Started this after the adorable blanket scene, and it happens to fit well as a pre-ep to 3.15.

I loved Annie's look as he walked away, it dawning on her that he's been there, on the sidelines, there for her this whole time.

"Maybe she realized she likes you too."

"Too?" ❤

There are a handful of people (if that many) in her life that she's allowed herself to get close to –

Allowed herself to really trust.

The shoebox philosophy, the one her sister had never quite understood and teased her for, had been the only way she knew how to cope growing up.

Because getting lulled into that sense of security meant becoming attached, vulnerable, and open to your emotions getting stomped on when the rug is finally pulled out from underneath you.

Kind of the way she was feeling now.

(So maybe she really does need that thicker skin.)

But then, her eyes scanned across the room and land on dresser, where her new blanket sat next to her jewelry box, the spot she had it rested on in a hurry to take a bath and finally, finally get some sleep.

She got up from against the bedhead with a soft smile and walked over to pick it up, she shook her head with a sigh as she carried it back with her over to the bed.

And it reminds her of the one person whose motives she's never had to question.

He'd walked away with that ridiculously handsome boyish grin of his and as her eyes trailed after him a small wave of clarity had engulfed her, her heart warmed by the knowledge that he was thinking of her.

Always putting her first.

It's funny really, that it's a gesture so small, in comparison to all the huge –amazing– things that her best friend has done for her as of late – is what reminds her of how much he's truly been there.

She picked up her phone, doesn't think about how late it is, biting her lip as she dialed his number.

"Okay," he answered on the second ring, his voice slightly groggy, "this time you missed me for sure."

A quiet laugh escaped the back of her throat while she settled underneath the blanket, tucking her knees up to her chest.

"Unless you need another favor?"

"No favor, Auggie," she answered. "Can't a girl just call to say hello?"

"Aha. So you did miss me."

She rolled her eyes with a shake of her head before she let out a small hum.

"You caught me."

There was a silence on the other line for a moment until she heard his voice again –

"You all right, Walker?"

It doesn't really surprise her that his mind reading capabilities work over the phone as well.

Though the late hour she's calling may have something to do with it.

She took a breath. "Better now than I would be at Blue Bonnet. Thank you – again."

"Hey, I told you, that was all Joan's doing."

"And I wonder who could have changed her mind?" she challenged, a slight tease in her voice.

"You caught me."

Her eyes closed briefly and she smiled. "Knew it."

"Annie – I know this isn't easy for you. And that you don't want to believe that Eyal would have –"

"I realize that I can't be objective in this situation," she interrupted, softly. "But you can. So...what do you think?"

A sigh. "I don't think it matters what I think. You know him better than I do."

"I thought I did."

"I'm sorry to tell you this, Anne – but in our line of work, that's usually how the story goes," he informed her – and his tone is eerily similar Eyal's earlier.

There is no such thing as trust in this business.

"Not all the time."

"You know what I like about you, Walker?" he asked, and she can picture the smirk playing across his lips. "You like to see the best in people."

"So I guess that makes me a bit of a chump too, huh?"

"I believe you called it being a romantic," he quipped.

She smiled, lacing a strand of hair behind her ears. "Guess we're birds of a feather then."

He chuckled. "It would appear that way."

"That's not what I meant though," she told him.

"Hm?" he murmured, tiredly, and the smile on her face grew.

"Just that – I know I have at least one person in my life that I can always count on. No question. Someone I trust completely."

Another thick pause before he answered back. "Always, Annie. Besties, remember?"

Despite the joke's levity, she hears the inflection in his voice.

The meaning behind it.

"I remember," she whispered.

"Glad to hear it, Miss Walker."

"If you'll also recall –" he continued, "we have yet to make it to Allen's."

And to talk.

To really talk.

She exhaled on a tired laugh. "I think we've exceeded our amount of rain checks allotted for the rest of the year."

"Well, then," he laughed back. "I guess we're gonna have to finally get those beers – I was thinking sometime next week. If things cool down–"

"Yes," she cut him off. "I'd love to."

Because whatever it is he's been wanting to tell her, she really wants to hear.

Also she does, in fact, really miss him.

Has for awhile now she realized.

"I'll hold you to that," he informed her, fake seriousness behind his words.

She nodded with a short exhale of breath.

"Auggie – come hell or high water, we're getting those drinks."

"Good," he said.

"You're gonna get through this, you know," his voice greeted her again after another moment. "All of it."

"Sticking with that one?" she teased.

"What can I say? It's a classic."

Not to mention that when he's the one that says it, she can actually start to believe it's true.

"Thanks, Auggie. Really."

"Don't mention it."

And when she doesn''t say anything else – not quite ready to hang up, but knowing there's nothing really left to say tonight, she just takes a second to listen to his breathing on the other line.

"Get some rest, Annie," he prodded, quietly. "The rest of us need our beauty sleep."

She laughed. "G'night, Auggie."

"Night, Walker."

She hung up with a deep breath, feeling lighter than she had all day and leaned over and shut off her lamp, before sinking her head down onto the pillow.

Curling under the blanket again, she smiled to herself.

It really is cozy – and warm.

Somehow making her feel safe, wrapped up in its snug material.

And it reminds her of the one person whose motives she's never had to question.

(She likes him too.)

Some trust in love...

Call it security, Call it your purity, Call it the words we pray.❤

I'm still a little dead from that promo. And by a little, I mean a lot. Sadly, not getting my hopes up – as much as I want it to happen for them, don't think she's ready after everything that's happened.

Not their song quite yet...