The sun was blazing and the black top shimmered in the Texas heat. The baby blue Corvette was headed North in to Dallas.

"Penny for your thoughts," the driver asked his passenger.

Samantha smiled at the man beside her, her boyfriend of more than two years. "Just thinking about how we have to go back there on vacation again very soon." They had spent a glorious week, alone at a fabulous beach house on the Gulf Coast. Dressed in khaki shorts and a pale green tank top, Sam’s tan reflected their week at the beach. Trent’s blond hair was now almost white.

"Yeah, it was great, wasn’t it. I just can’t believe you have never seen the ocean," Trent said with a smile.

"Well, Ontario just has the Great Lakes. I’ve seen most of them," Sam said with a laugh. "I haven’t traveled as much as I’d like to but I’m sure we will soon enough." She sighed. "It sure was wonderful to fall asleep with the sound of the ocean."

"Or not sleeping," Trent said with a wink.

Sam smiled. "It was romantic. And Carlos wasn’t even there to call or invite himself over," she said with her tongue in her cheek. Carlos was Trent’s best friend, business partner and frequent dinner guest.

"Or Sarah," Trent said. Sarah was Sam’s sister and Carlos’ sometime girlfriend. They both laughed. "Speaking of which, do you want to go straight home or stop at Uppercuts?"

Sam looked down at the gold band on her left hand. There was a matching one on Trent’s left hand. "Think they will be mad?"

"Maybe Sarah. I know Mom is just going to be happy. She never really did like the living together thing."

"Yeah I know. I think everyone is going to be surprised." Sam smiled broadly, not really believing how much happiness she had found since coming to Dallas. Trent reached over and took her hand smiling, almost as if reading her thoughts. Gently he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Wordlessly, they continued in to Dallas.

**

"Well, well, well. Look who’s here." Butch, the bartender and owner of Uppercuts called from behind the bar. "Y’all are looking tanned and rested from your vacation."

"Thanks Butch," Sam said as she approached the bar. Trent used the phone to call the Thunder Investigations office upstairs. Within minutes, the office manager Kim had joined them. As Kim and Sam went to get a table, Butch motioned to Trent.

"There was someone in here looking for you last week," he said, his voice showing concern. "I don’t know who it was but Carlos seemed to know and wasn’t happy about it."

"Okay Butch, I’ll talk to him. Just don’t mention anything to Sam.’

"You got it." Just then there was a squeal from Kim as she sat with Sam. "What’s that all about?" Butch asked. Smiling, Trent raised his left hand to show Butch the gold band. "Well, I’ll be." Butch was momentarily speechless. Finally he said, "This calls for the good stuff." From behind the bar, he pulled out a bottle of chilled champagne. He handed glasses to Trent and they headed to the table where Kim and Sam sat.

As Butch raised his glass to toast, he heard a voice. "What are we toasting?" Carlos Sandoval stood behind him.

"Get yourself a glass, Carlos," Butch told him. When he returned Butch raised his glass and said, "here’s to Mr. and Mrs. Trent Malloy."

Carlos just about spat out the champagne. "Really?" He looked at Sam. "You finally said ‘yes’?

"Yes," Sam said smiling. Carlos gave her a hug and a kiss and slapped Trent on the back.

"Now, not a word of this to your sister, okay?"

"Sorry Carlos, but I think I’ll have to tell Sarah. Are you worried?" Sam eyes twinkled.

"I just don’t want her getting any ideas." Carlos and Sarah had started on the long road of repairing their past relationship. Sam considered Carlos’ teasing a sign that things were improving.

Word spread quickly and soon the party was joined by numerous friends such as Texas Rangers Cordell Walker and Jimmy Trivette, Assistant District Attorney Alex Cahill and Sarah. The celebration continued into the evening.

As Trent was chatting with Carlos he looked over at his new bride. She was stifling a yawn. Excusing himself from Carlos, Trent went to sit beside her. "What do you think? Should we head home?" he asked.

"If you want to," she said, stifling another yawn.

Laughing, Trent said, "I think so." He stood up and announced, "Well thanks everyone for the impromptu party but I think it’s time we got going. We haven’t even been home yet and I think my bride is fading fast." All eyes turned as Carlos stood up beside Trent.

"Here, Trent. These are yours." As he handed over a set of keys he continued. "We all took the liberty of moving some of your furniture into the new house. All your personal stuff is still at the apartment but the important stuff like the bed and couch are at the house."

Sam and Trent had bought a new house but were told that it wouldn’t be ready until after their vacation. This was a complete surprise to them.

"The agent called me Tuesday, and said it was ready," Carlos told them. "We thought we’d do you a favour since we figured we would be moving everything anyway." Carlos smiled broadly. "And this way, we didn’t have to take any orders!"

Trent and Sam were speechless. Finally Sam spoke. "Geez, everyone. You didn’t have to do this."

"Yes we did. Carlos threatened us," Jimmy Trivette through in.

"Well, thanks. We really do appreciate this." Sam was close to tears.

"Yeah thanks everyone." Trent added. "And next weekend, the barbecue is at our place!" Everyone cheered. "Now, we really have to go." Good-byes were said and the pair headed out.

In the car, Sam expressed her feelings about their friends. "I know it is mushy but they really are great, aren’t they?"

"Carlos must be sucking up for something. I wonder if he killed the cat or something."

"Trent!"

"I know. I’m just kidding. They are great." They had reached a small house in suburban Dallas. "Well there it is…our house."

Sam looked in awe. "It is ours, isn’t it?"

"Yep. We’ve got the mortgage to prove it." Trent pulled into the driveway and stopped. "Here. You take the keys and I’ll get the bags."

"Don’t I get carried over the threshold?" Sam said with a snicker.

"I did that already. You want me to do it again?"

"No, I’m just kidding," Sam teased. "I can’t wait to see what it looks like with our furniture!" She got out of the car and ran to the front door. Trent went around to the back of the car to get the suitcase when he was knocked flying by the explosion. Momentarily shaken, he looked up to see most of the house gone. Frantically he looked around until he saw what he was searching for. A figure lay motionless on the front lawn.

"SAM!!!"

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