This is it, folks! The end of this little journey. There may be a epilogue for this, but I'm not sure.

I have two other projects (involving them, of course), so this will not be the last time you'll hear from me.

I didn't review it so I apologize for any mistakes.

I don't own CSI: Miami (because if I did, the show would still be on and they would be together living their happily ever after.

She opens the door for him to enter.

"Sorry for the mess, but I wasn't expect-"

"Why did you say that?"

She looks startled at him, after locking the door behind her. "I'm sorry?"

"Why did you say that any woman would be lucky to have me?"

She bites her lower lip, pondering on what she's about to say. Taking the easy way out, she answers, "because it's true. Any woman would be lucky to have you."

Apparently, it was the wrong thing to say because he looks even angrier.

"Then why didn't you?" He almost screams at her and, as he sees the confused frown on her face, he continues, "C'mon Natalia, stop playing dumb with me. You know what I'm talking about."

She takes a step closer to him and says in a low voice. "I get that you're angry but if you came here to yell at me and says things like that, I'll have to ask you to leave."

He distances himself from her, walking towards one of her windows. Taking a deep breath to collect his thoughts, he says, "I'm sorry. It's just that I don't understand."

Taking pity on him, she sits on her couch, picking her glass of wine. "Then talk with me. Stop yelling and throwing sentences expecting me to understand them."

"You know how I feel about you. You know that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to take us to the next level. And when I tried, you pushed me away." He sits next to her and puts his head on his hands. "I thought that this ship had sailed, and I accepted the fact that you would never be mine. Then, you say things like that and you make me wonder."

She nods, unable to say anything because she knows that she wasn't being fair to him.

"But the thing is, Nat," he turns his head to look at her and it scares her the vulnerability that she can see on his eyes, "I'm done. I don't want to play games with you anymore. I don't want any hidden messages. This dance that we are doing? It has to stop."

The brunette nods again, because she agrees with him. She's done with it too.

"You're not going to say anything?"

He feels his heart sink on his chest. She's about to turn him down - just like he knew she would.

"Before Sam," she says in a quiet voice without looking at him, "I knew that you'd always be there. It wasn't fair of me, I know, but I knew. So I was taking my time. After Nick, after Eric, I was afraid to put myself out there, again."

"But Natalia, I would never do anything to hurt you. Not intentionally."

She's looking at the ceiling when she answers. "I know that, Ryan. Consciously, I know. But really, after everything, can you blame me for not trusting my heart to anyone, anymore?"

He shakes his head because he can't.

"And then, Sam appeared and I thought that you finally had given up on me. So I took a step back and decided that you needed to be happy, even if it wasn't with me."

She takes a sip of her glass before continuing, "then the whole fiasco happened and I thought that you needed to know that yes, you are worth it and yes, anyone would be lucky to have you."

It's a silver lining, he thinks. He tries to contain the hope that's blooming on his chest. "Even you?"

One heartbeat.

Two.

"Even me."

He swallows hard and turns his body to fully face her. She's still not looking at him and he can't understand why.

"What now, then?"

His heart is thundering on his chest and he wonders if she can hear it. His hands are shaking, and he wants more than anything else to just hold her.

"Now we continue with our lives as if this never happened."

She stands and walks to her kitchen, leaving a baffled Ryan behind her.

It takes a moment for her words to sink but, when they do, he runs after her. "What?"

She has her arms crossed over chest, a sad smile on her lips. "I'd be lucky to have you, yes. But you wouldn't be lucky to have me."

There's her kitchen counter between them. He decides to leave it like that because he's afraid that she might run if he tries to come closer to her.

"And why is that?"

Her voice is so broken when she replies that makes his heart break. "Because I'm damaged, Ryan. I'm old and I'm damaged and you don't deserve it."

He slaps his hands on her counter, making her jump. "Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"

She doesn't respond and, before he can regret his decision, he rounds the counter, stopping in front of her.

"One chance, Nat." He holds her upper arms afraid that she might leave. "All I'm asking is one chance to prove I'd be lucky to have you."

She's quiet and he decides to take a different approach.

"You forget that I'm damaged too. I had my own demons to fight, but I'm still here, trying."

He can see that her resolve is crumbling.

"I'll hurt you. I'll keep things from you, not because I want you, but because I don't know how not to."

He shrugs. "I'll just have to be patience with you."

He moves his arms a little as she uncrosses her arms, letting them fall on her sides. He doesn't let go.

"I'm disorganized."

He smiles at her. "I'll be the organized one for us."

He lets go of her arms only to hold both of her hands.

"One chance, Nat." He murmurs, closing the distance between them.

He stops, just before his mouth came in contact with hers. He'll let her decide, even if it means another heartbreak for him.

When she kisses him, it's soft. There's not fireworks nor music on the background.

Instead, there's a feeling of righteousness, of things finally falling into place. There's a sensing of belonging, of home.

When they break apart, her hands are resting on his shoulders while his arms are hugging her waist, scared that she might disappear.

"Are you sure?" There's still uncertainty in her voice.

He responds her with a kiss, tightening his hold on her.

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