Sorry it took me awhile to update - I've been slack!

Anyways I hope you like this chapter, please review and let me know your thoughts. Thanks!!

Michelle had been on the phone to her brother Danny, for almost an hour. She had been sitting on Tony's balcony whilst chatting and once she hung up she went to find Tony. She found him sitting in his office on the floor staring at his newly framed picture on the wall. This was where Michelle left him when she answered the call. He grinned at her as she stood in the doorway and motioned for her to come sit next to him. Michelle took Tony's hand and sat next to him.

"Want to look at the picture with me Chelle?"

Michelle laughed. "You haven't had enough yet?"

"Are you kidding me? I can throw out my TV now, this is all I need."

"Well I'll tell you, if you want me living here with you then I wouldn't be throwing out the TV just yet for this picture."

He leaned over and kissed her temple. "You just don't appreciate good artwork when you see it!" They both laughed and kissed. "When do we get to start moving you in? We should make sure we are completely settled before we pick up the puppy next week." (The puppy was only 5 weeks old so they have to wait until it is 6 weeks before they can take it home)

"Let's do it tomorrow.....it's not like I've got work!!"

Michelle was joking with Tony but his smile quickly disappeared as soon as the mention of her not working came up. "I'm so sorry Chelle."

Michelle picked her body up and pushed herself down on Tony so he was forced to the ground on his back. She lay on top of him and planted playful sloppy kisses on his neck, "Sweetie I'm just joking. I'd take moving in with you over anything in the world." Although she surprised him, he just loved it. He wrapped his arms around her, stretched his legs out straight and held her so all of her weight was on top of him. Tony wasn't sure what to even say so he just soaked in how amazing he felt with her. He kept his arms tight around her keeping her body pressed as close as possible to him. She brought her arms in close and pulled the top of his shirt down so she could kiss his chest. He closed his eyes and rested his head back on the floor. "I'm so in love with you Tony...." He went to respond but she placed a finger on his lips so that she could continue, "you are the best man I know and you will never know how happy you make me." She stared at him for a moment as he tried to swallow her words. She lift her upper body up enough that she could pull his shirt up and kiss his stomach and chest, "God you are sexy." She continued to kiss him – her words and her touch made him groan.

Tony was going to flip her over but every time he went to do it he stopped himself so he could enjoy her attention to him for a moment longer. Shivers ran down his spine as her tongue slid over his body and her breath trailed her track. Her words made him feel like king of the world. After a lifetime spent doubting himself and hiding behind a closed off defensive wall he allowed himself to feel not only good about himself but also so excited for his future....their future. He wondered how in just a short time his life had taken such an amazing turn.

Her cell phone rang out a couple of times and when it started for the 3rd time then Michelle figured it had to be important enough that she should answer.

"Dessler."

"Michelle, it's Brad Hammond."

Michelle felt her whole stomach drop. Without realizing it she slipped off Tony and sat with her legs crossed and her head down in her other hand. "Yes Brad."

Tony's eyes rolled hearing Michelle say Brad's name. He swore under his breath repeatedly that Hammond had managed to ruin another precious moment with Michelle. He sat himself up behind her and ran his hands across her back for comfort as she spoke on the phone.

"To start with Michelle, I apologies for what has happened."

Michelle let out a loud sigh at his pathetic attempt at an apology. Although he was no longer her boss and she could really say whatever she wanted to him she found it difficult to say what she really wanted too. Hammond still intimidated her and her natural instinct was to bite her tongue around him. "Yeah..."

"I would like to offer you a position back at CTU, I know you have always been interested in tech field ops and I would be happy to work something out with this."

There was silence as Michelle tried to compute what was being said to her. It hadn't crossed her mind that this would happen, especially after how things had gone down with Tony as well.

"Michelle.....would you like to come down so we can discuss this further?"

Michelle stood up and began to pace the room back and forth. "Ummm.....well like what exactly are we talking about here Brad?"

"Division has been looking at having two sections within tactical, you would have a post in floor management at the same time running suited field assignments within your section. It is a great opportunity Michelle and the pay will be significantly better."

Michelle wasn't sure how to respond because she honestly didn't know how she felt. She had never been chased before or given an opportunity like this and that was exciting, on the other hand she really wasn't sure it was what she wanted anymore. "I'll have to call you back."

Hammond seemed relieved that she hadn't knocked him back straight off the bat. "That is fine, I'd like to hear from you by 5pm tomorrow though. Are you with Tony?"

"Yeah..."

"May I have a word?"

Michelle didn't say goodbye, she simply handed Tony the phone and excused herself to go to the bathroom. Tony looked angry, he had guessed they were offering Michelle her job back. He took the phone and began the same process with Hammond that she had just been through.

It was simple in Tony's mind, he already had a new position lined up, one that he was excited for. It took a repeated effort to make Brad realize that he had moved on from CTU and would not consider coming back. Tony had no trouble in being short with him, he no longer respected Brad and wasn't interested in dealing with him anymore.

When he hung up the phone he took a moment to himself before he went to find Michelle, he needed to approach the situation calmly. At this point he didn't realize what Michelle had been offered, he was assuming it was just her old position. He hated the idea of Michelle returning to CTU, especially when he wouldn't be there to care and watch out for her but he knew that had to be her decision and he couldn't make it for her. She had been offered a second chance and he didn't want to be the cause of any unhappiness or resentment with Michelle. He slowly made his way down the hallway to the kitchen where he found her standing still leaning against the bench facing the opposite way.

"What are you thinking baby?"

Michelle spun around. "I'm not sure? I take it you were offered a position as well."

He nodded his head. "Yes, but I flatly refused. I am happy with the plan I already have."

"What should I do Tony?"

"I can't answer that sweetheart. You have to do what will make you happy. You know I'll support anything you want to do."

"It is a good opportunity Tony..."

This confused him. "What do you mean? Isn't it the same position?"

A small smile was very close to appearing across her face. "No, they offered me a promotion, better money and a much more senior position. I would spend time in the field though..."

Tony felt his heart drop and sharp pains in his stomach. "Field?"

Michelle nodded her head. With each passing minute she made up her mind that she would refuse the offer but she still needed to talk it out. Tony had been right the other day, it was time to start thinking about a family and a life that could revolve around that. All of a sudden having someone like Tony made field work seem a hell of a lot less appealing – building a life with him would be a dream, one she wouldn't want cut short.

When Tony was hurting usually it would come across as if he was angry. He had gone into the room with full intention of being very calm but he had been taken by surprise hearing Michelle had been offered Field Ops. "Field Ops..."

"Yes Tony, not all the time but I would be doing some."

Tony lowered his head and spoke with sarcasm, "Well isn't that nice of Hammond..."

"Don't be like that Tony, I want to know what you want me to do."

"Michelle I can't tell you what to do, it isn't my decision. It's not my position to tell you what to do."

"Why Tony? I asked you because I want to know what you think."

Michelle felt like Tony was being standoffish. He was keeping his distance from her, his whole body had become very stiff. She walked up to him and put her hand out and he didn't take it – she couldn't tell if he hadn't noticed it or if he was ignoring it.

"You tell me what you want Michelle. Do you want to go back to CTU? Do you want to do field ops?"

"Not really....It's a job Tony, I can't afford to not be working. It is kind of a good opportunity don't you think?"

Tony raised his head and caught eye contact with her. "Don't worry about the money Chelle, I will look after you. You never have to work if you don't want to – I will support you, I want to."

Michelle reached out to his chest and held on to him by his t-shirt. "You are amazing....I know you don't like the idea of Field Ops Tony."

"No I don't. It doesn't matter what I want though Chelle." He slowly raised his hand to hers. He found himself almost distancing himself a little from her just at the thought of losing her. He could imagine the pain and it made him feel very defensive.

Michelle couldn't understand why Tony was so closed off and wouldn't tell her what he wanted. "I don't understand you Tony, it matters everything how you feel about this. I assumed we would make these kind of decisions together from now on."

"I don't want you to resent me Michelle. You can't imagine how guilty I've felt about what happened to you with work already, I don't want me or our relationship to be the cause of any unhappiness for you. I feel selfish pushing what I want onto you."

Michelle moved her hand to his cheek. "I wouldn't resent you Tony. I already know how I feel pretty much feel, I know from us talking before that you wouldn't be happy about this. What you want is the most important thing to me, I need you to tell me what you want me to do."

Tony took a step back from her allowing her hand to drop away from him. After staring at her for a moment he walked past her and began pacing the room as he rubbed the side of his face. "Alright Chelle. I'd be really nervous if you took the offer. I'd be scared as hell every day you went to work. I hate the idea of you even having to work with people like Hammond again that has showed you such little respect. I don't want to lose you....I can't lose you."

Michelle was nodding her head along with him as he spoke. "You won't..."

Tony was loud and assertive. "I CAN'T LOSE YOU." He walked back to her quickly and wrapped his arms around her tightly. He passionately kissed her neck repeatedly. Michelle pulled her head back so they could kiss, her tongue entered his mouth roughly and she pushed her body firmly into his.

Tony continued kissing her cheek and chin as she spoke to him. "You won't baby, I've thought a lot about what you said to me yesterday and I don't want to do anything that would risk being able to be with you. I think I want to look into some different avenues, maybe even the Pentagon thing I was telling you about."

He was smiling as he kissed her, once she had stopped speaking he moved back to her mouth. He began backing her up against the wall. They were so intense with one another. Tony's hands explored her body and he bent his knees a little to even their height. He kept his lips just inches from hers, they were both panting heavily. "You have to know Chelle that if you wanted the job and that's what made you happy I'd support you 100, I'll be behind you no matter what."

He picked her up and carried her to his kitchen table where he sat her down on it. She was perched on the end and he stood between her legs.

"I'm nervous about everything Tony. I want a job that utilizes my training but not like CTU. What if I can't get something else? This is all so new to me, I don't even know where to start..."

"Honey relax. You will end up in something a mile ahead of CTU, I just know it. We will get through this together, I can help you look and get your CV prepared and updated. You have so much to offer, I don't think you are going to have trouble finding something else. There is no rush though, I want you to take your time to find something that is right for you."

Michelle developed a cheeky grin, "a 'safe' job is what you mean, right?"

Tony kissed her smile. "That's right, and something that leaves you lots of time for me." They both giggled.

Thinking of nothing but her future with Tony the question rolled off her tongue before she even realized. "How many kids do you want Tony?" As soon as she heard it she tried to back track – she didn't want him to think she was just presuming anything or scare him off. "I mean like....well you know...with the right person and when and if you have them..."

He was amused with her frustration. He stopped her talking by leaning in and sucking on her bottom lip. His face broadcasted his enthusiasm for this topic. "3 Chelle, but I am flexible and that's only if I get to have them with my right person..."

He began to playfully lean over her so her body was pushed down onto her back on the table. He had to use his knee to climb up onto the table so that he could reach her full stretched body. "As many as YOU want sweetheart is good with me, as long as they get all of your good looking genes...."

Michelle was ecstatic at his forwardness over their future together. Topics like this is like pulling out teeth with most guys, it was an amazing feeling to know that was how deeply he looked at her. It also made her feel so secure knowing he was on the same wavelength as her. "Do you really think about all that stuff with me Tony?"

"How could I not? I mean, wow....I'd be the luckiest guy in the world. I know you are the only one for me Chelle and I thought about all this plenty – even before we got together!"

She cupped his face with her hands, "you are going to be an amazing Dad. Wow you so just made my mind race...."

"What are you thinking Chelle?"

"That we should probably practice....." They both laughed and basically at the same time they licked their own top lip.

"I won't argue with that..." He pushed his body firmly into hers making her groan. Hearing her respond like that only encouraged him to continue...