A/N: So here it is... Wow that took awhile. And so I apologize and without further ado...

"There's a room full of trouble and their's lovers to be had,
Those one's who make sinners out of such lovely lads.
Scaling the corridors for maidens in the maze,
And the anomaly is slipping into familiar ways."

-Arctic Monkeys

This House is a Circus

In Auggie's mind, it wasn't the ideal day for a picnic. The air was somewhat biting and he could barely feel his fingertips, which made things difficult when he was trying to read. But hell, it was nice to be outside, listening to his niece and nephews on the playground – not that he could distinguish them from the other kids but it's the thought that counts – and spending some alone time with his mom while the others played ruff somewhere in the distance. His fingers left the page of his book and he shook out his hands in a vain attempt to get the blood circulating and the feeling back. It didn't help but perhaps that was a sign to talk to his mom – something that should definitely happen more often.

"We really ought to get you some gloves or something," she said from across the picnic bench. "Actually, I thought you already had some. Are they too small?"

"I'm blind when I wear gloves, mom," Auggie sighed, stretching his arms over his head. He grinned as he realized what he said. Shocking his mother was something he'd mastered long ago; his blindness was just a beautifully crafted tool that added to his workmanship.

"August," she tutted but he could hear the smile in her voice and it surprised him, normally she hated blind jokes, no matter how accidental, "I'll figure something out for you, I can't just let my son walk around with cold hands."

"Hey, it worked when I was going to be a doctor- neurosurgeon to be exact," Auggie couldn't stop the next knock on his disability, it just sort of fell out of his mouth, "However, I couldn't find an insurance company that would cover me, so I let that one go."

"Aren't you cute," his mother said with epic sarcasm before throwing a balled up napkin at her son.

"Whoa," Auggie exclaimed as he explored the item that hit his forehead, a grin broke out as he identified the paper towel, "Did you just throw this at me?"

"Maybe," she giggled.

"I can't believe you just threw something at your blind child," Auggie chided, shaking his head, "You are a terrible mother."

"Watch your mouth boy," his father's voice suddenly hovered above Auggie's head as a heavy hand slapped his back, "You cross that woman and she will smack that grin off your face."

"Oh hush, Micah," Julia giggled.

The bench creaked as Micah sat down and Auggie could feel the bench tilt to compensate the man's weight. Auggie rubbed his hands together and tried to go back to his reading. If there was one thing that could be said for reading with his fingers, it was that he didn't get nearly as distracted as he had when he could see. For one thing he had to concentrate more – the path from his fingers to his brain was a lot further and less familiar than the path from his eyes, though that one was being overgrown. He'd read somewhere that the part of the brain that interprets images change in a blind person, making new use of old broken parts.

"I can't believe you can read that fast," Andrew said as he too returned from playing ball or whatever the hell they were doing. "Your fingers are moving a mile a minute, I'm impressed."

In minutes the table was all but shaking as it tried to support the weight of at least four more healthy Andersons. The heat that radiated from his brothers was unbelievable but it felt good in this chill weather. A swell of bitterness fill Auggie's chest before washing away. It hurt to feel left out, strangely alienated from his brothers and father as they played games and ran freely without the worry of unseen obstacles, but Auggie accepted that it was a part of his life now. Still, no matter how used to it he got, it would still sting.

"It's called practice, Andy," Auggie rolled his eyes, his parents had finally stopped commenting or staring when he read in front of them but his brothers weren't so used it. "Despite the fact that you haven't been around, the world still turns and I've been evolving from invalid to literate."

"August," his father warned. "That was unnecessary."

The fact that Andrew and even the others avoided the house like the plague hadn't escaped Auggie, nor did the fact that it was his fault. They just weren't comfortable enough with blind August Anderson to stick around for too long. It was no wonder he felt so separated from his old self.

"Just saying," Auggie mumbled and closed his book, too uncomfortable to read anymore.

"Uncle Auggie, Uncle Auggie," Oliver, Lucas's eldest, exclaimed in his tiny voice, a welcome distraction from the building tension, "I have to tell you something!"

Auggie swung his legs over the side of the bench – narrowly missing Ethan – so that Oli could better talk to him. There was something about this tiny person that put Auggie in a good mood and at that moment he could sure as hell use a pick-me-up.

"What's up, Oli," Auggie asked as the tiny person stopped in front of him, placing his tiny hands on his uncle's knees. "You sound upset."

"This boy from the playground who had hair like a fire engine, called me a little kid," the disbelief in Oli's little voice made it difficult for Auggie not to laugh.

"No way," Auggie said, giving Oli his best shocked voice as he began exploring Oli, who started giggling. He stopped with his hand on top of Oli's head, "You're too tall to be called a little kid, half pint, maybe. How old are you now anyways, you've got to be at least ten?"

"No, Uncle Auggie," Oli laughed, "I'm this many!"

Auggie laughed, Oliver knew that his uncle was blind he just didn't understand that Auggie couldn't see the itty bitty fingers he was surely holding up.

"Oli, Uncle Auggie needs-" Lucas began but Auggie shook his head.

"It's okay, Luke," Auggie assured him, as he searched for Oli's arm. "I got it."

With exaggerated movements, Auggie ran his hands down Benji's arms until he found the little hand that held up the fingers in question. Oli's miniature frame shook with laughter throughout the investigation and Auggie couldn't keep the smile from his face.

"There they are," Auggie exclaimed with dramatic flare, "Let's see, how many do we have here? One- two- three- oh god, you're four now? That's crazy!"

"You're silly, Uncle Auggie," Oli laughed again.

"That's my middle name," Auggie grinned, his mood lifted completely.

"Oli," Benji's voice called at a distance, "Come play hide and seek with me!"

"I'm coming," Oliver yelled back before turning back to his favorite uncle – as he told everyone at school before telling his classmates about the way his favorite uncle could see with his magical hands, "Uncle Auggie, will you come play hide and seek with us?"

"Maybe later, okay," Auggie bartered, he hadn't eaten enough yet to be dragged around by a four-year-old and his eight-year-old hyperactive cousin.

As Oliver's little feet faded into the chaos of the playground, Auggie turned back around on the bench just in time to catch an all too familiar and highly uncomfortable sound.

"That was beautiful," his mother said, her voice clearly filled with bottled up emotion, "My son and my grandson- it just-"

"Here we go again," Ethan chuckled.

"Mom, seriously," Auggie groaned. Every time he made some achievement or did something that he wrote off as nothing, his mother would start choking up, "Please don't start crying, I beg you. That was nothing."

"Nothing," she stammered, "How was that nothing? The way you dealt with that was wonderful and the way he looks up to you is so sweet! Lucas says he talks about you at school all the time, you know."

"Yea, Augs, that was a truly beautiful moment," Andrew simpered with practiced drama. "I could just cry."

"Shut up, Andrew," Auggie groaned, successfully hitting his brother's shoulder.

"Ouch," he laughed, "Hey are you going to let him treat me that way?"

"Absolutely," Mica laughed.

"Boys, stop it," she sighed, "You just don't understand."

"Mothers," Jamie said, "Can't live with them, don't have clean laundry without them."

"Jameson!" Julia exclaimed as the rest of the guys laughed.

"Uh oh," Andrew said suddenly, "Looks like they're heading back this way, Augs, Oli brought back-up."

"Looks like they're not going to give me another choice," Auggie sighed, standing from the bench.

"Don't worry," Mica said, touching his son's elbow, "We'll all play. You and I can be a team."

"Now that sounds like a plan," Auggie smiled in relief, imagining all the surface wounds his father helped him avoid.

"Alright, old people," Benji exclaimed, the smile clear in his voice, "Are you ready to get beat in hide and seek?"

"Bring it," Jamie replied, earning shouts of agreement from the rest of the Anderson men.

Auggie grinned. Yes, it was going to be a good year.

oOo

The Nook between her fingers had her on the edge of her seat, eyes pouring over the screen that had her body reacting as though it were happening in the kitchen. Her heart pounded, head tilted, breath caught and that place low between her hips tightened in a wonderfully uncomfortable way. All she could think about was having him inside of her, pressing his fingertips to the hot flesh of her lower back as he pushed himself further into her-

"Annie darling, could you get me the yams from the cabinet," Annie's aunt Marsha asked from the island, the woman had popped in the night before with a young man on her arm and was still up by six in the morning, a feat that Annie found to be both insane and exhilarating; a dream burning in the back of Annie's heart.

For a moment Annie processed what Marsha said, trying to get the blood flowing in the right direction again. And then she realized she had no idea where the yams were anyways.

"Um, which cabinet," Annie asked as she stood jerkily from her stool, biting her lip as she tried to remember where the canned goods were kept, in her defense her mind wasn't on yams.

"Never mind dear, I'll get it," Marsha said with a wink.

Annie had to admit that Marsha was her favorite Aunt; she was an uninhibited woman who travelled the world and saw things that most people only ever see in their dreams. Her latest adventure had been in New Zealand and she'd brought Annie back a small leather book – as well as the aforementioned man -and told her that it was time she started planning her own journey.

"So, what're you reading," Marsha asked with a knowing smirk.

"Oh, just- you know – something for school," Annie said unconvincingly as a pink blush betrayed her, "High school, you never really get a break."

"Mm-hmm, and this book," she said slowly, "Seemed pretty intense, is it good?"

"Oh, uh- yea, I have to admit that it gets a reaction," Annie chuckled nervously.

In all honestly she had never picked up a dirty novel before but it had been free and she had been curious and god once she started reading-

"You'll have to let me borrow it sometime, you know, once you've finished," her huge amber eyes were coy and Annie nodded meekly.

At least her mother hadn't heard the conversation.

Annie went to the fridge to get a Coke and was back-ended by her mother in the process.

"Annie, sweetheart, why don't you go into the living room and read," she asked quietly, "We could use a little extra room, alright? Maybe give your friends a call or something?"

"Yea, sure mom," she frowned.

It wasn't that she was a hopeless cook, it was just that she didn't particularly like cooking; the process was too long and completely lacked excitement. That's what pizza is for after all. With but a glance into the living room, Annie decided that she would rather take her reading upstairs where her father wouldn't be expressing his frustration to the television set. Not to mention though certainly a factor, reading novels that make you want to have sex while your father is in the room… Not exactly the brightest idea.

Up in her room, Annie flopped onto her bed. Call your friends, her mother had said and although that was tempting she didn't think it was right to pull her friends away from their families on Thanksgiving Day, no matter how badly she wanted to. Still she found herself finding Auggie's name in her phone, her thumb floating over his number. It wouldn't hurt to call, would it?

"Hello," Auggie's voice came from the speaker, bringing a smile to Annie's lips.

"Hey Auggie," she said, sounding girlish even to her own ears.

"Annie," Auggie exclaimed, sounding breathless, "What's up?"

"Oh, you know, I just wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving," she lied, though she had to admit that it was a hell of an excuse.

"That's right," he chuckled, "Happy Thanksgiving to you too! How's everything going over there?"

"Oh it's great," she sighed, noticing the background noise on the phone. It was almost like he was at a- playground? "What are you up to?"

"Well, the girl's kicked all us guys out of the kitchen, so I'm playing a particularly vicious game of hide and seek," he said conspiratorially.

"Oh goodness," she replied, matching his hushed tones, "Sounds like I'd better let you get back to it then, I wouldn't want you to be caught because of me."

"Ah, a death worth dying."

"Oh hush," she giggled, feeling somewhat deflated. Honestly she'd been hoping that he was having as crappy a Thanksgiving as she was and that they would decide to spend the time before dinner as boyfriend and girlfriend – clothing completely optional. But then again, what kind of girlfriend wishes a shitty Thanksgiving on her boyfriend? "You get back to your fun and have a great Thanksgiving."

"Alright," he gave in- "Whoa-" he exclaimed suddenly- "Dude, a little warning next time!"

"Bye Auggie," Annie shook her head.

"Oh Annie!"

"Yes," she answered hopefully.

"Maybe we can get together tomorrow, yea? Maybe get some after-Thanksgiving dessert?"

"That sounds amazing," she smiled, feeling a bit better about her current predicament.

"They're coming this way, quick we gotta hide," Matt's garbled voice came from the other end.

"Sounds like a date," Auggie whispered before the line went dead.

"The man is incapable of saying goodbye," Annie sighed as she tossed her phone somewhere on the bed. Alone again.

Without further ado, Annie made her way to her closet; at least she could pick out something to wear for their date. A soft blue cashmere sweater, dark jeans, and a pair of velvet heels later and Annie found herself bored once again. There was always the option of opening her book again and losing herself in desire, but desire was no fun when one's boyfriend was preoccupied. This boredom lasted for only a few moments though as something outside of her window caught her attention.

Some strange guy was walking down her street, a stranger with too-familiar thick, brown hair and a confident gait. Her heart started pounding more quickly, her breath catching on something in her throat. Could it really be him? After practically throwing her window open she leaned out to get a better look, not at all believing what she was seeing. There was no way that it was him, not after- but as the figure turned into her driveway there was no trace of doubt left in her blown mind.

After a moment's hesitation, Annie threw open her door and flew down the steps. All she could hear was her heart pounding in her head. The doorbell rang and time seemed to slow down, her heart beating all the way through her fingertips.

"I'll get it," she faintly heard her father say from the living room followed by the sound of a creaky chair as he made his way closer.

"No, I'll get it," she heard herself call, then almost in a whisper, "It's for me."

As the door opened she braced herself for whatever awaited her on the other side though she knew that nothing ever could. His smile all but knocked her off her feet, those eyes as blue as they could possibly be and even with this distance between them she could feel the electricity that had tied the two together from the moment they met.

"Hello, Annie," he said in that impossibly soft manner of his.

She was right, there was nothing that could have prepared her for the sound of his voice and suddenly her knees felt very weak as one word slipped from between her lips.

"Ben."

A/N: Alright so I got bored and I did it.
So tell me readers, how do you think things will go when Auggie and Ben meet for the first time?
What will Annie do?

Thanks for sticking around and I will see you again soon!

MM