It's a gradual thing, but Anna notices that slowly, Skylar has moved into the hotel suite with her for the duration of filming. At first, it's only subtle changes, like the appearance of a second toothbrush in the bathroom, or one of his shirts hanging in the closet. Then she observes his laundry folded next to hers by the hotel service, and his shaving supplies and cologne on the bathroom counter. When his suitcases finally appear, she decides to point out the obvious.
"So have you informed the hotel that your room is no longer needed?" she asks him one evening.
"Yeah, like weeks ago," he grins at her. "I figured I was staying here every night anyway, so why bother keeping up the pretense and wasting the studio's money? Plus, this room is much nicer than mine was."
It amazes her how easily they fall into the roles of being a couple. She's learning a lot about him, and part of her is really dreading the end of filming because she isn't sure what it will mean for their relationship. The holidays are coming up, and then right after the New Year she is set to begin filming with Zach.
Much too quickly, the movie reaches completion and it's time for the wrap party. They're heading back to L.A. tomorrow, where she'll be for a few days before packing another bag and flying out to her hometown in Maine for Christmas.
He's trying not to show her that he's on the verge of panicking. He knows that he's going to miss her so much, and he isn't sure how he's going to handle it. It's frightening to him how much he needs her in his life already.
"Hey," she says as they dress for the wrap party that night, "I know Hanukah is just beginning, but I wanted to give you this." She hands him a small, wrapped package.
"You didn't have to," he tells her, "And I haven't had time to get you something for Christmas yet."
"I wanted to," she says softly.
He tears off the paper and opens the lid to the box. Inside is a black skinny tie that at first glance looks plain, but when you look closely there are tiny microphones sewn onto it in a subtle pattern. Underneath it he finds a money clip with a treble clef on it.
"So you can always remember the Trebles and our first official date," she explains, putting the tie on him and tying the knot carefully at his neck.
"As if I'd ever forget," he whispers, "Thank you." He kisses her softly and smiles. "So I was wondering if after Christmas you'd like to visit me in New York for New Year's."
"And meet your family?" she asks.
"Yes, if that's ok with you. It's just that they're really important to me, and they've been bugging me about meeting you," he answers.
"Really?" she says, surprised, "Were they disappointed when you broke up with Camp? Be honest."
"Honestly? No, I don't think so. They would never say so, but I know it didn't thrill them that she was married before. My mom even hinted at the fact that I was a marriage-wrecker, even though I promised her that we waited until she was divorced to really start our relationship. Plus, I think my dad worried that our age differences would mean we'd want different things in life at different times."
"You were only five years apart. We're two," Anna reminds him, "It's not like me and Edgar. Though I know for a fact that my parents didn't think he was marriage material."
"Do you want to get married someday?" he asks.
"I'd like to, yes," she replies thoughtfully, "Because I see how happy my parents are together. But I worry about what a Hollywood life means for marriage. Celebs don't exactly have the best relationship track records, you know."
"Some do," he counters, "But I know what you mean. My parents are happy together too, and I'm one of four children, so I'd like to have a family of my own someday."
"I think marriages take work, a lot of work, and it would be even harder with a Hollywood life and schedule. I mean what if you were to be in a movie with some tall blonde, find you have crazy hot chemistry together, and leave me for her?"
"But I already have a short brunette who I love, and the crazy hot chemistry is just an added bonus," he raises his eyebrows at her as she pulls him closer by his tie.
"Or maybe some chick will see you in this suit and fall madly in love with you, refusing to take no for an answer," she continues.
"Then I'll have her surgically removed from me and head back to you at my earliest opportunity," he grins smugly. "Trust me, you're not the one who has to worry in this. I mean, look at you in that dress. Stunning. I'm not the famous one with all the connections, box office hits, and awards shows here."
"I'll bring you to the awards shows. They're really not all that entertaining," she smirks, "And the heels are a killer."
"I'll carry you," he jokes back, and she laughs, "We'll piggy-back up the red carpet."
She grows quiet for a minute, thoughtful, "Ok, I'll meet your family on one condition," she replies before adding, "You come to Portland first for Christmas and meet mine."
He hugs her tightly, "Sounds perfect," he answers, knowing he's going to make the most of the holidays with her. He already has a gift in mind. He just needs to purchase it. "So what's the game plan for tonight in dealing with the press?"
"Oh, right," she looks up at him, "Either we hide or give them a show. They already know we're dating, so I guess there's no reason to hide."
"Ok," he smiles, pecking her lips lightly, careful not to smudge her makeup, "You ready to go?"
"Yeah," she nods and he leads them to the door, opening it for her.
They take the elevator to the lobby, and as the doors open she looks up at him, "Brace yourself for the crazy," she says with a smile. Thankfully, the lobby is relatively quiet as they make their way to the hotel entrance where a limo is waiting to take them to the party. The automatic doors slide open, and someone yells, "Look, it's Skylar and Anna!"
Anna reaches for Skylar's hand as they walk outside together, a flurry of flashes and a scurry of cameramen trying to get the perfect shot blocking their way to the limousine. Feeling overwhelmed, Anna looks up at Skylar and smiles when she realizes that he seems unfazed by any of it. She feels a rush of love for him and reaches up to tilt his head down, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. A hundred flash bulbs go off as she quickly grabs his hand again, dragging him in the direction of the car. They both climb in, happy to close the doors behind them as the paparazzi scramble around the car for one last shot.
"Wow," Skylar breathes a sigh of relief as the car starts moving.
"Not used to being attacked when all you're trying to do is go to a party?" Anna jokes half-heartedly.
"No, not at all," Skylar replies, "I mean paps are frequently trying to get my photo, but nothing like that. They definitely didn't seem to care as much when I was with Camp, but I guess I'm in the big leagues now."
"I used to like to hang out with Edgar in secret locations, where they couldn't find us," she replies, "Though sometimes they still would. Sometimes I miss just being normal."
"Somehow I think that you were never normal," Skylar corrects her, "You were born to stand out. In fact, I never met someone so short who attracted so much attention to herself."
"Shut up," she smacks him playfully on the arm. "They're only paying attention because I'm with you now."
"We do look pretty hot together," he says smugly, earning a laugh from her. "So how long before that picture of us kissing goes viral?"
"It probably already has," she laughs again. They face a similar scene at the entrance to the party where cameramen have set up waiting for the cast to arrive. Skylar holds Anna's hand tightly as they enter, and is happy to be free of the press for the evening as they aren't permitted inside the party. There's plenty of food, drinks, and dancing going on, and they're happy to be with their friends for one last night.
Of course Camp is there, but she thankfully ignores them as she enters and goes off to mingle with the others. Skylar pulls Anna onto the dance floor to join Rebel, Alexis, Utkarsh, and Brittany who are already dancing in a group. They're having a great time eating, drinking, dancing, talking, and laughing. When slower songs play Skylar is sure to pull Anna close, holding her tightly as they sway together.
"I know this is going to sound stupid," he says into her ear as they dance, "But I keep looking at my watch, dreading the end of the night. It's been amazing, being here with you, falling in love with you, and I just don't want it to end."
"It doesn't sound stupid at all," she replies, stroking his cheek with the back of her hand, "I feel the same way, but we have to look at this change as a beginning, not an ending."
"I can do that," he says, leaning down to kiss her. He takes his time, his lips slowly memorizing the feel of hers as they move together. He breaks the kiss and buries his face into her hair, wrapping himself around her.
Eventually, the party comes to an end, and Skylar leads her through the throngs of paparazzi back to the limo. The ride back to the hotel is relatively silent, as they just hold each other. He takes her hand and cuts through the crowd waiting for them back at the hotel and walks her to the elevator. No words are spoken as they ride up to the top floor and open the suite door. When the door closes behind them he takes her hand again, leading her to the bedroom that they've shared for the past month. Her heart begins pounding in her chest as he stares at her intently, brushing her hair off her shoulders as he steps closer.
Slowly, painstakingly, he undresses her, helping her step out of her dress as it pools at her feet. She does the same, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt and pants, until both of them are left only in their underwear. They climb into bed and he holds her close, kissing every inch of skin on her body reverently while she traces the planes of his chest and back with her nimble fingers. He wants to memorize everything about her, and as he looks into her eyes and kisses her, he finally understands what Jason was telling him to do all those weeks ago. He finally gets how Jesse feels about having to leave Beca.
"I love you," he whispers to her.
"I love you too," she replies, cradling his face in her hands as she looks into his eyes. They make love slowly, savoring each moment they have together. And afterwards, as they lay together with no discernable space between them, he realizes that this tightening feeling in the pit of his stomach, this desperation, is what real love feels like.
Anna is staring up at the ceiling, Skylar's body partially covering hers. Only his weight on top of her isn't why she feels like she's suffocating suddenly. It's hitting her like a ton of bricks, the fact that they're boarding a plane tomorrow and everything is about to change. And she doesn't want it to, because for the first time in her life, she's experiencing absolute perfection.
"You know I was with Edgar for four years," she says, breaking the long silence, "And I believed I was in love with him. You don't stay with someone that long if you don't care about them. But I was wrong."
He looks at her incredulously, because for what seems like the millionth time, she seems to have read his mind. He stays quiet, letting her continue.
"Because I didn't really know what love was until you," she finishes.
"How is it that you always know what I'm thinking? That you always feel the same way at the same time?" he asks, pulling her on top of him.
"I was going to say something incredibly cheesy like we're meant to be, or we're soul mates, or we belong together," she replies, "And I've never really believed in any of that."
"Until now," he finishes, and she laughs into his chest.
"Stop doing that!" she insists, but she's smiling.
"Never," he whispers, kissing her passionately.
And they can both feel it, that this moment is life changing, that it will define them for years to come. Because when you experience true love, real love, there's just nothing else in life that compares to it.
And nothing compares to how they are together, either.
A/N: I know I skipped ahead in time a little for this story, but I want to progress the storyline and couldn't while they were still filming. So…I jumped it forward a little. I hope it is ok with you!