Author's note: So this is a three part story that acts as an epilogue to Step Forward. If you haven't read that story, you could still read this as some comforting smut…

I was planning to wait to publish until I had finished all three parts (the Slatterys, the Nolans, the Chandlers), but I'm not sure how long that will take, this chapter was ready to go, and it's my birthday so I'll post if I want to! Hope you enjoy.

One - Slattery

The house was silent when Mike quietly unlocked the front door and held it open for Rachel to pass in front of him into their home. He watched her shoulders start to relax as she moved down the hallway, her fingers trailing along the wall, and after securely locking up again, he followed her. Glancing into the living room as he passed, he couldn't help smiling slightly at the sight of his adult daughter curled up on the couch, sound asleep and looking remarkably like she had as a small child. Lissy stirred slightly and opened her eyes, blinking up at him in the half light, but he shook his head and smiled and she rolled over and went back to sleep.

Rachel was standing in the doorway of their son's room, watching him move about in his sleep, and as Mike placed a hand on her shoulder she clutched it.

"When I thought they were going to kill me, this was all I could think about." She said softly. "That I would never be at home with my family again." She paused, "I trusted Ruth, and..."

She trailed off and he wrapped his arms around her.

"It's okay, sweetheart."

"Remember Quincy?" She asked, and he held her a little tighter. "It felt the same, that punch in the stomach."

"You didn't do anything wrong." He murmured, "Then or now. You were the one who told me we have to trust people."

"I know." She turned in his arms. "Can we go to bed?"

"Sure." He followed her into their bedroom, and was slightly surprised when she shut and locked the door behind them.

She turned to him, swiftly lifting her shirt over her head, her eyes full of something that made him swallow. "Mike, I need-"

She didn't have to finish the sentence as he crushed her in his arms, finding her mouth with his and kissing her fiercely as she responded with a moan, her hands immediately moving to his belt.

The first time they'd ever slept together, she'd come to him like this, as comfort and affirmation after a terrifying day and a threat to their lives. Fucking in the face of death, he'd called it then, and he felt it now as he lifted Rachel onto the bed, tearing at her clothes as she yanked and pulled at his.

One of the things Mike had been looking forward to about having her home was the thought of slowly reacquainting himself with her body, teasing and exploring her, making her come before he even got inside her; but there was no time for that now. Instead, as soon as they were naked he held her thighs apart and plunged into her, and she cried out with satisfaction, clenching around him.

"Tell me what you need," He panted, his fingers gripping her hips, ensuring he could thrust deep every time.

"This," She moaned, looking up at him, "This, fast and hard and... oh!" She trembled head to toe as he stroked his thumb over her clit, throwing her head back.

"You're here with me," He found himself affirming. "Home, safe, with me..."

She arched and shouted out and the feel of her squeezing around him sent him right over the edge with her, groaning her name as he pulsed inside her.

Rachel let out a shuddering breath, and he kissed her slowly, his fingers stroking her cheek.

"That what you needed?" As he rolled off her and onto his back, she cuddled in close to his side.

"Mmm hmm. Just what the doctor ordered."

He chuckled slightly and pulled her closer still, kissing her hair. "I missed you right here."

"I missed being here." She smiled. "There is something still missing though..." She looked up at him beseechingly, and he sighed in mock disapproval before gently untangling himself from their embrace and pulling on his boxers before leaving the room, returning a few minutes later with their sleeping son in his arms.

"We're not supposed to encourage this." He reminded her as she pulled on his t-shirt to cover her nakedness, but as he tucked Jamie into bed between them, he couldn't help smiling, especially when their son half opened his eyes.

"Mommy?" He rolled towards Rachel without really waking up, and she cuddled him close.

"Mommy's home now." Mike murmured, "Go back to sleep, little man."

"You don't really mind, do you?" Rachel whispered, and he shook his head, wrapping his arms around them both.

"No, sweetheart, I don't mind at all."