Chapter 26: Conflict
Summary: Annie and Jeff have a fight
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A/N: Some angst, dear readers. But don't fret!
First part was previewed the other day on tumblr
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Annie hummed as she twirled her Greendale office chair 360 degrees, stopping when she returned to her anthropology textbook. She leaned her arm on the desk and frowned as she reviewed an info graphic on 'Stages of Man.'
That might make an interesting diorama.
Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it and read the text.
[Jeff]: thanks for your "message" - to answer: Hanro
Blushing, she replied.
[Annie]: stripes or solid bold?
Almost immediately, her phone buzzed.
[Jeff]: BOLD, baby. but i'm not telling u the color.
[Annie]: why are u so mean to me? :(
[Jeff]: patience. unless u send me another pic ;)
Annie's face grew red. She scrolled up to the image she sent earlier. In it she was covering her face with her hand but showing her pink lace bra strap. And she was sitting at her desk outside the Dean's office.
Before she could reply, her phone buzzed again.
[Jeff]: and maybe u could be BOLD ;)
She pursed her lips and began typing furiously.
[Annie]: u have some nerve! i'm a proper academic assistant! scandalized face
There was a delay before Jeff replied.
[Jeff]: are proper assistants allowed visitors?
Her eyes widened.
[Annie]: um, not those kind of visitors. the dean is here, remember?
[Jeff]: i'm not that worried
[Annie]: don't!
[Jeff]: but im almost there
[Annie]: nooooooooo
She slammed her phone on the desk and looked around frantically. At that moment, the Dean popped his head out of his office.
"Annie, would you mind looking over the new course catalogue? I swear, I don't know how to make "Ladders" sound more enticing. The enrollment has been surprisingly sparse over the past two semesters. It's like Greendale students aren't even wanting to reach for higher standards."
Annie turned to him and flashed her trademark megawatt smile.
She spoke in a slightly higher voice than usual as she replied, "Of course, Dean. Maybe we could speak to the importance of steps?"
The Dean looked at her in amazement. "Well, now that's a thought! See Agnes would never have thought of that!"
Annie's phone buzzed again. She glanced down at it, her eyes widening as she read the text.
[Jeff]: im coming to the outer door. i have something very important to show u
She quickly typed,
[Annie]: stop! dean is here
[Jeff]: hes the one who suggested i show you … he wants to be there
Now he's going too far!
Stupid Handsome Hobo.
Annie almost started to hyperventilate. Her eyes shot up to meet the Dean's.
He was looking at her in puzzlement.
"What is it, Annie? Who are you texting?"
Suddenly Jeff, holding Sophie, appeared in front of the reception desk.
Annie opened her mouth in an o. Her faced remained a bright pink.
Jeff smirked, "I told you I was almost here. Look who I brought with me."
"Mama!"
Annie let out a breath and started to laugh. "Hi sweetie." She stood and walked to the front of the desk and took Sophie from Jeff. She gave her a kiss and then looked up at him reproachfully. "Isn't she supposed to be in daycare?"
Jeff shrugged and replied, "Yeah but my last class was canceled so I thought I'd pick her up early."
She glanced nervously at the Dean and smiled brightly. "That's fine. But you can't just bring her by here. I'm at work."
The Dean shook his head. "Oh, Annie, that's fine. Jeffrey and I talked it over. I told him to bring Sophie so she can show you her new outfit!"
He beamed as he waived one hand toward Sophie.
Annie looked at Sophie's clothing for the first time and then broke out in a grin. She glanced up at Jeff. He was rolling his eyes.
Annie chuckled, "Dean! Is this a Greendale Community College t-shirt?! And matching sweatpants! Oh my god, it's adorable!"
The Dean squealed and clapped his hands.
Jeff remarked dryly, "Yeah, the Dean gave them to me this morning and said we should surprise you. He said it was because you're the best assistant he's ever had."
The Dean mumbled, "and it's not because I want to use her as a mascot."
Annie turned to the Dean. "Awwww…. Thank you!"
"So I'm a good dean?"
"You are a very good dean."
She took a moment to regard Sophie again, noticing the purple hair clips, which had not been in her hair that morning. One on each side of her head. Annie smiled as she placed another kiss on Sophie's forehead.
Sophie began playing with Annie's necklace.
At that moment, Andre strolled up to the desk. His face lit up when he spotted them.
"Oh hey, Annie! Jeff! It's good to see you guys. I'm looking for Shirley but she's not in the cafeteria where we said we'd meet. Have you seen her?"
Jeff glanced at Annie with a quizzical look. She shrugged one shoulder.
Jeff replied, "Nope. I think she's usually in her marketing class about now."
Andre nodded. "Yeah, but she said she was getting out early today."
The Dean gasped. "What's this all about classes being canceled and professors letting students out early? You'd think we weren't running a college around here."
Jeff opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Annie shot him a look.
Andre frowned. "Oh well. I'm sure she'll turn up. Maybe she got stuck in there or something." He grabbed Jeff's hand in a firm shake. "Good to see you man. How did the razor work out?"
"Razor? I thought you waxed."
Jeff looked at the Dean and cringed.
Andre scrunched up his face in confusion. "Why would he wax his face?"
"Oh." The Dean slouched.
Jeff turned to Andre with a smirk. "It's good. She seemed to enjoy it." He gestured toward Sophie.
Andre patted Sophie on the head. "She's so cute."
Annie beamed. "Thank you. And she does like her razor. That was sweet of you to suggest it."
Andre continued speaking in a soft voice, eyeing Sophie with amusement. "My boys like them. I've never had a girl but I figure it's kind of the same, at least at this age, you know? They just want to look up to someone. They need role models. I wonder if the next one will be a girl. That might be really nice."
Sophie giggled at him and then turned her eyes on Jeff.
She reached toward him and screeched, "Dee dee!"
Jeff's eyes widened for a moment before he grabbed her from Annie. He hoisted her up on his shoulder and squinted his eyes at her, affecting a serious expression. "Yes, what? Did you want to shave again? Cause I need to keep my scruff going a little while longer or your mommy gets upset." He ran his free hand over his face.
"Jeff!" Annie swatted him lightly.
Sophie started touching his chin and began to chuckle heartily.
Jeff smirked and placed a kiss near her ear.
Both the Dean and Andre exchanged surprised looks.
Andre turned to Jeff, "So she calls you daddy huh? Welcome to the club." He laughed and slapped him on the back.
Jeff exchanged frantic glances with Annie and sputtered, "Oh, um…. we're still trying to figure out…."
A lilting voice chimed in, "Jeffrey, you're this girl's daddy now? Is that official? When's the wedding?"
Jeff and Annie turned red as Shirley stood there grinning giddily while holding her comedically large purse.
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Although they were able to deflect Shirley's intrusiveness, Annie and Jeff were realizing others would likely begin to have similar questions. They hadn't really talked through the ramifications of Sophie's attachment to Jeff between themselves. Things seemed to be going so well between them, they were under an implicit understanding of not talking about it. After Shirley's question, Annie and Jeff merely exchanged the following words privately:
"Annie, please don't freak out about what Shirley said."
Annie rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'm not freaked out. She just doesn't understand. I love her, but she's just so pushy."
Jeff snorted. "That's an understatement." He eyed her tentatively as he ventured, "But, given the baby hobbit's rapidly increasing verbal abilities coupled with her sheer volume, we should probably, you know, um, maybe discuss what it means for our relationship if she calls me…"
Annie interjected – "Jeff!"
He finished his sentenced, looking at her with annoyance, "daddy."
Annie paled. She then spoke quickly, "Does that upset you? We can work with her to change it."
"You know perfectly well it doesn't upset me."
"It doesn't?"
Jeff let out a prolonged sigh. "Oookay."
Annie smiled, perhaps a little too brightly. "I just wanted to make sure. I'm glad it doesn't bother you. She looks up to you." She patted him reassuringly on the arm.
He tensed at the patting. "So what does that mean for other things?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. We talked about me moving some stuff in. That's good, right? Let's just do that." She continued to smile.
He eyed her incredulously. "Some stuff?"
"Yes. I feel comfortable with that."
"Fine."
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"Hey, it'll only be a little bit and then Mommy will be done with her test and we'll go home."
"You're using your dad voice."
Jeff glanced over at Britta. He was crouched down on the student lounge floor, attempting to reason with Sophie.
"My dad voice? Oh please."
"You do have a dad voice. You use it with her a lot. Otherwise, I've only ever heard you use that tone with Troy and Abed. In similar situations, I might add."
Britta smirked as she looked over to a tearful Sophie who was clutching her bear and biting on its ear.
Jeff groaned. "It's my voice of reason. In times of over-emotionality. It's not a dad voice."
Sophie toddled over to the door and stopped short of it. She cried softly to herself as she continued to stare at the doorway.
Jeff kept his eyes on her and sighed. He bit his lip as he rose and sat next to Britta on the couch.
"You're not going to go get her?"
"She'll be here in a sec. This has happened before."
Britta nodded. She then watched as Sophie turned around and made her way over to them. She stopped in front of Jeff and looked at him sorrowfully.
Jeff's expression softened. "You okay, munchkin?"
"Dee dee." She reached up for him.
He pulled her up on his lap.
She nuzzled into his chest and began to suck her thumb.
Britta's eyes widened, and she broke out in a grin. "Did she just call you daddy?"
Jeff frowned. "Britta, Britta, Britta, now where do I start with you jumping to conclusions when you…"
Britta interjected, "She did! You jackass." She moved her head down and asked Sophie, "Who is daddy? Show me who daddy is."
Jeff rolled his yes.
Sophie took her thumb out of her mouth and smiled at Britta. She looked up at Jeff and smacked him on the chest.
"Dee dee!"
Britta nodded. "And what's my name?"
"Tit ta!"
Britta looked at Jeff triumphantly. "Making assumptions, huh? I used my deductive reasoning skills. I'm studying human behavior you know."
Jeff remarked dryly, "You don't say."
She continued to stare at him in wonder. "So?"
He groaned again. "Fine. Yes, she's started calling me daddy. Are you happy now?"
"So are you her daddy?"
"Britta. Please. This is between me and Annie."
Suddenly Britta's expression softened. "Have you guys talked about it? I mean Annie's been pretty adamant to me that she doesn't live with you. But look, if you guys are worried I'd be upset or something, I'm not. We had a stupid fling. And it was so long ago now. I just want you guys to be happy."
Jeff kissed Sophie's head as she squirmed in his arms. She laid her head on his chest again and resumed sucking her thumb.
Jeff closed his eyes as he said, "I don't know what we're doing. But trust me, any confusion has nothing to do with what happened between you and me."
"I see."
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Pierce, who had recently been discharged from rehab, came up to Jeff in the hallway and awkwardly punched his shoulder.
He announced with an eerie grin, "I heard she calls you daddy now. Treat that precious child right."
"Pierce!"
But he was too late as Pierce had wandered off down the hallway into a crowd.
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Britta stood next to Annie in the ladies restroom as they both washed their hands.
"So, daddy, huh?"
Annie blushed as she shut off the faucet. "I'm sorry, what?"
Britta handed her a paper towel. "The Wing-Jerk. Sophie calls him daddy. I heard her do it earlier."
Annie swallowed hard and looked down. "Yes she does. She just started doing it around Christmas time."
Britta rolled her eyes. "Oh please. We all know she's been doing it for months. I'm just glad you guys finally hear it."
Annie's eyes rose to meet Britta's. "I don't know, okay? And I don't know what this means for me and Jeff."
Britta shrugged. "Hey, you guys have to figure yourselves out regardless, right? And if you want to talk about it, hit me up with some wine and we'll chat."
Annie nodded.
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Ian scurried over to Jeff in the hallway near the cafeteria.
"Jeffrey! I'm glad I found you."
Jeff let out his thousandth groan of the day. "Goddamn it, will everyone please mind their own business? Look, fine, yes. She's calling me daddy. Are you happy now? Have I satisfied your gossipy needs?"
Ian appeared taken aback. "Oh my word! She's calling you daddy? Well, well. Not that I should be that surprised, I guess. Your mum and I have discussed the issue at length. We both noticed the child was saying some potentially interesting things at Christmas…"
Jeff interjected, "Wait… that's not what you wanted to talk to me about?!"
"Well no, but now that we're on this fascinating subject…"
"No. We're not discussing this. Why did you approach me all earnestly?"
Ian frowned in thought for a moment before he grinned in realization. "Oooooh….that's right! I remember! I wanted to talk to you about crabs!"
"Shhhh….keep your voice down! And what the hell?!"
"Hermit crabs, my boy. We have to do something about this Chang situation."
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Annie stood with her hands on her hips, looking up at the expanse of Jeff's walk-in closet.
Of course he'd prioritize a place with a walk-in closet.
He's so vain.
She glanced at herself in the closet mirror and smoothed out the pleats in her skirt.
She then turned her attentions to the clothing rack. Jeff had given her instructions that she could have half of the right rack, and he had already rearranged the closet so she could fit in some of her clothes. He had also cleared out a drawer for her in the dresser.
She smiled nervously, realizing this was a big step. She attempted to reassure herself that things had been going really well between them, and again this was a practical idea. She and Sophie were spending more time here, and she didn't need to worry about bringing over clothes all the time. She already kept some toiletries in the bathroom.
This doesn't mean we're moving in.
I still have my place at Dildopolis.
She let her hand skim over Jeff's shirts.
What if we did move in?
I think he wants us to move in.
She took a deep breath and bent down to grab a dress from her bag. She carefully put it on a hanger and placed it on the clothing bar.
Sophie was napping and Jeff had run to the grocery store to pick up some items for dinner. She was glad that she had some time for herself with her confused thoughts.
What does it mean if Sophie calls him daddy and we move in?
What if I mess this up and she loses another daddy?
He's always been a ladies man. Is he ready for that?
She was glad that they had avoided answering Shirley's intrusive question the other day. Andre had been helpful in getting Shirley to calm down and give them some space. She was fairly certain from Jeff's flustered reaction that it wasn't something they were equipped to discuss at present. And Shirley always did focus absurdly on marriage.
I'm so not ready for marriage.
I'm pretty sure Jeff isn't either.
What would it be like to be married to Jeff?
She began humming and continued to place items on hangers. She then spied some fabric hanging down in back of the clothing bar. She stood on her tiptoes and attempted to reach around the back of the bar. She tugged on the fabric, and then a medium-sized box came crashing down on the floor. Luckily she was able to jump out of the way at the last minute.
She looked down and spotted the box, lid off and contents strewn over the floor. Her eyes widened as she spied an assortment of objects, including two bras, one pair of red high heels, a lipstick, and several, scratch that, many pairs of panties.
A dark blue lace pair was among them.
"Oh my god."
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"I never thought you'd be able to reach that high!"
"You're such an asshole, Jeff! I can't believe you kept all those things! They're like trophies!"
Jeff crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ceiling. Clenching his jaw, he stated, "It was private. I can keep whatever I want. You're the one who went snooping."
Annie threw her hands in the air and then slapped them down at her side. She raised her voice, "I wasn't snooping! And ugh! That's besides the point. You put my panties in the box! I found them!" She held up the navy blue lace panties.
Jeff continued to keep his arms crossed and affected a stern expression. He resumed eye contact with her and replied evenly, "You already knew I kept them. I thought we had an implicit understanding."
"That's because I thought you only kept mine!"
He bit his lip. "What's the difference?"
"You put my panties in with all of the other women's stuff! Like I'm the same! Am I the same?!"
He scowled. "You know you're not!"
Annie lowered her voice and stared him down. "Oh really?! And you kept all of these things. Even though we're together!" She gestured toward the spilled ladies' items.
Jeff swiftly shook his head. "One thing has nothing to do with the other."
Annie huffed. "I fail to see that."
Jeff let out a long sigh and ran his hand over his scruff. "Annie, the only reason your panties were in the box is because we started out as friends with benefits. That's where I put my mementos."
"Mementos?!"
"Yes. And how the hell was I to know that you'd end up as my girlfriend? And just to be clear, this is not a box of disparagement. I've thoroughly enjoyed all of the encounters which are represented."
Annie crinkled up her nose in disgust. "I can't believe you just said that."
"Would you rather have me say I hated all those women? Cause it's not true."
She shook her head and crossed her arms protectively. "I don't want to think of you with all those women!"
He gasped, "Well then don't think about it! Do you really believe I like to think about you and other guys? No! So I shut that off."
"Oh, please. My past is nothing compared to yours."
"But I've let mine go, Annie. Do I say anything when you text with Vaughn? No. Because I trust that he's across the country in his hippie little paradise hackying or something."
Annie furrowed her brow in confusion. "Vaughn?"
Jeff rolled his eyes. "I saw a text. It came in when you were in the bathroom one time. Something along the lines of, thanks for talking…it was really helpful…take care of yourself…lates."
Annie pursed her lips. "Ugh! How long have you been holding onto this? I haven't texted with him since October!"
Jeff raised his eyebrows. "Oh really?"
"Yes! Because I thought maybe that would be weird. I told him you and I were seeing each other and that maybe he should work on finding more friends in Delaware to confide in."
"You're still friends with him on facebook."
"Oh please! There's nothing wrong with that! And if it makes you feel better, he sees all the pics I post. And the ones with you. He knows. And again, we haven't communicated since October. And even then, that was completely innocent. He was just going through a hard time. As you said about your ladies, I view Vaughn as someone I cared about."
Jeff grimaced. "Fine. Sorry."
"And I don't even believe you cared about these women. You don't even talk to Michelle anymore. I know she broke up with you, but you two seemed to be on speaking terms near the end of last year. But now you cringe when anyone mentions her. It's like you're ashamed or something."
He sighed. "I don't see why you're bringing this up. What does Michelle have to do with us?"
"Will you do that to me some day? Will you just pretend that what we had didn't matter?"
His eyes widened. "What we had? Goddamn it why do you always behave as if we're going to break up?"
Annie deflected his question as she continued, "Why don't you talk to her anymore? And why do you cringe? She wasn't that bad."
"Fine. Do you really want to know? She insulted you. I'm not staying friends with someone who would do that."
Annie stilled. "She did?"
"Yes. So that's why I cringe. I can't believe I was involved with someone who I thought was a decent person. But she's not. She's petty and cruel."
Annie's face fell. "What did she say about me?"
He scowled. "It doesn't matter. It was all nonsense anyway. But now you know."
Annie asked softly, "Did you put something of Michelle's in the box?"
Jeff sighed. "Of course I did."
"What is it?"
"We are not doing this, Annie. Cut it out."
"What about Britta?"
Jeff pursed his lips. "For your information, nothing of Britta's is in the box. We never did it here."
Annie grimaced and then she shook her head. "I'm sorry. You know what, let's just forget this whole thing. Could you please just get rid of it? It really bothers me that you have it."
Jeff let out a long sigh and stared at the ceiling. "Annie..."
She opened her eyes wide and tilted her head to the side. "Please?"
Suddenly Jeff opened his mouth. He couldn't stop himself as the words tumbled out, "Who's Mr. Blindfold? I find it hard to believe it was Andy. Was it the hippie? Please don't tell me it was Mr. Jackass-I'm-Ashamed-of-My-Own-Kid-Douchebag."
Annie scoffed. "That is absolutely none of your business! Maybe moving some stuff in here was a mistake. Maybe we're not ready for this."
Jeff quickly walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked at her with an almost panicked expression. "Look, Annie, I'm sorry, I was out of line."
She looked down, feeling her eyes well with tears. She then craned her head up and noted the fear in his gaze.
"Jeff, you need to let the past go."
He nodded. "Okay. Then you have to do it too."
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News spread throughout campus that Vice President Biden would be stopping by later in the day. The Dean had become distraught, realizing that due to previous shenanigans, there currently was no student body president.
Annie of course took it upon herself to all but declare herself president before the Dean reminded her that technically they needed to have an election.
She was cheerily hanging flyers when Jeff came up to her.
He lowered his voice to an almost whisper, "So, we're okay, right?"
She flashed her megawatt smile at him. "Of course. Here. Put up these flyers, please?"
Jeff clenched his jaw. "Fine."
Annie was furious when she discovered that Jeff didn't put up her flyers. They engaged in a verbal sparring match, with Jeff insulting the political process and Annie's naivety.
"Don't kid a lawyer."
"Well, if I see one I won't."
Jeff stopped in his tracks, a stricken expression on his face.
There were more verbal wars after Jeff entered the race. Annie was upset he was making a mockery of the process.
"No matter what you're told, we have to clean the mold!"
The chants were almost deafening.
Jeff didn't want to admit he was more than a little impressed with her.
"I feel a slight ego blowing in from the east."
"You're about to feel my foot coming in from the south."
And he was maybe more than a little turned on.
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Abed and Troy live broadcasted the entire election. Sophie sat on Troy's lap.
"Well, Troy, I don't know about you, but I think our special guest correspondent has something to say."
Troy lifted Sophie a little higher. "Sophie, can you tell us your thoughts on who will win this election? Will it be Leonard, Vicki, Pierce, Starburns, Magnitude, Daddy Jeff, or Mommy Annie?"
"Mama!"
Abed wiggled his eyebrows and declared, "Well you have it there, folks, right from the babe's mouth. Annie Edison has an edge with the younger crowd. We'll be back after the next commercial break."
As Pavel turned off the camera, Troy turned to Abed.
"Dude. Sophie can't vote."
"A travesty."
Sophie handed Troy her bear and began saying something unintelligible.
Troy smiled. "Can we get her a Troy and Abed in the Morning t-shirt? This Greendale one she's wearing is sooooo cute."
"Only if she appears on our show."
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Annie paled, her hand on the remote.
"I can't do this. I'm dropping out of the race."
She suddenly flung the remote and ran out of the room.
Jeff's eyes shot up.
"Me too."
He followed her.
He jogged down the hallway, peering into various rooms. He eventually found her in the storage room.
The pale legs sticking out from in back of the chalkboard were a clue.
"Annie?"
She looked up from her spot on the floor.
"Ugh! I'm a horrible person!"
"What? Why?"
"I almost went too far. I'm sorry."
"Wait…what did you almost do?"
She sighed as she rose to her feet. She dusted off her skirt and replied, "I was this close to showing the entire school your MTV Real World audition video."
Jeff's eyes widened. "My whaaat?! How did you know about that? And you have it?!"
Annie nodded meekly. "I have my ways. And it was super corny. I thought it would cinch the election for me if I showed it."
"I was 19!"
She sighed again, her lips trembling. "I know! I'm so sorry! I don't know what got into me. I wanted to win so badly. But then I just couldn't humiliate you like that."
Jeff sighed. "Whatever. Please just promise me you'll get rid of it."
She nodded.
She then added, "Wait…why are you here? Shouldn't you be running for president?"
Jeff placed his hands in his pockets and looked at her with fondness. "I dropped out after you took off."
"Jeff, I am so sorry. I care what you think about me, you know."
"Yeah, well I care what you think about me. That's why this happened."
His eyes lingered on her.
Annie gulped. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you. About the box. And about moving some stuff into your place. I'm just so confused."
Jeff frowned. "About what?"
"I need to know. Am I like the rest of them?"
"Who?"
"Your ladies? You never stay with anyone."
Jeff took his hands out of his pockets and placed them on her shoulders. He looked at her intently. "Annie, is that what this is about? Please, you have to believe me. Of course you're not like the others. You have to know that by now."
Her lip trembled. "But you don't stay."
"I will."
"You can't possibly say that. You can't know that."
"Fine. I can't. But I want to. And I'm pretty sure that counts for something."
Annie looked down and began to silently cry.
"Please don't." He ran one hand against her cheek and then pulled her into a hug. "You're very important to me. Look, I'll get rid of the box. Seriously. I'll burn it all."
She mumbled into his chest, "Really?"
He stroked her hair and replied softly, "Yes."
"You can keep my panties."
He stepped back slightly to look at her. He laughed. "Done."
She nodded, a genuine smile forming on her face. "Okay, well resolved then."
"Resolved."
They leaned back in, wrapping their arms around each other.
Suddenly Pierce came by with a pencil jutting out from his cheek.
"Oh my god! Pierce!"
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Annie turned to Jeff as they stretched out on the bed. She reached down to grab a sheet and pulled it up and tucked it underneath her arms.
Jeff smirked. "Wow. Who knew blindfolds could be so much fun?"
She smiled demurely. "That was kind of hot."
He licked his lips and kept his eyes on hers. "Most definitely. Although I must admit, I was a little surprised you wanted to be Hector-the-Well-Endowed in this scenario."
She laughed nervously.
He squinted. "Although now that I think about it, maybe I should have expected that."
She laughed again and swatted him. "Well thank you for letting me blindfold you."
His eyes twinkled as he remarked, "You're welcome. Thank you for treating me with dignity and respect."
Annie blushed and kissed his chest. "I'm glad we made up."
"Annie, I think we should always make up."
She sighed and regarded him sheepishly. "I'm sorry again I flipped out. I need to go more slowly."
"Slowly?"
"I'll move stuff in. But not everything."
"That's fine."
"Thank you."
Jeff sighed and moved onto his back. "Since we're being honest. I need to say something. I probably should have told you this sooner, but oh well."
"Told me what?"
"You're not the only one who's scared. The reason it bothered me when you sent the shaving picture to my mom is because you keep making decisions without consulting me. You shut me out. And then you send mixed messages. Like embracing my mom as Sophie's grandma."
"You don't want her to be her grandma?"
He clenched his jaw. "Goddamn it. That's not what I meant. It's the way you went about it. You just decided. But we probably should have talked about it. And we can't even talk about the daddy thing. We need to talk about it."
Annie took a deep breath. "I'm surprised you want to discuss it."
Jeff groaned and moved a hand over his face. "I've been talking it over with my therapist."
"Oh."
He studied the ceiling as he continued, "You send mixed messages. What do you want?"
She began to rub his chest and replied softly, "I want this to work."
He was silent for some moments before he asked, his voice trembling slightly, "Do you want me to be Sophie's daddy?"
Annie gulped. "Of course I do."
He moved back on his side and regarded her seriously. "You do?"
"Yes. Do you?"
"Yes."
Her eyes widened and she nodded. "Okay. But then I don't know where that leaves us."
He regarded her with an almost desperation. He stated emphatically, "We do this then. We keep talking about things. We figure it out. And of course we can do it at whatever pace seems most comfortable. But I just need you to be all in it. Stop being halfway somewhere else. I'm not him."
"I know that. I just get scared."
"Then please tell me that. It's fine. You don't always have to be all fake crappy cheery. Not with me."
Annie nodded and then moved her head down. She gripped the sheets and, as was her habit, began twisting them in knots as she said, "So if I need more time, and yet Sophie's calling you daddy, how should we handle this? She technically has a father. And while I know he's a pretty lousy one, I still want to try to foster their relationship. I know it probably won't be the best, but she should know who he is."
Jeff let out a long sigh. He placed his hand on her chin and pulled her face up so that they could look at one another.
She stilled her movements with the sheets.
Jeff said, "While I may not like it, I understand. She can have two daddies. They write books about that."
"I'm pretty sure that's for gay male couples."
He smirked as he dropped his hand. "But still."
Annie smiled in amusement for a moment and then reverted to a serious expression. "Even if she's calling you daddy and we're both okay with it, we still need to work on us."
He cleared his throat. "Agreed."
"I don't want to put pressure on our relationship. And this isn't the normal order of things."
"Since when has either one of us done things in the normal order? I'm going to college for my undergraduate degree after I went to law school."
Annie let out a quick laugh and then smiled. She placed a kiss on his cheek. "And I had a baby before I met her daddy."