"Aw man, they're closed!" Linda half sighed, half whined as she saw the dark restaurant. "Dang it... sorry to make you drive all the way here for nothing."

"No, that's okay. I like spending time with you," Danny told her truthfully. He didn't have to look at her to know she was blushing again. He glanced at the radio clock, "what do you want to do now? You've still got fifteen minutes until you gotta head back."

"We can take the long way home. And my grandma won't mind if I'm a few minutes late."

Danny walked Linda to the door, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow. That is if you think you'll be available for lunch."

"Oh I will be... Want to come in for a minute, have some water and a cookie? I'd offer you alcohol, but we're still illegal."

"A cookie sounds nice," he smiled at her as she unlocked the door. He followed her into the house and to the kitchen.

"Oh look, there's a note." She took it off the fridge, "Linda, please be quiet when you come home. I'm not feeling well, and would appreciate it if you would be quiet. Nonna." She looked up to the ceiling, "oh no, I hope she's okay."

"She would've said something if it was serious."

"I suppose you're right," Linda dropped the note on the counter. She seemed to be confused as to what to do when she smiled a little and pointed to Danny. "Your cookie, right."

Danny took the cookie from Linda's hands. "Are you still hungry? I can make you something."

"Oh, you can cook now?"

"I can make eggs and pancakes and bacon. Or sausage for the lady who doesn't like bacon."

"It's not that I don't like it. It's that I just like one specific way."

"If you get all the things out for me, I can make you some breakfast."

"Breakfast at midnight. Sounds nice." Linda turned to get the pans and ingredients when Danny put a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him, confused.

He put a finger to her lips, whispering, "you have to be quiet."

"Me? Who's the one who can be heard outside of the house?"

"Who's the one who's gotten caught making out because she was moaning too loud?"

"I hate you," she said, no ill intent.

"I hate you more. Now go get the stuff," he tapped her butt when she turned around.

Linda blushed at the light spank, briefly wondering if that would become a thing for them. As quietly as she could manage, she got out two pans and a spatula.

Danny smiled as she zipped from one corner of the kitchen to the other, then to the pantry closet, then the fridge. She really was a tornado in the kitchen, and he just had to keep grinning. He found the scene of her still in his jacket and her prom dress, turning and twirling, her hair bouncing behind her incredibly comforting. He wasn't sure what about seemed to comfort him- all he knew was he could watch her like this forever.

Linda put all the ingredients for the pancakes on the counter. She took his jacket off, tossed it onto a stool, and pulled her apron over her head. "Okay, Master Chef. Show me what you got."

"I'm not as good as you-"

"Oh I'm not so good either. I only started cooking when I was fifteen. Now baking... baking I can do."

"Do you have a recipe for this?"

"Oh, right, sorry," she turned on her heel and quickly found the cook book with the pancake recipe. "You don't mind having turkey sausage?"

"I've been surviving on MREs for the last year. My standards are f***ing low."

Linda laughed at him, "but do you really like 'em? You might just eat them because they're in front of you."

"Have you met me? I'll eat anything."

She put her hand out and moved her head from side to side, a silent can't argue with that.

"Aside from the jerks, did you enjoy your prom?" Danny started to measure the ingredients and dump them into the bowl.

"It was- yeah, until they were jerks, it was fun. I would've had more fun with you, of course, but that's neither here nor there... Besides, we can dance and dress up and eat finger foods whenever we want!"

"I admire your optimism," Danny told her truthfully. He really did- despite all the crap life had thrown at her, she was still smiling and having fun.

"Life's more enjoyable that way," she said with a shrug. "Being a pessimist is no fun and quite frankly very lonely."

"Imma go out on a limb here, and say that you do not eat pancakes unless they have chocolate chips in them."

Linda laughed, "I'll eat them without, but I prefer them with chocolate chips. Which is why I put out chocolate chips." She pointed to the yellow bag on the counter.

"You know something?"

Danny looked at her as they quietly cleaned the kitchen.

"I don't want you to go home."

"You're asking me to stay the night?"

She nodded. "But only if you want to."

"I'd like that, actually."

"There's a bed in the guest room, of course. Or... You could sleep in my bed, with me? But no-"

"Sex, I know. I'm cool with that."

"With what?"

"No sex with you, and sharing your bed. You got any pajamas that might fit me?"

She blushed a little, "I have your pajamas. I, um, kinda stole a pair or two the last time I was at your house. I hope you don't mind."

"I'd actually like to see you in my pajamas."

She blushed hard, then flicked some soapy water at him. Before he could retaliate, she spun away from him. "This is a prom dress! You can't ruin it!"

"Fine," he relented. "But I'm gonna get you the next time you're in shorts and a T-shirt."

"Is that a promise or a threat?"

He slung an arm around her, leading her to the stairway. "That's for me to know, and you to find out."

"Mm, sounds ominous."

"You'll just have to wait and see."

Some minutes later, they were both in pajamas and snuggling under Linda's covers. She spoke up, "Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for tonight. It's probably my favorite prom night."

He kissed the top of her head, "you're welcome, babe. Maybe someday we'll be dancing again, only that time, it won't be because of jerks, and you'll be wearing white."

"That'd be nice," she must've been sleepy, or else she would've picked up on the 'you'll be wearing white' thing.

"It really would be..."