A/N Hi! Oh wow, this holiday season has already hit me with so much to do and so little time to do it. Any way, thank you for your continued support and patience.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews and my new followers and favorites.
This chapter as not gotten a full proofing yet. I like to print and reread at least three times, but have not been able to print. So all mistakes are mine. Please forgive me. Thank you.
Chapter 34: Meeting Anna
Dallas Texas; the morning Theo meets Anna
Anna slowly crawled out of bed after she checked the time. Four in the morning, it was still dark outside. As quietly as possible Anna pulled her panties on, then her jeans and searched the room for the rest of her clothes.
"Bra, bra...I know I had a bra on last night." Anna looked around the hotel room until she finally found all her clothes and her bag. She slowly slipped into the bathroom to wash up a bit and then she got dressed.
As Anna looked at her self in the mirror of yet another hotel bath room, after a night with yet another cowboy who's name she didn't remember, she cringed. "This has got stop Anna. Aaron would not be happy with the way you are acting." She sighed heavily then pulled on her boots. She turned off the bathroom light, and took one last look at the red haired man still asleep in the bed. "Oh Anna, this one wasn't even your type." She shook her head and headed out the door in search of pancakes.
Aaron had been gone now for a little over a year. Anna had never understood his need to join the Muggle Army and play Muggle solider. It wasn't that she felt he had no place there, it was his desire to act as a Muggle when he was a Wizard that she didn't understand. But Aaron's father was a solider and a Muggle, Aaron had insisted it was something he needed to do. She loved him, unconditionally. So if going to the middle east to participate in some war was what he 'needed' to do, she supported him. What bothered her the most was, how many of the Muggles around her pretended like there wasn't even a war going on. The Wizarding world wouldn't even acknowledge the possibility that they may be able to help the Muggles. Their insistence on keeping their uppity noses out of Muggle affairs had never set right with Anna. Perhaps that was because, like Aaron she was only a Half-Blood, and her Muggle father also struggled with the idea that magic was not only real, but her mother wouldn't use it to help him advance his career, or better the lives of the Muggles around her. Her mother always insisted doing so was against their 'greatest law'.
Her parents were one of reasons Muggles and Magical people marrying was frowned upon. They had ended in divorce, with her father's memory of the Wizarding world having been wiped. Now she had to hide it from him, when ever she went for a visit. Her father just couldn't except the idea of his wife being able to use magic to wash his clothes, but not help him win at the Rodeo.
Anna loved her fathers ranch. It was wide open, and there were always plenty of new ranch hands she hadn't ever seen every time she went to visit. Perfect for her to hide her sorrow at having lost her fiancé in an ambush. She had decided she couldn't get hurt again, if she never fell in love again. Never falling in love again, meant being with someone who would never love her, or never staying long enough to fall for him. The second option, being the easiest to achieve. Not that Anna felt all men would fall in love with her, but it was easier not to give them the chance.
She walked out of the hotel and looked around to see exactly where she had ended up the night before, a gentle rain falling. A man caught her attention right away. He sat right there in the middle of the road. Anna checked the time, a little after four thirty. Rush hour traffic would begin anytime with this being one of the most heavily traveled roads between Dallas and Fort Worth. The man just sat there, as cars drove past him, some swerved to avoid him, others stopped and honked before they went around. Anna thought the man must have a death wish and was about to walk off, but something about him made her change her mind. Ask her today and she couldn't tell you what it was, how sad he looked, his messy brown hair that reminded her of Aaron or the way the moonlight shined off his eyes. But something made her approach him.
"You know fella, your out of your mind sittin' there like that." Anna stood on the sidewalk and hollered over the sound of the traffic as it began to thicken for the morning rush to work.
The man only shrugged his shoulders in response.
Anna tilted her head at him. 'Damn!' She thought, 'But is his good lookin'.' She put her hands on her hips and tried again. "Just what are you tryin' to prove cowboy?"
"My mum wrong." His answer didn't give her pause, it was the accent.
"Mum? You're not from round here, are you?" Anna stepped off the curb, when there was a brake in the traffic and walked out to him. She held up her hand at the car that approached to let them know she would do what she could to get the man off the road.
The man looked up at Anna once she was in front of him. His eyes where red, he had large dark circles under them, which indicated a lack of sleep. He shook his head no.
Anna held out her hand, "Well, come on then. She will never know the out come, if you're not around to tell her."
He studied her hand for a moment. Reluctantly he took it and allowed her to pull him out of the road, horns blared as the cars drove by. Once they were safely on the sidewalk the man shoved his hands in his pockets and began to walk away.
"You want to get a cup a coffee?" Anna asked before he got to far away. "Nothin' formal, we don't have to talk, just drink coffee."
He took a deep breath. Coffee sounded good. Company sounded good. He turned around. "Yeah, why not?"
Anna couldn't help the smile she got from that accent again. "Just where are you from?"
The man smiled back at her and shook his head as he thought to himself, 'That damn accent, always gets the women blushing'. If he was a player, it would be all to easy. "Don't recognize a British accent, when you hear one, eh?"
Hands back on her hips, Anna scoffed. "Am I suppose to? Sorry cowboy, don't get many from the 'homeland' in these parts." Anna turned and started to walk in the direction of a small diner she knew about. He couldn't help but notice the sway of her hips, how round her bottom was. If she had long golden blond hair, she would have looked exactly the way his mind imagine the woman he was desperately in love with did in his dreams. For a moment he allowed himself to pretend it was his Daphne and his groin tightened at the thought. Anna turned around, "You comin'?"
He was pulled out of his thoughts and he blushed slightly. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Uh, yeah."
Before he knew it, they were seated at a small diner, the smell of bacon, burnt toast and coffee all around them. The two of them ate in silence once the food arrived until Anna couldn't take it any longer.
As she broke the yoke on her eggs and dipped her toast into it she asked. "So what's your story? I mean you didn't just come all this way from England to sit in Dallas traffic."
He swallowed. "No I didn't."
Anna frowned. "That's it, no?"
Her mystery man shrugged.
"Okay fine." Anna sat back in the booth and really looked at him for the first time. Messy brown hair, a little to long in her opinion. Dark brown eyes, she was sure lightened up when he was in a good mood. He was tall, taller then most of the men she hung with, and built, but not like a body builder or athlete, more like a man who worked hard. He had a look about him that just let you know he had been through something, something pretty bad. "Why don't you at least tell me your name. Mine is Anna. Anna Blackwell."
He looked up at her from his eggs. "Theodore."
"You got a last name Theodore, or should I give you one?" Anna smirked at him.
He couldn't help but smile. "Nott. It's Theodore Nott."
Her eyes got wide and it took a moment for her to realize her mouth was open before she closed it. Theo stood, pulled some bills from his wallet, ready to pay and leave. He couldn't believe, of all the people in Texas, he ran into not only a witch, but one who knew his name.
Anna reached out and grabbed his hand to stop him. "Sorry, it's just you don't normally run into a person who's name who read in the paper very often. But I thought..." She let the sentence trail off.
"You thought what?" Theo snapped a little harsher then he meant to as he pulled his hand away.
She looked at him shocked. "That you were in Azkaban for life. At least that is what the paper said."
He tossed the bills on the table. "That would be my father. Nott Sr." He turned and stalked toward the door of the diner.
"Theodore, please wait." When he didn't stop, Anna got up and followed him. She caught his hand just outside the door of the diner. "I am sorry, but the papers never said anything about there being two, a Jr. and a Sr. Why would I know there was?"
Theo stood and looked at the pretty brunette for a moment. Her blue eyes reminded him of Daphne's. Anna's weren't as deep like the ocean the way Theo's memory always made Daphne's when he closed his eye's and thought about her. Anna's were softer, almost like the sky instead. But, as they looked up at him so full of emotion it made his chest ache for Daphne again.
"Suppose you wouldn't." He forced himself to look at the ground, away from those addictive blue eyes. "I guess I was just overwhelmed. I mean what are the odds I would run into a witch out of all these people, not to mention one who recognized my name."
Anna smiled up at him. "Just because I recognize the name, doesn't mean I know the whole story. We only know what was in the paper, and as we have already established, that wasn't a complete tellin' now was it?"
Theo chanced another look at her eye's. "No. I suppose it wasn't." He let a small smile lift the corners of his lips. "Well, thanks for breakfast, Anna Blackwell." He shoved his hands back in his pockets and started to walk away again.
"You're not going to go sit in more traffic are you?" Anna asked as he turned around.
Theo stopped, "No, Anna. I am not."
"What was that all about Theodore Nott?" Anna started to walk along the sidewalk with him. Something about his demeanor made her want to stay with him.
He shrugged. "My mum, well she is not really my mum, but I have come to see her that way. Any how, she insists the universe is not out to get me, I wanted to prove her wrong."
"I think you proved her right." Anna bumped him with her hip.
He shrugged again. "Perhaps." They walked in silence for a little while, until he wondered why she was still with him. "Are you following me Anna Blackwell?"
"Perhaps." Anna winked at him. "You doin' anything today?"
Theo stopped and looked at her. "Why?"
"I am going to a rodeo later, ever been?" She gave him a sly smile.
"Once, in Tennessee. I will admit, I didn't pay much attention to what was going on." Theo smiled slightly as he remembered he had paid more attention to Amy that day, then to what the cowboys had done in the arena.
Anna looped her arm through his. "Well, now you will, because you just became my date."
Theo didn't know how to tell the short pretty brunette no, so he shook his head and let her lead him on. Theo discovered through out the day the witch had an uncanny ability to make everyone around her smile, especially the men. He enjoyed himself as he watched her at the shops she lead him in to find him, what she called 'appropriate attire' for a rodeo. She would pick out shirts and boots, jeans and hats, sway her hips and smile at the people who worked at the shops. There was something about Anna Blackwell, Theo couldn't put his finger on. Something that made him feel at ease, made him feel tranquil for the first time in a long time. For the first time since the last time, he held Daphne in his arms. Theo shook his head, he had felt content with Amy, happy and settled. But never really the peace and serenity Daphne always washed over him when they were together, he knew that now. Theo had allowed himself to think Amy was the one, because she helped him forget his loneliness. Not long after Amy left him, Theo had realized he hadn't ever really loved Amy, just the idea of finally having moved on.
Anna Blackwell was a breath of fresh air. One he had needed for a long time. Finally at the rodeo with her Theo enjoyed himself as he watched the cowboys. He marveled at how these Muggles seemed to read the animals and vise versa. Neither the beasts nor the men ever got hurt, although there were a few rough patches now and then for a competitor or two. He wondered how many of these cowboys, would be up for a ride on a Hippogriff or a dragon. He figured all of them would, just to prove they were men. That is after they got over the shock of having found out dragons were real.
Anna flirted and teased her way through the night with every man she came across and Theo was surprised by how much it didn't bother him. Sure she was his 'date' in a way and held onto his arm the whole night. But he could sense right away, one didn't possess Anna Blackwell, not the way some girls liked to be possessed by the man whose arm they were on. That suited Theo just fine. He didn't 'want' Anna. He only wanted one woman. Theo had finally accepted that he wanted Daphne, only Daphne, and somehow, someway he would find her again.
A week flew by and Theo found he had spent every day with Anna Blackwell. She showed him the ins and outs of Dallas and Fort Worth. The Wizarding areas and the Muggle ones. Never once did Anna bring up his father or the war in England. At least not until he woke up one night in Auston, from a nightmare. Up until that night, Anna had always enjoyed the company of a different cowboy. To that end, Anna and Theo would always get different hotel rooms. One night after she took him to a baseball game the hotel they picked only had one room left. Anna hadn't picked up a 'fella' for the night, so what the hell, one room, two beds, it would be fine.
They sat up for a while and Anna let Theo ramble on and on about how much he enjoyed the baseball game and wanted to see more. She had promised to take him to a basketball game, and football game when the season started. She told him about hockey, and said if he wanted to see football he needed to see hockey. Hockey was so much better according to Anna then football. Theo was excited to see this new sport, since he knew nothing about it. Anna had also promised to teach him how to ride a motorcycle and had insisted they were much more fun then a broom. Theo didn't believe her, but was willing to give it a go. She said to imagine, what riding a horse at the speed of a broom would be like, and that was riding a motorcycle.
Theo finally drifted off to sleep with thoughts of riding a motorcycle with Daphne seated behind him holding onto his waist. The dream slowly changed from them riding to, Daphne seated on the bike with him standing between her legs running kisses down her neck. Suddenly in the dream, Daphne was pulled off the bike by a force he couldn't see. He ran after her, but she was pulled faster and faster, with Theo not able to catch up. He could hear Voldemort laugh and tell him, if he wanted his love he needed to join him. The sky above him turned dark and Theo could see the dark mark in the sky. It moved toward him with the snakes mouth open as if it would swallow him whole.
Anna woke as Theo screamed 'DAPHNE!, DAPHNE!', over and over. She jumped out of bed and ran quickly to Theodore's bedside. "Theo." She tried to shake his shoulders to wake him up. Theo screamed again as he woke up and pushed her away, frantic to get away from the person who had grabbed him. "Theo, it's only me, Anna." Anna turned on the lamp beside the bed and kept her voice low.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but Theo finally looked at Anna and nodded. He pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around his legs. "Sorry I woke you." He told her with a voice still shaky from the nightmare.
Anna got on her knees on the edge of the bed and reached out to run her fingers through his hair. He flinched at first, but then relaxed and allowed her to. "Don't worry about waking me Theo." Anna smiled at him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded.
"Are you sure? Do you want to talk about it?" Anna pulled her hand back and folded her hands on her lap.
Theo wiped the sweat of his forehead. "Not really. It happens most nights."
Anna nodded. "May I ask who Daphne is?" Theo gave her a surprised look. "You were screaming her name." Anna clarified how she had heard it.
Theo adjusted on the bed so he was seated with his legs crossed like school children do. "She was my girlfriend, until the war."
"She must have been pretty special." Anna scooted up a little on the bed closer to him.
"She's the love of my life." Theo ran his hands over his face. "I have tried, but never really gotten over her."
Anna's face showed concern in the wrinkles by her eyes. "Why did your relationship end because of the war?"
Theo looked up at Anna, sadder then she had ever seen him. "Her Father moved them to France. He wouldn't let us communicate with each other."
Anna took a deep breath. "I see. Because of your father?"
Theo nodded. "Daphne's father didn't approve of me."
They sat there for a little while until Anna found herself yawn deeply. She laid down on the bed beside Theo, then motioned for him to as well. Theo laid down and put his head on Anna's chest. She rubbed his back and considered whether she should ask the question she couldn't shake away.
"Theo?" Anna asked after she took a deep breath.
Theo closed his eyes before he answered her. "Hmm."
"The war is over, why don't you go find Daphne? I mean you're both adults, what her father wants doesn't' matter at our age." Anna felt Theo tense slightly once she was finished.
He ran his fingers through his hair and sat back up. "I have tried Anna. Several times. They have not returned to London, and the French Ministry refused to help me." He looked over at her and then chuckled a little. "That's how you came to find me in the street. It was after my last attempt to find her that Clair and I disagreed about the universe being 'out to get me'."
Anna smiled at him and yawned again. She covered her mouth. "Oh, I am so sorry. I suppose four hours was not enough sleep."
She moved to get off his bed, but Theo reached out and grabbed her arm. "I know this might sound strange. But, would you stay?"
"Are you sure?" She bit her lip.
Theo nodded. "Yes. The best I ever slept was when I was with my last girlfriend, Amy." He blushed. "Of course in my sleep, my mind always thought it was Daphne in my arms. Guess that's why Amy is no longer my girlfriend. She didn't like me talking about Daphne in my sleep."
"You really still love her, don't you?" She asked as she turned over and allowed Theo to put his arm around her and pull her close to him.
Theo smiled into her hair as he buried his face. "So much. I stopped fighting it awhile ago. If we are meant to be, I will find her again."
Anna gave his arm a squeeze. "She is a lucky girl Theo. I have only known you for a week, but you're one of the good ones, I can tell."
The next few months Anna found herself leave the bed of the man she picked up each night, to sleep every night in Theo's arms. For some reason her being there warded off the nightmares. At least, most of the time. Once in a while he was still tortured by the things he had seen and done in his past. She would wake to him sweaty as he thrashed about and screamed for Daphne. It didn't take long for Anna to learn if she ran her fingers through his hair, he would relax and sink in her arms, breathe deeply and fall back asleep.
Anna didn't mind that she had become his surrogate Daphne, it made her feel needed and She liked the idea that Theo needed her but didn't love her. How could he, he was in love with someone else. Anna realized he was exactly what she needed also. Some one who couldn't love her, which meant she couldn't get hurt, because she didn't love him either.
The dynamic between them changed one night when Anna found herself unable to allow herself to enjoy her man of the night. She just couldn't get comfortable with him as her mind drifted off to Theo all the time. She finally told the man goodbye and went back to Theo's room. When she got to Theo's hotel room the lights outside the building shined beams of gold through the blinds. Theo had been having a fitful night. He had not slept well with out Anna in his arms. He had been tossing and turning when she came in the room. When Theo opened his eyes to look up at the beautiful woman who gently shook him, the light beams hit Anna's hair and made it look golden in his sleepy state. Theo sat up quickly and pulled her on top of him. He captured her lips and kissed her deeply. Anna thought only for a second about pulling away, but the moan he let out made her change her mind. Theo made love to her, slowly, sweetly, while he chanted Daphne's name in her ear, over and over. Theo had been embarrassed after and apologized, but Anna just held him and told him he could call her what ever he wanted to. She had realized she had wanted him, or at least had gotten to a point where she no longer wanted a different man every night. Theo offered the stability of one man, without the commitment of a relationship.
Over the next year, Anna took Theo to every sporting event she could think of. Theo loved how it felt in his chest when the crowd would cheer. She taught him how to ride a motorcycle, which he would do when ever they had a fight. Theo discovered he liked to ride the bike as fast as he could. It made he feel alive and reckless with out losing control. Riding his Harley replaced the want of whiskey, and kept his demons at bay. Of all the things Anna gave him, that freedom was the thing he cherished the most. When she got the itch to find a new man for the night, he would get on his bike and ride until he found a peaceful place he could sit and daydream about Daphne. He would look up at the stars, close his eyes, and wonder if she was doing the same.
Anna taught Theo to let go of the past and no longer hate himself for the things he had done. He was not his father, he was Theodore William Nott Jr. Anna would never replace Daphne in Theo's heart though, no one could. Hard as he tried, he couldn't repair what was broken in Anna when Aaron died. Instead of trying to make the other fall in love, Theo and Anna held fast to each other, and did the best they could to make the other happy, until Ernie found Theo one afternoon while they were in New York and told Theo his father had passed away.
xXXx
Anna sat in Weasley's office for over an hour giving her statement and allowing him to document her injuries. Adrian hadn't left her side the entire time, making sure to keep her hand in his one way or another. Finally Weasley left the room asking them to please wait. Now Adrian was pacing back and fourth, getting antsy while they waited for Weasley to return. When the door opened Adrian had a hard time hiding his impatience.
"What the hell is taking so long Weasley?" Adrian spat through gritted teeth.
Ron looked a little taken back. "You can have seat Pucey." Ron went back to his desk and sat down. "I was interviewing Flint. He claims, he was set up." Ron looked from Anna to Adrian. "I must admit, the evidence would support that claim. Do you want to add anything, Miss Blackwell?"
Adrian sat down quickly beside Anna and took her hands back in his. "Anna, you don't have to tell him anything else. You have already been through enough."
Anna put her hand on Adrian's cheek. "Yes, I have. More then I bargained for, which is why I need to tell him the truth." Anna turned to face Ron. "The truth is Mr. Weasley, that yes, I along with Mr. Zabini and the younger Lord Malfoy's help set Flint up to catch him cheaten' on his fiancé. I didn't however plan on being assaulted in this manor." Anna sat trying to read Ron's facial expressions. She had hoped Flint would hit her. But she had been expecting a smack and or him being rather rough, not what did happen.
Ron rubbed his face with his hand, then slammed his hand on his desk. "Dam 'it." He sighed heavily. "Ok, well that changes things a little."
"What, how?" Adrian was back on his feet.
"I will have to release him. I can't hold him, if you set him up." Ron flicked his wand at his door.
Adrian was beside himself. "Do you not see what he did to her?"
"Of course I see it Pucey. I even documented it." Ron stood up and walked over to Anna, then knelt down in front of her. "Miss Blackwell, Flint will still be charged with assault of a sexual nature and have to explain himself to the courts, but I can't hold him, if you set him up. Please understand, the law is the law."
Anna gave Ron the biggest and warmest smile she could. "Of course I understand. Setting him up was wrong, but I did for good reason. Someone needed to expose Flint's true nature and if nothin' else comes from this, at least that will."
Ron's office door had opened while she was talking and Hermione along with Auror Parker had come in. Ron looked up at the two of them. "Parker, could you please finish processing the paperwork on Flint and then release him." Parker nodded then left the room. Ron stood and walked over to his wife. "Did the paper want the story?"
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Yes they did. Flint's arrest will be on the front page."
"Why?" Adrian looked confused as he sat back down beside Anna.
"Well, Pucey. If we can get the story out, others may come forward. He hit Miss Blackwell, far too quickly and easily for this to have been an isolated incident. Also we have reason to believe he had done this sort of thing at least once before to his fiancé." Hermione looked at Anna. "Sometimes, if one person comes forward, the rest will follow. May I give the Prophet permission to print your name?"
"Of course. I am headed back to Texas anyway." Anna looked at Adrian. "Would you please take me back to Nott Manor?"
Adrian was more then happy to get her out of Weasley's office and get her alone back in her room at Nott Manor. Once he had Anna back there, Adrian had insisted on healing her injuries himself, even though Anna could have handled it. She waited patiently while he looked over his work three times.
"Adrian I am fine. You did good." She put her hand on his cheek. "Thank you."
Adrian looked down at his hands. "I was scared Anna." he chanced a glance up at her. "More scared then I have ever been."
"I know Adrian, I shouldn't have put you in that position. Blaise or Draco could have been the one to intervein, and Theo certainly could have taught me how to dance." Anna pulled her hand back from his cheek and started playing with her necklace.
Adrian took her hands in his. "I wanted to do all those thing Anna. I know at first I acted like I didn't, but..."
"Don't." Anna stood up and moved away. "This was just a temporary thing, remember. Just to help Theo, then I am headed back to Texas, are you off on your next road trip."
Adrian stood and took a step toward her. "What if you didn't go back, or I went with you?"
"Adrian, your family is here, and my mine is there." Anna felt her chest tighten at the idea of him coming with her. Was it because she wanted him too? She hoped so.
"Anna, I am Wizard, I can visit my family when ever I want, no matter where I call home." He took another step toward her.
Her heart beat quickened. "Adrian, I don't know what to say. We agreed on temporary. I am not the type who settles down. Ask Theo."
"Neither am I. Quidditch is and always will be my first love." Adrian reached out and ran his fingers through her hair. "But, working with you and Nott, this past two weeks...seeing how much he wanted Greengrass back, and the lengths he is willing to go to, to accomplish it." He took a deep breath. "It has made me think about what I want, what I have been missing."
Anna took his hand in hers. "And what is it, that you want?"
"You." He put one hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him. "I want what Nott is chasing. To love someone that much. To have them look at me the way Greengrass tried not to look at Nott so many times tonight. To have someone waiting for me when I am on a road trip."
"You have girls looking at you all the time Adrian, or have you not seen your self in a mirror lately." Anna tried to make a light hearted joke.
"I don't want girls to just look at me with lust in there eyes. I want them to look at me like their world begins and ends with me." His smile suddenly went all the way to his eyes. "Yes, just like that, the way you are looking at me right now."
Anna relaxed and allowed herself to lean on him a little. "I am so broken Adrian...I don't know if I am ready for more."
"You will be. You just need to give it a chance. Give me a chance." Before Anna could argue, Adrian kissed her. He wrapped both of arms around her waist and pulled her as close to him as he could.
Anna put her arms around his neck and to her astonishment she kissed him back. Something about Adrian Pucey felt right. Anna couldn't quite point to it, she wasn't sure if she wanted to. But he was right, if she never gave it, gave him a chance, she would never know. The one thing Anna did know, was she was as tired of being with a different man every night as he was of being with a different woman every night. Spending all those months with Theo had spoiled her. She wasn't ever in love with Theo, but if she was honest with herself, she had fallen in love with the idea of just one man. During the time she spent with Theo she would go out in search of a new man, only on those nights when she felt content, felt like she could have fallen for him. Theo would bring her back to reality by talking about Daphne or writing one of his letter to her, reminding Anna that he would never be hers. After Theo had returned to London she had found it difficult going back to the life style she had before they had met. She always found herself looking for another Theo. All she kept finding were men like Adrian who wanted more. Anna needed to accept that she was also ready for more and Adrian wasn't attached to someone else. He was free to love her back. Her not being able to admit she wanted it too, was really the only obstacle.
She pulled back just a little. "Adrian, are sure I am the one you want? Are you sure you're not just finally ready and I happen to be the girl you're with at the moment?"
"Yes, I am sure Anna. I want you. Do you want me?" The determined look on Adrian's face told Anna every thing she needed to know.
"I do, I do want you Adrian. But..." She hesitated for a moment. "I am so scared."
Adrian picked Anna up in a bridal carry and started walking toward bed. "I am too." Adrian laid her on the bed and lay down with her. He started trailing kisses from her ear down to her collarbone.
Anna giggled a little at how delicate his touch was. "You certainly are not acting like you're scared."
"Oh, aren't I. Normally I would have ripped your clothes off already." Adrian took a shaky breath. "I want to make love to you the right way Anna, not just sex."
Adrian kissed Anna again, deeply. He took his time exploring every bit of her mouth and tongue. After a moment Anna pushed her self into an upright position leaning against the head board. "Adrian, how would this even work?"
Adrian pushed himself up on his knees. "What do you mean?"
"I understand that we can use Portkeys and visiting back and fourth would work for a while. But let's be sensible. After a while don't you think the novelty of having a girlfriend in Texas will wear off?" Anna bit her lip.
"If I was going into this seeing it as a novelty, sure." He inched closer to her. "But I plan on going into this with the idea that you're the one."
"So where do we live, in this vision of yours where I am the one?" Anna asked as she moved her legs allowing him to kneel between them.
Adrian put his hands on her hips and pulled her toward him. "Well, I asked my agent the other day to see if the offer from Stonewall is still valid. I know it's Canada and not the states, but it's closer then London."
"You would be willing to leave the Cannons for me?" Anna laid her head on the pillow as Adrian settled between her legs, propping himself up on his elbows.
He placed a little kiss on her neck. "For you, yes. Would you move to Canada for me?"
"I have never given much thought to Canada, but they do have good farm land up there." Anna hooked one foot behind Adrian's thigh and pulled him closer to her.
"Is that a yes Anna?" Adrian asked in a husky voice as he continued his kisses down her neck to her cleavage.
Anna moaned slightly. "Hmm. It's a, I am willing to give it some thought."
Adrian looked her in eye and started toying with her hair. "That's better then I could have asked for. We are on our mid season break. I have three weeks off. Would you be willing to go with me to Canada and give the team and the city a look?"
"You don't even know if Stonewall still wants you." Anna started taking his tie off of him.
"Oh come on, it's me. They will still want me. I am one of the best chasers in the game." Adrian teased as he helped her with the buttons of his shirt.
She smiled as he lifted her up to unzip her dress. "Take me to Canada than Mr. Pucey."
Anna found herself enraptured by Adrian and the idea of him being the one. For the first time in a long time, she felt she could actually have what Aaron had promised so long ago. As Adrian made love to her, slowly and passionately, she found she was looking forward to not only the climax his movements were leading up to, but to waking up in his arms in the morning. In the arms of a man who loved her, not someone else. She wouldn't change the time she had spent with Theo for anything. His heart had always belonged to Daphne though, Anna knew that. She hadn't cared because she hadn't been ready to try again and commit to one man. But with Adrian, she was willing to give it a try.
Adrian knew he had found what he had always been afraid of finding. A woman he could love, more then anything. Life was easier not being tied down, but it was also lonelier. He was ready for complications and fights. He was ready for passion and romance. Adrian held Anna in his arms feeling himself completely drowned in her, and he loved it.
