A/N: well, here's the date. I hope it's not 2 lovey dovey and stuff. I tried to make it kinda funny. I don't own McDonald's or any of it's products.

Chapter 10: Technical Date

Mort stood in front of his mirror behind his door, straightening his maroon jacket and pulling his hair back in a pony tail.

"Nervous?" Shooter smirked, standing next to him. "Haven't been on a date in a while."

"Please, this is just lunch," Mort replied, fixing his glasses. "This isn't a real date."

"So you agree it's a date?" Shooter wondered.

"It's a technical date," Mort agreed. "And I don't want you along for the ride, alright?" He didn't wait for a response before walking out the door and hurrying down the stairs.

Somehow everything's gonna fall right into place

If we only had a way to make it all fall faster everyday

If only time flew like a dove

Well God make it fly faster than I'm falling in love

Mort froze at the bottom of the stairs and gazed into Nicky's room with wide eyes. The door was open and he could clearly see Nicky combing her hair in front of the mirror. She could sing?! It sounded nice, though it was obvious she hadn't had lessons, but it still sounded good.

This time we're not giving up

Let's make it last forever

Screaming "hallelujah"

We'll make it last forever

Nicky noticed out of the corner of her eyes as Mort slowly walked toward her, but she pretended not to see him. He hadn't heard her sing before, and she thought now was as good a time as any to reveal her small talent.

Holding onto patience wearing thin

I can't force these eyes to see the end

If only time flew like a dove

We could watch it fly and just keep looking up

Mort hid behind the threshold of the doorway, watching her with one eye peeking into the doorway. He liked hearing voice, and to be completely honest, he would rather give up going out to lunch with her to hear sing…now.

This time we're not giving up

Let's makes it last forever

Screaming 'hallelujah"

We'll make it last forever

Nicky set the brush down and opened one of her dresser drawers, knowing full well that Mort was still there, listening, and she want to be look busy. She pulled out a clip and began fixing her hair.

And we've got time on our hands

Got nothing but time on our hands

Got nothing but, got nothing but

Got nothing time on our hands

This time we're not giving up

Oh, let's make it last forever

Screaming "hallelujah"

Hallelujah

Nicky fluffed her hair a bit with a deep breath then turned to the door, still knowing Mort was watching her.

"Mort!" she gasped in false surprise, placing a hand over her heart. "How long have you been there?! You scared me!"

"I-I'm sorry," Mort stammered, coming out of his hiding place. "I heard you singing, and I--" He cut himself short when he saw Nicky frown and walk toward him. She stepped directly in front of him, still frowning.

"What?" he questioned.

"Your hair," she explained raising a hand behind his head as he watched her intently. "It looks better loose." She pulled his hair from the pony tail and tosseled it a bit. "I like it that way."

"Well it you like it that way, then I have to wear it that way," Mort smirked then studied her hair as well. "And you should wear yours down too." He pulled the clip from her hair and fluffed it again to let it fall nicely. Their eyes locked as she smiled and Mort felt tempted to pull her to his lips, but he fought the urge.

"Where are we going for lunch?" Nicky wondered, glancing at his mouth, feeling the same urge as he.

"Where ever you want," he replied, his hand lingering in hair then lowering to his side as he smiled warmly.

"Really?" Nicky grinned and Mort smiled wider at her innocence as he nodded. "You have fast food places here, right?"

"In the city," Mort replied with a frown and a smirk.

"I know just the place then," she grinned mischievously.

--

"You know, this isn't the healthiest place to eat," Mort muttered as they stepped out of his Jeep and onto the curb in front of a McDonald's restaurant.

"Oh, come on, Morton!" Nicky smiled, running up to him and taking his hands as he narrowed his eyes at her use of his whole name. "A little indulgence never hurt anybody, did it?"

Mort rolled his eyes as she tugged him toward the restaurant. He dragged his feet but she just pulled harder at his hands until they were in the door. The smell of burgers and fries being cooked filled the air, and it was warmer in the building than in outside. Mort watched as Nicky's eyes danced across the menu on the ceiling, trying to figure out what to order.

"I haven't been here in months!" she sighed with a small smile. "I forgot what I would usually order."

"Just get something new then," Mort suggested and Nicky stared at him in disbelief.

"And deviate from my norm?!" she gasped, placing a dramatic hand over her heart. "How dare you suggest such a thing?!"

Mort rolled his eyes again and pushed his glasses higher onto his nose as he looked at the menu.

"Fine," he said. "I'll order for you." He walked to the counter, dragging a shocked Nicky by the hand behind him.

"Can I help you, Sir?" the girl behind the counter smiled.

"Could I have a California Cob salad and an Angus Western Bacon cheeseburger combo?" Mort replied.

"Dressing for your salad?" the girl said, totaling the prices on the register.

"Thousand Island," Mort replied.

"Hey," Nicky called, tapping Mort on the shoulder. "If you don't eat here, how come you know how to order so well?"

"Medium drink?" the cashier asked.

"Yes," Mort replied then pulled out his wallet to pay for the meal.

"Are you purposely ignoring me?" Nicky wondered, her hands on her hips, making the cashier glance at her a moment.

"For here or to go?" she asked Mort.

"For here," Mort replied, pulling out a twenty from his wallet.

"Should I use my power of invisibility for good or evil?" Nicky wondered, a finger on her chin in thought. Mort slid the cup for her drink in front of her, making her jump slightly.

"Better get your drink, Nicky-Nick," he smirked as the cashier handed him his change and receipt.

"Number forty-two, Sir," the cashier told hand and he nodded as Nicky snatched the cup and strutted to the soda fountain with Mort following, a smirk still on his face. He came up next to her as she served herself a drink.

"Use your power for good, of course," he suggested.

"That doesn't answer my other question," she retorted, not being able to help herself from smirking.

"I said this place wasn't healthy," he whispered as she grabbed a lid and straw. "I never said I didn't eat here."

"Well, one would assume that when someone criticizes a restaurant, that the person doesn't eat there." She sealed the lid to her drink and strode away to find a seat, Mort on her heels.

"Who said I was criticizing?" Mort wondered, defensively. "It's a fact."

Nicky sat at table and Mort sat across from her.

"Why'd you call me 'Nicky-Nick' back there?" she asked and took a sip of her soda. Mort frowned at her change of subject and sat back a bit.

"You don't like being called that?" he wondered.

"No, it's not that," she shrugged. "I'm just wondering because that's what Elektra calls me."

"How did you guys meet?" Mort wondered.

Nicky opened her mouth, but…

"Number forty-two!"

Mort held up a finger, making Nicky shut her mouth.

"Hold that thought," he said and got up to get the food. Nicky smiled and leaned her chin in her hand.

"Falling for him, Nicky?" Raven's voice echoed in her head. Nicky straightened, coming back to reality.

"Shut up," she thought.

"You're falling in love with him," Raven teased.

"So what if I am?" Nicky replied. "It's none of your concern!"

"That's a joke, right?!" Raven laughed. Nicky looked around at the people in the restaurant, her head starting to spin. Their voices were distorted by Raven's laughing and she placed her hands over her ears in an attempt to quiet her, her head bowed.

"Leave me alone," Nicky pleaded. "Just leave me alone!"

"Nicky?"

She jumped and lowered her hands as she stared up at Mort. He slid the tray of food onto the table and sat next to her to wrap a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"Raven again?" he guessed is a whisper and she nodded with a sad face. "She's worse than Shooter is to me."

"I'm sure of that," Nicky chuckled.

"You'll be ok," Mort assured her, rubbing her arm. "Eat your burger." He stood and sat across from her again.

"So, where were we?" she asked, taking her burger and fries from the tray.

"You were about to tell me how you met my sister," Mort reminded her.

"That's right," she smiled. "Well, first day of my first year of college, I was supposed to meet my room mate. Trouble is, she didn't show until after one in the morning."

"Sounds like Elly," Mort chuckled. "Probably partying all night, right?"

"Right on the money," Nicky grinned. "You know, she never told me she had a brother until a few months ago. Is there a reason she would keep you a secret?"

"Elly has reasons very illusive to me," he shrugged. "Then again, we didn't talk too much after I got married." He popped the top on his salad and stared at it a moment, making Nicky frown. "She probably hates me now."

"If she hated you she wouldn't suggest I stay with you," Nicky said, sampling her fries. Mort looked up at her as she smiled and he returned the gesture.

"I guess not," he agreed, Nicky smiled and took some of her fries again then started on her burger. Mort leaned over and snatched a few of her fries and she stared at him in disbelief.

"What?" he shrugged, knowing full well, 'What.'

"Thief!" she said after swallowing her bite of burger. "If you wanted fries you should have ordered some!"

"O just wanted a couple," he smirked, shoving the fries into his mouth.

"Fine," Nicky shrugged. "I'll just have myself a piece of lettuce from your salad then." She quickly snatched a leaf of lettuce and popped it into her mouth as Mort stared at her in his own disbelief.

"You didn't!" he said.

"I did," Nicky retorted with a grin. "Whatcha gonna do about it?"

Mort glanced at her soda and grinned back at her. Nicky frowned, glanced at her soda and shot a horror filled look back at him.

"You wouldn't!" she whispered harshly.

"Wanna bet?" he grinned wider. She reached for her soda, but Mort was the quicker and he snatched it away. Nicky watched in failure as he took a drink and she bowed her head to the table.

"No!" she called dramatically as Mort placed the soda back on the table. "Not fair! You don't have a drink to leave my germs on!"

"Too bad," Mort shrugged and began to pour dressing on his salad. "Just flip the straw."

"Still," she said, straightening and wrinkling her nose in distaste. "Germs."

Mort scoffed and suddenly wrinkled his own nose, clapping his mouth as he finally assimilated the taste of the drink.

"What is that?" he wondered.

"It's a Dr. Pepper and Coca-Cola suicide," Nicky grinned, sliding the soda toward her and pulling the straw out to flip it.

"Tastes awful," Mort muttered, starting at his salad.

"Your opinion," Nicky retorted. "I like it, that's all that matters."

Mort nodded with a small chuckle and glanced at her as she began to eat again. She ate happily, bobbing along to some tune in her head and he smiled at how adorable he thought she was. He had thought she was attractive when they had met, but in getting to know her, he had discovered that she could be fiery and fun and timid and innocent bundled into one. It made him feel lucky that he was the one who got to see her every day for the time being.

Nicky looked up at him as Mort stared at her, making her frown slightly.

"What?"

"Nothing," Mort smirked, shaking his head a bit. "You're kinda cute, is all."

Nicky froze and stared at him in disbelief, a blush coming to her cheeks.

"Huh?!" she squeaked.

Mort smirked and leaned closer to murmur, "You're even cuter, now."

Nicky cleared her throat and lapped her mouth to moisten it as it dried suddenly.

"Are you talking to me?" she whispered.

"Unless there's someone else at this table--?" Mort cut himself short. Technically, there was someone else at the table. Surely Raven was lying in wait to come out at any minute, just as Shooter was inside him.

"Mort?" Nicky breathed, jolting him from his thoughts.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, straightening and starting at his salad again. Nicky's expression of shock softened and she cleaned her hand on a napkin to lean forward and gently touch his hand. Mort froze and glanced at her hand then looked at her with wide eyes.

"Thank you," she smiled warmly. "You're kinda cute, too."

A/N: But wait! It's not over yet! Reviews please