December 15th, 2002

"So, tell me." Lily ran her hand across Bug's sweaty chest as they snuggled in bed. "When will get to meet your mother?"

"Whenever you want, Lily." He smiled as he hugged her.

"Not right this second of course, but maybe come spring once it gets nicer outside and we can hook up?" Lily suggested.

"That sounds perfect to me." He said, "I told her about you when I called her last time. She asked so many questions."

"Did she?" Lily chuckled as she sat up.

"Yeah. You know just stuff like where you came from, if you're pretty, if your treat me nice, you know the usual stuff." Bug said.

"AM I pretty?" She winked getting out of bed as she wrapped her robe around her.

"Gorgeous." he smiled as he watched her, "You taking a shower?"

"I'm not going to work smelling like us." Lily winked walking into the bathroom. Bug smiled resting his hands behind his head. That woman. God, how he loved that woman. He hoped nothing would ever come between them and spoil their relationship.

* * *

Bug stared at the bones in front of him. He looked at Jordan.

"These weren't in the ground." he said.

"What makes you say that? They were covered in dirt."

"There's no decay anywhere." he said, "You know that animals, insects, whatever would have attacked this in a heart beat. There's no indication of that at all."

"Look harder." Jordan Said. Bug sighed.

"You serious?" he asked.

"Very." Jordan turned on her heals and left the room. Bug shook his head. He just wanted to leave for his lunch break. He was starving. He heard the familiar click of Lily's heals as she walked in.

"Hey'ya big boy." She winked at him playfully.

"Hey." He kissed her cheek, "I'm gonna go on my lunch break. You on yours?"

"Yup. I came to get you." Lily said tickling the hair at the bottom of his neck. Bug winked.

"Good." he looked at the bones and then covered them up with a large sigh, "I think we need to take a vacation from work and just spend four days in bed." Lily arched her eyebrow.

"I like that idea very much." She smiled softly, "We can get chocolate covered strawberries, feed them to each other, and just stay in bed, with plenty of sex of course." Bug smiled as he hugged his girlfriend.

"I will talk to Dr. Macy." He winked. Lily leaned over and kissed his lips softly. "Mmm, have I told you that I loved you today?" Lily shook her head.

"Not in the past hour." Lily said.

"Oh no." Bug said pretending he was surprised, "We can't have that now can we?"

"Absolutely not." Lily said.

"Well then, Lily, I love you with all my heart. You make it easy for me to wake up every morning. You make it easier for me to breathe. You make my heart beat." He said. Lily smiled feeling like she was going to cry, "You put the sun in my day and…Jeez, I'm going to cry." Lily laughed.

"Me too." She smiled, "I love you too, Bug." Lily kissed him again, but something passed through them. A new feeling coursed through their veins.

December 31st, 2002

Lily twirled around in front of Jordan with a large smile on her face.

"How do you like the dress?" Lily asked smoothing out the silk.

"It's very red." Jordan said. "I like those pearls."

"Bug gave them to me. They were his mothers." She said, "Is it too morbid to ring in the New Year here?" Jordan chuckled.

"No it's kind of fitting. Out with the old and in with the new."

"It's not the most romantic place though." Lily chuckled.

"Oh! Who needs romance though?" Jordan winked.

"I never thought it'd be this nice." Lily said glancing out the door and watched Bug as he set the table. "It's amazing."

"Well, I'll let you know when I experience it." Jordan said.

"You will, Jordan." Lily smiled as she handed Jordan a party hat.

"Oh, Do I have to wear this party hat?" Jordan asked holding up a sparkly purple happy New Years hat. Lily nodded as she laughed.

"If you value our friendship." Lily winked.

"Low blow, woman!" Jordan said putting the hat on. Jordan felt like an idiot. Lily winked as the girls walked back out. "Good looking snacks. I wasn't suppose to bring something was I?"

"Yes. Your job was to bring the dip here." Nigel said, "But I knew you'd forget so I brought some for you." Jordan smiled.

"What a friend." Jordan winked at Nigel. Bug wrapped his arm around Lily's slender waist. "I think I'm going to head out early."

"If I have to be here, Jordan, you have to be here." Garrett said.

"Lily, Garrett isn't wearing a hat." Jordan smiled smugly.

"Oh Dr. Macy, you have to." Lily handed him a hat. Garrett groaned. Lily fluttered her eyes.

"All right." He put the hat on and gave Jordan an evil look.

"I think, We should head up to the roof right about now." Bug said as he took Lily's hand. She nodded as everyone started to file out. One good thing about living in Boston was that you had a great fireworks display for New Years and the fourth of July.

"Who are you kissing when the ball drops, Jordan?" Nigel smiled. Jordan chuckled softly.

"We'll see." She said sipping her drink, "We should have went out to first night instead of having another party here." Bug and Lily sat down on the steps and snuggled.

"I like it here." Bug said. Lily smiled.

"So do I." She said softly. The couple held each other as they listened to all their friends chat and laugh with one another. Garrett glanced over to them every once and awhile.

"Five minutes." Nigel announced to everyone.

"Five minutes before we strike the New Year with each other." Lily winked.

"I can't wait." He hugged her gently.

"I was thinking." Lily said, "that you could keep a toothbrush at my apartment." Bug smiled softly.

"Why?" He asked.

"Well because you're there enough." She chuckled, "You might as well have some things there for when you sleep over." Bug nodded.

"I think that's a great idea." He said kissing her forehead. Everyone began to count down. "Five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!!!" Everyone cheered.

"Jordan?" Nigel smiled. Jordan leaned over a kissed him softly. Lily smiled at Bug.

"Happy New Year." She whispered as she pressed her lips to his. They both hoped this New Year would be a wonderful one for their relationship