A/N So after nine chapters of torture I'm giving in a little to the Anna/Bates hormones that I'm sure would be running rampant at this point. And for that reason I am going to have to bump up the rating for the last third of this chapter to a strong M. Thanks to a-lady-to-me and jamesluver for helping out with being betas for this one. I hope you all enjoy and please review.

Chapter 10

The first few weeks after Anna's departure moved at a glacial pace. The two of them skyped as often as they could, while phone calls and text messages filled the void in between times. As much as she would deny it on the phone, it was painfully clear that Anna was homesick. There was something so melancholy about her voice whenever she spoke to him over the phone, despite the brave face she tried to put on. She was blocked creatively when it came to painting or sketching, the majority of her free time was spent trying to catch up with John rather than making new friends or exploring the city she was in. Anna knew she shouldn't, but being so far from home had made her return to her habit of smoking. It eased her nerves when she wasn't able to talk with John after a long day of courses and studies. It tore her up that she wasn't fully enjoying this experience, to be in a place like Paris, getting to experience world-famous art from some of the greatest artists of all time, the truth was it just wasn't the same without John.

"Who is that?

Her instructor's voice brought her out of her trance. Anna looked up to find Professor Hughes standing just over her shoulder.

"What's that?" Anna asked as she pulled the earbuds from her ipod out of her ear. She was still putting the final touches on a piece she'd been working on for the past few hours. It wasn't complete, but it was clear as day to her who the focus of her latest masterpiece was. Dark eyes framed by crinkles that seemed to jump off the page and made her insides melt. Those dimples that could only belong to one person and blossomed with every smile that graced his face. The unruly lock of hair that broke formation no matter how much he pushed it back with his large hands. She paused to give serious thought to his hands and the way they felt whenever they touched her. Anna blushed as she pictured what might have been if they had experienced one night of bliss before she had left.

"Anna?" Mrs. Hughes asked again.

"I'm sorry," she apologized.

"It's quite alright. He must be very special to you."

"What makes you say that?" Anna replied.

"Because you are supposed to be working on a landscape," the older woman replied.

"Oh, gosh. I didn't…"

"It's quite alright," Mrs. Hughes assured in her Scottish brogue. "I wont tell if you wont. Though I must say, he's quite handsome."

Anna returned to the portrait and took a moment to admire it. Her fingers lightly traced the outline of his face and she smirked before flipping the page over to start anew. Anna put her earbuds back in and the song turned to one of her and John's favorites. Her mind wandered to all of her favorite places, most of which were ones that they had gone to together. Inspiration suddenly struck her. His words resounding in her head. "It's the best view I know of. Well...second to you that is."

That night when John skyped with her and asked her what she worked on that day she sent him a photo of her painting.

"Wow! It's gorgeous!"

"You're not just saying that are you?"

"Of course not. It looks just like the sunrise we saw at the vineyard."

"Our spot," she confirmed.

"That's right. Our spot." He remembered that day vividly and only wished they could have left the vineyard on better terms. John came to the conclusion he'd have to take her back there again sometime. Only this time when he would introduce her to everyone as his girlfriend it would be real. The prospect of having that honor filled his chest with glee and for the briefest of moments it was like she was back home with him.

The time apart was no easier for John. Their lives and experiences had been intertwined for so long that everywhere, and everything seemed to remind him of her. He would find himself in their favorite cafe and memories of her would come flooding back.

He glimpsed up from his book and found himself smiling at her.

She had been working on a charcoal drawing for sometime. Anna had been so deep in thought she almost hadn't heard him giggle from the other side of the table. Her eyes rose from the page to gaze back at him. "And what exactly is so funny, Mr. Bates?"

John chuckled slightly before motioning towards her mouth, "You have a bit of whip cream on your lip?"

"Do I? Anna asked as she began to wipe at the sides of her mouth with her fingertips. "All gone?"

He smiled boyishly at her and shook his head back and forth in a no motion. "Hold on," John said as he leaned forward. The pad of his thumb swept across the top of her lip and paused when it reached the corner of her mouth. "All better," he added with a wink.

The waitress at the cafe had become accustomed to seeing them there together. She greeted John like usual and took his order, but he he seemed lost and curiosity got the better of her. Once she collected his menu she asked, "Just you today?"

"Afraid so," he replied sadly.

"What happened to your lady friend?"

"She left," he responded simply.

"I'm sorry, hun," she responded in a motherly fashion. "You know what they say, it's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all."

"Oh, no. She's in Paris for a study abroad program."

"Uh, the city of light. How romantic," she remarked. A free hand rested on her hip as she tucked her notepad into her apron. "Are you going to visit her?" she asked with genuine interest.

John smiled briefly, "I certainly hope so. But don't let me bother you with my troubles."

The waitress offered him a sympathetic smile and went about her business. He returned to reading his book, the subtle sound of dishes and silverware clattering in the background provided an easy rhythm to accompany his studies.

It was a few minutes later when the waitress returned with a cup of coffee for him and a warm brownie on a plate. "There's your usual, hun."

John's concentration was broken as the plate 'clacked' against the table. "Oh, I didn't order a brownie."

"I know. It's on the house. Nothing helps a broken heart quite like baked goods," she commented.

"Thanks."

She left to attend to other customers and when he looked out the window he noticed it was raining. Anna loved the rain. This kind of weather would usually result in her curling up beside him on his couch with a good book as she wore one of his beloved hoodies. She was practically swimming in them as his frame was much larger than her own. Her hair swept up haphazardly into a bun, with a few loose strands cascading around her face, framing it like a halo. Her yoga pants hugging her petite, but ample thighs. He sighed. There was no escaping her. These next few months were going to be harder than he expected.

John stared down at the chocolate goodie and found himself thinking of Anna. The brownies were her favorite. She'd always suggest they split one, but the majority of the time she ate the bulk of it. He'd find himself staring at her as lips, focused on the stray crumbs that had become affixed to the corner of her mouth. What he wouldn't give to be one of those delectable morsels, clinging to her lips in hope of being granted entry, only to be swept up by her tongue and enveloped in the warmth of her mouth. Oh god. He couldn't think like that right now. He felt his phone buzzing in his pocket and quickly fished it out.

I miss you-A

His heart ached for her. He let his eyes drift back to the brownie and picked it up before taking a large bite. It didn't taste the same without her. The chocolate treat settled in his belly, but he couldn't help the empty feeling that had taken over since she'd left. John replied to her text looking rather morose.

I miss you more-J

It had been a long day of exams and then John spent several hours doing research for a case that his internship had assigned him to work on. His brain was mush and he didn't much care if he never looked at another book or read a single sentence ever again. John walked into the door of his flat and slung his bag of books onto the countertop. He shrugged off his jacket and began undoing his tie. His phone rang and he smiled in anticipation. She knew him so well.

"Hey," he greeted, not sounding the least bit irritated after the day he'd endured.

"Did you make it home alright?"

"I did."

"How was your day?"

"It's been crazy, but I don't want to think about it right now," John brushed off. He opened the fridge and reached for a beer and used a bottle opener to remove the cap. "How are you?"

"I'm alright. Classes are going well. We'll be visiting the Louvre this week, they are opening a new exhibit and my professor knows one of the people on the restoration team, so we are getting a first look."

"Sounds exciting." John pulled out a box of leftover Chinese and smelled it to check if it was still good. He proceeded to put it on a plate and heat it in the microwave.

"I hear the microwave. Are you eating well?" she asked.

"Ya-yeah. I uh...just heating up some soup."

"Liar," she called his bluff.

"Don't you try scolding me, Anna May Smith. You haven't exactly been sticking to your promises either," he reprimanded her.

"Such as?" she responded.

"You've hardly left your dorm room unless you are going to class. You are supposed to be making memories for us. Remember?"

"I've been busy."

"Not that busy. Why don't you go out dancing with your girlfriends? Or walk along the River Seine?"

"I just haven't felt like it," she answered simply. "Besides I'm not particularly close with my roommate just yet." Anna stared at a photo of the two of them on her laptop screen from the wedding. It seemed like ages ago. These skype sessions and phone calls were helpful, but it wasn't the same.

The microwave beeped and John removed his food before settling down on the couch with his beer and flipping on the television.

"Any plans for the the night?" she asked.

"No. I'm spent. I think I'll try to catch the football highlights for the day, then head off to bed," he reported as he set his feet up on the coffee table and crossed his ankles. "You?"

"I should probably head to bed, but I haven't slept the same since London. I miss laying in your arms," she confessed.

"I can talk to you until you fall asleep," he suggested. John stifled a yawn with his fist. "It's not exactly the same, but it's the least I can do." He flipped the the channels looking for something to grab his interest.

"Only if you want to. If you'd rather go to sleep I completely understand."

"Oh my god, Anna!"

"What?" she looked around confused. Her voice had risen in pitch, "Are you alright?"

"You'll never guess what's on television right now?"

"Jesus, John. You scared the crap out of me."

"You didn't guess," he commented.

"I don't know," Anna said as she rubbed her temple with her forefinger.

"Oh come on. You have to know."

"Can I atleast get a hint?"

"I teased you mercilessly about this movie when you talked me into going to the theatre to see it because Gwen wasn't available."

"Oh not that one!"

"Yes! That one!"

"Hold on." Anna began fishing through her movie collection looking for the DVD case.

"What are you doing?"

"Hold on," she muttered. Anna hit the button on the remote control and the movie started. "What part are you on?"

"The part when he says 'I couldn't make up something like this if I tried'," John said in a slightly different voice.

"Uh, I hate when he says that. Absolute rubbish line," Anna said as she fast forwarded to the appropriate scene. She finally found the spot in the film he was referring to and hit play.

"I know it's like you do realize you are part of a made up story because you are a fictitious character. Right?" John picked up some chow mein with his fork and slurped up a noodle.

"I still remember how much that irritated you when we were in the theatre. You would not shut up. And then you proceeded to point out every other cliche moment in the film just to get my goat."

"Anna, I was forced to see that movie just because you liked the leading man. Let's be honest. This movie is crap."

"I hope you know you ruined this movie for me, John Bates. I can't ever watch it again without thinking of how much you criticized it and me for liking it."

"I think the word you are looking for is 'enhanced'. I enhanced this movie for you," he said.

The two of them laughed heartily. It felt good and refreshing to hear each other laughing over the phone. Anna stared wistfully at the photo on her laptop screen and gave voice to the question that had been rolling around in her brain since she left London. "John, do you ever think about that night at the wedding?"

He grew quiet set his beer down on the side table, sitting up at attention before answering her. "Of course I think about that night." There were evenings when he wouldn't sleep a wink because his recollection of that night would haunt him. The way she had looked, the way she had touched him and responded in kind to his own ministrations, and the way she had rejected him. He pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to block that memory from his brain.

"Do you ever think about what it might have been like if I hadn't stopped things?"

He didn't want to run the risk of sounding like sex was all he cared about. But if he were being perfectly honest, he thought about it more than he should. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen parts of her bare to him before, so it didn't take much for his imagination to run wild and piece together a scenario where the two of them took a tumble in bed. John cleared his throat realizing she was still waiting for an answer. "Yes."

"And…"

"And I understand why you wanted to stop."

She was quiet on the other end of the line, clearly waiting for him to say something more.

"I mean I would have loved for our night to progress, but I wouldn't have pressured you into doing something you weren't ready for," he clarified.

"I know you wouldn't have. That's why I initiated things," she reminded him.

John ran a hand through his hair nervously as he realized he was always placing her in the position to make a move because he was too worried about ruining the status quo. "Well, when I have you back in my arms I'll be sure to take some more initiative," he promised.

"Why wait?" she blurted out.

"What?" his eyes grew wide.

"Why wait until I'm back in your arms?"

His voice lowered even though he didn't have to worry about a roommate or anyone else walking through his flat. "Anna? What are you suggesting?"

"There are other ways we can engage in activities of that...um...nature," she said shyly.

He nearly spit out the beer that was in his mouth. John swallowed hard and tried to regain his composure. Christ. Was she for real? Was she implying what he thought she was? He couldn't possibly be so lucky to be with a woman that looked like Anna and have her be so vocal about her desires.

"John? Are you alright?" her sweet voice echoed across the line.

"Yeah. Are you? I mean, uh…" Oh Lord he was making a mess out of this. One implication of sex and he was falling apart at the seams. "You are talking about…"

"Phone sex," she filled in the blank.

Could the gods be so kind? He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "Anna, we don't…"

"John. I know you are trying to do something gallant. I don't need you to protect me, least of all from yourself. If you try to tell me one more time about what we don't have to do I'm going to combust."

"Sorry. It's just, this isn't how I pictured our first encounter together."

"I understand, but I don't think I can wait another ten months for our first time together."

He wouldn't argue with her there, but they had waited long enough. He supposed a little longer wouldn't be so bad.

Anna said his name in an effort to bring his thoughts back to her, or at least to the conversation at hand. When he didn't respond immediately she began to back peddle, her confidence wavering. "It was just a thought."

"Hold on a second," he bit his bottom lip. He was biding his time as he gave her offer careful consideration. "I've never done this before."

"Well neither have I."

"I don't really know how to start."

Anna wasn't really sure either. A few ideas bounced around in her head before she spoke again. "Tell me what you pictured."

"What?"

"For our first time," she reiterated.

"Well, I thought I might take you to dinner first. Maybe go to a show or out to dance."

"Okay. Fast forward to the good stuff," she directed him.

He laughed slightly. "We would...wait why?"

Anna sounded like she was stifling a moan. "I'm going to relieve myself John. One way or another."

'She couldn't possibly be serious', he thought to himself. Surely she was playing with him, but just as he began to question her true intentions she spoke in a sultry voice.

"Talk to me, John," she instructed him with a soft, but demanding tone. "Tell me what you're doing. Tell me what you're wearing."

"I'm uh…" John muted the television. The phone was set to speaker phone and he placed it on the coffee table. He turned to the window with the shades still open, and even though his flat was not directly in anyone's eye line, he drew the shades.

"John, are you still there?"

"Ya-yeah. I'm just...getting ready," he said. His hands flailing at the inability to find the right words. He checked around the apartment as if someone might walk in at any moment, though he knew there was no risk of that. John made himself comfortable on the couch, or at least he tried to. This was a new experience, not only for he and Anna but for he and a woman in general. Such activities were something he normally performed in the privacy of his own room, not with someone expecting him to reciprocate on the other end of the phone. He was incredibly tense and sat up at attention. His fingers were laced together as his hands were folded awkwardly over his lap. In his head he told himself, 'This is Anna. She would never judge you. This doesn't have to be weird.'

"Are you ready?" she called out in a sing song voice. She was half teasing, but sounded absolutely delicious.

John gulped nervously. "I am," he responded in a voice that almost cracked.

"Good," she answered.

He could almost picture her satisfied grin through the phone. The one that Anna wore whenever she knew she had outsmarted him. "I'm…" he cleared his throat as his hand reached down nervously to undo his belt buckle. "I'm getting ready to take off my pants."

"Uh huh," she responded eagerly. "I'm going to need a little more detail, John."

"Oh, right," he stammered in frustration. "Well I just took off my belt and now I'm unzipping my pants." Dear God. Even listening to himself now he was kicking himself realizing that he wasn't making this sound seductive at all. The only thing working in his favor was that Anna probably hadn't had much experience with things of a sexual nature. Still he wanted to try this for her and for himself. He reached down with his hand and began rubbing himself over his underwear. John tried to close his eyes, tried to picture her and relax. "I'm rubbing myself now...and…uh...I'm sorry, Anna. I can't. I'm horrible at this. I can only imagine what this is like for you on the other end of the phone."

She giggled slightly. Not wanting to make him feel bad of course, but he had come across sounding a bit stiff. "It's quite alright. We don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, I do. I just wish I could do this with you in person. I feel so disconnected from you right now and this isn't how I pictured our first interaction."

"I know. Perhaps I should try taking over," Anna suggested.

John sighed in defeat. "Would you?" he said with a tinge of relief. He still felt guilty that he couldn't do this properly with her. Why did he have to be so damn noble? He should have acted on his impulse to spend one night with her before she left. Now he was doomed to live like a monk until she returned.

"Alright, I'm here in my dorm with a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower. Everything looks lovely outside, the city is so quiet and yet so full of life as I look outside from my spot on the bed."

'Ever the artist', he thought with a slight roll of the eyes. She was going to drive him to madness if she kept talking about scenery instead of what she looked like.

"I'm picturing you here with me."

"And what am I doing?"

"You just got done taking a shower and you are coming to slide into bed with me."

"That sounds lovely," he added. "And are you as naked as me in this imagining?"

"I am."

Sweet, merciful Jesus. His eyes were wide open now and his hand gripped himself harder than he intended as her words took him by surprise. He bit down on his lower lip, stifling a yelp. Was she aware how she was affecting him? The mynx.

"I've grown quite impatient waiting for you," she added

His hand reached out for his length once more and began stroking it through his pants. It didn't take long for him to respond, the tightness between his legs prompted him to remove his pants. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," he apologized.

"I would have waited a lifetime for you," she said. Her words rung true.

John vowed to himself then that he would never keep her waiting for as long as he lived. He was trying to do his part, "I'd brush your hair out of the way and place a kiss on your shoulder while my lips trailed up your neck."

"Mmmmmm," she moaned.

"Did you start without me?" he asked.

"I couldn't help myself," she replied. "I've longed for you for far too long."

He could hear some movement over the phone and found himself extremely aroused as he pictured her touching herself.

"Let me help you then," he encouraged.

"Come to have your way with me then, Mr. Bates?"

"Why not? In my imaginings we've already done this three times today," he teased.

"Getting a bit ahead of yourself there are you?" she shot back playfully.

"You'd like to think so. But when I get my hands on you Anna May Smith…" his voice trailed off and John let out a ragged breath. He removed his underwear and licked his palm as he set to work. John's hand ran from root to tip. The pressure fluctuating as he tried to picture Anna's naked form laying beside him in bed.

"Tell me," she ordered.

"I'd remove the sheets just enough to expose your breasts. My fingers would run along them gently causing them to harden. I'd take one between my lips and suck them gently."

"More."

"I'd lap at them with my tongue and cup the other with my hand, pinching it softly."

"Yessss," she hissed.

"My other hand would reach between your legs and feel how wet you are."

"Oh god, yes."

"I'd let my index finger tease at you, rubbing circles around you entrance and my thumb massaging your clit."

"Jesus, John!"

"What?" he asked in surprise.

"You've got me so damned wet right now," she admitted shamelessly.

He smirked in response. John was picking up the pace with his strokes. A small spurt of clear fluid had accumulated at his tip, he let his thumb trail there and felt himself shiver in response. He was already so sensitive and with every moan that came across the phone he was throbbing harder than before. She would be the death of him if this was the effect she had on him without even being present.

"My turn," she said.

Her words breaking him from thought. John felt his heart simultaneously stop and speed up with excitement. He could already feel the tightening in his lower half, like a pit in his stomach. He was so very close to his release.

"I'm climbing on top of you now, straddling your lap, grinding my hips against your pelvis."

"Anna. Christ." He choked out a groan. Oh what sweet pleasure it would bring him to have her doing just that to him right now. To feel her smooth legs pinned on either side of him, to be anchoring him in a temporary state of bliss, looking as divine as she knew she would as she bared her body and soul to him. Her hair framing her face flawlessly as it cascaded down her body and tickled his chest whenever she leaned forward to bestow a kiss upon his jawline. Her pert breasts moving in perfect harmony as she matched his motions, thrust for thrust. Their breaths falling into alignment as they clung to each other for dear life.

But his pleas for mercy were lost in the haze. John may as well have been speaking another language. Anna could feel the subtle thrum between her legs picking up with intensity. Her nerves were on fire as she touched herself in a way that she could only hope John would. No. In a way she knew he would. The benefit to knowing John so well inside and out over the course of their lives was that she knew what he was capable of. She knew how he treated her and what lengths he would go to for her. He had always been so gentle and patient with her, almost to a fault. His level of understanding knew no limits and she knew he would ensure that she experienced the magnitude of his love for her when they were finally together. As she pictured his roughened fingertips circling her most intimate parts, dipping into her warmth, and reading her every whimper like notes on a music sheet and found herself giving way to her greatest fantasy. It took over, wave after wave of pleasure, so much so that her legs trembled and her toes curled in response.

For a moment she didn't respond, he could only hear her pleasant mewls over the phone. "My darling, are you still with me?" he choked out.

"I am," she managed in between pants. "That was just...um...that was something unexpected." Anna let her hand rest against her forehead, she could feel the blood rushing through her ears and was sure she must look flushed. She still needed time to recover, but Anna knew she had to help him finish. "I'm aching for you, John."

Her words sent shivers up his spine. His hips twitching on their own accord and the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Heaven above. Let him last long enough for her to finish speaking. His name like a prayer falling from her lips. "Don't stop," he begged. He didn't care how desperate it sounded. She was like oxygen to him. He had never wanted or needed her so badly. "Keep talking, please."

"Don't worry, love. I'm not leaving you. I have every intention of finishing what I started."

John's eyes rolled into the back of his head. He was harder than ever and the straining sensation was becoming too much for him to take.

"I'm going to kiss you now and run my fingers through your hair. Massage your scalp with my nimble fingers," Anna said with a smile.

He let out a muffled laugh.

She grinned in response, anticipating he would react just that way.

"And then?" he inquired with a gruff voice.

"Patience, Mr. Bates," Anna scolded playfully.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I just want you so badly."

"That's the point," she added. "Now I'm going to leave you wanting more." Anna paused for effect. She heard John's breath come to a halt. "I'd slide down the length of your body...until I was sitting between your knees."

"Anna?" This had to be a dream. She couldn't possibly be saying the things she was saying or heading in the direction he was thinking. Not his Anna. Not the young lady who had always been so shy and timid around him.

"You heard me right, John." A satisfied smirk emerged across her face as she tried to picture him in that moment hundreds of miles away. "I'd take you in hand and sink you into my mouth." Now Anna couldn't be quite sure she heard him correctly, but judging by his response she was certain she had taken him by surprised.

"Oh shit," he said between staggered breaths. His mind had already been working overtime imaging that, but hearing her say it was all the more erotic. A million and one thoughts of things to say were running through his head and due to the lack of blood flowing to his mind right now he wasn't quite sure what to say. "Anna, love...could I touch you? I mean, would you let me run my hands through your hair?"

"You can do anything you want, John." Anna was finding herself becoming aroused yet again as she thought of John gratifying himself right now to the image of her touching him in the most intimate of ways. She could only ever perform such acts or utter such sentiments over the phone with John. Years of practiced restraint had allowed them to become closer in other ways. There was no need to be nervous or embarrassed in front of someone who already knew all your most inner thoughts and secrets.

He hissed between gritted teeth. Everything she was saying and contemplating doing to him was pushing him to the brink. He was focusing harder than ever before. His hand moving faster now. With each stroke he imagined Anna moving her mouth up and down his shaft; her smooth, wet lips pressing firmly to his skin; and her teeth lightly grazing him as her head bobbed up and down. "I'm so close, sweetheart. What else?"

"I'd let my tongue tease you, moving around your tip until I fully tasted you."

Shit. It was happening. He wasn't ready yet. The all too familiar build up was starting. The primal urge to thrust himself inside her was taking over. He slowed his movements in hopes to prolong the inevitable end and see what else she would say. He always knew she could paint a picture, but good Lord. John thought he might actually be able to taste colors at this point. His mouth was going dry as his breathing became more labored.

"Then I'd kiss you down there slowly, before looking deep into your eyes." She'd always loved those eyes, they could be so mesmerizing and intoxicating.

Simultaneously he was picturing her blue ones staring back at him, darkened with desire for him and him alone.

"And I'd tell you to…"

"Tell me to what?" he asked with more than faint curiosity.

"Take me now. Make me yours, John."

That was it. Game over. The floodgates had opened. John came harder than he ever had. He grunted across the line, almost painfully so. "My God," he managed to say. He was utterly depleted and his pants were a mess, but the release had felt so good. It had been worth it. He let out a tired sigh and heard that nymph giggle from somewhere far away from here. "What's so funny?" he muttered.

"How was that?"

"You are a the devil, Anna May Bates," he teased. "You look like an angel, but you were sent here to test my resolve."

"Oh…" she played coy.

The saucy flirt. he could practically hear her smiling through the phone. "I'm here to tell you I have none when it comes to you. You are my weakness."

"Glad you can admit it now," she said.

"Can you just give me a minute? I need to clean up." John ran his clean hand through his hair and let out a woosh of air. He began looking around for a rag or tissue to tend to the mess he'd made. And ran into the other room to throw on a fresh pair of underpants. When he returned a while later he wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Hopefully that will tide you over until you're back in my arms," Anna said.

"You were always enough to tide me over, even without tonight. But that doesn't make me less grateful," John clarified.

"I miss you dreadfully."

"I miss you more. I meant what I said, you know. I was sorry to have kept you waiting so long. I won't have you in doubts of my feelings or intentions towards you ever again."

"I suspect you won't. But John it was worth it. You were worth it. And if tonight was any indication, it will only make our reunion all the sweeter when we get to experience each other properly for the first time."

That was an understatement. The two of them laughed and stayed on the line with one another until the rom-com on the television went to roll credits. They whispered 'I love yous' before succumbing to sleep.