A/N: First, sorry about the formatting in the first chapter. Trying to fix it. Hope you guys like this, feel free to let me know and share any ideas or requests with me and I'll try to work them in. Wrote these chapters quickly so I figured I would post before I lose my nerve or my muse. Thanks for reading!

Then: Harvard, 1996

"Well, I guess you aren't going to offer me a consolation prize," Eve said hesitantly.

Annalise just stared at her until a gentle, musical laugh reached her ears.

"A drink?" Eve said.

Annalise nodded and turned her head to conceal the quick smile that seemed to catch her off guard around Rothlo. Around Eve.

"Come on, then."

Annalise smiled to herself as she saw the brunette bite her lip and duck her head shyly as she followed her towards the exit.

Ten minutes later, they had walked to a dive bar that was close to campus but not too popular. They both ordered straight vodkas and found a small table to sit at. They discussed their next assignment before returning to the subject of the mock trial and their asshole professor/'judge'.

"He's a racist and a homophobe, so I figured they might cancel each other out today."

"I don't think it is exactly the same thing. My skin is black all the time. I can't hide it."

Eve sighed softly.

"And I am gay. All the time. I won't hide it. And he knows it. That's what today was about. I just wanted to know if you knew and that's why..."

"That's why what?" Annalise was losing patience. "You think I targeted you today? Because you like women?"

"You definitely targeted me. I just wasn't sure why."

"It's certainly not because you like women instead of men, that just makes you smarter than me," Annalise laughed.

Eve caught her meaning immediately and tried not to wince.

"Then why? You didn't need it to win, clearly."

"I'm more comfortable on the defense's side, to be honest."

"You didn't answer my question."

"And you didn't answer mine."

Eve looked at her sharply.

"Did you ask one?"

"You sound like we are in court, Eve," Annalise teased.

Eve blushed a little at that and rolled her eyes. Annalise waited for her full attention. It didn't take long.

"I was going to ask why you always borrow my pencils in class."

Eve looked suddenly uncomfortable.

"What? I mean, to write notes with. I'm forgetful."

"I doubt that," Annalise smirked. "You asked again on Friday and I lent you one but I saw that you had a whole bunch of freshly sharpened pencils in your binder."

Annalise paused for dramatic effect.

"So, Eve, what's up with that?"

"Oh man," Eve laughed. "You've been playing me. For what? Mock court today?"

"No," Annalise smiled. "I didn't know who I was up against until a couple of days ago. Been preparing twice as much ever since."

Eve smiled at the compliment.

"Why then?"

"Why did you ask me?"

Eve rolled her eyes again, buying time.

"Okay. First of all, I think you know why and just want me to say it. Secondly, I just wanted to talk to you, okay? You're not exactly the most approachable person."

"Is that so?" Annalise smirked.

"You are full of questions, aren't you?"

"About you? Yes." Annalise smiled. "And to answer yours, I wasn't targeting you for any other reason than you're smart and that's...threatening and also motivating."

"Ohhhh," Eve nodded as it clicked in her head, "you're number one, aren't you?"

Annalise nodded.

"You didn't know?"

"No," Eve shook her head, "I knew one student was ahead of me but I didn't look at who it was. I compete with myself and my opposing counsel and that's all."

"Damn, girl. Well, I'll drink to that," Annalise laughed and got up to order them two more vodkas.

Now: 2016

"Annalise!"

"Eve!"

God, it was good to see her. Flesh and blood and alive.

"Eve. Thank god."

They forgot where they were for a moment, pressing their foreheads together in the halls of a New York court.

"What is it? Did something happen to Bonnie?" Eve was visibly bracing herself now, one hand smoothing Annalise's wig and the other grasping her elbow.

"No. No. It's not Bonnie. We have to go. Now. Hang on."

Annalise shook Eve off and marched down the hall until she found a bailiff.

"I need you to clear that women's restroom."

"What?"

He looked at her with a squinty glare.

"My name is Annalise Keating, I'm here with another attorney, Eve Rothlo." She pointed to the thin woman approaching them rapidly.

"There's been a credible threat to her life and I need you to clear that bathroom. Please."

"Yes ma'am."

He hopped up and charged into the third floor ladies' room, one hand on his gun.

"What the fuck is going on, Annalise?"

"New York has given you a potty mouth, Eve."

"You know I got that at Harvard. Now, as great as it is to see you, what the hell is going on? Why are you here? Why did my assistant clear my schedule and make me stay in this godforsaken municipal building, an hour after court ended for the day?"

"Just wait, please. One moment."

Eve sighed and ran a hand through her long dark hair, staying obediently, as always.

"You're clear," the bailiff announced, holding the door for the two women.

"Thank you so much," Annalise smiled as she pushed Eve through the bathroom door ahead of her. "Now do me a favor, make sure nobody comes in behind us and then forget you ever saw us. Okay?"

"Okay," he shrugged before departing, "Good luck."

"What the hell is going on?" Eve made little noises of protest as Annalise moved her, backing her into the area near the sinks.

"Annalise? You're shaking. What is it? Is somebody dead? Is Nate okay?"

"Nate is fine. We are all fine and it's going to stay that way."

At the mention of Nate, Annalise remembered what he had given her before she left Philadelphia for New York at a high rate of speed. She pulled the smaller one from the bag.

"Here, put this on."

Eve stared at her for a moment, watching an unusual expression play out over Annalise's face: fear. Annalise was afraid and panicked and it scared Eve to death. The tall, slim, brunette folded her arms stubbornly and locked eyes with the woman she had never stopped loving, even when she hated her.

"Tell me."

Annalise sighed. Eve, always so kind and easygoing, was going to be difficult about this? Great.

"Here," she said, handing over her phone and slipping a bulletproof vest over Eve's left shoulder.

Eve complied as she entered Annalise's passcode.

"My email."

Annalise fastened the Kevlar vest, running her hands over it to make sure it was tight enough on Eve's small frame. She watched Eve's face carefully as she tapped to open the video and pressed 'play'.

"What the fuck is this?"

"Phillip, Caleb and Catherine's brother, he sent me that."

"Oh my god. Annalise! You should have gone to the police!"

"Where do you think I got these vests?"

"Nate?"

"Yeah. He's worried about you. Remind me to call him from the road."

"I highly doubt it is me he is worried about," Eve said wryly.

"Not now," Annalise sighed.

"Sorry," Eve winced, "I didn't mean-"

"Yes, you did. And that's okay. I just can't right now, Eve. I need you to be safe."

"Why do you think I'm the target? It could be you. I want you to wear a vest, too."

Annalise sighed.

"You are the target because he sent me that email, knowing what it would do to me. He knows about you. He knows my weakness, how I feel about you. I am not going to let this happen again. Sam is dead because of me, Eve. And I won't let anything happen to you, too, okay? Just, please. Come with me."

"Deep breaths, Annalise. Breathe. Everything is going to be fine."

Eve bit her lip. She wanted to talk, her brain was moving quickly through the words that had tumbled from Annalise's lips. She knew she had to stay calm for her.

"Annalise. Here, take your coat off and we can put your vest on."

Eve held it out for her to slip into it.

"If Nate asks, I wore it the whole way here. Understand?"

"Yes, boss," Eve smirked, sliding a hand between the heavy vest and Annalise's thin blouse and warm skin. The shorter woman seemed to relax a slight bit under her touch.

"If you made all of this up and you just have some Kevlar fantasy, that would be fine with me," Eve teased.

"Maybe later. By the way, It's good to see you, too. And you look hot in your court clothes," Annalise whispered as she reached up to place a firm kiss on Eve's lips, knowing it would make the other woman happy and ensure some cooperation.

"Now let's go."

Then: Harvard. 1996.

Eve and Annalise were on their third drink, relaxed and happy, sparring verbally, flirting mildly but consistently. She made Annalise laugh, and that was a talent few people possessed.

"So where overseas did you live?"

"How did you know?" Eve asked.

"Your accent. It's very subtle but the more you drink the more it comes out."

Eve laughed.

"My father was stationed in Europe for most of my childhood. I lived all over the place but mostly Brussels."

"Wow."

"How about you? Let me guess. You hide it well but you're from the south. And you are probably either the oldest or smartest child in your family, if not both."

"Well look at you, Sherlock!"

They giggled, the vodka warming them.

"Annalise-"

"I'm not gay, Eve," she leveled at her.

The slim brunette sat up straight at that, putting more distance between them.

"I know, you sort of made that clear," she said quietly.

"I didn't mean it like that. I meant... Listen, I don't know what I am exactly or what is wrong with me. I know that I like you, though."

"You do?" Eve bit her lip again nervously and Annalise knew for sure that she had no idea how sexy she looked when she did that. Unless she did know and was doing it on purpose.

"Of course I do. I would be crazy not to. We have...chemistry. Right? Do you feel it or am I crazy?"

"You're definitely crazy but we also have tons of chemistry. Let's be friends, for now. How does that sound? Get to know each other a bit more?"

Annalise tried not to look disappointed but guessed that she failed based on the amusement Eve was not even trying to conceal.

"Deal," she said, extending her hand.

"Deal," Eve agreed, shaking on it, ignoring the sparks that shot up her arm at the contact.

Now: 2016

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes!"

"No."

"Eve. Just until we get on the road. Please? For me?"

"Ugh. Fine. This is crazy, you know that, right?" Eve sighed but aquiesced, climbing into Annalise's backseat and lying down, allowing herself to be covered by a blanket.

"Okay. Time to go," Annalise shut their doors and carefully navigated the parking garage, relieved that Eve was finally with her. She felt calmer, more in control. She drove for twenty minutes before she crossed the bridge and pulled over at the second rest stop.

"Are we at my apartment?" Eve's voice was muffled through the blanket over her.

"No. We can't go back there right now. Too dangerous."

"But I need-"

"I have things for you, Eve. It's not forever. Just a couple days while we find him. You can come out now."

Eve's head popped up in the rear view mirror.

"Holy shit, are we in New Jersey?"

"Yes, now get in the front seat."

"So bossy today," Eve grumbled, climbing into the front and buckling her seatbelt.

"You like it."

"I fucking hate New Jersey," Eve whined, ignoring her lover's flirtation.

"Are you hungry, babe?" Annalise asked, running a hand down the side of Eve's face, resting her thumb on the brunette's incredible cheekbones.

"No, I'm too stressed to eat."

Annalise nodded and dropped her hand as well as her gaze to her lap. Eve usually loved it when she called her by any term of endearment but apparently that wasn't going to cut it today. Fair enough.

"I'm sorry. All I do is walk in and out of your life and mess things up."

"That is not all you do and you know it. Also, it is an easy problem to fix."

Eve was rewarded with brief eye contact.

"Yeah?"

"Yes. Just don't leave this time, maybe. If that's what you-"

"You know it's what I want. I hope you know that, Eve."

Eve's smile reached her eyes this time.

"Actually, I am a little bit hungry," she said, leaning over and gently biting Annalise's bottom lip.

"Ow. Brat!" Annalise chided, but she smiled.

In truth, Eve wasn't very hungry, but she knew it would please Annalise and reassure her if she saw Eve eat something. She had always worried about little things like that and Eve found it sweet.

"You should call Nate," Eve said softly. "Let him know you're okay. Then we can eat."

Annalise sighed softly.

"Call Nate," she said to her phone, always gratified when it followed her commands.

"Annalise? You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. We're both fine. Eve is here with me."

"Hi Nate!" Eve said a little too sweetly, making Annalise smile and shake her head.

"Hi Eve, I'm glad you're okay. What's the plan?"

"I'm taking her somewhere safe," Annalise responded.

"Somewhere safe," Nate repeated.

"Yes."

"Got it. Try to return my texts so I don't worry. I'll keep everything light and surface so it looks normal."

"Can you go check on Bonnie and the kids at my house after work?"

"Sure."

"Thanks, Nate."

"Thanks, Nate," Eve echoed. "She looks hot in Kevlar, by the way!"

Nate laughed.

"I'm sure she does. Anytime. You'd better be wearing yours, too, woman. Stay safe, please, and keep in touch."

Annalise confirmed that they would and hung up, turning to Eve.

"Okay, woman."

They both laughed at her imitation of Nate's deep voice. "Now let's feed you before we go so you aren't cranky the whole time."

"I'm not a child, Annalise. Where are we going, anyway?"

"Somewhere s-"

"Safe. Yes. Where?"

"You'll see. Come on."

They ate in a comfortably anonymous chain restaurant until Annalise's phone went off.

"I'll be right back."

"Don't leave!"

Annalise pulled up short at Eve's sharp, scared tone.

"I'm just going outside for a sec-"

"I'll go with you!"

Annalise sighed and picked up her phone, sitting back down.

"Frank? Just come in and sit with us a second."

She hung up.

"Frank?"

"I needed him to pick up some things for us."

Eve nodded as the man entered, scanning the restaurant before slowly walking over to their table.

"Your car is clear. No bugs, no trackers. Here."

He handed her a large duffel bag as well as a smaller carry on piece.

"Were you able to get...everything I asked for?"

Frank caught her slight hesitation, her head slightly inclined towards Eve's, her eyes locked on his.

"It's all there."

They nodded at one another slightly.

"Eve. Here's a burner phone. My number is in it. Text me every hour until you get to-"

"Frank," Annalise interrupted him.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. I mean it."

Frank nodded, understanding, and stood to leave.

"Frank bought us underwear? That's just gross."

"Stop looking through there," Annalise said, smacking Eve lightly on her hand and zipping the bag shut.

They made their way back to the car, Annalise declining Eve's offer to drive, seeing her ploy immediately. Annalise knew Eve was getting frustrated again and aimed to distract her.

"Your assistant."

Eve looked at her, buckling her seatbelt in the passenger seat.

"What about her?"

"She knows about us?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Interesting response. Neither a confirmation nor a denial. You're such a lawyer."

"You're the only person I know who says that and means it as a compliment," Eve laughed.

"When she heard my name she immediately agreed to get in touch with you."

"Oh, that. You're on my breakthrough list. She knows that if certain people call, she is to get ahold of me immediately."

Annalise nodded.

"But yeah, she probably knows. She wrote 'Have fun with AK!" on the note that my paralegal brought me in court."

Both women laughed.

"Frank didn't buy your underwear," Annalise confessed, "Although you may wish he had, he's definitely seen more women's underwear than I have."

Eve bit her lip and looked over at Annalise.

"You stopped at the mall on the way to save my life?"

"No," Annalise shook her head with a smile.

Eve looked at her, her brown eyes curious and shining.

"I bought you some things. To have at my house. They were in my closet anyway, so I had Frank bring them."

"That is so sweet of you, Annie."

Annalise laughed and looked up, almost losing her breath at the beauty of the woman beside her. If they hadn't been running away from a psychopath, it would have been a nice day. She had Eve and they were safe for now and that's all that mattered.