Chapter Text
It was our first date.
I was very nervous. And it showed. I had put on my favorite dress for the evening. Nothing too fancy. Just a dark green one, hitting just below my knees. A simple pair of cream colored heels. Rose had insisted on doing my make-up and my brown hair was pulled back into neat little curls. After we were finished with the primping she asked me to do a little twirl.
"Rose, I feel ridiculous." I had turned around slowly, smoothing down the dress I could feel her eyes on me "Do you think he will like it?"
Rose laughed softly "He would be stupid to not like you." She smiled at me "Maybe he has a brother or a friend."
"Oh, Rose. You really are a true friend. Are you sure it isn't too much? I've never really been one for makeup or being fancy."
"Millie? Hush." There was a knock at the door "He's here! I'll go get the door. You just stand there looking pretty." She giggled softly.
I gulped softly. My first date. I had never been asked out nor had I ever been this dressed up. Lord, Henry must think I am some country bumpkin. Why in the world would he be interested in me? I pushed those negative thoughts out of my mind as soon as I saw him walk in, a huge smile on his face.
"I'll just leave you two be." Rose grinned, giving me a wink before skipping up the stairs to her room. I had mouthed a silent 'thank you' before I watched her disappear.
Henry slowly hobbled over to me. He had needed a cane to help him walk lately but at least he was back on his two feet once more. His hat was in his other hand as his gaze pierced mine. He was dressed in a suit, not uncommon for most men these days. It was almost a sky blue in color, a little white hanker chief in his breast pocket. I could see an 'H.W.' stitched in red lettering. His shoes were shined and his hair smoothed back, parted slightly on the side. And then those eyes. They were bright, vibrant with a hint of something else in them as well that I just couldn't quite put my finger on. I always got lost in them, but I would never complain.
"Wow. You look... stunning." His smile was soft, stepping closer to me, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek "Absolutely beautiful."
I almost forgot to breathe at this point, nodding slowly "You look great too, Henry. I like that color." I did a slight curtsy at his praise "It's just a little something I found laying around. Had to do a bit of sewing to get things right where I wanted them. Nothing too fancy.." I had trailed off into a ramble, which tended to happen a lot when I was nervous.
"Millie?"
I kept talking, eyes avoiding his.
"Jane.."
My eyes found his once more "Henry."
"Are you ready? I am rather famished." He offered his arm for me to take. I grabbed my purse and took his arm as we both walked out the front door. He was a gentleman, opening the car door for me as I slid inside. I had insisted on helping him into the driver's seat but he protested with a smile. After a few minutes a loud rumble could be heard as he started up the car, lights shining on the dark asphalt.
"So, I have a full evening planned for us. Hope you are ready." He chuckled softly.
"A full evening? Is that so?"
"And I'm not going to tell you what we're doing either. It's going to be a surprise, but I know you are going to love it."
"Rather confident there, Henry." I teased him.
He nodded "I told you, I don't plan on letting you go anytime soon. And I mean it."
All I could do was blush, his words swirling around in my mind. He had glanced over to me a few times while he drove. It didn't take long for us to reach our destination for the evening. It was a dance hall and restaurant, one of my favorite places. 'The Blue Lagoon' it was called, I gasped softly.
"Henry! No we aren't." I couldn't stop smiling "This is one of my favorite places! How did you know?"
"Rose told me that me that you really enjoy music. I might have also asked around the hospital ward as well." He chuckled softly, parking the car and stepping out to open my door for me, offering his arm once more after I got all situated.
It was a bit chilly for the evening but Henry kept me warm as we headed inside. Women were dolled up, spinning and twirling to the groove of the music. Men were dressed up in their suits and military uniforms, a soft glow of the lights above cascading down on the scene in front of them. The doorman took their coats as they slowly made their way down the steps, finding a booth to the right side of the room. He insisted that I sit first, always the perfect gentleman. I watched him closely as he sat down slowly.
"You're healing rather well. Not too much longer now and you won't even need that cane." I said with a smile.
He nodded "It feels like it has been a long time. I'm rather glad I got hit, I wouldn't have met you if I didn't."
"Henry, you could have been killed." The mother in me was starting to come out a bit "I've seen it far too many times."
"As have I." He winced at my words, frowning for a moment.
I took his hands in mine "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I couldn't even imagine. I didn't just ruin the evening, did I?"
"Of course not." He gave my hands a squeeze "It's just you and I right now. Let's focus on that." A waitress came over to give us some menus at the right time, I silently kicked myself for my comment but pressed it out of my mind, ordering a water. Henry ordered a Scotch on the rocks as I looked over the menu, deciding on a fresh salad with lots of greens and other fresh garden items. Henry decided on a steak and potatoes. The band continued to play as we place our order, the waitress fetching our drinks and disappearing into the crowd of people.
A soft tune began to play from the band, a man stepping up to the microphone to begin to sing 'Only Forever' by Bing Crosby. I looked out at the band with a soft smile, not noticing Henry get up and offer his hand to me.
"Care to dance, Millie?"
I nodded and stood up, taking his hand in mine as we made our way to the dance floor. I twirled slowly, feeling him pull me close to him as our hands entwined with each other. My other free hand on his back, his other free hand on my waist. We slowly swayed to the music playing. It felt like it was just him and I dancing, everybody else seemed to disappear around us. I could hear him humming softly, looking into my eyes. I had to look away suddenly. My stomach was flip flopping all over the place. I could feel his heart racing in time with mine. What was this between us? Was he feeling the same as I was? Was this love?
I was snapped out of my thoughts as the song ended and the band decided to take a break, perfect timing too as our food was sat down at our table. "Henry, our food is ready." I had mumbled, not wanting to leave his embrace.
"Just waiting on you." He said with a soft chuckle as we parted and headed back to our booth to enjoy our meal.
We dug into the meal, watching the other couples out on the dance floor, both of us chatting with each other about whatever we could find to talk about. He was passionate about cars and talked about the friends he has made back in the war and I tried to not bore him about fabric shopping and making my own clothes. He was patient and kind to me all evening and by the end of the meal, we had danced about six more times and he picked up the tab. We left 'The Blue Lagoon' and decided for a bit of a walk down by the river. I didn't want to push him too far, the nurse in me coming out, so we settled down at a bench. I shivered slightly at the crisp, cold air swirling around us and he just pulled me close to him, wrapping an arm around me.
It was quiet for a few minutes until he looked at me "I think I'm falling for you." He muttered softly.
"You're what?" I replied, looking back into those green eyes I had a habit of getting lost in.
"Falling for you."
"That's what I thought you said."
"I can't help it, Millie. You've been amazing to me these last few months. I can't stop thinking about you, watching you from across the room as you tend to the other fellas. Wondering what you're doing when I haven't seen you. You're so gentle, kind, caring. I made you a promise and I intend on keeping it."
"You mean the whole courting me properly?"
He nodded "I would very much like to, Millie."
"I would like that."
"We can go slow. I don't want to scare you off or anything. Just don't want to let you go." His hand made its way into mine, our gaze never faultering. I leaned forward to kiss him ever so softly, that was my answer. It was yes and he knew it. I could feel him smiling against my lips, parting just a few moments later, watching the moon and stars above shimmer off the reflection of the river in front of us.
I returned back to the house I shared with Rose around midnight, kissing Henry goodnight once more before going inside.
"I saw that! I can't believe... Millie!" Rose was heard coming down the stairs, curlers in her hair.
I laughed softly, hearing the car outside pulling away as Henry headed to his apartment. "Rose, you wouldn't believe the night I had."
"Tell me! Tell me! I want all the details!" We both sat on the couch, my friend going wide eyed and clapping loudly as I told her all the details. We stayed up for awhile until we both turned in, all I could think about was Henry. His eyes, his smile, his lips. I was falling for a soldier, a man, but more importantly, I was falling in love with Henry Winchester.