Thank you for reading and liking the story. This is the final chapter. It is going to be my one and only fanfic because it is just too hard to write one! I am glad though for the conclusion of the story.

Chp 5 – A continuation of the previous chapter. End of the day.

After their shower, Eve and Annalise stepped into the kitchen. Annalise took a small chicken out from the oven that she had roasted earlier, together with sweet potato and carrots. On the side, she had also made a tuna and avocado salad. Eve was impressed. After washing up, Eve had joined Annalise on the sofa.

They had their vodkas in front of them. The TV was showing 'Skyfall' and Annalise was riveted to the screen. She liked Daniel Craig as the suave James Bond. Eve, however, was tired and trying hard from closing her eyes. It had been a long day and she was happy to end it with Annalise there in her house. She lay her had on Annalise's lap and faced watching the TV. Unconsciously, Annalise began to massage Eve's head which only made Eve sleepier. She liked the sensation. But she was nodding off.

Suddenly, Annalise heard a noise at the front door. It sounded like someone was trying to jiggle the locks. Annalise panicked, memories of that noise in her own home, came flooding back to her. She quickly shook Eve's shoulder, keeping one eye on the door. "Eve, Eve, wake up! I think someone is trying to break into your apartment!"

Eve groaned when Annalise pushed her shoulder. She was groggy and the words 'break in' was just beginning to register with her when suddenly, the main door flew open and for the second time that day, Annalise heard, "Hi honey, I''m home!"

At this instant, three things happened. Standing at the open door was an athletic woman who held a pie in her hands. She looked in shock at the persons in the living room. By then, Eve had lifted herself from Annalise's lap and was sitting bolted upright on the sofa. Both she and Annalise were staring at the woman. Annalise's mouth hung open.

Annalise was the first to recover. "What the hell?", Annalise asked rudely but Eve's back was towards her so she couldn't see Eve's expression. At the same time, the woman, who was looking rather upset, had started to apologise and was backing away from the open door.

Eve glanced at Annalise and then quickly moved to the door. She then closed the door behind her to give her and the woman some privacy. The woman said, "I'm sorry, I should have called. But you told me you were swamped with work this weekend and … and…I didn't think you'd have company. I wanted to give you this", with that she thrust the pie onto Eve's hands.

"No, no, please. I am swamped with work. You know I have the Burnstein case but …", Eve was flailing. She was hurting the other woman who was trying very hard to keep her emotions in check and Eve hated to see her struggling. Pointing with her thumb to the door behind her, Eve continued, "but she came –".

"Eve, please, you don't owe me any explanation."

Eve reached out to touch the woman's arm but the woman recoiled, and Eve braced herself. "No, Yes, I mean … I want to explain. She only told me she was coming here when she was already on her way here. I didn't know before that she would be here this weekend."

The other woman said, "I should have called. And I would have but I thought I'd "surprise you with dessert. I know how hard you have been working on that case and … it doesn't matter now …" her voice trailed off. Then suddenly it dawned on her. "It's her, isn't it? The one you lost? What was her name? Anna something?"

Eve couldn't look at her friend. She felt tears welling up in her own eyes.

The woman stared at Eve. "It figures… I should have known. How long, Eve?"

Eve, with her eyes still on the floor quietly asked, "What do you mean how long?"

The woman tried not to raise her voice: "How long has she been back in your life when she hadn't been around for the last 20 years? Please look at me."

Eve lifted her eyes and said, "Five weeks but … we're not in a relationship." The woman nodded. "Neither are we."

"It isn't what you think."

There was silence. They were looking at each other. Then the woman spoke, "We aren't a couple, Eve. You know that. So, you don't owe me an explanation. Really, you don't. Now that she's back in your life in whatever form … I hope you work it out. I'm … I'm just upset that I don't have the right to be upset." With that, she stepped towards Eve, pushed something into her palm, whispered something in her ear, kissed her cheek before turning and walking away.

Eve stared after her and let go a shaky breath. She waited for a moment longer to steady her nerves. She took some deep breaths before opening her door and going back into her apartment only to find Annalise standing at the hallway looking at her. She had changed clothes and her packed bag lay next to her feet.

Eve furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you doing?"

"Leaving"

"Why?"

"Why not," Annalise asked, her words coming out more roughly than she intended.

"But why", Eve felt herself getting upset all over again.

"Shouldn't you be the one to tell me", Annalise asked, trying hard not to raise her voice.

"That's it!", Eve said, throwing her hands into the air and clearly flustered. She then rubbed her temples, feeling a big headache coming on. Taking another deep breath and looking at Annalise, she said, "Can you please not answer my question with a question. You know we both hate that."

Inwardly, Annalise was angry. She knew she didn't have the right to be angry but she was. "Who was that?"

"There you go again. Isn't that another question?"

Annalise bit her lower lip. She hated arguing with Eve but Eve wasn't backing down.

"Don't you think you –"

"That's still a question!"

"Goddamit, Eve. I'm trying! I mean, what just happened out there?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Eve said evenly.

"Aren't you going to go after her?", Annalise asked.

"No", Eve simply said.

"No?"

"I already said no. Why should I?"

"Well, for one, she called you 'honey'".

"Oh my god, Annalise. I told you I was just teasing you."

Annalise persisted. "No. You told me just this afternoon that you-have-no-honey" Annalise raised her hands and indicated the open inverted commas for the last four words.

"I still stand by what I had said. Nobody is my 'honey'!

"She called you 'honey' when she came through the door!"

"I may be her honey but she isn't mine! I don't call her 'honey'. I never have and that's the truth. Are you just being jealous or what?'

Annalise flushed. More than anything, she had being jealous. She also had a hard time trying to gauge if Eve was lying. But Eve seldom lied. Annalise decided on a different tact. "She let herself into the apartment, Eve."

"So?" Eve shrugged.

"What do you mean by 'so'?" When there was no response from Eve, Annalise, clearly exasperated, said, "she had keys to your apartment." Eve merely raised her eyebrow. "What is wrong with you? You gave her the keys, right? Or is she a housemate?"

"She's not a housemate", Eve said quietly.

"What is she then?"

"She's just a friend."

"Just a friend? How can she be?" Annalise asked incredulously.

"Why can't she be?"

Annalise tried her best not to shout. "This is a ridiculous conversation we are having, do you know that? Are you honestly telling me all your friends have keys to your apartment?" No, right? So she must mean something to you - someone special. And if that is the case, I think …" At this point, Annalise took a deep breath because she found it hard to speak, "I think … she should be here, not me."

Both of them were now near tears. Eve was shaking and Annalise wanted badly to go to her and hug her but she didn't. It took all her will power to refrain from doing so.

"Don't make decisions for me, Annalise, and tell me who should or should not be here. Besides, it's too late. She's left."

"No. You can still run after her. She can't be far off."

Eve sighed and shook her head. "I don't want to."

"I don't understand why not. You don't just give anyone the keys to your home. So, if she has your key, you –"

Before Annalise could finish, Eve interrupted her, "She doesn't have the key anymore. She returned it just now." And to prove it, Eve raised her right hand. In it, dangled the key from her index finger.

Annalise was shocked. Eve could not prevent a tear from running down her cheek.

"Why did she return it," Annalise asked, making a conscious effort to be gentle.

Eve looked squarely at Annalise. "She said… she said there was no point having the keys to my home when it is obvious that somebody else has the keys to my heart."