[Future] ...

[freshoffthefarm]

The previous night had been a very intense, very long event.

His financial situation had been the involved and intense discussion, while Annie's had been, 'I still owe four thousand on my Audi', and she still wasn't entirely sure why he'd wanted to have such a thorough discussion about their money, other than that he wanted to marry her 'someday', but now that they were back together, Annie knew that there were other things they ought to discuss.

As usual, dinner was taken out, this time at her favorite Italian place not far from the Agency. He was talking, and she was listening... kind of. Really, she was thinking about the reasons they'd broken up, and the things that had taken place after. Not as concerned with the bread basket as he was, Annie stared at her glass before she finally picked it up.

Sipping at her wine, aware that he was still talking, she interrupted with, "Do you think I'm a slut?"

Comments

[freshoffthefarm]

"All you said was 'okay'. Like I'd never meant anything to you. Not an 'I'm sorry' or anything for what had happened before." She felt incredibly sad just reliving all those memories. "I went home that night alone and cried myself to sleep."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Right before that you told me to leave you alone, I was agreeing with you. What else was I supposed to do? You did tell me I was sick because I was thinking about the last time we attended one of those dinners."

It came out sounding a lot more hurt than he intended, "Then, after all that you told me you hated me." And that was the last time they said more than a perfunctory greeting to each other for five and a half years.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Because all you said was 'okay'!" It came out sharper and louder than she intended, and she looked around before taking a deep breath and sinking back into her chair. "Because you didn't even try and fight. You just... gave up."

Annie sighed. "It doesn't matter. I'm sorry I made you feel used, Clay. That wasn't-- I just wanted you to go away after that and you did."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"That's what you asked me to do."

[freshoffthefarm]

"I know. Because I was angry. I felt like I had a right to be angry. I wanted you to go away and you did," she repeated.

Polishing off her second glass, she set it down and propped her hand on her chin. "I just wanted to know if you thought I was slutty because of it."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"No."

It was a relatively simple answer, and it was exactly what he thought. For a long time he thought she was cruel for doing what she did, but never a slut.

[freshoffthefarm]

It made them even since Annie though he was cruel for doing what he did, but in the end, neither of them had won out.

"Okay."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay nodded once then signaled the waiter for the check. He didn't feel much like eating and figured Annie didn't either. The conversation dragged up a lot of emotions that he would have rather forgotten. He paid the bill, then went to pull out Annie's chair.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie stood and once he'd helped her into her jacket, she finally raised her eyes to look at him. The pain and hurt was there, but she said with emotion, "I am sorry. And I never stopped loving you, even when I said I hated you. I didn't."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I know. If you really hated me, you wouldn't have come to my mother's wake, her funeral, or that bar afterward, when I really needed someone. You were the only one who thought to look for me."

That said more to him than her declaration of hate, six years earlier.

[freshoffthefarm]

"You weren't the only one who kept tabs." As they walked toward the exit, she slipped her hand into his. "I worried about you after she died. And after that, um. Incident? I knew I couldn't go back to Jai."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I can't thank you enough for taking that scotch glass out of my hand, and staying the night. I really didn't want to be alone."

The night was already much more emotional than he thought, and he really couldn't help himself.

[freshoffthefarm]

After the valet had their ticket, Annie turned to Clay, her arms going around his waist. Hearing the emotion in his voice and pairing it with hers resulted in tears appearing in her eyes. A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth and she nodded once.

"Hopefully, you won't be alone anymore, at all, Clay. I'll always be there for you, I promise."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"We both will."

He tipped the valet, and helped Annie in the car before getting in himself.

[freshoffthefarm]

[It wasn't quite was she was hoping for, but she nodded and got into the car, putting her seat belt on. Once he was settled, she reached out for his hand without saying a word.]

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay drove in silence for a while before looking over at Annie while stopped at a light, "Can't imagine my life without you any more."

[freshoffthefarm]

"I don't want to imagine my life without you," she said quietly. She looked at him and added, "Six years was pretty grim."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Yes it was. By the way, at that state dinner I couldn't take my eyes off you. You looked fantastic."

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie smiled, despite herself. "You look good all the time. Which is why I always had trouble keeping my hands to myself."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I just never told you and thought you should know."

It was one of the reasons he was able to recall the evening with such clarity. The way she looked that night ranked up there with the dinner they attended as a couple. He didn't plan to bring up that he also noticed her shampoo changed. She'd accuse him of taking lessons from Auggie.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Thank you."

Rather than clutter the compliment any more than she already had, she just left it simple and squeezed his hand before going back to looking out the window as they drove.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay pulled in the driveway of her townhouse with the fantastic view. "I think we need to keep this once a week date night tradition going."

He got out of the car, and got his dry cleaning out of the back seat, before opening Annie's door for her, "I like showing you off."

[freshoffthefarm]

She couldn't help the laugh as she stood. "Showing me off? That's what you're doing?" She kissed him briefly, then fished her keys out of her purse. "You are so amazing, I don't know what to do with you."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"You don't have to do all that much with me, other than never leave, and go to Paris because we never got to do that, even though we talked about it."

Someday he was going to actually make it to Paris with Annie, he was determined.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie unlocked the door, then set her purse down and shrugged out of her coat before reaching out and pulling him close.

"Some day, we'll go to Paris. I promise. For right now, though, I'll settle for the bedroom." She figured the 'never leaving' was pretty much a given from here on out.