"Now, did you play nice today at the little gun place?" Savannah joined Kermit on the beach to watch the sunset.

"Firing range...and no, I didn't. Where's Kat?" He took her hand and gave her a polite kiss.

"She's napping and Caine's meditating. Perfect combination. OH! Almost forgot!" She pulled out a brand new pair of sunglasses from her pocket. "A happy for you."

"Thanks. What else did you blow our friend's plastic on?" Kermit shook his head. *Just look who I'm calling 'friend'....*

"This and that. Also planted a few seeds, if you know what I mean." She winked and gave him a squeeze.

He knew *exactly* what she meant. This woman wouldn't be satisfied until she had a closet full of bridesmaid dresses. "Don't you think you're being a bit too obvious? Mary Margaret and Caine, now Wolf and Nicki. Who's next?"

With mock indignation, she replied, "First of all, Mary Margaret STARTED this thing...remember? With fabulous results, I might add. I am merely her faithful student practicing my craft."

"Yeah, right."

Frowning, she asked, "You're not mad, are you?"

"Like that would stop you...no, I'm not mad. Amazed. Anxiously awaiting your next move. But never mad." Draping his arm around her before the sunset, he decided to tell her what he wanted to share the night before. "About the movie...those things you said and did...."

He didn't have to say it. She already knew how moved he was by the things he'd seen portrayed on the screen. Several events he could tell were based on reality but she'd never brought up. "Because I love you, that's why. And I'd do it again." Savannah stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips into his. They held each other, stealing one of those rare moments alone.

"Finally, I get to be the center of attention to the Master Matchmaker," Kermit whispered in her ear.

"Always. Oh, and just so that you have something to look forward to," she pulled back and flashed a wicked, dimple-filled grin, "I plan to stay EXTREMELY conscious tonight."

"That IS something to look forward to."

*****

Watching the couple from the terrace, Mary Margaret commented, "She won't be satisfied until we are ALL standing on a beach somewhere *necking*!"

Peter nodded in agreement. Now, he felt uncomfortable again. This afternoon with his father had been one thing, but this was Mary Margaret. They had been partners. Thinking of her as a future stepmother was strange at best. Considering that they were almost the same age.

Mary Margaret broke the ice. "Heard you had a little talk with your father this afternoon."

Blam. There is was. Peter would have preferred to avoid THIS conversation but there seemed to be no escape. "Well...uh...I just wanted to understand."

"I assume he explained."

"Yes. How do YOU feel about this 'understanding'?" He'd heard Pop's side, might as well hear hers.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to tell the truth. A truth she never said out loud and rarely said inside her head. "Sure, I'd like more but he's just not ready. That okay with you, partner?"

Taking her hand, he answered, "Yes. As long as the two of you are happy, then it's fine with me. Great, in fact." He grinned at her embarrassment. "Who knows? Maybe one day, I'll get to call you Mama!"

"Two seconds after you do, you're grounded!"

********

Kermit normally hated parties like this one. A bunch of made-up people, trying to out 'cool' one another. He was standing, disinterested, beside the railing of the deck, rattling the ice in his drink. Gazing across the small gathering outside, he focused on the one sight that didn't annoy him. His wife.

Savannah had taken a seat and was giving Kat a bottle while chatting with Peter and his new friend. She'd exacted brutal monetary revenge on Wolf Gannett's gold card. Something that pleased the detective no end. Savannah had bought a frilly new outfit for the baby, new sunglasses for him, a mink for Mary Margaret and some mysterious package that she had hidden in the closet. As usual, he couldn't help staring at her. Wearing a short, soft pink cocktail dress that was also courtesy of Wolf, she mesmerized him. Nicki had offered to call a babysitter for the duration of the party but Savannah had declined. Secretly, Kermit knew that she loved to show off their daughter. Their finest collaboration thus far.

*Look out, Peter,* he thought. Savannah was in full meddling mode. Standing too close to her with a new woman at his side could be dangerous.

"Hi there, big guy." Kermit heard the words ooze over his shoulder as Jolie attached herself to his side. "From the reviews in this morning's paper, all those lessons you taught Wolfie sure paid off." With the subtlety of a brick through a window, she leaned against him and continued to flirt. "Bet you could teach a girl lots of things."

Kermit stood perfectly still and attempted not to attract any further attention. "No. Not as much as you'd think." He took a couple of steps backwards and downed his drink.

Peter had noticed the seduction in progress from across the room and had tried to block Savannah's view. He hadn't moved fast enough and she was already out of her chair, Kat in her arms, and moving to investigate. Not one to miss the fireworks, Peter followed.

Undaunted by Kermit's body language, Jolie continued her pursuit. Her brief and nearly transparent dress flowed as she rubbed up against him. Attempting to entice her prey, she slowly walked her finger up the front of his shirt. "I'd like to hear about this great...big...gun of yours."

Barely able to see around Jolie's hair, Kermit caught sight of his wife. *Oh, shit....*

Converse to the image of hair-pulling fury he expected to see, Savannah chimed sweetly, "Well, hello, dear. Are you two having a good time?"

Only slightly embarrassed, Jolie detached herself and addressed the frightingly restrained wife before her. "Kermie and I were just talking about all the things he taught Wolfie." Winking at the detective, she added, "Wish he'd teach me a few."

"Yessss," Savannah purred, "I'll just bet you do." She shook her head at the waiter hovering near her elbow. "No, thank you." She'd learned her lesson.

The waiter, though, was very persistent. "Miss Harrison asked me to deliver this to you, ma'am. She said to tell you it was a 'special' vintage."

Savannah plucked the glass off the tray, mainly so that the waiter would leave. She frowned and took a cautious sip. Ginger ale! She glanced at Nicki and nodded appreciatively. This, though, made her even more determined to carry out her plan.

Before she could continue, Wolf joined the group. "Hiya! Everybody having a good time?"

"Oh, yeah, Wolf. Great party." Peter was relieved that Wolf had interrupted before blood had been spilled all over his deck.

"Yes, Wolf. Even Kat is havin' a wonderful time! She's already bein' courted by three talent agents!" Savannah was too happy. It was making Kermit nervous.

"Jolie," Wolf asked, reaching down to tickle Kat's full tummy, "isn't she the cutest thing. That's right, Uncle Wolf's little angel...."

Not the least bit fond of infants and what they implied, Jolie covered, "Of course, Wolfie. Just precious."

With a gleam in her eye, Savannah offered, "Jolie, dear. Would you like to hold her?"

Not wanting to appear unkind to this kid that her meal ticket seemed so fond of, she answered, "Uh...sure."

Easing the baby down from her shoulder, she placed her in Jolie's arms. "She likes to be held right up on your shoulder," Savannah instructed. "Real tight now. Oh...and pat her back. She really likes that."

Jolie complied uncomfortably. She began to pat the baby's back and Kat snuggled up on her shoulder. "See, Wolfie. She likes me."

Kermit suddenly noticed the burp cloth that Savannah had been using on her shoulder was in her hand. Kat had just finished a full bottle. Savannah was smiling and biting her lip. One thing Kermit had learned the hard way was what babies did when they finished their bottles.

"BURP!"

Jolie jumped as sweet baby Katherine spit up all over her overpriced outfit. "OH, MY GOD!!! Somebody get this little INSECT off of me!"

Kermit tensed at the insect remark but Wolf reacted first. "Hey!" he snapped. "Cool it, Jolie. She's just a baby."

Savannah, holding back a grin that threatened to explode across her face, gently took Kat back into her arms and watched as Jolie stormed past Wolf and into the house. "Oh, Wolf, I'm so sorry...."

"Hey, dollface, SHE should be sorry. The kid just did what kids do." Wolf patted the baby, tugged on a curl and returned to his mingling. He almost seemed relieved that his *date* was gone.

"You aren't the least bit sorry," Kermit whispered in her ear. "What are you up to?"

With an exaggerated expression of shock, she replied, "Kermit! What kind of woman do you think I am...use MY precious child to further some twisted plan of mine? I never! Here you go, *Kermie*." Depositing Kat and the burp cloth into her father's arms, Savannah rushed off to begin phase two of her plan.

Kermit looked at Peter and shook his head. "Don't ask me," he said, cradling Kat. "I'd just stay out of her way.

*****

Savannah knew she had to move fast. She had already seen Nicki make a beeline for the study, presumably to procure another date for Wolf. She weaved in and out of the crowd, finally catching up to her as she was describing the necessary attributes needed.

"Yes...tall, blonde, long legs....Hello?" Nicki looked up to see Savannah's finger on the phone receiver, disconnecting the call. "Mrs. Griffin-!"

"I've already found Wolf another date," Savannah said crisply, taking Nicki's hand. "Follow me."

"But...." Nicki had no choice but to follow. She was very puzzled; she couldn't figure out who Savannah had in mind.

"C'mon!" Savannah urged, leading Nicki into the bedroom, dashing for the closet and pulling down a package from the closet.

She virtually threw it on the bed and opened it to reveal the cinnamon-gold evening dress.

"Mrs. Griffin-!" Nicki protested.

"There's no time to call someone else!" Savannah told her, herding the young woman into the bathroom. "C'mon, how fast can you shower? Then, I'll do your hair while you do the makeup!"

*****

Wolf wandered aimlessly, wondering when Nicki was going to pull the rabbit out of her hat and provide him with another escort. Being without a date at your own party was...was unthinkable and ripe for the gossip mill for about ten years or so. *Come onnnnn,* he fretted as some director cornered him for some chitchat.

Suddenly, in the midst of the director's droning, he saw a gorgeous babe out of the corner of his eye and heard Nicki whispering lightly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Gannett, but-"

Wolf grinned. Nicki always came through for him! So what if this one was a brunette - the dress looked like it was pasted on! Without taking his eyes off the director, he slipped an arm around the brunette's waist, murmuring, "Just fine, Nicks. Thanks!" He couldn't help but notice that the dress was back-less and her skin was soft and smooth. The woman's hair was piled up in a soft bun with ringlets down the side of her face just like Savannah liked to wear hers. She also smelled wonderful, unlike Jolie, who smelled of makeup and enough perfume to virtually walk on!

Wolf suddenly realized that he had missed a question the director had asked him. "Uhhhh, well...." he stammered.

"Mr. Gannett has received some very good scripts for his next project, Mr. Oliver." Nicki's voice, coming out of nowhere, saved him. "I believe, though, that he is waiting for a script that will be spectacular."

"Yeah, very true," Wolf added. "Excuse me." He walked away with the brunette, looking for Nicki, wanting to thank her for saving his butt. "Nicks!" he whispered, knowing she couldn't be that far away.

"Yes, Mr. Gannett?"

Wolf finally focused on the brunette next to him, took another appreciative glance down her body, proceeded to look around once more...and found himself performing a double take at the woman next to him. His mouth fell open in astonishment. "Nicks??? That's you???"

Nicki blushed with shame. "Mr. Gannett, I know the dress was expensive. I'll make it up to you somehow. And the escort service was...was...closed. I had no choice...."

"Holy SHIT, girl, where've you been hiding it?!?" he exclaimed appreciatively. "Shoulda done that months ago! It woulda saved me a fortune in escorts...." He wrapped her arm around his, took another discreet glance at her and began to mingle again. Nicki looked toward Savannah and smiled as Savannah threw her an 'okay' sign.

*****

The party was finally coming to a close. Wolf spied Peter and his new squeeze out on the patio and it looked like their making-out was winding down. Then the lady disengaged and came back into the house, heading toward the bar. Wolf reluctantly let go of Nicki. "Be right back, babe," he told her. "Wanna talk to Peter."

She nodded. "Of course."

He strolled out to the patio. "Hey, man."

Peter straightened up, unobtrusively trying to wipe any lipstick off. "Hey, Wolf. So who's the new model?"

"That's Nicki, man. Pinch-hitting for me."

"That's Nicki???" Peter looked at her and whistled. "Whoa. So Jolie's not coming back?"

"God, I hope not," Wolf said vehemently. "All she cares about is an open wallet and a good party."

Peter studied the actor quizzically. "If you didn't like her, why'd you invite her back here from yesterday?"

Wolf shrugged. "They're all alike down here."

"Well, you might at least try to find someone interested in YOU, not your stuff. Like Nicki. Nicki sure isn't like Jolie."

"Nicki works for me, Pete. That's different. That woman would go to hell and back if I asked her to. It's her job."

"Yeah, but...what if she DIDN'T work for you?"

Wolf was speechless at the thought.

"You know, Wolf, I've never seen anyone work as hard as she does."

"Me, neither. I mean, she's *everywhere*, doin' everything! You know how many times I call someone to do somethin' and hear 'em say Nicki's already done it???"

"That kind of devotion is hard to find."

Wolf scoffed. "Ah, come on, man. You're makin' it sound like...like she *likes* me or somethin'!"

Peter shrugged. "Well, are you prone to a little...eavesdropping?" He inclined his head to the front room where Savannah was talking to her.

"Pete-! I don't believe you - you're supposed ta be the big, moral cop...."

"I think she just said your name," Peter contributed, trying to lipread. Wolf leaned closer to the window.

*****

"Some party! Do you have to put these things together often?" Savannah sat down on the sofa watching Nicki buzzing around, supervising the clean up crew.

"Oh, yes. Mr. Gannett has been entertaining a great deal in conjunction with the movie production. He needs a lot of support from the film community."

"At least he gets lots of support from you," Savannah quickly maneuvered. Peter and Wolf were outside and Wolf would be walking back in any minute. Maybe if she could get Nicki to talk.... "Please, sit down for a minute. You look like you could use a breather."

Nicki dropped down beside her and smiled at the baby. "People don't realize how important this movie is to W....Mr. Gannett. The first project for a production company can make or break. He worked so hard to make it a quality film."

"'First project'?"

"Didn't you know?? This was HIS movie! Wolflicks is his first production company and this was his first movie! He's been worried sick about it! That's why I've already collected all the reviews - they're all excellent! I've been waiting for a good time to show them to him."

Seeing the devotion in her eyes confirmed Savannah's mission. "I had no idea! Why didn't he say anything about it to us?"

"Well, that's just the way he is. Holds all his worry inside. You have to be careful what you reveal in this town - something he's learned the hard way." Nicki felt like opening up, for some reason. "He's a very talented and creative man. Maybe now that he's making his own films, with better parts, everyone else will know, too."

Glowing with success, Savannah offered, "And he's really very nice, too. Once you get past all that 'stuff' he spouts."

"He IS sweet. And he's generous, too. He does a great deal of giving that no one knows about. All that 'Wolf Gannett' image has been cultivated by people who don't really care about him - they just want to promote themselves."

"People who don't care about him like you do?"

Blushing, Nicki tried to cover. "Oh, it's not like that...you know...uh...between us. That would be unprofessional and wouldn't look very good in the public eye. Besides, I'm not quite like the women he dates." She looked down in her embarrassment. Efficiency and professional image blown.

Beaming, Savannah answered, "Well, Nicks, sometimes a man may be surrounded by things that are completely opposite from what he's looking for. I think Wolf's lucky to have you in his corner."

Peter cleared his throat loudly as he and Wolf entered the room. Savannah wasn't sure exactly how much he'd heard, but evidently, it was enough by the shocked look on his face. She was suddenly inspired by her new "partner in crime". Caine and Griffin. Matchmakin' While You Wait.

Her glee was short-circuited by Nicki's face, flushed crimson, as she bolted out of the room, murmuring a quick, quiet "I'm sorry" on the way out.

"Nicks...!" Wolf called after her but she was gone. "Shit! Now she's gonna think...."

"What?" Savannah demanded. "Why would having you know how she feels make her unhappy?? She obviously cares for you-"

"Nah, you don't get it, dollface," Wolf said, pouring himself a drink. He felt like he needed it. "It's kinda...well, it's kinda like you and the Man. What say you knew that he overheard you talkin' to one of your girlfriends about one of his secret missions? Nicki has pride. She told me when she was fixin' me up in this new outfit. She said, 'You haveta have pride in yourself.' There's no way she'd stay after this. Damn...."

"Well, then, you'll just have to take her on in another position," Savannah said.

"How about 'wife'?" Peter volunteered.

Wolf choked on his drink.

Savannah offered, "I think she's perfect for the job."

Wolf was too embarrassed and too shocked to say anything to this idea. Just flushed red as he finished his drink and poured another.

Peter laughed as he clapped Wolf on the shoulder. "Maybe that is going a little too fast. But let's at least insure that she doesn't quit."

"I'll handle that," Savannah said, steel in her voice, rising from her chair. "Oh, Kermit!!"

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