Hot.

Tanzania was hot.

But it had nothing on Roanapur in July…

I spun the wrench, opening the pipes, and finally, mercifully, clean water flowed out onto the red sand. A cheer went up from the assembled crowd; I couldn't help but smile along with them. Three long months we'd been trying to rig potable water, and with a bit of fancy dancing, the UN had lent us a few engineers. Now this village would survive and thrive instead of being at the mercy of the seasons. I wiped my hands and dug for a smoke, fielding the backslapping and hugs from the grateful villagers. Kids were already splashing in the spray, mothers and fathers embraced, and all was right with the world as I walked back to our slapdash clinic. The cook made Chipsi Mayai, and I wouldn't miss eggs and french fries for all the scones in Scotland.

She smiled at me, all motherly and sweet, when I walked in the door, the scent of her fantastic cooking obliterating the smell of the outside world.

"Hey, Zack, got it working, I take it?"

I wiped my face with a hand towel, "That we did, Kat, that we did. Thank God. Food smells amazing."

She smiled wide, "Thanks, hun, oh, you have a visitor."

I raised an eyebrow; nobody was supposed to show for a few days, Dave wouldn't be back from Mwanza for a week. My hand inched to the small of my back, where a Glock 26 rested, as footsteps strolled up behind me.

Just because I'd left that life didn't mean it'd left me.

I turned, and the sight of her took my breath away.

Eda…

"Hey, cowboy."

My feet moved, and I gathered her up into my arms. The feel of her brought back so many memories. And for a long moment, I didn't say anything, burying my face in her hair. Her hands roved over my shoulders, pulling me in tight, leveling me even though I had a solid four inches on her. I didn't realize I was crying for a second until I felt tears running down my face, silent and steady. She pulled away, that same old concern in her eyes. A soft hand slid up my cheek, her thumb gently brushing away my tears.

Suddenly she was way too close, the eye contact deepened, and my gaze flicked to her lips, feeling like a traitor to Sofiya's memory as my heart quickened.

I had to get away…

I cleared my throat, breaking the moment between us, "Eda…What are you doing here?"

She looked everywhere but at me, "Can't a girl swing by and see her friend?"

I wiped my eyes, chuckling, "Of course you can, but with you, it's never that simple; forgive me for being suspicious, Blackwater."

Kathy watched us with a level gaze as she worked; she knew about the history, plus what I could tell her about my time in Roanapur, which wasn't much. But she was Dave's wife, a dope she wasn't.

Eda smiled brilliantly, "Yeah, there's a precedent, isn't there."

I snorted, "Yeah, man, too many times to count. Did you eat yet?"

"No, and I'm starving."

Kat picked that moment to get involved, "Good thing for you the food's ready, eat, I'm gonna go find my kids, it's too damn quiet around here."

She presented us with our plates and shooed us into the dining room. Eda's movements turned nervous the second we were alone, and I eyed my friend across the table…her shoulders were tense, beautiful lips pursed as she regarded the decor of the small dining room, her brows knitted together and relaxed more than once.

She had something to tell me.

And I could feel in my gut that it wasn't anything good. But as I watched whatever inner turmoil gripped her, I knew I couldn't face it, not yet; I just wanted to sit here and bask in having my best friend close…just for a while longer…

A little while later, we sat outside, enjoying the evening air and our tenth cold beer.

"So what's going on, Eda? Why are you here?"

She looked hesitant, and I immediately felt a pit forming in my guts, pulling a photo out of her bag, laying it in my lap, "I wanted to let you know in person, Balalaika's doing well, made Major, her boys are resettling nicely from what my sources say, you really pulled it off cowboy…"

As she trailed off, the spook sense kicked in again; she found a real interesting spot on the now orange horizon to stare at, something was up, and a blind man could see it.

"Eda," I ran my thumb over the neck of my beer, "How long have we known each other?"

She wouldn't look at me, "Nine years, give or take a few months…Why?"

I gunned down the rest of my beer, tossing the empty into a fifty-five-gallon drum we used for trash; the bang and rattle made her jump.

"Long enough for you to know that lying to me doesn't work."

Eda closed her eyes and sighed, "You're really gonna make me say it aren't you? She… Zack, she's seeing someone. Another officer, good man by all accounts, works for GRU."

I was shocked for about three seconds before I got angry, then immeasurably sad, cycling through the emotions so fast I almost felt sick to my stomach. Somehow I knew; I knew it the minute Eda breezed through the door; I just didn't want to face it. I plastered a smile on my face and tried really hard to keep the tears out of my voice…"Well, it had to happen eventually. There was no way for us to be together, I'm glad she…" I cleared my throat before my voice could thicken, "I'm glad one of us is getting on with our lives… As long as she's happy, I…"

Eda reached out and laid a hand on my shoulder as I stared at the glossy photo of Sofiya at attention, with her men, my brothers, all around her.

I smiled sadly, wiping my eyes at the bittersweet joy that swept through me, "At least they finally made it home."

"I'm sorry, Zack, I know what she meant to you."

I cracked a bottle of local rum, spinning the cap off and taking a deep pull, chugging against the pain in my heart…

"God, that stuff is gonna make me go blind one day. Nah, I appreciate you coming to tell me personally; if someone had to put me out of my misery, I'm glad it was you, Eda."

I glanced over at her and gave her as real of a smile as I could muster.

"I guess I thought we'd get a happy ending; I should fucking know better."

She laid her head on my shoulder in place of her hand.

"Well, I'll never desert you, you know that. Come what may, you're always gonna be my boy."

I chuckled, a hollow sound devoid of any kind of humor, "I know Eda, been your boy since the first night we met. Don't see that changing anytime soon."

I slugged my beer, staring across the darkening Savannah.

"I'm glad you're here… I really missed you."

I felt her breath hitch.

"…I missed you too, cowboy."

I took another pull off the rum, spinning the cap back on, standing up, and ignoring her gaze on my back. I was drunk and sad…I didn't need to look her in the eye and do something I might regret, "I think I need to get some sleep, today was just too fucking much, c'mon, I'll take the floor. You can have my bed."

She didn't say anything, just followed along behind me as I headed for my hut. I pushed the door open and reached for my bedroll; a hand shot out and stopped me.

"Zack…stay with me tonight?"

I knew, knew in my soul that this was a bad idea.

But why was it a bad idea?

Sofiya was gone; she'd eaten the pain and was having a life. It wasn't fair, not to Eda; my head was still spinning from it all…But I owed her my life and so much more.

"I still sleep in my boxers, so get ready for that."

She smiled tentatively, nervously, but her eyes flashed in the dim light, "I was born ready for that."

I peeled off my shirt and stepped out of my boots, dropping my jeans and sitting down heavily on the edge of the bed, digging out and lighting a smoke.

Eda's hands moved, unbuttoning her safari shirt, and I just watched, too drunk and sad to care that I was outright ogling my friend as she undressed. She took her time, slowly unrolling her sleeves before working on her belt. Her eyes never left mine. Something was welling up inside me, and it was getting harder and harder to ignore. I leaned against the wall as the chemistry we'd always had washed over me.

Breathing got to be a real chore when her clothes hit the floor, and it became clear that she subscribed to the "don't wear underwear in hot climates" rule; her sweat-slicked skin was almost shining in the glow from the single lamp I kept lit. And I realized something that wouldn't do either of us any good…

I wanted her.

It came in a rush, leveling me. But I held my ground, dragging on my smoke with a shaking hand as she settled next to me, reaching over to pluck the cigarette from my fingers, taking a short pull before handing it back. We continued the ritual for long minutes with me pointedly trying to ignore the almost six feet of a naked blonde goddess sitting so close that our shoulders were touching. I finally ground the smoke out and stretched, collapsing sideways into her lap, her thighs cradling my head.

She didn't say anything, just ran her fingers through my hair; we shifted around slowly until we were lying on top of my thin blankets; I rolled closer, wrapping my arms around her as she turned to face the wall; I thought about anything else as she wiggled her ass back into me.

"Just getting comfortable," She whispered shakily.

"Y-yeah, no problem," I cursed the quaver in my voice.

Nothing was separating us now. And I was painfully aware of it.

Eda reached a hand over her shoulder and stroked my cheek.

"You okay?"

I buried my face in her neck, and she sucked in a breath as I nodded.

"Now I am."

Careful, Briggs.

I felt her stiffen, heard the small gasp, and held her tighter, meaning every word, the feeling running a thread through my chest, stitching up the pieces of my heart Sofiya had left behind as the darkness closed in…

Eda stayed.

I didn't know what the game was. But, six weeks later, she was still there, helping Kathy cook, playing with the local kids; she even assisted me in the clinic from time to time; Dave was thrilled to see her but suspicious in the same breath, every time she showed up I got smoked in one way or another, bullets, broken bones, a fucking war that I dragged him into.

Ya, know, little things.

The day she was slated to leave, he finally cornered me.

"Kid, what's the deal with Eda?"

I kept moving, ignoring the something that shot through me, stacking supplies in the closet, "No idea what you're talking about, man."

His voice suddenly sharpened, "Aw horseshit… remember the flight into Roanapur? Remember what I told you? She didn't come here for no reason, and she sure as shit didn't stay because she likes the scenery… sure as you're born, she's waiting for you. And boy, you better figure it out, because I see the way she looks at you, and more than that? I see the way you look at her. You could have a life, Zack, a real-life with her. Stop fucking hiding."

I fumbled a box of gauze, ire rising in me faster than I could push it down. I almost growled at my old friend.

"You think I don't know that? I'm afraid to hurt her…After Sofiya-"

Dave got right in my face, shocking the hell out of me, "Fucking save it, you're one of the bravest men I know, charged into hell more than once; I always thought you'd have made one hell of a Ranger. This isn't you; you're not a pussy, quit fucking acting like it!"

I didn't budge, getting right back in his face. Still, his words hit me like a freight train, I'd done it again…I'd retreated from the world because of Sofiya…But the last few weeks had been easy, calm, I'd fallen asleep dreaming of Eda every night she didn't spend by my side, spent days laughing with her all the while stupidly keeping her at a distance.

And in that moment, something snapped, and I realized what I'd known all along.

I loved her, hopelessly.

Sofiya had blinded me with the life I deluded myself into thinking we could have together.

And I was wrong for that.

It was time to make it right.

I reached out and pulled Dave into a hug.

"You're right, brother, you've been right. I'm done hiding from it."

He gently thumped me on the shoulder, "There he is, and I don't need validation; I just need you happy, okay, kid?"

I stepped back, staring into the eyes of the closest thing to a dad I had left, misting up a little, and nodded.

"I've gotta go with her; you know that, right?"

He smiled.

"I've known it since the first time I saw you two together…Go, son, take care of each other and watch your back, huh?" He pulled me back into a hug.

"Love you, kid, proud of you."

I smiled, tears lingering around the edges…

"Love you too, man, thank you for everything."

Dave cleared his throat, gently patting me on the back, "Don't be a stranger."

I nodded into his shoulder, "As if I could stay away from my family, I'll be in touch."

Another gentle pat and we parted, smiling.

"C'mon, kid, I'll walk you out."

When I hit the chow hut, Kathy was whipping up dinner. I think she saw the nerves in my eyes.

"Zack? You okay?"

I sighed, leaning on the counter, "I'm in love with her, Kat…your husband, took me out to the woodline, metaphorically speaking. Made me see sense."

She smirked, "Well shit, Zack, I knew it; half the village knows it. Glad you finally figured it out."

I ran a hand through my hair, weighing my options, "You were gonna drive her?"

Kat nodded, "Yep, just gonna finish up here."

"Let me; I'll run her to the strip."

She smiled and snatched the keys off the counter, gently tossing them in my direction, "Okay, hun."

I snapped them out of the air, returning her smile, "Thanks, Kat."

Her smile became a grin, "Tell her, huh? Don't let her leave without telling her."

I shook my head, feeling the fear well up inside me, fear that it was too late.

"I won't. Not this time."

I gave Kat a weak wave as I headed out the door, a plan forming in my mind. I hooked towards Eda's hut, the whole place was her, little things scattered around that most wouldn't have noticed…a half of a q-tip tucked into the doorjamb just above the top hinge that dropped when I entered, a makeshift way to tell if someone had been here after she left. Her laptop was gone, but I could see the thumbprint on the desk where she'd measured the distance to make sure nobody had messed with her work computer.

I missed that life, time to jump back in with both feet and fuck the consequences.

Eda's bag was packed, lying on the bed; I snatched it up and headed out, the scent of her perfume following me out into the dry heat. She was outside in the open field on the south end of the small village, playing soccer with a few of the kids, laughing as they expertly danced in and out of her reach, toying with her.

"Making friends, Blackwater?"

When she turned, it got hard to breathe; big blue eyes went from mirthful to something else, something warm and loving. I kept my face even, nervous as a teenager with his first crush.

Her eyebrow quirked cutely, "It's in the job description, Briggs, got a problem?"

I shook my head, chuckling, "Don't I always? I'm done at the clinic, figured I could give you a ride to the airport."

She cocked her head, I could see her gears spinning, and she was beautiful like that too.

"Sure thing, cowboy, just gotta grab my bag."

I hefted the suitcase, "Way ahead of you."

She blinked.

"Trying to get rid of me, Zack?"

I grinned, "At speed, Blackwater. C'mon."

The kids all crowded around her; language barrier be damned, they knew what the score was, little cries in Swahili, pleading with their new buddy not to leave. One little boy was crestfallen, silent tears in his eyes.

Eda broke eye contact and scooped him up.

"Ni sawa mpendwa…Usilie…"

I smiled, my heart speeding up as the Swahili endearments spilled out of her perfect lips… a woman of many talents. She whispered something that left him giggling in her arms, and my heart skipped more than a couple of beats as she set him back down, gently nudging him toward his friends.

Her content smile when she straightened up sealed the deal, waving at her new friends, "Okay, cowboy, let's boogie."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet, and headed for the Rover.

"Yeah, but that doesn't count…Them's the rules, Blackwater. My turn."

She huffed, rolling her eyes playfully, "Fine, I spy…something…green."

I glanced around nothing but red dirt for miles. "Huh…I don't…" I spared her a look, and she was staring dead into my eyes, smiling softly.

My heart started to pound, but I couldn't give it away, not yet.

"Cheeeaaapp."

Another eye-roll and a chuckle from my beautiful friend, "Working with what I got, cowboy."

"Still cheap and a little creepy." I jabbed, gently turning up the radio a little, humming to some local beats on my phone.

I could feel her gaze burning a hole in the side of my head.

"Hey, Briggs?"

"Hmm?"

"Sing me something, some old country song."

I glanced over at her, leaning against the door as we bounced along, looking all kinds of dangerous.

"Trying to bring the hyenas in, Eda?"

She chuckled, jabbing a finger at me for emphasis, "I've only heard you sing once, and I don't remember my ears bleeding. C'mon cowboy, who knows when I'll get to see you again…" She trailed off, looking sadder by the second…

Fuck.

I thumbed through my phone, keeping one eye on the road, finally settling on some Jake Smith. I started softly, figures I'd see all manner of death and destruction, but putting a slight timbre in my voice would make me nervous. Eda just watched and listened as I pushed my way through the first verse, leading into the chorus.

"Natalie Wood gave her heart to James Dean…High school rebel and the teenage queen…standing together in an angry world…one boy fighting for one girl…"

Her hand found mine, and I faltered a touch, and then she added her own voice alongside mine. I pushed back the tears at the memory of my dad singing to me when I was young, everything from that moment to this one…

The song wound down to nothing, but her hand stayed in mine as she whistled softly into the silence.

"Not bad, cowboy, you sure know how to give a girl goosebumps…"

I smiled, "Thanks for going easy on me, Eda."

She smiled, "No need, you really can sing, ya know?"

I rolled my eyes, loving her a little more with each passing second as we lapsed into a comfortable silence. I relished the feeling of her skin on mine right up until we crossed the gate into the slapdash little airport, a prop-job fueled and ready.

"I don't want to leave," She whispered, "I know it's selfish, but I wish I could just stay here with you…"

I killed the engine and leaned into her touch across the bench seat, "You've built a career, Eda, and a damn good life. You don't want to give that up for me…"

Her other hand came up and pulled my gaze to hers, green met blue, and my throat ran dry.

"But I would…if you asked…"

I broke the eye contact… looking out the windshield for a moment, steeling myself.

"I wouldn't… which is why I've decided to come with you."

A soft gasp brought me back to her. Her eyes were misting up already.

"What?"

I leaned forward and pressed my forehead to hers, feeling her stiffen.

"I figured something out, Blackwater…"

"Yeah?" Came the shaky, hopeful reply.

"Yeah…there's just no me without you…"

Her eyes went wide, "Briggs…I…"

I closed the gap slowly until our lips made contact.

Fireworks…

I pressed the hand that was still wrapped around mine into my chest, right over my heart that pounded out of control. The other came up, gently cradling the back of her head against the window. I kissed her until air became an issue, pulling back and dragging her into my arms; she shook a little, pressing against me desperately.

"Zack…what...I...what are you saying?" She whispered, sounding so cautious and hopeful that it broke my heart a little.

I smiled into her hair.

"I love you, Eda; been too much of an asshole to see it until now. I'm sorry for all these years of dragging you around… if you'll have me…I'd like to spend the rest of my life proving just how much you mean to me…"

She froze.

"W-what?"

I buried my face in her blond locks, planting a kiss there.

"I love you…And I'm gonna keep saying it until you get it."

She gently pushed me away, staring into my eyes with unshed tears brimming in hers.

"You mean that, cowboy?"

I nodded, "Every bit of it."

She surged forward, kissing me hard, backing me up against my door, and keeping me there, sobs leaking out of her, tears dripping onto my shirt. Every soft smack as our lips parted and we dove back in together punctuated by small shuddering breaths from both of us.

"Zack…" She whimpered against my lips, " I love you…"

I attacked, kissing across her cheek, down to her neck, letting my lips play across the parts of her I could reach.

"I love you, Eda…So much."

Her hands worked their way inside my shirt, nails dragging across my chest… And I felt her freeze when they met dog tags…blue eyes stared up at me, silently asking permission…I wormed my hand over hers and tugged, snapping the ball-chain in one harsh movement. I didn't miss a beat, rolling down the window and tossing them into the red sand. Eda's eyes filled with tears; I wasn't much better. I reached out and gently cradled her beautiful face.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry it took me so long…I don't deserve you, Blackwater…"

She kissed me softly, tears rolling down her cheeks, but an impish smile played over her perfect lips when she pulled away.

"Never convince me of that, cowboy."

I settled into the well-worn leather chair, glancing out the window at the palm trees that swayed slowly in the gentle breeze; the horseshoe-shaped bay beyond brought the smell of saltwater and the crying of gulls drifting back to me. I lit a cigarette, smiling a little, and gently rested my hands on the keys of my laptop, idly running my thumb over the subdued band around a finger.

Fifteen years had passed since the African heat, long years of nothing but love, adventure, and sacrifice, had all led here…Back to the memories, back to the goddamned humidity…But when the Agency had signed off on my retirement package, I hadn't thought twice about where I wanted to end up.

My eyes flicked up to the screen, and I sighed. I had no idea how to do this. Where did I even start? The door behind me gently opened, rasping a little on the rough-hewn floors. I smiled before I saw her, feeling her pad across the floor, arms wrapped around my shoulders, a cascade of blonde hair fell around me.

"Hi, baby," She whispered.

I reached up and grabbed her, getting a delighted squeal as I pulled her into my lap.

"Hi, yourself. How was the trip?"

She still molded around me the same way, no matter the years, no matter the brushes with death that marked us both, new scars and old ones, I'd always belonged right here.

"Long and boring, it was a lecture tour, you know how it goes, lots of banal questions that could be answered with a little research, ad nauseam."

I smiled into her hair, "I heard from Rock, Revy's keeping him on his toes, they were in Vietnam, then Malaysia, he was a little cryptic about what they were doing, probably for the best. D' is on some job over in Cambodia, sends his best."

I felt her chuckle, "Is that why you look a little twisted, baby boy?"

I sighed a little; god, she knew me too well, "Eda…I have no idea how to be retired, this book is kicking my ass… And I missed you, glad you're home."

She pulled back, smiling down at me. Her face had a couple more lines that made themselves known when she smiled, but she looked as beautiful as the day I'd met her in Rio; her blue eyes still sparkled with that same light.

"Briggs, I swear, hopeless without me… ain't ya?"

I stretched up and kissed her softly, tasting that same watermelon lip balm she always kept handy.

"Absolutely."

She twisted a little to look at what I had so far, quietly scrolling page after page as we sat in silence for what seemed like hours. Finally, she relaxed back into me.

"Zack, this is great; what's the problem?"

I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed.

"The ending."

She leaned into me harder, her perfume wafting around us like a halo; she shifted around, straddling my hips, gently pressing her forehead to mine, filling my world with blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes.

"How about…' and they lived happily ever after'…sound good, cowboy?"

I smiled and leaned forward, gently capturing her lips with mine deepening the kiss until there was only one way this could go…I wrapped her up bridal style and got up, kissing her and loving her more and more as we made for the bedroom, kicking the door to my study shut behind us…

…And we lived happily ever after.

A/N: Annndd Blackwater wins the game, ladies, and gents! It felt right to include this ending as well; Eda and Briggs' relationship always felt more real to me. All that said? Pick your canon ending. It's been a joy to write this, and I'm so glad that so many seemed to enjoy it.

But I'm not done with Black Lagoon yet.

Currently up to my eyeballs in two new stories. The first is a collab with a read called "A Hard Way To Fall," which is a deep dive into Revy's early years, how she wound up in Roanapur, and what she left behind. The second is an as of yet untitled Roberta fic, no spoilers, but that one is already darker than anything I've written. Ever. I can't wait for you guys to see what I have so far.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read and review; I see and appreciate every last one of you.