Drabble 65: Just a Formality

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this update took so long! I kept forgetting to post it. Anyway, this drabble was requested by Spitfire303. Keep the ideas coming, guys! Thanks!

He dressed in a nice suit that night, midnight black. He even wore a tie. They were going somewhere special. Someplace that deserved to host people at their best.

He adjusted the coat one more time and then walked out of his room, over to hers. She opened her door after one knock and smiled at him.

"Hello Fitz." She said.

Jemma looked beautiful. She was in a long blue dress and black flats, with nothing else. It was simple and elegant. It was perfect.

"Hi Jemma." He said.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Yeah." He said. He smiled when she stepped closer and adjusted his tie. Then she closed her door and walked by his side in the corridor, towards the door of the facility. "Oh wait!" he said before they walked out.

Jemma stopped walking and looked at him inquisitively.

"I almost forgot to give you this." He said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a small box. He handed it to her and she raised an eyebrow.

"Fitz-." She said.

"Just open it." He insisted. He watched as she opened the box and took out the circlet. It was a thin silver band. He took it from her and slid it onto her wrist. "Perfect."

"Leo." She said.

Warmth flooded through him when she said his name, a tremor of recognition, and joy that it came from her lips. Everything was different now. They knew each other so well that there was little need for the first date questions and anxiety. But now they were experiencing everything from a romantic point of view.

"I know you don't need a bracelet or anything, but I thought you might like it." He said. "Do you?"

"Yes, it's beautiful." She said. "Thank you."

He smiled, and they walked out towards his car. They arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes later, an old favorite of theirs with great Italian food.

"I'm glad we're finally doing this." Jemma said, seated across from him at the table.

"Me too." He said. After years of admiring her and wondering if she cared for him, they were finally on a date. He didn't need the date though, however happy that made him. The moment she had told him she cared for him was all he'd ever need.

"So what's the surprise?" she asked.

"A surprise." He answered.

"That's not an answer." She said.

"But if I gave you a full answer,-."

"It wouldn't be a surprise anymore." She finished, smiling despite herself. "I know."

"Don't worry." He said. "You'll love it. We both will."

Dinner went pretty well. It didn't seem any different from past dinners really, once Fitz thought about it again. He was just more nervous to make stupid mistakes, which of course made him make more. But he'd had dinner with Jemma thousands of times at the Academy and after. He'd talked with her for hours on end ever since he met her, and they'd even spent nights together. Innocently, of course, but he knew what it was like to lay beside her. He knew her better than he knew himself. There were no surprises like other first dates. He already knew this girl, all her quirks and oddities, brilliance and beauty. He already loved her.

So he was truly excited to show her the surprise he had planned, because he knew it would make her happy. It was a tour of the new museum, which included a conservatory. There was an elaborate map of the stars somewhere in the museum. He had booked a tour of it, and after the tour they could explore on their own.

He paid for dinner and they got back into the car. Fitz could see the excitement in Jemma's eyes as he drove towards the museum. He could tell she was trying to figure out where they were going from the clue he had given her at dinner: that the place showed off something they loved.

"We're here." He said after a few minutes of driving.

"A museum!" she said, starting to smile. "A place that shows off something we love. I can't believe I didn't get that!"

He chuckled. "I didn't give you a very specific clue."

He got out and met her at her side of the car, and then they started walking in. "It should be a small group." He said. "We get a tour, and then time to explore wherever we want."

"It sounds brilliant." She said warmly.

Then Fitz noticed someone walking towards them. "I'm sorry folks." The man said once he reached them. "The museum had to close early tonight."

"But I paid for a guided tour." Fitz said.

"It wasn't a planned closing, sir. There was an accident. Everyone is fine, but the museum will be closed until tomorrow."

Fitz looked at Jemma, eyebrows pressing together.

"I'm sure you'll get a refund." The man said quickly.

"That's not what I'm upset about." Fitz said. "Thank you."

The man nodded and started walking back to the museum.

"I'm sorry." Fitz said as they walked back to the car.

"Why are you sorry? You didn't cause the accident."

"But that was supposed to finish our great night."

"Fitz, I don't care what we do! All I care about is spending time with you!"

"Really?"

She smiled. "I don't need nice clothes and fancy dinners. Though they certainly are nice sometimes." She added. "I just need to spend time with you. I don't care if we don't leave the lab sometimes."

"You don't know how long I've wanted to hear you say that." He said.

And he kissed her, right there in the parking lot.

So what if the night hadn't gone as he'd planned? It didn't need to. The date was just a formality.

He could spend time with Jemma anytime he wanted.