| IMAGINE for @moinkerdoodle |

You walk down the street, groceries in hand, heading towards your apartment complex. You turn down the walkway that opens up into the courtyard of the complex and run right into someone.

"Oh!" You gasp, stumbling backwards.

The man grabs your shoulder, steadying you. "I am so sorry!" He exclaims. You look up at him and your eyebrows raise. You've seen this man before. You peer at him. His face looks so familiar.

"Have-have we met before?" You question.

The man's eyebrows draw. "No, not that I'm aware of." He answers. "You've probably seen me before. Never actually met though." He adds.

"Wait, now I'm really confused." You laugh.

The man puts his hand on his chest. "I'm Lee Pace, the actor." He announces.

Your eyes bulge and your jaw drops. "Lee Pace? The freakin' actor from the Hobbit, Guardians of the Galaxy, Pushing Up Daisies, and so much more?!" You exclaim incredulously, in total fangirl mode.

Lee laughs and smiles. "That's me." He replies.

"Oh my goodness. What are you doing out all the way over here?" You breathe.

Lee immediately sombers. "It's actually kind of embarrassing." He murmurs.

"I won't judge." You tell him truthfully.

He sighs and looks to a bench. "Would you like to sit down?" He asks. You nod and the both of you go to sit down. You set your grocery bags on the ground and then look at Lee expectantly. He takes a deep breath and then starts.

"I am-was married to this woman. We were married for about a year. When we were dating, she was amazing. But then as soon as we got married, she became a totally different person. She'd take all my earnings from my movies and spend it. We tried to go to counseling, but she never went through with promising to stop spending. She ended up filing for divorce a couple of months ago. We were still living together because I had to find a place to live. She spent most of her time away from the house. She had other...men she would stay with. Right when our divorce was final, she came to the house and kicked me out with only the money in my wallet and the clothes on my back. That was almost two weeks ago." He explains.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." You whisper. "Do you not have a place to stay?" You ask.

He shakes his head. "I've just been sleeping in my car. I'm kind of homeless at the moment. My bank account has only a few hundred dollars in it. I've been using that to buy food and gas." Lee answers, looking down.

You reach over and cover your hand with his. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" You ask.

He looks up at you and starts shaking his head. "No, no, no, no, it's okay." He murmurs.

You squeeze his hand. "Please, I insist, Lee. I'll do anything." You say.

"Well, I need a place to stay. I don't want to impose or anything. It'd just be until I get my footing again." He blurts out.

"Of course." You agree, grinning.

"Really? I don't even know your name though..." He laughs softly.

You smile at him. "My name is Y/N. And I promise I have a spotless background. No criminal records or anything." You say.

Lee laughs again, his eyes twinkling. "Well that's a relief." He answers.

"So what do you say?" You ask.

He smiles. "Fine. And thank you. Thank you so much." He replies.

"Anytime." You answer, smiling.

-PART TWO-

@moinkerdoodle

     You open your apartment door and then stop, immediately smelling fresh baked bread. "Lee?" You ask curiously, coming into your apartment, shutting the door behind you. You walk into the dining room and your eyebrows shoot up in surprise. There's a candlelit dinner. You let out a surprised laugh, taking in everything—the food, the flowers...everything.

     "Do you like it?" Lee asks from behind you.

     You whirl around, smiling uncontrollably. "I love it!" You exclaim. "It's absolutely beautiful. You didn't have to do this." You say.

     Lee puts a hand on your shoulder, smiling at you. "Yes, I did. After everything that you've been doing for me these past couple of months...I-I don't know how else to thank you." He admits.

      "Lee, you've been paying me rent and you've been buying groceries since you got that job at the supermarket. That's more than enough. I love having you here." You tell him. Not only do you love having Lee at your apartment, you're also starting to love Lee—not just as a friend but something more. You keep denying it to yourself, but you know it to be true. You don't want him to leave.

     Lee gestures to the table. "Shall we eat?" He asks.

     You smile and nod. "We shall." You answer.

       Lee and you eat a wonderful dinner together. Your face hurts from smiling and laughing so much. You start to gather up the dishes when Lee's phone rings.

     He stares at the screen and then swallows. "I need to take this." He says seriously, before answering and walking out of the room. Your eyebrows furrow worriedly.

      Twenty minutes later, Lee comes into the kitchen. You look at him over your shoulder as you wash a plate. "What was that all about?" You ask.

     Lee walks over to you and stands next to you. He grabs a towel and starts drying off the plate you hand to him. He's silent. Your heart starts to pound nervously. "Lee?" You ask softly, staring at him, your hands sitting in the dishwater.

     Lee slowly looks at you. "Y/N..." He whispers. He dips his hands into the dishwater to interlace his fingers with yours. You pull up straight.

      "Lee, I really don't like that look in your eyes." You admit.

      "Y/N, that was my agent. He called to tell me that he found a movie that wants me as the main character." He states.

     Your jaw drops. "Lee! That's wonderful!" You exclaim.

     "Yeah, yeah, it is wonderful." He agrees, not as enthusiastic as you'd think.

    "Then what's the matter? I thought you'd be jumping for joy." You say.

      Lee's eyes search yours and then he pulls his hands from yours. He dries off his hands and runs his hand through his hair. "I-I don't know..." He grumbles. He looks at you. "This is an international movie, Y/N. I couldn't stay with you. Filming is for a year in another country." He explains.

       Your shoulders drop. "Oh." You breathe, feeling your heart break a little.

     "I don't-I don't want to leave, Y/N. As much as I want to get back to acting and working...I-I don't want to leave you." Lee whispers, looking away.

     You dry your hands and walk over to him. You gently put a hand on his back. "But, Lee, this film will help you get back on your feet—it will help you get back to living a normal life." You say.

     He turns to face you and puts his hands on your upper arms. "But this is a normal life, Y/N. Working, coming home every night, and being with you is a normal life—one I want. Acting-acting is great and everything, but it's not what I want." He blurts out. "This-" He gestures around the kitchen and then looks back at you. "You—it's all I've ever wanted. I just didn't realize it until I met you." He whispers, tears gleaming in his eyes.

      "Oh, Lee." You whisper, your voice cracking.

     "I love you, Y/N. I love you so much." Lee says.

     "I love you too." You return, throwing your arms around him and hugging him tightly.

      Lee hugs you back, burying his face into your hair. After a long moment, he pulls his head back and kisses you passionately, pressing you up against the refrigerator. You kiss him back, your hands cupping his face.

      "What are you going to do?" You ask Lee breathlessly, resting your forehead against his.

     "I'm telling my agent no. Unless he can find me a job closer to home—closer to you." He murmurs, smiling.

      You smile up at him. "Are you sure you won't regret this?" You ask.

     "Not in this lifetime." He answers, before kissing you again.
[THE END] I hope you liked it!