Title: Keeping Up Appearances

Author: Mindy

See part one for rest.

-x-

Liz continues babbling as they step off the elevator:

"I'm just sayin', Jack, I totally killed tonight."

Jack takes her elbow, guiding her down the hall toward her door. "So you've said, Lemon."

"I mean, I owned that table. The dudes loved me. The wives loved me. Even the waiter loved me."

"Most importantly, I loved you."

"Right-" She casts him a sideways glance, her enthusiasm faltering: "You were…good too. Though some of your jokes could use a little…"

"You're critiquing my performance?" he asks, tone incredulous: "Is that what's happening now?"

She wags her head drunkenly. "Not crtitiquing, no critiquing-"

He lets out a sigh. "You're going to slip just perfectly into marriage, Lemon, mark my words."

She smiles brightly: "Really? Thanks. So…what are you gonna tell Harold and Jeanne, Ted and Caroline and Phil and Nicolette happened with us next time you meet up?"

Jack tilts his head in thought. "I suppose I could say you died."

She gives a shrug. "I'd be fine with that."

"But hopefully we won't all see each other for some years. By then it would be plausible for me to simply say we amicably divorced due to irreconcilable differences."

"That's a shame," she says with a rueful click of her fingers. "I was kinda rooting for us."

Jack smiles, facing her as they reach her door. "I can't thank you enough for tonight, Lemon. You were…perfect."

Her eyes widen with glee and surprise. "I know, right? I totally crushed being your wife."

"You did," he nods, then adds quickly: "And I apologize for the below-the-waist violation."

Her eyebrow arches. "Several below-the-waist violations, Jack."

"I was merely exerting my rights as an adoring husband."

"Yeah, well, lucky for you, I'm a little drunk. And that risotto was mind-blowing, so...it's all good."

"Lemon…" He takes her keys from her hand and unlocks the door for her: "you're going to make some lucky man a wonderful wife one day."

She pokes his shoulder with one finger, murmuring fondly: "Aw. You too, Jackie, and I mean that."

"Well…" Jack nods a few times and shuffles closer, eyes drifting over her face.

Liz's face falls suddenly, her hands flying to her throat.

Jack frowns at her. "What are you doing?"

She frowns back. "What are you doing?" she mutters, patting her neck a few times with panicky hands. "I'm not wearing a necklace."

"No," he replies, confused. "You're not…"

She cocks her head, eyeing him warily before her expression suddenly splits into relief. "Oh my God, you want the rings!" She shakes her head at herself, hits her forehead with the heel of her hand. "Idiot Liz…! Here you go-" She starts to twist the two rings he gave her at the start of the evening off her left hand. They don't come without a little tugging though. "Sorry…" she says breathily before dropping them both in his palm. "There. So. Okay, well-" she ducks inside: "goodnight!" and slams the door.

Jack looks up from the rings in his palm and finds himself facing firmly closed door. He blinks a few times in shock, pockets the rings and half-turns to go. But he stops, considers a moment, and instead he knocks.

Liz immediately re-opens the door. She's still right by the door, bent at the waist, removing her shoes. "Hey?" she greets, a question in her tone: "Did you…did you need the dress back now too?" She waves a shoe in the direction of her bedroom. "Cos I can go take it off and give it to you…if you want."

His mouth curls up in one corner. He takes a deliberate step toward her.

"Jack?" she says, voice shrinking as he advances. "Jack, you…didn't answer…my question there, Jack..."

He draws in a slow breath, gaze dropping over her. "Do I want you to take it all off and give it to me? Was that your question?"

Liz's mouth opens. She blinks at him, speechless, cheeks turning pink, lips unsure whether to laugh or object. "I- not- You-"

"Perhaps this," he murmurs, slipping a hand around her: "will answer your question."

He backs her against the coat rack by the door, lowers his mouth and kisses her. It's only meant as a short, enticing taste of what he has to offer. But once he starts kissing her he doesn't want to stop. Especially since she starts to kiss him back, her response tentative but tangible. Her head tips back in the cardigans hung on the rack and a soft, bewildered moan escapes her throat as her hands both lift, one still gripping her shoe, to his shoulders. Jack delves deeper, plucking at her lips with his, switching angles but not allowing his tongue to have its way. Not yet, at least.

"So?" he asks when he pulls back, voice husky with arousal: "Does that…answer your question, Lemon?"

She shakes her head mutely. Blinks at him. Then swallows. "Not…exactly…no."

"Then let me put it this way." Jack's eyes flash as he kicks the door shut and starts to…exert some more of his husbandly rights.

END.