Chapter Fifty-Two

Surprises

I own nothing except Melissa, Kate, and any other OC's that I mention.

I don't mean to bring up music twice in two author's note, but if you've never heard of The Twelve Girls Band (it's okay, not a lot of people have), check them out! It's strictly instrumental...I know it may sound boring, but I came across them one day and fell in love with them. They're amazing! I'm sorry...go on, read LOL

Wednesday was now among everyone. Kate was driving to Will to work. She had popped in a CD with four different traditional Chinese instruments. It was one of Kate's favorite CDs – "Romantic Energy" by The Twelve Girls Band. They were at "Flower", an mid-tempo one, but very beautiful. Will seemed to really like it – it was about the first thing in nearly a month that he had heard that reminded him of home. Everything else was more modern day. This was the first instrumental song he had heard in probably quite some time.

"So I was thinking that maybe you and I could do something this weekend?" Kate asked. "Maybe you and I, and Melissa and Jack could go to the park for a picnic. Does that sound fine?"

"This weekend won't work, my darling," Will said.

"Why?" she asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

"I'm busy," he replied.

"With what? Is something going on at Fort Snelling this weekend? Do you need me to drive you there?"

"Um..no," she said. "I'll be out this weekend. With some people."

She smiled, feeling like a proud mother who's child just got invited for their first play-date. "Oh, Will, you found some friends! That's great! Where are you going?"

"Uh..."

Kate came to a stoplight and looked at Will's flustered expression. She'd have to teach Will how to cover up a lie a little better.

"Are you going out somewhere with my dad?" she asked, smiling. "Will, you know I'd be thrilled that you're getting along! That's wonderful to hear!"

"Yes," Will said, a smile forming on his lips. "You're right, I am getting together with your father this weekend."

Kate was thrilled to hear that the feud that had existed between her dad and Will was over now. She could just picture them having a few laughs at Ruby Tuesdays and, once Will got into sports, going to a sports bar like Champs or Buffalo Wild Wings and watching the games and talking about the latest trade over a pitcher of beer.

"So where are you going?" she asked, the light turning green.

Will looked like he was trying to remember. "It starts with a T."

"Taco Bell? Taco John's? TGI Fridays?"

"Uh...yes!" Will said. "TGI Fridays!"

"I haven't been there in ages!"

Kate thought about asking if she could tag along, but she made herself remember that her dad and Will were finally getting along – this was their time. And the girl that had caused all the drama – herself, since she decided to buy that medallion – should not be tagging along. This was Father and Daughter's Boyfriend time.

"What about next weekend?" she asked.

"No, next week we're busy."

She frowned. Her dad hadn't told her that they were going to do anything. Was she going to have her crazy uncle stay with them for the weekend? No! She didn't like her crazy uncle!

"What are we doing?"

"You and I, my love, are going taking a holiday."

She smiled. "We are? Just you and me? Where are we going?"

"Yes, Kate, you and me. That is a surprise. We'll leave Friday evening after work."

Will was really going to take her somewhere? Would it be a roadtrip? How long would it be? Was that why he had spent time with her dad all of last weekend? This was the reason that he wouldn't tell her why – he wanted it to be a surprise!

"I figured that you wouldn't have time to pack if you just picked me up at the smithy's and I told you we were leaving."

"You gave me more than a week, though," she said. "That's more time than I need."

"Well, it will give you time to look for something nice to wear."

"Something nice?" she asked.

Will was obviously not going to give away anymore than he already had. Kate couldn't do anything except smile. She pulled up to a stop sign and kissed him on the lips. "You are too sweet, you know that?"

"You've not yet said that."

"Well, you are, Will." She laced her fingers through his. "I love you."

Kate was about bursting with excitement when she got home. She quickly dialed Melissa's work number. She was still happy that Will was taking her away for the weekend. Where would they be going? How would they get there?

"Elm Creek Animal Hospital, this is Melissa, how can I help you?" Melissa asked in a professional voice.

"It's just me," Kate said. She opened up the front door and sat down on the stoop. A boy was going by quick on a bike.

"Oh, hi, Kate. What's up?" Melissa asked.

"I have some great news! Will said that he's taking me somewhere next weekend."

"Really?" she asked. "Wow! Where?"

"I don't know. He won't tell me. I'm so excited though!" she squealed. She told herself to act a little more grown-up, but this was exciting! She had never gone on a weekend trip with her boyfriend!

"When are you guys leaving?"

"Friday after I pick him up from work, which is about 3:15."

Kate could hear the smile in Melissa's voice as she said, "I'm happy for you."

Kate giggled. "Yeah...and he said that I have to find something nice to wear. So you and me are going to the mall this weekend, alright?"

"Yeah, that's fine, but, um...Jack will have to tag along."

Jack at a mall? Did she know the kind of chaos that could ensue there? There'd be people thinking he was Johnny Depp left and right! Fangirls galore would drown them in their pool of obsessiveness!

"On second thought, I can always go by myself. Who knows, maybe Jack isn't ready to go out in public yet."

"Well, you took him to Fort Snelling, he seemed okay. And he got a job at G. Will Liquors. I think he can manage a mall."

"He won't like looking at clothes, but whatever. We'll make him." She paused. "How are you and Jack doing, by the way?"

"We're good, thanks. I told him that he gets to pick a movie to watch tonight. Friday we watched 'Chicago.'"

"That's cool. But you do know he's going to pick a guy movie, right?" She paused again. "You did hide 'Pirates', right?"

"I don't know what he'll pick. But, yes, I did hide 'Pirates'."

"He'd probably enjoy that one the most."

Melissa laughed. "Sad, but true. Hey, there's a client here. I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow about where we're going, alright?"

"Okay, talk to you later."

Kate hung up and rested the phone next to her. She couldn't wait! Nine more days until their vacation!

It was another slow day at G. Will Liquors. Jack had learned how to entertain himself with the pistol that emitted a red light. He had learned how to invent a game with the rubber separators that went down the belt when no one was around. But Jack didn't like work. He was bored. He wanted his paycheck and discounted rum, and, bugger, he wanted it now!

"When do we get our paychecks?" Jack asked Dani. The two of them were still paired together, at the same register for the remainder of the week.

Dani, who still didn't look happy to be here, gave him an are-you-stupid? look.

"Remember, love," Jack reminded. "I'm not from yer wonderful country."

"Friday morning," Dani said, softening her gaze slightly.

It was Wednesday at 12:00. How could he wait until Friday?

"So we can buy all the rum we want on Friday?"

"Well, I wouldn't advise that you spend all of it on alcohol, but yeah, however much...did you say rum?"

"Yes," Jack said slowly.

"Ew. I can't drink that stuff straight."

"Maybe ye 'n' I could play a drinkin' game sometime."

"No, that's alright," Dani said, looking around the store. "I'd bet you win."

"That I would!" Jack agreed happily. "Back in Tortuga, we played drinkin' games all the time. I always won."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Dani said to herself. "Wait...did you say Tortuga?"

Of course Jack said Tortuga! There was no other place for such drinking games!

"That was in the Caribbean," she said.

"You catch on fast," Jack said sarcastically.

"But that was an old island back in the day. Wasn't that a pirate hangout?"

"And ye accuse me of bein' obsessed with pirates."

"No, I – it was in a movie."

"And what movie pray tell was that, darlin'?"

"Pirates of the –"

Dani looked at the brand on his arm, the bandana in his hair, along with the beads, and the facial hair. Her brown eyes grew wide. "Stop it. You're freaking me out."

"What? I didn't say anythin'."

"What's your name?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow," he said automatically. "Always include th' Captain."

Dani started to say something, but closed her mouth, then finally said, "You're kidding, right?"

"Ye're better than Melissa. She threw CDs at me 'n' screamed when she found out."

"You're dating a fangirl?"

"No, but it would be nice to have someone fan me, wouldn't it?"

He heard the automatic door open. He turned around and saw Melissa walking into the store. Her straight blonde hair was tied behind her. She looked very nice today – one would say ravishing, even. She took his hand. "Lunch break?" she asked.

"Sure!" Jack said.

The two of them left the door and went into Melissa's car again. She didn't come to have his break with him yesterday. She said that she was having her break with Kate.

He hadn't seen Kate in a week. How was the lass doing? Were she and The Whelp back together? He'd have to see her again and ask her how things were going with dear William.

For lunch, Jack had a sandwich with turkey, ham, and cheese, while Melissa had an apple and granola bar. They listened to a song, which Melissa said was titled "Fergalicious." Jack liked the song. He told himself to learn it and sing it.

"Um...Kate called me today," Melissa said, balling the granola wrapper in her fist.

Kate! Speak of the devil! Was another meeting on the horizon?

"She wanted to know if us two wanted to go shopping with her this weekend."

"Shoppin'," he repeated. Jack knew that shopping was not a fun thing for men to do. It wasn't a very manly thing to do, anyways.

"Yeah, it'll be fun, Jack. Kate has to get something nice. Will's taking her somewhere this weekend."

"Ah, the eunich's finally goin' t' deflower Miss Sims."

Melissa cast him a confused look. "Deflower?"

"Deflower – to deprive a woman of her virginity."

Melissa laughed. "You can't be serious, can you? This is Will Turner we're talking about, right? The one who's dating Kate, my Kate that I've known for twelve years?"

"No, I was talkin' about that Will Turner that's on th' Dutchman."

"Will is not taking her away for the weekend to...deflower her! It's just a vacation for the two of them since you," she poked him in the chest, "caused them so much trouble. I wish you would do that for us. It doesn't have to be the Four Seasons, but it would be nice for us to get away from it all, too."

"And she said she needs to get something nice? Is it goin' t' be one o' those li'l red undergarments?"

"How would you – Jack, have you been looking through my drawers?!"

"Dani 'n' I were lookin' through a magazine 'n' saw there was a picture fer Victoria's Secret. A brunette was wearing somethin' o' the sorts. Kinda looked like Kate. Why? Do ya 'ave li'l red undergarments? I'd love t' see 'em some time..." He grinned seductively.

Melissa's faced turned about as red as said undergarments. It was a sight to see, really. Jack enjoyed seeing her so embarrassed. "I do not! How dare you say that!"

"I believe ye were the one who said that ya 'ad said undergarments."

Melissa looked defeated. She slunk down in her seat in embarrassment. "Well, we're going to the mall this weekend. And there will be no stop at Victoria's Secret! I'm sure she's just getting a nice shirt, or maybe a dress even."

That one mortified look that Melissa had would get him through for the rest of the day. Good girl Melissa had little red undergarments.

Kate's Blog Entry

How does Will expect me to wait nine days for our trip? I can hardly wait! It's going to be so fun!

XOXO,

Kate

Melissa's Blog Entry

That little pervert! He thinks that he gets to see me in my bra and underwear! He has another thing coming...Ugh! I'm so mortified...How about I just get back to work?

Love,

Melissa Rose