Grace and Oliver's little afternoon tryst was passionate but brief. They did not have the luxury of idling in bed when they knew Annie would be done with her bath and waiting for them. By the time she'd come back downstairs, they had returned to the office, looking just as professional and put together as when she'd left.

They carried on with their work for a while, though Grace, seeing Annie looking sleepy after her bath, did offer the girl her hand and pulled her up onto her lap to sleep a while as she continued to take notes for Mr. Warbucks.

Both the child and Grace felt so content and although Oliver kept relaying his important business information to Grace, he did pause a few times to simply take in the very sweet sight of the peaceful little girl wrapped safely and securely in the arms of the doting woman.

When Mrs. Pugh called them for dinner, Grace gently woke Annie up and Oliver came around and took her hand to lead the still drowsy child into the dining room.

Not used to such adventure, it had been a big day for Annie and the girl was half asleep as she ate her mashed potatoes.

"C'mon hunny", Oliver murmured to her once they had finished their meal, lifting her up out of her seat and carrying her upstairs to her room with Grace trailing behind.

"You stay with her", he gently encouraged Grace with an understanding nod of his head as she sat beside the girl on her bed.

"Are you sure?" She asked him, wondering how he knew how little she wanted to leave the girl's side.

"She gets to have you for two weeks only, I get to have you lots. I can't be selfish", he smiled warmly and Grace smiled back at him lovingly.

He gently kissed Annie upon her forehead and then repeated the gesture with Grace, making Grace's heart flutter.

"Goodnight dear", he whispered to her before she watched him quietly leave the room.

She was absolutely besotted with him and amazed at how well he could read her and respond to what it was she needed. He seemed to understand instinctively that she required equal time spent working, being close to him and at the present time, being close to Annie as well and he was catering to those needs without a whimper. He really was a wonderful man.

She looked down at the softly snoring child, nestled in her arms and smiled emotionally at her own luck. She knew that Oliver really had and would do anything for her, including allowing this beautiful child into their lives and into their hearts.

Grace could only hope that the wonderful way she felt now would one day become permanent.

…

Because they had gone to bed quite early, Grace also woke very early. Seeing Annie still sleeping, and noticing that the light had not yet come up outside her window, Grace carefully detached herself and quietly snuck down the hall to Oliver's room.

She opened his door and closed it again ever so gently.

Crossing the room, she smiled adoringly at the sight of him so restful. He was such a good man and she wanted such happiness for him, even more than she wanted her own happiness.

Deftly, she lifted the covers of his bed and crawled in behind him, wrapping her arms lightly around his waist and kissing his shoulder tenderly. He stirred a little but did not rouse completely, humming happily as if he knew by instinct that it was her.

Grace found herself amazed by the naturality of it and just how wonderful simply crawling into his bed to cuddle him made her feel.

"Did you miss me?" His groggy voice asked and Grace grinned with a slight blush. "Yes."

"Well, you are a very nice surprise to wake up to", he yawned as he rolled over to look at her.

She brushed his cheek tenderly with her hand. "I'd better not stay too long, in case she wakes and starts looking for me."

"Well, thanks for the visit" he smiled sleepily.

"Thank you for your hospitality", she grinned back dopily before he softly kissed her.

In all honesty, Grace would have quite happily stayed there with him forever but she knew that their relationship had not yet reached that point, though they both secretly hoped that it soon would.

"I'll see you downstairs soon", she muttered, pecking him on the lips once more before rising once again from his bed.

"Grace…"

"Yes?" She halted and turned to look at him.

"How about a swim before breakfast?"

She blinked, "Would you…like me to get your bathing costume and towel?"

"I mean all of us, myself, you and Annie."

She let out a sound of surprise. "All of us in the pool…together?"

"Yes."

"In our bathing costumes?"

"Yes. Don't tell me you're shy all of a sudden, I've seen you in less on several occasions now."

She blushed. "Well yes, but Annie will be there and it's not exactly customary."

"Having an eleven year old orphan staying with us is not exactly customary. We're supposed to be showing her a good time, aren't we? I thought she'd enjoy the pool."

Grace smiled then. "I'm sure she'll love it."

"Fine, then I'll see you there shortly."

Grace nodded. "I'll go and rouse her and then we'll come and join you."

Grace left his room feeling rather astonished. He'd always preferred solitude in his pool. It wasn't there as a means of recreation but for exercise, for him to practice his drills as if he was still in the navy.

Inviting her and Annie to join him there said to Grace that he was truly trying to make an effort and really opening up his home and his heart to the child. It wasn't like there were going to be any reporters in his pool, so allowing Annie to join him was not driven by that motivation but simply by the desire to show the child a nice time.

It warmed Grace's heart to no end. She crept back into her room and gingerly sat on the side of her bed, nearest to where Annie was still sleeping. She very gently stroked the child's auburn hair. "Annie, dear…"

She stirred, squinting in the morning light. "Yes, Miss Farrell?"

"Mr. Warbucks has invited us to go swimming with him in his pool. Would you like to?"

Suddenly, the child sat up, with a burst of energy. "Oh boy, sure, Miss Farrell. I'd like to very much!"

"Wonderful. Let's go and get your bathing suit from your room."

"But…I don't have a bathing suit."

"Well sure you do. Cecile ordered one for you yesterday."

Annie's eyes bulged. "She did?"

"Yes, along with all of your beautiful new dresses."

"Gee, I sure am spoiled."

Grace smiled warmly. "It's no more than a lovely girl like you deserves."

Annie flung her arms around Grace and hugged her tightly. Grace wrapped her arms slowly back around her, feeling quite overwhelmed by the maternal sensation which flooded her heart. She swallowed back tears, rocking Annie affectionately before pulling back with a grin. "Come on, let's go find your suit."

Once Annie's suit was found, both she and Grace changed before donning their dressing gowns and making their way downstairs to the pool.

Oliver was already swimming laps when they arrived and Grace and Annie watched him, admiring his powerful stroke, though Grace found herself admiring more than just his swimming prowess.

After he'd completed another four laps of the pool, he stopped at the end and raised his head, blinking water out of his eyes as noticed them. He couldn't help but stare at Grace in her swimming costume. It was blue and white striped and showed off her dainty arms and long legs. His eyes wandered over her uncontrollably.

"Hi Mr. Warbucks!" Annie's cheerful greeting broke him out of his gaze.

"Uh, good morning Annie. I see your new suit fits you well."

"Yes, I love it."

He smiled, "I'm very glad. Aren't you coming in?"

Annie nodded enthusiastically, wearing a great big smile.

She took Grace by the hand. "Come on, Miss Farrell."

"I'm coming, dear", Grace chuckled as the child pulled her to the pool's edge and down the stairs into the water.

"Ooh, it's so nice and warm", Annie remarked.

"Well of course, it's a heated pool."

"I didn't even know they existed!" The girl jumped into the water with a splash.

"Annie, can you swim?" Grace asked in a sudden panic.

The girl bobbed to the surface and grinned. "Of course I can! Me, Pepper, Tessie and July used to sneak out all the time to go swim in the river.

"My gosh, you learned to swim in the Hudson river? With no one to properly instruct you?" Grace was aghast.

"Pepper taught me. She's two years older than me."

"Oh, well in that case…", Grace side-eyed Oliver who chuckled.

"Well, it can't be any worse than the way I learned to swim. My Lieutenant Commander threw me off the back of the USS American into the ocean and waited until I was fast enough to touch the side of the ship before throwing me the buoy."

Grace's eyes went wide. "You enlisted in the navy without knowing how to swim?"

Oliver shrugged. "They were desperate and so was I. In any case, I soon learned."

Grace continued to look horrified. "I bet you did."

"What about you Miss Farrell? Where did you learn to swim?"

In slight embarrassment, not wanting to show her privilege, Grace pursed her lips. "The Crosby High School pool. My Father insisted I have private lessons."

"That was nice of him", Annie smiled warmly.

"Hmm", Oliver raised his eyebrow in interest, not having known that about her. "Well, clearly your Father knew what a precious gem he had for a daughter and wanted to keep you safe. Smart man."

Grace's face softened as her heart melted. It was such a lovely thing for him to say.

Oliver then smirked. "Well, perhaps we ought to put our varying forms of education to the test. I challenge you both to a race!"

Grace laughed. "I hardly think it'll be a fair competition. You've swum professionally and you're in this pool almost every day."

"But you're both so much younger than I am", Oliver countered, making Grace roll her eyes.

"Come on, Miss Farrell, let's see if we can beat him", Annie grinned, narrowing her eyes playfully at Oliver who countered her stare with a laugh. "You're on, little lady."

Grace smiled at their interaction and conceded, "Alright, two laps."

Oliver made a sound of triumph and they all moved to the shallow end of the pool to begin the race.

He glanced at the two females to the left of him, both of whom were wearing determined looks. He grinned to himself. "Ready…set…go!"

Grace and Annie pushed themselves off from the wall and swam as fast as they could do the other end. Oliver swam at a decent pace, but not so much as to try and compete with the two of them.

Kicking off the opposite wall and seeing Annie trailing slightly behind her, Grace also slowed her pace to let Annie go ahead of her.

Annie touched the starting point and shot up out of the water with a holler. "I won!"

Grace inhaled deeply as she came up for air, beaming at Annie, "Well done, Annie!"

When Oliver came up a second or two later, she looked over at him and gave him an adoring smile knowing there was no possible way the two of them could have beaten him in a competitive race. He winked at her before picking Annie up out of the water. "A victory lap for the winner!"

Annie cackled in delight as Oliver swam around the pool, holding her on his shoulder.

Grace leaned on the edge of the pool, her heart swelling with complete and utter adoration.

Grace watched with a big beaming smile at seeing the girl's joy, tears pricking her eyes at seeing Annie so happy, of course, but seeing Oliver so happy too was what really made her feel so emotional.

She wanted nothing more than to see him this happy every day of his life.

"Now my turn", she heard Oliver say, chuckling as she saw the look of disdain on Annie's face. "I can't carry you, Mr. Warbucks!"

"I bet you can. Give it a try", he encouraged her.

To Annie's astonishment, she was indeed able to piggyback Oliver around the pool. "Look, Miss Farrell!" She squealed and Grace laughed. "My goodness, how strong you are!"

"It must be my turn", Grace declared and Oliver let Annie go to allow Grace to piggyback off Annie instead. The three of them laughing raucously.

Oliver swam up to them as they rounded the pool and scooped Annie up, zipping through the water with her in his arms, making her eyes pop with surprise over the feeling of the water whooshing past them. "Hold your breath", he warned her before plonking her into the water.

She came up sputtering a little but wearing a grin from ear to ear then watched as Oliver went up to Grace and did the same to her, cradling her in his arms as he quickly moved through the water. Grace was weightless and blissful in his arms, her eyes locked with his until the moment he dropped her into the pool just as he'd done with Annie. She came up quickly and reached for him, clinging to his shoulders while she caught her breath. Annie, all the while, watching them with amusement as they laughed together,

The three of them played in the pool for a while longer before Oliver declared, quite unwillingly, that he needed to go and shower, eat his breakfast and get on with his day.

"You're both welcome to stay, though", he said as he clambered out of the pool and wrapped his towel around his waist.

"Don't you need me?" Grace asked him.

"Always", he answered honestly. "But no more so than you're needed here. Take your time and I'll see you when you're ready to get out."

She looked up at him, again, unable to stop herself from staring at his bare torso. She truly was sinfully attracted to him.

She watched him leave before turning her attention back to Annie and asking the girl if she'd like to learn some water ballet, to which she responded with an ecstatic, "Oh, yes please, Miss Farrell!"

The two of them spent a while longer in the pool, practicing dainty and rhythmical moves until such time as Annie's stomach began to rumble. "Miss Farrell, I'm hungry. Could we have breakfast now?"

Grace smiled at her. "Of course we can."

The two of them got dressed and made their way upstairs. They could take their baths after breakfast. Oliver had only just finished his shower and was just cracking his soft boiled egg when the two ladies entered the room.

"Oh, hello. Had enough fun already?"

"I was having so much fun but my stomach was growling", Annie replied as she sat down and Grace asked Drake to bring their trays.

Along with their breakfast, Drake also brought a message to Mr. Warbucks. He read it and then made a sound of surprise. "Bob Hope is getting married in February. I've been invited to attend."

"Didn't he just get divorced last month?"

Oliver shrugged with a slight grimace.

"Something's clearly amiss there", Grace commented, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Makes you wonder if his previous marriage was in fact substantiated."

"Indeed."

"Why aren't you two married?"

Annie's question made them both still completely and look at her in surprise.

"What a thing to ask, Annie", Grace tittered, her face flushing.

"The opportunity just hasn't presented itself yet", Oliver responded. "But maybe someday soon."

Grace met his eyes across the table. Did he really mean that? And more to the point, was he talking about them?

The corners of his mouth lifted in a secretive smile and she felt her heart double in speed as she returned to eating her breakfast.

Once he'd finished his breakfast, Oliver went to the office to work. Grace had arranged for up and coming tennis star Don Budge to come and give Annie some lessons while she and Oliver worked. She made the introduction between Don and Annie and then went to join Oliver in the office.

It appeared to Grace that Oliver's earlier comment about possibly being married someday soon was little more than a passing thought as he seemed to be quite unaffected by it. She however, was left reeling by his comment and was finding being able to concentrate on her work rather difficult.

She couldn't deny how wonderful the idea was. She knew they loved each other and in spite of the scrutiny they would no doubt face over a boss marrying his secretary, Grace knew they could make each other very happy.

After all, they'd already been making each other very happy for some months now, though illegitimately.

"Grace…"

She quickly looked up at the sound of his voice.

"Is everything alright? You seem distracted."

She blushed, realizing he must have been trying to get her attention.

"Yes, I'm fine, I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

He smiled knowingly. "I was talking about wool shares. I detect that's not where your mind was though. May I ask what you were thinking about?"

Timidly, Grace asked, "Earlier, at breakfast, when you spoke of potentially being married someday soon…"

"Mm?"

Grace sighed, he wasn't going to make this easy for her, was he?

"Were you alluding to us being married?"

"Who else, Grace?"

Grace swallowed, a lump of emotion clogging her throat. "Well, I suppose if we are successful in having a child and we intend to raise the child together, it wouldn't be viewed very favorably if we weren't married."

"Whether we're blessed with a child or not, I still want to make a life with you, Grace."

Her eyes welled up with tears at his proclamation.

"I've been thinking about it for a while, actually and as we grew closer during my time away, it seemed more and more like the right decision. It's only that I didn't want the shine to be taken off Annie's time here that I haven't discussed it with you yet, but after she's gone, would you be open to having that conversation?"

Grace sniffed back her tears and gave him a shaky nod.

"Good", he smiled serenely.

Though there was great anticipation in Grace's mind over Oliver's inevitable proposal, she did manage to focus enough to carry on with the day's work.

They lunched together in the dining room with Annie who'd had a terrific morning learning how to play tennis with Don Budge who even promised Annie he would return later in the week to play with her again.

Once they had finished their lunch, Oliver turned to Annie. "Annie, go and put your coat on, will you? I have somewhere I wanna take you."

Annie turned to the two adults with an expression of intrigue and seeing their looks of encouragement, bounded quickly and excitedly out of the room to get her coat.

"Where are you taking her?" Grace asked him curiously.

"Oh, you'll see. You're coming too."

"I am?"

He stood from the table and pulled her up by the hand, making her laugh as he rushed with her to the door.

…

Once they arrived at their destination, Grace could see what he'd been so excited about.

Standing at the plate of Yankee Stadium, Grace and Annie both looked around in awe at the sheer size of their surroundings.

And when Babe Ruth himself came over to greet them, although the meeting was for her benefit, Annie was definitely not the most excited person there.

Oliver was in awe of the famed baseball player and even Grace was a little bit starstruck.

Babe Ruth pitched a couple of balls to Oliver to show off his skills and then the two men encouraged Annie up to the plate.

"Step up there, Annie, onto the plate there, that's it", Oliver gently guided her. Grace watched from the side as he crouched down behind her to hold her steady, knowing the force of the ball she was about to be pitched.

He was so remarkably tender and caring towards the child and it was really rather astounding to Grace just how much good Annie seemed to be bringing out in him.

Her heart felt full of love and of hope.

Babe pitched the ball, a little less gently than he would do in a typical game, yet still, Annie caught it in her mit with a huff and fell back against Oliver, grateful for him being there to catch her.

The two of them fell back against the dirt, both laughing heartily.

When they left Yankee Stadium, Grace turned to Oliver and smiled, "My, my, it seems as if your aim for today has been to encourage Annie to become an athlete, what with our morning swim, then the tennis lesson, now the baseball practice…"

Oliver grinned back at her. "Well there's no reason she couldn't be a full-fledged Olympian when she's older, if she wished to be."

Grace laughed. "A stock market expert and an athlete? Don't you think that might be a little too ambitious?"

Oliver puffed out his chest. "Not at all. I think she could do it all, this kid." He winked at Annie who giggled in reply. "She could even be President one day. Heck, she'd have my vote now if she ran today."

Grace gave him a disapproving stare over his slight towards President Roosevelt, yet she couldn't tamper the fond smile on her face.

He was so effortlessly encouraging and nurturing. Grace continued to be surprised at how naturally he had taken on his role of temporary caregiver. He was not only knowledgeable but he was also generous with his knowledge.

When they arrived home, all of them were famished and were very happy to be told their dinner was on the table.

They ate hungrily and talked happily about their day - Annie mostly taking over the conversation and Grace and Oliver attentively and contentedly listening.

By the time their dinner had been eaten, Annie was already falling asleep at the table.

Oliver, almost instinctively, picked her up out of her chair and carried her upstairs to bed.

They changed her into her nightwear together and tucked her in before Grace went to follow Oliver out of the room.

They spent a while in the office but there was more recapping of their time thus far with Annie than there was work, both of them smiling fondly at the events of the past few days.

Oliver was beginning to feel, just as Grace already had been, a sense of trepidation when thinking about sending Annie back to the orphanage.

She was such a smart, sweet girl and Oliver knew she would make any parent very proud to have her as their daughter.

Of course he knew that having a child for life and hosting one for two weeks was a very different set of circumstances but she really had been little bother and actually very nice to have around, making the house so lively and the people in it so much happier - the lady sitting across from him in particular.

And after all, that was one of his top post priorities of late - making Grace happy. Seeing her so filled him with such joy satisfaction.

"You know, I was thinking. Tomorrow, I wanna do something extra special for Annie. I'd like to put work to the side for at least one full day while she's with us."

Grace smiled a very pleased and surprised smile. "What did you have in mind?"

"I was hoping you might have some ideas", he chuckled sheepishly. "What do you think she'd enjoy doing?"

"She'd love to meet President Roosevelt", Grace smirked slyly, to which Oliver leaned back in his chair with a groan.

She chuckled, "Oh you mean something she'd enjoy which would not put you in personal peril..."

"Mhm", he drawled, narrowing his eyes playfully at her. She sniggered.

"How about a high tea at the Russian Tea room?"

"Oh, the cannoli there is to die for", Oliver responded, licking his lips.

"Definitely adding that to the list, even if just to see that look on your face again", said Grace saucily, writing the idea down and making Oliver's eyes darken at her words.

"What about the Natural History Museum?"

"Oh yes, do you know they have a skeleton of a real Brontosaurus?" His eyes lit up boyishly.

Grace let out a laugh, "Now is this day out supposed to be entertaining for Annie or for you?"

"For Annie, of course…doesn't mean we can't have fun too", he grinned.

Her face softened. She really loved seeing him like this. It wasn't a side of Oliver Warbucks often seen. She would go so far as to say that in his adult years she might have been the only one privileged enough to witness this fun-loving, playful side of him.

"What about you? What would you like to do?" He asked her and she blinked in surprise.

Suddenly, Grace's face brightened. "There's a young people's concert tomorrow at Carnegie Hall. Don't you remember, Mr. Simon asked you to sponsor it? Oh Sir, Annie will love it."

He smiled warmly. "Well then, I suppose we'd better get on to Mr. Simon to arrange some tickets…in exchange for a decent fee, of course."

Grace gazed at him with an expression of absolute love and admiration. He was truly one of the most generous people she knew and because of Annie being with them, he was being given opportunities he wouldn't usually have, to show that to the world. She couldn't describe the pride she felt in him for being so giving and so kind.

The best part of it was, she could see how happy and proud it made him to be able to do it, too. For so many years, she knew his main focus had been to no longer have to struggle financially, then to maintain the wealth he had earned. It had been hard for him to contemplate giving his hard-earned money away, but now, she could see that with her influence, and perhaps with Annie's too, he was becoming a true picture of altruism.

The thought of how proud she was going to be the day she stood next to him as his wife brought tears to her eyes.

He made the phone call to Mr. Simon himself. The two men talked for a while and the figure Oliver offered to the owner of the music hall made Grace's eyes water. Mr. Simon graciously and gratefully accepted Oliver's offer and promised him there would be three tickets waiting at the box office for them the following morning.

After he finished the phone call, he turned to Grace who had just made the booking for the high tea at the Russian Tea Rooms. "Well, it seems as if we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. I'd say we'd be wise to get a good night's sleep, my dear."

"May I join you for the night?" Grace asked shyly, not wanting to be parted from him.

Oliver blinked in surprise and elation. "Certainly, but what about Annie?"

Grace smiled softly. "After the day she's had today, I have a feeling she's going to sleep very soundly tonight."

"Then, please Grace, be with me tonight", he all but pleaded with her, cupping her face so gently. She melted into his touch and nodded.

Hand in hand, they went upstairs to his rooms, each of them undressing down to their undergarments. Following him to his bed, Grace willingly curled up into his open arms.

He kissed her head and asked her if she was warm enough. She assured him that with her bare arms around his bare chest she was perfectly cozy.

It was intimacy of a kind they had not yet shared and it was blissful and natural and full of hope for what the future versions of themselves could come to consider perfectly ordinary.

Peace and rest greeted them easily and in each others' embrace, they slept contentedly 'til the morning.

…

A/N 1: This is now officially the most chapters I have written for a singular story-line "Annie" fic! And there's still so much to come!

A/N 2: I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the New Year xx