Chapter 25: Love

Summary: Annie sees Jeff's big heart

Annie looked in the bathroom mirror and carefully pinned the side of her hair in place. She smoothed the top with her hand and nodded satisfactorily.

You can do this, Edison.

She practiced her bright smile in the mirror.

You can greet people for the Dean.

Just be cheery.

People like to see a happy person.

She felt herself shudder for a second, recalling her mother's voice:

"I want to see you smile."

And then her father's voice, from long ago:

"Stop being sad. You know your mother's in one of her moods."

"I can't handle this right now, Annie. Just pretend. It'll be easier."

She took a deep breath and shook herself.

Something caught her eye on the vanity. She turned to see a small green plastic object next to the toothbrushes.

She picked it up and called out, "Jeff, what is this?"

Jeff stuck his head into the bathroom. His eyes fell on the object in her hand. "Oh that. It's a pretend child razor. Andre helped me get it. He says the boys have them."

"A child razor?"

"So my hobstalker can get her shave on without ruining my toothbrush."

Annie broke out in a grin. "This is so cute." She then looked at him quizzically as she remarked, "But you don't shave all the time."

Jeff shrugged. "Yeah, but I have to do it sometimes. You know, if a case comes up or something. So I just thought why not?"

Annie placed one hand on her chest and commented softly, "That's really sweet of you."

Jeff pushed on the doorframe and rocked side to side as he said, "I don't want her to feel she's not wanted, Annie. Just because I haven't known her for her entire life doesn't mean I think she's a nuisance or anything." He stilled and began studying the doorframe, frowning as he eyed a smudge.

The smile on Annie's face vanished, and she looked at him with concern. "Jeff, I know you don't think she's a nuisance."

He began to pick at the mark with his thumbnail. "My mom's boyfriends never really wanted me around. I don't want her ever, ever to feel that way. So if she wants to shave with me, that's fine."

Annie looked down for moment, feeling her eyes water.

"Jeff, I …."

But when she looked up he was no longer in the doorway. She took a deep breath and placed the razor on the vanity. She stood there for some moments, letting his words sink in.

I don't want her to feel she's not wanted.

My mom's boyfriends never really wanted me around.

She wondered if little Jeff had wanted to shave.

How did Jeff learn to shave?

She gulped down a sob and then wiped a tear from her eye.

As she walked out into the hallway, she could hear Sophie's giggles followed by Jeff's teasing voice.

"Oooh….no! You did not just do that to me! Ruthie will have revenge!"

"Dee dee! Not!"

Annie's eyes widened, and she stopped abruptly in the hallway. She leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It did not escape Annie's notice that Jeff had been in a sullen mood lately. She couldn't figure it out. She knew they had a rough patch with the whole Rich thing, but she honestly thought they had resolved that issue. Or at least Jeff told her that things were okay. But he had been acting a bit morose and she would catch him staring off with a preoccupied look.

She hoped it didn't have anything to do with the dee dee thing.

It would be a lot easier if we don't mention it.

What if he doesn't want her to call him that?

Should Sophie call him that?

She was taken by surprise when Jeff took it upon himself to organize a game of Dungeons & Dragons, even after she explained she had recognized suicidal tendencies in Neil. Although Annie was aware Jeff was a softie at heart, she was still shocked he would actually be willing to play a game of D&D yet alone suggest it. But she initially chalked it up to him making some sort of connection between her past mental health struggles and Neil's.

During the process of the game, however, it became evident that Jeff was struggling with his own guilt about contributing to the bullying of Neil. Annie was shocked to learn Jeff had been the one who coined Neil's nickname. At the same time, she was proud that he finally admitted to it and was attempting to correct it.

Turns out the D&D game brought most of the group closer, minus Pierce, who continued to behave horribly to everyone. Neil seemed pleased with the outcome of the game and reassured everyone he was feeling much better. Although Annie was disappointed in Pierce's behavior, she found herself worrying about him, wondering why he was behaving even meaner than usual. She couldn't put her finger on what was going on there but told herself she'd get to the bottom of it, for she knew Pierce was a good person.

Annie and Jeff ended up going home after the game, relieved everything had worked out so well.

After she had placed her and Sophie's overnight bags on the counter, Annie began to laugh. "You're a huge dork, you know that? Why do I get the feeling you may have played D&D before?"

Jeff scoffed as she plopped Sophie down on her beanbag. "Me? D&D? That's crazy, Annie. I did this for Neil. And maybe to ease my guilty conscience."

Annie stopped laughing and walked into the living room. She watched Jeff kneeling on the floor with Sophie and softened her expression. "I'm proud of you. You did a nice thing."

Jeff shrugged. "Yeah, well, thanks for helping." He averted his gaze and mumbled, "And for glossing over the fact that I'm a terrible human being."

Sophie grabbed her baby doll and hugged it. Jeff frowned.

"Jeff, you're not…"

He met her gaze. "I almost drove the kid to do something stupid. That's pretty unforgivable."

"Neil forgave you."

"He's a better person than me."

Annie sat down on the couch with a sigh. "Jeff, he's okay. Everyone's okay. And look, we all know you'll be more mindful in the future."

Jeff nodded solemnly. "Let's talk about something much more interesting. Although I fear most of it will have to be discussed after the munchkin is in bed."

He carefully moved the baby doll away from Sophie, handing her the bear instead. Sophie smiled and kissed her bear, without puckering her lips.

Annie watched in bemusement as Jeff appeared to react to this, furrowing his brow in puzzlement. He touched his hand to his lips and stared at Sophie.

She cleared her throat, "What did you want to talk about?"

Jeff continued to watch Sophie for a moment and then let out a quick laugh. He moved to sit on the couch. His eyes stayed on Sophie as she toddled off to her play bin while still clutching her bear. He then turned to Annie with a smirk.

Lowering his voice, he said, "Annie, Annie, Annie. Do I have to ask? Where did you learn those Hector the Well-Endowed moves?"

Annie's felt her face redden. She began to sputter, "I…um….I don't know what you're talking about."

Why is he asking?

"Those aren't my moves, Annie."

She allowed her eyes to fall on the crocheted afghan (dark pink), which was draped over the couch. She grabbed one of the edges and began to twist it.

She felt her voice quiver as she said, "I just got creative. To give the scene more authenticity."

She shot her eyes up to his and looked for a reaction.

Jeff nodded thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. "Sure. So a blindfold, huh? We've never used one."

She leaned into the couch and covered her mouth with one hand. "That was just silly. I told you, it was pretend."

He lowered his voice to an almost whisper, "Did you want to use a blindfold sometime?"

Her face grew redder. "I …. Um… no!" She swatted his arm.

He leaned in closer to her and eyed her curiously. "Have you been reading something about that? Or talking to someone? Cause I suppose we could."

She moved back a little and tilted her head. She ventured, her voice shaking slightly, "Did you want to? I mean I'd do it if you wanted to try it. But it's not really something I need to do."

Jeff's eyes widened in growing comprehension. "Wait…have you done that before?"

Annie gulped, "I…."

Suddenly Sophie flung her bear at Jeff and pushed her face onto the couch near Annie.

"Mama, wan wawa." Sophie shoved her sippy cup onto Annie's lap.

Annie laughed nervously and then turned to Sophie. "Yes, sweetie. I'll get you some more water."

Jeff turned and regarded Annie suspiciously as she rose.

Sophie smiled and started to climb onto the couch. Jeff pulled her up and sat her next to him.

"Dee dee."

"Hey munchkin."

Annie looked at him and then down at Sophie. She then moved her eyes back to his, a fearful expression on her face.

Jeff smiled slightly.

He shrugged.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annie leaned into Jeff's side on the bed as she flipped to another page in Sophie's baby album. Sophie was sound asleep in her room.

"And here she is with Nancy. I think she was less than ten hours old."

"Jesus. She's so small."

"I know. She's changed a lot since then." Annie chuckled.

Jeff slowly shook his head. "I can't believe you've put together all of this. It must have taken a lot of time." He placed a kiss on her head.

Annie blushed as she looked up at him. "I want her to have it someday. I'm still adding to it. Well, I've started another album for her second year. I have a lot of pictures."

Jeff smiled. "You're always taking pictures." He paused before asking, "Am I in any of them?"

Annie noted his tentative expression and quickly nudged his side. "Of course you are, silly. I have all the study group members in here somewhere."

He smiled tightly and gulped. "Oh."

Annie quickly rubbed his arm. "And you're in considerably more pictures than the rest of them. Obviously."

He let out a breath and nodded. "Obviously."

Annie scooted up higher on the bed and turned on her side to face him. She stated softly, "I put the shaving picture in her toddler album. I hope you don't mind."

Jeff seemed puzzled. "Why would I mind?"

"You seemed upset when I took it." She bit her lip and looked at him for his reaction.

He cringed slightly and then let out a groan. "I wasn't upset about you taking a picture. Or you putting it in an album for Sophie to look at later. I just don't….you know, my mom and…" He closed his eyes. "You know what, never mind."

"Jeff?"

He opened his eyes and shook his head. "It's fine. I'm being stupid. Show me some more."

"You really want to see these?"

He looked at her incredulously. "Of course. I never knew Sophie when she was this little. It's like we're going back in time. What would Abed say?"

Annie laughed as she turned a page back. "He'd love it. He's always trying to document her anyway. Or have her document something. I'm not really sure."

"He's still on that thing?"

"Not as intensely, but there have been a few more inquiries lately." She paused as she looked at the next picture. "Ooooh…here she is! Her first solo picture!"

Jeff nodded. "Ah, that's the one you have framed in your apartment."

"It is." Annie beamed proudly.

Jeff frowned. "She's all purpley and weird looking."

"She was just born, silly. All newborns kind of look like that."

Jeff shrugged. "I wouldn't know that. This is entirely new territory for me."

Annie sighed. "I know."

Annie watched Jeff's eyes fall on the photo next to Sophie's newborn picture. She commented, "That's the first time I held her. So that's technically her first picture."

A grin broke out on Jeff's face. "You look very proud. And exhausted."

Annie narrowed her eyes. "I had just finished 20 hours of labor. It was impossible not to look tired."

"Jesus Christ."

She then looked at him tentatively. "Do you want to see the ones from before? Or would that be too strange?"

"Before?"

"Before she was born. I have more in here."

"Oh, um. Sure."

Annie bit her lip as she flipped back another page. "These were taken the last couple months before she was born."

Annie watched Jeff's face as he looked over the next couple pictures. He seemed to have a genuine expression of surprise.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Wow."

Annie's cheeks reddened as she lightly pushed a hand against his chest. "I know. I felt like a whale."

Jeff scoffed. "You were hardly a whale, Annie." His eyes lingered on the photos as he appeared to be taking them in. He added, "But yikes. It's like you're you but then there's this huge blob in front."

Annie smacked him on the arm. "Don't say huge and blob when you're describing a pregnant woman. And that blob was Sophie."

Jeff smirked and remarked dryly, "You're the one who said whale."

Annie lifted her nose in the air and remarked, "I can say that because it's me. And you're supposed to reassure me."

"Annie, you look beautiful."

"Stop it." She rolled her eyes.

"You do." He continued to stare at the pictures.

Annie eyed him curiously. "What is it?"

He remarked thoughtfully, "I didn't know you back then. It's a little weird to think about it. She's just always been here."

"Since you've known me. I know. That's why we said we were going to do this right? To show you what you missed."

"Right." He paused again and flipped backward to the very first picture in the album. "When was this one taken?"

"20 weeks."

Jeff's eyebrows rose. "That's precise."

Annie sighed wistfully. "It was the same week I felt her move for the first time. And I had a scan and found out she was a girl. That's when she became real to me. I'll never forget it."

Jeff's eyes skimmed over the photo again and he smiled. "You look happy."

Annie nodded. "It had been a difficult time for me but I remember when this was taken I was very, very happy. I had just told Melissa and Jacob I was going to keep her with me."

Jeff swallowed hard. "Oh."

"Before then I couldn't let myself get too attached, cause I knew I'd have to give her up."

"God, Annie…"

"I'd always loved her but that was the day I allowed myself to love her."

Annie felt Jeff kiss her head. He pulled her in closer.

Neither one of them mentioned that Adam was nowhere in Sophie's baby book.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annie placed her hands over Jeff's eyes as he sat at the breakfast table.

He grinned. "What?"

She mumbled into his neck, "I have a surprise for you."

"You do? Why?"

"It's Valentine's Day, silly."

"Oh."

"Did you forget it was Valentine's Day?"

"Of course not."

She mumbled, "You did. You forgot."

Jeff sighed. "Annie, I told you I'm not good at Valentine's Day. But I didn't forget. We're going to the dance tonight, remember?"

"Right."

"Can I have my sight back now?"

"Oh, um, yes. Sorry." She moved her hands back.

Jeff turned to look at her with a smirk. "So?"

Annie blushed and picked up a piece of paper from where she had hidden it on a nearby chair. "This is from Sophie."

Jeff chuckled as he regarded the piece of pink construction paper. It was blank except for two shaky purple crayon marks.

He commented with a serious expression, "It's a masterpiece. Best Valentine I've ever gotten."

Annie nodded. "She worked really hard on it. I supervised her."

"What does it say?"

She swatted him.

He grinned again. "Oh sorry I'll ask her." He turned to look over at Sophie in her highchair. "Sophie, what does this say?"

Sophie looked up from her pancakes. She shoved a piece in her mouth and mumbled, "Mmmm."

Jeff nodded. "That was very informative. Thank you. Happy Valentine's Day."

Annie took the opportunity afforded by Jeff's distraction to run and grab something from the kitchen.

She called out as she returned, "And here's your present from me. I hid it in the kitchen last night." She handed him a bouquet of mixed flowers.

Jeff stiffened for a moment as he eyed the bouquet. "Oh, um, thanks."

Annie smiled giddily and ran out of the room again. She returned with a vase. "You can put them in here. They have those little water pods on the bottom, so they'd keep over night. But we should put them in more water." She took the flowers from him and began to prepare them for the vase.

"Annie, why did you get me flowers?"

She kept her eyes on the flowers as she continued to prepare them. "Because it's Valentine's Day."

"Did you want me to get you flowers?"

"You told me you don't do things like that. But you never said I couldn't get you flowers." She grinned in satisfaction.

"Did you get the flowers for yourself?"

She shook her head. "What? No! That's ridiculous!"

He squinted at her. "Is it?"

"Yes."

"Oookay. Thank you for the flowers."

"You're welcome."

Annie caught Jeff roll his eyes.

She sighed as she placed the last flower in the vase. She turned, bent down, and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "I love you."

He smirked against her lips. "I love you too."

Annie rose and walked toward the kitchen. She suddenly realized she had forgotten to grab her glass. She turned and made her way back to the table, stopping before she got too near.

She watched as Jeff moved his seat toward Sophie and bent down to be near her head. She heard him lower his voice.

"Thank you for the drawing."

"Hi."

"Hi."

Sophie grabbed a piece of her pancake and moved it toward Jeff to feed him.

He opened his eyes wide and broke out in a smile. He then opened his mouth.

As her hand moved closer, Sophie stopped and brought it back to herself. She then shoved the piece of pancake into her mouth.

Jeff bent forward with silent laughter convulsions and placed his head on the table.

"Mmmmm."

He raised his head to look at her and smirked. "Happy Valentine's Day. I love you too."

"Fee."

"Yes, Sophie."

Annie smiled to herself and went back into the kitchen.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Of course Valentine's Day didn't go entirely smoothly. There was a silly study room fight over BNL, with Jeff becoming irrationally irritated, raising his voice.

"This is a fight. We are fighting!"

Annie stared at him in bewilderment. "Jeff! You're being ridiculous."

"Am I?"

"What's this really about? Is it because I got you flowers?"

Various "oooooohhhs" were made by other study group members.

Pierce called out, "I knew it!"

Jeff cringed. "No, this is not about the flowers."

"Then what?"

"I need some space." He turned and walked out of the room.

In the hallway, Ian approached him with an eyebrow wiggle.

"Tonight. Liverpool are playing Manchester United."

Jeff groaned. "I know. But it's Valentine's Day. I promised Annie I'd go to the Valentine's Day dance with her. The whole study group is going too."

Ian waived his hand in the air. "Oh come on. I'll see you at your place at 6:30…."

Jeff sighed. "No. I'm not ditching Annie on our first Valentine's Day together. And I thought you were seeing someone? Annie thinks so at any rate." He looked at Ian with a frown.

Ian choked for a moment. "What? Noooo."

Jeff eyed him suspiciously. "Didn't you go to a concert or something? And then you spaced out on dinner, and I know you weren't at the Dirty Cowgirl cause I went there looking for you."

Ian shrugged, staring off at far wall for a moment before he replied, "Fine. But it didn't exactly work out."

Jeff remarked sardonically, "Color me surprised."

Ian suddenly and inappropriately grinned giddily as he exclaimed, "I know!" He then shifted his face to an exaggerated woeful expression. "And now I have a broken heart. Yet again, Winger. And you have looove."

"Shut up."

Ian nodded emphatically, a grin spreading over this face. "Which is why I really need to make use of your big screen TV tonight."

Jeff let out a long sigh. "You're not drinking anymore?"

"Nope. That's why I can't watch it at a pub. Too much temptation."

"Ian…"

"And your mum has been so kind in offering her support. She knows this is a vulnerable time for me."

Jeff watched as Ian's brown eyes grew even larger behind his glasses.

Jeff groaned. "Okay. I'll probably regret this." He let out another long sigh. "You can watch the game at my place. But I will not be there. And no snooping. I'm locking my bedroom."

"Fair enough." Ian slapped Jeff on the back. He added with a hearty laugh, "If things go horribly awry tonight though, feel free to join me."

"Yeah, I think I have incentive now to make sure things don't."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The Valentine's Dance, as Jeff suspected, was lame. He had memories last year of a fight with Michelle and some ridiculousness with Britta and a drunken text message. He shuddered, realizing how far he had come.

He had Annie Edison in his arms. She was amazing. And she had even overlooked his Barenaked Ladies freak out from earlier. He could almost feel her smiling against his chest.

"Hmmmmmm…."

Jeff smirked and looked down. He placed a kiss on top of her head. "Are you humming? Or cooing?"

"Let me have my moment."

He laughed. "Okay."

In the end, he supposed the dance wasn't too lame. He had a pretty decent time dancing with Annie. And they perhaps enjoyed a nice make out in the hallway. That is until they were interrupted by a distraught Troy and an unreadable Abed.

"She called you weird!" Troy exclaimed to Abed.

"I am weird," Abed replied evenly.

After a brief exchange, the duo embraced.

Jeff watched in bewilderment. He turned as he heard Annie sniff.

She uttered softy, "They are so adorable."

He looked down at her in puzzlement. "Huh?"

She grabbed his hand and whispered, "Come on. Let's get back to the dance and give them some privacy."

Jeff frowned but allowed her to pull him toward the music.

Abed said to Troy, "Happy Valentine's Day."

"It is now." Troy grinned and pulled Abed into a tighter hug.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"That was a kickass party, Annie."

"You're mocking me. I had fun."

"I had fun too. Just don't tell anyone."

Annie turned to look up at Jeff. She crinkled her eyes as she replied, "Who would I tell? The study group? I think there was more than enough drama to go around tonight rather than them all realizing that you have a heart."

Jeff remarked dryly, "Yeah, Britta almost got lucky. I would have paid to see that."

Annie swatted him. "I'm sure you would have! Don't make fun of her."

Jeff moved a sleeping Sophie a little higher on his shoulder. "Why not? She thought Paige was a lesbian. Yet she didn't want to have sex with her. She just wanted to be seen with her. And turns out Paige had the same motivation. I think there's plenty there to mock."

Annie shook her head as the elevator doors opened to Jeff's floor. They exited and made the trek down the hall.

Annie remarked wearily, "I'm worried about Pierce."

"He's fine."

"I don't think so. I've been telling all of you for weeks. I think he's developed an addiction to painkillers."

Jeff sighed. "He's recovering from broken legs."

"They aren't broken anymore. And he's acting so strange."

"It's Pierce."

Annie shook her head as she began to fish her keys out of her purse. "He's defensive. And he disappeared. He's not answering any of my texts."

"That's because he lives in the Stone Age. He doesn't text."

"Yes he does."

"Huh?"

They arrived at the door.

Annie pursed her lips in frustration. "I'm going to hunt him down tomorrow."

"Annie…"

She opened the door. They entered, hearing the drone of a television set.

Annie gasped. "Is Professor Duncan still here?"

"I wouldn't be surprised."

Annie jogged into the living room and shut off the television so as not to wake Sophie.

Jeff gave Sophie a kiss as she squirmed on his shoulder. He adjusted her in his arms and then turned to take in the sight of Ian Duncan asleep and sprawled out on the couch. There were three empty beer bottles on the coffee table. Chang was curled up on the other end of the furniture, slumbering peacefully.

"What the hell?!"

"Jeff, shhhh!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day, Ian explained his sobriety had been a 'false alarm,' while also blaming Chang for bringing over beer. Jeff sighed, running his hand through his hair as he sat across the table from Chang.

"Goddammit. Why are you here?"

Chang looked up meekly from his cereal. "I'm homeless, Jeff. My wife found out about Shirley. She kicked me out for good this time."

Annie sat on Chang's other side. As she cut up Sophie's egg, her mouth began to form the beginning of an 'awwwww.'

Jeff cut her off. "Annie!" He turned back to Chang. "No! You're leaving after breakfast."

Chang slouched and hung his head. "Fine."

Annie opened her eyes wide. "Jeff!"

"What?!"

"He's homeless. I've been homeless."

Ian startled at this information and looked up from his cereal. He pushed his glasses up further on his nose and watched Annie and Jeff with curiosity.

Jeff closed his eyes and grimaced. "This is different. This is Chang. And need I remind you there are four hermit crabs in the bathroom."

"But Jeff…"

Jeff shook his head. "We have a small child. She's not getting near hermit crabs. Or Chang."

Chang looked crestfallen.

Sophie yelled, "Dang!"

Annie stiffened, her eyes getting even wider as she replayed in her head what Jeff had just said. She then bit her lip and replied evenly, "Well, then where do you suggest he goes?"

Jeff affected a cocky pose. "Well…"

She narrowed her eyes and interrupted him, "Think carefully before you answer that."

Jeff stilled for a moment. His eyes then swept to Ian.

Ian opened his mouth. "Oh hell no!"

"You have an apartment."

"Well, yes, technically."

"And you don't have roommates. Or pets. Or children. Or hygiene. You're the perfect solution."

Ian cleared his throat. "Well what about Annie? Doesn't she have an apartment she's not using? She lives here now."

Annie's face turned pink as she glanced over to Jeff and then back at Ian. She sputtered, "I….I don't live here. I'm just here sometimes. Chang can't live in my apartment. It's way too small. And again, Jeff's point about Sophie and the hermit crabs…."

Jeff eyes locked sympathetically on Annie's for a moment. He then waived his hand in the air and turned to Ian. "The easiest solution would be if you let him live with you, temporarily."

Chang looked at Ian pitifully.

Ian scrunched up his face in disgust. "But he broke my nose!"

"I've Chang-ed."

"Oh bloody hell!

Suddenly, Annie and Jeff's phones both buzzed. Jeff grabbed his and read the text.

"What is it?" Annie asked as she reached for her phone.

"Christ. Pierce is in the hospital."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In the end, everything turned out okay. Not only was Chang able to temporarily move in with Ian, but Pierce was alive.

After some frustrating mind games, with one particularly outrageous moment between Jeff and Pierce, the group discovered that Pierce was not in fact going to die either. At least not likely anytime soon.

No one quite knew what to make of their bequeathments, but after all was said and done, they decided to put it all behind them.

Even Jeff, who ended up spending the next night curled up in Pierce's hospital room.

Annie may have awww'd as she left with Shirley to pick up Sophie from the Bennett household.

She knew Jeff had a big heart. Big enough for all of them.

Even Pierce.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jeff watched as Annie pulled her overnight bag toward the door. She then plopped a bag of Sophie's clean laundry next to it.

"Annie, why are you taking all that stuff home?"

"Hm?"

He let out an exasperated sigh. "You can leave stuff here, you know. It's stupid to move it back and forth."

Annie kept her eyes on the bags and nodded thoughtfully. "You mean like the carseat situation?"

"Precisely."

She looked over to him with a weak smile. "I don't want to put you out. Or mess up your place."

Jeff groaned and ran his hand over his face. "Goddamn it. Have I ever been defensive of you guys being here? Have I ever said that I didn't want you here?"

Annie shuffled over to him. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her.

She mumbled into his chest, "I'm sorry. I just don't want to screw this up."

He ran a hand through her hair and closed his eyes. "I think we're doing okay. I mean I have how much hobbity stuff here now? And it's been here for a while and that hasn't been a problem. You can keep other things here. I'll make some room."

She looked up at him. "Room?"

He opened his eyes and stated, "Yeah, I'll clean out part of my closet. And of course we can set something up in the study for Sophie's things."

"So we can keep some clothes here?"

"Duh. It'll be easier. And that way you don't have to carry all that crap with you."

"You're sweet. Thank you." As she turned her head to the side, her eyes fell to the pink construction paper Valentine from Sophie, affixed with a magnet on Jeff's fridge.

She smiled genuinely to herself and relaxed.