A/N Caution: Major fluff alert. Diabetics be warned.

I don't own...

John stood in the lobby of Anna's apartments, checking his watch for what was probably the fifth time, willing it to move more quickly. He had already declined three or four chances to take the lift up to her floor and he was sure he looked ridiculous by this point. He had tried walking around her block, but after three circuits he was bloody well freezing. The flowers he bought were beginning to look a little worse for wear due to how tightly he was clutching them and how often he turned them upside down to look at the time. He knew he shouldn't have left his flat so early but his nervous energy was such that he couldn't keep still. He worried that his pacing would wear a hole in the hallway rug, so he finally decided just to walk to Anna's at a leisurely pace, which hadn't worked at all.

When the lift opened yet again and a group of people John had chosen not to ride up with were getting out, he determined that he had waited long enough. He entered and huffed a deep breath. He looked into the shiny bank of buttons trying to determine if his hair looked alright, nervously brushing back the one unruly lock which refused to stay in place. Jesus, why was he so nervous? He and Anna had been out together probably a hundred times or more, and many of those times he wished, if only in his subconscious, that it were a real date. Now he was getting his wish and he really needed to get a hold of his emotions.

He made his way to Anna's door and rang the bell. Waiting only a moment for her to answer, John felt multitudes more relaxed as Anna greeted him with a warm smile. He didn't know how she did it, but she had a way of making him feel better whenever he was in her presence.

"Hello you," she stepped aside slightly, "come through."

"These are for you," John extended the hand with the flowers toward her as he stepped in and she shut the door.

"They're lovely," she blushed slightly, which John found completely charming, "you didn't have to go to all that trouble."

He cleared his throat, "Yes, I did. It's a date, remember?"

"Remember? I haven't been able to think of anything else. It's silly really, but I'm incredibly nervous for some reason. I spent about an hour and a half picking out what to wear."

John took in Anna's appearance from head to toe, "You certainly made the right choice. You look amazing." Anna saw him swallow as he finished speaking.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Mr. Bates," she teased, "I can't believe you wore a tie. You hate ties."

John shrugged, "This is our first date, I'm trying to impress you."

Anna's eyes flashed with a spark John had never seen before. She set the flowers down on the entry table and approached him, "I'm already impressed, John. No tie necessary."

"You're worth it," he uttered, shifting from one foot to the other, trying to maintain his composure.

"Well at least loosen it a bit," she rose on the toes of one foot, pressing her palm against his chest for balance. John noticed her other leg had bent at the knee in that way that women supposedly did when they were being kissed properly.

"That way you'll be more comfortable," she continued, and to John's surprise and delight, she reached between his tie and his collar with her other hand and loosened it for him. John felt many things, but comfortable was not one of them. He had a feeling this was going to be an incredible and enjoyable evening.

Anna moved back toward the flowers and took them into the kitchen area. Looking over her shoulder, she smiled, "It's silly how nervous I've been all day, isn't it?"

John put his hands into the pockets of his trousers and followed her, admiring the view as she reached up for a vase, "If it makes you feel any better, I got here appallingly early."

She turned, "You did?"

He chuckled at himself, "Yes. I had to walk around the block several times and pace back and forth in the lobby in order to not look a daft fool. Though now I've told you and I look like a fool anyway."

"Thank you," she answered quietly.

"You're welcome," he gave her a lopsided grin before continuing, "shall we go?"

The spell they were falling under seemed to have broken and Anna made her way briskly toward the front door. She grabbed her clutch and quickly wrapped a gold pashmina around the shoulders of her navy blue dress.

"Don't you have a heavier coat you can wear tonight?" John asked with concern, "It's literally freezing out there."

"I do, but it doesn't go with my dress at all. This is a much nicer outfit."

John scoffed, "I don't care about all that. I want you to be comfortable."

"You may not care," she smirked, "but it's our first date, I'm trying to impress you."

With a wink, she was out the door and waiting for him to join her.