A/N: A little insight to Melinda and Jim's earlier relationship... enjoy xx Mariah

"Andrea!"

Melinda was staring at herself in what was her fourth outfit change before her date arrived. She couldn't make up her mind.

"You look beautiful, Melinda." Andrea smiled, walking into the bathroom. "He's crazy if he doesn't think that."

"Really?" She asked, looking over the outfit.

Her first outfit had been a summer dress, but she couldn't find the right cover-up to go with it.

Her second was a skirt and a blouse, but it made her feel like she was a single mom and had changed before Andrea even saw it.

The third was Andrea's outfit of choice was a nude bandage dress, one that showed off everything she had going for her. It wasn't a dress you wore if you didn't want to be stared at all night.

The last outfit, and her favorite and the most comfortable was a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and white top, paired with her favorite pair of wedges and hoop earrings.

"Really," Andrea smiled. "Jim will think you look beautiful in anything. Stop acting like this is your first date."

"It's only our fifth date Andrea," she sighed. "It's not like he's proposed. We aren't officially dating or anything."

"Breathe Mel," her best friend chided. "In with the good air and out with the bad. Go sit down on the couch and finish the glass of wine you started earlier. You'll feel better once he's here."

"I don't know why I'm so nervous Andrea. Everything is so much different when I'm with him," she muttered, turning the bathroom light off as they walked to the living room, both sitting on the couch. "It's like we're the only people in the room."

"You're telling him tonight aren't you?" Andrea reached for her glass of wine, taking a sip. She knew this was more than just nerves about Jim.

"Yeah, I was thinking about it." She muttered. "It's been almost two months since our first date, and he hasn't gotten sick of me yet. There's just this overwhelming feel of comfort when I'm with him. Isn't better to tell him now then to wait and get my heart broken again?"

"Yeah, I guess, but either way you're still getting hurt." Andrea sighed, finishing her glass of wine as she stood up.

There was a light knock on the door as Andrea made it to the sink, washing her glass out.

"I got it," she said, standing up. "Wait up?"

"I always do," Andrea rolled her eyes. "Have fun and you better tell me everything."

"I will," she promised, grabbing her purse from the floor. "See you later." She too another breath as he knocked again, promptly opening the door before he finished.

"Hey," Jim grinned, hands in his pockets.

He was standing there in blue button-up and pair of jeans, a leather jacket also.

"Hi," she breathed and then waved to Andrea, pulling the door closed as she stepped out into the hall. "You look particularly dapper."

"Isn't that my line?" He laughed, sliding his hand into hers as they walked down the hallway together.

"I supposed it usually is, but how was your day?" She asked as he pressed the button for the elevator. "How was your day?"

"Uneventful," he shrugged, smiling at her. "I had to sit through a lot of different training meetings today. How was yours?"

"I had a lot of faxing to do," she sighed. "And it's not the funnest task when the fax machine despises you. I ended up having to ask one of the associates at the firm for help and he wasn't to happy to lend a hand. It was a very long day. I'm glad to spending my time with you, it always makes my day."

The elevator dinged as the doors opened and they stepped inside. It was rather crowded, for seven o'clock on a Tuesday. She'd tucked herself inside his arms to avoid feeling claustrophobic. There was just something different about being in Jim's arms. She felt his hand as it brushed up and down her forearm, his fingers tracing invisible patterns.

The doors opened soon, everyone filing out. They waited, being the last to leave before he led her to his truck.

"I'm glad you called," she smiled at him as he opened the passenger door.

"Me too," he said, helping her up. He really did need to get that step fixed.

"Aren't you going to shut the door?" She asked as he continued to stand there.

"I wanted to do this first," he said and bent down, quickly capturing my lips.

It was warm, and his lips were soft. Passion burned within the kiss, desire in it too. Their eyes were closed, both of them savoring the moment. His arms wrapped around her waist as her fingers intertwined with his hair.

Who knew? Maybe fairy-tales really do come true.