Friend
Anne had a lot of friends scattered all over not just England but all across Europe. She wouldn’t perhaps call them all friends more than in passing, there were very few of the many that were close to her and whom she considered great friends. Most of them unnerved her, one way or another. May it be stares or comments that she couldn’t feel comfortable with or customs that she found difficult to appease to. It was difficult was it not, to be oneself and consider them to know you when they wanted to change part of you. Anne had always found it a challenge to her mind, but she had never contemplated the fact that maybe friendship, and what more, relationships were supposed to make you feel better about yourself. Not the other way around. Maybe it wasn’t all about developing oneself to become a better person, at least not when that meant being someone you’re not.
Then Ann Walker had made entrance into her life at a spur of a moment. Anne had turned around and met her eyes, shaken her hand and that had been it. She was to stay inveigled in her life from that moment on. Anne thought back at that moment and found a true friend in Ann Walker from the start. She didn’t scrunch her nose at her and had never once asked her to change what she was wearing for a dinner or an outing. Ann had embraced her as she was, for who she was. Their friendship was mutual, and good for them both. There could never be a greater friend than the one Anne had in Ann Walker.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Ann touched her cheek and dark eyes turned up to meet hers, and Anne smiled,
“I was just contemplating what a good friend you are, and how I ever deserved such a friend as you.”
Ann chuckled softly, running her fingers down Anne’s face before smirking at her,
“Friends? What, what have I done?”
“What? Nothing, I was just… I said you were a good friend how is that in any way accusing you of something?” Anne asked confused at the blonde’s comment. Ann laughed again, leaning closer to Anne’s face, so close that Anne could feel her breathing on her skin, and then she pressed a gentle kiss against her lips and Anne closed her eyes to relish in the feeling all though it were swift and over much too quick for her liking.
“I’d rather hoped you considered us more than friends, Miss Lister.” Ann murmured, remaining in close proximity to the brunette who then grinned from ear to ear, chuckling,
“Ah, yes… of course.”
“Because, unless I gravely misunderstood you, Miss Lister, I thought this ring symbolised something else than just common friendship.” Ann said amused, as she let her hand trace the wedding band on Anne’s hand and Anne took hold of her left hand placing a kiss over it before eying her with mirth,
“Why, what else could we possibly have done? We are after all, Miss Walker – great friends. Everyone knows that.”
“Oh, yes. We are respectable women who are friends and that is the beginning and end of it! I don’t know what else we could be. Sisters?” Ann looked at the brunette who closed her eyes, laughing, shaking her head, with a look of mild disgust,
“Urgh, no… not sisters. That’s taking it too far.”
“I’m sorry if I offended your sensitive mind, Miss Lister.” Ann laughed, and Anne pulled at her hand to bring her down for another sweet kiss,
“Do friends do that?” Ann asked amused and Anne rubbed her nose against hers fondly,
“Occasionally. But only to exceptionally special friends.”
“Oh really? I must tell Catherine!” Ann teased and Anne growled and kissed her roughly,
“No, mine!”
“Miss Lister, what are you five?! People can have more than one close friend.”
“Not as close as I.” Anne replied, tracing Ann’s knuckles with her hand, paying special attention to the wedding band on her fourth finger.
“Hm…” Ann pretended to think, and Anne ran her hand alongside her arm,
“Not as close as your wife.”
“I have a wife!?” Ann gasped mock-shocked, “Did you know that?”
“If you do not stop pretending to have forgotten about us, then I shall have no choice but to…”
“But to what?” Ann smirked, and Anne gave her a look before kissing her chastely,
“You are such a tease, Ann!”
“You started it!”
“I only said you were a good friend, my closest might I add. It’s a good thing, surely? To be best friends with one’s wife, is it not?” Anne asked her and Ann sat down on her lap, taking her face between her hands before smiling wide,
“I suppose it is – the absolutely best thing.”
They kissed softly, sweetly and slowly relishing in being with each other, unbothered for the time being, Anne couldn’t even fathom how she had ever passed her days before Ann had come into her life. What had she done with all these feelings? How had she ever lived without Ann? It seemed impossible now to go even a day without her company, without her near, without her kisses.
“Do you really like me? Or are you just putting up with me?” Ann asked, playing with her hands absentmindedly and Anne rolled her eyes,
“You know I expect those kind of stupid questions from Miss Parkhill or even Marian but, when you ask them, I just feel insulted. Do I like you? Well I don’t usually marry people I don’t particularly like, nor do I…” Anne was interrupted by a kiss, and Ann chuckled against them,
“I love you Anne, I’m only teasing you.”
“Well stop that.”
“But that’s what friends are for…”
“You’re my wife.”
“And your friend mind you, as for being your wife – now that entails a different kind of teasing.” Ann smirked and Anne growled at her, pressing a kiss to her cheek,
“That’s just mean! She’s only four in the afternoon?! I shall have to wait to at least eight-nine until I whisk you off to bed.”
“Do friends do that?” Ann asked innocently and Anne pushed her off her knee and leant over her on the sofa before tickling her sides, making the blonde roar in laughter, whilst Anne told her with a smile,
“Stop saying that!”
“Anne! God, Anne please… stop!” Ann cried laughing but Anne didn’t cease unfortunately Marian barged through the door, or more walked inside, and stopped at the sight, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms at them,
“Oh for the love of… I can’t even sit in the blooming sitting room anymore!”
“Sorry, Marian.” Ann panted, out of breath from laughing and Anne smirked at her sister,
“We weren’t doing anything.”
“I’m sure you weren’t, but it was a good thing I came in and interrupted this before…” Marian was interrupted by Ann who sat up on the sofa, still flushed from the tickling,
“We were just celebrating the joys and gifts of friendship.”
“That’s what you call it? Hm, I must say I don’t have very good friends then.”
“That’s not shock…” Anne was stopped from saying anything mean by Ann swatting her over the head,
“Ouch.”
Anne rubbed her head, glaring at the blonde who gave her a sharp look,
“We are done now, Marian if you want to join us for some tea.”
“Tea would be lovely, thank you, Ann.” Marian smiled kindly towards the blonde and Anne sighed, friendship was great, but must her sister and wife be such good friends?