Courage, don't you fail me now.

Lee was pretty sure he'd never looked so forward to a Friday in his life as much as he did this one. The morning started off as usual. Teddy was getting ready for school, bragging that he was the line leader of the day. Emily was packing his lunch and getting ready for work. Jenna was playing with her food more than eating it. It looked like it was going to rain outside. Again.

And yet, all he could think about was later.

"Brenda's coming for six," Emily said to him now. "She'll take them for the night." She'd assured them everything was fine now, that her family member was recovering and getting her to help deal with the insurance piece. She never questioned what Lee and Emily were doing when they needed her to babysit, which was greatly appreciated.

"Okay," Lee said back. Teddy headed for the door while Emily went to grab her phone from the counter behind Jenna. Lee went to her and put his hands on her hips.

"Lee," she said, her tone a warning. Teddy could come back any second. He kissed her anyway, and she let him. Sometimes he still couldn't believe he was able to do this with her.

"I've wanted to say this ever since I heard you mention it on the phone a long time ago," he said quietly after, his lips next to her cheek.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Wear that red thing," he answered. She blushed and cleared her throat.

"You sure?" she replied.

"I'm very sure," he confirmed. She tilted her head slightly at him and lifted her blouse up a little to reveal she was already wearing it.

"Told you," she said coyly. "You can't handle me."

"We'll see," he replied, wishing there were no children in the house right in this particular moment. Sensing that, she smirked and patted his arm fondly before going to put her shoes on. Teddy was waiting for her, and Emily slid his coat on for him as he stepped into his boots. It was raining a bit harder out there now.

"Bye," she said to him, waving seductively after Teddy had gone outside. Lee pursed his lips into a kiss back at her, and she shut the door behind her with a smile on her face.

It was going to be a long day waiting for her to come back.

...

"What has got you so distracted?" Andy asked when Emily successfully dropped her files onto the floor. She groaned and bent to pick them up quickly.

"Nothing," she answered.

"Craig hasn't tried to contact you again, has he?"

"No." Emily was thankful for that.

"Oh, wait," Andy said, snapping her fingers. "It's date night tonight, isn't it?"

Emily straightened up, clutching her files to her chest tightly. Was it that easy to tell? She said nothing, and Andy's smile grew wider.

"I knew it," she said, wagging her finger. "So what is he doing with you this time?"

"No idea," Emily lied. She had some idea.

"I cannot believe that you two have held out this long," Andy went on. "I mean, if I was living with the guy I'm dating...pfft...no holding back for me, you know?"

"Hmm," Emily replied nonverbally.

"Is tonight the night?" Andy asked, suddenly realizing.

"Excuse me, but I have to finish this," Emily said, gesturing with her files before going down to her office. She sat in her chair in a heap and set the files on her desk, leaning her arms on top of them and trying to get her breath back. Why was she so nervous? It was Lee, not some stranger. Or perhaps that's what made it so intimidating. It was Lee.

Andy appeared in her doorway quietly, making Emily look up at her.

"It's okay to be nervous," Andy said gently.

"I don't understand why, though. I've slept with men before. It's not new."

"But maybe it's because he's more important to you than the others," Andy suggested. "You know him and he knows you...you connected on a deeper level first."

"I just...I don't want him to be disappointed," Emily sighed, pressing a hand to her head now.

"Why would he be?"

"He's been crazy about me for seven years, Andy. Don't tell me he hasn't built it up in his head all this time."

"Hrm, I didn't think of that," Andy said.

"What if he's disappointing to me?" Emily went on. "What if I've got expectations that won't be met?"

"Emily, I think you need to just go with the flow and don't put any pressure on anything. The more stuck in your head you are, the more you're gonna freak out and make one of these predictions come true."

"Ugh, you're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for valid worries. Just don't let them take over and become truth," Andy said with a shrug. She left, and Emily tapped her fingers on her files, doing her best to stop worrying that the thing she'd been looking forward to all week was going to be a complete disaster.

...

Lee was a jittery wreck. He'd stubbed his toes on the baseboard while rounding the corner to the kitchen, banged his head off of the open cupboard door, and burned himself while trying to make lunch.

"Uh oh," Jenna said as he hissed and waved his hand around before sticking it under cold water.

"Uh oh is right," he agreed. "Ugh, what is going on with me, Jenna?"

She offered no answer, which he expected. He examined his hand before drying it off and finishing lunch. Toast and fruit for her; grilled sandwich for him...plus some extra skin cells.

Jenna swung her feet as she ate, looking around the room. Lee tried to calm his nerves. He had no idea what was making him so nervous. Then again, it might have something to do with worrying he was going to let Emily down if she had high expectations, especially after their conversations about her previous experiences. He was completely alone with his thoughts, and they were starting to drive him batty. He thought about working in the basement, but he didn't think he should be wielding any tools if his concentration was poor. Spending the night in the emergency room was kind of a mood killer.

"Alright," he said, making Jenna look at him. "Let's go for a walk."

"Walk," she repeated happily.

"Yea. Let's do it," he said, cleaning up their lunch mess and picking her up. Once outside, he carried her on his shoulders for a bit until she wanted down. Then she handed him every rock, leaf, and stick that interested her while zig zagging a little bit in front of him and exclaiming with glee at her finds.

At least it took his mind off of things for a while.

...

Emily pulled up to the house and shut off the engine. She took Charlie's car to work now so Lee would have the van for Jenna if needed. She'd ended up working a bit later than planned...partly because she was trying to calm herself down before seeing him again.

She went inside, expecting to see Teddy rush at her for a hug and tell her about his day or hear Jenna laughing at something. Instead, it was quiet.

"Hello?" she called. It wasn't six yet. Had something happened? She felt her chest tighten in fear from imagining some kind of horror occurring here in her absence when Lee came from down the hall.

"Hey," he said back, smiling at her.

"Where are the kids?"

"June called to invite Teddy over for the night, so I said sure. She picked him up at school after collecting his things here. Brenda came early for Jenna."

"Oh." All of her nerve endings were wired at this point.

"We can still go out or stay in. Your call," he advised. Her breathing was amping up again for some reason.

"I'm freaking out," she confessed, blurting it out before she could stop herself.

"You're freaking out," he repeated. She felt the need to keep going.

"I keep thinking that you're expecting something that I can't give, and then I keep thinking that maybe if we do this, it will just screw everything up. I mean, I'm nobody, really. I have so much baggage, and I don't know what the hell I'm even doing half the time. You deserve much better than me. I-..."

Lee's mouth on hers cut her off, and she felt his hands take hold of hers a moment later. He pulled back, looking her in the eyes.

"I'm freaking out too," he admitted, "and hearing all my worries come out of your mouth just now made me realize even more how perfect you are for me."

"How so?"

"Because I don't want to be with someone who is so full of themselves that they have no worries about anything."

"Oh."

"I love you, Emily," he said simply. "All of you as you are."

He loved her. She felt like she might cry. Instead, she kissed him again. All of her fears just melted away with each kiss and touch. She wasn't holding back this time, and neither was he. She pulled him up the stairs and into her room, putting her arms around his neck as he held her waist and kissed her at the foot of her bed.

No pressure, no anxiety, no expectations.

Just the two of them.

...

Lee was feeling incredibly star struck. Whatever he'd imagined all this time, nothing compared to the real thing. They were on their sides facing each other, and he suddenly noticed that Emily was crying.

"Em?" he asked, feeling alarmed.

"I'm okay," she answered. "I just...is that what it's supposed to be like?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is that what it's like to be loved by someone?" she asked. "Because that was not just...that...that was something else entirely."

"That's exactly what it's like to be loved by someone, Em," he confirmed. She let out a half choked sob, half gasp, and he pulled her into him tightly.

"That's what I've been looking for all this time," she said, muffled against his chest. "You...I've been looking for you all this time..."

"And you found me," he told her. "I'm not going anywhere."

She kissed him again, and he let her, smoothing away her tears gently with his fingers. Her heart beating against his chest was his new favorite thing about her.

"Sorry," she said a moment later. "I swear I don't cry after every time."

"It's okay," he replied with a small laugh. Then he lifted a brow. "But I have a question for you."

"Okay..."

"Did you Sally me? Be honest." He'd been a little worried about that if he was being truthful. She moved to prop herself up, which made him shift onto his back as she settled on his chest and rested an arm on either side of his head.

"100% Emily," she answered, touching her lips to his lightly.

"You promise?"

"I swear it." She was warm against him, smiling at his little insecurity but not in a mean way.

"Because you can tell me the truth. I can handle it," he advised. He ran a hand up and down her back slowly.

"I am telling you the truth," she promised. "You have restored my faith in men knowing what the hell they're doing." He burst out laughing a bit, and she did too.

"Glad to hear it," he said. She pressed her face against his, and he rested his hand at the back of her neck gently.

"I love you, Lee," she murmured. "Please don't leave me."

"I will never leave you, Emily," he said. "I promise."

...

Emily never wanted this night to end. She and Lee spent most of it tangled up talking or kissing or more, and the idea of him going back to his pull out the next night was torture. She liked having him next to her, either holding her from behind or letting her lay half on his chest or just being there a half an arm's length away to touch if she wanted/needed to. She liked listening to his heart beating and his slow breathing from sleep. She liked when he would smooth his fingers across her cheek, arm, or back at times.

When it was morning, she woke up first and found herself feeling sad it was over. Then she felt Lee's lips on the back of her neck and couldn't help but smile.

"You're still here," he teased, and she rolled onto her back to look up at him.

"I live here," she reminded him.

"And if you didn't?"

"You really think I'd run away?" she asked. He looked a bit insecure for a moment, and she realized that he did, in fact, think that. She propped herself up onto her elbows. "Lee?"

"It's a fear of mine," he confessed. "But I'll get over it."

She reached to cup his face and kiss him, partly because she wanted to reassure him and partly because she didn't know what to say. She worried he might be right, that something big would happen and she'd panic and run, but in this moment, she was feeling content. She was feeling like she could handle anything. He helped her to feel that confidence.

"I'm gonna take a shower," she advised after. He just nodded. She went down the hall to the bathroom and got ready. She found herself a bit disappointed when he did not join her. She finished and was walking back to her room when she heard him on the phone downstairs.

"I'm leaving in ten minutes," he was saying. She froze, a bit alarmed. What was happening? "Yea. I'll pick you up. See you soon."

"Lee?" she said, and he appeared at the foot of the stairs. "What's going on?"

"I have to go," he replied. "I'm sorry."

"Why? Where?" She went down to follow him as he rushed to pack. "Lee? Talk to me!"

"It's Ma," he said, turning to face her now. "She's gone septic."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she is on the brink of death," he answered. "Claire called to tell me. I'm picking her up and we're leaving for home as soon as I leave here."

Emily didn't know what to say. It frightened her to have Lee lose his mother. She could see he was scared and hiding it as best as he could. She clutched her towel against her, feeling stupid now for being disappointed earlier.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

"No," he answered, dropping his bag at the door now. He moved to stand in front of her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "I'll call when I land."

"Keep me updated."

"I will."

His goodbye kiss was brief and distracted. She understood why. He thought he might not get there in time to see her before she died. It was a devastating thought and one she hoped wouldn't come true.

He left her standing there alone and feeling suddenly abandoned.

Hours Later

Lee felt like he couldn't breathe. He and Claire had barely talked on the trip here. All they could think about was what would happen if they lost their mother. He also felt a bit aggravated that his father hadn't called him and just left it up to Claire and that he'd taken so long to even call her in the first place. He tried to understand that it was a hectic response to what was happening, but it still bugged him. He would have preferred to know his mother was declining instead of finding out she could die before he got there.

That thought made it very, very hard to breathe.

"Dad," Claire said as they approached at the hospital. They'd left their bags in the rental car. Lyle hugged her tightly and then Lee.

"What's happening?" he asked, and his father sighed.

"She's unconscious for now. All we can do is wait, but it doesn't look good."

"Do we know how it started?" Claire asked as they went to sit on the row of chairs in the hallway outside of their mother's room, which was sealed off. No one was allowed in without gowning up. Lee stood outside the room's window, watching her, instead of sitting. He felt his heart twist at the sight of how frail she was.

"I don't really know. I don't understand it. She was fine one minute and then the next..." Lyle trailed off. Then he started to cry. It really unnerved Lee, who had never seen his father cry, to witness this. But it helped him understand that this wasn't a slow decline...it had been rapid. Hence the short notice.

"It's alright, Dad," Claire soothed as she rubbed his back gently. He buried his face into his hands, shaking with sobs. Lee had to turn away, his own throat tight with emotion and tears burning in his eyes. He was trying to remember the last thing he'd said to his mother or when they'd even last talked. He'd put so much energy into his relationship with Emily that he'd forgotten everything and everyone else. He felt a bit ashamed.

"I c-can't live w-without her," Lyle sobbed. "S-She's everything t-to me."

Claire pulled him into a hug as he continued to cry, and Lee hugged himself tightly, unable to move or speak. He looked back at his mother, praying that she pulled through.

...

"Is Uncle Lee okay?" Teddy asked for the hundredth time. Emily had received both of them back home on Saturday afternoon and had to explain why Lee wasn't there. She'd kept it simple: Lee's mummy wasn't feeling well and needed his support. Teddy seemed to see through this a little bit because he kept asking if Lee was okay or if his mother was going to die.

"Yes, sweetheart, he's okay," Emily answered again. She was doing her best to keep them both distracted. Jenna was easy enough. She was satisfied with rolling a ball back and forth for hours. Teddy, on the other hand, kept switching projects. He was coloring one minute and then playing Lego the next. Then he was after a movie. She could tell he was reliving the loss of his parents a bit, and it really hurt her to know this.

When it was bedtime, he became anxious. Emily put Jenna down, and thankfully, the girl didn't fuss tonight. She went to Teddy's room next, finding him sitting on the edge of his bed and fidgeting with his fingers.

"Talk to me," she said, smoothing her hand up and down Teddy's back lightly. "What's wrong?"

"I remember how scared and alone I felt when Mummy and Dad died," he said. "I want to help Uncle Lee feel better."

"But his mummy is not dead," Emily reminded him. "She's just really sick." She felt shivers when his haunted eyes met hers.

"I can feel it," he said somberly. "She's going to die."

Emily didn't know how to feel in this moment. Then she felt bad that Teddy was even thinking this type of stuff.

"You know how tough Uncle Lee is, right?" she asked, getting up and shifting him so that his feet were now under the covers. She pulled his blankets up to his chest next.

"Yea."

"Well, his mother is twice as tough," Emily promised. "She will be okay."

"Okay," he said in a small voice. She kissed his forehead and smoothed her hand over it afterwards.

"I love you," she said.

"Love you too."

"Think about something that makes you smile," she encouraged.

"I'll try."

She heard her phone ringing, and she patted Teddy's cheek fondly before going to answer it. Her heart skipped a little seeing that it was Lee.

"Hi," she said. "Are you okay?"

"Hey," he said back, sounding weary. "I'm alright."

"How is she?"

"The same. No changes."

"I'm sorry." She felt so bad being so far away from him. She'd be comforting him if they were together.

"It's alright. At this point, I don't know what to think. It is incredibly strange to see my father cry," he said. "I've never seen it in my life. It felt so...wrong. Wrong for me to witness something so personal, you know?"

"I can't imagine." She couldn't, really. She'd never had that chance since her parents had died when she was so young. Her heart pained for Lee, knowing what it felt like to lose a parent. Well, in her case, two.

"Thank God for Claire," he sighed. "I wouldn't know how to even begin to help comfort Dad right now if I was here alone."

"I'm glad she's with you."

"How're the kids?" he asked after a moment. She could picture him leaning against a wall somewhere, probably the hospital based on the background noises. He'd have a hand in his pocket or rubbing against the back of his head with his other holding the phone to his ear. She imagined he'd be closing his eyes briefly, periodically, to try to cope with the feelings of being overwhelmed, and his jaw would be working overtime.

"Jenna's fine. Teddy's very worried about you," Emily answered.

"Why's that?"

"I just said your mother wasn't feeling well and that you went to help her, and he's convinced she's dying and you're suffering."

"Wow."

"I know! I sometimes have to check to make sure he's really only seven," Emily said, moving away from the stairwell to avoid her voice traveling up to Teddy's room. Lee gave a soft chuckle on the other end of the phone.

"I hear you. He's remarkable."

"Hey, can you talk to him?" she asked. "He's having trouble sleeping. Maybe if he hears it from you that you're okay, he'll sleep better."

"Yea, sure."

Emily went up to Teddy's room, finding the boy still awake and staring at the ceiling.

"Hey," she said softly, making him look at her. "Someone wants to say hi." She sank down onto the bed next to him and handed him the phone. Teddy sat up and took it gingerly.

"Hello?" he said. She watched his face brighten a little upon hearing Lee's voice. She couldn't hear what Lee was saying to him, but it was obviously working a little bit.

"You're sure?" he asked now. Then he listened for a moment. "Okay. I'm sending Grandma hugs and kisses to feel better."

Emily smiled and smoothed his hair with her hand as he listened to Lee again.

"I will," he promised. "Love you." He handed the phone back to Emily, who moved to kiss his head again before he settled down onto his pillows.

"Goodnight, baby," she said to him.

"Good night."

She pulled his door mostly shut behind her before going down the stairs, pressing the phone to her ear again.

"Thank you," she said. "Whatever you said worked."

"I think you were right in that he just needed to hear it from me that I'm alright," Lee replied. "So, how are you doing there all by yourself?"

"It's lonely," she confessed, sitting on his pull out. It smelled of him, which made her miss him that much more.

"I don't know how long I'm going to be here..."

"It's okay. I understand."

"Why does it feel like months since I saw you last?" he asked with another heavy sigh.

"A crisis has a way of doing that."

"You don't regret it?" His voice sounded almost worried. "Us?"

"No, absolutely not," she answered. "I promise."

"I needed to hear that."

There was a commotion in the background on his end suddenly, and Emily's heart lurched at the sounds of shouts and loud beeping.

"Lee?" she asked.

"I gotta go," he said. He was gone before she could say anything else. She hung up her phone and cradled it in her lap, hoping and praying that Greta was going to be okay.

...

"What's happening?" Lee asked. He was met with a hand pushing against his chest to keep him from entering the room. A bunch of staff were working on his mother. Lyle was standing and staring with a hand pressed over his mouth, silent tears streaking down his face. Claire was wringing her hands and looking scared.

"Someone tell me what is going on!" Lee shouted, and Claire snapped out of her reverie. She pulled Lee aside.

"I think something happened to her heart," she explained. "They're trying to resuscitate her."

"Is she gonna make it, Claire?" he asked, noticing the slight bit of anguish in his tone. Claire pressed her lips together and hugged him instead.

"Just breathe, little brother," she said as he tightened his arms around her. "Just breathe."

The Next Day

Emily was just about out of her mind with worry and imaginings about what was happening to Greta right now when Lee finally called her again.

"Hey, hi," she said, closing her office door and leaning against it. "Is...is she...?" She couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She held her breath as Lee exhaled roughly on his end. She braced herself for the worst.

"She's stable," he answered. "She pulled through, and once they determine she's out of the woods 100%, they're sending her home."

"Oh, thank God." She slid to the floor, suddenly weak and shaky from relief.

"I concur," he said, sounding just as relieved and shaken.

"I was really scared for you."

"I'm sorry I was MIA until now."

"It's okay. You needed to be able to focus."

"I think I'm gonna stay a few more days just to make sure she's okay," he added. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," she ordered. "Everything's fine here. Just brace yourself for a big homecoming from Teddy."

"I will," he said with a chuckle. It was good to hear him laugh a little again. She wished she could hug him and make him feel better, but she was so glad his mother was alright.

"I miss you," she dared to say. It was a bit foreign to her, being this vulnerable with someone, but here she was.

"I miss you so much, Em," he replied, making her feel relieved to not be rejected.

"You might get a big homecoming from me too," she advised.

"Oh yea?"

"Yea." She was blushing now, even though he couldn't see her.

"I'll hold you to that," he said, and she felt her stomach tumble pleasantly. Then she gave a yelp as the door was pushed open behind her back and then released when it wouldn't give. Her back jarred against it.

"Are you sitting in front of the door?" Andy asked, incredulous. "What're you doing?!"

"You okay?" Lee asked her.

"Yea. Andy's trying to get into my office. I...I should go," she said. "I'll talk to you soon."

"Sounds good."

She realized she'd meant to say she loved him before hanging up, but she couldn't get used to saying that to him for some reason. It wasn't like she didn't or didn't want to. It was just still a bit new and out of habit. She got to her feet and pulled her door open, giving Andy a sharp look.

"Why are you trying to break in?"

"Why were you sitting in front of your door?" Andy countered.

"Because I felt like it," Emily answered.

"Weirdo."

"What do you want?"

"Nigel called with some potential photo shoots we can nab from Miranda. He wants you to call him back."

"Okay, thank you."

Emily went back to her desk and picked up her phone to call Nigel. She allowed herself to get lost in her work for a while since Greta's life was no longer in danger.

She couldn't wait for Lee to come back home.

A Week Later

"I'm fine," Greta said as Lee jumped to his feet to help her open a can of soup. "I swear to God, I will stab you if you don't let me do something for myself!"

"Sorry," Lee said, taking a step back. She glowered at him before finishing dumping her lunch into a pot. He was happy to see her back to her semi-regular self, but he knew she'd been scared and was processing that.

"Don't you need to be going back home?" Greta asked, turning on the burner and standing by the stove with a spoon in her hand.

"When I feel good about leaving you here," he answered.

"I'm not alone here. I do have your father," she reminded him.

"I know, but I'll feel better knowing you're doing okay."

"Trust me, I'm doing fine. Even your sister had the sense to leave."

"She left yesterday, Ma."

"She still left! You don't need to babysit me, luv. I'm fine."

"Oohh, soup," Lyle said, coming in and rubbing his hands together. He placed them on her shoulders from behind, planting a kiss on her cheek before going to pull out some crackers and bowls. Lee knew his father was never going to talk about his emotional state, and that was fine by him. He didn't know what to say about it anyway.

"I'll go at the end of the week," Lee insisted.

"You'll go tomorrow morning," Greta corrected. "I bought your ticket already."

"Ma!"

"Sweetheart, I love you, but I can't take the hovering anymore," she said, going to hold his face in her hands and give his head a shake. "I promise you that I'm fine."

"You're just saying that...argh!" He winced as she squeezed his face tighter in her hands, her nails digging into his skin a bit.

"Make me tell you again, and you'll regret it," she warned.

"Okay," he caved. "I'll go tomorrow morning."

"Good lad," she said patting his cheek heartily before going to get a sweater. Lyle was snickering quietly at the table.

"Shall I tell her how you filled a lake with all those tears?" Lee said to him a bit aggressively. Lyle immediately stopped and shook his head vehemently. "I didn't think so. Sod off, then."

"What's going on?" Greta asked as she returned, catching the tail end of it.

"Nothing," Lyle answered quickly. "Lee was just going to go pack." He shot Lee a look. Lee knew it shouldn't be so taboo to admit that he was upset, but he knew his father wanted to uphold his tough image. He'd probably do the same, if he was honest.

He left them to eat their lunch, claiming he wasn't hungry. He went up to his childhood bedroom and put his things back into his bag. Despite feeling uncertain about leaving so soon after his mother came home, he was looking forward to seeing the kids again.

And Emily.

He'd daydreamed about her more often than he should have the last couple of days. He knew she was missing him as much as he missed her. He knew she'd be thrilled to hear he was coming home. If he told her. He was thinking of surprising her.

Laughter downstairs made him smile. It was nice to see his parents still getting along after all this time together. And he knew his father probably had admitted to her that he'd been really scared and upset. He knew his father trusted his mother with everything. He just didn't want Lee to witness him sharing about it.

After a bit, he went back down to rejoin his parents. If he had less than 24 hours left with them, then he was going to spend the majority of it with them.

As he was packing up later, his father came into his room slowly.

"What's wrong?" Lee asked, feeling worried.

"Nothing. I just have something for you."

"Oh...what is it?"

Lyle pulled out a ring box from his pocket and handed it to Lee, who took it gingerly. Curious, he opened it to find his grandmother's ring.

"I can tell that Emily is a special person," Lyle said when Lee couldn't think of what to say. "I really like her. She reminds me of my mother a little bit, and I think you'd agree that she'd also love Emily very much. She wanted me to give this to you when you found your soul mate, and I think you have, even if it doesn't feel like it right now."

"Dad," Lee said, not knowing what else to say. He hadn't said that he and Emily were making a go of things because there hadn't been an appropriate time to.

"Don't worry about your sister. Your mother has a ring for her too. Her mother's."

That was a bit of a relief. Lee had felt bad for a moment thinking he was taking something from Claire.

"Em and I have started dating," he blurted out. "And I think...I think it will be really good."

"Good," Lyle said with a smile. He clapped Lee's shoulder fondly. "Glad to hear it."

"Lyle!" Greta called from downstairs. "I need your assistance!"

"Coming!" Lyle gave Lee a grin now. "Let me know if it works out."

"I will."

Lee watched his father go to help his mother. He stood there with the ring in his hand, wondering if he should dare hope that one day, Emily would wear it on her hand.

The Next Day

Emily had gotten the kids down to bed and was now doing dishes. She felt a little bit proud of herself for being a single parent for over a week. She felt a bit more confident that she'd be okay if something happened to Lee, but maybe that would be different than this. She wasn't sure.

God, she hoped nothing would happen to Lee.

She ached with missing him. She still didn't know when he was coming home. She was feeling slightly irritated that he hadn't answered her last text message.

She was drying the last dish when she heard the front door open. She froze, her mind spinning. Had she left the door unlocked? Who was coming inside? Was it the person who had killed Monica and Charlie? Had they come back to finish off everyone else?

She grabbed a knife out of the block and went to investigate. She rounded the corner to find Lee, and her brain couldn't seem to completely register it was him right away.

"Whoa," he said, catching her wrist and taking the knife out of her hand. "It's just me."

"I...I thought..." she trailed off. She gave herself a shake. It was okay. Everything was okay. And Lee was home. Wait, Lee was home!

"Hey," he said, smiling as she finally, properly looked at him. She didn't say a word as she launched herself into his arms. He was kissing her soundly a moment later. She suddenly just wanted him...all of him.

"Is she still okay?" she asked during a pause, feeling the need to confirm this before continuing.

"More than okay," he answered. "Back to her old self almost."

"Good."

He kissed her again, his hands tangled in her hair now.

"I thought of this moment the entire trip home," he said, out of breath.

"Oh yea?"

"Yea. I mean, you said big homecoming so..."

"You're right, I did."

"But just so you know, even if this wasn't an option, I would still want to be here with you." He held her gaze as his hand rested on her cheek. She felt touched. Andy had been right. They had a deep connection with each other in everything else that it was enough.

But she was very glad this piece of their relationship was alive and well.

"Come on then." She pulled him down to the office, kissing him periodically along the way. She locked the door behind them, pushing him towards the couch and making him fall backwards onto it. Then she was in his lap, removing his shirt and kissing him harder, faster. His breathing was heavy and ragged, just like hers. She realized more and more in this moment just how much she loved him.

And it was easy to see how much he loved her in return.

I hope everyone liked the last chapter and are still enjoying this story. My apologies for the delay in posting. I suffered a pretty big loss and have been trying to process some really tough grief this past month. Thanks for your patience and continued support of my writing :)