Title: The More Things Change

Author: Michelle

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Someone else (Radiant Productions?) Owns The Agency and all of the characters portrayed in this story) therefore, the author will receive no compensation for this story.

Part 22: Bad Timing

Terri left work on time for a change. She went to the grocery store on her way home and picked up the ingredients for dinner; she hadn't cooked in a long time.

Stiles could smell dinner as soon as he opened the door. He knew immediately what it was: Chicken Parmesan; it was one of Terri's specialties and he loved it. Just what he needed after the day he'd had.

He went straight to the kitchen hoping she was alone. "Wow that smells good."

Terri was standing at the counter adding her homemade cheese "concoction" as Stiles called it. She was wearing the apron her mother gave her as a wedding present and it had a light coating of "fixin's" down the front. Stiles stopped dead in his tracks; he thought she looked beautiful standing there slightly messy with her hair in a ponytail. This was the way he imagined their life would be like after they were married, cooking together, messing up the kitchen.

Terri looked up and smiled when she saw him; he was more handsome than she remembered. How could she not have noticed?

"Hi, you hungry?"

"Starving." Stiles then held up the Subway bag he had in his hand and smiled. "I stopped on the way home, but I could be persuaded to save this for tomorrow's lunch."

"Good, because there's too much for me to eat alone. I'm surprised you're speaking to me." Terri looked at Stiles expectantly, "I took a chance that you'd like Chicken Parmesan."

Stiles was crestfallen; he thought she'd remembered that it was his favorite, but he couldn't stay down for long. When he looked at the worried expression on her face he couldn't help but reassure her. "It's my favorite. You always made it for me as a peace offering."

"Really? I don't know what made me decide to fix this. I just walked in the store and it sort of popped in my head, but "I do feel bad about missing lunch today after I told you I'd treat. I hope this makes up for it."

"Honey, this more than makes up for it; I think you're remembering."

Terri dismissed his comment and changed the subject. "Good. Now, put your stuff away Mr. Stiles and join me in the dining room."

"I'll be right back."

Stiles couldn't wipe the grin off his face. He smiled from ear to ear all through dinner as he and Terri talked. For the first time since the accident she seemed genuinely comfortable with him. He couldn't wait to write in his journal!

After dinner, they cleaned the kitchen together. It was comfortable for both of them, like they did it all the time. Stiles was being so nice that Terri could start to see herself with him. It was her idea to watch the video.

"You sure? I don't want you to feel like you have to because…"

Terri put her hand on top of his. "Stiles, I want to see it; I think it's time."

"Okay." Stiles found the real video of their wedding and put it in the DVD player.

When the first image of Terri in her wedding dress came up Stiles couldn't help himself; he looked at Terri. "You were so beautiful that day." As soon as he said it he bristled waiting for her rebuff, but it didn't come.

She just smiled. "Thank you. I just wish I could remember it."

"Don't worry, you will."

Stiles didn't realize it, but Terri was very frustrated about the whole thing. She paused the video and turned to face him."Stiles, I don't think I will. It's been almost a year."

"Don't remind me."

"What?"

"Nothing"

"I think I've given up. It's not fair to you to keep you hanging. You should be able to live your life. I know I said we'd stay married at least a year and I meant it, but…"

"But nothing. I'll do anything I can to help you remember; if you'll let me."

Stiles got a genuine smile from her as well as a nod. Then he was the one smiling. They shifted closer so their shoulders were touching. By the time the minister was telling Stiles to kiss the bride, he was ready to do just that. He looked down at Terri and ran is hand down the side of her face, brushing his thumb across her bottom lip.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he held his breath and waited for her reaction. When she didn't move, he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers. He'd longed to be close to her for so long that he didn't want to move for fear he would wake up. He silently begged her to part her lips. When she did, he was sure that his heart skipped a beat. Before he could act on her invitation, the phone rang.

Stiles' heart raced as he willed the ringing to stop. He felt Terri's arm move. "No!" his mind screamed as he felt her pull away and reach around him. He sat back in time to see the smile on her face when she heard the caller's voice.

"Oh, Hi Matt"

Terri moved got up and walked around the couch. 'Figures he'd know just when to call. Look at her she's all smiles. Ugh! How does he do that?'

"Oh nothing." She answered Matt's inquiry as to what she was doing.

Nothing? Nothing? Stiles was livid. She had to have seen who it was; she never answered the phone without checking caller ID. She's going to string me along until June then cut me loose for him!

He'd held out hope that she wasn't sleeping with Matt, but now he was more convinced than ever that she was. He'd wanted to bring it up during dinner, but the conversation didn't go that way. He would have asked after dinner, but when she brought up watching their wedding, he couldn't bring himself to; things were going to well to bring up a topic that was sure to start an argument.

While Terri was talking to Matt, Stiles rewound the video to where he and Terri had their first kiss and pressed pause. It was late and he was going to bed rather than wait for her to finish talking to her "boyfriend", but he wanted to give Terri a little reminder of who she was married to and what she missed out on by answering the phone.

Stiles went to his room mumbling to himself 'she didn't even notice that I left.' He got out the journal Bailey had given him and began writing. His "Dear Terri" journal had become a "How I hate Matt" journal.

Terri was so engrossed in her conversation with Matt that she didn't realize that Stiles had left until she hung up. Shefelt bad when shesawthat he'd alreadyfallen asleep. She was disappointed the next morning when she discovered Stiles had already left for work. She wanted to tell him about her conversation with Matt.