"Yes, b'y," Jack replied a little inanely, "this here's the place! Your place, dat is. Where you sleep an' such."

The Newfoundland actually cleared his throat in a slightly nervous gesture, the first real sigh of embarrassment or shyness he'd displayed since before even meeting Penny. Giving her hands a squeeze, he leaned in for another light kiss upon her lips before straightening again. His grin was lopsided but honest as he looked at her. "Time of my life, Penny. Guaranteed, oh yes! Hearing you talk an' seen' your face an' holding' your hand, it's been... Well..."

His smirk became a full fledged smile, and Jack suddenly laughed out loud at himself. "Look here at me, trying to find words what I ain't got! Some stunned, I am! By now you're t'inkin' I'm an angishore of a lubber, no doubt, standing' here with me gob hangin' open! Late as it is, me having to get up early to me work, an' still runnin' off at the mouth!" Shaking his head, he looked at her ruefully. "So t'marrow, den? I'll be by after your shift and mine, an' we'll take another stroll about, eh? For the now, I just wants to say it's been a date like no other an' dat your some company, you is, Penny."

Having said his peace, Jack still stood there. The grin on his face was goofy in infatuation, and he couldn't quite find the wherewithal to let go of her hands while fearing all the while his palms might be sweating on her. For several more moments he could only look upon her as his own special sort of goddess before chuckling again and shaking his head at his own silliness. When Jack finally did let go of Penny's hands and began to retreat down the hallway, it was not without a number of glances back over his shoulder as though to reassure himself that she was still there. Even after he had turned the corner and the red haired baker was out of sight, the man was tempted to turn back around that corner to see if she might still be there. He refrained, however, not wanting to seem too desperate to her. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the last of the cookies she had made for him. All the way back to his own quarters, he chewed slowly and thoughtfully.

There were those who thought the end of the world was the end of life, he pondered. More fools they!