A/N: Thank you to all who are being patient. Sometimes, when life hands us lemons, it forgets to bring the sugar. This story still has a long way to go but it will be worked on in my own time. I write when the inspiration hits and cannot force words onto a page if they are not there. I think I am my harshest critic because I will not post something that I am unhappy with in the slightest way.

Chapter 25 is my gift to all who waited!

"What is the name of the next cache?"

My eyes flickered over to the excited brown-eyed lady beside of me as she practically bounced in her seat. I couldn't help the chuckle that burst out. "You're really getting into this. Did I do good?"

"Oh I would say your efforts were more than adequate, Dear."

"Far be it for me to achieve a rating above 'adequate', brownie." I reached over to rub my right hand over a very appealing jean-clad knee. "Now, your last cache is called "A Minute With You is Better Than Two Without."

I gave her the coordinates and watched as skilled fingers made quick work of the numbers before zooming in on the map to get an idea of where we were heading. "Hmm, I do not recognize where we're heading."

"Imagine that. The arched eyebrow has been stumped. How 'bout you sit over there and look purty while I chauffeur you to your final destination."

"Isn't that the title of a horror movie?"

"Do you feel like you're in danger?"

"Other than the usual heart pounding fear of impending doom from your poor motor vehicle skills? Not particularly."

"Then it's safe to say you've got nothing to worry about." I made a left to head up to the last geocache's hiding spot. The sun was starting its descent as the bug climbed to the top of the hill. We pulled up in front of one of the most well-known spots in town and I heard Regina's surprised gasp as she looked through the windshield at what awaited her.

"You don't really need your gps for this one because, well, I think it's pretty obvious where your last cache is." I got out and went around the car to open her door for her. She took the offered hand held out to her and stepped out of the vehicle without taking her eyes off of the scene in front of her.

Our hands remained linked as I shut the door and led her towards the lights. Our boots made soft thuds as we walked the short distance across the pavement to step into the circle of lights above us. I turned towards her and saw her looking up with a soft smile gracing her face.

Not wanting to spoil the moment, I kept my voice low as I explained the significance of her last cache's location. "When I was younger, I thought Christmas Tree Hill was where Santa Claus lived. I remember riding in the backseat of Leo's moms Buick and staring out the window at this huge lighted Christmas tree in the distance that looked down at the town. It stayed on all year long. The big red star at the top always reminded me of Rudolph's nose. I think I spent hours wondering what went on up here. When I was old enough to drive, one of the first places I wanted to go was Christmas Tree Hill. I got turned around a few times but I finally made it here and it took me a few minutes to actually get out of the car and walk over so I could stand in the middle of all the lights. I remembering being in the middle of the tree and looking up in awe at how beautiful it was."

I paused a moment to gently pull Regina in front of me so I could wrap my arms around her and nuzzle her neck. "This became my thinking spot. Whenever I needed time to myself or had a bad day, I came up here. It wasn't until a cop friend of mine showed up that I found out it was technically illegal for me to be on the platform that the tree surrounded. Thankfully, my buddy lets it slide whenever I pop up here. Before you ask, yes, I cleared it with him before bringing you here."

My arms tightened around her and I rested my chin on her shoulder. "Look around. You can almost see the entire town. I always found this spot to be peaceful. The concrete we're standing on has numbed my ass a bunch of times."

I felt her chuckle rather than heard it as she wrapped her arms around the ones holding onto her waist. "It is rather calm." Her head dropped back a few inches to rest against me.

I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent radiating off her neck as I felt a smile spreading across my face. Not wanting to break the spell of the moment, I quietly whispered, "I wanted to take the most beautiful creature I have ever seen to the prettiest spot I had ever experienced. Happy Valentine's day, brown eyes."

We stayed like that for what seemed like one interrupted endless moment. With my arms wrapped around her as we looked down onto the glittering lights of the town below us, I knew there was nowhere else in this world I was supposed to be at this exact second. Every path I had walked, every decision I had ever made, every breath I had taken had led me to this exact spot. This moment had always been reserved for me. I just had to work my way through the underbrush of life to find it. Life really is made up of those isolated, important moments that etch themselves on your heart.

"How did you decide on the name?"

The wind was starting to pick up and the words were spoken so softly that I barely caught them. My hands were trembling against her stomach as I fought to speak what my heart had been longing to say for awhile now. I raised my head off of her chin, opened my eyes and looked up. I saw the same rows of white lights that had somehow calmed me down through the years when I sought solace from my problems. In a split second, all of the memories from a shitty childhood to being made fun of at school for having hand-me down clothes to being rejected by crushes or lovers came rushing back like a wave crashing violently against the shore.

In the middle of it all, I felt the tiniest of motions against my flesh. A slim, pale digit was soothing whatever inner turmoil I was experiencing by rubbing her thumb between the web of flesh separating my thumb and index finger. How she even knew I was caught up in a lifetime of memories was beyond my comprehension but somehow she knew. Somehow, she was being patient and giving me time to decide what I wanted to share or still keep hidden.

When I looked back down, I found wide-chocolate orbs searching my face carefully but trying not to show the concern I knew was swirling within her. I leaned down and brushed my lips against her before speaking.

"It's a line of lyrics from a song called Somebody's Heartbreak. I know Valentine's Day is usually for people in love so I wasn't sure if I wanted to name your final cache after that song but the more I thought about it, the more it kinda stuck. Ya know?"

I took a deep breath and stared deep into the eyes of the woman I was holding. "Regina, I'm not too good at the ooey gooey feelings stuff but I do know that every day I don't feel like I'm settled until I see you. When I hear you laugh, it only makes me want to act like a goofball just so I can hear it again. When we say goodbye at the end of the day and head home, I watch your tailights turn off to go to your house and all I wanna do is follow after you so I can spend another moment with you before I fall asleep."

My hands tightened around her slim waist and I caught myself chewing my bottom lip before continuing. "The song says 'If you're gonna be somebody's heartbreak, be mine'. I know that's not typical romantic VDay material but...I want you to know, even if you end up breaking my heart, I'd make the choice a thousand times over to let you in my life because a minute with you is better than two without."

I had been so caught up in pouring my heart out that I hadn't even noticed she had shifted in my arms and was now staring up at me with the softest of smiles. Her finger came up to brush an errant strand of hair out of my face and I watched her eyes as she traced a path down the side of my face before dropping her hand to lace with the other one around my neck.

"Di..." She cleared her throat to steady her voice before continuing. "Didn't you know that one of the things I adore most is that nothing is typical when it comes to you? You keep me on my toes and make me see things in a whole new light."

I could feel her fingers playing around the nape of my neck as she continued. "I...like you. Probably more than I should since your eating habits resemble those of a small child."

She looked up through lowered lashes with a soft, teasing grin and I merely shook my head and rolled my eyes.

"Nevertheless, apparently I have acquired a taste for atrocious behavior since I find myself missing the set of headlights in my rearview mirror when I'm heading home." Her voice lowered to a whisper and her hands came up to cup my face, "Do you have any idea how much better I feel just looking up and seeing you even if it's on the other side of the room? How my heart feels so full it's going to burst when I see Henry running to jump into your arms? I have no idea what you're doing to me but whatever it is, don't stop."

She leaned up to press her lips against mine and instantly my body sparked to life. I growled low in my throat and pulled her tight against me. We barely had time to get started before the wind started howling around us and we broke apart shivering. I grabbed her hand and hurriedly pulled her to the safety and warmth of the car. By the time I had settled her in and hopped in on my side, tiny snowflakes had started to fall on the windshield.

I started the car, got the heat going rather quickly and looked over to see dark eyes watching me like a hawk. In a flash she had ripped herself from her seatbelt and had crawled over into my lap straddling me. Kiss after kiss rained down on my face followed by sharp nips of teeth so perfectly white the snow had competition. As much as I wanted to continue, I knew the weather was going to be an issue so I reluctantly pulled back and put my hand on her chest to stop her from leaning back into me.

"Me. Drive. Home." I couldn't even get out sentences. This woman was gonna be the death of me.

In the glow of the white lights of Christmas Tree Hill, a smirk appeared on that beautiful kissable mouth as she forcefully pressed herself down against my hand and took my bottom lip between her lips. I could feel her tongue tracing the curve of it before she sucked it into her mouth and slowly released it before leaning back and huskily whispering, "Don't stop."

The moments where she climbed back into her seat and put her seatbelt on were a blur because the throbbing between my legs was aching so bad it was almost painful. I shook my head to clear the fog a bit before putting the car in drive and heading back to her place.

I wasn't expecting the weather to interrupt our evening but things rarely work out the way you plan them. I snuck a glance at the profile beside of me and caught myself staring at the red lips which had just been pressed against mine. I tried to push the carnal desires down long enough to think about today. This woman...this creature had managed to captivate me in every possible way since the day I laid eyes on her. I turned to watch the road and felt my heart thud madly in my chest.

I was pretty sure I knew what I was feeling other than desire but I kept the words to myself. My lips had never uttered those words to anyone and there was a part of me that would always be afraid of rejection. I knew eventually I needed to trust someone with my heart. I knew that now I had found someone I wanted to trust.

I didn't have alot of firsts to give someone I cared about but I had this one and I knew the person I wanted to hand it to. As a small, now warm hand slid over my knee, my body temperature must've risen three degrees and suddenly I couldn't think of anything other than spending the rest of this Valentine's Day celebration wrapped around the woman sitting next to me. 'Don't stop'. The words echoed in my mind and as I stared out into the darkness at the tiny bits of white hitting the windshield, a smile broke out on my face as I thought of all the ways I could put that statement to use tonight. I hadn't planned on stopping anyway.

To all of the guest reviewers: Muah! I see you and listen. lol

To everyone else: Muah! I see you and listen. lol

See? I treat everyone equally! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving if you celebrated. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas in advance from yours truly. Look for Chapter 26 soon.

Multiple hugs to ALLLLL of you for every single review and pm of encouragement! It's always enough to keep me writing :) Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Just a heads up...I'm now on tumblr ;)

***The next chapter was supposed to be up yesterday(Dec 25th) but I have been sick this past week and actually spent Christmas Day in the emergency room. Such a fun experience :( I have the next chapter almost done and will be posting it as soon as I can!