Patrick Verona was not a man who let himself get worked up easily. He did his level best to keep his head cool at all times. Worry was not something he was accustomed to, neither was this gut wrenching sense of dread that he couldn't seem to shake. His palms were sweaty, for God's sake. His mouth was dry and his heart was pumping so hard he just knew it was going to explode any second.

References ? Was this guy for real ? He didn't have references. He was pretty sure there wasn't a person in the world other than Kat that would claim he was anything but bad news.

" Look," He said, finally after taking a deep breath and rubbing his hands against the front of his black dress slacks. " I don't have references. I don't have much of a family and I keep to myself so no friends, either. But," He swallowed hard at the frown that was creasing Dr. Stratford's brow now. " I like Kat and she likes me. Isn't she enough of a reference for you ?"

The older man stuck his hands in his pockets and looked Patrick up and down critically.

" Was that a motorcycle I heard pull into my driveway ?" He asked after a few silent moments.

" It was, but we'll be taking Kat's car tonight." Patrick assured him.

" And where do you think you'll be going in Kat's car ?"

" To dinner and a movie."

" What restaurant ?" Walter Stratford continued to interrogate him carefully.

" O'Briens. It's at 10th and main. I have the phone number." He reached into his pocket and extracted a business card. He noticed his hand was shaking slightly when he handed it over to him.

" And the movie ?"

" I'm not sure of the name." Patrick told him truthfully. " It's a foreign film complete with subtitles. Kat picked it."

" Rated ?" Walter fired at him quickly.

" PG-13." Patrick answered.

" Drinking ?"

" Definitely not."

" Drugs ?"

" Nothing stronger than Tylenol if I need it to get through the film."

He thought he noticed the corners of Kat's father's mouth twitch at that, but he covered it quickly.

" You'll be home at ?" Walter raised his eyebrow.

"Eleven, not a second later."

" Nudity ?" He continued.

Patrick blinked for a moment in surprise. " You mean the movie ? I don't think-"

" I mean of any sort whatsoever." Walter clarified.

" I plan to remain fully clothed all evening, Sir and I don't think the movie will have any either."

Walter stepped back and eyed him again. Then he reached out and put his hand on Patrick's back. "Come with me. There are a few things we need to discuss before I let you walk out of here with one of the most precious things in the world to me." He told him as he led him down a narrow hallway.

" So you let Kat pick the movie, huh ?" He asked as they entered his study.

Patrick swallowed again and nodded. " Yes, Sir."

" Well, you're brave, I'll give you that much." He shook his head before closing the door and dimming the lights to start the videos.

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Kat Stratford was not a woman who was taken to nervousness. She wasn't the jittery type. But as she stood in front of the full length mirror on the back of the bathroom door examining herself closely, she was feeling downright twitchy.

She reached up to tuck a stray hair behind her ear and took a step closer to the mirror to make sure her makeup was still in the right place. She didn't normally wear makeup. In fact she hated the waxy mask feeling it gave her skin. That was exactly what makeup was as far as she was concerned, a mask that hid the real person behind gobs of goop. She had never figured out where the concept had originated even. Was there some cave woman sitting idly by a stream, looking at her reflection in the water and thinking, I'd be so much prettier if I just had some black crap around my eyes.

She laughed silently at her own joke. It was a thought she'd have to share with Patrick. She just knew he would find it amusing, too.

She stepped back again and tugged at the bodice of her dress, trying without much success to raise the neckline enough for her father to not notice how low it was really cut. The dress was red and the neckline plunged daringly low between her breasts. She would need a shawl if she planned on being allowed to leave the house, or a jacket, or maybe even a turtleneck.

With that thought in mind, she hustled across the hall and into her room, not bothering to close the door behind her.

She was buried in her closet when she heard a noise behind her and she turned quickly to find Bianca perched on the foot of her bed.

" What do you want ?" She snapped before digging back into the pile of clothes.

" You look nice. Big date ?" She asked as she examined her perfectly manicured, red fingernails.

" No," Kat sneered meanly. " I'm just going to lay around the house and read all night. I just wanted to get dressed up in case of a fire. I wouldn't want the firemen to catch me indisposed."

Bianca dropped her hand and huffed. " You don't have to be snappy. I was just wondering if you needed help getting ready. This is really more my field than yours."

Kat stopped her rummaging rampage and eyed her sister. " Why ? What's in it for you ?"

" Nothing. I just want to help. You help me all the time and I never get to return the favor. Now I have a chance." Bianca shrugged.

Kat backed out of the closet and tuned to her sister with her hands on her hips. " I don't buy it."

" Buy whatever you like. I'm offering. You know where to find me if you need me." The younger girl said, standing from the bed and heading towards the door.

" I guess I could use an opinion." Kat muttered before she had a chance to leave.

" Show me."

Kat held her hands out and let her younger sister examine her carefully.

" The make up is good. How did you manage that ?"

" I found tips on the internet." Kat admitted.

" Dad is never going to let you leave in that dress though. You need a distraction from the cleavage, or a coverup."

" That's why I was in my closet I was looking for something I could throw on over it until I got outside. Something that doesn't look like I'm going to take it off the minute I get outside." Kat told her.

" I might have something that will work." Bianca offered before turning on her heel and flouncing from the room. She returned a moment later with a tailored, black velvet jacket.

Kat slipped into it as Bianca held it out. Kat buttoned it up and smiled as she noticed how it hide the neckline of the dress.

" Are you taking the bike or the car ?"

Kat rolled her eyes. " The car, of course. Why ? Does it matter ?"

" It would. The bike makes things more difficult." She mused as she studied Kat again.

" How so ?"

" The hair, for one thing. A helmet would not be a friend to that style. And well, the dress would work with the bike, since it flares out at the waist. Which is nice because if you have hips like mine and I know you do, the full circle skirt actually diminishes them." Bianca explained.

" He doesn't seem to have a problem with my hips and neither do I." Kat protested.

" I'm glad to know you have such a positive self image." Bianca smiled. " Now the hair."

She reached up and started tugging at the neat, tight bun Kat had spent a lot of time on.

" What are you doing ?" She shrieked when it started to come loose.

" I'm fixing it." Bianca answered. " It's too harsh, too sever. You don't want him to think you're an ice queen."

" He knows me, Bianca."

The younger girl put her hands on Kat's shoulders and moved her to the bed. Then she pushed her down and grabbed a brush from the desk behind her. " Just let me help. You'll like it, I swear."

A few minutes later, Bianca stepped back and admired her handiwork before giving Kat a mirror so she could see it herself.

Her hair was still up, but instead of a sever looking bun, it was in a sort of sloppy French twist. Long, curly chocolate colored tendrils hung down around her face, framing it nicely and giving her a wind swept look.

" It's nice." Kat told her appreciatively. " Thank you."

" You're welcome." Bianca smiled at her. " Just a few more items and you'll be ready to save your date from Dad."

" He's here!" Kat exclaimed jumping up from the bed.

" He got here just as I came in. But it's okay. You have time. You know Dad won't let him go until he sees the Beech-birth video, at least."

Kat watched her leave and was still staring at the opened doorway a few minutes later when she returned. She had something tucked under her arm, something else clasped in her hand and she was holding out a necklace.

Without asking for permission, Bianca slipped the chain around her neck and fastened it securely. The chain was gold and on it was a heart-shaped diamond pendant. Kat glanced down at it for a moment and saw that it fell perfectly with its bottom tip hanging right at her cleavage line.

When she looked back at her sister to thank her, she found her holding out her hand. Kat opened her hand to accept whatever she had to offer and Bianca dropped a pair of matching earrings into her palm.

After Kat had them secured in her ears, her sister held out a tiny, gold clutch purse to her and Kat took it while eying it warily.

" What's this ?" She asked.

" A purse." Bianca rolled her eyes. " Women carry their things in them."

" I don't have things to carry." Kat answered.

" Yes, you do. Put your lipstick, your I.D., cellphone and a few dollars in it, just in case." Bianca explained.

" In case of what ?"

" Anything. You don't want to be stuck out there with no way of getting home and no way to call for help." Her sister told her.

" What are you imagining is going to happen tonight that I'm going to need a rescue squad for ?"

" I'm not imagining anything. I'm just saying it's better to be safe than sorry."

" Alright." Kat gave in and started tossing the items Bianca suggested into the purse. " Is that all ?"

" Leave the tazer at here." Kat rolled her eyes at her.

" This is your first real date kinda." Bianca smiled at her.

" No," Kat protested. " We went to that dance and then there was that night we went out to dinner."

" The first one he got arrested at the end of and the second found you vomiting up your tofu by curfew." Bianca rolled her eyes. " Are you sure you want to try for a third time with this date thing ? It seems like disaster follows the two of you."

" Yes, I'm sure." Kat informed her. " This time will be different. Tonight is going to be perfect."

" I hope so. You could use a little perfect." Her sister smiled.

" Thank you."

" Oh !" She jumped up and ran from the room, calling " One more thing," Over her shoulder as she left.

She returned a moment later with yet another piece of jewelry.

" Give me your hand." Kat held it out to her without reservation this time.

Bianca slipped a pretty little watch on her wrist and fastened it quickly. " This is because, as we both know, Stratford girls turn into pumpkins at the stroke of eleven. It's set perfectly with Daddy's watch. So he can't get you on a technicality."

Kat stood from the bed finally and did a final twirl for Bianca.

" Perfect." Her sister approved.

Kat came to stand in front of her and reluctantly put her arms out. Bianca stepped into them after only a moments hesitation. The hug was brief and awkward and Kat wondered when that had happened. There was a time when they hugged all the time. A time when they actually got along and even liked each other. She was a bit sad that that had apparently changed along the way.

" Thank you, again. This was very nice of you." Kat told her as they broke apart.

" You're welcome." Bianca smiled up at her. " You know, you are actually really pretty when you try to be."

Kat rolled her eyes. " And you aren't nearly as bratty as you pretend to be."

Bianca dropped her eyes for a moment before looking back at Kat and she thought she might have spied the beginning of tears in the corners of eyes. " You look just like Mom."

Kat's breath caught in her throat for a moment and she found herself threatened with tears as well. Suddenly feeling the need to change the subject before she ruined her make up, she gave her little sister a sly grin. " Are you having sex with Joey Donner ?"

Bianca's eyes widened and she cheeks blushed a bright shade of red. " How did you know about that ?"

" Someone saw you. You really need to be more careful. You didn't even lock the door. It was lucky someone besides Dad caught you."

" What exactly did someone see ?" Bianca demanded nearly hystrically.

" Just the two of you sleeping."

" What was someone doing in the house that late anyway ?" Bianca turned the tables on her quickly.

" Someone heard someone else moving around the house and that someone was checking to make sure it wasn't an intruder planning to murder us in our sleep." Kat smiled.

" How very brave and noble of someone !" Bianca answered with her own smile.

" Yes, it rather was." Kat agreed.

" Alright, already. I'm betting that same someone is now in need of your rescue. So get down there and save him before Dad starts the STD videos. The one about Herpes is disgusting. It'll ruin his appetite."

Kat gave her another quick hug before bolting from the room.

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" So you see, Son." Kat heard Walter's voice announcing from his study. " Herpes is something you'll have to live with your entire life. But don't worry. If you happen to give said Herpes to my daughter, you'll misery will be over quickly. See, I can cure Herpes. Death does the trick rather nicely."

She came to the door quickly, mentally chiding herself for taking so long getting ready. He was going through so much trouble the least she could have done was save him from the STD talk.

She knocked on the door before opening it and finding the lights dimmed, a video about Syphilis just starting on the laptop set up on the desk and Patrick and her father sitting in matching chair in front of it. Patrick looked a little green even in the diminished lighting and Walter was wearing a self satisfied smile on his face.

" Dad, really ? Was all this necessary ?" She asked as she came to Patrick and took his hand. She pulled him to his feet and he came along with her willingly.

" As a matter of fact, it was." Walter answered. " Now I trust you remember all the rules."

" Yes, I know them all, no drinking, no drugs, no tattoos, no animal sacrifices of any kind. And I'll be home at eleven." Kat answered.

" You'll be home before eleven." Walter corrected. " Don't make me stay up late worrying about you."

" Yes, Daddy." Kat nodded. " Now say goodnight."

" Goodnight." Walter told her and came over to kiss her cheek. "Have a good time." Then he cast his eyes towards Patrick and they narrowed dangerously. " Not TOO good of a time."

Kat tugged Patrick's hand as she started out the door.

" Remember that pregnancy is the most wide spread sexually transmitted disease." Walter called after them. " If you make me a grandfather, Boy, I'll make you a corpse."

As soon as the front door closed behind them, Patrick let go of her hand and sagged against it while drawing in a deep, cleansing breath.

"Wow," He muttered under his breath.

" I'm sorry. I know." She consoled him as best she could with her father's face staring at them through the curtains in the living room window.

" He's really something." Patrick answered.

" Yes, he is." She agreed, taking his hand again and pulling him towards her car in the driveway.

" Is he watching us ?" Patrick asked with the beginnings of a smile.

" He's making sure we really are taking my car and not the bike." She informed him as she handed him her keys.

" Seriously ?" He said, " And what would he do if we just jumped on the motorcycle and rode away ?"

" Call the cops." She nodded off offhandedly. " I know he's overbearing and hard to deal with. I appreciate the effort."

Patrick shrugged as they got in the car and fastened their seat belts. " He cares. It's nice to know someone is looking out for you like that."

" Would be better if he saw that you aren't the bad guy though." She reasoned.

He reached over and put his hand on her thigh, squeezing it gently. " But I am the bad guy." He smirked.

They drove in silence for a while, neither of them feeling the need to fill the empty space with words. When they stopped at a light. Patrick moved his hand from her thigh to find hers and wrapped his fingers around it, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it softly.

" You look absolutely breathtaking." He told her in that deep voice that sent a tingle straight up her spine.

She let her eyes move over him. He wore a pair of black dress pants, a dark blue button-up shirt and a black vest. It reminded her of the outfit he had worn for the dance at the beginning of the year. He looked so good she reached out and traced the edges of the vest with her finger causing his breath to catch for a second. " So do you."

When he stopped at the next light, she quickly unclasped her seat belt and leaned in to give him a kiss. He looked surprised at first but responded after barely a seconds hesitation.

When she pulled back and got back into her belt her eyes were dancing with mirth at the bemused look on his face. " I figured you deserved that for putting up with the inquisition so nicely."

" Oh," He chuckled. " I deserve far more than just that for getting through that without bolting."

" I promise to make it up to you later." She nodded in agreement.

" I'm holding you to that promise. You owe me, big time."