I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as much as I have! This one is much longer than the previous two.

"Hey." Auggie answered the phone, knowing that it was Annie.

"I just got off the phone with Danielle." Annie's tone told him more than her words.

"What's wrong?" Auggie asked.

"Things are not going well in California. She's moving back with the girls over Christmas break."

"I hate that for her, but I'm sure you will be happy to have your sister around, right?"

"Of course. But there's more to the news. Since her marriage is for-real-totally-over this time, she has to go ahead with selling the house."

"Do you think the new owners will still invite you to dinner?"

"Haha." She replied. "I hate moving."

"Everyone does."

"I feel so selfish, looking at all of this as how it will affect me."

"Either way, they would have sold the house, Annie."

"True. Maybe I should look at places on your side of town."

"That would be convenient. It's cheaper than Georgetown, at least."

"Everything is cheaper than Georgetown."

"So, what else did you and Danielle talk about?" Auggie asked.

"Ending her marriage pretty much monopolized the conversation. She did say that Katia and Chloe are excited to be back here."

"I'm sure you are excited to see them more often."

"Yeah. I miss them."

"You didn't tell her about us?"

"What do you mean? I told her about 'us' the week we became an 'us.'"

"Oh."

"You haven't told anybody yet, have you?"

"I told Pete." Auggie replied.

"I'm starting to think Pete doesn't really exist."

"He does, and he knows that I'm dating a fabulous woman from the Smithsonian."

"Fine."

Auggie sighed. "Don't look too much into it. My mom didn't even know about Parker."

"I wasn't looking into it." She said in a tone that betrayed her words.

"Uh huh."

"I'll see you in the morning?"

"Hey. What's bothering you?" He pressed the issue.

"Nothing. Just a lot to think about."

"Okay," Auggie replied. "I'm here if you need me."

"Thanks, Auggie. Good night."

"Good night."

Annie hung up the phone and sighed. "I will not look into this too much. I will not look into this too much. I will not look into this too much." She repeated to herself.

But it was hard not to look into it. She and Auggie had been dating for two months. He proposed to Parker after four. But even when Annie was looking at homelessness, he didn't bring up the idea of her staying with him.

And why would he? She was an independent woman. They had maintained their own lives. Even if he had asked her to move in, she would have most likely declined.

Right. This wouldn't bother her, because even if he had offered, she wanted an independent life. He knew her so well.

Except, why was he holding back?

She looked at the clock. It was only 8:00 PM, so she threw some clothes in a bag and got in the car.

...

Auggie was putting away dishes when he heard the knocking. He closed the dishwasher and walked to the door. "Who is it?"

"Me." Annie responded.

He pulled the door open and stepped aside for Annie to walk through. "What's up?" He asked as he closed and locked the door.

"I don't know. I just... Auggie. I don't know."

Auggie reached for her shoulders. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that there's a lot to think about, and I started freaking out."

"Let's talk it out. You want something to drink?"

"No. Well yes. Well. Hell, I don't know."

Auggie went to the fridge and got two beers. "You sound like you do."

"Thanks."

Auggie handed her a beer and sat next to her on the couch. "So, talk to me."

"You want to be with me, right?" Annie asked.

Auggie sat still, stunned. "More than anything."

"It's just, I kind of thought. Well. I mean. The thing is. Argh!" She put her head in her hand, frustrated.

"Stop. Breath." Auggie commanded as he ran his fingers down her arm. "Now. Form a complete sentence."

"You proposed to Parker after four months."

Auggie drew his eyebrows together. "That wasn't the complete sentence I was expecting. So?"

"So. I don't know. It's just, when I was talking about moving to this side of town, I thought you would be more excited, or even..."

"Oh."

"You didn't even joke about me moving in here."

"I didn't think... Annie, I didn't think you would want that."

"I wouldn't."

"Then what's the problem?"

"You proposed to Parker in four months, and you didn't even invite me to stay with you after two."

"But you don't want to stay here."

"That's not the important part."

"Annie, please. I don't know what's wrong. I didn't think you would want things to move so fast."

"I don't. I guess, I just wanted the option to be there."

"The option is there." Auggie stated. "You are more than welcome to come live here, if you can put up with the limited closet space."

Annie smiled. "Thank you."

"Are you sure that is all that's bothering you?"

"Mind if I stay tonight?" She asked.

...

Auggie was in the blissful state of being half awake, just feeling the warmth of Annie on the bed next to him. It was peaceful, a calm reassurance after the confusion of the night before. He rolled over and reached for her, and she touched him, gently. Auggie closed his eyes and drifted back toward sleep.

That was when he heard the car horn on the street.

"A cab!" Auggie said as he shot up in bed. Annie rolled away and looked at him in shock. "Don't go. Don't go. Don't leave me now, Annie." Auggie jumped out of the bed and walked to her side of the bed, reaching for Annie. He was practically flailing as he tried to find her.

Completely confused, Annie grabbed one of his hands. "Hey. I'm right here."

Auggie grabbed her arm, with his body completely tense. It wasn't like his normal touch - he was gripping her with all of his strength.

"Auggie, what's going on?" Annie asked.

"I heard the cab." He said, as if it explained everything. His fingers dug into her flesh.

Annie spoke softly. "Auggie, you're hurting me."

As if snapping out of a trance, Auggie relaxed his grip. "Sorry." He said, but didn't lose contact with her.

She pulled him in for a hug. "I'm not going anywhere." She reassured him. "And if I was, I have my own car."

Auggie looked pale. "Annie, I'm so sorry." He sat on the bed and put his face in his hands.

Annie rubbed his back and put her head on his shoulder. "Auggie, what happened?"

"I heard a cab." He knew it didn't make sense, but it was the only explanation.

Annie didn't reply, she only sat with him, assuring him with her touch.

"Did I hurt you?" Auggie finally asked.

"I'll be okay," Annie replied.

He turned and ran his hand down her arm. "I'm so sorry."

"You already said that." Annie replied.

"I... I've never had that happen before."

"What happened?" Annie asked.

"I think I had a post-traumatic blind moment." Auggie stated with a bit of shock.

"What?"

"Last night you were upset. Then this morning I heard a cab on the street."

"That still doesn't make sense, Auggie. We are okay - I thought I made that clear last night?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "I just..." He was taking very deliberate breaths. "Parker left me first thing in the morning. I heard the cab on the street and she was out the door before I could even get to her."

Annie sighed and pulled Auggie close. "So when you heard the horn this morning you thought I was leaving?"

"I know it doesn't make sense. Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

"You have one hell of a grip."

Auggie grimaced.

"Some duo we are." Annie added. "Two super secret spies with abandonment issues."

Auggie laughed and pushed Annie onto the bed under him. "You should move in with me."

"You don't have enough closet space." Annie replied with a giggle.

"Then I should move in with you." He replied after giving her a kiss.

"Moving sucks."

"I don't have a lot of stuff."

"Neither do I. Maybe I don't need that much closet space."

"Whatever you want, Annie."

"I want you, Auggie."

A/N I want these two to have conflict. I want them to have a big non-forgivable horrendous fight. But they just keep being so darn agreeable. ARGH.