This AU takes place during S7E19 "Glasnost Menagerie", right after Dan and Roz went dancing together. This is just a fun little piece about what could have happened if he had been a little more proactive with his thoughts regarding Roz, a little earlier in the night. As a side note, I wrote "Killing Two Birds" a couple years ago, which was about Dan and Roz going ballroom dancing, so when I watched this episode for the first time a couple nights ago, I was happy to see I wasn't too far off the mark in channeling my inner Night Court writer. :)

"Please, allow me," said Dan, holding the gate open to Roz's apartment building.

"Why, thank you. If I had known all this ballroom etiquette stuff rubbed off on your manners, I would have given you lessons five years sooner."

"Well, you know, I have to be on my best behavior. This is technically our first date."

Roz thought about that. "Let's see...dinner, dancing...all that's missing are the flowers."

Dan looked around quickly and spotted a small planter next to her door. "Pour vous, mademoiselle." He handed her a half-wilted, freshly-plucked violet. "Say, um, speaking of first dates, it wouldn't be official without a kiss good night," he grinned.

She looked at him dubiously, then calculating, then..."Alright (Dan's grin widened). But on one condition."

"What? No tongue?" he asked, tongue-in-cheek.

"No. Don't fall in love with me."

He scoffed at the idea. "Yeah, okay, deal."

She nodded. "Well then, Good night, Dan. I had a lovely evening." And she meant it.

Good night, Roz, it was my pleasure," he returned with equal sincerity. Though, not quite believing she'd actually let him go through with his request, he looked her in the eyes with intention, nonetheless. She gazed steadily back, expectant; so he took his opportunity. He leaned down, slow and close, and she lifted her chin without skipping a beat. He pressed his lips to hers, and ended up staying there for quite a bit longer than was kosher for a first date kiss. When they finally parted, he found his one hand resting on her cheek, and the other holding her close. He blinked as if his eyes were just coming back into focus, and felt that he had never really seen her before now, even though on the outside she looked like the same cool-hand Roz (though perhaps a little softer in the eyes. Gosh, what pretty, brown eyes she has, he mused.)

"Don't wait up for me, and be careful of the stairwell light, it's busted." And she gently extricated herself from his arms, slipped through the door, and closed it quietly. Dan stared at it, then closed his mouth, wondering, as he walked away, what just happened.

The End.