toxic_corn | Daybreak/BSC Crossover fic: After Dinner (R)

Title: After Dinner
Authors:

toxic_corn
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Mary Anne and Chad belong to Ann M. Martin, Scholastic Books, and ABC respectively. We own nothing and apologize humbly for this.
Summary: What happens after dinner between Mary Anne and Chad?
Author's Note: This follows the most recent chapter of Wanna Get It On, Dawn?. It's necessary to read that in order for this to make any sense.

The ride back from the restaurant differed greatly from the ride to the restaurant. During the first trip, Mary Anne had been all sweetness and giggles, sliding across the seat during red lights to kiss his neck and face, teasingly staying away from his lips until he couldn't take anymore and held her in his lap until she'd kissed him properly.

Now they were both silent, Mary Anne staring out her window without once having looked at him. He'd made one stupid remark and she was acting like he'd murdered someone. What sense did that make? Chad pouted, ignoring the voice in the corner of his mind reminding him that her father had raised her on his own and she took unintended (and intended) slights against him to heart.

"You sure you want to come back with me?" Chad finally asked.

Mary Anne didn't look away from the window. "I'm sure."

"Because I can always take you back to your-"

"I said I was sure!"

Chad bit his tongue against a rude comeback and nodded tersely. "Okay, then."

They finally reached his apartment and once they were inside, Mary Anne went off to the bedroom to get her sleep clothes. Seeing her in these surroundings, being cold to him set something off inside of Chad. If he hadn't screwed up, he could have her up against the wall now or - his personal favorite - in his bed, twined around him and breathing his name.

"It's just a restaurant," Chad exploded. "I don't get why you have to make such a big issue out of it!"

Mary Anne at first looked shocked that he'd shouted at her but then her face flushed with anger. "Yeah, you wouldn't would you, you.... you.... fucktard!" With that, she stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, locking it as an additional "fuck you."

For a moment, Chad stared at the door in stunned surprise. He'd never heard Mary Anne use language like that. And now that she had, it didn't make much sense. "The hell's that mean?" he muttered quietly to himself.

Leaving her in the bathroom, Chad went back to the bedroom and took his clothes off, hanging up his suit carefully and setting his shoes neatly in the closet. He regretted yelling at her and sighed heavily, pulling the covers back and getting into bed. It seemed like he was always making mistakes with Mary Anne.

She finally joined him after about twenty minutes. He set the book he'd been reading aside and took a moment to admire the picture she made in her long, white nightgown. Usually she wore nothing at all to bed, or one of his t-shirts. It didn't seem fair that tonight of all nights she was trying something different when he wasn't going to be allowed to touch her.

"I'm still mad at you but I'm sorry for using that word." Mary Anne walked around the bed and climbed in on her side.

"Ok... I'm not even sure what it means, but ok."

"It's an obscenity; it doesn't have to mean anything." Then she rolled to get as much space as possible between she and Chad.

Chad sighed. She really was going to go to bed mad at him. "Right, good point." He turned his back to her and switched off the lamp, ready to sleep. But then he heard a little sniffle and knew she was crying. His Mary Anne hated fighting. Feeling guilty, he spotted the tissues on the bedside table and grabbed them, swinging them behind him for her to grab. "Here."

She took them and said softly, "I'm just going to go sleep on the couch."

"What?" Chad sat up to watch her scramble out of bed. "No! Why?"

"Because this is awkward." She grabbed a pillow and hugged it and the tissue box to her chest.

"Wait." Chad got up and grabbed his own pillow. "I'll go."

Mary Anne shook her head. "No, this is your apartment; I'm not going to kick you out of your bed."

"But," he paused and sighed. "It's my fault you're upset. Because I'm an asshole who can't keep his mouth shut for more than five minutes. I'll go."

"Ugh." She sank down on the edge of the bed, dropping her head into her hands. "I hate getting mad at you."

"I hate making you mad," Chad said honestly and stood awkwardly by her side, unsure if he should sit down beside her or just head out to the living room now.

"I've got a headache now. Hang on." Mary Anne left to go back into the bathroom and Chad sat down on the bed, sighing heavily. He waited for her to come back but it was taking a long time. Was he supposed to hang on until the next millennium? Deciding to just go out to the living room now, he got up and went, only to find her curled up on his couch, having pulled down the afghan hanging off the back and using a cushion for a pillow.

"Hey, I said I'd sleep out here. C'mon, you've got a headache. Sleep in the bed."

"The couch is too little for you to sleep out here. You'll be uncomfortable."

Even when he was an asshole, she still worried about his own comfort. The thought warmed his heart and he knelt down beside the couch to look into her eyes. "I'm sorry about what I said. I shouldn't judge the people who go to places I've never been, especially when one of those people is someone I happen to love."

"I love you, too. Which is really confusing when you're mean to me." She pouted a little and rubbed at her eyes, obviously willing back tears.

Chad swallowed. "But I wasn't trying to be."

"I know." Mary Anne frowned. "Sometimes, you just are."

"I'm well aware." Chad looked away, ashamed.

"Dawn's said that maybe I bring out the nice side of you."

He looked back to see her considering him thoughtfully and he nodded. "She'd be right."

"I'll sleep in the bed on one condition."

"What's that?"

"If you're there with me."

Chad smiled at that. "That sounds like a perk, not a condition."

Smiling, Mary Anne ran a finger along one of his smile lines. "I love you."

"Love you back." Chad nuzzled her ear, trying to hide his delight over hearing those words again. "Now let's get to bed."

Mary Anne gave him a look. "What, you think you're going to get some?"

"No. Just like having you beside me." It was true. On the nights they had to be apart, it took Chad a long time to fall asleep, he'd grown so accustomed to having her draped across him or curled up next to him, her soft breath fanning the hair on his chest.

"So if we never had sex ever again, you'd be fine with that?" she asked, regarding him curiously.

"Of course I'd be fine with it. Naturally, I'd die from the constant blue balls, but as long as you're happy, that's all that matters." He gave her a sexy wink, grinning widely.

She started laughing uncontrollably, her eyes sparkling. "C-constant...!"

"It's true. Don't you realize what you do to me, woman?"

"No." She raised her eyebrows in surprise. After all this time, how can she not know?

"Maybe I should show you," Chad said lowly, moving closer to her.

"I dunno, I'm supposed to be mad at you...." She bit her lip to hide a smile.

"Supposed to? Who says?"

"Um... the National Association of Women? The memo said to hold out against you for at least twenty-four hours." She failed at keeping a straight face and started giggling.

Chad laughed along with her. "That a fact? Well, I'm sure that there's a rule like that for men too. 'Try to win at least 25% of fights a year.' I don't know how many men actually accomplish that goal though."

"So, did you win this fight or did I?"

He paused to consider that. "Let's say you did. I've got to save the really good, intense ones for the 25%."

"I don't want an intense fight." The thought of it made her look a little sick and Chad kissed the corner of her mouth comfortingly.

"Well neither do I, but you know me... it's bound to happen sometime."

"Don't say that; it takes two to fight." She got up from the couch and looked exhausted. "Let's go to bed. Crying always makes me sleepy."

"Okay." Chad took her hand and let her lead him into the bedroom. He still felt guilty for upsetting her and making her cry, and when they'd settled back into bed, he kept his distance in case that was what she wanted.

But then she scooted over to him and curled up alongside him, looking up at him adoringly.

The guilt eased and he was able to fall asleep peacefully.