He sucked in every word as though they were little bubbles of air, and he was trapped under water:

Gil… you know I love you. I always have. Being away from you is the hardest thing I've ever done. I know I've told you this before, but I need you to know how sorry I am about the way I left. I have no excuse, but maybe one day I'll have an explanation. Right now all I can tell you is that at the time I didn't know what else to do. Somewhere along the line I lost myself. I left you behind so that I could save not only me, but us. Thank you for always understanding. Thank you for coming after me and for knowing what I need when I don't. Thank you for loving me, because I know that you do.

So, Gil… it's Christmas… and I have only one wish this year… do you even have to turn around…?

He swallowed, but all the spit seemed to have evaporated. A million thoughts crashed into his mind all at the same time, but one was screaming louder than all the other combined. What!!! Nooo… it couldn't be…could it..?

"Sara Sidle…" he heard himself say the words, and the moment they left his lips he knew it was true. He felt her there…

"That's me…" she spoke so softly it sounded like the words were dipped in honey. He slowly turned around, to see her leaning against the frame of his door. Just like she had done so many times before. It was almost like she never left. She looked happy, she looked beautiful. It was his Sara.

For a few seconds they just stood there gazing into each others eyes. He took the first steps towards her, all the time fearing he would be jerked out of this perfect dream at any second. But when he was standing there inches from her warm body, he reached out and touched her face. And nothing had ever felt more real.

When she looked into his deep blue eyes she saw the reason why. The reason why she loved him, the reason why she had to go heal herself, the reason behind everything she had done since they met 9 years ago. It was all there. And she knew that the answers to all her questions were with him. She saw his passion, his brilliance, his lust, his desires, his loneliness, his tenderness, and she saw his love for her. All the things that made him Gil. And she knew she was finally home.

When his hands pulled her close and his lips touched her for the first time since San Francisco, all her emotions came rushing through her at once. She had never been happier than in that moment.

The kiss was soft and tender, and he felt the salty taste of tears on her lips. As much as he wanted to stay in that moment forever, he slowly pulled his head back and his lips left hers. He looked at her and she could see that he wanted to say something, but didn't quite know how to. He tried anyway…

"Sara… are you… is this…"he didn't want to push her and wished he could take it back. He hesitated for a second, but she already knew…

"Yes. Yes Gil…" she said without hesitation. "I'm home. I'm not leaving you again. Not ever. I mean… I don't have all the answers yet, but I was hoping we could figure the rest out together. I need you. I need our life together back. And I hope to God I haven't messed this up."

"Oh honey….welcome home." They were both crying and since he now seemed unable to pair more than two words together, he let his instinct take over. He took her in his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Because he knew better than most people that the future could give them no promises. All he could do was love her, and make the most out of every single moment. He knew that in an instant everything we love can be taken from us, and that all we can do is to make every second count with the time we are given. The thought of all the time they had lost, no... all the time he had wasted, not being able to give in to his feelings for her, had tortured him after she left. But in that second, when his life was given back to him, he decided to let it go and to start living in the present. He was going to be the man she deserved for as long as he she would have him.