After dinner, as they strolled along, they came to the front of a large, imposing store. John looked up and noted with inner-glee that it was Patio-World. He tugged Ellie along inside as Chuck and Sarah followed. There was a plethora of furnishings and barbecue items for the patio and his mind raced with the possibilities. It was like he was in a sacred temple.
Ellie smiled at his rare and almost child-like expression and enthusiasm as his eyes darted around, taking it all in.
"Okay, why don't we get you seated on a nice, comfy swing, while Chuck and I check all of this out," he stated.
He lead Ellie over to a large patio swing and helped her get seated. Sarah plopped down next to her and he and Chuck were off.
"Oh Man, look at all of this stuff!" Chuck gushed.
"Yeah, I can do some damage in here eh?"
They perused tiki-torches, tables with combo ice-tubs and fire-pits in the center, lounge chairs in every shape, size and color and the Valhalla, the floating drink holder with an ice-chest in the center.
"Oh, please tell me you're going to get that! What could be better, but a floating ice chest," Chuck gushed.
"Yep that would be a very useful item wouldn't it."
"Oh, hell yes!"
Casey was looking for a nice furniture set. The new house already had a built in outdoor kitchen, so all they really needed was the furniture.
Two hours and several thousand dollars later, he and Ellie had decided on a large round table with eight chairs, the lovely patio swing Ellie was currently perched on, barbecue tools and equipment, two chaise lounges, a large double chaise, that also could be used as a bed, which John immediately appreciated as yet another practical and necessary item, and a large market umbrella. Sarah pointed out a nice outdoor lamp and rug while Ellie chose a smaller cafe table with two chairs for the front patio. Last, Casey arranged for a surprise for his wife. He ordered a large, built-in fountain for the front patio. He selected blue Mexican tiles for the basin that the tiered fountain would sit in, and arranged for it to be built that week, so it would be ready when they moved in the following weekend.
Chuck was pleased to see that Casey wanted nothing but the best for the new home and for his wife, and, for his family for that matter, as he and Sarah would undoubtedly be spending a lot of quality time with the Casey's.
Casey was first to speak as he slowly guided Ellie out of the store as they all walked back to the parking lot.
"Wow, that was intense. Our bank account got a serious work-out."
"You aren't kidding, but, I love what we picked out don't you?"
"Yeah, the patio furniture is so aweso....."
John stopped mid-sentence, and got a funny look on his face.
"It's what?" Ellie egged, madly grinning at him.
"It's stylish and American made."
Chuck and Sarah egged him on as well.
"No, what were you going to say before that? It sounded more like Awww something" Chuck pushed.
"It was... awfully expensive," Casey casually replied.
Ellie was playfully wagging her finger at him now. "No, no, you were going to talk to me in "dude-speak" weren't you?"
He just sheepishly grinned at her as he supported her arm as she slowly walked along side him.
"To-tally, Ell, cause that's how I roll," he replied with a straight face.
"Like totally Dude!" Chuck swiftly added with a grin.
"Totally" they all unanimously agreed as they laughed like lunatics as they got in the car.
--
John and Chuck were loading the last few boxes into a Solution Systems truck.
Morgan and Ana were waiting in the larger of the two trucks that was already loaded, while Sarah and Ellie took one last look around.
"Well, I'm going to miss this place. It was a perfect little apartment, but I'm so excited to be starting in a new place with John. He never seemed bothered that I lived here with Devon, but I am really looking forward to the new place."
"You know what they say, you'll have to christen each room," Sarah playfully laughed.
"Oh, we'll definitely do that!" Ellie giggled. "And, I'd bet good money that you and Chuck will be finding a home in our neighborhood soon as well. Knowing my brother, he'll miss us all hanging around together in the courtyard and he'll be so jealous of John's short commute that he'll be ready to find a home real quick."
Sarah ducked her head slightly and was surprised to feel a slight blush creep up her face. "I don't want to rush him into anything."
"Oh, Sarah, you haven't rushed him at all. I just know him well enough, and I can tell he's ready," she grinned. "Pretty soon, we're all really going to be a big, happy family."
"Well, I think that's it. It's all clean and empty. Would you like to ride with me Ellie? Chuck is going in the truck with John, so why don't you come with me in the Porsche?"
Ellie smiled as she got into Sarah's car and glanced back at her old apartment for the last time. Sarah popped the top and gunned the Porsche quickly in front of John and Chuck's truck for the caravan to Calabasas.
The longer they drove on, Casey and Chuck got quieter. They watched in awe as Sarah and Ellie drove ahead of them, their blonde and brunette hair blowing along in the wind.
Casey was getting more and more irritated with the number of lecherous men and teen-aged boys that honked and smiled and checked them out at each stop light, whistling and trying to make short conversation at each light with HIS wife and HIS partner. He was now starting to growl.
"Take it easy, man, you know they're going to attract attention, how could they not," Chuck calmly stated, while even he was amazed at the reactions the women generated. He'd never really witnessed the alluring power the two women seemed to wield this up close and personal before.
"Yeah, well they should have the top up and jackets on. They're going to get sun-burned like that."
"Uh, I think that's the point of a convertible Casey, to get some sun. Just be glad their ours, we get to look and touch," Chuck stated.
"I get to look and touch, but I still don't know what you're doing, Bartowski," Casey ribbed.
"I guess it's time for me to step up. We've really been getting along so well these past few weeks and this will sound corny-"
"Doesn't it always," Casey sighed and interrupted.
"Let me finish. We've been doing really well and I think it's because of you and Ellie. Honestly, not even that time when Jeff slipped me that hallucinogenic mushroom, and I ate it by accident, did I ever think I'd say this, but you two have a good thing and you've been a great influence on us, and I think Sarah and I both want that too. So, I think I'm ready to get serious with her," Chuck stated.
"You're finally starting to make sense Bartowski. Don't let her get away."
A kid on a crotch-rocket wearing a wife beater and baggy pants that let his ass hang out, was now along side Sarah and was grinning through his helmet at her. Chuck felt a growl come up as well and coughed to cover it, embarrassed that he'd seemingly slipped into cave-man Casey mode himself.
Casey, having heard the low rumble from Chuck groused, "See, now that's what I'm talking about right there. Some dumb-ass on a shitty bike trying to make time with them..that's why they really should have that top up and jackets on. That pervert is trying to get a look."
Casey maneuvered the truck into the lane on Ellie's side of the car and gave him his best intimidating glare from across the Porsche. While Morgan, who had also picked up on what was happening let his truck and it's very large side mirror get just a little to close to the kid and his "motorcycle."
"Nice training-bike," Morgan posed through Ana's open window. "I had one like that before I got a Harley too."
Chuck uncharacteristically joined in and sneered out "Yeah I saw one just like yours on the cover of a book...I think it was "The Mouse and the Motorcycle."
The kid's eyes widened as he looked around and realized he was surrounded by Solution System trucks with very weird and angry drivers.
Luckily for all of them, the light changed and the confused kid gunned his bike and pulled ahead of the irritated men and amused women.
"Morgan's getting better. Less nerdy," Casey stated to nobody in particular as they sped up.
Chuck tilted his head in contemplation. "Maybe I should get a bike? Morgan really likes his, and it would make for an easier commute...you could get one too.."
"Yeah, and we can all get matching tattoos and form a gang... Nah, Bartowski, you'd just end up with the intersect plastered on the pavement. You're fine with the company Prius, and you're carbon footprint is so small and tiny," Casey joked in a whiny voice. "But, seriously, Ell is going to sell her beemer, you should think about buying that, it's only a year old."
"Really? I've always liked that car. That's not a bad idea. So, what are you guys getting to replace it? a nice mini-van I assume?" Chuck smirked.
"I told her she can get whatever she wants. If she wants a mini-van, I can suck it up. But she's been leaning towards a smaller SUV. Maybe a Volvo or something like that. We're going to look after we get all settled in. For now, I'm driving her beemer and she's driving the Suburban. I'm not taking anymore chances with her."
--
Soon they arrived at the new home. Some of the company staff had shown up to help move the heavy items as did Big Mike, Jeff and Lester, and with all of the help, they were unloaded and unpacked relatively quickly.
Sarah and Ellie had just finished in the master bedroom hanging up clothes and loading dresser drawers and bath items and had now moved into the kitchen.
John, Chuck and Big Mike moved the dressers, beds, dining room furniture, tables, couches and chairs while Jeff and Lester set up the entertainment centers, big screens and Ellie's computer and the stereo equipment in the master bedroom and great room. John's "office" and it's contents were already safely stowed and locked up in his new room. Morgan and Ana set out lamps and knick-knacks where Ellie had requested and hung up pictures and art work while the remaining office staff were unloading and setting up the patio furniture.
Morgan and Ana paused to look around.
"Wow, this is really a nice place."
"Yeah, they did it up right."
"It's huge. Are they expecting?"
"Yeah, Big Mike said the washer and dryer will be here soon."
"No not that kind of expecting. You know, expecting-expecting."
Morgan looked puzzled.
Ana smacked him lightly on the arm. "A b-a-b-y, Morgan, are they expecting a baby?"
"Oh, a baby. No, not that I know of but they're kind of private you know. I don't know if they'd just go announcing it all over the place. And, knowing Chuck, he wouldn't be able to keep a secret like that so I'd guess no, at least not yet."
"Oh, It just seems like they bought this huge place and all, and you know, maybe they need the space for a reason."
"No reason yet, but I'll be sure to get to work on that right away," a deep voice answered.
Casey had been walking around the corner with his tool box when he'd over heard Ana and Morgan. He inwardly smiled at her question and realized for the first time in his life, that the thought of having a herd of kids with Ellie and filling up their home, like something out of "The Sound of Music" didn't scare the shit out of him.
"Oh, Hey Man, didn't hear you. Dude, this place rocks. It's huge and really nice. Ana and I are going to have to buy something soon. I think you blazed the trail, my Man. Soon we'll all be in the neighborhood again."
The old John would have made a snide remark at this point in the conversation, but somehow, the idea of Morgan, Ana and Chuck and Sarah being nearby again, wasn't quite so bad any longer. He still couldn't help himself from getting one jab in. "Just don't try crawling in any of our windows or I'll blow your head off."
"Got it. No more window entries no matter how convenient they are."
The two men smiled as they conversed.
"I'm going to start the grill, are you two hungry?'
"God yes," Ana and Morgan both replied.
"Good, I'm going to round everyone up. Can you grab the beer in the garage fridge?"
"I'll get it. Oh, John, I brought some macaroni salad's and a three bean salad. I'll go get them, I have them in a cooler."
"Thanks Ana. Just bring it all out to the back."
John walked around his home and collected his friends and his wife. They all gathered around the pool and were now swimming, sun-bathing and eating and drinking as he barbecued. Jeff and Lester had the stereo hooked up to the outside speakers and were now trying the various digital channels and settled on eighties and nineties music. Ellie came out with corn on the cob and several tasty pies she'd picked up at the bakery. She walked up behind John and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Can I kiss the cook?" she purred.
"Always," he replied as he ducked his head down to her height and turned his head to meet her lips.
"Hey, don't distract him, evil-temptress. Let him finish the steaks!"
Chuck was floating in the pool with the ice chest close by and Sarah next to him in a floating chair. Big Mike was standing sipping a beer from the circular, floating wonder and Jeff and Lester were in the process of sneaking up on Ana, getting ready to toss her into the pool. Very quickly, Ana was tossed into the pool causing a splash that drenched Ellie, John and Ellie's plaster cast.
It was most definitely soaked and everyone paused for the briefest of moments, glancing at Casey, expecting him to go psycho. When that didn't happen, they all resumed their fun and games.
Ellie just smiled and tossed her hands up. "Well, it was going to come off in two days, so what the heck. Can you grab your reciprocating saw and meet me in the garage, Honey?"
"Sure, I'll be right there. Hey, Bartowski, man the grill, I've got a cast to cut off. I'll be back in a few, but don't wait for us. Dig in."
--