Hi Careesers and POI fans! It feels like it's been FOREVER. I had this idea unexpectedly pop in my head and I finally got around to writing it. I hope you enjoy.

John hurried to open the front door, eager to see the faces he knew waited on the other side. The past two weeks away from his family had been long and difficult. Joss and Taylor had tried to keep him in the loop of everything going on in their lives while he was away. Sending him pictures and videos almost daily. Unfortunately, the pictures and videos only increased his desire to be with his family in person.

To make matters worse the case had been hectic. Leaving John with very little time to call or video chat with his family. Each day he had been away, he selfishly longed to be home where he could hear his children babble on endlessly, trying to utilize all the new words they were learning. To feel them cling to him and laugh and call him 'Daddy.'

And of course he had missed his wife. And longed to have her within reach. Where he could touch her whenever he wanted. By the end of the two weeks his hunger for his family had grown so much that he had to remind himself not to kick the door in like an insane man for want of seeing them.

Pure self-control caused him to open the door with his key and walk quickly, but calmly into the house.

"Joss! I'm home!"

John winced at the squeals, screams, and screeches that erupted as the result of his announcement. Soft footsteps sounded, and John widened his stance to ready himself. AJ and Tommy appeared. Running down the hallway heading his way. They collided into him, each boy latching onto his legs, holding him tight.

John ran a hand over their heads, kissing them in the process. A second later, his daughter-his precious baby girl-Jasmine, came running on unsteady legs toward him. Squealing and clapping her hands the entire way.

Without upsetting AJ and Tommy, John bent at the waist to scoop his baby girl up into his arms. Pressing her soft hands to his cheeks, she instantly greeted him with a slobbery kiss to the cheek.

"Daddee!" she squealed against his ear.

John squeezed her to him before he caught sight of Joss. He exhaled, his eyes drinking in her beautiful form.

Her dimple appeared as a smile stretched across her mouth. Keeping one arm around Jasmine, he reached out with the other to encircle Joss's waist and pull her close. She tilted her head to meet his brief but hard kiss.

Pulling back, she sent him a heated look, that assured him she would give him a proper 'welcome home' later once they were alone.

"Hey John!" Taylor's voice caused Joss to step out of his hold.

"Hey T!" John greeted his stepson. "Thanks again for staying around and keeping an eye on your mom and the kids."

Taylor had taken to staying over whenever John had to be gone for more than two days. Seeing Joss's firstborn back home left John once again feeling grateful that Taylor remained willing to help his mother with caring for his brothers and sister.

And left John feeling slightly guilty that the young man had to step in and do what he himself ought to be doing.

Shaking off the guilt John smiled at his family. He ruffled AJ's curly hair, eyeing his boys, who still held tightly to his legs. "Okay, hold on boys." He took one giant step after another causing the boys to burst into a fit of laughter as they road his legs into the living room. Joss followed grinning at their children before finding his eyes.

Silently she mouthed the words, 'I love you,' and John felt his heart melt.

It felt so good to be home.

...

The sweet pressure of Joss's weight against his chest. Her nails scraping lazily through his hair pulled a moan from him, even as his hands glided over the soft skin of her bare back. Those nails dug deeper, drawing him closer so she could prolong the deep, slow kiss she placed on his lips.

The excitement of his return thankfully hadn't kept the kids up longer than usual. Giving him the opportunity to steal away with his wife and drown in her love.

At last, Joss reluctantly ended the kiss. Pulling slightly back. Her eyelids hung low as she peered down at him. Her fingertips caressed his lips, then ran softly over his brow before slipping over his nose.

"I'm glad you're home," she whispered.

John cupped her cheek. "I'm glad to be home."

He held her gaze for a moment before getting a faraway look.

Joss's eyes narrowed slightly when a haze altered his direct gaze. Since he was off duty, she knew the look wasn't the result of a call from Finch. Which meant one thing. Her husband had something on his mind.

"Hey," she tapped his lips. "Where'd you go on me? What are you thinking about?"

His gaze instantly sharpened again. "Nothing," he answered dismissively.

One brow arched as she brushed her fingers against his collarbone. Hoping to warm him up into a confession. "John come on. What is it? You've had a strange look on and off all night."

John refrained from shaking his head. The former interrogator had joined him in bed, and was trying to seduce him into talking. "It's nothing," he assured with a confident smirk. Before she could utter another word, he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him. And leaned quickly in for a kiss.

Only for his lips to connect with Joss's palm.

"Nice try," she said, with a grin, covering his mouth, "but it's not going to work." Her smiled slowly faded. "Baby, please tell me."

With a sigh John fell back to his side of the bed. The ceiling catching his attention while he thought on how to begin. Taking her hand, John brought it to his chest.

Turning onto her side, Joss waited patiently, until his hushed voice broke the silence.

"I missed you. I was only gone a couple weeks, but…it felt so much longer. I-Idon't know. I'm home more now than I've ever been since we got married. Still, the time never seems to be long enough. It's getting harder to leave for cases. And when I'm gone all I think about is how much I miss you and the kids. About all the stuff I'm missing out on.

"Maybe if I was younger, it wouldn't bother me. But this is it for me." He glanced her way. "I don't think we'll have more kids in the future-"

"Stick with that thought," Joss remarked teasingly. "You already got a bonus when we ended up with Jasmine." They shared a brief smile before John grew serious again.

"Then this is it for me. My one chance to get it right from beginning to end. I don't want to miss a moment Joss. They're already growing so fast."

Joss bit her lip. Seeing the slight sheen that covered his eyes. John's problem had a simple solution. But she knew it was a solution John wanted to avoid.

Her thumb glided along the back of his hand.

"John…maybe you should consider retiring."

Instantly he tensed. A hand ran frustratingly down his face.

"I can't. I'm already working part-time."

"I know. But even that is proving to be too much. You have a family now. Your priorities are changing. I know Finch will understand that. He doesn't expect you to keep going forever."

"But baby," he groaned. "I can't just leave him," he insisted, squeezing her hand. "He gave me a chance when everyone else left me for dead. None of this, of what I have now would be if not for him. Now that I've got everything I always wanted, I'm supposed to just leave him because working has become an inconvenience?"

"Retiring doesn't mean you're abandoning him. Things are not the way they were when you two first started out. He has others to help keep his work going. And even now he's looking at recruiting more. People who need a new beginning. Like you once did."

She hooked his chin, turning his face toward her.

"Talk to him. He'll understand. Knowing Finch, he already knows you're ready to retire. And he's probably been waiting on you to say something."

John blinked. The idea settled in. And for the first time, he seriously entertained the thought of having the conversation about retiring with his boss. And his friend.

He squeezed Joss's hand again. "If I do this, you'll be seeing a whole lot more of me." He kissed her knuckles. "Are you ready to be stuck with me twenty-four-seven?"

Joss sighed. "It took a long time for us to find each other. And I know if I live another thirty or fifty years, it will never be enough. So I'll take all the time with you I can get." She grinned.

He returned her smile then lifted his head for a brief kiss.

"Ok," he said. Resigned. "I'll talk to Finch. Soon," he promised, with a kiss to her head. Sighing contently Joss snuggled against him, laying her head against his shoulder.

John closed his eyes, loving the feel of her laying next to him and the peace that settled over them. And once again he was reminded of how good it felt to be home.

I know up until now I've only mentioned Tommy and AJ. I have a story idea for how Jasmine comes into the picture. Hopefully one day I'll get around to writing that story.