Author's Note: Bet you didn't see that coming! Or maybe you did…. As if things weren't complicated enough… I'm glad you liked the twist MM :-) Perhaps some light at the end of the tunnel.

This chapter takes place the day after the events of the volleyball match and after Lennox meets Sarah. I was going to fast forward in my haste to finish this story for you all and not include this conversation, assume it had happened, but I felt that would be doing these characters and the story, a disservice.

Lennox and Orianna have their talk about what happened and how they felt and try to patch things up.

As always, reviews, favs and follows are greatly appreciated. If you are enjoying the story, or even if you aren't, let me know! 😊

/denotes internal thoughts/

PLEASE NOTE: This chapter is MA rated for the ending - some sexual content. You have been warned if you are under 18 or don't like that stuff.

Chapter 92: Deja vu

Orianna P.O.V

Every time I heard a car pull up out the front of my apartment, I bolted to my feet and peeled the curtain back to check it was him. The nervous ball of energy skittering about inside me sent tendrils of dreaded anticipation creeping along every nerve.

It had been another false alarm. Just the guy from apartment 2B.

I felt a sense of relief but also disappointment wash over me as I realised he may not come. I settled back on the lounge, tucking one leg up underneath me as I slowly sunk back down. Grabbing the throw cushion, I pulled it to my chest for comfort.

Lennox was late.

He had said he would come over after work finished for the day ''to talk'' about what happened yesterday. I glanced at the clock in the kitchen. It was almost seven o'clock. He should have finished work over an hour ago.

/Maybe he changed his mind? Maybe he doesn't want to talk to you because there is nothing to say?/. I closed my eyes and picked at the tuft of material on the tassel. ''Honestly wouldn't blame him if he didn't show. I really didn't make the best choices yesterday – in more ways than one.''

I had spent a restless night tossing and turning, replaying the events of the volleyball game over and over. I had woken myself up a little before 5am, crying out desperately for someone to not go, to come back to me and not leave me. I wasn't sure if my cries had been directed at Lennox or Optimus. All I know is I felt sick to the pit of my stomach that I had lost them for good.

The sound of a car coming to a stop on the curb outside, and a door shutting, drew my attention once again. I threw the cushion aside and dashed over to the curtain, carefully peeling it back to give me a view of the street below. Sure enough, there was a familiar large black SUV parked there.

That stab of nervous energy returned, tearing through me as I released the curtain and stepped back into the room. /He was here. He did come/. I took a few deep breaths as I made my way towards the door. Any second now there would be a knock and I didn't want to keep him waiting.

I had just placed my hand on the doorknob when I heard the first knock. I immediately opened the door to find the familiar figure of Lennox standing there, a confused expression on his lightly stubbled face, his first raised in the air ready to knock once more.

''Hey,'' I pulled the door open and stepped aside. I brushed some hair behind my ear and smiled at him as I gestured for him to enter. ''Come in.''

''Hey,'' he replied in a flat tone, his eyes sweeping over the room as he stepped in. He did not place his keys or sunglasses on the table as he used to.

I swallowed nervously as I shut the door behind him. ''I ah, I didn't think you were going to come.'' I put my hands in the pockets of my black cargo pants as I sent him another small smile. ''I'm glad you did.''

He nodded silently as he stepped further into the room. Making his way over to the kitchen, he leaned against the bench, folding his arms across his chest. ''Got held up with work. Last minute intel to go over. 'Cons are getting active again.''

I padded across the floor and sat on the armrest of one of the lounges, a few feet away from him. ''That's not good.'' I was genuinely concerned as I knew what that might mean. ''Do you think N.E.S.T will be deployed again soon?''

He shrugged his shoulders as he looked at me. ''More than likely.'' He had dark circles under his eyes, and he looked tired. His face still had a touch of sun on it from yesterday's match on the beach and his mouth was pressed in a thin line as he looked at me. Chocolate coloured eyes swept over my face.

I broke my gaze with him as I swallowed the lump that threatened to rise in my throat. Rising to my feet, I leaned against the armrest as I fidgeted distractedly with a lose thread on my figure-hugging white tank top. ''I hate it when you have to go and fight them.'' I looked up into his face sending him a small, sad smile. ''I worry about you.''

Lennox snorted and moved around the bench towards the fridge. ''Part of the job description OC.'' He opened the door and reached in to grab a cold beer, cracking it open as he shut the door. ''And you sure it's me you're really worried about?'' He eyed me steadily as he took a large swig from his beer.

And here it is.

I stepped away from the armrest and released the hem of my shirt. ''Lennox. I doubt there is anything I could say to you to make you believe I truly do worry about you. That I truly do care about you and love you and..''

''Could have fooled me with the bullshit you went on with yesterday!'' He spat back at me as he stalked across the kitchen, placing his bottle of beer down on the benchtop. He leaned forward on his hands. ''Do you have any fucking idea how insignificant and unimportant you made me feel with how you carried on over Prime and Liv?'' His voice had risen, and his chest was rising and falling rapidly.

I stood there, listening, letting him vent.

He leaned further over the bench, his brow furrowing angrily. ''Do you know how it felt for me to watch you practically drool over Prime when he stepped on the court and then when he and Liv almost kissed, you lost your shit!''

I closed my eyes and clenched my fists as I recalled the moment.

''See!'' My eyes flew open to see him gesturing at me. ''Even now I can tell the idea of that happening, of Optimus with anyone other than you, upsets you more than the fact you treated me – your BOYFRIEND - like shit!'' He slammed his fist down on the counter, making me jump and bite my lower lip. I was trying not to cry and not to yell back at him.

Lennox pointed an accusing finger at me, his face twisted in an angry grimace. ''I have ALWAYS been there for you Orianna. I supported you, loved you when Prime rejected you. I saw you when he would not!''

Several tears slid from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks and I lowered my eyes. ''I know.'' I whispered softly. ''I know.'' I wrapped my arms around myself.

He either didn't hear me or chose not to. ''I have tried to love you the way you deserve to be loved. I have given you my WHOLE heart and STILL it's not good enough!'' He had stepped back from the bench, standing in the middle of the kitchen. His body seemed to be trembling. His eyes flicked across my face rapidly as he shook his head. ''All I want OC,'' his voice was softer, painfilled and almost desperate, ''is for you to see ME.'' He drummed a fist against his chest, ''For ME to matter...'', he stabbed a finger towards me, ''to YOU!''

I shook my head and began to walk towards him. ''Lennox! You DO matter, I DO see..''

''NO, you fucking don't!'' He placed his hands on his hips defiantly. His face once again contorted in anger and hurt. ''Because if you DID see me. If I DID matter to you, we wouldn't be having this fucking conversation, would we?'' He glared pointedly at me. ''AGAIN!''

I stopped dead in my tracks, averting my gaze.

He grunted out loud as he paced about in the kitchen in agitation. ''In fact, it's Deja fucking vu. We have had several arguments and misunderstandings about Prime. Most of 'em since that day you first saw him with Liv!'' He ceased pacing as he took several, quick steps towards me, his finger raised accusingly at me once more. ''It's almost as though if YOU can't have him - NO ONE can!''

/That's it. Enough!/.

''That is bullshit Lennox, and you know it!'' I hissed back at him as I took a step towards him.

''Is it though?'' He snorted derisively. ''You told me you had both moved on that night of our six-month anniversary.'' He shook his head as he folded his arms once more. ''Truth is, I think only one of you has.''

''YOU ARSEHOLE!'' I screamed at him as I rushed forward and roughly shoved him in the chest, knocking him slightly off balance as he reached out and grabbed my wrists tightly. ''You have… NO IDEA..'' I sobbed as I stood there before him.

''THEN TELL ME!'' Lennox screamed back at me. ''TALK TO ME! DON'T SHUT ME OUT.'' His eyes swept over my face; his breath hot against my face as he stood inches away.

''TELL YOU WHAT?'' I shook myself free of his grip and stalked back over to the bench, a strange chuckle escaping my lips. ''Tell you how much it fucking hurts to stand by and watch yourself be replaced so easily?'' My face scrunched into a sneer.

''Yeah,'' Lennox snorted as he walked over to the tissue box and grabbed a handful, tossing them over to me, the smallest of knowing smiles on his lips. ''Someone told me you might feel that way.'' The smile disappeared as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

I tilted my head at him as I wordlessly picked up the tissues. ''Who?'' I wiped some of the tears from my eyes and then my nose. ''Who told you that?''

Lennox looked flustered for a moment, his eyes darting around the room before he looked back at me an almost exasperated look on his face. ''Does it matter who told me? Point is, I hadn't really thought about it that way.'' He shrugged his shoulders and exhaled roughly.

''Well, why would you.'' I wanted to ask more questions, but I decided to let it go. /Pick your battles OC/.

''I guess…'' Lennox sighed as he shifted on his feet, crossing one foot over the other as he leaned against the opposite bench. ''I guess it would have been hard to see Liv and Prime almost kiss right in front of you like that.''

I stared at him for a moment. ''Ya think? You of all people know how I felt about him.'' Lennox frowned but nodded silently. I scrunched the tissue in my hand and released a shaky breath. ''Look. I know Optimus does not love me. I know he is free to love whomever he wants if that's what he wants to do. And, I know I have you..'' I snorted and looked away as fresh tears threatened to fall, ''well at least I HAD you.''

I looked back at Lennox. He was looking at me quietly. ''I may have lost you too and it would be no less than I deserve.'' My voice trailed off quietly as I dabbed at my eyes once more. ''But I don't want to SEE myself getting replaced right before my eyes.''

Lennox's expression had softened to the point he almost looked apologetic. ''Maybe I shouldn't have taken off like I did. Maybe I should have tried to talk to you. See if you were okay..'' He ran his hand through his hair and growled out loud. ''I just didn't want to stand around and possibly see you and him..''

''NOTHING HAPPENED!'' I yelled at him in utter frustration and hurt. I felt my lips quiver as I stared at him. ''He came to apologise to me and I told him to go after Liv and make sure she was okay as she was upset. I then told him I had to go and find you to apologise too, and that was how I left him.''

''So… so you two didn't, he didn't..'' Lennox's voice was filled with relief.

''No Lennox.'' I felt tired. Bone achingly tired. ''Nothing happened between us because there is NO US!'' He nodded, sending me a quick smile. I moved to toss the tissue in the bin, leaning back against the breakfast bar serval steps away from him.

I stood there staring at the toaster. I felt numb. ''You want me to tell you how I feel? Let you in?''

Lennox nodded.

''Every time I see Optimus with Liv, I wonder,'' I felt my throat begin to tighten, my eyes turned to water as I stared unseeingly straight ahead. ''I wonder what, what is so fundamentally wrong with ME?''

I turned my head to look at Lennox. Really look at him. He was looking at me intensely, the corners of his lips quivered as he shook his head. A loud sob broke free and I quickly slapped a hand over my mouth to try and stifle it. My breath was coming in short, sharp gasps as I fought to hold back everything. ''I wonder Lennox. Why?'' I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath and screamed my pain to the room around me. ''WHY WAS I NOT GOOD ENOUGH?''

I sunk to my knees and wrapped my arms around myself tightly. I hurt. It hurt to say this out loud, to be reminded of my fears, of the fragility of my self esteem. I was vaguely aware of Lennox moving to kneel before me, wrapping his arms around me as he kissed my head. I buried my head in his chest, breathing deeply of his familiar scent I loved. And I DID love him. The fact I had hurt him so much killed me more than I could ever make him understand.

''Why?'' I sniffed and sobbed through my tears as I clung desperately to him. I raised tear-filled brown and gold flecked eyes to look at him as I shook my head. ''I'm not …I'm not good enough.'' I fell limply into his arms. ''Not for him…not for you!'' I tried to curl in on myself as I sunk to the floor.

''Oh OC! Stop!'' Strong arms pulled me up off the floor, against a broad chest. ''That's not true, stop saying that!'' A hand ran along my back in soothing circles as I felt warm lips press against my forehead. I felt myself being rocked back and forth slowly as Lennox simply held me. I burrowed into his chest, listening to his heartbeat, trying to slow my breathing to match its steady, rhythmic pulse.

We simply sat there together in silence. There was nothing that needed to be said that strong arms and a comforting presence could not convey. I exhaled a tremulous breath and turned about in his arms to face him. His eyes were red rimmed and glassy and he reached a hand up, dabbing swiftly at his nose. /I really did not deserve this man/. ''I'm so sorry Will,'' he closed his eyes as I used his name. ''I never meant..'' I exhaled slowly, ''I never meant to hurt you the way I did. The way I have.''

I sat up and wiped at my eyes before I reached out a hand and cupped his face, brushing my thumb against his stubbled cheek. ''Whether you believe me or not, you are important to me. Always have been. Always will be.'' he placed his hand over mine and leaned into my palm, a single tear slid down his cheek as he closed his eyes. I released a shaky breath. ''However, I understand if… if you don't want to be with me anymore..''

His eyes snapped up to meet my gaze. He shook his head as he leaned forward and placed his forehead against mine. ''Jesus Orianna! Just stop, please!'' His voice was a plaintive whisper as he reached out a hand. Placing it behind my head he pulled me towards him. A moment later I felt his warm lips covering mine as he kissed me, tenderly, gently, almost tentatively. ''I'm sorry too.'' He whispered again as he sighed against my lips.

I shook my head as I began to pull away from him. ''What do you have..''

''OC!'' he barked at me, his eyes looked imploringly at me, exasperation and frustration flickering within their chocolate depths. ''Just, shut up and kiss me, please.'' He chuckled as he ran a finger down my cheek. ''Before I change my mind.''

I smiled at him and leaned towards him, ''Well in that case!'' My lips captured his in a long, slow kiss. A hand reached out to tangle in my hair as he deepened the kiss, pulling me down towards the floor. I complied willingly, reaching up to lock my hands behind his head and pull him towards me, my tongue darting out to seek entrance to his mouth.

Lennox froze and pulled away, his eyes searching mine as he lay above me. ''OC. We don't have to do this. You don't have to do this you know.''

I released a hand from behind his head and ran it down along his cheek and onto his chest under his shirt. I felt his heartbeat under my palm. His skin was warm and comforting and solid and real. He was no holoform. I propped myself up on my elbow as I smiled up at him. ''I know I don't have to Will.'' He smiled at the use of his name. /He really was so very handsome/. I removed my hand and caressed his cheek again. ''And neither do you.''

He turned his face to kiss my palm, the fine hairs on his lightly stubbled cheek scratching at my skin. ''I know, but I want to.'' He leaned down to kiss me soundly. ''Besides,'' he chuckled as he gave me another quick kiss. ''It is common knowledge that the best part of a fight is the making up.'' He nipped at my neck playfully.

I burst out laughing even as I began to feel my pulse quicken at his ministrations and I arched up against him. ''And I do have a lot to make up for…'' I gasped as his hand slid down my neck and over my breast, his fingers lifting my shirt and deftly seeking the soft fleshy mound.

He chuckled against my neck. ''Oh, I'm not going to deny that….'' His fingers began to caress my nipple as his teeth gently nipped my neck, his tongue darting out to lick at his bite marks.

I felt the familiar heat begin to build between us as Lennox grabbed at my tank top and tried to remove it. I lifted my arms above my head compliantly and let him slip it off. I reached for his shirt, pulling at it until he sat up and removed it, exposing his tanned and muscled chest. I gazed up at him appreciatively.

''I like it when you look at me like that,'' he smiled down at me as he knelt above me. A sad smile began to tug at the corners of his lips.

''Like what?'' I reached out a hand to run down his chest towards his trousers, my eyes drawn to the growing bulge there. I bit my lip in anticipation and desire.

''Like I'm the only one you see. Like you want me and me alone,'' his voice was low and even, though it held a small amount of hurt in it.

I wordlessly sat forward and kissed his chest as my fingers ghosted over his skin, delighting in the way he hissed at the feel of my lips against him. I reached up and pulled him down towards me, kissing his forehead and then his lips. ''Let me show you how much I want you Lennox.'' I whispered against his lips.

''OCcc..'' he moaned as my fingers traced the outline of the bulge in his pants, pulling his zipper down. He threw his head back and groaned out loud as I released his aching cock and my fingers wrapped around it, sliding lightly along its length. ''Yesss..'' He began to thrust into my hand as I leaned forward and kissed and licked my way along his chiseled abdomen towards my goal.

Lennox gasped out loud as I slowly took him into my mouth and continued to pump his cock. My lips slid up and down his length several times, and I moaned at the feel and taste of him in my mouth. The vibrations causing him to gasp and growl as he thrust into my mouth several times. I pulled back and flicked my tongue out, running it over and around the underside of the head of his cock, all the while my hand continued to slide along his length, faster as I ran my nails teasingly up and along his thigh.

Growling out loud, Lennox swatted my hand forcibly away before he pushed me to the ground. Without a word he reached down and roughly grabbed at my pants. I lifted my bottom to allow him to slide them off easily. His eyes were dark and intense, an almost feral look on his face as threw them aside and positioned himself between my legs sliding inside me in one swift motion.

I cried out as he entered me, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He leaned down, his lips capturing mine hungrily as he thrust into me hard and fast, almost desperately. He broke the kiss, staring down at me as he moved above me. I stared back, my mouth parted as I gasped with each stroke as he moved deeper inside me. We simply held each other's gaze, wordlessly until Lennox's head snapped back and he gave a deep, guttural growl as he emptied himself inside me.

I ran my hands along his back, my nails raking over his skin lightly as his hot breath came in shallow, rapid gasps. His thrusts slowed until he laid down against me. He kissed my lips as he draped an arm over my chest and laid his head against mine. ''I love you.'' He panted breathlessly into my ear.

A single tear slid from my right eye as I closed my eyes and gave him a quick hug. ''I love you too.''

I just hoped it was enough.