Being A Donaghy [30 Rock; Jack/Liz]
TITLE: Being A Donaghy
CHAPTER 10: Danke Schoen
FANDOM: 30 Rock
PAIRING: Jack/Liz
SPOILERS: Through "Corporate Crush"
RATING: PG
SUMMARY:
*****
Liz awoke to the feel of Jack gently nudging her, his whisper just inches from her ear. "Lemon... Liz? We're here."
She grunted sleepily and pushed herself off his shoulder, feeling the material of his tux immediately for wetness. Jack chuckled as if reading her thoughts. "You're fine. Nothing got on my tux."
She went to adjust her glasses (which weren't there -- she always forgot when she wasn't wearing them) and rub the sleep out of her eyes, and jumped slightly when she felt his fingertips on her face, tucking stray bangs behind her ear. Liz met Jack's eyes and was almost taken aback by the affection (really? No, it couldn't be) in his stare and in his smile. When her bangs were safely behind her ear again, he drew his hand back. "There are those eyes."
Liz raised her eyebrows. "My shark's eyes?"
Jack shook his head. "Lemon, I should apologize for how I used to speak to you. I think my attempts at complimenting you always somehow became... misconstrued."
Liz felt herself smiling in spite of herself and watched him climb out of the limousine. "So I don't have shark's eyes? That's good to know."
Jack came around to her side and opened the door for her, extending his hand. "No, Liz, you don't."
She let herself take the proffered hand, and allowed him to help her out of the limo. Maybe today she'd allow him to treat her like a princess. Just for today, though. "Thanks, Jack."
Jack just smiled and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, leading her into the Plaza. "You do have very intense eyes, though," he told her sotto voce as they walked through the lobby together.
Liz fought not to turn in to him bashfully upon noticing all eyes going to them as they walked. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes again nervously. "Really?"
"They're beautiful."
Liz tried not to replay that comment in her head too many times.
They stopped together just outside the closed double doors of one of the Plaza's lavish ballrooms. Jack turned to her then and, noticing the apprehension on her features, he covered the hand that was on his arm. "Ready?"
Liz placed her free hand against her stomach, trying to calm the butterflies -- she wasn't sure if it was Jack, or the idea that she'd be on his arm all night playing the part of the beautiful, blushing bride. She shook her head and exhaled shakily, "No."
Jack smiled reassuringly and then nodded to Jonathan, who was waiting eagerly to open the doors for them. "We're ready."
Jonathan pulled open the double doors with a wide, excited grin and entered before them, loudly announcing, "Ladies and gentleman, may I present Jack and Elizabeth Donaghy!"
Liz's eyes widened at seeing all the people -- easily two- or three-hundred -- clapping for her and Jack. She turned slightly into his body, almost (weirdly) seeking protection. "Oh, God."
"I'm sorry. Come on," Jack whispered. He curved his hand around her waist and pressed her to his side, guiding her into the ballroom. Under his breath, he assured her, "I never asked him to do that."
As they strolled in, Jonathan ran up to them with wide eyes, asking. "Was that just how you wanted it, Mr. Donaghy?"
Liz, still trying to disappear into Jack's side, threw a scowl at him through her lashes. This was going to be a long, long night.
*****
"Did you enjoy the dinner buffet?" Jack asked as he returned to the head table with two glasses of champagne.
Liz took the one he extended to her and smiled. "Yeah, I was nicely surprised. I was thinking it was gonna be salmon or caviar, or... something gross, but to have chicken and pizza there too? Nicely done." She raised her glass to him in a mock toast.
Jack smiled and took his seat beside her. "Well, it is your wedding too. And as I've said all along, I want you to feel comfortable, so I had the caterers incorporate some of the food I know you and your writing staff enjoy. Look at them over there. So happy." He nodded toward one of the other twenty tables, where her writing staff was congregating, happily scarfing down their pizza.
Liz chuckled, watching Pete throw a napkin at Frank, who had a ring of pizza sauce around his mouth. She then turned to Jack and laid a hand on his wrist. "Jack, I want to thank you."
He covered her hand with his and squeezed it; Liz tried not to jerk her hand back in alarm as he returned smoothly, "For what, darling?"
She closed her eyes for a split-second while she made a mental note to dig into him about the stupid pet names. "For making this whole thing as stress-free as possible for me."
He nodded, then pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Well, then I hope you'll forgive me, because this next part is sure to be stressful for you."
She raised her eyebrows, asking slowly... trepidatiously... "Uh... why?"
Jack didn't respond verbally; he just turned to look over his shoulder, at the DJ booth that was now set up. Jonathan was already excitedly clutching a microphone, ready to make yet another announcement. "Ladies and gentleman, if you'll now turn your eyes to the dance floor, it's time for Jack and Elizabeth's first dance as husband and wife!"
On cue, the smooth melody of what was unmistakably a Sinatra song, began to flow from the speakers. Jack rose to his feet and extended his hand to her, pulling her up and whispering another, "I'm sorry."
"Oh boy," Liz breathed, and followed Jack (her husband, holy crap -- would that ever not freak her out?) onto the dance floor. She stiffened slightly when his arm went around her waist and drew her close, her other hand clasped in his.
They began to sway as Sinatra crooned, "I've got you under my skin, I've got you deep in the heart of me..."
Liz tried not to look at all the wedding guests avidly watching her and Jack... Jenna and Pete in particular. Jenna had her hands clasped over her heart excitedly, positively gleeful and on the edge of her seat (literally), while Pete just looked mildly entertained by the whole thing. She jumped when she heard Jack's voice, right by her ear.
"Relax, Lemon. Remember we're newlyweds."
"I know," she sighed. That's what was freaking her out.
"Do you want to leave? We could leave."
She lifted her eyes to Jack's, who wore an expression of concern. She relaxed a little at the sight and drifted closer to him. When his arm tightened around her, she fought the butterflies. "No," she finally responded, "I'll be fine. I think it's just... the crowd."
Jack smiled and turned them slowly so she was no longer facing all the guests. "Don't worry about them; half of them are drunk already, just enjoying the colors of the lights on the DJ stand."
"I can't believe you got a DJ, by the way. Was that for me, too?" She smiled.
He shook his head, effectively wiping the smile from her face. "No, I'd just rather not hear a mediocre wedding singer butchering The Chairman."
"Oh." She let herself relax completely, resting against him and following his lead as Sinatra continued to croon, "I'd sacrifice anything come what might, for the sake of having you near..."
Even though her brain screamed at her not to ask, Liz was helpless to resist. "Why did you choose this as our..." she swallowed and forced the words out of her mouth, "wedding song?"
Jack inhaled deeply through his nose and folded their clasped hands over his heart, turning them slowly in time with the music. Finally, he replied, "It seemed fitting."
Liz just watched him as they swayed, taking in his comment and trying to figure out just what the hell he meant by it. "You said you weren't in love with me."
He shook his head in agreement. "And I'm not. But..." He looked down at her and smiled, and Liz damned her knees for betraying her; for weakening slightly. "I'd be lying if I said you haven't grown on me substantially, Lemon."
Her eyebrows flew up. How the hell do you respond to that?
Jack flicked a smile as if able to read her thoughts, and continued to turn them in slow circles on the dance floor. His grip on her loosened just a little, and his hand slid to the small of her back. Liz's posture straightened accordingly. "I care for you, Liz. I enjoy your company. And... over the past few months I've realized I have this unusual need to..."
She sucked in her breath in anticipation for what he'd say.
"To keep you from getting hurt, from getting upset. So, I guess you've gotten under my skin."
She let out her breath -- in relief or disappointment, she had no idea. She really did not want to know. At all.
When the too-revealing song drifted into a Wayne Newton song, Liz was all too glad. She raised her eyebrows at Jack in question. "'Danke Schoen'?"
He smiled a bit and told her, in German, "This one seemed somewhat appropriate, too."
As her husband swung her round and round on the dance floor, in time with the slightly up-tempo song, Liz decided that at her first opportunity, she had to talk to Jenna. Jack was pretty much falling in love with her and she didn't know what the hell she could do to stop him.
TBC
Songs referenced: I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra, and Danke Schoen by Wayne Newton. Click the links to download!
{x-posted to 30_rock and jack_liz}
CHAPTER 10: Danke Schoen
FANDOM: 30 Rock
PAIRING: Jack/Liz
SPOILERS: Through "Corporate Crush"
RATING: PG
SUMMARY:
*****
Liz awoke to the feel of Jack gently nudging her, his whisper just inches from her ear. "Lemon... Liz? We're here."
She grunted sleepily and pushed herself off his shoulder, feeling the material of his tux immediately for wetness. Jack chuckled as if reading her thoughts. "You're fine. Nothing got on my tux."
She went to adjust her glasses (which weren't there -- she always forgot when she wasn't wearing them) and rub the sleep out of her eyes, and jumped slightly when she felt his fingertips on her face, tucking stray bangs behind her ear. Liz met Jack's eyes and was almost taken aback by the affection (really? No, it couldn't be) in his stare and in his smile. When her bangs were safely behind her ear again, he drew his hand back. "There are those eyes."
Liz raised her eyebrows. "My shark's eyes?"
Jack shook his head. "Lemon, I should apologize for how I used to speak to you. I think my attempts at complimenting you always somehow became... misconstrued."
Liz felt herself smiling in spite of herself and watched him climb out of the limousine. "So I don't have shark's eyes? That's good to know."
Jack came around to her side and opened the door for her, extending his hand. "No, Liz, you don't."
She let herself take the proffered hand, and allowed him to help her out of the limo. Maybe today she'd allow him to treat her like a princess. Just for today, though. "Thanks, Jack."
Jack just smiled and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, leading her into the Plaza. "You do have very intense eyes, though," he told her sotto voce as they walked through the lobby together.
Liz fought not to turn in to him bashfully upon noticing all eyes going to them as they walked. She brushed her bangs out of her eyes again nervously. "Really?"
"They're beautiful."
Liz tried not to replay that comment in her head too many times.
They stopped together just outside the closed double doors of one of the Plaza's lavish ballrooms. Jack turned to her then and, noticing the apprehension on her features, he covered the hand that was on his arm. "Ready?"
Liz placed her free hand against her stomach, trying to calm the butterflies -- she wasn't sure if it was Jack, or the idea that she'd be on his arm all night playing the part of the beautiful, blushing bride. She shook her head and exhaled shakily, "No."
Jack smiled reassuringly and then nodded to Jonathan, who was waiting eagerly to open the doors for them. "We're ready."
Jonathan pulled open the double doors with a wide, excited grin and entered before them, loudly announcing, "Ladies and gentleman, may I present Jack and Elizabeth Donaghy!"
Liz's eyes widened at seeing all the people -- easily two- or three-hundred -- clapping for her and Jack. She turned slightly into his body, almost (weirdly) seeking protection. "Oh, God."
"I'm sorry. Come on," Jack whispered. He curved his hand around her waist and pressed her to his side, guiding her into the ballroom. Under his breath, he assured her, "I never asked him to do that."
As they strolled in, Jonathan ran up to them with wide eyes, asking. "Was that just how you wanted it, Mr. Donaghy?"
Liz, still trying to disappear into Jack's side, threw a scowl at him through her lashes. This was going to be a long, long night.
*****
"Did you enjoy the dinner buffet?" Jack asked as he returned to the head table with two glasses of champagne.
Liz took the one he extended to her and smiled. "Yeah, I was nicely surprised. I was thinking it was gonna be salmon or caviar, or... something gross, but to have chicken and pizza there too? Nicely done." She raised her glass to him in a mock toast.
Jack smiled and took his seat beside her. "Well, it is your wedding too. And as I've said all along, I want you to feel comfortable, so I had the caterers incorporate some of the food I know you and your writing staff enjoy. Look at them over there. So happy." He nodded toward one of the other twenty tables, where her writing staff was congregating, happily scarfing down their pizza.
Liz chuckled, watching Pete throw a napkin at Frank, who had a ring of pizza sauce around his mouth. She then turned to Jack and laid a hand on his wrist. "Jack, I want to thank you."
He covered her hand with his and squeezed it; Liz tried not to jerk her hand back in alarm as he returned smoothly, "For what, darling?"
She closed her eyes for a split-second while she made a mental note to dig into him about the stupid pet names. "For making this whole thing as stress-free as possible for me."
He nodded, then pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Well, then I hope you'll forgive me, because this next part is sure to be stressful for you."
She raised her eyebrows, asking slowly... trepidatiously... "Uh... why?"
Jack didn't respond verbally; he just turned to look over his shoulder, at the DJ booth that was now set up. Jonathan was already excitedly clutching a microphone, ready to make yet another announcement. "Ladies and gentleman, if you'll now turn your eyes to the dance floor, it's time for Jack and Elizabeth's first dance as husband and wife!"
On cue, the smooth melody of what was unmistakably a Sinatra song, began to flow from the speakers. Jack rose to his feet and extended his hand to her, pulling her up and whispering another, "I'm sorry."
"Oh boy," Liz breathed, and followed Jack (her husband, holy crap -- would that ever not freak her out?) onto the dance floor. She stiffened slightly when his arm went around her waist and drew her close, her other hand clasped in his.
They began to sway as Sinatra crooned, "I've got you under my skin, I've got you deep in the heart of me..."
Liz tried not to look at all the wedding guests avidly watching her and Jack... Jenna and Pete in particular. Jenna had her hands clasped over her heart excitedly, positively gleeful and on the edge of her seat (literally), while Pete just looked mildly entertained by the whole thing. She jumped when she heard Jack's voice, right by her ear.
"Relax, Lemon. Remember we're newlyweds."
"I know," she sighed. That's what was freaking her out.
"Do you want to leave? We could leave."
She lifted her eyes to Jack's, who wore an expression of concern. She relaxed a little at the sight and drifted closer to him. When his arm tightened around her, she fought the butterflies. "No," she finally responded, "I'll be fine. I think it's just... the crowd."
Jack smiled and turned them slowly so she was no longer facing all the guests. "Don't worry about them; half of them are drunk already, just enjoying the colors of the lights on the DJ stand."
"I can't believe you got a DJ, by the way. Was that for me, too?" She smiled.
He shook his head, effectively wiping the smile from her face. "No, I'd just rather not hear a mediocre wedding singer butchering The Chairman."
"Oh." She let herself relax completely, resting against him and following his lead as Sinatra continued to croon, "I'd sacrifice anything come what might, for the sake of having you near..."
Even though her brain screamed at her not to ask, Liz was helpless to resist. "Why did you choose this as our..." she swallowed and forced the words out of her mouth, "wedding song?"
Jack inhaled deeply through his nose and folded their clasped hands over his heart, turning them slowly in time with the music. Finally, he replied, "It seemed fitting."
Liz just watched him as they swayed, taking in his comment and trying to figure out just what the hell he meant by it. "You said you weren't in love with me."
He shook his head in agreement. "And I'm not. But..." He looked down at her and smiled, and Liz damned her knees for betraying her; for weakening slightly. "I'd be lying if I said you haven't grown on me substantially, Lemon."
Her eyebrows flew up. How the hell do you respond to that?
Jack flicked a smile as if able to read her thoughts, and continued to turn them in slow circles on the dance floor. His grip on her loosened just a little, and his hand slid to the small of her back. Liz's posture straightened accordingly. "I care for you, Liz. I enjoy your company. And... over the past few months I've realized I have this unusual need to..."
She sucked in her breath in anticipation for what he'd say.
"To keep you from getting hurt, from getting upset. So, I guess you've gotten under my skin."
She let out her breath -- in relief or disappointment, she had no idea. She really did not want to know. At all.
When the too-revealing song drifted into a Wayne Newton song, Liz was all too glad. She raised her eyebrows at Jack in question. "'Danke Schoen'?"
He smiled a bit and told her, in German, "This one seemed somewhat appropriate, too."
As her husband swung her round and round on the dance floor, in time with the slightly up-tempo song, Liz decided that at her first opportunity, she had to talk to Jenna. Jack was pretty much falling in love with her and she didn't know what the hell she could do to stop him.
TBC
Songs referenced: I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra, and Danke Schoen by Wayne Newton. Click the links to download!
{x-posted to 30_rock and jack_liz}