Author's Note: Please read and review:o)

I remembered the last time I had come to the zoo. It had been a weekend years ago, one that I had actually gotten off from SD-6 and the CIA. Will and Francie had been stunned earlier about how I had never gotten to visit the zoo as a child and insisted on taking me.

I had fallen in love the instant I walked through the gates. It was gorgeous, and I had felt like a little kid again.

"What are you thinking about?" Vaughn asked as we approached the ticket counter.

"My first time coming to the zoo."

He smiled. "How old were you?"

I blushed. "Umm…it was only a few years ago."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Francie and Will took me. They were shocked I was never able to go as a kid."

Vaughn pulled me close and planted a kiss on my head. "It's better as an adult anyways. You appreciate it more."

I smiled as he paid for our tickets and we entered.

"Where to first?" he asked.

I studied the map. "I want to go see the giraffes."

He grinned. "I figured you'd want to head over there first."

We walked along the winding trails and I found myself falling more and more in love. Not only with the zoo, but with the man who was walking next to me with his hand placed gently around my waist. Nobody had ever done anything like this weekend for me, and it had only started. I wasn't sure that I would be able to thank him.

"Look at the flamingos," he said pointing to our left to a bunch of pink flamingos.

"Do you know why they're pink?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Because of all the shrimp they eat. They're born white."

"Interesting," he said as we neared the giraffe.

I could see her before we even got there. She was hard to miss, being so tall and having a crooked neck.

"She's so pretty," I said softly.

Vaughn smiled. "I always liked the giraffes, but I think my favorites would have to be either the tigers or elephants."

"Really? I like the giraffes. They're so tall and elegant."

"Like you."

I laughed. "I've never been compared to a giraffe before."

"You are tall and elegant though."

I kissed him. "Thank you so much for taking me here."

"Seeing how excited and happy you are is thanks enough, Syd. I live for seeing you happy."

I pulled him closer, not caring that there were about two dozen school children sharing our moment with us.

He kissed my forehead. "So now that you've seen the giraffe with the crooked neck live and in person, what do you want to see?"

"Everything."

"I suggest we go see the elephants. Their habitat was just redone and I've heard that it's gorgeous."

He took my hand and led me to the elephants.

The rest of the day was amazing. You wouldn't believe how gorgeous and lush everything was. I had heard complaints about so many other zoos…how they were just slabs of concrete and that the animals were in cages and not in their 'natural' habitats. Not this zoo. It really felt like you were walking in the jungle and just happened to stumble across some wildlife. All of it was magnificent.

"How was it?" Vaughn asked as we walked out to the car.

"Amazing," I said as I squeezed his hand. "I can't believe you bought me a stuffed giraffe though," I said as I looked at the animal in my other hand.

"It's your favorite…something for you to remember the day."

"Vaughn, I don't anything to remember this day. I'm never going to forget it."

"Me neither," he said as we reached his car.

"I just don't know what else you're going to have planned. All of this has been so wonderful."

He winked. "Trust me Syd. There is still a lot more to come."