Happy weekend everyone - hope it's a great one! Here's the next chapter. It picks up right where the previous one left off, so as always you may want to re-read that again to get your bearings.

I don't own The Brave or any of it's characters... But I wish I did!

Chapter 51

"It's no secret that romances in the military are frowned upon, and I'm guessing it's even stricter amongst team mates of differing ranks. So what happens when it's time for you to be team mates again? What happens when you redeploy?"

Sarah's words weren't so much as a shock to Dalton, but more so unexpected. He had expected that question from someone else.

From Jaz.

From McG.

From Amir.

From Preach.

But not from his sister.

After a moments silence, mulling it over in his head, all he could do was answer her truthfully.

"I don't know."

And that was the honest truth, as painful as that was. It's not that he hasn't thought about it. How could he not? But he had been so focused on their relationship and enjoying every moment, and just caught up with the thrill of just being with Jaz, that the logistics of it all is something he had been putting off.

He knew they couldn't do that forever. He was under no illusions that it would be a walk in the park. But he wouldn't make excuses for allowing himself to feel what he felt for Jaz and with Jaz. He had never felt like this, about anything or anyone, and now that he knew what it felt like to love, what it felt like to be in love, he's not sure he ever wants that to end.

Sarah reached out and put her hand on his hunched shoulders, sensing the unease and confliction, and he glanced across at her in response. She offered a small smile and said quietly, "I get it, I do. Just don't leave it too late to start figuring that out."

Dalton nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He knew she meant well and was looking out for him. He knew that both Sarah and Katie were genuinely happy for him and both certainly seemed to like Jaz. The kids appeared to love Jaz and she seemed to honestly like all of his family in return.

He wasn't sure how much longer they could ignore what was ahead for them. They have been so caught up in living in the moment, enjoying each other's company and working on their healing—and for now that was paramount. Sooner or later they would have to start thinking about what the future held for them. But he wanted to bask in this glow for a little longer yet.

"I hear you. I do." He reassured Sarah, "I just want to enjoy being with her, I just want to enjoy this a little longer."

"Like I said, I get it. Just look after yourself ok. Look after each other." She smiled softly at him before getting up and joining the others.

Dalton watched her go and despite the questions she had raised he couldn't help but smile after her. He was the oldest. He was the one who should be looking after his younger sisters, but as history had dictated, Sarah had taken it upon herself to be the mother figure in the family; to watch out for her siblings. Despite his guilt that she had felt the need to be that person, he couldn't help but be proud of her. She was a strong, centred and capable woman and he vowed then and there to stay in contact with both her and Katie more than he currently does.

Not long after the youngest of the kids started yawning, Sarah and Katie decided it was time to hit the road and get them all home for bed.

Gathering all the paraphernalia that had been strewn around took a little time, but before long they were ready to say their goodbyes.

Emily asked Jaz if she could say bye to Cass, and holding her arms up to her, Jaz picked her up, settled her on her hip and headed into the kitchen.

The boys took a long time saying goodbye to Patton, once again indulging the dog in endless belly rubs.

"Can we come and see him again, Uncle Adam?"

"Sure thing, buddy. You can do that real soon ok."

Charlie smiled widely at his response and Sam seemed just as happy.

Katie was watching Jaz with Emily through the doorway and said, "I'm fairly certain I've got a little girl who is going to want to visit a pet fish real soon too."

Dalton laughed, "Anytime."

"You might have a rival for Jaz's affections. Em seems quite taken with her."

"Yeah she does." Dalton agreed with her softly as he also watched the two of them inside the kitchen.

Katie looked at him knowingly with a pointed smile, and Dalton knew straight away what she was trying to insinuate. Typical Katie letting her imagination run away with her.

"Don't look at me like that, we are only just figuring ourselves out."

And that's all he needed to say. Smiling in return anyway, she stepped forward and hugged him and thanked him for such a great day. He smiled ruefully and hugged her in return. Katie's enthusiasm was both annoying, but at the same time—the best part of her.

Jaz and Emily walked back outside then and Katie told her to say goodbye to Jaz. She turned from where she was settled on Jaz's hip and wrapped her small arms around her neck so tightly it surprised Jaz. She hugged her tiny body in return before handing her back over to Katie. Emily's eyes were starting to droop so Dalton gave her soft cheek a quick kiss so Katie could get her strapped into her car seat.

Once she was buckled in, Katie came over and gave Jaz a big hug goodbye.

"It's been so great,' She whispered in her ear, "And I know I said it earlier, but you two really are the cutest ever."

She stood back and let Maya hug the both of them, before they climbed in their car and drove off home.

Sam and Charlie had to be almost physically pried off of Patton to say goodbye to their Uncle and Jaz.

"Thanks for the water pistol's Uncle Adam." Charlie said, still excited by them.

"You're welcome, buddy."

"You're pretty cool for a girl, Jath." Sam said earnestly.

Jaz did her best to hold back her laughter and replied, "Thanks, you're pretty cool too."

Olivia and Sarah both stepped forward and hugged Dalton and Jaz. Sarah gave her brother a long, knowing look before going over to her SUV to make sure the boys strapped themselves in properly.

"Thanks for letting me braid your hair, Jaz. You have such pretty hair. And thanks Uncle Adam for teaching me how to fish. I've had lots of fun today."

"We have too, Liv. We'll see you soon ok." Dalton said to her as she flashed them one last smile before hoping into the car.

Sarah pulled out of the cabin's driveway and with one last beep of the horn, their car disappeared down the long driveway and back towards town.

Dalton and Jaz turned to each other and both looked a little shell-shocked.

"I'm fucking exhausted." Dalton breathed out.

"I'm so glad you admitted that first." Jaz sounded relieved as she slumped into one of the chairs on the veranda.

Thankfully, his sisters had insisted on the kids helping to clear up before they all went home, so the cabin and its surrounds were pretty much back to the way it usually looked. They were both thankful for that because neither of them had the energy to clean tonight.

Lifting Jaz off the chair she had just sat on and rearranging her so he sat back in the same chair with her on his lap, he wrapped her up and they sat peacefully for a few minutes, just enjoying the quiet.

"Thank you for indulging my family." He said softly after a few more minutes.

"No thanks necessary. They're great."

"So they didn't scare you off?"

"It takes a lot for me to scare, you know that."

"So Katie and Sarah didn't give you the third degree?"

"No in fact, they told me a few things about you."

Dalton frowned, "What did they say?"

Jaz couldn't help but smile at the tone of his voice, "Don't worry, nothing bad. But I think it's safe to say they're happy we're together."

"That's true." Dalton agreed. Even though Sarah had asked him some difficult questions, she had also made it clear that she liked Jaz a lot. As for Katie, she would have them married off in a snap of her fingers if she could.

"I'm pretty sure all the kids like you better than me too." He continued.

"Understandably."

Dalton snorted, "Vain queen never seemed so fitting."

She slapped his chest in response and he laughed and grabbed her hand to hold it close to him.

"I'm pretty sure Sam and Charlie want to be you. They pretty much followed you around like puppy dogs all day. They even look like you."

"Yeah, the Dalton genes are strong with those ones."

"Ok Yoda."

She giggled when he tickled her in response and the sound of it had him smiling wide.

"I love you."

Her smile sobered slightly at the change in tone of his voice. His eyes bore into hers and he still clutched her hand against his chest while his other hand grasped her waist.

Those words still had the ability to stop her in her tracks, and if she was honest, they still surprised her. They had rolled so easily off his tongue and she still couldn't believe they were here.

Together.

Alone.

In love.

It was like an alternate reality; one that she didn't ever want to return from.

She placed her free hand on his cheek and leaned forward to kiss him. It started as a quick peck, followed by a few more quick tastings of his lips. Pulling back to look back into those beautiful blue eyes, she felt herself start to drown in them. This feeling was now so familiar, and she knew what was going to happen next was inevitable. And who was she to fight inevitability?

Moving her face back to his again, she tasted his soft lips, slowly massaging them with her own and feeling his mouth move in time with hers. Changing the angle of her face she tasted him even more deeply, letting her lavish tongue explore his mouth and she smiled as she heard him moan against her mouth.

"I love you too," she breathed into his mouth, smiling as his grip on her became even tighter.

With a grunt, he positioned her so she was straddling him, before standing up so her legs were wrapped around him. He strode into the house, his hands gripping her taught behind to balance her weight, and he didn't put her down until he reached his bedroom.

Their bedroom.

Lowering her to her feet, he crushed her mouth with his, devouring her lips, the taste of s'mores still lingering on them. His hungry hands roamed her body, moulding her body to his and grabbing at her clothes. He lifted her tank top over her head so fast, their lips barely left each other, and she followed suit with his t-shirt.

Guiding her towards the bed with a few steps, he reached for the button fly on her denim shorts and yanked them down so quickly, she almost laughed.

"In a hurry?"

"Like you wouldn't believe. I've been wanting to do this all day."

He took one more step so she lost her footing on the bed behind her, Dalton landing on top of her, and they both couldn't help but laugh, as their lips found each other's again. Quickly falling back into their desire for each other, Dalton's firm and capable hands roamed her smooth, nearly naked body.

He kissed his way from her long supple neck, across her décolletage, unhooking her bra in the process. His soft but firm lips, as always left their mark on every one of her scars before taking each of her nipples into his mouth. Paying each of them special attention, biting them softly, electric shocks ran through Jaz as he both kissed them lovingly and sucked them hard. She gasped as her body once again jolted with electricity and she instinctively lifted her hips to grind against his own, desperately attempting to appease the ache deep inside of her.

Smiling at the way she responded to him, he continued making his way down her body, running his tongue along her smooth and taut stomach littered with goose bumps. As he kissed his way even further down, she opened her legs wider in anticipation of what he had to offer her.

He pushed the fabric of her panties aside, too impatient to remove them right now and instantly pushed his tongue firmly against her clit, revelling in the sweet taste of her. She gasped beneath him, the feel of his probing tongue causing her so such pleasure that it had her groaning in approval, egging him on even more. They both knew instantly that she was going to come quickly, and he flicked at her swollen bud to help her along. Her thighs started to tighten in spasms and she pressed herself even more forcefully against his tongue, craving his touch, as her stomach tensed with the beginning of her orgasm

Sensing this, he moved his tongue faster, undulating in time with the rhythm her body was dancing to and he felt the very moment she gave in to the deep, rapid contractions that overtook her entire body making her back arch as she pushed herself even further against his tongue.

His strong hands held her in place as she quivered under the mastery of his touch. Tiny gasping sobs came out of her lips, her body a delicious and satisfying ball of tension. She gripped the bed sheets tightly in her hands while she rode the wave of surging tension, rippling through her body.

He pulled away to let her catch her breath, and in doing so, pulled her panties all the way down her body so she was finally completely naked. Following suit with his own remaining clothes, he sat back on his heels taking in the sight of this beautiful creature in front of him.

Her luscious breasts were engorged with desire, her skin was tinted pink from her orgasm and her legs were still spread apart, inviting him closer, like she was a magnet.

The sight of him completely naked, and his cock so swollen and virile, had her leaning forward and pulling him back to her, her need not completely met yet. Their eyes locked, his eyes darkening with his longing for her, bathing in the beauty of her gaze.

His need to be inside of her, to feel her wrapped around him was overwhelming and with an impatience he wasn't proud of, he entered her in one swift movement. He plunged deep inside of her, letting out his own low groans as she gripped him like a velvet vice.

"Jaz." His one word was more of a moan, a gasp, as the feel of being deep inside of her was still so astounding to him.

Her answering moan was a little surprising to her, as she had only just come down from her orgasm, but his delicious weight on top of her pinning her to the bed, and the feel of him inside her, had her almost instantly in ecstasy once again.

She could barely keep her eyes open, lost in the feel of him moving in and out of her. There were little licks of heat in her thighs and an entire furnace where she cradled him.

He moved harder and faster and she ran her fingers down the length of his back, holding his ass and pressing him even further into her. He felt her coil her legs tightly around him and he kissed her even harder, demanding, seeking and taking everything she had to offer.

He drove even further and faster and felt her telling flicks of her orgasm like an electrical shot to his most intimate member. She ripped her mouth from his as the pleasure became too much for her to stay quiet. As she gave in to the gathering storm inside of her, she threw her head back and almost howled. The lightning strikes and rolls of thunder within his own body gave way at that and he joined her in her howls as he spilled himself in side of her, tensing up as the rhythmic spasms of their union grew tighter and tighter.

"Fuck, you're amazing," he spoke gruffly, as the blurs in his vision started to clear and his focus was once again set on this stunning woman beneath him. His kissed her passionately, his tongue circling hers as she kissed him back with just as much passion.

As Jaz's own vision cleared, she managed to whisper, "So are you."

Still clinging tightly to him, her body shivered. Dalton pulled away slightly and rolled them over so he was lying on his side. He pulled her with him and gathered her close to his chest as they concentrated on returning their heart and breathing rate back down to normal.

His hand made slow circles on her back and the warmth he spread through her made her even more comfortable and sleepy. Before long he heard her breath become much deeper and slower and peering down his eyelashes at her, he saw she had fallen asleep. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and pulled her even closer as he felt himself start to give in to slumber. It had been a big day and ending it like this was the icing on the cake.

A couple of hours later, when it was still before midnight, they both stirred. They'd fallen into a deep nap after ravishing each other, but it had still been relatively early. Getting their bearings in the now pitch black bedroom, it was Jaz's loud stomach rumble that broke the silence and had them both chuckling.

"Hungry?"

"I shouldn't be. I feel like we did nothing but graze on food all day today."

"Yeah, but we also kept busy all day with mini humans and if my memory serves me correctly, we also worked up quite an appetite a couple of hours ago."

"Huh, yeah I vaguely recall that."

"Only vaguely huh?" Dalton teased as he leaned over and nuzzled his beard into the crook of her neck, knowing this made her ticklish. Her answering giggles only encouraged him and kissing her neck transformed the giggles into groans, which only halted once her stomach let out another loud growl.

Laughing, Dalton pulled away and dragged her up with him, "C'mon, let's go raid the fridge. You need sustenance."

Throwing her one of his t-shirts, which she quickly slipped over herself while he pulled on a pair of boxers, they padded out into the kitchen, to hear Patton in his own bed—snoring.

"Looks like we aren't the only ones who are exhausted." Jaz laughed.

She sat herself up on the kitchen bench while Dalton started pulling all sorts of food out of the fridge and pantry. With it all spread out in front of them, they popped a couple of beers and fed their hunger.

They laughed and recalled moments from the day, but seeing a small smile on Jaz's face, that she was clearly trying to hide, Dalton had no choice but to ask her about it.

"Nothing." She tried to throw him off, looking away.

"Jaz."

This time she had no choice but to look at him as he stood between her legs and demanded her attention.

Smiling coyly and with a hint of pink in her cheeks, she just shrugged, "Katie seemed to think that this," she indicated between the two of them, "all started three years ago. And I'm pretty sure that Sarah thinks the same too."

When Dalton squinted with confusion, she relayed the conversation she had had with both his sisters and he smiled when they sounded much the same as the conversations he had had with them too.

"Well, maybe there's some truth to that. We just didn't know it at the time." Dalton couldn't help but admit, because he knew damn well that there was a lot of truth to it. He may not have known it at the time, or even been aware of it—but looking back he did know that as soon as Jaz joined their team, a protective instinct, greater than ever before had settled over him wherever and whenever she was concerned. As the missions and years had racked up, he became more and more conscious of it, with Tehran sealing any doubts that he might have had. The thought of losing her had been unbearable and unacceptable and if breaking or bending rules had been the only way to get her back, then so be it. He didn't regret any of it. How could he? This incredible woman was sitting right her in front of him and he had never felt a love so undeniable and pure.

Recalling his own conversation with his sisters, particularly with Sarah, his own cheeks took on a hint of pink.

Seeing this, Jaz couldn't help but exclaim, "Spill."

Chuckling, but relaying his own conversation with Sarah, he took delight in the widening of Jaz's eyes and the reddening of Jaz's cheeks.

Grasping her waist and sliding her even closer to him, he had no problem confirming it all to her, albeit with a lump in his throat, "It's all true, Jaz. I've genuinely found something with you that I didn't even know I was looking for; that I didn't even know existed or that I needed. But now, I can't imagine my life without it, or without you. My feelings for you snuck up on me and being in love with you scares the fuck out of me. But it's also the greatest thing I've ever known."

Jaz's eyes shone with unshed tears, her own throat filled with a lump she was having trouble swallowing. She never thought that this would be something she would experience in her life. Placing her hands on his checks, with a hitch in her voice, she managed to choke out, "It's all the same for me too," before kissing him to make up for all the other words she just didn't have right now.

Everything he had said to her was exactly how she felt, and as she desperately melded her lips with his, she let the tears roll down her cheeks. Tears for the small child who had never know her own family's love. Tears for the teenager who had come to the conclusion that love was just a foreign concept. Tears for the young woman who had lost the only person she thought had ever cared about her. But most of all, happy tears for the woman she was now, sharing all these first experiences with this incredible man.

This incredible man who she was deeply and completely in love with.

Their lips remained fused together for a long moment, both of their hearts pounding with emotion. Dalton's hands were now on Jaz's cheeks and as they slowly pulled away, his thumbs wiped her tears away as she gazed into his eyes, similarly glistening with feeling.

"Been quite a day, huh?" He whispered.

She just nodded in agreement.

He kissed her again softly and lingeringly and they basked in their closeness.

In their love.

Pulling away he lowered his hands to her knees, and his thumbs instinctively sought out the scars on both sides of her left knee. He met her gaze and they were reminded of earlier today when they were in this exact position. Dalton had been about to ask her about them, before receiving a text message from Katie.

Then later in the day, Sam and Charlie had asked about them, before Emily kissed them better. Dalton knew that had Jaz choked up at the time, but the kids were so innocent to it all, that she had taken it in her stride and didn't let it ruin her day.

But now, here in the kitchen, where it was just the two of them again, Dalton couldn't help but be curious. He had wanted to ask her about them for a long time, but she had always seemed so closed off about it. She didn't talk about her childhood at all, and he knew that if those floodgates were opened, he had absolutely no idea what direction it would all take.

Jaz felt his thumb brushing against the scars on either side of her knee and looked down at them. They were old and the scar tissue was thick, and even though his soft touch against them was comforting, drawing attention to them brought their occurrence to the forefront of her mind.

It had been years since those last scars on her knees had healed, and yet she could recall vividly how each one occurred. She had never told anyone how she got them, and it wasn't until today with both this morning's moment, and then with the kids at the lake that she had actually thought about sharing those memories.

Lifting her eyes to meet his, she could see the question and the concern in the depths of his cerulean eyes. She watched him inhale slowly before raising one hand back up to her cheek, while the other remained on her knee.

In a soft and gentle voice, he ventured tenderly, "Tell me about these scars, Jaz."

So the end of their day with Dalton's family took a different direction than I thought it would, and as a result, the next few chapters have also taken a different direction. That will make sense in the next chapter.

Thank you all for sticking with me and for your views, kudos and comments - they giving me so much motivation and I appreciate every single one of you. Sorry I haven't had a chance to respond to your last comments yet - but don't let that stop you from commenting on this chapter ;)

Much love as always XXX