Later, she would be unable to explain the relief she had felt in the courtroom when the Monster, as her mind had been calling him, was found guilty. She could not fully express how grateful she was that he was going to be behind bars, and that he still had trials in other states for other crimes, which may take years, but would keep him locked up quite possibly for the rest of his life. The only question that remained was why, and she had promised herself that she wasn't going to ask that until life had settled more.

The plane tires skidded on the tarmac and she closed her eyes, glad to be home. It took a long time to deplane, but once every single slow moving person on the planet had successfully retrieved their enormous carry-ons from the not enormous overhead compartments, she was finally headed to baggage claim. Fumbling in her coat pocket, she found her phone and turned it back on, calling Adam once she had a signal again.

"Are you finally home?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"In the midst of a throng of people."

"A thong?"

"No," she giggled. "A throng. Where are you?"

"Baggage claim. Next to the thing that's supposed to have the baggage from your flight, but that will probably change and we'll have to go to the other side of the airport, but at least your bag isn't in Des Moines or something, though it would be easier to find there."

"Aw, Rambling Adam."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"How close are you?"

"I don't have any idea. I'm just following the signs."

"I'd ask you to go faster, but that would reveal to you a level of my patheticness that I don't really want you to see."

"Oh come on, you know I'd love you anyway."

"Go faster."

"I can try, but I am pretty sure every person in the Western Hemisphere and their mother is in front of me and they all seem to want to lollygag today."

"How frustrating."

"You're telling me."

"So how tired are you?"

"Not too bad. Why?"

"I was thinking we could go grab dinner, maybe walk in the park."

"That sounds perfect."

"It's kind of chilly out."

"It was three degrees when I woke up this morning. I am pretty sure it's warmer here."

"Yeah, it's about forty today."

"Balmy."

He chuckled as she turned the corner and found herself in baggage claim. She'd never really wished to be taller, except right now.

"Where are you?"

"Lurking in the shadows, being a creeper."

"Oh so that's why you wanted to go for a walk in the park."

"At least I warned you beforehand."

"Yeah, that'll hold up in court. You know, you really should have worn a neon sign because I can't see you."

"I see you."

"New level of creepy."

"Practice makes perfect. I love that you're wearing flannel."

"Okay, seriously, where are you?"

"Right here."

"Right where?"

"Did you forget what I look like or are you hoping for someone hotter?"

She giggled.

"Alright, a little more to your left."

She turned as he directed.

"Now walk about ten steps forward…"

"You really are back in the shadows," she said once she spotted him.

"I like to stay out of the limelight."

"The lights in here are fluorescent."

"Linds, hang up."

She clicked the phone off and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly and holding on as if she never wanted to be apart from him again.

"Oh babe, I missed you," he said, pressing a kiss to her hair and breathing her in.

"I missed you too."

His hands moved up to frame her face and they moved apart slightly, their eyes locking in a way they never had before. He saw a light emanating from her, the one he had been longing for her to have back. He dipped his head down slightly, nuzzling her nose with his, an action that he knew made her smile. He got his wish as a grin cracked across her face and her eyes crinkled from the force of it.

"There she is."

His lips grazed across her forehead and as much as she welcomed and enjoyed the affection, she sighed anyway.

"What?"

"Would you just kiss me already?"

He obliged, their lips meeting slowly at first, relearning how they fit together. If their first kiss had been full of hope and promise, this one was full of joy and passion. There had not been actual wondering if this was right for months, but this kiss allowed them to communicate that to each other. They were both in it for good.

Her hand slid up to the back of his neck and urged him closer while he wrapped an arm around her waist. Their chests pressed together and tears of happiness pricked at the backs of her eyes. She needed oxygen, but she wasn't breaking this kiss until her lungs burned.

They finally parted, panting slightly, their eyes shining.

"Apparently being apart isn't so healthy for us."

"I suppose not."

"Let's get your stuff and get out of here."

"So demanding. I like that in a man."

"Well then woman, we're going to go get dinner and go for a walk and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh Rhett..."

He chuckled and took her hand, completely overjoyed to have her happy and have her home.

"Nope."

"C'mon Linds."

"No way."

"Please? Just a little."

"Uh-uh."

He sighed as she shook her head, a smirk on her face.

"You're a mean woman."

"I know."

"Okay, now try another hat on. Be a nice woman."

"I'm not doing the voice."

"Just one 'Screw you guys I'm going home.' That's all I'm asking here."

She giggled as their hands swung between them.

"You really did miss me, didn't you?"

"Yeah," he answered, giving her the most pathetic face he could muster. She sighed and cleared her throat, trying to conjure up the Cartman voice he thought was so funny.

"Drugs are bad because if you do drugs you're a hippie and hippies suck!"

"Thank you."

"I am never watching South Park again," she said, as her voice returned to normal.

"Yeah you will and you'll laugh when they kill Kenny, just like always."

"Probably."

"Puddle, watch out."

"Adam, it's just a puddle. Of water."

"And other stuff, you don't know! The things that wash off the street and get tracked on people's shoes, not to mention the people that could have peed in this puddle."

"Who pees in a puddle?"

"Junior High boys."

She arched an eyebrow at him, then looked down at the small puddle.

"I am not letting you walk through this, Lindsay. No way. Chivalry is alive and well and you shouldn't even be looking at this puddle. Yes, it is my duty to get you safely from point A to point B and in order to do that, I now have to save your shoes and the bottom of your jeans from coming into contact with what may or may not be prepubescent male urine."

"You sound like the narrator on the duck and cover videos."

"That's what I was going for!"

She giggled and rolled her eyes, but didn't protest when he motioned for her to hop on his back.

"Know what?"

"What?"

"I'm really happy. For real, not just for now."

"I've been waiting a long time to hear you say that."

She smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I love you, Adam."

"I love you too. Please don't leave town for a really long time, okay?"

"I'll do my best."

They made their way back to her apartment, both getting cold as night fell darker and darker around them. Her feet were placed back on the ground and he took her upstairs where they had stashed her suitcase before going to dinner. They stood at the door, rocking back and forth on their heels, neither wanting the night to end.

"Can we go in and lay on the couch and get lost in a world of reruns and bad acting and sit-coms with recurring actors playing different parts?"

"You wanna watch TBS?"

She smiled.

"Just an hour?"

"I have to work at six, but can I take a raincheck?"

"Yeah I guess."

He tipped her chin up and looked at her eyes.

"Are you going to be okay tonight?"

"I think so. I'll just call you if I'm not."

He smiled and traced over her lips with his thumb.

"I love you, Linds."

"I love you too. Goodnight."

They shared a short kiss and he left, standing outside her building and waiting for her lights to turn off before got into his car and drove away. Having her here made everything feel more like home. He never wanted her to go away again.