Love Comes Softly
Chapter Ten – Completion
Author's Notes: This chapter is long basically because it's the last chapter and I had to wrap everything up. Thanks to you all for so graciously reviewing and sending me feedback via e-mail. To my friends for putting up with my endless chatter, and to Christina and Alisha for reading this before or after I posted. Alisha: I meant to ask you, how are things with Catherine doing? And sorry, no hot steamy bathtub scenes in this one, either. Christina: Since I mentioned Jack Daniels in the last chapter, I decided to add a few things in this one. Long live the bunny, drunk on beer and Jack Daniels, driving the zamboni, eating calamari, high off of helium and laughing evilly while swaying the finger in the air.. "Fingeerrrr" To Tash, for always being so enthusiastic towards me when I announced I had finished the next chapter. This story would not have been finished without you. For KatieBugg, for reading and reviewing this. To Allison, for R&Ring everything I write, and for our mutual love of pasta, and chili. To Amber, for being a nice person all around, and a wonderful, amazing writer. To everyone of you readers, for R&Ring :)
Disclaimers: I do not own CSI, but it's sure been fun using them for my own personal joy. Nor do I own the song "Close Enough To Perfect For Me" by Alabama, and once again, not the song "I Love The Way You Love Me" by John Michael Montgomery.
The scenery around Lake Mead was beautiful, and he found himself often stopping as they walked to turn towards the water and sigh. She grinned, waiting patiently beside him.
"I've lived in this city 31 years, and I still can't get enough of this view." He breathed, watching the water in awe. Catherine smiled, trying not to think of when she had been here with Paul for information on the scuba diver case. How short of a time away that had been, but how it seemed like forever.
She walked up to stand beside Warrick, wanting to be near him so she could forget about Paul. She rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled against him and sighed, closing her eyes. "What are you thinking?" She asked him when he didn't move.
"Just how I missed so much of the great stuff about this place while I was a kid. It's weird, I had to grow up to start really being happy." He shook his head. "Most people are happier as kids than they are as adults."
"Not me." She said. "I could never get away from my family." He looked at her, suddenly interested. She realized then she had never really told him about her childhood. "We lived on a ranch in Montana, and my three sisters were always getting me to do the dirty farm work for them. I used my horse, Dolly, as a refuge. She took me away from everything.." Catherine smiled softly, reliving the memory.
Warrick nodded. "Hey, I know how you feel. Life at my house was really screwed up. After Mom died, my grandmother came in and took over. She was more strict than my mom had been, so it was a hard adjustment. I became really good at doing terrible things and hiding them from her." He looked almost ashamed, so Catherine put a hand on his arm and smiled.
"Everybody's got a past, Warrick." She whispered. "God knows I do." Catherine had always been relatively open about her former life to anyone who asked, something he admired about her.
"Yeah." He agreed softly, pulling her closer to him.
"How did your mom die?" She asked him, feeling his heart beat underneath his shirt.
He sighed, hesitating. "Cancer." The word rushed out of him like a sneeze, and he found he couldn't hold it back. "Everyone was devastated. When you don't have a dad, your mom becomes eight times more important in your life. After she passed away it was like there was something missing in the house. Even Grandma couldn't replace that. The worst part was that she tried."
Catherine didn't know what to say, she didn't know if there was anything she could say, so she simply pulled him in for a soft, tender kiss and tried her hardest to smile. The pain was still evident on his face. She wanted to reach out and wipe it off, but she knew she would never be able to. She knew that contrary to popular belief, time doesn't heal all wounds.
"Cat.." He whispered her name, his voice choked up and gentle. "I don't know where I'd be without you."
She tried not to cry, but it was tempting. His hand was on her chin, and his index finger gently stroked her jawbone. She wanted to tell him that without her, his life would be so much easier. That he wouldn't be stuck with a pregnant 39 year-old with a nine year-old daughter. That he wouldn't be getting married, having his first kid, that he'd still just be wild young Warrick. But she didn't.
She leaned in closer to him, her cheek against his chest, and breathed in the smell that always accompanied him. "Warrick, let's not wait four months."
"What?" He asked, quietly, as if he wasn't sure he had heard her right.
"Let's not wait four months to get married. I don't think I can, and I'm sure I don't want to." She tugged on his shirt sleeves and looked up into his face, waiting for his answer. She prayed then, for the first time in years. She prayed he'd agree.
"Well, Cat..how long do you think we should wait?" His voice was rising with excitement.
"Tomorrow?" She suggested. His eyes widened with the word, but he grinned.
"Seriously?" He asked, shaking her shoulders lightly. "Seriously?!"
"Next week." She said instead, realizing that they'd never be ready by tomorrow. He laughed, then grabbed her and lifted her off the ground, kissing her.
"Next week it is, then." He set her down again and put a hand on her stomach, like he had done so many times before. "How long before he starts moving?" Warrick was convinced that the baby was a boy, even though Catherine refused to find out its sex until after it was born.
"A while yet." She was smiling so widely her cheeks were numb, but she didn't care. She'd never been so happy in her entire life. "I can't believe we're doing this!" She giggled. "What day should the wedding be on?"
"Saturday." Warrick said decisively. "I've got to call Lisa when we get home, she's going to be thrilled." He said, referring to his sister. He gave an involuntary shudder of excitement while still grinning. "I can't wait to tell everyone." He grabbed her hand and pulled her after him. "Let's go home."
She complied, following him slowly, deep in thought. He asked her what was wrong, but she only shook her head and gave a slight smile. "You wanna go swimming?"
He asked her if she was kidding. When she said no he only snorted and started towards the car, but she grabbed him around the waist and pulled him towards the water. "C'mon Warrick, don't make a pregnant lady work so hard," she said when he tried to pull away from her. "Just come with me for a short little swim!"
"Catherine, this is not exactly a beach!" He protested, pushing her arms away as she tried to pull his shirt off.
"Doesn't matter.." She said simply, running and jumping into the lake, screaming out as her body hit the water. Her white blouse stuck to her skin as the freezing cold liquid washed over her. She ducked under the water and swam out farther, loving the feel of streaming water pushing itself against her face. She stood up, watching Warrick, still standing on the shore.
He rolled his eyes, slowly peeling off his shirt and running after her, yelping when he realized how cold the water was. "Jeez Cath, you are definitely the weirdest woman I've ever known." She only laughed, splashing water in his face as he came nearer to her, gathering her in his arms and kissing her. "But I love you anyway."
Sometimes her morning coffee's way too strong
And sometimes what she says she says all wrong
Right or wrong she's there beside me like only a friend would be
And that's close enough to perfect for me
Now she's been known to wear her pants too tight
And drinking puts her out just like a light
Heaven knows she's not an angel but she'd really like to be
And that's close enough to perfect for me
He stood outside her door, waiting to get the courage enough to ring her doorbell. He was sweating, but that wasn't odd, seeing as how it was July and this was Las Vegas. He wanted to go home and change his shirt, add extra deodorant, maybe even take a shower, but he was here now and it wouldn't make much sense to turn around when he was almost ready to talk to her.
He took a deep breath in and rolled his neck, smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles in his pants. Finally, he reached out and rang the bell, his heart pounding as he heard her say from the other side of the door, "Who is it?"
"It's Gil." He said softly, and realized how crackled his voice sounded. He cleared his throat and waited while she unlocked the door and let him in. He stared at how beautiful she looked in a sweatshirt and jogging pants, her hair hanging out of a ponytail.
He gave her a quick kiss and sat down on the sofa, watching as her expression grew more and more worried. "What is it, is there something wrong?" She asked, sitting down on the ground in front of him and taking one of his hand in hers.
"No, no." He said, shaking his hand. "I've got good news. It's just so good that I'm nervous to tell you."
She frowned, confused, but didn't say anything. He smiled then, so widely that she was convinced there was nothing wrong. "I just spoke to my doctor. He said I can go in for surgery tomorrow. His estimation is a 90 percent of total restoration of my hearing."
She looked shocked at first, but then squealed and jumped into his lap, wrapping her arms around him and grinning. "That's great!"
He laughed, pulling her closer to him. "I thought you'd think so."
When the both of them were silent moments later, she walked over to the window and stared outside, at the rain that had suddenly begun falling in thick, heavy drops. "It's raining." She stated simply, her smile still wide.
He nodded. "Good. It was stifling before, maybe it'll cool down a bit." She was still looking at him oddly, her expression one he couldn't place. "What?" He asked as she moved towards him and grabbed his hand.
"Ever danced in the rain, Gil?" She asked him, her eyes doing dancing of their own as he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You're kidding." He knew she wasn't. She shook her head, pulling him by the hand to the doorway. "At least let me change." She looked at him without words, her facial features never changing.
"You're seriously going to make me do this, aren't you?" His question was never answered, because as soon as he asked it Sara was yanking him down the stairs and out into the pouring rain.
The cold liquid fell onto him and he shivered, watching in fascination as his white shirt became wet and see-through. He looked over at her, her face was happy, peaceful, as she turned it toward the sky and let the rain wash away what little makeup she wore.
She pulled him closer to her, swaying with him to music that was never heard by anyone but them. She hummed, softly, a tune that was unrecognizable to him, but still beautiful. He closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of the rain and of her and of everything else around him that he never saw. He never saw anything but her wet body moving slowly in front of him. Her smiling face glowing up at him.
The way you convinced me to dance in the rain
With everyone watching like we were insane
But I love the way you love me
Strong and wild, slow and easy
Heart and soul, so completely
I love the way you love me
Epilogue
"This place is beautiful." Catherine breathed, following Warrick into the restaurant. He turned toward her briefly and grinned before continuing to lead her to their table. He pulled a chair out for her and lingered behind her for a few seconds, taking the time to smell her hair.
"Any idea what you want to order?" He asked her, watching her every move as she straightened out the front of her dress and cleared her throat.
"I don't know. Maybe a steak, or some spaghetti." She looked up at him and grinned. "This is so sweet of you Warrick."
He smiled back. "I'm going to order some Chilean Merlot and... a filet mignon." He nodded in satisfaction. "Medium rare." He added softly, more to himself. Catherine watched him in odd fascination.
Warrick looked up at her, seeing through the crystal of her blue eyes into the worry that lay underneath. "What is it, Cat?"
She looked down at her plate, playing with the corners of the glass and not daring to look at him. Finally, she stared up at him. "Warrick, are you happy?"
He was taken aback by the question, and Catherine saw as much. He saw she was seriously wondering if he was anything but ecstatic just to be with her. "Why would you ask such a crazy question?"
She didn't change her expression. "Just answer."
He chuckled softly. "Of course I'm happy, Catherine. I've never been more happy in my entire life. I'm ecstatic, I'm on top of the world, I wake up every day thinking my life couldn't possibly get any better and every day I'm proved wrong.
At first she didn't look convinced, but when he leaned over and kissed her softly and said, "And I've been married to you for one whole year.", she believed him. "Happy anniversary baby."
"Yeah, same goes." She said and leaned on his shoulder. "I'm happy, too." She sighed, brushing a lock of hair away from her eyes. "I'm really, truly happy."
He picked up the phone and dialed the number he now had memorized, waiting as it rang and praying silently she would pick up. She greeted him softly.
"Hello?"
"Hey." He said, listening as the sweet sound of her voice resonated through his head. "Guess what?"
"How did the appointment go?" She asked him instead of guessing. Her breathing was quick and heavy. She had recognized his voice instantly.
"Guess what?" He said instead, tapping his fingers against the wood of his night table.
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "I give up."
"You can't. You have to guess." He could almost see her grinning. "Come on, just one guess."
She tried to think of the most bizarre thing she could answer with. "You just found out that you have a daughter in Canada."
"How did you know?" He asked her, leaving his voice void of any sarcasm purposely. She didn't say anything, obviously trying to figure out whether or not he was joking.
"Yeah right." She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard him laugh loudly on the other end of the phone.
"The doctor says I'm all cleared up. My hearing is almost completely restored." She tried not to cry, but the happy tears forced themselves out of the corner of her eyes. She exhaled.
"I'm coming over." Her voice sounded strange even to her own ears.
"OK." He complied, ready to say goodbye until he remembered something else he needed. "And Sara?"
"Yeah?" She asked, already thinking of what she would change into.
"I love you." He waited patiently for her to say it, waited patiently for the feeling he always got whenever he heard her say it to him. That calm, tingle that started at the top of his head and traveled all the way down to the tips of his toes.
Smiling, she took a deep breath. "I love you too, Gil."
The end.
Note: I would really, really, really appreciate it if you reviewed this fan fic or e-mailed me to tell me what you thought of it overall. I know people don't usually review fics after the last chapter, but I'd appreciate it muchly! Thanks! – Marita
Chapter Ten – Completion
Author's Notes: This chapter is long basically because it's the last chapter and I had to wrap everything up. Thanks to you all for so graciously reviewing and sending me feedback via e-mail. To my friends for putting up with my endless chatter, and to Christina and Alisha for reading this before or after I posted. Alisha: I meant to ask you, how are things with Catherine doing? And sorry, no hot steamy bathtub scenes in this one, either. Christina: Since I mentioned Jack Daniels in the last chapter, I decided to add a few things in this one. Long live the bunny, drunk on beer and Jack Daniels, driving the zamboni, eating calamari, high off of helium and laughing evilly while swaying the finger in the air.. "Fingeerrrr" To Tash, for always being so enthusiastic towards me when I announced I had finished the next chapter. This story would not have been finished without you. For KatieBugg, for reading and reviewing this. To Allison, for R&Ring everything I write, and for our mutual love of pasta, and chili. To Amber, for being a nice person all around, and a wonderful, amazing writer. To everyone of you readers, for R&Ring :)
Disclaimers: I do not own CSI, but it's sure been fun using them for my own personal joy. Nor do I own the song "Close Enough To Perfect For Me" by Alabama, and once again, not the song "I Love The Way You Love Me" by John Michael Montgomery.
The scenery around Lake Mead was beautiful, and he found himself often stopping as they walked to turn towards the water and sigh. She grinned, waiting patiently beside him.
"I've lived in this city 31 years, and I still can't get enough of this view." He breathed, watching the water in awe. Catherine smiled, trying not to think of when she had been here with Paul for information on the scuba diver case. How short of a time away that had been, but how it seemed like forever.
She walked up to stand beside Warrick, wanting to be near him so she could forget about Paul. She rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled against him and sighed, closing her eyes. "What are you thinking?" She asked him when he didn't move.
"Just how I missed so much of the great stuff about this place while I was a kid. It's weird, I had to grow up to start really being happy." He shook his head. "Most people are happier as kids than they are as adults."
"Not me." She said. "I could never get away from my family." He looked at her, suddenly interested. She realized then she had never really told him about her childhood. "We lived on a ranch in Montana, and my three sisters were always getting me to do the dirty farm work for them. I used my horse, Dolly, as a refuge. She took me away from everything.." Catherine smiled softly, reliving the memory.
Warrick nodded. "Hey, I know how you feel. Life at my house was really screwed up. After Mom died, my grandmother came in and took over. She was more strict than my mom had been, so it was a hard adjustment. I became really good at doing terrible things and hiding them from her." He looked almost ashamed, so Catherine put a hand on his arm and smiled.
"Everybody's got a past, Warrick." She whispered. "God knows I do." Catherine had always been relatively open about her former life to anyone who asked, something he admired about her.
"Yeah." He agreed softly, pulling her closer to him.
"How did your mom die?" She asked him, feeling his heart beat underneath his shirt.
He sighed, hesitating. "Cancer." The word rushed out of him like a sneeze, and he found he couldn't hold it back. "Everyone was devastated. When you don't have a dad, your mom becomes eight times more important in your life. After she passed away it was like there was something missing in the house. Even Grandma couldn't replace that. The worst part was that she tried."
Catherine didn't know what to say, she didn't know if there was anything she could say, so she simply pulled him in for a soft, tender kiss and tried her hardest to smile. The pain was still evident on his face. She wanted to reach out and wipe it off, but she knew she would never be able to. She knew that contrary to popular belief, time doesn't heal all wounds.
"Cat.." He whispered her name, his voice choked up and gentle. "I don't know where I'd be without you."
She tried not to cry, but it was tempting. His hand was on her chin, and his index finger gently stroked her jawbone. She wanted to tell him that without her, his life would be so much easier. That he wouldn't be stuck with a pregnant 39 year-old with a nine year-old daughter. That he wouldn't be getting married, having his first kid, that he'd still just be wild young Warrick. But she didn't.
She leaned in closer to him, her cheek against his chest, and breathed in the smell that always accompanied him. "Warrick, let's not wait four months."
"What?" He asked, quietly, as if he wasn't sure he had heard her right.
"Let's not wait four months to get married. I don't think I can, and I'm sure I don't want to." She tugged on his shirt sleeves and looked up into his face, waiting for his answer. She prayed then, for the first time in years. She prayed he'd agree.
"Well, Cat..how long do you think we should wait?" His voice was rising with excitement.
"Tomorrow?" She suggested. His eyes widened with the word, but he grinned.
"Seriously?" He asked, shaking her shoulders lightly. "Seriously?!"
"Next week." She said instead, realizing that they'd never be ready by tomorrow. He laughed, then grabbed her and lifted her off the ground, kissing her.
"Next week it is, then." He set her down again and put a hand on her stomach, like he had done so many times before. "How long before he starts moving?" Warrick was convinced that the baby was a boy, even though Catherine refused to find out its sex until after it was born.
"A while yet." She was smiling so widely her cheeks were numb, but she didn't care. She'd never been so happy in her entire life. "I can't believe we're doing this!" She giggled. "What day should the wedding be on?"
"Saturday." Warrick said decisively. "I've got to call Lisa when we get home, she's going to be thrilled." He said, referring to his sister. He gave an involuntary shudder of excitement while still grinning. "I can't wait to tell everyone." He grabbed her hand and pulled her after him. "Let's go home."
She complied, following him slowly, deep in thought. He asked her what was wrong, but she only shook her head and gave a slight smile. "You wanna go swimming?"
He asked her if she was kidding. When she said no he only snorted and started towards the car, but she grabbed him around the waist and pulled him towards the water. "C'mon Warrick, don't make a pregnant lady work so hard," she said when he tried to pull away from her. "Just come with me for a short little swim!"
"Catherine, this is not exactly a beach!" He protested, pushing her arms away as she tried to pull his shirt off.
"Doesn't matter.." She said simply, running and jumping into the lake, screaming out as her body hit the water. Her white blouse stuck to her skin as the freezing cold liquid washed over her. She ducked under the water and swam out farther, loving the feel of streaming water pushing itself against her face. She stood up, watching Warrick, still standing on the shore.
He rolled his eyes, slowly peeling off his shirt and running after her, yelping when he realized how cold the water was. "Jeez Cath, you are definitely the weirdest woman I've ever known." She only laughed, splashing water in his face as he came nearer to her, gathering her in his arms and kissing her. "But I love you anyway."
Sometimes her morning coffee's way too strong
And sometimes what she says she says all wrong
Right or wrong she's there beside me like only a friend would be
And that's close enough to perfect for me
Now she's been known to wear her pants too tight
And drinking puts her out just like a light
Heaven knows she's not an angel but she'd really like to be
And that's close enough to perfect for me
He stood outside her door, waiting to get the courage enough to ring her doorbell. He was sweating, but that wasn't odd, seeing as how it was July and this was Las Vegas. He wanted to go home and change his shirt, add extra deodorant, maybe even take a shower, but he was here now and it wouldn't make much sense to turn around when he was almost ready to talk to her.
He took a deep breath in and rolled his neck, smoothing out the imaginary wrinkles in his pants. Finally, he reached out and rang the bell, his heart pounding as he heard her say from the other side of the door, "Who is it?"
"It's Gil." He said softly, and realized how crackled his voice sounded. He cleared his throat and waited while she unlocked the door and let him in. He stared at how beautiful she looked in a sweatshirt and jogging pants, her hair hanging out of a ponytail.
He gave her a quick kiss and sat down on the sofa, watching as her expression grew more and more worried. "What is it, is there something wrong?" She asked, sitting down on the ground in front of him and taking one of his hand in hers.
"No, no." He said, shaking his hand. "I've got good news. It's just so good that I'm nervous to tell you."
She frowned, confused, but didn't say anything. He smiled then, so widely that she was convinced there was nothing wrong. "I just spoke to my doctor. He said I can go in for surgery tomorrow. His estimation is a 90 percent of total restoration of my hearing."
She looked shocked at first, but then squealed and jumped into his lap, wrapping her arms around him and grinning. "That's great!"
He laughed, pulling her closer to him. "I thought you'd think so."
When the both of them were silent moments later, she walked over to the window and stared outside, at the rain that had suddenly begun falling in thick, heavy drops. "It's raining." She stated simply, her smile still wide.
He nodded. "Good. It was stifling before, maybe it'll cool down a bit." She was still looking at him oddly, her expression one he couldn't place. "What?" He asked as she moved towards him and grabbed his hand.
"Ever danced in the rain, Gil?" She asked him, her eyes doing dancing of their own as he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You're kidding." He knew she wasn't. She shook her head, pulling him by the hand to the doorway. "At least let me change." She looked at him without words, her facial features never changing.
"You're seriously going to make me do this, aren't you?" His question was never answered, because as soon as he asked it Sara was yanking him down the stairs and out into the pouring rain.
The cold liquid fell onto him and he shivered, watching in fascination as his white shirt became wet and see-through. He looked over at her, her face was happy, peaceful, as she turned it toward the sky and let the rain wash away what little makeup she wore.
She pulled him closer to her, swaying with him to music that was never heard by anyone but them. She hummed, softly, a tune that was unrecognizable to him, but still beautiful. He closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of the rain and of her and of everything else around him that he never saw. He never saw anything but her wet body moving slowly in front of him. Her smiling face glowing up at him.
The way you convinced me to dance in the rain
With everyone watching like we were insane
But I love the way you love me
Strong and wild, slow and easy
Heart and soul, so completely
I love the way you love me
Epilogue
"This place is beautiful." Catherine breathed, following Warrick into the restaurant. He turned toward her briefly and grinned before continuing to lead her to their table. He pulled a chair out for her and lingered behind her for a few seconds, taking the time to smell her hair.
"Any idea what you want to order?" He asked her, watching her every move as she straightened out the front of her dress and cleared her throat.
"I don't know. Maybe a steak, or some spaghetti." She looked up at him and grinned. "This is so sweet of you Warrick."
He smiled back. "I'm going to order some Chilean Merlot and... a filet mignon." He nodded in satisfaction. "Medium rare." He added softly, more to himself. Catherine watched him in odd fascination.
Warrick looked up at her, seeing through the crystal of her blue eyes into the worry that lay underneath. "What is it, Cat?"
She looked down at her plate, playing with the corners of the glass and not daring to look at him. Finally, she stared up at him. "Warrick, are you happy?"
He was taken aback by the question, and Catherine saw as much. He saw she was seriously wondering if he was anything but ecstatic just to be with her. "Why would you ask such a crazy question?"
She didn't change her expression. "Just answer."
He chuckled softly. "Of course I'm happy, Catherine. I've never been more happy in my entire life. I'm ecstatic, I'm on top of the world, I wake up every day thinking my life couldn't possibly get any better and every day I'm proved wrong.
At first she didn't look convinced, but when he leaned over and kissed her softly and said, "And I've been married to you for one whole year.", she believed him. "Happy anniversary baby."
"Yeah, same goes." She said and leaned on his shoulder. "I'm happy, too." She sighed, brushing a lock of hair away from her eyes. "I'm really, truly happy."
He picked up the phone and dialed the number he now had memorized, waiting as it rang and praying silently she would pick up. She greeted him softly.
"Hello?"
"Hey." He said, listening as the sweet sound of her voice resonated through his head. "Guess what?"
"How did the appointment go?" She asked him instead of guessing. Her breathing was quick and heavy. She had recognized his voice instantly.
"Guess what?" He said instead, tapping his fingers against the wood of his night table.
She sighed, rolling her eyes. "I give up."
"You can't. You have to guess." He could almost see her grinning. "Come on, just one guess."
She tried to think of the most bizarre thing she could answer with. "You just found out that you have a daughter in Canada."
"How did you know?" He asked her, leaving his voice void of any sarcasm purposely. She didn't say anything, obviously trying to figure out whether or not he was joking.
"Yeah right." She breathed a sigh of relief when she heard him laugh loudly on the other end of the phone.
"The doctor says I'm all cleared up. My hearing is almost completely restored." She tried not to cry, but the happy tears forced themselves out of the corner of her eyes. She exhaled.
"I'm coming over." Her voice sounded strange even to her own ears.
"OK." He complied, ready to say goodbye until he remembered something else he needed. "And Sara?"
"Yeah?" She asked, already thinking of what she would change into.
"I love you." He waited patiently for her to say it, waited patiently for the feeling he always got whenever he heard her say it to him. That calm, tingle that started at the top of his head and traveled all the way down to the tips of his toes.
Smiling, she took a deep breath. "I love you too, Gil."
The end.
Note: I would really, really, really appreciate it if you reviewed this fan fic or e-mailed me to tell me what you thought of it overall. I know people don't usually review fics after the last chapter, but I'd appreciate it muchly! Thanks! – Marita
