The Morning After This...

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie had left her shoes in Webb's car and, as soon as she'd walked into the DPD, had been told that she was due to leave on a flight to Madrid. Knowing that Webb wasn't in his office yet, she left him a voice mail and prepared to leave.

It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him, but she was still feeling a little awkward about the previous

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[freshoffthefarm]

Annie got out of the office on time, drove home without incident and then picked up the guest house with no problems. Seeing her sister wasn't an issue, either, and then she told Danielle that she needed two plates: one for her and one for Clay. Perhaps Danielle picked up on the undertones of Annie's request, because she didn't ask any questions or make a fuss.

Once she'd changed into her relaxing clothes, she pulled out a book and waited for Webb.

[fakes_death]

At exactly six thirty five PM, Clay knocked on the door of Annie's guest house, bearing a bottle of wine and two cheap wine glasses. He briefly thought of sticking to plastic made him cringe.

He hoped this wasn't going to be as awkward as lunch earlier in the day.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Come in!" Annie called out as she stood and set the book back on the shelf before moving toward the door to help him with whatever he'd brought with him.

Taking the glasses, she shut the door behind him and smiled. "The food is at Danielle's. She did something fun with chicken and rice and..." She shrugged. "It's supposed to be pretty good. If you want to get comfortable, I'll go get it."

[fakes_death]

"Alright." He set his bag, that was slung over his shoulder on the floor near Annie's closet, then took off his suit jacket and vest, draping them over the couch.

"Danielle's cooking is usually really good."

[freshoffthefarm]

"That's why one of us is the spy and the other one of us is the chef." Annie winked and ducked out the door, practically skipping across the courtyard and into her sister's house. It didn't take long to serve up two plates and, with a kiss to her sister's cheek, she was on her way back to the guest house.

Back inside, she set both plates on the counter and handed Webb a fork. "It's not the most romantic night out, but hopefully the fact that I'm already half-undressed makes up for it."

She was aiming for light-hearted.

[fakes_death]

And light-hearted she got, as he responded with a laugh, "Annie, this is just fine. Really."

Clay did enjoy their quiet nights in. They were usually more special to him than the nights out they've had.

"Half undressed is a bonus."

[freshoffthefarm]

"I was hoping you wouldn't object." She lifted a plate and handed it to him, motioning toward the couch. "To the food or my bare legs."

She preferred their nights in by far, except for the fact that she enjoyed seeing him dressed up.

[fakes_death]

"I've never objected to either," he said as he took the plate and sat back on the couch.

Clay would be the first to admit that being dressed up had it's advantages, but being dressed like he was did too. Annie didn't completely lose out, at least he still had his suspenders on.

[freshoffthefarm]

One day, Annie was going to snap his suspenders, just because she could. Hopefully, it would be one day as she was leaving his office for something serious, too. She could imagine the look on his face and suddenly, she got a big smile on hers.

"I know," she said, trying to focus as she sat down on the couch and pulled her legs under her. "I was just trying to be polite."

[fakes_death]

Clay smiled back, Annie's smile was infectious.

"I know you know. I was just stating fact."

[freshoffthefarm]

"Eat your food or you're not going to get a chance," she said before taking a big bite and affecting a look of pure innocence.

[fakes_death]

Webb nodded as his mouth was full and continued eating, pausing occasionally to sip his wine. The mood of the evening was decidedly more playful than he expected after this afternoon. Not that he was complaining.

[freshoffthefarm]

Annie was determined not to let things get as bad as they had the night before or that afternoon. It made her stomach feel sick to think that Webb was upset, especially with her. She knew that he hadn't slept well, it was written all over his face. But he'd brought a bag, so she had to ask.

"You're staying, right?"

[fakes_death]

"I was planning to, if that's okay."

Honestly, he wasn't quite sure where he stood with Annie either considering lunch.

[freshoffthefarm]

"That's okay with me."

And suddenly, with his asking, she was suddenly unsure where they stood again. She took another two bites and then set her plate down on the coffee table in front of her. Finishing off her glass, she held it in her lap while she looked at him. "Are you okay?"

[fakes_death]

"I'm okay. This afternoon was weird, that's all."

There, he admitted it. It was weird, and she couldn't really tell him otherwise. Annie had to know how odd it was too, didn't she?