Song number two from the cutting room floor, so to speak. eight more to go. Bold is Ben, italics are Jai, Arthur, and Conrad. I do not own "For the Longest Time" nor do I own Billy Joel.
Annie's first inkling that something was going on was when Ben had a quick discussion with Flint. The bartender at first was against whatever Ben was saying, but eventually relented. Her not-so-good feeling got worse when Flint went to the microphone.
"Will Miss. Annie Walker come up onstage please?"
What else could she do? She stood, and Auggie grabbed her hand. "Annie, don't do it. You don't have too." She squeezed his hand lightly and took the stage.
Once there, she was instructed to sit in a chair that had positioned in the middle of the stage. After sitting, she realized that she was being surrounded. Jai, Arthur, and Conrad stood around her. One on each side, and one standing behind her. Ben got down on one knee, and took her hand. Annie's heart stopped.
Woa, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh
For the longest
Once they began to sing, the freaked out butterflies died down. Ben wasn't going to propose to her onstage. Not yet anyway. A quick look at Auggie found his face to be impassive. If Ben was smart, he wouldn't propose ever, because if it came down to a fight between Auggie and Ben, she was putting her money on Auggie. Always.
If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time
Annie rolled her eyes. She was planning saying more than goodbye that night. As for Ben being inspired by her? Please. The only thing that inspired him was alcohol, sex, and weapons. Not in that exact same order, considering the fact that he originally left her for a mission. Oh, and when he said that it hadn't happened in the longest time? That was probably the worst line Annie had ever heard. There was no way that Ben had been celibate the entire time that they had been apart.
Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's where you found me
When you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time
Innocent was the last word that Auggie would use to describe Mercer. Annie, maybe, but not Mercer. He had to give him props though. Good song choice, and really god theatricality, pulling Annie up on the stage the way he did. Auggie flagged down a waitress and ordered a stronger drink. Tequila wasn't doing it anymore. The idea of Mercer in Annie's arms was enough to drive him crazy. Auggie realized that he had to figure out a way to outdo Mercer. But how and with what song?
Woa, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh
For the longest
Annie was so angry, it took everything she had not to openly hit Ben. He was fighting dirty. He knew that she loved Billy Joel, and was using it against her. The cool, logical side of her tried to calm down. After that night, she would make sure that Ben knew she wanted nothing to do with him. It would be his first warning. Second warning would be Joan. Annie had no problem pulling her boss into the middle of all her drama. Final warning would be Auggie. There was no doubt in her mind that Auggie would come to her aid if she needed. This thought made her smile.
I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too
That hasn't happened for the longest time
Ben saw the smile on Annie's face and his heart practically burst. He had his Annie back. He was so glad that Arthur had convinced him to make an appearance. He had been hesitant at first, especially after Annie had turned down his offer to stay with him in Mexico, but now there was no doubt in his mind. Arthur had warned him that he had competition for her in the form of Auggie Anderson, but Ben had never really thought about him. The last time he had seen Anderson was after he had come back from Tikrit. He had been newly blind, and a broken shell of a man. Now, six years later, Ben could see how he appealed to Annie.
Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've been hoping too hard
But I've gone this far
And it's more than I hoped for
'If he's smart, it won't last very long.' Auggie thought to himself. He was tempted to order another shot, but changed his mind at the last was beginning to seriously think about dragging Ben off stage. It must have showed on his face, because Joan sat down in Annie;s recently vacated seat. "You do know that you have more to offer than him, right?"
Auggie shrugged. "Maybe, but at least he can see her."
Joan smacked his shoulder, hard. "If you honestly think that matters to Annie, then you deserve to lose her."
Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time
Annie was slowly starting to lose her love of Billy Joel. Every verse was pissing her off more, and more. She pulled her hand from Ben's, and rubbed it against her leg. She had once loved his touch, even craved it, but now it only inspired revulsion in her. There was no chance of them going on, and if he thought there was still a chance, She was going to see to it that there was none. There was nothing for her to go back too. No romance, no affection, nothing but the mutual love of traveling and great sex. The CIA allowed her to travel to her hearts content, and she was sure that she could better than great sex from Auggie. She gasped aloud at this thought.'Where did that come from?'
I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more than I hoped for
Ben was momentarily puzzled when she snatched her hand away from him, but her little gasp of pleasure dissolved his confusion. Annie had to have realized how much he loved her by then, that was what made her gasp the way she did. It made Ben sing with gusto. He was going to do so much to prove t her that he had changed, once she quite the Agency, and moved in with him, things were going to be different. They would have a couple of kids, a dog or maybe a cat, and he would get a desk job, so he wouldn't be running out to be on missions. Things were going to be great. All she had to do was kiss him, or show her approval in some way.
I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time
'The man's delusional.' Auggie realized. If he was expecting Annie to give up everything just to be with him, he had to be delusional. It took a certain kind of Agent to be successful in the field, and Annie was one of them. Plus, experiencing her first mission had lit a fire inside of Annie. She now fought for them, begging Joan for even the simplest of missions. There was no way that she would willingly leave the Agency, so Mercer could do his worst. Auggie leaned back in his seat, confident in Annie's ability to refuse the legendary Mercer charm.
Woa, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh,oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh,
For the longest time
As the song ended, Ben reached out and took Annie's hand again. He raised it and looked as though he were about to kiss it when Annie snatched it away. 'No way, playboy.'Annie thought to herself. Ben watched her, his face filled with shock, as she deliberately stood, and walked off the stage. She held her breath the entire way, worried that Ben would try to stop her. Thankfully, she made it to the table she shared with Auggie without incident.
"So, never realized that you were a Billy Joel fan." He said with a smirk.
Annie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, not any more." she answered taking his drink from his hand and drinking it herself. "That man has an amazing knack for ruining all the things that I love."
"Does that include me?"
"Never said I loved you."
Annie giggled at the sad-puppy look Auggie gave her. "Oh come on, now. You know I love you Auggie. Is there anyone alive who doesn't?"
"Yeah. Ben."
"Probably. But does it really matter what he thinks?"
Auggie pulled Annie into a hug. He had to bury his face in her hair so she wouldn't see the tears forming in his eyes. "It doesn't matter to me one bit if it doesn't matter to you." He whispered.
Sorry for disappearing the way I did. Life caught up to me and I've been stressing. Trying to move all of mine and Zachary's stuff in under a month at the same time I have to chauffeur half the people in the city around. Plus Z is still having a hard time at school, PLUS Were getting read to go on vacation next week, PLUS, Halloween is coming up. Mine and Z's costumes combined were 90$. I was doing some serious stressing. Anyway, I'm back now, and I hope to post at least one more story before Pirate Festival!
