Author's Notes: After how the last chapter ended, I didn't want to keep you guys waiting much longer. Enjoy some much-needed fluff!
Chapter Seven: Chesapeake Bay
A gentle breeze picked up as Annette left the suite she and Spencer rented out at the Inn at Herrington Harbour. She could see the beach from the front porch, and it was also an ideal spot to watch the sunrise. She removed her sandals so she could feel the grain of the sand between her bare toes and made her way towards the nearby pier. The sun was creeping towards the horizon, giving off a shade of orange and red to color the town with.
It had been a few days since Foyet's escape from prison, and the pain and bruising she sustained from his attack on her had just about subsided. Daily baths in Epsom salt, elevation of her body, and ice packs helped to deal with it all, combined with Spencer's constant doting on her since they got back.
The thought of Spencer got her thinking about her relationship with him as she walked across the pier. The knowledge of their relationship lasting a year and a month and a half was astounding, not to mention unbelievable. She was almost sure the long-distance aspect it started off as would have been its undoing; it certainly stacked the odds against them, and despite that, they pulled through all those said odds and came out stronger.
As she continued to think it over, Annette realized she had been stubborn at first when they began this relationship. She didn't want to leave Albuquerque, and she loathed change, especially having felt she found her place and got used to a routine for two years. Following that brief encounter with Spencer all those years ago, she was sure she would never cross paths with him again. Yet, it seemed fate steered her back to him when Ronald Landers announced his intention of raping her.
Without having to think twice, she recited Mad Girl's Love Song.
"I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. I lift my lids and all is born again. I think I made you up inside my head.
"The stars go waltzing out in blue and red, and arbitrary blackness gallops in. I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
"I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed, and sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite inside. God topples from the sky; hell's fires fade. Exit seraphim and Satan's men; I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
"I fancied you'd return the way you said, but I grow old and forget your name. I think I made you up inside my head. I should have loved a thunderbird instead. At least when spring comes, they roar back again. I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. I think I made you up inside my head."
She was sure she saw her nineteen-year-old self pacing about in the courtyard of the FBI Academy, with a then twenty-one-year-old Spencer watching her with intrigue. A small smile formed on her lips as she remembered how he didn't laugh at her, and a warmth matching the feel of the sun flooded her insides.
She soon felt another at the pier, and she saw Spencer walking from the other side of the pier towards her.
"Annette?"
Spencer's call echoed throughout the living area as he looked for his beloved in the suite. He then noticed her sandals were missing, and he wondered if she had gone out for a walk on the beach. Making his way towards the sandy shoreline, he saw a set of small, bare footprints in the sand, and following the trail with his eyes, saw her standing at the edge of the pier, staring off into the distance.
As he neared the steps leading up towards the boardwalk, he paused at the sound of her voice.
"The stars go waltzing out in blue and red, and arbitrary blackness gallops in. I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead."
She was reciting Mad Girl's Love Song, hearing the siren-like, melodic tone in her voice that captivated him back at the Academy all those years ago.
"I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed, and sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite inside. God topples from the sky; hell's fires fade. Exit seraphim and Satan's men; I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead."
As he got on the boardwalk and slowly approached her, he remembered a promise he made to himself after they parted ways that day. If he ever saw her again, he would take the time to get to know her. Leave it to a case to reunite them after all this time, but he would not pass up on seizing the chance the case had given him.
He was okay with the long-distance aspect their relationship started off as, for it allowed him the chance to see his mother once a week besides seeing Annette. But after a few months, he longed to see her more, especially when she stayed in Vegas after they rescued Michael Bridges out of concern and love for him. Their time in Vegas granted them their mutual wish of seeing each other more and living together with her temporary transfer, only for Michael Boudreaux's execution to send her back to Albuquerque.
Accompanying Anya and her criminology class to Cleveland served as the last obstacle in Annette making her final decision on whether she would join the team permanently. Because of her devotion to Anya, he was almost certain she would have to postpone her answer yet again, and it surprised him upon the discovery of Hotch receiving the paperwork for her transfer. He knew she loathed change, but she wanted to be with him, and she chose not to let the fear make the final decision for her. For that, he was grateful, and they were finally together for good.
By the time he was within a few feet of her, Annette turned around to face him. When their eyes locked, Spencer closed the last bit of distance between them. Everything that transpired since her stalker case brought them to this very point in time, and with a year to their relationship, he hoped to add more years of moments and memories with her. She also helped him to reach two years of sobriety from his addiction to Dilaudid, adding to his realization of how precious she was to him and how much he truly loved her.
She walked three steps towards him, reaching up to cup his face with both hands, and he leaned towards her, pressing his forehead against hers.
"I know you were reminiscing about our relationship up to this very point in time, and you were just thinking of your drug addiction."
He let out a chuckle; in the year they had been together, she could decipher his thoughts and feelings with either a simple look his way or her sharp ability to hear his body language.
"I reached my second year of sobriety because of you. I don't think you realize how precious you've become to me, Annette."
Annette shook her head.
"No, I know. I think it's you that doesn't see how much you mean to me. You breathed life and light back into me."
Her words intrigued him.
"Really?"
"Yes," Annette replied. "After I graduated from high school, I devoted myself to my studies so I could fulfill my dream of joining the FBI. Save for my family and a select few friends, I didn't really have much of a personal life. I hardly ever dated thanks to my belief I was incapable of falling in love, and I thought a romantic relationship would hold me back from my full potential.
"When I met you that day, it gave me a glimmer of hope for romance. Even if I never saw you again in my lifetime, it gave me something to hold on to as I pressed forward.
"I wanted to see you again, and I hoped I would, but I also accepted the possibility of never seeing you again."
Spencer rubbed the tip of his nose against hers, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.
"I wanted to see you again, too. I thought about you from time to time, wondering when, if, I would ever see you again. Although a case brought us back together, I had been hoping to see you again and my wish came true."
Annette couldn't help the smile forming on her lips, and one of her hands moved down to his chest, with her other hand caressing his cheek. She stopped at his tie, and she gently tugged on it, pulling him down towards her. Their lips locked in a kiss, colored in the orange hue of the sunset as they got lost in the moment.
"Let's watch the sunset together," she whispered against his lips.
When he nodded, the two of them sat down on the edge of the pier, and she leaned into him as he wrapped an arm around her.
Spencer felt Annette's anxiety as he reached under the hem of her pajama top, pushing the fabric up to expose her stomach. As he rubbed his hand over her skin, he remembered when they made love for the first time on New Year's Eve. As nervous as they both were, he wanted to see and feel her, and all it took was a push of encouragement for her to take her dress off, leading to the most wonderful night he ever had with her.
She placed her hand over the one caressing her stomach, and he felt her tremble beneath her touch.
"What is it?"
"I was just thinking of Foyet attacking me," Annette replied. "How he threw me into that display stand and then threw it down on me. As I was curled up and covering myself from the broken glass, I heard Morgan yelling, and then I heard the scuffling of the both of them before I heard the shattering of the nearby window.
"I can still remember shaking as I held my gun up and aimed it right at him. I knew I was going to miss the killing shot, but at the very least, I wanted to force him to flee before he got the chance to kill us."
When he paused in his rubbing of her stomach, Annette moved his hand with her own, encouraging him to continue.
"It's still fresh in my mind, and I'm concerned I won't be able to please you as a result, much less enjoy myself."
"Don't think, Annette. Just feel."
The tone of his whisper made her heart race out of excitement, and rather than speak, Annette leaned up to kiss him. She rolled him over, straddling his lap, and after pulling away, she gazed at him for a moment before reaching for her top, pulling it up over her head. She then opened the buttons of his pajama shirt, one at a time, and then things turned serious when she leaned forward to kiss him again.
Spencer was up first, and the first thing he saw was Annette's serene expression as she slept soundly next to him on her side. Annette slept with her bare shoulders and back exposed, covered by only the sheet and duvet on her front. He moved closer to her, the tips of their noses barely touching, as he pushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear and began caressing her cheek with his thumb. He took in the soft touch of her skin, the scent of lilac and vanilla flooding his nostrils and intoxicating him once again.
She soon stirred, shifting slightly before opening her eyes to the closeness of his face and hazel gaze.
"Good morning," he greeted with a smile.
"Good morning," she greeted back, her voice deep in sleep.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm still feeling sore, but it's not as bad," Annette replied.
"It will subside, love. I promise," he assured, leaning forward to give her a kiss.
"Our little romp last night also helped too," she purred, causing Spencer's heart to race as he let out an amused chuckle.
"As much as I would like to stay in bed with you, we had the day reserved for walking and sightseeing."
"I know, and I would like to do some walking on the beach and throughout the town," Annette said with a nod. "How about I make breakfast?"
"After I draw you a bath," Spencer replied.
"Okay. As long as you join me afterwards."
Smiling at her, Spencer gave her another kiss before getting out of bed, and she watched him retreat to the bathroom.
Sure enough, the couple spent the entire day walking and sightseeing in a few highlighted areas they agreed to do. The first was a hike through First Landing State Park, taking in the forestry, marshes, and lagoons. Next was a trek up a hundred ninety-one steps through the Cape Henry Lighthouse, the reward a spectacular view of where the bay and Atlantic Ocean meet. For a moment of downtime, they toured the National Aquarium, and Annette got excited at seeing the fish, sharks, dolphins, and jellyfish.
Next, they walked another trail along the Grandview Nature Preserve, observing the wildlife and also combing the beach for seashells. Annette was fortunate to charm some of the wildlife for Spencer to take pictures, and there was an instance where they used the seashells they found to form an outline of a mermaid. Annette laid down in the sand, with Spencer having her pose while he laid the surrounding seashells.
After enjoying a quiet moment on the beach, Spencer treated her to dinner at a restaurant called Schaefer's Canal House. Annette got to experience the taste of seafood fresh from the bay and a cold, alcoholic beverage from the bar as they watched the sunset together.
While gazing at the sunset and holding the hand of the man she loved, Annette felt the happiness she thought could only exist in her wildest dreams. The limelight her abduction put her under was a negative one thanks to the snobby senior class that year; she was the center of attention and not them. Even with her family and small circle of friends in Lindsey, Jenna, Tyler, and Kyle, she felt incapable of love. They were her family for so long, and now, she gained another family in the team she was now a part of. It was just as Spencer told her when she confided the anxiety of the move and transfer in him: she was not alone, and she never will be.
If I can get used to this, then I can adapt to the change.
She leaned into Spencer, who wrapped an arm around her back, and she allowed herself to relax as he kissed the top of her head.
End Notes: The final chapter will be posted alongside this one! Stay tuned!