You knew the moment you set on this path it was going to be your greatest victory, or your greatest mistake

NO GOING BACK

Rici's Pizzaria

It had finally been the end of a grueling 3 weeks of nonstop cases and very little downtime between them. So when Hetty explained that everyone was going to go out that night and significant others and families were invited no one wisely turned it down. The party was winding down with Sam, Michelle and their daughter already left, Callen and Joelle wrapping things up, and Hetty and Deeks leading very drunk Talia and Kensi to their cars. That just left you and your short, redheaded partner. She had wisely not taken part in Talia and Kensi's drunk escapades but she was still rather tipsy. Thankfully you two had arranged to take your car because she really wanted to drink and you were fine with it. You were never a big drinker anyway so you never minded being the sober one at the end of the night. You made your way down the sidewalk, her arm in yours as you thought for the umpteen million time how much you loved being like this.

"Can I ask you a question?" She asked, breaking your train of thought.

"Sure, what's up?" You replied, looking down at her.

"Are you ok?" She asked, her eyes telling you she was legitimately concerned.

"Why wouldn't I be?" You asked her, mentally smacking yourself by answering her question with one of your own.

"It's just that usually you seem to enjoy these team outings but tonight you felt really distant. Like you didn't want to be there." She replied.

"I did. I do." You said, knowing full well you aren't convincing her in the least.

"Is there something going on? You know you can tell me anything, right Wolfram?" She said, giving you one of her smiles that even after all these years of knowing her still sends your heart over the moon.

You nod your head. "Of course I know. It's just been a rough few weeks." You said.

"No arguments there." She said.

You reach your car and you turn to face her, her hand dropping to take yours. Your eyes getting lost in hers.

"What's going on in that head?" She asked. You should have known she wasn't going to drop it.

You softly trace circles on her thumb with yours, unable to tear your eyes away from hers.

You think back to when you decided to follow this path. For years you wanted to shatter that window of partnership, wanted to defile that sanctity and become more. But you didn't because you were never sure how she felt. She had always been the queen of mixed signals. She kissed you at Christmas, Taking you home to meet her family (which you had a great time), and put up with your obvious jealousy when she worked in the field with a bunch of other guys who obviously were infatuated with her. But she never showed any signs of wanting to become more. So you finally decided that you weren't going to wait anymore. You knew the moment your set on this path it was going to be your greatest victory, or your greatest mistake. There was no middle ground, and there was no going back after this.

I'm sorry, Hetty. If this breaks us apart then I am solely to blame. But I can't pretend any longer. You thought to yourself

"I bought you a gift." You say as you fumble in your pocket.

"Eric, you already got me something for my birthday." She said in an annoyed voice. You bought her a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for her birthday last month, one that bought a deep shade of red to her cheeks.

"I know but I saw this and had to get it for you." You say. You pull out a ring box and open it, showing a small jeweled band.

By her reaction she did not expect this, not in a million years. She gasps, covers her mouth with her hand and then spends the next few moments with eyes darting between yours and the ring.

"You can take it as a gift or I can return it if this is too soon. But I wanted to show you how much you mean to me." You say.

Her eyes well up slightly as she finally removes her hand.

"You realize what you are meaning by this, right?" She asks, more of uncertainty then anything.

"I know full well what I am asking. I don't want to be your partner anymore, Nell. I want to be your lover." You finally say the words you have wanted to say for months.

Her eyes are glued to the ring and you deep down thank God you found it because it is absolutely gorgeous.

"This doesn't have to mean anything if you don't want it to." You say, giving her an out.

She shakes her head gently. "I want it to mean something. I want you." She replied. She grabs your shirt and pulls you down to her as she crashes her lips to yours; hungrily devouring your lips as she pours out all the emotions she held and you responded in kind. You wrap your free arm around her waist and pull her up against your chest until your need to breath overtakes you and you both break the kiss.

You pull the ring out and slid it on her finger, both admiring it gently.

"1 down…" You say.

"2 to go." She finishes your sentence. Both of you smile at each other, the history you will share together running through both your and her mind.

The sound of thunder broke the moment as rain started to pour down. Quickly the both of you get in your car, clothes and hair already wet but with deep smiles plastered all over you both. You drive to her apartment and you quickly run through the parking lot, up the stairs, and to her door as she fumbles with the keys. She finally opens the door and you both stumble in, drenched to the bone.

The next morning

The sound of thunder wakes you up as you realize you are not in your bed. You reach over to the table, grabbing your glasses you place them on and realize you are in Nell's room in her bed. You look down and you see her hand placed on your chest, the ring glistening in the low light of the cloud covered outside coming in. She is curled up against you with her head resting on your shoulder and your arm wrapped around her, your hand cupping her back right above her butt. You smile at the recollection of last night. She pulled you into the laundry room where you both stripped out of your wet clothes. After tossing them in the wash she half ran, half skipped out toward the bathroom. You remember standing there, the image of her body as she passed you by replaying over and over in your mind. Her hair flowing, her breasts bouncing, her legs moving gracefully as she threw a look over her shoulder. Quickly you returning to reality and followed her just as she was turning the shower on. She turned to you, pulling you against her as she kissed you and you felt like you were on fire. Her skin against yours, the feel of her breasts against your chest, your hands exploring every curve you could reach. After a few moments she pulled you into the shower and your exploration of each other continued. The warm water felt cold against the heat of your passions as she traced your stomach with her hands as you cupped her body against yours. Both of your bodies responded in kind and you both knew that there was no doubt as to the feelings for each other. You had forgotten all about the shower until the very end and right as you both finished washing each other the shower started to turn cool again. You climbed out first, quickly drying yourself before holding a towel out of her like a gentleman. After combing her hair out the towels were discarded. You turn to go grab your bag out of the living room when you hear her voice calling for you. She is already in bed and is wiggling her finger, beckoning you. You don't have to spend a second debating it. You turn and climb into bed with her. You spend hours as the rain continues to pour and the lightening lights up the sky giving yourselves to each other. You spend time giving her pleasure in multiple ways before she returns the favor. When you finally reach the last climax of the night together you both collapse in bed. Panting and sweating she barely has enough energy to roll over into your arms and you just have enough to wrap your arms around hers, gently taking her left hand in yours which is where you find yourself this morning.

You gently run your thumb across her hand as you feel her stir. You feel her smile as it dawns on her where she is and the memories of last night return. She looks up at you and your heart goes over the moon once again.

"Morning." You whisper to her.

"Good morning." She replies. Bringing your hand to her face she kisses it.

"I take it you slept well?" She asks you, a smile on her face.

"Sleeping next to you? Who wouldn't?" You smile back.

She yawns a bit before shivering slightly. She curls against your body more, her skin pressed against yours. You pull the blankets up around you body, her face partially covered with only the top of her red hair sticking out.

"It's still raining." You say.

"Yea, it's supposed to all day." She replied.

"What do you want to do today?" You ask her.

"Right now…this tops the list." She said as she wraps her left arm around your waist.

"What about food?" You ask.

"We will cross that bridge when we get there." She said, sleepiness returning in her voice.

"Does anything we plan on doing today require clothes?" You reply, softly running a hand down her spine.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." She said, placing a kiss on her chest. You reach up and pull your glasses off, placing them on the night stand as you return your arms around the woman who is your partner no more. You remember that there was no going back after last night and you know full well that nothing that happened in the past matters now. It's all about the future for you two. You know at some point soon you will need to have the talk with Hetty but you know that you do not want to hide this from everyone. You want to stand and proudly proclaim like the town criers of yore that you are in love with Nell Jones. But that will wait another day. Her breath against your skin starts to slow as you feel her body relax against yours. Slowly you feel the darkness take you as you begin to dream of your future. Of your wedding, your children, your grandchildren, and the rest of what life has in store for you.

I wanted to experiment with a more narrative style with this one and I do have to say I am rather happy how it played out.

I keep adding to the Profile and then come up with these spur of the moment ideas. I have a lot of the ones on my Profile halfway written out so they will be added soon.

Also I have decided to assist with reading the more music oriented episodes I have created a Playlist on Spotify that will include any song that I have referenced in past and future episodes. Search Tales From the Mission Soundtrack and you will find the playlist. Make sure to follow it since any new episodes that include music will be added to that playlist.

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