Author note:

I have had wonderful feedback from the first chapter; lots of brilliant reviews, mostly asking me to write more, and numerous story alerts. The previous 'chapter' was origanally written as a one-shot, so I have no interest in carrying on with the same story line. However, I have decided to carry on with a series of one-shots, which will mostly be in the same 'verse, so they will kind of fit together. I will also start replying to reviews more... I hope you enjoy!

UltimateGryffindork

James straightened his tie, nervously checked he was stubble-free, and let out a deep breath.

This is it, he told himself. Don't make a fool of yourself. Although… it would help if she hurried up.

"Kerry?" he called towards the bathroom. "Are you OK? You're taking ages."

"Mascara doesn't apply itself, you know!" his long term girlfriend, Kerry Chang, snapped back at him.

Great, he thought to himself. Just how you wanted to start this evening…

"It's fine, take as long as you need," he replied, sweating under his cuffs.

The bathroom door opened, and out stepped Kerry, wearing a very glamorous emerald green cocktail dress.

"Wow…" James breathed, glad that, once his teenage years were over, he regained the ability to look at any female without his hormones going berserk. "You look… amazing."

"Thanks", Kerry replied, her tan skin blushing slightly. "Well… what's the occasion?"

She sighed at James' quizzical expression, laughing slightly. "You don't usually take me to the most expensive restaurant in town on a whim!"

"Oh," James replied, nervously. "I just… fancied taking you out."

Well saved, Adams, he thought to himself, leading Kerry out to the car, whilst fingering the ring box in his pocket.

The restaurant was unusually crowded for a weekday night, and James was glad that he had pre-booked a table; otherwise the night could have been over before it had begun.

The restaurant was the only Michelin starred one in the area, and although James didn't really see the point of paying loads of money for not much, he knew Kerry would appreciate it, even if he did end up buying a burger later. Yet even he had to admit that it smelt and looked wonderful; the artfully arranged garnishes and sauces just adding to the experience.

This was one of the many instances where James was thankful for his extensive language training whilst at CHERUB; even though he couldn't speak whatever the menu was written in very well, he know enough of European languages to make an educated guess at some of the more obvious dishes. He quickly identified 'steak', and even though he knew it wasn't really what you went to these places for, he reckoned he had earned it just for getting through the door. Even so, Kerry gave him a reproachful look when he ordered, before making a point of ordering something exotic that James had never heard of.

The time spent before the first course was delivered was spent with their usual conversation; discussing their days at work, laughing together at the latest office scandals, and discussing everything from the economy to their favourite soaps. Once the first course arrived, James was quick to dig into his steak. Kerry rolled her eyes, her mood somewhat softened since they had left their flat, and daintily started to eat what looked like a few leaves artily arranged around a few prawns. James was stuffing incredible amounts into his mouth at once, receiving disapproving glances from all the surrounding diners.

"James, did I tell you that Lauren rang?"

James struggled to swallow his huge mouthful, before giving up and just shaking his head.

"She wanted to tell you the news about her and Benjamin," Kerry said, suddenly very interested in a piece of lettuce.

James finally managed to swallow his mouthful of steak.

"What about them? She'd better not be pregnant, she's my baby sister! I'll-"

"They're engaged," Kerry interrupted, now a bright red.

James' brain started frantically trying to make sense of this new information, and how to react.

"That's great!" he said, feigning cheerfulness. "Um… Kerry, is everything alright?"

"Yeah," Kerry answered, perhaps a bit too quickly. "I'm happy for them."

But James couldn't help but figure out was wrong. He was a bit annoyed that Lauren had got engaged before he had, but there was nothing he could do about that now. It was Kerry's reaction that was bothering him. Was she jealous? Or was she afraid?

The rest of the main course passed in an awkward silence. It wasn't until the waiter had come and collected their plates that James finally plucked up the courage to do what he had come to do.

"Kerry," he started, his voice shaking slightly, reaching across the table to take her hand. "I… well, we've been together for over six years now, and I would really like to, well, I realised how much I…" he could feel himself panic – he was doing it all wrong!

"James?" Kerry prompted.

"Right, well, what I meant to say was-"

But he was cut off by a strong Australian twang from a few tables away.

"Well, if it isn't James Adams! Here with- oh. It's you."

James felt like his evening couldn't get any worse.

"Hullo, Dana," he said, feigning patience. "Fancy seeing you here! We were just leaving, actually… Such a shame…"

But Dana wasn't listening to him – instead, she was glaring at Kerry, who was glaring back.

"I can't believe you're still together," Dana said with disgust. "I never understand what she had that I didn't, James-"

"Really, we should get going-"James tried to say, attempting damage control before it got much worse.

"No, James, it's fine," Kerry said, in a deadly calm voice that was laced with venom. She turned to Dana. "James and I have been together for several years now, and we are going to stay like that. You lost the right to have a say in his life when you cheated on him-"

"Oh, like he never cheated on you?" Dana said, scornfully.

James winced as Kerry saw red, her eyes narrowing. She let out a primitive snarl before launching herself at Dana, clawing at Dana's face. But Dana used her build to her advantage, easily pushing aside Kerry's slight face. Once again, James reflected on something he had learned a long time ago; no matter how highly trained they are, when girls fight they always end up clawing at each other.

"Stop it!" he shouted, attempting to tear the two women apart. He hadn't got very far, though, before a waiter came and politely asked them to leave, after they had paid the bill, of course.

Kerry wasted no time at all, picking up her bag and flouncing out of the restaurant, leaving James to slap some notes onto the table and trying to avoid taking the same route as Dana out the door.

He ran to the car, parked a few streets away, before throwing himself into the driver's seat and grabbing Kerry's hand.

"Kerry, I'm so sorry," he started, but he was interrupted.

"No, it's my fault," Kerry sniffed, and he was shocked to see that she was crying. "I shouldn't have reacted like that… we've both grown up so much these past few years, and I thought I should have been able to handle it, but there is just something about her…"

"I know what you mean," James replied, nodding, before putting his arm around Kerry. "Maybe we should just go home? We could watch a film; snuggle on the sofa for a bit… maybe order in a pizza?"

Kerry giggled despite herself. "Do you ever think about anything that's not food?" she asked, a smile on her tear-stained face.

James laughed, before turning the key in the ignition and driving home.

It was the early hours of the morning, and James and Kerry were cuddling on the sofa, the ending credits of a film just starting, an empty pizza box on the floor. It was moments like these, James thought, that count the most; the moments when it was just the two of them, with no romantic gestures, or no making out; just the two of them, enjoying the other's company.

"James?" Kerry asked, craning her neck round so that she could see him.

"Hmm?"

"Well… in that restaurant earlier… what were you going to say to me? Before… well, yeah?"

James' heart sank. He'd completely forgotten about the ring, and his planned evening; the excitement at the restaurant had made sure of that.

"Well, I…" he struggled, trying to find the right words. He gave up, and lent forward, kissing Kerry's cheek, before taking the forgotten ring out of his pocket.

"Will you marry me?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

She turned round, and gave him the biggest grin he'd ever seen.

"Yes," she answered, gently kissing him. "Yes!" she said again, this time nearly shouting it. He took the ring out of the box and put it on her finger, before giving her a long passionate kiss.

And even though the rest of the night was spent sleeping on the sofa, and he woke up with a crick in his neck to the smell of stale pizza, it couldn't have been better. He and Kerry had each other, and that was all that mattered. Well, that and the fact that Kerry could beat Dana in a fight any day.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are like oxygen to me, so please leave some feedback!

UltimateGryffindork