Disclaimer: I own nothing except the original characters and the plots.
A/N: Short but sweet chapter. Enjoy, and please review!
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Kate Watson Lestrade sighed with relief as the cab she'd taken from the airport pulled to a stop in front of her building. The journalism conference had been fun, and she'd learned a lot, but she'd missed home. She refused the cabbie's offer to help with her bags, paid him, and hurried inside and up the stairs to her flat.
She opened the door, deposited her bags on the floor and looked around in search of her husband.
"Gabe?"
"Be right there, darling."
Moments later, she heard his footsteps on the stairs and hurried to fling herself into his arms. He lifted her off her feet and into a long kiss.
"How was the conference?" he asked when they finally parted to breathe.
"It was fun. Good to be back, though. I missed you."
"And I missed you."
Once Gabriel released her, Kate settled on the couch with a content sigh. She took the glass of juice her husband offered with a grateful smile.
"So, what have you been up to while I was gone?"
He paused, shifting his weight and not making eye contact.
"Gabriel . . .what did you do?"
"I, uh . . .I got a tattoo."
Kate sputtered in surprise, nearly choking on her drink. "You did what?"
"It's very easy to cover up, and the design is small and simple," he reassured her.
"Okay," she nodded. "But isn't that kind of a cliché? The whole owning a motorcycle and having a tattoo thing?"
Gabriel laughed. "Well, maybe."
"So where is it? I want to see!"
He moved so that his back was to her and began unbuttoning his shirt. He tossed it aside and stood waiting for his wife's verdict.
"Oh!" The surprised exclamation was soft and emotional.
Kate stood, stepping closer to Gabriel for a better look. On the back of his left shoulder was a small heart. Inside, in an elegant script, were the letters KWL. She reached out, but hesitated. The skin around it was still somewhat red.
"Does it hurt?"
"No, not really, just a little tender. You can touch it."
She did so, carefully tracing the black ink. A wave of possessiveness swept over her, and she leaned forward to trace the tattoo with her tongue, before biting lightly at the skin just beside it.
Gabriel groaned. "God, Kate."
She smiled against his shoulder, and he turned to gather her into his arms.
"So, you like it?"
Kate reached up so that her lips brushed his as she spoke. "Oh, yes. Another way for you to let the world know that you're all mine—what's not to like?"
He grinned. "I thought you might see it that way."
She smiled back and tugged him down into a deep kiss. One hand curled into his hair, while the other covered the tattoo. When they parted several minutes later, Gabriel rested his forehead against hers.
"What do you say we go upstairs and I welcome you home properly?"
"Took you long enough to offer," she teased.
Her husband just chuckled as he scooped her into his arms. "We have all day."
Kate grinned as she rested her head on his shoulder and kissed and nibbled at his neck. She inhaled deeply, loving the familiar scent. Four days without him had seemed like a very long time, and she relished being back in those loving arms.
Much later, the couple lay on their sides, still exchanging soft kisses. Kate idly caressed the tattoo beneath her hand.
"It's good to have you back, darling," Gabriel murmured as he kissed her forehead.
"And it's good to be home."
