Thank God for Dawn...(private, Invite)

Ana felt muscles groan in protest as she rolled onto her knees then climbed to sit on the edge of Wren's Big Bird-colored chair. When Wren spoke, then whispered her revelation about Drev, Ana's eyes widened. While she'd had inklings that perhaps that would be the case, she hadn't fully prepared herself for the eventuality of its exposure. "He lied to you, yes, but how would you have reacted if he had told you the truth when you started seeing each other, let alone living together?" Ana briefly recalled Wren telling her how they moved in together before becoming lovers.

"Would you have stayed? Not likely. You fell in love with the man that is Drev, with all his centuries of experiences and knowledge. Would you have preferred he never tell you, and instead unconsciously injure you every time you made love? And eventually had him vanish from your life, as you grew together, as you aged, but he didn't? And don't you think he has been torn up inside, not telling you? I'm not entirely defending him, mind you; I would think he would have a bit more control over his pearly pokies than to hurt you, after seven hundred years. But you also have to consider that he, in his 'status' if you will, is a rare breed of man, with wonderful taste to have chosen you, to have fallen for you, and it is his own livelihood and existence that he put into your hands by telling you." Ana wasn't quite sure her roundabout way of telling her dancer friend that "he loves you and you love him and you shouldn't let him get away because of his diet" was making sense.

"I recognize that the fact he lied is what hurts you most, but you also have to consider which would hurt more, going forward... Being lied to more, and not knowing it, or knowing the truth and slowly accepting it?"

A sudden seed of despair solidified in Ana's belly. "You... are going forward with him? You haven't left him?"

Wren picked up her brush and moved to the circular mirror on the wall. She began to pull up her hair as she chose how to answer Ana. "You're right. It's going to take time for the hurt to heal though."

Her hand stopped mid-stroke and she turned to stare at Ana. "Of course, why wouldn't I. I love him Ana. So much it make my heart ache. Trust him...not as much, but the lie didn't take my love or my need for him away."

She smiled a crooked smile at her friend and turned back to the mirror. "Besides, why would I want to give up such a talented partner?"

She giggled a little. She and Ana had spoken several times about Drev's large ah...talent, though giggled over it is a better description that talk. She only hoped that soon Ana would be telling Wren about Joey's talent. She giggled again and looped a hair tie around the ponytail she'd made.

"I'm just heart sore Ana. I needed to get all of this out and I knew you would listen and not judge no matter what." Something occurred to Wren just then, as she split the ponytail into three sections and began to braid it. "You know some of them don't you. How many are there, is there like some kind of club they belong to or anything. Oh my God Ana, I have so many questions."

Giggling with Wren, Ana minutely shook her head at the 'talented partner' comment. She simply couldn't imagine a man as endowed as Wren swore Drev was; her eyes virtually goggled out when the dance teacher had used a cucumber for dimension representation (once, when they had shared a too-large salad.)

"Heart sore. If that wasn't so painful a term for you right now, I'd say that I liked that, and go off and write a poem or story with that in mind. But it's too near to you at the mome..." Her rambling broke off, thinking that the major thrust of the conversation was over, when Wren brought up Ana knowing 'them'.

Wondering if her muted defense of the vampire in question, and stoic acceptance of his 'status', was actually a resounding 'yes, you silly girl, they're real', Ana felt that pit of despair lock in its place over her warm-fuzzy 'helping a hurting friend' feeling. Grudgingly, she let out, "Not so many, but that's not really something we should discuss here. While I think you really should talk to him, and not me... If you want to know, I can tell you the little that I've learned. Not now, though... when we're in private. Like if you came over for dinner or something, just us girls." The mental image of Fallon holding a Vampire Relationships class with Wren in the front row almost made her smile, but she realized it would be a rather absurd request...

Wren heard the music start up in the studio, and nodded as she looped a hair tie around the end of her braid. "Yeah, okay. I know it's got all be super secret. I'm so glad you know and aren't shocked. It helps. I feel a little like a teenager with a big secret to giggle about in the halls."

Shaking her head, she wrapped the braid around itself and secured it with several bobby pins. "Are you staying for class?"

"Well to be accurate, you have a big secret to giggle about, home in your bedroom." Ana winked, catching Wren's eye in the mirror, referring to the previously mentioned 'equipment.'

She quickly reviewed her mental image of The Studio's classes, and furrowed her brow as she realized Wren was referring to the morning dance workout. "Uhm, sure. It'll be something new for me, and I'm sure Joey wouldn't mind, seeing as how he's here already anyway."

Standing, Ana began to fidget with the edge of the sweater she'd donned. Keeping her eyes on Wren's in the mirror, she realized she had a question for her friend, but no idea how to formulate or broach it. "Wren... speaking of men... and Joey in particular... Does he... talk about me as much as I talk about him?"

Wren turned and smiled at her friend. She crossed back to the set of drawers and pulled a green leotard and a pair of tights from them, she handed them over to Ana and smiled.

"I never thought about it, but yeah he does. You and the Studio are all he talks about, Ana. he really does love you."

A wellspring of warmth for her friend grew inside her at the knowledge that her boyfriend was as into her, as she believed she was into him. Taking the set of tights from Wren, Ana stood and wrapped her arms around the taller woman.

"Thank you, Wren. Thank you very much. Now come on, let me get dressed, and get all hot and stretchy and sweaty, we'll sort out our man problems later."



(( ana and wren out, w/ permission ))