Look who's posting...10 mins before the episode airs. Thanks so much for the reviews on the last chapter. Really glad it was received well. Hope this short...but hopefully sweet conclusion satisfies.

So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light,

Cause oh, that gave me such a fright...❤

They made it as far as his front door, his remaining four senses are on complete overload, and he's finding it hard to think, excluding memorizing the feel of her skin through her soaked blouse.

She spun them around, not so gently ushering him back against the door frame and sought his lips fervently –– he's helpless to do anything but comply.

He pulled her closer to him with his hands wrapped around her lower back then traveling upwards ever so slowly until they're resting on her shoulder blades.

A second later her tongue slid past his, requesting entrance and God damnit this woman is going to be the death of him.

While her palms are tangled in his shirt and pressed against his torso he trailed both thumbs across her collar bone before his fingers trailed just over her chest as they pull back, gasping for air.

He stopped, his right hand frozen as he felt her sharp inhale of breath.

He'd reached her scar.

She didn't flinch or step back, just let his fingers graze over the skin, reminding him wordlessly she's here – she's safe.

He felt her shift to raise her hand to link through his, still lightly positioned over the spot on her chest.

"I'm glad you're back," he finally managed to whisper down to her ear.

He knows he's said those words countless times, but they weigh differently now, heavy in his mouth – it's obvious in the thick air between them that she can feel it too.

"So, you worry about me after all?" she asked, and he tilted his head at her with soft smile.

"Yeah, so, how about no more close calls for ––at least two weeks?" She let out a quiet laugh, the sound vibrating against his chest.

She was silent for another minute and her thumb brushed across his knuckles before she raised his hand to her lips slowly.

"Promise," she whispered.

She sat at the foot of his bed eyes shut against the sound of the still pouring rain, hair damp and dressed in a snug hoodie of his from…some convention he went to.

It smelled like him.

He emerged back into the room, his footsteps causing her to blink up in his direction as he took a spot next to her.

She's not sure how long they sat without talking, her hand instinctively reaching for his, and she wondered how something so new already felt like ritual.

"I knew it wouldn't change anything –" she finally said. "I just thought I would feel…" She trailed off with a shake of her head. "I don't know."

"It doesn't bring them back," he agreed, angling his head to face her.

"No," she answered, a small sigh escaping, before burring her head against his shoulder. "It doesn't."

"Hey –" He tightened his grip on her hand. "You're gonna get through this."

She hummed at his comforting words and propped her chin up to meet his eyes.

"Thanks."

"Sleep, Annie," he instructed softly down to her – and he's fairly certain she's halfway there. "I'll just –"

He was about to get up, thinking it best to take the couch when she turned to put a hand over his chest to stop him.

Without offering the protest that's on the edge of his lips, he gave a small smile on a sigh, adjusting the blanket over them both before they continued with their idle thumb wresting match.

He didn't really want to leave anyway.

Not now that he finally has her back where she belongs.

"So do you think we could get that beer soon?" she mused, softly, her voice thick with sleep. "Long overdue, don't you think?"

He can't help his strangled laugh as she maneuvered herself closer to his side.

"Extremely," he breathed.

Propped up against his heardboard with him, they listened as the rain quieted, his arms wrapped around her as she drifted off –

It's the first time she's felt safe in a really, really long while – allowing herself to believe now that everything will look brighter in the light of day.

And he's right, as always; she'll (they'll) be okay.

Because she has him.

(They have each other.)

...But I will hold on as long as you like,

Just promise me we'll be alright. ❤

So, I didn't think it seemed like the right time for them to talk about the rest of that phone conversation, as exhausted and emotional as they are...

I like the end here, but a friend is pushing for a morning after...thoughts?:)