(Post S4)

Hawthorne Manor

"Hi Pierce," Annie said, a sunny smile on her face.

"Annie," he grumbled as he waved her in. "You can't stay long, I've got places to be, important people to meet…" he finished vaguely.

"That's great to hear!" Annie's smile hadn't budged. "I only wanted to ask your help for something and then I'll be on my way." She started firmly striding in the direction of the library. "I'm having problems with my 'Introduction To Chemistry' assignment and I remembered seeing on your transcript that you'd done both 'Introduction To…' and 'Intermediate Chemistry'…"

XXXXXX

"Gilbert thinks you only do this because you want into my will," Pierce said. They were sitting in the library talking over the remains of a dinner Pierce's half brother had brought to him. They had long since stopped talking about chemistry - they had spent most of the time gossiping about Greendale, though Pierce feigned a complete lack of interest in the topic while hanging on every word. Annie had only made a handful of notes though she had helped herself to a copy of "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry" that Pierce had somehow found on a bookshelf - he had grumbled something about she needed all the help she could get when he handed it over, telling himself it had nothing to do with the smile that lit up her face.

"Hmph!" Annie let out an offended gasp. "If that's all I wanted I would have taken your tiara."

Pierce chuckled. "I said that to him, he said something about you playing a long game - I told him he was being anti-semitic," he said proudly as Annie rolled her eyes at him. "After all, if money's what you were after you could get what you wanted a lot sooner with a lower cut top."

" PIERCE!" Annie squealed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"What? I was defending you!" He protested.

"Hmph!" Annie gasped disdainfully again, but she relaxed her posture. "So - how's retirement treating you?" She said, changing the subject.

"I'm not retired!" There was a hint of irritation in Pierce's voice. "In fact I'm in negotiations to start a new career as a management consultant - I've had a lot of interest you know." He said, a defensive note in his voice. It was the first time since he'd mentioned it when Annie had first arrived that the subject of Pierce having other people to meet had come up.

"That's great! I'm sure you have… a lot to offer." If there was any hint past the broad smile on her face that Annie didn't believe a word of it, Pierce didn't pick it up. Instead, he allowed himself to be mollified.

"Don't you forget it," he said bombastically. "In fact I'm doing you a favour by clearing an entire evening like this."

"Thank you Pierce," Annie's smile was softer and more genuine. "You've been very helpful." She held the textbook up to emphasise her point.

He grunted and smiled back. "Just because I've moved beyond Greendale doesn't mean I can't help those less fortunate."

"Yes, Pierce." Annie barely rolled her eyes at all.

There was a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Gilbert walked in.

"Pierce, Miss Edison's taxi has arrived," he said without preamble. "And you need to go to bed early to be ready for your breakfast meeting tomorrow."

"Of course Gilbert - no rest for the wicked." Pierce said, rising to his feet. Annie stood up too.

"Well Annie," he said as he held his arms out. She smiled and closed in for the hug. "I'm always happy to help someone who's struggling-" she looked up sharply at him, he didn't notice. "But I'm a very busy man and I can't always guarantee I can clear my schedule like this. You really should make an appointment next time."

"Yes Pierce, I'm sorry." She said with a completely straight face. "I'll try to remember."

"Thank you Annie, have a safe journey home." He hugged her one last time before they separated.

"I will, goodnight Pierce." She gave him a small wave as Gilbert escorted her out of the room.

XXXXXX

"Does he have a breakfast meeting?" Annie asked quietly as the door clicked shut.

"He has a doctor's appointment." Gilbert said. "Something to do with his bladder."

Annie wrinkled her nose in distaste at the thought of that. They were silent for a moment as Gilbert walked her to the front door. Then he started speaking, for all the world as though there was something he didn't want to say but felt needed to be said anyway.

"He will never say this himself, but he looks forward to these visits very much, Miss Edison." He said finally. "He's been very lonely since he graduated in a moment of foolish pride, and you are the only one of his friends who regularly visits him."

Annie smiled sadly. "I know what it's like to be alone, Gilbert. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"Just so, Miss Edison." Annie had tried asking him to address her by her first name, but had only ever gotten back an "as you wish, Miss Edison" by way of response. "Will you be back at the same time next week?"

Annie nodded. "I think so, after all I have a book I need to return." She held up the copy of "Advanced Inorganic Chemistry" for emphasis.

Gilbert smiled, a tiny, wintry thing. "He will never ask for it back you know."

Annie nodded thoughtfully at that. "Maybe I'll save it for when I'm on a break. I may need advice for my Criminology class next week."

"Just so, miss. Have a safe journey home and thank you again." They'd arrived at the front door, Gilbert had waved to the waiting taxi.

"See you next week, Gilbert." She hugged him, he froze and didn't reciprocate. She waved as she got into the car and it pulled away.

XXXXXX

"Miss Edison has left safely," Gilbert announced as he returned to the library. "Thank you Pierce." He said as he took a glass of Scotch that Pierce was offering him.

"She's my favourite, you know." Pierce mused thoughtfully, as though he hadn't said it dozens of times before. "It's just a pity she needs so much help with her schoolwork."

"Yes, Pierce."