At Rick and Julie's wedding reception, guests on the dance floor pair up for a couples dance, leaving CB and Lainey with no other choice than to dance together. While they dance, the two best friends realize there's something more between them.

~.~

This is my attempt at predicting what will happen between CB and Lainey toward the end of Season 2. I absolutely adore Rick and Julie and think they will either be married or at least engaged by then, and their wedding would provide the perfect setting for CB and Lainey to have their moment. My husband and I are HUGE Journey fans (we've seen them 4 times in concert) and their music has been a big part of our marriage. I chose their 90s ballad "When You Love a Woman" for Rick and Julie's wedding song. If you haven't heard it, then you need to stop everything right now and listen to it. It's so freaking beautiful and Steve Perry's voice… unf. Ok, enough of my rambling. Please enjoy these two dorks finally realizing they belong together!

~.~

PART I

CB couldn't stop staring at her.

The entire wedding party stood outside the reception hall, waiting for their names to be called by the DJ before entering the celebration. The newlyweds Rick and Julie were busy canoodling at the rear of the line while the remainder of the bridesmaids and groomsmen basked in the post-wedding glow.

Lainey in her pale-pink, strapless dress stood opposite CB, chatting it up with Wilma, who had also been chosen as a bridesmaid along with Liz Fleming and Julie's sister. CB watched as Lainey threw back her head with laughter at something Wilma had whispered into her ear, flashing her brilliant smile. He drew in a breath, his heart pulsating all the way to his ears. The way Lainey looked in that dress with her blond curls cascading down her back and shoulders brought all the feelings he had tried to suppress over the past few months back to the surface.

CB had decided after his "non-date" with Wilma in January that he would move on from Lainey and seek out love again. While he'd gone on a few dates since then, no one had seemed to fully capture his heart. And the fact that Lainey now knew about his crush was always at the forefront of mind. It really wasn't a crush at all; he was truly, madly, deeply in love with her.

"Ladies and gentleman, please give it up for the wedding party!" The announcement sounded muffled behind the reception hall's doors.

The DJ then began playing an instrumental version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," obviously a request by the groom.

"First up to bat… we have the maid of honor, Anna Murphy, escorted by best men, Toby Murphy and John Glascott!"

CB anxiously chewed on his bottom lip, stealing yet another glance at Lainey, knowing full well their turn would be coming up soon. He'd already escorted her down the aisle during the recessional, but somehow this part of his duty as groomsman made him more nervous than ever.

Rick and Julie had requested that the wedding party as well as guests pair up and share in their first dance together. Just the thought of slow-dancing with Lainey sent his mind swirling. Being so close to her with their arms wrapped around one another was sure to make him regress in all the progress he'd made over the past few months.

"You ready, bestie?" Lainey's words woke him from his thoughts, and she grabbed onto his right arm. "We're up."

He'd been so busy worrying that he didn't realize their time to enter the reception had arrived.

"You bet," CB managed to squeak out despite his nerves, adjusting the collar of his dress shirt.

He smiled down at her, and she gave him a slight wink. The small action of endearment made his heart flutter.

Lainey linked her arm in his, and the couple stepped up to the threshold, awaiting their cue.

"Next up… bridesmaid, Lainey Lewis, escorted by groomsman, Charlie Brown!"

CB looked over at Lainey, and she smiled at him, giving him a swift nod as if to reassure him.

CB's heart raced like a runaway freight train inside his chest as they entered the reception to thunderous applause. Leading her out onto the dance floor, he let go of Lainey's arm and clapped along with the crowd.

"And now, the couple you've all been waiting for… the bride and groom, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Mellor!"

Rick heftily swept Julie up into his arms in a bridal hold and carried her out onto the dance floor. Bearing all of her weight, he performed several frog squats before placing her carefully on the wooden floor. Grinning from ear to ear, Julie beamed with pure joy. She threw her arms around his neck, and they shared a passionate kiss as the slow song began to play for their first dance.

"The happy couple would like the wedding party and guests to join them on the dance floor to share in their first dance."

CB stood motionless for several seconds, his eyes burning holes in the floor, as couples began to pair off and sway back and forth to the music.

"Well, are you going to ask me to dance or what, Charlie Brown?"

His head shot straight up, only to see Lainey standing in front of him, her hands on her hips.

"Of course," CB replied, gathering up his courage. He held out his right hand and bowed slightly, a playful smile etching its way across his lips. "May I have this dance, milady?"

"You dork," she said, rolling her eyes, and pulled him to her. "Some things never change."

Their chests pressed clumsily against each other, causing CB to flinch. His nerves rattled all the way to his bones as they awkwardly bumped arms and hands several times trying to find the correct position. Finally, Lainey encircled her arms around his neck, and his hands instinctively flew to her waist. He stared down at her, their feet beginning to dance along to the Journey ballad.

"They look so happy… Rick and Julie," Lainey broke the silence between them, tilting her head toward the newlyweds across the dance floor.

"That they do," CB answered, unable to take his eyes off her.

She was so incredibly beautiful, and he noticed she had little pink rosettes positioned throughout her hair. He could smell the inebriating scent of her floral perfume, and he wondered briefly if she'd worn it especially for this occasion. It was unforgettable and so very, very her.

"You look amazing in this get-up," she complimented him, smoothing her right hand down his pink tie. "I hardly recognized you when I saw you in the church. I was like, where is my CB and what have you done with him?"

CB chuckled, his mind giddy with the notion that she'd called him her CB. He knew in that moment he would always be hers.

"And you look absolutely stunning, Lainey," he reciprocated.

She grinned, the lines under her blues eyes creasing. The unspoken "thank you" was evident in the sudden blush of her cheeks.

"I rather like this..." she began, tenderly resting her head on his shoulder. She let out a sigh against his chest. "Dancing with you."

CB swallowed the huge lump that had now lodged its way in his throat. The warmth of her body pressed against him was overwhelming. He felt his ears and cheeks flush with heat, but somehow he managed to place his head against hers.

"Me too," he finally said, taking a deep breath in perfect contentment.

As CB held her there, his feelings for her returned, careening throughout his being with a reckless abandon.

Suddenly, as if she sensed it, Lainey lifted her head, and their eyes met.

"CB…" she breathed his name, her eyes focusing on his lips. Her head tilted toward his, seemingly beyond her control.

"Uh… yeah?" He swallowed, his head moving toward hers as if he were lost in a trance. A violent shiver rocked throughout his entire body when he realized what they were about to do.

Rising up on her toes, Lainey pressed her lips gently to his, and CB felt his heart soar. He immediately surrendered to her, running his hands up to her neck to deepen the kiss. She tightened her arms around his neck, clinging to him, and he traced the curves of her body with his hands all the way down to her hips, his lips never leaving hers.

This was the moment CB had dreamed about since last spring, since he realized he was in love with her. The sheer joy that cascaded its way through his body as he caressed her lips revived his broken heart. He felt as if he could stay in this moment forever - with her, and it would be enough. Enough to last a lifetime.

Too soon, Lainey broke off their kiss, her breath ragged.

"I'm sorry." She dropped her arms, her right hand covering her mouth in obvious shock. "I'm so, so sorry."

"No, please, Lainey," CB pleaded and reached for her, but she recoiled, staring at his hand.

"I can't… I just… I don't… CB, I-"

She instantly burst into tears and headed for the reception hall's doors, leaving CB alone on the dance floor. He raked his hands down his face, letting out a sigh. His brain told him he should give her some space, but his heart screamed for him to go after her. The latter ultimately won out in the end.

Without hesitation, he pushed his way through the couples on the dance floor and ran straight after her.

~.~

Uh, oh. Sorry about the cliffhanger. I should have the second part up in a few days. Please let me know what you thought. Thank you for reading! ~ Dazzy xxoo