Oliver had choir practice that evening. Shane let herself into the dark house after a long day of staring at screens. She loved hacking, but she had grown used to the thrill of solving a good letter mystery and she had missed her team at the DLO terribly. Her knee was aching and she was starving. She found a plate of food already prepared for her in the fridge. Oliver must have made her favorite chicken and rice dish before heading to choir. He was always so thoughtful. Shane heated the food up and then ate quickly. She was secretly glad that Oliver wasn't home yet so that she could slip into a hot bubble bath and soak her aching knee.

She turned on some music and even lit some candles for a relaxing atmosphere. She slipped out of her clothes and pulled her hair up on top of her head. The water felt wonderful as she lowered herself into the bubbles. She closed her eyes and gave a sigh as she laid back against the tub. The hot soak did wonders for the tension in her shoulders and the ache in her knee. When the water had cooled to an uncomfortable temperature she pulled the drain, blew out the candles, and slipped into her pajamas. She went with shorts and a matching button down top so that the cut on her knee could breathe for a bit. She grabbed a silky robe and slid it on over her pajamas before climbing on top of the bed where she sat reading her favorite mystery series until Oliver arrived home.

Not much later she heard Oliver pull into the driveway. It only took a minute before he found her in the bedroom.

"Hi love," he greeted her as he sat down on the bed leaning over to give her a quick kiss.

"Hey, how was choir practice?" She enquired.

"It was fine," he answered, "how was your day?"

"Long," Shane said, emphasizing the word. "I missed you," she admitted.

"You were missed as well," Oliver informed her. "I have good news for you."

"Really? What is it?" Shane asked, her curious nature coming out.

"Well it seems that your interference actually turned out to be rather inspired."

Shane looked at him confused so Oliver continued.

"Your little friend Maria made her way to the DLO today."

"What?" Shane asked, surprised.

"Yes apparently she was most definitely listening when you said you could help her find her mother. She showed up today so she could take you up on the offer. We were able to help them get in contact with each other. They are together now and headed towards her new home."

"Oh Oliver, that is such great news," Shane was beaming with happiness.

"She even said that you were brave and that she was trying to be brave like you." Oliver informed her.

"Oh I don't know about that," Shane said.

"I do!" Oliver said, leaning in to kiss her again. "You really are a remarkable woman," he said between kisses.

"Oliver," she whispered, touched by his words. His kisses had grown quite passionate now. Shane never could think straight when he kissed her like this. She lost herself in the feel of his lips on hers, his hands as they caressed her cheeks and neck. She kissed him back hoping he could feel how much she loved him, that her kisses would convey that her heart was meant to be with his. As Oliver continued to kiss her his hands moved to the sash tied at her waist. She felt him untie it.

There was something she was forgetting.

She couldn't think straight especially when she felt his tongue run across her bottom lip.

His hands pulled the silky robe open.

The alarm in her head sounded too late. Oliver had already broken the kiss and moved down to her leg where he was carefully examining her knee.

"I... um," she stuttered as she made a futile effort to cover her knee again with the robe.

"That looks quite painful," Oliver said calmly.

"How did you...?" Shane started asking, but she stopped when she realized Oliver had known about her injury already. "Rita?" she asked, even though she knew the answer.

"Yes, but please don't be angry with her, she was under the impression that I already knew."

Shane looked down guiltily.

Oliver tipped her chin up so she had to meet his eyes.

"Shane, why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm really sorry Oliver, you were already so upset with me," she said sincerely, "I didn't want to make it worse."

Oliver nodded his understanding looking at her contritely, "My beautiful Shane, I am the one who should be apologizing. For all my talk about trusting the timing I seem to be the first one to forget it when I become scared or insecure. I should have trusted that you were being led to help Maria," Oliver took her hands in his. "Please forgive me, I really am trying to be better."

"Oliver, you are the best man I know. And I definitely can be careless and tend to interfere too much." She placed her hand on his cheek and looked at him tenderly, "I think we are meant to help each other as we learn and grow together." She leaned in till their foreheads were touching.

"You are a very wise woman Mrs. O'Toole."

"I learned from the best," she replied before moving her lips to his. She slid her hands up to the nape of his neck running her fingers through his hair as she deepened their kisses. "Care to finish what you started earlier?" she asked in a sultry voice.

She felt him smile against her lips.

"I would love that my dear Shane," he said in a husky voice, "but I do not want to hurt you."

"I think we can be careful," Shane assured him. She raised her eyebrows up and down and Oliver smirked, he remembered how that eyebrow wiggle had persuaded him so effectively when they first met. Apparently it still worked rather effectively on him. The deep chuckle in his throat as he took her into his arms made her stomach flip in the best possible way, the way that only Oliver could thrill her.