Detective James Picket's Office

Enter the Office of Detective James Picket.

Sam dropped by to say hi to James. "Hey, you hear the good news?"

((Whoa, sorry, I didn't see this before!))

James raised his eyes from reading a report to see Sam. "Hey Sam. Good news?"

"Oh, Mari. Didn't you hear?" Sam asked, smiling.

"What?" James said smiling because Sam was smiling. "What?"

"Mari. Is. Pregnant." Sam said slowly, stretching out the words. "And don't ask how, I don't want to have to give that lecture. it's already scheduled into my class..." Sam shuddered, but her smile never dimmed. "Mari is going to have a baby!!"

"Why! That's wonderful!" James said standing up, a big grin plastered on his face. "Does Blake know? Does Lisa?"

"Yes, and if the squealing meant anything, then yes." Sam said brightly. "Though I must say, it's going to get better soon. then we'll have more excitement." She said almost slyly as she thought about Lynda and Jamie.

"Oh I hope so," James said smiling, unaware of what Sam was thinking.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Well, I'm a high school teacher. It's part of the job description. What's up?" Sam asked, joking slightly.

"I'm going to..." he took out a small velvet red box from inside his drawer. "Propose to Lisa."

Sam squealed. "Now, that, I'm not telling her. I'm so happy!!"

Suddenly calming down, she said, "Do you have it planned out yet? Or are oyu going to just do it when it feels right?"

James chuckled. "I don't know. To be honest, I am at a lost on what to do. All of the ideas I've come up with are stupid and corny, I'm probably shooting for the later option... besides, we are in Superville, and nothing goes as planned."

"That's because it's been planned that way...Ok...Ask her out or something. By the way, most girls love Corny. it'll be fine...I'M SO HAPPY!" She siad, suddenly squealing again.

"Yeah," James said but he couldn't help but smile. "I'm thinking of doing it over the weekend, we are going to have dinner at Mrs. Prince's house."

"That's not a bad idea. It's not really corny." Sam smiled. "Hurry up and do it so I can tell the others!!"

"I'm kind of nervous, to tell you the truth..." James said seriously.

"Don't be. If she says no, in the watchtower, we'll beat her up with pillows until she says yes." Sam joked. "She'll say yes...or we'll know why. And then we'll tell you, and you'll figure it out. Ok?"

"What?" James smiled. "I am confused."

"She'll say yes. Don't worry. But, I can't tell the others until it happens. It'd tip her off, and we can't have that. If she says no, we'll figure out why, and we'll tell you. Oh...she'll say yes. she has to." Sam paused. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that I'm babbling. Well...go ask already!" She smiled brightly again.

"I will," James chuckled. "I can't live without her."

Sam smiled. "And I don't think she can live without you. Well...I have to go, so I'll see you after you propose, to say my congratulations." Sam left, still grinning like a loon.

((NEW TIMELINE))

Mercedes Zavala knocked softly. "Sir?" she called. "May I come in?" she asked.

James looked up from the report on his desk. "Sure thing."

Mercedes walked in. "I'm Mercedes Zavala, sir. We talked on the phone about the job opening here?"