"Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight
I need help believing you're with me tonight."
-Wicked, As Long As You're Mine

Meg's hands shook with nerves as she got ready for her date with Flynn. It felt like everything was riding on this date. What if it was awkward? What if they realized they really were better off as friends and she and John broke up for no reason? What if it's everything she wants it to be and she can finally be with him?

Meg took a deep breath and moved in front of her mirror, hoping scrutinizing her appearance would keep her from overthinking. She didn't know what Flynn had planned for tonight, so she kept her outfit simple: a black short sleeved bodycon dress with black knee-high boots and the pink dangle earrings Flynn had given her at Bar Line Friday night. She managed to steady her hands long enough to apply some pink lipstick, then headed downstairs to wait for Flynn.

The Darlings had gone out for a family dinner and Meg was glad George and Mary weren't home to insist on meeting Flynn or asking a bunch of questions, or whatever it was parents did when one of their kids was going on a date.

Meg went outside to wait for Flynn and was just locking up the house when he pulled into the driveway. He got out of the truck as she walked over to him. He was wearing dark jeans with a partially unbuttoned white dress shirt and a tight-fitting black leather blazer.

"You clean up nice, Rider," Meg told him.

Flynn smiled at her. "You look great."

He opened her door for her. He took her hand and helped her into the truck, even though she really hadn't needed any help. Meg took another deep breath trying to calm herself while he walked around the truck to his side.

"Where are we going?" Meg asked him once he got in.

"To the movies."

"Oh." Meg couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. She had been hoping they'd have a chance to finally talk and get to know each again. But, maybe Flynn wasn't quite ready for that.

OOOOO

After hitting a drive-thru for burgers and milkshakes, Flynn drove them to a drive-in movie theater in the next town over. Meg hadn't even known drive-in theaters were still around. It was packed with cars and Flynn had to drive around a little bit before finally finding a spot to park. He backed into the spot, then they grabbed their food and climbed into the bed of his truck.

"What movies are they showing tonight?" Meg asked him, pulling her burger out of the bag.

"Say Anything… and Sixteen Candles."

"Really?"

Flynn nodded. "Friday and Saturday nights they play new movies, but Sunday nights they play older movies."

Meg smiled. "I don't think I could have planned a more perfect first date for us." She moved a little closer to him as she unwrapped her burger.

"Well, aren't you two just the cutest couple," Giselle gushed as she and Charlotte approached the truck.

Flynn subtly shifted away from Meg. "What are you guys doing here?"

Meg tried not to let it get to her, but she couldn't help feeling a little sting at the movement. Did he not want Giselle to know they were on a date?

"We're here to see Jake Ryan on the big screen, of course," Charlotte stated.

Giselle smiled and shook her head at Charlotte. "We're having a girls' night out. Ariel's here, too. She's at the car. We were just going to get some snacks."

"Oh, since you're going that way, can you grab us a tub of popcorn and a pack of Twizzlers?" Flynn pulled his wallet out of his pocket and handed Charlotte a fifty dollar bill. "Your guys' snacks are on me, too. Go nuts."

"That's so sweet of you," Charlotte said. "We'll be back in a little bit."

After they left, Flynn turned to face Meg. She was about to call him out about moving away from her when Giselle showed up, but then he took her hand and kissed it and she lost her nerve.

"I'm so happy we're here together," he said.

"Yeah?"

Flynn nodded.

"I didn't realize going to the drive-in together was so important to you."

He laughed. "I didn't mean here here. I meant I'm happy I'm finally on a date with you."

Meg's heartbeat sped up a bit. "You are?" The words barely came out as more than a whisper.

Flynn dropped his eyes and ran his thumb over the back over hand. "I've been thinking about taking you out on a real date since I first realized I loved you. I know things are different between us now- we're different- and for a while there it seemed like I would never get the chance, but-"

"Eugene, stop," Meg choked out.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. It's just… the last time you opened up to me, you regretted it and tried to take it back. I don't think I could handle it if you opened up about your feelings for me and then told me tomorrow that you regretted it." She carefully slipped her hand out of his. "Maybe we should take this slow. We're kinda re-getting to know each other, after all. It's like we're starting from the beginning."

Flynn slowly nodded. "If that's what you want." He took his burger out of the bag and settled back against the window. "But, for the record: I don't like it."

"Don't like what?"

"Not holding your hand."

OOOOO

It was well after curfew by the time the movies ended, but Meg was in no hurry to get back to the house afterwards. Watching the movies with Eugene brought Meg right back to rainy afternoons at the orphanage and she wasn't quite ready to let this feeling end.

"Do you have anything else planned for tonight?" Meg asked Flynn when he returned from throwing away the garbage from their dinner and snacks.

"Um, no." He reached up to help her down from the tailgate. "I assumed you'd have to get back after the movies."

"I should. But, I don't want to. Not yet."

Flynn stepped away from her. "I don't want you to get in trouble. I should take you back."

Meg watched him walk towards the front of the truck and get inside. She sighed and got in the truck, too.

"Is something wrong?" she asked him.

"No." Flynn started the truck and slowly pulled out of their spot.

With everyone leaving at the same time, it took them a little while to get out of theater's parking area. Neither of them said anything.

Once they made it out to the road and were heading for the Darlings' house, Meg tried again. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"

"Why do you ask?"

Meg couldn't help noticing his short tone and the fact that he didn't deny something being wrong.

"I don't want to go back, yet," she told him. "Can we go to the park?"

Flynn didn't say anything, but when they got back in town, he headed for the park instead of the Darlings' house.

They didn't talk at all during the rest of the ride and the tension coming from Flynn made Meg a little uneasy.

When they got to the park, Meg got out of the truck and started for the swings. Flynn followed after her. He dropped down on one of the swings. Instead of sitting on the swing next to him, Meg stood in front of him. She gripped the chains and looked down at him.

"Talk to me, Rider."

"You don't want to hear what I have to say, remember?"

"So, that's what's bothering you."

"Of course it is. I tried giving you my heart and you didn't want to hear it."

Meg gave him a small smile. "I want to hear it, Eugene. I don't want you to regret it and take it back."

"I love you, Meg. I'll never take that back."

His words sent a shiver through her. Flynn must have taken the shiver to mean she was cold; he stood and removed his blazer, then draped it over her shoulders. He smiled at her and kissed the tip of her nose before sitting back down on the swing. Meg stuck her arms through the sleeves and took in his warmth and scent as she moved behind him.

Meg leaned down and whispered in his ear, "I love you, too." She then gave his a swing a little push.

Flynn stopped the swing with his feet and turned to look at her. "Be my girlfriend, Meg."

"Are…" Her breath caught. "Are you sure that's what you want? I mean, we've only been on one date and… and we don't even know if we know each other anymore. What if it doesn't work out? What if-"

"Meggie…"

Meg stopped. Flynn stood and slowly approached her. He took the lapels of the blazer in his hands and pulled her closer to him. She looked into his pleading brown eyes. Her mouth opened to tell him yes, that she wanted nothing more, but her tongue failed her and no words came out. She nodded.

Flynn smiled excitedly. "Really?"

Meg smiled back at him. "Yes."

Flynn picked her up and spun her. Meg let out a laugh. She gripped his shoulders to steady herself when he lowered her back to her feet. She ran her hand up the back of his neck and up through his hair. She stood on her tiptoes and pulled his mouth down to hers.

Meg's heart practically bludgeoned her ribcage when their lips touched. She lost all sense of time and reality as the kiss went on. Flynn's hand on her lower back, pressing her against him; the low groan escaping from his throat; his familiar taste… it all brought Meg back to their last night together at the orphanage. That almost perfect night that had been tarnished by their goodbyes and the fear of not knowing when- or if- they'll see each other again. But, it wasn't like that now. This moment was truly perfect.

Meg didn't know how long the kiss lasted. Seconds? Minutes? When it ended, she was lightheaded and her heart was still pounding. Her happiness with finally being Eugene's and the emotion from the kiss left Meg feeling like she was going to cry.

"Eugene…" She looked up at him. "If you think this means I'm gonna go easy on you during our rematch, you're sorely mistaken." She knew the silly joke would kill the romantic mood, but she had to do something to keep from letting her emotions take over. The last thing she wanted was to break down and start crying after their kiss.

Flynn stepped away from her. "Oh. Well, in that case…"

Meg laughed and swatted his shoulder. "Don't think you're gettin' this jacket back, either."

"Yes, I'm aware of the unwritten rule that any article of clothing your girlfriend borrows belongs to her now."

Meg smiled. "I could get used to being called your girlfriend."

"Good. Because I love saying it."