Karin was scrambling, trying to get all the last minute things done that somehow hadn't gotten done until now. She knew about this weekend for months already and she typically waited until the last minute. Sweat was pouring down her face. Of all the times for a heat wave and the air conditioning to break down. Wiping her brow once more, she looked around the room mentally ticking things off that she had already done.

She was looking forward to this weekend. Pinehaven Lodge. Again.The last time she had been there was winter time. Lots of snow, skiing. ice skating. Chats by the fireplace.......

She shook her head to get rid of the daydreams. Time enough for that later. She glanced at her watch and realized she only had a few hours left before the car was to pick her up. Walking into the bathroom, she gathered up her toiletries and placed them in her cosmetics bag. She gave one last wipe of the counter, turned the light off, grabbed her bag and made her way into the bedroom again.

Stowing the bag in her suitcase, she managed to get it shut. As usual she was probably taking too much with her. Taking a mental inventory she went thru the list. Three short sets, two dresses, a few skirts, blouses, bathing suits. sweater, jacket.... yeah that should be enough. Oh and can't forget her shoes. Running shoes, sandals, dress shoes. Check.

Grabbing her suitcase she made her way downstairs and set it down by the door. Checking her watch again, she had time for one last cup of tea.

Karin was just washing up her cup and saucer when the doorbell rang. She had timed it perfectly. Placing them in the dish drainer she went to open the door.

"You ready?" Trace just breezed in the door. Obviously she was excited about going. She and Aly didn't have the chance to go last time. This time they were both joining Cheryln and me. What they didn't know though was that this weekend was also set up the same as the last one. All the two of them thought was that we enjoyed Pinehaven Lodge so much we wanted to go back.

"Yup, all set and ready to rock and roll." I answered her as I grabbed my purse and suitcase. "Where's Aly?"

"You know Aly. Never been out of the state, never mind in a stretch limo. I couldn't pry her out of there with a crowbar if I tried." Trace laughed. "She is trying out everything she can get her hands on in there."

"Can't say as I blame her. As long as she doesn't start climbing all over everything."

"Too late." came a voice from the door.

I turned to see who it was and was pleasantly surprised. "Scott!!! what are you doing here?" I cried. I ran over to where he was standing and gave him my famous bear hug. Scott was part owner of Pinehaven and Cherlyn and I had gotten to know him on our last day at the lodge after the cast had left.

"At your service, ma'am. I am your driver for the day." he replied as he tipped his hat and bowed. "Let's get this show on the road. We still have to pick up Cheryln and then its' on to the lodge."

We picked up our last excited passenger and the time went all too quickly, as in what seemed like no time at all, we had arrived.

Even in summer, the backdrop of pines and other coniferous trees on the hillside, looked very inviting. Smoke was curling from only one of the many chimneys, compared to smoke coming from all of them the last time we were here. Smaller versions of the chalet that were nestled along the tree line, were barely visible this time without the snow.

The small lake which last time had been dotted with ice fishing huts and snow was now a shimmering blue dotted with sailboats and water skiers. We could just make out a few hikers making their way down the hillside along what must have been the x-country trails.

"Well, Karin, Cheryn, what do you think of it at this time of year?" Scott turned to ask us.

"Still just as beautiful Scott, even without the snow." Cheryln answered.

"Yeah, just as charming as ever." I agreed. I turned to Trace and Aly to see what their reaction was and had to laugh at their opened mouth expressions. "Cat got your tongue Trace??"

"Cute MB, cute. The pictures you brought back last time did not do this place justice. You have a wonderful place here Scott."

"Thanks Trace. I kinda like it myself." he said. "Oh, by the way girls, you have the same cabin and I put Trace and Aly right next to you. I brought the keys with me so I'll just take you straight down and you can get settled in." He glanced at his watch. "You still have a few hours before dinner so you can even rest up for a bit if you want or else take these two for a tour of the grounds. And looking at the two of them right now I don't think you could get them to rest if you tried."

After depositing us off at our respective cabins with our luggage, Scott gave one last wave and was on his way to the main lodge.

After getting unpacked and their belongings put away the girls met out from of Karin's and Cheryln's cabin. Sitting down in the chairs on the porch they were going to relax a bit before heading out to explore.

Aly finally finding her voice again after chattering non-stop on the way here spoke up. "Okay. what gives. Why the special treatment you two?" she asked of me and Cheryln.

"Nothing." we replied in unison. Then we looked at each other and broke down laughing.

Aly stood up, put her hands on her hips, and looked at us in what we assumed was her 'stern' look, which made us laugh even harder and this time Trace joined in.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

Trace stopped laughing long enough to say, "You are. Come on Aly, let's face it, you don't do angry very good."

"Fine, so I don't. But something is up. I can tell. Now, you two are going to spill or I'll go completely MG on you!!"

I looked to my partner in crime and shrugged. "Well, if you must know, the last time we were here we told you what happened right?"

"Yeah, yeah, you met Peta, Roy and the gang and we were so jealous." Aly remembered.

Cheryln continued now, "Well, seeing as we kept in touch with Scott, he let us know that certain people would be coming back...."

"WHAT!!! are you trying to tell us that Roy and Peta and and and..." Trace sputtered.

"....on this particular weekend." Cheryln continued as if she had never been interupted. "Not the whole cast and crew like last time but the major players will be here."

Karin picked up where Cherlyn stopped. "So, Scott called us up and extended an invitation to come and stay for the weekend. He's a great guy and he and his wife do a fantastic job of running this place."

Aly was trying to take this all in. "Wow, you must have made an impression on him the last time you were here. I can't wait to actually meet 'Michael' and 'Nikita' and oh my gosh, this is like so unreal. I can't believe you guys would invite lil ole me and Trace to be your guests!!"

"Like who else would we have asked?" Karin smiled. "This was my fantasy weekend come true and not just for myself, but my friends too." Trace and Aly had become such dear friends over the last year it was hard to even comprehend that it wasn't any longer than that. It seemed as though they had known each other forever.

Cheryln was chomping at the bit and wanted to get started with the grand tour to show Trace and Aly everything, before it would be time to get ready for dinner. "Okay, girls, grab your hats and let's go."

As we walked into the main entrance of the lodge, I noticed that not much had changed since our last visit. Fresh wild flowers over flowed the vases that had been set onto the tables and the check-in desk.

In the lounge area, the chairs had been moved away from the fireplace and set in larger groupings throughout the room. Instead of snow being visible from the picture windows on either side of the fireplace, you saw acres and acres of green in every shade imaginable blending from one into the other.

Scott and his wife, Kristen, greeted us just inside the dining room. Kristen leaned over and whispered to us. "Most of them are here already. The only one missing is Matthew, but he'll be here shortly."

Scott laughed at his wife. She was just as excited a fan as the girls were, which was surprising because they held these 'celebrity' weekends quite often. "Don't worry girls," he assured us, "once dinner is over the intros will begin and then you can mingle. Oh, and by the way Karin, Eugene said that if I should see you before he does, to say hello and he's expecting you to meet him and his wife for drinks this evening."

"Thanks for the message Scott." Karin said blushing. Operations was her fave on the show and she had mentioned that to Eugene the last time they had met here.

*****

Finally dinner was over and everyone started to trickle into the lounge, where once again the stars of the show introduced themselves. Don was the host with the most again and enjoyed his role as emcee for the evening. With things that had transpired during season three there were a lot of new questions that the stars tried to answer to the best of their ability, without giving anything away for what may transpire in the new season.

Trace and Aly were awed at the way everyone acted so 'normal' and had a wonderful time. By the time the evening was over they didn't do more than get undressed and fall into bed and were fast asleep before they knew what hit them.

*****

The weekend went way too fast for the girls and before they knew it, they were packed up and ready to head home. It had been a wonderful time for all of them and Scott had told them that he would call them all if the LFN cast ever came back. He was pretty sure it wouldn't be the last time either.

Karin and Cheryln had discussed the list they co-moderated with a few of the cast members and they were intrigued by having some kind of activity that they could do for the Covert Lovers. Scott told them to leave it and his hands and they did.....

The End

This story © Northstar, 1999

She closed the last page of the magazine and sat in thought. Maybe this weekend wasn't such a loss after all. She could plan another weekend. Maybe take some ideas from the stories she had read. Instead of going where they had originally planned maybe they could go to a travel agent and really have a vacation to remember.

With that she got up out of her chair, blew out the lamp and headed inside to bed....