Mickey awoke the next morning bright eyed and bushy tailed, as he remembered the little date he and Minnie were going on today. Of course he wanted their official reunion date to be special, so he paced his bedroom floor in circles a few times, thinking of all the possibilities and fun things they could do. However, to him it was trickier than it should've been, as he kept in mind that she's probably been spoiled to some extent given that she's been going on casual business meetings with a billionaire who's hopefully been every bit of a gentleman and paid for any food stuff bought during those so called meetings.

A picnic was one of the first things in mind, but after thinking of Alfonzo's time spent with Minnie, he started to think that she's had enough food on an outing, although if this date was going to be an all-day thing, then food was necessary anyway.

He pulled on his ears in frustration as he skipped the food topic and went over other date things to do. Like going to see a movie! Except there wasn't anything good playing that he wanted to see, and Alfonzo was rich enough to probably have bought it for her before it even came out…Well, renting a row boat and just floating around the lake was a pretty good idea…except if they were all alone out there, it would get awkward and she's probably had enough awkwardness from having to put up with Alfonzo in the first place. He dragged a hand down his face, making his muzzle bounce rapidly in agitation.

Granted, he knew that just being able to spend time with each other would be enough to make her happy, that and a bouquet of flowers, flowers from him were special, as she had told him once a little over a decade ago when he tried to really make a date special at last minute because he had forgotten about the date in the first place. Though admittedly, he also tried to keep away images of any fancy bouquets of flowers Alfonzo may have given her over the course of the past few months. That was his jealous downfall when she fake dated Mortimer Rodawn.

Out of ideas entirely, because he didn't want to think of anymore "business meeting" scenarios Minnie had to endure with Alfonzo, he finally settled on the idea of letting her choose, it really was for the sake of her happiness after all. A simple text would suffice for now. It was early enough in the morning that a text wouldn't disturb her if she was still sleeping.

When he turned on his phone, which had fully been charged by now after he got the power back on last night, he found a text message from Poindexter. Apparently the trek for the ingredient in the Amazon would take about a week. Three days to get to it, and three days to get away from it, less if he was somehow quick enough…Lovely. And Alfonzo wanted to meet up at his place in daylight the next day. Mickey quickly checked when Poindexter sent the text, and found that he sent it an hour before Mickey himself woke up. Phew, it really was the next day.

Still, Minnie wasn't going to be happy about this. Six days was an awful long time to be away from society, and for her especially it'd be six days too long to be away from the Bowtique left in Daisy's hands. Not to mention packing for the trip alone was going to be a nightmare.

He decided to break the news to her later when the time was right. At the moment he preferred just focusing on the two of them being able to spend time together without any worries. So he finally got around to texting her. Satisfied when he sent it, he got dressed for the day before he went downstairs to have breakfast.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he remembered to get the paper sitting on his lawn somewhere, and thus went outside. As soon as he opened the door, he noticed a brown car across the street, sitting just before Manfred's property. It suddenly hit Mickey then of what type of person the car possibly belonged to, because he completely forgot about it since he didn't care in the first place. The paparazzi was following Minnie too, and now that Mickey himself has been spotted with her, the tabloids were going to have a field day. He could already see a stupid headline now, Minnie Mouse Two-Timing a Billionaire. Not that the article writers even know the whole story anyway, but it still it wasn't going to be pretty. Heck, it was still a wonder that Clarabelle Cow hasn't said anything to him about all this, but she was probably keeping her mouth shut for once just to see how it would all play out while gossiping to her other friends who would listen.

The windows of the brown car weren't tinted, so Mickey could clearly see that there wasn't anyone in it. Well, not from where he was standing anyway. The driver could very well be asleep in the car and waiting for a really big scoop. So Mickey got his paper in peace and headed back inside, being mindful to shut his door quietly, so as not to alert the paparazzi photographer in the brown car, and finally went to go fix himself some breakfast.

Meanwhile, Minnie had woken up just in time to hear her phone's incoming text ding. When she looked at it, she thought it was odd at first that he'd ask her what they should do today, but then knowing him, he'd probably think too much on what Alfonzo had most likely done already and in turn thought she'd be bored of simple activities. So she called him back, and was glad that he answered.

"Hiya, Minnie! What's up?"

"Hi, Mickey, I was just wondering if you had suddenly run out of ideas for our date? Or is it really that you're intimidated that a certain someone else has possibly done everything there is to do?" She inquired playfully.

"A little of both actually." He admitted sheepishly. "But I was leaning towards a picnic on a rented rowboat as a start, but I really didn't wanna overdo something he already did with ya so anything else afterwards is up ta you if ya want, Min."

"You're so sweet." She cooed sweetly at him. "A picnic on a rented rowboat sounds lovely, and as for anything afterwards…how about we see where the day takes us, hm?"

"Ha-huh! Sounds good ta me, Minnie." He replied cheerfully, quite happy that the row boat plan could go on.

"Alrighty then, I'll see you later, Mickey."

"See ya real soon, Minnie." Click.

It was awkward when he first thought of this idea in comparison to what Alfonzo has probably already done, as the image of a fancy yacht flashed in Mickey's mind, and it was awkward now as he honestly didn't know what to talk about with her. Well he could talk about all the adventures he's had in their time apart, but he didn't want to start a conversation that was all about him, that would be rude.

Then, there was the topic on her end of Alfonzo himself that really needed to be discussed, but he knew that she'd still be uncomfortable talking about him, since she didn't even want to complain and rant about him last night. Although, knowing her she didn't want to rant and rave and complain about a man that she's been hanging out with pretty much behind her boyfriend's back…

Yeah, that would do it.

It was understandable, but he'd rather get to know his enemy a little better regardless.

"Something bothering you, Mickey? You look tense…" Minnie noted, as she sat across from him in the boat. She could see the tension in his shoulders and it wasn't from rowing.

It really was a paparazzi car parked outside Mickey's house, so he took a back way and hopped over the back fence in his backyard. He had told her that the car had followed him home and that it was most likely paparazzi, so she brought a parasol with her, a bit cliché for a row boat, but it was just in case more gossip press people were lurking in the shadows. Both mice were in casual clothes for this particular outing, she was in her pink and blue combination, and he in his usual red shorts and yellow shoes. After Minnie learned from Clarabelle that she was ending up in the gossip papers with Alfonzo, she always made sure to dress a little more formally, in hopes that the paparazzi wouldn't recognize her if she ever was in casual wear, but today was an exception since she was with Mickey.

"Nothin' much, Min. Just wonderin' a few things… Like how ya met Alfonzo in the first place." He decided to bring it up outright. It was painfully obvious that Alfonzo would be on the brain anyway considering he had agreed to work for him.

Minnie bit her lip bemusedly, as it was a rather interestingly amusing story to her. "I actually met him through his bodyguard."

"You actually met one?" Mickey asked with shock and wide eyes.

"One?" Minnie parroted.

"Yeah, he's got four of 'em. One in each cardinal direction of his person at about a hundred feet at any given time, 'cept for bathroom breaks I suppose. Manfred and I ran into one once and eventually noticed the others, then Alfonzo being the center of their watchful eyes. It was how we knew about him before the gossip papers started buzzin' about ya." Mickey explained.

"Huh, that's weird that he needs that much protection, and I never noticed them either. Anyway, that one bodyguard bought something from one of my bake sales, and I guess he must have shared a cookie with Alfonzo because the next thing I knew, a billionaire had suddenly tracked me down to personally pre-order at least a dozen more. And, well, the rest is history." She finished, and looked up to find Mickey stifling his laughter. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "Go ahead and laugh, it's silly anyway, and even I can hardly believe it."

"Best way ta some fella's heart is through his stomach, an' I'd say ya did that in record time with him." Mickey said teasingly.

"Not that I'm proud of it." Minnie huffed.

"Hey, at least it's ten times better than getting skewered at a weird angle just 'cause ya weren't looking where ya were goin'." Mickey replied without thinking. When he realized what he said his pupils shrank, there wasn't any excuse in the world that could cover up that, especially since he had already mentioned it last night, though not to that degree. They hadn't even eaten their picnic lunch yet either. Swell.

"Mickey~." Minnie started in one of those low tones that said he had some explaining to do.

"Yes, dear?" Mickey replied a little too quickly because nervousness was already seeping in.

"Is that the more graphic version of how you got that scar that goes all the way through you?" She asked sternly. He couldn't tell what her opinion on the matter was, but he knew he couldn't lie or get off the subject that easily, so he relented with a sigh before he spoke.

"Yeah, that's how I got it. Thankfully it was a really skinny rapier, so the angle it went in missed all of my vitals. I'm fine, really, it was plenty of months ago, in May I think. A-and Manfred made sure I didn't move or agitate it fer a couple of weeks so it healed up nicely, I promise!" He explained in hopes to calm any worry she had. However, Minnie was quiet for a number of minutes, and she had lowered the parasol closer to herself enough to cover her eyes, and her mouth was neither frowning nor smiling so he really couldn't tell how she was feeling. Getting worried himself he tried to get a response of some sort. "M-Minnie?"

"Where's the scar?" She asked suddenly and sharply.

"Just above my left kidney, though the exit is at a weird angle on my back. I'd show ya but, uh, we're in a boat." He replied as calmly as he could. He did not want to risk them capsizing, this date was already awkward enough, he didn't need a humiliating disaster to make it worse. Although, as sharply and quickly as she had asked, he could still hear the waiver in her tone, she was on the verge of crying.

He watched helplessly as she bit her lip, her eyes were still covered by the parasol, and then she let out a whimper and immediately covered her mouth as soon as it was out. But the damage was done, as the floodgates opened, though of course Mickey was by her side in an instant, or at least as close to her as he could get without wobbling the boat too much. Therefore, he could only kneel before her in the middle of the boat, but at least he was as close as possible.

"Minnie," He started softly, but he didn't know what to say otherwise, as he didn't really know why she was crying, though he could easily guess guilt was one of the reasons. After all, he did eventually end up in the hospital after everything was said and done for that adventure, and could properly attend to the wound. She was most likely feeling guilty that she could've been there for him when he was in the hospital, but wasn't. "It ain't yer fault, Min. I made sure it didn't get out ta anyone, so it's my fault that ya didn't know. I just didn't want ya ta worry."

Minnie shook her head before she finally spoke. "That's not all of why I'm crying, I met Alfonzo in May, and here you were in the hospital and I didn't know about it, and…" She whimpered again as that was the real reason for her guilt surging through.

"Minnie, that's just a dumb coincidence, an' ya did what ya had ta. Sure, I'm surprised Clarabelle didn't mention a darn thing ta either of us after all that's happened these past few months, but it was her especially that I didn't want news of me being in the hospital getting out to. Besides, I don't care about the times ya spent with Mr. Jingles, it doesn't matter ta me at all." Mickey replied with sternness only in the first sentence. His voice was much more casual for the rest of his reply. He hugged her legs with one arm and reached up to wipe away her tears with the other.

Minnie mentally sighed in relief at how forgiving he was. Although she couldn't help but gawk in wonder at how he just referred to Alfonzo. "Mr. Jingles?"

"Well, he does have a jingle bell 'round his neck, and that red waistcoat with green velvet looking pants? He's just setting himself up ta look like a Christmas ornament. All he needs is a white trim somewhere on 'im and he'll be golden." He waved his free hand nonchalantly. Her tears had stopped the second he mentioned the playful nickname, and Mickey was glad it was what slipped out of his tongue instead of his crumbling resolve to keep the secret of what he was going to do with the money, which was something extra special for her. However, it really was best to keep it a secret, as he couldn't guarantee that he'd even get paid if something went scandalously wrong, and Alfonzo was just as bad as any other of Mickey's enemies if what Manfred had told him was anything to worry about.

In any case, Minnie's melodic giggle filled his ears, and he was glad that she was at the very least somewhat happy again, he kissed her right knee and then scooted back to his seat, or tried to anyway. As his beloved had stopped him in his tracks by quickly sitting in his lap, straddling his thighs, as she promptly hugged him resting her head on his shoulder…parasol and all. He returned her gentle embrace, though he awkwardly had her parasol resting on his other shoulder. They breathed in each other's scent and somehow knew everything would be alright, they just had that special sense of comfort with each other, which was something neither had realized that they had missed that the most until then. It was always the little things that were missed the most without realizing it.

However, Mickey still had his doubts. There was something that had always plagued the back of his mind ever since the very phone conversation that unofficially broke them up in the first place, before Alfonzo was even an issue. She had chosen the Bowtique over him, and if she truly was a workaholic, then it was bound to happen again, even if she doesn't mean for it to happen again. So to ease himself a little, he decided to make her promise him something…A guarantee.

"Hey, Min? Think ya can promise me somethin'?" He asked after a while, not able to help that his voice might have sounded forlorn.

Minnie was startled by the sudden sadness in his tone, and pulled away to look at him, but he kept his face emotionless, he was staring off into the distance at first, but only moved his eyes to look at her. She couldn't get a read on him, so for now she indulged him. "Of course, what is it?"

He settled on choosing his words carefully already having a feeling that she would interrupt him because of the subject of the promise he wanted her to make. "Should something happen between us only worse-!"

"It won't." She interrupted sternly. She didn't like wherever he was going with this.

"Please, hear me out an' lemme finish…Should something worse happen between us, and fer whatever reason we break up officially," He paused to lift a finger to her lips because she was going to interject again. Then he continued. "Promise me that regardless of how we feel about each other if it does come to that, but I do doubt it… that we'll always be friends, and know that ya can always ask anything of me. That ya can always come ta me fer any favors…Promise?" He asked forlornly again, removing his finger from her lips.

She studied him the whole time he spoke. He seemed extremely serious about this, even though she knew in her heart of hearts that it would never come to that. She decided to humor him with his promise, but gave him an additional promise in return. "I promise." She told him, even going as far as to take his left pinkie with her own without breaking eye contact. "But I also promise that it will never come to that. You're mine, just as I'm yours." She told him sternly, blushing slightly at her last sentence, but to show that she meant it, she squeezed his pinkie with hers much tighter. Then, she kissed him, sealing the deal with a kiss so to speak.

Though surprised by this action, Mickey happily indulged as it was something to get used to all over again. They actually ended up kissing for quite some time, using their noses to breathe. It was mostly Minnie initiating the constant-ness of the kissing, Mickey actually pulled away just a little several times, but Minnie kept persisting. She hadn't had a true taste of him in so long that she couldn't help herself, not that Mickey was complaining, and he certainly wasn't.

Eventually, they finally stopped sucking face, and by last minute decision to actually have their picnic on land rather than in the dinky rowboat. Mostly because they wanted to properly cloud watch, as it was a beautiful day out.

After they ate and started watching the clouds drift by, a sudden scary yet amusing thought came to mind that Mickey couldn't help but voice.

"Ya know, I guess it's pretty good that we got back together sooner rather than later."

"Whaddaya mean?" Minnie asked in genuine curiosity. She could hear the amusement in his voice, and whatever it was that was on his mind had piqued her interest.

"Think about it, what in Sam Hill would we have done for our birthdays, and the Holidays if we kept up on ignoring each other?" He finished and waited patiently for the thought to sink in.

"Huh. You're right, I'm not sure what we would've done. The Holidays would've been awkward and definitely would've felt like something was missing. But I have absolutely no idea what we would've done for our birthdays." Minnie replied.

"I still woulda gotten ya something', but I'd probably just leave it on yer doorstep after knocking." Mickey quipped.

"Mickey~"

"Oh, please, Min. Ya know very well he woulda spoiled ya rotten with an extravagant birthday party, complete with security to keep out unwanted guests like yours truly." He scoffed.

"I don't think I wouldn't've invited you by then, I'd probably invite you just to see you again as a little birthday present to myself." She told him adamantly as she nuzzled into his shoulder. "But you're probably right about Alfonzo setting up the party, he probably would make it fancy."

"And French themed, ma chérie." Mickey quipped cheekily.

"Right," Minnie giggled at him for remembering how much she loved Paris, France before she thought of something important to discuss. "Speaking of Alfonzo…have you heard any specifics yet?"

Mickey sighed with a slight whine, he knew she wasn't going to like it.

"Just how long it's roughly going to take, an' when I tell ya how long, just remember that ya don't hafta come with me if ya don't wanna…" He paused dramatically. "Six days. Three days ta get to the ingredient, and naturally three more ta get away from it."

"You've got to be kidding." Minnie deadpanned, still unable to believe it.

"I kid you not, and again, ya don't hafta come with me if ya don't wanna. I couldn't blame ya even if I wanted ta." Mickey replied earnestly.

"Oh I'm still coming with you alright, if just so you can keep your sanity." Minnie shot back in a spiteful sounding tone of determination.

"Are ya sure? Ya'd have ta leave the Bowtique in Daisy's hands fer that long, and I don't think Cuckooloca alone is enough ta keep Daisy from settin' fire ta the place." Mickey lightly argued.

"I'll close it for the week if I have to, I'm not letting you roam the wilds of the Amazon by yourself for six days!" She spat adamantly.

"I could always bring Manfred or Goofy, they're always down fer whatever wacky situation I get myself into…" He trailed off only because he finally saw the look of death she gave him for trying to convince her from coming with otherwise.

"So says he who originally said right off the bat that I could come with, because he knows I would insist and I still am insisting!" She told him in a low tone that grew as she spoke to an exclamation. She was sitting up, arms akimbo, and glaring daggers at him now, well-meaning daggers, but still…

"Only if yer sure…" He tried again in a softer tone and expression.

"Of course I'm sure, besides it's not really you I'm frustrated with, it's him!" She replied a little more softly but with just as much steam.

"Oh, good! Go ahead and complain about 'im, Min. I'm all ears." He said with amusement, rolling onto his stomach and putting his head into his hands as if ready for a story.

Again, Minnie lost whatever fire she had against Alfonzo as she realized again just who she was talking to. She wasn't even sure why she couldn't just rant and rave about the billionaire feline like she could with Daisy.

"You don't want to hear about that…" She started uneasily, turning away from him just a bit.

"Oh, no ya don't! Get back here, Minnie. I wanna hear all yer complaints about him! All of 'em! Don't go holdin' nothin' back on me! Start simple, is he the type ta dribble the ketchup all over the fries or the kind that puts the ketchup in a corner like a normal person?" He had to wrap his arms around her waist to keep her from escaping this particular topic. "I'd rather get ta know my enemy better, Min. Even if it's from annoyed, biased eyes."

"Why do you want to know so badly?" She asked him curiously with one brow straight up.

"I've already got one guy joke up my sleeve but I want more of 'em from little things that are irritating about him." Mickey replied innocently.

"What kind of guy joke?" She asked suspiciously.

"A three-in-one dirty one." He answered with pep. "But I ain't tellin' it ta ya until he does somethin' ta really cheese me off. An' that could take a while 'cause I don't personally know 'im that well yet, and even then I'd have ta explain it ta ya since it's a doozy." Either that or I won't tell ya until we get married, he thought cheekily.

"It's really that bad?" She raised a brow at him.

"I wouldn't tell ya right now even if ya batted yer pretty eyes at me." He replied sincerely. "Now, c'mon~! Dribbled or cornered ketchup?"

"Dribbled, unfortunately." She sighed, relenting on not getting her answer about the dirty joke. She half wondered if she could guess it.

"Ice cream, cup or cone?" He asked another simple one.

"Cup."

"Eh, that one doesn't surprise me." Mickey scoffed before he continued his barrage of questions. "Let's see…Five months and ten days an' he never offered ya prepaid vacation? Not even ta Paraiso or some tropical island somewhere*?"

"Paraiso? What's Paraiso?" Minnie questioned innocently.

"Five-star women's only beach resort and spa. The only men there are all workers, the luckiest ones being masseurs fer obvious reasons." He quipped as he let go of her and rolled onto his back again. "The only reason I know about it is because it's every guy's dream job ta work there so the word gets spread all through high school. I actually managed ta work there once, but it was after I graduated and my birthday's late in the year so I didn't get ta do any fun adult stuff 'cause I was just underage. So they stuck me at the front desk. No fond memories of girls in bikinis fer me. But that's okay, 'cause now I've got you, Min, and yer the best there is."

"Oh, Mickey." She cooed at him as she kissed the top of his head. "You're so sweet!"

"But seriously, no prepaid vacations from him?" Mickey persisted.

"Of course not, I told you that us going to the Amazon would be my first vacation, didn't I? Besides, even if he had offered I wouldn't've taken it, that's just a little too creepy." Minnie replied earnestly, shivering a little at the thought because of how creepy of a concept it was.

"Hmm, true, but I'm sure the girls would've convinced ya ta take 'im up on his offer, ta milk every luxury they could outta 'im if anything." He lightly argued. Minnie actually laughed out right at that because it was so true.

"Ha! You're right, they probably would. Anything to get a break." She chuckled sincerely, then she thought of something that she also needed to ask. "Did your friend say anything else about all this?"

"Well, I do have ta meet with Alfonzo tomorrow, so ya might as well come with me so we can break the news ta him together that yer also going ta the Amazon." Mickey replied. As soon as he finished his sentence his cell phone vibrated, loudly. By common courtesy he ignored it since he was with Minnie. However the phone refused to be ignored as it continued vibrating, obviously it was a call, and still he ignored it, until Minnie told him to check it anyway that is.

So with her permission he looked at who was calling and made a worried face he told her that it was Poindexter before Minnie even had the chance to ask. So he answered it and got some worrisome news. Alfonzo didn't just want to meet up tomorrow, he wanted to leave tomorrow as well.

Apparently Poindexter did tell Alfonzo that Minnie was coming, and that was what set the feline off for wanting to get things done ASAP. They'd be taken down to the Amazon by Alfonzo's private jet plane so at least that worry was out of the way. Thus, the mice quickly gathered their things and all but blazed to their respective homes to quickly pack. As soon as Minnie finished her packing and checking oh-so many times if she had everything she needed, she headed over to Mickey's since he had offered for her to stay in his guest bedroom, which he customized to her tastes in his boredom and spare time in the months they spent apart. It was just easier if they were together when they left for Alfonzo's the next morning.

"If I weren't already interested in cutting ties with him, I would kill him right about now." Minnie said gratingly through her teeth as she and Mickey plopped down on his couch in exhaustion after he finished packing.

"I would too if I were a lesser mouse, but instead I'm gonna be civil about it and just put that as the first strike fer me to up the price of what I want him ta pay me." Mickey replied smugly.

"Ooh, smart and sneaky. So what are you gonna use that money for?" She complimented and asked the million dollar question for the second time since it's been established. She even tried one of her usual buttering him up tactics of snuggling against him cutely.

"Nice try, toots. Yer cute an' all, but I'm still not tellin'. It's a surprise fer you and it's gonna stay that way." He told her with a smirk.

"Mickey you don't have to get me anything." Minnie said demurely.

"Yes, I do." He said simply, lifting up her left hand and bringing it to his lips, kissing the back of her hand on her middle/ring finger's knuckle. "But I can't guarantee it or anything else until I get paid."

Minnie silently sucked in a sharp breath at the combination of his words and where he kissed the back of her hand. She had an inkling of what he was getting at, but like he said there was no guarantee that it would come to fruition until he was paid for his services. So to hide that she had an idea of what he wanted to use the money for, she instead sighed wistfully and played dumb for the lack of a better term.

"Alright, keep your secret still. But you still better not spend it all in one place."

"Ha-huh, depending on how many more inconveniences we run into, which with our luck is definitely gonna be a lot, I certainly won't be spending it all in one place." Mickey chuckled with affirmation.

AN: *Paraiso is from a side webcomic of a main webcomic. The main webcomic is called Las Lindas, and Paraiso is from the side webcomic Breasts are the Best, which is naturally Mature rated, but still tasteful in most senses.

As for the some other tropical island...well that's a hint at another project of mine that runs in the same vein with this story only instead Alfonzo does offer a tropical island vacation and Minnie, Daisy, and Cuckooloca accept. I'll get around to it eventually.

This is also set before all the little episodes of Minnie and the girls going to all those different countries in Minnie's Bowtique.

Next chapter we'll be in the Amazon for sure, and then the rating may go up all the way for sure.