The cozy flat above Holby City Hospital buzzed with anticipation. Stevie and Faith had invited their friends—Teddy and Jodie, and Ngozi and Nicole—for a couples' game night. The Monopoly board lay open on the coffee table, colorful bills stacked neatly, and the smell of pizza wafted from the kitchen.
Stevie, the resident surgeon with a penchant for strategy, adjusted her glasses. "Okay, everyone. Let's play. May the best couple win!"
Faith, the ED nurse with a wicked sense of humor, winked at her. "And may the worst couple go bankrupt."
Teddy and Jodie settled on the couch, their fingers intertwined. Teddy was the pediatrician, always nurturing, while Jodie, the paramedic, had a wild streak. "I call the dog," Teddy declared, picking up the Scottie token.
Jodie smirked. "Typical. You're the dog, and I'm the racecar. Let's see who laps whom."
Ngozi and Nicole, the dynamic duo of the trauma team, sat cross-legged on the floor. Ngozi was the no-nonsense consultant, and Nicole, the radiographer, had a soft spot for bad puns. "I'll be the top hat," Ngozi said, raising an eyebrow.
Nicole grinned. "And I'll be the battleship. Ready to sink some property values!"
As the game progressed, alliances formed and dissolved. Stevie's hotels dominated the board, but Faith's cunning trades kept her in check. Teddy and Jodie squabbled over Park Place, while Ngozi and Nicole laughed uproariously at their own misfortunes.
"Stevie," Faith whispered, leaning close, "trade me Boardwalk, and I'll owe you a romantic dinner."
Stevie raised an eyebrow. "Deal. But only if you promise not to burn the lasagna this time."
Teddy, ever the peacemaker, tried to mediate. "Jodie, let's not mortgage our relationship over Baltic Avenue."
Jodie pouted. "But it's the cheapest property! I want the green ones!"
Ngozi surveyed the chaos. "Nicole, we need a plan."
Nicole tapped her chin. "How about we form a coalition? The Radiology-Trauma Alliance. We'll take over the utilities."
And so, the game continued. Laughter echoed through the flat, and the Monopoly money exchanged hands faster than a cardiac arrest code. Stevie landed on Community Chest and drew a card: "Advance to Go. Collect $200."
"Typical surgeon luck," Faith teased. "You're probably insured against landing on Income Tax."
As the clock ticked past midnight, the couples grew more competitive. Teddy and Jodie bickered over the Free Parking jackpot, while Ngozi and Nicole plotted to monopolize the railroads.
But then, something shifted. Stevie glanced at Faith, her heart swelling. "You know," she said, "this game reminds me of us."
Faith raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
"We've faced bankruptcy, community chests, and unexpected windfalls," Stevie said. "But we always land on 'Advance to Love.' And that's worth more than any hotel on Boardwalk."
Faith leaned in, kissing Stevie's cheek. "Agreed."
And so, in that cozy flat above Holby City Hospital, the couples played Monopoly—a game of chance, strategy, and stolen kisses. As the dice rolled, hearts were won and lost, and the bonds between them strengthened.
And when the game finally ended, with Stevie and Faith victorious, they all agreed: Monopoly was just a game, but love—well, that was the real jackpot.
