Well, here we are. The end. It has been such a rewarding and amazing ride, I really cannot thank any one of you enough for sticking with me. It always amazes/d me that you guys would actually read this thing and even review. This was a pipe dream of mine for so long, so to get reception for it like such was just the icing on the cake.

I hope this one closes the book somewhat for y'all. Who knows what'll happen in the future, maybe I'll revisit the Semper files... only time will tell. But for now...

Becs xxxxxxx

"I was so proud of you today. You owned that podium and looked every inch of a man who knew he should be there. I'm glad you came around." Stella smiled, her right shoulder leaning against the elevator wall, her body turned towards Mac.

He smiled, his head dipping again. "I'm still waiting for my ticking off for going against script."

"I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. They couldn't have wished for a better speech. It told the troops the truth but it gave them hope as well. They don't want to be coddled."

"That's what I thought when I was stood there. They were all looking at me, bored and tired and sick of hearing the same thing from everyone."

"You may have been doing this longer than those out there, but you're still one of them. You'll never lose that."

Mac nodded. "Thank you for coming, Stella."

She winked, smoothing down the cloth on his sleeve. "Thank you for inviting me."

"I wasn't sure you'd want to after…everything."

"Today isn't about me and you; it's about Marine Mac and his Technicolor badges," she gave a smirk, holding on to his lapel and running a thumb across the multicoloured stripes, signalling his triumphs in the military. She kept her fingers there a beat longer than she thought should have - them being in the 'friend zone' - and quickly jerked it back.

The carriage was one floor away from their floor, they spent it listening to the musak tauntingly play 'Ma Cherie Amore', eyes cast down.

"This is me," she tried to smile, pointing to the illuminated number on the dial above. She took a step forward.

Her gaze fell onto the reflected image of Mac. He looked so handsome and rugged, leaning against the elevator wall, his dress whites slightly crumpled with a five-o'clock shadow forming. Once again, she fought with every fibre of her being to not just grab him by the collar and kiss him like she once could. No doubt better than she once could, pouring in three months of loneliness and longing into one passionate, toe-curling, body-melting kiss.

Stella took a deep breath. It caught in her throat when she realised Mac was staring back at her, the same intense look in his dark emerald eyes. He was undressing her reflection, ripping away her clothes and her inhibitions. She wanted nothing more than to hit the 'stop' button and give into the temptation that was turning the air stuffy and dripping with lust.

God, how had she gone three months without that man in her life, in her bed? How had she been so stupid as to let that man go? How had they both been so stupid as to let each other go?

The bell dinged as the doors jerked into life, pulling the two from their joint reverie. Stella closed her eyes, disgusted with herself for not having the balls to say something. She didn't see Mac droop his head with the same feeling.

'Screw it' she thought. "I miss us," and with that she stepped off the elevator and into the hallway.

She got maybe three steps down the corridor when the bell sounded for the doors to close. Her knees threatened to give way, she held onto the door handle to her suite, resting her forehead against the dry, cold wood. What was she doing? What had she done? Why had she said that?

Her bag fell to the floor, the shoes she had taken to carrying following suit. Those three words had just ruined the whole weekend. They had just gone back to actually talking again. Full sentences. Jokes, even. Now they'd be back to square one. Awkward meetings, monosyllables, no eye-contact. God, why did she have to say it? He knew how she felt. He knew she missed him. And he didn't miss her. She was stupid to think that he would. She was stupid to not say yes to the engagement ring when she had the chance.

"I miss us too."

Her eyes snapped open. It was her mind. Her mind playing evil, evil tricks on her. Taunting her.

Just in case, she checked. There he was.

Stood those three steps away, his jacket hanging from his fingers, his eyes looking nowhere else but into hers. "I miss us too," he said again, making sure she could hear him, could see him, could sense all the regret and apologies and truth in his words.

She left the door, a tear dripping from her cheek as she ambled up to him and did what she had been wanting too. She grabbed him by his collar and pulled him into her, her lips unrelenting in their pursuit for his. He let the jacket tumble to the floor, his hands grabbing at her back and her hair. He wasn't letting go this time, and neither was she.