Author's Note: Just another little outtake that wouldn't leave me alone. Hope you enjoy!

It was just a date. Dinner. Salads and chicken and wine and dessert. Logically she knew there was no reason to be nervous. That didn't do anything to assuage the storm of butterflies roiling in her stomach.

Ginny squared her shoulders and pulled open the door to the restaurant. A quick glance around the small, intimate room told her that she'd beaten Luna here, and she let out a shuddering breath. She was ten minutes early. Luna always ran a few minutes late. It was all going to be fine. It would be perfect. It had to be.

"I have a reservation for Weasley," she told the hostess, trying to ignore the tremor in her voice. "I'm expecting someone else as well."

She was shown to a small corner table and sank into the padded chair less than gracefully. Ginny tried to focus on the menu, but the words swam on the page in front of her, which just added to the pounding in her head and her chest. Instead of trying to make sense of the menu, she glued her gaze to the front door.

"Good evening, ma'am."

Ginny jumped, and her hand twitched toward where her wand was holstered on her thigh.

"I'm sorry if I startled you," the young waiter said. "What can I get you to drink?"

She stared at his handsome face for a moment too long as she tried to process his words. "I, uh, I think I'll have, um…" She had no clue what she wanted.

He smiled kindly. "Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

Ginny nodded and swallowed. "That would be lovely, thank you."

"First date?"

"That obvious, huh?"

The waiter chuckled. "I've been here long enough that I know one on sight."

"I need it to be perfect."

"Well, you can start out with the perfect wine. How about a nice cabernet? I've got one I'm sure will knock his socks off."

"Sounds great," Ginny murmured, her eyes drifting back to the front door.

As the minutes passed, her foot started tapping. She alternated her stares between the front door, her watch, and the door to the kitchen because that man had promised her wine, and dammit she needed it tonight of all nights and—

"Hello."

Ginny's head jerked around.

She had to remind herself to breathe.

Luna was perfect. She absolutely glowed in a shimmery, pale blue dress that hugged tight to her chest and waist before floating down to her knees. Her blonde curls and sparkling gray eyes just added to her etherealness, and Ginny was reminded of the stories her mum used to tell about delicate fairies with gossamer wings. Luna looked more beautiful than any fairy of Ginny's imagination.

"Hi," Ginny finally breathed. "You look amazing."

Luna tucked a curl behind her ear. "Thank you. You look lovely as well."

She sat across from Ginny, and for a long moment they just stared at each other in awkward silence. When they tried to break the ice, their lines all felt stilted and forced and the farthest thing from the perfect, effortless conversation Ginny had been counting on.

When Luna escaped to the ladies' room, Ginny dropped her head into her hands. This was going to be an enormous failure. This could ruin their friendship. Maybe they should just—

A warm hand slipped a glass of wine into hers.

"You're over thinking it," the waiter said casually.

"Don't you think I know that?" Ginny snapped. "But I don't even know where to start. It was way fucking easier to talk to her when we just best friends."

"Aren't you still friends?"

"Well obviously, but I—"

He cut her off there. "Then talk to your friend. That's where you start."

"That's the best you can come up with?"

The waiter rolled his eyes and said, "I brought liquid courage, too. What more do you want from me?" He then dashed away before she could snap at him again.

Ginny sat back in her chair and sipped her wine as she mulled over his advice. Could it be so simple?

Luna returned a few moments later, looking a bit calmer and her makeup refreshed. What caught Ginny's eye, though, was the little smudge of lipstick on her front tooth. A small imperfection she'd helped Luna correct a thousand times over the past few years. The perfect reminder that they were, first and foremost, the best of friends. She could handle this.

"Lu, you've got a bit of," said Ginny as she gestured toward her own mouth. "Just on your tooth there."

Luna let out a nervous giggle and quickly wiped it away with her napkin. When she was done, she flashed a quick smile at Ginny. "I always do that. Better?"

Ginny nodded and reached across the table for her hand. "Perfect."

Stacked with: SIN; FPC; BAON; TOS; STL; Star; SF; ER; Shipping War; Summer Bingo

Individual Challenges: Short Jog; The 3rd Rule (Y); Lovely Triangle; Gryffindor MC; Ravenclaw MC; Red Moon Quindrabble; Witches Coven 2; Flags and Ribbons (Y); Times to Come (Y); Shipmas (Y); Themes & Things A—New Beginnings (Y); Themes & Things B—Risk (Y); 3rd Rule Bribery (Y)

Representations: Luna Lovegood x Ginny Weasley; First Date Jitters

Bonus Challenges: Deadliest Catch; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Unwanted Advice; Clio's Conclusion); Chorus (Endless Wonder; Odd Feathers; Wabi Sabi; A Long Dog; Unicorn)

Tertiary Bonus Challenges: O3 (Oath); T3 (Terse; Thimble); FR (Satisfaction)

Word Count: 802

Shipping War

Ship (Team): Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley (Dreamy Redhead)

List (Prompt): Summer Micro 2 (Fairy/Fae)

Summer Bingo

Space Address (Prompt): 3A (Blue)