A/N: Hello! It's me! I know, I know. It's been (checks calendar), oof, 9 years since I last posted. I apologize immensely. I just think after CSI: Miami ended, I lost my motivation to write for it anymore. Funny thing, the story "Hook, Line, Sinker" was completely planned out, but for some reason I lost the mojo. I may revisit that one some day if I ever find the interest. For now, though, I bring you a COMPLETELY different fandom of mine: "California Dreams"! This particular fic is already completely written, so you don't have to worry about being left on a cliff hanger. As the story description says, it takes place immediately after the events of season 5's "Love Letters", that same night to be exact. If you've never watched the show but was a fan of "Saved by the Bell," then this is a MUST WATCH. It was the sister show... but better, ha.

My reason for this particular story is: right after "Love Letters," we, the viewers, never got to see how the gang would react to finding out Lorena and Sly became a couple, or even how Lorena and Sly would handle telling them. To me, we needed more explanation for that whole storyline, and frankly more storylines involving those two as a couple overall. This episode legit was at the end of the season, so we had only 3 other episodes of them together, boo. I also needed more fleshing out of them getting together because, when you look at it, those two were kinda oof to each other for 3 seasons. It really needed explaining.

With that in mind, this is my bridging of "Love Letters" into the remaining episodes. Again, it's completely done, but I won't tell y'all the amount of chapters (it's under 15, no worries) because I don't want you to think it's done when it probably isn't.

I present to you: "To Sly, With Love".

Ch 1: Handle It With Care

They say that there's a first time for everything

Looks like my time has come

Like thunder and lightning in my heart

I realize that you're the one

Setting: Interior, Lorena's loft, night.

The kiss was passionate, no one could deny that. The two sat on the dainty couch in Lorena's California loft, kissing, really kissing for the first time. Sly had dreamed of this since the day, no- the second, he met Lorena Marina Costa. So many dreams, they were sky high-wait, was this also a dream? Sylvester Winkle wasn't sure, but if it was, he never wanted to wake up. Not even money could have made him this happy...well, it was a close second.

They both came up for air, Lorena's eyes remaining closed as if in a trance.

"Wow," Sly, breathed, entwining his fingers with hers, "you are very talented." Lorena moaned in agreement.

"Thanks, you're not too bad yourself," she giggled, shooting open her eyes. "Do you practice on melons or something?" she snided. Her negative jabs towards Sly Winkle were somewhat second nature to her, so much so she didn't even notice his sudden offended stature.

"Hey," Sly pulled back, "could you give me some credit?" His eyes squinted at her, a wrinkle at the top of the bridge of his nose. Lorena winced and placed a hand on the nape of his neck, massaging it.

"Ooh, I'm sorry," she grimaced. "It's a habit. Forgive me?" she adorably pleaded. Sly lifted his sight up, as if to consider it, and shrugged.

"Hmm, okay!" and they immediately crammed their lips together again. And again, Sly came back up for air. "Man, imagine what the gang will think." Lorena only nodded and brought him back in for more. She didn't actually hear him as she was too busy enjoying the moment. Lorena had kissed Sly before, back when he faked their similar interests of fashion design for a school project. That kiss was a sham, a forgery, an attempt to impose emotions that weren't really there.

But this kiss was not a fake, a phony, or a fabrication of anything. No, this was the real deal, and Lorena could not remember the last time a kiss gave her a chill up her spine.

She didn't want this wonderful feeling to end.

Sly pulled back again, shot up from the couch, and started running for the exit. "Let's go tell everyone."

Lorena's big chocolate eyes widened in panic. Wait, what?

"What was that?" she feigned, hoping she heard him wrong.

"Let's go tell the gang!" Sly bolstered. He looked happier than a puppy in a pet store getting adopted. "Imagine the look on their faces," he laughed, but it was a genuine, happy laugh. Not the kind he would normally do when he would chuckle at the expense of others.

But wait, what WOULD the gang think? They couldn't find out, at least not yet, maybe not ever. Lorena Marina Costa couldn't let that happen until she was sure this was real. And after all, what would they think of her? Lorena had treated Sly like pure slime for the last 3 years. All of a sudden they hooked up? Not even when he professed his love for her for the dance competition did she even consider him. No, she needed time to think before this got all through the entire school.

Lorena had to think fast because Sly was already at the top of the steps and reaching for the door knob. "WAIT!" she screamed and rushed to grab his hand… his soft, tanned hand. Pulling on it, Lorena yanked Sly back down the stairs, caressing his arm. "I… I don't think we should tell them yet."

"What?" Sly questioned, rather confused. "Why not?"

"Well, because…" she began. Lorena didn't want to hurt his feelings, least of all make him think she didn't feel the same way. She did, at least she did right now. But what would happen when the whirlwind of the love letters wore off? Would she still feel this way then? Boy, oh boy, she was sure of those feelings right now, but so many thoughts ran through her mind, it was hard to pinpoint one thought to profess. "I think we should give this a chance first before letting everyone else in on it, don't you think?" She sighed heavily, staring down at her fingers once again entwined in his, guiding him to the edge of the stage to sit. "Maybe even give us some time to relish it first. I mean, you know the gang. They're just going to be up in our business. I want to enjoy this before they possibly ruin it."

Lorena wasn't wrong. The gang was notorious for butting in or joking around when anyone in the gang hooked up. Sly and Tiffani, Tiffani and Jake, Sam and Tony, Jake and Lorena… it was their MO. The band was a regular revolving door of relationships, and none of the members were afraid to poke fun at it. They were teenagers, after all. Sly echoed Lorena's exasperation.

"Yeah," he agreed, biting his bottom lip and rolling his eyes, something he would subconsciously do when pondering, "we're all pretty good at that, I guess." He fiddled with his hands, another subconscious act Sly did when he was stressed.

"And, besides," Lorena continued, sliding in warmly, letting her body get closer and closer to his, "think about it. It would be pretty fun and sexy to sneak around." She pulsed her eyebrows, a come hither look upon her gorgeous face. She could see the anxiety he held in his body, though Lorena was hoping her silliness would alleviate that pressure.

"But…" Sly waivered, unsure. He just finished sneaking around already, and look where that got him! Sure, he has the girl now, but he almost didn't just because he didn't have the courage to be truthful from the start. On the other hand, he was willing to take his secrets to the grave, so it's not like he didn't have it in him to continue the ruse. And Lorena did have a point: the gang was pretty relentless with their jokes sometimes.

"Do it for me?" Lorena stared deeply into the Italian's own deep set eyes.

She glistened in the soft lighting, a few strands of hair resting gently on her cheek. Sly stroked them away just as gently, realizing how nervous he was to be this close to her. He wasn't trying to scam her, and he wasn't trying all of his smarmy ways. He was suddenly vulnerable because he was being true, and that scared him. It scared him what he would do for her because for the first time in a while, he trusted something in his life. Sly let out a shaky sigh that he couldn't control.

"Okay," he conceded, licking his lips, and nodded. "Just us… for now."

Hey baby, I never felt like this before

This is love and that's for sure

Hey baby, I never gave away my heart before

I swear, Handle it with care

A/N: Short and sweet with the first chapter, only because this is not the story but the catalyst to the story. A prelude, if you will. Anywho, review!