A/N: I know at least one person will read this, but just to explain - this is the prequel to my story involving Director Collins and Alex, an OC of mine. It starts in the present but will go back to the past to revisit how they ended up together in the first place because, as you'll know if you read Like We Used To, it was something that surprised everybody.

I would recommend reading that one first, because Alex Hale is established in that one. However, I suppose you can still follow this one.

I should probably mention also that the first one (LWUT) was written ages ago, and needs updating badly, seeing as how all my page breaks disappeared and it's got typos galore. Enjoy!

RdF

Chapter One – New Beginnings

Blake pushed open the door to the studio with a great force, carrying a bag and wearing his customary shirt. The entrance was enough to draw the attention of everyone waiting in the large room. The students were freshman year, and this was the first day of term; as their surprised faces turned towards him, he fought a smirk. He couldn't deny he enjoyed the terrified look first years had and certainly never tired of giving them a reason to be a little scared. He was hardly a bulldog, but he couldn't honestly say that he didn't abuse the position of Director from time to time.

"Good morning, freshman. Let's begin shall we?" he said clearly, putting his bag down and looking at them. No one had moved, though there had been some quiet murmurs of "that's Blake Collins...the dancer" amongst them. He continued to roll his sleeves up, unbuttoning the cuffs and folding the sleeves up to his elbow, frowning in concentration as he did so. In fact, he paid them little attention until he had sorted himself out, and when he had, he looked up to them sharply and surveyed the group expectantly.

"I trust you've all warmed up," he stated. They nodded timidly; even the guys were reluctant to retort. Blake Collins had such a presence – mostly likely because MSA was only in existence because of the Collins family – but any shred of self-assurance they had gained from getting a place vanished. "I'd like to see some individual work today. I watched all your auditions with great interest, and I was impressed." They all smiled at his words; a couple of girls relaxed and began to grin at the others.

"However," Blake continued sternly, with a slight smirk. "Your place here is determined by how hard you work from this point. Dancing is about improvement, and being the best you can be – finding new ways to express yourself and excelling above others." His speech made the smiles dwindle, as was the desired effect; he had no interest in giving them a false sense of security. They were there to work, and the sooner he laid that down the better.

"So, I'd like some individual improvisation to begin with, and maybe we can establish what we have to work with, and how can we make it even better." Blake glanced at the class list. "Alphabetical seems fitting. Dana Abbott?" he said smoothly, casting a searching looking out into the group. A timid, petite girl with her dark hair scraped back into a bun stepped forward, raised a hand and stood before the group ready for her solo. She gulped visibly as Blake went to switch the stereo on to a classical hip hop hybrid track, which he saw out of the corner of his eye, and he had to smile.

XXXXX

Alexandra Hale strolled down the corridor, frowning over a file as she read it leisurely, pushing her glasses up her nose thoughtfully. She paused as the bell rung out shrilly overhead, but she paid little attention to it. Students began to file out of classrooms around her; their chatter was low at first but grew deafening. Alex started to walk again, heading to the studio and nodding politely to the students that greeted her warmly. She was just beginning her first full year as co-director at MSA, and she was generally well liked by the student populace already, having worked with a lot of them during the benefit concert. In the directorship, it was well known that you went to Blake Collins with the technical issues, such as class clashes, and you went to Alex when you had an emotional problem like boyfriend trouble. Truthfully, their partnership had worked better than anyone could have anticipated, even the board, who had been the people behind it.

She came to the studio, shut her file and pushed the door open gently, only to be met with a group of freshman leaving. They were chattering excitedly, especially the girls, about being taught by Blake Collins, the dancing legend. When they noticed her, their eyes grew wide once again and she smiled politely, holding the door to let them out. Alex ignored the whispers about "Alex Hale and Blake Collins under the same roof!" and shut the door after them. Blake was packing away a few things into his bag when he caught sight of her in the mirror and glanced up from what he was doing.

"Hey," he said gently, finishing up quickly, and facing her. "How's your day going?"

"Quietly so far," she admitted, pacing towards him, with the click of her heels echoing around the room as they tapped on the laminated floor. "I've been filing."

He smiled. "The most exciting part of any Director's responsibilities." She returned his smile and crossed her arms across the file over her chest.

"Riveting stuff," she joked wryly, stepping a little closer. "How have your classes been? I haven't seen you since registration, and I have classes this afternoon."

He shrugged one shoulder, and examined his sleeve, ready to roll it down again. "They're talented, but they need some work."

"You're too hard on them," she said reproachfully, stopping him as he rolled one sleeve down. "Leave it," she commanded gently, looking at him. He crossed his arms.

"I'm not," he said. "They just need a little discipline in their lives if they ever hope to accomplish anything when it comes to dance."

Alex rolled her eyes and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ears. "I guess so. But I still think you're power mad at times," she teased. "Hitler."

"Hey," he said sharply, though he smiled a little. "I resent that." The reference to his less than flattering nickname was a little raw; Chase had left a month ago for Washington with Andie and Moose and the Collins' residence was decidedly quiet. It had finally come to it – Chase flying the nest – and though he never supposed it would happen, Blake missed him. He missed the ridiculous hip-hop blaring through the floorboards. He missed his syrup on his breakfast cereal. Heck, he even missed fighting with him in the morning for the bathroom.

"Well, you know it's fairly accurate. You're a bit of a dictator at times," she smiled, going to leave. "I better head off to file some more before History of Dance with my seniors." Blake reached out and grabbed her arm unexpectedly and pulled her to him. Planting a gentle kiss on the edge of her mouth, he felt her muscles relax in her arms as she gripped his arms.

"See you later," he breathed. Alex made a strange noise somewhere between a murmur and a laugh; she was, unbeknownst to Blake, transported back to when they first started dating. He hadn't changed in that respect; the sudden kisses, and the gentlemanly, romantic gestures - of course when no one was looking. He was still a very private man, though it was no secret they were together.

"Are we still going out for dinner?" he asked, stepping back, looking serious once again. She nodded cheerfully, still thinking, and barely registering his words fully.

"Eight right?" she replied, smoothing her top once she had her arm back. He nodded as she walked away and pulled on the studio door.

"Eight o'clock Hale," he said sternly. "I'll pick you up."

"See you later then, Collins," she grinned, with a raised eyebrow. And with that she ducked out of the room and into the busy corridor. Blake watched her move away with his arms crossed and then grabbed his bag, ready to leave.

XXXXX

Alex pulled her phone from her pocket and tucked it under her ear as she picked some things up to carry through to the other room. "Hello," she answered quizzically, seeing as she hadn't checked the caller display as she'd answered.

"Alex?" said the voice. "It's me, Andie."

Alex smiled and put down everything she was holding to focus on the phone call. "Hey! Are you ok? There's not a problem is there?"

"No," laughed Andie down the other end. "I was just ringing to find out when you and Blake were coming to visit. Chase is practically wetting his pants he's so excited," she joked and the sudden 'oomph' told Alex that Andie wasn't alone wherever she was in Washington.

"Anyway," Andie continued slightly breathless, with a musical voice, "We were wondering if you wanted to stay a couple days longer than planned. It's just there's a freshman's ball coming up, with a kind of showcase…"

"Are you guys in it?" Alex asked moving out of the lounge and fiddling with her fringe. She was meeting Blake in a couple of hours and she wasn't even close to being ready.

"Yeah," Andie said, almost sheepishly. "We are, and so is Moose. Anyway we thought you might like to come see?"

"I don't know…schedule wise, school just started a month ago so we might not be able to. When is it?" Alex asked thoughtfully.

"Another month," Andie replied. "It's not a big deal, don't worry." She paused on the line and Alex heard a door slam in Washington. Andie began to speak very quickly. "Ok, he's left to go to the bathroom. This ball – it's actually a massive deal. It's the first real time students get to showcase to their parents and Chase, though he's been Mr. Nonchalant about it, really really wants Blake there."

Alex smiled at the thought. For all their bickering, they were certainly struggling without each other. "Is Francis going?"

"Yeah, but its Blake Chase wants to impress. His Mom is always going to be cool about it all, and after Chase turned New York down, he's worried Blake's disappointed he didn't go down the fancy pants prestigious route. No offence," she added with a sigh, remembering Alex went to New York.

"None taken."

"So will you come? He'll kill me if he finds out I told you, and you really can't say a word to Dickie C." There was another crackling pause. "It's all formal, so you get to wear a dress…" Andie said in a singsong voice.

Alex leant against the doorframe, quickly calculating their work schedule. "How I live for those occasions. I'll have to speak to the boss, but I can't see it being an issue. I'll ring you back. Ok, Andie?"

The girl murmured her thanks down the phone and suddenly said 'bye!' loudly – Alex could only assume Chase had come back into the room, and she couldn't talk much anymore. Alex hung up, and shoved the phone back into her pocket.

XXXXX

"Open it," Blake commanded as he passed her an envelope across the table later that evening. She cocked an eyebrow and looked around the busy restaurant, before sliding her finger under the seal.

"You know," she scolded. "You didn't really have to get me anything. Anniversaries aren't that big a deal in the early stages."

Blake cleared his throat and glowered at her reprovingly. "I think three months is a huge milestone where we're concerned. Open it."

"Well, I didn't get you anything..."

Blake sighed impatiently, so she did as she was told, folded back the flap and pulled out what was inside. A small smile spread across her lips immediately, which turned into a broad grin – greater than when he had taken her to the opera. In the world of Alex, what she held in her hands surpassed an evening at the Opera House, as terrible as that made her feel.

"Baseball tickets!" she breathed, barely containing a squeal. "The Red Sox!"

"They might even win the world series this year," he said casually, as if they were simply having a conversation about her favourite baseball team instead of having presented her tickets to see them play.

"Blake, I haven't seen the Red Sox play live since I was sixteen! These are the best present ever," she said enthusiastically, leaning across the table and kissing him on the cheek.

"It's only a qualifier," he muttered. "But they are playing the Yankees at Fenway – which I know is a big deal to diehard Sox fans."

Alex's eyebrows shot up. "You bet it is. Like Germany and England."

"You can take your dad if you want. You don't have to take me."

"Dad will probably have tickets," Alex remarked. She glanced at the cardboard in her hand, knowing she should broach the subject of Chase whilst he was in a good mood. "Speaking of family. I was on the phone to Andy earlier – her, Moose and Chase are in some kind of showcase."

Blake's face grew a little blank and he busied himself with straightening cutlery. "Is that so?"

"It's around the same time as our visit – we'd have to extend it a couple of days to catch it but I figure you'd like to see it right?"

"Well, if my presence isn't going to upset Chase," Blake reasoned. "I wouldn't want to throw him off his 'game'. He doesn't usually want me at his performances, for fear of criticism."

"I think he wants you there," Alex said knowingly, touching his arm. "And you could always...not criticise him?"

Blake sniffed. "Sure. I don't see why not. Could be interesting. It'll just mean rearranging some things."

"Excellent," Alex smiled. "I'll let Andy know when we sort it out." She paused and squealed again. "Red Sox!" she cried, garnering some looks from people at the surrounding tables.

"Alright, alright," Blake said, hushing her. "Anyone would think I'd bought you the actual team."