Amazing Part 25/25

Notes: Thanks to everyone who took this ride with me, it went on much longer than I expected fueled by your kind words. Now we face summer hiatus and I am unsure of what I am going to do to fill that void, although I imagine tonight's ep will give me some inspiration

"Congratulations everyone, you all made it to the end, you deserve a round of applause," Gwen greeted everyone at 4:00 pm.

"Some of you had an easier time than others, but I hope all of you had fun and learned something about the world and yourselves," more applause.

"I hope you made friends," Gwen continued and Annie reached over and gave Kendall a high five.

"and I hope you feel closer to your partner," Gwen added and Auggie leaned down and kissed the top of Annie's head.

"While we try not to focus so much on the competitive, this is a race, and you were scored and ranked throughout the 9 countries you visited based on your completion of challenges and your arrival at the Pit Stops. With a score we have never seen before, Annie and Auggie have won this race," Gwen announced.

It wasn't much of a shock to the crowd, but everyone seemed genuinely happy for them.

"World Race owns 6 villas in very secluded remote parts of the world, as well as 6 apartments in some fantastic cities, you will get 2 weeks at the location of your choice, all expenses paid. I have a feeling they are going to pick one of the secluded places," Gwen teased and handed the floor over to Annie and Auggie.

"Thanks Gwen, and thank you all. I will admit that I came here really wanting to win, but my competitive nature waned after I met you all. It was a real adventure, I hope you all had as much fun as we did," Annie smiled.

"Not exactly as much fun…." Danielle teased.

"We really loved getting to know you all, even you Danielle," Auggie snarked. "Annie and I have known each other a while now, and I have always suspected we would know each other forever, these four weeks have made me realize I was right about that," Auggie finished with a smile.

***555***

Good-byes and email addresses and cell phone numbers were exchanged, along with hugs and a few tears. Only Annie and Auggie and Gary and Brian were staying the night in Denver, everyone else was shuttled off to the airport for return trips.

Gwen used a World Race van to take the 4 remaining racers and her crew to a nearby hotel for the evening. Annie and Auggie had planned to stay in case they needed the extra time to convince Gwen, but since that mission was done they were both a little sad not to be flying home tonight.

"I miss our bed," Annie said forlornly.

"It will be there tomorrow. I arranged for the cleaning lady to come today, so everything will be fresh and clean," Auggie mentioned as he stroked her hair back from her forehead.

"Awww, that was thoughtful," she rewarded him with a kiss and he just shrugged.

"Am I to expect this level of thoughtful forever?" she alluded to his comment from earlier and felt him smile against the crown of her head.

***555***

Annie woke in the early morning light of a Denver hotel room. One look at the clock and she knew she had some time before she had to wake Auggie for their flight. So instead of waking him she propped her head on her hand and looked at him, sleeping peacefully and indulged her fantasies about forever.

He had used the word so casually yesterday, but she knew that that word was verboten in their line of work. No one talked about forever when their life was constantly in peril, but Auggie had. Maybe it was an act for the crowd, but it sure felt honest.

She allowed her eyes to skim down his back, noticing only one blemish in his gorgeous skin, a red mark she likely caused with her nails or her teeth last night. She smiled at the memory of a long shared shower followed by hours of kissing and touching and needing and wanting and falling asleep exhausted. She could certainly handle that forever….

"How long have you been awake?" he mumbled sleepily.

"Not long," her voice was soft and scratchy from disuse.

He reached one long arm out to her, pleased to find she hadn't gotten dressed yet and pulled her close as he rolled onto his side to face her. There limbs tangled and their bodies melded into a hug, a horizontal hug, his lips against her ear.

"I really meant forever," he assured her and she nodded.

***555***

Annie and Auggie said good-bye to Brian and Gary at the TSA checkpoint, their gates in opposite directions. They hadn't seen Gwen at the hotel in the morning, but sure enough she was sitting in the gate area reading a magazine.

"You're here," Annie said relieved.

"I didn't want to raise suspicion with Gary and Brain," she shrugged, "I took a cab earlier this morning."

Auggie smiled, "Already thinking on your feet."

Gwen just grinned and closed the magazine.

"We need coffee, can I get you one?" Annie offered as she placed Auggie's hand on the chair across from Gwen's.

"Sure, milk no sugar, please" she replied.

"I'll be back," Annie smiled and turned towards the Starbucks down the hall.

"She seems so normal," Gwen said in awe.

"In a lot of ways she is, that is what makes her so effective, but don't let the normal fool you, that woman is extraordinary," Auggie beamed.

"Can you do this and have a relationship?" Gwen asked quietly.

"Yes, is it easy? No, but are relationships ever easy, really?"

"Does it help that you know what she does?" Gwen asked and the reason for the question was obvious to Auggie.

"Ignorance is bliss is a saying for a reason, but there is closeness to the level of honesty that we have that is unlike other relationships I have had. Annie's world is very different than yours will be and even with my clearance sometimes I am not read in on what she is doing and it is very hard. We have secrets, it is what we do, but at least when she comes home banged up I know why," Auggie grimaced.

"Did you really mean forever?" Gwen asked hopefully.

"Boy, you women really get hung up on that word," Auggie teased. "Yes. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what we do, the secrets are inconsequential because I want Annie more than I want any other thing on the planet."

"Even this coffee?" Annie asked with a smirk.

"How long has she been standing there?" Auggie asked Gwen.

"Long enough," both women answered in unison.

"Can I have my coffee now?" Auggie asked embarrassed.

"I will bring you coffee every day I possibly can for the rest of our lives," she told him as she placed the cup in his hand and a kiss on his lips.

The End