Sorry it has taken so long to update - this week turned out to be about twice as crazy as I expected it to be and I've had little or no time to write. I hope the next chapter will be up before Wednesday, but I won't make any promises.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback, story alerts and stuff on the previous chapter! Greatly appreciated and truly inspiring! :o)

Without further ado - here's chapter 10.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Covert Affairs.

-Chapter 10: I love you-

"Annie, I love you." Auggie whispered the words into Annie's ear as they broke the kiss. To his surprise and pleasure she hadn't pulled away, she'd actually kissed him back. Annie was totally lost for words. Her feelings for Auggie had just grown stronger over the months they'd been roommates and she'd realized that she loved him some time during their stay in Glencoe. She pulled him towards her and kissed him again, then she cupped his face in her hands and said softly "I love you too Auggie." Then she pulled him in for another kiss. It was longer and more passionate than the previous two and it escalated quickly. Auggie easily carried Annie into his bedroom and for the rest of the night they were lost in their own world. There was no need for words.

At 6:30 am Wednesday morning they were rudely woken by Auggie's alarm clock. Annie was cradled in Auggie's arms, with her head on his right shoulder and her left arm across his chest. It felt so right, so at home.

"Mornin' babe," Auggie whispered as he planted a kiss on the top of Annie's head. Waking up with her in his arms was amazing.

"Good morning handsome," was Annie's reply as she kissed him on the cheek before lying back down, snuggling into the warmth of Auggie's body. They just lay there for a few minutes, and then the alarm started going off again. Auggie groaned. "Guess we'd better get ready for work. I wish we could just stay right here all day, but I don't think Joan would be too happy if we both call in sick after having a few days off?" Auggie released his grip around Annie and sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. Annie followed suit.

"Probably not, huh?" Annie chuckled as she got to her feet, wrapping Auggie's sheet around her.

"Stealing my sheets Walker?" Auggie teased. "I've already 'seen' everything, so no need to be shy," he said as he grabbed her and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

"Har har Aug." Annie said, as they pulled apart. "I don't wanna give the poor old lady next door a heart attack. The blinds in my bedroom aren't closed." She kissed Auggie quickly and headed for her room to get ready.

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"How long?" Auggie asked as he finished the last of his cereal.

"Huh?" Annie was confused.

"How long have you had feelings for me?"

"For a while now, in some ways I think I fell in love with you the first time I met you. I realized I had feelings beyond friendship a few months ago, but I didn't realize that I love you until this weekend."

"Hmm… And what kept you from sharing those feelings?"

"I didn't wanna ruin the best relationship I ever had. You are my best friend and I was afraid I'd mess everything up if the feelings weren't mutual. That things would be awkward and we'd drift apart. You haven't exactly expressed those feelings yourself. How long have you had feelings for me?"

"Since the moment you asked me about my headphones and I thought you asked about how I lost my sight and over shared. The way you've never been fazed by my blindness, that you saw me, Auggie, not 'the blind guy' blew me away from the first time we met. I realized just last night how deeply I feel, but I've had feelings for you for a long time. I guess I didn't share for the same reasons as you. I was afraid of losing my best friend too." Auggie admitted.

"Oh Auggie," Annie got up and wrapped her arms around Auggie's shoulders. He rose from his seat and turned to face Annie, wrapping his arms around her.

"So Walker, wanna be my girlfriend?" Auggie had a huge grin across his face.

"Why do I feel like I'm back in Junior High?" Annie teased. "Yes Augs, I wanna be your girlfriend. I think a date would be appropriate you know."

"I'm the king of dates!" he replied with one of his signature smirks.

A week and a half later, late Friday afternoon Auggie's regular car service picked him up from work. Annie was on her way home from a mission in Germany and was due back in a couple of hours. He couldn't wait to hold her in his arms again, to have her snuggle into his chest at night. They'd only gotten three nights together before Annie left for her mission and he'd missed her more than ever before. Annie going away on mission wasn't exactly something new, but since they finally came clean about their feelings he didn't just miss her company, he longed for her. More than he'd ever longed for a woman in his life. More than he'd longed for Tash after he broke up with her. He hoped she liked what he'd planned for the evening.

Annie was on her way home and she couldn't wait to be back in Auggie's arms again. He'd sent her a text message, telling her he'd pick her up at the airport and that she'd better be ready for their first date. Although tired from both the mission and the flight she was excited. It would be her first real date with Auggie and he'd proclaimed to be the king of dates a week and a half earlier. She felt butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.

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An hour later the plane touched down and another forty minutes later Annie entered the arrivals hall. She looked for Auggie and there he was, half leaning on his cane, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses, and looking strikingly handsome in a dark suit. She hurried over to him and flung her arms around him.

Auggie was startled by the sudden arrival of Annie, he hadn't really caught her steps approaching, there were too many sounds distracting him. When his nose caught the familiar smell of Jo Malone Grapefruit and Annie he pulled her close and kissed her.

"Auggie, I've missed you more than you could ever imagine!" Annie whispered into his ear as he hugged her after they broke the kiss.

"I've missed you too Annie!" Auggie replied, pulling her in closer. "Are you ready for our first date?"

"Hells yeah!" Annie replied.

"Here ya' go! My mother told me to bring a girl flowers on our first date," he said with a grin, pushing the bouquet of roses in Annie's direction.

"Your mother taught you well Mr. Anderson," Annie said, taking the roses from Auggie and burying her face in them, taking in the scent. "I've always loved roses! Thanks Aug!" Annie planted a kiss on his cheek.

Auggie had taken her to a small Italian restaurant in Georgetown where they'd enjoyed a nice dinner and shared a bottle of wine. Auggie had caught Annie up on what was going on around the office and Annie had shared a few stories from Germany. When the waiter came to ask if they wanted dessert Annie placed her hand on Auggie's forearm and said apologetically, "Sorry Augs, I'm beat. Can we please go home?"

Auggie smiled at her and asked the waiter for the check.

"I'm the one that should be apologizing. I was so exited about your return that I forgot that you're probably totally exhausted and jet-lagged."

"It's ok Aug, I was doing fine, but all of a sudden it just hit me I guess. All I want for dessert is to get back to the apartment; go to bed and snuggle into your arms." Annie squeezed Auggie's arm.

"Well, I can live with that dessert Walker. I've been longing for you in my arms since you left a week ago." Auggie got his iPhone out and texted his car service driver that he could pick them up in 10 minutes.

They spent the night snuggling into each other. Annie was to exhausted to even think about making love, and even though Auggie's libido was driving him somewhat crazy he managed to convince himself to be content with having Annie next to him again, in his arms. His Annie, wonderful, sweet Annie. With that thought lingering in his mind Auggie drifted off to sleep.