The house looked exactly the same as it had how ever many years ago it had been since she'd last been inside. Their father's personal things had been moved out, as he was now living in a beach side home in Florida. As Amy set her bags down on the floor by the door, she was struck by how little had changed.

"Not much for redecorating, are you?" she asked, eyeing everything in the foyer.

Jeff shrugged and pushed his purple hair out of his eyes. "Not really. Don't have the time. Our rooms are different, though," he said.

Smiling, Amy went walked slowly into the living room and through to the kitchen. The walls were still a pale blue and the tile was sparkling white. They still had the same oak table and the matching chairs with dark blue seat cushions. The glasses were still in the upper shelf above the counter, still stacked in order of tallness. "Wow, for two wild guys you sure don't lack order."

"Yeah well we never saw any reason to change things. We're not home all that often anyway."

She rolled her eyes. "I've noticed. I've been home maybe four days out of the past fifteen. But I'm not complaining. I love this life."

Matt nodded. "And you'll get used to not being home. The road will become more friendly than the walls of your house sometimes."

The three of them went up to the guest bedroom where Amy would be staying and set her stuff on the floor. "It's nothing wonderful, but it'll do," Jeff said as Amy walked around the room looking at everything.

"It's great, don't worry about it. It's got a bed and a mini fridge. You probably won't see me for the rest of the week," she grinned.

"Okay. Well I'm a growing boy, so I need to go find me some grub," Jeff said, turning to the door. "It's a big house, Ames. Don't get lost."

He left and Amy laughed. "He's still a nut."

"Definitely."

There wasn't much to say, so they both just stood there awkwardly, not looking at the other. Amy's mind was working over-time wondering what this silence was all about. Finally she decided that she was being silly and looked up at Matt to find him already watching her.

"Well, um, I think I'm going to ... get some sleep," she said, surprisingly finding that she really was tired.

"Okay. Have a nice nap," he smiled.

He walked out the door and she yawned, curling up on the bed and pulling a cover over her. She was asleep a few minutes later.

+ ~~ +

Half an hour after he'd left her in the room, Matt found himself in front of the door again. There was this unexplainable urge inside of him to go in and see her while she was sleeping. You could tell a lot about a person when they slept. That was when they let their guards down.

Jeff was a perfect example of that. When he was awake his shields were up. He was tough and fearless. But when he was asleep, he looked like a vulnerable baby.

Finally, he pushed to door open as quietly as he could, hoping she was still asleep. She was, so he shut the door behind him and sat down in the chair next to her bed. Her hair was fanned out on the pillow and she was snoring very softly. Her face was relaxed and peaceful, and a faint smile was on her lips. Every once and awhile she would move in her sleep and the smile would widen. Apparently, she was having a good dream.

She rolled over again and a lock of hair dropped down across her face. Matt's breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful. An angel that had reentered his life. Then something hit him.

She had come into his life a very long time ago, and had abruptly left after a few years. And now she was back in. There had to be some reason for her to be there. After being without her for so long she was suddenly here again and he couldn't even bring himself to tell her what he felt.

Leaning over, he brushed his fingers gently across her lips and then traced her cheekbones. "I love you," he whispered, his voice quivering. She sighed in her sleep, her head moving into his caresses. "I missed this so much. I missed being here and touching you," he continued, his fingers gently playing in her hair. "And I'm so sorry that it took me so long to realize what I lost. But it's probably too late now."

She started to move again, and her eyes fluttered open, stopping on Matt.

"Did I wake you? I'm sorry," he said softly, not even bothering to move his hand.

She shook her head, tears forming in here eyes. "I've been awake since you came in. I heard everything."

Matt felt his cheeks burn, and forced his eyes away from hers. "Oh," was all he could manage.

"Did you mean it?" she asked.

"Every word," he whispered.

She sat up and took his chin in her hand, forcing him to look at her. Then she shocked the hell out of him by pulling him down for a kiss.

The moment her lips touched his again, he felt like his whole world had finally been completed. She was here, with him, and they were kissing. And this time she wasn't drunk! It was so perfect. And it felt so right, like he finally knew what he was truly meant to do in life. He was meant to love her.

+ ~~ +

Jeff knew something was up immediately when Amy came down to the kitchen with a huge smile on her face. It was clinched when Matt came down seconds later with a matching smile.

"Did you guys get back together?" he asked, trying to keep the hope out of his voice.

Matt took Amy's hand and nodded.

"YES!" Jeff shouted, jumping up and down and pumping his fist in the air. "About damn time!"

Amy laughed as Jeff continued to dance and jump around the kitchen before hugging them both very tightly. "Jeff, calm down, buddy. You're going to pull something," Amy laughed, giving Jeff a kiss on the cheek.

"You're right. I'm just so happy! You have no idea how much shit that takes off my shoulders. Oh I love you guys."

"And we love you, lil bro," Matt said.

And everyone was happy in Hardyville.

+ ~~ +

Three days later, Amy was reading a novel on the couch when Matt peeked his head into the room. "Amy. Come here for a second," he said, extending his hand. She put a bookmark in her place and stood up, taking his hand and letting him lead her up the stairs. Reaching his bedroom door, he stopped.

"Now you have to close your eyes. No peeking."

She nodded and dutifully put her hands over her closed eyes, smiling at the mystery. Matt opened the door and guided her inside. There was soft music playing that she didn't recognize, and a faint aroma of roses met her nose.

"Okay, you can open them."

Opening her eyes, Amy gasped. "Oh Matt . . ."

The room was completely covered in candles. His shelves and tables held candles of blue, red, green and every other imaginable color. And the floor and bed were covered with rose petals. White, yellow, pink, red and purple petals were everywhere. She felt her eyes well up as she turned to him and kissed him. "You remembered," she whispered.

"Of course I did. I hope I got everything right."

"Music. Candlelight. Roses. Only thing missing is protection," she giggled, kissing his neck.

"Nope," he whispered. "Got that too."

She looked up at him. "Are you sure about this?"

He kissed her again. "I should be asking you that question."

Amy backed up, making her way to his bed and sitting on it. "What do you think?"

"Jeff won't be home until late," he said.

"And everything's already set up. Now all I have to do is thank you properly for going to all this trouble."

Matt walked over to her, dropping to his knees by the bed and bringing his lips to hers. He pushed her down gently on to the bed where he joined her. Looking down at her, he smiled. "You have rose petals in your hair."

"Perfect," she whispered, her hands playing in his hair and caressing his face. She felt so much love for this man, and so much longing that her body started speeding up. She felt his hands pull away her shirt and she moaned as he started kissing her from neck to belly button. Her hands were working on his back, and she pulled his shirt over his head, feeling the muscles rippling with each movement he made.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you, too. Now make love to me, Matt. Please."

Her words sent visible shivers down his spine, and he didn't waste any time. He uncovered every inch of her body, worshiping every bit of exposed flesh he could find. By the time he had payed due attention to her body, she was quivering beneath him. "Are you okay?" he asked, pulling back and running his hands lovingly through her hair.

"You have no idea how many times I pictured this. Every single detail is perfect . . . except for one thing."

Matt looked confused. "What?"

Her hands slipped to his waist and she began to undo his pants. "You're still dressed."

He chuckled and let her pay him back for his earlier torture. Finally, Matt pulled her body closer to his and loved her completely.

+ ~~ +

Afterwards, they lay in each other's arms, wonderfully exhausted. Matt's hands were tracing circles on her back as she curled up against him.

"This is amazing," he mused.

"What is?"

"We've made a full circle with our lives. We went from not knowing each other to being friends. Then from friends to almost lovers, then not knowing each other again, back to friends, and finally lovers. You see? It's so perfect."

She smiled and kissed him tenderly. "Heaven must have known that we needed each other to be complete. Why else would we have gotten a second chance?"

"I'm just glad we've got someone looking over us."

Amy nodded. "And now that I have you, I'm never letting go."

"Good. Because I've lived without you before and I have no intention of doing it again."

She kissed him, and after that there just wasn't much to be said.

+ ~~ +

END

And for the record, I am working on a sequel. But it's much different from this. And shorter.