Note: This chapter is just to tie up the implied Skilene I've hinted at throughout the story. If you're not a Skilene fan, no need to read this chapter as it doesn't add much else to the story. If you are, read on!

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I went into the guest bedroom the following morning with two cups of black coffee. Marlene was still sleeping and I set the cups down on the bedside table.

"Marlene?" I called softly, nudging her shoulder.

Marlene groaned and buried herself underneath the pillows and covers. I chuckled and sat on the side of the bed.

"Marlene, it's almost 0900," I told her.

She groaned again and reluctantly pulled herself into a sitting position, her hair a tousled mess. Her legs swung over the side of the bed and when she noticed the coffee sitting on the bedside table, she smiled.

"Thanks," she said with a tired sigh.

I smiled back. "Of course," I responded as she grabbed a cup and took small sips. Her face grimaced like mine did at the taste. I laughed. "Doesn't taste the best, but it'll help the hangover."

Marlene nodded and let her hands slump, the cup nestled in her lap. She seemed to have gone deep in thought about something suddenly.

"You all right, Marlene?" I asked, scooting closer to her.

Marlene exhaled and looked over at me, her hair half fallen over her face. "I've just been thinking. You really were right about Rhonda, huh?"

I pressed my lips together and shrugged. "Marlene, I don't blame you for trying to see the best in people. You thought you were helping someone in need."

Marlene rolled her eyes. "Don't get sympathetic after how hard you were on me."

I sighed. "Marlene, I still stand by what I said about how quickly you were trusting of her. But I shouldn't have treated you the way I did."

Marlene slowly turned her head back to me. "Skipper, are you . . . apologizing?" she asked incredulously.

I shook my head. "No, of course not, a Skipper never –" I stopped mid-sentence as I caught her eye again and nodded slowly. "Yes, Marlene. I'm sorry."

Marlene studied me carefully. "You were ultimately right about her, though. I'm sorry I didn't trust your judgment."

I nodded slowly. "Listen, Marlene. I wasn't mad at you just because I thought you were making a mistake."

Marlene's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" she asked, turning her body to face me.

I swallowed, my heart starting to pound. "I mean that . . . I was really worried about your wellbeing during that time."

Marlene nodded with a roll of her eyes. "Obviously, Skipper," she said with a laugh.

I smiled and looked down. "What I mean is . . . I love you, Marlene. I always have, and I never stopped."

Marlene's jaw slacked and her coffee cup tilted, spilling a small amount of hot coffee on her leg. "Ow!" she exclaimed.

I laughed and grabbed the cup from her, setting it on the bedside table. "Well, that ruined the moment."

Marlene met my eye again. "Skipper, why did you never tell me?" she asked.

I shrugged and looked away. "I don't know. I was scared, I guess. But after everything that happened with Blowhole . . . I don't want to ever leave things unsaid again."

Marlene took my chin and turned my head so I'd face her again. She made eye contact with me as she gently ran a finger down my cheek. "I love you, too."

A moment later, her lips met mine and I sighed against her kiss. I reached up and gripped the back of her head, tilting her head back so I could kiss her deeper. I felt her hands run down my chest and a quiver down my spine. It had been so long since I'd felt her kiss it felt like the first time all over again.

The sound of a crash by the door broke us away and we turned to see Private in the doorway with his hands over his mouth, a cup of tea having broken on the floor beneath him. We all stared at each other in silence for a long time before Private slowly reached forward and shut the door.

We laughed as we turned back toward each other and pressed our foreheads together.

"I've missed that," I told her.

"Me too," Marlene admitted.

"Round two?" I asked.

Marlene laughed and pressed her lips to mine again.

And the rest of that story is classified.

Not . . . Agent Classified. Like classified as in . . . you didn't see anything!