Challenge: It's John and Anna's first Valentine's Day as a couple. How does it go? What do they do? Can be a modern A/U as well.

John Bates would never describe himself as a very festive man. He liked peace and quiet and nights of reading and listening to good music. He liked his moments alone with his own thoughts, away from the world and most people.

That was until that momentous day he first met Anna Smith, a pure image of beauty and kindness and everything that was good. From that day forward, she filled all his senses. His time alone was now spent thinking of her, and all he wanted was to have her there with him. Always.

Normally, John Bates would never have said yes to Robert's invitation. The old John would excuse his presence and prefer to spend the night watching a good film or maybe even cooking a nice meal just for himself. But after Anna Smith came into his life, everything was different. He said yes right away, when his friend mentioned that she was coming to the Valentine's Charity Ball as well, and after that he spent the whole week preparing himself for that one night.

He fixed his bow tie, adjusting it around his neck and smiling at his image in the mirror. He was excited to see her but extremely nervous as well. True, this was not the first time they had been together outside of work; they had shared many lunches, and coffee breaks, teas at the café down the street and even one dinner at his place two weeks ago, but the fact that they would go together, as a couple, was what was making him sweat.

All the light touches they had shared, and smiles and laughs were constantly playing in his mind and he hoped that all those memories would give him strength for tonight.

John looked at his watch one more time and took a deep breath. Time to pick her up.

He drove to her house and she was already waiting, peeking through the curtains and giving him a sweet smile, but before he even had the chance to open his door, she was out on the sidewalk, running to the car.

'Good evening!' she said, sighing happily once inside of the car.

'I could have…' he pointed outside.

'Nonsense, it's pouring rain. There's no need for the two of us to get drenched.' She shook some of the raindrops off her black coat. 'Is my hair too messy?'

Her hair was loose, blonde locks cascading down her shoulders, contrasting with the darkness of the thick coat, and John couldn't help but stare at it.

'It's perfect,' he said, his voice betraying him, as it often did, sounding more like a whispered prayer of love than a common remark.

'Thank you,' she smiled at him, her eyes shining with the wet lights of the city on that wintry night.

He drove for almost half an hour, and no words were spoken, although they did share smiles now and then. John found himself wondering what dress was she wearing beneath that long coat and Anna was in bits to have a dance with her dreamy, shy companion.

They were among the last to arrive. The rest of their group called out their names, motioning for them to join in the party.

When John helped Anna off with her coat his knees almost failed him. The red of her lace dress, contrasted with the pearly pale of her skin, poetic in the most wonderful of ways. Her blonde locks breaking the sharpness of the red against her neck, and the red heels elongating her legs and whole body as the dress stopped around her calves. The fine detailing of the lace embraced her delicate skin with the utmost care, just around her collarbone and hands, as the long sleeves and modest décolleté covered most of her body.

He softly sighed at her image, and his heart threatened to stop right then and there, and only when one of his friends offer him a drink was he able to regain control. But before too long, couples began to gather in the middle of the ballroom, holding each other and dancing at slowly.

'Are you dancing, John?' Robert asked with a tease on his tone.

John looked over at Anna and she grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently. 'Sure he is!'

'Well, that would be the happening of the year! Or even the last fifty years! John never dances.'

'He is dancing tonight,' she looked up at him and he nodded.

Everyone was surprise when Anna guided him to the dance floor.

'Do you know how to dance?' she asked, placing his hands on her waist.

'I don't know, maybe…you can guide me, can't you?'

'With pleasure!'

Her waist was a perfect fit in his large hands, and he felt almost like a gentle giant caring for a delicate dove. Then, she brought her hands to his shoulders, without taking her eyes off him and slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck and their bodies came closer, closer than they had ever been, and for a slip of a second he feared he might lose control. But there's more to love than urgency. It was as if they were the only two people in the room,and John decided that this moment was just perfect.

A calm flow of bodies and feelings, and her smell filling all his senses and the sways of her body against his own. The way her dress swirled around them, and the feel of the delicate lace and her warm body beneath his hand. A perfect night.

As the music played, she rested her head against his chest, and he let himself relax a little, leaning his cheek against her hair and sighing into it, as if that moment was heaven itself.

'Why are you smiling?' he asked, when he felt her giggling into his chest.

'Because I am here with you and it's just perfect.'

'You look so beautiful, Anna,' he said, bringing one hand up to caress her hair.

'And you look so very handsome, Mr Bates.' She looked up to him with a soft smile on her lips.

'You know you can call me John, don't you?' his hand still playing with her hair and the other caressing her waist.

'But isn't Mr Bates much more daring?' she flirted.

'And, are you daring?' he raised his brow, unable to stop smiling.

'I am as daring as daring can be…and you…Mr Bates?'

'I love you.' There was silence for a moment, their bodies stopped dancing as their minds focused on his words. 'I suppose after that, you can say I am daring,' he smiled trying to break the tension. But that tension only existed in him. His words had caused Anna's heart to sing.

'I suppose I can,' she replied, her eyes a bit teary and her hands playing with the hair on the back of his neck.

'I suppose I can be a little more daring…if you permit me to…'

'Mr Bates,' she rolled his name in her tongue, 'after that statement I permit you everything.'

They laughed happily and his lips touched hers in a soft and gentle kiss.

'I do hope that from now on, you are as daring as you were tonight,' she whispered.

'Were? This night isn't over yet, Miss Smith,' and he kissed her again and this time he dared to taste her. Their tongues dancing together, almost as their bodies were before. But this dance was much sweeter and more magical.

'I hope this night lasts forever,' she said as she nuzzled his neck, breathing in the scent of his aftershave and his own intoxicating smell.

'I hope so too…' he began, gently dragging his nose along her earlobe, kissing the place just above her cheekbone and whispering to her, 'This will certainly be a night to remember.'