Keep on reviewing, folks--I really appreciate it! I'm really enjoying writing this story--I've got about two more chapters to go, and then I think it will be finished.

When Charlie opened the bedroom door, cup of coffee in hand, he found Amita awake and nestled in the blankets, her hair a tousled mass on the pillows. He stood there and stared at her, his heart thudding. Wordlessly, she opened her arms to him, and Charlie set the coffee cup on the nightstand and eagerly crawled into bed next to her.

For a few moments, they just held each other, enjoying each other's closeness. Charlie's hand moved up to Amita's face, and slowly he began to trace the line of her cheek. She enjoyed the feeling, nestling into his shirt, her lips curving in a smile. Her skin tingled where his fingers had trailed, and her heart jumped as his lips touched her temple.

Abruptly Charlie pulled back to look into Amita's eyes. His expression was serious, and Amita watched as he chewed on his bottom lip and swallowed. His thumb stroked across her cheek.

"What do you want, Amita," he asked her softly.

She looked back him, a teasing smile on her face. "What do I want? A million dollars, a trip to Hawaii, world peace? What do you mean?"

"No," he replied, his hooded eyes soft, "what do you want now, a year from now, the rest of your life?"

Amita stared into Charlie's eyes and read the depth of emotion there. Something loosened in her chest, a tightness she hadn't even realized was there. She reached down to find Charlie's other hand and bring it up to her heart, where she held it against her.

"I want to finish my Ph.D. I want to teach, preferably at Cal Sci." She looked down between them, watching their joined hands. "I want… I want to get married. I want to have a family, the house, the dog, the white picket fence. I want—"

"I love you, Amita," Charlie blurted out. Her eyes flew up to his, and Charlie's fingers tightened on hers. "I love you," he repeated, shaking her hand. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry, and his lips parted involuntarily as he waited for her response.

Amita released her hand and brought it up to Charlie's face, sliding it through his hair to pull him close. She kissed him twice, once deeply and once on the corner of his mouth. Then she whispered against the corner of his mouth, "I love you too, Charlie. I've loved you for so long that I thought that this day would never come, that I'd never be able to tell you how I feel."

Charlie's breath blew out and arms went around Amita, and he held her tight against him, marveling at what he'd been given. His hand stroked her back as they reveled in the embrace, contemplating the words each other had spoken.

"So what do you want," Amita asked Charlie after a moment, not raising her head from where it lay against his chest."

Charlie smiled, staring at the wall, thoughts focused on the incredible woman cuddled in his arms. "Same as you," he replied slowly. "I want you, I want a family, I want to solve P vs. NP…"

They both laughed quietly, his low rumble mixing with her higher giggle. Grasping both of her wrists, Charlie abruptly rolled her underneath him, causing her to shriek. "Shh," Charlie admonished, grinning and covering her mouth with his.

He touched Amita gently, lovingly, amazed that he was actually holding her and that they had exchanged the words that he had wanted to say for so long, words he'd never spoken to anyone outside of his own family.

Amita's skin heated as Charlie's fingers traced around her breasts, thumbs stroking her and teasing her. He kissed the side of her neck and worked his way down her shoulder, placing small kisses every few inches. When his mouth closed around her nipple and he sucked it gently, her back arched and her mouth opened, releasing a small moan. Her nails lightly raked his shoulders as the sensation rocked her.

She moved her hands down and tugged at his shirt, pulling it over his head. He quickly shed the shorts he had been wearing, Amita helping him as their hands hurried.

Her hands went to his hips and held him over her, kissing him deeply while his hands caressed her curves. Their breathing quickened and their touches became more urgent as the heat built.

Tracing one hand over his hip, Amita reached down and took him into her hand, hot and hard. She closed her fingers around him and played with him, enjoying as he squirmed and gently bit her shoulder.

"Enough," Charlie said, and pushed halfway off her, reaching over into his nightstand for a condom. He opened the packet and quickly rolled the contents over his hard length. Sliding back onto her, he braced one arm on each side of her and bent his head to kiss her long and hard.

Amita wrapped her legs around Charlie's hips and pulled him down to her. He poised at her entrance, ready to slide into her, when he stopped and raised his head.

"Charlie," Amita questioned, opening her eyes and looking at him questioningly.

"I love you, Amita," Charlie said softly, brushing a lock of hair away from her face and kissing her. "I love you and I treasure you." Then he entered her, head bowed and jaw clenched.

She moaned as he filled her and withdrew, and their pace rapidly quickened. They rocked together, drowning in each other, pushing each other closer and closer. Her breath came in short pants and she clung to him as he drove her up.

Charlie felt her fingers clench on his shoulder as her heat clenched around his, pushing him over the edge. He groaned and shuddered in release, and Amita cried out his name as she reached her own peak.

Sighing, he sunk down on her, enfolding her in his arms, and whispering words of love in her ear. She closed her eyes in contentment and snuggled up against him, and they held each other quietly. On the nightstand, the coffee cooled, forgotten.

In the kitchen, Alan looked at his watch, then looked up at the ceiling. He grinned and covered the plate of pancakes he had made, and set them on the back burner to keep warm.