Declaimer: again just and purely FANFICTION, no profit except joy from readers

When I saw Holly's and Gail's looks at their final scene, one of my first thoughts was: What Now?

So, I made a short fiction to ease my mind :P

Beware it really is sweet as cotton candy with loads of feelings, 'I love you' -s, and very grown up Gail (btw, since we know that Gail's birthday is in November, we may assume that she is a Scorpio, right? And when a Scorpio really wants something, they go for it –personal experience. AND I really want to believe that Gail wants Holly – I am such a hopeful sap :D )

Chapter 1 - What Now

Both of their looks mirrored the same question. What now?

It was surreal. They have just got the second chance which looked like it should be ruined again.

Gail's brain was so overwhelmed that she could not pick one solid thought. When the shock slowly left her body, she closed her eyes and sat down beside Holly. The blonde placed her elbows on her knees and her hands covered her mouth and nose. Taking deeps breaths and supressing her tears, the officer tried to regain some of the emotional control. "In two weeks?" she repeated the previous statement.

"Yeah," confirmed the doctor quietly, not leaving her eyes from the gorgeous but sad woman in front of her.

"For how long?"

"The contract is for five years."

"Dammit." What was she supposed to do now? She refused to accept the possibility of losing Holly again. The easiest way to deal with the problem would be to run away, as far as possible. Maybe they were not supposed to be together after all. Maybe Gail should have not laid her feelings out at the first place. That way she would not even know about Holly's moving away. She would just never see and talk to her as she wished after their break-up… And yet this picture was more terrifying than missing five years.

It was hard to think when some women were still milling around in the locker room. The blond officer looked at her girl and stood up. "Let's get out of here."

The pair left the station in silence until they reached the car and sat in heavily with a sight.

"Your place or mine?" asked Holly tentatively.

The younger woman turned her head towards the driver. "Actually, can we go to the park?"

Without another world the doctor took off. The ride was silent as well, both women in their own worlds.

They reached the destination and Gail got out first, but waited for her partner to go around the vehicle. Once they were side by side, the blonde took Holly's hand in hers and enlaced their fingers to make sure her beloved person was by her side for now, that she was solid next to her.

They walked as the time went by, none of the women really caring about other people in the park, families with children, dog walkers, afternoon joggers, or other couples. It was a nice sunny afternoon clouded by the upcoming separation.

"Maybe we should actually voice our thoughts to find a solution," suggested the pathologist.

"Long distance relationships almost never work," stated Gail the well-known fact.

"I am aware of that."

"One party finds someone else and it's over."

"I see."

"I don't want to find someone else, and I don't want you to find someone else."

"Gail…" the doctor said gently.

"You are worth it, Holly." The blonde stopped their walk and looked straight into the chocolate eyes. "I have been waiting for you for almost thirty years. Not someone like you, but you. And when I found you, my ignorance blew us out royally. That night when I watched you leave the station, I promised myself that if by any miracle I would have a second chance with you, I would do anything and everything not to screw us up. To keep you by my side, because you make be a better person, a happy person."

Suddenly Gail was pulled into a one armed hug. Their hands stayed intertwined, while the other one of Holly's was wrapped around the officer's neck and the dark haired head was buried in the crook of her neck. Gail felt the tense and need in her girlfriend's body as she placed her free hand over the toned back.

"I love you," the blonde noticed that her confession sounded doubled. She pulled away to look up at her partner who was grinning her typical lopsided smile. She leant in and captured the soft lips into a gentle sweet kiss, short yet meaningful.

"Let's sit for a bit," suggested Holly and led then to the nearest bench.

"I won't lie to you, my feet are extremely itchy and I would much rather run away from this, but the last time I created an emergency situation it cost me you. And I am not willing to lose you again. I was serious when I said you were the most amazing person I had ever met. I am willing to sacrifice five more years if it means we would have another fifty together."

"Oh so you plan to live long. In that case you should stop eating the junk food," teased the brunette.

"That is debatable."

"Well you will have to. Sophie is still in development and needs healthy food."

"Are you okay with that? Me having a kid? Us having a kid?"

"At first it really was a lot to take in, but I don't mind," smiled the doctor. "I like kids." She looked at their joined hands with a sight. "The question is, are you really okay with us?"

"As much as I want to be selfish and ask you to stay here with me, I understand it's a unique opportunity for you. You must go and be awesome. I will wait for you, I promise. And hey, at least I have my annual vacation planned for the next five years!" she smiled broadly which made the doctor laughed.

Holly let go of their laced fingers and put her hands on Gail neck and jaw, she looked her straight in the baby blue eyes. "You Gail Peck are an amazing person yourself. Underneath the childish, mean exterior you are one hell of a woman, smart, witty, loyal and caring. And I love you so very much."

"I am even more amazing when my stomach is full and I am taken care of," grinned the officer.

The brunette laughed and pulled her girl into a tight hug, not letting go for a good while. "Let me make you that dinner," she suggested after their shared moment of peace.

None of them wanted to leave the park which in that moment seemed happier and more hopeful, holding a promising future for the two people deeply in love.

thank you for reading :)