As it grew dark, he realized that Jackie's breathing had grown steady and even. She was asleep. Emil smiled lovingly at her sleeping form and decided to risk his legs not working. He picked her up and walked over to her bed, trying not to grunt over his stiff back and legs.

Emil gently placed Jackie in the bed and pulled the covers up over her. Then he stood there for a few minutes, watching her sleep and thinking how beautiful she was. He was startled by a quiet voice in the doorway.

"Beautiful, isn' she?"

Emil turned. "Jean-Luc!" he whispered so as not to wake Jackie up. "How long have you been dere?"

Jean-Luc moved over and stood beside Emil. Shaking his head, he said, "Not long. Is she okay? She was pretty upset b'fore."

"Oui, she's okay…Jean-Luc, how could someone do dat to her, to anyone? No one d'serves to be treated like dat. If I could find dat guy…" Emil said in a quietly warning tone.

Jean-Luc almost laughed. "I'd be right b'hind you, Emil. I agree wit' you entirely."

On the bed, Jackie stirred. "Mmmph…Emil?" she murmured.

Emil knelt down beside the bed. "Shhhh…go back to sleep, chere." He whispered softly, lightly brushing a stray strand of hair off her face.

"Don' go…" Jackie replied.

Emil raised an eyebrow and looked at Jean-Luc, who shrugged and headed for the door with a smile.

"'Night." Jean-Luc said softly before leaving them in peace again.

Emil turned back to Jackie after nodding to Jean-Luc. "I won' go if you don' want me to, chere." He assured her.

"Stay." Jackie mumbled firmly, taking his hand. "Hold me. Please?"

"You don' have to ask me twice." Emil grinned, lying down on the bed beside her and wrapping his arms protectively around her.

Jackie cuddled into his embrace, sighing contentedly and falling back asleep almost instantly now that she knew she was safe. Emil watched her sleep for a few minutes until his vision was blurred by his eyelids getting heavy. Snuggling closer to his girlfriend, Emil sighed and closed his eyes, falling asleep with a smile on his face.

Jackie woke up early the next morning and sighed contentedly. She lay there quietly, listening to Emil's light, even breathing and watching him sleep. Neither one of them had moved all night; Emil's arms were still around her.

Jackie tried to shift around so that she could stretch herself and all she succeeded in doing was waking Emil up.

"Mmmph?" Emil mumbled with a yawn, blinking his eyes to get them focused. He smiled when he saw Jackie beside him.

"Good morning sunshine!" Jackie said cheerily.

Emil scratched his head and yawned again. "Hi," he said. "What time is it?"

Jackie looked at her watch. "Seven-forty-five," she replied. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"Oui, did you?" Emil asked, wrapping his arms around her again with a smile.

"Yes, I did. You make a very nice pillow, by the way." Jackie answered, snuggling against him.

"T'ank you…I t'ink…" Emil grinned.

Jackie yawned. "Was Papa here last night as well?"

"Yeah, for a couple of minutes. I t'ink our talkin' woke you up, an' he left when you asked me to stay." Emil explained.

"Oh…um…was it wrong of me to ask you dat? I mean…" Jackie faltered, pulling away a bit and looking at him, concern showing in her violet eyes.

Emil frowned. "Non, why do you ask? I told you last night dat I'm here for you when you need me. You wanted me to stay, so I did."

"I know, it's jus'…well, what did Papa say?"

"Honestly? He didn' say anyt'ing. Well, except for sayin' "'Night" b'fore he left us." Emil tilted his head and looked at her. "Are you worried 'bout what de others will say or t'ink when dey find out I stayed here wit' you last night?"

Jackie looked away, avoiding his eyes. "Um…well…Theoren an' Claude might…"

"Theoren an' Claude have already expressed concern 'bout de age difference, however, neither dey or any of de others would say anyt'ing 'bout dis."

"Are you sure?"

"Jackie, chere, I've known dem my whole life. Oui, I'm sure." Emil assured her. "Please don' worry 'bout it, okay? An' what makes you t'ink Jean-Luc would say anyt'ing 'bout it?"

"Maybe b'cause he's my father an' if I know anyt'ing 'bout fathers it's dat dey are protective of dere daughters." Jackie replied with a small smile. "Not dat I know much, mais dat seems pretty logical."

Emil grinned. "An' you're not wrong. I remember how protective my father used to be of Chloe…sometimes I'm glad dey didn' have to deal wit' her bein' a teenager b'cause it would have driven dem both crazy."

Jackie laughed. "So how come Papa didn' say anyt'ing?"

"B'cause he knows me an' he knows you. He trusts us, an' he wants us to be happy. B'sides, we're both adults. He can' 'xactly tell us what to do or what not to do."

"I s'pose. I'm sorry. Jus' paranoid, I guess." Jackie sighed, cuddling against him again.

"Not'ing wrong wit' dat, chere." Emil replied, tightening his arms around her and lightly kissing her forehead.

"So, should we actually get up, or jus' stay here?" Jackie asked.

"Hmm…well, I don' know 'bout you, but I'm pretty comfortable right where I'm at." Emil replied.

"How 'bout dat? So am I. So I guess dat settles it."

Later that day, after Emil had finally left, Jackie found an envelope on the desk in her bedroom.

Jackie frowned and picked it up. She turned it over and wondering what was going on, she opened it. There was a piece of paper inside, and Jackie recognized Emil's handwriting on it. A large smile broke over Jackie's features as she read what he had written.

"Would you care to join me for an evening out? I was thinking dinner and a movie, but we can discuss that later. Please call me and we'll arrange everything. Love, Emil."

Jackie put the note back in the envelope and set it down on the desk again, still smiling. Then she left her room and almost danced down the stairs to where Jean-Luc was watching television.

"Hey Papa, guess what?" she asked.

Jean-Luc looked up from the television with a curious expression. "What is it, petite?"

"Emil left a note in my room an' in it he asked me out on a date. A real one. How cool is dat?"

Jean-Luc smiled. "Dat is very cool, chere. I knew he would do dat sooner or later. It's only fitting, since you two are a couple, dat you go out from time to time an' enjoy yourselves."

"Dis is so cool…I've never gone on a date b'fore…" Jackie enthused. She was really very excited over the whole idea and was thrilled that Emil had thought to do something like it.

"What are you going to do on your date, do you know?" Jean-Luc inquired as Jackie sat down beside him.

"He suggested dinner an' a movie, but maybe we'll do somet'ing different, I don' know. He said to call him." Jackie replied. "Quite frankly, dinner an' a movie sounds great."

"It does to me as well, but of course it's your date. Maybe you should go call him." Jean-Luc said.

"Yeah…maybe I should." Jackie replied with a giggle, getting back up and heading to the stairs.

Back up in her room, Jackie re-read the note again and again ended up having a silly grin on her face when she was finished. Then she sat down on her bed and picked up the phone extension, dialing the number to Emil and Genard's apartment and feeling quite exhilarated by the whole experience.

"'Ello?" Genard's voice said on the other end of the phone. Jackie couldn't believe she was relieved that Emil hadn't answered the phone himself.

"Hey Genard! Dis is Jackie. Is Emil around?"

"Yeah, he's here. Maybe you can tell me what's goin' on? He's been pacin' around like he's waitin' for de world to end or somet'ing, an' whenever I ask him what's up, he won' tell me." Genard replied.

Jackie laughed. "He's waitin' for dis phone call, Genard, so maybe after he an' I talk, he'll tell you what's up. Could I talk to him now please?"

"Sure, hang on."

Jackie waited for a couple of seconds and then Emil's voice came over the phone. He sounded nervous. "Hi. I guess you got my note?"

"Oui. An' I've been walkin' around with a silly grin on my face ever since."

"You too? Oh good. I've been wearin' one of dose since I wrote de note. So…are you sayin' yes or no?"

"Emil, I would love to go out with you tonight. T'ank you so much for askin'. Dat was so sweet!"

"Is my suggestion fine or would you rather do somet'ing else? I'll leave it up to you." Emil replied.

"Dinner an' a movie is just fine. What time should I be ready?" Jackie asked.

"How 'bout if I pick you up at six? If dat gives you enough time to get ready, of course." Emil laughed, sounding much more relaxed and less nervous.

"Six is good. I can get Mercy to help me get ready if I need help." Jackie said.

"Okay. So, I'll see you den…"

"Great! Bye."

"Mercy, I need your help." Jackie said, poking her head into Mercy's bedroom a few minutes later. "I have three hours to get ready to go out an' I don' have a clue where to b'gin."

"You're goin' out?" Mercy inquired with a smile. She had no idea what was going on, but the idea that Jackie was actually going somewhere was nice.

"Oui. Emil asked me if I'd go out wit' him tonight. Dinner an' a movie. An' I need help getting ready."

"You're goin' on a date? Ooh, get your butt in here! I love dates! I remember b'fore Henri died, he used to take me out all de time. It's fun, an' it helps to forget de problems of de Guild for awhile."

Jackie entered Mercy's room and shut the door behind her. "I don' know what to wear, I don' know anyt'ing. I've never gone on a date b'fore."

"Okay, okay. Relax would you. Have a seat. First of all, do you own any semi-fancy clothes?" Mercy asked.

"You're kiddin', right?" Jackie demanded. "I practically grew up in de circus. De fanciest t'ing I own is my leather jacket an' one pair of jeans dat doesn' have any holes in it."

"Hmm…okay. I'm taller den you, so you won' fit into any of my clothes. We need help here. Hang on." Mercy pondered, picking up the phone and dialing a number. "T'ank goodness for Zoe." She paused and waited for Zoe to pick up her phone. Then, Mercy said, "Zoe? It's Mercy. Can you come over here as soon as possible? An' bring every piece of fancy or semi-fancy clothing you own…No, not for me. Emil asked Jackie out on a date an' we have to send her out in style…okay, great. See you in a few."

"Why…?" Jackie questioned, unsure of why it was so important for her to look good.

"Jackie. Listen to me. Emil isn' takin' you to McDonald's. You'll be goin' to a fancy restaurant. I'm not kiddin'. We have to have you lookin' good, as befittin' someone datin' a member of de Guild. It doesn' matter dat you're a member as well. Dat's not important. Wit' Zoe an' me takin' care of you, you'll be stunnin', which is what we're goin' for. Not only will you make an impression on other people, but you'll blow Emil's mind. Which is probably more important."

Zoe arrived twenty minutes later with a huge armful of clothing. "I brought some make-up and hair stuff too," she said breathlessly, tossing the clothes on the bed by Jackie and putting the other things on the chair.

"Great. Okay, so we have two and a half hours b'fore Emil gets here. Let's get to work." Mercy commanded with a grin. "If we can help it, de man will not be kept waiting…at least not too long."

Just before six, the girls were finished. Jackie laughed nervously as she studied herself in the full-length mirror on the back of Mercy's door. "I don' look like me."

The young woman she was seeing in the mirror didn't remind Jackie of the girl she had always been. Her hair was beautifully styled; her make-up was subtle but noticeable. She had on a purple silk blouse, and a long black skirt. Her outfit was topped off with chunky black shoes, and dangly silver earrings.

"Sure you do, Jack. You just look like a sophisticated, more grown-up you." Zoe assured her, coming back into the room. She had been downstairs to see if Emil was there yet. "And in case either of you want to know, Emil is waiting downstairs looking more nervous than I've ever seen him in my life."

"Oh mon Dieu…" Jackie breathed. "Aside from nervous, how else does he look?"

Zoe laughed. "Charming and handsome. You two are going to blow the people at the restaurant away. But it's past six…you shouldn't keep him waiting any more than he has to."

"Okay…um…t'anks you guys. I don' know what I'd do without you."

"Go out on your date lookin' like you always do, dat's what." Mercy joked. "But never mind that, you look incredible. Now go on. We'll follow you down."

Jackie took a deep breath and said, "Here goes not'ing." Then she opened the door and walked down the hallway to the stairs. At the top of the stairs, she paused and looked nervously back at her friends, who both frowned at her. She giggled and hissed "I'm goin', I'm goin'! Sheesh…"

She walked down the stairs, taking her time because she wasn't used to walking in heels. She stopped when she got to the bottom and found herself staring at Emil, who was sitting and talking with Jean-Luc. He was wearing a normal black suit and tie with black shoes. Both men rose when they saw her and she had a feeling the look on her face was the same one she saw on Emil's. The only word she could think of to describe how he looked was 'Wow.'

Emil walked over to where she stood, enthralled by how beautiful and majestic she looked. "Wow…Jackie, you look amazing," he said, his eyes studying her lovingly, a smile playing across his lips.

Jackie returned the smile, her violet-on-black eyes dancing. "So do you."

"You both look incredible. You make a stunning couple." Jean-Luc declared. "Now go on, an' have a good time."

Emil raised an eyebrow. "Shall we?" he asked Jackie, offering her his arm like any true gentleman would.

"T'ank you." Jackie replied, taking his arm and accompanying him to the door.

A few hours later, Emil parked his car in the driveway at the LeBeau mansion and walked Jackie to the door.

"Dis was so much fun, Emil. T'ank you." Jackie said.

Emil smiled. "You're welcome." He replied, taking her hand and drawing her closer to him. "I had a good time too."

As Emil bent to kiss Jackie, their arms went around each other and they found themselves sharing a deep, tender kiss. The bond between them was growing stronger everyday, and it amazed and thrilled them both to realize just how good it felt to be that close to each other. As the kiss grew more intense and passionate, they were interrupted by the weather. It had begun to rain.

They broke the kiss with laughter as the rain started to fall on them.

"I t'ink dis might be my cue to leave, non?" Emil said, still laughing.

Jackie sighed through her laughter. "Well I was kind of hopin' to get to stay out here for awhile longer, but I t'ink you might be right."

Emil looked at her with a small smile and took her face in his hands. He kissed her lips lightly and whispered, "I love you."

Jackie smiled back at him. "I love you, too," she said softly in return.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Emil said before turning to go back to his car and drive home.

"Okay." Jackie replied, opening the door. She watched him back down the driveway and drive away before she went inside, totally ignoring the fact that she was dripping wet.

"How'd it go?" Jean-Luc asked from the armchair in the living room.

Jackie looked at him, startled. "It was good," was all she replied, a smile gracing her fine features.

Jean-Luc smiled and nodded. "I'm glad. Good-night."

"'Night." Jackie told him as she began to walk up the stairs to her room. She hung Zoe's wet clothes up to dry and took off the make-up. Then she climbed into bed and lay there for a long time, thinking about how happy she was. Finally, for the first time in her life, she could say that she was actually, truly happy and content.

She fell asleep with a smile on her face and Emil in her thoughts.