Last chapter. For my first ever fan fiction I think it turned out all right. I wish I was a better writer. though. Now enjoy the last chapter


"I guess the reason why I did those crazy things today is because I wanted to silence my conscience and do something that the group will benefit from." Shirley begins. And then she got it all off her chest. At first she was relieved that André and the kids went to see André's mother for two weeks. After all the last months and weeks had been pretty challenging for Shirley. She often had to handle her job as mother, housewife, student and business owner simultaneously. At the end the pressure was unbearable so Shirley asked André for two weeks off from her family duties so she could focus on her business and Greendale. Of course André supported her. But Shirley felt guiltier from day to day.

"I'm a horrible wife and mother, Pierce. I send my family away so I could what? Study and sell food?!" Shirley sobs. "After a few days I was regretting it more than you can imagine. So I jumped at the first opportunity to right a wrong. And Britta sleeping with Jeff seemed like a big wrong at that time."

But when they were following Britta's car like in a bad film noire Shirley realized that this was not the path the good lord intended for her to take.

"I know I have this dark and destructive side inside of me but I thought pursuing my dream job and being a wife and mother would seal the darkness up." Shirley concludes downheartedly.

Though Pierce should know some things about the trials and tribulations of being a business owner and a husband, he can't really grasp the problem. His seven marriages didn't work out for other reasons than business-first-manners. But he does sense the pain Shirley's in, though he doesn't fully get why she didn't just call her family to come back. But being sensitive and comforting has never been a strong suit of his so he settles for the practical solution.

"Shirley, Shirley, Shirley let me handle the business for a while. We could even employ some people to do the accounting. Step back for a while, call your family and tell them to come home. And you're not a bad mother and wife. I've always had the most respect for you. You know that." Pierce says.

Sitting in the poorly lit hallway next to Pierce who is entangled in wires and futuristic devices, Shirley realized that Pierce did lift her spirits with his words. She's not a bad wife and mother. She just had too many responsibilities. In the last couple of days she should have noticed that family is more important than business and called them to come back but instead she immersed herself in this crazy adventure with Pierce. Burnout comes in different shades, she thinks. Some people run around naked in the streets and some people spy on their friends in the middle of the night. At the thought about the Kony guy Shirley can't help laughing.

"Let's go home Pierce. We did enough spying for a lifetime."

There wouldn't have been a reason to spy anyway because meanwhile Britta has knocked herself out with three Cuba Libres, several glasses of wine and a shot of Tequila. Jeff having drunk slightly less and being able to tolerate more alcohol sits next to Annie on the floor. The hilarity of dubbing a broadcast of Casablanca wore off a few minutes ago. In comfortable silence the two of them dwell on their booze-soaked thoughts until Annie breaks the silence.

"What have I been doing wrong, Jeff? I mean, how could I have made this relationship work? You're a guy; just tell me what you would be expecting in a relationship!" Annie asks drunkenly.

"Annie, don't even think that you did anything wrong. This guy is an idiot for not wanting to be with you." Jeff declares looking right into Annie's beautiful eyes. "And I'm certainly not the one to give relationship advice. Ask Shirley if you must. All I know is that you are…" Jeff interrupts his speech realizing that he was just about to express how much he values her. And from the past he learned that those sincere heart-to-hearts are quite dangerous. But seeing Annie hang on his every word and looking at him with that familiar longing he concludes "…never failing to surprise me. You make me laugh and above all, you make me want to be a better person."

Having expressed those feelings the attraction for each other rises once again to the surface. Months and years of denying and pretending slowly fade away. Sober reluctance washed away by glasses of alcoholic beverages; comfortable silence once again; looks imbued with yearning for each other's touch.

Almost simultaneously Jeff and Annie lean towards their third kiss. The force of Jeff's tongue in her mouth make Annie's insides flutter with arousal. Eager to explore all of Jeff Winger Annie hoists herself closer to him so her breasts touch his chest. Firm hands caressing Annie's body, wet lips and hot bodies grinding against each other. The world seems to stop just for the two of them until suddenly Britta noisily adjusts her sleeping position the couch.

As if caught in the act Jeff and Annie immediately let go of each other. Like a doe in the headlight Annie breathlessly looks at Britta. False alarm, she's still sleeping.

Jeff's look says more than he could say at this moment: Consequences don't matter now. So she takes him by the hand and leads him to the bedroom. Ironically Shirley wasn't that far off from the truth after all. The end.