[AU] ... from the 'meet at a different time' meme

[freshoffthefarm]

After two years at the Agency, Annie's job hadn't gotten any better (or worse). Sure, it had it's downsides - namely, being shot at (or being shot), but the biggest one had to be the Agency parking lot.

She could never, ever find a parking spot.

Of course, the morning that she'd gotten up early and proceeded to spill coffee on her first outfit, had to jump start her car and then fill a tire with air? She managed to get behind the chatty son-of-a-bitch in the compensation car at the guard shack. She sat there, plotting the ways to key his car without actually getting caught and then he'd moved on.

Smiling at the guys in the shack, she showed her ID, waited until they'd looked under her cars with mirrors, and then picked up the pace on the way to the agent parking lot.

It just wasn't her morning.

The short cut she took through the visitor lot took her right past the spots in front for all the diplomats and the Agency hotshots. She didn't see Mr. Compensation trying to adjust his parking until she'd plowed into his rear bumper.

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[freshoffthefarm]

To say her day had been uneventful was an exaggeration. It had been less than boring and she finally gave in and took a shower to cap it all off.

"Hey," she said when she answered, sinking onto her couch dressed only in her towel. "How was your day? How are all the horses?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"It was my usual Sunday. I feel more or less recharged for the week ahead, though I think my mother suspected something was different."

He smiled when she mentioned the horses, "There are only two horses and they're both doing fine."

[freshoffthefarm]

"She suspected something was different?" Annie grinned herself, totally forgetting about the horses. "Please don't tell me that your mother has some kind of sense that tells her when you get laid. That's just... weird."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

Clay laughed, "No she doesn't. I think it was because of my general shift in mood. I think she noticed it last week too."

[freshoffthefarm]

The laugh died in her throat and the smile froze on her face, though it didn't fade away entirely. When she spoke, her voice was soft, like she didn't want to disturb what he might be saying, or scare him off.

"What do you mean, your shift in mood?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I'm happy." He wasn't scared at all, and the implication was that Annie was the one that made him that way.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Oh." And she was back to smiling. "Well, maybe she's just a little concerned that you weren't happy to be horseback riding with her before."

She stood to walk to her bedroom, dropping the towel on the edge of her bed so she could get dressed in something for bed.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"That could be the case, but I don't know. I think she really believes that there is an outside force involved."

Clay got comfortable on his couch, hoping this was going to be a longer conversation.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Just a sec--"

Annie set the phone down on her dresser long enough to pull on her underwear and a t-shirt, then lifted the phone and crawled onto her bed before resuming the conversation.

"Sorry about that. But she didn't ask?"

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"No, she didn't. Though I suspect if it goes on much longer she will."

[freshoffthefarm]

"If you're happy much longer or if this goes on much longer?" She asked it as she adjusted herself under the covers, though he probably could hear all the shuffling going on.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"If I'm this happy with no explanation."

He wasn't going to question anything that was going on the other end of the conversation.

[freshoffthefarm]

"And you don't want to tell her." It wasn't at all a judgment, just a statement. "You could always tell her that work is going really well?"

She wasn't above helping him find excuses for his mother.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"I think she'd like you, actually." Which meant, he wanted to tell his mother, he just didn't want to tell her, yet.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Do you think she might be a little concerned that you're s-- spending time with someone who's twenty years younger than you?"

Never let it be said that she couldn't ask a hard question. Except for where she said 'spending time with' instead of 'sleeping with' to make it just a little less crass.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"To be honest, I don't really know how she'd feel about your age. I doubt it will be much of a problem."

He knew his mother well enough to know that Annie's age would equate to possible grandkids in Porter's mind, whether she was conscious of it or not.

"I think she'd just be happy that I found someone that makes me this happy."

[freshoffthefarm]

It made her smile and feel all warm inside when he said it that way and she looked down at her lap, picking at her bedspread when she finally spoke again.

"I'm glad that I make you happy," she said quietly. "You make me happy, too."

Catching sight of the clock, she gave a small sigh.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Long day?"

He knew she spent it mostly relaxing, but sometimes that was exhausting too.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Not that bad, no, but I'm already in bed and I'm sure that tomorrow's going to be a long day. Monday's usually are."

It was usually something that they threw at her at the beginning of the week that left the rest of the week something to be desired.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"If you find yourself needing a break, I'm available for coffee."

[freshoffthefarm]

"I usually go for coffee around eleven."

That was an offer if there ever was one.

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Then I'll see you at eleven." He was sure she could hear his smile.

[freshoffthefarm]

"I'm looking forward to it," she said, her voice soft. "'Night, Clay."

[fakes-death.livejournal.com]

"Goodnight Annie."

Clay hung up the phone, happy he got to speak to her before she fell asleep for the night. At least he'd have coffee with Annie to look forward to to get him through his boring morning.