2016
Like a thick layer of dust, frosty sunlight carpeted Simone's office. Alone but for the steady breathing of the two entwined women, the light gradually made its way into the far corners of the office. A slight creaking near the door announced the visitor before it whirred into the room on near-silent treads. Taking up a station near the foot of the bed near the wall, it waited as the struggling sunlight ebbed and grew dim.
With a furious gasp, Annabelle woke, her words driving the silence from the room.
"Don't you fucking DARE run from me!"
Her own words wrenching her fully awake, Annabelle stared in confusion at the wide skylights letting in the twilight.
(What the…? Where?)
Swiveling her head around, she studied her surroundings in confusion.
(This is so not my room.)
Instead of feeling frightened, she instead felt an overwhelming sense of comfort at the office. The furnishings were obviously well used, but…comfortable.
(Like a professor's office. Looks better the more you beat it up)
Everything just fit. With a sigh, Annabelle settled back.
(Always nice to wake up with someone too, how long…WAIT)
Twisting her head around, Annabelle was astounded to see Simone's sleeping face.
(Ummm, ok, what?...Cause I'm pretty sure I'm...)
Her hands plucked up the sheet as she peeked underneath.
(Yep. Naked. Totally naked. With my doctor. Imprint. Whatever the fuck she is!)
Her eyes widened as the ramifications hit her.
(Naked. In bed. With my really, really hot doctor. Who is still asleep. Did we?...)
Unable to resist, Annabelle carefully turned within Simone's grip, checking as she did so that Simone was still asleep. Settled again, Annabelle's mission was abruptly derailed as she got a clear look at Simone's face. Coming up on one arm in concern, she traced the faint bruising and scarring on Simone's cheek.
(What the…)
Lascivious thoughts now aside, she swept back the sheet, incoherent rage flooding her veins at the damage she found. A thin cast of some sort immobilized Simone's left arm from shoulder to wrist, somehow flexing at the joint as Simone shifted uneasily. Continuing her inspection, unexpected tears came to her eyes as the severity of Simone's injuries made themselves evident.
(Sweet Christ. Broken fucking arm, looks like she was kicked in the ribs, probly broken, LOOK at that on her stomach and back! My God, are those finger bruises on her hips? How would?...)
Her mind supplying the answer to her own question, a shocked Annabelle failed to notice as Simone grew more and more restless.
(What the hell is going on!)
Slowly untangling herself from Simone, Annabelle swallowed hard as her stomach roiled. Biting back the urge to vomit, Annabelle gripped the edge of the bed, trying to summon the will to stand up as Simone whimpered behind her.
(Fuck. I gotta…)
"Annabelle!"
Her head whipped around at the concerned voice. Eyes grew even wider as she found no one in the room.
"Annabelle, lay back down!"
Still scanning the room in confusion, Annabelle shook her head trying to clear it.
(That's it. It's happened. I've finally lost my shit. Being asleep for two years has rotted my little human brain)
Summoning her will, Annabelle determinedly stood up as a high pitched alarm went off behind her. Startled, she lost her balance just as a robotic rolled up to her from its invisible post at the foot of the bed.
"Annabelle! Please, you have to get back into bed!"
Annabelle eyed the robot with distinct disfavor from her new home on the floor. She clenched her eyes shut, and then shot them open in pain.
"Annabelle!"
"Quit…shouting, and just tell me where the bathroom is!" she responded somehow past the pounding headache that had just erupted. Which only got worse as she tried not to think of how she was having a conversation with Number 5.
(A bitchy, female Number 5!)
"There's no time! Get back in bed!"
"No! Bathroom!" she replied through gritted teeth.
"You stubborn little bitch! Look at Simone!"
Chancing a glance back, Annabelle was dumbfounded to see an unnaturally still Simone.
"What?..."
"Move it! NOW!"
Moving from the floor with the assistance of the robot, Annabelle fell back into the bed, almost blind from the pain in her head.
"Now what?"
"Touch her! She's your Imprint, remember?" An almost snort came from the robot as Annabelle hesitantly felt her way to Simone and put her hand on her shoulder. "No, TOUCH HER"
"You mean?..."
"TOUCH HER IDIOT OR SHE'LL DIE!" the little robot bellowed.
(She can't! Not after all this!)
Shaking the random thought away, Annabelle hugged against Simone, winding herself tightly around the still form.
"She's not breathing!" Annabelle said in a panic, her hands cupping Simone's shoulders.
"Breathe for her then dammit!" came the irritable reply.
Carefully, Annabelle settled Simone's head back, and placed her lips against the chilled ones below. Sending deep breaths of warm air into Simone's lungs quickly exhausted Annabelle. Just as her shaking lips swept down for another pass, a warm hand threaded itself through her hair. Her arms trembling, she sighed in relief as dazed crystal blue eyes opened into hers.
Her eyes blinking into focus, Simone's sleepy smile unexpectedly took Annabelle's breath away. Gently brushing back the locks at Annabelle's temple, her words caressed Annabelle's face as their eyes remained locked.
"You're…here. You're back. I knew…knew…you'd come back. I just had to wait and…" Simone's expression darkened momentarily, confusing the silent Annabelle further. Shaking her head slightly, she continued.
"And here you are. God, Belle, I missed you."
Still completely confused, Annabelle's own eyes nonetheless darkened with tears. Blinking them back, she didn't hesitate against the warm, loving hands that drew her down into the kiss.
Warm lips drew upon still-forgotten memory, meeting each other as friends, if not yet lovers. What started with a feather brush touch deepened as Annabelle's falling hair curtained them together, blocking out the rest of the world.
(My God Simone, what are you doing to me?)
Annabelle's breath came in short gasps as Simone nibbled on her lower lip, kissing her past distraction and back. The sheet fell to the floor as Simone slid her hands over defined shoulders and down Annabelle's back, tracing over muscles there before sliding back up to cup her face, kissing her fiercely.
With a moan, Annabelle leaned into the kiss, trying to slow down even as her body demanded more.
(Never like this. Fast. Too fast. Wait)
"Simone…wait…" was all she got out before Simone ducked her head, capturing a taut nipple in her mouth. Overdone by sensation, Annabelle arched upward on her knees, straddling Simone with her only support a warm hand caressing her lower back.
(How did she know?...oh God, too long, now, please!)
"Simone" she breathed into the air as Simone shifted her attention to her other breast. Knotting her hands in the blond curls, she forced Simone to look at her. Blazing blue eyes met her own
In agonized frustration as her skirt slid higher, almost urged higher by the intent focus of her English professor. Conscious of her roommates only inches away, Annabelle shifted forward again, her crossed legs exposing gorgeous inches of thigh bookended by a scruff of plaid and the clinging leather of her boots.
(Oh love, you can't keep ignoring me!)
Her eyes waited as Simone's heated gaze made its way past the pews separating them. So very slowly, Simone made her way up the rich offering of exposed skin, across the light cotton expanse of Annabelle's shirt, and lingered on the fine links encircling and capturing her neck. Her professor's attention barely evaded capture by Annabelle's wet lips, and was finally taken prisoner by Annabelle's own agonized gaze.
Simone's brief head shake broke Annabelle's heart, even as her eyes clenched shut.
(Fuck, why are you fighting this so hard? Why? Fighting us dammit!)
Annabelle was the first to her feet as the chapel bell rang seconds later, ending the service. Almost running, she slipped past her confused roommates as tears streamed down her face. Once past the crowd, she broke into a sprint and headed for the orchard at the far end of the campus. An air-spun whirl of white apple blossoms marked her path as she ran by, her boots a thudding counterpoint to her broken heart.
Finally skidding to a stop against a tree, Annabelle burst into tears. Hugging the tree tightly, she dug her fingers into the bark until she felt the pricking of splinters beneath her nails.
(It's never going to change. We've been doing this for MONTHS, I know she loves me, she knows I love her, and she won't fucking just LET ME IN!)
With a cry of rage, she drove her fist into the tree, again and again as her pain bubbled over. Alone in her misery, she sighed as she heard footsteps quickly approach.
(Fuck. Collins, go away!)
"Collins, I just really need to be alone righ…"
Her sentence was cut off as she was quickly spun around to meet an absolutely furious Simone.
"Never Annabelle! Never, ever because of me!" she yelled, punctuating each declaration with a shake. "What were you thinking!" Grabbing Annabelle's bleeding hand for further examination; she was unprepared for the enraged hand that shoved her stumbling away.
"Fuck you Simone! Who the fuck do you think you are? Coming here like you give a shit, when it's convenient and no one's around! Fuck you! You can't keep doing this to me, to us!" Scrubbing her tears away, heedless of the streaks of blood left behind, Annabelle whirled to leave.
And was jerked back around again.
Simone's face was almost apoplectic in its rage. "Fuck me? FUCK YOU! Fuck you Annabelle! I've told you that we can't…"
"Not can't Simone! Won't! You won't let us be..."
"God Annabelle, stop being such a child! It's not that easy and you know it! It's…"
"Exactly that fucking easy Simone. I love you! How many times do I need to tell you before you hear me? I love you. I LOVE YOU!"
Annabelle screamed to the trees around them, her arms wide open as she faced Simone defiantly. She was prepared for anything but Simone striding forward, grabbing her shoulders and shoving her against a nearby tree before fiercely claiming her in a bruising kiss.
Shock overwhelmed Annabelle, driving her on pure emotion. Frantically, she wound her hands in Simone's shirt and dragged her hard against her while claiming Simone in kind.
Their first kiss.
"I love you" Annabelle mumbled against Simone's lips some time later, feeling Simone smile in response.
"I know you do" Simone murmured before resting her head in the crook of Annabelle's shoulder, brushing her lips back and forth on the exposed skin.
"Then why?" Annabelle asked softly, running her fingers through tangled golden hair. She abruptly tightened her grasp as she felt Simone stiffen and start to move away.
"Relax Belle. We need to get some things worked out and I can't think when I'm touching you". Gently untangling Annabelle's hands, Simone dropped a brief kiss on slim fingers before taking a few steps away.
"I'll keep that in mind" Annabelle said as she settled against the base of the tree, watching Simone start to speak several times before running her hand through her hair in frustration. Apple blossoms continued to fall as Simone splashed back and forth through puddles of sunlight, the gold of her cross scattering prisms around the small glen.
Finally, Simone stood still with her head bowed, hands on her hips and facing Annabelle. Annabelle grew more and more concerned as Simone stared at the ground.
"You're wonderful Annabelle" Simone said abruptly, scattering the silence. "Absolutely brilliant. You're smart, and clever and beautiful and brave. Mother Immaculata doesn't scare you, and I seriously doubt she ever will. You're so intuitive, and can see what people aren't saying through what they are. Just look at how Collins has blossomed with you around!"
"That's me, the human gardener" Annabelle said wryly, trying to catch a glimpse of Simone's face.
Ignoring the interruption, Simone continued. "You're honest. And so kind it breaks my heart." Taking a deep breath, Simone raised her face, revealing nothing put engraved pain. "And, above all, you're strong. So very, very strong". Pacing again, Simone fought for words. Watching a batch of blossoms drift on the wind, Simone continued.
"I am none of those Annabelle, except perhaps intelligent. Simply put, you need a person who will be a match for you, who can not only keep up with you but challenge you to keep up with them. I am not that person, and it would be wrong of me to pretend that I was." Taking a shuddering breath, Simone said softly, "I do so, so, wish I were that woman Annabelle. But I'm not. And I simply refuse to hold you back from the great events in your life, simply because you are with the wrong person. I love you too much for that". Exhausted, Simone slumped to the ground against a tree opposite Annabelle.
"Bullshit" came the soft rejoinder. "You're just scared." Getting to her feet, Annabelle watched Simone straighten up warily. "You're scared, not because we're wrong, but because we're so right Simone, so right you can feel it here" she said, patting her palm on her chest. "You're so afraid you're talking yourself into this bullshit. And you're smart enough to do it too my love" she said with a wry smile.
Going to her knees in front of Simone, "You and I are so right together, you can feel me from across the room, loving you. Wanting you," she said, cupping Simone's cheek. "I choose you. Why are you making this so hard?" she whispered.
"Belle", Simone's agony leaked into her voice.
"Stop. Just stop". Annabelle hushed as she put her finger across Simone's lips. "Listen to me now. I've made my choice. I choose you. Every minute I'm awake, my joy is that it's you. When I'm asleep, it's the dream that when I wake, you'll be there. It's you. And I'm not letting you go. Never. Not ever."
(Please baby)
Leaning forward, Annabelle traced her hands through Simone's hair while gazing intently into her eyes.
(Please)
Simone's kiss was deep and binding, the promise Annabelle offered taken and held close. "Never ever then Belle. Never
Ever" Annabelle whispered to Simone who whipped up her head at the word. Searching Annabelle's eyes, Simone began to cry at the comprehension she saw. Ignoring the sudden chirping of the alarms, Annabelle rocked Simone back and forth, holding her as she wept.
"Never ever Simone. Nev…"
A sharp sting interrupted Annabelle, who didn't even have time to turn around before the sedative took effect. Slumped in Simone's arms, she missed the twin injection hitting Simone, knocking her out just as quickly. Still wound together on the bed, the robotic put away the injector while draping both sheet and blanket over the pair. Whirring towards the door, it dimmed the lights before locking the door behind it.