Sorry about the script format at the end before. I corrected it. That's what I get for transcribing episodes and then trying to write this fic. I'll pay more attention. Sorry.


Jimmy and Jake were playing in the den in a make shift fort made out of the kitchen table chairs and blankets. Ephram came into the den wearing his suit and saw they were still playing and picked up the drink boxes off of the coffee table and was heading to the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

Ephram yelled, "Jake, Jimmy, Aunt Mindy's here."

Jimmy and Jake came crawling out of the fort and ran to the front door. Jake opened the door and said, "Hey, Aunt Mindy."

"Hey, there Jake. Who's your friend?"

"This is Jimmy."

"Is he spending the night?"

"No, Daddy said he couldn't so his mom is coming soon to pick him up."

Mindy walked in and saw Ephram coming out of the kitchen.

Ephram said to Jake and Jimmy, "Jake, why don't you and Jimmy get together all of Jimmy's toys he brought over here before his mom gets here?"

They ran off giggling leaving Ephram and Mindy to talk.

"You look spiffy, JB."

"Thanks for babysitting Jake for us."

"It's not a problem. I haven't really spent that much time with Jake one on one since you came around."

"Look, Madison was upset from your conversation the other night."

"Yeah, well, I was upset at her."

"Why?"

"Because you two are dating."

"And when did that become a bad thing? I mean, we just want to see if we can make things work now after everything we've been through."

"Exactly, after everything you've been through. I don't want her getting hurt again."

"It was never my intention for her to get hurt before and not now either. We both don't want to get hurt from this. We're both scared to death that we could screw this up and more importantly screw it up for Jake."

Jake and Jimmy came running into the den where Mindy and Ephram were talking, "Can we order pizza, Aunt Mindy?"

Mindy looked down and smiled and said, "Absolutely. Pepperoni and Extra Cheese sound okay?"

Jake and Jimmy looked at one another and then at Mindy and said, "Yeah."

They were about to run back to Jake's room when Ephram grabbed Jake.

"Hang on there, kiddo. I need a kiss goodbye. I won't be home until after you've gone to bed."

"Have a good time, Daddy." Jake said and gave Ephram a kiss on the cheek.

"You too okay. Be good for Aunt Mindy. I love you."

"I love you too."

Jake and Jimmy ran off to Jake's room and Ephram looked back at Mindy.

"If you need anything, my cell phone's on. I should be back by midnight at the latest."

"Where are you two going?"

"I made reservations for dinner at Joe's Restaurant in Venice Beach and then I swung some tickets to a jazz concert playing at the Hollywood Bowl."

"Schmancy dinner. You've always been that way." Mindy said.

Ephram just looked at her and then went to the door to leave.

"Thanks again, Mind. I'll see you later. Tell Jake I love him."

With that Ephram was out the door and off to Madison's house.

At Madison's house, she looked at the clock and noticed it was 6:30 and she didn't even have her dress on yet. She hurried and put on her dress and went to put her make up on.

She was wearing a strapless black dress with a pearl necklace and earrings.

The doorbell rang. She checked her hair in the mirror. She had curled it just barely to give her blonde hair some volume and then walked to the front door with a huge grin on her face. She was elated at the fact that they were going out tonight. She opened the door and her smile got even bigger. Ephram was standing there with a bouquet of flowers in his hand for her and huge smile on his face too.

"Hey you."

"Hey." Ephram stepped inside and handed her the flowers. "You look, umm... Wow. Well, stunning."

"Thanks. You look pretty smashing yourself. Let me put these in a vase and we can go."

Ephram closed the door and walked in the den and was playing with the change in his pocket.

Madison yelled from the kitchen, "So how was Jake and Jimmy today?"

"A handful. They made a fort in the den from chairs and blankets. I think they're creating a secret society."

Madison came back in the den and was laughing.

"A secret society, huh?"

"Yeah, every time I tried to enter it, they told me to get out because I was too old."

"Too old? I bet that hurt."

"It was a reality check when your own son says you're old. I'm scared of what he's gonna say next."

"You ready to go?"

Ephram looked at his watch, "Ooh, yeah, we better get a move on. We have reservations at 7."

They walked out of the house and Ephram opened the passenger side door for Madison and she got in and they drove off toward the restaurant. When they got to the restaurant they were seated immediately and were brought a nice bottle of wine.

"Ephram, this is really nice."

"I know. I just remember how much I wanted your birthday dinner to be all special and then it turned out to be horrible."

"It wasn't horrible."

"For you maybe. I remember it being quite a disaster."

Madison just smiled slightly and the waiter came back and took their order.

"So, Brown, what is on the agenda after dinner?"

"I was thinking a night under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl watching a jazz concert would be nice."

Madison smiled shyly.

"What? What does that smile mean?"

"You just really are amazing me. That's all."

"I wasn't trying to be amazing. I was trying to be romantic."

"This is very romantic, Ephram. I'm really enjoying this. I really am."

"I'm glad."

They talked about work and Jake and ate their dinner and then headed to the Hollywood Bowl for the concert. They were walking toward the entrance.

"Hang on a second." Ephram told Madison.

"Is something wrong?"

They stopped and Ephram took off his coat and wrapped it around Madison's shoulders. He kept a huge grin on his face.

"There. That's better. The breeze is picking up and I think you need this more than me."

"Why do you have a huge grin on your face? You've had it on your face the entire night." Madison said smiling, as she couldn't help but smile back at him.

"You want the truth?"

"That would be nice."

Ephram started to blush a little and said, "I just can't get over how stunningly beautiful you are tonight. That dress is just... I don't think I can ever remember thinking my heart could possibly stop from looking at you except for tonight."

"What a pick up line. But don't you know already that you don't have to win me over with your words." Madison said trying to just jump in his arms and kiss him. She loved the thought of being with Ephram and tonight was just so perfect.

They started walking again toward the entrance.

"I guess I should've lied then." Ephram said since Madison had made a crack back at him.

"I think I would've believed you more. Now come on, I hear the music already playing."

They watched the concert and it was almost 11:30 before they got back to Madison's house. They walked in the house.

"Do you want something to drink?" Madison asked as she walked toward the kitchen.

"I shouldn't. I probably should be getting home. I'd hate Mindy to be pissed that I was late."

"You're ending our evening already?"

Ephram walked over to Madison who had leaned herself up against the wall in the foyer and rubbing his hands up and down her arms.

Ephram gave his famous smile and said, "Believe me, I would love to continue this evening. Tonight... Well, being with you like this... I don't think I can describe it properly."

Madison leaned up and kissed him slowly at first. Ephram deepened the kiss and pushed her up against the wall. Madison opened her mouth and Ephram slipped his tongue inside. Madison pulled on his tie and was wiggling herself away from the hall and trying to pull Ephram down the hall. Ephram pulled away.

"If I didn't know any better, you are trying to make me late."

"You figured me out." Madison said with a guilty grin on her face.

Madison pulled on his tie some more and walked backwards toward her room.

"Madison, I can't." Ephram was trying to maintain some control.

"Yes, you can. Just follow me. I'll lead you." Madison said trying not to let Ephram leave.

Madison started to pull him into her room. He put his hands up on the doorframe to stop him from entering.

"I gotta go. Really, I do."

"Mindy won't care."

"We shouldn't."

"Ephram, I've got condoms if that's what you're worried about." Madison eyed the drawer by the bed.

"No. No. That's not it."

"Then what is it?"

Madison let go of his tie and Ephram just kept looking at her.

"Ephram, talk to me." Madison was worried about what Ephram was going to say now.

"I don't want to rush this and complicate our already complicated relationship. I want us to take our time and do things halfway right this time around. Do you understand where I'm coming from on this?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay."

Ephram pulled her to him. He could tell she was upset so he wrapped his arms around her.

"How about tomorrow you can meet Jake and me for brunch?"

Madison pursed her lips. Ephram leaned down at pecked at her lips a few times and wearing her down where she returned the kisses. Ephram deepened the kiss and Madison encircled her arms around his neck.

"So brunch tomorrow?"

"Sure. Where?"

"I'll call you in the morning and let you know."

"Sounds good."

Ephram kissed her one last time. He really wanted to continue and not leave, but his conscience was telling him he needed to head home and to behave.

"I better go."

"Yeah. Bye."

Ephram left and leaving Madison to go to bed alone.