Chapter 1: Invitation

"Lemon!" Jack exclaimed. "There you are! I didn't see you this morning, and I need to ask you something."

Liz, knowing the only time Jack came to her office was for advice or because he needed something, said "I was late because I fell asleep while eating salad last night and I had to wash out the lettuce and dressing this morning."

Jack stared at her with a pitiful glance before saying, "I never needed to know that Lemon."

"Anyway Jack", she said while rolling her eyes, "What did you come down here for?"

"Well", he gulped, "I know considering last year's incident, you might say no, but I was wondering if you would accompany me to Prince Gerhardt Habsburg's 26th birthday party."

Liz suddenly snapped out of her tired daze. "What? Ummm, errr, I thought the Prince died at last year's party…"

She thought back to last year. Bianca, Jack's ex-wife, had been there with another man. Jack had then stopped having a good time and got all depressed. Liz had hatched a plan where her and Jack pretended they were dating. She did this because she wanted to cheer Jack up by showing him how jealous Bianca was. Liz had run up to Bianca and exclaimed, "Jack just proposed to me!" Then, all heck broke loose, and Bianca had gone all psycho-bitch on her. Bianca tore her dress off and ripped a patch of her hair out. Liz was glad she did it, though, because Jack had invited her to the "social event of the year" and he also had been happy upon seeing Bianca's jealous rage. Her thoughts then trailed to the awkward moment that night, back at her apartment, but she was interrupted.

Jack chuckled. "No, that actually turned out to be a cover-up because of-"

"Say-no-more Jack, it's already a no," Liz snapped.

"I was prepared for you to say that, just as I was prepared for Former President Bush's Reign of America to end."

Liz rolled her eyes again. Boy, I do that a lot, she thought. "A president can only serve up to eight years, Jack."

"I was in the Conservative Corporate Cult to try and make him supreme ruler of the world, but things didn't exactly work out," Jack announced while fixing his sleek red and blue tie.

Liz looked at him with a doubtful flash. Of course he was in the Conservative Corporate Cult, she thought sarcastically, I should've known. "Huh…anyway, I have to get back to work Jack, and I'm sorry but I don't want to have another encounter with your crazy ex-wife."

Jack suddenly panicked and quickly ran his fingers through his thick, jet-black hair. He knew she would say no. Calm down Donaghy, he thought, it's just Lemon you're talking to. You've made snide remarks in front of the Six Sigmas for crying out loud, you can do this- no problem. "Lemon, wait," Jack said coolly, "If you come with me, I will do ANY one favor for you."

Liz blinked. "Any favor?"

Jack leaned down and put both hands on her desk. "You have my word," he responded deeply, looking straight in her eyes.

Liz blushed. Ugh, stop it, she thought. She stood up and pondered the offer but she knew she couldn't let her best friend down. "…Fine! I'll go to the stupid party again! Ugh, I don't know how you pull me into these things, but I guess one favor from Jack Donaghy is too much to pass up," she grumbled.

Jack jumped up. "Yes! I knew you would, thank you Lemon, and you know in the case that Bianca shows up again, you'll need to-"

"Pose as your wife, I know Jack, you are going to regret this deal, because when I think of the ultimate favor, you will wish you never asked me to go to the Prince's birthday!"

Jack had already had walked to her office door. "I'm already beginning to regret it…" he lightly laughed.

Liz sat down and returned to her previous thoughts. That night, one year ago today, he had gone up to her apartment to thank her for a fun night. They were talking and laughing about it, but then, suddenly, he had leaned down and put his hands around her neck. She thought he was going to kiss her, so she had stuttered, "I-I don't know if this is a good idea Jack". But, of course, he had just been leaning down to take the diamond necklace he had let her borrow off of her neck. She had felt so humiliated and stupid after that. He had lightened the mood, joking about all the "dinners" he had had with a bunch of celebrities. It had helped, but Liz knew she had dropped an a-bomb (awkward bomb). That's mostly why she had been so reluctant to accept Jack's offer. She didn't want to make it awkward between them. He was her best friend. She didn't want to ruin it; she had seen that happen to her too many times.

Again, her thoughts were interrupted, but this time it was by a knock on her office door.

"Come in," she said.

Jenna burst into the room. "Liz", she blurted, I'm having a problem!"

Liz sighed, of course Jenna was having a problem; she did practically every day. Liz supposed she really didn't mind hearing what she had to say today, though, because this would distract her from her thoughts about the party.

Liz let out a concerned face. "What is it Jenna?"

Jenna cleared her throat. "Well, on Saturday I decided not to go and donate my gorgeous blonde hair to the Locks of Love, and now their representatives are after me because I was kind of the main attraction at the event. What should I do?"

"Jenna, why didn't you just donate in the first pla-"

"My blonde beauties are what make me so irresistible to men; I couldn't just part with them," Jenna interrupted.

Liz wanted to laugh at Jenna's statement, but held it back. "Well Jenna, I guess I could call and say you needed them for all the skits on the show, and that you couldn't cut it because of that," Liz said.

"THANK YOU LIZ!" Jenna screamed. She ran over to Liz and hugged her.

"Now that all my important stuff is cleared up, what's up with you Liz?"

"Well, Jack invited me to Prince Geirhart's 26th birthday party," Liz said in an annoyed tone.

"He invited you on another date? He must really like you Liz," Jenna said.

Liz fumed, got out of her chair, and straightened her blue blazer. "It's not a date Jenna! I'm doing it as a favor in return for a favor."

"Well, think whatever you want Liz, but I say it's a date," Jenna teased.

Liz glared at her friend, but feared she was right. Hopefully it would be just like last year, but without the awkward moment at the end.

As if Jenna could read what Liz was thinking, she laughed and said, "It's a date Liz, get over it. I promise I won't say anything to anyone. I have gone on dates with attractive older men too. Don't worry; unless it ends up like the date I went on with Morgan Freeman, then you might end up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You can trust me!" Jenna then opened the door.

Liz was furious at her friend because she was probably right about the whole situation. "It's not a date Jenna….we're just really good friends!" She screeched as Jenna walked out of the room.

It wasn't a date, right? RIGHT?