Here it is, as I promised! I leave tomorrow and won't be back until Tuesday, so you'll all just have to wait. It took all afternoon to write this one, since it's so fluffy. It would've been done sooner, but I had to go and get bloodwork at the hospital, YUCK. PLease enjoy! (and of course review)

Kate was annoyed. Not only was she going on her first blind date in who knows how long, but he was late. She had been waiting in the lobby, black dress and heels, for more than 15 minutes. She didn't even know what the guy looked like, but Bruce needed to be given credit; he had good taste.

Kate sat down on a big, ornate couch in the middle of the room, where she waited. Then the elevator door opened, and out came Lily with a smile to a bellboy. Kate hoped to herself that Lily wouldn't see her, but the way that she sped up in her direction said it was too late.

"Kate!" she said as she walked over.

"Hey, Lily." Kate answered as nicely as she could. Lily sat down next to her.

"I've barely even seen you the entire trip! So what have you-" she spied Kate's outfit, "Oohhhhhh! You're going on a date, aren't you?"

Kate had to fight to hide the smile that wanted to come out from Lily's excited face. She liked Lily, even if they did get off to a bad start.

"Yeah, but I don't know where we're going."

"Well, I'm sure Nigel picked out a great place."

Kate's thoughts grinded to a sudden halt. What?

"Why would he pick a place?" she asked more than a little awkwardly.

Lily's smile faded. Uh-oh. She'd made the fatal flaw of assuming.

"Uh... you mean your date isn't with Nigel?" she winced as she asked.

Kate shook her head.

"No."

"Oh."

A long silence pursued.

"Um..." Kate started, but didn't get anywhere.

"This is a bit awkward, huh?" Lily asked, trying to laugh it off.

"Yeah." Kate said with a forced smile.

"So what's he like?"

"Who?"

"Your date!"

"Oh! Well, um, I actually haven't met him yet."

"A blind date? You never really struck me as someone who'd go for that."

"Yeah I never struck myself, either."

"Do you know his name?"

"Austin. I think he's from upstate or something." Lily nodded with quiet approval, and Kate tried to keep the small talk going, "So what did you come down here for?"

"Oh, a few of us are going to dinner. I think it's just going to be me, Bug, and Jordan, and I'm waiting."

"Ah." Kate nodded slightly. Another awkward silence passed before a question blurted from Kate's mouth. "Why did you think I was going on date with Nigel?"

Lily bit her lip a little in regret.

"Uh... I don't know, I guess since I saw you holding hands on the plane and everything-" she was stopped by the elevator door opening, revealing the late party, but with Nigel thrown into the mix. Lily gave Kate a quick goodbye look and went over to where they were standing. Kate sighed. Something was bothering her. But then she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around.

A tall, handsome man in a nice suit was standing there, a curious smile worn.

"Excuse me, but, would you happen to be Kate Switzer?"

A pleased and playful smile escaped Kate's lips. Bruce had done well.

"I would. You must be Austin."

Kate stood up and shook the offered hand. She could tell by the way he carried himself and polite tone that he was a true gentleman, which was one of her favorite traits in men. He made a mini bow and kissed her hand.

"Austin K., at your service."

Kate giggled, which would have been a shock to everyone she knew, but it was all part of the game to him.

"So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." he looked at her for a second as she flicked a lock of hair into place and let out a breathe. "You look great!" Oh, yes. Kate liked this one. He offered his arm to escort her out, which she accepted gracefully.

XXX

Nigel was watching, for no reason and yet for everything. He saw her laugh when he said something, and it almost made him bristle. He kept telling himself that there was no reason to be angry, but he couldn't stop feeling it.

She was beautiful, not just because of her dress or hair, but mainly because she let herself look happy, something that he could barely remember ever seeing. She never let anyone in, always being mean or rude to drive them away. But for some reason her facade didn't faze him anymore, instead he wanted to take it down.

When they both walked out together, Nigel saw her turn once, looking at him. He turned away quickly, not wanting her to know he had been watching.

XXX

Austin took her to the Gascogne, a beautiful and expensive French restaurant. The seats were reserved and they were brought to their table immediately. When the waiter came to take orders, Kate impressed her date by ordering in French. And frankly, he impressed her with his deep pockets.

"J'aurai le Foie Chaud Poele au Mascate et le Salade de la Vinaigrette de Mesclun au Champagne. Il wil a l'Epinards d'aux de Farci de Saumon."

"Sera-t-cela tout pour maintenant ?" the waiter asked.

"Oui, merci."

He walked away with the menus in hand. Austin raised his eyebrows.

"You know I always say that there's nothing more beautiful than blue eyes speaking French."

Kate smiled. It had been too long since someone called her beautiful. She picked up her glass, taking a sip, and looking over it.

"So tell me, what do you do?"

"I'm a restaurateur, actually, but I used to be a lawyer." he said with pride.

"Oh? And can I guess which restaurant?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, the answer obvious.

"Yes, this one." he admitted, laughing.

They talked more about other things for the entire meal, seemingly endless in conversation. Kate smiled and laughed the whole time, to the point that her face hurt. When the slow music eventually came on, the request to dance was inevitable. Walking out to the floor, they went with the formal positions. The dance started and they danced without a word, which gave Kate some much needed time to think.

Why did Nigel look at her like that? He had no reason to be bothered by any of this.

But... what if he did?

XXX

It was past 10 before Kate got back to the hotel. When she got to her floor she carried her heels instead of wearing them, which was much more comfortable. Her date was wonderful and entertaining, and he complimented her left and right, but... it still left something to be desired.

She got to her door and slid the key. She went in and Nigel was on his bed, reading something about Jack the Ripper. When he heard her come in he looked up.

"How was your date?" he asked, hiding any hostility in his tone. Kate was still left in an uncomfortable position to answer.

"Um... it was ok, I guess." She got some clothes and went into the bathroom, coming out in pjs. She became curious in his book. "What're you reading?"

"It's called 'History of Jack the Ripper', but I can't make anything out in the pictures."

"Let me see." Kate sat down next to him, and he handed her the book. After a minute or so, "Well, you can obviously tell that the abdomen was practically ripped out."

"Yeah, I know that. What I'm looking for is any indication of what kind of weapon he used!"

Kate gave him a face.

"What's with the attitude?"

Nigel closed the book hard and got up.

"What attitude?"

Kate got up too and stepped close to him, in his face.

"The one that you've given me ever since I came back! I walk in..."

XXX

"Hey Jordan! You gotta come and listen to this!"

Jordan looked over and found Woody with his ear to the wall.

"What?" she asked, walking over.

"Kate and Nigel are fighting again! Sounds like Kate's angry because Nigel's angry."

"Ooh!" Jordan bent down and stuck her ear next to Woody's.

XXX

"Who are you to say that I have an attitude?! You walk around ready to kill everyone all the time!"

"That's because everyone pisses me off! But as soon as I come back from a date, you start mouthing off!" Realization swept over her face. "You're jealous!"

Nigel was still angry, but now mixed with a little nervous.

"I am not jealous! Why would I be jealous of a pompous bloke like that?!"

"Austin is not pompous! He's the biggest gentleman I've met in years, unlike you!"

"Well I'm sorry that I'm not incredible and can't take you on the perfect date!"

"It was not a perfect date! Yes, he was kind and gentle" Kate's voice got softer, and Woody and Jordan strained to hear. "complimenting, polite, smart. He was perfect."

Nigel looked very confused.

"Wait, what?"

Kate sighed, figuring out what she'd been feeling the whole time.

"I don't like perfect. I mean, we got along great and shared the same interests, but... perfect is so boring!" she saw a hint of a smile on Nigel's face, and she followed with a bigger one, "And honestly, I have a more fun fighting with you at the morgue."

Nigel's smile got huge and he laughed a little. Kate didn't know what to think yet; Nigel did that to her a lot. But she did know the reasons for Nigel getting jealous and her dislike of her date. Somewhere, along the crazy, weird, and sometimes very annoying road called the Boston City Morgue, she had let her guard down just a little without even knowing it. And it turned out that that little bit was enough for Nigel to sneak right in. He showed her that perfect doesn't define a friendship or anything that comes after that, because it was the differences that made it all interesting.

She got up on her tip toes, and very gently, kissed his cheek, her way of thanking him for being her friend.

Nigel tingled when he felt her kiss him. He wasn't as confused as Kate about how he felt, though. But Kate Switzer? The pushy, prickly woman that he couldn't get through an hour without fighting with? Well, if he knew anything, it's that this was going to be a wild ride.

When Kate pulled away and went back down, she suddenly, and unexpectedly, felt Nigel grab her arm and pull her back up, into a longer, deeper kiss where it was supposed to be, on the lips. Her hands moved to his chest and his to her back and waist, until they finally pulled apart, breathing a little heavier.

And for once, Kate wasn't pissed off or bored.

XXX

"What happened?" Woody whispered.

"I don't know, I can't hear anything!"

"Do you think she killed him or something?" Jordan gave him a look and hit him on the shoulder, "Ow! What was that for?"

"You were being annoying. I fixed it."

"That doesn't mean you can hit." he said in a parental tone.

"Oh, so you want to know what it does mean? First..."

XXX

Nigel was quiet for a second and listened.

"What?" Kate asked.

"Woody and Jordan are going at it!" Kate hit him lightly on the arm. "I mean fighting!"

She just rolled her eyes and put her head back on his chest.