Jeff and Annie somehow got through the rest of the week before their Friday night date. Fortunately, the week's Greendale adventure was one of the minor ones this year, which Abed attributed to a lack of ideas after February sweeps.

But even though no one was worn out that week, they didn't notice anything different in Jeff and Annie, and still hadn't since they started dating. This was good, since they didn't want to tell anyone about them until they knew they had something that could last. And Abed probably wanted to wait until the graduation 'series finale' to reveal he already knew, so they still had some time.

For Friday night, Annie did what she did on every date night. She told Troy, Abed and Britta she would study late at the library, packed her backpack with her clothes for the night instead of books, and then changed after she got to Jeff's place. Tonight, she suspected Jeff didn't want her to look sexy, so she packed a modest blue dress and cardigan, just in case. Of course, Jeff's definition of a modest, unsexy suit still looked hot, but that was to be expected.

Still, their plan not to excite each other too much did more harm than good at first. They were too awkward, in ways they hadn't even been on their first date. Trying not to look or act sexy made them act weird instead, and they both knew it. But they were afraid if any of them spoke first, it would ruin this plan, ruin their romantic sex later and be a big step backwards for them.

Annie had been content to let things go on as usual, but Jeff had to wreck it. Of all the times for him to finally be sensitive and romantic. This was why she was right to drop her childish views of romance and relationships, since they never really paid off in reality. Not even when she finally got them both.

She sighed and got ready to break the silence first, until she saw Jeff shyly looking away. He looked as awkward and embarrassed as she felt, which normally didn't happen. Yet here he was, squirming because this was not his forte. And he was here anyway, for her.

He did lots of things just for her already. But Annie had to appreciate how far he was willing to go here, even if it might not pay off. Annie wasn't ready to talk about this yet, but she did want to cool Jeff down.

So she reached over and put her hand on top of his larger one. She waited for Jeff to look over, then saw his face visibly relax as the seconds went on. With that taken care of, Annie looked down and really looked at how their hands were locked together.

All the secrecy, sex, and long overdue kissing didn't leave them much time for hand holding in their relationship. And since they avoided doing that before, for various reasons, this was the first time Annie could really savor Jeff's big hand covering hers.

For Jeff, it was something to see Annie's tiny hand fit snugly into his palm – just as it was whenever her tiny body fit snugly against his tall frame. Which it would do better than ever tonight, if all went well. That was worth going through the inevitable mush and sappiness first.

So with that in mind, Jeff squeezed her hand gently, then just pressed his hand against it. Their fingers were locked, and they soon started batting their thumbs against each other. They all but played a thumb war until Annie broke the silence with a giggle. It almost made Jeff giggle himself before he coughed a bit.

They placed their other hands on their knees below the table, until Jeff suddenly reached for Annie's other hand. With them holding hands under the table and nearly holding hands on it as well, they smiled until the waiter came by with their dinner order. This broke the mood, but they were certainly both at ease by then.

The comfortable mood continued into dinner, until Annie finally spoke up midway through. "You know, this is silly. We can go a whole night without tearing each other's clothes off. We did it for over three years."

"And look where that got us," Jeff needled.

"It still got us there, didn't it?" Annie noted. "Logically, it should be easier to control ourselves now."

"Since when have we been logical together?" Jeff poked. "I know who I'm talking to, but come on."

"Jeff, I haven't always wanted to ravage you. Even when I did last year, I always felt guilty about it," Annie revealed.

"Because I made you think I didn't want it," Jeff sighed.

"But you felt guilty when you wanted to ravage me too," Annie finished.

"Well….eventually," Jeff dodged. "I made myself forget about it as much as I could. It didn't pan out, though."

"Well, you're not used to waiting three years to sleep with someone. So I kind of get it," Annie assured.

"Not really, if that's your answer," Jeff corrected. "Annie, it wasn't just about sleeping with you. It took me three years to see that, but it was always there deep down. You did that to me. Not your looks, your age, your innocence, or your outfits. Just you."

"The me back then," Annie insisted. "I don't know what kind of me I am now, Jeff. Or what I'll be in a few months. I don't want you to put me on some pedestal while I figure it out, though. I did that to you for a while and look where that got us."

"But I'm right to do that with you, that's the difference," Jeff retaliated. "I like all your you's exactly the way they are."

"I thought you did after the Tranny Dance too," Annie sighed. "When we kissed, I thought someone finally knew me and liked me anyway. I never felt that from Troy, my parents, my old friends or anyone. Then you made me think I was wrong for almost three years. So I'm sorry if I'm slow to get the hint again."

"That's exactly why I'm doing this, Annie," Jeff assured. "I'm not going to make you think you were wrong again. I want to do more than that this time. Both here and in….other places," he slumped off a bit, still uncomfortable with too much sentiment. "I need to try, anyway."

"You don't have to just to make something up to me," Annie gave him one more way out.

"I'm doing things I've never done for any woman before. Or any human being, for that matter. This goes beyond making something up to someone. Heck, I barely ever make anything up, so what does that tell you?" Jeff semi-chuckled.

"Jeff, stop bashing yourself like that," Annie scolded, but caught the irony right before Jeff did. "I know, I know. I guess it's easier to make other people take my advice. I probably don't want them to end up like me."

"That's too bad, since there's nothing they should want more. I know from experience," Jeff assured, then figured that was it for the sentiment.

For her part, Annie didn't give Jeff another chance to be sappy. She stayed quiet, let the silence and food wash over her and then headed back to his apartment with him. But when they got to the bedroom, the uncomfortable part of the silence returned.

When they had wild sex before, it wasn't planned or organized or anything – and that made Annie very proud. But now they were trying to force it and control how it would go. For once, that didn't appeal to Annie now, and it really couldn't. But if she told Jeff, it would probably disappoint him, and that was even less appealing.

Maybe she'd just have to fake it. She wasn't always a good actor or liar, but perhaps this could be a handy exception.

As such, Jeff felt some awkwardness in Annie when he started to kiss her. She still put her share of effort into it, since this was Annie. But he could feel how she was holding back, which was technically what he wanted. However, it was far less satisfying in practice.

If they were going to balance being super sweet and super sexy, Jeff would have to take the lead. Leaving aside the fact he barely knew how.