Title: The Evening Dress (1/3)

Author: MissForsythe

Rating: PG (will be higher in later chapters)

Summary: Nathan is officially sworn in as Chief.

Disclaimer: You really think that Chris would still be around if I owned the show?

Pairing: Nathan & Audrey

Author's Notes: The first of a three piece fic, each focusing on a different type of dress.

Link to dress: .?pPIMGID=2

The Evening Dress

If Nathan Wournos is asked about the best night of his life, the night he was officially sworn in as Chief would be the first thing he'd think of. Not for the fact that it now made him the leading authority on all things Haven, or that the joint counties held a freaking ball in order to recognise this fact.

He'd picked her up at the Gull at 8. She'd still been in the bathroom when he arrived, and he'd been pacing nervously. He'd also bumped into the piano, and the off key sound made him jump. To make matters worse, he could hear Audrey bursting into laughter behind the bathroom door. He'd taken his shot nerves outside, staring at the water for a while until he heard rustling behind him.

She was standing in the door way, wearing a floor length black dress with a floral pattern adorning the edges. She'd done her hair up so that a few loose curls nicely framed her face. She smiled nervously as she came towards him, holding out a simple silver necklace. He closed the clasp, not being able to resist running his hand over her bare shoulder.

She straightened his tie and ran her hands over the blue cotton of his uniform jacket, lingering over his heart.

When they came downstairs, the first thing they noticed was that all their friends were there, and the second was that Vince took their picture. The flash was so bright, Nathan was sure his corneas would never forgive him. It took ten minutes for everyone to stop cooing over the dress. Not that he minded, she looked absolutely stunning, but he also knew that it wouldn't befit the brand new Chief of the Haven PD to be late to his own party.

The ball was held in a banquet hall in Bangor, the same one where he'd remembered the Chief had been sworn in so many years ago. The notion that he was really here, that she was really here made his breath hitch in his throat for a second. Before they entered the hall, Audrey had jokingly told him to take a deep breath, and then, more seriously, asked if he was ready. He thought of the past few months, of all the insanity that had led them to this moment. He'd just pulled her to him and kissed her, thinking that he'd never been more ready then this.

The ceremony in itself was short, and it wasn't until the Head Commissioner announced him as Chief, that he realised how very real all of this was. His eyes immediately found hers, and he saw her eyes glistening as she applauded and cheered. He could see something new in there too, something undefined as of yet, but he knew that it meant that she was proud of him.

After the well wishes and an endless dinner, the lights were dimmed and a booming voice asked him if he and his date would like to open the dancing part of the evening. Without hesitating, he stood up and held out his hand to her. The dance floor was darkened except for the spot where they stood, and he could hear the first notes of Purple Rain start up. The invitation had come with a request for an opening song, and it had taken him ages to figure out the perfect song. He'd only submitted it yesterday, after hearing her softly humming it under her breath while she did paperwork.

Her eyes looked up at him again, this time in surprise, perhaps a little shocked too. She held him a little tighter and softly whispered his name as she leaned her head against his shoulder. The rest of the room, of the world, seemed to dissipate, and he'd wished it could go on forever.

Later, while driving home, he looked over at her. She was dozing in the passenger seat, still not quite believing that tonight had been real. She'd told him this, a little more often the more champagne she'd had. Of course, he'd been to thick to realise that this was really a Cinderella dream come true for her. All the stories she'd told about her childhood, or perceived childhood. Of course she'd never dreamt of a ball gown and champagne and opening dances.

He stopped at a red light, and noticed that one fork in the road led back to Haven, the other to Derry and the little B&B they had there for honeymooner tourists. He wondered if they'd notice if they didn't come home until tomorrow night. Encouraged by the champagne, he chose the road to Derry.

TBC