Chapter4: Jeff Adopts

Jeff's POV

The recent capture, and immediate release, of Wilber gets me thinking. Annie stayed over night and I've been up half of it tossing and turning. Why am I so consumed with making a girl happy? 'Because she's Annie and seeing her disappointed is like choking the Little Mermaid with a bike chain.' But besides that, I think- I know I'm in love. Probably for the first time in my life and it's definitely a feeling that takes some time getting used to. It's joy when Annie texts me that she's bringing over Chinese food, and I didn't ask her to. It's like she's in my head, but not in that creepy, I want to control you kind of way. It's the excitement in knowing she's coming over and that somehow her presence just warms up my, otherwise dreary existence. I even have the urge to food shop, as long as she comes with me of course. Or else all I'll end up with is twelve boxes of pop tarts and a gallon of milk that will never be opened.

With Annie's warm body cradled against me, I don't think life can get any better. The icing's already on the cake. Then, she turns towards me, her lips brush against my bare chest and she hugs me close, instinctively. On second thought, I'm sure there's room for a sizeable helping of sprinkles on the icing on the cake of my life.

Her feet on the other hand, not so warm or welcomed, but the alarm clock interrupts are private moment. She shoots upright; if you can imagine a deer being shot from a cannon, that's the look Annie has on her face. "Still not use to sleeping on foreign soil, eh?"

"Huh? My ears are still ringing. Does that thing have to be so…"

"Annoying?"

"Loud?"

"No, but apparently you feel the need to be." I smirk when she yells a bit too loudly for a Saturday morning.

"What?" I'll admit, I should get a new alarm clock, and maybe I won't keep it on Annie's side of the bed. 'Annie's side.' It's got a nice ring to it. But I don't have time to contemplate monogram towels and 'his' and 'her' pillows because there's coffee brewing in my new pot and the shrilling clock has been jokingly tossed in the trash can in the bathroom; I can see it vibrating. 'She should at least know how to shut the thing off.'

I watch as she moves about in my kitchen, like all the appliances and cabinets were built around her graceful movements. She knows where things go and how to use them, better than I do. And I pay rent. But I don't dwell. Annie's cooking breakfast. I'm able to sneak by, grab two glasses and the Orange Juice. I pour and she hands me two plates and I happily set the table. Oh, the Jeff Winger before Annie color coded her way into his life would hate me right now. Probably be laughing too. I've become slightly…domesticated. It ain't half bad. The fact that Annie's half naked doesn't hurt either.

She's a different Annie behind the intense scrutiny of the group. She's more womanly and sexual. Even though I tried so hard not to sexualize her. I did try, really. But I think one part of my anatomy got the definition of trying hard and getting hard mixed up. It happens, things work out for the best. But where I said she's different, she's still the same, doe eyed, do no wrong (on purpose), kind sweetheart he met the first time. They just get to share each others' different sides in private. For their eyes only.

I finish putting the silverware down on the table when there's a knock at the door. I freeze thinking I'm hearing things. Annie's still busy getting things out of the fridge and the way her one leg rubs up her calf and her hip's bent to one side… There's that dam knocking again. "Jeff? I know you're in there. It's Saturday, you're probably sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal like so many other little boys around the world." 'Wrong Britta!' But of course I have to figure a way around the two plates and the two cups of coffee, especially the one with cream in it.

"Jeff, answer it." Annie hisses behind me.

"And how do I explain this." I motion quite spastically to the layout in front of us. She bites her lip and I want to throw her on the table and ravish her. Licking every inch of her…

"Jeff!" It's her motherly scolding tone.

"Yeah?" Ok, she knows my thoughts; that blush can't be missed.

"Answer the door." I took quickly between Annie and the door, my feet doing an uncertain dance. Stay or go? Stay…or go?

"JEFF WINGER! Open the door or-" Her hand is in mid knock and I give her my best scowl and hope she'll go away. I even had the sense to mess up my hair like I just roll out of bed five minutes ago.

"What Britta?" She pushes past me and I mutter,

"Sure, come on in. Welcome to my humble abode."

"Snazzy place you've got." She looks around, wait; there's only one plate and one cup. How?

".?"

"Sorry, I know I just dropped by- is that bacon I smell? Since when do you eat… at home?"

"Since I found that, on occasion, I get hungry. And the Chinese food place down the street isn't nearly as fast on bike as I am; when I'm in my apartment a second away from the kitchen." She doesn't believe me. She's got that half scowl, half questioning eyebrow thing going on. I'm really not in the mood for her shenanigans. I'm hungry and I want to go back and reenact my dirty vision of ravaging Annie on the kitchen table. 'Later Winger! Focus.'

"Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and ask you something."

"And it just couldn't wait until Monday. Is something going to explode?"

"No."

"Did someone die?"

"No."

"Then please, oh please, tell me what has your panties in a bunch!"

"Watch the sarcasm Jeff. I don't appreciate it."

"And I don't appreciate my apartment being invaded on a perfectly good Saturday morning by a wild banshee. You are the wild banshee by the way." I cross my arms.

"I got that. Thanks."

"Uh-huh."

"Ok, so, I'm just going to come right out and say it. Do you have a thing for Annie? Because you two have gotten buddy, buddy all of a sudden. She's way young Jeff. She's naïve and not to mention, way out of your league." Blood is rushing in my ears and I finally understand the saying; "seeing red." Because right now, that's exactly what I see.

"Out!"

"Jeff?" She's shocked, but I don't really give a shit.

"You don't get to come in here and insult me and one of our friends and think you're going to get away with it. Get out. And when you feel like beings friends, then come back and we'll talk. Until then, leave." I direct her towards the door. "Who Annie sees and how she sees them is her business, not everyone else's." I slam the door and feel slightly guilty that I didn't shout it out that Annie and I are together. But to clarify; Annie and I haven't really had that talk, and, the scene just now was not the proper time to let something like that get out.

I rub my palms vigorously against my face to calm myself down. But Annie's arms around me do that for me. I drop my arms around her waist.

"You do realize I told you to answer the door, knowing full well you are still in your briefs."

"I do now Edison. Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"My walls are thin huh?"

"If Mrs. Winston, who wears a hearing aid and lives two doors down can hear us having sex, then imagine what one could hear in the next room."

"I'm sorry Annie."

"For Britta? Don't be. She's upset. It's not an excuse for her earlier parade of outrageous shenanigans, but I get it. She may not want you, but she's still not comfortable with you wanting someone else. Especially little Annie Adderall."

"Well, she's got to get over it. Eventually, you and I are going to go public with our relationship. The paparazzi will be all over this story. I'm not going to have everything we worked hard for fall apart because she doesn't want me to want you. Bullshit."

"Jeff…"

"I know, I know. I'm just cranky, but really-"

"We're women, we're irrational sometimes. Some of us more than others." We move to the table so we can eat and drink our lukewarm coffee. We drop the conversation, there's no use in trying to figure Britta out right now. Instead, we finish eating and I drive her back to her dinky apartment so she can change her clothes and do some laundry. I've never been inside her apartment; never really had a need.

When she lets me in, I can she why she's always quick to rush in and out of the tiny space and stay with me. It's extremely tiny, but then again, so is Annie. But the dam thing is an igloo. I swear I see icicles hanging from her ceiling. "Annie, this place-"

"Is awful. I know. But it was the best I could do considering the short amount of time I had."

"Did your parents kick you out or something?"

"Kinda. They thought I was moving to Delaware permanently and they sold the house and moved to Santa Barbra. When I decided very, very last minute to come back to Greendale, well they were already unpacking. So, here I am." I don't say anything more. I just follow her into her room, which, with my abnormally long legs, is about a foot space from where I'm standing. I let my eyes linger on the walls of her room, the pictures she has up; all of them pictures of the study group.

"Were you expecting Disney Princesses, stuffed animals and a plastic doll house? Perhaps even a tea set?" She winks at me.

"And Barbie sheets, a Polly Pocket comforter complete with a canopy. Maybe a mural of a castle." I'm being a smart ass, but she started it. Now, her eyes go innocent and wide and she shyly pulls at her bedspread.

"Can I ask you something? And if you lie to me, I will organize your closet according to season and color." Not one to go against that kind of threat, I lay back on the bed and invite her to snuggle.

"What's your question?"

"I swear I will only bring this up once and you'll never hear it again. Does my age…bother you?" I knew it was coming. I'm prepared. I made up my mind a long time ago.

"It did, in the beginning. I had these growing feelings for you and where they should have felt wrong, they didn't. I tried so hard not to sexualize you and I tried to find distractions and then I was listening to some R&B station and you know what Aaliyah once sang-"

"Age ain't nothin' but a number."

"Precisely. We can't help who we fall for. We just do. And, you're not violent or psychotic which is a plus. Maybe a little neurotic, but then again, so am I."

"So… awww, we mesh well!" She's got this excited, sparkly; 'I just snagged the last glitter gel pen' look in her eyes.

"Yes, Cher. We do."

"Ooh, you're the Paul Rudd to my Alicia Silverstone."

"YES! And no one said jack about their age, or that fact that they were once step siblings!" And there you have it America. Annie and I are not gross!

Once Annie finished up her laundry and packs a few things, an idea pops into my head. A spur of the moment, epiphany-like light bulb goes ablaze on top of my head. I drop Annie off at my apartment and hand her the key. "I have a few errands to run. I'll be back in a little while. Need anything?"

"Mmm, no." Good, she's not suspicious or asking questions. She said something earlier about her feminism class and having an outline due. Whatever it is, it's saving my ass. I drive off down the road, make a few turns and arrive at my destination. Now I could just tell you where I am, but then, that wouldn't be fair to Annie, if you all knew before she did so….

The elevator in my building is taking far too long. I race up the stairs, which become daunting considering the awkward box I'm carrying. I pray that Annie left the door unlocked and I praise God when I easily pull down on the handle and let my self in. I carefully put the box down and take in the beautiful sight in my living room. I could literally come home to this every night. Annie's notes are neatly spread on the coffee table. Bright post-its peeking from various pages. Her back pack is resting against the couch and she's snoring lightly. The afghan pulled up to her chin. I reach into the large box and walk over to Annie. I brush the hair from her eyes and she stirs. "Jeff, is that you making that noise?"

"Nope. But you have to wake up to find out what is." She stirs again at the mewling noise and she gasps when she sees the little ball of fur half asleep on her… pillows."

"Jeff? Is that… is that a kitten?"

"Yup. Meet the newest addition to the Winger-Edison family. Although, if something horrible should happen, I want you to have him."

"Don't say such things." She leans over to kiss me and I want more, but, like a baby, the kitten wants Annie's attention and he starts to knead the afghan and tries to rub its head against the back of her hand. "Does he have a name?" She taps his pink nose and he closes his eyes. He has dark brown and black swirls that hug his back and climb around to the front where his belly is completely white, along with all four paws. When his eyes are open, they're a deep shade of blue, just like Annie's. He reminded me exactly of her. He was the only one that didn't fall out of the cage and he looked at me with those wide Disney eyes and I knew he was meant for us.

"Nope. He doesn't even have a litter box yet. The box he came in will have to do for tonight."

"We can go shopping tomorrow?"

"Yup, but no clothing. Our cat is not wearing a coat or boots or anything cutesy."

"Never!" She seems happily offended that I even thought she'd be remotely inclined to accessorize our newest kitten.

"We have enough food for a little while, but it won't hurt to pick up more." She's starring at where our hands are scratching his belly. "What?"

"I never thought you were a cat person."

"I wasn't really an animal person. But, things change and I could use a little extra company around here. Plus having shared custody will give you more reasons to stay with me."

"Like I need any more than you?"

"Now you're just getting sappy on me. Stop it." She nudges me with her shoulder and I climb onto the couch next to her. Our kitten yawns and it's nap time.

We end up naming him Oscar, after the show The Odd Couple because, when he eats, he gets the kibbles everywhere! What a mess!