A/N: This is the final chapter of my little story. Thank you all for reading, following and reviewing my story.
Seven days had past since Jess had spent the day with Becker and Lotte in the Thorpe Park. Seven days, since Lester had called, telling her that Jenny and Michael have decided that they would take in Lotte. Seven days since Becker had told Lotte about the next change in the young girl's life.
Today was the day that Lotte would move in with the married couple. The numb feeling Jess had felt in the pit of her stomach since the moment she woke up grew with every step that brought her closer to Lotte's new home. It wasn't only the idea that Lotte wouldn't be around anymore that didn't sit well with her, but also the nagging thought that it was mostly likely, that Becker would distance himself after tonight.
And while Jess and Becker followed Lotte, who skipped ahead towards the Miller's house, the field-coordinator took a deep breath. An action she wasn't aware of until Becker reached for her hand to give it a gentle comforting squeeze.
Thankfully she gave him a small smile that, to Becker's concerns, didn't reach her eyes.
Becker studied her from the side as they turned from the pavement into the front yard.
He knew that Jess had grown fond of the German girl and was now torn about the fact that Lotte would move in with Jenny and Michael. He knew the field-coordinator had the feeling she as letting the child down.
Becker had tried to convince her that this wasn't the fact, that Lotte didn't think so and that she was still able to visit Lotte whenever she wanted.
Four evenings ago, Jenny and Michael had invited the three for dinner, to get to know Lotte a little. The first meeting went surprisingly well and after the first half hour Lotte relaxed in the new surrounding and began to chat away with Jenny and Michael.
The five of them had met every day after the first dinner together, to give Lotte more chances to get to know the Miller's better.
And more than once Jenny had assured Jess that she was welcome to visit Lotte anytime.
"I'm right here for you." Becker said quietly as the pair joined Lotte on the doorsteps. The curly blonde had already rang the bell and waited excitedly for someone to open.
The door swung open, before Jess or Becker could say anything more. Jenny appeared in the door frame and Lotte greeted her with a small embrace before she moved into the house to wrap her arms around Michael, who stood in the hallway.
Jenny greeted Jess and Becker with embraces and smirked knowingly at the soldier when the two entered the house and Becker took Jess' hand again.
"Jess, come I want to show you my new room." Lotte piped up already halfway up the stairs. Rather reluctantly Becker let go of her hand once more and followed Jenny into the kitchen.
Without mincing matters Jenny turned to to Becker, "You really should tell Jess what she means to you. And I mean straight forward, not in a 'keeping-a-loophole-open'."
Surprised by his former colleague's words the captain remained silent.
By the time Jenny had prepared the tea, her words had sunk in.
"I know." Becker stated when he took the mug Jenny offered him.
"It's lovely," Jess told the young girl earnestly as she circled the room slowly, taking in the details of where the child was now going to grow up.
"Wanna see the best part?!" Lotte grinned, clearly excited.
Jess nodded, trying to appear as excited as the girl.
The girl reached out for a knob on the wall and slid open a section of it, revealing a large white board with markers for her to draw on it.
Jess smiled and picked one up, "C'mon," she said to the girl, "Let's draw a picture."
"You two were a long time," Becker commented as Jess and Lotte rejoined the others in the kitchen.
"We were drawing a picture!" Lotte grinned at him. "We drew an ocean with a whole bunch of fish in it!"
"That sounds wonderful!" Jenny said enthusiastically as she placed a steaming plate on the table. "And dinner is served."
Jess tried her best not to show her disappointment when Lotte quickly seated herself beside Michael and insisted that Jenny sat on her other side. She was glad the girl was excited and happy to be with them, but she'd rather hoped she'd want to sit beside her tonight for their last day.
Despite her efforts, Becker noticed and sat beside her quickly, reaching under the table for Jess' hand and giving it a quick squeeze. "It'd be harder if she didn't want to stay here," he whispered to her before letting go and turning to his meal.
Three hours and another dinner together, Jess and Becker left Lotte, Jenny and Michael.
On the short walk to the car, Jess remembered the text message Abby sent her a few days ago.
"Becker can I see your car keys?" Jess asked curiously.
"Why?"
A soft red colored Jess cheeks immediately, "Abby mentioned something about your special key chain." Her voice cracking slightly.
"Yep, I should have guessed that." Becker said more to himself than to the petite brunette beside him. He wrapped his arm around the young woman's shoulders. "I'll show you, but before I do that, you have to wait until we are in the car. There is something waiting for you in the glove-box."
When they got to the car, Becker opened the passenger door for Jess, carefully hiding his keys in the process.
"Open up." He said when Jess looked at him expectantly, obviously waiting for permission.
Jess opened the box as she was told and pulled out a silver photo frame. Speechless she starred at the photo. It was one of her, Becker and Lotte - she saw herself looking at Becker over Lotte's head. All three of them smiling brightly.
"It was taken on our last ride on the Flying Fish," Becker explained. "You didn't see it because of Lester's phone call. Lotte begged for a copy and I thought you'd like to have one too. So I got both of you a copy. And me a key ring." He held up his car keys and chuckled a little.
With tears in her eyes Jess swung her arms around Becker's neck in a hug. "Thank you. It's beautiful."
The car drive back to Jess' flat past in complete silent, both ARC employes dwelled on their own thoughts.
When Becker stopped in front of Jess' house, but the young woman hesitated to get out. The idea of returning to an empty flat, without Lotte and Becker there to keep her company, made her sad.
"You're okay?" Becker's voice quietly cut through the silence that had settled over the car. The soldier shifted slightly in his driver's seat so that he was facing Jess. The young woman met his gaze.
"I don't know." Jess answered truthfully. "It will be really quiet here without Lotte. She has only been here for a couple of weeks, but I've grown so used to have her around."
'And you.' Jess added in her mind. "I know I can visit her whenever I want but it's not the same."
Jess stopped talking, she had no idea how to express her feelings. It wasn't alone the idea of not having Lotte around anymore that caused the acrimonious feeling in her stomach.
Jess was sure that Becker would now bring distance between them again. That in a week's time those past few days were just a dream, leaving them as co-workers only.
Becker watched the young woman closely, a sad expression clouding her features and when the sigh escaped her, the Captain knew it was time to act.
He reached for Jess hands that were lying in her lap, he began to stroke the back of her hands with his thumbs as he started to speak.
"Jess, you can visit Lotte anytime. She can spend the weekends here if you want her to. Jenny and Michael won't mind; you know that. They have told you so, more than once."
"As for the unspoken worries that include me," Jess stiffened at his words and the soldier tightened his grip on her hands for a second.
"Jessica really, those thoughts were plain to see." Jess didn't dare to look at him, but heard the smirk in his voice. Her cheeks heated up and she ducked her head in hope he wouldn't see the color on her face.
Becker grinned to himself and brought her right hand to his lips and placed a small kiss her fingers. "I meant what I said the other day. I really enjoy spending time with you on and even more off work. And I try my best to ignore the emotional-retard part of me, okay?"
His words caused Jess to chuckle and she looked at him for a short moment.
"But what if you change your mind. Monday at work?" Jess' voice was only a whisper, yet Becker had understood her too well. He didn't blame her much too often in the past he had messed with her mind.
Becker took a deep breath, the confession he had to make scared him in a way he had never experienced before.
"I won't. I promise. I want you in my life, not only as a colleague."
Becker placed a hand under Jess' chin turning her head gently so she was facing him. He waited until she met his gaze.
"Jessica, would you like to go out on a date?"
Tears filled Jess eyes but the beaming smile on her face indicated them to be happy ones.
"On a real date? For dinner?"
"Yes a real one," Becker smiled at the woman in front of him and leaned in closer, so his cheek was touching hers, his lips brushing her ear "with a good-night-kiss."