Title: A Series of Sana Events
Summary: AU They met at a party, shared a night together and what would follow would make any cliché romantic comedy movie proud.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Author Notes: After skipping around from story to story I think I may have finally found my grounding, this may turn out to be my next proper chapter-y story, I'm not sure yet. Let's just see how it goes eh?
Chapter 1: The Party
She watched him from across the room. He was clearly the smarmiest guy here, he'd hit on half the women in the room and each of them had responded. He flicked his long blonde hair out of his eyes as he grinned, his eyes roaming over the body of his latest victim. Her arm trailed across his arm as she laughed loudly at his latest - and probably equally as lame - joke.
Probably adding to his growing ego, She thought darkly, shooting him death stares which he was oblivious to. Apparently Miss Blonde Bimbo Number 4 had his full attention, what with her wandering hands and hyena laugh. She pulled on her jacket's sleeves, something she did when she was nervous or annoyed. This time it was definitely annoyed.
Why she was death-staring a guy - who was obviously a player - and his next one-night-stand, was completely beyond her. Danny was getting her a drink and being his usual smothery self when it came to her wellbeing. She was glad for the breather, and still didn't know why she was spending it glaring at some random guy. Even if he was quite cute...
"Hey Honey, how are you doing?" The sickly sweet voice of her husband reached her ears and she felt a prickle as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She loved Danny, she did, but lately he was getting on her last nerve. She had no idea why, but whatever he did pissed her off to no end. It wasn't fair on him, but she didn't know what caused it, much less how to stop it.
"Fine." She grimaced and he handed her the glass of water.
"Do you want to sit down?" He asked gesturing to the chair, "Or are you okay with standing? Or do you want to lie down? I'm sure Libby wouldn't mind-"
"Danny!" Ana exclaimed, finally silencing her husband who was on the verge of breaking out into hysterics over the whole matter.
"I'm sorry, I'm smothering you aren't I?" He asked and Ana resisted the urge to ask who the pregnant woman was, and then ask 'But who's the one who's about to break into tears?'.
"Little bit." She agreed, he was taken-aback but then, she wasn't completely truthful. If she had been, her answer would have been 'Hell yes'.
"I'm sorry, it's just that it's a critical time right now, and nothing can go wrong."
"I know, but it doesn't mean you have to be so damn pedantic okay?"
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"Whatever." Ana's hands went to her forehead and she massaged her temples with her pointer and middle fingers.
"Do you want to go home?" He asked gently and she looked at him for a moment.
"How about you go home and I meet you there?" She suggested and his expression dropped.
"Uh yeah, sure, if that's what you want..." He leaned in for a kiss and Ana offered her cheek. He hesitated and then pecked her on the cheek and left.
"Ouch." She heard from behind her and turned to see the man from before standing behind her, leaning against the door frame with a cocky look on his face.
"You always stick your nose in other people's business?" She shot back and he held up his hands defensively.
"I was just making an observation." He defended himself and she rolled her eyes.
"How about you go make 'observations' in that corner?" She said, pointing to the opposite corner of the room.
"You're harsh."
"I'm honest."
"That too." He agreed and then looked down at her stomach somewhat pointedly, "You expectin' a bundle of joy?" He asked and her hand went automatically to her yet-to-be-swollen stomach.
"Yeah..." She said softly as she looked down at her belly, rubbing it gently.
"Well, congratulations." He congratulated her and she smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
"Was that your husband earlier?" He asked curiously and she nodded.
"Yeah, it was."
"Havin' marital trouble?" He asked and she didn't answer, "I'll take that as a yes."
"What are you, a shrink?" She asked harshly and he paused for a moment.
"Actually, I kinda am."
Well that made her pause.
"You. You are a shrink?"
"Relationship counsellor actually..." He admitted hesitantly and that caused Ana even more shock.
"What? I mean, I saw you hit on at least ten girls tonight."
"Hey, just cos I fix other people's problems, don't mean I ain't got my own to contend with. Plus, I wasn't hitting on them, they were hitting on me."
"Right, sure, of course." Ana rolled her eyes.
"I could give you my card if you want to-"
"No." Ana said immediately, not letting him finish the sentence, he looked at her, his eyebrows rising at her sudden answer.
"That usually means 'yes'."
"What is that drawn from your 'extensive experience'?" Ana asked coldly and he chuckled.
"No, common sense actually."
"Funny, I didn't think shrink's had any sense at all. Common or otherwise."
"You're funny." He said and Ana grimaced.
"The funniest."
"So, are you all wit or is there a real girl under all that?" He asked and she looked at him strangely.
"You gonna start shrinkin' me?" She asked suspiciously.
"Maybe." He answered the question with an open ended answer. Then she got a little sick of the verbal sparring game that they were playing and decided to jump right into the down and dirty, the reason behind the actions.
"Why are you here?" She asked and he shrugged.
"You've been watching me."
"What?" She asked, shock showing on her face. Sure, she had, but how had he known? Had he been watching her right back? Did he now think she was a stalker? Or that she liked him or something juvenile like that?
"All night. And that's why I'm here. First I thought you were just another girl who does that..." He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and Ana's eyebrows rose.
"Are you aware of how conceited you sound?" She interrupted him but he continued, undeterred.
"But then I saw your husband and how you treated him..." He trailed off and Ana found her temper beginning to rise at the unshakeable, narcissistic Southerner.
"What do you mean?" She demanded.
"You blew him off as if you were the popular girl, and he was a nerd with a crush."
"Nice metaphor." Ana said through clenched teeth and he grimaced.
"Thanks."
"But it wasn't anything, I just wanted to be alone for five second without-"
"Being smothered?" He finished and she nodded.
"Yeah."
"It happens to everyone, believe me." He sounded sure enough of himself, but Ana didn't quite trust him.
"What? Everyone has the urge to stab their husband in the eye just to see if it'll make him shut up?" She asked rhetorically and Sawyer - instead of being shocked as Ana expected - just shrugged and nodded.
"Well, it varies, but yeah basically."
Once again, with the making her pause. He really was bad for her health-wise when it came to the shock-factor.
"So how did you become a shrink?" She changed the subject and tried to make it a less shocking and somewhat disturbing topic.
"I was adopted when I was 8, my adoptive parents were shrinks. They helped me a lot when I was growing up, and I want to help others the way they helped me." He revealed his past a lot easier than Ana would have, and that earned him a sort of respect from her. But it was momentary.
"Why relationship counselling?"
"Most interesting, what with all the drama. I mean, hell yeah, makes for a good show. Fireworks and the lot." His answer was somewhat unprofessional and that was where any respect that had been earned, was lost.
"One of the worst reasons to be a counsellor." Ana remarked dryly and he just shrugged.
"It's also really cool when you get them to make up." He offered, as if trying to prove that he really wasn't in it just because he wanted to make fun of the broken relationships that turned up at his door.
"I don't like people." Ana changed tacks quicker than most other people could. It could almost be counted as a superpower.
"What do you do?" The curiosity was there for a good reason, after all what career could have no human contact at all? Maybe if you were the reigning anti-social royalty.
"Client Relations Co-ordinator." She answered and he burst out laughing, she rolled her eyes and continued, "Believe me, the irony is not lost on me."
He glanced at his watch and she looked around, noticing finally that the party had dwindled and the last few were now being ushered out the door.
"Well, it looks like we're going to get kicked out so," He stood and ruffled his hair before sticking out his hand, "It's been nice talking to you..." He trailed off, clearly waiting for a name. And she gave it with a smile.
"Ana Lucia. And you..." She took his hand and his grin widened.
"Sawyer. James Sawyer." He said in true Bond style but then dropped it, "But people just call me Sawyer. It suits me better than James, much smoother."
"Oh, and you are the epitome of smooth." She replied sardonically.
"I like to think so."
There was a pause and they looked at each other through the silence, their eyes speaking more than their mouths ever could.
"Will I ever see you again?" She asked, her eyes wide and honest as she looked up at him. He paused before answering, drawing out the inevitable as long as possible.
"I don't know." He replied truthfully. She sighed and nodded slowly.
"Okay well, if I do..." She trailed off, not quite knowing what to say next so he swooped in.
"If you do, I'll buy you a meal." He promised and she smirked.
"Who could pass up a free meal?" She asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Not me." He replied with a wink and she chuckled.
Then, with sad smiles and lingering looks, they walked out the door and went their separate ways. Until...
"Hey, you wanna have that meal now?"
Ana turned around to see Sawyer on the sidewalk, his tie now loosened and shirt untucked. He had a questioning look on his face, as well as a hopeful smile and his arms were wide open, inviting her to join him for a midnight snack. She thought about it for about a second.
"I could go for some pancakes." She replied, her voice slightly raised so it could travel the long distance that separated them. She could see his face light up and her own did the same.
"I know just the place."