Thanks for hanging with this. All of you, thank you!

Enjoy!

The Story (Brandi Carlile)

"Mom, I know. I should have let you know before I left. It all just happened so fast. I couldn't not come" Annabelle whispered as loud as she possibly could without waking everyone in the house, as she sat on the edge of the bed after hearing her phone buzzing on the nightstand, late at night on her side of the world.

"Honey, I am glad you went. I just wish you would have let me know before you left, you know, just in case" The Senator stated in a slightly frustrated tone trying her hardest to understand the distance that Annabelle had been subtly creating over the last few months.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me" Annabelle plead.

"It's okay sweetheart, I understand, just, please, just call me if anything changes and when you are leaving so I know when to expect you back in the states" Her mother replied with a light sigh at the end of her sentence.

"I will mom, I will. I am going to go back to sleep now, I love you and will call you later" Annabelle quietly mumbled as she tried to stifle a yawn.

"Bye Annabelle, I love you too" Victoria responded in a warmer tone.

Annabelle set her phone back onto the nightstand, laid on her back and stared at the ceiling for a couple of minutes. So much has happened in the last few months, well the last couple of years. She almost couldn't believe the weight of everything. So much so that now, with her mind going in overdrive, her chest felt heavy, almost not allowing her to breathe, at least breathe normally. She closed her eyes tightly, and began to breathe as best as she could, in through her nose and out through her mouth, trying her best to calm herself down. She had finally reconnected with Simone. Well, more than she had since Simone had taken the job in Los Angeles and Cruisin Central had started on its first tour. She never thought, after all the time and distance, that she would be right here, with Simone, and the rest of the Bradley family as well. Not that the circumstances were the greatest, but they were what they were regardless, and she was just grateful to be in this place, literally and figuratively. She knew that her being here, at this specific time, probably did more to heal some of the damage from the recent past than anything else. She always knew where her heart was, and who it belonged too. No matter who else she surrounded herself with or where she traveled to for her shows. At this point, after seeing Simone, after listening to her describe what it was like for her after all that time apart and after what Annabelle had done, she knew, there was no going back now. As long as she thought there was a chance, a chance that Simone would completely forgive her and let the past fall away, she would do whatever it took, on her part, as best as she could, to show Simone this fact. The fact that her heart was finally not working at minimal strength anymore. The fact that when she looked into her eyes, the sadness that resided for so long was fading. The fact that when she reached out to touch her hand, arm or cheek, there was no hesitation, just an acceptance of the feeling that radiated from her hands, like it was the most welcomed and natural thing in the world.

She began to allow sleep to take back over, her eyes became heavier with each passing thought, and soon her breathing was beginning to even out.

Just before her eyes closed for the rest of the night, she felt an arm cover her mid section and soon Simone's forehead was resting on her shoulder. This allowed Annabelle to finally close her eyes completely, feeling that her thoughts had somehow filtered their way to Simone and she was answering her in her own quiet way.

"Jas, everything will be fine. He is much more stable now. He has been cleared by the doctor to start slowly back into his routine" Simone stated as she finished taking the empty coffee mugs off the table and set them in the sink.

"I know, but if you are staying, I think I should st" Jason was interrupted by Simone saying, "I know you have to get back to work, really, he is fine, you have seen him, he is up and about already. I am only staying for a bit longer, please don't worry about it"

"Son, I am okay. I am glad that you came, but really I would rather have you come visit when we can go sightseeing or out on the water" The eldest Bradley stated as he came into the kitchen after hearing the last part of their conversation.

"But dad... Charles cut off his son and said, with a slight smirk, "No buts, and don't worry I am kicking Simone out of here soon, I am feeling much better and don't need to be babysat."

"I can stay lo.. Charles just held up his hand to quiet Simone's next words, set his cup in the sink, gave them both a kiss on the forehead and left the kitchen.

The siblings just sat there in awe of what just transpired. Yes their father was getting older, just got out of the hospital, but they knew, they knew he wasn't going to stand for them worrying about him and least of all sitting around asking him a million times if they can do this or get that for him. They knew this because they were both the same. They had inherited that from their father. So as much as they protested, they knew now, it was falling on deaf ears.

"Good morning. Is there any coffee left" Annabelle asked as she stepped into the kitchen, hair pulled back in a loose ponytail after sleeping in a bit longer than expected due to the interruption to her sleep the night before.

"Sure, let me get you a".. Simone was stopped in her tracks when Annabelle lightly pressed her shoulder to sit her back down and then went about getting a cup out of the cabinet.

"How is he this morning" Annabelle questioned as she was focused on pouring the black liquid into her cup, still a little groggy from just waking up.

"Pretty much back to his normal self" Jason replied with a slight grin.

"He is kicking us out pretty soon, he said he doesn't want to be babysat anymore" Simone added with a slight sigh while shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, I am glad that he is getting better so quickly, but I am not surprised that he just wants to get back to his routine. I know the both of you, would be the same, wait, are the same way" Annabelle stated with a glint in her eye and a smirk tugging on her lips.

"Is that right" Jason replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes that's... Annabelle couldn't finish her sentence when Jason scooped her up and began to work his way toward the door that was already open that lead to the fountain out back.

She squealed and then tried her best to balance her cup after losing the ability to touch the ground at the moment.

"You wouldn't dare" Annabelle forced out through gritted teeth.

"You don't know m... Jason was interrupted by a hand on his arm and Simone's voice saying, "Jas, as much fun as this looks, I don't want to have to call an ambulance for you after she gets out".

"Okay, okay, I will put her down, sheesh" Jason replied a little disappointed that he wasn't going to carry out Annabelle's morning swim.

Annabelle just smiled and then stuck her tongue out at Jason as he was setting her back down.

"Oh, oops, sorry she slipped" Jason fake gasped as he moved forward and 'set' Annabelle down in the fountain and then shrugged his shoulders and quickly walked away.

"You just wait Jas, paybacks are a … Annabelle was cut off by Simone's giggling and her saying, "Annabelle, here let me help you".

"I got it, thanks" Annabelle replied huffing as she attempted to get up, realizing she still had her flimsy sleep clothes on, began to cover herself up while she felt herself start to shiver.

"Hang on, I will be right back" Simone said, still slightly chuckling noticing the flustered and somewhat compromising state Annabelle was currently in.

"Here, wrap this around you" Simone stated as she handed Annabelle a towel to cover herself up and also stop her from shivering.

"Thanks. And thanks for trying to come to my rescue" Annabelle replied as she stepped closer to Simone.

"You're welcome. Now go up and get out of those clothes while I finish cleaning up in here" Simone chided as she was soon feeling the cool air leave the space around her.

"You sure you don't need help" Annabelle questioned, now locking blue on blue.

"No, I can, I, I" Simone stuttered out losing her concentration due to Annabelle's close proximity.

"Okay, I will see you shortly then" Annabelle whispered out, knowing that is all the volume she needed to produce to get Simone to hear her. Letting a small smirk form, she was soon wrapping up the blonde haired blue-eyed beauty in a very wet embrace.

"Annabelle" Simone squeaked as she felt her clothes and parts of her skin become damp after Annabelle's contact.

Annabelle ignoring Simone's distress, just looked up and gave her a quick kiss on the lips and said, "I didn't want you to feel left out"

With that, Annabelle released Simone and left her to stand motionless in the middle of the kitchen, her body now cooled at the loss of contact but her lips still on fire from a few seconds before.

Annabelle and Simone were on their way back to Simone's father's house after dropping Jason off at the airport. It was a silent ride, only having the radio humming in the background. It was a comfortable silence, each in their own thoughts as the scenery rushed by. They hadn't had too much time to talk, well about anything other than Simone's father and his condition and a few moments here and there where schedules came up. Annabelle said she didn't have to be back for another month due to the editing of her recent CD. Simone said she didn't really take a hiatus so to speak and that she was just going to assume that she could take whatever time she needed with her father as long as she did a little work while in another country. They were just enjoying the time together as much as they could with everything else going on around them.

Annabelle noticed the sound of the engine downshifting when she was brought out of her thoughts and then looked in Simone's direction.

"Are we stopping" Annabelle asked as she turned her head back in the direction of the window.

"I just thought we could stop for a bit, and take in the scenery" Simone replied as she put the car in park and then gripped the steering wheel with both hands, becoming lost in thought as she turned to take in Annabelle's profile.

Annabelle came out of her daze when she heard the driver's side door closing. She glanced in that direction and barely caught Simone's back as she continued to walk toward the white sand.

Annabelle opened her door and let out a small sigh after she got out to close the door.

"Just breathe" she said to herself, as she continued to watch Simone make her way down the craggy steps to get closer to the water. She wanted Simone to know what she was really feeling. She knew deep down inside that Simone did know one thing, that she loved her, no question. Annabelle wanted her to know that after all this time, that she didn't want anything else, just her. She was internally warring with herself as to why she hasn't come out and said what is really in her heart. She knew Simone deserved at least that. No more just holding back, a touch here, a glance there, just show her what she really meant to her.

"This looks familiar" Annabelle said quietly as she sat next to Simone on the now cool sand.

"It was one of the first pictures I had written a caption for" Simone replied, still looking out at the vast horizon in front of them.

"I knew then, that this was your true calling" Annabelle stated as she moved closer to Simone, looping her arm through Simone's that was resting on her knee.

"Well, that may be true, but you, you have certainly found yours, and if you weren't sure, there are millions of people who feel the same" Simone replied, giving Annabelle a sideways glance with a small smile on her face.

"It means so much more, just coming from you. That is all that matters to me Simone" Annabelle sighed as she was now resting her head on Simone's shoulder, just reveling in the touch and the colors changing in the distance.

"Annabelle, you have so mu... Simone's words were now being impeded as Annabelle pressed a soft kiss on her lips. Annabelle pulled away and made sure she had Simone's attention when she said, "Simone, all I need is you. That is all I ever needed. The rest of it, doesn't matter if I don't have you to share it with. All this time, I knew deep down that you were all I wanted. I am sorry that I let you think otherwise. Regardless of where our careers take us, what the future brings, I just want you to know, that I want to share that future with you. Simone, I love you. I never stopped, I... Annabelle's words were now being swallowed up by Simone as she pulled Annabelle back in for a more passionate kiss. That was Annabelle's answer. At this point she didn't even care if the words were returned to her. She knew at this moment, with Simone's lips on hers, that she didn't need it, this was enough to prove what was in Simone's heart. This kiss wasn't needy or tentative. It was just what both of them felt the other deserved. Just the flat out emotion that they had tried so hard to bury the last couple of years, coming out in this simple moment, in this simple way, in this perfect place.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes. Annabelle finally decided she needed to come up for air. She pressed her forehead against Simone's, still with eyes closed, and ran her hands down Simone's arms. Her hands moved back up, and rested on either side of Simone's face. She looked her in the eye and just whispered "Thank you".

TBC...

Have a great weekend all!

Peace!