Bobby's head snapped back, as the bullet hit him, just above the right eye.

He momentarily regained his balance, but then his eyes closed and he slumped to the floor, a few feet from Colin.

Gwen finished writing on the papers that Bobby had signed earlier.

"There, that does it."

She tapped Arnold on the shoulder.

Arnold didn't respond immediately.

"They are all like that, the first time," Cliff reminded his wife.

"We have to be gentle."

Gwen smiled in agreement.

"Arnie?" She whispered.

No response.

"Arnie, sweetie?"

This time she touched his hand.

Arnold slowly turned toward Gwen.

She took the pistol from his hand and put it on the bar.

"Would you like a drink, Arnie?"

He took a deep breath, nodding slightly.

Cliff poured him a drink and passed it to him.

"You did good, Arnie."

Arnold nodded, drinking the whiskey quickly.

"You going to be okay, Arnie, dear?"

"I will be, Gwen," he nodded.

Gwen took his hands in her's.

"He was a bad man, Arnie and he got what he deserved."

A smile came to Arnold's face, as well as the colour, which had all left, a few moments earlier.

"I did good?"

Gwen smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"You did, Arnie."

Cliff walked around the bar and gave Arnold a hug.

"Welcome to the family, Arnie, my man."

Arnold hugged him tight.

"Thank you, Cliff."

When they let go of each other, Stanley was walking into the room.

"So? Is big Arnie in?"

Gwen smiled.

"He is, sweetie."

Stanley offered his hand to Arnold and shook it vigorously.

"Aw, fuck it."

He threw his arms around Arnold's neck.

"I am so glad you decided to be one of us, Arnie."

Gwen wiped a tear from her eye.

"Oh my," she gasped.

Cliff put his arm around her shoulder.

"I don't believe I have ever seen Stanley hug anyone outside our family before."

Stanley smiled.

"I like Arnie. He makes me laugh."

He turned to see Bobby laying dead on the floor.

"Peaches will be happy to see that."

"Oh dear," Gwen chuckled.

"I almost forgot about Bobby there. What with all the joy of Arnold joining our family."

She kissed Stanley on the cheek.

"Be a darling, will you and get rid of Bobby."

"Okay, mommy, but then I have to go back to bed.

I need a couple hours sleep before school."

"Why don't you stay home tomorrow?" Gwen suggested.

"You have had a hard night and I don't want you to be too exhausted."

Stanley picked up Bobby's body and slung it easily, over his shoulder.

"I'm fine, Mommy.

Besides, I have a math test tomorrow and you know how much I love math."

Gwen nodded.

"You are a good boy, Stanley."

Stanley turned and looked at Colin.

"What about him?"

"You go on, son," Cliff told him.

"We will look after good old Colin there."

Stanley nodded and walked out of the living room.

Gwen took a deep breath and looked at Arnold.

"He really is a good boy."

Arnold nodded.

"I like Stanley. He scares the crap out of me sometimes, but I like him."

Gwen slapped him playfully on the shoulder.

"Oh, you will get used to him."

"I am sure I will."

"Oh," Gwen remembered.

"I have a present for you."

She passed Arnold the registration papers and keys to Bobby's Porsche.

"Really? For me?"

"Consider it a welcome to the family gift."

Arnold took the papers and keys and hugged Gwen.

"Thank you Gwen. Teresa will so love the new car. I've wanted to buy her a new car for ages, but ...

well ..."

Cliff patted Arnold on the back.

"I know you had some hard times, Arnie, but that is all behind you now."

"I was thinking," Gwen said aloud.

"Since the kids and both of us like Arnold so much.

Why don't we give him thirty thousand dollars for each client he brings us?"

Arnold shook his head.

"That's not necessary. I will do it for even less than Bobby did."

"Nonsense," Gwen chirped.

"Gwen's right," Cliff added.

"A new beginning, so a new contract."

Cliff started smiling.

"I have even a better idea."

Gwen gasped.

"I know what you are thinking."

"So, what do you think?"

"I love the idea," Gwen shrieked, excitedly.

Arnold smirked.

"What are you two talking about?"

"You tell him," Cliff suggested.

"No, sweetie. It was your idea."

"Okay," Cliff agreed.

He took a deep breath.

"We have another house, next door. Why don't you and Teresa and Dani move into that house?"

Arnold didn't know what to say.

"I believe you have left him speechless, hun," Gwen smiled.

"I am," Arnold agreed.

"But I don't know. That is an awful lot, you guys."

"Nonsense," Cliff chirped.

"We would love to have you next door and I am sure you and your family would love a nice big house with a big fenced in backyard and wonderful neighbours.

It would be a big change from that apartment you live in now."

Arnold poured another drink and sipped it, while thinking.

Finally he nodded.

"Yes. Why the fuck not?"

He bit his lower lip.

"Sorry, Gwen."

Gwen smiled.

"I agree, Arnie.

Why the fuck not?"

Cliff poured drinks.

"A toast to a new agent, a new neighbour and more importantly, a new friend and family member."

The three clinked glasses and drank.

"And," Gwen continued.

"We could pay Arnie for the clients he brought us tonight."

"No," Arnie disagreed.

"I did not really bring them here."

"Pffttt," Gwen spat, waving her arms.

"Potatoe. Paw ... tat .. toe."

Cliff went behind the bar and took out three wads of money.

"Let's make it an even seventy-five thousand.

And, I suggest, that you and your lovely family go on a nice long vacation, before you come back and start work for us."

Arnold smiled.

"Can't remember the last vacation we had.

Probably mine and Teresa's honeymoon."

He thought for a second.

"But it will be difficult explaining that kind of money, Cliff. Remember, I'm not like Bobby.

I don't have those connections to launder the money."

Cliff nodded.

"True.

Soooooooooo ...

Why don't I hire you as the accountant for our businesses?

That way you have a legitimate job and we can pay you a legitimate salary and lots of bonuses.

And we can hire Teresa as well, as an office manager or something."

Arnold nodded.

"That would work. That way I can actually do another cover job for you, as well as being your agent."

Gwen clapped her hands.

"But, we still want you to take a long vacation. Lets say three weeks and then come back and outfit your new home and then we will all get together for a get acquainted dinner."

Cliff nodded.

"I will give you a company credit card and just charge everything to that."

"I like it," Arnold agreed.

Cliff offered his hand.

Arnold smiled.

"You're not going to crush my hand, are you?"

Cliff grabbed his hand and shook it.

"Not unless you want me to."

Arnold smiled.

"I'd rather you didn't."

"So," Cliff continued.

"We got a deal?"

"Absolutely," Arnold agreed, happily.

Gwen suddenly lost her smile and turned toward Colin.

"I think we forgot about poor old Colin there."

Arnold picked up the pistol off the bar.

"No. Wait." Colin yelled.

"He did break into your home," Arnold reminded the couple.

Colin was on his feet, waving his hands.

"I can help. Let me help Arnold."

"You insulted my wife," Arnold reminded him.

"I was just joking," Colin trembled.

"I don't even know your wife. She is probably a lovely lady."

"She is."

Arnold raised the gun and shot.

Gwen looked at Cliff.

"Should we call Stanley again?"

Cliff shook his head.

"No. I will look after it."

He looked at Arnold.

"You should get on home too, Arnold.

Teresa is probably worried about you."

"I told her I was going out of town on business," Arnold sighed.

"I hate lying to her."

"Well," Gwen reminded him.

"You can just tell her that you secured a new job, because of it. Then its not really a lie."

She reached behind and took a wad of money off the bar.

"Poke this away and spend it little by little."

Arnold put the money in his pocket.

"Thank you both."

Gwen took Arnold's arm.

"Come on. Time for you to get going."

The three walked to the front door.

"I will see you, at one, at my store," Cliff informed Arnold.

"We will get you set up before you go on holidays. And when you come back, we will get Teresa squared away and get you guys settled in your new home."

Arnold wiped a tear from his eye.

"Thank you both, so much."

They hugged and Arnold left.

As Cliff closed the door, he sighed.

"I think this is going to be a long and prosperous partnership for all of us."

"I agree," Gwen said, as she headed for the stairs.

"And where are you going?"

Gwen smiled.

"Off to bed. Don't forget to lock up and turn off the lights, sweetie."

She stopped and pointed to the living room.

"And don't forget Colin."

Cliff smiled.

"I will be up soon, sweetie."

"Don't wake me," Gwen smirked.

"Unless you mean business."

She purred and hurried up the stairs.