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Chapter 3: A Date - another shot at fluff(ish)

Disclaimer: Really, if i owned 24 i wouldn't be on this site, and secondly the premiere of season 5 would never have happened. They wouldn't have even thought about doing that dreadful, unspeakable thing.

Tony took his hand out of Michelle's and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to go honey."

"Where are you going Tony?"

"I'm going to stop off at my sister's, change, and than head out and look for a job. I can't live off you forever."

"I could tell you that you can live off of me as long as you want but I know that nothing I say will make any difference. I want you to remember though that it will be hard to find a job. Promise me that you won't go get a drink after you get turned down. Okay, Tony?"

"I promise. I don't want to put you through that again. I don't want to put myself through that again. I know it's going to be hard, but I need to try, something will come up eventually."

Michelle smiled. "Good luck honey. Remember, no matter what happens…I..." Michelle paused. "I uh… remember, no matter what, I love you."

"You do?" Tony was surprised. He was so excited. "I mean, I love you too."

"I've always loved you Tony, I've never stopped. I'll always be here for you when you need me. I wasn't always in the past but I will be now, always."

Tony was speechless. He loved her more than anything. He was so happy that after a rocky couple of years she still loved him. "Me too. I'm off to my sister's now, but I'll let you know as soon as anything happens." Tony paused. "Michelle, I was thinking…"

Michelle put her hands in Tony's. "Thinking what?"

Tony stroked Michelle's hands with his thumbs. "Would you like to go out with me tonight?"

"Are you asking me out?"

Tony laughed "I thought I'd made myself pretty clear but I guess not. Yes, I'm asking you out."

"Well before I answer…where would we go on our date?"

"That's a surprise. Now answer, will you go out with me tonight?"

"Of course I will." Michelle gave Tony a light kiss.

"I'll pick you up at 5:00"

"In what? You don't have a car anymore. And why 5:00? That's awfully early"

Tony grinned. "Just trust me; I'll pick you up at 5:00"

Michelle smiled. "I trust you, but I do need to know what to wear."

"Do you still have that shirt I love so much?"

"The blue one?"

"Yeah, wear that" Tony smiled cheekily.

Michelle blushed. "Okay, bye honey."

Tony gave Michelle a quick kiss on her forehead and than he was off. He couldn't wait until their date. He had being formulating ideas for dates all morning.

Michelle was looking in the mirror when the doorbell rang. She was wearing a light blue shirt that Tony loved, a pair of jeans and a pair of blue flip flops. Her hair was down and there were masses of curls. She knew that Tony loved when she left her hair down and he especially loved her curls. He loved to tuck her curls behind her ears.

When Michelle opened the door Tony kissed her on the cheek and handed her a rose. A single red rose. It was Michelle's favourite flower. He had only gotten one because it signified the first date. A new beginning.

Michelle put the flower in a vase in the kitchen and headed back to where Tony was still standing.

"Ready?" Tony asked with his hand held out to her.

Michelle took Tony's hand and followed him out the door. "So where are we going?"

"You're still not very patient are you?"

"Tony…where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." Tony smiled at Michelle. He knew she would love their date.

When they got outside instead of getting into a car Tony led her to the sidewalk.

"What no drive?"

"Like you said this morning, I still don't have a car. But it doesn't matter anyways, we're only going a few blocks and it's nice outside."

Michelle chuckled. "What if I don't want to walk?"

"Then you'll never get to figure out where I planned on taking you."

Michelle smiled. He had gotten her there. "So, you're sure it's just a few blocks?" Michelle put emphasis on the word 'few'.

"Yes sweetheart, it's not a long walk. I can make it more comfortable for you if you'd like?" With that Tony put his arm around Michelle and pulled her in close.

Michelle sighed. She had forgotten the feeling of just being with Tony. Carefree and close. She loved being in Tony's arms. It just felt…what did it feel? It just felt…right.

After a few minutes of silence they stopped in front of a door. "We're here"

"Here? Really?"

"Yup" Tony smiled boyishly.

"We came here for our first date over 4 years ago."

"I know." Tony grinned again. "Is that okay?"

"It's more than okay." Michelle beamed at Tony. "Thanks."

"Thanks for what?" Tony asked confused.

"For bringing me here. For bringing me flowers. For just being you."

"I don't know if me just being me constitutes a thanks, but thanks anyways." Tony smirked.

Michelle playfully slapped Tony's arm and than headed into the restaurant.

As the waiter left the table with their orders, Michelle started talking. "I forgot to ask earlier, how did the job hunt go?"

"Not well, I had a couple of interviews and they all went well until they ask why I left my last job or when I had to explain that I'd been to jail. They didn't even care about the reason or that I was pardoned. It's hard, you know?"

"Aww honey" Michelle reached across the table and ran her hand up and down Tony's arm soothingly

"It's okay, I'll find something eventually."

"Actually I was thinking a lot about this today. Why don't we start our own business? I need a new job too, since I'm leaving CTU."

"What kind of business though? We're only qualified to stop terrorists." Tony and Michelle both chuckled half-heartedly at this.

"Well what about some sort of security business? Setting up security for businesses. We've both got the computer skills, and we both know the best ways to hack into different systems. And the best ways to prevent that."

"Do we have enough money to start the business up?"

"I think so, and if we don't we can borrow, we can take out loans. I know we can get this business off the ground and successful."

"Chelle, if you believe it can work, I do too."

"So you want to try?"

"Yeah, let's do it." Tony smiled at Michelle. He was excited about this. He had doubted ever finding a job, this way he'd automatically have a job, and he'd be working with the woman he loved.

After dinner, Tony and Michelle began to walk again. "Where are we going now?"

"Again, it's a surprise."

Michelle pouted. "Please tell me."

"You know I can't stand it when you pout! I always give into your demands. Stop that. I refuse to tell you."

"Come on, you know you want to tell me." Michelle pouted even more drastically.

Tony looked away. "Nope that's not going to work on me this time. We're almost there anyways."

"Are we going to the movie theatre?"

"Maybe…"

"Tony! Are we or aren't we?"

Tony shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe"

When Tony kept walking past the theatre Michelle was confused. "If we're not going to the movies than where are we going?"

"I won't tell you that but I will tell you that I knew walking past the movie theatre would throw you off. You thought I'd recreate our first date. First the same restaurant and than the same movie theatre! But I'm smarter than you"

"I don't know about that…I'm pretty sure I'm smarter"

"Oh yeah? Says who?"

"Says me." Michelle stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Oh yeah," Tony said sarcastically."I think you are the smarter kindergartener!"

"Hey! That was uncalled for."

"So was trying to get out of me where we're going" Now it was Tony's turn to stick his tongue out at Michelle.

Michelle made a face a Tony. "Michelle, you know one of these days your face is going to get stuck like that."

"That's okay; I'd still be better looking than you."

"Okay I give on that one. No matter what you'll always be better looking than me." Tony looked in Michelle's eyes. "You are extremely beautiful. Inside and out. That's why I love you so much."

Michelle smiled at Tony. "You think I'm beautiful?"

"How long have I been trying to convince you that you're beautiful? 4 years? At least. You never believe me, but it's always true." Tony tucked one of Michelle's curls behind her ears and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thanks sweetie. I don't think I'll ever believe you, but it makes me feel better when you tell me"

Tony stopped Michelle. "I'm glad I've somewhat convinced you, finally. Anyways, we're here."

"A bus stop?"

"Well not quite, we have to take a bus to get where we're going. Unless you want to walk, but we'd be all night getting there, and you'd miss the fun."

"Alright, I'll get on the bus but can you tell me where we're going now?"

"What's your favourite sport?"

"Basketball, why?"

"Okay. And what's your favourite team?"

"The Lakers, why?"

"Chelle, if you can't figure it out from here, I'll have to take the prize as the smartest."

"Are we going to a Lakers game?" Michelle's eyes lit up. She loved going to basketball games. She couldn't believe it had taken her that long to figure it out.

"Yes, and I brought you something." He pulled her Lakers jersey out of his pocket.

"Where did you find that?"

"In your drawers, I went in and found it when you were taking a shower this morning"

"I can't believe I didn't notice! Wait, how did you get tickets? They are impossible to get unless you order them ages in advance."

"Called in a few favours" Tony stated.

After the game, Tony walked Michelle back to her door.

"Thanks for a great night Tony." Michelle was nervous about how the date was going to end. It was like they were on their first date ever. Should she just kiss him goodnight and leave him to get a taxi and go to his sister's? Or should she invite him in?"

Tony leaned in and gave Michelle a gentle kiss. Michelle put her arms around Tony and pulled him in closer. Michelle kissed Tony deeply. She opened her mouth. Tony slid his tongue into Michelle's mouth and kissed her passionately. After a few moments Tony pulled out of the kiss.

"As nice as this is, if I don't stop now I won't be able to stop."

"Why stop?"

"Because I don't want to rush you, I don't want to rush us."

"Yeah, I guess you're right, but at least stay with me for the night. It's late; you'll be ages getting a taxi at this time of the night."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I love you. Nothing has to happen tonight, but having your arms wrapped around me is the greatest feeling in the world."

The impact of this statement hit Tony hard. He loved how she could just say one thing and he'd be completely blown away as to how he'd found the perfect woman. Even today after being an on again, off again, and than on again couple he couldn't believe that he'd found such a smart, beautiful, wonderful woman who loved him just as much as he loved her.

Tony fell asleep with his arms wrapped around Michelle and her head against his chest. He fell asleep content and comforted by just having her in his arms.
Alright so that's chapter 3. Do you think it's worth continuing? Let me know. Review Please (I definately have some ideas for chapter 4, but i won't write it if there isn't enough interest.)