A/N: Okay, everyone. This is the final chapter of this fic. It's very short, but I really wanted this kind of closure for FitzSimmons. Hopefully, we'll see something similar in the show sooner rather than later. I hope you have enjoyed this fic. Please leave a comment if you have time.


Epilogue

They've only just scratched the surface of the misunderstandings between them, so they continue to discuss what happened; some conversations involve tears and raised voices while others are full of smiles and embraces, but they don't have nearly as much time to find themselves again as they would like. Hydra continues to bait SHIELD at every turn, and Skye needs their help to learn how to control her newfound powers. Still, they're FitzSimmons more often than their are Fitz and Simmons nowadays, and that is the kind of progress they both want.

A few weeks after their reunion, a critical realization sneaks up on Simmons without any warning. She's been working diligently to examine Skye's DNA to try to find the source of her powers. Her concentration is so intense that she doesn't notice the mug of tea someone has left for her until its nearly too cold to drink. When she finally sees it, she freezes.

It's the mug she'd broken weeks ago, except that it isn't. It's crack-free and perfect. Nary a chip is missing. She stares at it in disbelief for a moment. It has to be Fitz, she thinks. No one else would take on the trouble of fixing that mug. She'd gone back for the pieces herself after they'd started to make their peace with each other, but the shards had been gone, and she'd assumed one of her technicians had just binned them. She'd been upset, of course, but she hadn't had much time to dwell on it. Clearly, he'd nipped the shards from the lab, but she can't comprehend how he's fixed it so perfectly.

It takes her a moment to realize that he hasn't. This isn't the same mug. The weight is a little off and the handle is a bit thinner. He's gone and bought her a new one to replace the one she broke. She's not really sure how he managed to find one so similar. The letters are perfect replicas even if the cup itself is a little different. As touched as she is, she can't help but wish that she still had the original. She lets out a small sigh before lifting the mug and taking a quick sip of the lukewarm tea. Though tepid, it's just as she likes it.

She nearly chokes when she finally notices the other mug on her desk. She hadn't given it a second glance earlier when she'd pulled a pen from it, but now she takes the time to give it a closer look. Fitz had fixed the original, but he hadn't used the haphazardly mixed epoxy she'd made. No, he'd filled in the cracks with what appeared to be white gold. The little streams of precious metal make the broken mug seem like a work of art. Simmons knows she'll never be able to drink her tea from it again, but that doesn't mean that she has to leave it in the past.

It's rather symbolic, she muses as she stares at her tea mug turned pencil holder. They can mend the old while still embracing what's new. The old won't ever be quite the same, but he's shown her that they can fill the gaps and forge new spaces together to make something beautiful.

As soon as she finishes the thought, she feels something click into place, and the uncomfortable feeling of being a little adrift even now that they've made their way back to each other finally settles. She knows with absolute certainty what she feels for him. She's always known that she loves him. Of course she loves him. But now she finally understands the depths of her love. She's only just finished having her realization when he walks into the lab, using the same entrance she had when she'd returned from Hydra. How different this encounter will be, she thinks.

All she can do at first is stare. She knows that she's smiling like a lunatic, but she can't really help it. He stares back, a little unnerved by how widely she's grinning: a smile that big usually means that she's had entirely too much fun dissecting something. He glances nervously at the desk he usually uses, half expecting to see a cat's liver amidst the tools and debris.

When he looks back, his heart starts racing. She's looking at him with such fondness and tenderness that her smile starts to hint at something else entirely, but he can't bring himself to believe it.

Seeing doubt and hope warring in his eyes, she closes the distance between them in a flash, cupping his cheek with one hand and gripping his short curls with the other as she surges up to crush their mouths together. She'll try for more finesse later, but for now she can't curb her enthusiasm.

He's stunned at first, and he takes so long to respond that she nearly pulls back, afraid that his feelings have changed. He regains his senses quick enough to tighten his hold on her waist before she can break away. They lose themselves in the frisson of love that swells as their kiss deepens.

Finally breathless, they break apart just enough that she can cup both of his cheeks in her hands.

The mile-wide grin has returned, and the happiness fizzing inside her breaks free in a bubbling little giggle before she can say the words they both need to hear. She takes in a deep breath, locking her eyes with his, and speaks with such clarity and conviction that the genuineness of her words is unquestionable.

"I love you, Fitz."

Once the words have left her mouth, she can't help the tears that spring into her eyes. Neither can he. She's lets out a watery chuckle and then leans forward to rest her head on his shoulder, moving one arm to encircle his waist while resting the other between his shoulder blades.

He turns his head a little to press a kiss to her hair before pulling her even closer and whispering, "I love you, too." Her confession has made him so emotional that his voice waivers a little, but his conviction is just as strong as hers.

He'd be content to hold her just like this for hours, basking in their love for each other, but Hydra has other plans. Coulson's voice blares over the intercom.

"Simmons, find Fitz and meet me at the Bus immediately. We've got a situation."

"I'm here, sir." Fitz responds, the tone of his voice still a little dreamy.

"We'll be right there," Simmons answers at the same time, her voice muffled in Fitz's neck.

Despite the urgency of the Director's order, they untangle themselves rather slowly, reluctant to end the embrace. With one final squeeze, Simmons releases Fitz and tries to step back and away from him. His wide palm on her back halts the movement. Leaning down, he brushes his lips against hers so softly that it can't really be considered a kiss. Still, she feels it all the way down to her toes and lets out a sigh of happiness and contentment.

Grabbing his hand, she interlocks their fingers. She can't quite bring herself to stop touching him as they make their way through the maze of hallways toward the hangar.

If anyone has a comment about their intertwined fingers and blissful smiles, they wisely keep it to themselves. Still, a few of them—namely May, Bobbi, and Mack—have to hide their grins as Coulson starts to fill them in on their next mission.

"Okay, so here's the plan…"


Fin.