stashhjonas's video: 25 Midnight Lullaby

That evening, Annie enjoys herself. She cuts back by drinking flirty cocktail drinks, laughing at all of his jokes, and poking fun by teasing him and putting her hand on the edge of his knee. She doesn't feel exposed without her wedding band, but rather a new woman—bold and confident, ready to take on extreme measures that are coming her way. Sergio has taken her to an elaborate restaurant for her birthday, a platonic gesture that Annie is thankful for. He has been in London for a week, doing conferences and interviews, before heading back to Madrid to finish off his season. He has become the companion Annie needs in order to sew her heart back together. And quite honestly, she hasn't had this fun in awhile. After an enjoyable meal, they take a walk down the darkened London, passing by boutiques and cafés and even Annie's store, Maximum. She smiles when she sees it, pointing it out to Sergio as they walk passed it. Their walk is filled with laughter and stolen glances; Annie can even feel the blood rushing to her cheeks from time to time, but she ignores this uttered feeling. He takes her to an ice cream shop, where he buys her a chocolate gelato with crushed hazelnuts for the both of them. As they walk, Annie's ice cream melts down her hand and she licks it off impolitely without a napkin. "Sorry," she apologizes sheepishly, her cheeks flushing with color once more. Instead of giving her a strange stare, Sergio laughs and smiles once again; the one of many smiles that evening. "You are very much fun to be around, Annie," he comments, walking her back to the apartment she has taken refuge to. She bites her lip at his compliment, inviting him back into the empty home. She throws her jacket to the couch, washes up her hands, and asks him if he'd like something to drink. When he refuses, she nestles herself onto the couch and Sergio sits by her shyly, an arm slung over the couch. "When are you going back to Barcelona?" he asks thoughtfully, a question she has been waiting to be asked for weeks. Annie's brows furrow together, she herself wondering the same thing. She can't deny the angst that has built since Gerard called her earlier this afternoon, because she misses Amadea and Cristian. And yet, her heart still cannot cope with the grief that is still nestled in her womb, the fatal attraction that one afternoon leaving her heart bruised and swollen. A ball of sudden guilt knots around Annie's throat and, without proper words, she shrugs unknowingly. "Are you leaving soon?" she inquires instead. "Tomorrow." Annie can sense the disappointment oozing from Sergio's three syllable word. She has grown to like Sergio, more like a brother than an infatuation, more like a doting friend than a secret lover. He is different from Gerard, but Annie doesn't know if it's a good or bad thing. And from nowhere, the words slip out from her mouth. "I'll miss you." There is a moment of silence, a moment of truth, and Sergio's eyes travel slowly to meet Annie's uncertain gaze. She can tell he realizes that she is still bonkers, that she is still healing her open wound, but he doesn't disagree or counter her statement, whether accurate or false. He sits beside her, waiting patiently as Annie slowly wraps her insubstantial body into his own. Sergio's hands feel surprisingly warm and comfortable against her cool body. But it is when his lips, his warm lips, come in contact with her glossed mouth that Annie feels like she is losing all righteousness in her brain. His lips are nothing compared to Gerard's full, plump, pink lips; these fit Annie's perfectly, yet she is discontent with this. There was a burning fire hidden beneath the skin of his wet lips, and Annie wants to discover it now. They fight for dominant control over each other, until a faint voice infiltrates Annie's sinful mind. She can suddenly hear Cristian's giggles and Amadea's stubborn complaints and Gerard's midnight lullabies and Annie tears herself away from a speechless Sergio. The thought of her babies and her husband—she is still married!—leaves Annie in puzzled tears. As Sergio nears her again to comfort her sudden grief, she snaps, "Just go. Please, I need to be alone."