"Wait!" Kol said. He started to run after them, but the bartender came around the bar and put a hand on his arm. "I'd just let 'em go if they aren't driving," he said. "What are you so worried about, anyway? You like that guy or something?"

Kol frowned. "No! I told you that he's dating my ex! And she won't be happy with me if she finds out I took him to a bar and let him go home with another woman. She'll think I did that on purpose just so we could get back together!"

"Well is that why you brought him here?" The bartender asked. "So he would get drunk and go home with someone else? If so, you got what you wanted."

"No!" Kol shook his head. "That's not why I brought him here. I brought him here to...actually, I don't know what I was thinking when I brought him here."

"Well, if you want my opinion," the bartender said, "I think you should just let them go. They seem like a cute couple and Bridget is a nice girl."

"Well, okay," Kol said. "But if I do that, what am I gonna tell his girlfriend?"

"I don't know," the bartender shrugged. "But why don't you try getting her flowers before you tell her? Women like that. And it's not like you did this on purpose, right?"

"Exactly!" Kol exclaimed. "The guy was a complete misfit. I was just trying to broaden his horizons. I had no idea beforehand that when I did that, he'd have too much to drink and go home with someone else!"

"Exactly," the bartender said. "And that means you have nothing to worry about."

Over the next few days, Kol did his best to try and locate Roger and get him back home, but he had no luck. Just when he decided to give up, Bonnie called the house.

"Hello?" She said.

"Bonnie, is that you?" Kol asked, his grip tightening on the phone. "How lovely to hear from you. What's going on? Has something gone wrong?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Bonnie replied. "Why are you answering Roger's phone?"

"Oh, he's out at the moment," Kol replied. "Do you want me to give him a message?"

"I just called to say that I have to come home early. I should be back tomorrow and I can't wait to see him."

"I'll pass along the message," Kol said. "And just so you know, I can't wait to see you either. Did you bring back some sunshine with you from the Caribbean or wherever it is that you were?"

"Why?" Bonnie asked. "Is it cold?"

"Yes," Kol nodded. "Just a bit. Glad I can't feel it that much, or I'd probably be very unhappy."

"Well, you take care of yourself and remember to tell Roger I called and that I'll see him tomorrow," Bonnie said. "I have to go now. Goodbye."

"Bye," Kol said. "See you tomorrow." He hung up the phone and sighed. Bonnie was gonna be here tomorrow. That only gave him one day to think of something to explain Roger's absence. And get flowers.

"Bonnie!" Kol said when he came the front door of her house the next day. "What a surprise!"

Bonnie gave him a look. "I suppose it would be a surprise to find me standing at the front door of my own house. Especially when I already called to tell you I was coming. Where's Roger?"

"Oh, he's gone at the moment," Kol said. "He met up with some friends and they went to a comic book convention or whatever it is that boys like him do when they get together. I wasn't really paying attention."

"Of course you weren't," Bonnie nodded. "If it's not about you, you never listen."

Kol sighed. "Can I just ask you something? Can I ask you why-"

"Why I'm here early?" Bonnie interrupted. "A bunch of the other models got sick. Some weird tropical disease. I decided it would be best to take the first plane out."

Kol nodded. "A wise decision. It can't be pleasant to be ill." Just then, Bonnie noticed that there was a vase of red roses on the table next to the sofa. "Oh, my god!" She exclaimed, coming over to them and picking them up. "Did Roger get me these?" She asked. "He is so thoughtful! And it's nice that he got me something without expecting anything in return, unlike some people I've been with." She gave Kol the evil eye.

"Actually," Kol said, "I got you those. For when you got back. As a sort of welcome home thing. I was just deciding where would be the best place to put them so you would see them right away."

Bonnie's jaw dropped a little. "You got these for me?" She asked. "I-I-well, thank you, I guess. It's certainly a surprise."

"Why?" Kol asked. "I was always good to you on Valentine's Day before."

Bonnie nodded. "I know, but I always got the sense that you only were because you wanted something from me, in return, you know?" She looked at him. "Do you? Are you up to something?"

"No," Kol said, holding up his hands. "I promise I do not have anything up my sleeve. I just got you these flowers because they're beautiful like you are and I wanted you to have a nice surprise when you came back." He paused. "What was it that you were saying about Roger doing something nice without asking for anything in return?"

"Nothing!" Bonnie said. "It's none of your business, all right?"

"Fine," Kol said. "I'll back off. I won't ask. You're right. It's none of my business." They stood in silence and then Kol said, "Are you tired from your trip? If you aren't, I could take you out. I mean, I know I'm not Roger, but, I'm here."

"Honestly," Bonnie said, "I wouldn't mind that. I wasn't hoping for anything big from Roger, so I'm not let down. He's not the romantic type, really."

Kol nodded. "I figured as much. So why do you like him?"

"He's very sweet," Bonnie said. "We talk and do things, and it's just...it's predictable, you know? After all the crazy relationships I've had, predictable is kind of nice."

"But don't you think you deserve better than predictable?" Kol asked. "I think you do."

"Well, I suppose then, that when I get tired of predictable, you're the first one I'll call," Bonnie said.

Kol grinned. "I'll go warm up the car." He paused. "Or do you need time to put on fancy clothes and go through a whole routine with makeup and all that?"

"I could use a shower," Bonnie said. "Let me shower and dress and then we can go."

Kol nodded. "Your wish is my command." He sat down on the sofa, and Bonnie gave him a small smile before she left to shower. He sat in silence in the living room for a few minutes, his eyes closed, visions of Bonnie in the shower drifting through his mind. When he finally opened his eyes again, he could still hear the shower water going, so he got up from the sofa and walked upstairs, right to her bedroom and then sat right on her bed and waited.

When Bonnie stepped out of the shower and into the bedroom, she didn't look straight at the bed. Instead, she let the towel drop just below her breasts before she noticed Kol and clung the towel tight to herself so that it wouldn't fall the rest of the way down. "What are you doing in here?" She asked.

"I just thought I'd come up to see how you were doing," he said with a grin. "I didn't know I'd be getting a show."

"Get out," Bonnie said through her teeth. Her eyes traveled downward. "However, it is nice to see that you seem to be over the little problem that started this in the first place."

Kol came closer to her. "You know," he said. "I'd be more than happy to forgo going out to dinner and just stay in instead."

"No," Bonnie said. "We're gonna go out, and we're gonna sit on separate sides of a table and, if you can manage it, maybe have polite conversation."

"How stimulating," Kol replied. "I can't wait."

"Now will you leave so I can dress?" Bonnie asked.

"Well, fine, but-" Kol went into Bonnie's closet and picked out a green dress with cap sleeves. "Wear this, will you please?" He asked. "You always look beautiful in it."

Bonnie felt herself blush a little. "All right," she said. "Put it on the bed and I'll call you in again when I need help with the zipper."

Kol gave a bow. "Yes, my lady," he said and left. Bonnie turned in the direction of the door once it was closed. He was acting very oddly. Very nice for him. She got her underwear and dress on, dried her hair and then went to the door. "Would you help me with my zipper now?" She called.

Kol came in the room a few minutes later and stood behind her. She felt his fingers lightly touching her back. That slight touch sent tingles through her body. She let herself enjoy them for a few seconds before she opened her eyes. "Please stop touching me like that," she said firmly. "I just need you to pull the zipper up. That's all." She heard the zipper go up the back of the dress and nodded. "Thank you," she said and turned. He grinned. "You're welcome. Are you ready to go now?"

"Yes," Bonnie nodded. They went downstairs and she grabbed her purse before following Kol out the door after Bonnie left a note for Roger, in case he came back and wondered where they were. Kol was careful to look away as she placed the note next to the phone.

They drove to the restaurant with the radio on. When they arrived, the host gave them an intimate table in the corner. Kol pulled Bonnie's chair out for her and waited to make sure she was settled before going to sit in his own chair.

"This is a really nice place," Bonnie said. "Thanks for bringing me here. It was a good homecoming surprise."

"You're welcome," Kol said. He noticed the waiter coming in their direction. "Do you want wine?" He asked her. "Or not?"

Bonnie shook her head. "No, thanks. I'll just have a juice or a soda or something. I'm not really up to drinking tonight."

Kol was about to make a joke about her being scared to drink because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself around him, but decided against it. Roger's fate was still unknown to her, and he didn't want to do anything that might make it seem like he had purposefully gotten Roger in trouble.

When the waiter came to ask what they wanted to drink, Bonnie ordered lemonade, and Kol ordered a glass of red wine. They sat and drank awhile before Bonnie asked, "So, did anything happen while I was gone? Or was it all just uneventful?"

"No, mostly uneventful. Took Roger to the mall. Got him some new clothes, which are very stylish, if I do say so myself. Then we went to that club a few streets over from your house just to try out his new look. He made himself a few new friends."

"Are you sure it was a good idea to take him to a club?" Bonnie asked. "I don't know if he's ready for something like that."

"I watched him the whole time, I promise. I also promise that I personally did not do anything bad to him."

"Well, good," Bonnie said. "I should hope you wouldn't."

After that, talk transitioned away from Roger, remaining light and cheerful as Bonnie and Kol ate their dinner. But after Kol paid the check, his phone rang.

"Hello?" He asked. "What can I do for you?" He listened to the voice on the other end of the line and his face changed.

"What?" Bonnie asked. "Who is it?"

It was Roger. He and Bridget were in jail and needed to have someone come bail them out. "Does it have to be right now?" Kol asked him. "I'm a bit busy at the moment." He sighed. "Fine," he said. "I'll be there in a minute."

He hung up. "What's the matter?" Bonnie asked.

Kol sighed. "It's Roger. He's in jail and I have to go bail him out. I assume you want to come with me?"