The Muffin Man ✓

Mr. and Mrs. Horan

The same Thursday evening, 10:30 pm.

Outside in the dark, after the guards had left, two figures dressed in black scurried across the lawn. Their heads were covered in hoods. They carried a large ladder between them.

"This way," one of them said.

"No, I'm sure it's this way," said the other. "I would know, I'm stuck here all damn day."

"I am too and I know it's this way,"

"You're usually wrong."

"So are you so shut the hell up and follow me. Did you turn off the security camera?"

"Yeah, I did it before I got started on those dishes."

"Good girl."

"Whatever."

Niall led the way holding the front part of the ladder under his arm. Arie was in the back holding the other end.

They made it to the bedroom window. As usual it was wide open.

"I swear," Niall whispered, shaking his head while pointing up. "It's like they're begging for someone to just come right in and help themselves."

"I know, right?" Arie whispered back.

"One of these days it'll be us," Niall said. "They got some nice things in there. I got my eye on some of those electronics."

"I want those designer bags."

"Okay, let's do this."

They carefully lifted the ladder and propped it against the side of the house beneath the window. Arie climbed up first with Niall right behind. She stopped suddenly.

"Shouldn't you be on the ground holding the ladder?" she asked.

"Aw, this ladder is secure, you got nothing to worry about," Niall assured her. "Move up already."

Arie didn't budge. "What's your real reason for coming up here? I can do this by myself."

"Yeah," Niall stammered. "But you know, it's my job as a husband to protect the woman he loves. Now come on, move already so we can get this over with."

Arie still wouldn't move. "Bullcrap!" she hissed. "You want to spy on Emma. You know you do, don't lie."

Niall snorted and blushed. "Aww, come on, pumpkin pie, don't be silly. Heh heh, that's the most cray cray thing I ever heard. You're the only one I wanna watch."

Arie looked skeptical. She still wouldn't move. Niall cursed himself for telling her about his plan to sneak over here. He didn't think she would insist on joining him. Damn him.

"Aw come on, cupcake," he tried to appease her. "Don't be like that. You know I love you to the moon and back, and back again to the moon. Come on, who's your Pookiebear?"

He could feel her relax. "You are, Pookiebear."

He gave her a kiss on the nose. "And who's my sweet delicious cupcake with sprinkles? My one and only?"

"Me?"

"Good girl. Now how about moving on up? The sooner we do this the sooner we can go home and have a great time."

Arie smiled and climbed up. Phew, Niall thought. The last time she got like this he didn't get any for an entire month. He did not want to go through that again.

They climbed up. Arie made it to the window first and peered inside.

"See anything?" Niall whispered.