A/N: The final chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Hope this wraps it up nicely.

Part eight

He knew the answer to that one. Knew what his heart and mind told him. Walking away he said. "I just… I want more." After a short silence he went on. "Loneliness…, it can eat away at you. It feels like the dark of the night surrounding me. I can't shake it off. Sometimes I ask myself if needing someone is too much to ask. Is it my fate to live my life alone? Do I have nothing to give?"

"Bo.."

Holding his hand up to her he interrupted. "Don't! Just don't say anything. You don't ever get used to the loneliness. It leaves it marks. Marks I don't know can be erased." He turned around, looking at her. "What if that's my future?" Abruptly he turned around again. Afraid he'd said too much.

A gentle hand touched his shoulder. Alex didn't know what to say or do. She heard the pain in his voice, felt his tense muscles under her hand. Again Bobby moved away from her.

"You're not the only one, you know. Everybody gets lonely." She didn't want this to be a one way conversation. Did he really think he was alone in this, that he was the only one who suffered from the feeling of loneliness? There were times, particularly after a gruelling case that she wanted to come home to somebody. That there was somebody to hold her, make her forget how awful the world could be. Didn't mean she dwelled on it. She knew, if she immersed to much into her feelings at such a moment, she could get into a downward spiral. Thinking that no one would want to be with her, no one who cared, no one who loved her. Now it appeared that Bobby had entered that vicious circle and he couldn't step out of it. That was probably up to her. Yet she could feel how strong he felt about all this. He'd convinced himself he was truly alone. It would be difficult to get him out of that downward spiral.

"Don't you think that I want to come home to someone too? After a gruelling case I want someone to help me forget, someone to take me in his arms and just comfort me. You're not alone, Bobby. I feel it too, it hurts me too. Sometimes there's a burning ache in my heart because it longs to be loved. There are times at night that I wonder what it is about me, why no one out there cares for me!."

"Al.."

"No! You got your say, Bobby. Let me say my piece." She'd tried to stay calm, but she couldn't do it anymore. Taking a deep breath, she managed to regain her composure. "Now I know it hurts you even more because you've felt alone most of your life. But you've gotta take a chance once in a while. You have a lot of people who care, but you gotta be willing to take that step too. You gotta risk feeling vulnerable again. Let someone in, someone who will share the burden with you, who will take away the loneliness bit by bit. Take a chance and give someone a chance. It takes two, Bobby. For once look up and see what's in front of you."

Turning around he did look up and what he found was the one person who'd stood by him the entire time. She was not just his partner, she was his best friend and the woman he loved. Taking a step closer to her, he gently traced her jaw with his finger. "I see you." He whispered, his hand falling back beside his body. "I don't know if… if this is right." Though neither had actually said out loud what 'this' exactly was, they both knew what it meant to them.

His remark hurt her. Why didn't it feel right to him when she knew how he felt about her. Sure he hadn't actually told her, but she knew him and knew how he felt. Deciding to put aside her own feelings for a moment, she focused on Bobby. "Why is this not right?" Even though she did her best to hide the hurt, she knew he could hear it in her voice.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her and he had done just that by implying it wasn't right. "Because I don't want to hurt you and I know I will." Frustrated that the words weren't coming out the way he wanted, he ran a hand through his hair. "God, don't you see, Alex? You're the one good thing in my life. I don't want to lose you. And I know I will."

"What makes you so sure?" Alex asked, stepping up to him and gently placing her hand on his chest.

"Because everyone I ever loved has left me."

There was so much pain in that one statement. She clearly heard it. "Then let me prove that I'm not going anywhere. Take this chance." She decided she needed to be the first to actually say it. "I love you, Bobby." His eyes were focused on hers. She smiled gently at him. "Don't doubt my feelings for you. They're real. Let me in, Bobby." She held her hand up, it was up to him to take it.

He couldn't believe it. After everything he'd said and told her, she was still here. And she loved him. Slowly his hand took hers, entwining their fingers. "Thank you, Alex." His eyes were watery, but he did not shed a tear. "I love you too." He said, pulling her closer. "I don't ever wanna lose you." He whispered into her hair.

"You won't, I promise." Putting her hand on the back of his neck, she pulled him closer. "Come here." She said before their lips met. This time it wasn't just a brush of lips. It was so much more, their tongues duelled, they explored each other, tasted each other. Only when the need for air became too much they ended the kiss.

"Let's go back and spend some time with Michael." Taking his hand in hers again they walked back.

Halfway Bobby pulled on her hand, turning her towards him. "It… it's not going to be easy." He needed to know she wouldn't change her mind.

"I know, but we'll be all right. When has anything ever been easy to us? Have a little faith, Bobby. I'm here to stay." After giving him a gentle kiss they continued their way back. "It's not often that we get to enjoy a day together without work. Let's enjoy it."

He watched her as she walked a few paces in front of him. He was amazed by her. She was the one ray of light in his life and she was his.

The End