A/N: So, I can't make any guarantees as to how good this chapter is...
I'm in a bit of a sleepy daze at the moment and I rushed to get this done so that I can get to work xD
Anyways, I'm going to start asking now for Christmas present suggestions from Auggie to Annie the other way around. I need help with that!

This story is going to start speeding away soon and if you would like a sequel let me know!
If enough people want one I have a couple of ideas, so if you guys tell me I'll start getting it together now!

'You and me between the sheets,
It just doesn't get better than this.
The many windswept yellow stickies of my mind,
Are the molten emotional front line.
I couldn't care less I'm transfixed in this absolute bliss...'

Imogen Heap

Between Sheets

It was true, Annie was a morning person. Despite waking up at four-thirty in the morning to prepare for the road trip, she was possessed by high spirits, her foot heavy on the accelerator as she wove her way through Corrine's neighborhood. Though, she had to admit that she was surprised when she received the news – via text – that they would still be meeting at Corrine's house, despite the dramatic happenings of Wednesday night.

When she pulled into Corrine's nearly full driveway, her heart started pumping madly. The thought of spending a couple days with her friends, completely unsupervised, made her incredibly happy but the fact that she would be there with her amazing boyfriend – overnight! – stunned her to the point of senselessness. Subconsciously she wondered whether or not her jammies were suitable. Quickly, she threw her car into park and gathered her things, slamming the door shut behind her. It echoed through the fall chilled morning.

The inside of Corrine's house was the same as ever, only this time there were more lights on, for which Annie was grateful. She could still feel tiny shivers of fear creep up her spine from the last time she was there, Corrine's screams echoing through her memories.

"Oh, morning Annie," Stu smiled brightly, carrying what looked to be a case of cherry Coke. "Pretty much everyone's in the kitchen-" he paused for a moment, looking her over with this tiny little grin that obviously said 'but I know you're not looking for everyone' – "But Auggie's doing his best zombie impression in the living room."

"Thanks, Stu," she smiled jubilantly.

It's said that opposites attract and in many ways this saying rang true with Auggie and Annie; he was the dark to her light, the spice to her sweet, and certainly the grumpy-morning-person to her happy-morning-person. For a few moments she watched him from the living room entryway as he sat slumped in an armchair, his hood pulled up, aviators hiding his eyes, arms crossed over his chest, lip still bruised - he looked strangely badass and Annie could feel her stomach contracting.

As quietly as she could, she walked up to him, her sneakered feet nearly noiseless on the hardwood.

"Anyone who knows me should have figured out by now that it's impossible to creep up on me," he mumbled, sounding sleepy but vaguely amused.

"Fine," she pouted, "Ruin my fun."

"Annie," he gave her a smile, sitting up a little straighter, "I should've known it was you."

"And why is that," she mused, standing just an inch away from his own sneakered feet.

There were times that she just wanted to watch him talk, to see his mouth move, forming words and phrases, saying her name. She thought he had quite a nice mouth, especially when it was conjoined with her own.

"Because you're the only one who still thinks you can," he flashed a brilliant smile.

"I never give up," she said matter-of-factly.

"Believe me, I know," he chuckled, letting his head drift back against the chair.

It was obviously by the color of his skin that he was exhausted and she wondered why. She had gotten a good night's sleep and she assumed that everyone else had. Though, she had always been the first in bed and the first out. Auggie, on the other hand…

"Are you tired," she asked, slipping into his lap, gently brushing back his hood and his hair with her nails. He gave her a soft groan in answer and she smiled, "Were you up late last night?"

"I'm nocturnal," he whined, "I'm not made to be awake before noon."

"I'm sure I can wake you up," she all but whispered.

Flipping herself around so that she was straddling his hips, she let her mouth graze the corner of his lips, his sunglasses getting epically in the way. His hands slid automatically to her hips, his thumbs grazing the bones there. Everything about the feel of him amazed her; the bones beneath his skin, the muscles that contracted, the smooth flesh of his mouth- he caught her in a kiss that sent her spinning and her nimble fingers found enough coordination to slip off his aviators. Eyes closed, he took them from her and set them on the end table beside him, pulling her close enough that her chest pressed into his-

"Hey lovebirds," Corrine interrupted. Annie snapped around to see Corrine leaning casually against the entryway framing, a smirk on her face, "If you two could detach for a while and help us get these things into the car, you could continue your love-fest and we could get on the road."

"Kill joy," Auggie grumbled.

"Whatever."

Corrine pulled herself off the wall and flipped Auggie the bird as she disappeared around the corner. Annie giggled.

"Just so you know, Corrine just flipped you off," she said, hands on his shoulders, staring into dark brown eyes.

"She would," he rolled his eyes, "Bitch."

"So, I take it she's coming and you're not happy about it," Annie observed unnecessarily.

"That and Conrad is being an idiot," Auggie scoffed.

"What do you mean," she asked.

"Let me put it this way," he began, sitting up a little straighter and retrieving his sunglasses from the end table, "Corrine is using Conrad like a dog and Conrad doesn't give a damn as long as he can have her. It pisses me off."

"Maybe you should just let things be, let them figure it out," Annie sighed, "They're both eighteen and sometimes you just have to let them make their own mistakes."

"All I know is that there better be no tantrums at the concert," he grumbled, "Because if there are, I'm going to have to kick some ass."

"Alright killer," Annie laughed, climbing off of Auggie's lap and pulling him up from the couch, "Let's get these things in the car and get on the road. I'm ready to get to the hotel."

Auggie grinned his impish grin and yanked her in closer, "I like the way you think, Walker."

oOo

Three hours into the drive and Auggie was feeling restless. He hadn't been on a road trip like this since he went blind and he hadn't realized how much driving kept a person occupied. His iPod was definitely almost dead, he didn't feel like reading and he was starting to feel a bit carsick in the back. For years before he'd even gotten his permit he loved driving and being subjected to the backseat was hell.

"If I didn't know any better I'd think you were doing the potty dance," Annie said from beside him, her small fingers lacing through his.

He loved how physical she was, how comfortable she was with touch, especially since it was so important for him now. He'd dated girls before who shied away from him and it just wasn't as intimate, but Annie was just the opposite.

"I'm bored," he sighed, sitting up and angling toward her, "And I hate the backseat."

"Well, I have to go potty, so," Annie said, her voice sounding just a bit stressed, "Hey Conrad, can we stop at a gas station, I've gotta potty!"

"Jesus," Conrad sighed dramatically, "Already? You chicks are ridiculous!"

"Hey, don't talk about us, I've got my period and-" Corrine blurted out.

There was an entire chorus of "Ew!" "Oh God" "Christ, Corrine!" "WHAT?". Corrine laughed her head off the entire time and all Auggie could do was roll his eyes, she loved to shock people as often as she could.

"That's it, we're pulling over and someone else is driving," Conrad said, and Auggie was pretty sure that there was disappointment in his tone. Someone was hoping to get laid on this trip.

A few minutes later and the ginormous Escalade was pulling over into a parking lot, Annie was the first one out, having climbed over Auggie's lap to get to the door. Auggie was close behind. The fresh air was crisp but it was more than welcome after the stuffy three hour ride. In one swift movement he had his cane unfolded and was heading in any direction that was clear, all he wanted was to get away from the vehicle and towards hot coffee.

"Augs," Stu said, "Where are you going?"

That was one thing about Stu; everyone assumed that Auggie didn't know where the hell he was going and would tell him immediately, 'Auggie, store is this way' 'Wrong way, dude' 'Hey Daredevil, your shadow-vision is faulty'. Stu on the other hand, always assumed that Auggie knew exactly where he was going and felt like he was imposing for saying anything. Auggie very much appreciated it.

"Not sure, actually," Auggie smiled, "Where you at?"

"Here," Stu said quietly, his hand brushing against Auggie's arm.

There was definitely something different in the feel of Stu, he was more solid, stronger than he was a year and a half ago. His voice came from somewhere higher up too and it was only times like these that Auggie remembered that he wasn't the only one growing into his age. It was strange to think about really, how much everything – and everyone – can change in so short a timeframe.

Auggie kept his grip loose, casual, on Stu's arm and let his cane do most of the talking. He felt like moving, jumping, running. He'd been cooped up for far too long and he wasn't looking forward to the next eleven hours of being useless.

"What's buggin' you, man," Stu asked as they stepped up onto the curb of the Sheets shop.

"What do you mean," Auggie asked coyly.

If he was going to confess his problems to anyone, it would be Stu? In fact, Stu had been his most trusted confidant since his surgery but today? Today he didn't want to sound weak, he just wanted to feel like everyone else. Normal.

"I get it, never mind," Stu sighed.

The bell over the door dinged generically as they stepped inside and the smell of greasy breakfast food overwhelmed him; God, he loved Sheets. It was like McDonalds on steroids but the best part? They had about a million different coffees, all hot and ready to go.

"What kind of coffee you want," Stu asked, somewhat dejectedly.

"Come on, Stu," Auggie groaned, all he wanted was some coffee but now he had to mend something. Drama never sleeps. "It's nothing personal, I just want some coffee, that's it. I'll feel better once I've had some caffeine."

"Alright, what kind do you want," Stu asked, leading Auggie close enough to the coffee pots that he could hear them percolating. "Raspberry?"

"Ah Stuart, you know me so well," Auggie attempted a smile but Stu's persona didn't seem to improve much. "Look Stu, it's really nothing-"

"This is what we talked about," Stu all but hissed, "You keep all this 'nothing' bottled up- you promised that you would talk to me about these things-"

"What, so I'm not supposed to have any privacy anymore? Is that it?" Auggie countered. Not aggressive, just tired.

"No," Stu deflated, "I don't know, here's a cup and here's the pot handle."

Auggie expertly poured himself a cup of coffee, a trick he'd learned in the first few months after he'd gone blind, all he needed was to listen. Once his cup was full, he took a sip. Black. Just how it should be.

"You want to know," he asked as Stu poured his own cup.

"Obviously," Stu murmured back.

"I miss driving," he answered pointedly.

"Why didn't you just say that," Stu asked incredulously.

"I don't know, because I don't broadcast everything."

"You think you don't," Stu argued, "But you do. Every little thing that bothers you is written all over your body language, you don't hide it like you think you do."

"I've been hearing that a lot lately," Auggie smirked. The only one he was really good at lying to was Corrine and that's because he did it so often. "Look, I'm sorry, alright?"

"I don't want you to apologize," Stu touched Auggie's arm again and they stood in line together, "I just want you to stay honest with me. I'd like to think you that I'm your best friend and I just- I want to keep it that way."

"You are my best friend, Stu," Auggie asserted, "I guess sometimes I just feel whiny."

"Don't worry," Stu chuckled, "I'll let you know with a friendly punch in the face if that ever happens."

"Aw, Stuart," Auggie crooned dramatically, "I love you too, man."

"Shut up, dude," Stu whispered self-consciously, "We're in public."

Auggie laughed.

When they all gathered back outside, it was decided that Annie and Auggie would occupy the front seats while everyone else tried to get some shut eye. For this, Auggie was grateful. Some time with his girlfriend and control of the radio, it really couldn't get much better. He relaxed back into his seat and that's when Jamie piped up.

"We should play a game," he said, Auggie could have killed him.

"Like what," Annie asked immediately, of course she would be the one that enjoyed car games.

"I don't know," Jamie groaned.

So Auggie wasn't the only one who was bored to death.

"We could play I Spy," Clare said softly.

Jamie laughed immediately, "Yea, I'm sure that Auggie would beast that game."

"Okay, okay," Auggie cleared his throat, "I spy with my little eye something really big and empty. What is it?"

"Ooh, ooh," Jamie said and Auggie could imagine him on the edge of his seat, hand straight up in the air, what one might call 'Hermione pose'. "I know, I know. It's nothing!"

"Aw damn," Auggie pouted, "He got it already!"

"It was just a suggestion," Clare said softly, sounding especially embarrassed.

Auggie turned around in his seat to face her, "No if you want to play that's fine. I think it would be interesting just to hear what the idiots in the back seat can come up with."

"It's settled," Corrine announced, "I Spy it is!"

An hour later and they'd been through everything from the pine tree air freshener to Auggie's ego – which Corrine started and Annie got disturbingly fast, they bonded over this – everyone finally started petering out. Dropping off one by one. Soon it was eerily quiet after the raucous laughter of their games and Auggie found himself nodding off.

"How's it going over there," Annie asked, just as he started to slip into dreaming. "You're awfully quiet."

In her defense, he still had his shades on and she didn't realize that all he wanted to do was sleep.

"Alright," he answered, sitting up straighter in an attempt to keep himself awake. "How are you doing? You need any snacks or anything?"

"I'm alright for now," she said serenely, "It's really nice, being on the road right now, you know? Just us and the road ahead. I'm really glad that dad let me come, I mean, I probably would have figured out a way to come anyways but since he knows and is okay with it there's a lot less stress on me. That's the thing, it may sound lame, but I dwell on whether or not my parents approve of what I'm doing. This is also why it's extra great that I have an amazing boyfriend that my family loves."

The engine moaned as Annie pressed harder on the accelerator and Auggie could feel himself being pressed into his seat, it made him nervous, flying at such high speeds. He knew Annie had a tendency to be a bit led-footed – especially once you got her talking – but something about the open road made things even worse. Granted, she certainly was as bad as Corrine.

"Although I can't see the speedometer, I'm going to have to ask you to slow down," Auggie said, the tension in his voice quite clear.

"Hm? Oh god! Yea, I probably should slow down," she laughed nervously, "You know how I get to talking and lose track of everything else."

"Yes, yes I do," he chuckled.

And damn did he love her laugh. He was anxiously awaiting the moment that he could once again get her between sheets. Slow down, Anderson.

oOo

By the time they reached the hotel, Annie was staggering on her feet. She'd been awake for eighteen hours and she simply wasn't used to that. Subconsciously, she leaned her weight into Auggie who was carrying both his bag and hers, all while using his cane to navigate so she could use him as support. Such a gentleman. He slid his arm around her hips, using his thumb to rub tiny circles into her side.

"Hi, I have a reservation for Morgan," Corrine said in her sultry voice to the young man behind the check-in counter. He looked over the group with suspicious eyes as he did some typing on his computer.

"Corrine Morgan," he asked with professional snootiness. One eyebrow raised, Corrine curtly nodded her consent. Tread carefully, Annie thought to herself, these are dangerous waters bow-tie-guy. "You have a reservation for one night in a two bedroom suite, yes?"

"That's correct," she answered in her best poison sweet voice, she was an expert.

"And how will you be making payment," he asked, looking down his nose at her. "You should know that we don't accept cash."

"Well, how convenient," she smiled brightly, "Here's my Visa. Would you like my ID?"

"No," he replied stiffly, "That won't be necessary."

Corrine grinned triumphantly.

The room was as wonderful but all Annie could see – despite the wall of windows, the small but pretty kitchen, and plush couches – was the bed. She glimpsed it as they went to drop their things in the closet area and immediately made for it, her body demanding that she sleep. Doing her most impressive belly-flop, she fell onto it, allowing herself to sink into its heavenly pillow-top. A moan eased its way from her mouth as her muscles finally relaxed.

"You comfortable," Auggie asked from the doorway after she abandoned him, "You sound comfortable."

"Oh, darling," she groaned, "I'm beyond comfortable."

She rolled onto her back and watched her boyfriend skillfully make his way to the bed, head down as he focused. With a couple of easy movements he was at the bed and folding up his cane, she took his hands, pulling him up with her.

"Jesus," he grinned, "If you fall out of this bed you could break your back."

"Isn't it wonderful," she yawned.

She flopped back onto the abundance of pillows and let her eyes close as Auggie lined her left-side. A smile passed over her mouth as she rolled onto her side and he played with her hair. This was certainly going to be the best trip of her life. Her eyes popped open as his lips pressed into her neck and she rolled over to kiss him- yawning involuntarily in the process.

"To be continued," he laughed softly as she tried to reign in her enormous yawn.

"Absolutely."

They clumsily pulled on their pajamas, brushed their teeth and climbed into bed. Annie tucked herself into Auggie's form and closed her eyes as his strong arm draped over her stomach. It may not have been the kind of 'sleeping together' they had been planning for their first night but it was still damn good.