A/N: After much rewriting of the original outline, I finally settled on an acceptable route for the next few chapters. I'm not sure why it was so hard. Anywho, I hope I didn't wait toooo long between chapters. As always, please feel free to leave comments or reviews about whatever you like. I find them extremely encouraging.

CH 11

There hadn't been a repeat of the gentle kiss in the park, and Mindy was trying to tell herself that she was ok with that. She wasn't having a ton of success, especially when she walked into the office each morning, five or ten minutes late, expecting to receive a stern lecture about punctuality, but instead was the recipient of a warm smile and a softly spoken, "Morning, Min."

He'd gotten into the habit of waiting for her, standing casually by Betsy's desk, sorting through mail, hoping no one noticed they way he kept glancing toward the elevator. They fell into one another's orbit, circling unconsciously. And it was fine, pleasant even. Mindy felt a surge of pleasure whenever he popped his head into her office, a question about something trivial on his lips. He would often linger after his initial inquiry had been answered, making small talk as he fidgeted in the doorway. Always the awkward preamble before he asked her to do something after work, or on the weekend. Always the hand at the back of his neck, nervously playing with the hair at his nape as he looked at the floor.

Honestly, she loved it. Never in her life had she had someone so nervous in her presence, so happy when she eagerly accepted his invitation to go grab a pretzel in the park. The immediate relief in his posture, shoulders relaxing, heading popping up, when she smiled and accepted his invitations sent tangible pleasure singing through her limbs.

She understood his tentativeness though, she felt it too. They were embarking on something new, a slow burning reboot of their former relationship, the payout of which would surely be tenfold of anything they'd had before, and yet it all felt so fragile. So far, she'd let everything go at his pace, waiting each day for him to think of some excuse to swing by her door. But she decided to make good on her word. She wanted this, and she was going to let him know it was her choice.

She clutched the thick envelope in her hand, feeling like she was sixteen again, getting ready to go to her first Sadie Hawkins dance. The door to Danny's office was propped open, something she'd notice a lot lately. It made her smile. Five years ago, she would have been hard pressed to tell anyone what color his walls were, but now she could tell you what color sweater his sister was wearing in the tiny school photo propped on his desk.

She paused before she crossed the threshold, the fluttering in her stomach giving her pause. She wasn't entirely sure Danny would be interested in the event she had in mind. She took a deep breath, ready to announce herself, when he suddenly looked up. The red glasses sliding down the tip of his nose, his lips parted in surprise. She melted a little, of course he would be interested. Her uncertainty evaporated, replaced by warmth pooling in her stomach. She felt a sigh slipping out and masked it with a soft, "Hey."

"Hey." He smiled, one corner of his mouth twitching up before he let it spread across his face, his eyes crinkling as he removed his reading glasses. He glanced at his watch, thinking perhaps time had gotten away from him, and it was time to go home. Three o'clock. He glanced back up in confusion. Mindy's suddenly quiet demeanor unsettled him. She looked nervous, running her fingers along the edges of the envelope in her hands. "Everything ok?"

The happiness that had washed over him mere seconds earlier fled in the face of her consternation. He felt sick, imagining the worst. Did she know? What was she holding? Had Morgan decided to intervene in his life once again, sending her some anonymous letter outing him? He swallowed before opening his mouth, ready to plead with her for forgivness.

She stepped forward into his office, pulling out one of the chairs before she dropped down in front of him, the smile returning to her face. "Everything's great." She waved the envelope between them. "This has been sitting on my desk, for months, staring at me, dare I say mocking me."

"Oh?"

She slipped her index finger underneath the flap, withdrawing the contents with a flourish. She held a card in front of her face, reading it dramatically. "Mindy, darling, here are two tickets to La Caccia, I'm sure you'll have a date by the time this rolls around (someone more cultured than a dj/shoe salesman). Love, Your favorite aunt, Gita." She plucked the tickets from the envelope, laying them on the desk in front of her. "It's this Saturday, and… no date."

"La Caccia?"

Mindy peered down at the tickets, taking in the muscular form of leotard clad dancers. "I'm assuming it's some sort of ballet or something, formal attire probably required." She fidgeted with her bracelet, turning the silver bangles round and round her wrist before she cleared her throat and continued. "It's probably not your thing, right?" She shook her head, embarrassed that she would ask Danny to do something like this. This was stupid. Danny Castellano didn't want to go on a Saturday afternoon date to the Lincoln Center with her. She should have just asked him to go to a movie, something about the mob or deep sea fishing.

She sighed, reaching forward to grab the tickets, but he snatched them up just as her fingertips brushed the paper. He peered at the tickets, raising his red glasses once again so he could read the event info before looking over the tops of the frames at her. "Actually, I've been wanting to go to a dance performance at the Lincoln Center for a while now… There just hasn't been… Well, anyway, this looks like it'd be enjoyable." He trailed off, looking a little sheepish.

Mindy lit up, smiling broadly as she vibrated with excitement. "Oh my god, Danny. I totally forgot about your background in dance! You can explain everything to me, because I don't know a pirouette from a jete." She jumped up, circling around the desk to grab the tickets from his hands. "The performance is at two, so meet me at my place at one."

She paused for a second, wondering if she could give into the impulsive feeling coiling in her. What the hell, why not? She leaned down, hands on his shoulders, catching him off guard. His eyes widened in surprise as her own darted to his lips. She kissed him quickly, something indefinable clicking into place as her lips met his. It was brief, a couple pecks reminiscent of those she'd seen Richie give him in the past. Friendly smooches that shouldn't have made her want to drop everything and climb on top of him.

She caught herself, remembering that it was the middle of the day, hours to go before they could escape this office. She withdrew, her enthusiasm remaining high. "Thanks, Danny." She turned to leave, pausing in the doorway one last time. "My very own ballerino. It didn't even occur to me."

He frowned, peering out into the office. "Hey, keep your voice down. No one else here needs to know about that. Morgan is already suspicious, he asked me to give his grandma dance lessons after he saw me in the club." He tried, somewhat fruitlessly to look annoyed.

She frowned. "Wait, Morgan was in the bathroom all night. He couldn't have seen you dancing."

Danny shook his head. "Apparently there's video circulating." He gave her a pointed look, daring her not to look guilty.

Mindy merely smiled back at him, tapping her nails against the door frame. "Oh, and don't forget you have to dress nice. No denim and flannel. We're going to the Lincoln Center not the pier."

"Relax, Lahiri, I do own some nice clothes. I'm not a hobo." He shuffled the papers around on his desk, feigning interest in his work.

Danny watched her leave, a heady anticipation building in him. It wasn't a date, not really, but it felt like one. Their first date. He blinked. God, that couldn't be true. Things had happened all out of order, sinking in a mire of unrequited love before he'd even kissed her the first time. He wished he could do things the right way. She deserved as much before he revealed all the wrong things he'd done. A date was a good first step.

She turned, calling out over her shoulder as she sauntered away. "Make it neutral so whatever I wear will match."

"Of course." As if there were any other option.