DISCLAIMER: I do not own or am art of any aspect of the 39 clues or Denny's!

Chapter 10: Stargazing

Amy and Ian ran out to the black convertible and opened the doors. They sat in a faux leather seats and Ian started up the car.

"So, where to, Love?" he asked.

"To… wherever your heart desires," Amy said, barely containing a fit of laughter. "Um, but seriously? Just drive. Let's not plan out where to go."

"That doesn't sound much like the Amy I know… But, as you wish," he said, enjoying the time he was spending with her and looking forward to the time he would be spending with her. He started driving.

He could hear her steady breathing next to him and could feel the barely there vibrations the car was making as it glided across the road. He looked over at her and she made a move to turn on the radio. After searching for about ten minutes for a good radio station to listen to, she finally settled on one that was playing soft jazz music.

He was extremely aware of the pinkish blush that never quite seemed to leave her cheeks, only now intensified.

He loved having that effect on her, for whatever reason it may be.

Ian wasn't completely oblivious to other people, contrary to what his family thought. He knew that he made her feel nervous. Why else did she always blush around him? Why else did her stutter always haunt her when he was around?

The reason for all this however, he did not know.

But what people did not know- at least, Ian hoped they didn't- was that she made him feel the exact same way. Granted, he didn't blush -often- or stutter -ever-, but his heart did patter unevenly and a whole lot faster than usual when she was around.

She made him feel a strong pull in his gut that wasn't necessarily unwelcome. It was a lot like the feeling Ian had gotten the first time he had written a roller coaster. He felt himself leave his stomach somewhere behind him whenever she said even a measly "hello."

After nearly an hour of comfortable silence, with the exception of the radio, Amy said something. As much as Ian had enjoyed the peaceful air that had settled over them, he knew that they would have to talk eventually.

"I'm sorry, what was that, Love?" Ian asked.

"I was asking you if we might stop somewhere to eat. Maybe an all night diner? I'm starving," Amy said.

"Where do you want to stop?" Ian asked.

"I don't know… I'll tell you once we pass it," she said.

Ian nodded and turned his head back to the road.

After fifteen minutes of searching for a place Amy told him to stop.

It was a small place called "Denny's" that Ian had never been to.

They stepped out of the car and as they were about to enter the restaurant, a small lady opened the door for them.

"Thank you!" Amy said.

"Oh it's no trouble dear!" the lady called over her shoulder as she walked to her car.

He looked at Amy again and was filled with curiosity.

She was smiling at the retreating form of the lady that had opened the door for them. Then she turned to a waiter and requested a table, still smiling.

How could such a small gesture from a complete stranger have made her so happy?

She was so odd at times and yet, he wished he could be more like her. She was so caring towards everyone. And she was so gentle and nice and a genuinely good person. Why hadn't he been raised like she was? Why was his childhood the complete opposite of hers? He had always had so much that he took for granted.

He voice brought him back from his thoughts. "I-Ian? Why are you s-staring at m-me like that? The waiter's been trying to get us to follow him for a w-while…"

"Hm? Oh, right," he muttered, not taking his eyes off her.

The waiter led them to a two-person booth by a large window.

"What may I start you off with tonight?" the waiter asked them.

"I'll have some tea please," Amy said.

Ian looked at her again, surprised. A smirk grew on his face. He'd had no idea that she liked tea.

"Make that two," Ian requested.

"That'll be just a second. Here are your menus," the waiter replied and passed them their menus.

After he left, Amy turned to Ian. "So, what do you want to order?"

Ian looked the menu over.

"I'm not exactly sure. All the selections are breakfast choices…"

"Yeah, that's the point," she laughed. "Denny's started franchising in 1963. It was meant to be a family fast food breakfast kind of place. I've been coming here for a while. It's actually really good. So, pick a breakfast food or a burger or a skillet," Amy said.

"Any… recommendations?" he asked.

"Well, I'm getting the 'Banana caramel French toast skillet' and I'm pretty sure you'll like either the 'slow-cooked pot roast' or the 'cranberry apple chicken salad," she said.

"I'll go with the latter."

Just then, the waiter walked back to them and set their tea's down on the table before them. "Have you decided what you'll be eating?"

"Yes, I'll have the banana caramel French toast skillet and he'll have the cranberry apple chicken salad," Amy said.

"Delicious choices," the waiter said with a smile. He went to give the cooks their orders.

After ten minutes of small talk, their food arrived.

They dined. They paid. They left.

Once again, they were back in the car. Soft music was still playing from the speakers and Amy had rolled her window down slightly in order to feel the crisp winter air. She was twirling a strand of hair between the fingers of her left hand and there was a book on her lap.

"Where do you suppose we go now? I can't very well just drive all night," Ian stated.

"Stop."

"What?"

"Stop the car," Amy said.

"Here? Right now?" Ian asked, incredulous.

"Yes! Stop the car!" she yelled.

She said those words with such intensity that Ian abruptly stopped the car and both their heads jerked forward. Amy dropped her book.

The car had stopped right underneath a humongous tree near a park.

"Ian! You didn't have to stop quite so forcefully!" Amy shrieked.

"You were the one telling me to stop!"

Then, Amy took a look at their surroundings through her open window.

"It's so… lovely here…" she whispered.

Not as lovely as you…

"Yes, I suppose it is," he said.

Amy turned off the radio and then brought her arm up above her head and pressed a button that Ian was sure he had never used before, never feeling the need to have his hair messed up. The whole roof of the car started retracting until they were left under the night sky.

From his peripheral vision, he could see Amy slowly going lower and lower. And then he couldn't see her anymore. Curious as to why that was, he turned to look at her.

She was now laying down in her seat, looking at the heavens in awe. She wore an expression of wonder and approval.

Following her example, Ian did something he had never done. He laid down in his seat. It was a night for firsts after all.

He looked at her again for a moment before looking straight up at the sky.

A few minutes passed by without any interactions between them and then Amy, quietly, started telling him stories about the constellations.

It was nothing new of course. He knew all there was to know about astronomy. But the way she told him the legends of how they came to be allured him. Her soft, musical voice could make even the most gruesome tales sound nice and inviting. Then there were stories with happy endings to which she laughed to. Her laugh made his heart literally skip a beat. She never once looked away from the night sky, and Ian never took his eyes away from her.

"And so Perseus rescues Andromeda. A happy ending that was well deserved…" Amy finished.

She finally turned her gaze to him again.

"How come we're doing this? Like, right now. Us," she said.

Before Ian knew what he was doing, he said, "Well, you were upset, were you not? I just… wanted to make things right. Amy, I've hurt you and Daniel so much over the years… It's not fair. I'm so sorry."

"Ian, you know I've already forgiven you for that."

"I still don't know how you could. I don't know if I would have forgiven someone so easily," he said.

"Tolliver was a bloody sodding idiot for giving you up like that…"

"It was too much to bear. I put him under too much stress. You know his grades started slipping? He was losing sleep too. He wasn't meant to be thrown into our crazy Cahill world. He's not a part of it. I never should have put him in such a compromising position. I'm surprised he didn't dump me the first chance he got," she said a little rushed.

"The bloke didn't deserve you in the first place…" Ian said softly.

Amy laughed. "And why do you say that?"

"Because it's true."

"And you know who does deserves me then?" she asked.

Ian cleared his throat. "I have a pretty good idea."

"I- I'm sure you do," Amy said, red creeping up her neck and cheeks.

They stayed silent after that and Amy eventually dozed off. It was three a.m. after all…

"Goodnight, love," Ian whispered and put his coat over her.

A/N: Was this a really weird/cheesy chapter? If you didn't like it, I am so sorry!

So, what was your first date like? If you're like me and haven't had it yet, what would your perfect first date be like? DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE?