A/N: This chapter is longer than the rest, but I couldn't find a place for a clean break. I won't be posting Chapter 5 until later this weekend as I'm working on my Valentine's Day prompt. No Carson and Hughes in this chapter, I apologize, but they will be back in the next one. Hope you all are still enjoying this. Thanks again to my good buddy A-Lady-To-Me for reading through all of these before I submit them. Enjoy your week and please review.

Chapter 4

"Knock, knock," Robert said as he cautiously poked his head into John's office. His friend had been in a foul mood for days; John had called it 'brooding". "Moody" was more like it, Robert thought to himself. He let it slide, knowing that it wasn't interfering with John's work and that he hadn't acted out with any of the staff or clients. Robert had invited him over for dinner a few times that week but John kept coming up with one excuse after the other. He couldn't quite pin point what the source of his friend's discontent was but he knew it had been sudden. One minute he seemed to be walking on cloud nine and the next he had been shrouded in a cloud of misery.

John sat in his chair with his back turned to the door as he stared out the window. His eyes firmly planted in the general direction where the restaurant was located. Cars were still driving, people were still walking and boats were still moving along the water. All of them were indications that time was still passing and yet it seemed that for John, time was still standing still. Without looking away he called out to Robert and motioned with his hand for him to come in and join him. John sat there with a clicker pen in his hand, clicking out some random pattern as Anna's words played out in his head again. She had said things were 'complicated'. That there was someone else. That she wasn't free 'right now'. Did that mean that she would be free at some other time? Perhaps she was considering leaving the person she was with. But it wasn't just what she said, but how she said it. She said it like her heart was being torn in two. Her voice sounded the way he had felt when he heard her words, like his chest was being crushed. He had thought the passing of time would make it easier; he had even avoided going back to the restaurant thinking it might get her off his mind, but to no avail.

Robert's voice finally broke him from his thoughts, "I have been trying to figure out for days what has been bothering you mate and I think I finally know what it is."

"Oh yeah," John replied with raised eyebrows. "What's that?"

Robert took a seat on an empty spot at the corner of John's desk as he stared out the window with him. "You're lonely." John scoffed for a moment at the comment and rolled his eyes. "Believe me I understand. No one wants to be the third wheel with me and Cora around. We just need to go out and find you a girl, mate. Take you on the town and show you a good time," Robert suggested with a small, playful shove of John's shoulder.

Hearing Robert's words brought the image of Anna back to the front of his mind. 'Why did she have to be so damn unforgettable?' he thought to himself. "I don't think I'd be very good company right now," John said as he turned his chair back to face his desk.

"Now I don't believe that for a minute. Back in the good ole days we'd pump a couple of drinks in you and you'd be good enough company for ten parties," Robert joked.

"Yeah, but I don't drink anymore, Robert," John pointed out.

"So that's it then? The fun comes to a crashing end because you don't drink anymore?" Robert asked. "Come now. The company is having its annual charity ball that we are co-hosting with Sybil and Cora and I think you should join in the festivities. I'll be the master of ceremonies for the night, all you have to do is stand there and look handsome," Robert encouraged. "Now how hard can that be, eh? The suit practically does all the work for you," he added and this time John shot a mischievous smirk at him.

"Oh alright, but please tell Cora and the girls I don't want them trying to play matchmaker all night. If there is someone there I like, I'll talk to them on my own," he said.

"Well that sounds reasonable," Robert remarked. "Do you want to do dinner tonight after work?"

John considered the invitation for a moment and then replied, "I think I need one more day to mope about if that's alright with you."

"As long as you are in good spirits for the charity ball, that's all I care about," Robert said.

"I'll do my best to be devastatingly handsome so I don't have to talk much," John said playfully.

"There's the fighting spirit," Robert cheered as he walked out of John's office.

"I don't know Gwen, I'm starting to think that I shouldn't be going to this thing at all," Anna sighed as she shrugged on yet another dress that her friend had brought over for her to try on.

"And why ever not?" Gwen asked indignantly. She was standing beside Anna's full length mirror, staring back at her friend. How Anna had managed to keep her figure after having Aidan, she would never understand. She was still just as small and thin around the waist as she had been when they were back in secondary school together. Nearly every color somehow managed to look good against her pale complexion and yet her friend found fault with every single outfit she had tried on so far.

"I don't know. This is just such a big deal. I don't normally go out on Saturday nights anymore, or any night really," Anna said as she looked over at Aidan who was driving hot wheels across the comforter of the bed. He then began to play with the cars across the delicate beading of the dress. "Sweetie, please be careful with the dresses, those aren't Mummy's," she said as she moved the clothes from the bed to a small chair in her bedroom.

"Alright, let's say for the sake of argument that you were staying in tomorrow night. What would you be doing instead? Probably watching The Fox and the Hound with Aidan for the millionth time," she speculated aloud. Having garnered Aidan's attention he stopped playing long enough to look over at them and his eyes lit up. "Anna, you need to get out of this house once in awhile. It's not normal for a woman your age to be stuck at home all the time. You should be out dancing, checking out museums, or going to see a film," Gwen suggested.

"Well, I'm not. I decided to have a child instead," Anna said in a low voice. "And for your information I don't regret a minute of it," she said defensively.

"I know you don't," Gwen said as she attempted to soothe her friend. "Believe me; I love that little boy over there like he was my own flesh and blood. I just worry about you is all. That you are going to let life pass you by trying to make the best one possible for Aidan and then when he's grown and gone where will that leave you?" Gwen said in a low voice. "You will have waved away every opportunity that's ever approached you like you did that nice fellow last week…what was his name?"

Anna groaned as she lied and said, "I don't remember."

"Mr. Bates! His name is John Bates," Aidan chimed in enthusiastically with a smile. The two ladies hadn't even been aware he was paying attention to their conversation. "Don't you remember, Mummy? He stepped on my army man," Aidan pointed out as he held up the injured party for her to see.

"Yes, sweetie, I remember now," she hoped the excitement at the mention of his name didn't show. "Why don't you go into the kitchen and grab a cookie from the jar and I'll be right there to get you some milk to go with it," she suggested. The little boy quickly ran off towards the kitchen as fast as he could. Anna turned back to look at herself in the mirror once more; feigning interest in the dress as she smoothed the fabric over her waist with her hand. In truth, she knew exactly who John Bates was, she had not been able to stop thinking about him since she had first met him. And he had only become all the more prominent in her thoughts since she had rebuffed his advances to become something more. She had barely slept a wink since that day as she lay in bed tossing and turning, but she wouldn't dare mention that to Gwen.

"You okay?" Gwen asked as she watched Anna.

"Yeah, I'm just not used to wearing anything like this—it feels so foreign. The last time I wore something this nice I think was when we went to Mary's graduation. That was well over five years ago," Anna said thoughtfully. It hadn't been long after that party with Mary and her friends that Anna found out that she was pregnant with Aidan. Anna's fashion choices had taken a backseat to Aidan's needs; Anna would gladly pass up the opportunity to purchase the latest label of heels if it meant that Aidan needed a new pair of shoes or a toy. They may not be rich, but she had promised herself a long time ago that he would never want for nothing.

"Mummy, I'm ready for my milk!" Aidan's voice rang out across the flat.

"I'll take care of him," Gwen insisted. "You finish trying on dresses; this is the only mission I'm giving you today. We'll work on hair options later and tomorrow I will come over early so we can get ready together. Is your dad watching Aidan?" Anna began to unzip the dress to try another on and nodded her head in agreement. "Great! See everything is falling into place. Now the only thing left to do is make sure you have some fun," Gwen added.

Robert stood talking with his family as he was already congratulating Cora and Sybil on a job well done with the event when he spotted John. "Say, you clean up nicely! Not bad ole boy!" Robert exclaimed as he shook hands with John and brought him towards the group to reintroduce him to Sybil whom John had not seen since she was a tiny little thing. She still referred to him as Uncle John and introduced him to her boyfriend, Tom Branson. Tom was interested in becoming a political writer of sorts, but was considering joining up with Grantham PR to get his feet wet in the writing game. Robert wasn't fond of the idea, mainly because he wasn't fond of men who dated his daughters. But John saw potential for something more and told Robert not to discount Tom just yet.

Once Cora was done working the room she came back to welcomed John with open arms. She playfully scolded him for not showing up for dinner since his arrival in town, but thanked him for all he was doing to turn Grantham PR around. She ranted and raved that she had never seen her husband so happy with the work he was doing and had heard nothing but good things about the agency from some of their clients and board members. "We should all head to our table now," Cora suggested. "Shall I go put in an order for drinks for everyone?"

"Oh, let me," John volunteered. As much as he was enjoying the little reunion with the Crawley family he needed a moment to get some air. He walked around the ballroom that they had rented out and stared in amazement at all the balloons, lights, and streamers. He had to admit that even the DJ wasn't bad as he continued to mix a bit of oldies music with some of the more modern music, and there was certainly enough room for dancing. John doubted he'd be doing any of that tonight; not that he was a horrible dancer, but he preferred not to dance alone. And now that he'd given up on his liquid courage he'd have to rely on his own guts to get him out on the floor.

John sauntered across the room like a jungle cat as he surveyed some of the women that had come in with the last flood of people. There weren't any that were particularly eye grabbing for him, but certainly none he would have kicked out of bed. He approached the barman and placed the orders for everyone and ordered a cranberry and ginger ale for himself; this warranted a raised eyebrow from the barman and John shrugged it off. As he waited for the barman to finish mixing the last of the drinks John sighed to himself, "This was a bad idea." The only girl in the world he wanted wasn't there, and even if she had been he wouldn't have had a chance with her. Maybe he'd stay long enough for dinner and then head back to the office for a few hours to get ahead on some pitches he had lined up. The barman placed John's drink in front of him and he munched on a cherry while swirling the drink around with a small straw unthinkingly.

"Here you go, mate," the barman said as he placed the last drink down on the wet bar for John.

"Thanks," John said. "What do I owe you?" he asked as he began to remove his wallet from his pocket.

The barman laughed for a second and held out his hand to stop John, "Didn't anyone tell you?

"Tell me what?"

"It's open bar."

"Ah, well now I can see why they didn't tell me," he said and the barman looked at him with a hint of confusion. "Recovering alcoholic," John filled in the blank for him. The barman suddenly looked guilty and eyed the glasses of alcohol he had just handed to John. "Don't worry, it's been three years and these aren't for me," John assured as he contemplated how he would carry all six glasses on his own.

He finally settled on carrying three glasses in each hand but immediately regretted it once he was half way back to the table. The glasses were slowly sliding out of his grasp and just when he thought he had lost them, two hands came up from out of nowhere and a voice said, "You look like you could use some help there."

"Thanks, I thought I could avoid making two trips," John replied as he looked up and was left speechless. There she was standing before him; appearing out of no where like some sort of angel. Judging by the look on her face she was just as surprised to see him as well. She looked absolutely stunning in a navy blue dress that clung to her tiny frame in such a way that made him envious of that dress. The floor length gown made her seem taller than she was and with her hair done up she looked like a Greek goddess standing before him. The color of the dress contrasted nicely with her pale skin; skin that he was only able to get a mere glimpse of as her arms and back were covered by a thin, sheer fabric that was revealing but modest. The intricate beading and sequins of the bodice certainly drew one's eye in and made her eyes shimmer brighter than before. John was doing his best not to stare for too long, not wanting to make her uncomfortable, but everything about her was simply gorgeous. John attempted to find words to speak but he was utterly gob smacked, "Anna…I…I didn't expect to see you here."

He didn't think it was possible, but somehow she looked even more beautiful than she had before. Her hair shone like gold and there were a couple loose tendrils hanging about her face. She was wearing more make up than she had been at the restaurant, but it wasn't overly done. She still looked like a natural. His free hand was hopelessly flailing now; he looked like he was trying to grasp at words or phrases that might fill the silent void, "You look wonderful."

"Thanks," she answered back as she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I wasn't expecting to be here, it was sort of a last minute invitation," she explained. The two of them appeared like gunslingers in an old west movie, waiting to see who would make the next move. Only now she too was finding it hard to concentrate on the conversation. She had seen John in a suit twice before, but a black tux and tie were doing things to her insides that she couldn't fathom. Black was slimming on him and the vest he wore beneath it may just very well be her undoing. The cut of the suit was sharp, well-fitted, and his tall frame filled it out well. His hair was slicked back but a strand of hair seemed to keep falling out of line with the rest of his hair and she was finding it incredibly adorable. He gave her a smile that she was convinced now was only reserved for her and when he did the crinkles that lined his eyes were only exaggerated even more. Standing only a few inches apart she could now see all the colors that made up his hypnotic eyes and seemed to smile on their own. "You look very dapper," she commented and he blushed at her words. "Were you going somewhere with all of these?" she asked.

"Oh yes, I was just taking them back to my table. Would you care to join me?" he asked.

"Well, seeing as how I'm holding three of your drinks I think I sort of have to," she said with a smile.

"Right. Sorry, I don't know where my head is," John apologized as he gestured with his hands which way the table was located. Anna followed him willingly and couldn't help drinking in the sight of him as he moved through the crowd and helped to clear a path for her. "Well this is it," he said as he set the drinks down on the table and freed Anna's hands from the drinks. "Thanks for your help again."

"It was no trouble at all. I seem to have lost Gwen in the crowd; you saved me from having to stand there by myself looking miserable," she joked half heartedly. Anna playfully shoved his shoulder when she laughed, but her hand lingered a little longer than she meant it to. She immediately pulled away and blushed under his heated gaze. "So where's the rest of this group that's supposed to be helping you drink all of this?" she asked in a slightly raised voice to compete with the music.

John looked around for a moment as they both took an empty seat, "Robert is supposed to be the master of ceremonies tonight, so I don't think you'll see too much of him. His wife, Cora and daughter, Sybil are the co-chairs for this event. They are probably rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, or dealing with an event planning conundrum."

"You know Sybil Crawley?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, she's my niece. Well…not technically, but I've known her father since before she was even born. I know the whole family. How do you know her?"

"She and Gwen are both teachers at the school. I've known Gwen since I was a child; we went to the same primary schools together. I've always been closer with Gwen, but Mary is closer in age to me and so we naturally gravitated towards one another since we were teenagers. Sybil and Gwen are closer in age, so they have shared more classes together."

"You know, Mary?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I work with her now over at Grantham Public Relations. It's why I got dragged to this shindig," John joked as he sucked back the last of his cranberry and ginger ale.

"Anna? I thought that was you," a familiar voice exclaimed. They both turned around to see Mary standing beside them and practically dragging Matthew behind her to show him off. "I wasn't sure if Gwen had finally convinced you to come."

"Well, I'm here," she said matter-of-factly. Anna rose from her seat to greet her old friend and was given all the details on the proposal and how many carats the ring contained before she had a chance to congratulate the two.

"I see you've met Uncle John," Mary said as she side eyed him. John had slid her the drink she ordered across the table and she began sipping at it through a stir straw.

"Oh, yes we are getting very well acquainted," Anna said sweetly.

"Well I'm glad to hear that. Hopefully he's being on his best behavior," Mary said with a smirk.

"Scout's honor," John replied.

Mary raised an eyebrow at them both suspiciously when she saw John nervously run a hand through his hair and straighten his tie. "We're thinking a wedding in the summer. I do hope you can come now that we are getting you out of the house again," Mary added.

"We'll see. I may have other things I need to take care of," Anna said.

"Well John, I know Anna's excuse, but what's yours?"

"Uh," John replied as he quickly tried to think of an excuse.

"It's settled then, you'll be there," she said triumphantly as she pulled Matthew away with her.

I take it you aren't one for suit and tie affairs?"

"Not really, no. But it's worth it when you are in the presence of good company," John commented as he ran his thumb across the table cloth. There was a brief silent pause between the two of them, "I should probably let you get back to Gwen."

"Oh, I see her all the time. If she hasn't found me yet, I'll take it as a sign that she found a handsome man that's she talking up a storm with," she reasoned.

"Look, I don't mean to pry. But I am ever so curious, Miss Smith. Why aren't you off with a handsome man?" he said in a voice that sent shivers up her spine.

"Who says I'm not already with one?" she thought to herself. "Like I said, it's complicated," she answered. Anna could tell he wasn't satisfied with that answer and she didn't want him to feel that she was being rude to him. "I only came to support Gwen and the other girls tonight. I think teachers deserve better pay and that our children deserve all the best resources that money can buy. After all, teachers spend just as much times as most parents do with their children and someday these kids are going to be running the world. Shouldn't they have every opportunity at a better future?" she said enthusiastically.

John cracked a smile and decided then and there that he loved her when she got all riled up. "Well after a speech like that I'm surprised you aren't a teacher or a parent," he quipped. "Who do I make my check out to?" he asked as he began to reach into his pocket.

"Very funny," Anna said as she attempted to keep a straight face. She quickly realized she was defenseless against him and his charming ways. "Who would have thought that such a quiet man could have such a way with words?"

"I imagine I would talk all night if I knew it would keep you here with me," he said with a smile. When she didn't smile back he reached his hand out to lay it upon hers and said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm finding it hard to be just friends with you, Anna."

"Don't be. I'm finding it equally hard. You have to trust me when I tell you this is all for the best," she sighed and squeezed his hand a bit.

"Maybe it's not," he countered as he stroked the top of her hand with the pad of his thumb. "Can we talk about it at least?" he asked.

"I…" she was about to answer him when the lights in the ballroom were turned off and a spot light was upon Robert.

Robert took a moment to thank the staff who had been waiting on them most of the night and talked about the charities they were involved in this year. He paid tribute to his mother, Violet, who had started them long ago. Robert then went on to praise his wife and daughter for putting on "one hell of a party." Then he invited John up to the stage to help him present GPR's check to the charity. John reluctantly rose from his seat, not wanting to leave things as they were with Anna. Before he left he whispered to her to wait there for him until he returned and she smiled back at him.

She was sitting by herself for a moment before Gwen plopped down right next to her, "Okay, seriously Anna, please tell me you are going to see him again."

"Nothing has changed Gwen," Anna insisted.

"Anna, I've been watching you both for the last fifteen minutes. You've got chemistry, he's clearly head over heels for you and you obviously have a thing for him," Gwen said as she lightly squeezed her friend's arm.

Anna couldn't hide her affinity for John no matter how hard she tried now. Thankfully, Sybil walked up and interrupted their conversation. "Hey girls, how are you enjoying the event?"

"Great," Anna said attempting to be enthusiastic.

Sybil and Tom took a seat next to them and were lost in conversation with one another. Anna remembered the drinks and gestured toward one of the after a brief introduction to Tom, "I'm pretty sure one of these was supposed to be yours."

"Thanks," Sybil replied with a friendly grin as she handed Tom his drink. "I take it you met John then?"

"Yes, we've met before actually," Anna replied.

"Oh really? How did you meet? I only ask because he hasn't been back in London for ages," Sybil said.

"Gwen and I both met him his first day here. He stopped into my restaurant," Anna explained. "Poor guy wasn't having the best of mornings."

"Yes, Anna here took it upon herself to rescue him that day," Gwen joked.

"Well then I'd say you have a friend for life," Sybil added. "John is a very nice guy, they don't come much better than that. Well…except for maybe my Tom," she gushed.

"See," Gwen said.

"See what?" Anna replied back.

"Everyone likes him and has nothing but lovely things to say about him. I wish you'd stop being so set on playing the role of the old maid," Gwen lectured.

"I'm not, I just…," Anna wanted to say more, to make her understand. But even her best friend had never been privy to her secret.

"Just what, Anna? Would you look at that adorable man up there?" Gwen asked in a voice almost loud enough for others to hear.

Anna had to shush her friend before they drew attention to themselves. "Gwen, please, for the love of God will you just drop it. I'm not ready for more than friendship."

Anna got out of her chair and excused herself before storming off. She hadn't meant to snap at Gwen like that, but the truth was that Gwen had no idea what she had gone through. She was angry, more so at herself for not having the courage to just come out with it. She had tried to move past it, but no matter how much time had passed it seemed that her fear and her shame would remain the determining factor in her decisions. She needed air; she felt like she was being suffocated. On her way to the balcony she was stopped in her tracks by the feeling of a hand on her arm. She wriggled away quickly and was met by John's eyes.

He placed his hands up in surrender to show her he didn't mean any harm. "Anna, are you alright?" he asked when he saw the look of terror on her face. She was on the verge of tears and so he approached her slowly, like one would with a wounded animal. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's okay, I'm fine," she said as she began to eye the emergency exit.

"You aren't leaving now are you?" he asked kindheartedly.

"I am…I shouldn't have come… this was a mistake," she answered back in broken sentences.

"Was it something I did or said?"

"No, it's me. It's all my fault. You should go back inside; there were plenty of eager bachelorettes in there. Don't waste your time on me," she encouraged.

"I don't consider it a waste of time," he said in a low mumble. "I find it hard to believe that anything could be your fault. You are incapable of fault," John said with a smile as he held out his hand for hers.

With a simple gesture he silently asked for permission to hold her hand in his own and she felt her resolve crumble. Something in the way he was trying so hard to be everything she needed made him even more endearing and for the first time in a long time she was crying because she was truly happy. A single tear that had been at one point, threatening to fall from her eyes slowly trickled down her cheek. "You don't even know me," she pointed out.

"You're right about that," John said as he put his hands in his pockets and walked over to Anna.

Anna swallowed hard in anticipation and was sure that she was turning a deeper shade of crimson with each step he took. He was standing in front of her now, mere inches from her face; she could almost smell his after shave and a hint of his cologne. "But, I've seen enough to know that you go out of your way to help others that you don't know. That's a very admirable quality, Ms. Smith," John said considerately. When she lowered her eyes to stare at the floor John let his hand fall beside hers and took it in his own to give it a small, reassuring squeeze. Her eyes were back on him once again and it was as if they were having their own conversation using only gestures. His warm, inviting eyes bore a hole straight through her soul, his words were like music to her ears, his touch was creating sparks she had long since forgotten existed. He led her away from prying eyes as people began to become curious as to why this woman was standing with this man and crying. "Come now, you come on over here and let me take care of you for a moment."

She followed him out to the balcony and he sat her down on a bench. Surprisingly, for the first time in days it wasn't raining and the sky looked gorgeous as thousands of tiny stars shown above them. The smell of rain still hung in the air and there was a chill about it. John took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders, accidentally grazing her collar bone when he went to bundle her up a little tighter. He removed the pocket sleeve from the jacket and handed it to her so she could dry her eyes. John stood by the railing with his arms at his side as his hands supported his weight. He let her have a moment to catch her breath before he broke the silence, "Would you like to talk about it?"

Anna dried the corner of her eyes once more and shook her head in silence. 'How embarrassing," she thought to herself. Here she had done everything in her power to discourage him and push him away for his own good and somehow she ended up with him fawning all over her. "I don't think it would do any good," she finally said in a soft voice.

"On the contrary. Sometimes we just need someone to vent to, even if it doesn't solve the problem," he stated. He gave her some space to see if she would come around to the idea, but after a few moments of contemplation he could tell she was dead set on keeping her troubles to herself. "Well, I can't have you going home looking like you just had the most miserable night of your life. What will that other man think?" he joked and he finally saw the hint of a smile cross her face. "How about we share a dance?" he suggested. "Will that put a smile on your face?"

She looked at him suspiciously.

"I promise it will be strictly between friends. You can even lead if that makes you happy," he said with a mischievous grin as he held out his hand to help her up.

They were alone dancing on the balcony only able to hear the beat of the music. It was a slow song, but John recognized the melody instantly and began humming along. He let his free hand fall to the small of her back to guide her. His finger tips barely touched her; they came to rest on the sheer fabric that had covered her back and he could feel the heat emanating off her skin. The scent of her perfume had become stronger with their increased proximity and it was maddeningly spellbinding. He felt her slowly relax against him and it felt like coming home as a level of peace he had not been privy to before washed over him. Feeling the words fit the moment appropriately; John began to sing the song aloud, "Some day…when I'm awfully low. When the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you. And the way you look tonight."

Anna leaned into him a little as his words reverberated in her ear and felt her hands clutch on to his shoulder like he was her anchor. She had forgotten what it felt like to be swept off her feet or to have someone care so deeply for her before. She looked up at him and giggled a little before saying, "You sound lovely."

"If I sound lovely than why are you laughing?"

"I've never been serenaded before. This is quite an experience," she replied as she bit down on her lower lip.

"I'm not too off key am I?"

His voice was smooth like silk, she could have listened to it for day. His words sent shivers up her spine, she drank them all in like a fine wine. She took her time to go over the emphasis of every syllable and the way his lips moved with every word. Anna felt her body shudder as his lightly callused fingers ran across her back and felt his palm molded against her own. They held hands like old lovers; desperate to be in contact with one another, but held loose enough that there was a unspoken trust the other would return to them should they ever part. He led her in slow circles effortlessly, moving together as one, it was as if they had been practicing this dance for years. Anna shook her head in a 'no' motion before persuading him to sing some more.

John continued to sing and fall in line with the music as it played on. "With each word your tenderness grows…" he said as their eyes met, "…tearing my fears apart." H e smiled as Anna blushed and briefly turned away before looking back at him again, "And that laugh that wrinkles your nose…it touches my foolish heart."

They were taken in by the music, by the atmosphere, by their feelings for one another. There was no denying it anymore; they were both hopelessly in love with one another. They both felt a mutual pull, a desire to be closer to one another. John released her hand to cup her cheek as they were shrouded in darkness; with only the moon to guide him as it highlighted her features. He silently awaited her to return the sentiment as she began to move in forward as well. The heat coming from their breath, emitting clouds of fog in front of them against the cold night air was the only way to gage that time had not stood still. John let his other hand slide up the back of her neck to cradle her head as his fingers began to tangle themselves in her hair.

Their lips were mere moments away from one another when they were interrupted by an alarming sound. The spell was broken and they both stepped back from each other. They were just staring silently at another, both trying to come to terms with what had nearly happened. The sound rang out again and then Anna broke free of his hold, "Sorry, it's my cell phone."

He watched her as she picked up her clutch purse that she had left on the bench and removed her phone to check the missed call. John ran a nervous hand through his hair and then back down the sides of his mouth. "It's alright," he lied. He wasn't disheartened, if anything the near kiss had given him hope that there was room for something more between them. John wouldn't deny to his own heart that he was disappointed things hadn't gone further. She dialed hastily and began talking with someone on the other end. He wondered to himself if it was the other person. What was he doing? This was a dangerous game he was playing at. He tried to remind himself of how he had felt when he found out Vera had been cheating on him all those years. Sure their marriage had been crumbling at the time, but he had always wondered why she hadn't waited for a clean break between them before moving on with some other man. And now he was the one pushing this woman to cheat with him on some other poor soul.

Anna turned to face him abruptly, "I have to go." She said as she began walking off to find Gwen.

"Wait? What?"

"There's been an emergency at home. I have to find Gwen and get back as soon as possible," she said in a voice tinted in alarm.

"Why don't I take you home? It will take you longer to find Gwen. You can call her from the car," he suggested.

"I couldn't ask that of you, John," she replied.

"It's not a problem and you didn't ask me, I offered my services," he pointed out. She was mulling it over in her mind before John interrupted her thoughts, "Anna, we are friends. This is what friends do for one another."

She managed a half smile as he led her to his car and tried to calm her nerves. The entire drive home she sat silently on the edge of her seat, only speaking when she was giving him a direction and texting the whole way back with what he assumed was another relative or possibly her boyfriend. Internally, John was punishing himself for letting things get this far. Instead, of pushing her away like she had initially done with him, he was getting in deeper. What would he do if she ultimately rejected him? What would he do if it became too much for her and she couldn't even allow herself to be friends with him? They drove on in silence as they both contemplated their futures and what this night would mean for them.