A/N: For this chapter, lotsa Walkerson and some bonus bonding time. A huge thank you goes to my best cheerleaders in this fic, FInlaure13 and meburleson. Thank you for sounding out some fic ideas, and even driving me out of a funk by listening to my baggage… or luggage. LOL. Thank you for the new favorites and alerts too. I hope I hear from more of you guys in the review section for this chapter!

For the 19543892068432th time(but really, it's just the 9th time), I still don't own CA. If I did, it would go on forever until TV died. But I don't so it's been cancelled. BOO USA Network! Can I please have at least Auggie? No? No? Okay. Fine. I'll make my own with this story.

Chapter 9

"Annie?"

"Hm?"

"Your fidgeting is driving me nuts," Auggie chuckled. They were riding in the backseat of the car service Auggie had called in so he could pick Annie up from her hotel in Chicago. He reached over towards her and pulled her closer to him, her back now to his side. He put his arm around Annie's waist and took in her presence. Having her in his arms had calmed his frazzled and exhausted nerves. He couldn't believe he was here- that he'd actually allowed her to come considering the circumstances. Auggie had the compartmentalizing part of his life down pat, so this felt extremely new to him. His family, with how dysfunctional he had allowed their relationship to become the past few years was hidden in probably the most classified of all information that he could hide. But the thing was, this was Annie- he knew they had both made a promise long ago to never keep secrets, and even if it had been a long time, he was going to keep that promise to Annie- even if it meant them both great discomfort. She'd told him before that he would never lose him with the truth, and he hoped to dear God that she meant what she said back then, too.

"You know, my idea of being with you didn't really include the whole Anderson clan. At least not immediately and all in one go."

"You've always had impeccable timing," he said, kissing the top of your head. "I won't leave you for one second, Annie, I promise. I've missed you way too much."

"Well, we're here now. Together. For at least two whole weeks." Annie said, relaxing under his touch.

"Joan let you off the hook for that long?"

"She says it's okay as long as I file for my close and continuing the moment I get back. And that you see her as soon as things wind down over here."

"I don't mind having to do your bidding if it means I have you here with me," Auggie laughed as Annie turned to face him. She felt so happy to see this smile- the one she had missed so dearly when she had decided that she couldn't push through with having a relationship with Auggie. What a lie that had been- she honestly didn't know what direction her life had been taking without him, and now, things were in place as they should be. That smile on Auggie's lips confirmed to her that he felt the same way, and it was assurance that meant the world to her. They had both been searching for so long, and she could only hope that this meant an end to what seemed to be a fruitless pursuit of happiness. Here, in his arms, Annie felt happiness she couldn't ever explain.

"Aren't you here because of your dad? I find it kinda weird that the whole family's getting together over at home when he's in the hospital." Annie asked, leaning back into Auggie's arms.

"It was actually dad's idea. He wanted us to get mom out of there for a bit. His friends from the law firm had offered to come over and keep watch for a day, and since everyone in the family's home, he thought it would be perfect so mom could be in our company without having to think of him." Auggie responded as he drew circles around Annie's arm, trying to calm her down. He could almost hear Annie's heart beating, and while he found it endearing, he found too that it stressed him out knowing that she was under such duress.

"And your mom didn't complain? That's sweet," she whispered with a smile even Auggie could hear a mile away. It was one of the most beautiful things to him, hearing her smile. He missed those, he always thought. But with Annie, he never missed anything. He would hear and feel every subtle change in Annie. They were just so attuned to each other that no one had ever dared question it, never dared to even think of how it was even possible.

"Another Anderson guy trait, I guess," he said playfully with a kiss to her knuckles.

"What, being extremely manipulative?"

"Nope. Just being extremely charming that you can't say no," he laughed as he turned her around. He ran her hands up her arm, to her shoulder, then her cheek. He leaned forward, and Annie reacted immediately, knowing what they had both been craving for.

"I should be terrified," she said as she pulled away.

"But you're here anyway."

She laughed because of the truth that his words held. She wasn't terrified. It was Auggie. She'd never be terrified if she had him by her side.

"So Tony's the eldest, he's an architect, married to Gemma and has 3 kids- Mike, Jonathan and Frances. Then there's Johnny- Civil Engineer, unmarried. Aaron's a doctor, married to Clarisse and has one daughter, Kathleen. Jason's next, professor at U of I, married to Kim, with two kids, Hannah and Alisha. Did I get that right?" Annie rehashed everything Auggie had told her as both of them got dressed for the lunch. Auggie had told her it was going to just be a relaxed noon-time barbeque, but it did little to ease Annie's nerves.

"Seems like you're ready to ace this mission, Walker" Auggie laughed as he took down a white button down to go with his khaki shorts.

"Har. You know what this reminds me of?" Annie asked as she helped him button up his polo shirt. "It reminds me of that cocktail exercise at the farm, everyone looking like they were walking the plank- especially Gideon, who couldn't even pronounce his cover name right. I can still remember his cover name: Akshayakeerti Sathyanarayan. I may even have mispronounced it when I was trying to calm him down."

"This isn't a cover op, Annie. It's my family." Auggie laughed, taking Annie's hands which were fumbling all around the place. "If I love you, they'll have no choice but to do the same."

"I just want this to be perfect." Annie sighed, dropping her hands as Auggie continued where she left off with his shirt. He lifted his hand to her cheek the moment he was done.

"You already are. Just be yourself. How hard can that be?"

"Hard enough, apparently." Annie collapsed into the bed, trying to calm her nerves. Even she found it hilarious how absolutely bothered she was by this. She closed her eyes, in an attempt to calm herself. "You sure I can't just be the girl that slept with the blind neurosurgeon during the cocktail?"

"She still can sleep with that neurosurgeon. Except, he really is a big fat liar." Auggie laughed as he lay beside her, taking a chunk of her hair and twirling it on his finger.

"I don't like lies."

"Then you're in the wrong company, Walker."

"Not fair."

"You know what else isn't fair?"

Annie just hummed a quiet inquiry.

"I need to go to the bathroom and get some stuff done, and mom's just about to come into the room."

"You're pure evil," Annie bolted upright leaving Auggie in a fit of laughter. Annie put her hair up in a ponytail as Auggie acknowledged his mother.

"Hey mom," he said, standing up from their position at the bed. He checked his watch swiftly and cocked his head a bit to the side. 10:30 am? "You're early."

"Your dad's buds got in early so I got a free early pass out of the hospital. Besides, I heard from a little birdie that someone has a special visitor. And seeing as this is my house, I think I deserve an introduction." Amanda leaned by the open door frame. Annie kept stunned and silent, watching Amanda. She was a stunning woman, someone you probably wouldn't know mothered five boys to success. Her blonde hair fell just right below her shoulders, with curls that Auggie clearly inherited. Her eyes, though a lighter brown in hue, held the same depth that her son's had. So many times, she'd heard the phrase that eyes were a window to someone's soul, and she had never believed it until that very moment.

"Where are my manners," Auggie's baritone brought Annie back to the same room as mother and son. Auggie outstretched his hand towards Annie, which she instinctively took. "Annie, My mom, Amanda Anderson. Mom, Annie Walker, my girlfriend."

Annie had barely had her hand out when Amanda held out both her hands for an embrace. "Oh, come on, Auggie. You know all the formality is your father's thing. Welcome to the Anderson home, Annie." Amanda, without second thought, took the younger woman into her arms in a hug. Annie smiled, taken aback at first by Amanda's warmth. She allowed herself to relax when he saw Auggie's smile however. That smile always brought her back to earth- back to him.

"It's wonderful to meet you too, Mrs. Anderson," Annie responded as Amanda released her from the hug. She never let go of Annie's hand though. Amanda shook her head to wave away the formality of the greeting.

"Please, Annie. If you're going to stay here, just Amanda." She begged. Annie nodded, glad at the warm welcome from the first member of the Anderson family she had met. She could only hope it would bode the same way with the others. "I'm going down to set up the table. I'll call you down once the others arrive."

Annie was the one then who pulled Amanda back into their fold. "I could help. Auggie said he's got some business to attend to, and I don't intend to just sit around and wait."

"That would be wonderful!" Amanda responded. "We'll meet you downstairs later then, Auggie?" Auggie nodded and laughed as he waved both of the women out of the room and headed to the bathroom.

The walk down the hall was silent but easy for both women. Annie admired the Anderson household as they did- the two story home was extremely spacious- barren even, but Annie knew that years ago, it was the perfect home to 5 young boys, all of whom have grown up to be fine men. Or at least that's how Auggie had put it. Annie could imagine the wide hallways alive with the hustle and bustle of children, and she looked forward to a glimpse of that once everybody arrived with the Anderson second and third generation later on. She stopped every once in a while to admire the many photographs that both hung on the walls and stood on the tables, and Amanda would give short tales of the photographs every so often. They'd fallen into an easy step together, and as much as Annie was relieved, she was thankful too.

"I haven't seen him so happy since he was deployed to Tikrit, you know?" Amanda said as she pulled out the glasses from the cupboards. Annie looked up from her flatware-laying duties and paused. She didn't know what to say, so she just responded with a smile. "Did you know him before he left?"

Annie shook her head. "It was kind of both a treat and a shock to have been shown around the workplace by a blind guy. He was so easy about it though. It rarely ever matters." It has mattered a few times- but she had made sure to make Auggie know that it didn't bother her one bit. After all, the Auggie she only ever knew had been blind from the get go.

"I wish I knew that Auggie. I've heard so little from him since he left. Back then, he'd been so unsure of himself. The only thing he was sure of was that DC needed him more than Glencoe. The blast had taken so much from him, and he couldn't allow it to take the one thing he knew he could still do then. James of course didn't like it, and it caused a conflict that to this day is beyond repair…" Amanda paused from wiping the glasses and put down the rag and glass on the kitchen counter. "I'm sorry. I may have overstepped with the sharing."

Annie had finished laying down the flatware and took the glasses and set them on the table as well. It was the only thing missing from the set up then, so when she was done, she took a seat. "He's a wonderful guy. We were best friends long before we admitted our feelings for each other, and come to think about it, back then, he always had my back. He'd get me through rough patches- and I mean really rough patches, and together then, we'd thought we were invincible."

"You work where he does?"

Annie knew she'd been read- in. Auggie told her that much. It didn't take much thought for Annie to tell her either. She could keep her son's secret. Annie knew that Amanda would keep hers. "Yes,"

"I'm glad he has you, Annie." Amanda said, putting her hand on Annie's shoulder. "Especially now. I know he's got baggage to sort out over here, but maybe with you, he can put his demons to rest. Just please be patient with him." She took a seat on the one beside Annie's, taking the younger woman's hand in her own. Annie smiled and put her other hand on top of Amanda's.

"I'm glad I have him, too." She whispered. She truly was. They had been through so much the past few years. What else could life throw that they couldn't handle?

Almost immediately, the doorbell rang. Both women had gotten up to answer the door, but heard Auggie's sure footfalls on the steps.

"I'll get it," he called. Annie headed to find Auggie and Amanda back to the kitchen to pull out the food she had stuck into the oven.

"Let the festivities begin."