"Want me to do that?" Jaime asked John from the open bathroom door.

"If you want," he chuckled. "Do you know how to tie a bow tie?" She took him in, he wasn't finished getting dressed -his waistcoat and dinner jacket were on the bed- and the suspenders look was very sexy on his slim, yet toned, frame.

"I do, my dad taught me," she smiled. "Come on."

"You're full of…" his eyes went wide when he looked at her, "surprises. Wow. Darling, you are absolutely stunning."

"Thank you. You're not so bad yourself. Let me…" Jaime made a motion to the silk tie hanging around his neck. He stepped into her personal space and rested his hands on her hips. She knew it was so that she could see what she was doing but the proximity was intoxicating. 'Say something,' she thought to herself. "I feel a little ridiculous in this dress."

"You shouldn't. You're positively gorgeous. I'm going to have my hands full keeping other suitors away from you," John smiled, his blue eyes twinkling a little.

Almost a week after all their fun in London, they found themselves in another hotel room. This time it was a suite –thanks Richard- because Jaime, John and his parents were all getting dressed up to go to a charity dinner. It was a black tie event, so Jaime found herself in a gown that she was sure cost someone an arm and a leg, that fit her perfectly. Sara probably had something to do with it, though knowing John, he had her measurements memorized, which he most likely snagged from their impromptu shopping trip on his birthday. Sneaky little devil.

"I feel like I'm playing dress up," she whispered.

"That's the half the secret to a black tie event."

"And the other half?"

"Champagne."

Jaime giggled, "Oh really?"

"Yes. A glass or two makes everything better."

"I think hanging out with you would be much better than drinking." That earned her a smirk and a wink.

Things changed after London. There was a new closeness that the two of them had with each other now that wasn't there before. On top of being able to read each other, there always seemed to be some –not so subtle- touching going on. If John's folks noticed the way his hand lingers on the small of her back or the way she watches him whenever he moves or the whole conversations they have without speaking, the older Harrisons didn't say anything.

"There you go, all set," Jaime smiled as she finished with his tie. She moved to lower her hands but John took them both in his and kissed her knuckles.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Can I ask you something?"

"Always."

"Why are we going to this thing?" she chuckled.

"Because my mother does a lot of work helping disabled children get the education they need. This night is for them as much as it pains us."

"Your mom is pretty awesome," Jaime smiled. Sara was involved with a bunch of charities and, when she wasn't working on a book, she devoted a good chunk of her time to helping others.

"I'm aware. If anything, living up to her example is going to be a difficult task."

"An unnecessary task, I think," she told him. "She loves you just the way you are." So does Jaime but she wasn't ready to tell him that just yet.

"I suppose you're right."

Jaime pressed a soft kiss against his lips, "I usually am."

"Can you believe Benjamin? What does he think he's doing with that… girl?" Jaime heard a voice say when she was in the bathroom.

She knew who the woman was asking about, sort of. John introduced Jaime to one of his old classmates. Just by looking at him, Jaime could tell that Benjamin's family seemed to be well off, if not nobility of some kind. Jaime and Janice, the girl with Benjamin, seemed to have a fair amount in common. Janice still had a year left in school, she was a philosophy major. Both women were blonde with blue eyes, though Janice's bordered on gray. They each showed up to this thing on the arm of some rich young bachelor.

"He could do so much better. Not just him, did you see the girl with John?"

"They could've at least stayed in their class," another woman said, sounding agitated. "Who do you think the blonde with John is?"

"I have no idea," the first girl said. "Men can be fools. Maybe she's just a dalliance to occupy his time while he's in the states."

"You don't bring dalliances home," her friend chuckled.

"I give it a year or so," a third woman announced from somewhere. "That's how long it'll take the young Mister Harrison to come to his senses."

"Unless she gets pregnant," the second woman cautioned. "Same goes for what's-her-name with Benjamin."

Apparently, she was courting way above her station. Jaime now knew how Ny felt. Spock's father is the Canadian Ambassador and every time Nyota accompanied Spock to some function, someone said something to or about her. Sadly, being a linguistic savant meant that she understood rudeness in many forms, not just the verbal ones.

Unfortunately, Jaime, Gaila and Nyota dealt with girls like that all the time. Between Sam, Bones, Spock and John, the three young women encountered more than their fair share of bitchy attitudes from the bitter girls that the guys all but ignored on a daily basis. That's not to say that Sam and Bones didn't date or flirt, they did, they just didn't have any patience for whiny little girls who had to tear others down to make themselves feel better, especially girls who insulted Jaime and company. Bones certainly gets enough of that bullshit from his ex-wife, the cheating bitch.

Jaime did a silent count to ten before she decided that she wasn't going to hide from anyone, she sure as hell wasn't going to hide from these idiots. The three women looked at her and despite the voice in her head that told to ignore them, she wasn't going to let people talk about John or his friend like they were idiots.

"I think your parents would be appalled to learn that they spent an ungodly amount of money on the best finishing schools in the world and yet here you are gossiping in a bathroom about something you have no hope of comprehending," she said as she washed her hands. "I'm truly offended that you would insult John or Benjamin because they decided that love was more important than social status. Though, in fairness, you know nothing about me or Janice and couldn't even begin to know where I stand other than the fact that I'm American, but I digress." Jaime dried her hands and looked at them. "Perhaps you would all be wise to examine yourselves before passing judgement on others. Because, while you may think I'm outclassed, John disagrees, so I have him and you have… well, each other. Have fun with that." Jaime checked her lipstick and left them gaping at her in the bathroom.

"I was going to tell you to ignore those twits but I think that was much better," Sara said.

"You caught that, huh?" Jaime asked.

"I did," John's mother smiled. "You love him."

"I…" There was no point in denying it, Sara could see right through her. "He doesn't know yet."

"I can most certainly guarantee that he does, dear. John knew before you did. He wouldn't have brought you home with him if he didn't. You should tell him."

"I don't even know where to begin with that."

"You do," Sara said as she looped her arm with Jaime's. "It's just three little words."

"It's a lot more than that."

"Would you like to like to get out of here?" John whispered in her ear.

"Pretty please with a cherry on top," she smiled.

"My father is going to cover for us," he offered her his arm.

"Where are we going?"

"Where would you like to go?"

"Anywhere. As long as it's with you."

"That, Miss Kirk, is easily done," John smiled as they slipped out of the room. "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Jaime asked.

"Because I grew up going to events like this and I know how people can be, especially the girls."

"I'm fine, really. People talk, it doesn't matter where you are or what you do. If someone has a problem with me and you, it's their problem. I'm not going to stop loving you because it pisses them off."

"Say that again."

"What? It's not our problem…"

"No. The part about you loving me," he said, his blue eyes glowing.

"I'm not going to stop loving you," she smiled. "Because I do. I love you."

"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."

"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that we were still in school," Jaime chuckled.

"Okay, maybe you do know. Say it again."

"I love you," she pressed a soft kiss against his lips. "I love you. I love you."

"I love you too, darling."