Star Dust
What's the next step of their life's journey together? Should she keep her apartment? Will they move in together? Living arrangements. Everyday life trifles. Changes and adaptations. Adjustments and compromises. She thinks nearly dazedly to herself. Love versus reality. Batman meets Magnet for Disaster. Mr. Perfectly Organized and Well Prepared against World Famous Domestic Imbecile. Can it work? Can they make it work? Can she really take that almost casual "Babe," as a confession of love? Is that a love confession? Does he do love confession? Of course she's not expecting a red, red rose and a romantic dinner under the silvery moon. But it would be nice if he could be a little more specific. He's an enigma wrapped in a mystery hidden in a puzzle. And she gets confused so easily that someone should give her a gold medal or something...
Love is a strangest and most unpredictable, sneakiest thing. It drops upon you at a most unexpected moment and gives you no time to react. And he doesn't even know when he actually fell in love with Stephanie. He wonders why he can always read her mind and sense her need. He has, more than once, thought about walking away from their messed-up tangle of a relationship—the relationship that might not even truly exist. He's always been there. Helping her. Saving her. And loving her. But lately he has grown bored watching her going back and forth between him and Morelli. And he knew he would have no problem letting go and moving on even though he'd remain emotionally attached to her. Love is never that necessary for him, truth be told. He's a mercenary. A soldier of fortune. An active opportunist. He's not the kind of man who allows himself to be trapped in memories and impossible dreams. He will concentrate and survive with or without the woman he loves...
"What the hell has been going on between you and Stephanie?"
He thinks of the dozens of messages Morelli left him. He recalls the barely suppressed anger and growing frustration in Morelli's voice. He never really understands the on-and-off unhealthy relationship between Morelli and Stephanie, and he never likes their twisted, ugly history. He didn't return any of the calls because he had been busy. He had business arrangements to make and jobs to do. Besides, he knew everything—Stephanie, that is—was peachy and fine back here in Trenton. He wasn't interested in wasting time and energy on an Italian Stud Muffin who chose to stay oblivious to an undeniable fact all these years. But he was curious and intrigued enough to decide to pay Stephanie a visit when Morelli left yet another furious message this morning. He looks into her clear blue eyes and almost smiles.
What now? Her vulnerable and uncertain eyes silently and anxiously asks.
All is fair in love and war. He cups her face in his hand. And he's glad he didn't change his mind at the last minute. "Congratulations, you have found the Bat Cave, Stephanie."
And once she finds the Bat Cave, it's forever.