“P-P-Paul!” Penelope exclaimed at the large diamond ring in front of her face. “Wh-what...”

“I want you to be my wife.” Paul said.

Penelope went quiet for a moment, then spoke. “Why, Paul? Why now?”

Paul opened his mouth, then sighed. “You should be asking me why I waited so long.”

“What... what do yo mean?” Penelope asked, tentatively.

“I told you, it's been forever since we met.” Paul said. “I've had this ring for two and a half years.”

“WHAT?!?” Penelope exclaimed.

“I wanted to give you this way back then; but, I knew if I tried, you would have laughed it off and would have either kicked me to the curb or wouldn't take me seriously, even if I kept asking you to marry me.”

Penelope closed her mouth on her response and she reluctantly agreed. If he had tried to propose barely six months after they had met and only two weeks after they started dating, she would have thought he was crazy or making fun of her. She really would have taken it as a joke and probably ditched him for not taking their relationship seriously, even that early.

“I know that look.” Paul said with a smile. “I knew I was right to wait... except... it became a longer wait, then longer, then it just became something that I thought I would never find the right time to ask.”

“Now wasn't the right time, either.” Penelope said in a whisper. She hadn't told him the most damming evidence against his partner, that he had no alibis and his whereabouts couldn't be determined for any of Detective Tanner's supposed times that Arnold was home and had committed the 'murders'. The circumstantial evidence could be applied to Charlie as well.

“Is that a no?” Paul asked, hurt clearly in his eyes.

“It's not, you dunce.” Penelope said as tears came to her eyes. “I just meant that you're going through a horrible time and...”

“I need you, Penny.” Paul said. “If anything, this... whatever is going on with Charlie, I... it's made me see that I've waited far too long to ask you. I just became so used to having you near me that I've been taking our relationship, and you, for granted.”

“Paul, that... that's not... I don't see how you've done that.”

“Just today when I called you, I assumed that you would say yes, because I love you and I wanted to be with you.” Paul said. “I didn't ask you what you had planned for tonight, or tomorrow. All I was thinking about was my own desire for you and I was blind to everything else.”

Penelope had to agree with that. He didn't ask her and she did kind of have plans for tomorrow afternoon, that she would either delay or cancel, depending on what he wanted to do all day.

“I know that look, too.” Paul said with a knowing smile. “Now you understand what I meant.”

“Paul...”

“Penny... Penelope.” Paul said, his voice serious again. “I don't want you to believe that I only think about my own feelings and desires. I want you to understand that I believe you are just as happy to be with me as I am with you.”

“I... I am.” Penelope whispered.

“Then please, will you do me the honor of being my partner in this relationship, my partner in life, and the partner to my heart?”

Penelope looked at the ring... the very large ring... and she thought about him having it for nearly their whole relationship. “You... were serious about us, right from the start.”

Paul nodded. “I've always tried my best to make sure that when we had time to spend together, it was just us. No distractions, no emergencies, and no intrusions.” He said. “The time I spent with you was precious... you are precious... and I want to have you all to myself, from now until the end of time.”

“P-Paul.” Penelope said, her voice almost caught in her throat.

“I want to love you so much that there's a chance you'll get sick of me.” Paul said with a bit of a smile and she frowned. “Yes, that's a bit of a joke, since I sincerely hope you'll never be sick of how much I love you.”

Penelope took in a deep breath and let it out, then smiled. “I think I have to take you up on your offer.”

“Have to?” Paul asked, a little concerned.

“Information passed between husband and wife is privileged and we can't legally testify against each other.” Penelope said and her eyes almost twinkled.

“You're covering your own ass for breach of protocol?” Paul asked, quite surprised, then he laughed. “I'll take it!”

Penelope couldn't help but laugh, too. Her eyes teared up as he slipped the perfectly sized ring onto her finger and the diamond sparkled. “I love you, Paul Candle.”

“I love you, Mrs. Candle.” Paul said and kissed her. They made love again and after they were both done, they cuddled together.

“You know, it's a little sexist to assume that I'm going to change my name when we get married.” Penelope said.

“Well, both of our initials are going to be PC, so...” Paul said with a grin.

“You're throwing Political Correctness at me?” Penelope asked, a little incredulous, and he laughed.

“You could change your name to Countess Marmalade for all I care.” Paul said and gave her a kiss. “All I want is for us to be happy together.”

Penelope stared at him. “Countess Marmalade?”

“Oh, right. I meant Croissant Marmalade.” Paul said.

“PAUL!”

“What?”

“That's not funny.” Penelope said and pouted.

“I bought a case of it, just so you know.” Paul said.

“You WHAT?!?”

“I wanted to make sure you'd never run out for a long time, so...” Paul shrugged.

“You actually bought...” Penelope whispered. “You really do love me.”

“More than I can ever tell you with words.” Paul said. “I had to show you with diamonds and jelly.”

Penelope was about to say something, then she caught her breath. “Diamonds? Plural?”

“Hey, we've been together for two years. I had to buy you appropriate gifts.” Paul said.

“You've never given me...” Penelope looked at the ring on her finger. “You bought them as if you had proposed right after we started dating.”

Paul nodded. “Earrings at six months, a bracelet after a year, and a necklace last month.”

Penelope's face was flushed red. “You spent... how could... we weren't...”

“I love you.” Paul said. “If you want to see them, they're in the gun safe.”

Penelope gave him a serious look, as if he was pulling her leg or joking.

“You know the combination.” Paul said with a smirk.

“I always wondered why you gave me that.” Penelope said and slid out of bed. She walked over to his closet and knelt down, quickly entered the number code and opened the gun safe.

“I trust you.” Paul said. “What better way to prove that, than giving you access to deadly weapons?”

“You knew I would never open the thing.” Penelope said and pulled out three velvet boxes.

“That's kind of what trust is.” Paul said.

Penelope opened the top case and it was the earrings. Two half-carat diamonds greeted her surprised expression. She closed it and moved it aside, then opened the next larger box. Inside was the diamond encrusted tennis bracelet. Her breathing sped up and she closed it and moved it aide, then she sat on the floor and she wasn't sure if she could handle looking at the last one.

“Let me.” Paul said and she looked up at him. He took the earrings out and put them on her. The bracelet was added to her left wrist next, then he opened the largest velvet case.

Penelope gasped at the long string of glittering diamonds. “P-P-Paul.” She whispered in disbelief. She automatically pulled her hair out of the way as he took the necklace out and put it around her neck. Her fingers lightly caressed the expensive item and she looked into his eyes.

“I love you.” Paul said and kissed her. They made love again, right there on the floor.

*

Arnold stepped into the house as quietly as possible. He locked everything up and went to his bedroom. He changed for bed, then instead of climbing into his own, he went to his mother's bedroom. The door was open, so he didn't have to sneak in or chance the door making a noise if he had to open it. He climbed into bed with his mother and slid under the blanket close to her.

He felt her tremble slightly as he put his arm around her waist to hold onto her. He wasn't sure if it was the slightly cool air he had brought with him or his touch that made her react. In the next moment, it didn't matter, because Annie had a death grip on his arm and held it tightly to her belly. He tucked his head into her hair and rested his forehead on her neck, then he drifted off to sleep.

*

Claire sat up in bed and had absolutely refused to discuss what she had done with Arnold. No matter how Heather had ranted and raved at her for stealing Arnold from her, she never rose to the bait to counter Heather's arguments. Even when she asked, point blank, if her mother had slept with him before, Claire only reminded her about Arnold's peculiarities.

“So, you did have sex with him!” Heather spat.

“I didn't say that.” Claire said.

“You just said...”

“I swear on your father's grave that this was the very first time Arnold ever came to the house and asked me for sex.” Claire said.

Heather gasped. “M-mom!”

“I hope you aren't going to try and convince me to not do it again.” Claire said and Heather stared at her. “I warned you about him a long time ago.”

“Mom... but... why...” Heather's resolve floundered.

“Arnold is a good man.” Claire said. “Despite his quirks, he's loyal to a fault, completely honest, and one of the best lovers I've ever had.”

“MOM!” Heather yelled.

Claire gave her daughter a smug smile. “Don't you dare stand there and tell me that he isn't.”

Heather clamped her mouth shut on her retort.

Claire nodded. “I've heard you in your room a few times.”

“M-mom.” Heather whispered.

“If he ever shows up again, I won't turn him away.” Claire said.

“But... he's only... you're...”

“Yes, I'm your mother and almost double his age.” Claire said and sighed. “I'll be quite sore tomorrow.”

“Mom.” Heather said in a defeated tone.

“I'm going to warn you now.” Claire said in a stern voice and Heather straightened her back to listen. “Don't go behind my back and tell Annie that I've slept with her son.”

Something flashed in Heather's eyes and Claire held the blanket to her chest and got out of bed.

“Don't you dare hurt that woman again!” Claire spat in her daughter's face.

“A-a-again?” Heather asked.

“Did you so quickly forget that you gave Brad and his friends her address and they wrecked the place?” Claire asked. “If you tell her, even second or third hand, that Arnold came here to have sex with me, the only thing you'll manage to do is hurt her feelings.”

“But... you'll stop...”

“No, I won't.” Claire said and Heather gasped. “We agreed that if at any time Arnold comes to me, for anything, my home will always be open to him.”

Heather squinted her eyes. “You mean your legs, don't you?”

“Yes, Heather. My legs, too.” Claire said, which surprised her daughter. “Can you honestly tell me that you wouldn't if he came to you and asked?”

Heather actually wanted that. A lot. Or, at least she thought she did. After seeing that her mother had sex with him, her desire for Arnold had diminished somewhat.

Claire nodded. “I see. Now that you know he's slept with someone else, you don't want him as much.”

“J-just you.” Heather whispered.

Claire nodded again. “Then your time at the college is going to be that much easier over the next few years.” She said. “He's going to date a lot, or at least have a lot of girls in his life.”

“Like you.” Heather said.

“If he ever comes back, yes.” Claire said. “He's going to be very busy, however. I doubt I'll see him again for another few months. In fact, I think you'll see him more than I will.”

“Me?” Heather asked, surprised.

“I meant you'll be on the same campus and may even have similar classes.” Claire said.

“Oh.” Heather said and couldn't help letting some disappointment leak into her voice.

“Don't throw away what you have for something you might never have.” Claire warned her, then she walked by her daughter and went to the bathroom to take a shower. She had a lot to clean off of herself and she was quite happy about that.

*

Detective Tanner was as close to being livid as she had ever been while she paced the bedroom.

“Calm down.” Mike said.

“I can't believe they think Charlie did all of that!” Olivia exclaimed and halted her walk. Her naked breasts jiggled and Mike stared at them, then looked at her face.

“The evidence...”

“Do you really think that Arnold couldn't frame him for it?” Olivia asked.

Mike chuckled. “Anyone could have framed him for it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, come on.” Mike said. “Olivia, it's like an open secret that Officer Hallman had the hots for the Strickland woman.”

“That... that's immaterial.” Olivia said with a soft voice.

“Uh huh.” Mike said. “I'm not saying he's guilty, since we have to find him, charge him, wait for trial, then find out if he's guilty or not.”

Olivia scoffed. “It'll never get that far.”

“It doesn't matter this soon in the investigation; but, if you had the power to intervene on someone's behalf to do something, wouldn't you?” Mike asked.

“Not murder.” Olivia said.

“What if he just saw it as taking out the trash?”

“He wouldn't.” Olivia said as she relaxed. “He wouldn't.”

“There's no proof, one way or the other, what he would do in a similar situation.” Mike said. “Temporary insanity? Premeditated murder? Negligent homicide?” He shook his head. “All we know is that there were two kidnappings, two murders, and buckets of blood dumped down the drain.”

Olivia sighed and walked over to the bed. “I can't believe you're okay talking about all of this.”

Mike chuckled. “You haven't been in the squad room the last two days.”

Olivia gave him wide eyes and he took her into his arms.

“It's all anyone can talk about.” Mike said. “Especially now that IA released... discreetly... Officer Hallman's unauthorized patrol route alterations.”

Olivia let out a sigh and cuddled in. “Okay, even I have to admit that so many trips by her house is suspicious.”

“More like unhealthy.” Mike said and she reluctantly nodded. “I don't know what he was thinking. Even if it was perfectly innocent, he didn't even add to the logs that he was only keeping a closer eye on the property.”

Olivia didn't want to admit that Charlie must have been a little obsessed with Annie to have done that.

“He could know when she was there, when she wasn't, and when her son was there.” Mike said.

“Can we stop talking about it?” Olivia asked, because she didn't want to start convincing herself that Arnold didn't have a hand in it, even though she didn't have a shred of proof. The only inclination she had was that the two missing teenagers were two of the crew that had wrecked Arnold's house. There's only one left now. She thought. Kevin is well protected and in police custody at the jail, thankfully.

“We can do whatever you want.” Mike said with a smile on his face.

Olivia lifted her head to give him an incredulous look. “Are you serious?”

“Does that mean you're not in the mood after your little rant?”

Olivia opened her mouth to say no, then she pushed her reaction aside and knew he was right. “How can you read me so well?”

“Your nipples popped out.” Mike said. “Don't tell me you didn't see me looking.”

Olivia could feel her hard nipples poking into him. “I saw, but...”

Mike chuckled. “I know. I'm always looking.” He admitted. “It's hard not to when you strut around like that and you're full of passion, you know. ”

“Don't you mean full of piss and vinegar?” Olivia asked.

Mike laughed. “So, you have been listening when the guys talk at the station.” He said. “I always try to tell them you're not like that. You're just driven and need to prove yourself.”

“I don't need to prove myself to them.” Olivia frowned.

“I know.” Mike said. “You need to prove it to yourself.”

Olivia looked into his eyes and saw that he was serious.

“You don't have to prove it to me, either.” Mike said and kissed her to make her frown go away. “The only real opinion that matters is your own. So, you do what you want, be careful, and I'll try my best to not get in the way.”

Olivia gave him a squinted eyed look. “What if I need your help again?”

“I'm here, naked in your bed, and discussing things that can get me fired if anyone found out.” Mike said. “I'll pretty much do anything you want, short of breaking the law.”

“Bending it is okay with you?” Olivia asked.

“Naked. Bed. Hard as a rock.” Mike said. “Do you want any more proof?”

Olivia opened her mouth to say yes, then he kissed her.

“That was a rhetorical question.” Mike said and pushed her onto her back, then he slipped inside of her to make her gasp. Even though they had sex not that long ago, she had tightened up considerably during her rant.

“M-more... proof.” Olivia whispered as she panted and Mike doubled his efforts. She didn't ask again.