Standard disclaimers apply. Please consider Rysher, et al, credited with the use of Rollie and Angie. Odie and Vicky are my own inventions. A little bit of nonsense set in the "Heart" universe, you might say a little snippet into the life and times of Rollie Tyler and Angie Ramirez. It takes place after "Betwixt Wind And Water". (That's over on the Hope Island Lookout just in case you don't know. Mind you, it's not necessary to read it for this piece. Can't even call it a story. It's not a story, not really... Oh, guess I'm rambling now. So without further ado...

Rollie froze as he came down the stairs to the loft. His puzzled, brown eyes tracked the movements of the small figure bouncing all over the ground floor. What in...?!? HOW?!? A giggle distracted him from the odd sight. Ah! A hologram, the Aussie thought. "Angie? What are you doing, luv?" The tall, lanky, brown haired man continued down to the first level. He turned toward his beautiful, blonde partner. The bouncing figure brushed against Rollie and he jumped. It was real!?!

Angie doubled over with laughter at the look on the Aussie's face as he twisted around, watching the small wallaby bounce around the loft.

Angie Ramirez straightened up, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I told them you wouldn't mind, Rol. Thought it might remind you of home."

"Told who? Where did the wallaby come from?" He watched it nose around the kitchen area. He wondered if he had anything for it to eat. Watching it, he thought he better give it some water. When he filled a bowl and bent to put it on the floor, Rollie saw 'it' was a she. She immediately headed for the bowl and started drinking. Tentatively, he reached out and touched the fur on her head. When she didn't hop away, the Aussie began to stroke her gently. He looked up at his partner who was watching them with a silly smile on her face. "Told who? Angie, where did you get her?"

"Odette. She brought Skippy there," Angie pointed to the wallaby happily nuzzling Rollie's hand, "to New York for a commercial. An emergency came up and she had to leave for a couple of days. She'll be back no later than Sunday evening though. She promised."

Rollie grimaced. Skippy? Surely Odette hadn't named the poor thing that! Kids named their pets Skippy, not adults! Especially not adults named Odette! The animal trainer and he had commiserated about names over more than one beer in the past. Odie was very aware of names and their importance. "Skippy?"

Angie shrugged. "Not really. Her name is Victoria, Vicky for short, because she came from Victoria."

"Better, not great, but definitely better than Skippy!" Rollie turned to his unusual house guest. "Hello Vicky, sweetie. How are you doing? Huh?" He scratched behind her ears. "Did Odie leave any food?"

"Yeah," Angie pointed to a large bag by the door. "She said follow the instructions on the bag."

"Ange," Rollie started, his voice soft and odd.

"Yeah, Rol?" Angie looked at him curiously, wondering what the Aussie was thinking.

"We're getting married in less than a week. Why in the world did you decide I would want to, um, roo-sit?" Rollie's shoulders had started to shake.

Angie shrugged helplessly, then realized Rollie wasn't looking at her. "I don't know. Odette was looking at me and she was desperate and I just... I just said sure, we could look after her." It suddenly dawned on her that Rollie was trying to suppress his laughter. She glared, but it had little effect. Like it ever had any effect on that stubborn Aussie hard head!

Rollie stood up and went to wrap his arms around his fiancée. "Angie, my love," he whispered in her ear, sending goose bumps up her spine, "you better hope that Odie gets back before Saturday, since we're having the ceremony then. I don't want to delay our honeymoon to babysit a wallaby!" He tilted her chin up so he could claim her mouth in a soul deep kiss.

Angie felt her toes curl in pleasure. Rollie sure knew how to kiss! She wondered what it would be like when she finally got him in bed. What he'd said sifted through her pleasure and settled into her brain. Delay their long awaited honeymoon for a wallaby?!? No. Way! She wasn't about to let a bouncing fur bag keep her away from... Oops, guess she hadn't thought about that when she'd promised they would look after Vicky. And it was her fault this time, not Rollie's! Just in case, she better start looking for someone to take care of their temporary 'pet'. Just how did one go about finding a roo-sitter?!?