Pairing: Jeff/Annie
Spoilers: Through the finale of Season 4, Jeff's graduation, and dinner with the group
Word Count: 3704
Rating: PG-13 (language)
Disclaimer: If I owned Community, you'd all probably absolutely hate it.
Author's Notes: I take liberties with character's motivations and thoughts...but that's kind of the name of the game if you're going to write fan fiction. I try as hard as I can to stay within the limits of the developed character though.

The Next Morning: Jeff's Apartment

Around 9:00 am, it's completely silent in the living room of Jeff Winger's apartment. The room is entirely empty except for the small cat snoozing contentedly in a ray of morning sunshine landing on the couch.

The door to Jeff's bedroom opens, and the cat perks up, knowing that usually this signals his morning feeding. He jumps down from his spot on the couch and trots over to the door to greet his owner. When the person who steps out isn't Jeff like he's expecting, he is hesitant, but gives the newcomer a tentative sniff, as if to identify and then rubs across the human's ankles.

Annie isn't sure if the cat is trying to claim her as his property, or to get on her good side so she'll feed him. His sibling back at her apartment is so passive compared to the littermate that Jeff ended up with. She quietly shoos him out of the way so she can close the door. Jeff is still asleep after the day's, and night's adventures…and the after adventures, as Annie recalls the activities once they got back to Jeff's apartment with a grin.

Annie knows by rights she should still be asleep too, but years of strict scheduling to accommodate early classes, and intense studying have trained her body to avoid sleeping in, even when it's an option.

She heads towards the kitchen to get coffee brewing, clad only in socks and Jeff's shirt from the night before, which is practically a dress on her. Since soon after she met Abed, she started assembling her own list of 'essential romantic experiences.' Wearing the man's shirt, and only the man's shirt after a wild night together can now be scratched off the list. She stops to think about that, considering that she's wearing socks as well…and decides that socks are allowed, even though it means she isn't strictly wearing only the shirt. After a moment of deliberation, she peels the socks off…for safety.

Suddenly, Annie hears a knock on the door. She's so surprised by this that she goes to answer it, forgetting that, first of all, this isn't even her apartment, and second, except for an admittedly large shirt, she's completely naked. Jeff's cat trots alongside her to the door. Annie isn't sure if he's just curious, or hopeful that maybe whoever is at the door won't forget to feed him like she has.

She opens the door to see Dean Craig Pelton standing outside the door. Like she's noticed is typical with him, he is looking down prior to engaging in conversation. It's one of the stranger character traits she's noticed about him…he almost always walks into the study room with his head bowed, and brings it up dramatically as he launches into whatever spiel he's pitching that day.

This perspective means that he first locks his eyes on the cat. So when he starts speaking, she isn't sure if he's speaking to the feline, or the person he expects is answering the door.

"Good morning, Jeffrey!"

"He renamed the cat…said he refused to own a pet that he shared a name with."

With this, the Dean of Greendale looked up in shock. "Annie?"

Annie didn't respond, but just stood there, allowing her presence be the answer to his question.

"What are you doing here?" he said with a note of unbelief.

Annie realized that she might be coming across as slightly grumpy, but mentally blamed it on not getting coffee yet when she answered, "Making coffee, and I really need to feed Gizmo."

"Did you spend the night with Jeffrey? Oh my God…is that his shirt? Let me try it on!"

Annie clutches the shirt tightly, suddenly aware of her exposure under it, and blushes. "No, Dean…I don't think Jeff would be too thrilled about that." She's pretty confident her explanation is accurate, but she also doesn't feel the need to give too much detail about her own currently dire need to keep the shirt on.

"So…you and Jeffrey, huh?" Pelton gives her an appraising look. When he does this, Annie has to remind herself how much she's loved the Dean in the past…she feels almost violated, and gives him a weak grin. She knows he doesn't mean any harm…he's just a little out there, and doesn't understand what kind of effect he has on people when he starts leering.

"So, with Jeff graduating, someone's going to have to take his number two spot on the list of attractive students and faculty," the Dean says, taking a slurp of the soda he's already carrying…for a moment, Annie's mind wanders, curious as to whether he'd had the cup at home and filled it up, or if he'd already been out and running errands this morning. "I think I know who's going to be shortlisted for his place."

Annie's confusion is interrupted by another voice joining the conversation.

"Craig…if Annie taking my spot on that stupid list means you're going to grope and fondle my girlfriend every time you leave the study room like you did with me, I should warn you now that you'll end up decked and sued. I'll sue, she'll hit…and she hits hard."

Annie and Craig Pelton both focus on Jeff, stepping out of the bedroom, with Annie turning her head to see him. He's pulling on a fresh shirt, which means bare-chested Jeff gets 100% of the attention until he's done buttoning, which he completely fails to notice, while he grabs his wallet and keys from the counter, pulling a folded piece of paper out of a pocket, and dropping it in their place with a light clank.

"Oh, Jeff…you know I'd never do anything inappropriate with Annie like that! But you can't deny she's definitely worthy of the list, especially if she's dating you…that's just confirmation!"

Jeff approaches the door, and shakes his head. "I can't even believe you're still maintaining that stupid list…and isn't it to keep track of the attractive students and faculty just so you know who to watch out for potentially inappropriate situations?"

The Dean nodded. "It is."

"Well, I have a pretty good idea that the only inappropriate situations Annie will be getting into, will be with me." Jeff growled.

Annie blushed at the forward manner Jeff was already referring to their new coupledom with outsiders in. By now, he had finished buckling on his watch, and started stepping past her at the door, but leaned down to kiss her. She grabbed his shirt, the one he was wearing, not her own borrowed outfit…right in the center, where the two halves had been buttoned, and fisted it tightly as they kissed.

When they broke, Jeff looked down at her attire. "Is that my shirt?"

Annie nodded, suddenly slightly nervous, knowing how Jeff was about his clothes. "Yeah…is that a problem?" she said, with a note of nervousness in her voice.

Jeff shook his head, "No…it's just, I mean…it looks better on you. And I make that shirt look amazing!"

Annie smiled and pulled him down for another deep kiss, which kept going until they heard a low chuckle. They opened their eyes without breaking apart to see the disturbing image of Dean Pelton about six inches away from their faces, staring intently at them with a big smile on his face. They slowly backed away from each other, as one would a cobra about to strike.

"Oooh! Me next?" Pelton's excited outburst made horror slide onto both Jeff and Annie's faces.

Jeff made a sound of disgust and slid past Annie into the hallway. "Let's get this over with, Craig."

"Wait! You're leaving?" Annie was confused, and not in the least bit happy that Jeff was abandoning her already, this soon into their relationship…when he saw her face, he came back in close, and reached out to hold her by the upper arms, with his hands lightly caressing them up and down.

"I'm sorry, Annie…I should have told you earlier, but I didn't want to risk ruining everything. Though, in all fairness, I did mention last night that I was going to be paying for it today."

"I'm confused…paying how? For what? I figured you meant you were going to be tired."

"Well, yeah, that too, but I have to-"

Now, jubilant, and unable to contain himself anymore, the Dean burst in "He's having a day at the mall with Craig…err, me!"

Jeff turned and shot a deadly glare at the smaller man. "Half day. That was the deal. You give me the keys to campus, and you get half a day at the mall with me."

Pelton simpered. "Well, technically…but don't you think you'll be having too much fun to not just stay the whole time?" In response, Jeff looked pointedly back and forth between his to-be-tormentor, and his girlfriend several times.

"Nope."

While the Dean made sounds of offense, Jeff turned to Annie. "I'm really sorry…I'll be back as soon as I can. Make yourself totally at home, and if you want to take off, your keys are on the counter, ok?" Annie nodded at him. "I wish you'd told me before…but I get it. Love you."

Jeff swooped down for a kiss, and followed it with a whispered, "Love you too. Text you as soon as I'm free?"

"You'd better."

With that, Jeff tossed Annie a wink, and stalked off down the halls towards his building's elevator.

"C'mon, terrible Dean!" he shouted back at the door, without even turning around.

Pelton seemed to not hear Jeff, still intent on talking to Annie. He reached out to finger the cuff of a sleeve of Annie's/Jeff's shirt, and the look on his face as he rubbed the fabric made Annie wonder if this was a near-religious experience for him.

"So, Annie. We need to have a talk later…I want to know absolutely everything!" The glee in his voice made Annie wonder if she should laugh, or cringe. "You are just so lucky…" as he trailed off, taking another sip on his straw, Annie realized that this man was the highest authority she currently had in higher education…and she was having this discussion with him. It was nearly enough to strain credulity.

They both heard a voice from down the hall. "You get me until 4:00! If you stay there talking to Annie until 3:59, the clock doesn't get pushed back or anything!"

"Oops! Gotta go!" Dean Pelton released her sleeve, but prior to scampering off after Jeff, he had one final piece of advice for Annie "If you don't already follow me on Twitter…you probably should. Your roommates…well, your other roommates have my Twitter information." Then, as he took off down the hall, "I'm coming, Jeffrey! Hold your horses!"

Annie shut the door behind her, leaning heavily against it, completely bewildered by the recent events. She slid down the back of the door to sit on the floor, and started laughing, deep from her belly. After everything that had happened recently…this was just the topper to the cake. She realized that as happy as her life may become, as evidenced by her and Jeff getting together…it would always have a strong element of absurdity to it.

And she wouldn't have it any other way.

She sat there for a minute just smiling, and thinking about the rest of the day, the future, and the past, when she realized that there was a small feline pawing at her.

"Crap…Gizmo. C'mon, let's get you some breakfast…and me some coffee."

Annie stood, and walked to the kitchen, and poured some kibble for the cat, who began eating like he hadn't been fed in a week. She stood and poured herself a mug of coffee, and zoned out briefly while she willed her brain to wake up fully just from the smell rising from the beverage in her mug.

When her eyes refocused, she saw her keys sitting on the counter, right next to a folded piece of paper with her name on it. Curious, she reached out for it, and opened it up. A smaller, yellow piece of paper fell out, and clanked on the floor. Ignoring it for the time being, Annie read what was written on the inside of what she had now realized was a note to her. It looked like Jeff had torn it out of his journal that he had shown her the night before.

Annie,

I'm going to keep this short, because I'm still bad at being all open and expressive. I'm using my
journal; because it's the place I have the most experience at being honest.

I want you to know how much last night meant to me, because I don't know when I'll be able to
actually say it out loud, and have it convey everything I want it to. You know I love you, and I'm
thankful that you were patient enough with me for me to be honest with myself and with you.

I'm sure by now, you've seen what I've wrapped up in here…it's to the apartment, obviously, but
you can give it all sorts of metaphorical significance that's far too…emotional for me to actually say
it myself…like it goes to my heart or something. Do you have any idea how painful it was just to
write that as an example to you? So…whatever you decide it signifies…I'll smile and nod. I wanted
to give this to you last night, but things didn't work out. I've actually thought about giving it to you
several times before that, but the timing was just never right, so now I'm just making it happen.

Make yourself at home here…and I mean it. You're welcome here anytime, day or night. I want you
here. You drive me absolutely crazy sometimes, but I don't know what I'd do without you.

I love you,

Jeff.

PS. I'm assuming you're reading this after I'm gone…sorry I ditched you, but it was the only way I could
get the keys to Greendale. Considering how everything went…hopefully you'll think it was worth it.

With that, Annie bent over and picked up the piece of paper that had dropped out onto the floor. Even though she already thought she knew what it was, she was still surprised when a silver key with purple plastic embedded at the top presented itself. Annie realized it was wrapped up in its own receipt, and out of curiosity, she checked the date of sale to see if it would give her any clue as to how long Jeff may have planned this. What she saw actually made her feel like she should stagger backwards.

If Annie was counting correctly, which she was fairly certain she was, Jeff bought this key shortly after their encounter at the end of their freshman year. Given the purple plastic…she was fairly certain he hadn't gotten it for anyone else. Britta certainly wasn't big into purple. Annie wondered about Jeff's note…when else had he felt like he might want to give her this?

Regardless…Jeff had obviously known what he was doing. Any lingering doubts Annie may have had about their status had vanished as soon as she saw how much he was inviting her into his life. She figured she may just hang around his apartment until he got home, to thank him in person.

Then she spied the curtains she'd hung up for their Christmas party. He hadn't taken them down, as much as he'd complained. 4:00 was a long way off…maybe she'd just go get a couple of things to show Jeff how much she appreciated his welcoming her into his home.

Y'know…just make the place a little more 'Annie.'

Annie smiled to herself as she sipped her coffee, and contemplated a happy future with Jeff.

End.

A/N: Ok…here's where I fear characterization may have really gone off the rails, but I have to be honest, as I wrote it, I found myself saying "Y'know, I could see these characters reacting like this." Maybe I was just trying to salve my delicate little ego, or maybe it's the fact that these characters are so much fun to write in part due to the fact that they ARE so complete and three-dimensional in so many ways, that like a real person…their behaviors are semi-predictable, semi-chaotic, and they are also very prone to personal growth and progress.

If anything, I think Jeff may have been a little too open and welcoming, and a little less reserved a little too quickly. Unfortunately, canon has too many examples in it that support both sides of that idea…which leads me to my "semi-chaotic" statement above.

The Dean…I loved playing with. I liked the idea of writing him creepy…but not overly so. I don't subscribe to the school of thought that has him getting super jealous over the idea of Jeff being with anyone else…he's got a weird thing for Jeff, but he isn't going to get crazy levels of catty if he starts dating someone, especially someone else from the study group that he so loves…like Annie.

As I've mentioned many times…I've had this planned out from the beginning. I've actually had a vague outline for the whole story planned out, but this particular part has been mentally nearly written the whole time. It's a bit of a crutch to bust out some of the big reveals right at the end (where did Jeff get the keys to the school, etc) but this way, at least you know it was always supposed to be this way…I didn't get to the end and say "Crap, I've still got to figure out how to explain plot points, B,C, and D…better break out the deus ex machina and asspulls!" No…with the Dean living so close to Jeff, I figured that in a hurry, he could knock on the door, and make a quick (later regrettable) deal to borrow the keys, and then show the costs later on…and hopefully get a laugh out of it.

This was my first fan fiction…Jeff and Annie are the first (and really only) fanfic I've ever written or really read, and all signs point to things staying that way. I don't know if I'll write anymore, but I do know that I have thoroughly loved writing this, and now that it is completed, I may feel the burn to start something anew. If I do, rest assured, it will be Jeff and Annie. I don't know if it'll be one-shots, or a sequel to this, or a completely new long-ass monstrosity, but, should I write again, it'll always be J/A (and spoiler alert…if I'm writing it, you can be assured that there's about a 98% likelihood that they'll be endgame. I MAY someday, write something super angsty where things just don't work out…but it's unlikely.)

Special acknowledgements: I need to say…just last night I was re-reading some stories on , and read Hypnotoad76's excellent Five No's and One Yes. I realized that I had almost forgotten that there was a remarkably similar scene in there as exists in this epilogue. For what it's worth…I promise you I wasn't ripping you off. It's just that a key is one of those iconic "romantic" gifts…and purple = Annie. I read all your stuff and love it.

Special credit for the name of Jeff's cat goes to xtiltawhirlx over on LJ, who wrote an incredibly cute ficlet from the perspective of the cat…but gave it the name of Gremlin. When I commented that it was the perfect name, and that I wished I had thought of it, since I was working the cat into my story (I had the door scene where Annie, and the cat greet the dean conceptualized from the start, and knew that the cat's name was originally one of the two named Jeffrey, and Jeff wouldn't stand for that…) and was given the suggestion of Gizmo…which seemed even MORE perfect. I don't believe they post over here at all, but her LJ has some fantastic stories worth checking out.

Great thanks goes to my friend robert3A-SN, who reads everything I write, here, or tumblr, and is always encouraging me, and giving excellent feedback, as well as providing inspiring fiction of his own to help spur me along. I wouldn't be half as able to write fan fic if I hadn't had other people paving the way and showing me exactly what fan fiction could do to fill the gaps the show leaves.

Similarly, nyclove3 from here and LJ has written some of my favorite stories…(though she still needs to finish ALIWH!) and was one of my earliest contacts in the fandom, and was willing to listen to me go on and on about my thoughts on Jeff and Annie that she had heard a billion times before, seeing as I was entering fandom in the late 4th season. Additionally, kreod/meeklark/purpleprinciple/dude, how many internet identities do you have? was one of my first J/A friends on reddit, which was where I first entered the fandom.

To everyone else who has read my story, I offer you similar appreciation. I wrote this story because I wanted to get it out of my head, and into a written form…but seeing the traffic stats, as well as seeing the reviews from those who have left it made it all worth it. Both praise and constructive criticism have been hugely appreciated.

Of course, I need to mention one last time my extreme thanks for Dan Harmon, Joel McHale, and Alison Brie, along with the rest of the cast and crew of Community for creating a world that I wanted to play in, and characters sympathetic and believable enough that I wanted to get in their heads.

And of course, to my wife…who, unbeknownst to her, helped fill in many of the blanks for Annie, in the spots where the show didn't offer enough data for me to feel like I could reliably draw on it for a reaction in a given situation.

As always, you can contact me on here, or Tumblr about…anything at all. I love to interact with people.

There…now I'm really done. I get to mark my first fan fiction as "Complete."