C6: Cannot resist

Anders was tired. This wasn't a surprise considering his sleep pattern, but he was sick and tired of just being so...well, tired!

And knowing that modern medicine wouldn't help, nor would going to a shrink to talk about his issues, he resorted to the one thing that would never fail: Olaf and Ingrid.

They each had their methods. Some effective some...not so. But he was not allowed to complain, considering they were offering their services for free.

First, he sat down with Ingrid and he already knew what she wanted when she had pushed a disgusting smelling cup of 'tea' in his face and told him to drink.

He'd gulped it down as quickly as he could, trying not to taste the leaves on his tongue and handed the mug back to her. She'd peered into it for a few minutes, quietly observing.

Then she'd taken his hand and flipped them over, first looking at his nails, knuckles and the lines on the backs and sides of his hands. He was glad he remembered to book a manicure at the critical way she seemed to look at him.

Finally, she'd laid out her tarot cards and flipped them over at whatever one he felt 'drawn to'.

Once five were flipped, she took a heavy sigh and shook her head.

"Everything points the same way," she waved her hand around at the table where the mug and cards lay, "ill fortune, yet romance and a new love that comes from your past. So can't be someone you've already dated, but someone you knew."

Anders had a strange sensation in his heart when she said that. And for some odd reason, an image of Den flashed in his mind, but he shook his head, trying to rid himself of the images.

"And the dreams?"

Ingrid waved her hand again.

"It's all to do with what's here. I can't tell anymore because I don't SEE anymore," she leant forward with a hopeful smile, "you sure I can't read your stars? Or-"

At that point, Olaf, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, getting high and waiting his turn to read Anders, sat bolt right up with a loud gasp, his eyes remaining shut.

Anders was actually pretty thankful. Ingrid had been wanting to try him with 'reading the entrails of dead animals', but that was more curiosity on her part.

"What do you see?" She called out to her friend, but knew better than to go and disturb him whilst he was 'in a trance.'

"Blood," Olaf, still with his eyes shut, moved his head as though he were looking around at various scenes playing out before him, "fighting...monsters. I see family-death!"

He lunged forward and grabbed ahold of Anders's arm, his eyes opening as he warned, "stay away from the blue door!"

Just as suddenly as he'd sprung forward, Olaf released Anders and laid back down, his eyes shut and his mouth hanging open.

Asleep.

Anders, who had been a little startled turned a critical eye on Ingrid.

"That was helpful."

"Well, you know, it MIGHT be," she pointed her finger at him, "it's the littlest details. They may not matter now, but they COULD in the future. Unless he was talking about your past, in which case, you should revisit those memories and-"

"You know," Anders stood up and held his hands up to stop her talking, "I'm good."

"I've got to go, thanks, Ingrid," Anders cocked his head at his Uncle and smirked, "and thank Olaf for me when he's conscious. If he remembers I was here, that is."

A short while later...

Once he had finished up with Olaf and Ingrid, Anders went straight into work, where he found Dawn, calmly moving about his office and sorting out the paperwork on her new desk.

She didn't notice him at first and he just took in the 'new her'. In the throes of love, she and Ty had quickly married, moved in together AND already had their first child on the way. Anders had been the most excited when they told him he was going to be an Uncle and he'd immediately paid for most of the stuff in their nursery, right down to the cot.

And now, as she bustled about the place calmly and serenely, Anders was really glad she had remembered everything about them as Gods. If he hadn't hired her himself, he could have sworn that she was the boss some days with her quick efficiency and the way she put him in his place. THAT was why he'd finally pulled his head out of his arse and made her a partner, rather than just his assistant. She was capable AND deserved better treatment. Especially now she was his sister-in-law.

Moving forward, away from the door, he cleared his throat so as not to startle her and smiled when she noticed him.

"Morning," he offered but she gave him a half-hearted glare.

"It's gone lunch, so it's not morning any more," she tucked a folder against her chest, balancing the bottom on her protruding belly, "what happened to 'I'll see you at 11 am sharp!'?"

Anders shrugged.

"I got caught up with something important. But I'll make it up to you. Smoothie bar slave?"

Dawn finally offered him a real smile and he knew he had her. He'd found her favourite smoothie place was the way to her heart and he actually enjoyed nipping out to get her daily fix of a 'mixed berry bonanza!'

"Alright, you're forgiven," she pulled the file away from her stomach and opened it up, "but you still have to go over the latest email to the Takanata group. They're getting restless and I'm only so good at placating them before YOU have to talk with them directly."

Anders walked over to her and shook his head.

"Not that I'm changing the subject, but why aren't you at home? Resting?"

"Anders, we've been through this," she sighed, knowing what was coming.

"You don't have to be here like that, you know? You can go home and-" Anders was cut off when she lightly smacked his nose with the file.

"You see, if I didn't know you better, I would think you're being kind and thoughtful. BUT, I know you and I know you don't like the sight of blood and all that natural stuff that happens during childbirth," she pushed the folder against his chest so he had to take it, "listen, I've got another couple of months to go and I'll be out of here in a few weeks, ok?"

Anders wasn't going to win. He knew that. Dawn was formidable and not easily swayed. But he wanted to try one last time.

"You can go beforehand-"

"I'm not here on a normal shift. I just come in for a couple of hours so Ty doesn't drive me crazy at home and I'm not stuck baking and getting fat...fatter," she gestured with her hands to show how big she thought her stomach could get now and even Anders had to admit she was rather...hefty. Though he wouldn't voice that opinion, of course.

Seeing defeat, he held up the folder.

"I'll just take this in my office then. No heavy lifting, don't hold my calls and-"

"And I'll shout if I need you to do up the strap on my sandal," she quipped back and rolled her eyes, "I'm not a complete invalid, ANDERS. Go and do some work before you find a way to procrastinate again."

He turned from her with a smile, marched into his office, and looked about him. Clean, organised, and tidy as normal. But...cold. He'd never seen how cold it was before, and whilst Dawn had chosen the colour scheme to make it professional and 'welcoming', Anders didn't like looking at these four walls all day. It made him feel trapped.

But he still took his seat and buried himself in the work she'd given. She was right. If he found himself bored or struggling, he'd always pass the work on to her or put it off, but now he buried his head into his desk and did it all.

Once he'd finished with not only his reply to the Takanata group but a whole backlog of emails he'd saved up from the weekend, he quickly made the necessary phone calls to secure and catch-up on deals and contracts. Before he knew it, it was 5 pm and his work was done. Dawn must have gone home by now, so that meant he was alone. Anders relaxed back in his seat and contemplated what Ingrid and Olaf told him.

Could it be possible that they had seen his future accurately? Or his past? He could recall dreams of fighting and blood and the pain he felt when he 'died' and fell from the high cliff.

But the 'new love' from his past was tricky. He hadn't really fallen in love with a woman before, except when he was Bragi. But then, that hadn't been real love, just pure, unadulterated lust and desire. He had disliked Gaia immensely, as she did him and Helen had been fun for a while until the sex became too much and she became too controlling.

The only action he'd seen for a while was with Michelle, but again...pure, carnal lust and something to pass the time. They were fuck buddies, nothing more.

"Someone new...from my past," he mumbled to himself as he fiddled with his pen on his desk and thought about any old faces he had feelings for but had yet to date.

He shut his eyes and allowed himself to relax, almost falling into a state of meditation. All the beautiful women he'd slept with in his short life flew across his inner vision and all those he'd craved for before he became 'Bragi' on his 21st birthday.

And then she showed up.

"Dru," he whispered to no one, hearing the sound of her name on his lips. He had known her and he cared for her. He saw it in his dreams but...was that confirmation everything was real?! That...she'd come back into his life somehow?!

"Slacking off again, Anders?"

He startled in his seat and opened his eyes at the familiar voice

"Axl!" He got up and walked over to his brother, eagerly welcoming the hug from him, "Just deep in thought. How are you doing, bud?"

"Kinda' nervous. Kinda' looking for an opinion," Axl looked at him hopefully and Anders pointed to the sofa he had in the corner.

"Fire away, how can I help?"

As they sat down, Axl worried his hands together and shook his head.

"It's the suit again."

"Ah. Still can't decide between the Brioni and Valentino?" Anders relaxed back, glad it wasn't anything TOO serious.

"Actually...Gaia found a Burberry suit that is discounted and apparently goes with the dress," he winced and Anders knew what he was going to say next, "but it's still expensive. How do I break it to her that I MAY have already spent the money on the band?"

Anders shook his head and smiled. His brother was genuinely worried about his fiancé's reaction and that was his query, but Anders would sort him out. He owed it to him after his appalling behaviour to not only him, but Gaia herself.

"You won't have to. I'll treat you to the suit, as long as you let me pick a few of the songs the band plays at the wedding."

"No, no way," Axl shook his head and waved his hand at him, "you've already done way too much, bro'. You've lent us enough and-"

"You made me a groomsman, bro'. You didn't have to do that and I've been a dickhead to you AND Gaia...and everyone else, really," he sighed and hoped he could still make reparations for his past behaviour, "and I'm not 'lending' you anything. That money is yours to keep for the future, for a house...for a family."

His hand came up to squeeze Axl's shoulder and he said with as much sincerity as he could muster, "and my little bro' has got to look dapper on his big day. Matching outfits and all."

Axl could see his brother would not relinquish this gift and could only let out a quick chuckle.

"I don't know what's happened to you, but...thanks, bro. It means a lot to me."

They looked at one another and a silent communication passed between the two.

The stuff that Anders had done whilst he was Bragi had been unforgivable. He half expected to be expulsed from the family at some point, but they'd forgiven him. Time and time again. He'd slept with Mike's wife, Axl's girlfriend, Ty's ex-girlfriend...Jesus, he put his family through a lot!

And now they were not Gods, they were back to normal. And his brothers had stuck by him, knowing he hadn't been able to control the insatiable pull the power of Bragi gave him.

He'd vowed to help them out, any way possible. From helping Mike buy a new bar, to giving his little brother help with his wedding and future, he'd always be there for them as they were there for him. His brothers.

'Brother. Kili.'

He pulled his hand away from Axl and turned around, pretending to fiddle with something on the desk behind him. Axl knew about his 'dreams', but he didn't want to start talking with him about an additional brother he was remembering. One that he had cared for, immensely, and who he longed to meet again.

"Anyway, I didn't mean to bother you," Axl stood up and gestured at Anders desk, "not when you were so hard at work."

Anders turned back to him, smirking as he did so.

"Actually, I'm all done for the day. Unless someone calls me up in the next five minutes with a problem, everything else can be sorted via text and email."

"Oh...fancy a beer at Mike's?" Axl looked appealingly and whilst the pub DID sound inviting, he suddenly had a bright, sneaky idea.

"How about we go out and celebrate? A drink on me, like old time's?"

Axl shook his head.

"I don't fancy another wine bar-"

"Not a wine bar...a pub?"

"You? In a pub?" Axl couldn't stop himself laughing and Anders couldn't blame him. He only went to the pub to see Mike and...actually, that was it. He never went anywhere else.

But tonight was different. He had a new place to hang out AND it would be the perfect excuse to see her again.

He stood up and shrugged his shoulders.

"I know this place. You ever heard of 'The Red Field'?"