Summary:

At the end of season 2, Tripp is still alive when Fitz asks Simmons out on a dinner date. From there, things seemed to go uphill. However, one incident could break Fitzsimmons up - for good.

Chapter One: The Beginning

"No, I don't! You keep rambling on and on, and I still don't know what you mean. "

"Dinner."

"Fast approaching, yes, and we'll eat it, I'm sure."

"Yeah, no, no, no. But, uh, me and you, maybe we could eat somewhere else, you know, somewhere nice.

"Oh."

"Good. Okay. Uh, well, uh, you should come find me when you're finished here, and and I'll, I'll start working on options to run by you-for that."

After Fitz left the room, Jemma gently blew out a breath. "Okay. Well, I should probably go get ready."

As she left, she locked the door, just as Mack ordered her to do every time she left. Mack was still jumpy around alien technology after his incident in The City.

As Simmons headed up to her bunk to change out of her working clothes, she bumped into Tripp.

"Where ya headed?" He asked.

"To change."

"You know we're just having dinner, right? Or did I miss a memo?"

"Um," Simmons stammered. She wasn't sure whether or not she wanted Tripp to know about her date with Fitz quite yet. However, being a terrible liar, she knew she couldn't hide it.

"Fitz asked me out on a date!" She blurted out before stopping herself. Tripp broke into a wide smile.

"Congrats!" He said. As he walked away, he patted her on the back. She smiled back, pleased that he was happy for her.

It was only when Simmons got to her bunk did she realize that she never told Tripp not to tell anyone.

Oh well, Simmons thought. I hope he doesn't say anything.

She quickly changed into a nicer shirt and skinny jeans. She then brushed out her hair again, just to be sure it looked good.

As soon as Simmons opened her bunk door, she was embraced in a hug. She didn't even know who it was until the person pulled back, hands on Jemma's shoulders.

"Oh my gosh! Tripp told me the big news! It's about time he asked you out!" Skye said enthusiastically.

Oh Lord, Jemma thought. How many people did he tell?

"Um, who ELSE knows?" Simmons asked slowly.

"About your date? Everyone! Well, not Coulson. It's against the rules or something to date someone in Shield, much less on the same team. We're all so happy! I even talked to Fitz. He wants to take you off-base to that fancy Italian restaurant downtown, the one you love."

"Really?" Simmons asked. "I love Italian food!"

"Well," Skye said, eyeing Jemma's outfit. "Now that I'm here, I'm gonna help you get ready. You need a dress, shoes, earrings, make up..." Skye continued to ramble, but Simmons was too busy wondering what Fitz was going to wear to listen.

"Okay," Skye said, snapping Jemma out of her daydream. "Let's start with your dress." Skye and Jemma then raided both of their closets for dresses. They finally decided on something from Jemma's closet, a short dress that came to just above her knees. It was pastel blue with an empire waist just below her bust. It was tight on top and flared out at the bottom. Skye gasped.

"You look STUNNING!" She said."Now we need to find you some shoes."

The shoes came from Skye's closet, a 3 1/2" pair of silver sparkly pumps. "Wow. I think Fitz is gonna fall over when he sees you. Time for hair and makeup!" Skye said enthusiastically. It turned out that Skye was better with hair and makeup then Jemma could have imagined. Skye put the top half of Jemma's hair up, while the rest she curled into delicate ringlets. She also applied light pink blush and blue eyeshadow with black mascara to make the eyeshadow pop.

By the time Skye was done, Simmons hardly recognized herself.

"Okay, Jemma, now look at me for a minute," Skye instructed. As soon as she looked in Skye's direction, Skye snapped a picture. "You look beautiful, Jemma. Fitz is lucky to have a girl like you."

"Thanks, Skye." Simmons answered. "Now, let's go and show you off to Fitz."

They opened the door of her bunk and walked over to Fitz's bunk, where the door was closed. Skye gently knocked on his door and nudged Simmons.

"Can I come in?" Jemma asked.

"Um, hold on!" Fitz called from inside.

"Okay." She calls back. Simmons then lowered her voice so that only Skye could hear. "Skye, I need you to cover for Fitz and I when we leave. Tell Coulson that we're, uh, um, in the lab, working on the new ICERS. Okay? And tell everyone else who knows about, um, this, to also cover for us with the same story."

"Alright." Skye said. "You deserve this dinner with Fitz."

Shorty after, they heard the lock on Fitz's door click, and Skye scampered away, but not before fixing Jemma's hair one last time.

Fitz opened the door, and his jaw dropped. However, so did Jemma's. Fitz stood in a smart navy blue suit with a pastel blue tie the same color as her dress, and a while collared button down with matching navy blue slacks. He looked amazing, as did she. Their outfits complimented each other. Fitz broke the stunned silence first.

"You look beautiful, Jemma." He said quietly.

"You too," she answered. He then took her hand and led her to the door of the base. He and Jemma scanned their ID badges and walked out.

Outside, Fitz had a sleek black limo waiting. Simmons raised her eyebrows, but Fitz simply said "I rented it after I decided what restaurant to go to."

"That was so sweet, Fitz." Jemma answered. They climbed into the limo and made small talk about work in the lab and in the garage. The limo soon pulls to a stop. Fitz jumped out instantly and opened the door for Jemma.

"Thank you," Jemma said to him.

"Um, you're welcome." Fitz mumbled. He linked his arm through hers and led her into the restaurant.

"I made a reservation, under the name Fitz. Leo Fitz. Table for two." The waitress nodded and smiled as she led them to their table. They ordered their food quickly, knowing what they liked.

"So," Fitz says. "I, um, I hope you like the restaurant. I know we've only been here a couple times, but I knew you liked it. I mean, I hoped." Fitz stammered.

"Everything's perfect, Fitz." She answered. She then leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Fitz just hoped the dark lighting in the restaurant would hide the fact that he was blushing.

The food came shortly after, and they began to eat.

Back at the base, Skye had told everyone (Mack, Bobbi, and Hunter) about Fitzsimmons date and the cover story. She had refrained from telling May, since she was as bad as Coulson. They all gathered in the dining room for dinner. Hunter had ordered pizza. Soon after Skye, Tripp, Bobbi, Mack, and Hunter started to eat, May and Coulson came in. Being the veterans in SHIELD, both Coulson and May said, in unison, "Where's Fitzsimmons?"

"They're working in the lab on some new ICERS, sir." Bobbi said. Being the usual questioner, she was quite good at lying, and knew how not to give herself away.

"Well I need to speak to them about a design for seismograph monitors for Skye." He nodded in Skye's direction. Coulson then began to walk towards the lab.

"Um, sir, we got pizza. Vegetable, your favorite." Tripp said, stalling.

"Well, I really need to get this out of the way before I forget to give this to them. I'll be right back."

"But sir-" Mack started. After all, he needed to look out for Turbo- uh, Fitz.

"No but's. I'm director. I'll be right back. Stay here. That's an order." No one dared to disobey him. He then continued to walk to the lab. When he got there, he found it empty. He ran back upstairs.

"I'm gonna ask again. Where are Fitzsimmons?" Skye, Tripp, Bobbi, Mack and Hunter exchanged a glance. However, no one said a word.

"Fine. Don't tell me. May, go check the security footage from the past couple hours. I want to see anyone coming or leaving." Coulson said.

The other 5 agents looked nervous, because they knew that Fitzsimmons would be seen all dressed up leaving the base and heading toward a limo. Sure enough, May soon returned with a laptop and showed Coulson footage of Fitzsimmons leaving. Coulson's eyes softened ever so slightly. However, it only lasted for a second.

"Call them in, May," he instructed. "Get them back to base now. They're gonna be facing one heck of a speech when they get back." He then stormed out, and May followed quickly behind. The remaining agents dispersed, but all of them were nervous for the poor couple.

"So much for covering." Skye said.