Demolished-soul: Haha. Yeah, it's nice for everyone to hang out somewhere besides the lab. Ah, Danny. Haha. He's fun to write. Thanks for the review!

Meadow567: There are online translators you can search on Google. I can't remember which one I used. Thanks for the review!

sparkyCSI: Yeah, I explained the translating issues to you. But I am glad you liked the chapter!

Axellia: I always look forward to reading your long reviews! LOL. I think Anna is like, my alter ego or something. I love her to death. Haha. See, I think Tobey is adorable, and I don't watch the OC so I didn't see that part. Thank you for reviewing though!

Snowbear96: Thanks! (smiles)

Chili-peppers: Yeah, Danny is a random fun character to write. LOL. Glad you liked!

Thank you everyone for your encouraging comments and feedback! I really appreciate them. This is probably the last chapter you will receive for a while due to school, although you can probably expect an update a week or so from today. I am bringing you this chapter, which just is really a quick little filler chapter because the next one is going to have a huge impact on the relationship between Danny and Lindsay. I don't know how many of you have heard the supposed spoilers for next season, but one of them has something do to with Lindsay going undercover during a hostage situation, Danny freaks out, and then something happens where they don't hear from Lindsay or something. So, basically that is going to be my next chapter – of course, with my spin on how I would want the episode to play out. Alright, so if you all are ready, let's cook up some fun, because it's Independence Day in New York! Disclaimer: I don't own the title, the lyrics, or Anberlin, because they own this song!

Chapter 9: A Day Late

We are who we were when,

Could've been lovers, but at least you're still my day late friend

We are who; we are who we were when,

Who knew what we know now,

Could've been more but at least you're still my day late friend

We are who; we are who we were when…

I smiled, flipping open my cell phone. "Hey there stranger," I answered.

"Hey yourself," Aaron said with a little laugh. "Happy Independence Day," he added cordially.

"Same to you," I responded staring out at the setting sun. I heard the clatter of dishes from behind me as Maggie helped Linda, Maureen, and Becky empty the contents into the garbage.

"So, whatcha up to on this fine night?" Aaron asked.

"Actually, you wouldn't believe this, but I am in the country with Maggie."

"Really?" Aaron asked with interest. "How come?"

"She offered for me to spend tonight and tomorrow morning at her house out here. Her neighbors were having a big gathering with a cook-out and fireworks tonight, so she thought it would be fun for me to get out of the city for a little while."

"…and you love it out there, don't you?"

I couldn't help but smile. Aaron knew me too well.

I surveyed my surroundings, and had to admit that he was right. I did love the country. I loved everything about it. I loved the way that the sun set over the grassy knolls with such sheer brilliance and vibrant colors. I loved the smell of the country – the fresh, crisp air that carried so many different scents: crackling fires, bug spray, home cooked meals. I loved the feel of the country, where I knew that I could just sit out on the back porch and eat my food among the laughter of children dancing in the spacious backyard while they carried sparklers in their hands, which glittered against the velvety backdrop of sky. I loved sitting and watching the stars begin to appear, dot by dot, in the night sky. I loved everything about the country.

"Oh, Aaron, if you could see how beautiful it is out here…"

"…I would probably be on a plane back to New York now," he finished, laughing. I smiled sadly, already wishing that Aaron hadn't left.

"It's good to just relax for a while, you know?"

I could picture Aaron nodding on the other line. "Yeah, you deserve a break Anna. You work hard at what you do, and it's a tough job. Not everyone can deal with the stuff you deal with on a daily basis. So take a break every once in a while and treat yourself - enjoy life!"

I grinned. "Are you sure you don't want to give that long-distance thing a try Aaron?" I asked teasingly. I couldn't think of any sweeter person on the planet other than my Aaron. And I realized I believe, in that instant, that I had always branded him as my Aaron. I guess that in a way, a piece of him would always be a part of me.

Aaron laughed again. "Aw, Anna, you know I would love to…"

"…but it would be too tough on both of us," I finished with a roll of my eyes. I exhaled deeply. "Is that your way of telling me that you don't like me anymore?"

"Anna, you will always be a part of my life, you know that. But after college, everything just shifted, I guess. I think you should realize that there are people out there who are just as good, if not better, for you than me."

I sighed. "You mean guys like Flack, right?"

"Yeah, people like him Anna. I know that you like him, and I know that it scares you because you haven't felt that way with anyone since your relationship with me. But I really feel like you should open yourself up to the possibility of being in a relationship with someone other than me. I will always care about you, Anna, and I will always love and support you. But, we all have to move on sometime, right? I think Flack and you would hit it off well."

"Aaron, I just don't want to be hurt again. When you left New York, I cried for nights on end. Elsie, Maggie, Abbey, Charlene – they all came over to try and console me, but I only wanted one person: you. I just don't think I can take that heartache again…"

"Anna, you listen to me," Aaron started seriously, "everything that is worth having in life is worth the pain and the suffering in the end. What is that old cliché saying, again? Ah, yes: "It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all". Anna, everything that you have been through in your life has brought you to where you are now."

I swallowed to try and prevent the tears from falling. In all of my life, there have been few people who have been able to reach me emotionally on the deepest of levels. Claire and Jacob had always been my rocks of support, in the wake of my mother's death, and I knew that I could count on them to be there for me. But my relationship with them was only that deep. I loved my co-workers, but they would never be able to reach me as deep as Aaron could. Aaron was one of the three people in my life who could touch my heart and soul.

"I know what you're saying, but it's going to be…"

"…hard? Yeah, Anna, it's going to be hard. It's tough on me too, you know. God, I couldn't bear to leave you and move across the country. All I could think of for days on end was your smile, and your laugh, and your beautiful eyes…and I missed you terribly, and I still do," Aaron said sincerely, "but I think what I have learned throughout the five wonderful years that I have known you is that sometimes you need to just let life run its own course and not ask questions from the backseat."

I laughed. "Well said, Mr. Philosophy."

"Thanks," Aaron said with a light laugh. In a more serious tone, he added: "Look, Anna, sometimes we just don't understand why things happen the way that they do, but it's not our place to question. I know you, I should know you pretty darn well after five years – and I know that you get scared easily. But open up a little bit more, and maybe you'll see how wonderful life really can be."

I smiled and nodded on the other end. "You know," I began, "I really think that Flack was jealous of you…"

Aaron and I laughed. "Aw, man, I can't believe how many times he caught us in quite awkward situations. It really didn't help support that 'I'm not dating him' story that you were feeding him," Aaron remarked through his laughter.

"Do Aaron and you have the worst timing or what?" Maggie chimed in – obviously eavesdropping on my conversation – as she settled into the patio chair beside mine. I rolled my eyes at my friend and continued my conversation with Aaron.

"Okay, so first off, the movie night thing looked bad because I seemed really flustered around you…"

"…and then," Aaron continued, "he sees me give you a kiss on the cheek after work one day…"

"…and you linked your arm with mine," I reminded him. "Jeez, were you trying to convince him that we were dating?"

Aaron laughed again, and Maggie added to our conversation. "And then, he sees that you sent her flowers, Aaron," she remarked accusingly.

"Okay, so that one I shouldn't have done, but the others were entirely by accident," Aaron said defensively. "How should I know that your entire team was going to show up at the same club we were at?"

"I told you," I started, rolling my eyes at him, "that Mac played at Cozy's."

"I didn't think they would all come on the same night we were there!"

"What are the odds?" Maggie asked with a snicker. "Jeez, Anna, the universe must really have a thing for taking shots at you," she added with a wink. I rolled my eyes and threw a wadded up napkin at her as she stood up from her chair. Maggie looked at me with feigned hurt and proceeded to walk towards where a bunch of the neighbors were talking.

"Yeah, we just don't have the best of luck, now do we?" I asked with a chuckle.

"No, no we don't."

"Hey everyone, we're gonna start the fireworks soon!" Al, one of the neighbors hollered with excitement.

"Well, you should probably get going," Aaron said. "I wouldn't want you to miss any of the firework display."

"Yeah," I replied, somewhat saddened that our conversation was ending, "I should get going. When are you coming to town next?"

"Uh, here, let me check my schedule…yeah, probably gonna visit dear old Ma and Dad during March or April. So, I guess I won't be seeing you for a while…"

"Yeah, I – uh – guess not," I managed to reply, trying my best not to sound disappointed. "Well, you take care of yourself, and I will be on the look-out for those movies of yours."

Aaron managed to laugh at my comment. "When I finally get a movie of mine off the small film festival radar and it manages to hit the big screens all across America, you will be personally invited to the first screening party – whenever the heck that will be."

I giggled. "I would be honored to attend."

There was a small silence before Aaron spoke again. "Hey Anna…"

"Yeah?" I asked.

"…don't forget to enjoy life."

I smiled sadly. "I won't. You enjoy life too, alright?"

"I will do that. Well, if you have the time to…"

"…I'll call you. Or if you get a chance, just…"

"…I'll call you too," Aaron finished for me. There was a beat before he finished his end of the conversation. "I love you Anna. Take care."

"Love you too," I said, and shut my phone. I exhaled and leaned back against the patio chair, staring out into the sky, which was currently being illuminated by bursts of colors – reds, oranges, blues, and stunning whites. The children let out enchanted little gasps and pointed up at the sky in awe.

I climbed out of my chair and walked over towards where the women of Maggie's neighborhood were standing, staring up at the illuminated sky. Maggie smiled her broad smile at me and draped an arm around my shoulder.

And there we stood, staring up at the sky for the longest time.

There was nowhere on earth that would have made me any happier than where I was at that moment.

Maybe it was true. Maybe everything that a person goes through in their lifetime is designed for an end purpose in mind. Maybe there is some divine plan, and we are just the pawns – no one greater or lesser than another; everyone's on the same playing field.

Maybe as the summer drew to a close, and the festive fall of New York began to take over, maybe that was a time to begin again – to start anew, fresh, and with a clean slate. I watched the leaves in Central Park begin to turn colors, and I thought that maybe I needed a change in life too.

Maybe this would be my year to take a chance, to finally break out of my shell, and have some fun. Maybe I should give Flack a chance, let him remind me all about the joys of relationships again. Maybe I could get lost in his beautiful blue eyes, catch my breath, and continue to pour over my evidence in embarrassment. (Well, that 'maybe' had already happened a few weeks after Independence Day, and I was still finding it hard to look him in the eyes and not smile bashfully).

Maybe Aaron was right.

Maybe, I thought, pulling my coat out of my work locker, maybe I should listen to Aaron more often.

We're skipping some events (like a lunch date that Flack and Anna had) that I covered in some of the chapters in "Stories" just to save us some time (i.e.: the Danny/Lindsay minor feud, Elsie's comments, Stella/Anna conversation about kicking, etc.) The next major event will take place in October/November-ish (which is when the imaginary DL hostage plotline takes place in my mind. LOL) Of course, December brings Christmas (which I wanted to cover in another few chapters) and January brings Anna's birthday (we won't cover too much of that since you got all the good stuff in "Stories") but everything within that January – May window shall be revealed (remember, Flack and Anna dated for four months before her kidnapping). Sound cool? Okay. Well, read and review and make me happy please!