Gina leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and head in her hands as she looked despondently at the television. There was some terrible talk show she'd found herself addicted to on and at that moment one of the large, white American women was blubbing about her cheating boyfriend and his new younger, thinner girlfriend. "God, what do people do when they don't work?" she groused. It had been a long time since Gina had allowed herself a holiday, so long that she wasn't entirely sure what you do when you've nothing to do. She took another look at the over emotional woman and decided there was only one thing to do and that was to go shopping.

          "Right," Ted breathed, massaging his temples. "We'll rehearse out of order since McDermott is guaranteed not to be here on time."
          "Well now I'm offended," Paul grinned, swaggering into the studio. The entire production crew, writers and other comedians did a double take.
          "My god is there a blue moon? Is it raining frogs? Has hell actually frozen over?" Mikey jeered.
          "Does this mean we can actually have a full production meeting?" piped up one of the writers. Ted replied with something inaudible and wandered over to Paul who was grinning inanely. He patted his head, face and chest to make sure he was real and then mumbled something about needing coffee and walked dazed from the room.
          "Is he ok?" Paul mused.
          "I think he's gone into shock," another writer chided. "I'll make sure he's ok."
          Paul shrugged and headed over to Mikey who was grinning broadly. "Look at you monkey boy, I'd go so far to say you're actually glowing."
          "Get fucked mate," Paul giggled. "I had a good weekend."
          "Even with her mother?"
          "Even with her mother."
          "Well we are serious," Mikey teased. "Have you picked out the wedding date yet?"
          "No," Paul laughed. "She turned me down," he added, slapping Mikey's arm and heading out of the studio.
          "Wait, you actually proposed?" Mikey gasped, catching up to him at the elevator.
          "Yeah, I didn't mean to it just happened," Paul mused.
          "It's that serious?"
          "Yeah," Paul nodded. "I haven't really thought about it to be honest."
          "How can you propose and not think that's serious?" Mikey asked as they stepped into the elevator.
          "Like I said, I wasn't thinking," Paul replied as the doors closed and he pressed the button for the next floor.
          "So what do you think about?" Mikey sighed.
          "Her!" Paul replied doe-eyed and then giggled. "I don't know, just how great it is to finally find someone who likes me for me."
          "You're telling me the non-drinking, anti-party animal journalist hasn't tried to change you?" Mikey declared.
          "Absolutely," Paul nodded. "It's more me trying to change her. Well, make her a bit more outgoing."
          "Ah ha, so it's not all sweetness and light," Mikey grinned. "You want to change her."
          "I didn't say that," Paul huffed as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the corridor. "I just want to go out sometimes and she understands that."
          "Really?" Mikey asked slyly. "You've talked about it then?"
          "Yes, no, sort of," Paul pouted. "Don't put fucking ideas in my head," he paused to glare at Mikey.
          "If you weren't insecure in your relationship you wouldn't care," Mikey groused.
          "Insecure am I?" Paul sneered. "This from a man whose woman was getting very cosy with one of the production staff last week."
          "She was not!" Mikey hissed.
          "She was mate," Paul nodded. "Derek, you know the buff one who wears those tight Bonds shirts and has a butt like a rock?"
          Mikey looked miserably at Paul, "Are you serious?"
          "No, but I might be next time you bitch about my girlfriend," Paul replied with a cheeky grin.
          "Fine, I'm sorry," Mikey sighed. "I'm glad you're happy and Gina is very nice when she's not threatening me."
          "Apology accepted," Paul soothed as they headed for the boardroom door. "By the way did you know Derek has a Porsche?"
          "I hate you," Mikey sighed.
          "And buns of steel," Paul giggled as Mikey shoved him in the door.

          "Ohh free mascara," Gina mused grabbing a glossy woman's magazine as she perused the racks of literature in the news agency. "Wait I don't wear mascara," she added but took to flipping through the articles anyway. She fell onto an article about 'embracing your new relationship: a girl's guide to letting go of singledom.' The article explained how some women found it hard to get used to sharing life with someone else and the various things you could do to overcome it. Gina decided to abide by the glossy gospel and bought the magazine and popped into the bookshop next door to pick up a copy of Feng Shui book the article recommended before making her way into the supermarket. She went to grab a simple plastic basket but then remembered the article had stated that you should shop for two and so she averted her attention to the trolleys. When Gina finally found one that wasn't warped, evil, soiled or dilapidated she headed down the aisles.
          "Is that stuff nice?" an older woman piped up as Gina grabbed several packets of rice from one of the shelves.
          "Yeah, my boyfriend loves the stuff," Gina smiled and then felt her cheeks redden. Dear god, she was actually bringing him into conversation now. She was tempted to ask the woman if she'd really uttered the word 'boyfriend' but decided it was too weird.
          "Well, I might just have to try some then," the woman perked and dropped a packet of the flavoured rice into her basket. "It's nice to a see a young woman who likes to cook for her partner."
          "Well someone has to, he's a bit useless," Gina mused bashfully.
          "He can't be that useless if he makes you smile so much."
          "I'm smiling?" Gina said blankly and quickly made sure she wasn't.
          "Yes girl, you're glowing," the old woman laughed, placing a wrinkled hand on Gina's arm.
          "Perhaps it warm in here," Gina flustered, trying to take her mind off of things by turning to look at pasta sauce.
          "Oh please, I know what a woman in love looks like," the woman continued. "It’s a beautiful thing and don't ever take it for granted."
          "Right," Gina winced as the old woman laughed and tottered out of the aisle. "Mad, totally mad," she giggled.

          "Yeah and then I'll do the fucking cancan," Paul cackled at one of the writers as they poured out of the boardroom. He hunted out an abandoned office and grabbed his cell phone.
          "Does the smell of jasmine offend you?" Gina asked as she answered her phone.
          "Only when I'm bathed in it," Paul replied. "Why?"
          "I'm looking at candles."
          "Why?"
          "Because I can, is there a reason you called or shall we just discuss candles some more?"
          "I have a reason, other than looking at candles are you busy?"
          "I'm looking at candles that would indicated I'm not hon."
          "Hey, you're a girl, woman, female…one of the above…anyway looking at candles is busy on your planet."
          "Have you been drinking?"
          "I only wish I had," Paul sighed. "Do you want to meet for lunch?"
          "But you just said I was busy."
          Paul giggled, "I hate you evil, manipulative woman."
          "No you don't," Gina laughed.
          "So, will you come for lunch?" Paul asked adding a little frustration to his tone.
          "You wouldn't rather a sandwich?"
          "Oh I am so close to hanging up on you."
          Gina giggled. "Ok, ok, where do you want me to meet you?"
          "Same place as usual."
          "When?"
          "Is half an hour ok?"
          "For you anything is ok."
          "Really? Does this mean we can find another woman and have threesomes?"
          "I suppose it would give me something to do after you fall asleep."
          Paul over exaggeratedly gasped. "That's just nasty."
          "I'm just being honest because I love you."
          "I should make you pay for lunch for that."
          "You would tight arse."
          "You know I am renowned for my tight sphincter muscles."
          Gina laughed. "You sick bastard. I'm going and I'll see you soon."
          "Ok, and think about the other woman idea," Paul giggled as he ended the call.
          "What are you laughing at?" Mikey asked poking his head around the door.
          "Just how that lovely cornflower blue and lilac striped shirt really suits you mate," Paul chided slipping his phone back in his bag.
          "Wardrobe said it was slimming," Mikey huffed as Paul walked past him back into the corridor.
          "Jeez Robbins what are you? A Mardi Gras float?" Ted groused, stalking past them. Paul looked at Mikey, shrugged and grinned cheekily before heading toward the elevator.
          "But I like lilac," Mikey pouted, fingering the material of the shirt.

          Gina pushed open the café door and quickly found Paul mulling over the menu in a booth.
          "Hey," she smiled, ruffling his hair before dropping into the seat opposite.
          "Hey," Paul smiled back. "You found something to do with yourself then?"
          "I did what any good woman does and went shopping," Gina shrugged.
          "And bought candles?" Paul queried.
          "Along with a couple of other things," Gina nodded. "It was inspired by this," she added producing the glossy magazine and pointing out the article. Paul looked over it and then looked oddly at her.
          "Why?" he asked, trying not to laugh.
          "I don’t know, seemed like a good idea at the time," Gina sighed.
          "Christ they even have further reading," Paul chided. "Who would buy a book called 'Feng Shui Your New Relationship?'"
          "Well…"
          "Oh you didn't?"
          "It had some good tips," Gina nodded. "I made draw space for you."
          "You've gone mental," Paul gasped and snatched the magazine up. "My beautiful normal girlfriend will not be influenced by shit," he declared rolling up the magazine and bopping her on the head with it.
          "Sorry, I was bored."
          "How long are you on holiday for?"
          "A week."
          "And how long have you been on said holiday for?"
          "Six hours," Gina mumbled resting her head in her hands. "I'm so pathetic."
          "You are when you turn to Feng Shui," Paul smiled and reached out a hand to stoke her cheek. "But you're still strikingly gorgeous so I'll forgive you this time."
          "You know," Gina smiled as she moved one of her hands to entwine her fingers with his. "A strange little old lady in the supermarket told me she could tell I was in love. Reckoned I glowed."
          "Really?" Paul beamed. "Mikey said the same about me!"
          "Oh no, we've turned into the type of people we hate," Gina groaned.
          "Appalling isn't it?" Paul breathed, wanting nothing more than to lean across the table and kiss her but he couldn't bring himself to be so openly affectionate in a café. People didn't need to see two people sharing saliva while they sipped their coffee and wolfed down Turkish bread.
          "So how's your day been so far?" Gina piped up after a couple of seconds of saccharine silence.
          "We had a production meeting."
          "And?"
          "I don't know, I got bored and started doodling pictures of Mikey and a goat on my script," Paul shrugged.
          "Nice to see you're enthusiastic," Gina teased.
          "I heard…things," Paul chided. "Besides I don't have to do much until we rehearse."
          "Yeah, then you get all prettied up, flash the pearly whites, raise that eyebrow and give half the female population of Australia an orgasm before you utter 'and that's the good news.'"
          "I wish I had that power," Paul mused dreamily. "Imagine that, just by opening my mouth I could make women go off."
          "I'm so not touching that," Gina giggled.
          "You wouldn't have to," Paul grinned.
          "Are you ready to order?" a bored sounding waitress asked, gripping her pencil tightly and looking completely revolted by the smitten couple.
          "You couldn't be any warmer if you tried could you?" Paul teased as Gina looked over the menu briefly. The waitress raised an unimpressed eyebrow at him. "Icy," Paul breathed through his teeth.

          After what turned out to be a quick lunch Gina drove Paul back to the ABC studios.
          "You're welcome to hang about if you've got nothing to do," Paul offered unclipping his seatbelt.
          "No, I vowed not to attach myself to you like a limpet," Gina sighed. "But thankyou for the offer."
          "And you promise me no more advice from women's magazine right?"
          "Well considering you stole my…"
          "Right?"
          "Right," Gina nodded miserably. "But it did have some poignant stuff."
          "Genie, what can some pissant women's rag tell you that experiencing things for yourself can't?"
          Gina pondered a moment. "It has pictures."
          "You're never allowed to holiday again," Paul mused and leaned across to kiss her. He'd only meant it to be a quick peck but soon found that he couldn't pull himself away. They were so wrapped up in each other's arms that when Mikey cheekily tapped on the car window both jumped a mile.
          "Jesus," Paul gasped, clutching his heart as Gina opened the window.
          "It's like watching the monkeys at the zoo," Mikey grinned.
          "Yeah, so fuck off or I'll start flinging shit at ya" Paul jeered.
          "Wouldn't be the first time," Mikey countered.
          "Prick," Paul sneered and quickly gave Gina a peck on the cheek.
          "You want me to pick you up?" she asked.
          "That wouldn't be hard," Mikey teased. "Just flash monkey boy a smile…"
          "You're so not winning this week," Paul groused then averted his attention back to Gina. "It's ok, I'll catch a cab. Just go home, have a nice hot bath and enjoy your holiday," he added, grabbing his bag and climbing out of the car.
          "Yes enjoy your bath Gina," Mikey perked. "It's more than he does."
          "I bathe, ask her!" Paul squealed stopping before he even started heading toward the entrance.
          "Everything from the foaming face wash to the coconut scrotum scrub," Gina nodded.
          "See!" Paul declared puffing out his chest. "Wait, did you say scrotum scrub?"
          "Come on McDermott or we'll never get home tonight," Mikey sighed, grabbing Paul's arm.
          "I want it known I've never scrubbed my scrotum!" Paul wailed as he was dragged away.

          Gina stood back looking at the brand new bed linen she'd picked up on her earlier shopping trip. While Paul had confiscated the magazine she still had her Feng Shui book and decided that there must be some truth in it. So, she'd washed, dried and now placed the brand new pink sheets on the bed.
          "GENIE!" Paul's voice yelled from the living room.
          "IN HERE!" She yelled back.
          "WHERE’S HERE?"
          "THE BEDROOM!"
          "I knew that," Paul chided sauntering in the door. "Oh, new sheets," he mused moving up behind her and pulling her into his arms.
          "The pink is supposed to encourage love and romance," Gina sighed as Paul dropped kisses on her neck.
          "I thought I told you not believe that crap?" he stopped kissing and huffed.
          "Oh no, that wasn't from the magazine that was from the book," Gina perked motioning to the book on the bedside table. Paul let go of her, grabbed the book and sat on the edge of the bed.
          "Is there a reason you suddenly so dependent on this stuff?" he asked, flipping quickly through the pages.
          "I don't know," Gina shrugged sitting beside him. "I guess I'm just not sure what to do? Like I say, I haven't been in a relationship in ages, especially one this serious and I'm scared to screw it up."
          "And pink bed sheets are going to solve all our problems?" Paul mused, sliding an arm around her shoulders.
          "You never know," Gina breathed, resting her head on his shoulder. Paul leant his head against hers. "They won't stop world poverty but they might keep the romance alive."
          "Look you can read all the books you want," Paul cooed. "But remember you're not alone. There are two of us in this relationship and as you keep telling me if we have problems we should work through them together and not self destruct."
          "I should take my own advice shouldn't I?" Gina breathed.
          "Yeah," Paul mused. "You kick arse on any of that stuff in the magazine."
          "You read it?" Gina perked lifting her head.
          "There's lots of waiting around in television land you know," Paul countered. "And you know what else? I wasn't as aware of the wonders of ginseng as I am now."
          "And the special underwear pull out section?"
          "Lace is an amazing creation, especially when combined with the pert tanned rear of a…" Paul paused. "You know I think I missed that bit."
          "Idiot," Gina smiled as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Paul smiled to himself as he moved his arms around her and fell back onto the bed.
          "I like hugs," he declared in a childish voice.
          "I like hugging you," Gina cooed. They both let out relaxed sighs and fell silent.
          "Oh hey, I got you a present," Paul suddenly piped up and dug a hand into his pocket. He wriggled about for a few moments before decaling, "Ah ha!"
          "What is it?" Gina asked curiously as they sat up together.
          "Close your eyes and hold out your hand," Paul replied. Gina did so obediently and was greeted by the feel of cold metal against her warm palm. She opened her eyes and looked at the key blankly. "It’s the key to my apartment, granted it's not all that exciting but you know…"
          "It is exciting, it means you trust me," Gina smiled, wrapping him up in another hug. "Does this mean I have a licence to clean your apartment now?" she added.
          "What's mine is yours," Paul nodded. "So long as you don't, you know, start Feng Shuiing the place."
          "I promise no pink sheets," Gina giggled before they shared a brief kiss. "We should celebrate."
          "Celebrate what?" Paul asked curiously.
          "That we're happy," Gina replied. "Most people we know don't think it'll last…"
          "You're talking about Mikey."
          "I don't think Dan's so confident either."
          "So what are you suggesting? A party?"
          "God no," Gina mused. "How about something more adult?"
          "A dinner party," Paul suggested.
          "That'd work," Gina perked. "We could invite a couple of our closest friends and prove that we are serious about each other."
          "But you don't have any friends," Paul announced blankly.
          "Oh that's mean!" Gina gasped, slapping his arm. Paul quickly grabbed the Feng Shui book again.
          "I'm sure it doesn't say beating your partner is a good start to your new relationship," he declared and then used the book to shield himself as Gina started an all out attack on him.