"Yet again, due to the paintball game last week the mother's day dance has been indefinitely postponed," The dean's usual announcements echoed off the walls due to the fact that he was talking with the mic pressed to his lips. He only did this when he was 'in a tizzy' about something, and nothing gets him tizzy-er than missing a dance.

Jeff smirked, "Okay, I guess we can all breathe a sigh of relief."

"Not a good mother's day Jeff? If you need anyone to talk to I just took a class on Freud-"

"No, Britta. And matter of fact I had a pleasant mother's day. All my mom likes doing is cooking so it's all good."

"And contributing to your ego…"

"Someone had to raise this awesomeness."

"I got to meet my half-brother," Abed started, "He was fine, but I was disappointed in his lack of Tarantino knowledge."

"Abed, isn't he two?" Shirley was trying to be gentle.

"Your point?"

Troy started to groan, "Ah Mother's day, another holiday I have to refuse to recognize."

"You're not really missing out on much." Jeff was transitioning to his usual position on the table: Feet up, phone out. As he was talking to Troy he noticed Annie, "You have been particularly 'aww'-less today."

She looked as if she had just been woken up, "Hm?"

"Tired from a Jewish tradition? I hear they are very complicated. You know if you are Christian it's much more relaxed." Another one of Shirley's subtle suggestions for baptism.

Troy looked around at the rest of the group, "That's offensive, right?"

"Correct Troy," Jeff dryly answered, "Shirley, stop trying to convert us."

"You'll be regretting this when I can't get you all into heaven." She was using her low voice.

Jeff just rolled his eyes, "Something wrong kiddo?"

"No no, just tired."

Annie was never just tired. This was the woman who put together a wedding themed graduation ceremony in a day, all the while studying for her tests and for that fact acing them.

A bell rang out. If Greendale couldn't be like a real university it would sure as hell try to be a real high school. As high school goes, Abed would point out, that all interactions would be perfectly timed to the needs of the day, and thus for the lull in conversation they all started packing up their things. The only one left was Annie, even Jeff was going to teach his class.

"You aren't going to class?" Just because he was a teacher now, doesn't mean he is no longer above being tardy.

"I don't think I'm gonna go."

"Annie Edison skipping a class?"

When she didn't reply, Jeff started looking at the door. He didn't want to get into whatever he did to piss her off. Then again, the doe eyes.

Relucatantly, he sat back down, "What's wrong?"

"Long weekend, that's it."

"Annie, you're not one for the short clipped sentences. Believe me, you can tell me any family drama. That's one thing I'm actually qualified for."

Her fists started to tighten, and she could no longer make eye contact, "Let's not pretend you aren't the master of apathy. I know you don't want to hear, and that's fine with me." When he continued sitting there she just sighed, "I'm sorry, just don't worry, your students are waiting."

"They'll get the same experience whether or not I'm there." Jeff turned his chair towards her, "And, you shouldn't avoid the question. Was it just hard? I know you haven't seen your mom since-"

"Since I checked myself into rehab."

"She isn't worth the trouble. I spent way too much time and emotion wasting it on my dad."

For the first time in the entire conversation, Annie looked back at him, "Believe me I know, but that's not the issue." It took a moment for her to be able to regain eye contact, "I have been cut off for years and that's been fine. Better than fine, actually. For the first time in my life I had started to feel peaceful. My mother was a constant source of stress in my life and I was actually relieved to have her out of it. But this weekend, I got some mail forwarded from her… the papers are done. I'm officially disowned."

"It's just a paper…"

"It's finality. Come on Jeff, even you don't deal with that well, remember?"

Jeff shook his head, she didn't even know about the daydream, or nightmare, he had, "Okay, you got me there."

"All I'm saying is that I have always been fine with the fact that I wasn't going to be close with my mom. When she was gone I was so happy. I did not want her anymore," Annie's voice started to shake, "But it's clear now she doesn't want me either."

"Oh, hey there, um," Jeff was hitting himself in his mind. So. Damn. Awkward. So, in the least awkward way he could for the moment, he started for a hug. Luckily, just like the classwork, Annie did ninety percent of the work for him and closed the gap.

"How did you do it?" She mumbled into his chest.

"What?"

"Your dad, how did you get over it?"

"I'll let you know when I do." Jeff squeezed her tighter to him as he leaned his head into her hair. He would later tell himself it was so she could cry without worrying about anyone passing by the study room.

Jeff Winger did not make it to his class that day.