title: let's talk about ex, baby
characters: annie edison, jeff winger, vaughn miller
setting: random greendale grocery store and parking lot
pairing(s): jeff x annie
word count: 628

"Oh my God," Annie whispered. Gripping at his arm, she promptly dragged Jeff behind the nearest aisle of the grocery store. And he knew it wasn't for a quick (but pleasant) make out session next to the laundry soap. "It's Vaughn!"

Jeff winced as she drove her nails in deeper. "No, Annie, that's my bicep. Which you're currently showing the same attention you would in a much less crowded area."

But Annie was too distracted to let the (barely) suggestive comment to even faze her. "Aw, he looks so sad," she cooed, peering around the corner, while keeping her head ducked beneath a rack of dog chew-toys. Jeff allowed a lingering glance at her ass, before peering right along with her. And yep, there he was, Mister Tiny- Nipples himself, standing soulfully in the middle of the produce section.

Jeff snorted. "Well, I'm sure you'd be sad too if they forced you to change the very fabric of the lack-of-fabric that is your existence everytime you stepped in somewhere that offers public service."

"Shit!" Annie squealed, earning a very dirty look from a haughty looking-grandmother. "He's coming this way!"

"Annie, from the looks of things he's been moving through the oranges for the past two years. I think we'll be-" It was a bit hard to finish when she barreled into his chest at full force, pushing and swatting until they were practically out of the store. Their basket of food was left where Annie had dropped it the second she saw Vaughn. Outside, she practically sprinted to his Lexus - really, it would be a technique that would make Usain Bolt envious. Jeff followed at a more leisurely pace.

Annie was huffing and puffing by the time he reached the car.

"Annie, you just saw an ex-boyfriend, not rob the place. Take a deep breath and calm-"

"I can't calm down, Jeff!" she interrupted shrilly. "What would have happened if we ran into Vaughn? We could still run into him out here! Oh God, it would be so awkward! I'd have to explain what happened after I left him for Greendale, he'd learn that we kissed, and oh god... oh god... He's going to hate you even more now!"

"Yeah, my world is shattered," Jeff said dryly. More gently, he added. "Annie, you can't let yourself over think these things. People run into their exes all of the time, and-"

"It's one of the most awkward things on the planet."

Jeff held up his hand. "Stop interrupting. People run into their exes all of the time, and you know what? They go on living after. You remember how I acted when we ran into Slater a few years back."

Annie scoffed. "Yeah, you tried to act way too cool, Britta acted like she was the queen of Greendale, and Troy blurted out that we kissed after you walked out on her and Britta at the Tranny Dance. Real great pep-talk, Jeff." She patted his knee.

He clamped his mouth shut, looking thoroughly put-out, annoyed that she would bring that topic up.

They watched from their car in silence as Vaughn strolled across the parking-lot, singing at the top of his lungs.

"We can't go back in there, can we?"

"Nope."

"Darn it," Annie sighed. She rubbed at her stomach. "And I was really looking forward to that chunky bubblegum ice-cream, too."

Jeff smiled faintly, and leaned over to rest his hand on her belly as well. "I'm sure you both'll survive for another little while, babe." He had to suppress a chuckle when the baby kicked sharply in response.

"Or not. Tell the kid to ease up on the dramatics, why don't you?"

"Why should I? It just proves he's taking after his father."