Jo was waiting at the counter at the hospital entrance for Alex to pick her up for the fundraising gala. They had both just finished a long and exhausting shift and that's why they had decided to get dressed at the hospital instead of going home to get ready.

Jo looked down at her dress. It was a long, white silk dress and she was pretty sure she looked stunning in it. Yet she couldn't help but feel a little nervous about tonight. This made her annoyed with herself. Why was she nervous? This was Alex she was waiting for. She was in love with Alex. She felt comfortable around him, probably more than with any other guy before him. Granted they got off to a rough start, but once she had figured out what a great guy he was, she was more than happy to call him her friend. Now he was her boyfriend, which was wonderful and exciting, but also a little frightening. What if she screwed this up, like she always did?

Alex wasn't exactly thrilled about going to the gala either. He found the event cheesy and stupid and it annoyed him that he had to wear a suit with a tie for it. Not to mention that he was a bit nervous to go there with Jo. Them being a couple was still new and until now they hadn't done many couple activities like going on dates. He didn't want to make any mistakes and scare her off. But since them going to the gala together was not like a real date, it might turn out alright, he thought when he left the attending's lounge.

The sight of Alex coming towards her down the hallway, pulled Jo out of her gloomy thoughts. He looked dapper in his suit, but she noticed he looked nervous too, maybe uncomfortable even. But as soon as he noticed her his face lit up.

The sight of Jo in that long, tight dress was all the reassurance Alex needed that this evening would not turn out to be a total waste. She looked stunning to say the least.

He closed up to her and then they were just standing there in the hallway, looking at each other. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved. But they both smiled.

"Hey."

"Hey."

They almost broke the silence in unison, which made them laugh.

"Okay, is it just me or is this a little awkward? I feel like you're picking me up for senior prom", Jo said. "Let's just go and get this over with, okay?"

Alex nodded. "Sure. But I think we forgot something." He pulled her close and kissed her deeply. "You look beautiful" he whispered in her ear. Jo laughed silently and returned his kiss even more passionately.

Alex took Jo's hand. "Now we can go."

"So senior prom, huh? How was yours? Who was your date?" Alex asked as they left the hospital.

"Honest answer? I never went to mine. At that time I was still living I my car and I figured it wouldn't be very appealing if the guy had to pick me up from a car instead of a real house." Alex immediately regretted the question. Bringing back bad memories from Jo's past was the last of his intentions.

"Also I didn't have the money to buy a fancy dress. So that's that. Did you go to yours?"

"Yes, but it wasn't exactly a memorable night for me either. I don't even remember the name of the girl to be honest. Besides I didn't stay long anyways. I never felt comfortable leaving mom and the kids alone too long. But whatever. Tonight's gonna be better than senior prom anyways." Alex tried to lighten the mood.

"Really? And how's that? The other day you told me the fundraising gala sucked and that you wished we could skip it."

"Well, for one they serve booze there. A lot of expensive booze that is. And…" Alex thought hard but he really couldn't come up with a second reason that would make the evening enjoyable.

"And…?" Jo teased him.

"And… well, I'm gonna be there with you", Alex said and grinned.

Jo laughed. "You know what?" She squeezed his hand and tickled his neck with her nose.

"That's the only reason that matters."