The Nineteenth Time He Left

Author's Note: I really like this series but this will be the last one for it—note the jump ahead in numbers. Let me know what you think!

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"Here you go sweetheart," Ressler said as he placed a pancake in front of her and walked back toward the kitchen with a tea towel thrown over his shoulder.

He had stayed the night and was dressed in his jeans and t-shirt, having got up early and showered so he could start on the pancakes as soon as she woke up.

Liz walked into the kitchen and poured them both coffee before she kissed him. He handed her a plated pancake and she walked toward the table and placed it down before returning for their coffees.

"How are the pancakes munchkin?" Liz asked her daughter as she kissed the top of her head.

Agnes smiled and kept chewing.

Liz chuckled and poured some syrup over hers before Ressler pulled out the third chair and sat down with them. It was his first morning staying like this. Agnes had seen him in the morning many times, she'd even driven with him and Liz to daycare before they went to work, but a meal together was new. He said he'd make pancakes to get in her good books and to keep the morning easygoing.

"What do you say to Uncle Don?" Liz asked her as she watched Don reach for his coffee.

"You make better ones than mommy," Agnes admitted.

Liz and Ressler laughed.

"Oh wow," Ressler chuckled.

"I can't believe you said that!" Liz teased her and Agnes giggled.

They ate quietly with Liz and Ressler exchanging glances at they looked at Agnes, wondering if she had questions, or thought this was weird. She knew he slept in mummy's bed because she'd already asked that one morning and Liz decided to be honest with her instead of making up a lie. But him sleeping in her bed, waking in her bed, and having breakfast with them was something new and they weren't sure how she'd take it.

"Do you like that Don made us pancakes?" Liz asked.

Agnes nodded and Liz and Ressler exchanged a glance.

Ressler asked Liz about their plans for the day and Liz told him Agnes had a birthday party in the park that they needed to go to in about an hour.

Agnes finished her pancake and got up to go play.

"Baby, you need to put Josie's present in the special bag and decorate a card for her," Liz reminded her. "The blank card is on the coffee table."

Agnes nodded and went for her crayons and started to decorate the card.

"That went well?" He asked, wanting to make sure.

"Yep, it did," Liz smiled as she covered his hand with hers. It had been just over two months and things were good, real good. Beyond really good between them.

Liz and Ressler sat watching her colour and watching each other for a long time before they got up to load the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen. When Agnes appeared next to Liz holding a card and crayon, she looked down at her daughter and smiled.

"What's up sugar?" Liz asked.

"Sign mummy," Agnes said.

"But the present is from you to Josie," Liz smirked at her daughter.

"It's from us," Agnes said.

"Okay sugar," Liz chuckled taking the crayon from her daughter and signing 'Liz' on it with the orange crayon handed to her. She looked at a smiley face. "Is that your signature baby?"

Agnes nodded and took the card and crayon from her and pulled another blue crayon from her hand and gave it to Ressler. He looked a her confused.

"You want me to draw something on the card sweetheart?" He asked.

"Sign your name," Agnes said.

Don exchanged a look with Liz, and she smiled and nodded for him to do it.

"Sure," he said as he took the card and signed Don with his crayon and then drew a smiley face in the 'o'.

Agnes intently watched his signature happen and smiled when she saw the happy face.

"Good?" He asked.

Agnes nodded and took card and crayon from him and left the kitchen. Liz wrapped her arms around his mid-section and leaned into his body.

"Wow," he said surprised. "Can it be that easy?"

"Wait until you refuse her something," Liz chuckled. "Then we'll see how much she likes you."

He chuckled low and wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her in closer.

"I love you," Liz said softly into his chest.

He kissed the top of her head and whispered. "And, I love your ass," as he smacked it playfully.

She laughed and looked up at him, her chin pressing into her chest.

"I love you, Liz," he whispered before he leaned down and kissed her.

Agnes then appeared at the kitchen door with the party present bag dragging on the floor. She had viewed many moments like this between them, hugging, kissing, sitting snuggling on the sofa…it wasn't new to her now.

"Mummy I need help wrapping," Agnes said.

"Okay baby girl," Liz said as she pulled free from Don and went with Agnes to finish getting the present ready. Don rinsed out their coffee mugs and went to get his coat to leave.

"You ladies have fun at the party," Don called to them as he grabbed his wallet and keys.

"We will!" Agnes yelled with glee.

"I'll see you for dinner tonight?" Liz asked him from her spot shoving tissue paper in the bag.

"Yeah, I'll get to hear all about the party from you?" Ressler asked the two of them.

They both nodded and he smiled back, opening the door and walking down the hallway to his car, only to return later that day again.

The end.