"What a wrap-up!" Trip leaned over Daisy's desk. "Did you see the look on Daniels' face when they told him?" The entire office had gathered around that morning, and very little work was getting done. As soon as the news got out that the real burglar had been caught, everyone was keen to get as much gossip in as possible. It was definitely one of the most interesting cases to come across the desks of Distant Star Casualty and Fidelity of New York.

"He was as white as a ghost!" Daisy laughed. "Couldn't string a coherent sentence together."

"In the poor guy's defense, Coulson milked his nerves," Mack pointed out. "He could have broke it to him better than just saying they caught the burglar and FitzSimmons had been it." Everyone shrugged or nodded unenthusiastically. "It had to have been a shock for the man to realize he didn't know what his own employees had been up to behind his back."

"What do you think of their little romantic announcement, huh? Off to elope? Never even knew they had a thing."

Daisy rolled her eyes at Billy Koenig. "We all had our suspicions." She shook her head, not bothering to hide her disapproval. "He had a prenup all drafted up, but after the whirlwind with the Jade Monkey case, I heard him say he couldn't care less. Tore it up and threw it in his father's face. He's like a changed man."

"Never thought Daniels would actually settle down, that's for sure," Trip sighed. "That Miss Simmons must be quite the catch."

"I heard talk of them going to Paris for the wedding!" Daisy nudged him lightly in the arm.

"Paris? Wow!"

Fitz shuffled through the hallway then and everyone quickly hushed. He looked up at them all with such a pained, irritated expression that it took all of Daisy's strength not rush over and give him the biggest hug.

Instead, Fitz adjusted his tie. He held his chin in the air and marched through the herd of his gossiping co-workers towards the closed door. If he was aware of the murmured chatter that followed in his wake, he refused to show it.

"Mr Daniels," Fitz said with a knock on the door, "I just came to say I'm leaving."

Daniels was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands, and gave a slight jump when Fitz spoke. The man looked worse for the wear, like he hadn't had a fitful night's rest in days. Fitz could relate.

"Ah, Fitz. What can I say? We all make mistakes, huh?" The tall man stood, buttoning his jacket and sloughing off his exhaustion. He motioned for Fitz to sit. When Fitz waved off the offer, Daniels walked around and leaned against the front of his desk, rubbing at his chin. "Of course, you've gotta admit – they did have a pretty strong case against you."

Fitz shrugged. "The Koenig-Morse company are relentless, and good at what they do in the end. They'll be a good fit here, sir."

"Sir!" Daniels laughed at the title. "Look, I know you can get a job anywhere, Fitz. If you really decide to go, you'll have our blessings. But if you stay, you'll have a raise, and I'll see to it Miss Simmons stays out of your way," he offered. "It's the least I can do after all you've done for us. In fact, we'll both be gone for a couple of weeks as it is, so you can enjoy having the run of the place while we're gone," he said. He leaned in, then, a grin spreading across his face. "Miss Simmons and I are going to Paris."

"Oh yeah, the actual city?"

"Hm? Of course," Daniels blinked, Fitz's jab going completely over his head. "And after our wedding, Miss Simmons likely won't be around much, so you won't have to worry about her getting under foot," he went on. "Between you and me, she's quite keen on starting a family, and I find myself rather looking forward to the prospect."

Fitz gave a hollow nod, gritting his teeth. "Glad to see you're both getting what you want."

"Isn't it strange? Never thought I'd be one to settle down like this," Daniels mused. "Jemma just brings something out in me."

"Yeah, she's something else all right."

"It's all such a novel concept," Daniels shook his head. "But people have been doing it for a while I hear; marriage and babies and whatnot. There must be something to it!"

"Wouldn't know, sir."

"There's this Sir again!" Will playfully nudged at Fitz's good shoulder. "Fitz, whatever you decide, don't be a stranger, okay? You know my door is always open."

Jemma hesitated for as long as she could, staring at her office door. She had far more packing to do, and she'd left it all to the last minute, which was very unlike her. But she'd heard Fitz was back in, and she wanted to - No. She didn't need to- Oh, why was she was being silly about this? She wanted to see him before she left, and there was no reason not to seek him out. They had both been part of the whole scheme. If that didn't earn her the right to at least an attempt at friendship with the man, she didn't know what did.

The closed door stared back at her, taunting her indecision. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the linoleum floor. She was being ridiculous! Finally, hoisting herself into action, she stepped forward and threw open the door, and immediately froze right in her tracks. There he was, waiting on the other side with his hand poised in the air where the doorknob should be.

"Oh." Jemma smiled warmly. "It's you."

"Yeah." Fitz ducked his head, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Just came to say goodbye, actually."

"Right, goodbye," Jemma nodded, keeping the smile at the edges of her mouth. Then, as if remembering, she added, "Yes, Will and I have a plane to catch." She opened the door wider and motioned for him to come in. Her things were strewn about her office, the most disorganized and chaotic she'd ever allowed it to get. She didn't particularly mind if he saw, especially if she was leaving soon.

Fitz shut the door gently behind him. "Well that too." He shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "But by goodbye I mean I'm leaving. I'm quitting."

She stopped where she was and turned to face him, her smile fading. "Oh." He kept walking towards her.

"That should make you very happy." He leaned forward with a smirk, stopping at the other end of her desk. "When you come back, you don't have to see me again. You can revamp everything here to be the height of efficiency, no complaints from the peanut gallery."

She nodded along with what he was saying, but realized she should at least smile to be polite when she was met with a rather extended silence where she should have continued the conversation. It wasn't her best attempt at a smile, but it would have to do under the circumstances. They both dropped their gaze down to her desk.

"So," she said. "Want to have a parting drink?"

"A drink at 10 o'clock in the morning?"

Lifting the bottle she had stowed away in her drawer, Jemma ducked her head. "Well, it's only scotch."

"What can I say to a woman who keeps a bottle of Scottish booze in her desk?" Fitz chuckled.

She raised her eyebrow at him fondly, then fished out two small tumblers, pouring them each a finger. "Let's drink to both of our futures," she said as pleasantly as she could. Jemma handed him his glass and lifted her own in the air.

"Today, Mr. Daniels. Tomorrow, the world!" Fitz teased.

They clinked their glasses and Jemma gave him a sideways glance. "I'll let that one pass, because this is goodbye."

They each took a sip. Jemma felt the smooth liquid burn its way down her throat, and the warm tingling feeling settled in her cheeks. When she opened her eyes again, Fitz was staring at her intently.

"You're really gonna marry that guy?" he asked. His expression was unreadable and it made her tap nervously at the side of her glass.

She lifted a shoulder, acknowledging the answer to his question without needing to trust her voice just yet.

It was nearly imperceptible, but Fitz definitely wilted. He shook his head dramatically to cover it. "You know, for a brilliant woman, I gotta say, you have the worst taste in men."

"He's dependable enough," she said, knitting her brows together. "He's a good man, underneath it all." It wasn't that she was defending Will - she knew all of his good qualities for herself. For her own sake, there was no need to go over her reasoning once more, the logic behind her decision. It just somehow felt as though she owed Fitz an explanation. Which she didn't. Not really. It was none of his business. She shook her head, then lifted her chin in the air and shot him a teasingly smug grin. "Besides, I didn't take up with you. How bad could my taste be?"

He smiled and tilted his head at her point. "It's a shame we could never be proper friends though, yeah? Probably would have got on well enough if we'd met under different circumstances."

"What makes you say that?"

Fitz shrugged. "Always up for a challenge I suppose. Both of us."

"That is definitely true. In another life we could have been the best of friends, egging each other on, working together instead of constantly bickering," she laughed, and he chuckled along with her until silence fell heavily between them again. Jemma looked at her empty glass. "But I guess we'll never know, will we?"

"No, guess not." He drained the last of his Scotch. Placing the tumbler back on her desk with a resolute thud, he inhaled sharply, his hand lingering on the glass.

Fitz looked like he was about to turn away, then instead turned his eyes on her. "You know, hiding underneath all those nasty remarks is a very sweet, romantic woman, Simmons." He felt much closer than he actually was. When his eyes darted down, her breath caught in her throat. "But don't ever let her come out," he breathed, the corner of his mouth twisting into a smile. His eyes flicked up to hers again, boring into her, looking almost sad despite the smile that lit up the rest of his face. "Couldn't run the risk of being happy. I know that would kill you."

"Will and I plan on being very happy," she said softly. Fitz took a step back and nodded, and she felt a chill as the space between them grew. She crossed her arms. "You know, your instinct told you he would never settle down, so..."

"Yeah. My instincts are good, but they're not infallible," he conceded. "This was one case where I was wrong. I guess that's good news for you." He set his mouth in a hard line, and started moving back for the door.

"I am sorry," she blurted before he could leave. "For shooting you in the arm, I mean. I still don't remember any of it, but I wanted to apologize either way."

Fitz lifted his bandaged arm and smirked at it as if forgetting it was still there. "Nah, it could have been worse, Simmons. Not your fault though. You didn't know what you were doing."

She nodded, and they stood facing each other across the room for what was probably only a moment. That small moment was filled with so much that neither of them had the courage to put into words that it could have lasted a lifetime. Still. They didn't speak.

"Well," he said, finally breaking the spell. "Have a terrific rest of your life, Simmons. Try not to fall out of any windows."

She rolled her eyes at him. "And do make sure the elevator's there when you're free to get in," she pointed with a smile, "because I heard of a man who plunged fifteen stories, broke every bone in his body and wound up a vegetable."

Fitz laughed. "I'll let that pass because this is goodbye."

Before she could say anything else, he shot her a last grin over his shoulder, and then he was gone.

Jemma let out a long, slow, steady breath to centre herself. She counted to ten, then she turned back to her desk and lifted her bag to continue packing. A brochure she had come across the other day fell out, and she frowned at it.

The small cardboard box was, surprisingly, the perfect size for all his things. For a place he'd thought of as his second home for so many years, it was strange to realize that all trace evidence of his presence could fit so neatly between the four small corners. At least it was light enough for his sore arm. It was lucky he'd donated most of his snack stash to Trip and Mack, or else that would have required a few boxes to itself, and he really didn't want to drag everything on. He hated goodbyes.

Fitz allowed himself a quick look back for nostalgia's sake, then lifted his chin and marched through his office door. It was tough, sure, but with all the publicity the case got, he already had a few offers waiting in the wings. He hadn't decided what to do yet, though. He may even take a stab at going solo. There was no rush. His severance pay should last him long enough. But one thing was for sure: it was time to move on. There were just too many memories at Distant Star, and the more vivid ones were growing too painful to be reminded of every day.

When he got to the main area of the office, a few people had gathered to wish him well. Most of the staff, at least. Fitz couldn't help but grin as everyone around him stood and applauded, some raising their coffee cups in an office-place salute of sorts. He'd finally got his moment.

"Hey Fitz, I was just telling them that if you quit, I go with you," Mack said, scuffing him in the good arm.

"That's right!" Daisy agreed. "Fitz, you're our hero! This was a tough nut to crack!"

"Please!" Fitz grinned. "This was all luck. I mean, if Trip didn't know magic or hypnosis, I'd still be out nabbing rubies and diamonds for that head case. Simmons too."

"It was a dastardly plot, that's for sure," Trip shook his head.

"I'm just glad the guy's behind bars now," Daisy shivered. "How terrifying to think someone was running around out there that could actually put anyone under, and then force them to do the most outrageous things."

Fitz scoffed. "You're telling me!"

"You're both wrong, actually!" Trip chimed in. "You see, a person will never do anything under hypnosis that they wouldn't do in real life," he explained.

"So what are you saying?" Fitz smirked. "That I'm at heart a thief?"

"Well... we all know there's a little bit of larceny in you." Trip laughed. "I mean you're the one who's always saying it takes one to catch one."

The room guffawed and jostled Fitz, brushing up against his sore arm.

"That must mean there's also a little bit of larceny in Miss Simmons," Mack pointed out. "I don't think any of us saw that coming."

"There's a lot of surprises in her, it turns out." Fitz rubbed at his arm. "I'm just glad she didn't hate me enough to actually become a murderer."

Slowly, the crowd began to disperse back to doing actual work before the morning slipped away. Fitz adjusted his box, remembering all the reasons he'd loved it here, now that it was the eleventh hour.

"Hey, come here," Daisy whispered over Fitz's shoulder. She grabbed his box from him and set it down at her desk, motioning him to follow. "So. What are you gonna do?"

"Oh I dunno, a few places have been in touch, but I was thinking maybe I'd-"

"Not about work, dummy." Daisy rolled her eyes. "About Simmons. You have a crush on her, don't you?"

Fitz gaped, then made a show of floundering. "Who, Simmons? Me? No idea what you're talking about!"

"Oh come on, Fitz! I've always known it. Practically the whole office has bets going. You can't hate somebody that much without there being at least a little bit of attraction underneath it all."

"Says who?"

"Call it my instinct," she grinned. "Against all odds? I mean Fitz, you're the one who taught me to trust it. And besides, you two were all over each other when you were both all monkey-fied," Daisy said, raising her eyebrow at him.

He shrugged, then looked down defeated. "I think I'm in love with her." Daisy squealed, and he quickly tried to shush her. "But it's the stupidest thing that's ever happened to me! It's embarrassing. On top of everything else, she's practically already married to the man of her dreams!"

"Yeah, well, not yet she's not," Daisy put her hands on her hips. "You better take the bull by the horns, Fitz. At least to say you've tried. She's out of here in about three minutes. Look."

Daniels had wandered over to Jemma's office and was doing his best to collect their bags as she ran around hemming and hawing over the last of her things to pack.

"Go!" Daisy pushed Fitz in her direction, and he found it was all the push he needed.

Suddenly Fitz was standing in the threshold of her door, and she was there, and he knew he only had one thing left to say to her.

"Miss Simmons. Jemma." Fitz cleared his throat. "Marry me?"

Both she and Daniels turned slowly to face him, in equal amounts of shock. "Excuse me?"

"I'm in love with you," he said simply. "We should get married." He knew how foolish he sounded, and realized he didn't particularly care anymore.

Daniels looked from Fitz to Jemma's bewildered expression, and chose to deflate the tension with a hearty laugh. "I guess Fitz has already had a few to celebrate!" He scuffed him in the arm jovially - the good arm. "A little early for that, don't you think, buddy?"

"I've had a little scotch," Fitz waved off, "but otherwise I wouldn't have the nerve to say this. Look, Jemma, I've been in love with you from the moment you walked in here all snooty and perfect, and it took me too long to say so, but I'm saying it now before it's really too late. What do you think?"

Jemma looked very put on the spot, and blinked a few times as she let her mind catch up with the rest of her senses. Then she fitted her mouth into a frown. "Fitz, please," she glanced at Will. "Don't you think you're being a bit ridiculous?"

"Of course it's ridiculous!" Fitz threw his hands in the air. "But it would be more ridiculous for you to spend the rest of your life with the wrong person when it's me you really love!"

At that, Will stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "Fitz, you're making her uncomfortable. Why don't you-"

But Jemma stepped between the two men then, and rounded on Fitz herself. She had finally got her sea legs back, so to speak, and her voice was high and pitchy. "Whatever could make you think I would ever, in my wildest dreams think of you that way? You-"

"Yeah, I know," Fitz grinned, "you pasty little cockroach or something like that," he offered. "But can't you see the venom under that? That's the whole point!"

"Jemma, let's go," Will sniffed. "Fitz, leave here at once. We have a plane to catch and an elopement to be had." Will turned and started gathering their bags. "Darling, where did you put the brochure for that lovely French circus you were just talking about?"

Jemma's hands began to worry themselves at her sleeves, but she didn't move away when Fitz moved closer to her. "Look, I'm opening up to you! I'm putting my heart in your hands," he said, grabbing hold of her hands to punctuate his point.

"You can't literally put you heart in someone else's-"

He rolled his eyes at her. "I've been difficult because I feared you, just like you feared me. Because underneath all this bickering we know this is the real thing and it terrifies us."

"Yes. I fear you," Jemma huffed, taking her hands back and fixing him with a proper glare. "You and the Boogey Man."

"Out of the way Fitz." Will turned back around and placed himself like a wedge right between the two of them. "Your heroics with the case do not entitle you to be an obnoxious bore."

Jemma turned back to her bag. Fitz stepped away and held out his arms innocently. "How can a man confessing love be an obnoxious bore?"

"I'm afraid Jemma and I have big plans, Fitz," Will said, clutching the edges of his jacket and rocking back on his heels like the winner of the fattest ham. "Those plans certainly don't include you," he concluded with an air of finality. "Now Jemma, where is that brochure you asked me to look at? It all sounded very important to you before we were so rudely interrupted."

Fitz stepped neatly around Daniels and addressed Jemma again. "Look at me. Please," he begged, and she pointedly turned her chin up to look at him. But when their eyes met, some of the irritation slipped away and she bit her lip. "Jemma. Do you want to spend the rest of your life married to the wrong guy?"

She chewed at her lower lip, taking just a moment too long to shoot back her response. "What makes you think I would marry you, even if I wasn't going to marry him?"

Daniels poked his head up from the pile of papers he was sifting through. "Hey! Stop talking about me like I'm not here!"

"Because you love me too!" Fitz proclaimed.

"Love you?" Jemma guffawed. "But you're too young for me! You're too stubborn for me. You're too... too short for me."

"You're leaving out the best part," he grinned, stepping closer. "I'm also unemployed!"

He reached out his hands and she watched them apprehensively, not moving away. But Daniels marched towards them, standing between them again before their hands could touch.

"Alright, Fitz, goodbye!" Will started to herd the other man towards the exit. "And I mean for good this time."

Fitz sighed and attempted to linger, but when Jemma refused to meet his gaze again, he deflated. That was it. He'd given it a last shot. Finally, he turned away, the picture of dejection. What else could he do? He'd tried, but apparently Jemma refused to listen to anything but reason.

"Someone call the plane and tell them we might be late," Will poked his head out as Fitz dragged his feet slowly towards the door. "Ah, darling, here's that brochure!" Will said brightly behind him. "That circus with all those little monkeys is it? Cirque du Marmoset?"

Fitz froze and whirled back around at that word. He met Jemma's eyes first, and for a heartbeat they went wide like she'd been caught. Then, as though he'd imagined it, they lost their focus and a sleepy smile drifted across her face. She turned her whole body away from Daniels.

"You go ahead Will," she said dreamily. "I'm staying right here."

"What?" Fitz and Will deadpanned at the same time. They glanced at each other briefly, and sniffed, irritated to have said the same thing at the same time. Then they turned back to look at Jemma with concern.

"I'm staying with Fitz," she said, happily walking over and lacing her fingers with his. "And I believe we have an announcement to make."

"Jemma?" Fitz said, his jaw dropping.

"Darling, you have a crazy look in your eye!" Daniels gawked at her like she was a confusing science experiment.

Jemma grinned bashfully as Daniels waved a hand in front of her face. "I've never felt so normal in my life!"

"You daft idiot," Fitz hissed. "Now you've done it! You said her trigger word!"

"What did I say?" Will floundered. "I just told her I'd found the brochure she wanted me to look at!"

"Well get it back, what was it?" Fitz ordered. He looked at Jemma and waved in her face himself. "Jemma, focus. When I snap my fingers, you will come out of your trance and you will go back to normal, remembering everything clearly and pursuing only the things you really want in life. You understand?"

"Yes," she said with a bright smile.

"Alright, three, two," Fitz snapped in his fingers. "What do you think of me now?"

"I think I fell in love with you the first second I laid eyes on you." Jemma beamed up at him, if anything more glossy-eyed than before.

Fitz frowned and looked at his fingers. He shook them out a few times then tried again.

Snap! "You're the most wonderful man in the world, Fitz." Snap! "I think you're the handsomest, the most brilliant, sexiest…"

"I want this woman helped!" Will shouted out into the hallway.

"William, please don't be upset that it didn't work out between us," Jemma grinned fondly. "I just need a man who can challenge me on an intellectual level. You understand."

Daniels looked at Jemma, confused and well past his limit, then he flew through the door. "Daisy! Call the airline and have them cancel our tickets! I see trouble on the horizon!"

"Pull yourself together man!" Fitz called after him, but he was already gone.

"Leave him," Jemma murmured, sashaying closer to Fitz. "It was over between us long ago."

"Jemma, no!" He backed away. "This isn't you speaking, it's the Jade Monkey trick! Daniels is handsome and stable and can give you a good life and-"

"And he's not very bright," Jemma pointed out with a wrinkle of her nose. "It's you that I've always wanted, Fitz. It's just like you said. It took me too long to admit it to myself."

She reached towards him, and Fitz backed through the door, not willing to trust himself if she actually got her hands on him this time. "Trip!" He shouted. "Trip, I need your help!" He looked around as the other staff popped their heads up at the commotion. "Where's Trip?" Fitz asked the room at large, desperately.

"Just in the can," Mack said. "Why, Fitz? Everything okay?"

Fitz opened his mouth but Jemma slipped in from behind him and placed a firm kiss on his mouth. Fitz held his hands in the air, angling his body away despite their connected lips. He refused to give in, but he had very little control over his face from this angle.

"Everything's wonderful," Jemma said brightly when she removed herself from him. She turned to face their gathering audience. "Everyone, Fitz and I are madly in love. He proposed and I've accepted! We're getting married!"

The cheers and applause were deafening. A chorus of "About time" and "Finally" could be heard between the whistles and exchange of money as Jemma brought Fitz in for another smooch.

When Fitz managed to untangle himself from the girl of his dreams, he held her back. "No, no, no," he cried hoping someone would hear him over the commotion. "It's not real! Someone get Trip!"

Trip had wandered out and perked up at the sound of his name. "Hey, what'd I miss? Are you two getting hitched?"

"Yes!" "No!" Jemma and Fitz both replied at the same time.

"Well that's just confusing," Trip shook his head and hushed the crowd. "Alright, let's see if we can't sort this out." Everyone leaned in, intently. "Fitz, did you propose?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"And she accepted?"

"Sure, I guess, but-"

"And you both love each other?"

"I'd like to think so, but you don't understand!"

"What else is there to understand, Fitz? Congratulations, man!"

Everyone cheered again and smushed closer to offer their rather enthusiastic congratulations now that it was sorted out again, drowning out Fitz's protests, not even attempting to listen to what he was trying to say.

"Daisy! Please!" He called out. "She's not in her right mind! It's not me she really wants!"

"Oh he's just shy," Jemma giggled, winking at Daisy.

"So much passion in a lousy insurance office!" Daisy laughed as she waved them along, ushering them both towards the front entrance. "Good luck you two!"

Jemma was beaming and Fitz looked like a deer caught in the headlights as they finally closed the door behind them.

One of the Koenigs stood with Trip, Daisy and Mack and shook his head happily with them. "Hey, what a break for Fitz that in all the commotion you forgot to de-program Miss Simmons, huh?"

"What are you talking about?" Trip chuckled. "I didn't forget anything. I deprogrammed her last night."

They all peered through the window then to where Fitz was nervously helping Simmons into her coat.

"We'll get you home and get you a nice nap," he muttered. "Then I'll hunt down Daniels for you. Can't have you throwing your whole life away over something this ridiculous."

"That's very sweet darling," Jemma said dreamily. "But I don't think he would want to come to the wedding." She continued to grin even as Fitz got more and more flustered. "I want to be married as soon as possible," she said. "We could just run down to city hall if you don't mind it not being fancy. Though it would be nice if my parents could be there. My Dad will really like you, I think, Fitz. He's usually quite a tough nut to crack, but he'll see what I see right away. You've always been the man for me, Fitz. I've never felt this way about anyone."

"Jemma, please, stop." He looked down. "It's lovely that you want all that now, but-" Fitz sighed. "If only you could feel those things for real."

Jemma cupped his cheek in her hand and tilted his chin up so he was looking at her. "Anything's possible, Fitz." Jemma smiled brightly. "After all, you feel that way about me and no one even needed to say Capuchin!"

She grinned and finished buttoning her coat as she waited for Fitz's gobsmacked expression to settle.

He blinked. He looked up at her, disbelieving. He walked away a few steps and peered into the office where the whole staff was watching through the window. They all had giant grins on their faces and waved, giving him the thumbs up. He nervously returned it, then turned back to her. She shrugged, wrinkling her nose, and at last he knew for sure. Fitz shook his head and walked back over, smoothing out his tie.

"Right," he said. "So… should we get out of here and find some place where we can go start making up for lost time?"

She tucked her arm in his. "How about my place?"

"I think I can live with that." He grinned, gesturing for her to lead the way. "Shall we?"