Jax could not believe his own eyes. Here it was 8:30 in the morning and Brenda was already up and working on the plans for furnishing the house. She had insisted the day after Christmas that he go with her to the Port Charles Library to get every possible book on Victorian homes and furniture. She was determined to make everything in their new home authentic to the last detail. The only compromise he had been able to get from her had been that the couches in the parlor and the library would be comfortable and not the straight, hard, horsehair style normally seen in Victorian homes. He had told her that this was their home not a museum. After about a minute of deep thought she had smiled kissed him on the nose and promised that before she bought any furniture or approved any decorating plans, she would go over everything with him. After all, she had said, it was their home and they should do the planning together.

He had never, in all the years they had been together, seen her so involved in anything. She had interviewed all four decorators suggested by the Restoration Society before she had selected Matthew Rollins. He had been one of the contributors to the restoration of the house, and she told Jax he seemed to have a special feel for the house's needs in decorating it. Jax was amazed at how well they worked together. In just two days they had already come up with design plans for the parlor, dining room, and two of the bedrooms. When he got home from the office tonight Brenda had scheduled a meeting of the three of them so that she and Matthew could present their plans to Jax. Brenda had told him that if he approved, Matthew would begin looking for the furniture pieces tomorrow. Brenda was determined to have the house finished by the time they took possession at the end of January. Jax had told her she didn't need to clear things with him since it was her Christmas gift, but she wouldn't hear of it. She insisted that they would both be living in the house and they should both have a say in its appearance. Reluctantly he had agreed. Since he had never been one to have an interest in furniture or drapes, he was not looking forward to this evening. However, just seeing the light in her face as she looked through the picture books and made notes on a well-used, yellow legal pad made him decide on the spot that seeing her that happy was worth anything, even sitting through an evening with a decorator and room sketches.

Jax finished his coffee and got up from the table. "Got to go, Brenda. The world of hostile takeovers waits for no man, especially one with a new house to furnish," he said jokingly.

Suddenly Brenda looked up from her notes with a look of panic on her face. "Oh, God, Jax. I'm sorry. I never gave a thought to the cost of what I've been planning. I can tell Matthew to forget the whole thing, and we'll do it ourselves."

Jax couldn't resist smiling at her. "You silly, that was just a joke. You know you can spend as much as you want to decorate our first home exactly the way you want it. When has the cost of something ever been a concern for this family?" With that he hugged her and kissed her deeply, letting her know that her concerns about the costs were unfounded. He could feel her relax in his arms as he held her.

"I know I'm just being silly. I just want everything about our first house to be perfect. And it's not going to be furnished the way I want it to be, it's going to be furnished the way WE want it," she said as she looked him in the eyes with her hands firmly planted on her hips to emphasize her point.

"Now don't forget we have that meeting with Matthew at 7:30 tonight, so be home from the office by 6:00. I'll have dinner waiting."

"Yes, ma'am. Wait a minute, you'll have dinner waiting? Are you planning on cooking when I'm not here to put out the fires -- er, I mean help?" he asked with an expression that she couldn't decide was fear, teasing, or concern.

"No, I'm not going to cook! I just meant that I'd order room service to be here at 6:00. Anything special you have a taste for?" she asked innocently.

He looked at her with 'THAT' look in his eyes, "Well, now that you mention it...."

"Forget it, buster. You get to the office and home by 6:00. We have a decorating plan to approve. We'll talk about 'THAT' appetite later," she said as she kissed him lightly on the lips and pushed him toward the door.

As promised, Jax returned just before 6:00. He had quietly opened the door in hopes of surprising her, but he was the one to be surprised. The penthouse lights were turned down low, and dinner had been set up on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. There was a perfect fire going, and the white lights on the Christmas tree cast a soft glow about the room. Jax was surprised to see Brenda sitting on the floor in front of the tree, staring at the key to their new house, totally unaware of his presence. He quietly walked over to where she was sitting just as she looked up at him.

"Hello, you," she said softly with a slight smile on her face. "You certainly are a man of your word. You said 6:00, and here you are." She started to get up, but he grabbed her shoulder to stop her. Instead, he sat down behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and extending his legs to either side of hers. She let out a soft sigh as she leaned back against his broad chest, snuggling into his inviting embrace.

"Hello, yourself. I could really get used to coming home to evenings like this. I can't think of a better place to be than in front of a fire with you in my arms," he said as he bent forward to kiss the side of her neck. "Do we really have to meet with Matthew tonight? Wouldn't you rather just sit here by the fire and see what happens?" he asked with 'that' twinkle in his eyes again.

Brenda sat up and turned to face him. "You promised, Jax. Decorating our house is VERY important to me. Besides, I think you'll like Matthew. He's definitely NOT your typical decorator," she said.

"What do you mean?" Jax wasn't too sure he liked the sound of this.

"You'll see when he gets here. Now promise me you'll be nice. Besides, I'm sure once you see what we have planned for the house, you'll love it as much as I do." She looked at him with a look that was a mix of determination, dedication, and most of all love, for him and their new home, but especially for him.

"How can I say anything but yes when you look at me like that?" he said. "So what's for dinner?"

They enjoyed a leisurely dinner there before the fire. The further into the meal they got, the more secure Brenda was in her plans for the house, at least the dining room. She knew without having to even show him the plans that Jax would approve the layout as soon as he saw it.

Room service had come about twenty minutes ago to remove the dinner things and Brenda and Jax were enjoying a cup of coffee sitting cuddled together by the fire. At exactly 7:30, there was a knock on the door. "I'll say this much for him, he's definitely punctual," Jax remarked as he got up to answer the door.

When Jax opened the door he was surprised by what he saw: a man in his early fifties, who had the appearance of a college professor, complete with pipe and tweed jacket, carrying a large well-worn briefcase. This was either Matthew Rollins, or a professor from PCU looking for a research grant.

"Mr. Jacks, I presume," the visitor said as he extended his hand to Jax. "My name is Matthew Rollins. I've been working with your wife on restoring your new home."

Jax stepped back to allow their visitor to enter the penthouse.

As soon as Brenda heard Matthew's voice she jumped up from the floor. "Matthew, I'm so glad you're here. I can't wait to show Jax the plans we've finished for the house." All of this came out like one long sentence.

Matthew looked up at Jax. "Does she always do that, or is it only when it comes to the house? I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like your wife, Mr. Jacks."

"That's because there IS no one like my wife, and please call me Jax." Jax offered Matthew a seat on the couch; he and Brenda sat on the opposite couch with the large round coffee table between them.

"That I can believe," Matthew agreed. "Shall we get started on the plans?"

Brenda sat like a schoolgirl waiting for her exam grades as Matthew explained their plans for furnishing the parlor. They had followed the floor plan of a Victorian parlor that Brenda had found in one of the books from the library, with the exception that the couches were large, overstuffed, and tufted, instead of the traditional settees. When Jax questioned the couches detracting from the Victorian style, Matthew brought out a museum brochure from a house in London that had the identical couches. "One of the few exceptions to standard Victorian style has always been the parlor sofa. There are several acceptable styles, as seen in this book. Brenda told me about your request for comfort in the parlor, and I totally agree," Matthew stated, much like a professor giving a lecture.

Jax began to wonder who Matthew really was. He did not talk like any decorator Jax had ever met, nor did he act like any of them. "Mr. Rollins, may I ask you a personal question?" Jax asked when his curiosity got the best of him.

"The name's Matthew, and, of course you can," Matthew replied, knowing exactly what the question was going to be.

"What do you really do for a living? Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with what you and Brenda have planned for the parlor. It's just that you seem more like a history professor than a decorator," Jax said. He was even more confused when both Brenda and Matthew burst out laughing.

"Well, it certainly didn't take you long to find me out, Jax," Matthew couldn't help chuckling. "That's exactly what I am. The Port Charles Restoration Society hired me about three years ago to advise them on renovating the neighborhood you are moving into. I enjoyed my researching and creative consulting so much that I let the Restoration Society put my name out to home buyers as a consultant to those wanting to restore the interior of their homes in the same manner as the exterior. You and Brenda are the fourth family I've helped in the past three years.

"I have to admit though, I was very grateful when Brenda called and asked me to help with your house. I don't know what it is, but for some reason restoring your house was more like a labor of love for me than a job. I can honestly say I did not feel the same way about any of the other houses I researched for restoration purposes."

Jax was amazed at what he had just learned. No wonder Brenda was so involved in restoring the house. It was contagious. He suddenly felt the same way. He wasn't sure if Matthew had caught his involvement from Brenda or the other way around. The only thing he was sure of was that he felt it, too.

"Unless you have any other suggestions for the parlor, I think we can all agree it's perfect the way it is," Jax said, now as excited about the plans as Brenda. "What's next?"

Matthew reached for the dining room sketch and was so startled when Brenda jumped up and grabbed for it, that he knocked everything off the table.

"Wait!!!!" she yelled. "Not that one. Do the bedrooms first. I want to present this one myself," she said, looking at Jax with 'that' look in her eyes. He could only imagine what she had done in the 'mystery' room.

They very quickly went over the two bedroom plans. Jax was amazed at the detailing that had gone into the plans. Everything from the dark wood of the tall headboards and distinctive footboards on the beds to the shape and positions of each dresser and chair had been carefully documented. Even the heavy velvet or brocade of the draperies was easily identified. "How did you make these amazing plans? Did you use a computer program? If so, which one?" He had to know since one of the companies he had recently decided to hold on to was a computer software company. If there was a program out there that would make these kind of plans, he wanted it for his company.

Brenda couldn't help but laugh. "That's my husband -- ever the corporate raider. To answer your question, honey -- yes, they were done on a computer. In fact they were done on the computer in your study here in the penthouse." She couldn't resist looking at him for his reaction.

"My computer?? But how?" Jax was dumbfounded. Obviously he had not been paying enough attention to the software company or his own study for that matter. If this amazing program had come from his own company, it needed to be promoted.

"I knew that one of the companies that you own is a software company. I called them a few days ago and told them what I needed to do. Surprisingly enough, they told me they had this program in the test lab that would do exactly what I needed. I hope you don't mind, but I had one of the technicians install it in the computer in your study. We've been using it ever since." She looked at him closely to get his reaction. She knew he was very protective of his study and especially his computer.

Jax jumped up and gave her a very sloppy but very tender kiss. "Have you any idea what you've created here? Probably the greatest computer discovery since the microchip! This program will be used by designer, architects, museums, and a million other people. Whoever created this is in for a huge bonus. Not just because of the way it brings our house to life, but because it's going to turn that little software company into a major computer power!"

Jax stopped talking suddenly when he saw the expression on Brenda's face. She looked like a child who had lost her favorite doll. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"You suddenly became so interested in the computer program, you seem to have forgotten why we're all here tonight," she looked on the verge of tears.

Jax sat next to her again and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. "Never! Nothing is more important than you and our new home. Believe me, Brenda, I've got my priorities straight.

"These bedrooms look terrific. They have my endorsement. Now let's see this mystery room that you were saving for last." He reached over to try to tickle her, but she jumped away at the last minute. The old Brenda had returned just as quickly as she had disappeared. Matthew was amazed at the bond he saw between these two young people. He had a feeling that the house was going to be good for them, and for some strange reason he knew they were going to be good for the house.

Brenda seemed to be stalling in presenting the last room. Matthew finally got the hint that she wanted to discuss this room with Jax in private. "I didn't realize how late it had gotten. My wife is going to be wondering where I am. Do you want me to start the search for the furniture pieces we need for these rooms?" he asked, looking from Brenda to Jax and back again.

"Absolutely! If that's okay with you, Jax?" Brenda looked at Jax for his approval, holding her breath the whole time.

"You've got my approval. Matthew, do you need a check to start the search?" Jax reached in his pocket for his checkbook.

"Not at this point. When I locate the right pieces I'll need funding then."

"Tell you what. Stop by my office tomorrow morning, and I'll have our accounting department set up a demand account for the house from my personal funds, with you and Brenda as authorized signers. That way when you find the furniture, or whatever else, the funds will be immediately available."

Matthew agreed. He put on his coat and closed up his briefcase. "I'll leave the plans here with you two. If there are no changes in the last room, Brenda, give me a call tomorrow. I already have a line on some of the pieces we discussed." With that he shook hands with Jax, kissed Brenda softly on the cheek, and left.

When he was gone, Jax returned to Brenda and the last sketch. "Okay, we're alone now. What's the great mystery room? Oh, I know, it's the master bedroom, right?" He was sure that was it, but the expression on Brenda's face gave nothing away.

"Wrong!!" She couldn't contain herself any longer. If Matthew hadn't left soon, she would have just about burst.

"It's the dining room!"

Jax was now confused. He could not imagine why she was so excited about the dining room. Suddenly she pulled the plans from behind the couch, and he knew exactly why she was so excited. He had never in his travels all over the world seen a more beautiful room. The crystal wall fixtures on each side of the fireplace set it off perfectly. In addition to the very large dining room table with seating for twelve and a sideboard to match, in the corner next to the fireplace was a small round table with two chairs, perfect for intimate dinners for just the two of them.

"Well, what do you think?" Brenda looked like a little girl as she stood there chewing on her lower lip and bouncing from one foot to the other, waiting for his answer.

"Does this answer your question?" he said as he grabbed her and kissed her, sliding his tongue gently over her lips.

When Jax finally broke away, Brenda drew a deep breath, "I guess it does. I'll call Matthew and tell him to go ahead with the search."

As Brenda reached for the phone, Jax grabbed her hand. "That can wait until tomorrow. We have more important things to do tonight." With that he kissed her again and again pulling her down to the floor in front of the fire. They spent the rest of the night making love by the light of the Christmas tree and the fire, secure in their love for each other, and both of them excited by the prospects that their new home held for them.