John was true to his word. No sooner did Angelique sign the papers for her release did he show up at her door. 

"Ready to blow this popsicle stand?" he asked, smiling at her. 

Angelique looked radiant. John's heart swelled at the sight of her. He felt like a man starved for too long, and he knew she was the only thing that could satisfy him. 

"Are you hungry?" She felt shy under his intense gaze.

"What made you say that?" he asked, amused that she could read his thoughts so accurately. 

"Maybe because you are looking at me like I am a ham sandwich." 

John laughed. "Well, you're right. I am hungry but it isn't food I'm hungry for."

Angelique's skin tingled with excitement at his words and her shade turned a pleasant pink at the images those words brought to mind. John would have loved to of had just a glimpse of what she pictured that made her whole body blush so pleasingly. 

"So, do I get a kiss?" She asked, tempting fate, it would seem. 

"You think we should chance it?" John teased, with an all-knowing smile, hinting at the danger such an act might cause. 

"If I've learned anything through this ordeal, it is that life is short. You should never pass on an opportunity. Especially one as good as this," Angelique challenged. 

John didn't need a second invitation. His whole body ached to hold her in his arms. His mouth covered hers and she could feel the hunger that drove that kiss. 

She returned it with the passionate pleasure it gave to her to receive it. It was more than John could handle. He begrudgingly came up for air. 

"Okay," he said, letting out a deep sigh. "We are going to have to pursue that line of thinking at a later time. Right now I have to get you home and it's too tempting to stand here with you in a room that comes complete with a bed."

Angelique giggled and took his hand in hers. She gratefully left the hospital behind. As they drove through the city, she realized they were headed the wrong way. 

"I thought you were taking me home?" 

"I am taking you home," John said as he pulled into a parking garage that was attached to a very elite apartment building. 

John turned off the engine and jogged around the car. When he opened the door, Angelique asked, "And who lives here?" 

John offered Angelique his hand to help her from the car. 

"We do." He pulled a suitcase of her clothes from the trunk. 

"We do?" Angelique grinned at John. He had a look of devilish mischief written across his face. 

"Yep." John ushered her to the elevator. 

 "And since when do WE live here?" 

Her tone sounded annoyed that John would take such liberties, yet she secretly Angelique felt excited at the idea of living together.

"Okay, I'll admit, I have always lived here," John admitted. "Your things from your apartment have been living here for about a week and you," he said, pulling her towards him and kissing the tip of her nose, "are living here starting today." 

"Oh, I am, am I? Did it ever cross your mind to ask what I thought of all this?" 

John smiled down at her as he replied honestly, "Nope. If you think I can live without you, then you don't know me as well as I thought. And since I can't...live without you... that left me with only one option, which was to live with you." 

They exited the elevator, and he led her down a hall to the third door on the right. "Your argument appears sound counselor." Angelique chuckled. 

"Well, in that case, welcome home." John opened the door and motioned for her to enter.

Angelique looked around at the very elegant and very tasteful apartment. It was huge compared to her place. They were standing on a landing; she walked the three steps down into a cozy living area complete with a fireplace. There was a dining area with a formal dining room table and a rather spacious kitchen. To her left, she noticed a short hallway and what appeared to be three more rooms. 

Taking in more of the room she stood in, she noticed he had a brown leather couch, which was parallel to the couch from her apartment. Everywhere she looked, she saw evidence of her things mingled in with John's. Although very different in style and taste, their things merged in perfect unity with one another. 

Just like me and John, she thought. 

"Nice place WE have here," Angelique quipped as she moved to the glass sliding doors to the balcony with the dramatic view of the New York cityscape. 

"So you like it?" John asked, not realizing till now how important it was to him she did. 

"I love it here," she said, glancing back at him. Truthfully, to her home was wherever John was, so this was perfect. 

He joined her on the balcony, wrapping his arms around her waist. John never thought he would be this happy, and she felt so good in his arms. 

As his arms wrapped around her midsection, Angelique knew she had something to tell him. "John?" Angelique twisted in his arms so she could look at him. 

"Hmm?" John mused as he looked at her. 

"I have something.... something... I need to talk to you about." 

John's brows drew together. "That sounds serious." 

"Well... it is, sort of... but in a good way," Angelique was quick to add, not wanting to shed a negative light on something so wonderful. 

"Tell me something, if you held that thought to say... later tonight would that cause anything bad to happen?" John asked. 

Confused by the question. Angelique shook her head, "No... I guess not." 

"Great!" John said, "because we have a date to keep." He gave her a quick kiss and let her go to enter the living room again. 

Shocked, Angelique followed. "A date?" she questioned. 

John whirled to face her again. "A very important date, in fact." He handed her an invitation from his breast pocket. 

Angelique took it from him. Looking at him strangely, she read the first few lines. 

"A Charity Event: Come join us for a Masquerade Ball." 

Perplexed, she looked at John. "A Ball? I can't go to a Masquerade Ball." 

John tilted his head, he was prepared for this. "I am afraid you have to go. You see, it says so right here." John pointed to the invitation. 

His mischievous spirit had returned, and it was contagious as she read the line he was pointing to. 

"Hosted by Angelique O'Byran and John McDougle to benefit St. Gabriel's Home for Children." 

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at John. "You did all this? You arranged all this... for me?" 

John wanted nothing more than to gather her up in his arms and squeeze the stuffing out of her because of the look she was giving him right now made him feel as though he were on top of the world, but they didn't have the time.

"So what do you say?" he asked with that all-knowing grin. "Ready to throw the party of the century and stick it to Caldwell and Ms. Veronica Landis?" 

Angel beamed at him. "With you by my side, I could conquer the world if you wanted me too." 

"That's my Angel!" He couldn't resist giving her a quick squeeze. 

Looking back at the invitation, Angelique looked alarmed. "John, what am I to wear?" 

"You go take a shower," John said, leading her into the Master Bedroom, "and I'll take care of the rest."