Stella went to the small room containing two military beds and a small bathroom on the side. Stella thought it was not the most comfortable but it was enough. She put on her pyjamas. Weakest sexe? She brushed her teeth, angrily like the teeth were paying for Charlie's insult. Meanwhile she thought of the future that waited. What was she supposed to do with the gold? They had agreed on sharing the gold in equal pieces, 200 bricks after giving the 8 bricks to Mashkov. She possessed proudly 40 bricks, giving her gold worth 5 million dollars. She could buy an apartment in Paris and do nothing for the rest of her life. But she knew she would continue with her business. Safes were her passion and she wouldn't let that down. And Charlie? What would he do? Continue to steal? When she thought of Charlie, her heart started pumping and jumped like it was on a trampoline. There was no denying that she loved him. She had been thinking and reflecting if this was really true. But the more she thought about it the more certain she became of her feelings toward him. She couldn't remember the day she began to love but she knew now. She wondered if not all these years her father had tried to pull them together. They were many occasions when she had seen Charlie and John had had a satisfied smile on his lips. Bless you father! Your wish came true after all these years. She had been deep in her thoughts because she jumped when two strong arms slipped around her waist.

" What are you still awaked? Last time I saw you were almost sleeping on the spot."

" Charlie, I am brushing my teeth. Release me." She made a move to remove his hands but he only tightened his grip.

" Not for the all wide world. I would excuse myself first. Didn't I tell you how stupid I was?" He kissed her on the shoulders, which brought a smile of happiness from Stella's lips.

" No, but I never tire of hearing it. Really. That sounds like a very dark future for me then." She cleaned the toothbrush and her mouth. She turned in Charlie's arms so she could face him. " I was joking. I love you Charlie. I'm not going to forgive you. I have a lifetime to learn your flaws, Charlie Crocker."

" I love you Stella." He kissed her and she put her arms behind her neck to deepen the kiss. She burst out a sound of surprise when he carried her to the small bed. He put her on the bed, standing back to look at her.

" Stop this Charlie. You're killing me with that look," complained Stella.

He laughed smoothly. " You are so beautiful. Even with that pyjama."

" You don't like my pyjama?" Stella looked down and inspected the outfit, dark silk pyjamas with ducks on it.

" No, it's great but what I don't like is that it is on you."

" Well, come here and take it off then," invited she with her arms wide open. She didn't have to wait long because in one second he was already unbuttoning her top. She took off his jacket with shaky hands. She was very nervous and wanted to make this right. He reassured her by kissing each hand and kissed her once more on the lips. She ripped off his t- shirt, admiring the muscles on his naked chest. He got them at the right places. Her top was finally unbuttoned and he admired her in the light.

The rest was just a mix of love, passion and kisses. They enjoyed every inch of each other, giving each other 100 %. They gave new terms to the word "make love". Afterwards, Stella lied comfortably on Charlie, her chin on his chest. The bed was so small and they tried not to fall on the floor.

" I think we should have a bigger bed," suggested Charlie.

" Very good idea. And one that sounds less. I think we woke every person in the area." They laughed in unison. " And where should that bed be? In a house? Apartment? US?"

" I haven't figured that out yet. Everything has just been so intensive. And when it is finally over, you are just standing, unable to do anything sensible.

" I understand you. To possess so much gold is more than everything I could have possibly earned during my lifetime. It is so distressing that I don't know what to do about it."

" Don't worry love. We figure that out soon."

Stella liked the sound of " we". She had never experienced the feeling to be taken care off. She had learned to manage her life herself, by her own. She smiled and kissed Charlie on the chest. " Charlie?

She raised her head and looked at him in the eyes. He was so beautiful. She couldn't resist the temptation to touch these perfect drawn lips, his forehead curved in lines with concern, the strong cheekbones and she kissed him on every part she had followed with her fingers.

" Yes?" he asked after this moving gesture of love. " What is it my love?"

Her heart jumped at the surname. " When did you start to love me?"

" Oh that is an easy question. I have always loved you. Every day since we met at that party your father held I have been cursed. The very sight of you made my heart stop beating and my mind go mad."

" Really? Why didn't you say something earlier?"

" Because you didn't love me. I saw in your look that you disliked me from the first second so I didn't say something." His eyes looked away and were very melancholic. Stella hated to see him like this, especially when she had caused this. If she had known… she didn't know how she would have answered. She had been angry with him for many reasons. Jealousy, he was the one that her father had spent the time with and how John seemed to prefer him instead of her. How wrong she was! How much time she had wasted being angry at this man when actually, she couldn't think a life without him. She pressed her lips against his and waited for him to react. He reacted indeed and they went for a second tour.