Thanks bunches to everyone who reviewed!!!! So excited that almost all of you seemed interested.

I have been informed that this idea has been done before, but A.) I've never read any of those stories, so this is completely my own idea. B.) I've never written on this idea before, and goodness knows my mind doesn't function like a normal person, so the twists will more than likely be VERY different.C.) If you still think it's a bad idea for a story, you don't have to read it.

Kay, now on with the story...

CHAPTER 2

One Night Stand

Anne Cramer sighed as she threw her purse into the nearest chair then flopped down on her sofa. She put her head in her hands groaning. Of all the ways she imagined her day ending this wasn't one of them. She felt like such an idiot. That woman, Pheobe, had been able to read her like a book. It was still strange to think that she had let her secret slip so easily. She wasn't showing much yet, so how had that woman done it? She was only four months along! Four months...another five and she would have a baby on her hands. If Chris didn't contact her, she'd have to raise a baby on her own. Unless...abortion? No. She couldn't do that. She had made the choice to sleep with a stranger, now she would bear the consequences. Still, she didn't know what she was going to do. There was no way she could raise a child on her own. Anne sighed, deciding that she wouldn't think about it. Not until Chris contacted her. He had a say in what was going to happen after all. Best to just try to take her mind off of the situation for a while.

Grabbing the remote control, she flipped on her television and switched to the news. Apparently someone had been killed. Cheerful stuff as usual it seemed. She sighed and shut off the set. She couldn't take anything depressing right now, and she had a feeling that drama was all she was going to find on the television. She had enough drama in her own life. How had she ended up in such a messed up situation anyway? Some alcohol had been involved, dancing, gorgeous green eyes that looked up at her from a bar stool...

She had just finished her medical schooling and was out celebrating her success with a few of her best friends from her class. All of them had worked so hard to get where they were, and they just wanted to have a little fun before their internships started at the hospital.

Anne was more excited than her friends, mostly because she had been right about moving to America. She knew that her father, a doctor in one of San Fransisco's best hospitals, could get her into a better program than she could have even hoped of getting into back in London with her mum. He had, and now she was well on her way to becoming a doctor.

The young woman had taken a huge risk in leaving London behind. She had left the only home she had ever known, friends she had been close with since childhood, and even her love was left behind. Her friends understood, and she still was at least in contact with them by phone and e-mail, but her boyfriend...well, he thought she should stay in London, marry him, then stay at home raising their sons. Needless to say, things hadn't ended well when she told him that wasn't her dream, that her career was more important to her. But, none of that mattered now. She had made the right choice in leaving for the States, and was now reaping in the many rewards.

The young doctor-to-be had been dancing the night away without a care in the world, and had intended to keep dancing, then she saw him. He was sitting at the bar all by himself nursing a beer. He looked so sad as he stared down at his drink between swigs. His sorrowful appearance was what caught her eye. The club's lights were casting a dark shadow over his face, preventing her from seeing what he looked like. However, he must have felt her looking at him because his head came up and he turned his face toward her. When he did, her life changed forever. Those eyes...haunting jade green eyes that seemed to cry in pain...in loss. Even though it was obvious that he was depressed, the man still forced a small smile to his lips and nodded his head at her just slightly. The gesture caught her by surprise and the next thing she knew, she was walking over to him.

When she reached him she smiled and extended her hand. "Anne Cramer."

"Chris Perry." He replied, his voice much softer than she had imagined it would be.

She sat on the stool next to his, and turned toward him. "So, you don't look like you are enjoying yourself much. Pity. This place is fabulous."

"I'll give the owner your compliments."

"You know the owner?"

The man nodded. "Yeah." He shook his head, frowning in confusion. "Why are you talking to me? I'm not exactly good company. Drunks usually aren't."

"You looked like you needed someone to talk to. Besides, I'll be the judge of whether or not you are a good companion. As for the drunk bit...I somehow don't get the impression that you are intoxicated. Perhaps on the way, though. More than likely because you are miserable."

Chris chuckled at that. "Are all the English as blunt as you are?"

"No, I must say that I'm an oddity. My father is an American. I suppose I pick up a little of it from him."

The man merely nodded again as response, then took another swig from his bottle. When he put it back down he stared at it for a moment, as though he would find the answers to all his problems if only he studied that brown bottle for just a moment longer. After a while his soft voice broke through the music, catching her attention in a way that nothing had before it. "Have you ever thought about your existence? How you became who you are?"

"Sometimes. I think everyone thinks about that sometimes."

"It's all I can think about lately. How the future is so fragile, and one single decision could change me forever. Turn me into someone I wouldn't recognize in the mirror. Like the real me never even existed. Maybe even erase me all together..."

Anne lifted her eyebrows, surprised by the topic choice. Even more suprised at the level of thinking this strange, semi-intoxicated man was capable of. He was a mystery...she had always loved a good mystery growing up. She had always felt an inherent need to solve them. Some things don't change. "I must admit, you have me intrigued. It isn't everyday I meet a man in a bar who chats me up by talking of quantum theory. It is even more interesting coming from a man who thinks himself drunk."

Chris turned toward her now, looking at her full on for the first time. After a moment, he frowned slightly as though attempting to study her very thoughts. His gaze un-nerved her. It was so intense. Not just intense, though. It was so many things. Sad, lost, hurt. Most of all she had the strange feeling that those beautiful jade eyes had seen too much. That this stranger knew things he wished he didn't. She was thankful when the gaze softened, and he gave a short, airy chuckle before the corner of his lips turned up just enough for her to notice. He shook his head, causing Anne to wonder for a moment if he was being condescending, or whether he was honestly just amused by something she had said. Her answer came almost as quickly as the thought had entered her mind. "I suppose I am an oddity too in that regard."

"What a pair we make then." She replied lightly.

"Guess so."

The med. Student smiled, as she pushed her jet black hair from her face. It was something she did when she was nervous. Why this man made her nervous she didn't know. She imagined it was his intensity. Yet, she had known a great many intense men in her life. Her father was one. With Chris it was something more...something hidden beneath the surface. She supposed he excited her. A handsome stranger sitting in a bar brooding over the meaning of life, who could be extremely intense, yet sad and soft at the same time. She had never met anyone like him.

"So, Chris, have you lived in San Fransisco your entire life?"

"My whole life and then some."

Anne smiled, allowing a small laugh. She nodded her head. "I suppose I've felt that way about London before. I had lived there my whole life before coming here. Sometimes I suppose we all just long for a change."

"But what if by making a change, you make life worse?"

"Hmm, I suppose I would just try to adapt, and if that didn't work, I'd keep making changes until I made one that worked for me."

Chris sighed. "Sometimes the only options we have are bad and worse. Sometimes, the future is bleak no matter what we do to change it. By changing one thing, we might lose everything...lose our lives." He picked up his drink, taking another long gulp. When he put it back down, he glanced back at her. "I warned you I wasn't good company."

"If I wasn't enjoying myself to some degree, I wouldn't be sitting here, and I most certainly would not be talking to you." She grinned. "Although, if I am annoying you, will you be too afraid to make a change and leave the club? By leaving earlier than you planned, you may change your fate and get hit by a car."

"You think I'm paranoid."

"No, I'm just poking fun at you. Must admit I've never met a man who took quantum theory so seriously."

"Yeah, well, it's kinda my life."

Anne raised her eyebrows impressed. "You're a scientist?"

"Do you want to dance?"

The young woman offered him a questioning smile, completely taken off-guard by the abrupt change of subject. After a moment, she collected herself. "You want to dance? I thought you were too busy contemplating your existence to be interested in such trifles. Not to mention the fact that intoxicated men have a tendency to step on my feet..."

"You said you didn't think I was drunk. As for my existence...I guess there isn't much I can do about that now. What's done is done. Might as well enjoy myself one last time."

"You make it sound as though you are going to die tomorrow."

Chris' smile fell. "I just might." Noticing the look she was giving him, he shrugged. "You never know when your time might come." When she continued to frown, he grinned, his jade eyes losing their haunting appearance for the first time. They were enchanting...innocence with a romantic appeal. "Just one dance. I promise I won't step on your feet."

Without thinking, Anne stood from her stool, and followed him to the dance floor. At first they danced separate, but in close proximity, nothing special about such a dance. Then he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist...as soon as she felt his hands on her sparks flew. Chemistry was definitely there in spades. Their pelvics touched as they moved to the rhythm of the music, causing an instant heat in her face. She had never been affected like this by any man. The feeling of him against her was so enticing. God, he was a good dancer! In her experience good dancers were usually also good at...oh no. She need to stop that line of thought right now.

"Not bad for a yank." She replied teasingly, trying to take her mind off of the heat radiating between them.

He smiled sadly for a moment. "My fiancee taught me."

"Oh? You're engaged?"

"Was...she died."

Their dance ended as the med. Student pulled away, her mouth opening then closing as she realized there was nothing she could say. Anne's heart had constricted at the tone of his voice. She'd never heard so many emotions conveyed with so few words. No wonder he was contemplating existence, talking about how one can never tell when the end is near. He had lost the love of his life. If she had been in his place, she'd be getting drunk too. Instead of trying to comfort him with words, she merely looked into his eyes with her own compassion filled blue pair. Their eyes locked, and understanding passed between them. She did not pity him, but felt for him. He saw this and was grateful.

The young woman was surprised when his head lowered and his soft lips brushed against hers. His hands slipped behind her head, ending up in her thick black hair. When his tongue asked permission to dance with hers, she allowed it. The doctor-to-be felt such a need in his kisses. They were almost desperate, but too soft to be aggressive. She could imagine that he was so lonely and full of pain that he was seeking for anything to give him comfort. Anne wasn't the type to give strange men that kind of comfort. However, there was something about this stranger that she couldn't say no to. Her instincts had taken over when he had kissed her, and she found herself returning his advances with equal fervor. Things got hot fast.

Still, kissing her, the young man led her away from the dance floor, and the two of them practically fell through the door to the back room. Things got blurry after that...

Anne wiped her eyes as tears began to slip down her lashes. She didn't know how she could have been so stupid. Sleeping with someone she had only known for ten minutes! She was lucky she wasn't dying from an STD. She knew better than that! He could have been anyone! What had she been thinking sleeping with a stranger? Still, she couldn't get herself to think badly of him. Sure, he had practically run out of the room when they were done, but maybe, he was ashamed of himself for using her. There was just something in those eyes, in the way he told her about his fiancee having died, and the way he made love to her that told her he had been through more than a man should, that he was different, and that he had never meant to hurt her in anyway. He hadn't hurt her. He had been gentle with her through the passion. Besides, she had wanted him. It wasn't like he had forced himself on her. As for the pregnancy, she was just as much responsible. It did take two to tango after all.

The phone rang startling her out of her thoughts. She sighed as she rose to answer it. The last thing she wanted was to talk to anyone. When she glanced at the caller i.d., she frowned. It read: Halliwell, Piper. Maybe she had contacted Chris. Or maybe he was over there. Was it Chris? Oh, god. What was she going to say? How would he take the news? The phone rang again. She swallowed and picked up. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Anne Cramer?"

"Yes it is."

"This is Piper Halliwell. I need to talk to you about Chris. In person. When are you available?"

Anne frowned. Why would the owner of P3 want to talk to her about Chris? She had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something wasn't right about this. In fact, her gut was screaming that something was very, very wrong. "I'm free at the moment, actually."

"Great, can you possibly meet me in half an hour?"

"Where?"

There was a pause for a moment. "Would you mind coming back to the Manor? I have two young sons, and the nanny is busy."

"Of course, that's not a problem. I'll see you then. Good-bye."

"Bye."

Anne stared at the phone a moment, completely confused as to why Piper Halliwell would want to meet with her. What did the other woman have to tell her about Chris? Where was he? Why wasn't he the one to call her? She had specifically asked that he call her. He needed to know that he was going to be a father. The young lady just couldn't imagine why the owner of the club would need to see her in person. Unless...something had happened to Chris. If she was a friend of his, she would know. Besides, wanting to talk in person always implied bad news. It was so the news could be delivered more gently. What kind of bad news was it? Especially considering he hadn't called her. Oh, no...

"No. He wouldn't...I mean he was upset, but I don't think he was that type of man." Anne rolled her eyes at herself. "God, you'd think I actually knew him the way I talk. I didn't. Maybe he was the type to give up and end his own life. How should I know?"

A tiny voice in her head replied, "You would know because you have a connection with him. A strange, magical connection to a man you had a one night stand with."

Anne closed her eyes pushing the voice aside. She needed a clear head when she talked to Ms. Halliwell. This conversation was possibly going to determine the rest of her life. She needed to be prepared for anything.

tbc...