This is a continuation of Chapter 2. This scene took place before episode 7.

Chapter 3

Annalise inwardly kicked herself for saying so much. She did not come to New York to discuss anything that was happening with her life in Philadelphia. Especially since Sam died, her life had been on a downward spiral. Her life, already dark, became darker still. The more she tried to fix things, the worse they seem to get. She felt her life spiralling out of control. It was suffocating. So she came to New York to escape. She came to New York because Eve was here. Because Eve – in many more ways than one – was the light of her life, although she would never want to admit it to herself, much less Eve.

Now, here she was with Eve asking her if she had killed Nia and if she loved Nate. Each question coming out of Eve's mouth was making it harder and harder for her to answer.

"Well?", Eve enquired. It seemed to have spoilt her breakfast even though they were mostly done.

"Do you honestly think I'm capable of murder?", asked Annalise, a little angry.

"I've been in this business long enough to know that everyone is – given the wrong circumstances". Eve wasn't going to back down even if it was hurtful. She knew Annalise had a lot going on in her life, what with framing Nate for Sam's death and now the possibility that she killing Nia? Eve wanted to know for sure so that she could help Annalise although that was not what Annalise was thinking.

"I may have done many things wrong in my life, Eve, but I'm no murderer", Annalise said. She was miffed that Eve could think that way. But then again, she did ask Frank for the pills so the thought did cross her mind but she wasn't going to tell Eve that.

"Are you done eating? How about we leave the café?" Annalise asked, suddenly feeling closed in within the café. She wanted some air. Eve looked like she wanted to say something back but she controlled her emotions. Annalise had come all this way here. Eve knew it was more to do with escaping Philadelphia than because she wanted to come see Eve. It hurt Eve but she herself was trying to move on from Annalise. She told herself that it may be best they be reacquainted as friends… anything else would be a bonus.

So Eve agreed. They got up and went for a walk. Both were a little angry and upset with the other so there was silence for a while.

Finally, Eve spoke. "Look, I'm sorry, I –"

Annalise interrupted, "It's fine. It was a fair question, I guess …" She wanted to change the uncomfortable subject, so she asked Eve, "Well,… what would you be doing if I weren't here?"

"I would be in my apartment, looking at my case files."

"But it's Saturday! You would be working on a Saturday afternoon? … And your girlfriends don't complain?"

Eve laughed. She was not going there. She knew Annalise was trying to ask her about her personal life and the girls she's had but she wasn't prepared to discuss it. Eve said, "Well, I don't work every Saturday. But I would be working today if you weren't here. I've an important case starting Monday so I would be working through my notes."

"The Burnstein case, right?", asked Annalise.

"How did you know?", asked Eve, a little surprised.

In truth, Annalise had followed Eve's career ever since they left Harvard. When they graduated with first class honours, many firms had wanted Eve with them. And although Annalise had parted ways with Eve by then, she followed her career every time her name came up on the national newspapers. She saw how she had grown, read about the many, many cases she had won, the number of death-row prisoners she had defended. But all Annalise said to Eve was "It's everywhere in the papers".

Eve nodded. Of course.

"Why don't we head back to your apartment? You could still be doing your work."

"No. You're here. I want to spend the time with you." Eve said it so seriously that Annalise stopped to look at her.

"I don't mind being in your apartment. And I am a little tired anyway. You could do your work. I'd go take a nap. God knows I haven't been sleeping much." It was the truth. Annalise came to New York to be away from the Keating Five, Bonnie, Frank, the Hapstalls…

Eve looked into her eyes. She could see Annalise was tired and she agreed to go back to her apartment.

"How about I run a bath for you before you take a nap?", Eve asked. Ten minutes later, Annalise got into the tub when Eve poked her head around the bathroom door. "Is the water ok? You got everything you need?"

"Yes… and no," Annalise said. Eve raised an eyebrow.

"The water's perfect but … you're not in the tub." Eve had to smile. She stepped into the bathroom, walked over to Annalise and squatted beside the bathtub. "You didn't ask", Eve said softly.

"I didn't know I had to." Annalise was feeling discouraged. She wanted some attention from Eve but she also knew that when Eve had put her mind on work mode, very few things could distract her. She was just about convinced that Eve wanted to get back to her work when suddenly Eve stood up and shed her clothes.

For three hours, Eve concentrated on her work. Papers and files were strewn beside her on the sofa, the coffee table and on the floor. It was an organised mess. She didn't know she had worked that long until she heard the shuffling of feet and saw Annalise emerge from the bedroom. Eve smiled. She looked delectable but Eve made no move to stand from where she sat.

"Hi. How was your sleep?"

"Good. I like your mattress." But silently, Annalise added: In fact, it is the smell of you on your sheets that made it a great sleep. She loved the smell of Eve. Eve thought that Annalise had something else to say. "What?", Eve prodded.

"Nothing", Annalise finally replied. She already asked Eve for a bath. Asking and telling her too many truths about how she felt might give Eve the wrong idea that she was ready for a relationship because she wasn't. She really wasn't with all the insane things that were going on in her life.

"You're still not done working?"

"Uh… I am just about." Eve started to pack her things. She was already feeling sore from sitting for so long. Annalise helped her. "Well, so, again, what would you be doing if I weren't here?

"Um, normally, if I'd been working through the afternoon, I'd go for a run at Central Park after. It's good you know, running. Stretch your muscles get the adrenaline going, clear your mind…"

"Alone?"

"What?" Eve stalled for time. She knew Annalise was going to ask her about her personal life again!

"You would go running alone?"

After a pause, Eve said, "Central Park isn't an unsafe place".

"Hesitation noted. Noted also that you didn't answer the question, " Annalise said teasingly. Eve blushed. They were playing mind games. Eve grinned, but offered no other information.

"Who is she?"

"Annalise!", Eve was laughing by now. Annalise was incorrigible. Annalise laughed as well.

"Ok, ok. Why don't you do that? Go for a run."

"And you're going join me? You brought your running gear?" If Annalise didn't bring her sports attire, she could possibly try some of Eve's clothes but not shoes. Eve had bigger feet than Annalise.

"No, of course not. But I could prepare dinner while you go for your run. It'll be ready when you're done."

Eve laughed. "You cook? Since when?"

"Since…" she was going to say Sam but thought better of it. Instead, she said, "Well… it's just going to be a simple dinner. As long as you don't expect anything fanciful nor a 3-course meal - I'm sure I can come up with something".

So Annalise borrowed Eve's spare set of keys and went to the supermarket while Eve went for her run.