Michelle was lying awake, looking at the white sealing over her bed, his voice on playback inside her head. The storm of feelings inside her was tearing her up. She felt sad, she felt scared, tired and in grief. She also felt unbelievable happy, and guilty about it.

She could not help to drift into daydreams. Of the perfect date, the feeling of his strong body, and the way his presence gave her Goosebumps. She had really felt his kind and protective nature during the last 24 hours. The thoughts drifted on to the fear she had felt. The devastating events of the day came back to her. The death of so many of her coworkers, and the horror and exhaustion she had felt.

In the mist of it all, she couldn't help but wonder, if he was thinking about her to. He was…

It was almost four in the afternoon when she woke up. She was still tired, but could tell right away that she would not be able to sleep away more of the day. As she got dressed, she could hear the door unlock. She walked out of the bedroom to se her 17year-old daughter standing in the doorway with the German shepherd by her side.

"Hi sweetie" she greeted. Melanie walked over, giving her mother a long hug.

"I'm sorry I had to leave you here alone all night" Michelle said, looking at her.

"It's okay mom, I'm just glad you're okay!"

"Always am!" Michelle reassured.

As Michelle walked into the living room, she could hear her phone vibrate. There was a text from Tony, and she couldn't help but blush a little, making her daughter grinning at her. "Feeling up for some coffee?" She smiled, and was about to reply when Melanie's voice interrupted her!

"Ohh no! There's a guy!" She burst out, grinning. It was all over her face.

"And here I was, alone, thinking my mother was out saving the world again, and she's met a guy?" The grin turned into a soft laughter.

"Who says I can't do both?" Michelle smiled.

"Seriously, what's he saying'?"

"Wants' to meet up for coffee..."

"Do it!"

"But..."

"I love you mum, but seriously. DO IT!"

"I wasn't planning on turning him down!" Michelle grinned, before replying.

They agreed to meet up at the pier, and have coffee and go for a walk. Michelle kept changing her clothes, until Melanie sat her foot down and pushed her out the door.

"You look great, now GO!"

They bought coffee, and walked along the pier. Michelle told him she knew a beautiful, quiet place she wanted to show him! As he started asking about her family, her friends and her life, she felt like she had to tell him.

"Well, I have a teenage daughter!" Michelle tried to read his expression.

"Really? I didn't know" he looked at her. And she examined his eyes for clues. He looked surprised. Good or bad? She didn't know.

"Her name is Melanie. She's 17!"

"Wow, you must have been pretty young"

"18…" Now he smiled.

"You're pretty damn tough, you know that? Having a kid that young. And still working you're way up to a job like that the way you have!"

"Yeah, well, I had a lot of help. And she's a great kid. Makes it worth it!" She smiled at the thought of her daughter, and how proud she was of her.

"So, uhh how long have you been alone with her?" He was worried the question might have come out the wrong way, but she answered it calmly.

"From the start. We'd had very little contact with her father really. He has another kid, a 6year old girl. Melanie keeps in touch with her, but she usually stays clear of him I haven't even seen him for over a year!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to probe"

"Oh no, that's okay! Really!" She smiled reassuringly.

They talked more. She told him more about Melanie, and he seamed genuinely interested. She told him about her dog, and how dedicated she was to training him. She was hoping to get him certified as a rescue dog. And that she was doing martial arts. Also, she told him about her diabetes.

"She's had it since she was 10. At first it was a real punch in the stomach. I was alone, and the pressure felt like more than I could handle, but we got there, and today it's just a regular part of our everyday life!" Michelle had told him. He felt bad for her. But he was also amused. At what she had gone through, and how she had come out on the other side, strong and successful as she was.

"She sounds like a tough kid, just like her mum!"

"She is, a lot stronger than I will ever be!"

"I think you underestimate yourself" he said, softly. His eyes were serious as they met hers. She didn't reply.

He told her about his family. He was the oldest, with two younger sisters. His younger sister Nicole, lived in LA, and his parents and other sister lived in Chicago.

They reached a small, deserted beach and Michelle stopped and gazed towards the water. All she wanted was to be close to him, but couldn't find the courage. So many feelings were building up inside both of them, and you could almost se the sparks in the air between them.

Tony gently laid one arm around her waist. She moved closer to him, and rested her head against his shoulder. The moment was magical, and none of them was able to speak at first.

Michelle slowly lifted her head and looked at him. Tony turned to face her, wrapping both his arms around her waist and leaning in to kiss her. She leaned forward to meet his lips, placing her hand at the back of his head, and they kissed. The kiss was gentle and soft, yet passionate. It was over to soon, and yet, it felt like an eternity.

"You must be pretty tired still. Want to head back?" He asked softly.

"No" she muttered, running a finger down the side of his face. Her unwillingness to let the moment passed made him smile.

"Then we can stay here for a while, if that's what you want" He pulled her close, and held her in his strong, yet soft embrace.

"This is all I want" she said. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he could feel her lips briefly against his neck as she spoke, making him smile.