Then
Anna tipped her face back as she leaned against her car, soaking in the morning light. Spending as many years as she had in Forks meant every day that didn't start with rain was a tad miraculous. Add the returning birdsong, and she was in heaven. Spring had always been Anna's favorite in the east coast.
Hearing the truck pull up, she didn't mind the idea of sharing one of the reasons why. Glancing at her watch she smiled.
"Early bird." She called as the door opened and a grinning Sylas got out. "I do believe I said eight thirty."
"And I knew you'd be closer to eight." Sylas smirked and reached into his pocket, then holding up a finger tried the other. He pulled out a wrapped sandwich and tossed it to her.
Smelling the bacon egg and cheese Anna gasped. "Bless you."
Pulling out his own, Sylas took in the budding trees around them. "Quite the spot you have here Anna Jane."
"I can't claim it, but I do hope not too many folks discover it. There're plans down the line to add a hot chocolate and cider bar in the fall and winter. That'll draw some unfortunates." Anna's nose wrinkled as she took a hefty bite of the English muffin.
"Other humans, unacceptable." Sylas tucked her arm through his.
Beyond the parking lot and the ancient barn was a span of trees hugging a skinny gravel path. For the first little while they could still hear cars in the distance, then once the gravel turned to dirt and burgeoning roots they were enveloped by the woods. Anna twirled ahead and pointed out birds and views, patting her favorite trees along the way.
The feeling brewing in Sylas was a kin to watching Anna on her porch those years ago. It was as though the very air gave her wings, he'd never seen her so free. Though this time he didn't feel on the outside of that at all. There was a click he hadn't felt since he first visited Forks. Where as being there when he was a kid had felt like home, here felt like a returning.
He smiled as Anna skipped off the trail, her boots sinking in the mud. Flashes of her at different ages were a welcome sight knowing he could walk with her now.
"This spot might be my favorite." She called over as she stared out at the field beyond.
"It's not that I don't trust you Anj, but you're free with your favorites."
"You're not wrong." She smiled over her shoulder as he leaned against a tree, watching her. "But this spot has the necessary mix. Those stones, that we have no idea how long they've been there." She gestured to the circle of sitting rocks, that could have once been around a fire pit. "The fallen trees near here make excellent benches. And the view of the fields that get all the light." She sighed as she looked around. "You're tucked in but not apart."
"I can see the draw." Sylas agreed. "I'm surprised more haven't found it."
"I'll pass a few on the initial trail, but not nearly enough as the paved one nearby. Then there's the park up mountain, that gets a crowd during high season. Probably why Maple Point is doing well, they're hidden up there but…."
"In plain sight." Sylas sighed. "I do hate that I'm reassured by your being here not just because of it suits you."
"Of all the choices we have to make because of them, luckily my location wasn't one of them. Just a side benefit that its worked out."
"But some of them get through." He regretted having to say the words in such a special place, but he needed to know. "How many since you've been here?"
Anna shrugged. "Not many in the first couple of years. More when Papa first passed, but that trickled off by the end of winter."
Now her eyes narrowed. Sylas nearly gulped as she swaggered back. Part from nerves, part from attraction. A regular occurrence when in his wife's presence.
"That's not why you're here is it? For work? For them?" She marched right up, and even being a foot shorter than him, she'd long since learned she could still intimidate. "You better tell me now." She poked the center of his chest.
"I'm here because you needed me to be. Not for help with them, not for anything to do with them. You needed me. And while once I would have given just about anything to hear you say it, it wasn't necessary this time. I knew because I needed you."
"Hmm." Anna gave a little shove before passing to get back on the trail.
"Hmmm, she says." With a sweep of his hand Sylas sent a pine cone up and flying towards Anna's backside. His grin spread as she cocked her hip so it missed.
"Blatant misuse of power." Anna tsked. "I'm guilty of it often here though. In the summer when the streams are flowing. In the fall when all the leaves are piled. In the winter while the snow is still powdery. There's no magic like the woods, but its sure fun to tap into it."
"And in the Spring?"
Annas brow raised with her smirk. She raised her hands as she looked at the tree tops, their new leaves being hit with the late April sun. With a breath she closed her fingers into her palms, giving the branches above a shake that rained morning dew over her and Sylas. While her smiling eyes were on the glinting shower, Sylas's never left her face.
Feeling the buzz of heat Anna met that stare and fought the urge to get a good grip and yank him down to her. With a shaky laugh she lowered her arms.
"Another reason I'd like it if the ordinary humans don't frequent this trail."
"Whew baby, you're not wrong. C'mon." Sylas took her hand and tugged. "Show me the rest before I pin you to a tree."
"Mr. Simone."
Dodging her attempt to trip him, Sylas chuckled. "Mrs. Bruan."
Anna felt relief knowing his mind was on the same track as hers. However irresponsible. Still, she kept a hold of her control and reason. He was probably only going to be there for the day, and while spending the hours in bed would have been a good use of that time, Anna coveted more. More laughs, more of his voice, more of that familiar calm and steadiness.
Taking him across the fields and through another stretch of woods, Anna was relieved Sylas steered the conversation to the normalcies of her life. He asked about work and how she was enjoying her role as the gallery archivist. It was certainly a better fit than her time at reception and exhibit assistant, and a step in the right direction of being able to bring on artists herself. He shook his head with a grin when she mentioned her recommendations for including wood artists.
By the time they'd looped back to the gravel and then the road, Anna was grateful she'd have work tomorrow to distract her from his leaving. But she drew the time out, asking him to follow her back before he could say he should get on. After they left their cars at the house she took his hand back towards the street.
"How often do you come here?" Sylas asked of the diner as they approached.
"My budget is pretty strict but at least once a week, even if it's just for a muffin."
Sylas bit his tongue on the offer to send her money if her budget was tight. She'd burn a hole through him with one responding look, and rightly so. Still, he held the door open for her and earned a wink.
Anna leaned against the counter, but didn't sit. She waved at a woman a few years older than them who smiled as she filled an order. Anna pointed to a table by a bay window and got a thumbs up in return.
"Meg will be by when she's able. Her husbands family owns the diner, but they've pretty much taken it over at this point. They're lovely."
"You have friends here." Sylas said with warmth. "I'd hoped."
Anna took his hand. "People I'm friendly with anyway. I wish I could share more of myself, but I think the important parts have gotten through. There are good people here."
"In here on a Sunday, my stars." Meg wiggled her eyebrows at Anna.
" I know, but still earlier than the good church folk so be a dear and two…" She looked to Sylas who nodded, "coffees in to go cups. Black for his, cream two sugars for me.
"Ah, there's our hermit. Slash heathen. You introducing me to your friend orrr?"
"Oh, jeez. Yes. Meg, this is Sylas." Anna beamed in his direction.
"Wonderful to meet you. Make sure she takes you on a night walk."
Sylas raised his brows as Meg went to put their order in.
"You still do that?"
"Take cream? We're twenty six Sylas, not forty six. Cholesterol is future us's problem."
"Don't evade Anna Jane; I'm not nagging. Exactly."
Anna shrugged. "They relax me, what can I say. Tell Cecelia and I'll make your life a misery."
"I wouldn't dare, but I do hope you'll take me on one."
"You're…..you're staying another night?"
Before he could answer a boy of maybe sixteen came to the table.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt Ms. B. Grandma told me to tell you there's going to be a sale at the shop this week."
"My rabbit figurine?"
"Probably now that Easter is over."
"Huzzah! Thanks Robbie. You tell her if she knocks it half off I'll make sure you get an A in French."
"I'm not taking French this year." Robbie looked sheepish.
"Merde. Understood that just fine." She called after him. "What?" She asked Sylas as he stared. "His grandparents run the hardware store that has a lawn décor gift shop where there may or may not be a very dignified looking rabbit figurine I covet."
"They know you as Bruan here." Sylas murmured.
"It's my name is it not?"
"The important parts have gotten through."
"They have." Anna saw the emotion in his eyes and felt the warmth from her crown to her toes. Catching Meg's wave from the counter she rose. "Be right back."
"That's the mister?" Meg confirmed and snickered at Anna's nod. "Oh you're in trouble."
"I've known him since I was eight, I can handle the effects." Anna sighed. "I get the feeling he intends to be in town longer than I expected. Know anyone in town that has an AirBnB?"
"Oh don't be ridiculous. Want to add any of the famous town baked goods?"
Anna glanced back at the table and sensing her, Sylas looked over his shoulder, slowly smiling.
"See that look right there? That's the one that makes my knees knock, and he can never know, or I am in fact in trouble." She muttered and then jerked her head at the pastry case. At his scan and then nod she told Meg, "He'll have whatever has cherries in it and I'll have a chocolate croissant please.
Meg shook her head at the offered money. "Your young man took care of that when I was at the table. Very smooth that one." She handed over the coffee and bag.
Anna narrowed her eyes as she turned, and Sylas was already opening the door for her. "Sneaky son of a bitch." She told him with a hip a bump as they left.
They walked back to her apartment, settling in with their coffee on her portion of deck.
"We can raid my stash of movies if you'd like. Have a Sunday burrow."
"I actually have a meeting this afternoon."
"A meeting?"
Sylas took a breath. "With a Mr. Haverty."
"Haverty." Anna repeated. "Chh…Chuck Haverty? Owns like half the rentals in my county Chuck Haverty?"
"The same." Sylas jutted his chin to the building diagonal of Anna's, grinning as she looked behind her.
"What the hell are you about Sylas?"
"I'd like to stay a while. If you're alright with it."
"And if you can get a rental that's what, a hundred feet from my door?"
"If I don't get that one I'll find another."
"Hmm." At his answering laugh, Anna gulped back the hope that surged through her.
"Anj." Sylas put down his coffee and walked over to the rocking chair, crouching in front of her. "I don't know what comes next, I don't think we need to know. I just know I want to be here. I want to live in the same place as you again. I want to be a part of your life, a real part. And when we're ready, I'd like to move in here. But I'm in no rush this time. We'll go at the pace that feels right." He gestured to the building behind them. "For now, me being over there feels right to me. Does it to you?"
"Completely. But Sylas." Anna put her hands in his. "I need you to know if we try this and you're the one to step away from it. If you leave again that will break something in me. In us. Something we won't ever get back."
"I know baby." Sylas brought the back of her hand to his cheek. "I'm going to work very hard to earn your trust that that will never happen again."
"Just like that? You'll just move here, reroute your business? Give up the gypsy life?"
"Eight years and just like that. Easily. I'm not giving up a damn thing."
The conviction in his voice staggered her but Anna kept her control, not ready to let any emotion overcome.
"It's a great town. I guess I can share."
"Yeah?" Sylas's smile lit his face.
Leaning down into his arms she sighed. "With you."