Rain had never been one to let liquor get the best of her. That's not to say it wasn't amusing when her whims occasionally took hold of her. Eventually, it was Michael who carried Rain out of the Garrison. As her surroundings shifted from the roaring pub and into the cold night, Rain found herself and Anna laughing beside each other in the backseat of her car. The girl spotted Michael's grin in the rear view mirror as he drove carefully in the fog.

"Oh you've got such a sweet man, Rainy." Anna exhaled, leaning heavily on Rain. "He's a proper gentleman, I reckon. You best gift me one while I'm still here."

"I'm sure Isaiah wouldn't protest." Michael muttered from the driver's seat.

Rain kicked the back of his seat with a laugh. "D'you know what?" she addressed Anna, sitting up in confusion. "I had half a mind that you were spoken for back in London."

Anna feverishly shook her head. "No, nothing there for me," the girl sighed. "Not for some time, really." Her black eyes trailed out the window, "I was engaged once, you know?"

"You're lying!" Rain clasped her arm around Anna's.

"I wish I was."

"What was he like?" Rain asked, her curiosity awakening.

Anna took in a deep breath, settling beside Rain.

"Well . . . he was blond, I like them blond," she laughed. "He could sing! Oh, how he could sing like no other. And he was as beautiful as a spring day in England." Rain felt Anna's body tense beside her. "James was my sun and moon . . .

golden mane of a lion . . .

blue eyes,

colder than the sea.

It was all he ever was and-

all he'd ever be."

Rain caught Michael's eyes in the mirror once more.

Anna Smith. A writer she was, indeed. The tragedy of James would forever live on in her poem. It didn't require an explanation to realize that much, let alone the weighted silence that followed its recital. Rain held on tightly to Anna as the car came to a stop, even as Michael stepped out of the car to open the backdoor.

"I'll come around in a day or two," Rain reassured her softly.

It was the first time Rain had seen Anna's calm and warm demeanor dissipate into a distraught and lost one. She wouldn't look at Rain, not even to say goodbye when Michael opened her door and she stepped out into the street of Rain's old home.

Without another word, Anna was off. Perhaps it was James' ghost that took hold of her.

As Michael neared his home, Rain had failed to gain a better grip on her bearings. The ghost-eyed girl was sitting in the passenger's seat now, staring out into the barren streets of Michael's neighborhood. The warm vibrations of the night were fading, along with her mind. Rain's thoughts continued to race on faster than she could keep up.

According to Polly, Anna wasn't trustworthy, yet. There was still much to be discussed. Mr. Shelby, most likely, was not even made aware of the girl's existence. For quite some time now, he'd been tied up in "Russian business," as Lizzie had put it. Rain was certain his current state wasn't well suited for reporters, no matter how small of a threat they posed to the company.

Rain wished for a straight answer, but her questions failed to align with anything concrete.

Why did Anna arrive immediately after Grace's death?

If she were here for an alternate motive, what exactly is she looking for?

Why was she so quick to trust Rain?

Why hasn't she speculated about any illegitimate business like the other undercover reporters?

Why is she so. . . honest?

Suddenly, as Rain was became one with her hurricane of worries, Michael softly spoke into the storm. "I know what you're thinking."

With the sound of his steel-like voice, Rain's heavy thoughts fell into the present. It had completely escaped her that she was no longer sitting in her car beside Michael, nor out in the cold wearing a heavy coat. It was there in Michael's room where she took hold of her surroundings. Perhaps she had more to drink than she assumed.

Rain turned to Michael. He leaned against the edge of his bed with his tie no longer around his neck and his dress shirt thrown upon the floor. How long had he been staring at her?

"So you're a mind reader, too?" Rain hummed, ambling her way towards Michael.

"You don't know if you can trust her or not." Though he wasn't smiling, Rain could hear the unmistakable softness in Michael's voice that most people could not detect. But it was almost always present whenever he spoke to her. Rain slid between his legs and wrapped her arms around his neck. Michael let her sink into his arms as he held her tightly by the waist.

"Do you trust her?" she toyed, feeling light from the whiskey.

"What does it matter what I think?" he leaned forward, pulling slightly away as Rain tried closing in. "You've already lent her your old flat without confiding in me."

Oh, how she yearned for his kisses when he looked at her in that way, knowing she ached for him. That gaze-it was only for her, and it drove her mad with desire. When Michael smiled, he knew he had won. It was a game they often took part in, without even knowing they were playing.

Rain scoffed quietly against his lips. "My apologies, I didn't realize you'd take offense," she said as she leaned in further, but Michael pulled away once more.

"Rainy," Michael warned.

He wasn't playing a game when he said it. Michael's low voice, although a partially caused by the effect Rain's touch had on him, was also a stern reminder of how much he couldn't afford to lose Rain again. She could see the pain in his eyes. Too many times they had let rash decisions get in the way of their lives. This, indeed, wasn't the wisest choice she had made since her return.

Rain held on to his tired gaze, "Never again," she whispered into the dim-lit room.

Michael leaned his head against hers. "Promise," he said, almost as if it were a command.

"I promise."

When he finally kissed her, she didn't realize she'd been craving that very feeling all night. She felt the warmth of Michael's embrace all over her as he held her close and kissed her deeply. Michael was firm as he seized Rain, entangling his fingers along the locks of her hair, it was longer now and-to Rain's delight-he took the pleasure of pulling hard. Rain couldn't help herself but to dissolve into soft sounds once Michael began kissing along her jaw and down her neck. She felt him rock faster against her as soon as she took in a sharp breath.

Rain loved that. That small shiver he couldn't help but release when she began to whisper in his ear. "Slowly" when his hands trailed lower, or "yes, like that" when he clenched a hand around her throat. Michael lost his sense of control at the sound of Rain's voice, no matter how low. The more strained, the more unhinged, the better.

They found themselves upon the bed. Rain, with her legs straddled around Michael's torso as he raced to unbuckle his trousers. The two were at each others throats before the sound of a ringing phone in the distance broke them apart, breathing for what felt like the first time all night. At first, Rain dropped her head on Michael's bare chest in defeat, letting out an uncommon whine. The two let the phone ring for a moment as they struggled to clear their minds, suddenly Michael stiffened underneath Rain, and it had nothing to do with her half-naked body on top of his.

This late in the night, it definitely wasn't good news.

In the next breath, the two were running into the corridor. Michael had reached the phone before Rain. She stood against Michael, struggling to hear the other end.

"Hello?" Michael answered, out of breath. His eyes scanned the floor in confusion, "Yes, it's Mich- Ada? What's happened?"

The panic in Michael's eyes, although subtle, grew more prevalent with his silence. Rain waited anxiously for him to put the phone down. She knew it was foolish to think positively at this time. Of course something was wrong, but what Michael said once he placed the phone back on the counter was almost impossible to comprehend.

"It's Thomas."

Sorry for the hiatus, I'll try and post more regularly - looking forward to the new plots. Thanks for all your support and kind words ! :) - Fia