So, this is my planned 'one-shot' which morphed into a three-shot lol!
I have no idea what happened there! :O

But this is not in anyway related to my long fic, A Secret Not So Secret; this is a separate story altogether. And I know I need to start writing chapter 14 of it - I barely begun it! :O Don't kill me...

Oh, and the title - Ik! Not exactly the best in the world; they never were my strong point lol
And this of course is a Jack x Ann fan fic - cause they are also an awesome couple! There needs to be more fics of them! :D

So this is written in 1st person past tense... or at least I attempted it; I don't know, but I found it a bit difficult and I probably messed up in places lol Oh well...
No, but seriously, if there's something wrong with it - pleeaase let me know! I wanna improve! lol!

Anyways, enjoy! :D

"Ha! I tolddd youu I'dd winn handss dowwwn!" a female voice hiccuped.

I glanced up from wiping down the counter. Yup. Another one of Karen and Duke's drinking contest. When will that stubborn vintner learn that he will never beat the wine-loving Karen at her own game? Like nobody, nobody could pack 'em away like my friend Karen, even Kai couldn't. And you would expect him to at least be able to hold his liquor with all the exotic liquors he would drink on his travels. Hehe. Now that's a funny story: let's just say that his pride and ego was majorly shredded when Karen whooped him in drinking. Though he drove me nuts with his whining after the drinking contest... and few days after that and basically the rest of his stay. I had to refrain myself from beating him senseless with any object I could find. But, Dad always said that it was bad for business, which it is. It would have been cool though.

But just like Kai, he still tries to beat her. Some men I guess are just stubborn that way.

As I looked around the Inn, I noticed that Manna wasn't here yet which was surprising considering the amount of ruckus that had recently happened during the contest; she should be here soon though in about five... four... three... two... one...

"Duke!"

Just on time. If I were Duke, I would try to get my bearings and run. But with all that liquor in him, he won't be moving much for awhile. I wouldn't want to be him when he wakes up sober.

"Ann, there's a pile of dishes in the kitchen that still need to be done. Would you kindly go do them?" a familiar voice belonging to my Dad interrupted my thoughts.

"But Dad!-"

"I'm not going to ask you a second time." His mustache twitched. That was always a sign not to push the matter, even though I had a perfectly good reason not to do them.

Defeated, I slowly dragged myself into the back where our kitchen resided.

Dishes... ugh! Yeah, I enjoyed cleaning as much as the next person—honest! Those were the times where everything around me melted away and my thoughts became my only focus. I loved those times. But dishes—ugh again! They were always a nightmare! I didn't know if it was the gross factor of it (even though I've done a hell of a lot grosser jobs... which I won't mention) or if it was... Gah! I didn't know exactly; I just didn't like doing them!

And to top it off, I had to wash them by hand! Why? Cause Dad said that it cleans them better... or like that. Really, I never paid attention to his reason.

Halfway through washing those dreaded dishes, a shiver went down my spine. I knew that something unpleasant was coming my way. It's almost like a sixth sense to me... well, maybe not exactly, but I've always liked to think that it was.

Sure enough, just when I thought things couldn't get more dreadful, I heard a voice which quite frankly I didn't want to hear at the moment. "How's my favorite waitress doing today?" Yup! I was right! Something unpleasant...

Seriously though? Was he asking for an imprint of a frying pan on his face? I had enough to deal with—mainly these stupid dishes—I certainly didn't want to deal with him as well. Sighing, I finally turned around and answered, "Just peachy, Jack, just peachy till you waltzed right in here like you own the place." I partially lied; I was not peachy by all means. Miserable would be the correct term. But I wouldn't dare tell Jack that.

Stupid dishes...

"Aww, Ann, that hurts you know." He tried sounding all hurt, but I knew he was pretending. He just wanted me to play along which naturally I stupidly did.

"You'll survive, Jack."

"Why yes I will with you around."

"Go away." I turned back facing the sink, hiding a rather small blush. He had been doing that lately... or I should say more frequently.

As if I had just invited him over, he sauntered towards me. Course, I didn't see him per say, but a glimpse of his figure in the corner of my eye showed me that he had no plans on leaving anytime soon. He leaned his arm on the counter, almost knocking down some dishes. "Dishes?"

"Ya got a problem with that?" I snapped as I turned my head towards him.

"No."

"Good! Then you wouldn't mind doing them for me then!" I certainly didn't want to do them. And if I could get him to do it, that would make my day... sort of. I just had to think of a way to blackmail him into it.

"What would your dad say? Besides, I rather watch you do them; I enjoy watching you, Ann." Naturally, he had to wink which was lately getting quite annoying fast. Like seriously! Did he recently took lessons from Kai? Kai... I made a mental note to put itching powder in his purple underwear next summer he arrives. That'll show him! Hehe.

Anyways, what kind of guy would wear purple underwear to begin with? I should have put itching powder in them looong ago. Purple underwear... Only Kai.

I quickly snapped back to reality, realizing he had been staring at me for quite some time which to say the least was uncomfortable. How long was I dazed out? Aww, crap! He probably thought I too was staring. Stupid Kai and his purple underwear...

Jack was fortunate: fortunate that the frying pan wasn't in the sink; that it already had been washed; that I couldn't really smack the smirk off his stupid face. But then I remembered that a pot was still in the sink, soaking. I preferred if it was a frying pan: it has more surface area; but a pot certainly was just as good. I evilly grinned as I took it out of the water. Jack saw this and immediately backed away. So he wasn't dumb after all, though it's hard to tell sometimes the way he purposely annoys the hell out of me.

"Ann? Uh, what are you doing?" he asked somewhat nervously.

"Now? Trying to get a certain someone the hell outta here so that I can finish these—these dam dishes! Now get out!" I yelled, putting on my best glaring face.

But of course he couldn't be like anybody else and leave—no! This was Jack after all, the one person who could really get on my nerves. And to be honest, I didn't even know how or why.

So what did he do? He relaxed his somewhat tense/nervous stance and just smirked. Smirked. At me! Holding a pot! He certainly had a death wish. Maybe he really was as dumb as he looked. His stupid smirk only angered me all the more, but not nearly as much- "You're quite pretty when you're angry, Ann." -as that!

Even though I was slightly blushing from what he had said, I was in attack mode, ready to hit him with the pot with all my strength. But of course dear ol' Dad had to come in right at that moment. Of all the moments, it would have to be that one...

He stopped and looked at us and we at him; then his attention turned to the pot in my hand. Yup, busted. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a disapproving look. "Ann, just what are you planning to do with that pot?"

Oh, not much, Dad. I just wanted to smack Jack senseless with this pot here so that he would finally leave me alone. But knowing Jack he probably wouldn't have...

That's what I wanted to say, but I lamely managed, "I, uh... air dry the pot?" thinking nothing of the fact that the pot had foams of soap still on it.

"Mmmhmm..."

"I..." I dropped my arm, which had the pot, down. I knew that we were going to have another one of those talks, specifically about "beating the customers to a pulp" and how it's bad for business. I thought back to the the incident that I did. Poor Kai... he had no idea what was coming to him, but he had pushed my buttons the wrong way that day; so it served him right! Hehe.

"Well..." Jack cut in, glancing around the room, "This is awkward. I think I should get going now: gotta feed my chickens."

At night? Why the hell did he come here to bug me in the first place? Or was he just saying that to 'excuse' himself. Argh! Sometimes I just wanted to punch him. Or... No! A thousand times no!

"Your always welcome here, Jack." my father said. I slightly groaned and rolled my eyes. Jack certainly wasn't welcomed here... at least not by me.

"Thanks Doug." he remarked as he headed for the exit, which was about freaking time! As he left though, he had to say something to me. "Always a pleasure, Annie."

He did not just call me that! I raised the pot back up, ready to dash at him; but my dad came over and snatched the pot out of my grasp. And even if he hadn't, I wouldn't really have the chance to inflict some pain to Jack since he was long gone. That still wouldn't have stopped me from chasing after him with it.

Throwing the pot back in the sink, my dad began the scolding, "Ann, what has gotten into you? You don't go around with a pot in hand and threaten to beat someone to a pulp!-"

"I wasn't threatening, Dad. I actually was going to do it."

"Ann!"

"It's true!"

"Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking, young lady!" he sternly rebuked, "Jack's a nice boy; I don't understand why you have to lose your temper at him. What did he ever do to you?"

Annoy the hell outta me that's what.

Though one thing was nagging me: when did all of this happened in the first place? I couldn't really answer that cause I really didn't know myself. He just... annoyed me—annoyed me with his stupid face, his stupid look, his stupid jokes, his stupid everything! Though oddly enough, he wasn't that bad to look at and I could see myself-

What the... for crying out loud! I don't like him!

Did I? Nah, course not! He's-

"Ann!" My dad's annoyed tone jolted me back from my runaway thoughts.

"I don't know! He just annoys me!" I shouted, flailing my arms. Surprisingly, I remembered what my dad asked which normally when thinking I don't. I was quite proud of myself.

"My dear daughter..." he trailed off, shaking his head. That was definitely a sign for something sentimental coming. But- "I guess I won't be seeing any grandkids before I die." he sighed heavily as he went from angry mode to depressed mode.

Of course... It would have to be that; I should have seen this coming since it had been awhile since Dad brought the subject up. Marriage—something I wasn't planning anytime soon. I was, after all, quite happy being Ann—the wonderful, spectacular, awesome Ann! And single! Marriage was sooo off my radar. But why did he all of a sudden bring it up? Now of all times... after Jack had-

Ah hell no!

Was my dad insinuating for me and... dare I say it? No, no, no, no, just no! Jack as a husband? Spending twenty-four/seven with him? Hell no! Spending the day with Rick, the chicken lover, sounded a hell of a lot better than that. Though in retrospect...

No, nope, no, just no.

I pushed those thoughts away, well, at least tried my best. "Dad! How many times I have to tell you! I am quite happy the way I am! I don't need some guy in my life! And certainly not Jack!" Okay, so that wasn't what I had planned to say... sort of. Dammit! Why did I have to bring Jack up when my Dad didn't? He only hinted at it!

He raised his eyebrow, "I never said Jack, Ann. But now that you mention him..."

"Dad!"

"Ann, he would make a great husband to you: he's hard working, responsible, and a nice young man. Get to know him. I'm not going to be around forever, you know." He then started towards the door, which kind of shocked me. I did, after all, had 'threatened' Jack with a pot; ya think Dad would ground me or something, not like I was really complaining. Turning his head towards me, he mentioned one last thing, "And please, Ann. Don't threaten anymore customers." And he left.

It wasn't a threat... I thought to myself. And I already know him. "More than I want to..." I muttered to myself.

I looked back to the remaining dishes and sighed heavily. "Back to these dam dishes..." I muttered again to myself while taking a dish out of the sink to rinse.

Did I mentioned that I hated washing dishes?