Sorry for such the long hiatus. Writer's block is a bitch. :/ It's not my best work, but enjoy!
Checking out of the Great Northern was easier said than done. The Sherriff instructed Audrey to simply thank her father for the party, and to tell her family that she was leaving for Seattle. It was a good enough story, for anyone who didn't know about Dale's return.
However now that she was sitting on the floor of her father's office with Johnny settle on her lap Audrey was struggling with what to say. She hadn't quite thought through telling her father about Dale. How am I going to convince him that I'm leaving without Dale?
She took a stab at it, "Daddy, being home feels so nice. It's so refreshing to be out of the city, I almost don't want to leave…"
"Leave?"
"Yeah, I have class tomorrow," her father grimaced, "I know, and I don't want to wake up that early so I was thinking I'd just head back tonight."
For a moment she thought she got away with it, but then he turned slowly back towards her and asked with a slight sneer, "But what about your precious Special Agent?"
She didn't miss a beat, "He was taken back to DC by some government spook," she heaved a sigh for effect, "There's nothing I can do about it."
Just one look and Audrey knew that he wasn't buying it.
"Audrey, one of your most endearing qualities is that you never give up. Why on earth would you now? Unless of course you're lying to me."
He fixed her with a penetrating stare, but Audrey used to lie to her father all the time. She was a little out of practice, but kept her cool.
"Daddy, if I were going to lie to you, I would have done it last night, and just never told you that he was here."
She tried very hard to say it with an air of nonchalance, while stroking a smiling Johnny's hair, but Audrey was watching her father very closely. The corners of Ben's mouth twitched down in displeasure, but then he walked to his desk and simply said, "Make sure you say goodbye to your Mother."
Audrey's inner celebration was dampened when he reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a cigar. Now it was her turn to frown.
"Go on Johnny," she ushered him encouragingly out of the room while she lingered in the doorway.
She addressed her father again, "When did you start smoking again?"
"You've been gone a long time Audrey," he answered rather cryptically, puffing his cigar to life.
She crossed her arms, "Well I wish you wouldn't."
Ben just chuckled and strolled over to her and kissed her on the cheek, "Don't be a stranger, come home soon."
"Okay Daddy," she answered, eyeing him suspiciously, "Love you."
"And I love you," he replied using his cigar to punctuate every word.
As Audrey was leading Johnny back to their Mother and Dr. Jacoby, she was lost in thought. Her father hadn't acted that way since before his incident. Audrey wondered if he was seeing Catherine Martell again, but then she remembered that he had asked her to invite Donna Hayward to her birthday party. Audrey and Donna were still on friendly terms, but she had severed all ties with Twin Peaks after graduating high school, moving somewhere in California with James. He must be upset that she didn't come. He did try very hard to forge some sort of relationship with her.
Audrey had long ago learned not to care about her father's philandering ways, and so she packed her things and headed to her car. Dale had already left, and was waiting at the book house. The Sherriff had instructed Audrey to drive to the Double R where a decoy would pick up Audrey's car and drive it in circles slowly toward Seattle, while Hawk drove her to the secretive "book house."
It all went down without a hitch, and Audrey asked Norma to package up a cherry pie to bring with.
"How's Annie doing Norma?" she asked casually, trying not to sound guilty.
"It's funny you ask, I got a letter from her just today. She says she's doing better lately. Even considered coming back and staying with me for a bit," Norma answered while wrapping up the pie.
Audrey gulped. She dreaded Annie's return not only because she knew that Dale was too honorable not to apologize or speak with Annie, but also because Annie could easily become a target for Bob as well. Riding with Hawk, Audrey weighed whether she would talk to Dale about it or not.
Pulling up to the book house Audrey recognized it as the place where she was taken after her rescue from One Eyed Jack's. It was a little more rustic than she was used to but Audrey was so nervous that she barely noticed. Dale and the Sherriff were speaking animatedly on the front steps as Audrey approached.
"What wonderful trees! Despite everything, I still have the utmost respect and awe for your forest Harry."
"Living here, you certainly do feel a connection to it," The Sherriff smiled and pointed out a tree to the side of the house, "My father planted that tree the day I was born."
Dale's jaw dropped as he admired the specimen, and turned around suddenly to face her, "Audrey look! Isn't it magnificent?"
His face was full of childlike wonder and excitement, a broad grin spreading from ear to ear. Audrey couldn't help but smile back. It was so nice to see him smiling again.
"Yes. Magnificent," and she looped her arm through his, just wanting to be closer to him, to bask in his contagious joy. He returned the favor and held her close.
"Did everything go as planned? Your father wasn't too upset?"
"No, I smoothed everything over. It should buy us some time, but he isn't going to be satisfied for very long."
Dale's face changed into a thoughtful grimace, "Yes from what I remember your father is very protective of you."
Audrey looked up at him and asked defensively, "What? He didn't say anything to you did he?"
Hawk walked over, "I don't mean to interrupt you lovers but you'll be safer inside. We aren't near Glastonbury Grove, but better safe than sorry."
"Hawk, when you're right, you're right. Audrey, after you," and Dale politely ushered her inside, with the Sherriff and Hawk, close behind.
They gave her a brief but thorough tour and she was pleased. If I'm gonna be cooped up somewhere, at least it's here. Dale was bursting at the seams with excitement and Audrey was glad that he was feeling so enthusiastic, but she couldn't share his joy. Now that their plan was actually in effect, she doubted the certainty that she had felt earlier. Thoughts of Bob, her father, missing school, Annie and the potential danger they were all in swirled around in Audrey's head. So much so, that she barely noticed that she and Dale were now alone.
"What?" she asked distractedly.
"Nothing. I just was wondering what was on your mind," he answered good-naturedly. Dale was in the process of looking through the kitchen cabinets, orienting himself.
Audrey heaved a sigh and dragged her feet to sit at one of the bar stools at the kitchen counter. He leaned on the counter across from her, "Having second thoughts?"
Her head snapped up, "No!" but Dale just smiled knowingly, while Audrey looked down sheepishly.
"I guess I was just caught up in the excitement of you being back," her eyes widened as she looked up at him, "Not that I'm not glad you're back!" She sighed, "Let me rephrase," she took a breath, "I am still so happy that you're back, I just didn't think through all of the consequences of going into hiding."
Dale's smile faded slightly, "Audrey, since we've met I have only wished for your happiness. If you feel that this… situation is holding you back in any way," Audrey interrupted him with a kiss. She tried to put all of her feelings into it, the things she couldn't express with words. How happy she was that he was back, and how that outweighed any doubt she may feel.
When she pulled away from him, his eyes remained closed and a grin slowly spread across his face, "It's going to take me a while to get used to that," he said in a low voice. Audrey was secretly pleased that she had such an effect on him. Then he opened his eyes and sprang into action.
"Well this pie isn't going to eat itself! It's been far too long since I've had a slice of Norma's cherry pie."
Audrey laughed, her worries temporarily forgotten.