Author's note: I am so sorry for the long delay in posting this final chapter! I could make lots of excuses, but instead I'll just say happy December, and I hope you enjoy! Please review if you do…

Three - Chandler

It was 6am, and Ashley was finally asleep, her head lolling against the couch cushions where she sat in between her parents.

Sam had gone to bed an hour ago, when Sasha and Ashley - mainly Ashley - had finished recounting the events in Cross River; and Jed had firmly prised the twins from Sasha's arms a little while after that and taken them up to the nursery, where both she and Tom knew he would spend the night on a rickety cot between their beds, watching over them, even if he pretended he was going to head back to his house across the yard once they were 'settled'.

If Sasha had been loath to relinquish the twins, she was even more worried about leaving Ash, whose adrenaline rush had carried her through hours of manic chattering. The teenager seemed none the worse for her recent experiences, but Sasha knew that it may suddenly hit her, and she didn't want to be far away when that happened.

Tom met her gaze and seemed, as he often did, to know exactly what she was thinking. "She'll sleep for a while, and we'll be close when she wakes up." He slowly stood, "But we need sleep ourselves."

Sasha knew he was right, and despite her misgivings, forced herself to her feet. Her own adrenaline high had run out hours ago, and it was only concern for Ash that had kept her going this long.

Between them, she and Tom gently repositioned Ashley so that her head was resting on a throw pillow, her feet up on the couch, and covered her with one of the twins' blankets. Then Tom took Sasha's hand in his and led her up the two flights of stairs to their attic bedroom.

It was the familiarity, she realised afterwards. That was what got her. The slightly rumpled bed, the closet door open showing uniforms and casual clothes, and shelves of tactical gear that possibly shouldn't be kept in the house. The view of the stars through the skylight windows, and the faint smell of Tom's soap emanating from their bathroom. And suddenly she was on the bed, curling into a ball, her chest heaving, as the enormity of what she had done, what she had nearly lost, crashed over her like a wave.

Tom blanketed her with his body as she sobbed, his arms wrapped tightly around her, murmuring in her ear as she cried it out. "It's okay, it's okay."

He'd done this for her once before, early in their renewed relationship, and just as it had then, his tenderness let her surrender.

"She was going to kill me." Sasha managed eventually, once her tears had slowed enough for her to catch her breath. "But I had to do it for Ash. I had to save Ash."

Tom had already heard the story from Ashley's lips, but what that could never have captured were the emotions Sasha was trying to explain now.

"I didn't think about it," She continued, "It wasn't even a choice. But if I'd never seen you again, if my babies had had to grow up without me..." And then she was sobbing again.

Tom was fighting against a lump in his own throat as he held her, processing just how close he had come to losing her.

"You did what any parent would do." He told her, his voice a little rough. "I would have done the same, and you wouldn't have blamed me for it."

She nodded slightly, and this time she raised her head, turning to look at him, her face pink and blotchy, her eyes bloodshot, and yet still the most beautiful woman in the world to him.

"I love you so much." She managed, and this time when he pulled her close again, his lips found hers, tasting salt in the moisture from her tears, but as she opened her mouth all he could taste was Sasha.

Sasha pressed close into Tom's body, feeling his warmth and strength in a different way now, the delicious buzz of wanting him helping to drive out the thoughts racing around her head.

"Tom..." She murmured, but he was already ahead of her, his fingers undoing the buttons of her shirt as hers tugged at his dark sweater, and in a flurry of kisses and with the benefit of dexterous fingers, they were quickly naked, her hands raking over his muscled back as her legs wrapped around his waist.

"Sash..." Tom breathed in her ear before nipping and nuzzling at the soft skin of her throat, his hands finding her ass, tilting her hips for him to slowly nudge his hardness against the slick heat between her thighs.

"Yes!" She affirmed, gasping as he slid slowly into her, somehow soothing her as much as he was arousing her.

"I love you," He murmured as he started to move, "I love you."

Tears were still sliding slowly down her cheeks as she met his gaze, but her eyes were somehow full of joy.

"We're so lucky." She whispered, and then her mouth met his, and her legs tightened around his waist, and before he knew it he was on his back and she was above him, taking the control she needed as he gripped her hips and let her set the pace, rocking on him as she threw her head back.

"Please!" She gasped, but his hand was already reaching between her legs, and as he touched her there she cried out. He lifted his hips and thrust up hard, and it was only moments before she fell forward and found his lips with hers as she shattered, and he followed close behind.

As they lay wrapped around each other, Sasha's tears had finally stopped completely.

"I'm so happy to be home," She said softly.

Tom smiled, but he didn't reply because he knew she wasn't done.

"But you know I'll do that again." She continued, "I realised out there that I can't... not."

"I know." He stroked her back slowly. "It's who you are. It's who I am too."

She nodded, and settled her head against his shoulder. There would be other missions, and other dangers, but for now there was home and family, and Tom's arms around her. And there was nowhere else she would rather be.

The End