Author's note: this story is based on an idea that corglacier and I were tossing around. It is the idea that both Bishop and my CE assassin Carianna could actually earn redemption and become better people.

I owe stickchick a ton for helping me with this; I couldn't have done it without her. It's totally alternate universe, and outside the OC, but it's just meant to be a good, emotional read. So, don't take it too seriously, alright?

And also, there are some adult situations in this chapter. I tried to keep it tender and sweet, and within the guidelines of the ratings system. Please let me know if the situations make you uncomfortable, I will alter it.

It didn't take us long to make it back. We met Brother Talman and spoke of our journey; he was overjoyed at our progress and commended us on the strength it took to face our pasts.

"Few who have done such horrible deeds and face them make it out as you two did," the priest said softly. "Lathander is smiling down upon you two. I have nothing more to do for you."

I grinned; I looked at Bishop and he was smiling as well. "Thank you, Brother Talman, for everything," I said, "for believing in us, for caring about us; but for most of all, giving us the chance for redemption."

He smiled. "I think you're there, both of you. Go now, and face your lives as truly good people."

Once we'd left the temple, Bishop and I decided to head back to Crossroad Keep, but we'd take our time. We wanted to experience all the beauty nature had to offer and to explore the newfound love in our hearts.

About a week after we'd left, I spied an apple tree in the middle of a small grove. I hadn't had an apple in months. Most had fallen already, but for some reason, this tree still held many ripe, crisp apples. I ran ahead and grabbed a branch; I swiftly climbed up and snatched a few of the bigger ones.

I dropped back to the ground and was surprised to see that Bishop had spread out his blanket at the base of the tree. He bashfully looked up at me. My heart started racing as I sat beside him. I blushed and handed him an apple. He took it and put it in his bag; he took the rest out of my hands and followed suit.

Bishop's hands were trembling as they reached for me. "Cari, I love you more than anything in the world. You have helped me become a better man, a happier man, than I could ever hope to be. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

I smiled shyly and looked down. "You are very welcome, Bishop. I thank you for the same thing. You have helped me during the darkest moments of my life. It means so much that you're here beside me. I love you Bishop, with all my heart."

He reached up and gently cradled my chin. I could see tears shining in his honey-brown eyes. "Fy cariad," he whispered, wrapping his other arm around my waist and kissing me. I slid my arms around his neck as his kiss became more passionate, but not hungry, or fierce, as they once were. He suddenly pulled away, his eyes bright. "Cari, I don't know how to say this…but, I think we're ready. Would you…"

Before he could finish I softly pressed my lips against his once more. He jumped a little, then relaxed. His other hand wrapped around me and pulled me close. I slowly started leaning back. Once he realized what I wanted he gently pushed forward, so I ended up on my back with his weight resting on top of me. He pulled away; his hand sliding out from under me so he could softly stroke my cheek.

He smiled uncertainly down at me. "Cari, is this what you want?" I reached up and ran my fingers through his reddish-brown hair.

"Yes, Bishop, I want this. I want this as much as you do."

His smile became more confident. "That's good, then, I guess…"

I laughed. "Are you nervous?"

He nodded. "Cari, I've always been able to have empty, emotionless sex. I've never been with anyone I've truly loved, anyone like you. And I'm nervous."

I smiled. "I'm nervous too, Bishop. But we love each other. Everything else will fall into place."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Cari," he murmured, kissing me once more.

My heart started pounding in my chest as his rough hand slid to the back of my neck. I felt a shiver pass through me as his fingers tangled themselves in my hair. His other hand gracefully went to work on the buckles that held my leathers together. I untied his cloak and threw it aside as he pulled my armor off of me. He sat back, straddling me, and placed my armor in a neat pile next to his cloak. He rested on his heels as I proceeded to unbuckle his armor. He shrugged it off and folded it beside mine. His linen tunic and trousers were wrinkled from being trapped under his leathers.

He blushed as he looked down at me; I was suddenly quite aware of the large bulge beneath his belt. He caught me looking and smiled, I felt the heat rising in my cheeks as I looked away. We were so shy now. It was like we were young children again, just discovering something wonderful and new.

Bishop wrapped his fingers in the hem of my tunic; very slowly and deliberately he pulled it up over my head. His cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink as he looked at the linen band I use to bind my breasts. I reached out and tugged on the bottom of his tunic; he smiled bashfully and pulled it off, folding it neatly and placing it on top of mine.

I hadn't seen him without a shirt on in months. We'd taken to dressing apart, so as not to spark temptation while we traveled. All I had to go on were my memories. His body was just as I remembered: the broad, muscular planes of his chest, the light dusting of sandy-brown hair that covered his skin, the way it rippled as it traveled down his chest and over his stomach, each muscle chiseled and defined. The scars and burns that covered his skin only succeeded in making him more rugged.

I reached up and lightly ran my fingernails over his stomach. I suppressed a giggle as he trembled at my touch. He leaned forward and slowly began to untie my linen band, his fingers shaking as they moved. My body ached in anticipation as his fingers left little trails of heat where they met my skin. After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled the cloth away. Despite the number of times he'd seen them, I longed for him to touch them, to kiss them.

His fingers slid down my side towards my hips; my back arched in response, silently begging for his lips. He smiled and gently pressed a hand between my breasts, easing me back down. He slid his fingers along the waist of my trousers; I reached up and slowly untied the bow holding his up as he worked on mine. Bishop sat up a little bit, sliding his trousers over his hips and revealing his hard length to me. He was as impressive as he was in my memories.

He stood up long enough to pull his pants off completely. I slipped out of mine and he took them from me; folding them neatly and placing them with our other clothes. I held back a grin as I noticed how careful he was. He drank in my naked body with his eyes, eyes that once blazed with an uncontrollable lust now burned with a brightness only love could bring.

I smiled up at him. I could tell the same love was reflected in my eyes. He reached down and helped me up, hugging me to his body. He rested his chin on the top of my head as we stood there, holding each other, savoring the moment. I loved the way the wind felt over my bare skin. He slowly sat down, leaning his back against the apple tree. He gently pulled me down to him. I straddled his hips; he wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close. The touch of his skin set my body aflame.

He leaned in and pressed his lips to my shoulders. I shivered as they traveled up my neck. His tongue tickled my ear; I could feel him grin against me as I gasped. His breath was fire on my skin. His long fingers gently caressed the skin on my back as he slowly pulled his lips away. I felt my heart beat even faster as his smoldering, amber-brown eyes bored into mine. His hands slid up my back and began massaging my neck. I sighed as one of his hands wound its way into my hair. I could feel a flush rising in my cheeks as his eyes gazed over my body.

I slipped my hands around his shoulders as his slid to my hips, easing us together, joining our bodies as one. I gasped and a look of concern crossed his face. "Are you alright? I just want you to be comfortable…"

I smiled to myself at the care he was taking with every little detail. Bishop had never cared about anyone's pleasure but his own. I'd actually gone through three sets of my assassin's leathers because he was in such a hurry to get me undressed he'd sliced through the buckles, ruining them. Then it was, "I'm going to thrust myself into you as hard as I can for as long as I want, and if you climax, good for you." At the time, that's all I needed. I used to milk his body dry for my pleasure.

Now though, he held me close, his eyes burning with a mixture of desire and love as his hands roamed over my back. "Your hair is so soft, Cari," he whispered as he tenderly stroked it. As I realized that cared about my comfort and pleasure, I knew, with every fiber of my being, he had changed. I smiled at him, a sigh escaping his lips as I gripped him tightly. Slowly, deliberately, we began to move, my heart racing as his lips covered mine.

I could feel his muscles tense beneath me as his kisses roamed, straying from my lips to my neck to my shoulders. He nuzzled his head in the crook of my neck as our pace increased; the pleasure building within me. I was startled to hear him breathe my name as he gripped me harder. I had become accustomed to hearing him scream it amidst the throes of passion, not spoken softly as if to a lover.

The once-slow pace now took on a life of its own; our movements became more frenzied as we neared our release. I couldn't help but notice the sweat rolling over his body. It must have been hell for him, but he was holding back. For the first time in our years together, he was waiting for me. So we moved faster, whispering the other's name, hands roaming and caressing with an agonizing softness.

After a few more tantalizing moments I gasped his name; my heart swelled in a way I'd never known as the pleasure coursed within me. Sensing my release, Bishop arched his back and sighed, leaning his head back against the tree, whispering my name as his muscles strained. I soon heard his sharp intake of breath, and as his body relaxed I knew he'd found his own pleasure.

We held each other for a long time, our breaths coming in long gasps as our bodies trembled. The wind was welcomed; we shivered as the breeze cooled the sweat glistening on our skin. Bishop smiled and ran his fingers through my damp hair. "I love you," he murmured, kissing me gently. "Thank you."

I grinned back at him. "For what?" His eyes, bright with emotion, met mine once more, "For everything, my love."

I nuzzled my head against his shoulder. "You're very welcome, mo leannán. I love you too."