"It's definitely our night tonight."

Justin observed the roulette table with a half-smile. "We can't seem to put a bet wrong, Jetta...think fate's smiling our
way?"

"No, I think that we just hit a winnin' streak for once." Jetta told him with a droll grin. "Last night luck, an' all of that. The trick with gamblin' is to know when to stop...an' I think we just about hit our max. I don't think somehow we're gonna do
any better than a couple of grand so I say we go someplace an' celebrate our winnings. What do you think?"

It was the last night of their trip and, as Justin glanced at his companion, he realised how little he wanted the holiday to end. Time had flown, he mused, but even though it had only been a few snatched days, he felt that a new connection had begun to develop between the two of them - that she had begun to truly trust him, and let down her guard.

"I think you're beautiful." He teased her now, and she punched him playfully on the arm.

"Be sensible." She reproached him. "Are we goin' or what?"

"Sure, let's go." Justin relented, nodding his head. "It's just gone ten...still early really, in Las Vegas."

"The nightlife is gettin' to you, too." Jetta looked amused. "Whatever else we've done this week, you know, we sure ain't done much sleepin'."

"No...we haven't." Justin grinned at her. "But I still feel refreshed. Don't you? We should do this more often. Take time out and go away...just you and me without the band to worry about, or Pizzazz breathing down our necks."

"Or your mother spyin' on us." Jetta said wryly. Justin grimaced.

"Yeah." He agreed. "Or that. But don't you think we should? It's been a revelation."

He leant over to kiss her on the cheek.

"You almost seem a different person, away from the hype. Less wound up and worried about other people's opinions."

"Really?" Jetta looked startled. "I 'adn't noticed. Though I've kinda enjoyed spendin' the time with you without anyone on our backs, too. This week 'as been fun...an' no pressure, neither. Maybe you're right. Maybe we should do it again. It's just..."

"What?"

"I dunno." Jetta grimaced. "I guess I didn't quite imagine it would be like this, that's all. Here, with you, 'avin' such a good time..."

"So you thought it was going to be a blow out?" Justin looked amused. "Thanks, Jetta."

"No..." Jetta thwapped him playfully on the arm. "Git. That's not what I meant. I just meant...well...I didn't expect it like this."

"I suppose suggesting a romantic candlelit dinner wouldn't go down too well, would it?"

"Now why do you 'ave to go tryin' to wreck everythin' with romance an' mush?" Jetta demanded teasingly.

You've no sense of romance, that's your trouble." Justin scolded.

"It's all nonsense." Jetta responded airily. "No need for it, is all. But sure, dinner sounds good. I'm 'ungry, anyhow...an' we can
dine out in style tonight! An' it's our last one here...tomorrow we're back to the rat race. Somewhere snazzy...I wanna enjoy it."

"Okay, then how about that place?" Justin indicated. Jetta turned to look, then nodded.

"Works for me." She agreed. "So long as the food's good an' the waiters ain't smarmy, I'm in."

Justin laughed. His companion's down to earth nature never failed to amuse him, and her total lack of airs and graces only
added to her other intriguing qualities.

"Then there it is." He said. "I hope you don't need reservations. It looks pretty busy."

"So if need be I'll flash a little Misfit charm at 'em and get them to find us room." Jetta shrugged her shoulders. Justin glanced at her.

"I thought you were incognito?"

"No, I'm in Vegas."

"Jetta!"

"Well, it's our last night." Jetta grinned, shrugging. "Tomorrow I fly home an' you trot out to your job in Michigan. What 'arm would it do? If people talk, well, let them. I don't care. Right now I care more about gettin' a seat an' some grub into me than anythin' else. If wavin' the fact I'm a Misfit under their noses does that, then I'm game."

Justin grinned.

"Hopefully we won't need to resort to it." He said, nodding in the direction of the far side of the restaurant. "I think I see a few free seats."

Justin was right. Before long they were seated in a booth next to the window, and a waitress had taken their order, flashing them both a smile before disappearing into the back.

"It's a shame we gotta go 'ome, really." Jetta said thoughtfully as she toyed with her cutlery. "I mean, I love bein' a Misfit, an'
all...it's jus' difficult to be a Misfit an' be involved with you. Pizzazz gives me no end of 'ell over it an' I never get a moment's
peace."

"Am I worth it?" Justin asked lightly. Jetta hesitated, then nodded.

"Yeah, guess you are." She said with a grin. "I dunno what I see in you...must be somethin' I guess. But it's been fun, bein' 'ere
this week. Vegas 'as a magic to it, an' it's been cool to share it with you." She looked uncomfortable. "That is..."

"It's okay, I understand what you mean" Justin smiled. "It's been great for me too, you know. And I don't want to end it
either...because it means I have to go to Michigan and work and you're stuck in California and we won't see anything of
each other for a couple of weeks or more. For me that's all the more hard after we've spent such a good week together."

"Yeah..." Jetta sighed, then..."Justin?"

"Mm?"

"Do you ever think about where this is leadin'?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well, us. Bein' together like this." Jetta gestured. "I mean, far as I see it, relationships begin an' they end, right? But ours...ain't
ending. If anythin', the opposite's true. Do you ever wonder where we're goin' with it?"

"Yes...sometimes." Justin agreed slowly. "Though we've never really talked about that before. You've not wanted to...why the change of heart?"

"I'm not sure." Jetta was pensive. "I suppose I'm more bummed than I thought I'd be about this week comin' to an end. It's almost been like we've been livin' somethin' that ain't true and normality will set in as soon as we leave. Does that sound completely crazy? I don't know 'ow else to explain it. I'm not quite sure where it leaves you an' me...but..."

"I've learnt that, with our relationship, it's better not to ask too many questions of the future." Justin said thoughtfully. "Though I want us to be going somewhere. I think both of us put too much time and energy into this...whatever it is...to just walk away and let it drop. Don't you?"

"I dunno." Jetta's expression became troubled. "I guess when you put it that way, I see your point. But I'm used to situations with guys not goin' on as long as this. I've never been the kind of girl who sleeps with whoever's askin' - but most of the flings I've 'ad 'ave been just that - flings. It never got beyond a few dates. Once or twice it never got beyond the bedroom an' a well placed dare. I don't really know 'ow to proceed now. That's the honest truth."

"Dare, huh?" Justin's expression lit up with interest, and Jetta poked out her tongue.

"Never you mind." She said. "It was a long time ago and before your time."

"One day, we must have that conversation." Justin decided.

"It doesn't bother you that I've been with other men, then?" Jetta teased. Justin shook his head.

"Like you said, before my time." He said simply. "And I've been with other women, too. There's nothing wrong with discussing past flames...I mean, it is just that. Past. Right?"

"Right." Jetta cocked her head on one side. "But..."

"But?"

"I figured you wouldn't want to 'ear those things." Jetta owned. "I...well, I don't really want to know about you and other girls, if you catch my drift. I thought you'd feel the same way."

"I see." Justin grinned. "Well, way I see it is, if they were any good, you'd have stuck with them and not with me. Wouldn't you?"

Jetta laughed.

"Now that's fishin' for compliments, that is!" She exclaimed. Justin toasted her with his empty wine glass.

"Touche." He acknowledged. "But going back to the point at hand...where our relationship is going..."

"Your food, sir. Miss." The waitress returned at that moment, dimpling at Justin and setting the plates down on the table. Deftly she poured the wine, then departed once more. Jetta snorted.

"She was makin' eyes at you."

"Was she?"

"Don't pretend like you didn't see!"

"I didn't." Justin laughed. "Sure you didn't imagine it?"

"She's barkin' up the wrong tree."

"Maybe you're jealous?"

"Maybe you want your face rearranged!"

"I love you too." Justin looked amused. He took a sip of his drink. "You know, the wine here is good. I need to drink more French wine...I tend to be stuck in an Italian rut, but this is nice."

"An' now you're changing the subject."

"Well, I'm not interested in the waitress, and that topic wasn't going anywhere." Justin grinned at her. "Look, Jetta, I've been seriously thinking these past few days. Weeks, even, but days especially. About...things. Between us. And even though my mother came and made an idiot of herself, and we've had our ups and downs, I want to be sure you feel the same way I do on this."

"On what, exactly?" Jetta looked suspicious.

"On us moving forwards." Justin set down his glass. "Before this week...well, we were in real danger of going round in circles, Jetta...I don't know if that's what I want any more."

"So what are you saying?"

"I just want to know that you want to stick it out with me, I guess." Justin said simply. "Wherever we end up."

"Right now, I'm not looking for a get out clause." Jetta assured him. "If that's what you mean. Yeah, you were an ape over the letter, and yeah, I was mad about it, but you''re only 'uman and only male at that. I'm over it and we're cool. I can't believe you'd think otherwise...if I was still ticked with you, you would 'ave spent the last week sleepin' on the floor an' make no mistake about it!"

Justin eyed her thoughtfully for a moment, but made no further comment. Instead he changed the subject to the food, and before long they were finishing a rich chocolate gateau dessert.

"This time next week I'll be bein' deafened by you know who screamin' over God knows what." Jetta remarked, setting down her fork. "At least you're a quieter roommate."

"Am I?" Justin raised an eyebrow. "If you say so."

"You know what I mean." Jetta hit him playfully on the arm. "Sometimes I really do think about movin' out. Gettin' my own place."

"Maybe we could get a place?"

Jetta, who had put her glass to her lips, almost choked on her wine.

"You are kidding me?"

"Why?" Justin spread his hands. "I'm just putting it out there. If Pizzazz is so bad to live with...well, you've spent the past week sharing with me. Am I so bad as all that?"

"No...I like stoppin' with you. Well, I mean when we're away like this an' all." Jetta replied, a little flustered by the question. "It's
been fun and...and relaxin'. It's just...well, maybe livin' together wouldn't be such a bad thing, if it were like this. But it wouldn't be, Justin. This 'as been a vacation. It's just a week away. Livin' together is a big step. It says all kinds of things to the world...things I don't know if I want to say."

"Who cares what the world thinks?" Justin asked. "It's not really their business."

"No...but..."

"It's another step towards marriage?" Justin asked gently, his brown eyes anxiously gauging her reaction to his words.

"Well...yeah."  Jetta toyed with her napkin awkwardly. "Exactly."

"Don't you want to get married? Not ever?"

"I...don't know." Jetta admitted. "There was a time I thought I knew the answer to all of these things, Justin...but honestly, I just don't know. I ain't really a wedding type. I can't see how any man could marry me an' put up with me for the rest of time. An' I'm an independant soul. I want control of my own life. Gettin' married would mean lettin' go of that. Becomin' someone's property...naggin' and yellin' an' all the crazy crap my folks show off to the world every day of their lives. That's not what I want from my life. I don't want to be bogged down in other people's neuroses."

"Sounds to me like you're generating a few of your own in the process." Justin observed. Jetta frowned.

"Yeah. Perhaps." She owned. "But it don't make it any less true, you know. I'm not the married type. I'm not really cut out to be someone's missus. Two point four kids and an 'ouse in the suburbs? Just ain't me."

"It doesn't have to be like that." Justin said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?" Jetta asked, once the waiter had been thanked and they'd begun eating.

"Different people make different life choices." Justin observed. "It doesn't have to be a stereotype."

"Perhaps that's true" Jetta considered. "It's an 'ypothetical point, anyway."

"You know, Vegas is a real hotspot for people getting married."

"Says who?"

"Says anyone who knows anything about the place." Justin replied. "Couples come here to elope, I guess is the term, and have
a hassle free marriage. No relatives, no interference...just a quick 'I do' and that's it, man and wife."

"Sounds efficient." Jetta said dryly. "They got the right idea mind you. I went to Laura's weddin'...it was only a registry office
but it was still too much nonsense for me."

"You haven't a single romantic bone in your body." Justin teased her. Jetta shrugged.

"Romance is for wimps." She said simply.

"Maybe." Justin acknowledged. "But it would be nice once in a while to hear you say you loved me."

Jetta blushed deeply at this.

"I...can't." She admitted, discomfitted. "Don't, Justin, please...you're embarassin' me."

"Okay, I'll let you off." Justin relented. "But really, you needn't be so worried about it. It isn't like people can't tell
we're a couple. Heck, the fact we're staying in the same hotel room should give it away to most of them!"

"I know." Jetta nodded. "But still...I ain't got to that point yet. Sure, I like you. You know I do. But I don't do love. Don't believe in it. So how could I say it? I'd be sayin' a lie."

"Ah well." Justin smiled, resigned. "I'll take that if that's what's going. You'll do."

"Thanks." Jetta raised an eyebrow. "An' you say I'm not romantic!"

Justin laughed.

"I'll drink to that." He said good-naturedly.

"Lots of people 'ere. I knew Las Vegas was a busy place, I never realised 'ow busy."

"Well, it has a lot of draws." Justin responded. "The casinos, the nightlife, you know. People come here for a good time - which
is why I brought you. I figured it'd make an interesting vacation, all in all."

"And it 'as." Jetta looked thoughtful. "We've won a few bucks, we've 'ad a good time, 'aven't we?"

"What are you thinking?" Justin noticed the look in his partner's eye and he sent her a questioning look.

"Oh...nothing." Jetta shook her head. "I dunno. Probably just work loomin', is all. Wantin' to play 'ooky a few days more."

She glanced at her watch.

"So what now? Back to the casino? A club? 'Otel bar? What?"

"Mmm, I vote we go for a wander, see the city at night." Justin suggested. Jetta raised an eyebrow.

"You do?"

"Yeah." Justin grinned. "Las Vegas is known for the lights and stuff - I think it'd be neat to have a..."

"If you dare mention the word romantic once more tonight..." Jetta raised her fork at him threateningly, and Justin laughed.

"I was just gonna say walk." He assured her. "I know when I've pushed my luck on one subject, anyway." He raised his arm to
summon the waitress, pulling his wallet out of his pocket.

"Since I've our winnings at the moment, I suppose I'm paying." he observed. Jetta nodded.

"Works for me, ducks." She said sweetly. "Bein' the gentlemen you are, an' all that."

"Yes, I'm sure." Justin said dryly. As soon as the bill had been paid he stood, holding his hand out almost mockingly to his
girlfriend who pushed it away, getting resolutely to her feet and slipping her jacket over her shoulders.

"Well, let's go." She said. "You want a walk? Fine. Let's go walk."