A/N: Time to get down to business... this is early December since the last chapter ended just before Thanksgiving. Katie and Ned's anniversary is the same day as Lana's birthday, December 6th. Which is also my actual little brother's birthday lol. Enjoy xx Mariah
It was the week before finals and Katie was stretched thin as she could be. To her absolute devastation, she couldn't make it home for her and Ned's one year anniversary either. She had an early lecture the next day and it was way too close to finals to blow any classes off, especially her Art History class. Luckily, Ned was able to get the weekend off and drove to see her.
They met at a waterfront Italian restaurant for a nice dinner. Katie had ordered a vegetable penne and Ned got something smothered in cheese. They'd shared a glass of wine and cheesecake for dessert.
They'd agreed not to get expensive gifts, but Katie knew how disappointed Ned was when his father's watch stopped working when it cracked during a hostile situation at work. Her mother happened to know a good jeweler who could work some magic for a good price.
Ned had sent her a bouquet of flowers this morning before he'd even gotten to the city. It was the first time any guy had bought her flowers, and they had to be expensive. There were white and pink carnations, her favorite. They were had to get this time of year.
One time, Toby had gotten her a rose. And her dad had gotten her flowers after so many dance recitals and birthdays, but this was Ned.
The card had made her cry. Not that that wasn't an easy feat.
I looked up the meaning of white and pink carnations. They mean I cannot be without you. I couldn't think of a better sentiment on this day. Forever didn't mean much before you were in my life, Katie. I love you so much
At dinner, he'd given her another gift. A bracelet, and from her knowledge of working with her mom she knew it was from the seventies. He knew how much she liked these things, like her mom.
"I love you," she smiled, licking the cheesecake off her lips s she looked down at the bracelet again, touching the jewels and then looking back at him. "You didn't have to get me this..."
"Yes, I did," he smiled at her. "You didn't have to fix my dad's watch," he said, leaning back into his chair, his hand sitting on top of hers, his fingers rubbing over her wrist.
"Yes, I did," she whispered. "Let's get out of here."
He agreed and brought her hand to his lips as they stood, pulling on their jackets. They headed for the door and Ned paid the bill quickly. He draped his arm around Katie as they walked out. It had just begun to snow when they exited the restaurant. Katie pulled out her stocking cap from her purse and held onto his hand as they stepped in the street.
"Wanna grab a movie to watch on our way back?" He asked, rushing across the street with her quickly, leaning up against his truck. "Something action- maybe it will keep you awake."
"Sure," she nodded, squeezing his arm. "That would be great. Maybe it will keep me awake."
They decided on the newest Marvel movie. Once they got back to her apartment and changed into their pajamas, they slid into bed. Katie pulled out her computer and put in the disc before relaxing into Ned's chest.
He had already tried to explain some of the backstories to her. It's not an easy feat considering she's only seen the Iron Man and Spiderman movies. She had always had such a crush on Tom Holland. Ned rolled his eyes when she repeatedly called Hawkeye 'Nighthawk' and she rolled hers as he gasped when Scarlett Johansson appeared on screen for the first time. She elbowed him too for good measure.
Katie tried to stay awake. She really, really did.
She loved Robert Downey Jr., Tom Holland, and the actress she liked from How I Met Your Mother was even in it. But in the end, movies were always a killer for her.
It was so long and she was exhausted from school and work.
Katie blinked awake when the end credits were rolling and Ned's arm was draped over her. It felt so good. Like really, really, really good. And he smelt good like he always did. Sweet but decidedly manly. She turned her head into him, breathing in the smell of his cotton shirt and pressing a kiss into it. "Is it over?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Yeah. Great movie, huh, babe?" He asked with a knowing smile.
"Uh, yeah. I watched more than half of it, I think," she yawned, tapping his cheek.
"That's better than the last one we tried," he laughed.
Katie tucked herself into bed more snugly as Ned closed her laptop and brought it over to her desk in the corner of her room. She turned her face up as she pressed a kiss to his throat as he moved back into bed, wrapping her arm around his torso. "This is the moment I would freeze," she whispered against the skin of his throat.
He shivered a little, then stilled. His fingers held her a little tighter to him. "What do you mean?" He pulled away to look down into her eyes, but she stubbornly burrowed further into him.
"If I could freeze a moment," she whispered again. "It would be this one. If I could just never have to say goodbye to you—" She bit her lip and pulled out of his arms, embarrassed. It was mainly her fault that they couldn't see each other. She could drive up more weekends than not, but she didn't like stressing over the three-hour drive there and back with her class load. She rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm just afraid of what will happen," she admitted finally. "When this stops. When tonight ends and the hard stuff begins." She looked over at him then. "When you go home…"
He was silent for a long moment. She could feel his eyes on her, but she doesn't look at him. She hoped he couldn't see her hands shake or her silent tears as they rolled down, off her cheeks. He reached out to push the hair back from her face and his thumb brushes against her cheek, and she closed her eyes.
"Hey," he wiped away the tears and she turned to look at him. "We'll come out of this," he said gently, his thumb still rubbing soothing circles on her skin. He leaned down to kiss her bare shoulder. "I know how hard not seeing each other has been on both of us. Your school needs your full attention and work is crazy all the time for me. I'll try and get more weekends off if I can." He leaned in, pressed his lips against her lips gently. A ghost of a kiss. "But we shouldn't talk about sad things tonight. It's our anniversary," he kissed her forehead next, then rolled onto his back. "Try to get some sleep, if you're still tired."
She sat up defiantly. "I don't want to sleep."
He chuckled. "What do you—"
It's her turn to cut him off this time. She kissed him hard, nothing like the gentle comfort he offered her moments ago. His lips were slack against hers, but after a brief pause, he kissed her back, the pressure still too gentle for the intensity churning in her stomach. When her tongue swiped against his bottom lip, he reacted with force. The kind she craved and he moved her underneath him, his hands parting her thighs.
When he pulled back, she bit his bottom lip harder than she should. He moaned, and she laughed, reaching to cover his mouth.
"Don't forget, Hannah's home tonight," she snickered, briefly holding her hand there.
She could actually see his green eyes darken with desire as he nodded. She removed her hands and he kissed them lightly, and when her leg slipped over his, he pulls hard on her thigh, guiding her to straddle him.
"I know," he said, his voice low. "But like she cares…"
His hands grabbed her hips hard, his fingers digging into the soft cotton pants she wore. When he tugged her down to him, he pulled her lip into his mouth and she moaned. He deepened the kiss, sucking on her tongue and her hips started rocking against his instinctively.
Ned groaned. "Oh, Katie." The way he sounded made her shudder against him; when her hips hit his this time, something in her jolts. She's barely even aware that the high pitched sounds she heard that was coming from her.
He grunted, pushing her away suddenly to lie on her back. His hands ran up her legs, pressing firmly against her through her pants. She's enthralled by the way he slipped his shirt off then, his pale skin gleaming in the light streaming in the window, too distracted to protest when he suddenly tugged her pants off. He swore again at the sight of her lace black panties.
"Of course, it would be so simple," he whispered humorlessly, his fingers tracing lines from her knees all the way to her hip bones.
"Ned," she whispered, touching his hand with hers.
All at once, his face softened. He sat back, his legs stretched out in front of him as he pulled his boxers down. "C'mere," he said.
She slipped her panties off and climbed back onto his lap; she moaned at the feel of his chest against hers, separated only by the thin fabric of her top. His hands found her hips again, pressing her into him. His greens eyes caught hers, dark in the moonlight. He held her stare, thrusting into her deliberately. She cried out softly as their lips met, and he thrust again. He was harder than she had ever felt him.
"Ned," she gasped, grasping his neck. She threw her head back, and he sucked at her pulse point, licking down to her collarbone. "Oh, God, right there."
Ned pressed a soft kiss above the neckline of her shirt. His hands left her hips as he continued to move against her, one hand pulling her top over her head. His hands slowly took in the feel of the skin of her back.
She let out a soft whimper, and he kissed her again. She rocked against him more earnestly now, chasing after something that coiled low in her stomach. His hands moved over her back, to knead her ass.
She was practically biting her tongue now not to scream as her head rested against his shoulder. Her rhythm was less consistent now, her legs locked around his hips. He could feel it when she came—her entire body stilled, a choked moan pressed against his skin. He was still painfully hard as he pulled out, and his breath caught in his throat when she softly kissed the skin above his heart.
"Your turn," she whispered and when she lifted her head their eyes locked, he licked his lips earnestly.
"Katie, I love you," he blurted out.
"I love you too," she said without thinking as she grasped him, sinking to take him into her mouth.
He closed his eyes and laughed harshly, fisting her hair in his hand. It wasn't long before he came, and she laid back against his chest.
Hours passed and Ned fell asleep, but Katie didn't. She was exhausted, but couldn't find a moment of rest.
She couldn't keep her mind off it. Off everything. Of every single worry that she had about her and Ned's relationship. Had he changed? Was he ready to settle down with one woman? With her? Would the distance make it easier?
It was then when she started to worry. When she thought about it. About taking a break. The first time she really, truly considered taking a break from Ned.
It had been hours since she'd rolled onto her side, but she felt the bed dip as he tossed onto his side. His hand was warm on her hips, pulling her to him so she was flush against his chest. And even though she was worried he deserved to know what she was feeling, she sunk into his arms anyway, smiling a little as he pressed a light kiss to her neck.
"Get some sleep, baby," he whispered softly. "We'll talk in the morning."
She nodded and pressed a kiss to his arm wrapped around her.
Neither said a word for the rest of the night.
It only got worse for them, all of it nearly coming to a head the following Sunday.
Katie had come home at her mother's request for a difficult spirit. After tromping around town with her mother all day, they were unable to learn anything new from her family. The only relative they were able to find was a sister, but she hadn't been much help.
After that the Clancy women went back to the house to come up with a new plan, hoping that the spirit would pay one of them a visit. It sadly didn't. Melinda did, however, want to pay Professor Payne a visit, but always had an excuse that got her out of it. Katie didn't mind though. She had always gone to see Payne for her mother. There was something that had happened before she was born. Her mother still hadn't gotten over it for some reason. Melinda always changed the subject when she brought it up.
It wasn't until she was traveling back to her parent's house from talking to the Payne when the ghost finally paid her a visit. Katie stared head on as she watched the girl her mother had described standing in the middle of the street. She knew the ghost had died in a car accident and that terrified her. She continued driving, going through the spirit and she heard a pop behind her.
She slowly pressed on the breaks and her car slid on the ice for a moment until she came to a dead stop on the side of the road. She jolted forward and held on tightly to the wheel. The adrenaline flooded her system like it's on an intravenous drip - right into her blood at full pelt. She thought her heart would explode and her eyes were wide and unblinking.
Once Katie was able to calm herself down, she got out to asses the damage of her car. She looked around first, sensing that someone was watching her. The paranoia crept dripped down her neck with the sweat beads. She didn't see anyone, only the empty road and the falling snow around her.
Damnit.
Where was the damn ghost?
"You know, I can't help you if you don't talk to me!" She yelled, frustrated with everything.
She didn't care who heard her. It was too late for anyone to care.
Why did she have to deal with this? Why did her car decide now was the right time do this to her, even if the ghost had something to do with it.
Once she looked at her tire and saw the way it slumped, the bottom of it ripped open. She knew she was screwed. The snow had bunched up around it and she couldn't get her jack in place.
Fuck.
She was going to have to call somebody to help her at eleven thirty at night.
The first person she thought about calling was Ned. She wanted to hug him and knew he would be able to help her. Usually, she had no trouble changing a tire, but the snow was going to make it a little difficult.
When Katie called him, she hadn't even realized she had forgotten to tell him she was in town. Ned was was pissed and hadn't even asked if she was okay before he hung up.
She yelled again and kicked her tire over and over until her foot hurt. That wasn't a good idea, but she didn't care.
When his headlights pulled up behind her, she got out of her car again, rubbing her gloved hands together. She watched as Ned climbed out his truck and slammed his door shut.
"What happened?" He cleared his throat as he walked toward her. She could smell the cigarette he'd smoked on the way over before he even got to her. Of course, he hadn't quit. Ned crouched to look at her tire. "Did you hit something?"
She chewed on her fingernail as she watched Ned flash his flashlight up against her car. "I don't really know," she whispered, shuffling toward him. The snow crunched under her feet, filling the silence. "One second I was driving and the next there was the ghost in the road and this happened."
"It doesn't look like there is any damage to the axle or anything. Just some to the exterior and the tire." He sighed and stood up. He tucked his flashlight in his coat pocket and ran a hand through his hair. "I should be able to get your spare tire on no problem once we clear the snow. Why couldn't you?"
"The snow made it difficult for me. It just kept sticking to my gloves," she muttered, looking away as she wiped away a fallen tear.
Why was he being so mean?
She knew she'd fucked up. She should've remembered to tell him that she was home, but she could've gotten hurt. She could've died.
Okay, she was overreacting a little with that, but still. He was being a jerk for no reason now.
"Hey, I'm sorry." He sighed and stood up, the snow crunching under his boots. "Are you okay?" He asked, his hands touching her cheeks. "I didn't mean to still be mad. I just wish you would've told me about coming home yesterday. I could've seen you last night."
She'd honestly just forgot to mention it. She had planned to go home that morning, but the ghost her mother needed help with was a bit more complicated. It was just for a ghost. She hadn't even thought about it.
"I'm sorry, it slipped my mind." She shook her head, wrapping her arms around him. He smelled different. It wasn't his usual cologne and it was overpowered by the cigarette smoke odor. "I'm so happy you still came."
"Why wouldn't I?" He asked, pulling back from the embrace. "Is something wrong between us Katie? First, you don't tell me about coming home and now you think I would've left you out here?"
"We'll finish talking about this and you smoking again later, Ned. Can we just put my damn car back together?" She muttered, walking away to her trunk, opening it with her keys and pulling up her spare tire from the back of the trunk.
Ned didn't know what to say, so he didn't say anything. He just changed the tire in silence like she'd asked him to. Once it was done, he put away the jack and sighed. "There, your car is put back together. Can we talk now?" He slammed the trunk closed
"About what?" She asked, throwing her hands up. "Want to talk about the cigarettes?"
"I started smoking again because I'm stressed. Why are you being so distant?" He asked, turning back to look at her. "You act like I'm not there half the time!"
"And I'm just fucking busy, Ned. My mind is focused on a million different things." She threw back at him, her hand running through her hair.
"Everything but me, I guess." He turned away then, the snow crunching under his boot.
"Ned, wait." She marched after him, grabbing hold of his hand. "I didn't mean it like that. There isn't a day where I don't think about you."
"It's hard to believe that right now, Katie," he muttered and looked down at her hand as she held his hand until he let go of hers and walked away. "I'll see you later. Drive careful."
She bit her tongue from saying anything more to him and got back into her car. It started up fine and she drove away slowly from the curb. When she noticed he was following her home to make sure everything went good, she thought it would warm her heart. But it didn't make her feel any better.
Katie had put herself into a bad mood by the time she pulled up at her parent's house. She grabbed her purse and keys from the ignition and got out, slamming the door closed. "So are you coming inside?" She turned to look at him as he parked his truck and got out. "Everyone is sleeping… well except my mom."
"Can't. I signed on for a night patrol," he muttered, shaking his head. He almost looked sad as he walked toward her. Almost. "I didn't know you were coming into town. I suppose I-"
"Don't worry about it, Ned," she shook her head and patted his shoulder as he stood in front of her. "And in case you were wondering, I only came home because my mom pulled the ghost emergency card. I couldn't say no. I was so busy I forgot to mention it."
He sighed and leaned against her car. "You still should've called me," he looked over at her and she nodded slowly. She thought he was going to kiss her goodnight. She kind of wanted him to even though she was still mad, but he pushed off the car and started to walk away. "We texted this morning. You never said a word. It just doesn't make any sense Katie."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She couldn't believe that he was still on this topic. "I was preoccupied and it was sixty thirty in the morning. I was barely awake. You're such a jackass," she snapped and stormed up the driveway and into the house. "I can't believe you."
"Katie, I'm sorry!" Ned said and then she slammed the front door of her parent's house.
It's just her hormones, she told herself. She'd switched her birth control last week. She locked the front door and kicked off her boots. She ripped off her coat and hung it up.
She should've just called her dad to help. It didn't matter if he was working. He would've figured it out and he would've hugged her before he even looked at her damn car.
Just then, her mom popped her head down the stairs. "Katie? What's wrong?" Melinda asked. "Did something happen?"
"Hey, mom. It's nothing," she sighed, pulling her hat off. "Ned was just a total dick to me. For almost no reason."
Melinda chuckled from the stairs and she came down and rounded the banister. "No filter, I'm glad you've learned." She wrapped her arm around her. "What happened, well besides your car trouble..."
"Well, it was a little more than car trouble." Her mom's face was already changing as they walked into the kitchen. "I just didn't want to worry you until I got home."
"Out with it already," her mom waved her off, going about to make tea.
"When I driving home from visiting Professor Payne, the ghost was in the road. I drove through her and my tire blew out," she sighed, sitting down on the stool as her mom set the kettle on the stove. "Usually I'd have no trouble changing it but the snow made it difficult. I called Ned and all he did was yell at me because he didn't know I was in town. I forgot to tell him."
Her mom, being the smothering-mother she was, came over immediately and wrapped her arms around her. "You okay baby?" She asked and pressed several kisses to her face.
Katie usually wasn't one to let her mother smother her, for long, but she wanted every moment of it right now. "Yeah, I am now." She sighed and hugged her tighter. "I get why he's mad, but I just wanted him to make me feel better and he didn't. He just yelled at me and when I invited him in, he got all snippy about taking a patrol tonight because he didn't know I was in town. It just made me feel worse."
"I'm sorry, bug. That totally sucks. Ned was a total jerk for no reason. It doesn't matter what happened, he shouldn't treat you like that." Her mom released her a little, but only enough to get a good look at her and press another kiss to her forehead. "Do you want me to have a talk with your dad? I'm sure he'll have a chat with Ned."
She shook her head slowly. "I usually would take you up on that, but I think it should be me talking to Ned. Not dad," she whispered, looking down at her hands as the kettle began to steam. "I'm worried things aren't going to get any better." She took another breath in, and her mom didn't respond. It was like Melinda was waiting for her daughter to tell her something more. The real something that she had been thinking about for the last week.
"I know there is something else," her mom finally said, taking the kettle off the stove and pouring the hot water into the waiting coffee mugs on the counter.
She shook her head, unable to talk anymore. Her tears threatened to spill, but she drew strength from closing her eyes and taking in a slow breath. She couldn't start crying. She knew she wouldn't be able to stop.
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right Katie?" Her mother's voice was closer now and she turned her head over to the left to open her eyes to see her standing right there, beside her with the cup of tea held out to her.
She nodded. "I know," she took the cup and set it down on the island.
"Did something else happen? Did Ned-" Her mom didn't know quite how to ask, but Katie stopped her before she could.
Ned would never cheat on her. She knew that. She did. "No," she shook her head. "He didn't do anything like that. I swear." She slumped down, setting her head on the counter. "It's just the distance, mom. It's killing us. I have been thinking about asking Ned to take a break…"
"You know what a break will fully entail… right, Katie?" Her mom rested her hand on her cheek, looking at her seriously.
She nodded slowly. As a test, she tried to imagine Ned balls deep in some random stranger. She nearly had a rage blackout. She was so screwed.
What was she going to do?
