Work Text:
This is the time.
Tonight's the night.
No putting off till tomorrow. That's not her style. No, honey, it ain't.
New Jersey is putting on that little black dress tonight, yes. The one with the sequins and the plunging neckline because fortune favors the bold. Put on the stilettos so tall it could kill, yes. Add a bit of color on the cheeks, a bit of gloss on the lips, and a swipe of red to make the eyes pop.
Hair? The tresses are already immaculate, thank you. Let it flow, let it flow like rolling waves, free and untroubled.
Cologne? Keep it light, keep it airy. It's not a funeral. Just enough for the lucky someone to notice and want a little taste.
She's her own fairy godmother. The magic is hers to make. Spellbound, she will leave that person be, until nothing but only the two of them remain. She and that lucky someone.
And she'll be damned if she didn't get her dance.
Oh, they will have their dance, alright. And by the stroke of midnight, a happily ever after. Live forever. Die trying.
Watch out, Manhattan.
They're gonna tear the town apart tonight.
Set it aflame.
Or maybe not. Just a regular tango is just as well.
Time will tell.
But only if she gets a move on.
Now or never.
This is the night.
For another spark, for another chance, for affirmation.
For forever.
Oh, honey, the things that could happen in New York.
All the fairytales that could be.
But for a story to be made, a beginning must be had.
And for a beginning to be had, the first step must be taken.
And for the first step to be taken, one must be ready to dare.
And New Jersey is as ready as she will ever be.
She will not repeat that mistake. Even donkeys don't fall in the same hole twice.
"Come on, Jersey," she told her reflection. "Let's get the hell outta here. We have a date with destiny."
And her destiny is waiting.
***
Between that fateful night in Saigon to the even more fateful night on the road between Yokosuka to Tokyo and tonight, a lot has taken place. The good, the bad, and somewhere in between.
The best she ever had, the worst she ever had.
They laughed, they cried.
They clung, they let go.
But enough of the past.
No more looking back.
Not while her feet keep moving forward. That is one sure way to fall down.
And New Jersey's had enough of falling down.
And once she takes that hand, she'll make sure not to let go, metaphorically and quite literally.
She'll make sure to hold it tight, even though it's a sweaty mess. Knowing Midway, hers will be.
And there she is, right there. Waiting, just like she said she would be.
"Hi, honey!"
Their eyes met and New Jersey's pleased as a punch for leaving Midway breathless, just like she knew her darling would. Breathless and just a little bit flustered, which is a look that Midway is so, so good at.
Gotcha, darling. You like it, don't you?
And Midway's hands are indeed sweaty. But then again, so is hers.
Hey, perfect match.
Ain't it just the greatest?
Into the hall, into the dance.
Waltz like the Pacific on calm days and sway like the Atlantic when a storm is brewing.
Who's leading who, again?
New Jersey doesn't care.
One is not enough.
Give her more and more and more, please.
So she could have it all, so she could have it all.
"Are we doing alright, Jersey?"
"Yes, honey. Oh, yes, you are."
And a kiss for good measure, the first for tonight.
"You...look wonderful, Jersey."
Oh, she's enchanted, alright.
Enchanted and in love.
"And you look very handsome, honey."
She's enchanting, too.
Right now, they are making up for all the dances they could have had. All the dances they should have had.
It's a long list, but hey, they got time.
Right now, the world is passing them by.
"Oh, honey, I'm so...sorry. So sorry..."
"Me, too, sweetheart."
"I'm such a fool, aren't I?"
"Shush, babe. We all were. But now I've found you again and got the chance to start over; no chance in hell I'm passing that up. Now...just hold me closer, okay?"
A searing kiss until they are out of breath is a much better idea, and Midway does agree.
Gasping for air and doing it again, and again, and again, and again.
Swing more, Sinatra, swing more.
The dance must not end too soon.
Keep the love alive, New Jersey. Keep the fire burning.
Take her again.
Dance away, dance away, an ode to themselves.
Here's to hands held, strong and steady like an anchored ship.
Here's to always seizing the days.
Here's to getting wiser.
Here's to always wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
Here's to forever.
Hey, New York, dare you to find two people more in love.
Hey, New York, dare you to find two more foolish, stupid, and stubborn lovers.
Hey, New York, dare you to find anyone happier than them right now.
Hey, people watching, dare you find your own?
Because New Jersey dares and New Jersey has.
Because Midway dares and Midway receives.
The hands point to midnight, and the magic lives on.
The lips she captured with her own, the arms that wrapped around her, the eyes that saw only her, the smile that only her words could draw out.
The hearts
that beat
only
for each other.
"Hey...will you take me again, Jersey? All of me."
Gods, can Midway be more irresistible than this?
Does she even need to ask?
"Won't be dreamin' of anything else, honey. You know that."
And New Jersey did, and she will always .
For right now, all is right.
Right now, things are as they are meant to be.
Right now, they want it all.
And they will have it all. Everything they could ever hope for.
And it starts right now.