Anna had woken up, gotten dressed in one of her [url=http://www.fitfabfunmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/MG_0404.jpg]nicer workout outfits[/url], yanking her hair up into a quick ponytail. She didn't worry with make-up, she rarely did anymore, and grabbed a jacket. After downing a bottle of water, the dry mouth and minor headache faded and she pulled her shift Guarding the girl's dorm. She'd kept her mind busy focusing on her duties, avoiding any thought of what she'd have to do later or what had happened last evening. Then, without letting herself think about it, she'd headed to the gym to confront Gunner. She hadn't expected to find him surrounded by four Guardians.

She leaned against the wall to watch him fight. He'd gotten better, far better, than he'd been before and he was tearing through the others like it was easy. Granted, they had less experience and hadn't trained with the Elites for three years, so she had to give them that credit. It just served to prove her right... He'd done better, shined brighter, without having her around to slow him down. She pushed away the pain that had been lingering just under the surface along with a suffocating anxiety all day, and waited till the group broke to take a break.

One of the other Guardians glanced up and she was surprised to see it was one of their old classmates. He grinned, "Ross, Marks was just handing us our asses. Maybe you can slow him down?"

Anna gave a small smile, uncomfortable. "I doubt it, I've been living the quiet life guarding a temporary ward for two years. I'm rusty."

He waved her off, "No way, I'm sure you trained in your time away."

She had, but she'd done so on her own with only one other Guardian to train with and she'd often handed him his ass but he'd been just as far behind her as these guys were behind Gunner. She shrugged, "Some, look... I need to talk to Guardian Marks. You guys mind?"

The guy shrugged, "Sure, but first show us what you've got."

Anna shifted awkwardly, fighting with Gunner had always tested her endurance... her speed... her skill. She'd stayed neck and neck with him for years but she knew when she was out classed. She might be able to hold her own longer than they had, fend him off and work defense, but he'd wear her down in no time. "Maybe later..."

He laughed, "Suit yourself... Come on guys."

As they walked off Anna glanced up at Gunner and pushed a stray strand of hair from her face, "Guardian Marks..."

~*~

Seb groaned and turned his face to hers, "Morning sunshine..." He kissed her and chuckled softly as she groaned and muttered about punches vs. wine. "You're used to taking punches, give you some time and maybe you'll be able to hold your own with wine."

He watched her slip from the bed and down some advil and sighed, "I have a class to teach later today..." He wrapped his arms around her, "Is my fiance going to be able to occupy her time till I'm done?"

As she asked him about Anna and Gunner, Seb grimaced. "I guess I'll have to get the two of them together somehow and break it to them. I'm not looking forward to it."

He got dressed, struggling with his tie as always before he glanced at Serena. "We should grab breakfast in the cafeteria, it'll do you some good."