"You truly did all of that just to really get Marine 7 cleared?" AJ demands, catching her breath as they lay together in bed, Mike still lazily peppering kisses down her back.

"Something like that," he sighs, brushing his hands down her side. "It just, you know, was something to think about when I was being held captive. I guess I just started thinking about all of the movies getting remade or continued lately. Why not the Marine series too, you know?" He rests his cheek on her shoulderblade and just breathes. "God, I've missed you," he mumbles, enjoying the feel of her, the smell of her, how she tastes when he presses lingering kisses against her skin. "So much."

She sighs, closing her eyes as she finds where his hand is, lacing her fingers with his. "I've been so scared for so long," she admits quietly. "I wasn't sure I'd ever feel this again. If I'd ever hear your voice again, get to look into your eyes." She rolls over and hisses out a breath as his hands shift against her skin, their bodies fitting together as well as they ever have.

"I'm sorry," he says, resting his forehead against hers. "I'm so damn sorry, AJ, I never meant for you to go through this again. And the kids. It all must've been so hard."

She nods, lacing her feet around his waist, pinning him in. "Because of that," she says, arching up and nipping at his lip. "I'm never letting you out of this bed again."

He hums and rocks into her, both of them shivering and clinging to each other. "Sounds alright to me," he says. "I will not complain about being held captive by you. Not even once."

She chuckles, kissing him hungrily. "Well, then," she says, "you're going to be a very happy man right here, with me."

"Always am," he says, brushing her hair over her shoulder and continuing to move languidly, enjoying the soft little sounds she makes as he presses open-mouthed kisses down her collar as she shifts to meet him. "I always will be."

She breathes heavily and nods, tense and trembling under his lips, his fingers. "Me- me too- Mike..."

He holds her, soothing her, looking around their bedroom with relief. It feels good to be home