A/N: Thank you to Beth that is a huge compliment and I really appreciate it! Thank you and enjoy.

Chapter Six

Gabrielle stepped out into the warm night. It may have been warm outside but it was like the North Pole compared to the temperature inside the dance hall. She gulped down the cool breeze as it washed over her.

Maybe coming to the dance was an exaggeration of her recovery. She was getting tired. Angelica asked Don to dance; she whispered that she would keep him occupied for a few minutes while Gabrielle caught her breath. Angelica was a great friend.

Gabrielle walked across the tiled terrace looking out over the blue lake. The view looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale. It took her breath away. Gabrielle walked over to the few steps that lead down to the grass then it turned into sand and then the lake.

She wrapped her arms around herself. She stepped onto the grass and could feel her heels break the surface of the gentle turf. Assuming she was alone she was startled when she saw someone in her peripheral vision.

It was Joe. He was sitting with his back against the stonewall that held up the raised terrace. He looked up at her. He looked so handsome in his dress uniform. And the fact that he was here with Rebecca and not Gabrielle made her heart want to break. But she forced a smile.

"I am sorry, I didn't know you were out here, I'll go." She turned but Joe put up his arm and touched her hand gently making her heart stop. Gabrielle looked at him.

"You can stay if you want." She loved his American Accent so much it was almost painful.

"Alright," She pulled her skirts around her and went to sit on the grass.

"Wait," She stopped moving at Joe's command. He pulled off his jacket and laid it so the inside material was on the grass. "There."

"No, your jacket will stain!" Gabrielle said looking at him.

He shrugged. "Eh, It will be our little secret." He smiled and winked at her. She studied him for a moment before smiling back and sat down beside him. Gabrielle pulled her legs up to her chest and straightened her skirt before wrapping her arms around her legs. She looked out over the lake.

"It is so beautiful here." She said in a far away voice that wasn't entirely to do with the view.

"Yeah it is." She looked at Joe but he wasn't looking at the view, he was looking at her. Her heart stopped. She had to keep talking.

"I haven't seen you dancing tonight."

"Nah, not in the mood." He looked at the lake.

"Why not?" It wasn't her business, she screamed in her head but she stayed silent to here his response.

"No one to dance with." It was simple, incorrect but a simple answer all the same.

"Rebecca has been looking at you like you're a god, I am sure she wouldn't mind dancing." Gabrielle asked trying her best to be casual. Why was she bringing up Rebecca, Rebecca was about the last person Gabrielle wanted to talk about.

"Yeah, I don't want to give her false hope." Gabrielle's head snapped around to look at Joe so fast it hurt.

"False hope about what?" Gabrielle asked suddenly breathless.

"That she and I have a future that we don't." It was a little garbled but for some reason it made Gabrielle's heart soar. "You have been dancing an awful lot tonight." Joe said looking at his hands.

"I can't very well say no, Sergeant Malarkey has been very nice." Gabrielle looked over at the lake. She wished she wasn't so disappointed that she was here with Don instead of Joe it was very rude.

"I thought it was 'Don' now." He looked at her and she giggled.

"Yeah I suppose." Gabrielle said. Joe was looking at her hard.

"I was going to ask you." He said suddenly. She looked at him knowing her eyes must have been huge.

"Really?"

"Y'up." Gabrielle swallowed hard, trying to contain her excitement at his words.

"Would you have danced with me with you came with me?" He looked at her then the lake then back at her.

"Y'up."

"Really?"

"Yes." He said looking at her. Gabrielle realised she was starting to shake.

"Huh," Was all she managed to come out with.

"I wouldn't have just danced with you either." She blushed when he said that. But she met his eyes all the same.

It was unbelievable, before the war started Gabrielle had never even had a boy look at her let alone have a boyfriend and now Joe, the man who saved her life, was sitting next to her saying things she doubted he meant but that didn't seem to matter. "What else would we have done at a dance?" She asked.

"This," He said, with that he put his hand on her cheek and kissed her. His lips were warm and soft. This may have been Gabrielle's first kiss but she would have sworn on her life that it was perfect.

His hand moved around from her cheek to the back of her neck deepening the kiss. She put her hand on his chest. She could feel his heart beating and it wasn't her imagination that it was beating as fast as hers.

"Joe?" Joe pulled back a little, he was panting so was Gabrielle. They looked into each other's eyes as if wanting the other to say the voice had been a figment of their imagination. But it wasn't in fact it spoke again. "Joe?" It was Rebecca.

Joe dropped his hand from Gabrielle's neck to rub his eyes with it. She gave him a weak smile. He looked at her, "You okay?" He mouthed, Gabrielle wasn't she wanted him to kiss her again, but she wasn't going to let him know that. She nodded and continued to force the smile. He pursed his lips and stood up.

"I'm here." He walked over and up the stairs and out of sight.

"There you are, I was starting to worry." Gabrielle could have thrown up at the silky tone Rebecca put on her voice when she talked to Joe. Gabrielle sighed as she heard them go back in the ballroom. After a few more seconds Gabrielle went back in too.

She found Angelica standing by the punch bowl with Floyd. Gabrielle walked over. "Having fun?" Asked Angelica. Gabrielle slapped on a smile and nodded brightly.

"Yes, but I think I am going to head back, I am getting a little tired." Gabrielle said. Angelica looked concerned.

"Want me to come with you?" Gabrielle shook her head.

"No I'll be fine. And thanks for making me come." She smiled and then left.

She was about a block away when she heard someone call her name. She turned and saw Don running after her. Her heart froze, she had totally forgotten about him. "Oh, Don, I am sorry." She said when he stood beside her.

"Don't worry about it. You okay?"

"Yes just a little tired."

"Want me to walk you home?"

"No thank you I'll be fine."

"I was wondering just before you go. Do you mind if I come over to see you tomorrow?" Gabrielle was pretty sure that their forty-eight hour pass would have expired by then. But instead she said.

"Thank you so much Don, for taking me, but I think we should just be friends." He studied her a minute.

"Alright," He said smiling. "I am going to head back to the dance. Elizabeth had been making eyes at me all night." Gabrielle was a little taken a back by his comment but soon came too her senses.

"Go on then."

"Kay, night Gabrielle."

"Night Don." He turned and ran back to the dance hall.

Gabrielle stood in the street for a minute after Don disappeared before turning and headed back to the nurses quarters. She wasn't sure what the kiss from Joe meant but she was certain she liked Don as a friend but nothing more.

She walked into the big old house; aside from her it was empty. Gabrielle knew one thing for certain; she had a lot to learn about men.