As he sat at Grace's eating breakfast amongst friends from town, including Michaela and Sully, Andrew listened to Jake read an editorial from the morning Gazette.

It read:

Dear Mrs. Jennings,

I woke to sounds of a town finally at peace. Months of Indian Raids, Army occupation, and a tragic epidemic have tested this community and left it weary. As we go about putting those terrible events behind us, we must not forget those of us who are still greiving deeply. How sad it would be if we missed our chance to step forward and tell those we love just when they need us most what is truly in our hearts. -

"Sentimental hogwash" Jake said pessimistically as he finished.

"I don't know about that Jake" Andrew stated, thinking about how he himself had finally stepped forward and confessed his feelings for Colleen. "I think it's... very compelling"

"That's right" The Reverend chimed in, "Many times it's those we love the most that we take the most for granted"

"Exactly!" Michaela added "I mean, the point is, it doesn't hurt to let someone know how you feel about them before it's too late"

Andrew thought about everything his friends were saying and he couldn't help but relate their words to his relationship. He had just started something with Colleen and with her already being back at school, perhaps he should do something special for her to let her know he was still thinking about her, even when they were apart. The sweethearts dance was that weekend in Colorado Springs and Andrew knew he'd be miserable there if Colleen wasn't by his side. It was the perfect time to surprise her with a visit to Denver.

Colleen left her advanced physiology class with plans to head over to the library as usual. She smiled happily to herself as she walked along. She couldn't remember a time when she was so utterly happy. She had no complaints, no drama, her family was finally together and healthy and she had Andrew. A man who loved her. She beamed even brighter at the thought.

"Colleen!" A familiar voice said, startling the young student as she looked up, eyes widening with delight. It was Andrew standing in front of her, grinning from ear to ear. He was holding a bouquet of Ruby red roses and his head tilted slightly as he just stared at her with admiration.

Colleen wanted to run to him and throw her arms around his neck. But, not wanting to embarrass herself or Andrew, she contained her excitement, took a deep breath and calmly walked over to the man she had recently confessed her own love to. Their eyes met and for just a moment they were the only two people in the world. Colleen didn't need to tell Andrew how pleasantly surprised she was to see him in Denver, he could read her every emotion simply by the look in her gaze.

"Who are the roses for?" Colleen asked with a knowing smirk on her face and a teasing flirtation in her voice.

Andrew let out a quick chuckle at her playfulness and decided to play along. "Well I was hoping to give them to whomever might come along and agree to join me for dinner this evening. You wouldn't happen to know anyone available would you?"

"Hmmmm" Colleen thought. "I just may be interested... if that's alright with you?" She continued.

Andrew now laughed out loud and ended their game by placing a familiar kiss gently on her cheek. "Actually" He told her with a more serious tone and a proud smile as he handed her the bouquet, "I was hoping to take you to dinner and then perhaps the opera? I haven't gotten tickets yet, but if you're not too busy with your studies, I could certainly pick some up"

Colleen smiled so big that her nose wrinkled and her eyes narrowed in a way that Andrew found to be adorable. She loved his idea.

"That would be amazing!" Colleen exclaimed. "I mean, I do have to go to the library now and get some work done, but I can definitely be finished before dinner"

"Wonderful!" Andrew said, holding out his arm to her. "Can I walk you to the library?"

"Of course" Colleen said, taking his arm proudly before inquiring more about Andrew's visit. "What is this all for? I mean, it's not my birthday or anything..."

"The Sweetheart's Dance is tonight and well... I know you couldn't get away so... I figured I'd come to you ...and make the night special anyways" Andrew explained.

Colleen simply looked up at Andrew, admiring his thoughtfulness. She squeezed his arm a bit tighter with her own as they walked on together, making plans for the evening.

Andrew spent the day around Denver, making sure he could get tickets at the opera house and making a reservation for dinner beforehand. He checked into a hotel close by to Colleen's boarding house and got himself ready to go. He dressed in a formal suit, looked himself over in the mirror and headed out to pick up Colleen. It was funny how nervous he felt. They had spent countless hours together but nothing was ever formal. It was always grabbing breakfast or coffee, a casual dinner now and then and of course all the time they worked together at the clinic. They were never actually courting each other though.

Upon entering the boarding house, Andrew found a tall, heavy set woman sitting behind a desk with a scowl on her face. She didn't say anything to Andrew, simply looked at him with an unpleasant glare.

"Um... I'm here to see Colleen Cooper?" He said nervously. The truth was that the woman greatly intimidated him.

"Is that a question?" The woman responded grumpily.

"No. Sorry. ... uh... Not a question. That's why I'm here. She's expecting me" Andrew stumbled.

"You're taking a young lady out and you didn't bring flowers? Not much of a gentleman." She said in the same miserable tone.

Andrew was taken back a moment by her judgement of him and tried to explain. He was already stressed and now this lady was not helping. "Oh... well... I saw her earlier and I gave her..."

"mmmhmmm" The woman interrupted and looked down at her work.

Andrew wasn't sure what to do next. He folded his arms uncomfortably and stood awkwardly off to the side. Luckily he didn't have to wait very long.

"Hey Andrew!" Colleen said from the top of the stairs down the hallway of the building.

Andrew looked up and froze. His jaw dropped at the sight of her walking down the stairs towards him. She was wearing an emerald green satin ball gown with a black lace overlay. The neckline was open, fitted at the tip of the shoulder and across the chest down to the waist, flourishing into a full skirt folded into layered box pleats. Her hair was gathered in a formal up do with curls. Andrew had never seen her so done up before and her beauty took his breath away. Literally. As she got closer to him , he realized that he was holding his breath and then had to let it all out at once.

"Wow" Was all Andrew managed to say and Colleen giggled at the look on his face.

"You too" She replied, giving Andrew a once over. "Shall we go?"

"Yes of course" A still breathless Andrew said as he offered her his arm.

"Goodnight Mrs. Harris" Colleen said to the stoic woman whom had been trying to ignore the couple's interaction. The woman smiled quickly but sincerely at Colleen.

"Yes. Goodnight Mrs. Harris" Andrew said as friendly as possible but the woman was back to her stern face and glared at Andrew cynically until they were out the front door.

"Well Mrs. Harris is a... pleasant woman..." Andrew said to Colleen once they were outside. "I think she really likes me" he joked.

Colleen laughed and shrugged her shoulders "She grows on you" she said, humored by Andrew's intimidation of the woman. He laughed along with her and they fell easily into conversation as they strolled to dinner. As if they hadn't ever been separated. It was perfect.

An usher showed Colleen and Andrew to their seats at the opera house. Colleen was impressed that he had managed to get front row balcony seats. They sat down surrounded by only a few other couples as their box was quite private.

There was a romantic sensation in the air that neither one had experienced before. They sat close to one another but Andrew held the opera program in his hands, unconsciously rolling and fidgeting with it and Colleen sat with her hands folded politely in her lap. Andrew kept sneaking glances over at Colleen, still in aw at how beautiful she looked. Colleen loved the way her heart skipped a beat each and every time she caught his eyes. The intimacy increased with every glance and their gaze held just a bit longer. When the lights dimmed and the music started, it didn't take long for Colleen to slip her arm around Andrew's and move in shoulder to shoulder with him. Andrew smiled lovingly at her and then again reminded himself that he needed to breathe. He wondered why he was still so nervous around her. He supposed that it was a different sort of nervous now. He no longer worried about whether or not his feelings for her were being reciprocated or if he was doing or saying the right thing in the right way. Now he had to worry about expectations of being with and courting a woman he loved. He was worried about the next steps in their relationship. Did she even have expectations of him? Where did she stand on expressing affections physically? It was something he had been thinking about quite often the past couple of weeks. As he stole another glace at her, he imagined taking her into his arms, kissing her and never wanting to stop. He wondered if he did kiss her right now, would he even be able to stop.

Andrew was no longer glancing Colleen's way now. He was out right staring at her and Colleen, along with everyone in their balcony box couldn't help but notice. Colleen softly and slowly closed her eyes and paused a moment , hoping to calm the good but overwhelming feelings she was having for Andrew. She took a deep inhale and let it out quietly before she turned towards Andrew. She opened her eyes just as slowly as she had closed them and when they met Andrew's she felt an actual heat radiate throughout her. Andrew tilted his head slightly and started to move in towards Colleen. She did the same, her eyes remaining locked on his. She vaguely spread her lips in preparation to meet Andrew's. Then suddenly she remembered that they weren't alone. She pulled back just a bit and then touched her forehead to his and motioned with her eyes to the other couples around them. Andrew's lips turned up into an understanding grin and he nodded lightly, but disappointment remained in his expression. Colleen too was disappointed and got an idea. She leaned in to Andrew once more, brushed her cheek up against his as her lips neared his ear. She whispered something to him, eliciting a curious grin on Andrew's face and then stood from her seat and walked past the closed curtain at the entrance to the balcony. Andrew watched her go before rising himself, as he had been instructed to do by Colleen. When he too was on the other side of the curtain, he found Colleen with a rather mischievous look on her face. She leaned up against the wall,hands clasped behind her back.

"We're alone now" She said in an adorably innocent way for an idea that had not so innocent intentions.

Andrew glanced around playfully "Hmmm... Looks like we are... now what?"

Colleen grinned and gave Andrew her most flirtatious eyes. He walked over to her and all at once they wrapped themselves up in each other and pressed their lips hard together. Colleen's arms hung around Andrew's neck, one hand grazing her finger's up his spine and entangling themselves in his hair. A shiver shot through Andrew's core and he realized that he was right, their kiss was something that he never wanted to stop. He pulled her in closer to him and moved his mouth on hers, inviting Colleen to spread her lips so that he could taste every sweet part of them. She willingly accepted. Colleen became weak in the knees but Andrew's embrace kept her steady.

There had always been a clear mental and emotional connection with them but now they were finally acknowledging the sense of passion that had been lingering since they met and it felt good. Both Colleen and Andrew lost themselves in it.

They finally slowed themselves, giving short kisses beween their labored breathing. Andrew stood up tall and took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Colleen rested her head on Andrew's chest, listening to his heartbeat steady itself and then they both just laughed out of pure joy. They were glad that they were able to relieve the tension that had been there the entire evening. Andrew kissed Colleen on the top of the head before suggesting that they return to their seats. Colleen agreed and took Andrew's hand, allowing him to lead her back to the balcony.

After the show had ended, Colleen and Andrew took their time leaving the theater. They were in no rush to end their evening. It was a cool but tolerable night out, clear skies and a brightly shining moon. Andrew slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around Colleen's bare shoulders. She hugged it tight to her and slipped her hands around Andrew's arm, remaining close to his side. They decided to forego a carriage and instead, slowly strolled back towards Colleen's boarding house. They remained silent for the most part, taking in the sights and sounds of the ever busy city.

When they arrived at Colleen's door, she turned to face Andrew, stars still in her eyes.

"Thank you for this Andrew. It was perfect" She told him with absolute admiration.

"You're very welcome" Andrew replied with just as much adoration.

He stepped close to Colleen and caressed her face before leaning in for one last kiss. He had to return to Colorado Springs first thing in the morning. The kiss was sweet and filled with love and gentleness. Colleen felt like she was floating as she turned to go inside. When she closed the door behind her, she paused to take a deep breath. She had already known that she loved Andrew but now she was discovering what it was like to actually be completely in love with someone. She let out a girlish giggle before heading upstairs to her room.