A Quill and A Thought

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle took one of her hands and rubbed her face in frustration, trying to rid the feeling of helplessness. "I should be the one comforting you, not the other way around. Remind me to never take a job as a crisis counselor for the ministry." She tried to lighten the mood with a smile.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael leaned back into the chair and brought his hands up, cupping her face. "You'd be a wonderful counselor, you just can't comfort them the way you do me," he said, grinning. Kisses were for him only.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"I didn't think I was comforting you." She said, turning and placing a kiss in his palm. "But I think I'd like to." She realized after she said it how her words might be taken, and hoped that he didn't think she was offering herself up on a platter for him. Her cheeks rapidly became tinted with embarrassment.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Anna, you just being here is comforting. I'm not saying I'm not worrying or anything, but," he smiled at her, "You're helping a lot." Michael kissed her forehead and took one of her hands.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

She looked up and met his eyes, reading the truth in them. Her fear melted away. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so close to someone, cared so much for someone, and felt it returned. She turned her hand in his, interlocking their fingers and squeezing gently. She leaned her forehead against his without breaking eye contact, "Really?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Yes, really," he said with a smile. Michael's mind was still racing, he knew someone would come, and he didn't want Anna involved in any fight that would arise, but he was calmer by far than he had been in the beginning of their conversation.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"Good." She smiled, sitting back up so he wasn't quite so near. The atmosphere had gotten far too serious, and as far as she could tell there wasn't much they could do regardless. If he needed to talk about it more, she'd be there for him, but she felt like an escape from the topic might be appreciated. "So.....What are your plans for the day?"

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"I didn't really have any. I wanted to write the letter and send it off," Michael said, looking at the ink well. After a minute he pulled his eyes from it and looked back at her, "But it can wait if you can think of something to do." He desperately hoped she could think of something to do, he needed a break from his thoughts.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Anna shrugged a little. "I was just planning on finding a quiet spot to read my new novel. But if you want to bring your sketch pad or something, we could make a day of it. I don't know of much else to do around here - I don't go out much after all." She bit her lip nervously, wondering what he'd think of her proposal. In truth, she'd been wondering if she'd made it into any of his drawing since the day they'd met.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael smiled, "I would like that, I'll bring my paper out there and write the letter too, I want to get it over with." He would write out the basics and bring it up to the owlery when he went back up to the castle, and draw some, he had drawn her, but he hadn't been able to have a live model in ages.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

"So I picked what we're doing, you get to pick where we'll go." Anna smiled at him, glad that he seemed to like her idea. She'd wondered what they would do together, how they would spend their time. Her limited experience with dating didn't give her much insight in this area, and being able to spend quiet time in the same room sounded like something out of a fairy tale to her. Anna suddenly blushed crimson, she'd just remembered that her new book was a smutty romance novel.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Let's go down to the lake," Michael said after a few seconds' thought. "It'll be nice to get out....what?" he stopped when she suddenly turned red, wondering what it could be.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle shook her head, "It's nothing, really." She knew Michael wouldn't believe her, and she felt horrible for lying to him regardless. Before he could respond, she took a breath and confessed. "Or I might be a little embarrassed about my book. You could say it's not the most educational book."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael looked at her funny, and then realization dawned on him, "You're kidding," he said with a grin. It spread and he chuckled, "Nothing to be ashamed about," he said, laughing softly. "Maybe you can share," he said, grinning again, his eyes sparkling.

[Annabelle Hennessy]

Annabelle's eyes grew wide in shock at his statement. "Not in this lifetime!" She said with a small smile once she'd recovered enough. "Do you need to go get your art stuff? My books in my room."