AN: Hey y'all so sorry for the delay on this! I've been busy in real life and working on some stories for other fandoms, so I'm behind more than I like with this story. This is the last chapter I have pre-written but I'm going to be attempting to get this story fully written before the end of June. Thank you for your continued interest and support, you're all amazing!

It was well past dawn when Cady finally made it home, so exhausted that she was numb. Stumbling up the stairs and into the house, she groaned as she kicked off her boots, swaying slightly as she shuffled towards the bedroom. Mathias wasn't back yet, apparently, so she showered and changed before sliding into bed, relieved that she didn't have to set an alarm.

With the FBI taking more shifts protecting Casey and Maya, she and Mathias were free to continue their investigation into the school shooting. It had been a week since the shooting and they had interviewed dozens of students and wrangled warrants for the data on their phones until they had found the video of Nate's assault.

She'd never get the sound of his pleading screams out of her head, his wretched sobs tearing into her gut and breaking her heart. What he had done, she could never condone, but seeing that video over and over again...she could understand his motivations.

His foster father had been stripped of his rights, the remaining children distributed to other families on the rez, and with their testimony, he would be spending decades in prison.

None of it felt like justice though.

Nothing felt right these days, all their investigations were colliding and sucking the life out of her days, and she knew Mathias was just as exhausted as she was, but she desperately wanted time off for them to take a vacation, to get away from Absaroka for just a little while.

Maybe when he got home today they could discuss it, she thought, just before she fell asleep.

When Mathias walked into his house that night he was greeted by loud music and the smell of cheese and meat and something spicy. Ducking into the kitchen he lifted a brow; Cady had an apron on and was sliding what looked like enchiladas into the oven.

"Didn't know you could cook like that," he mused, wincing when she jumped and knocked her shoulder against the cupboard. She whirled to stare at him, wide eyed, spatula in one hand and towel in the other, fingers white where they pressed too hard into the silicone. She swallowed hard and nodded, turned her back to him and set aside the spatula, the towel going over her shoulder as she grabbed a drink off the counter.

"I have a few tricks up my sleeve," she murmured, turning back to smile at him, sipping on what looked like a margarita. "You want one?" she offered, lifting the glass incrementally, eyes looking grey in the low light.

"Sure," he agreed, watching as she moved around his kitchen in jerky movements, too fast and harried to be normal. When she handed him the glass she hesitated a moment and then leaned in to kiss him, lips and tongue salty against his.

"Can I show you something?" she murmured, stepping back and offering him her hand. He stared at it for a long moment and then nodded, twining his fingers with hers and allowing her to lead him through the house. When she pushed open the door to his bedroom he paused, staring around wide eyed at the change.

There was a new dresser beside his with a scorched jewelry box on top that he recognized immediately and when he glanced in his closet there was more clothing in there than he's used to seeing. There's a pair of reading glasses on the bedside table and a lamp there that's new too, and he's pretty sure that the pillows on the bed look new…

Realization dawned on him and he looked over at Cady in surprise, delight. "You moved in."

She nodded and smiled softly, "I didn't want to change too much but your pillows were atrocious. Do you like it?" she asked, voice soft and hesitant, eyes cautious and startlingly blue. He wrapped her in his arms without even thinking about it, hugging her as tightly as he could without spilling his drink and then laughed softly, so happy he can't contain it.

"I don't give a damn about pillows Cady, as long as you're here, you could get rid of just about everything in this house and I wouldn't care."

The words were whispered into her hair, eyes bright with happy, unshed tears, and it felt like his chest might crack open under the force of his happiness. Cady hugged him tighter and laughed softly, "I wouldn't get rid of everything. I happen to like your house."

"Our house," Mathias corrected, pulling back to stare at her intently. "It's our house Cady. I know, I mean it's mine, but I want you here, so it's yours too. Are there any other changes you want to make?" he asked softly, glancing around the room with a critical eye. "It's been years since I remodeled or updated anything," he admitted with a wry smile.

Cady laughed and leaned into his chest, lifting a brow when she too looked around, "Why don't we talk about it over dinner?" she suggested, "We can make a list and maybe just talk."

Mathias lifted a brow, "In my experience it's never good when a woman wants to talk," he murmured, snickering when Cady pulled away and punched his shoulder, rolling her eyes at him as she walked away.

"Yea, well if you want enchiladas or sex, you better get used to talking to me," Cady called, grinning when Mathias caught up to her and wrapped his strong arms around her waist, mouth on her neck as he laughed and frog walked her into the kitchen.

"Devious woman," he murmured, kissing her neck and nipping at her throat gently, humming when she made a soft noise and tilted her chin to give him better access. His hands were warm on her skin when they slipped beneath the tunic hanging around the tops of her thighs, groaning softly when she pushed her hips back into him deliberately.

His lips were slow and warm on the pale column of her throat, leaving her skin tingling from his teeth and tongue, painting a trail down her throat as his hands pulled her hips back into him, fingers pressing into her skin where they had slipped beneath the waistband of her leggings.

"How long till dinner's ready?" he asked hoarsely, one hand splaying over her belly, feeling the way her muscles rippled at his touch, the hitch in her breathing as he pressed his lips to the sensitive spot behind her ear sending a shiver over his spine.

"Not long enough for what you have in mind," she replied, voice husky as he slid his hand lower, pinkie skimming along the flat of her abdomen, just above the heat of her, tantalizingly close.

Grinning against her skin, he slid his hand lower, fingers sliding through the slick heat, "Maybe I had something else in mind," he whispered at her soft gasp. "Unless you need to be doing something else," he murmured slyly, pulling his hand from between her legs, caught short when her hand closed around his wrist and shoved it back down.

"Don't you dare," she hissed, rolling her head to nip at his jaw, huffing when he laughed softly and turned his chin to capture her lips in hungry kiss that left them both panting. His fingers slid down once more, free hand gripping her waist tightly as she rolled her hips into the sensation. He had a front seat view to her pleasure as her eyes fluttered and her head fell back to rest on his shoulder, soft breathy moans coming from parted lips as he stroked over her clit, slow and steady.

She whined his name softly, one of her hands twining through his hair and tugging as he slid his hand further down to press his fingers inside her. Grinding the heel of his hand against her as he curled his fingers inside her, he used firm strokes as she grew wetter, hips rolling with his movements, moans growing slowly louder.

Heat built in his belly, watching Cady. He couldn't recall another partner he had been this aroused by, just watching as they got off. He was hard, sure, but it excited him more to watch as her cheeks flushed and her lips turned a dark pink from being bitten, stormy eyes dazed behind fluttering lids.

She moaned his name and her fingers in his hair tightened as he ground down harder on her clit, hear breaths turning short and sharp, body melting into his as pleasure consumed her body. She turned her face into his throat, breath hot on his skin as she whined, fingers tugging on his hair till the sensation turned sharp, and then with a broken cry of his name she was coming. Mathias cursed softly as her walls clenched around him, fluttering as he stroked her through it, wetness coating his palm as she gasped and moaned his name in his ear.

He was slow to pull his fingers from within her, leaving his hand against her as she panted and leaned deeper into his arms. His own breathing was unsteady and he was achingly hard against her, but a glance at the clock told him they didn't have time to take care of him before dinner was ready, and, oddly, it didn't bother him.

It wasn't an urgent need that filled him, despite the throbbing of his cock. Cady pressed soft kisses to his throat before turning in his grasp and nuzzling her face into him. He could feel her lips curved into a smile as her breath went over his neck, her head resting on his shoulders and her arms wrapped around his back.

They breathed together, slow and steady as he pressed his lips to her hair, hands rubbing soothing circles into her spine. He inhaled the scent of her hair, the smell of her shampoo familiar and comforting, the feel of her body familiar and warm in his arms, and he realized suddenly, he had never loved someone like he did Cady. There had been a woman he loved when he was an early hire with the rez police, but time and circumstance had taken them in different directions, and over the years, he had never really allowed himself to love any of the women he was with.

He knew now it was a symptom of losing Emily, and it was likely that he had fallen for Cady because they had spent so much time together, mired in darkness and clinging to each other, fighting for the light, but he didn't regret how they had fallen in love, just that it had taken him so long to realize.

Pulling back slightly, he smiled softly at Cady and lifted a hand to brush over her still flushed cheek. "I love you, you know that?" he murmured, smiling when she looked up at him, gaze soft and affectionate.

Nodding, Cady leaned up to kiss him, arms tightening around him as she pressed her cheek to his, "I know."

Mathias hummed, content, and swayed gently in place, "I don't really have the words to describe how much I love you little storm. There's no words in my mother tongue to tell you, and english doesn't do what I feel justice." He gave a wry little laugh when she turned her face up to stare at him, curious and a little dazed. "Everytime I hold you in my arms, I realize how much I need you, how much I love you. You've got my heart in your hands and it scares the shit out of me, but I know you'll take care of it when I'm away from you."

Cady's clear blue eyes hazed with tears and she clung to him tighter as he continued, "There's no word for soulmate in Cheyenne, it's a white man's concept, but I know, that's what you are. You're my friend and lover, my partner and my rock, and I know, I'll never have the words to make you understand, but I want you to know, I love you."

Tears coursed down Cady's cheeks as she surged up to kiss him, breath hitching as their lips met messily, desperate and wet. Mathias's throat felt thick with emotion as she kissed him, soft little gasps of his name breathed against his lips. When she pulled away, he cupped her cheeks and wiped at the tears there, his own skin marked from where tears of his own had spilled. Pressing their foreheads together, Mathias smiled softly at her, chin dipping occasionally to kiss her, but for now, just content to hold on and enjoy the moment.

When a timer went off, Cady laughed softly and pulled away, the scent of hot cheese and meat wafting out of the oven and reminding his body of the hunger that had fallen to back burner when he had gotten home and seen the changes Cady had brought to their home.

He followed her to the table, humming happily when he took a bite and hot cheese flooded his palate. "Delicious babe," he complimented around a full mouth, leaning over a moment later to kiss her cheek.

Cady grinned and chewed her own bite, "Thanks." They chewed in silence for a few minutes before she leaned back and waved a hand around, "What changes would you be okay with?"

Mathias took another bite and thought about it, peering at the beige walls and the lack of art, shrugging. "Paint could be brightened up, and maybe some stuff for the walls," he suggested, "what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking something similar. Maybe some more bookshelves? A nice rug in front of the fireplace? A garden out back?"

A laugh slipped out at that, more surprise than actual amusement and he lifted a brow at her, "You got a green thumb there red?" he teased. Cady smirked and flipped him off as she chewed, eliciting a deep rumble of laughter from him as he leaned back and really thought about it. A garden would be nice-something they could work on together; get their hands dirty and focus on creating life after the hard days he knew they'd both have to face.

The idea of creating life tugged at him, and he glanced at Cady as she ate, her eyes crinkling around the edges as she smiled at him, and he wondered what it would be like to have a kid with her. It wasn't something he had thought about for a lot of years, and he didn't even know if Cady wanted kids.

Clearing his throat nervously, he glanced up at her, hoping, praying, he wasn't about to send their whole relationship up in flames. "Do you, have you, shit," he cursed, scrubbing a hand over his face as Cady looked at him curiously. "Do you want kids?

He watched as her eyes widened and her throat worked furiously around the bite she had just swallowed. Her lips parted as she set aside her fork, brow furrowing. There was a long moment as she stared at him, lips pursing in thought, and with each moment of silence, his panic grew.

"I don't know," she admitted, "I like kids, but I'm not sure I'd be good mom. Plus, our jobs aren't exactly conducive to having kids. There's always going to be a risk that one or both of us winds up dead. I don't know that I could handle the thought of us orphaning our kids." She sighed heavily and shook her head, "I dunno Mathias. Maybe? Do you want any kids?" she asked curiously.

He sighed and ran a hand over his face, shaking his head tiredly. "I...don't know either," he admitted. "I like the idea of having them, with you, but I'm not sure it's the right call at the end of the day. Mostly for the same reasons you have, but also, I, uh, didn't have the best role model growing up and I worry-"

"Mathias, you could never be like Harlan," Cady cut him off, leaning forward to grab his hand, bright eyes piercing. "Never," she murmured emphatically with a shake of her head. "I've seen you with kids on the rez, they adore you. You're kind and gentle and I know you'd never hurt any child, ours or not."

Breathing hitching, Mathias sucked in a shaky breath as her assurance sank in. He'd never seriously considered kids, the fear that he'd somehow end up like his father was deeply rooted, a darkness that woke him in the middle of night, made him cautious around alcohol and kept his temper in tight check.

A hand to his cheek brought his gaze back up to where Cady was staring at him, softness in her gaze. "You're a good man Mathias. You'd be an amazing father." She hesitated a moment and then sighed, smiling faintly, "Why don't we talk about this in six months? See where we are?" she suggested, squeezing his hand gently when he nodded and brushed at his eyes, throat too thick to speak.

"Good. Now, let's finish dinner," she murmured, leaning in to kiss him quickly before she was back in her chair fully. They ate in silence for a few minutes before the tension slid away and Cady grinned at him, sipping her margarita with a hum of contentment.

"Seafoam green," he murmured suddenly, "for the walls," he murmured at her look of confusion. "It's my favorite color," he told her softly, leaning forward to cup her cheek, thumb stroking the delicate skin beneath her eye. "The color of your eyes."

Cady softened in his touch, leaning forward to kiss him, a happy little laugh slipping from between her lips as she sighed softly and nudged her nose into his cheek, "You're so sappy," she teased, laughing when he made an indignant noise and began to pull away. Tugging him back, she grinned and kissed him again, "And it's why I love you."

They shared a laugh and a few more kisses before he sent her off to take a bath while he cleaned up, the sound of the water running in the distance and the image of her, naked and pink and wet had him rushing through the dishes. The bathroom smelled like cocoa and caramel, the lush scents filling the air as he pushed the door open, the air hazy with steam and candlelight.

The sound of his clothing hitting the floor had Cady's eyes fluttering open, watching him with a lazy smile as he padded across the warm tiling toward her. With a shift in positions, he slid in behind her, wrapping his arms around her so he could pull her close, nose tucking into her neck so he could breathe her in. The warm water and the weight of Cady in his arms lulled him into a sleepy daze, hands caressing her slowly, no urgency to either of their movements.

"We should take a vacation after things quiet down," Cady murmured.

Mathias laughed softly and kissed her throat, "When exactly is that going to be, do you think?"

Humming, she shrugged a shoulder, "Whenever we want. Things are going to go to trial with the casino sooner rather than later, so maybe we ask the District Attorney to put us down for testimony later in the trial."

Mathias made a soft noise of agreement and toyed with Cady's fingers, "Where would you want to go?" he asked softly, splaying her fingers out so his larger, rougher ones could brush over the backs, a hum of pleasure rumbling in his throat as she shivered and arched into him.

"Somewhere warm, the beach maybe?"

"That sounds nice," Mathias agreed, pressing another kiss to her throat. "Mexico?" he suggested, "I've never been. Heard it's nice."

"Mmm, no fancy resorts, someplace quiet and out of the way," Cady replied, turning to nuzzle him sweetly. "Just you, me, and some fruity drinks."

"You gonna wear a teeny little bikini?" he asked, smiling as she pinched his thigh and laughed softly.

"Maybe…" she drawled softly, kissing the underside of his jaw, teeth nipping gently. "If you promise to take it off me."

Mathias grinned and pulled her up so he could kiss her, hands skimming down her sides and tilting her hips so they rolled into his. "I can do that," he murmured, kissing her again, slow and sweet. When she was breathless and pressed against him so every inch of their skin was in contact, he slid a hand up her spine and pressed her even closer, lips skimming along her jaw as she rolled her hips into him over and over again.

"Make love to me Mathias," she gasped pleadingly, clinging to him as he kissed along her throat.

"I can do that," he murmured, staring up at her adoringly as she sank down on his cock with a strangled gasp of his name.

He watched as she rode him, flush painting her throat and chest pink, lips parted around moans of his name and he fell a little more in love with her. When she came, it was with a sob of his name, nails digging into his shoulders as he followed close behind, forehead pressed to her breastbone, ragged gasps hot against her skin.

There would never be anyone he loved as much as her, no way to get over her if he ever lost her, and a shudder ran over his spine at the thought of that; holding her tighter, he pressed damp, hungry kisses to her skin, fingers splayed over her spine as she breathed unsteadily.

Nothing hurt like a woman could, but damn if he wouldn't take a little pain to love her for the rest of his life.