Zzoo stood looking out the bay windows in her living room at the lights of the city spread before her like a glittering carpet. The valley beneath her hill was dotted with street lights and the green streak of the expressway. Beyond that stood Mt. Davidson with its huge cross, Twin Peaks, and Mt. Sutro, base for the enormous communications tower that serviced San Francisco. Beyond the city's mountains lay the vast Pacific ocean.

The dogs were locked up for the night and cats were curled up asleep on top the two VCRs, the TV, and the computer. She should have been content, but something was missing. Ever since she set Michael free from Time Out she was plagued with the thought of never seeing him again. He had promised to return, but was it all a lie? And would he be sorry? It was a sad state of affairs.

A soft knock sounded at the door. A familiar knock. Could it be? She rushed to open the door and found him there. His manly physique leaning casually against the door frame, the hall light catching the mellow gleam in his beautiful green eyes. A stray lock of hair, mixed brown and gold and red, draped perfectly across one perfect cheekbone. "Mon chere," he said and stepped inside, sweeping her into his arms. "I've missed you so. You've ruined me for other women."

Their long, hungry, passionate kiss only served to heighten the flames, feeding fire with fire. She gasped. He moaned. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. (COME ON, GUYS, YOU KNOW I CAN'T WRITE THIS STUFF. WHERE'S MY UZI?? WHERE DID I PUT THE BAZOOKA?)

The next morning, Zzoo stood looking at the bay windows in her living room as Michael nuzzled her neck and ran a line of kisses down her.......shoulder. A fishing trawler floated past the window and in the distance were the islands, Davidson, Twin, and Sutro. "Did the earth move for you, mon chere," he whispered huskily, "It did for me." He ran his tongue around her ear and she gasped as she sharply took a breath. They couldn't get enough of one another.

"The earth moved, Michael. The earth moved."

Actually about a 8.4 on the Richter scale. At last the waiting was over. That had definitely been THE BIG ONE.

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