A/N: Guys. I know we're all hurting right now. Prayer circle that Netflix picks up our show for a 6th season. #NetflixSaveCommunity In the meantime here's a fun little drabble, eh? Thanks to tktktk for being the best of betas! Oh, still don't own it.

Chapter 8

Jeff paused with his hand set to knock on the door. This was a good idea, right? He had stayed up all night trying to come up with a Plan B and had hated everything he thought of. Seriously, skywriting? He was embarrassed for himself. As of this morning he was still no further than he had been when he started thinking last evening. And so here he was. Driven by desperation to do what he could never have imagined himself doing even yesterday.

He closed his eyes, counted to ten, and knocked before he could talk himself out of it.

"Just a moment!" The voice called from within and the door opened. A hand went up to indicate Jeff should wait where he was as the owner completed their phone call. "Isn't that a bit cliche even for you?" There was a pause while whomever was on the other end of the line said something. "No. You're right of course. Desperate times and all that. I'll take care of it."

Jeff raised an eyebrow. What the what? "Is this a bad time?" He asked.

"Of course not, Jeffrey! I can and will always happily make time for you! What can I do ya for?" The Dean asked with a wink and a campy smile as he locked his phone and put it in the pocket of his voluminous green silk robe.

Jeff let out a small huff of fond amusement. "Craig I came for advice. Do you have a minute?"

"Well! Isn't this just shaping up to be a banner day for Chez Pelton! Of course of course! Come in!" Craig ushered Jeff into his apartment with a courtly bow.

Jeff stepped hesitantly into Craig's condo. He had never actually been there before and had absolutely no idea what he would find.

It was almost disappointingly normal. Jeff had imagined that Craig's design idol would be more like Liberace. With gold and crystal and feathers everywhere. What he saw instead was more Restoration Hardware. The furniture was tailored in a tasteful cream and there were shelves crammed with pictures and small ornaments and books of all kinds.

"Wow, Craig. Your place is great!" Jeff said in surprise. He wasn't sure but he thought he recognized those end tables as a set he'd once had his eye on as well, in more lucrative times.

"Oh now, Jeffrey. You'll make me blush!" The Dean enthused as he waved a hand at the sofa and took a seat in a comfortable looking leather recliner. "So you need advice, is it? Are things not going well with Annie?" he asked with a concerned tilt to his head.

"I've made progress but I've hit a bit of a wall," Jeff admitted, still not sure that asking his boss for advice was the best thing but out of ideas of his own. "I got her to text me last night finally, but she still won't actually talk to me."

"Mmhmm," Craig nodded. "And how did you get her to text you?" he settled right back into his therapist persona, nevermind that he was occasionally adjusting the flowing robes he wore.

"I sent her presents that I hoped showed how well I knew her. And they worked in as much as she did text me. But only to ask me to stop sending her gifts. I tried to think of something else to get through to her but short of just calling her or showing up at her apartment I honestly have no idea where to go from here. And I don't want to do either of those because frankly it would be creepy and I've already given her enough reason to be mad at me."

"And you turn to me, Jeffrey! Well I'm flattered! I'm more than happy to offer any ideas I can come up with! Give me some time to think of something. How about you go home. Enjoy your day, and I'll come over tomorrow afternoon and we can go over some ideas. Does that work for you?" Craig asked with a professional yet courteous manner.

"Uhh...sure?" Jeff answered with confusion written all over his face. "Look, Craig. I don't want you to think I don't appreciate your help. You've actually been way more helpful than I would have thought. And I'm grateful, but I'd hoped to implement a new plan this weekend."

Craig gave him a sympathetic smile. "I'm terribly sorry. But I want to give this some thought. I'd hate to recommend something I hadn't thought through enough and ruin everything! Why I'd never forgive myself! Would you do that to me?" He asked with the mournful look of an abandoned puppy.

"...No? No, I guess not." Jeff's shoulders dropped. "So. I guess I'll just...hang out and I'll see you tomorrow?" He asked. What the hell was he going to do with another twenty four hours to obsess over this?

"Excellent!" the Dean clapped as he stood up. "Now I hate to be a Rude Ruth but I've got a lot planned today and I need to get everything done so I can think up a foolproof plan for you!"

"Oh yeah. Of course," Jeff said as he stood and walked to the door. He paused and looked back over his shoulder. "And I mean it, Craig. Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, Jeffrey." Craig said with a wagging finger. "Thank me when you and Annie are together!"

Jeff nodded and went back home to waste the next twenty four hours. What could he do to fill the time?

Annie had just finished her laundry Friday morning, glad for the day off from work, when her phone rang. An actual phone call? Who even did that anymore? She hung up the last of her summer blouses in the closet and pulled her phone only to raise an eyebrow in confusion. The Dean was calling her?

"Hi Dean Pelton. What can I help you with?" She said cheerfully. No reason to assume his call was bad news. Even if he did live next door to Jeff. Oh god, "Oh my god did something happen to Jeff? Is he okay?" she asked worriedly.

"Annie Edison! First of all, Jeff is fine as far as I know. And secondly I believe I already told you to call me Craig!" He chastised gently.

Annie held a hand to chest and willed her heart to stop racing. Jeff was fine. Of course he was. It wasn't all about Jeff, after all. And she was disappointed in herself for assuming it was and getting so worried. "I'm sorry, Craig. So what's up?"

"Well, I know you've had a bit of a weird week so I'm calling to cordially invite you to a pool party here at the Condo tomorrow!"

Oh that sounded fun! Wait. Neighbors. "Craig I'd love to but I really don't want to run into Jeff right now so I'm going to have to pass. But thank you very much for thinking of me," she declined politely. Disappointed that she would have to miss a party.

"Oh no need to worry about that. He went out of town this morning to visit his Mom." Craig said dismissively. "That's actually when I got the idea. I bet you could use a little frivolity right about now. Am I right?"

Jeff was out of town? To visit his Mom? Focus, Annie. "So very right," she agreed. "So yeah. Yeah that sounds fun! What time should I be there? I assume everyone else is coming?"

"You assume right! Why don't we plan on noon and we can grill hot dogs and have a good old fashioned summer party!" Craig gushed. "Oh and I'll ask Shirley to make cupcakes with little icing pool toys! This is going to be so much fun! So I can count on seeing you tomorrow at noon?" He asked.

Annie laughed at his enthusiasm. "Yes I'll be there. Thank you for inviting me and I'll see you tomorrow!"

After they had hung up Annie looked through her dresser to decide what she would wear the next day, excited about having a pool party in the unseasonably warm weather they'd been having. As she was laying out her SPF 100 sunscreen she received an incoming text from Britta.

Britta: Hey! You're going to Craig's pool party right?

Annie: Yep! Just got off the phone with him. Once he let me know Jeff wasn't going to be there I told him I would come.

Craig had said what now? Britta's brow crinkled in confusion and she turned to Ian to ask. "Hey, did Jeff go out of town?"

Duncan gave her a puzzled look as he pulled her feet into his lap to massage them. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He said.

Britta closed her eyes for a minute, enjoying the foot rub before she remembered what she had been asking. "Did Jeff say anything to you about going out of town when you two were on the phone this morning?"

Duncan's brows drew down in confusion. "Why would he want to go rock climbing together this afternoon if he were going out of town?"

"That's what I thought!" Britta said with an evil chuckle. Oh Dean Pelton, she thought, I had no idea you were so deliciously devious! Her estimation of the man rose considerably. She fired off another text to Annie.

Britta: Good! Listen, are you free today? I need a new swimsuit. I'll talk to Shirley and see if she does, too. Let's have a girls day! We can go to lunch then buy swimsuits and it will be fun!

Annie grinned. She had just been thinking that all of her swimsuits were a bit juvenile. And she had gotten paid that morning. Britta had perfect timing.

Annie: Get out of my head! Yes! Oh and pedicures! When and where?

The three women exchanged hugs and squeals as if they hadn't seen each other in months as they sat down in the casual bistro where they'd agreed to meet. Shirley was looking happier than her friends had seen her since Andre and the kids had left. They placed their orders and as they sipped on iced tea started chatting.

"Shirley you have to tell me!" Annie said with mock seriousness. "You didn't cook up this pool party with the Dean for another stealth baptism, did you?"

"Oh now!" Shirley exclaimed. "That was one time! And I promised I wouldn't ever do that particular thing again." She waved her hand and changed the subject. "How has your week been, you two?"

Britta and Annie exchanged a glance. Had neither of them filled Shirley in on what had happened? She had been there last weekend. They each shook their heads, letting the other know they hadn't talked to Shirley, who was generally very busy with her business, even in the summer months. In fact, she had been hesitant to leave the shop to go shopping until Britta had practically begged her.

"Well," Annie said hesitantly. "I got good news at work that means I'm going to be able to drop to part time this summer. I'm hoping to get an internship with the Greendale PD."

Britta rolled her eyes. Trust Annie to gloss over the actual big thing that had been happening. She turned to Shirley and conspiratorially said, "Annie still hasn't talked to Jeff. She's still mad at him about last weekend."

Shirley grinned widely and said to Britta, "Well I don't know what that boy was thinking. Trying to hit on a sweet little thing like our Annie. He should be ashamed of himself, trying to corrupt that little girl." She continued in that vein for several minutes ranting against grown men hitting on innocent young ladies who couldn't possibly be ready for an adult relationship. And how she couldn't believe his audacity, even if he had been drinking.

Annie fumed silently. Couldn't possibly be ready for an adult relationship? Shirley was talking about her like she wasn't even there! Not to mention that umm hello? She was hardly a little girl and Jeff was hardly the big bad wolf. Ugh she was done listening to this. With a sweet smile and a perky voice she turned on the well-intentioned woman. "Shirley what was your wedding to Andre like?"

Britta turned to Annie and gaped at her. She wouldn't.

Shirley immediately stopped her tirade and turned a beaming smile on the brunette. "Oh! Oh sweetie it was beautiful! It was at our church of course and it was the most beautiful October day. That was the happiest day of my life aside from having my sweet babies."

Annie continued to spin her web. With big eyes she asked, "Do you regret it? Your marriage, I mean. After everything that's happened?"

Shirley's smile turned rueful and she reached out to pat Annie's hand. "Oh nooo. Not at all. I know what happened between us wasn't ideal but I don't regret it for a moment. We had fifteen good years together before the incident and even though these past five years haven't been the best I can honestly say I don't regret it. Not for a moment."

Annie gave her friend a concerned look and held her hand, "So looking back you wouldn't have done anything differently?"

Shirley beamed. "Oh my, no. I knew from the moment I met him that Andre was the one. Marrying him was the most beautiful thing that's ever happened to me and I will always be grateful for what we had."

Annie had laid her trap perfectly and she sprung it without mercy. "Shirley how old were you when you two got married?" she asked.

Shirley was still smiling at the memories of a happier time, "I was 22."

Gotcha. "Shirley I'm 23. Don't you think I'm also old enough to make my own decision about whether or not I'm ready for an adult relationship?"

Britta mentally gave Annie a high five. You go girl!

After Shirley had apologized for not realizing how much Annie had grown up and Annie had apologized for the manner in which she had made her point they managed to have a lovely lunch before heading to the dreaded mall to buy swimsuits.

"Strength in numbers, ladies. I've always hated buying swimsuits and I'm going to need your support," Shirley confessed.

Annie couldn't help but agree with her. "I don't usually do pools," she confessed, "See how pale I am? See no melanoma? That's not a coincidence. I use SPF 100 whenever I go outside."

"I just hate how hard it is to find a real swimsuit," Britta complained. "I mean I'm there to swim. Not shoot a porno. I just want something simple. But all I ever see are these teensy little bikinis. I hate bikinis and I will never wear one. Out of principal. We're going to hang out with friends. We're not there to be sexual objects."

Shirley vocally agreed but Annie, surprisingly argued with Britta as they walked into the store. "I have to wear bikinis, though. One piece suits never fit me right! Either I fall out of the top or the bottom is so baggy I look like I'm wearing a diaper!"

Britta and Shirley shared a look. They would LOVE to have her problem.

They broke off to find suits in their respective style preferences and met in front of the changing rooms. Britta decided on a navy blue racerback one piece that would have been at home in an Olympic race. "It's perfect!" She beamed.

Shirley selected a swimdress in a bright, cheerful tropical pattern with hidden underwire support and a fun flower accent. "Lord almighty it supports the girls and still preserves my modesty! Praise Jesus!" she crowed in happiness. This was the first suit in years that she had actually loved and made her feel confident.

But Annie was having a harder time. All of the bikinis lacked chest support and the bottoms were so small she was sure the ass crack bandit would attack her every time she leaned forward. "I officially hate everything," she groused.

Britta smiled at her friend and offered to look for some better choices. Once she got Annie's sized she grabbed a saleswoman and described exactly what she was looking for. The woman led her over to a separate display and explained that this look was so hot right now they had to have a section just for them. Britta found exactly what she was looking for and with a grin walked back over to her friends.

"Here," she said handing the two pieces to Annie. "Try these. Trust me. It's far more modest than any other bikini you'll find here."

Annie gave her a skeptical look but dutifully went into the changing room to try it on. She returned a few minutes later and both Britta and Shirley stared in wonder and surprise at their friend's transformation.

The retro inspired black rockabilly bikini had turned their normally buttoned-up and conservative friend into an absolute bombshell. She looked like an old fashioned pinup from the forties.

The contrast of the dark fabric and her pale complexion made her skin look like it glowed. The high waisted bottoms served only to emphasize her trim waist and the curve of her hips. But most impressively, the full coverage top took Annie's normally impressive cleavage to eye-popping new heights.

Britta had to stop herself from texting Jeff to let him know she would take his thanks in the form of insider information about Ian.