A/N: This was so hard! Took me a long time to finish it, I'm not really happy with the result but in my defense it's very hard for a one-shot. It's not edited, so whoops! Sorry about that. Hope it's enjoyable all the same.

Prompt: Co-stars.

Chapter Four: The Secret

His lips are hot against hers, and she slowly feels herself losing control. God, he's a good kisser. Their clothes are definitely in the way, and she shifts, trying to be a little more comfortable. He has her trapped between the door and his own body, and they're still kissing, their hands are still wondering and his breathing is hard and strong, but she knows he is still very much aware of their positions, even though she isn't sure anymore; she may as well have forgotten all about herself and everything in this moment.

His lips are on her neck the next moment, and her eyes flutter, heat pooling down her stomach. All too soon, a voice interrupts them.

"And cut!" her eyes flutter open, a little dizzy, and John pulls away from her. She purses her lips, trying to control her breathing, and is met with the many faces of their crew watching them. She looks to everyone but John. "That was a perfect shot. I don't think we'll have to do it again. Unless you want to, of course."

A few smirks can be seen, and she laughs rather nervously. It's John who speaks, apparently completely unfazed by everything.

"We're fine, Bryan, thank you," he said, and he and Anna shared a smile.

"Okay then, it's a wrap today," Bryan, their director, announces. He looks pointedly at Anna. "We have a tight schedule tomorrow."

Anna nods, all too aware of it. To film a period drama show is to be on the move constantly, filming on different locations and castles, and that usually means they have a fixed schedule for their scenes to be done as quickly as possible. That being said, they only have three more days of filming, she and John, with only handful of scenes to shoot. She realizes she's still leaning against the door and takes a deep breath. John is talking to a cameraman and she leaves the bedroom quickly. It's one of the bedrooms of the castle, one of the few they will actually film inside. Her hair is a little itchy from all the pulls and pins and she already takes a few of them out, used to this ritual that takes place after filming. It's been only six months since she started this series, and they are on their way to finish the last episode. The premiere is just around the corner and she is nervous at the prospect - she hopes this is it for her, the opportunity she has been looking for for such a long time.

There's a lot of hustle and bustle about, and Anna is eager to get to her trailer and change soon. She has yet to read properly the two scenes she's due tomorrow, but all she wants at the moment is to go to bed. She feels a hand on her back and looks up to see John caught up with her, a somewhat nervous smile on his face. She feels her heart stutter for a second or two - this has been happening for some time, but she hasn't let herself think much of it. Infatuations happen between co-stars, she knows that, and she doesn't like the idea of having such a public relationship that can be seen on screen as well. Still, it seems to get harder every day.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" She asks, trying to lighten the mood as they walk down the grand staircase.

"I doubt kissing you would ever be bad," he attempts a joke, but her laugh sounds forced even to her own ears. She can't help but think that kissing him would never be bad either - quite the contrary, in fact.

"Well, that's one down," she sighs. "Soon we'll just be watching ourselves on screen and hoping that the ratings will be good."

"They will," he says calmly, sounding so certain, and she believes him. He's much more experienced than she is, haviny more films and successful shows. This is her first major television role, and she isn't quite used to the weird hours and anticipation - but she loves it all the same. "We'll have a bunch of stuff to attend to, you'll see."

She flashes him a smile. "I hope you're right. Are you going for drinks with everybody later?"

"No, I think I'll stay in," he takes a deep breath. "Haven't really properly read tomorrow's script. Very bad of me, I know."

She laughs, but doesn't ask why he has been busy. She is quite sure everyone in the country knows about his impending divorce from another very well known actress, and the media hasn't exactly let anyone forget about it. The cool evening air envelops them, and she takes special care with her dress.

"I haven't really rehearsed yet," she admits as they reach her trailer. "We can do it over dinner, if you'd like."

"That would be great," his eyes light up as he spoke and he smiles at her. "I'll wait for you so we can share the car."

"Great, thanks," she says, and they part ways.

She isn't sure why she feels butterflies all over her stomach; they have done this several times before. Why would this be any different?

It seemed like a good idea, at first, but now she isn't sure anymore. Their new scenes are intimate enough, as they are now playing a couple that only recently got together, but she does her best not to let the part drop.

"I have been denied of you for long enough," she reads, trying to convey as much emotion as she can. "I will not let you go away like this, not ever."

She looks up at him, the glow of the hotel bedroom - her bedroom - illuminating his features. He looks a little lost for a moment and Anna fights back a smile as he blinks heavily and then looks at the script again.

"I'm sorry, I forgot," he apologizes. "Where am I now?"

She steps closer to him, pointing to his line on the paper. "There."

"Right," he says distractedly. "If you love you will let me go. You will let me do you right."

His heart isn't in his words, but she continues all the same.

"How can you doubt?" she asks softly, reaching for his cheek. His skin is smooth against her palm. "I do love you, you must know that."

His hand is tracing her wrist now, and his eyes are boring into hers - she can't look away. She isn't even sure what's her next line anymore; his breath is mingling with hers and she can always feel the heat radiating from him.

"John," she's the first to break character, but this seems to wake him. His hand pulls away and he looks back to the paper.

"Right, sorry," when he looks up again, she sees doubt in his eyes. "I'm supposed to kiss you now."

She lets out a deep breath and tries to smile. "Well then."

Anna closes her eyes, and his lips are on hers. It's only their second kiss, the first having been shared earlier with a bit of an audience. It's sweet and she feels his warm lips against her own, his scent filling her ears. This is dangerous, she knows, but she has always known since she first got the part that they would have such scenes together. His hand is cupping her cheeks and he suddenly pulls away, and she remembers they are supposed to be acting. She's blushing, she knows, and he looks down to read the paper again, but instead kisses her again, more shyly than before. She accepts it gladly, opening her lips slightly to welcome him in and she hears the papers falling, though she isn't sure if it's hers or his. Her hands are at his shoulders and she feels his on her waist, but before long he pulls away again.

"Anna," John breathes, and she closes her eyes. "We shouldn't do this."

"Why not?" She finds herself asking, her own reasons seemingly irrelevant right now.

He chuckles. "I'm sure there are a few reasons. We work together, my divorce-"

"No one has to know," she offers quickly, kissing him again.

And so they become their own secret.

Their last days of work end up being the best they've had yet; the scenes are relaxed, they laugh more and the tension seem to be gone from their shoulders. If other cast members or the crew notice, no one mentions a thing. They spend their days working, their evenings rehearsing and their nights together in each other's arms.

No one has to know.

When they part, it's with the promise of seeing each other soon, way before the show's premiere and all the public appearances they are bound to make. They both live in London, but it's not the best place for discretion. Still, she's not as well known as he is, and they spend many evenings at her place, getting to know each other and speculating on the future of the show they're in. He is convinced she will be a star before the first episode has aired, and she laughs it away when he says she will forget all about him once she's famous.

She won't.

When the premiere is there, he brings his mother along, and Anna shows up on her own. He still steals her away to compliment her dress and they sit together afterwards; no one seems to battle an eye at them, but she can't help but wonder if his mother knows a little more than they've let on.

It doesn't matter. The publicity is big around them, even if they're not the only main characters, and they pose for several pictures together. After they know the ratings for the premiere, they both renew their contracts; seems like they'll have at least a few more months of working together.

It's only a few weeks later that it first happens, when they're out in a café on a rainy day. She's still getting used to people recognizing her on the street, and she thinks that this time it's worse because he's with her. Still, when they leave the place and the camera flashes, she's caught unprepared - she doubts either of them did anything to attract much attention, but he tells her rather briskly that they'll know more on the next day.

And they do.

The pictures include them at the restaurant, but nothing incriminating or that suggests anything beyond a meal between friends, despite what the magazine speculates. He tells her over and over that they could be out in the open if it isn't for his complicated divorce and she believes him - even if she wonders if maybe he thinks she just wants him for the publicity. She shakes those thoughts away. She has her own things to worry about; a short film to shoot between the months she's available and he's a recurring character in another big show. They have enough in their minds to worry about that, but just in case, outings in London are forbidden. No one has to know.

They make do the way they can - stolen weekends away, an evening or two together when they're both available. They both long for the week's filming together, of their time shared in a hotel room not too long ago, and Anna wonders if perhaps this is it - perhaps he won't let her in like she wants to.

"Vera will make things go even slower if she knows about this," he explains one night, just as her naked body is flushed against his, her chin resting on his chest and his hands stroking her hair. "But this just... Infuriates me. Why shouldn't our friends know?"

"If they do we might become careless," she sighs. "And then it's a matter of time before somebody else sees. And you know the producers would want us to go public."

He takes a deep breath. "Probably. It would attract more viewers."

She shrugs. "We have enough of them, though."

John smiles. "We do."

"Let's just... Play it by ear," she suggests, kissing his chest and then his jaw. "Whatever happens happens. But let's try to wait until the moment is right."

He kisses her lips then, and the deal is sealed.

Their agents convince them to sign an interview for a magazine cover along with other members of the cast, and it sound like something good for both their careers. With Christmas just around the corner, they agree to meet for dinner one evening, but it's only when they're leaving the restaurant and he is trying to get them a taxi that the true purpose of the meeting is revealed.

"I was wondering what you're doing for Christmas," he asks rather nervously, and Anna finds it too endearing.

"My brother is traveling for the holidays so nothing is planned, I guess," she smiles at him. "Why?"

He throws her a lopsided grin and his hand slowly reaches hers, almost hidden with their coats between them. "My mother would like to properly meet you."

"Oh. Are you asking me to spend Christmas with you, then?" She teases him.

He looks around them before grinning at her. "I am. Would you?"

"I'd love to," she smiles brightly, and he replies with one of his own.

"Great. That's great," he squeezes her hand, and with his free one he tries to get them both a taxi. "What is wrong with taxis in this town?"

She kisses him then, unable to resist, and he doesn't resist her either. A loud flash makes Anna jump slightly, but the car is gone before neither of them can do anything. She is about to apologize when John kisses her again.

The magazines flash with their pictures, and they know they can't exactly explain again that they are just friends. She isn't sorry, and for the first time John isn't either. Still, when the day comes for their interview, they are both nervous. To help matters, some of their photos are taken together, and the interview is joined. When the interviewer asks of their relationship, Anna has the speech ready in her lips - they are friends and they are co-workers. But John speaks first.

"She's very special."

She almost melts as he speaks the words, and it's only later, when they're alone, that he says he doesn't care about Vera or anyone else.

"I care about you."

And that's worth more than any poetic line they might say to each other's character in the future.

The thrill dies soon afterwards; there's more to worry about than the media. The magazine is a success, and she rather likes being able to kiss him in public, to hold hands and to go out without worrying. His divorce process is slow, but she can wait, and so can he. Their business with the press soon becomes old news, and they are glad for it. Christmas is spent quietly and so are the weeks afterwards. Excitement seems to be low and Anna enjoys the quiet days spent with John as neither of them work until they begin filming together.

It's on a cold day, when they are out to see a play of one of their co-workers, that they are spotted again, but she's too distracted to notice or care.

On the next day, the magazines display the same picture over and over, sometimes punctuated with lies and dramatic plot lines that would fit better a soap opera than their life together, but she still catches herself looking at the ring on her finger - even if everyone can do that by looking at a magazine.

Another secret is out, and she has a feeling many more will come.