Title: This Magic Moment

Rating: K+

Summary: Buffy and Jack's first date.

Disclaimer: I claim ownership of nothing except the plot. Buffy belongs to Whedon, and the Montgomery's and Taggert's belong to Jude Deveraux.

Feedback: I would most certainly appreciate it!

Note: Thanks to spk, onlimain, Anna, fairieangel, Claddagh and Toniboo for the wonderful reviews!

spk: I'm glad when I get my readers squealing like school girls.

Claddagh: Yeah, my hairs practically standing straight up.

Toniboo: I plan on having the Scoobs make an appearance, but Buffy won't be saying anything about her being the Slayer for awhile yet.

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Speechless Magic

"I look dumb. God, could I look any dumber?" Buffy asked herself, staring in the mirror. She was in Nordstrom, trying on dresses because her date was in...4 hours, and she just had to wait until the last minute. To be fair to herself, she had thought that she had a dress that was good enough, so she hadn't worried about it. But she had finally taken it out that afternoon, and she decided she hated it. Of course, she had loved it when she bought it, but for some reason, she had felt like burning the thing when she saw it. So she had panicked and immediately went shopping. That was an hour and a half ago.

Stripping out of the gold, strapless mini-dress, Buffy stuffed herself into a silver, spaghetti strapped evening gown that hugged her curves. Deciding that the hem line was ugly, she groaned and practically ripped the dumb thing off. Slipping into the fluffy robe the salesperson had lent her, she brought the dresses back out and handed them to the person helping her. The lady, whose name tag read Mandy, arched a brow at the look of discord on Buffy's face and the pile of expensive dresses in her arms.

"Not right?" She guessed with a look of sympathy, taking the dresses and handing them to her assistant.

"No," Buffy moaned, sinking into the coach with her head in her hands.

Mandy sat next to her, making a mental list of evening dresses in a size 2. Squinting at Buffy, she zeroed in on her eyes, which were a vivid hazel, and her mental inventory came to an abrupt halt. "I've got it!" She exclaimed excitedly, jumping up.

Buffy looked at her with a hopeful expression on her face. "Show it to me?" She asked, not wanting to get her hopes up, but not being able to squelch it all the way.

Nodding, Mandy left to the main store, and soon came back with a dress that Buffy could already tell was perfect, even without trying it on. She smiled devilishly. Jack's socks were so getting knocked off!

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Jack stood outside Buffy's door, five minutes early, a bundle of daisies in his arms. Pacing back and forth, he shoved his hand in his head, then glanced back at his watch. Deciding that he couldn't wait anymore, he knocked on the door and stared at it, willing it to open, until it finally did, and then he lost all sense of thought.

Before him stood Buffy, looking...exquisite. Beautiful in a clinging silk dress in a weird mixture of blue, brown and green, the color reminded him of her eyes. The bodice was tight, with skinny straps. The hem went about two inches above his knees, and she was wearing high heels the same color as her dress. Her blonde hair was put up in an elaborate updo, with a few hairs framing her face.

"You look...wow. Just...wow," he finally stuttered out, feeling like a fool.

"Thanks. You too," Buffy replied, smiling and making his heart skip a beat.

Holding out an arm for her to take and forgetting he was holding flowers, he winced when he saw them in his hand. "Uh, these are for you," he said, thrusting them into her hands.

"Oh, thank you. They're pretty. I'll just go put them in a vase." Buffy turned, giving Jack a tantalizing view of her backside. A few moments later, Buffy returned, and she took the arm Jack offered.

He lead her to a long, white limo. Holding open the door for her, Jack grinned when Buffy raised an eyebrow before sliding in. The ride to the restaurant was comfortable, them talking about mundane things, like how their week had gone and such.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Buffy was impressed at the table they got, knowing that it was hard to get because it was in such a secluded corner. There were candles on the table, and wine chilled and ready to be poured.

Halfway through the meal, as Buffy was explaining about what she was going to do with her self-defense school, and when she was going to start classes, she got the call. The phone was unnaturally loud in the restaurant, but what was more embarrassing was her ring tone.

"My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, and they're like, it's better than yours, I can teach you but I'd have to charge," was blasted out before Buffy had the chance to answer it. Giving a sheepish grin to Jack, who grinned back at her, Buffy listened to the voice on the other in.

"Okay, Giles. Bye." Hanging up the phone, she bit her lip and glanced at Jack, who was looking at her in interest. "Jack, I'm really sorry, but there's been a family emergency. I wouldn't usually leave, but it's my sister, and after my mother died, I'm all she has, so I need to go. I'm so sorry, but-" Jack interrupted her, holding up his hand.

"Buffy, it's fine. I understand. Let's go."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go." He shooed her with his hands. "But you have to give me a call when you get the chance."

"Thanks Jack." Buffy said, grabbing her purse as Jack paid the bill.

"Let's go," he said when he met Buffy at the door.

The ride home passed quickly, and Buffy faced Jack when they got to her apartment door. "I mean it Jack, thank you. And I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"I like the sound of that," he said, smiling boyishly.

On impulse, Buffy leaned on her tip toes and brushed a kiss across his mouth. Jack stood their, mouth agape, as Buffy shut the door. He stood there for a full five minutes before grinning and walking back to the limo, whistling.

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End

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