A/N: I know a lot of people don't read author's notes, but there's something I needed to get off of my chest real quick.

You guys don't mind that I'm a Christian, do you? I know I'm probably like, the only AlexBen shipper that's religious, judging by the looks of things, but I don't want that to stop you from reading my stories or anything.

I guess what I'm trying to say is; do you think you guys could do the same thing for me? I just don't want to be, like, outcasted from this fandom or anything because of my religious views. I love you guys, I love your stories, and I love being able to share mine with you.

Just to add into your review (if you plan on reviewing) that you're okay with me being a Christian would make me feel a lot better. And oh my goodness, if you actually read this entire author's note...I am so sorry. Even when I'm typing I babble...

I've held you up long enough. Onward, my friends!

Lorsque Vous Etes Loin

(Alex's POV)

They both knew that this line of work was a dangerous one; one that came with many sacrifices. But peace of mind...Alex wasn't sure this was something he was willing to sacrifice.

No contact from MI6 or Ben himself, no way of knowing whether Ben was still alive or not after being two weeks overdue on his return date. "We'll keep you informed," they'd told him. "We'll let you know when we find something. He's in good hands." Where had he heard that before? Six months prior, when Ben had taken a bullet to the chest and very nearly bled to death while waiting for help to arrive. A while before that, when Alex himself had gone comatose for almost a month. He's in good hands. We'll take care of him.

They never kept their promises.

How could Alex be sure of Ben coming back this time? Being a spy was not easy, and they were both very good at it, but that didn't make them invincible. For all he knew, his boyfriend could be coming back home as a corpse. For all he knew, he wouldn't be coming back at all.

Alex wouldn't think about that, he'd already decided. He would stay calm. Ben was strong; he knew what he was doing. Who was Alex to doubt him? Of course he would come back alive. He had to, he always did. Too many times in the past they'd been hurt, and every time both of them had come out just fine. He was being paranoid. Nothing was wrong. Ben was alright. Everything was alright...

It was a hard thing to do, trying to convince himself that an extra two weeks added to a mission was nothing. His own travels had lasted much longer than expected, after all, and Jack had never lost hope that he'd be coming home again. For him to lose faith in somebody else wouldn't be right. Ben would come home. He would be alright.

Everything was alright

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

(Ben's POV)

Ben's coming home one hundred percent unscathed was, in all honesty, not something he'd been expecting. Malnourished, dehydrated. That was okay, though. It was something he could deal with – most definitely not out of the ordinary. It was Alex's reaction to his homecoming that surprised him.

He seemed to have convinced himself, after an extra month of waiting, that Ben would not be coming back, and to say that he seemed shocked would be the understatement of the century. It took a while for it to sink in. Alex truly thought that their embrace before Ben climbed onto the plane to go away had been their last, that they wouldn't be seeing one another again.

Ben was more than happy to express that he was planning on sticking around for a long, long time.

A/N: Roses are red, violets are blue, with a smile she said, "please, please review?"