess he'll be there..." Nina was cut off by a knock at the door. "Someone's here, Jé. Listen, call back in ten minutes if your dad hasn't come yet."

"Okay. Bye."

Nina went to the door.

A policeman stood in the hall, his hat in one hand and Mark's wallet in the other.