A/N: Sorry to not update in forever! Life got busy and you know the rest. Thank you for your support of this story!

Neither Jeff nor Annie had enough time to repress and act like they forgot the fact that it got (once again) awkward between them since they saw each other only twenty four hours later at another Trobed plus Annie potluck.

The food on the table was primarily cooked by Shirley since Abed threw away Britta's "unacceptable and unlikable" vegan dish. Troy made some mutated form of slutty brownies that involved macaroni, salami, and melted chocolate instead of the usual ingredients. When Jeff was berated for his lack of contribution he plead that "he gives the group a beautiful view" by being present. Annie made crustless and even finger sandwiches while Abed of course had his buttered noodles.

Throughout the dinner Annie sacrificed her usual excellent posture in order to get in the perfect position so that Troy's head would block Jeff's towering stature. In her head she was already scolding herself for getting back into the pattern she and Jeff had. Everything is fine then a moment of tension followed by a day or two of awkward interaction until both feel like enough time has passed to ignore the incident. Meanwhile, Jeff was telling himself to bring it up, he can talk his way out of anything he can make a couple jokes and then skip ignoring Annie. He hated ignoring her, he would miss her and overanalyze why he is missing her and then have to drink and argue against himself until he was settled. It was a ridiculous exercise for both.

At one point during the evening Jeff got so frustrated he thought about hitting his head on the fan again just to get a moment to talk to Annie alone.

"All right guys, we have some fun planned. It's two syllables..." Troy started, "Charades!"

"At least it's not Yahtzee..." Jeff rolled his eyes.

Abed turned abruptly "No more dye. It's an apartment rule."

"We even made a sign." Troy pointed to the huge poster covering most of Annie's door.

"That's a little dramatic."

"Precautions my friend."

Troy started counting around the room, "Three... three... Perfect! Let's do boys against girls!"

"That's sexist." Britta crossed her arms. There was a collective moan across the room.

"How about people who live hear against those who don't?"

"That's unfair because you guys could have practiced before hand."

Jeff paused for a moment with his mouth half open, "I was going to say who would do that but then I remembered Troy and Abed. The comment is valid."

Abed looked around the room and then as if an oven timer went off "How about Jeff and the girls he's made out with versus all us untouched?"

"Abed what the hell?" Jeff did not want to look at either of them in fear he was going to get punched in the face like last time this was brought up.

"There is no other natural groupings."

"You could have just picked randomly!"

Britta leaned in, "Am I the only one who is noticing this is all the white people against any person of color?"

Shirley went to her low voice, "I think that says more about Jeff."

"Okay can we not yell at me right now? Let's just play stupid charades."

It was at exactly 10:21 when Jeff pulled something in his thigh trying to imitate a ballerina. Abed would say it was because Jeff was the new older and Abed forgot that he could not keep up with the other's youthful vigor. Jeff would contest this statement. Annie, staying true to her nature, was the one to volunteer her assistance. Though Jeff would never admit he believed in some outside force controlling its fate, it seemed said nonexistent force made sure they talked.

He was laying on his back on her bed. Of course. The rest of the group was dispersing as Annie was pulling on Jeff's leg.

"You shouldn't have tried lifting your leg above your head." Annie tried not to laugh as she started moving Jeff's leg back into a normal position.

"Maybe I got a little caught up in the game."

"A little? I have never seen you sweat like that before."

"Your heating is weird."

"Sure." Annie should have said something better to keep the conversation going. If there was a lull it would get weird again and she just wanted to be friends with out all the bull dammit. Why couldn't they have that? Maybe if they got it all out they would be done and wouldn't have to worry about it anymore, or maybe that would make things worse? "Your mom was really nice yesterday." Why. Did. She. Bring. Up. His. Mom?

Jeff seemed surprised at the change of topic, "She's a good woman. Even though her calls are a little frequent." Another lull. Come on Jeff, own it. Or run away from it, like you always do. "Sorry if anything she said was weird, it happens." Huh, good for you.

"You bring a lot of girls to meet your mother?" Oh my god why was she sounding like a jealous girlfriend.

"No, she actually never met any of my friends or girlfriends." Oh my god why was he sounding so presumptuous.

"Oh."

"Ya."

"Listen-"

"Wait."

"What?"

"I don't know."

"Okay."

This was a mess. Come on Jeff talk through it... "I care about you Annie-"

"Don't." It was short. Terse.

"What?"

"I don't want to talk about this Jeff. I don't want to do it."

"All right, we don't have to." Jeff started to move from the bed, "Thanks for the leg." He started to ease back into his usual smirky attitude.

"Don't do that."

"Move?"

"No. Don't revert again. I'm sick of this." Annie was crossing her arms and avoiding eye contact.

Jeff lowered his voice, "What do you want?"

She looked up at him, "I want to just know what you want. Clearly. Once and for all. I don't want to have to dance around each other every time something slightly new happens between us."

He couldn't return her gaze, "Relationships are-"

"Complicated. You gave me the speech before. It's been a few years, how about we change things up?"

"Annie..."

"I'm not gonna melt for you again. I can't wait for you. It's useless and disappointing." Annie's voice started getting louder, "You know what your mom whispered in my ear yesterday? 'Give him time.' I have given you enough time Jeff. I'll be honest, I don't know what I want either. But I know two things: I know that I really like you. So much it is embarrassing. I mean, I pretended to be married to you for pete's sake! I also know I can not wait for a guy who is just keeping me as an option. I think if you- If we really wanted to we could make it work but I can't wait for a coward anymore."

Jeff's head was sinking lower to the ground.

"I'm not asking you to be anything for me. I need closure and so do you. I deserve it." Annie's shoulders were pushed back and head high. "If you aren't going to say anything, please leave."

There was a moment where Jeff was going to walk out and not even look back. Then he remembered: the lab, the machine, and the stupid head piece. Then, he finally looked Annie in the eye and saw her, really saw her. He saw her grow right in front of him and thought of the conversation they had during the Model UN competition. He was right then, they both needed to mature. She definitely had, but what about him?

Before Jeff knew what he was doing he was standing, walking towards Annie and gave her one of those "platonic shoulder holds."

"I need to tell you something."

Annie looked at him directly and expectantly. This was his final chance.

"Borchet's lab. Do you remember?"

"You took the head piece and the door opened."

"Do you know what I did?" For the first time in this long awkward conversation, Jeff didn't have to force the words, "I looked at you. I thought about you and us. I tried everyone else, but it only worked with you." Annie's big doe eyes widened. "I'm in love with you Annie Edison and frankly, I don't know what the hell to do about it."

"I don't know how to feel about this."

"It's okay. You're right. You've done enough waiting on me. My cards are on the table, I'm fine returning the favor." Then, without a word from either, Jeff left the apartment.

He turned the corner on his apartment floor and found Annie by his door.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"How did you get here before me?"

Annie just shrugged her shoulders. "Jeff. I have a question for you?"

He smirked, "Are you going to propose to me?"

"Come on, be serious." She was clearly stressed but couldn't help but crack a smile.

"All right I'm sorry. What's your question?"

Her eyes wandered the floor and wall for a moment, "It's more of a proposition." She was using a formal voice, Jeff almost laughed. The phrase "Annie: The Day-planner" came to mind.

"Okay..."

"Would you be interested in a romantic relationship with myself? The relationship would have to be exclusive of course and involve dates formal and nonformal."

Jeff mimicked her tone, "These terms seem agreeable. Should other parties close to ourselves be informed. What does the committee think?"

Annie let out her grin, "The committee thinks... for a certain period of time it should be private. Then, if all is well it may go public. Also, sneaking around is kind of sexy, don't you think?"

"Definitely." Jeff leaned in to kiss her, when they heard a gasp from an adjacent door.

Simultaneously, "Oh no."

"I think we are going to have to skip the private phase."

Annie sighed, "Whatever."

"Is Annie Edison throwing caution to the wind?" Jeff faked a gasp.

"I think it's time for trying something new." Finally, the gap closed between them, "By the way, you left before I got to say it. I love you too dumbass."

"Oh thank god, I didn't want to push it but it's nice to know."

Annie laughed, "You are a sensitive soul Jeff Winger."

"Don't say that. The dean might still be watching a listening."

"I guess we better go inside then?"

"It's kind of the only option at this point."

The minute the door to Jeff's apartment closed, the man in the adjacent apartment had his phone in his hands and was calling four numbers furiously.