Jim sneaks into the room he shares with his wife, Melinda, carrying a tray of her favourite breakfast: a cheese omelet and coffee. The young husband carefully places the food on his side of the bed before kissing her awake and whispering in Melinda's ear, "Good morning gorgeous." The mother of three slowly stirs awake and smiles widely at her handsome man.

"Morning baby." Melinda croaks, her voice hoarse from sleep before kissing his lips sweetly.

"Morning Mel." Jim repeats now that she's awake. "I made you breakfast in bed and I have big plans for us today, so eat up and then get ready. I'll be back in an hour, I have prep work to do. I love you." He explains quietly as he gets up to exit the room. Jim stops in the doorway to turn around one last time. "Wear whatever you want baby, you look amazing in anything you own." He grins in Melinda's direction before leaving for real this time.

Jim is just pulling out of his mother's driveway after dropping off the kids for the weekend when he turns up the radio to sing along to whatever song is playing. The brunette husband smiles to himself as he hears the chorus of If I Didn't Have You by Thompson Square fill his car and his ears. Jim loves this song because it describes his love for Melinda perfectly. "If you didn't love me so much I'd never make it through 'cause this life would kill me if I didn't have you." He mumbles to himself as he pulls his truck into the flower shop parking lot. He makes his way to the tulip section to grab a bouquet of orange ones for the woman he loves before his next stop at the deli for chocolate, a few of Melinda's favourite treats and sandwiches. Jim was standing in the check out line to pay for the items he picked out when his cell phone rang. He pulls the small device from his jeans and looks at the caller ID to see his wife's picture lighting up the screen. "Hey baby." He greets Melinda with a smile.

"Hi handsome. I'm ready to head out. Is there anything else I need?" Melinda enquires. Jim chuckles at her subtle way of getting more information out of him.

"You do, but I got it covered gorgeous. I'll be home in twenty minutes. Sit on the couch and enjoy a glass of wine while you wait for me." Jim tells her cryptically.

Jim returns to their humble abode right when he said he would. Once he throws off his boots and tosses his jacket over the staircase banister in a rush, the young husband saunters into the living room to see his beautiful wife drinking a glass of red Merlot just like he suggested of her. "Hi baby, I missed you." Comes her sweet voice as she stands to kiss him.

"Hey Mel." Jim whispers into her ear, taking in the smell of her freshly washed curls. "You sit, I'll be done upstairs in ten minutes. Just relax baby." Jim mutters into her ear in his soothing tone. Jim runs up the steps two at a time to finish his task so they can get onto the amazing day he has planned.

The couple are in Melinda's Jeep driving the familiar fall roads of Grandview with Jim's hand in hers. Melinda's gaze goes out her window to see all the colours of the falling leaves and for the first time in years she feels still and calm. She loves her kids dearly, but they bring chaos, just like all children do and Mel had no idea how much she missed the calmness of just herself and her handsome husband until this very moment.

"Mel." Jim pulls the brunette out of her musings gently and when she looks into his ocean blue eyes she realizes the car has stopped. "We're here." He whispers with a kiss to her forehead before clambering out of the red SUV. Melinda lets him lead the way without speaking, but then her eyes tear up when she sees what lays before her. On the grass there is a picnic blanket adorned with a basket and some expensive looking champagne.

"Baby..." She whispers, tears evident in her voice. "You didn't have to do all this for me." Melinda continues. Jim gently takes her hand and waits for their eyes to meet, when they do,

"Mel, I did this for us. I love our children and our life more than I thought possible, but I miss you. I never realized until today just how much I needed alone time with my gorgeous wife. So, this is just me trying to remind you how much I love you and how much you drive me crazy love." Jim ends his speech with a wink. Melinda nods slowly as a tear rolls down her pale cheek.

"Let's enjoy this then." Mel concedes with a peck to his cheek. Jim serves up cucumber sandwiches, potato salad, strawberries with drizzled chocolate and the champagne. The couple enjoy their relaxing lunch together with some conversation, which as hard as they try leads to the kids.

"So, Aid said he wants to join a soccer team." Jim informs his wife. Melinda smiles.

"He does? It still makes me so happy that he has friends he can play with because I never did." She confides in her husband.

"I know baby, but he's a great kid, just like his mom." Jim states with a wink. "You ready to go?" He adds. She nods before speaking.

"Yeah, let's go home." Jim shakes his head no.

"Not just yet, there's more baby." He says with a wide grin. Melinda's eyes go wide.

"More?" She asks incredulously. Jim sends a wink her way and brings the packed up picnic items to the car. Melinda meets Jim at the car.

"Hop in baby." The brunette man states playfully. Melinda climbs into her seat and once Jim closes her door he climbs into his own side. When he's comfortable in his seat, Jim reaches into the inside pocket of his blazer to produce a blindfold. "Do you trust me?" He asks his wife the obvious.

"Of course I do." Melinda tells him.

"Then turn around." Jim says, offering no further explanation. Once Melinda's blindfold is secured, Jim starts driving to his second secret destination. He pulls into a hotel parking lot a short time later and jogs around the back of the car to open his wife's door. The couple walk up to the reception desk and Jim speaks to the receptionist.

"A room for two for the weekend under the name Jim Clancy please."

*End*

AN: Alright lovelies, this is it. I'm at a loss as to where to take this. Do I continue from here and do another chapter on their getaway or something else? All ideas welcome. :)