A/N: Okay, I know I haven't updated this for MONTHS! But Le Pecore Nere only came online the other day so we could start it, so I'm really sorry about taking so long. I don't expect many reviews, since we've left it so long, but I thought it would be nice to finish it for the people that are reading. So please review if ya want to.

Le Pecore Nere did the first part of it, and I did the rest. Hope you enjoy it, as it is the LAST chapter.

Enjoy

Chapter 22

Elena flipped through the stack of papers, finding it particularly boring. Reno was right; it was simple, just a signature here, and a date there. Only there were so many papers to do this to.

She looked up and found Reno making paper airplanes out of his paperwork. She sighed, at this rate, nothing would get done. The only thing he seemed to like to do was missions. And even then, he made light of that.

"Don't take life so seriously, 'Lena, no one gets out alive anyway." She remembered him saying.

Ever since she was little, she had always tried so hard to impress people, her sister, and her mother. It was hard, she realized to just let go and be herself.

He had taught her how to laugh, how to love, and most importantly, how to live. Not just the thing she did everyday, waking up, going to work, going back to bed. Instead she woke up each morning, and found that she didn't know what surprises the day would bring; and instead of feeling fear for not having everything planned out in a nice little organizer, she felt happy, ready to face each thing that came to her.

Everything she was, and everything she could be suddenly changed. It was thanks to him, she wanted to be like him. He was so free.

She was inspired to be more, to do more. She was inspired by him.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't realized that she'd been staring at Reno.

"What, Laney, do I got somethin' on my face?" He asked, subconsciously wiping his face.

"I wouldn't worry so much about that, I'd worry more about your face itself." She said.

Reno raised his eyebrows "Was that a joke?" He asked, smiling "Hey Rude, 'Lena made her first joke."

"Wonderful." Rude said, although whether it was sarcastic or not, it wasn't apparent.

"Ha ha, Reno." Elena said, and he threw a paper wad at her. She threw one back.

By the end of the day, what was left of Tseng's paperwork was strewn about the floor in messy balls.

"What is going on here?" Tseng asked disapprovingly. "I would expect this sort of behaviour from Reno, but not from you Elena." He said, and her ears turned red.

"Aw, don't be so harsh on her, boss-man. I did it." Reno said, smirking.

"You mean to tell me you turned all your paperwork, and Elena's, into paper balls and threw them about the room?" Tseng asked disbelievingly.

"Yep." Reno said, still smirking.

"Is this true, Rude?" Tseng asked, turning to the only apparent bystander in the room.

"I don't know, I wasn't watching." Rude replied steadily.

Tseng sighed "I don't care who did it, I just want this mess cleaned up, and the paperwork turned in." He said frustrated, and turned back into his office.

Reno smirked again "You heard him, 'Lena."

"You started it!" Elena said loudly.

"Prove it." Reno leaned back in his chair smugly and crossed his arms. This argument had been going on for a good 10 minutes now, and Elena seemed no closer to winning. Something she wasn't sure if she liked or not, as strange as it sounded.

"I saw you." The blond said bluntly. "So did Rude…"

"Ah… but Rude'll be on my side when it comes down to it… won't ya, my bald friend?" Reno looked over to Rude who looked up from his paperwork and smiled slightly.

"Reno, clean it up." His partner replied.

"God damn it!" Reno shouted, suddenly getting on his feet. "It's a conspiracy, I tell ya! Well, at least I have hair!"

Elena giggled as Reno leant down on the floor to start picking up the pieces of paper. He did not look impressed. Smiling, Elena bent down to help him.

It didn't take long for them to pick them up, although Elena wasn't quite sure how they were going to do the paperwork that was now in the trash can on the floor. Maybe Tseng kept copies…

Reno stretched his back out, cracking the vertebrae as he did so. The sound made Elena cringe usually, but this time she didn't mind. Everything he did was interesting; it was such a strange feeling, but the blond couldn't help but stare at him as he knelt on the floor, looking into space.

"Reno?" Elena leaned in towards the redhead, trying to grab his attention. Reno snapped out of his daydream and looked at Elena, a slightly confused look on his face. Elena smiled.

"What?" the redhead said defensively.

"Nothing." Elena shook her head, but she couldn't help but carry on smiling. She had a funny feeling in the bottom of her stomach. Although she couldn't place what it was, she was quickly growing to like it.

Reno shook his head and pulled a slightly disgusted expression, before jumping to his feet and ruffling his hair at the same time.

"I'm going now. I'll see you two later." Rude said, getting up and picking up his now completed paperwork, presumably to take to Tseng. Elena hadn't realized how late it was getting; it was just about time to go home, but Elena didn't really want to for some reason. Reno didn't seem to be showing any signs of leaving either, as he was now sitting, fiddling with a pen. He looked slightly awkward.

"Reno?" Elena went closer to Reno as Rude left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Hmm?" The redhead looked up casually, quickly adopting his trademark smirk again.

"Oh… nothing. Are you leaving now?" she asked casually. She cursed herself silently; she was making it seem like she wanted him to go.

"Yeah, in a sec'…" he began fiddling with his pen again. "Just thinkin' 'bout where I'm gonna go get plastered tonight…" Elena wasn't sure if the darkness in his voice was just her imagination…

"You know…" She said in an attempt to bring him around. "If you have to get drunk so much, it tells me that you're really miserable in this job… are you?"

"Nah…" the redhead suddenly perked up. "I like it really… it's all right now, anyway."

"Now?" Elena enquired.

"Yep… I got you to annoy now. I was runnin' outta 'bald' jokes, it was getting' a bit borin'." Reno smirked and got to his feet. "Heh, welcome to the team, 'Lena."

Although that sentence was full of sarcasm, and seemed have an underlying threat, it made Elena smile. She was part of a team, and she'd never been in such a situation before. And what an interesting team it was… she just knew there would never be a dull day from now on. It might not have been the best job in the world, and she certainly wasn't going to heaven, but she had met people she could call friends. People she felt about like she'd never felt about anyone else before…

"You doin' a lot of starin' an' smilin'…" Reno said, raising an eyebrow. "Are ya on somethin'? More importantly, can I have some?"

"It's nothing…" Elena shook her head. "So, where are you gonna go tonight?"

"You mean where am I gonna go to waste my spare time, my money and annoy the shit outta the bartender? I gotta better idea…" The redhead quickly slipped his hand in Elena's and pulled her out of the office. He didn't even bother going to see Tseng, just headed straight for the entrance.

When he got outside, he slowed his pace, but didn't let go of Elena's hand. It wasn't a tight grip; it was one Elena gladly returned. One that sent a shiver through her arm and down her spine. There was an excitement inside her that she wasn't sure how to show. The two of them walked down the street, hand in hand, even though Elena wasn't overly sure where they were going. She prayed silently that he wasn't taking her to a bar, but knowing him, he was. They walked on in the dusky street, lit by the setting sun. The sky was cloudless, and all the houses and trees looked like silhouettes against the orange sky. They walked past Reno's favourite bar, past all the bars, all the houses, until they were almost out of the town completely. Without saying a word, the redhead sat on a nearby bench, and Elena followed suit.

The view was truly stunning, and neither of them needed to say anything. Reno just sat, staring at the sun-stained sky, and Elena stared at him. He didn't seem the type to be impressed by simple things, but the slight smile on his face said everything. The light seemed to emphasize his red hair, and she had never realized before just how good-looking he was. She didn't like to use the word 'handsome', mainly because that definitely didn't describe Reno at all.

It was a strange thought, but, aside from all his jokes and pranks, it seemed the redhead did have a sensitive side, but he liked to keep it hidden most of the time. Or maybe he was just inspired by Elena to show a little more than a cold exterior. He was inspired by her… just as she was inspired by him.

A/N: There ya go! I hope you enjoyed the story, and sorry about the slightly cheesy ending. It was the best I could think of. Please review and let us know what you thought.