Chapter XI
Before the first month of the new year ended, Anna finally closed the rape case. And she had been right about getting her own office. Mary surprised her by giving her one of the offices in the new wing of the building, which almost felt bigger than her flat. She was also grateful when Robert agreed with her suggestion that she hire Jane. Anna wasn't a probie any longer; she was a part of the Crawley & Levinson family. Her new position meant fewer hours in the office, which meant more free time to spend at home with her daughter...and John.
It hadn't been an easy first month for them. She had been busy with the case, and John had been looking for a new job. After he came back from Scotland, he knew he needed to talk to his now former boss, the head of the babysitting agency. The woman absolutely adored him and his work, but she knew it was against the rules for employees to date their clients, so she had wished him good luck and had written him an amazing reference. His female co-workers were devastated to hear he was leaving them, and were very much jealous of the fact that he was now in a relationship. But he didn't give a damn; he was happy.
He had been picking Gracie up from school about a week later, when Miss Froggatt had mentioned to him that they were looking for a new school counselor. He couldn't believe his luck. He had excellent references, and after an interview with the headmistress, he was offered the job. It paid less than his job as a private nanny had, but he didn't care. During his two and a half years as a nanny, he had managed to save a good amount, so money wasn't a problem for him any more.
When Anna and John told their family and friends that they were together, everyone was more than happy about it...well, except for George, maybe. He wasn't so keen about their relationship becoming official, especially after Alice had told him that John was still married, to a woman he hadn't seen in years.
Vera seemed to have completely disappeared, and that drove John crazy. Anna tried to reassure him that it was all right, but it was important to him to be a free man for her, no matter how many times she teased him that she would live with him no matter what, even if it meant living in sin.
''What do you mean she's nowhere to be found?'' John asked, sitting opposite Robert.
''I don't know what happened, but we can't find her. And my people have done their best.''
''Well, apparently they haven't!'' John raised his voice, but quickly realized it wasn't Robert's fault. ''Sorry, mate. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…''
''I know, John.''
''I need her signature on those papers, Robert. I want to be with Anna and I can't, not the way she deserves.''
''How is the new job?'' Robert tried to change the subject.
''It's good...I mean, as good as that kind of job can be. I have two boys whose mother was an addict and they were taken away from her, so...yeah…but I hadn't realized I'd missed it so much until now. It feels good to know I'm doing something positive for them. We talk, and the social worker has said that they seem better after they leave my office, so I must be doing something right.'' He smiled to himself.
''And how is Anna?''
''What do you mean? She works only a few offices from yours. You see her every day.''
''I know. I meant, you know…how is everything between you two?''
''It's great...it's better than great. She is great.'' John's smile grew even bigger. ''I mean, this last month has been pure perfection.''
''Have you two…''
''What?''
''You know…'' Robert shifted nervously in his chair.
''Had sex?'' John started to laugh. He knew Robert was extremely uncomfortable when it came to talking about things like this.
''Shhh, don't say it aloud!'' his friend said nervously, checking to make sure the doors to his office were completely closed. ''I don't even know why I'm asking you…it's just that you're my best mate, and...ummmm...as your best mate, it's my duty to ask you that kind of thing, I think…I mean…''
''Robert, just stop it,'' John said, when he heard him starting to babble. ''And the answer to your question is no, we haven't.''
''Why not?'' Robert was surprised at his answer.
''For someone who doesn't like to talk about what's going on behind closed bedroom doors, you do ask a lot of questions,'' John teased.
''OK, sorry. I didn't want to…you don't need to tell me…''
''We've decided to take thing slowly. She was busy with her case, I've just started my new job. There hasn't been time for anything more than a quick make-out session here and there, and even those have been interrupted by Gracie.''
''Oh, tell me about it! When the girls were young, it seemed like every time Cora and I started anything, one of the girls would barge in. I don't even know how we managed to make Sybil.'' He chuckled. ''The best advice I can give you, my friend, is this: When the right time comes, make sure your bedroom door is locked.''
''Robert, can we please stop talking about my sex life? And yours, too, for that matter,'' John said, standing up. ''I need to go now. I'm having dinner with my best girls.''
''Any special occasion?''
''I know you're going to laugh if I tell you,'' he said, buttoning his jacket.
''Try me?''
''It's the one month anniversary of our first kiss,'' John told him, and he could tell that Robert was trying really hard not to laugh at him.
''My god, John - you've got it really bad this time, don't you?''
''Yes, I do...and I'm loving every moment of it. Take care, and please ask your people to try again.''
''I will. Take care.'' Robert smiled, thankful that his friend was finally happy.
xXx
''Well, I'm full,'' Anna said, leaning back on the couch.
''Can I assume you liked it?'' John asked, leaning back next to her.
''You know I did. I love your cooking.''
''So the only reason you're with me is because my mother taught me how to cook a proper meal?''
Anna pretended to think really hard about what he'd said, and then responded, ''Yes.''
''Well, thank god for my mother, then.'' John laughed, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer.
''This is nice,'' Anna sighed, resting her hand on his chest.
''It is,'' he agreed. ''I've missed you these past few days, both of you.'' Sure, he still stayed with Gracie after school, but it wasn't the same, plus Anna's schedule had been crazy. She woke up, ran to the office, had a few meetings, worked on her big case, worked on some of her smaller cases, ran home, had a quick dinner, spent some time with Gracie and him, went to bed, worked on her strategy some more, and fell asleep with files all around her.
''I've missed you, too. And I'm sorry.''
''Sorry for what?''
''Well, I haven't been a very good girlfriend since we started dating.''
''Anna, we both know you've worked your tail off to win this case, and I'm proud of you.'' He gently kissed her temple. ''Plus, I knew what kind of schedule you had before we decided to be together.''
''I know, but still I feel bad about everything. I'm just…''
''What?''
''Nothing, you'll think I'm being silly,'' she said, and hugged him around his middle, resting her head on his chest.
''Come on, tell me.'' He looked down at her and waited.
''I'm afraid you'll get tired of waiting for me.''
''Anna…I spent 4 months staring from a distance and dreaming about you, waiting for the right moment to kiss you. And…''
''Wait a minute. I kissed you first, remember?'' she laughed, and turned to look at him.
''Well, I chased after you,'' John smiled.
''The only reason I ran away that night was because I'd found you and Phyllis on the balcony with your faces stuck together,'' she teased. They had talked about the whole thing weeks ago, about both Phyllis and Thomas.
''I told you that it was just a friendly goodbye peck,'' he replied. ''Plus...what about you bringing Thomas with you? Thank god I knew he was gay, or else your little 'Let's make him jealous' plan would have worked.''
''It did work! And you didn't know he was gay at first!'' Anna grinned, tossing a pillow at him. ''Admit it! You were jealous!''
''No, I wasn't!'' John smirked and tossed the pillow back.
She caught the pillow and looked at him. ''I was,'' she said with a tinge of sadness.
''Anna...'' His face grew serious. ''You know the whole story about Phyllis and me. We only went out a few times. Nothing ever happened between us.''
''I know, it's just that when I saw you two…''
''It was the same for me when I saw Thomas holding you in his arms,'' he interjected.
''What do you mean?''
''Well, gay or not, he was holding you too close, and his hand was a little too low on your back, if you ask me!''
''You see! You were je…''
''Of course I was jealous!'' he finally admitted aloud. ''You are mine!'' he exclaimed, grabbing her by the waist and tickling her, causing Anna to erupt in giggles.
''John, stop it!'' She tried to get away, but he had already pinned her down on the couch, his hands tickling her sides. ''Whose girl are you?'' he laughed.
''Stop!'' she giggled, and tried to escape. ''OK, OK, I'm yours, I'm yours!'' she laughed, when she realised she was losing at his game.
John stopped and smiled softly, staring into her eyes. ''And I'm yours.'' She smiled back at him, and she could see the love in his gaze.
''Come here,'' she whispered, and pulled his face closer for a kiss. John steadied himself above her, and he could feel both of her legs resting around his middle. The soft kiss quickly became intense.
"Stay with me tonight...please?"
''Anna?'' He looked down at his hands. She had never asked him to spend the night at hers until now. He had spent many afternoons and evenings with them, but never the night.
''I don't mean, ummm, you know…''
''Yes…'' he chuckled, when he saw she was struggling to explain to him that tonight wouldn't be the night for them.
''Don't get me wrong…I want to, but...ummm...'' She tried to think of the best way to say it.
''Is this the way you speak when you represent your clients, Miss Smith?'' he joked.
''Nooo!'' She giggled and playfully slapped his upper arm. ''It's just that I've missed you for the last couple of days, and I know it sounds silly, but I don't know if I can survive another night not knowing how it would feel to fall asleep in your arms.''
''You're not silly. I feel the same.''
''You do?''
''Yes. And I hope you understand that I'm not expecting anything from you before you're…before we're ready.'' He wanted her to know that he wouldn't pressure her to take their relationship to the next level.
''I know.'' She smiled.
''Plus your father would kick my ass if he knew about me having my way with you.'' He whispered the last few words, which made Anna laugh aloud.
''John!'' She was glad they could talk about the whole sex thing. It wasn't that she didn't want him - she did…a lot. But the last month had exhausted her, and the only thing she wanted tonight was him in her bed, holding her as close as possible.
''Let's go and have cuddle.'' He stood up and pulled her upstairs.
While Anna was getting ready in the bathroom, John quickly checked on Gracie. She was still awake, and she asked him to read her a short story. It was a little late and tomorrow was a school day, but he couldn't say no to her. She'd had him wrapped around her little finger from the first day he had stepped into her home, and the same could be said about her mother. He simply enjoyed spending time with both of them. He had only known them for 5 months, but he didn't know how he had survived 42 years without them in his life. He had been sad and lonely, and then he had met them...and his entire life had changed.
When Gracie finally fell asleep, he tucked the blanket around her and left the room, closing the door quietly after him. He could hear that Anna was already in the bedroom, so he stopped in the bathroom to wash up quickly, and before he knew it he was standing in front of her door. For some reason, he knocked and waited for her to say it was all right to come in. He knew it was silly - they were dating, after all - but this was the first time they were going to spend the night together, and he didn't know what kind of ritual she had before bed.
''You don't need to knock, you know?'' he heard her say, and he walked in.
''I know, but still,'' he smiled at her. She was already half-covered, sitting on the bed, waiting for him. ''So this is my side, hmm?'' he said, nodding toward the empty space to her right as he took his jeans off.
''It is. Or would you prefer we switched?'' she asked, pulling her hair into a ponytail.
''No, it's OK. I don't mind which side of the bed I sleep on. The important thing is that you are sleeping on the other side.'' He took his shirt off, standing by the bed in just his undershirt and green boxers. ''I don't have any pyjamas with me.''
Her eyes slowly travelled up and down his body. ''You don't need any.'' She bit her lip, and he could not help chuckling at her.
''Didn't we say that we're only going to sleep?''
''Yes, but we can cuddle…really tight. So, Mr. Bates, would you please join me?'' she said, and uncovered his side of the bed.
Upon hearing her invitation, he flopped onto his stomach next to her, causing the bed to squeak rather loudly, which made Anna laugh.
''We will need to fix this before anything more than a cuddle can happen here, ''he joked, and bounced up and down a few times, making the bed squeak even louder. ''I mean, I don't want the whole neighbourhood to hear us. You are, after all, a lawyer in one of the best law firms in the country. I don't want you to lose any clients after I'm done with you. ''
''John, stop it!'' she laughed, but he just laughed with her and kept bouncing, until suddenly they both heard the sound of something cracking. John stilled his movements, and just as he turned to look at her, the bed frame gave way. Anna shrieked, and before they knew it, the mattress was lying on the floor and pieces of broken wood lay splintered all around them.
They just stared at each other in shocked silence before bursting into laughter. ''What fool put this thing together?'' John asked, lying down on his back.
''I believe it was you,'' Anna gasped between giggles.
He turned his head to look at her. She couldn't stop laughing, and she looked absolutely stunning. He didn't know what he had done in his life to deserve her, but whatever it was, he was glad. ''Come here,'' he smiled.
She simply rolled herself into his embrace. Her hand cupped his cheek and before he could say anything, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. John rested a hand around her middle and pulled her closer to him. He could felt her breasts pressing into his chest and one of her legs tangled between his. For a moment he wasn't sure if this was a good idea, sleeping so close to her. But before he had a chance to wonder any further, a small voice by the door put a quick stop to their kiss.
''Mummy?''
They both turned around to see Gracie standing by the door, clutching Olaf in her hands. The sounds of the bed frame breaking and the mattress hitting the floor had woken her up, and she'd gotten scared, not knowing what that loud noise was.
''Come here, you!'' John smiled, letting go of Anna and pulling back the covers so the little girl could jump into the space between them. He then made sure that both Anna and Gracie were covered, and put his arm across both of them, bringing Anna closer to him.
''Are you two having a sleepover?'' Gracie giggled, and cuddled further into their embrace.
''Yes, we are,'' Anna answered, kissing her forehead and moving a few locks of hair away from her face.
''Would you like to hear a story?'' John asked, after a bit, but Gracie didn't answer; she had already dozed off. He tried to peek at her face, doing his best not to wake her up. ''We really won't be able to do anything more tonight,'' he said seriously, nodding at sleeping girl.
Anna tried her best not to laugh out loud. She was glad it wasn't awkward between them that they hadn't yet slept together. She gently patted his hand, which was resting on her hip, but he just pulled her as close he could, considering that Gracie and Olaf were cuddled between them.
''Good night,'' he mouthed, and rested his head on the pillow. He had always had problems sleeping, but for some reason, that night he was out in 5 minutes. Maybe he hadn't imagined that their first night together would turn out like this - mattress on the floor, bed frame splintered around them, a 6 year old sleeping between them clutching a rather large stuffed toy - but he didn't mind. It felt nice, it felt good, and he wouldn't have changed a single thing about it.
Anna, on the other hand, wasn't able to fall asleep for another hour. She simply stared at John. He was the first man since Paul who had shared a bed with her. One of the main reasons she had fallen in love with John was that he loved spending time with her daughter, and….had she just admitted to herself that she loved him? She stopped her earlier train of thought for a moment and focused on the L word - that's what she had called it after Paul had left her. Paul had told her that he loved her, and she had believed him. They'd had plans - big plans - marriage, a house, kids...and then it had been over, before it had even started. After that, she had promised herself that she would be careful when it came to talking about love. But simply lying in John's arms with Gracie safely tucked between them, already lightly snoring, she could feel that the wall around her heart had started to crack, just like her bed had earlier. He was simply there for her and Gracie. And for the first time since Paul, she felt free and unafraid of the future. But in these blissful moments, she couldn't know how wrong she was, because the hardest and the saddest times of her life were just a few months away.
beta: annambates! :))))))))))***************************************************
you know I love you guys right? :D :D
