For those much needed out of town trips.

>>>>>>>>>From The Weston Skating Rink>>>>>>>>>

Jeff looked around, and found both of them in the private lounge in a busy airport. He looked at Candy wide-eyed.

"I...um...I take it that we're here?"

  She smiled, and said "Yeah.  It's that easy for me."

Jeff looked around and then back at Candy.

"Well...you probably know the airport better than I do. Lead the way," he said, holding out his hand to her.

  She grinned, and slid close to wrap her arm around his waist.  Then she led the way to the parking lot, and looked around.   "Welcome to Tokyo, where do you want to visit first?  Oh, and do you want to send your parents a postcard?"

"Sure, we can do that....oh and I speak near perfect Japanese, so there won't be a problem with the language..."

  She grinned, and said "Good, because I really don't speak a word of Japanese.  So, you lead!"

"OK..." Jeff said excitedly. He then led her out of the airport and went to the monorail station.

"This train is like the L Train system in Chicago...but MUCH faster. Hell, in Tokyo, you don't really need a car."

  Candy giggled, and said "I can tell you've been dying to get here!  So you show ME all around, I never get to leave the airports normally!"

Jeff grinned as they boarded the monorail.

"Well..even though I haven't been here befor, just saw pictures on the Internet."

  She kissed him, and said "I can tell this is going to be a blast!!"

Jeff grinned at the kiss, and found a seat for both of them before the train got underway.

  She grinned, and said "Going to do any christmas shopping while you're here?"

"Well..I've got everything taken care of...unless you see something you want..."
Outside the skyline of Tokyo could be seen in the daytime.

  Candy giggled, and said "I was thinking more for your family, but I'll keep my eyes open."

"OK..' Jeff said as they continued on the monorail. 'He might like some of the historic journals that were made into novelizations in authentic Japanese."

  Candy said "You know your family better than I do.  I just send my Mom postcards from all over.  I almost never see her.  She's . . . .well, I love my Mom, but she drives me batty."

"Parents aren't perfect, that's for sure. Hell, you met mine...but they do OK."

  She nodded, and said "She MEANS well . . .. but she seems to be stuck thinking I'm twelve."

Jeff squeezed her hand gently. "Do you...do you think I might get to meet 'em someday?"

 She nodded, and said "Yeah, I can take you to meet Mom any time.   Just don't tell her anything about superheroing."  He knew why he couldn't meet her Dad.  Dead people were lousy to visit.

"That would be cool," Jeff said.

It looked as if the monorail was coming to a halt.

"Well...looks like this is our stop for now." They could both see massive shopping centers and buildings outside.

  Candy grinned, and followed him.  She said "You know, Japan gets all the coolest versions of the CDs."

"Yeah they do," he replied to her grinning. "But one thing I love is anime...and here is the most awesome source of anime and manga that can only be seen to be believed."

 She laughed, and said "I never, EVER, forget a place, Jeff.  All I have to do is see it once.  Then I can port there any time.  From anywhere else I am.  So, it won't be hard to get you presents now!"

"That is STILL amazing...I mean, I can't believe we're here in Tokyo. That is pretty damned cool!" he said excitedly as they entered the store.

The store itself seemed to have an almost infinite supply of manga and anime, some subtitled, some with subtitles, and manga written both in Japanese and English.

  Candy smiled, and said softly "I'll admit, it's a useful knack."

"Nice...I guess I'll admit that this was a spot I wanted to hit...I'll try to find something for my folks though...Mom and Dad are kinda hard to shop for though...I mean, what do you get for the people who have most everything they want?"

  Candy giggled, and said "You personalize something, so that whatever it is, even if they DO have forty other ones, THAT one is a special, one of a kind because of what you've added."

Jeff nodded and smiled at Candy.

"OK..so we probably want to hit another store here at some point then. Something more grown up.."

  She giggled, and said "We have hours on end to shop, so we're golden."

"Cool..." Jeff said as he began to look out among the various sources of anime that were available.

"Don't worry Candy..I won't take long here. Do you like anime?" he asked her.

  Candy said "Yes I do, but I can't read the Japanese.  I'd love to get the Vampire Hunter D animes."

"It's cool..but I've gotta tell ya...the dubbing into English is HORRIBLE. One thing I like to do is to get the audio in Japanese, but the subtitles in English..."

While he spoke with her, he picked up both the original Vampire Hunter D and Vampire Hunter D Bloodlist, both in Japanese audio but English subtitles.

  She grinned, and said "Well, the other one I want, I don't even know if they have.  The Lensman.  I saw it once, loved it.  Can't find it though!"

Jeff grinned, then went to the front of the store and talked with the cashier, exchanging words in Japanese. The cashier pointed to a section on the other side of the store.

"Right over here..." he said, smiling.

  He could tell that just made her day.  She asked "You can read the labels, which one has the subtitles?  I like them better that way, I admit.  And Totoro, and a couple others.  I like Studio Ghibli work."

Jeff anxiously went through the store section, looking for what Candy requested, bringing back a couple more DVDs.

"Will this work?"

  She grinned, and gave him a deep kiss before she said softly "Yes.  You're such a sweetheart.  Can I keep you forever?"

Jeff kissed her back, then replied, "Well...you're frozen together with me...so, yes...you can keep me forever..."

  She blushed, and said softly "You might melt, though.  I'm a fiery wench . . . and you make my blood heat."

"Well...we're just gonna have to find a nice elemental medium, aren't we?" Jeff said to her, grinning.

He then walked up to the front counter with the DVDs. "Well..here is to hope that the exchange rate is still fairly decent.."

  She chuckled, and gave his butt a squeeze as she followed him up.  Looking innocent as a salesgirl giggled at the two of them.

Jeff's cheeks turned BEET red as he laid down the DVDs to pay for them. His grin evident as it seemed to cover one coast to the other.

  Candy grinned at his blush, and kissed his cheek before she whispered in his ear "You look so cute with your cheeks such a bright red color . . . "

Jeff chuckled nervously as the cashier gave him an amused look. He said something in Japanese, then laughed for a moment before handing Jeff the bag and telling them thank you.

  Candy had her arm around his waist as they walked away from the cashier.  "You're cute when you blush."

"I thought you might like that...now we have to find my Mom and Dad something...plus we could probably see some sights before we head back.."

  She asked "So, what do your parents like that we could get them for presents here?"

"Well...Dad usually likes little trinkets...talismans that ward off evil spirits and all that stuff. Mom...she's a bit more difficult to shop for...she likes that really elegant stuff...vases...pottery...things like that.."

  She said "Hrmmmm.  Let's wander around the mall a little then."

Jeff wandered the mall with Candy, pointing out several game stores, a candy store, and a three story arcade. They finally came to what appeared to be a crafts and trinket shop.

  Candy ushered him into the trinket shop, and asked him <Red>"Think maybe this will have something?"Red>

"I think it will," he said as they walked in to the store.

He then approached the clerk, and asked her if they had either a vase or any trinkets. The clerk pointed towards the back, and it seemed to have a host of trinkets, and also a nice vase with a picture of a waterfall and kanji written on it.

  Candy enjoyed browsing too, and showed him this and that as they found them.

Jeff went up and paid for the vase and the mirror. After they were done, he turned to Cathy.

"All right, now that we've got THAT out of the way, what would you like to do now?"

  Candy said "Let's take a walk in some of the memorial gardens.  They're supposed to be very beautiful."

Jeff smiled at Candy and said, "That sounds good. Let me get some directions."

After conversing with one of the store clerks, Jeff extended his hand to Candy.

"All right..looks like we've got some directions.."

  Candy grinned, and said "Excellent.  You realize I'll be able to come back directly to anywhere we've been, right?  As long as I've seen the place, I can port to it direct."

"Yeah, I realize that. Heck, we may have to come back a few more times after this..."

  That got a giggle, and Candy said teasingly "Maybe surprise your parents with a trip to Japan, no airfare needed?"

"That would be cool...I know that they would appreciate that..."

  She grinned, and said "It's not like it would be hard.  I know I'm good at surprising my Mom with random vacations.  She loves them, but she always wants to complain while she's on them."

Jeff shrugged and replied, "Well..my folks haven't been on a vacation in a LONG time, so it'll be something different for them."

  "I always hear how the airfare is so expensive, they could really enjoy a vacation if we covered that expense, right?"  She hugged him, grinning.

"Oh yeah!" Jeff replied. "The airfare is the biggest part of it, aside from the hotel.."

He hugged her back, and added "You're full of hugs today..."

  She said "I'm enjoying this trip.  Are you?"  She was walking with her head in his shoulder and smiling.

Jeff chuckled at that and said to her "I am too. I've always wanted to come here..and now here I am..with somebody who is extraordinary."

  She said "You're terribly sweet.  Better yet, you know I can bring you back here any time you like.  And we can shop until we drop!"

Jeff smiled at Candy.

"That will be lots of fun, and I have had a total blast too. I wish that we could make time stand still sometimes in moments like this."

  She nodded, and said "I know.  Hey, I get to buy dinner here, okay?  They've got some wicked steak houses here."  She was still leaning on him and holding his hand too.

Jeff looked at her a bit surprised. "Um...sure...there's a lot of good Hibachi steakhouses around."

  Candy said quietly "Trust me, it's a thank-you in advance for wanting to meet my Mom.  We might stop in on the way back.  Mom's . . . a trip."

"Um...ok...I guess I will be prepared for...a trip.." Jeff said as they walked along.

  She said quietly "She's got major issues with accepting what happened to Dad.  She keeps insisting he's just missing, not dead.  You get my drift?"

Jeff nodded in understanding. "Don't worry...I promise to be cool during our visit. I just hope that she likes me."

  She hugged him, and said "You're not a cop, so she won't freak.  That's why I said not to mention super heroing work though, or she WILL freak."

Jeff hugged her back, and replied "I've gotta keep up a secret identity, so that won't be a problem."

  She kissed him, and said softly "Then we should be golden.  You tell her what your day job is, and I don't tell her I'm about to learn heroing!"

Jeff smiled as he listened to Candy.

"Well, I don't think working at a bookstore is that dangerous."

  "Working anywhere but Weston, it probably isn't!"  She giggled and leaned against his shoulder.

They soon made their way to a hibachi steakhouse, which translated into "Kyoto's Divine Wind."

"Candy..I just want you to know that I'm not perfect. There will be times that I mess up..sometimes more than once. Just remember that I really do like you..and I'm looking forward to exploring this path that we are on."

  Candy smiled, and said softly "You're only human, Jeff.  And so am I.  I even come with a Mom who probably could be committed, if someone felt nasty.  But I'll do my best, and that's all I can ask of you."

Jeff blushed as he kissed her on the cheek.

"I only ask the same, Candy..."

  She smiled, and said "Order two of the best steaks in the house for us, Jeff.  I can't do it because I don't speak the Japanese."  She gave him a one armed hug, and added Let's see what we can do, Jeff, to make tonight a night to remember."

Jeff nodded as the host came and sat them at the table. In Japanese, Jeff ordered drinks for them both (non alcoholic) and two of the best steaks in the house.

He looked at her, smiling intently. "I'd like this to be a night that I'll remember fondly for the rest of my life."

  She smiled, and said "I hope so.  Shopping, dinner, and a good night kiss included.  Sound fair?"

Jeff smiled at Candy.

"I will be more than happy to honor that request, Candy."

  Candy smiled, and said "I thought it was a reasonable request."

"More than reasonable," Jeff said, grinning.

  Candy grinned, and teased him gently "Aren't you glad you had to go to Nepal now?"

Jeff nodded.

"Yeah..I am. I found out a lot about myself...A LOT..and I also met you too. A two for one."

  Candy blushed, and said softly "We'll have plenty of time to see how our chemistry works, if I move to Weston.  Not like I can't get to work anywhere in the world that I've seen if I commute!!"

Jeff grinned and blushed.

"I'd like to see where this goes too. Though I'm liking where its going so far."

  Candy said "I like what this is heading towards so far too!"

Jeff smiled, and raised his drink glass in a toast.

"A toast then..to fire and ice.."

  She tapped her glass to his, and said softly "To Fire and Ice, a beautiful match."

"A truly....beautiful...match.." Jeff said softly as they brought their glasses together.

  She blushed beautifully, but smiled.  Then she offered him a bite of her steak!

He grinned as he readily accepted the steak from Candy.

 Candy giggled, and said "Globetrotting dates are fun!"

"Yes they are. I wonder where we will go to next?"

  "Home.  You get to meet my mother."

"Sounds good," Jeff said as he ate up his steak.

 Candy smiled, and applied herself to her meal, even as she told him affectionately "You know, I bet your Dad will be shocked.  Real Japanese stuff for Christmas."

Jeff smiled as he continued to eat.

"I'm sure its something he didn't expect. Though I think he will like it though."

  Candy giggled and said "I hope they like their presents.  Anyway, I know what to get YOU too now!  Buy you a gift card to the Anime and Manga store!"

Jeff chuckled at that.

"That would be awesome. My anime collection would skyrocket in such a short time."

  She giggled, and said "Especially since you can get to Japan to buy it!"

"Yeah...it looks like the world is our oyster, isn't it?"

  Candy grinned, and said "Pretty much.  Instantaneous transit to anywhere is a neat way to travel!"

Jeff grinned as he was about to finish dinner.

"Yeah, instant travel is cool. A bit different..but cool."

 Candy grinned, and said "You can imagine how much of a pain I used to be with the 'are we there yet' questions."

"Oh yeah..especially with how far you can travel!"

  Candy nodded, and said "Oh yeah.  I freaked the school out a couple times very badly."

Jeff smiled. "Yeah...well, they wouldn't worry if they didn't care right?"

  She laughed, and said "School was just worried about getting sued for losing track of a kid!"

"Eh...most of 'em are like that..." Jeff then finished up the last bite of his meal and smiled at her.

  She still had several bites left, and the wrinkled her nose teasingly at him as she took a bite, then tapped his nose with one long-nailed finger.

Jeff smiled as Candy's finger touched his nose.

 She grinned, and whispered "You're so damn cute.  Feel ready to face the monster known as my Mom?"

"I'm ready when you are," Jeff said to her.

  She said "Just let me finish my steak, Jeff."

"No prob...besides it's kinda fun watching you eat.." he said, smiling as he observed her.

  That got a blush, and she asked "You sure that's fun?"

"When it's YOU...of course it's fun.."

  She giggled as she took that last bite, and caught his hand with her other one, holding his hand across the table as she finished eating.

Jeff couldn't help but smile at Candy, wondering how he could have gotten so lucky.

  Now done with her steak, Candy asked him softly "Ready to go to Ohio?  I'll leave a tip."  She put several dollars on the table, a proper 15% tip, then held her other hand out to him, knowing he had his purchases on his person.

Jeff took Candy's hand as they made ready to exit the restaurant.

  Candy grinned, and the 'roller coaster drop' feeling hit.  They were now standing in the dark, in front of a small house out in the country somewhere.

Jeff got his bearings for a moment, then looked around.

  Candy walked up the driveway, and said "This is where my Mom lives now.  Come on."

Jeff held her hand as he walked up the driveway with her.

  She fished a key out of her pocket, and unlocked the door, calling "Mom!  I'm home, got someone I want you to meet!!"

  A thin, nervous woman who looked somehow terribly sad came hurrying in, wrapped in a bathrobe, and blinked at Jeff.  She had dark hair, and her eyes were dark, but she had only shades of the beauty she'd once had, and that her daughter still did have.  She blinked, and asked him "Are you Candy's boyfriend?"

Jeff smiled and nodded. "Um..yeah, I'm Candy's boyfriend. My name's Jeff.."

  Mrs. Michaels looked him over, and said "Come in, sit down, tell me what you do for a living."

Jeff chuckled slightly, looked at Candy for a moment, then replied, "Well...I work in a bookstore...B.Dalton..."

  Candy smiled, and presented her mother with a little trinket from the trinket shop as she said "Yes, he's my boyfriend.  He's also terribly cute, Mom."  She kissed him on the temple, smiling.

Jeff blushed at the praise Candy heaped on him.

  She chuckled, and said "Candy does seem very taken with you.  That's a good thing.  Working in a bookstore is a nice, safe occupation."

"Yeah...it's an occupation..." Jeff said shrugging. "But it's something I enjoy."

  Candy fetched Cokes for them both from the fridge, and handed her Mom a Sprite.  She said "Jeff's nice.  We went shopping in Tokyo, he can read Japanese!"

"Yep.." Jeff said proudly. "I can read...and speak..near fluent Japanese.."

  Candy grinned, and said "He's GOOD at it too.  Doesn't get the funny looks I do when I go shopping in foreign countries."

  Her mom chuckled, and said softly to Jeff "Okay.  You may date my daughter.  Be good to her."

"I will be Ma'am...and thank you..."

  Candy blushed bright red, and gave him an 'I am sorry' look.

  Her mother said "Just don't break my Candy's heart."

"That's not an option, Ma'am. She had helped me out of a few tough spots, so believe me when I say that we're of one accord on the subject."

  Candy smiled, and sat down beside him, leaning against him.  She said softly "He's a sweetie, Mom.  I really, REALLY like him."

  Her mother looked at her, and then at Jeff, and said "If you break her heart, I will shoot you myself."

Jeff nodded, looking a little shocked.

"OK....I understand. No shooting necessary please.."

  Candy facepalmed, and bounced to her feet.  She gave her Mom a kiss on the cheek, and said "Don't forget your meds tonight, please?"  Then she seized Jeff's hand and 'ported them.  Landing them in Times Square in New York City.  She said softly "I TOLD you my Mom was a trip.  I'm sorry.  She just . . . she gets a bit weird about some things."

Jeff shrugged and replied, "You think this is bad...my Mom will probably give me the third degree when I get home. Just 'cause I'm eighteen doesn't mean I'm excluded from the third, fourth and fifth degree. But I think in her own way, your Mom really cares about ya."

He looked around, recognizing where they were. "Hey...y'know, the New Age Defenders and I were here. It was our first outing together..we were fighting against some guy...he was a super soldier experiment or somethin'.."

  Candy perched on a bench, and said "Mom loves me dearly.  But sometimes her contact with reality gets a little tenuous.  Especially if she forgets her meds.  I love her, she loves me, but she's a flake."

"Heh...try hangin' out with my sister for more than a few hours...now SHE'S a flake..."

  Candy laughed, and said "Your sister will love the idea of free 'airfare'."

Jeff laughed with her. "My sister loves the notion of just about anything free, Candy. So do my parents..."

  Candy giggled, and said "Guess it's a good thing I do free candy then, no?"

"Yeah it is...I know those guys in the Himalayas definitely enjoyed it.."

  Candy laughed, and said "I was thinking of you."

Jeff smiled.

"Well...when I was goin' up the mountain, I kept thinkin' that I had to get through that so that I could come back to you."

He took off his shirt for a moment, showing her the medallion that was now engraved into his body.

"I knew I had to go through this...so I could find my destiny...and find you again..."

  She gently touched his chest, and said softly "You know, you're very sexy, and this looks amazing, but aren't you freezing your ass off shirtless in December?"  Her fingers felt hot against his skin.

Jeff felt fine in the frigid air.

"No...I feel fine....it's one of the aspects of being a Cryomancer...I don't feel the cold...probably 'cause I'm part of it.."

  Candy smiled, and said softly "Okay, that's just sexy.  So, would playing 'fire and ice' do you any good?"

Jeff smiled and asked "What do you mean, playing fire and ice?"

  She giggled, and said "Normally, people play it with ice cubes and their tongues.  You trail the ice cube along the skin, then lick the water trail . . . "

Jeff blushed as he found out what the "game" was all about.

"Well..I can make ice.." he said grinning.

  She smiled, and said "I suppose we might just have to experiment.  Because making ice doesn't tell me if it does anything when one plays 'fire and ice' with you."

Jeff chuckled, only slightly nervous.

"Yeah..we might have to try some things out, huh?"

  Candy chuckled, and said "Well, keep in mind, the 'fire' part is only the heat of the human-body."

Jeff blushed at that, and replied "Well...uh wow...I might melt.."

  Candy smiled, and said "As long as you don't melt completely.  Some parts should remain nice and hard."

That comment drew an even greater blush to Jeff's cheeks.

"Wow..so, uh..how about this skyline? Its totally awesome.." he said, clasping her hand with his.

  Candy giggled, and said softly "It's spectacular.  So is the company."  She leaned against his bare chest, happy to just sit and enjoy.

Jeff put his arm around Candy and took in the New York City night air. Content to have her close to him.

  She leaned against him, and teased "Everyone's going to think you're a polar bear club member!"

Jeff chuckled at that.
"Heh..but I'm your Polar Bear.."

  She smiled, and leaned into him, smiling.  "You certainly are comfortable to lean on!"

Jeff held her against him, enjoying her company as they sat together.

  She asked, thoughtfully "Do you think the rest of the New Age Defenders would like Christmas presents from me?"

Jeff smiled, and said "I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Its a nice goodwill offering that I'm sure they wouldn't expect."

  She chuckled, and said "I may have to bounce down under to find something for them."

"That would be awesome...I'm sure they'd like that.."

  She grinned, and asked impishly "Want to go to the land down under with me?"

"We have some time left. Sure, why not?"

  She grinned, and rose, then held her hands out to him.

Jeff took her hands as she held them out to him.

  Between one heartbeat and the next, they were in Sydney Australia.

"Wow..." Jeff exclaimed. "I dunno if I'll ever get used to that."

  Candy giggled, and led the way toward a large shopping center as she said "What would make good presents?"

"Well...let's see...Ozzy...Iris...Meg....not sure what I'd get 'em..."

  She poked him in the ribs, and said "Well, you might want to help me with ideas here, Jeff!!"

"OK...well Ozzy is a mage...oh he likes skateboarding...Meg, she loves to cook...Iris, I'm not sure what she does...she's 12 though..."

  Candy grinned, and headed them into the mall.  She said "Let's see what they have in here for skaters?"

"Let's do this. Um..you've been to this mall before?"

  Candy nodded, and said "Yeah.  I just wanted you to see the famous Sydney skyline."

Jeff looked around, definitely impressed. "Wow...around the world in 8 hours...pretty damned impressive..."

  Candy laughed, and said "Yeah, I can really rack up the miles without spending a dime on airfare . . . "

Jeff nodded at that as they entered the mall. He started looking around for the skate shop.

  Candy grinned, and pointed to the skate shop, then asked him teasingly "So, what would I buy you, if I were shopping for you too?"

"Oh I dunno...maybe one of the newest RPG gaming supplements...a copy of the new Mortal Kombat game..."

  Candy giggled, and said "We'll have to look around then.  What do you think Ozzy would like best?  A new pair of skates, some new pads, or . . . maybe those killer electric green and neon orange wheels?"

"If I know Ozzy the way I think I do...those neon orange and electric green wheels would be awesome for him..."

  Candy giggled, and said "Then that's what I will get him for Christmas.  Now, for Iris?  Maybe a full chemistry set?"

"OH yeah...she will definitely like that..."

  She grinned, and picked up one of those, as well as the wheels.  She said "If Meg likes to cook, maybe some nice glass casserole dishes?"

Jeff nodded. "I'm sure she'll want to take some of those too...Meg is a helluva cook."

  Candy smiled, and said "We can go visit the kitchen stuffs store next then."  She offered Jeff her elbow as she paid for the chemistry set and skate wheels with a grin.

Jeff accepted the elbow, smiling as they went to kitchenwares.

"You're awfully grinny....then again, so am I..."

  She brushed her lips against his cheek, and said "What can I say?  I'm very happy."

"So am I," Jeff said. "I keep thinking that this is a dream, but this is amazingly real...and I like it."

  Candy said softly "I know.  If nothing else, I know I can help other supers just by being able to 'port them to almost anywhere!"

"I have a confession to make...I'm kind of a comic buff. Your powers kind of remind me of a combination of The Human Torch and Gateway. Pyromancer and a porter...as for the candy cane thing...it's pretty cool...we'll always be well fed.."

  She smiled, and said "Yeah, the candy thing is where I got my name, but it's the most useless parahuman ability I think anyone's come up with yet, you know?"

Jeff smiled.

"Well...it was useful when we were up in those mountains. Hey...um...if I ever need to go back there, you can port us back there right?"

  She said softly "Anywhere I have been.  If I could get an image direct from your mind, I could go anywhere you have been too."

Jeff slightly blushed at that.

"Anywhere...I've gone? Um...wow...."

  She nodded, and said "All I really need is a clear image of where I'm going."

"Well...considering you've been once before...we could go to that temple you saw...I'm not sure if I have to go back, but I get the feeling I might at least once or twice."

  She smiled, and said "I'll be happy to help you get there, Jeff.  It's what I'm the best at."

"Thanks Candy," Jeff replied. "Well...we've got Ozzy, Iris, Meg...hmmm...there's Andy...I'm just not sure what to get him though.."

  Candy asked "What do you know about his hobbies and things?"

Jeff shrugged, and replied "Well, he liked to wear leather a lot. I think he was into motorcycles and stuff."

  Candy frowned, and said "Motorcycles and leather.  Hrmmm.  That's a toughie.  Those are expensive!  Anything else you know that he likes?"

Jeff thought for a moment. "Well...I know he liked to draw an' sketch an' stuff...maybe a new sketchpad would be cool for him."

  Candy said "Sketchpad and pencils ARE affordable!  That sounds perfect, Jeff.  Let's pick some up for him then."

"Sounds good. I take it you know of a good arts and crafts store in this mall?"

  She chuckled, and said "Hobby Lobby works well, and it's not closed here."

Jeff smiled. "Well...you know Australia better than I do...lead on.."

  She led him to Hobby Lobby, and had him help her pick out a good sketchbook and sketching pencils for Andy.  She asked him softly "What would you like me to get your for Christmas?"

"OH, me? Um....wow...I...um, I have no idea..."

  She smiled, and said softly "Yes, you.  I asked, because otherwise, I don't know what would be best."

Jeff smiled, clearly blushing. "Um...well..I've just never gotten a gift on a spur of the moment like this. Well...I like comics...maybe the Kingdom Come graphic novel would be good...it's a helluva good story and artwork..."

  She said softly "So, where do we need to go in order to get that for you then?"

Jeff shrugged. "Well...any local comic shop will probably have it. Even B. Dalton and Waldenbooks have it too."

  She paid for Andy's presents, then headed him toward the Borders bookstore to find his book.

Jeff knew the layout of these places. They more or less were the same all around the world.

His eyes lit up as he found it and pointed it out to her.

http://www.dccomics.com/media/...9/9/9978_400x600.jpg

  Candy chuckled, and picked that one up, then added the sequel and three others while he wasn't looking.  She headed over to the checkout while he was looking somewhere else too.

Jeff followed Candy up to the checkout, almost like a lost puppy.

  She paid for her purchases, and handed Jeff the bag, chuckling, and said "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you..." Jeff said, grinning from ear. "Can I look now?"

  She smiled, and said "Yes you may.  Ready to head to Weston?"

Jeff looked in to the bag. "Yes I.....Whoooooooooooooah!"

His eyes lit up in wonder, as he saw what she had gotten him.

"Thank you! Um...but I...I haven't gotten you anything yet.."

  Candy smiled, and said "That's okay.  I think I have a pretty good one in you."

That got a serious blush from Jeff, and he turned to give her a good, sincere hug. "Well....I hope you like your present..."

  Candy kissed him, and said "Believe me, I do."

OOC: Guess we need to catch up to the timeskips!

They both went on the way back to Weston..

>>>>>>>>>>>>To Timeskip>>>>>>>>>>

  Meg grinned, and led Penny out to the balcony.  Surrounding them both in a sphere of emerald energy, she lifted them into the air, and headed for Paris.  A fast supraorbital hop, and they were there.
  Penny asked softly "Meg, where are we?"
  She smiled as she settled them down in front of a little shop on a street in Paris.  "We're in Paris.  I'm taking you dress shopping.  We're going to get you a special dress for a dinner out.  So come on in here, and let's find you a dress."
  Penny shook her head, and followed along, letting Meg guide her.  They laughed, playing with the fashions, and Penny experimented.  She finally settled on a dress, and she could feel the butterfly motif of it.  She asked Meg "You sure this is good?"
  Meg said softly "Yes.  It's a butterfly dress.  Jack will love it."  She walked around Penny, and then waved a shopgirl over.  She said to the girl quietly "All the accessories to it, please.  And please, if you could give her the proper makeup and such to go with it."

  Penny shivered, and sat still in a gown that made her look absolutely gorgeous.  The bodice fit very close to her body, with a deeply plunging neckline that went to her navel, and curved around her hips like a lover's hands.  The skirt flared out, and from the collar-neck, a back-piece came out, looking like butterfly wings.  The skirt swept out, and made the other half of the swallowtail, with the center of the bodice the butterfly's body.  It was beautiful, and elegant, and would totally blow away anyone else in the room.   Meg made certain everything matched, in ebony and sapphire blue, a swallowtail dress that was breath-taking.  She also had Penny sized for the accessories, the ring, the pendant, and a sapphire bracelet.  Once she had her properly dressed in that lovely outfit, she took Penny to the salon, and had her hair styled and trimmed neatly, the lovely, long mass of ebony like a silken waterfall.  It was an overall look, and it would be a one of a kind dress forever.  Meg asked "You ready to wow Jack?"
  Penny nodded, a little hesitant, and asked "You sure he'll like this?"
  Meg nodded, and said "Absolutely."  She headed them back to Weston, sending Jack a message {{Hope you're ready to take your girl out to dinner, Jack . . . }}