Part 2! I wasn't planning to elaborate, but you guys seemed to want it :) I drifted away from Joan learning from Annie a bit... but I hope you like it anyway! Enjoy & review!

Joan laced up her sneakers and pulled her blonde waves up into a high ponytail. Arthur was at work; when she woke up, there was a note on her bedside table from him, saying that he had a meeting. It was brief, as many of their conversations had been in the recent weeks. She sighed and picked up her iPhone, clicking to her David Bowie playlist as she made her way downstairs. She was filling up a water bottle when the doorbell rang.

Joan screwed the cap onto her water bottle and jogged to the door. She pulled it open and smiled when saw Annie.

"Come in," she said, ushered Annie into the foyer. Annie looked around in awe, having never been inside the grand Campbell estate before. Well, it really was just a large house in the suburbs of Virginia, but still.

"Wow. You have a beautiful home."

"Thanks," Joan said, grabbing her pink hoodie off of the couch and slipping it over her gray workout tank and black yoga leggings. Annie was in similar getup, with a blue tee, gray pants, and sneakers. She wore a half-zip Georgetown sweater that was slightly oversized and her hair was held in place by a thick black headband and a ponytail. She grinned at Joan.

"Ready for this?"

They had been running or going to the gym almost every day for the last 2 weeks, because Annie had read it was good for depression to get fresh air and exercise. Joan was slowly weaning herself off the pills, but it was hard. Having a buddy really was helping her.

Joan locked the door and then they took off down the street. The plan was to run 2 miles to the park, rest for half an hour, and then run back.

"So," Annie said as they started off at a jog. "Think you're almost ready to talk to Arthur?"

Joan bit her lip. "I don't know."

"What's holding you back?"

"I'm scared," Joan admitted, picking up her pace a bit. The faster she ran, the more the problems usually started to melt away. But not this time. "I love him, and I don't want to let him down."

"Joan, he loves you too," Annie said, matching Joan's pace. "I don't think there is anything you could do to disappoint him."

"I don't know…"

"Tell me this: how did you two fall in love?"

Joan smiled, remembering the first time she saw him. "I was assigned to Clandestine Services after I came in from the field, and when I walked into his office to meet my new boss, there he was. He had the most wonderful twinkle in his blue eyes, like he just heard a great joke. And he was sitting on the edge of his desk, reading a file. He looked up from the file, took of his glasses, smiled that charming grin, and said, "Well, you must be Joan. I hear you're quite a woman of mystery and intrigue." And I fell instantly."

"Aww," Annie said. She smiled. "That's so sweet."

"He was married at the time," Joan said, hoping Annie wouldn't judge her. "But it didn't stop me from endlessly working to impress him."

"So," Annie said. "You were drawn to each other with such power that nothing else mattered."

"I guess that's the romantic way to see it," Joan said with a laugh. "I viewed it more as being so head over heels that I let myself break some rules."

"All in the name of love," Annie declared grandly. Joan laughed.

"Sure, something like that."

They reached the park and Joan propped her left foot up on a bench and stretched her hamstring.

"So, let's talk about you," Joan said, artfully changing the subject. "How are you holding up? I know Russia was pretty difficult for you." She switched feet.

"It was," Annie admitted. But then she smiled. "It wasn't all bad, though. I met Simon's sister, and I got closure. Joan, I really could have loved him."

"I know," Joan said softly. She got down off the bench and put her hand on Annie's shoulder. "It's hard, and I am here for you no matter what. I didn't have anyone to help me."

"No one? Weren't you with Arthur last time you relapsed?"

"No. The last time it was this major, I did it alone. I sobered up, focused on myself, and met Arthur 4 months later. Having someone who loves you makes everything better. You'll have it again someday, I promise."

"Joan, I've seen what you have. I don't think that's coming my way anytime soon."

Joan laughed again and took a swig of water.

"No, but you can heal, emotionally and mentally, and all that crap."

Annie laughed. "All that crap? Thanks, Joan. That's deep."

"You know what I mean," Joan said. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Let me beat you on the way back?," Annie asked mischievously. Joan snorted.

"Yeah, right!"

They grinned at each other and took off running back towards the house.

xxxx

"Hello, I'm home," Arthur called, closing the front door. Joan got up from the couch and put down her InStyle magazine.

"Hey, honey."

Arthur smiled when he saw her, which made Joan feel much better about what she was going to say. She pulled the sleeves of her white sweater over her hands and bit her lip.

"Hey, sweetheart, why didn't you come in today?," Arthur asked, putting down his briefcase and walking over to her.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that…" Joan said slowly, looping her arms around Arthur's neck. She kissed him, and then took his hand and pulled him to the couch, sitting down.

"I have something to tell you," she said, taking a deep breath. Arthur looked interested.

"Yes?"

"There is no easy way to say this... Arthur, a few weeks ago, I relapsed."

Arthur looked shocked and worried. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't know how… you've had so much to deal with lately, and I didn't want to lose you."

Arthur took her hands in his. "Oh, darling, you will never lose me. I love you, and nothing will change that."

Joan blushed. "I don't know why I thought it would."

"Maybe because you're scared. A relapse is a terrifying thing if you've been sober for as long as you have."

Joan nodded. "Maybe. And I want to work it through with a therapist at the Agency, and Annie has been going to meetings with me as my sponsor…."

"That's all wonderful, honey. I want to be here for anything you need, so if you even think you're having a bad day, please call me."

"But it's work, and that isn't appropriate..," Joan trailed off. Arthur shook his head.

"You are my wife, and you come first," Arthur said, placing a kiss on her lips. She smiled.

"Mmhhm, I like how that sounds," Joan murmured, kissing him back. He grinned.

"So, I know these things are hard to talk about for you," Arthur said, pulling Joan into his arms. "We can work through it as slowly as you want, just promise me you'll come to me if something goes wrong."

Joan nodded and kissed him again. "Want to help me flush the rest of my pills?," she asked coyly, arching an eyebrow. He laughed.

"Ooh, talk dirty to me," he laughed, standing up and holding his hand out to her. "My lady?"

Joan laughed and stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I love you."

"Really?," Arthur asked with mock surprise, raising his eyebrows. Joan nodded, a huge grin on her face. She leaned in, about to kiss him, and then pulled away. She let go of Arthur and ran down. After a few yards, she turned and motioned for him to join her.

"Coming?"

"Oh yeah," Arthur said, jogging to join her. He looped his arm around her shoulders and winked at her. "Got any other ideas to spice it up?"

"I may have some unread pamphlets on living with addiction," Joan whispered in his ear. "We can tear them to pieces."

Arthur laughed.

"Happy days are here again."

She nodded.

"To the bathroom?" Joan asked, a twinkle in her eye.

"Lead the way, dearest."