Disclaimer: This story is in now way affiliated with the show's cast or crew in Joan of Arcadia. The only part I own of this story is its plot.

A/N: Well here is another chapter! Please review! 

Preparation Takes Time

Grace sat in her room with her mom trying to pick out an outfit for her date with Luke.

"How about this one?" her mom said pulling out a hideous frilly baby blue dress.

"Uh no." Grace said quickly. She rummaged through her closet and pulled out a lime green spaghetti strap dress with no lace or frill. "How about this?"

"It's a wee bit short." Her mom pointed out.

"Agh mother, you grew up when short dresses were floor length."

"Well if you want to wear it, alright."

"You serious?"

"Yes, but we need to do your hair and makeup now."

Whoa wait. Makeup okay, hair no."

"But sweetheart, you need to add a little spice! If I hadn't done that I wouldn't be with your father."

"Okay, didn't need to know!"

"So will you add maybe a curl or two to your hair?"

Grace sighed and said, "Will you stop drinking?"

Her mother's face hardened and she replied, "Gracie, you know I can't, yet."

"Then no. That simple."

"Well how about a week?"

"No." Grace said pulling out her makeup.

"A month."

Grace stopped, looked at her mother, and said, "It won't make a difference. Tonight I'll come home, dad watching T.V. and you in the bathroom throwing up from drinking even if you say you'll stop."

Her mom's face saddened and Grace carried her makeup and dress into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

At the Girardi house, Luke was trying on his suit with comments from Freidman. "You look like James Bond."

"Oh? Well actually I was trying for the Captain Kirk look, guess it didn't work."

Freidman laughed and said, "So what happened today?"

"What do you mean?" Luke asked while fixing his tie.

"Well at lunch today you and Grace were mad at each other and now you two love each other."

"Oh that, eh it's not that important. What is important that I try to make reservations."

"What?" Freidman chuckled, "You didn't make reservations?"
"Well no," Luke hesitated, "I doubted we would go."

Freidman started cracking up and mustered out, "You idiot."

Luke glared at him and said, "Whatever. Where's the phone number? Oh never mind." Luke picked up the phone and dialed the number written on his hand.

"Hello, Benihana's Japanese Restaurant and Dinner Show, how may I help you?" The hostess on the other line asked.

"Um yes, is it too late to make reservations for tonight?" Luke asked timidly.

"Oh yes sir. We are all booked. Unless you want to eat at 11:00 pm tonight."

"No, no thanks. Do you know any other Benihana's in the area?"
"Yes, but they are all booked. I'm sorry sir."

"Um it's okay. Thank you." Luke said hanging up the phone.

"So what time?" Freidman asked.

"Try zero o'clock. They are all booked." Luke said unhappily.

"Aw man, you should have just made reservations."

"I did."

"What? Dud, you told me two minutes ago you didn't."

"It's at a different place."

"Oh, then why did you try Benihana's?"
"Because it's a little more romantic."

"Where did you make the other ones?"
Luke chuckled and said, "The restaurant next to the space museum."
"Dude, dude, dude! That is so romantic! The stars above you, the moon light shinning on you. It's the best place."

"Not for Grace." Luke sighed.

"Well looks like you don't have a choice now do you? So what time?"

"7:45." Luke shrugged. He looked at the clock and it read 6:47 pm.

"Go get her now!"

"I said I would be there at seven."

"Luke, I am your friend, trust me go early."
"You do know anytime I trust you things tend to end up bad?"
"Well this time it won't lover boy." Freidman said pushing Luke out the door.

Luke want with Freidman's pushing and walked down the stairs. Mrs. Girardi sat at the kitchen table reading a magazine. She looked up and said, "Well you look handsome. Are you leaving now?"

"Um well, soon." Luke said looking at the clock once more.

"Well what time does the dance start?" His mom asked as Freidman opened the fridge looking for food.

"Nine. And Freidman we don't have any lemons." Luke said as his mom looked at him, "He thinks it will make my hair stay put."

"Ah." His mom replied unsurely, "Well you should get going, it's almost seven."

"Alright." Luke went and hugged his mom and she whispered in his ear, "Be careful."

Luke nodded and high-fived Freidman in which he said, "May the force be with you."

Luke chuckled and went out to his car. He started the engine and backed out of the drive way. It was 6:56 when he left.

A/N: Sorry it took so long for another chapter to come up. But hope you liked it! I'm almost done with chapter 3 so… Well please Review!