Disclaimer: This work is protected under the parody clause of copyright law. I do not own the characters, the creative content of the show Community, or the fandom.

Spoilers: Up to and including Season 3 finale.

Abed Nadir observed his study group. They were fighting again. This time it was over whether or not Britta was qualified to give psychiatric advice. Personally he didn't see the point. She wasn't graduated from her Greendale course of study, and she hadn't moved on to get her PHD. It was obvious to him.

"Britta has no qualifications," he interjected suddenly. Everyone stopped yelling and look at him.

"Excuse me, Abed?" Britta's mouth was turned down at the corners.

"Ah, this is a classic you can't make everyone happy scenario," he mused to himself. "The others will be glad because they think I sided with them. You," he gestured to Britta with his pointer finger and cocked his head to the side, "will be upset because you think I undervalue you.

But none of you should feel those ways. Britta, I value you. You are an important dynamic to the group, and sometimes you are helpful with insight from you major. The rest of you should know I'm not siding with you. I think among you Britta is the most knowledgeable about the human psyche. The fact of the matter is you are having very different arguments."

Everyone eased back in their seats. This was confusing. They were all listening to him, they'd stopped fighting.

"I should stop," he said suddenly. He stood and grabbed his messenger bag, slinging it over his shoulder.

"What?" Annie was the first to object. "Abed, why?"

"Yeah," Troy added, "You got me really excited, man. Don't leave."

"I have to, I'm upsetting the group dynamic," Abed explained.

"What are you talking about, Ah-bed?" Shirley lilted.

"I stopped the fight. I did it with a speech. This is Jeff's role. Not mine. I have to go." He turned to walk away.

A hand slammed down on the table behind him followed quickly by Jeff shouting, "Abed!"

Abed stopped at the door and turned around. "Yes, Jeff." Jeff had shouted but he didn't seem angry. His mouth wasn't turned up or down. Abed was confused.

"Just play my role and end this stupid argument so we can eat dinner."

Abed's eyes widened slightly. "Of course if I'm filling Jeff's role I just need to be Jeff." He switch tactics, He took off his messenger bag and affected Jeff's strut as he went back to his chair. He hovered over the table like Jeff did in Greendale court when he defended Shirley. He was just about to speak when he saw Annie get up and walk over to him. She touched his arm.

"You don't need to be Jeff, Abed. Don't worry; you're not going to steal the show. Just tell us as yourself." She smiled up at him. He was confused. What was she trying to do? This was how things needed to be. Her hand was warm on his arm.

"But Annie, I don't want to disrupt the dynamic. The show won't work if the roles get confused," he tilted his head to the side. Her eyes fluttered. He felt something foreign. Something he'd felt before but it passed quickly. He noted the anomaly for analysis in the Dreamatorium.

"For goodness sake," Peirce shouted, "Just say it!"

He turned his head to the group. "You're all arguing that Britta has her own issues. That doesn't make her unqualified to give psychiatric advice. Most psychiatrists are in therapy. Britta is arguing that her input is valid because she is a psych major. That doesn't make her qualified either." He pointed at Britta and then back to the group. "You're not having the same argument. The argument is supposed to be that she isn't qualified, right?" They nodded silently, even Jeff, although he was staring at his phone again. "Then that's easily solved. She has no qualifications. She doesn't have her BS or PHD, nor is she certified by the ABPN." They stared blankly at him. "The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology," he clarified in his monotone.

They blinked at him. "I knew this was a mistake," he said. A pressure increased on his arm. He looked down to see Annie's hand. She hadn't moved it. He didn't even notice until she squeezed it gently. She smiled reassuringly at him and gestured to his chair at the dinner table.

"He's not wrong," Peirce said first. The rest murmured in agreement. Then things went back to normal. Abed sat down and Annie sat next to him. She smiled at him again and passed the broccoli.

Dinner went and so did desert, brownies from Shirley, when Britta cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her. "Troy and I have an announcement to make," she said with fake confidence. "As you know…"

"We're moving in together!" Troy blurted. Britta glowered at him and he shrunk, sheepishly, into his chair.

"Ah, yes," she said and smiled nervously.

Abed looked at Troy, who avoided his gaze, and then at Annie who, by the way her mouth was hanging open and her eyes were wide, seemed to be shocked.

Jeff, Shirley, and Peirce gave congratulations and hugs and then rapidly made excuses to leave.

Abed stared blankly at the Kick Puncher : Detroit poster.

"Abed," Troy said worriedly. No response.

"Abed, honey," Britta cooed. He didn't move but he did start to make a high-pitched keening.

"Alright, you two, out," Annie ordered. She gathered their coats and shoved them into their hands. She ignored their protests and apologies and forced them out the door. "I'll text you when you can come back." And with that she closed the door in their slack-jawed faces. The rest of the group made their excuses and rapidly left.

She turned, nodded, satisfied with that and went to Abed. He was still staring at the poster but at least the keening had stopped.

"Abed," she said. It didn't have an effect, not that she thought it would. She pushed the table aside and knelt on the floor in front of his chair. His hands were resting on his knees and she lightly put her own over them.

He felt the anomaly again.

He blinked. Annie smiled. "C'mon Abed," she cooed, "I know you're upset but I'm here. We can talk about it. Get it all sorted out." He lowered his head to look at her. She smiled. The left corner of his lip twitched upwards for a fleeting second.

"Troy is leaving me," Abed said blankly. "Everyone leaves me."

Annie felt tears welling in her eyes. "Abed, you know that's not true." He shook his head.

Annie had never seen Abed this sad. She could see it glittering in his eyes even if his face was the same impassive mask. Her heart broke. But then she had an idea.

She left him there and went into her bedroom. A few minutes later she came out with a cardboard crown on her head and her nightgown over her normal clothing. She handed him a bathrobe, red cravat, and a bowler hat. "Come with me Inspector."

And then she walked away into the Dreamatorium.

She waited nervously. Is he even functioning enough to run a rendered Dreamscape?

But then then door creaked open and Inspector Spacetime walked in.

A/n: So there's the first chapter. I've been working really hard to try and capture Abed while still showing the transition he's been going through for a while. Also I was deeply inspired by penny1200 who wrote Lessons in Epic Story Telling. If you haven't, and you ship Annie/Abed, go read it. It's really amazing. If I pulled anything from it, I apologize in advance. It wasn't my intention and I'll happily give the credit where it is due.