The candles were lit, the roses pruned, and Oregon stood by the table, fiddling with the sleeves of his suit.

He'd spend a week trying to get these reservations for him and California, and he had finally gotten them.

He saw Cali entering the room, talking to the hostess for a moment before spotting Oregon, and striding over.

God, she looks great.

Cali's knee length, dazzling, baby blue dress fit her snugly, accenting her hips and waist with elegance.

She stood by the table, looking at him with those sparkling, ocean blue eyes that paralyzed him. Oregon found it hard to breathe for a moment, frozen in place by how incredible she looked.

When he was able to move his feet, he stepped forward and pulled her chair out for her. She gladly sat and he pushed the chair in as well. He sat down at his own seat,

"You look marvelous."

California smiled earnestly,

"Thank you. You look rather dashing yourself."

Oregon looked down at his black suit jacket, unsure whether or not she could see the jelly stain he had gotten on the sleeve,

"Thanks."

The waiter walked up to them,

"Thank you for joining us tonight, could I get you two anything to drink?"

"Water for me please."

California looked at Oregon patiently,

"Oh, I'll get the water as well."

The waiter scribbled down their order, then asked,

"Could I get you two any wine?"

California opened the wine menu and took a quick glance,

"Could we have the Merlot, please?"

"Of course, madam."

Cali nodded, smiling, and handed the wine menu to the waiter, who took it and walked off,

"I'm sorry, I should have asked you first before ordering the wine."

Oregon shrugged,

"I trust your opinion. No one knows wine like you."

A light dusting of pink appeared on California's face thanks to the compliment.

Oregon felt proud of himself for making Cali blush when it was usually the other way around.

The waiter returned, carrying a bottle of wine,

"Here you are, I will be right back with your water."

He set the drink and the glasses on the table, and then bustled off, obviously busy.

Oregon poured himself a glass, and then poured one for Cali.

She picked up her glass by the stem and held it upwards,

"To our country."

"Alfred?"

"No, not Alfred, our country. A common cause."

Oregon held up his glass as well, and touched his glass to hers,

"To our country."

They both took a sip of the liquid, Oregon thoroughly impressed by the wine,

"Wow, this is incredible!"

Cali giggled,

"I'm glad you like it. Napa Valley has never failed me."

They both pulled out their menus again, studying the options.

California was just decided between two salads, when she glanced a bit to her left and spotted some familiar people at a table a little ways away,

Oh no. It can't be. It's not, of course it's not.

But it was. New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona all sat at a table a little ways away from her.

She lifted up the menu so they couldn't see her,

Do they know I'm here? Maybe they were just visiting and decided to grab some food and- oh who am I kidding? Of course they know I'm here! What can I do now?!

Oregon noticed that Cali was hiding behind her menu, and was about to say something, when he had the instinct that someone was staring at him, so he turned his head slightly to the left,

Hold on, is that who I think it is?

Idaho and Washington both look away when he notices them,

Crap, how did they know I was coming here? Are they here to ruin my date?

He held up his menu as well, trying to avoid his sister's eyes.

What am I gonna do?

What am I gonna do?

California peeked around her menu, and saw that Oregon had his up as well. She laid it down on the table, and tapped Oregon's,

"I'll be right back, I'm going to the restroom."

With no intention of actually going to the restroom, Cali stood up from the table. She put the napkin back on the table and walked over to where her brothers were sitting.

Hoping Oregon wasn't watching, she yell-whispered,

"What the hell are you guys doing here?"

Arizona refused to look her in the eye, so New Mexico said,

"Well, we were just in the area, and we decided this would be a nice place to-"

"Max Rodriguez Jones, don't give me that story."

New Mexico shut up, looking at Colorado desperately,

"We care about you, you know that, so we came along to make sure you were okay."

Cali rolled her eyes,

"Did I raise you all to act like this? What did I do that makes me so vulnerable?"

Arizona said,

"It's not you, I just don't like you out with Oregon."

"Why?"

Colorado nudged Arizona playfully,

"It's because you're giving him more attention than Arizona, huh?"

Arizona turned red and punched Colorado, but didn't deny it,

"Look, it's really sweet of you to come check-up on me, but you all really need to leave, okay?"

Colorado frowned, looking at the menu,

"But I wanted a steak!"

Cali sighed,

"You can have your steak, just leave me alone."

Colorado nodded, looking content, and New Mexico was peering excitedly over his shoulder at the menu. Arizona huffed, but nodded anyway,

"Good."

To avoid suspicion, Cali went to the restroom anyway, just in case.


When Cali stood up from the table, Oregon instantly headed over to where Washington and Idaho were sitting,

"Why are you two here?"

Idaho felt no shame in yelling out, disrupting the atmosphere,

"I'M HERE TO SEE MY BIG BRO GET LAID!"

Washington swatted her on the head as Oregon turned bright red,

"You idiot, this is a 5-star restaurant!"

Idaho shrugged,

"Well it's true."

A waiter or two stopped for a moment to look at Idaho, but carried on with their jobs after realizing she was harmless.

Oregon was at a loss of words but Washington cut in,

"Listen, I'm just here to make sure that bimbo doesn't do anything she's gonna regret."

"She is not a bimbo!"

Washington rolled her eyes, but Idaho said,

"Don't worry, I came along to make sure Washington doesn't mess anything up."

"Idaho, you little-"

"Now go and woo Cali! Let me know how it turns out!"

Oregon glared at her, clenching his fists,

"I am not going to tell you anything!"

"You're no fun."


Oregon got back to his seat in time for California to exit the restroom.

She smiled brightly, catching his gaze, and striding across the room,

"Sorry about that."

At that moment, the waiter came back, carrying two glasses of water,

"Are you two ready to order?"

Cali picked up her menu for a quick moment and glanced at it,

"I will have the Caesar salad please."

"And for you, sir?"

"The sea bass please."

The waiter nodded, still writing down their order,

"Alright! I will have that ready for you in a little bit."

The waiter took their menus and one again walked off to another table.

Cali sighed faintly, staring into his rich brown eyes. Oregon looked over his shoulder nervously, checking on his sisters who were watching them intently.

Idaho made a kissy-face, pointing at California, causing Washington to swat her again.

Oregon looked back, saw the dreamy expression on Cali's face, and took another sip of the wine. It really was the best wine he had ever had,

"So how was your trip to Germany?"

"It was uneventful on the most part. Prussia is kinda a pervert, but he's not to bad at Call of Duty."

Ever since he had started to spend so much time with the girl, Oregon found he couldn't wipe the grin off his face whenever she was near. So he sat there, grinning like an idiot, trying to make conversation. It's not that he doesn't like talking to her, it's just Oregon is dreadfully awkward. Luckily for him, California is good with people,

"Did Sacramento get himself into any trouble while I was gone?"

Oregon shook his head,

"Not that I saw. Why? What has he done in the past?"

Cali laughed a bit, recalling the memory,

"Well, one time I came home from a trip and he had devoured half of my pet betta fish."

Oregon's eyes grew wide,

"No way."

"That's what I thought! But apparently Sacramento can pull the lid off my aquarium."


Arizona tapped his fingers impatiently on the table, frowning. Colorado spread butter on another slice of bread,

"Aw, loosen up Ari! Our big sister is in love, and you need to just accept it."

Arizona didn't look away from Oregon and Cali,

"She is not in love."

New Mexico chuckled,

"She so is. I mean, are you seeing that look on her face?"

He made an exaggerated fainting motion, putting the back of his hand to his forehead and sighing,

"The way his eyes sparkle!"

Colorado clasp his hands together mockingly, mirroring New Mexico's love-struck expression

"His hair, flowing in the wind as we ride off into the sunset on a white horse!"

New Mexico and Colorado faced each other, and they said in unison,

"I am sooooo in love!"

They burst into laughter at the sight of Arizona's rising anger. The fork Arizona was holding was bent in half when he saw Oregon reach out and grab Cali's hand,

"He is dead."

Colorado rolled his eyes,

"For what? Holding her hand? You and I both know that he's done more than that."

The fork was now in two separate pieces,

"Woah Ari, relax! I was just joking!"

New Mexico set his elbows on the table, propping up his head,

"Yeah Ari, really."

Arizona began tapping his foot, trying to suppress the urge to run over and tear Oregon's hand off.


Washington looked suspiciously at California,

"I still don't trust that blonde."

Idaho smiled, poking her teasingly,

"Jealous?"

Washington sat up straight, glaring at Idaho,

"I am not jealous of the attention Oregon is giving her!"

"No not that. You know, the long, flowing, golden hair, the shimmering blue eyes, the-"

"I get the picture. And no, I'm not."

"Maybe if you keep telling yourself that it'll come true."

Washington looked back over,

"Something just doesn't add up."

Idaho tilted his head,

"What do you mean?"

"That idiot must have some motive to date my brother! I'm just trying to figure it out."

Oregon reached out his hand, taking Cali's in his, causing Idaho to smile honestly,

"Aw, that's so cute!"

"No! Not cute! Evil!"

Idaho suppressed a laugh at the murderous look on Washington's face,

"You crack me up."

Ignoring her sister, Washington continued to study California quizzically. Idaho smirked,

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you had a crush on California."

Washington whipped her head around, eyes burning, teeth clenched,

"I. Am. Not. Crushing. On. That. Moron."

Idaho couldn't help it. She burst out laughing.


California's ears perked up at the familiar hearty laugh,

"Hold on."

She retracted her hand,

"That sounds oddly familiar."

Cali turned away from Oregon, who was desperately trying to get her attention away from his sister,

"Is that Idaho? And Washington?"

Oregon sighed,

"Yeah. Apparently they followed us in here to-"

Oregon stopped for a second to formulate his words carefully,

"Spy on us."

Cali looked at him for a moment.

Well, this is it. Say goodbye to your beautiful girlfriend. I can't believe they would do this to me!

California's tinkling laughter startled him,

"What's so funny?"

Cali gestured past Oregon so he turned around and he saw Arizona, with a small pile of broken silverware next to him, New Mexico, who was laughing at Arizona's angry expression, and Colorado, who was devouring a large steak.

Oregon turned back to California and laughed himself,

"Well, it's official. Our siblings are insane."

Cali nodded in agreement.

The waiter walked up at that moment, carrying two dishes that he set down in front of them,

"Enjoy."


Cali and Oregon walked down the bustling streets of LA together, holding hands and laughing together. The instant they had finished their food, they had gotten their stuff, paid their bill, and left.

It wasn't clear to either of them where they were going exactly, but neither cared. They wondered on the streets for a while, Cali showing no unease with the high-heels she was sporting, impressing Oregon.

Oregon found himself, once again, stuck with a huge grin on his face. He didn't notice, however, until he heard a loud crash behind him and he finally relaxed his face.

When the two turned around, they saw Washington and Idaho, both sprawled out on the pavement, laid over the other, scrambling to get back on their feet.

Cali was genuinely worried, but Oregon was furious. He stormed over to his sisters, picking them up by the collar of their shirts,

"I thought you two would leave me alone!"

Idaho winked at Cali,

"Don't worry, I was just getting Washington to leave. You two can have your alone time."

California's eyes went wide, her heart skipping a beat, and Oregon turned bright red. Washington swatted Idaho on the arm for what seemed like the hundredth time,

"Idaho! She's right there!"

Oregon let go of their collars, walked back to California, and pulled her away from his bickering sisters by the elbow.


They walked for a while, completely lost, until they found a taxi. He held the door open for his date, then got in on the other side.

As they drove along, Oregon found himself mesmerized by the flickering lights outside illuminating her face. Cali looked back at him pensively, her mouth slightly open, her hands near his own.

Knowing that Oregon would not make the first move, she leaned forward, pecking him lightly on the cheek, grabbing his hand. When she pulled back, the blush on Oregon's face was unmistakable.

She shifted over so her head was leaning on his shoulder,

"Thank you for dinner."

"Anytime."

Cali, still holding his hand, pressed her leg to his, getting comfortable, and Oregon could not be happier.


The taxi pulled up about a block away from California's house, letting them out, then driving away again.

Cali shivered slightly, cold in the chilly air, and Oregon noticed instantly. Using America's advice on manners, he took off his own jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

She looped her arm into his, and together they strode down the street. Neither talked, there was no need. They simply basked in the moonlight, strolling casually down the sidewalk.

When they got to her door, she wasted no time in diving towards Oregon, wrapping him in a tight embrace and pressing her warm lips onto his. She fumbled with the keys, trying to continue to unlock the door and kiss Oregon at the same time.

He put his hands on her hips, waiting patiently for her to let the two of them in, sucking at her neck gently.

She threw the door open, dragging him in after her, throwing him down on the couch.

Not being able to wait another minute, she put her legs on either side of his, hungrily attacking his lips.


Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado all witnessed the scene outside the door, and all but one were perfectly fine with leaving the two alone. The three peeked into the living room through the window,

"I don't want to see this, let's just leave!"

Colorado tried to pull Arizona away from the window, but he stayed put,

"How can I get in there, I need a plan!"

Oregon looked at the window at that moment, and almost had a heart-attack when he saw the three of them. He was just praying that they would kill him quickly, but Colorado and New Mexico both gave him the thumbs-up, and then forcibly dragged away Arizona, who was flailing wildly,

I so owe those guys.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Cali leaned back so she was sitting on his lap, and looked at him skeptically. Oregon turned back to her, and, knowing he could never be able to explain what just happened, put his hands on the back of her neck, pulling her back in for another kiss,

Absolutely nothing.


Woo! Longish chapter, and it's not 10 pm! Go me! So, I've been writing up an AU recently, a 2p! one, and I was wondering if that would be something you guys are interested in. I would post it separately, and it would be updated occasionally. My war AU is still in progress, I apologize to all of you who went out and read it, expecting it to be updated soon, I only have so much free time! Anyways, please review! Leave me your suggestions for further chapters, and see you next time!