freshoffthefarm | [MEME] -- #5, the AU from Hell

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[MEME] -- #5, the AU from Hell

[From here, as requested by

fakes]
--

It was an op in Vegas, which was so weird since most of her domestic ops stayed in the DC Metro area, and Annie had done her job well. The extra babysitting had been extra annoying (when wasn't it?), but he'd come along to visit an old friend... or so he'd said.

She hadn't seen hide or hair of him during her mission, but when she went to have a drink in the bar at their hotel late the night before they were supposed to leave, she found him sitting in a dark corner. When didn't he sit in dark corners, really, but she rolled her eyes and put a smile on her face to join him.

Their breakup and subsequent dealings had been difficult, and after that State Dinner, she'd gone out of her way to keep her distance from him as much as possible. That didn't mean they couldn't enjoy a drink or two (or seven) while in Vegas.

Unfortunately--

When Annie woke to the pounding in her head, she almost couldn't open her eyes. When she finally managed, she ignored the immense nausea she felt and peered at the walls in the hotel room she was in. She hadn't been given this nice of a room, not on the Agency's dime, no. This was something else. Turning, she caught sight of a man's head and her eyes widened, causing the pounding to pick up and she clenched her eyes shut again with a groan.

Clapping both hands, right over left, on her head, she felt something heavy and lifted them again almost immediately. Seeing the wedding ring set on her left hand, she gasped.

"Oh, my God."

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"I know. You've never rushed me into anything." Though he couldn't speak for the previous evening.

"We're going to be fine, Annie. I know it." He leaned over and kissed her hair, since it was easier to do that than anything else before taking out his music player so Annie could sleep.

Edited 2012-07-11 04:13 (UTC)

Hearing him try to reassure her, followed by the tender kiss to her forehead was what she really needed to help her take a small nap. The flight attendants did their part by staying away for most of the flight.

She woke with a start a half hour before the plane was ready to land, a little confused.

Clay read a book and listened to his music while Annie napped. When he felt her move he decided to give her a progress update, "On our way back from Vegas, we're going to land in Dulles in about a half hour."

He assumed she remembered she was still married. Otherwise that was going to be difficult to forget.

"A half hour? That's not long at all." She hadn't forgotten at all.

Giving a little stretch, she shifted in the seat, then undid her belt so she could stand. "I'm going to use the bathroom. Be right back."

In there, she washed her face and fluffed her hair, taking the time to give herself a little pep-talk in the mirror. The rings were still on her hand and she had circles under her eyes, but she was upright and her headache was mostly gone.

Coming back out of the bathroom, she gave the flight attendant nearby a quick smile and asked for a coke. The woman gave it over to her and the two of them made small talk while Annie drank the can of cola in a hurry. Then she handed the empty can back to the woman and went back to her seat.

Obviously feeling much better, she took Clay's hand. "Had a coke and a smile and I feel better. How're you doing?"

While Annie was gone Clay put his book and music player away in his bag then took a look at his wedding ring again. At that moment, he promised himself that he was going to do everything he could to make their relationship work. It was important to him that it succeed.

When she came back he greeted her with a smile, "A little tired, but other than that, just fine."

"You know," she said, leaning closer so that her next comment wasn't overheard by the rest of their section of the airplane. "I'm guessing that with our newlywed status and how happy we obviously were with ourselves? We probably didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

She eased back and gave him a slow wink before reaching for her purse again and some gum for their descent.

Added to how little clothing they found themselves wearing that morning he was inclined to agree, "I am sure you're 100% correct."

Though for the life of him he couldn't figure out how Annie acquired a "Bride" t-shirt.

"I can't lie, I'm looking forward to another hot shower and my own bed." This time she gave him an apologetic look. "No offense."

She remembered well just how comfortable his bed was, but hers wasn't too bad, either. More than anything, she was looking for a good night's sleep before what was promising to be a very long day. Just then, the pilot's voice came over the PA system, reminding them to put their tray tables up and to make sure they were buckled in.

"It's okay, really."

And it was. Neither one of them expected to be coming home with the other, much less married. Annie's out of her own bed for most of the year. The idea of getting to spend time in it was a luxury, and Clay didn't want to take that away from her.

When the pilot's voice came over the intercom he reached for Annie's hand again. Take offs and landings were always his least favorite part of air travel.

"You okay?"

She cupped his hand with both of hers and looked over at him once again. She'd had no idea he was a nervous flyer at all, so it was a little comforting to see that side of him.

"Just fine." He smiled a little bit and supposed that his nervousness stemmed from the whole day.

His life was completely different and in Vegas it didn't bother him. Vegas was the opposite of wherever you were from. This marriage was the opposite of everything he'd thought he'd have. Now he had to fit all of that back into his life in Washington.

Taking him at his word, Annie slid her phone back into her purse and settled in for the last few minutes of their flight. There was a bump and then they were on the ground.

Annie squeezed his hand, then stood. Once she had her purse and her carry-on from above her head, she took a deep breath. "Are you in long-term parking or...?"

She was wondering where they were going to have to say their goodbyes.

Clay shook his head slightly, "Car service."

It wasn't exactly the best place to say goodbye to his wife but it'll have to do.

"Right. Of course."

Lowly agents drove their own car, but they got compensated for their parking when they turned in receipts. At the edge of baggage claim, she paused.

"I'll call you when I get home so you know I made it okay?" It was ridiculously awkward and she finally stepped forward and kissed him quickly. "Coffee tomorrow? I'm sure you'll hear from Joan as soon as I'm done."

Clay nodded, "I missed having coffee with you."

When she mentioned Joan, he visibly winced. She was not going to be happy, and she was going to be sure that he knew just how unhappy she was.

"How about dinner at my condo? We can talk afterward."

"Coffee and dinner?" She shifted her bag to her other hand as she nodded and smiled. "It already sounds just like old times. Eleven at Starbucks? I'll be interested in hearing how upset she is at you."

"I don't know if I'm interested in it or afraid of it." Joan upset was something he'd done his best to avoid it during his entire career.

"Eleven at Starbucks sounds great. I'll talk to you tonight and see you then."

"Bye."

She gave a tiny wave over her shoulder as she walked out the door and into the hot summer night in DC. It didn't take her long to retrieve her car and head home.

Once there, she removed her rings and put them in her safe, along with the rest of her documents from the trip. Then she got ready for bed before calling Clay.

Webb spent his ride back to Alexandria contemplating how he was going to tell his mother that he got married to Annie in Las Vegas and came up empty. There was no romantic story and no memory of what actually happened. He supposed the best way to do it was the truth right from the start.

When he got home, he got ready for bed, and answered the phone when Annie called, "Glad you made it home okay, Mrs. Webb."

"You're never going to get tired of saying that, are you?" Her tone was teasing, but she wasn't upset, obviously.

Tucking her feet under her sheets, she settled in and turned out the light next to her bed.

"No, I don't think I ever am going to get tired of it."

Nine months ago he was sure that he'd never have a shot, now this.

"Feel good to be home in your own bed?"

It gave her a ridiculously happy thrill to hear him say it since, nine months earlier, she didn't think she'd ever have a chance.

"It really does. I think that morning is going to come way too early and tomorrow is going to be way too long. I'm probably going to pack a bag and stay at your place after dinner, if that's okay?"

He agreed with her assessment of the following day. It was going to be entirely too long and entirely too exhausting since he anticipated having to field questions about what happened in Vegas.

"That's just fine." They were married after all.

"Okay," she said, "then I'll see you tomorrow."

Annie paused for a brief moment, then added as an afterthought, "Goodnight, Mr. Webb."

Clay chuckled a little, "Goodnight, Mrs. Webb. See you at eleven."

And with that he hung up the phone. At least coffee dates were back on.

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[MEME] -- #5, the AU from Hell

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