Title: The Lines Blur
Pairing: Ann/Ben
A/N: Leslie and Ben never dated. Set around the end of season 4. Completely AU from canon.
He didn't know what made him do it. It just kind of happened.
When they first started spending time together it was because they were both alone. Both nearly forty with no significant other and no sign of that changing anytime soon. He was surprised by how much they had in common. She, it turned out, was almost as big a nerd as he was. Something she'd only admit when she had her guard down. It was comfortable. It started when he really wanted to go see a film that was coming out and couldn't find anyone to go with. He wasn't that close to Ron, Tom had plans with Jean Ralphio and April decided for Andy. He couldn't even convince Chris. Something about needing to run an extra ten miles that week. He was just about to leave the building when he ran into her. She was finished for the day and had the night off from hospital duties. It seemed like a good enough idea at the time. He'd always liked Ann and had promised Leslie that he'd try to get to know her. "My two favourite people. You have so much in common. You guys should spend more time together." She had urged him one day.
"Hey Ben, how've you been?"
"Good. Yeah. Do you have any plans tonight?"
"Nothing that the dvr can't take care of. Why?"
"Wanna go see a movie?"
"Are you really that desperate?"
"Chris turned me down."
"Now I feel sorry for you."
"I figured if you weren't busy you would save me from going alone."
"Why not. You're buying me popcorn though. Large."
"I can agree to those terms."
Going to see films slowly became watching films at her place. On Saturdays they'd watch Grey's Anatomy marathons and she'd complain about how unrealistic it was but she never changed the channel. He tried to get her to watch some of his shows. She made it through one episode of Games of Thrones before declaring that it wasn't for her. About a month into their new friendship they started meeting up for lunch, and dinner if her late shift allowed. Before they knew it they were in a routine. No one noticed their closeness. Even Leslie was too busy with her campaign to discover she'd finally gotten her wish.
They were friends. Everything was great and as normal as it could be in Pawnee which is what made the whole thing worse. He wanted to kick himself. Hard. It slipped out. They'd been walking back in the direction of her house after having celebratory drinks with the others at the Snakehole. Leslie had won. Not that it was a surprise to anyone. She was Leslie Knope and she was the best Pawnee had to offer. They'd been the last to leave after putting a very drunk Leslie in Donna's Benz. It hadn't even been a topic of conversation. They'd been talking about the campaign, Andy's latest injury and the parks department. "We should move in together." He didn't know who was more shocked, her or him. What surprised him was her reaction.
"Yes." She didn't hesitate, immediately agreeing with him. She'd stopped being cautious Ann months ago. Around the same time they bonded over superhero movies and '90s bands. Her lease was almost up anyway and a change would do her good. Living with Ben would be new, different. It'd be a first for her, usually she was dating the guys she lived with. She had a saving complex, it was why she always wanted to be a nurse. Somewhere it spilled into her love life. Only going for men who needed to be fixed, healed. Guys who were broken. But not Ben. He was different and she liked that.
A/N: Should I continue it or just leave it as a one-shot? Thoughts? Review and let me know what you thought. :)