The hug lingered.

Then, up came her face, eyes red and puffy, cheeks damp and inflamed. Jay cupped it in his hand and kissed her forehead, then her temple, looking deeply into her eyes. "We are good, Hailey," he assured her and rested his forehead on hers. "I'm here to stay for as long as you'll have me."

Another press of his lips to her temple and she shifted, bringing both arms up around his neck. Then with a nudge, he tilted her chin and captured her lips with his. The kiss was achingly sweet, filled with all the longing of the past twelve hours and all the hope for the future. Hailey closed her eyes, awash in the comfort and love of the only guy who stayed for her.

When he, at last, pulled back, tears were still in her eyes. She wiped at them, then lifted her still-damp palm to his cheek. "Thank you for being here." Her voice cracked, but a smile tugged at her lips. "I wasn't sure you'd come."

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his eyes softer than the dim light in the apartment. "Hailey, my love for you comes with no strings attached. Whether we fight or make-out," he said and she released a breathy laugh at that. "I will spend the rest of my life if necessary, showing you that my love is unconditional and will not be wavered by circumstances."

Tears filled her eyes again, and she tightened her embrace around his neck. "You've made all the difference."

"You've made all the difference too."

They kissed again, languid, and unhurried, the way people kiss when they have a lifetime together to look forward to. Everything outside of them blurred as the kiss deepened, slowly, the intensity gradually growing. They don't remember walking back to the bedroom, nor were they aware when the clothes came off. But that was how it was with then, everything just flowed so naturally without giving it a single thought. Just two puzzle pieces coming together.

There was no urgency and none of the heated frenzy that colors their life because passion was not the goal, closeness was. Their bodies fused, hearts pounding, moving together in unison. They took their time tasting, exploring, and savoring each sensation, making long, slow love to each other, and in that sense, time stood still for them. It was like every moment from this morning until now seemed to have been spiraling towards this event. Jay wanted to stretch it for as long as he possibly could, to show her just how much he loved her.

It wasn't long before the well-orchestrated crescendo brought on a simultaneous climax, both unable to bear the sweet torment of their own pace. Panting, out of breath, and deliriously happy, they lay still entwined.

Breathing hard, holding his weight off her, he began nibbling her ear, then neck and throat, working his way back to her lips. With slow soft, feathery kisses, tasting her lips with the tip of his tongue. "This is what you missed out on today," he said, punctuating every word with a kiss. "This…and coffee…and waffles….and some more of this," he said, raising an eyebrow. "And time at the range with me."

Her smile was shy but bright. "It was for a good cause," she shrugged.

He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her nose, then kissed each eye, then her forehead. "I already booked time for us at the range tomorrow."

"When did you do that?"

"On my way over." Jay moved to lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tight to him.

After a short beat, Hailey asked, trailing her fingers from his neck down to his biceps and then back up. "When did you know?"

Jay frowned. "Know what?"

"That you loved me," she clarified.

"Like the exact moment?" He asked, and Hailey nodded. "Uh…" He thought. "I'm pretty sure it was after the Suggs case—"

"The firefighter?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "When the case wrapped you told me you trusted me and that you'd follow me blindly. And at that moment, I realized the same was true for me. I'd follow you anywhere, Hailey."

He leaned in and he kissed her lips, lingering just a touch too long. Long enough for his hand to slide to the back of her head, his fingers tangling into her hair. After a few moments, he pulled back a little, looking adoringly into her crystal blue eyes. "How about you?"

Hailey smiled softly. "Well, there were indications along the way."

"As in?" he asked.

"As in – your physical presence disturbed my equilibrium."

Jay's laugh came quick. "What?" He seemed quite taken with the idea, his mouth stretching into the widest smile she had ever seen on his face. It nearly split his face in two. "That's adorable," he added tenderly, but to her enchantment, he confessed, "Would it make things better if I told you that I was very jealous of you and a certain PO?"

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," he said, and seemed strangely tense all of a sudden. "Especially when you were all smiles in the morning." Jay groaned internally remembering. "Your happiness was upsetting my equilibrium."

Now it was her turn to laugh, she couldn't help it.

It was so good to hear her laugh. Jay leaned in and kissed her smile. He wanted to kiss her all over, but pulled away remembering, "You still haven't answered the question."

"I-I don't know…" Her voice failed her and her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink.

"You've gone shy on me," he teased gently but insisted. "When exactly did you know about this all-consuming emotion for me that tipped your world sideways?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Then her fingers traced a path on his chest and stopped at the round scar on his left shoulder. Her eyes locked with his and he got his answer.

"I lost it when we couldn't find you, and then things were touch and go at the hospital…." She let the sentence linger. A solemn look slowly crept through her eyes and she added, "That's when I knew."

"You were going to tell me that day too, huh?"

She nodded. "But I chickened out," she said and a soft yawn escaped her lips before she could stop it. "And it took me nearly a year to summon up the courage to finally come clean."

"I'm glad you did." Jay pulled her tighter into the circle of his arms and kissed her hair. "It's been a long day. How about we call it a night?"

Hailey didn't object, just snuggled against his chest and sighed with contentment. Within moments Jay felt her steady breathing against his heart. His heart rate slowed and his breathing also evened out. He cuddled closer and fell asleep with her head tucked under his chin.

Thank you for reading. Hope ya'll liked this little post 8x11. My Upstead heart is so full! Cheers, D.