"I can't believe you came home early like that."  Prompto said as he sat on the couch next to Noctis, who was relaxing back in one of the couch recliners as he seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep.  "And talk about timing.  I don't think you could have planned that any better if you tried.  What with showing up early and all."

"Well we had a change of plans at the last minute."  You said as you glanced down as you slightly swayed your hand that had your fingers interlaced with Ignis' as you sat with your back up against his chest as you both sat on the couch.  "The original plan was to return tomorrow so that I could go shopping with my godmother.  But......"

"So then why did you change your plans?"  Gladio asked as he looked at you from your dad's recliner.

"Well......."  You started to say when suddenly the door bell rang indicating that the pizza had arrived.

"Oh, let me get that."  Prompto said as he got up and walked over to the door.

"I still would have preferred to make you something a bit healthier than pizza."  Ignis said in your ear before he gave you a kiss on the cheek.

"I know."  You said as you snuggled up more to him before you turned and looked at him.  "But we don't really have any food here.  Well with the exception of the fruit cups and cake that everyone was making of course."

"Which I had planned on taking care of that with a shopping trip tomorrow before you got back."  He said in a low voice as he placed his nose right in front of yours.  "Which is why I agree with Prompto about your timing."

"Well this works out better then."  You said as you met his gaze with a smile.  "Because now we can go together."

"For the shopping, perhaps."  He said as he slightly tilted his head as he glanced at your lips, wanting to feel their softness again.  "But after that I have a couple other things to take care of."

"Oh?"  You asked as you leaned back and gave his a mischievous grin.  "And what else do you have to do?"

"That, my darling, you will have to wait and find out."  He said as he leaned in right beside your ear.  "And trust me when I say that it will be worth the wait."

"Okay."  You softly said as your breath left you as you felt his warm breath up against you ear, which caused a thrill to run down your spine as you anticipated his kiss.

But as he moved in more, you were caught off guard as his lips captured your earlobe before he lightly bit it.  Your heart immediately leaped and started racing as he slowly removed his mouth by lightly dragging his teeth across your earlobe before giving it a slight bit of suction as he released it and moved his head back and looked back at the others.  You couldn't seem to find your breath as you sat there stunned from his hidden hint of intimacy.  Which caused you to slightly drop your gaze as you tried to hide your cheeks as  you could feel the heat coming to them.

"Are you two going to join us or what?"  You heard Noctis asked as he got up from the couch recliner and head to the dining room table. 

"On our way."  Ignis said as he released you and started to get up.

You quickly released him as well and stood up yourself.  Then you both walked towards the table.  But as you approached, you realized that your dad hadn't come down yet.  You stopped by the doorway and turned to head upstairs to get him.

"I'll go grab my dad. You guys can get started."  You said as you walked towards the stairs.

"Are you sure?" Ignis asked as he gave you a concerned look.

"Yeah." You returned with a smile. "I trust that you won't trash the house in five minutes."

"It's not me that you should be worried about love.  But rather...." Ignis said as he glanced over at Prompto as he opened up a box and grabbed a slice of pizza and put it on his plate.

"If he makes a mess. Then he'll just have to clean it up.  Again."  You said with a smile before you turned and walked away.

You opened up the door to the office and found your dad busy typing away at his computer.  You slightly smiled as you walked in. He had been in his office since he came down and saw that the kitchen was clean again. In fact to thank everyone, he had been the one who suggested pizza for dinner.  This way everyone could eat and he could thank them for trying to surprise the two of you with dinner.

"Pizzas here." You said as you walked over to him.

"Good. I'll be down in a minute." He replied to you without taking his eyes off of the screen as he typed away.

"Oh no you don't." You said with a smirk. "Your going to get off and come down and eat. You've been in here since you woke up from your nap. You need a break."

"I'll be there in a minute." He said with a bit more force. "I need to finish this up."

"That can wait." You said as you came around the desk and started to pull his chair back.

Your dad gave you a startled look as you moved him away from his desk.

"When I'm done. I'll be....." He continued to argue until his cell phone started vibrating.

You both looked at his phone and saw Tracy's name on the screen.  You froze for a moment as you stared at the phone as it vibrated on the desk by his glass of rum and coke.  Neither of you moved as the phone buzzed.  Then when he didn't pick it up before it went to voicemail, it showed you that he had 26 missed calls for her number.

You felt your heart drop as you lowered your gaze for a moment.  You hadn't even thought about her calling him like that. But your dad brushed it off as he looked back at his computer when it chimed to show that he had a new email. But you froze again when you saw that it was from Tracy with the subject being "We need to talk".

"You know what." Your dad said as he looked at his monitor.  "I think your right. I can finish this tomorrow."

Then he locked up his computer and turned off his monitor. "Let's go eat."

"Okay." You quietly responded as you watched him slowly stand up.  "You can watch a movie with us afterwards if you like."

"That sounds good."  He said as he pushed his chair back under the desk.

"Great."  You said with a smile as you turned around and headed out of the room.

Right as Paul was getting ready to grab his phone and walk away from his desk, it started vibrating again.  And once again Tracy's name appeared on the screen.  Paul took a deep breath as he looked at the screen.  Then he picked up the phone and dropped it into his glass of rum and coke.

 "I don't really need to drink tonight anyway."  He said to himself as he walked away, leaving the phone as it vibrated in the glass.

When he reached the door, the liquid started to penetrate the protective casing of the phone.  When the call ended and went to voicemail. Paul stepped out of the room and closed the door, right as the circuits started to get covered in rum.  Then the screen showed 27 missed calls from Tracy before the screen when completely black.

"Alright." You said as you put the last bag of groceries in the truck of the car.  "I think we have everything."

"Splendid."  Ignis said as he closed the truck lid before he turned around and looked at you.  "Then I shall see you tonight."

"5 o'clock sharp?"  You said as walked over and wrapped your arms around his neck.

"Indeed." He said as he wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled your close.  "And be sure to remind your dad that you won't be joining him for dinner.  And that my uncle will be by to pick him up instead. My uncle told me that he has something special planned for him."

"I still don't see how your uncle is going to get him out of the house like that."  You said as you tightened up your grip on him as you moved in closer to him.  "He's not really into socializing right now."

"Well it won't be much socializing."  Ignis said as he pulled you against him.  "Unless he counts a double date to an orchestra concert as being that."

"Ummm.  A double date?  To and orchestra concert?"  You said as you gave him a concerned look.  "That might be a bad idea.  He's still very torn up over Tracy you know.   Plus he's not a fan of classical music. So there's no way that your uncle will convince him to leave the house and go in a double date."

"Not to worry love."  Ignis said as he reached up with one hand and moved your hair behind your ear before lifting your chin to meet him.  "My uncle can be very persuasive when he needs to be."

"Is he as persuasive as you are charming?"  You asked as you slowly closed your eyes as he lowered his head so that his lips were right in front of yours.   

"Of course."  Ignis whispered as he slowly rubbed his thumb into the small of your back which sent a thrill up your spine.  "Where do you think I learned it?"

You couldn't help but to give him a slightly heated grin before he leaned down and gave you a slow kiss.  The whole world seemed to disappear for a moment as you fell under his enchantment.  Only for it to end with you being weak in the knees as he slowly pulled away.

"I should be going."  He softly said as ran the back of his fingers gently across your cheek.  "I'll see you tonight."

"Okay."  You half breathed as you slowly opened up your eyes as he moved away from you and over to his car that was parked right beside your dad's.

Then you watched him climb into the car and start it up.  Then with a smile and a nod he drove off.  You watched him and waved good bye until he turned the corner as he headed out of the parking lot.  Then you climbed into your dad's car and headed home to unload the groceries.

"So your phone fell out of your hand and into your drink?"  Korn asked as he handed Paul a new phone. "How the hell did that happen?"

"Like I said before, it slipped out of my hand." Paul said without looking at Korn as he placed his hand on the new phone as he tried to get it from him.

"Are you sure about that?" Korn pressed more firmly as he held the phone just as firmly in his hand.

"Of course I'm sure."  Paul said as he slightly jerked the phone as he took It and started checking it.

That was when he realized that it was already set-up and even had all of contacts, photos, and voice mails backed up to it.  He slightly sighed when he saw that there were now 20 messages from Tracy in his text messages.  Looks like a dead phone was only able to get him one night of peace.

"And it has nothing to do with Tracy trying  to get a hold of you all night?"  Korn asked as he crossed his arms in front of himself.

"Tst."  Paul said as he started to walk away from Korn as he walked back over to his desk in his home office.  "I have no idea what you mean.  My phone was quiet all night."

"Sure it was.  As it sat in your glass all night."  Korn said as he walked over to the couch and sat down.

"Are we done here?"  Paul asked as he sat back down at his desk and started to check his email again.  "I have work to do."

"I have one more thing for you."  Korn said as he looked at Paul as he relaxed on the couch.  "But this one is more of a personal request."

Paul slowly looked up at Korn and gave his suspicious look.  "How personal?"

"Well I need you to go somewhere with me tonight."  He said as he watched Paul's reaction.

"If your expecting me to take you out to dinner because the kids will be out?  Your on your own.  I have other things to do."  

"Oh really?"  Korn asked with a curious look.  "Like what?  Sit around the house all by yourself and sulk as you wait for (y/n) to get home?  I've already told you, Ignis had planned on keeping her out pretty late.  It is their last night that they can stay out late before winter break ends.  So you would be waiting a long time. And I know you.  You could drink yourself into a coma if you were left to your own devices like that right now."

"I'm very much aware of that fact."  Your dad said as he gave Korn a stern look.  "And I don't need your reminders for that.  Which is why I don't play on drinking tonight."

"Really?  Then what had you planned on doing?  Checking your email?  That can wait until tomorrow.  Tonight your coming with me."  Korn said as he stood back up.  "We're going to a concert."

"A concert?"  Paul asked as he gave him a curious look.  "I wouldn't take you for a loud rock music kind of guy."

"Well good.  Because I'm not."  Korn said as he pushed his glasses back on his nose with his middle finger on the bridge of his glasses.  "But there are other types of concerts, other than just rock concerts."

"I don't think I like where this is going."  Paul said as he narrowed his eyes.

Korn continued as if he hadn't heard Paul.  "Mary wanted to attend the Insomnia orchestra Winter concert before the holiday break is over and tonight is their last performance."

"I'm not going.  No way in hell."  Paul said as he turned back to his computer.  "I don't do orchestra concerts."

"You can and you will."  Korn said as he walked over to the desk.  "And you'll be a gentleman as well during it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"  Paul said as he looked at Korn with a stern look.  "I'm always a gentleman."

"Really?"  Korn questioned as he gave Paul a stern look.  "So I suppose your behavior at the ball when you first got back is considered normal for you then?"

"That was different.  I was worried about Tracy and it got a bit out of hand."  Paul said as he looked back at his screen.  "And besides if I did go tonight, I'll just be a third wheel.  And nobody likes to be the third wheel."

"Well that would be one of the main reasons I'm asking you to go."  Korn said as he sat on the corner of Paul's desk as he looked at him.  "You and I will be on a double dating."

"Seriously?  Now I'm definitely not going."  Paul said as he gave Korn a side glance.  "I'm not looking to date anyone for a long time."

"Well that's good.  Because I don't want you to.  Your girlfriends tend to make way to much work for me."  Korn said as he crossed his arms across his chest.  "But tonight will be different.  All I need you to do is escort a co-worker of Mary's.  Apparently she's very shy and doesn't get out much."

"And you think that I'm the perfect person for her to go on a date with?  Your crazier then I thought."  Paul said as he started typing away as he answered a quick email.  "I don't do shy."

"Precisely."  Korn answered in a matter-of-fact tone.  "Which is why your a safe date for her.  There's no chance in the world that you would fall for her.  Nor her for you.  And besides, I think you might know her already.  She works at the high school as one of the guidance counselors."

"Which high school?"  Paul said as he stopped typing and looked at Korn.  

"The very one our kids go to."  Korn said with a slight smile.  "She might even be the one that you talked to.  Do you remember a Ms. Cathy Jones?"

"If I didn't work for you, I might think that your stocking me."  Paul said as he sat back in his chair.  "But yes I know Ms. Jones.  Her and I have had several lengthy conversations regarding (y/n) and her academics."

"Well good.  Then you shouldn't have any issue with being her date then."  Korn said as he stood up and started to head out of the room.  "I'll be by with Ignis around 5.  Oh and be sure to dress nice for the occasion.  It is a formal concert."

"Now wait a minute.  I never said....."  Paul started to argue as Korn stepped out of the office.

"I'll see you tonight."  Korn said as he walked down the hallway and down the stairs.

Damn it!  Paul thought as he quickly got up from his desk and headed for the door.

"What is up with you always trying to set me up with someone?"  Paul asked as he quickly caught up with Korn as he headed downstairs.

"I never said that I was setting you up with someone."  Korn said as he walked down and into the foyer.  "You are simply escorting Cathy.  Her date couldn't make it tonight.  So your filling in for him."

"And you thought that this would be a good idea?"  Paul asked as he watched Korn put on his shoes so that he could head home.  "Since when have you known me to like classical music?"

"Well, other then listening to our kid perform, never."  Korn said as he stood back up and grabbed his coat.

"And you still think this is a good idea?"  Paul asked as he crossed his arms in front of himself.  

"I do."  Korn said as he gave Paul a slight smile.

Then they both froze as Paul's new cell phone went off.  He pulled it out and immediately frowned when he saw Tracy's name.  He had been hoping that Korn would of given him a new phone number along with his new phone.  But as he looked at it as he finished ringing and sent her to voicemail, he knew that that might be pushing it a bit.

"It might help you to get over yourself so that you can answer the phone again."  Korn quietly said as he watched Paul.  "You can't avoid her forever you know."

"But I...."  Paul started to say when he phone chimed.

He looked at his phone again and saw that it was a new text message from her as it popped up on his screen.

Please talk to me.  I want to know what happened.  Did I do some thing wrong?

Paul closed his eyes as he tightened up his grip on the phone.  "You should really explain it to her you know."

"But I did."  Paul said as he glanced up at Korn with a stressed look.

"Did you?"  Korn asked as he watch Paul .  "Because it seems to me that she is still very much confused.  And Tracy doesn't get confused easily."

"I..."  He started to say as dropped his head again.

"But let's worry about that later."  Korn said as he pulled out his keys and pressed the autostart button for his car.  "For now, you need to start to get ready.  5 o'clock will be here before you know it."

"So he talked you into it?" You asked as you looked at him as he straightened out his hair in the bathroom mirror.

"He didn't really give me much of a choice in the matter."  You dad said as he made one last adjustment to his collar before he lowered his hands and turned to look at you.

"I thought that you weren't trying to impress Ms. Jones?" You asked as you looked at your dad.

"I'm not." Your dad said as he turned and walked past you as he walked back into his bedroom.  "Korn told me it was a formal event."

"And this is what you went with?" You asked as you gestured to his formal bad boy look.

"I'm not in the mood for a tie and suit." He said as he walked over to his dresser and grabbed his watch. "And besides I'm only an escort tonight."

"I think you might be thinking of another type of escort." You said slightly under your breath.

"What?" He asked as he turned around and looked at you.

"Don't you think that you should at least wear a tie?" You asked as you watched him put his watch on. "Most people would at least do that."

"I already told you." He said as he started for the door.  "I'm not in the mood for all that. Hell, I don't even want to go. But I do owe Korn a favor or two. Which is why I'm even somewhat trying."

"Okay." You said as he walked past you when you heard the door bell ring.  "But don't complain to me when you get stared at most of the night."

"What are you talking about?" He asked as you started to follow him down the hallway.

"I'm just saying that you might catch some attention like that from the other women attending." You said as you both walked past your room. "The outfit doesn't exactly blend in.  It more like screams seductive."

"I wore this to one of your high school choir concert." He said as he went down the stairs.

"Yehs." You replied as you followed him down. "But you also had Tracy with you that time. And you were both smoking hot that night. So no one questioned it. And they may have acted like they all didn't noticed or that they weren't staring at you two. But trust me. They did."

"That's fine by me." Your dad said as he reached the door and opened it up.

"Ahh good. Your ready." Korn said as he stood behind Ignis in a simple gray suit and blue tie. "A little informal for my taste. But it will do."

"Someone here thinks it might be a bit so seductive."  Your dad said as he gave you a side glance.

"It is."  You said as you stood there in your simple black skater dress and black heels.  "Your suppose to blend in at a concert.  Not stand out better than the performers."

"Is that what your going to do?"  He asked as he looked at you walked past him and over to the coat rack.

"We're not going to a concert."  You said as you grabbed your black shawl from the hook.

Then you stopped and looked at Ignis and he stood there in his black suit and black tie.  "Or are we?"

"Not tonight love."  Ignis returned with a smile as he reached his hand out to you after you had your shawl on.  "Shall we?"

"Yes please."  You replied as you grabbed your purse from the table with one hand and his hand with the other.  "Night dad."

"Night kiddo."  Your dad replied from behind you before he set the alarm, grabbed his keys, and locked the door as he walked out himself.

Ignis interlaced his fingers yours as he led you to his car that was parked right behind the black limo that were both parked by the curb in front of the house.  You slightly squeezed his hand as you looked up at him.  He looked back at you with a loving gaze that seemed to have a hint of heat to it before he looked at the car again as he grabbed the door handle for you.  You narrowed your eyes at him as you gave him a heated smile as you slid into your seat.

Then as he closed the door, you put on your seatbelt and watched him job around to his side of the car.  You couldn't help but to smile as you realized that he was just as excited for the date as you were.  It had been long overdue for the two of you to have a night all to yourselves.  No parents, no friends.  Just the two of you.  The thought made your heart start to race as he climbed into the car.

Ignis slid into his seat and closed his door before he looked over at you.  But he didn't just look at you.  He leaned over and gently grabbed the back of you head as he pulled you into him.  Then he placed his lips on yours as he deeply exhaled.

The motion caught you off guard for only a moment. Before you leaned into him as well, as you reach over and ran your hand through his hair as you reached around to the back of his head.  Then moment your fingers touched the back of his head, he kissed you back harder as he pulled you closer.  You welcomed the kiss as you slightly parted your lips as you wanted more from him.

But right as you felt his tongue start to slip past your lips there was a loud bang on the car hood.  You both jumped back and released the other as you got ready to attack whatever had hit the car.  Only to both slowly drop your hands as you saw your dad giving you a stern look as his hand was on the hood on the car.  You then completely dropped your hands and sat back in your seat as he came around to your window.

Ignis turned on the car and rolled your window down.  Your dad then leaned in on your door frame and looked at the two of you with a serious look.  Which was making you nervous since you weren't sure where he was going with this.  He had seen the two of you kiss a hundred times by now.  But for some reason this one time seemed to upset him.  

"What's up dad?"  You asked as you sat back so that Ignis could see him as well as he stared at the two of you.

"I know that this is the first time that you have been out with just the two of you.  But I want you to be vigilant.  We still don't know exactly what happened the night that Tracy was attacked on this street.  We have some suspicions, but nothing solid enough to pin on anyone."  He said with a serious tone as he looked at the two of you.

"Ignis."  Paul said as he looked at him.  "I want you to stick to your original plan that you told me about.  Don't vear from that unless you have to.  In which I need to know what the change is in case something happens."  

"Yes sir."  Ignis returned in a serious tone as he gave a slight nod.

"We trust both of you to be the responsible kids we know you are."  He continued as he glanced between the two of you.  "Which is the only reason that we are allowing this.  But we also want you to be safe.  Understood?"

"Yes sir."  You both replied as you saw the concern in his look now.

That was when you realized he wasn't so much as trying to scare the two of you as a normal dad would do when their daughter goes on her first date and he's threatening the boyfriend so that they behave.  No this was much deeper.  You could tell that deep down he was scared.  He was sacred that something might happen to both of you.

You gave him a huge smile as you removed your seatbelt.  Then you leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  He closed his eyes for a moment as you kissed him.  Then he slowly opened his eyes as you sat back down in your seat and placed you hand on his cheek. 

"We'll be careful dad."  You said in a calm voice.  "We know how to keep an eye out for anything odd.  After all, you did train us for that."

 He reached up and placed his hand on yours.  "Be sure that you do."

"Hmm."  You replied as you nodded back at him with smile.

He smiled back as he wrapped his fingers around your hand before giving kissing the top of your hand.  Then he placed it on the door.  But he didn't removed his hand just yet.  Instead he kept it there as he stood back up.  Then he slowly moved it off to the side as you removed yours so that you could put your seatbelt back on.

"Call me if you need me."  He said from outside the car.

"I will."  You replied as you clicked the latch again.

"Try not to stay out too late."  Your dad continued as his hand slightly tightened up on the car door.

"If it gets too late or if something happens, we'll stay somewhere safe."  Ignis said.  "But we'll let you know where we are."

"Alright."  You heard your dad quietly replied as you barely heard his voice over the car engine.  "Have fun."

"We will."  You replied as you placed your hand back on his.  "I'll see you in the morning dad.  Have fun at the concert."

"Yeah."  He replied as he removed his hand from the car.  "I'll try."

You then watched your dad as he took a step back as Ignis pulled away from the curb as he turned the car around in the street and headed back the other direction from the house.  You knew that he was nervous.  And at this point it was understood.  A lot had happened to make him not trust anyone other than himself to keep you safe. 

But as you looked at Ignis as he drove, you knew that Ignis wasn't about to let anything happen to you either.  You couldn't help but feel protected whenever you were with either of them.  You knew that nothing that you couldn't handle as long as they were with you.  History had already proven that to you time and time again.

"Can you tell me now where we're going?"  You asked with a teasing tone as he smoothly drove through the city streets.

"Well I figured we could start off with dinner.  Then perhaps we could wonder around the shops downtown and see if we can't still catch some of the entainment that is going on for the last time tonight.  I heard that there are a couple local bands playing in the park tonight."  Ignis said as he gave you a slight glance before he turned the car and headed for a certain street near the downtown main drag.

"That sounds like fun."  You said as you beamed at him.

You had hoped that you could have gotten a chance to see more of the festivities before the holiday was over.  And the live bands had been one of the things that you had really been looking forward to hearing.  You loved to hear the music that they came up with out of their garages and local bars.  To you there was nothing more raw and exciting then to hear them.  And especially when it was one of their own songs and not just the ones on the radio.

Meanwhile........

"Okay.  So they are waiting at Mary's house.  Can I trust you to behave as we go to pick them up?"  Korn asked as he looked at Paul who was sitting beside and was looking out the window.

"Yeah yeah."  Paul replied in a quiet but impatient tone.

"This isn't a death sentence or anything you know."  Korn said as he looked at Paul.  "In fact you might enjoy yourself tonight."

"I wouldn't hold your breath on that."  Paul returned as he propped his head up on the door frame with his hand.  "But don't worry.  I'll be sure to be nice and not spoil it for everyone else."

Korn slightly sighed as he looked at his old friend as he looked like we was still very much in shambles from recent events.  But he knew better then to leave him alone like this.  There had been plenty of nights in the past where he had to have someone check on him to make sure that he wasn't slowly destroying himself when he was in Altissia.  And now wasn't going to be any different.  In fact it might be worse since Tracy didn't seem to be on the same boat that he was.

"That will be enough for tonight."  Korn quietly replied.

After a few minutes the limo slowed down and turned into an apartment complex and started to carefully navigate to the back of it.   Paul wasn't really paying attention to the buildings since they all looked the same with their white siding and brick baselines and stairs.  It simply looked like the hundreds of others just like it that were all over Insomnia.  There was nothing really special about them.  

But to him, it made sense for a single woman to live in a nice apartment like these.   Simple, easy to get to, safe, and there were plenty of other people around to help her out if need be.  Hell, when he had started dating Lynn, she had been living in one of these.  And Tracy's last place was one.

Paul dropped his gaze as he felt his heart slightly crack again as he pictured the movers packing up her belongings before putting them onto a truck.  He was secretly glad that he hadn't been there to watch.  He probably would have fought them out of her place and did it himself.  He hated the idea of another man being in her place.  Even though he knew that she had probably had had several in there before they had gotten back together.

"Ahh.  Here we are."  Korn said as the limo came to a stop.  "Shall we?  We wouldn't want to keep them waiting."

"Yeah."  Paul replied as he was pulled out of his troubling thoughts.

"Welcome.  Come on in.  Cathy is finishing up now."  Mary said as she opened up the door wide as she welcomed Paul and Korn into her apartment.  

"Thank you love."  Korn replied as he stepped into the apartment and wrapped one arm around her waist as he pulled her closer.

"You looked stunning tonight."  Korn said as he smiled at her.

"Thank you."  She replied as she wrapped her arms around his neck.  "And I can definitely say that same thing about you."

Paul slowly rolled his eyes as he walked past them and entered the room which turned out to be the living room.  He then stood there for a moment and looked around as Korn and Mary held each other for a moment before they kissed.  Plus then started looking at anything other than them.  That was the last thing he wanted to see.

"I'm sorry I took so long."  Paul heard a familiar sweet voice say from the hallway that led off from the living room.  "I hope that I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"Not at all."  Korn replied as Paul turned and looked over at Cathy as she walked out of the hallway.

"You look stunning as well my dear."  Korn said as he looked over at Cathy as she gave him a nervous look.

"Thank you."  She shyly dropped her gaze as she replied while she ran her hands over her dress as she seemed to try and pull it down a bit more.  "You don't think that it's too much?  Mary said I should try and show a bit more leg every once in a while."

"Absolutely not.  I think it fits you just right."  Korn said back with a smile before he looked over at Paul.

"What do you think Paul?"  He asked Paul as Paul seemed to be stunned himself as he stared at her.

"I couldn't agree more."  Paul said back as he focused again.  "That dress suits you."

Cathy quickly looked back up at him and seemed almost at a lost for words as she saw his outfit for the night.  She had known that he was handsome from the meeting him in person on the first day of school.  But she hadn't been prepared for the drop dead gorgeous guy that was standing in front of her.  She felt her heart start to race as he gave her a slight smile before he turned back towards the door.

"Shall we be going."  Paul said as he turned to face the door.

"Yes."  Korn said as he released Mary.  "We have reservations at the restaurant before the concert starts."

"Okay.  Let me grab by shawl."  Mary said as turned to her coat rack and pull down a white shawl to match her plain white dinner dress.  "Ready Cathy?"

"Yeah."  Cathy said as she was shook out of her thoughts.

Then she walked over to the door and grabbed her black shawl.  Then just as she did, Paul offered her his arm as he gave a slight nod.  She smiled back at him as she took him arm.  She could feel her heart race again as she felt his strong arm as he lead her out of the apartment and out into the hallway.  But she didn't feel like she was in hallway anymore.  More like a portal to a night hopefully filled with magic with the mysterious man and father who she had only really interacted with on a phone or through emails.  But tonight she was hoping to see him in a different light.

******Author Note******

Okay.  So I know that this was a bit bland.  But it is necessary so that we can set the stage once again for a night of love and romance.  (Awwwwhhhhh.)  And especially since this is a night long overdue for our happy couple.  And one that will  hopefully mend a few new wounds before they take over.

So keep and eye out for the next chapter which will be full of laughter, love, and plenty of fun.

Thanks for reading.  :)

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