A/N: Alright, ya'll know the drill…song lyrics in italicizes and you guessed it…I don't own 'em.
Whatever Nick writes is underlined…yep, I own that.
Know what I don't own?
Yep, the characters, you know the ones, and Friends…the TV show, not that I don't have friends…I don't sit at my computer all day and not go out of my room to socialize with people because I don't like them…I have friends…my computer is my friend… :)
When Nick sings (yes he sings) it's italicized and in quotations…and (as guessed) I don't own the songs… (as always)
Flashbacks…displayed as so… /-/ Flashback /-/ then everything that is being flashed back on is italicized… back to present day and time /-/ Present /-/
Alright, its officially now rated M…cause I cuss and adult situations
Chapter 12: "Welcome to an adult relationship…what's your next move?"
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Al's Diner
Thursday
May 12, 2004
8:04 a.m.
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Anna walked into the diner in a despondent mood. Almost an hour after Nick had left Anna had finally picked herself up of the ground, she had laid there in hopes that he would come back, and threw herself into her bed and cried. She cried herself to sleep, and all the way through the night. She cried in her dreams, she woke up crying, she cried in the shower, and had to re-do her make-up multiple times and finally decided to give up…the irony of it was that was what had gotten her into this mess in the first place.
She had put on her black short shorts, white polo shirt, and tennis shoes. She straightened her hair and clipped it all up on her head, and several pieces kept falling in her face.
She sighed and began to tie on her apron as she walked into the diner. She walked to the back of the diner and went through the door to check in with their boss. He had sent her behind the counter. She was writing down a few men's orders who were sitting at the counter when Jen showed up. "Hey Annie-Lee, you're here early." Jen observed and Anna sighed tiredly.
"Yeah, didn't get much sleep last night." Anna stated. She had fallen asleep around three, and woken up at six. Jen didn't pay her comment any attention.
Jennifer flashed Anna a beautiful smile, so gorgeous Anna cracked a small smile herself. "Oh God, Greg is soooo great! Not to mention he's amazing in bed. But he's so sweet too! He made me breakfast and then we cuddled on the couch until he had to go to work. God he's great!" Anna, thank you soooo much for setting that party up!" She hugged Anna and Anna chuckled sadly and shook her head.
"You're welcome Honey."
"What's wrong Babe?" Jennifer asked as she tied on her apron. Anna finished taking the customers orders, hooked them on Mac's window. Anna sighed and rubbed her temples as her previous orders came up at Mac's window. She grabbed the orders and walked from behind the counter to the table. Jennifer followed her and Anna sighed and whispered.
"Nick and I broke up."
"What!" Jennifer screamed, alerting several patrons.
Anna frowned and set the orders down, and led Jen away. "Nick and I broke up last night."
"Why?" Jen whined. "You two were so happy."
"Yeah well, happiness tends to be diminished when you're cussed at and lied to."
Jen raised her eyebrow and dropped her jaw. "He did what?" She hissed sharply.
Anna shook her head and sighed. "Look, I'm tired and weak, and I haven't eaten in almost two days…I really don't wanna talk about this now." Anna whined and Jennifer enveloped her in a hug.
"Babe…I'm so sorry. God, when Greg and I get a hold if him…"
Anna shook her head. "No…don't."
Jennifer sighed and nodded. "Fine…Greg and I won't kill him. But when he eats here I am so serving him sneezers."
Anna rolled her eyes and gave a small smile and hugged Jen again. "No…just leave him alone."
Mac rang his bell and drew Anna's attention. She pulled away from Jen to deliver her orders. She went back to grab her coffee pot and went over to a lone couple and poured them coffee with a small, sad, smile. They thanked her and she nodded. She poured coffee for the couple next to them when she heard it.
The over head radio had been turned up so it could be heard over the noise when Anna heard her name from the DJ. "Hey everybody out there. I just got another request in. This one's for Anna Delmarco, the caller's unknown…but I think the song speaks for itself. Here it is, Anna, I hope you're listening."
With that the beginning chords to the song began to play, and the Goo Goo Dolls filled the diner.
And I didn't think about all the ways I hurt you and myself. And I wouldn't say a thing to you I keep it to myself in my mind.
She recognized the song…but she couldn't quite place it.
And I can't stand without you and I won't find the answers when you're gone. But it's over to you I can't find the answers when you're gone. And it's over to you, but you can't find the answer where you are.
She knew who it was from…it was obvious. What wasn't obvious was why he was doing this.
And you know I need you now. And this ain't easy to admit, but no one needs to know what goes on behind the door in my room. I'm kicking through the walls in my mind.
That was when she saw him. He walked through the door of the diner and stood there, looking sorry…and missing her. He simply stared at her with tear filled eyes and a broken heart. Anna slowly lowered her jaw and stared at him, like he was staring at her.
And I can't stand without you, and I won't find the answers when you're gone. But it's over to you I can't find the answers when you're gone. And it's over to you, you can't find the answers where you are.
The people around them began to murmur, but they didn't hear them. They were too focused on how they felt…sorry.
Everyone waited with anticipation to see what his next move would be…
There was none.
They both just stared at each other. Anna with her coffee pot and apron, and a few stray hairs that fell in her face. And Nick with his hands in his pockets, watching her longingly.
I won't tear you down, I won't tear you down, to get into the world you wanted. I'm kicking through the walls but no one can believe in things that never change.
She felt her heart beat quicken as he realized what he was trying to say. He didn't want it to end. He wasn't ready to give up. He couldn't be without her. Everyone began 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing' as they saw the scene before them and how much he really cared about her.
But it's over to you. I can't find the answers when you're gone. And it's over to you, you can't find the answers where you are. And it's over to you, I can't find the answers when you're gone, and I can't find the answers when you're gone. I can't find the answers when you're gone.
She watched him, too shell shocked to move. He made no attempt to move, nor touch her. Yet he didn't move to leave.
Just then the DJ came back over the radio.
"That was It's Over by the Goo Goo Dolls. Hope you liked that Anna Delmarco, but stay tuned girl, we've got another one comin your way. Here it is, another Goo Goo Dolls hit…the caller said this one was sentimental and that I had to play it at exactly 9:21 a.m. …I'm not sure why. But here we go."
The beginning chords to the song. Nick gave a small crooked smile and sent her swooning.
And I'd give up forever to touch you
Anna felt a tug on her apron and turned to see a little girl with a red rose in her hand. Anna tried to suppress the grin spreading across her face, but failed miserably. She accepted the rose and turned to look at Nick, knowing he was behind this.
'cause I know that you feel me somehow.
Another person came up to her and handed her a red rose and Anna chuckled through her tears and accepted it.
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be and I don't want to go home right now.
As figured, another person came up and handed her a red rose. She looked back over at Nick and shook her head while laughing. Nick gave a Texas sized grin and rocked on his heels and winked at her.
And all I can taste is this moment and all I can breathe is your life.
With each line of the song a new person stood up and gave her a beautiful red rose.
'Cause sooner or later it's over I just don't want to miss you tonight.
Anna felt tears of happiness fall on her cheeks as each person handed her a rose and Nick's boyish grin grew with each rose.
And I don't want the world to see me.
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
With each of these lyrics Anna was handed two white roses with a red ribbon tied around them. Each ribbon had a small slip of paper to it each containing one word each. She lined up the small tags in the order they were handed to her and they spelled a message, I am sorry Anna.
She smiled lovingly at him and he returned a small smile, showing his humbleness.
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming,
Anna once again received a red rose.
Or the moment of truth in your lies.
Another red rose.
When everything feels like the movies,
A red rose.
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive.
A beautiful red rose…Anna now had 9 red roses and 8 white roses…she was holding them in her arms and shaking her head at Nick while chuckling.
And I don't want the world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
With each of this chorus' lyrics she was handed three pink roses tied together with a white ribbon. Each set contained hand written words from Nick. She took the first set of roses and read them.
Anna, if you're reading this…
The next patron handed her the set of roses.
…then you haven't slapped me and kicked me out of the diner.
She chuckled as the next person gave her the roses.
I'm so sorry that I hurt you…I want you to know that I would never intentionally do that to you. I know there's no excuse for what I did. I know I kept the knowledge of my Dad's awareness of my mother's intention's a secret because I saw how hurt you were when you found out my mother's intentions…
She picked up the last set of roses.
…and you had suspected that. I didn't think that I would hurt you as much as I did, and our fight obviously spiraled out of control. Just as I had my reasons for keeping my secrets from you, I know that you have your reasons in keeping your secrets from me…I'm sorry that I pushed you to tell me. If you don't want to talk about it…that's fine. But if you do, anywhere, anytime, I'll listen. If you ever need someone to talk to…as a friend…I'm here for you.
The break and solo to the song ended and the lyrics started up again.
And I don't want the world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
I just want you to know who I am.
And I don't want the world to see me,
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand.
When everything's made to be broken,
With each of these lyrics she was once again handed a single red rose with a pink ribbon, then a white ribbon tied around the stem. She smiled and locked eyes with Nick.
I just want you to know who I am.
Just then Catherine came through the diner doors and handed Anna a huge vase of a dozen long stem red roses. Anna laughed out of the humor she found in the situation and accepted the vase. Catherine hugged the young woman and smiled as she passed her to go and stand behind her.
I just want you to know who I am.
Sara came through the doors with a vase of roses, the same as Catherine had and handed them to Anna. Anna smiled and took the vase and set it next to the other one on the table next to her, along with her other couple dozen roses.
I just want you to know who I am.
This time Jennifer walked through the doors and handed Anna a vase of roses and Anna gasped in surprise. Jen had known about this the whole time. Jennifer shrugged and smiled innocently. She went and stood behind Anna with the other two women.
I just want you to know who I am.
The last person to come through the door carrying a large vase of long stem red roses was Regan. She wore a huge grin as she walked up to Anna and handed them to her. Anna chuckled and bent down to kiss Regan and accept the vase. She smiled and scurried over to join the other women.
The song began to fade as the ending came and Anna stared at Nick in shock, adoration, and disbelief.
She ducked her head and shook it, then looked back up and locked eyes with him. "Whoa." Was all she could say before she smiled from ear to ear and let herself cry. Everyone around them let out a timely 'awwww' and Anna chuckled in embarrassment. Nick smiled and let her make the move…he was trying not to push. "That was uh…" She sniffled and smiled as she wiped away her tears. "That was friggin amazing." She blurted and earned a laugh from everyone.
Nick flashed his signature 'Nick Stokes' smile that could melt an ice berg and chuckled.
"That was definitely the best 'I'm sorry' I've ever gotten…I don't know how I can top that." She joked and Nick took a couple steps toward her, but stopped and waited for a sign of permission. She smiled and gave a slight nod and Nick walked fully towards her, his hands were still behind his back and he was standing very straight with a small smirk.
"Well…" He began uttering the first words he had in a long time. "I think I know how we can be even…"
She grinned and blushed at the sound of his voice and took another step towards her. They were within a foot of each other, locked in each other's stares and forgetting that everyone else was around them. The diner was unusually quiet except for the occasional murmur. "Well…?"
"How about being my girlfriend again?" He asked timidly and stepped closer to her, so that they were now within inches of each other.
She stared at him blankly for what seemed like the longest ten seconds of his life. Everyone around them held their breaths and waited anxiously for her answer. She smiled, "Even." She replied and Nick's lips crashed into hers. Everyone cheered and Anna and Nick smiled through their kiss. She threw her arms around his neck and when they pulled apart Nick planted a series of pecks on her lips, and cheek, and jaw, then nestled his head in her neck and tickled her quickly.
She giggled and he picked her up and spun her around. Everyone applauded, but it was lost on the couple. Anna's lips smothered Nick's…but he didn't seem to mind. She jumped up and swung her legs around his waist in an innocent
first-love kind of way. Nick chuckled and set his hands on the small of her back to hold her up.
"I got a confession…" Nick said seriously. Anna sucked in a breath and braced herself for what he was about to say. She gulped and looked him in the eye worriedly. Nick sighed and searched her beautiful green Amazon eyes. "When we were apart for those unbearably long 16 and half hours…I felt like dying." Nick replied and cracked a smile. She returned one despite her best efforts and playfully swatted his arm.
"Don't do that. I thought you were gonna tell me somethin horrible…like you thought we were on a break and you went out and slept with some girl like Ross did on Friends."
Nick looked at Anna seriously. "We weren't on a break? We didn't break up? I thought we did…" He let his thought trail off as Anna's grip on him loosened and she started breathing heavily and her face took on a dreaded expression. Nick cracked a mischievous smile. "Just kiddin." He drawled and chuckled, knowing what was coming.
She swatted the back of his head and slid off of him. "I'm gonna kick your ass!" She declared half joking. Nick chuckled at how flushed she was getting and reached out to grab her arm. She jerked away mock-angrily. "Oh get bent." She grumbled and Nick chuckled and took her hand gently and brought her tiny frame into his strong one.
She scrunched her nose as though she didn't want him to hold her…but the smile playing on her lips didn't help the lie. Nick chuckled and Catherine scoffed from a few feet away, having witnessed the scene. "Look at that, he's had her back for two minutes and he already fucked up." Catherine remarked casually and everyone around her dropped their jaws. She looked down and saw Regan and realized what she had said. She gasped. "I mean screwed up! Oh! I mean messed up! Damn! Oh!" She threw her arms in the air aggravated and Anna chuckled.
"Hey, don't worry about it Cath, it isn't anything she hasn't heard me yell a couple times."
Nick shook his head and kissed the top of hers. "Potty mouth." He mumbled.
"Am not." She denied and he chuckled again. Nick kissed her head again and she sighed. "I have to work." She said softly knowing that he would be whining.
"You're a workaholic! You're worse than Sara!" He accused jokingly.
"Hey." Came Sara's well crafted defense. Everyone who knew her turned to look at her, "Yeah okay." She admitted and slumped her shoulders. Jennifer patted her shoulder and smiled at her sadly.
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Delmarco Residence
9:52 p.m.
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Anna, Nick, and Regan poured their tried bodies through the front door and Regan dragged herself to her room. "Anna…I'm goin to sleep." She replied and Anna chuckled.
"Brush your teeth!" Anna called and she and Nick plopped down on the sofa. Anna sighed and Nick grabbed her feet and dragged them over his lap, turning her body so that she was lying back comfortably on the couch. Nick slid off her tennis shoes and ankle socks and began rubbing her feet. She moaned and smiled as she closed her eyes and relaxed. "Nicky…" She moaned softly and Nick chuckled.
"You worked a hard shift today…I wanted to make your dogs stop howlin'." Nick drawled and she chuckled.
"You spoil me baby."
Nick laughed, "Well I'm gonna start."
She shook her head. "Nope. Not allowed."
"Too bad…I'm breakin the rules." He drawled and leaned over for a kiss. She chuckled as he pulled away and continued rubbing her feet, heels, and ankles. About twenty minutes later Nick carefully slid Anna's feet off of him and kissed her head. He stood to leave and she grabbed his arm, her eyes still closed. Nick looked back at her and smirked. "Sneaky." He accused.
"Where do you think you're goin?" She asked in a deep sleepy voice.
"I'm goin home baby…"
"Hmm…no you're not."
"Oh I'm not?" He asked smirking as she pulled on his hand to lower him to the couch so that he was lying next to her.
"Nope." She shook her head and gave a small smile, her eyes still closed. Nick chuckled and turned to face her and pulled her close to him.
"So where am I sleeping?"
"You're gonna hold me all night long, and I'm gonna hold you all night long, and we're gonna fall asleep in each other's arms, in my bed that feels like a cloud…because I sleep best when you're holding me." She said warmly and Nick felt his heart melt. He kissed the top of her head and held her body close to his.
"Well…sounds like a plan." Nick said softly and she snuggled next to him. "Come on." Nick stood up and scooped her up in his arms. She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck and he walked through the house and into her room. He set her on her bed and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back, I'm gonna check on Regan." Nick said and Anna chuckled.
"Isn't that my job as the older sister?"
He kissed her gently on the lips. "Maybe, but you look very cute and very comfortable so I'm takin over for tonight." He said and walked out of the room. She chuckled and rolled off the bed and into the bathroom so she could get ready for bed.
Nick walked quietly down the hall and poked his head into Regan's room. "You asleep Sugar?" He asked quietly.
"No." Came her muffled reply. Nick chuckled and walked into the room.
"What's wrong Darlin'?"
She sighed and sat up. "I thought I was tired…but I can't get to sleep."
Nick chuckled and pulled the chair from her desk over to sit down next to her bed. "Well, what does Anna do to get you back to sleep?"
"She sings to me."
"Sugar, I can't carry a note for the life of me." He drawled.
"Have you ever heard Anna sing?" Regan asked and Nick chuckled.
"No."
"Then you're lucky…"
"Well…what do you want me to sing?"
"I don't know…what songs do you know?"
"Um…a lot of country songs."
"Okay."
Nick sighed. "Alright…Well I'll never forget the first time that I heard, that pretty mouth say that dirty word. And I can't even remember now, what she backed my truck into, but she covered her mouth and her face got red, and she just looked so darn cute. That I couldn't, even act like, I was mad. Yeah I live for, little moments, like that."
"Well that's like just last year on my birthday, she lost all track of time and burnt the cake. And every smoke detector, in the house was goin off. And she was just about to cry until I took her in my arms. And I tried not, to let her see, me laugh. Yeah I live for, little moments, like that."
Nick paused and Regan smiled as he sang the next verse as Anna silently crept up next to the door, having heard something and came to investigate. "I know she's not perfect, but she tries so hard for me. And I thank god that she isn't, 'cause how boring would that be. It's the little imperfections, it's the sudden change in plans. When she misreads the directions, and we're lost but holdin' hands. Yeah I live for little moments like that."
Nick paused again and Regan smiled wider, as did Anna, as she heard him continue.
"When she's layin' on my shoulder, on the sofa in the dark. And about the time she falls asleep, so does my right arm. And I want so bad to move it, 'cause it's tinglin' and it's numb. But she looks so much like and angel that I don't wanna wake her up. Yeah I live for, little moments, when she steals my heart again and doesn't even know it. Yeah I live for, little moments like that."
Regan smiled and chuckled, "Who was that?"
"Brad Paisley, Little Moments…alright, scale of 1-10…how bad was it?"
"Hmmm…five."
"Better than I expected." Nick joked and stood up. "Alright Sweetheart, go to sleep." He bent over and kissed the top of her head and pulled the sheets up to her chin. "'Night Darlin."
"Good night Nick." She said and Nick walked out of the room and saw Anna in the hallway. He smiled and blushed.
"Tell me you didn't hear that."
She smiled deviously and chuckled. "I'd be lying." Nick chuckled and shook his head. "You were cute." She informed him as they walked back to her room.
"Oh really?" He replied and Anna nodded.
"Yep…will you sing for me?"
"But I suck."
She laughed and crawled on the bed. Nick watched as her boy short/ girly boxers crept up on her but as she did so and gave a crooked smile. "It's the way you sing more than the sound of your voice. You have fun when you sing."
He chuckled. "Well…thank you…I don't have anything to sleep in." He replied changing the subject.
She rolled her eyes playfully and crawled back to the end of the bed. "So difficult." She murmured and Nick smirked. She stood on her knees so that she was level with his chest and she brought her hands to the hem of his shirt and pulled it swiftly off his body. She pulled the belt off his pants, unbuttoned them, and slid them off of him. "Sleep in your boxers." She replied and crawled back up the bed.
Nick shook his head. "Tease."
"Sorry…you could have done it yourself ya know." She pointed out Nick chuckled. He crawled to her feet and straddled her long tan legs as he crawled up them and met her with a kiss. She smiled and set her book down and cupped his scruffy face in her hands. She was still sitting up and he was on all fours, limbs surrounding her. She rubbed her hands on his cheeks and pulled away. "You didn't shave yesterday."
He shook his head. "I didn't sleep either."
She smiled and kissed him, then pulled away. "I cried myself to sleep." She informed him and he kissed her again.
"Sorry." He apologized.
She scoffed. "No, really? I couldn't tell with that wonderful display in the greasy spoon today…classy." She wiggled her eyebrows and Nick chuckled.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were a redneck."
Anna laughed and Nick kissed her again. "Silly boy." She shook her head and Nick kissed her chin, then left a trail of kisses down her neck, and chest, and rested his head on her chest. "Are you looking down my tank top?" She asked trying not to smile.
"Yes." Nick answered honestly and she slid beneath him so that he was looking in her eyes. "Ah, a much better view." He said looking into her Amazon green eyes. The lamp on her nightstand dimly lit the room, causing a golden ring to form around her pupils. Nick smiled. "Your eyes are gorgeous baby." He replied and kissed her forehead.
"Quiet the romantic aren't we?"
Nick chuckled and rolled over next to her and enveloped her in his arms immediately. "Yep."
"Sing me a song?" She asked and Nick arched his brow.
"What?"
"Sing me a song please."
Nick chuckled. "I suck."
"And I bring up my case from before…I love it when you sing…please." She pouted and looked up at him. He smiled.
"What do you want me to sing?"
"I don't care."
"How about I turn on the radio for you."
"Nick…I wanna hear you sing." He sighed. "I could care less if you sang me Barney…I just wanna hear you sing to me."
"The strands in your eyes, that color them wonderful stop me, and steal my breath. Emeralds from mountains, thrust towards the sky. Never revealing their depth. Tell me that we belong together, dress it up with the trappings of love. I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips. Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above. I'll be your cryin' shoulder, I'll be love suicide. I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life."
He stopped and she smiled. "And rain falls, angry on the tin roof as we lie awake in my bed. You're my survival, you're my living proof my love is alive and not dead. Tell me that we belong together, dress it up in the trappings of love. I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips, instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above. I've dropped out, burned up, fought my way back from the dead. Tuned in, turned on, remembered the thing you said. And I'll be your cryin' shoulder, I'll be love's suicide. And I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life. And I'll be your cryin' shoulder, I'll be love's suicide. And I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life. The greatest fan of your life."
He finished and Anna grinned from ear to ear. "That was so much better than Barney." She remarked and Nick chuckled.
"Thank you." Nick replied and she snuggled tighter into his embrace. She nodded and kissed his chest. Nick inhaled the scent of her hair and rested his head on top of hers. Nick couldn't help but think about how happy he was to have this woman back in his arms…and how he never wanted to let her go.
With that thought in his mind, he drifted off to sleep with her in his mind.
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Delmarco Residence
Friday May 13, 2004
7:01 a.m.
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Anna rolled over in her bed and outstretched her arm to grab Nick. When she didn't feel him there her eyes shot open and she sat up. She looked over at her clock and frowned. "Shit!" She had to get Regan to school. "Why didn't Nick wake me up?" She moaned and looked over to see a handwritten note by Nick with flowers on top of it. She smiled and rolled over on her stomach to grab the note.
Mornin' Sugar,
Sorry I didn't wake you but you looked so darn cute I decided to let you sleep. Jennifer called and said that Carol came back in today so you now have the day off. (Yay) And as you know, today is my day off also…I requested more time… (smiles guiltily) I just can't get enough of you Darlin'.
I got Regan ready and off to school (on time) and ran by my house to grab a shower and some clothes. My parents left last night so I had to clean up. I'm goin to the store for some stuff and I'll be back around ten or so. I'm missin you every step I take, mile I drive, and minute I'm without you. I'll see you when I get back, and if you're not up…you will be. (said suggestively as I wait for you to roll your eyes and envision slapping me upside the back of the head like you do Greg).
Anna laughed because that was exactly what she was thinking.
I miss you Sweetheart, and I'll be back as fast as I can…for now, I left my body spray on your nightstand, if you miss me too horribly, pile up pillows, spray 'em with my body spray, and pretend I'm still with you.
Missin you till I see your smiling face,
- Nick
Anna smiled and rolled back over on her back and brought the flowers to her nose, then looked back at the note.
P.S. The flowers are, 2 white lilac stems and a cream and pink iris flower. They reminded me of you… (I don't really know why but they did).
She chuckled and looked over at the large empty space on her bed. She pilled up pillows and sprayed them with his body spray, then laid back down and tried to pretend like he was still there. "God I'm a looser." She mumbled to herself, knowing that she would have never done this with any other man she had ever dated. She sighed and snuggled in closer to the pillows and fell asleep dreaming she was in Nick's arms.
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Delmarco Residence
9:53 a.m.
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Nick slid the key from inside the replica rock that was holding Anna's spare key and unlocked the front door. He locked the door behind him as he kicked off his shoes and walked through the silent house. He chuckled when he realized that she was still asleep. He set the bags on the counter as he walked through the kitchen, dinning room, and into her room. He inhaled sharply when he saw her sleeping peacefully in the bed.
She appeared to be sleeping naked, and a white terry cloth towel was peeking out from underneath the sheets. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her sleeping form and brushed a long piece of brown hair from her face and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Nick looked down at her sleeping form covered by a white satin sheet. It was draped to the small of her back and covered her bare chest se she laid on her stomach and snuggled the pillows that smelled like him. He chuckled and brought his right arm to the other side of her so that his upper abdomen was twisted and he was leaning over her while sitting.
He kissed her shoulder gently and Anna sighed and moaned as she rolled over to lay on her back. The top of the sheet was draping dangerously low to the mound of her breast and Nick brushed her hair out of her face and took her smaller hand in his. He leaned back down a third time and gently kissed her lips like Sleeping Beauty.
She started softly kissing back and shifted her legs up so that they brushed Nick's side. He felt her other hand trail up his arm and end on the back of his neck, begging him closer. He shifted his body so that he was now laying beside her and the hand that he was holding pulled his arm over so that he was shifting his body on top of hers. Nick's legs straddled hers and she moaned as Nick's hand traveled down her side and landed on her hip. She arched her back up to be pressed into his. Her other hand came up and rested on the area of his back between his shoulder blades. Her nails dug into his shirt and pulled at the soft fabric of his navy blue T-shirt. Nick's hand went under the sheets and under the soft skin of her back to hold her closer to him.
She moaned and brought her knee up to brush his inner thigh. He sucked in a breath and kissed her more passionately. She moaned against his mouth and grinded her hips against his. Nick's hand traveled from under her back, down the silky skin of her side and rested on her hip. His hand that was resting on her other hip dove under the blanket, only to return to it's position but this time it was blocked by the terry cloth towel. Nick pulled away from her mouth and looked at her. "Why are you wearing nothing but a towel?"
She chuckled and played with the ends of his hair, "I was going to take a shower but I made the mistake of sitting on the bed and I fell asleep."
"Sleepy girl." He remarked and she chuckled. His lips crashed into hers again as he grabbed the towel and ripped it from between them. Knowing that all the separated them was his clothes and a thin white sheet drove Nick wild. His hand went to her back and sat her up straight and held her body to his. The sheet was still covering her front but not her back. Nick drug his lazy fingers over her sides and spine as she tore his shirt from his body. She continued to kiss him, un-buckle his belt and tear it from his pants.
She went for the button of his jeans when they heard a knock at the door. They stopped momentarily and Nick locked eyes with her. "Screw them." She growled and Nick chuckled.
"I'd rather screw you." He joked and she chuckled but a look of horror crossed her face.
"Shit."
"What?"
"I gave Jen our condoms the other day."
"I figured that. I bought some at the store while I was out."
"Where are they?"
"The counter."
"In the kitchen?" He nodded and she paused. "Be careful when you're in there. That front door is thin as paper and if they go around back they'll see you."
Nick nodded and reluctantly pulled away from her. Anna waited till he was out of the room to jump from the bed and run into her bathroom. She tried to fix her hair and put on some lip gloss and sprayed some light perfume on. She scurried over to the sliding door in her room to turn the blinds up so that some light poured through the room but it was still semi-dark. She ran back over to the bed and waited anxiously for Nick.
Nick crept through the house and to the counter to search through the bags for the precious box they so desperately needed. He heard Greg's desperate voice come through the front door. "Nick, man I know you're in there, I saw your car. Please man I really need to talk. It's really important." Greg whined.
Nick moaned and walked to the door. He threw it open and scowled at Greg. "I hate you."
"Yeah well, so does Jen."
"What?" Nick asked as Greg pushed past him and walked through the small hallway and into the living room and plopped down on the couch.
"Where's Anna?"
"Asleep." Nick lied knowing it was far from the truth.
"Does she have a phone in her room?"
"Yes…why does that matter?"
Greg sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "We were just talking about ready to…ya know." Nick nodded, he did know. "And she went to go take her birth control and we freaked out when we saw that she skipped one from a few days ago. So we ran to the store and got a pregnancy test…"
"Oh God. Greg. Oh God no. Please Greg, God, tell me you didn't get Jen pregnant." Nick pleaded.
Greg shook his head and sighed. "No, the test came back negative."
"Thank God…wait, so why does she hate you?"
Just then Anna came storming out of her room in a midnight blue and green, yellow, and orange polka dot, cotton and polyester bathrobe that ended mid thigh. She stormed over to Greg and slapped him upside the back of his head and he winced. "What the Hell Greg? How could you do that to her! I just got a call from Jennifer, in tears! I cannot believe you! How could you ask her for an abortion?" Anna yelled. Nick looked at Greg in disbelief.
"Greg…my God." Was all he could manage.
Greg sighed and threw his head in his hands. "I know!" He moaned.
"Alright, walk us through the conversation so we can find out what the Hell you were thinkin."
"He wasn't thinking." Anna growled and Nick gently took her hand and led her to his lap and he sat her down and held her smaller hands in place with his own, not wanting her to charge Greg again.
Greg sighed. "Well…we were sitting on her bed and she got up to take her pill for the day and she saw that she had skipped one. We freaked out and immediately went to CVS to grab a pregnancy test and came back to her house. She took it and it turned up negative…so then we got to talking about what would happen if she was actually pregnant…she said she wanted me to answer honestly and…I did."
He stopped to let Anna shake her head, stand up, and go into the kitchen. They silently watched her as she fumed and made coffee. Once the pot started to brew she stormed back over and Nick pulled her back onto his lap and he tried to calm her down.
"I asked her what she would do…"
/-/ Flashback /-/
Jennifer sighed in relief and laid her head against the head board. "Whew…that was scary."
"Tell me about it." Greg replied and sat down next to her.
"Hey, here's a crazy hypothetical question…what would you do if I was pregnant?"
"What would you do?" Greg countered.
"I'd…I'd have the baby…wouldn't you?"
"Honestly…I'd want you to have an abortion."
Jennifer's face paled as she stared at him in shock. "Wh-what?"
Greg looked at her and bit his lip. "I'd want you to have an abortion."
She looked at him in disgust. "Oh my God…how could you want that…how could you ask me to do that? That's so selfish."
"Jennifer…I'm not ready to be a dad…"
"And I'm not ready to be a mother. But I could at least be man enough to own up to what I did. You're around death so much…every day…how could you want to kill something that's a part of me, a part of you? Something you created even if it wasn't planned!" She was getting angry now. She had stood up from the bed and was flaring her arms in disbelief. She looked at him in pure disgust and anguish. "I hate you…and I've never hated anyone."
Greg sat on the bed, pale and horror stricken. "Jen…I'm-" He reached out to touch her but she backed away.
"Get out…I can't look at you…get your things and leave." She said; her features hard and cold. Greg sat on the bed for a moment, but then slowly did as he was told.
She watched as he left the door quietly and crumpled on her bed and cried.
/-/ Present /-/
"Then I went home and uh…I couldn't sleep…so I came looking for you Nick…I don't know what to do. How do I fix this?"
"You don't." Nick answered and Greg's face fell. "Words are a dangerous thing…they can make someone fall in love with you over and over again…or make them want to run away from you and never look back." Nick replied humbly and Anna squeezed his hand.
Anna shook her head and sighed. "Greg…just give her a little time…then you two have some serious talking to do. I don't know if she'll even talk to you ever again, I wouldn't. I suggest you get on your knees and start prayin for forgiveness cause the only way you'll get her back is through a miracle. And it'll be a big one." Anna replied sharply and Nick shifted uncomfortably as he saw Greg's distraught face. Anna was angry and making Greg miserable…being Greek, she was good at that. Nick gripped Anna's hand harder and gently pushed her off of him.
"Why don't you go take your shower baby?" Nick suggested and Anna huffed as she stomped out of the room. Nick smirked and shook his head fondly and looked over at Greg. "She's like a little kid some times." Nick drawled affectionately.
Greg sighed. "How did you get Anna back?"
Nick smiled. "I surprised her at work with a song saying that she said we were over, but I didn't want it to be, and I was sorry. Then I requested another song saying that she was the only one who understood me and I explained why I was wrong and that I shouldn't have pushed her to talk about an extremely sensitive subject for her..." He smiled. "During the lyrics of the song I had random people in the dinner hand her roses and during each chorus I wrote a message on roses tied together with ribbons…then on the last lines I had Cath, Sara, Jen, and Raggs give her huge vases of long stem red roses…but you couldn't pull that off with Jen."
"Why?"
"Because Anna's actually pretty sensitive and looking for someone she can trust and who'll give her everything she needs but won't ask for…she wants someone who's romantic and who knows when to be humble and admit when they're wrong and who won't rub it in her face when she's wrong and who's patient enough to wait for her to say what she needs to say…Jen wants someone who knows when to be spontaneous but knows when to be serious, but can also be romantic as Hell and woo her. He's gotta know just the right things to say without saying them…she wants someone who can create her secret fairytale…she thought that you would be that someone…"
"Until today." Greg finished and sighed. "She hates me."
Nick sighed. "Welcome to an adult relationship…what's your next move?"
Greg sighed and shook his head as he looked at Nick, completely lost. "I have no idea…"
Nick nodded. "Step one complete. Admitting you don't know how to fix it, and even though you want to fix it, you're human and you make mistakes."
"I thought she wanted a Superman."
"That's the secret fantasy…girls love a man who knows when to admit he wants to be her Superman but can't because he's a mere mortal. But she's the one who can make you Superman. But the furtive twist-"
"There's a twist?" Greg asked in disbelief as Nick leaned forward and Greg did also.
Nick nodded. "She may make you Superman…but she's your Kryptonite as well…"
Greg shook his head in confusion. "But how?"
"Think about it Greggo, Lois Lane, she made Superman all that he could be, through her love, but anytime anything happened to her…kablam. She tore him down." Greg nodded slowly, but confusion still lay on his face. "Hercules, he was immortal. But he only became that way because of Meg, by rescuing her and giving his soul to Hades to save her he gained immortality. But the minute something happened to her, he lost it. It's said that in times of great devastation we gain un-human like strength."
"Adrenaline rush."
"Desperate situation, you need to save someone…who can you think of that would give you that kind of a rush?"
"The one person who, if anything happened to them, could take it away." Greg replied catching on. Nick nodded.
"Right. By choice though. You're so in love with this person that you'd die and give everything you had, even if it meant your life, to keep them from harms way."
"So…we can't win in this situation can we?"
Nick shook his head. "Not necessarily."
"Well then how the Hell do we win?" Greg asked getting frustrated. "They give us supreme strength but then…unknowingly take it away…and we're doomed without them. We die, or they die. How do we win?"
Nick smiled softly and looked the slightly younger man he considered a brother in the eye. "Because, for that amount of time that you have with them, no matter how long or short…is the best time of your life. Everything is better. Your life seems worth living. And no matter what happens…you'll always have that memory of that time you were with them." Nick said in a warm, love-filled voice. Greg looked at him giving small nods.
"Anna is your Lois Lane/Kryptonite." Greg stated more than asked.
Nick thought about it for a moment and then gave a big sigh. "I think so." he nodded. "I think she is…when I was without her, for just a few hours, I felt like I'd rather die than be without her…I actually fell asleep for about a half hour and had nightmare that she was with Josh again…and she couldn't get away. I drove her to Josh and he hurt her, emotionally and physically…I was sick to my stomach and I woke up and thought…if anything ever happened to her or Regan…I don't know what I'd do." Nick said heart felt.
"So she's your lobster?"
"My what?"
"Your lobster. When lobsters mate, they mate for life. A character on Friends, Phoebe, said that two characters, Ross and Rachel, would eventually end up together because they were each others lobsters…they were destined to be together."
Nick chuckled and reclined in the chair. "Well…I don't know about destiny…I don't know if it was fate that brought us together so much as a bad day and an amazingly strong little girl."
Greg nodded. "Alright man," He slapped the arm of the couch and stood up. Nick stood with him and they walked to the door. "I'll uh…I'll talk to you in a while." Greg said and Nick nodded.
"Think hard Greg…don't screw this up." Nick replied and Greg nodded as Nick closed and locked the door. He walked back through the house and saw Anna standing in her bathroom and waiting for the water to warm up. Nick looked at her back and slowly approached her. He wrapped his arms around her as he stood from behind. "Hello Baby." He said sweetly, as though it had been days since he'd seen her. She smiled and turned so that she was facing him. She rested her arms on his chest and he let his hands bunch up the fabric of her bathrobe. He kissed her gently and slowly, it grew more passionate. He moaned and backed her against the wall. Picking up where they had left off.
She moaned into his mouth and he pressed his body into hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his hand came around to her front and dipped into her bathrobe to caress the soft skin of her stomach. She pulled away from his mouth and slowly rolled her head back, giving him access to her neck. He dove after her sensitive spot and instead of giggling; she let out jagged, loud moans. Nick felt his senses go wild and he brought his other hand to her hip covered by the robe and grabbed them roughly and pulled them towards his hips. She gasped and jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. He let one hand wander from her hip and toy with the knot of her bathrobe sash and he let it fall open.
Bracing her against the wall, he brought his hands to her shoulders and slowly brushed the cloth off her body. He pulled his head down her neck so that he was looking at her matching bra and panties set. He moaned at ran his hands over the satin Amazon green material of her bra. He dipped his head and kissed the shallow space between her thriving mounds. She moaned and grinded her hips into his. "Nick…"
He sucked on the soft skin of her neck, nipped at it, and then quickly licked it. "Anna…God baby." He moaned.
"Nicky…please…now." She said between moans. She clawed at his back and quickly bit his shoulder. He chuckled and cupped her ass and turned her around so that she was sitting on the counter by the sink. It was just high enough for him to reach her and he started nipping at her neck again. She moaned and unwrapped her legs and braced her legs up and spread them on the counter top. She leaned her back into the mirror and gripped the towel bar on the wall tightly. "Nick, now." She growled and Nick pushed his hips into hers.
"Fuck, baby."
"Please."
"No…I mean fuck, baby, I forgot the condoms on the counter."
She cried out in frustration and he turned to leave but she yanked him back to her. "Ugh…no."
"Anna…we can't without protection." He reasoned, knowing she wasn't exactly thinking straight.
She whimpered and frowned. "Hurry up before I whip out my little friend, and he doesn't need condoms, just two double A's." She replied and Nick chuckled.
"Wait for me baby." He replied and she laughed and let her long legs hang from the counter as she leaned forward and sighed.
"I'll try!"
A few seconds later he ran back into the bathroom with the box and she tore it open ferociously. He chuckled as she pulled out the first one she found. Nick was in the middle of unbuttoning his pants when he caught sight of the counter. "Uh…Anna…" She furred her eyebrows and looked down. There was blood on the counter and Anna growled when she realized what was happening.
"Noooo!" She screamed and Nick looked at her sympathetically. "Periods fucking suck ass!" She declared.
"Baby…" He chuckled.
"Don't laugh." She whined and whimpered. "I seriously wanna cry right now…"
"Well…can we still…"
Anna shook her head. "I don't wanna risk it…no matter how much I wanna 'consummate' this relationship…I'm not ready for kids." She said and sighed. "Nicky…" He backed away and helped her up and off the counter. "I'll clean up."
"You sure?"
She nodded as she slid on her robe and slid of her panties underneath. She turned around to nod her head towards the door. "Unless you wanna watch me use a tampon I suggest you sceedadle and go take care of that." She smirked, gesturing to the lump in his pants. He chuckled and walked away, closing the door behind him.
Nick walked through the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the basket on the counter. He plopped himself down on the couch and turned on the television and flipped to football, something that had always worked for this 'situation' in the past. In the silence of the house he heard Anna start the shower and he sighed. "Damn…" He moaned and laid his head back against the couch. "This is gonna be a long week."
A/N: AGH!
The age old question continues…WILL THESE TWO EVER HAVE SEX! Hmm…don't know yet. But we'll see…
Hey, just be glad they got back together...but don't rejoyce yet...there are more trials and tribulations to come!
As for Greg and Jen…--sigh-- yeah, sensitive issue, I'm sorry if I upset anyone out there with their arguments (obviously that wasn't my intention).
Please R&R Ya'll!
I need Constructive Criticism!
Just so you know, the songs were, It's Over by the Goo Goo Dolls, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, Little Moments by Brad Paisley, and I'll be by Edwin Mccain. Just FYI, don't own any of them.
