The plane touched down in Paris just as the sun began to rise, casting a golden glow across the city of lights. Jake and Kat stepped off, bundled in matching coats, hand-in-hand with sleepy smiles and jet lag in their eyes. It was their first trip to Paris together — just the two of them.

“Well,” Jake said, tugging their suitcase along the cobblestone outside the airport, “we officially made it to the most romantic city in the world… without our little chaos monster.”

Kat sighed dramatically. “I already miss him. Who’s going to terrorize people on the street with his cuteness? Who’s going to steal socks from strangers?”

Jake laughed. “Pretty sure Paris isn’t ready for Oliver. He’d end up stealing a croissant right off someone’s table and getting us banned from France forever.”

Kat smirked. “Honestly? Worth it.”

They took a taxi to their hotel, a charming little place with vines crawling up the outside walls and a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower. As soon as they got into the room, Kat opened her phone and pulled up the pet camera they had set up at home.

“There he is!” she said, heart melting. “He’s sleeping on the couch. Curled up like a cinnamon roll.”

Jake peeked over her shoulder. “He looks so peaceful. It’s almost suspicious.”

“He’s probably plotting something. Just wait till we get back.”

That afternoon, they headed out to explore. Paris was chilly, but the streets buzzed with life. They strolled through flower-lined markets, stopped for crepes from a tiny stand in Montmartre, and made their way toward the Seine. Jake pulled Kat in close as they crossed the bridge, snapping a photo with the Eiffel Tower rising in the distance.

“I can’t believe we’re actually here,” Kat said, eyes wide with wonder.

“Me neither,” Jake replied. “But don’t think I didn’t see you eyeing those dog treat stands earlier.”

Kat laughed. “Okay, maybe I was thinking about getting Oliver a little Eiffel Tower squeaky toy.”

“Of course you were.”

They spent the evening under twinkling lights, sipping warm drinks at a rooftop café. A string quartet played softly in the corner. Kat rested her head on Jake’s shoulder.

“This place is magic,” she whispered.

“It is,” Jake agreed. “But I think it’ll feel even better when we’re back home—with a fluffy brown dog jumping all over us.”

Kat smiled. “Let’s bring him back a beret.”