Hey everyone, happy Saturday!

Hope everyone's doing great and that you're enjoying your weekend!

Here's a little update for this story, hope you like it!

And like always, thanks for reading and reviewing. It means so much and it totally motivates me to keep writing!

Happy reading!

Xoxo,

Nina

Their weekend retreat was definitely something. It was the first time they had a complete weekend to themselves, with no work or no kids to have to take care of. Although to be fair, halfway through the weekend they were missing Grace.

Just like they have grown into a grown up and healthy relationship over this time together, Gracie had become an enormous part of their life and their relationship. She had always been Adam's niece, but everything was different now. He loved her more than he thought it was humanly possible and she had given him another sense to life. Gracie was his family and Kim was a part of that. He felt like he had a glimpse of what their future together would look like and he was besotted with that idea.

For Kim it was a similar feeling. Her connection with Gracie had always been special, even before knowing Adam and being involved in this whole situation. But being part of this just made everything much more intense. Not only did she feel like she was doing something that truly mattered, but she also got to experience something she thought she would never have after Andrew's death. The Ruzeks showed her the meaning of true love again, they showed her protectiveness and sacrifice and they showed her that the life she always dreamed of was still possible, even if it wasn't exactly how she had originally planned it.

So yes, as much as they loved each other and spending time together, they missed the little munchkin and couldn't wait to see her.

"So, now that we are heading back to the real world, I think we have some things we need to arrange." Kim said, trying to keep the situation real. Just like she suggested the first night in the pool, that weekend had been their bubble. They didn't talk about the case, or the future, or their worries or fears. They just enjoyed their company and loved each other. Oh, and they also unlocked the five times in one night level. Adam was damn proud of that and Kim was on cloud nine.

"Just let me enjoy the bliss of this weekend a little longer." He begged and she wasn't all too pleased, because Kim being Kim needed to have everything programmed, organized and sorted. Especially when it came to this, where she really did trust that everything was going to be fine but at the same time she couldn't help but feel terrified about the whole situation. "Please? It was a great weekend, you can't deny that."

"I'm not denying it. It was truly amazing." She looked out the window of his truck and then back at him. "In fact, we should do that again sometime."

"We will. I have everything planned in my head." He began to share his idea with great enthusiasm and a gigantic smile on his face. "When Kit and Anne come back, you and I are taking a well deserved trip to some paradise beach. You name it, we'll go." His excitement was too contagious and without even noticing it, Kim found herself smiling as well.

"Greece, Thailand, Bali. Any of those would work."

"Ok. We'll research and we'll go." He said already picturing the trip in his head.

"How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Manage to lighten up my mind like that. Make all my worries go away." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, careful not to move his eyes away from the highway.

"I have no clue. But if it makes you feel better, then I'm glad I can do that." He looked at her briefly and then back to the road ahead of him. "I'm not trying to avoid the reality that we're about to face. I just want to live in this happy place for just a little longer."

"I know." She answered calmly because she understood every word he was saying.

"Can we talk about this when we get home?"

"Of course." She said sweetly as her hand found a place on his knee.

The rest of the ride home was defined by that last interaction. They both wandered off to the future and talked about some relaxing and sexy vacation, but what both of them thought about but neither said aloud was their future as a couple, as a family, their own family. It was an idea that made them both feel so warm inside, and for some reason they were still shy to share, but it was right there in the middle of their hearts.

A few hours later they were both walking into Kim's apartment. Adam walked behind her carrying her bags as she moved around the place turning on the lights and getting them both something to drink. The chat they were postponing earlier was now impossible to evade.

"Thanks." He told her as he took the glass of juice she was handing over to him. "Ok. Let's talk." He knew they had to do this, but he was dreading this moment.

"How should we do this? We know I'm staying with Grace while you're undercover."

"Mm hmm. Ok, I'm just going to put it out there. Do you want Gracie to come and stay with you here or do you want to stay at my place?"

"I don't mind really. I just want to do whatever works best for her, and maybe staying in her home is the best move right now. What do you think?" She wanted to double check her thoughts with him.

"I agree." He closed his eyes and took another sip from his juice. "I also like the idea of you living in my place." He raised his eyebrows a couple of times hinting one of his many wishes for their future and Kim could only blush. "I'm going to have to tell pops you'll be taking care of that and you two can stay in touch in case you need anything." He added quickly to change the subject and not lose track of the conversation.

"Ok, that sounds good."

"I'm also going to talk to Voigh and the rest of the team so I can have them back you up and keep you in the loop of the case." The mention of intelligence put goosebumps on her skin. The danger of this operation was becoming more and more real, even though she was doing her best to fight her fears and be strong and supportive, her boyfriend could see right through that. "Everything will be ok honey. I'll be fine and both you and Grace will be fine as well."

"So why do you want me to stay in touch with Voight?" The worry in her eyes was killing him, so he beckoned her with his index finger and once she stood from the couch he guided her to sit on his lap.

"Do you know how every time I go to work you always tell me to be safe?" She nodded in response. "I know what it triggers in you every time I'm out. I know you worry and I know you care. But the thing is that you're not the only one who feels that. I have the exact same need. I need you to be ok, safe and protected and the only way I can do that if I'm not here is having them watching out for you two." Her eyes started to water and her arms flew around his neck. She was sobbing in silence and the only thing he could do for her right now was holding her close to him. "I love you." He whispered that into her ear until she calmed down.

"I'm sorry." She said totally embarrassed.

"What for?"

"Crying like a baby. I should be strong and have your back, not the other way around."

"You are strong and you have my back, and I'm scared too. But there's no other option right now."

"I know." She kissed his lips and took a deep breath as he rubbed her back.

"Would you like me to stay with you tonight? Just hold you in my arms until you fall asleep and tomorrow we can pick up Grace together, have breakfast and I'll drop both of you off in school?"

"Yeah, I'd like that."

"That settles it then."

"When are you telling Grace that you have to go away for work?"

"Tomorrow I'm getting the final details and I'll talk to her about it then. I don't want to tell her anything if I'm not sure about all the details."

"Yes, you're right."

"I'll tell you first and then we can talk to her together. Is that alright?"

"If that's what you want."

"It is. You're part of this and Gracie is going to need both of us there."

"Ok."

"Thank you for doing this for us." She had no words to his gratitude, she just snuggled against his chest once more and hugged him tight. They stayed like that for a few minutes until she slowly began to back away. "I'm going to get my bag from my car and I'll be right here in a second, ok?"

"Go." She handed him her keys. "I'm going to take a shower, so let yourself in." He kissed her and they both got up from the couch to do what they had to.

This night was different from the others they had spent together. This time it was about showing how much they loved and supported each other, but in a different way. In a way only the deepest and most pure affection could show. Adam held her the whole night, and whispered how important she was for him in her ear until she finally fell asleep.

Kim woke up wrapped in her boyfriend's arms to the buzzing of her alarm. She had to leave her bed and get ready for work, but all she wanted to do was stay right there and just soak him in. It took all her will power to move and get on with the day because one thing she was looking forward to was picking up Gracie.

When she came out of the bathroom, she found him getting dressed in her bedroom.

"Good morning detective."

"Good morning, Belle. Did you sleep alright?"

"How can I not when I'm sleeping next to you?" She said sweetly as she padded towards him to kiss his lips softly.

"Aww, I sleep better with you by my side too." He cupped her cheek and kissed her again. "I was thinking we could go out for breakfast with the little muffin. Take her to that place she loves." Kim nodded with glittering eyes. Every time she heard him talk about Grace like that made her fall in love with him even more.

"Sure, I love that. I'll go get ready." She walked over to her closet and started talking again. "So, where do we have to pick her up from? Where are Anne's parents staying?"

"No, she's with Pops. Everything she needs for school is there and I guess pops though it would be better for them to drop her off there last night and it worked out great for us." He lightly chuckled before he continued his idea. "That being said, I do miss the crap out of my little marshmallow."

"I know, me too! Let's hurry and go get her."

They finished getting dressed in a hurry, but they did take the time to share a few kisses here and there.

After some minutes they were both standing in front of the older Ruzek's door and Adam knocked it using a particular melody that told his father that it was him on the other side.

"Gracie, I think someone's looking for you." They heard Bob's voice from inside the house and Gracie's footsteps running towards the door.

"Uncle Adam! Aunt Kim!" The sweetest little voice echoed through the front deck of Bob's house as soon as her grandfather opened the door. "I missed you!" She said and snuggled in her uncle's arms as soon as he picked her up from the floor.

"We missed you too sweetheart." Kim added as she rubbed the little girl's back.

"We did. But I'm sure you had a great time with your grandparents."

"Yes! We went to the movies and to the amusement park and to the farmer's market."

"That sounds like a good weekend, muffin."

"It was." She said with a cute smile.

"What's that I see in your smile?" He asked, poking her nose.

"I think you mean what you don't see in that smile." Kim corrected Adam.

"I lost a tooth!" Gracie declared proudly. Bob was leaning against the frame and he was just as proud as his granddaughter, the only difference is that he was proud of his son and Kim, and how well they were handling the situation and how hard they were trying to protect Grace. The little girl couldn't stop talking about the tooth fairy and every single detail of her weekend. Adam had to stop her for a while so he could talk to Bob, greet him properly and then head out for breakfast.

Kim was thrilled by the look on Grace's face, she was happy and didn't let go of either one of their hands as she told them every single detail of her time apart from them.

"Are you ready to hit school little Ms. Ruzek?" Adam asked while he watched her eat her pancakes.

"Mm hmm. I want to see my friends and Bugs and have fun."

"And learn." Added Kim. "You're almost a second grader now." The little girl smiled with her mouth half full.

"But I want you to be my teacher forever." All of a sudden Gracie stopped talking and looked up only to lock her eyes back on her aunt. "Well but if you're not my teacher, that means that you will get to be just Aunt Kim all the time, right?" Adam found that question so damn adorable and couldn't wait to hear the answer.

"That's correct, yes." Kim said smiling. "The moment the school year ends, you don't have to call me Ms. B anymore."

"Then, I want to be in the second grade!" Both Kim and Adam were touched by the little girl's words.

"You're gonna be the cutest second grader in the world." Gracie blushed when she heard her uncle, he certainly had that effect on the women he loved. "Now, you both know I love spending time with you, but if we don't leave right now you'll be late for school."

"Ok." Grace nodded under Kim's attentive watch as Adam got the bill and then escorted the girls to his truck. When he finally parked in front of the gate, his girlfriend took a deep breath and cupped his cheek with her palm.

"Text me when you hear anything?" She asked with sad eyes.

"Of course. I love you." He said, as he leant into her lips.

"I love you, too." She answered softly with her eyes still closed.

"I love you, three!" Gracie's chirpy voice echoed in the car, making both adults burst into laughter and completely forgetting their fears.

Kim's students were literally jumping off the walls that morning, and instead of complaining about it, she was actually thankful she didn't have the time to stare at her phone waiting for a message from her boyfriend.

At lunchtime, she walked into the staff room with zero news and she was begging to stress about the whole thing but tried her best to keep her cool and hide all of that under the rug. She did a pretty decent job up until she heard the phone buzzing, when she saw his name flashing on the screen she grabbed her things and walked back to the loneliness of her classroom.

"Hey."

"Hey darlin'."

"How's your day going?"

"Um, it's ok. Listen, I've got news."