a/n: Guess what guys! I'm so excited about this next chapter I'm going to post, I'm giving you a little preview and the beginning of it right now. I'm going to post the whole thing later tonight/tomorrow but couldn't wait to share the first part. So be ready. :D :D

His eyes frantically scanned the roof as he leaned forward as far as he could, looking for any sign of her. Where are you baby...come on out baby...where are you...

There.

He straightened and gazed down at the slight, blonde figure adorned in pigtails and fishnets and his jacket as she stepped up on to the landing strip. The sight of her stepping out in the middle of the machine gun fire towards him and the helicopter, surrounded by the bright flashes and fire and lights and the chaos he'd created for her with the wind blowing her pigtails around her face took his breath away. It was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. It...she...was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. The eagerness, the relief, the almost disbelief that he was looking down at her after all this time rushed through him and was written plainly across his face and in his smile as the gun hung limply in his hand, completely forgotten. Finally...finally...

"Hello baby!" he said, tossing the rope over the edge of the ramp. "Ha," he breathed out in relief, then breathed in a quick breath of anticipation as another burst of adrenaline and nervousness...almost fear...coursed through him. I need you baby...come on now...don't leave me here like I left you... He was deaf to the machine gun fire and shouting, blind to everything now but her.

He kept his eyes fixed on her as she slowly walked towards the helicopter, every moment seeming like an eternity as he willed her closer. Happiness leapt up within him as she looked up and saw him standing on the ramp, her huge smile slowly spreading across her face as she gazed back at him, same insane joy showing in her eyes. It made him feel the crazy joy and impatience, the need and eagerness so strongly it made him hold his breath.

His gaze was still on her as he struggled to breathe normally, still silently willing her closer and at the same time willing her to somehow hear the words he was about to say.

"Come on baby," he said, raising his arm up and grinning back at her, knowing she would understand. Yes. I'll catch you this time.

He didn't look away as she stopped and started to pull the jacket off, everything seeming to become even slower as he saw his favorite look appear on her face, the smile and challenging look she always gave him right before she was about to do something dangerous, the sexiest smile and look she gave him when they were about to make it together. It was all he could do not to jump from yet another great height for her, all he could do not to scream the words down at her as they echoed in his head. Come on come on come on come on come on...

Come...

ON...

Baby...

And then she was running towards him with that determined expression he loved and she jumped, swinging on to the rope and grabbing hold effortlessly and with ease. "That's my girl," he murmured. "That's my girl."

He reached down for her hand and then he was pulling her up on to the ramp next to him.He turned to face her, still holding her hand in his, not quite believing she was finally in front of him with her wide blue eyes and her make-up smeared messily across her face the way he liked it.

He could have stood there and stared at her forever, smiling with happiness at her overjoyed expression as she exclaimed, "Puddin'!" but then she threw her arms around him and took him by surprise. He barely had time to prepare for the kiss, eagerly pursing his lips and closing his eyes before she pressed her mouth hard against his.

He tilted his head and leaned in to the kiss and the feel and taste of her lips, what he'd been craving and missing and dreaming about for months now rushing over and through him and sweeping him away, feeling the familiar satisfaction and pleasure again as he pressed his lips back against hers just as hard. Before this he would never have been able to handle feeling what he was feeling now, much less understand, but he felt complete again, whole, so warm. Her lips were so sweet...he'd missed the taste of her so much. He'd missed her so much. There was nothing else in this world but the feel of her and the taste of her and kissing her. It was what he'd been scared deep down he'd never taste again.

He leaned forward into the kiss, bending her backward as he held the small of her back with his free hand. He let out a growl, already wishing he could do more than kiss her, could just take her right there, right now, bearskin rug be damned. "Mmmmmm," he moaned. So sweet...her lips are so sweet...I missed the taste of her so much...

Their lips parted with that sweet smack he'd also missed the sound of and she rested her elbow on his shoulder. He stared down at her in wonder. How can one person be this beautiful... "You got all dressed up for me?" she teased. Of course her first words to him were to call him puddin' and then tease him. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Oh, you know I'd do anything for you," he said as they beamed at each other. "By the way," he continued, swinging around and bringing his mouth close to her ear, "I've got some grape soda on ice and a bearskin rug waitin'."

She laughed softly in play shyness at the mention of grape soda. "Yeah?" she asked in the little girl voice she knew he adored...another thing he'd worried he'd never hear again.

Yeah, baby. Anything for you.