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Challenges Listed at the Bottom

Word Count: 2263


Who Needs Prince Charming?


"Do you ever wonder what could have been?"

JD blinked, turning his head to see Elliot standing beside him. She looked beautiful in her pale pink dress, but her question had come out of the blue and he chuckled awkwardly.

Because no. No, he really didn't.

He shrugged his shoulders, fiddling with his bowtie as he turned his attention back to watch Turk and Carla dance in the middle of the dancefloor. Given their disaster of a wedding, they'd decided to have a second party to celebrate their five year anniversary.

This time, it had gone off without a hitch, thankfully, and they were both beaming with happiness.

"I've been thinking about it a lot lately," Elliot continued, when it became clear that JD wasn't going to verbalise an answer. "And I think about the way we always used to come back to each other, you know? And I wondered if that would happen again or if we'd missed our chance."

JD cringed inwardly. He hated these kinds of conversations; mostly because the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. She was one of his best friends, she really was, and that was the way they worked.

As friends.

They clearly weren't made for a relationship, at least not with each other.

"You know I love you," he said eventually. "But as a friend. A best friend, even. But… romantically, we weren't good for each other, El."

She nodded, but he could see the sadness in the small lines around her eyes and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We'll always be in each other's lives, El. Just… not together."

"I know. I guess it's just the whole wedding vibe," she admitted. "Makes you think, doesn't it. I had all these plans for being married and having kids at a certain time in my life and it's just… not happened."

"It will. You're going to meet a great guy, and have five babies, and live the best life," he assured her, and then laughed at the horrified look on her face at the thought of having five kids.

As Turk and Carla's dance happened, Elliot seemed to perk up.

"I'm going to see a fortune teller tomorrow afternoon. You should come with me!"

JD frowned. "Why would I want to do that?"

"We're both single," she pointed out. "We can find out together what's in the cards for our future! It'll be awesome."

JD snorted, but shrugged. "Sure, El. We can do that."

He felt like he owed her at least that.

The fortune teller was sitting in a little tent made up of sunset orange and lime green stripes. She was dressed in robes of grey-purple and wore so many beaded necklaces and bangles that JD wasn't really sure where to look.

It was just so… busy.

He lingered close to the entrance of the mini tent as Elliot sat down for her reading. The fortune teller was rather on point, JD thought, as he listened to her telling Elliot that she needed to relax and that happiness would find her.

It was a nice sentiment, JD thought, and he truly hoped that whatever this woman was about, she knew what she was talking about.

Elliot deserved good things in her life, and she definitely deserved happiness.

When they were done, JD turned to follow Elliot from the tent but the fortune teller called out to him.

When he turned, she was smiling at him.

"Don't give up."

When he frowned, she added. "It'll be worth it in the end. He loves you too."

JD blinked at her, and then Elliot was calling for him, so he nodded and gave an awkward little wave before he ducked out of the tent behind her.

Elliot prattled on about what the fortune teller had said to her, but JD couldn't stop thinking about the advice she'd given him on the way out.

Not that he believed her. Surely she didn't know anything.

Fortune tellers didn't actually know things.

Right?

JD paused by the nurses station just in time to hear Carla and Laverne gossipping.

"She had this big black dress on and it was like Darth Vader had arrived," Carla said, sniggering into her hand.

JD remembered that Jordan had been wearing a rather large black dress and rolled his eyes. Women were so mean to each other; not that Jordan didn't deserve it most of the time, but still.

He grabbed his next clipboard from the tray and looked it over, holding in an internal groan when he realised that he had a returning patient that wasn't the friendliest of chaps.

He felt someone slide up behind him, and then there was a large body at his back and an arm reaching around him to grab their own clipboard.

JD forced himself not to shiver when Dr Cox stood back, eyes already on his next patient chart.

"You good, Newb?" he asked, never looking up. "You've been quiet today."

"Hmm?" JD asked, frowning, and then realised that he probably had been quite, distracted as he was. "Oh. Yeah, I'm fine."

He wandered off to see to his patient, not really wanting to deal with Dr Cox today. Most days he revelled in the attention of the older doctor, but not today.

Not right now.

Not with the words of the fortune teller still echoing in his head.

JD wondered if Dr Cox had noticed him pulling away. The older man had given him a few odd looks in the corridors when they passed one another, but for the most part, didn't seem to care that JD was no longer actively seeking him out.

It was strange, but the fortune teller pushing JD to not give up had made him worry a little. What did she know, and more importantly, how did she know?

The thought that Dr Cox could actually return his feelings had brought him up short as well, because when it had been an impossibility, it had been comfortable, but even the thought of the feelings being returned had sent JD's head into a spin.

Which… was just like him, wasn't it?

Hadn't he done the same thing with Elliot as soon as he had her?

But he didn't think it was the same, because he knew what having Elliot felt like and that had just been a whole… well a whole disaster, really. But with Dr Cox… it was more than JD was scared of losing what he had now, rather than fearing what could come.

As mean spirited as Cox could be, he was there for JD when he needed him. Every time. JD relied on him probably more than he should, but Cox had never let him down when it actually mattered.

To lose that would be…

JD didn't really want to think about it.

A knock on the door sounded, and JD groaned, running a hand over his face. He had already changed into his dorkiest of pyjamas—they were green and covered in dinosaurs but they were so comfy—and he really didn't want to answer the door.

Whoever was knocking seemed quite insistent though, as a second, louded knock, echoed through the apartment.

He put his wine glass on the coffee table and stood up with a huff before he walked over to the door. He checked through the eyeglass and then frowned.

Opening the door, he found himself face to face with Dr Cox, who had his hand raised ready to knock a third time.

"Please don't drag me out for a drink," JD blurted, because that was the only reason Cox usually showed up at JD's door after a shift.

Dr Cox rolled his eyes and gestured for JD to let him in. Frowning, JD stepped back and let him pass, closing the door and following him into the living room.

"The wine glasses are in the kitchen, top left cupboard, if you want a drink," JD offered, sitting down in the seat he'd vacated. He pulled his legs up and wrapped his arm around them, balancing his still half full wine glass on top with one hand.

Cox got a glass and joined him on the sofa, and JD poured wine in until it was three quarters full.

Then he looked at the man expectantly.

"You're avoiding me," Cox said softly. "And for the life of me, I can't work out what I've said or done to make that happen."

JD blinked. "You haven't done anything."

"You don't deny that you're avoiding me though."

Turning away, JD fixed his eyes on the lamp across the room. How was he supposed to explain himself when he'd be giving himself away if he did?

But then, he'd seen that stubborn look on the other doctor's face before, and he wasn't going to stop until he got an answer.

It was now or never, and JD would just have to… take a chance.

And maybe move to a whole new state if the fortune teller was correct, which, in reality, was the most likely outcome.

Before he could say anything, though, Dr Cox spoke again. He was so quiet JD struggled to hear him.

"Since the day we met, you've been there, and then suddenly you weren't. It… surprised me, how much that affected me."

And just like that, JD realised it was worth the risk.

"I went to a fortune teller with Elliot the other day," he said, and Cox—hopefully soon, Perry—gave him a look.

The look that he often gave him that said 'you better have a point and you better make it soon.'

"I didn't get a reading," JD added, wrinkling his nose. "Not sure I believe in all that malarkey. But when we were leaving, after Elliot was gone, she told me…"

"She told you…" Cox prompted, when JD stuttered to a halt.

"She told me not to give up. That the man I loved returned my feelings. And it… made me… well, it freaked me out a little bit. And I guess I got a bit in my head about it."

Cox was watching him talk, and JD saw the exact moment that JD's words—and the meaning behind them—dawned on him. His face seemed to slacken a little with surprise, and his eyes widened.

It took real effort for JD to not run and hide, though his face felt like it was on fire. He knew he was probably blushing terribly.

"Newb…"

JD's heart sank. That voice wasn't the happy voice of someone in love. It was the voice of someone unsure as to how to let someone down easily.

He bit his lip and looked away, only to jolt when a gentle—almost timid—hand cupped his cheek and turned his face back.

"You…

JD nodded, trying not to turn into the hand still on his face.

"I had no idea."

JD frowned. "Really? I mean, I'm pretty sure it's the worst kept secret in the world."

"I knew you respected me," Cox said softly. "Maybe even looked up to me, but… That's a terrible idea, JD. I'm nobody's idea of a Prince Charming."

JD snorted. "Maybe Prince Charming is overrated. I don't want Prince Charming. But… Dr Cox—"

"I think you should probably call me Perry."

Swallowing hard, JD tried again. "Perry, I… if you don't feel the same, it's fine. Nothing has to change."

Perry stared at him for a long moment. "I suppose I'm wondering why, if she told you that I felt the same, you felt the need to hide."

Sighing, JD nodded. It was a valid question after all. "I… I was worried about things changing. Don't misunderstand me, if you felt the same it would be great, but I think I just… stalled at the thought of it not being the way it is and I freaked out quite a lot."

Perry nodded and then, against all the odds, he smiled. "Perhaps it was for the best. I never would have examined any deeper, if you hadn't suddenly seemed to disappear. I missed you."

"You—"

Perry cut him off by pressing his lips to JD's, stalling whatever he was about to say. JD had no idea himself, the feel of the kiss was all that was in his mind, and when Perry pulled him closer, sucking on JD's bottom lip, any kind of concentration he might have had was out of the window.

When Perry pulled back, it was with a small smile on his face. "You have no idea what you do to me, JD."

JD smiled, pressing his forehead to Perry's shoulder. "I have some idea, I'm sure."

"I should go," Perry murmured, pausing to press his lips to JD's temple. "Because as much as I'd love to stay, we need to ease into this. Go on a date or three, before we do anything else."

JD nodded, but he knew he was pouting. Perry chuckled at him.

"I need you to know I'm in this with you."

And that made sense. It didn't make it any easier to see Perry to the door—though it did get him another kiss, so it wasn't a complete loss.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow," he murmured, when Perry stepped back.

"And maybe tomorrow night, we can get dinner," Perry suggested.

"I'd like that."

JD closed the door and then leant his head against it, laughing softly.

Who'd have thought that the fortune teller could actually be right.

He wouldn't be telling Elliot though. He'd never hear the end of it.


Written for:

Bromance to Romance: 4. Wine

Written in the Stars: 8. Sunset Orange

Book Club: Seth: Blushing / Bowtie / Fire

Showtime: 11. Doctor

Film Festival: 4. Dorky Pyjamas

Lizzy's Loft: 10. I guess it's now or never

Elizabeth's Empire: 24. Write about someone who never gives up

Angel's Archive: 5. Grey-Purple

They Said What?: 5. "She had this big black dress on and it was like Darth Vader had arrived." - Tanya

Artist Appreciation: 12. Surprise

Buttons: 05. Lamp

Other:

Fight Club: Wind Down: Malarkey

Gobstones: Green Stone: Chance / Accuracy: "You have no idea what you do to me." / Power: Effort / Technique: "Do you ever wonder what could have been?"

Auction: Day 11, Auction 2: Scrubs (fandom)

365: 30. Timid

Fantastic Beasts: 73. Gamayun: Visiting a prophet/seer/fortune teller.