33 | ❝ HALFWAY TO THE BUCKLEY DUO'S RETURN... ❞

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CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

❝ HALFWAY TO THE BUCKLEY DUO'S RETURN... ❞

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TRIGGER WARNING!

The chapter contains an 18+ scene.

[own storyline]

ROSIE POV

A FEW WEEKS HAD PASSED SINCE SHE'D MADE PEACE WITH LISSIE. She finally felt like her life was starting to fall into place, even slowly returning to the normalcy of a few months earlier. Her relationship with Chim had blossomed since she was able to move around on her own, and her friendship with Lissie was becoming as intense as it had been when they'd lived in Chicago and, before that, in St. Paul.

She couldn't imagine a better life than the one she had at that moment — all she needed to be happy was getting back to work, but even that was nearer than further. They trained with Buck at the Academy as often as they could so that they could pass the tests as well as possible. On the other hand, therapy with Jonathan, which was Lissie's idea, was a great success — he made her feel less overwhelmed and more open to people. She smiled more often now, which surprised literally everyone close to her, as they'd never seen her like that. For Lissie, in particular, it finally led to happiness.

She definitely felt better than she had ever felt in her entire life — it wasn't perfect, but she was the best version of herself.

"Your aunt definitely has no inhibitions," Rosie said as she and Lissie waited for Maddie and Buck to show up for lunch. "Can you imagine catching her with Jonathan? They're acting like teenagers who've never been in a relationship."

"You too?" Nash laughed, dipping her fries in ketchup.

"And it's not the first time," Buckley replied, dousing her portion with garlic sauce. "But it's clear this relationship is working for both of them."

"Sometimes I think they arrange to meet up just before one of us has a session, to tease us."

They burst into laughter just as Rosie's siblings joined them at their table. They both looked at their sister and friend rather suspiciously.

"What about you?" Lissie asked, surprised. "You look absolutely terrified. I don't think anyone died, right?"

"That beaming look on your faces is terrifying," Maddie said. "We've never seen you so happy. We're happy about it, but it's definitely unnatural."

The girls snickered.

"We're gossiping about Suzanna," Rosie said. "I think she's trying to tease us and has dates with our therapist before our sessions. We're happy for her, but..."

"She's definitely memorable," Lissie added, confused. "Too much."

Buck snorted.

"Your therapy sessions are interesting" he replied.

"Let's change the subject, or this will end badly," Maddie decided. "I'm going back to work tomorrow for more than three hours. I feel weird about it, I admit."

Lissie clapped her hands.

"I'm planning on going back soon too," she said. "I don't know when yet, because I'm working out the details with Sue, but Josh won't have to hold down desks for us anytime soon."

The two dispatchers high-fived each other, laughing.

"We're the only ones staying on sick leave, bro," Rosie commented.

The youngest Buckley snorted with laughter.

"Maybe you are," the boy said. "As soon as they let me in, I'm going back to work. I've been stuck at home too long."

Evan's sisters exchanged a rather disgruntled look.

"I don't like the fact that you're trying to get back to work at all costs," Maddie said worriedly. "Training is training, but you're approaching it too quickly."

"Definitely," Lissie agreed. "Baby steps..."

"They don't exist for that stubborn guy," Rosie replied, aiming a fry at her brother. "You can't talk him out of it."

Buck rolled his eyes. It was clear he definitely wouldn't let this go.

"The pot calling the kettle black," he'd done the same thing as his older sister. "You're doing everything you can to get back to 118. No one's picking on you for that, I'm just getting hurt."

Lissie jumped to her friend's defence before she could even open her mouth to say anything.

"But Rosie didn't have her leg crushed by a fire truck. Your cases are completely different. Right, Maddie? You were a nurse, after all, you know that perfectly well..."

"You're right," she agreed. "Besides, Rosetta approached her return much more thoughtfully than you did." Young Nash merely applauded the eldest Buckley's words. The woman was absolutely right. Despite everything, the boy stuck to his guns, which greatly annoyed all three of them.

THE DAY BEFORE THE TEST, ROSIE FELT ENORMOUS STRESS. Everyone told her it was just a formality, but she was afraid something might go wrong.

She had no backup plan — the fire department was her dream job, and it would break her heart to lose it.

When she returned from her last training session, she was surprised to find banner at her apartment — Lissie, Chim, and Marrie had prepared a whole banner for her that read, "We're rooting for you!" Meanwhile, on the table in the dining area, she saw her favourite foods — from salami pizza to spaghetti to her beloved sweets. They'd hung balloons with the number 118 painted on them everywhere they could.

"I think she's speechless, you know?" Marrie said, looking worriedly at her mother.

"No..." She wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes. "You just gave me the best surprise I could have ever received. You're the best..." She hugged all three of them in turn.

"We did all this because we love you, Rosey," Chim said. "More than anything, right, girls?"

Lissie and Marrie nodded.

"Exactly," Lissie agreed. "Besides, we know you're stressed about tomorrow, so we want you to relax as much as possible."

"And I appreciate that so much," she said, looking at them. "You're sweet, but I hope you didn't do anything else."

Neither of them commented on the woman's remark, but she didn't pursue the matter further, deciding it wasn't worth it. Sooner or later, the truth would come out anyway.

"Are you just going to stand there, or are we going to eat?" Marrie asked, having already grabbed her favorite pizza.

"You two are pizza vacuum cleaners," Lissie laughed, looking at the girl and her mother. "One moment, and half the box is gone."

"Not at all!" They exclaimed in unison, making both Chim and Nash laugh.

WHEN ROSIE ENTERED THE KITCHEN THAT MORNING, LISSIE'S BREAKFAST WAS WAITING FOR HER. She'd been staying with them, but Rosie thought it was because Lissie had fallen asleep reading Marrie, but as she'd learned, it had all been planned.

She thought they were crazy, but she didn't complain — in fact, they bent over backwards to make sure her day went as smoothly as possible.

They even drove her to the Academy together, where she was scheduled for her test.

When she was alone, she looked at the building and took two deep breaths.

"I can do this," she told herself. "I'm only one track away from getting back to the firehouse. I won't mess this up."

She wasn't worried about the psychologist's opinion — Jonathan said she was handling everything really well, so that was the opinion he intended to present to the appropriate people at the Department — she wanted him to do it, not some psychologist they could go to after work. The management didn't seem to mind, which pleased her.

She entered the building, where she was greeted by one of the instructors, Wes Turner. They'd known each other since their days at the Academy — after an accident during one of the missions, he'd decided to fill a gap in the training staff.

"Good to see you, Ro," he said, and hugged her. "You're stuck with us, aren't you? Is that so bad at the 118th?"

She laughed.

"I just want to finally get back together. Chim and Marrie are so supportive of my return."

"Ever since we trained together, I knew you and Howie were perfect for each other. I'm not surprised he's so supportive."

"Yeah... We've come a long way over the years," she said, then shook her head. "So what's waiting for me on the track today?"

"Classic, no surprises. A track, and during it, you have to find a fire victim dummy. If you can do it in seven minutes, you've passed. Since you've always been a roadrunner, I'm not worried about that."

They both laughed, and the woman headed for the locker room to change into her firefighter uniform.

It's now or never.

THE ENTIRE TEST TOOK HER LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. Wes was right — even as a recruit, she'd mastered the exercises in a flash. Not much has changed in that regard since then.

The first thing she did after officially receiving congratulations from the instructors who had observed her performance was send a smiling photo of herself to Chim and Lissie. Both replied, pleased that everything had gone according to plan.

Han picked her up with Marrie fifteen minutes after the message from the building where they'd left her.

"I knew you'd make it!" the girl exclaimed, running straight into her mother, brimming with joy.

"I'm happy too, sweetie," she hugged her."So, what are our plans to celebrate this special moment?"

Chim blushed slightly, making Rosie sense they were up to something, but she waited for her partner to admit it.

"Howard Han? What have you done?" She crossed her arms over her chest, trying not to burst out laughing.

"Maybe... I promised Marrie a visit to the playroom and some pizza" he asked gently. "I hope you're not mad."

"No," she shook her head. "I'm glad I get to spend the day with my family."

She felt a slight twinge of disappointment, but she didn't want to show it. She had a small hope that the whole team had organised some kind of surprise party for her, but it wasn't so bad, because she could finally be with her daughter and her lover.

LISSIE POV

WHEN SHE ENTERED THE OFFICE, IT SMELLED OF FRESH FLOWERS, COFFEE, AND A WOMAN'S PERFUME THAT SHE KNEW EXTREMELY.

"Susanna was here," she said instead of greeting, as she sat down in the armchair. A pot of tea was already on the table, and Jonathan was sitting at his desk at the back of the room.

"Why do you say that?"

Jonathan nervously adjusted his glasses, looking at her.

"I can recognise her perfume." She settled back comfortably. Jonathan didn't comment, instead rising from his seat and walking toward her with a notebook and pen in hand. "Is this even allowed? I'm your patient, and she's my aunt..."

"We're not breaking any rules... And I'm especially not telling her anything about what we're discussing here."

"I believe you; otherwise, Suzanna would have told me a long time ago. She's not the best at keeping secrets from loved ones."

Jonathan just laughed briefly. They still had to talk about what really happened between them and Suzanna, but she wanted to wait until her aunt opened up to her. The fact that she and Rosie had caught her making out with Jonathan a few times was one thing, but whether she'd finally admit they were together was another. Lissie only knew that they'd met back in Chicago, when they'd accidentally met at a conference, where after a banquet they'd had a little too much to drink and ended up in the same hotel room.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked after a moment, focusing on what was important. He put his notebook on the table, something she'd noticed he'd been doing more often lately. As if he'd rather listen to her than write.

"Pretty... good," she said hesitantly, unsure how to describe it. "I can sleep at night, but I still have nightmares. The last time I stayed with Rosie and Chim, Marrie said she'd sleep with me to keep all the evil monsters away."

Lissie felt a tear in her eye, but she smiled at the memory. She almost lost this relationship with her niece forever.

"Sweet child..."

"That's true. I know she's only nine, but she's incredibly smart and understands so much more than most of her peers, but sometimes I wish things were different... She's been through a lot lately, and yet she's still maintained her cheerful spirit."

"Children adapt faster to situations like this. Besides, if I remember correctly, you told me that from a young age you'd been telling her how to react in difficult situations."

Lissie nodded. She ran her hands over her knees as if considering what to say, but finally looked at him and blurted it out without much difficulty.

"You know what I've noticed?" Her voice wavered slightly. "Back when I was feeling down and everything was overwhelming me... I did everything I could to make sure no one noticed. I'd cry myself to sleep at night, bottle it up... And now I'm not afraid to show how I feel. I know I have loved ones around me who understand and support me."

"And what's next?" he asked calmly, watching her closely.

"That's the funniest thing about all this..." She gave a short laugh, which was a success in itself. However, with each passing day, she was able to find more reasons to laugh. "The world didn't stop because I admitted how I felt. No one left me because I was having a bad day and burst into tears during a conversation... I thought that by not showing weakness, I would only show my strength, but that's not true."

Jonathan just smiled contentedly, as if he'd been waiting all these months to hear something like that from her.

"Lissie, what you're doing now... That's strength," he said, audible pride in his voice. "Do you see that now?"

She merely nodded.

"I think I'm just getting started..."

But it wasn't just her, because the difference between the Lissie who sat and talked with Jonathan now and the one from weeks ago, when she'd first arrived at this place, was palpable. That Lissie had pretended at every turn, refusing to burden anyone with her problems. She needed help but couldn't ask for it. This Lissie had fought with all her might to regain herself and hadn't given up, even when she'd said she couldn't. When she spoke of her fear, she actually expressed what she felt, not put on a mask of indifference.

Not only did her therapist notice this, but everyone else as well. These weren't grand gestures, more small ones, which nevertheless drew much more attention to her return. Her father saw it every time they prepared dinner together, and when she was busy baking something sweet, he always offered her his help, while Lissie only joked that he would sooner ruin the entire elaborate plan she had in mind. Athena noticed that she was talking often, but above all, she was joking during family dinners. Rosie saw this when she spontaneously came over to her apartment and dragged her out because she'd supposedly found a place online that sold a cold apple pie she absolutely had to try.

The sound of a vibration momentarily interrupted her conversation with Jonathan. She reached for her phone only to see that Rosie had managed to complete the test and was officially returning to the 118th.

"That's what I call good news," she told her therapist, showing the photo Rosie had attached to the text message. It showed her smiling, still dressed in her training uniform. "Rosie passed the test. She's returning to the 118th."

"Give her my congratulations," Jonathan smiled. "I told you many good things are waiting for you."

Lissie bit her lower lip, wanting to ask something for days but not having the courage before.

"Do you think I'll be able to forget what happened?"

Jonathan took a moment to answer.

"I'll be honest with you, Lissie... What you've been through... You don't forget things like that. But you can learn to live with it and accept that it doesn't define the rest of your life in any way."

THE EVENING WAS BOOKED FOR A SURPRISE PARTY FOR ROSIE. Lissie had been planning it ever since she learned of her exam date. While there were some many good things are waiting for you.that it was uncertain whether she would pass the test on the first try, Nash had faith in her friend's abilities.

"Does anyone know when Chim is supposed to arrive with her?" Hen asked, taking more plates of food from her and passing them to Eddie, who was arranging them on the table in the firehouse kitchen. There was no better place for a welcome party for Rosie.

"They should be here by half an hour," Lissie replied, glancing at her watch. "Marrie kept them in the playroom a little longer, but it's better for us."

"I'm surprised Chim didn't spill the beans," Diaz commented, moving to the kitchen counter. "Or Buck."

"Hey!" the man in question called out. Lissie glanced at him and had to admit that seeing him in the firehouse without his standard uniform wasn't normal. "I'm improving, okay?"

"And you're doing well," she praised him with a smile, then patted his shoulder. "Come on, help me with the final decorations."

"And the food?" Hen called after her when Lissie and Buck were already at the stairs.

"You'll do just fine!" she replied over her shoulder. "Eddie's here to help you."

When they got downstairs, a large banner was already hanging on the balcony congratulating Rosie on passing their exam. They had two banners ready just in case Rosie had to retake the test, but thankfully they didn't have to use them. Balloons were scattered all over the floor, and although it wasn't as elegant as when she'd organised Marrie's birthday party, she was still shocked that her father had agreed to it.

Rosie wasn't expecting anything and she wanted her to remember this evening for a long time.

"Maybe you should change careers, huh?" Buck asked, leaning against the fire truck. "You're outdoing yourself when it comes to organising parties."

"Thank you, but it's nothing," she waved her hand, as if what she did for her loved ones wasn't enough.

"On the contrary," he replied, picking up one of the red balloons with his unit number printed on it from the ground. Then he tossed it into the air, bouncing gently off her arm. Lissie laughed briefly and looked at him. "So, when I can finally go back to work, can I expect a party like this too?"

"Parties are not all the same, remember," she said, smiling at him. "Of course I will. You know I want you back to work just as much as you do... I know how this is mean to you, so it will be my pleasure."

"Just without any balloons."

"Shut up, you don't know what you're talking about." She elbowed him in the side. Buck reciprocated, and she quickly became indignant, punching him again in return. "You have no idea you started a war, Buckley."

"Which you're going to lose, Nash."

"You're incredibly confident." She folded her arms across her chest. "That confidence could be your death."

"We'll see," he winked at her, and she shook her head in amusement.

For a brief moment, they tried to control the balloons together, trying to arrange them, but it was still too much for them.

"I give up," Lissie said, throwing her hands up. "It's pointless anyway, because they should be here soon."

"Rosie won't care if the balloons are placed this way or that, she'll be too surprised by what you've done for her."

"You're probably right," she nodded.

Buck offered her his arm, which she took, and together they headed for the stairs to climb. They were about halfway up when her gaze fell on the tattoos on his arms, and something struck her.

"Remember our conversation about tattoos?" she asked.

Buck frowned, not quite sure where he was going with this, but nodded. They'd talked about this the other day, before she'd tried to commit suicide. She'd wanted to get rid of that awful mark on her arm that Austin had given her. Even if the wound could heal, scar removal wouldn't eliminate it. It was Buck who'd suggested that she can transform it into something that would remind her of her strength and survival. She needed time to think about it, but now that she had received the go-ahead from her doctor, she knew she had to get rid of it.

"Sure," he smiled at her. "I've been thinking about a new one myself... But how can I help you?"

"I need to find a tattoo artist who can reshape my scar. A few days ago, the doctor said I could do it now that the wound had healed completely. I was thinking maybe you could help me?"

"I'd be happy to do that," he replied, kissing her cheek. "Give me a few days, okay?" I'll look around and find you the best tattoo artist in Los Angeles."

Lissie blushed slightly and smiled happily at him, then allowed herself to be led upstairs.

ROSIE ALMOST CRIED WITH HAPPINESS WHEN SHE SAW HER SURPRISE. It was obvious she was surprised, and when everyone shouted "welcome back" and jumped out to greet her at the balcony, it was hard for her to put into words what she felt. But there was definitely one person responsible for all this, and she had to thank him.

Rosie threw herself around Lissie's neck the moment she reached the kitchen.

"Thank you so much," she said cheerfully. "When you return to being a paramedic, you can expect the same, I promise."

Lissie was surprised, but it was hard to say if the others weren't even more surprised.

"Wait a minute," Hen said, stepping closer. "Lissie, you worked for the Fire Department too?"

Nash only blushed, not expecting such sudden interest in her.

"Yes!" Marrie answered for her. "She saved others, just like Mom."

Hen raised her eyebrows but smiled.

"Who would have thought... I thought nothing would surprise me in this job."

She was surprised, because even though most of them knew it, like her dad, Athena, and Buck, she hadn't expected the topic to come up that day. For a moment, she wasn't sure what to do, because the topic of her work for the Fire Department was... complicated. She loved it and missed it, but she wasn't ready to take that step yet. She'd been thinking about it more, but hadn't quite figured it out yet during her therapy with Jonathan.

"I wonder how this happened," Chim said, glancing at his friend. "I'm waiting for the story..."

"Today we're celebrating Rosie's return to work," Nash said sheepishly. "Besides, it's nothing exciting..."

At that moment, her friend grabbed her hand. The girl knew her purpose — to calm her down, just like she always did with patients during every intervention.

"Consider it part of your therapy with Jonathan," she told her. "He said that talking openly about the past is very helpful."

She hated it when Buckley was her voice of reason. And so it was this time, too.

"Okay..." the girl replied. "It all started some time after my family's funeral. As you all know, my dad and I... We didn't have the best relationships back then. During one of my walks with Suzanna, I saw a recruitment poster and... It just kind of took off. I wanted to help people so that if they were going to lose someone close to them, they'd have the opportunity to say goodbye. I wasn't that lucky, you know."

"And I followed her like a shadow," Ian said. "I lost my father in the same fire. I couldn't stand by while my sisters put themselves in danger."

Garcia wrapped his arms around them, which clearly helped them both.

"We know your first rescue," Buck laughed, looking at his nine-year-old niece.

The girl puffed out her chest proudly, and the entire group burst into laughter. After everything they'd been through, they deserved a moment like this — complete carefreeness.

THE PARTY WAS IN PROGRESS, BUT LISSIE REALIZED THAT THEIR GUEST OF HONOR HAD DISAPPEARED. Chim wanted to help her search, but Melissa assured him she'd take care of it quickly. She only knew one place she could hide.

And she wasn't wrong, because she found Buckley on the roof of the fire station.

"You'll have to find a better hiding place if you don't want to be found quickly," she replied, sitting down next to her friend. "I figured you were hiding here."

Rosie laughed briefly, but Lissie noticed her friend surreptitiously wiping away her tears.

"And apparently I'm a champion at hide-and-seek," she said, sniffling.

Nash looked at her, slightly worried. Just a few minutes earlier, she had been bursting with optimism and happiness.

"Roro?" she began gently. "What's going on?"

"Nothing... I'm missing the days when we were in the ambulance together," the girl said. "But I know I won't change your mind... You're finally agreeing to return to dispatch, and I realise you like this job. When I hear you on the radio, everything seems fine, but... It still isn't the same when you were next to me..."

"Flower?" she asked uncertainly. She felt her heart pounding. "What do you mean?"

"That... I miss my paramedic partner." She couldn't hold back her tears anymore. "But at the same time, I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to pressure you to come back. It's just... It's been bothering me since you showed up in Los Angeles, but only today did I realise the whole truth. I have Hen and Chim with me, but it's not the same, even though they're my boyfriend and my friend... I feel like a third wheel. And it's so damn lonely."

"I've thought about it before, you know?" Lissie looked at her. "About the firefighting and how I really loved doing it. I miss it more than once myself... When we worked together in Chicago, somehow everything seemed easier..."

Rosie snorted briefly, but only nodded, agreeing with her friend's words.

"The truth is..." Lissie began again, then sighed heavily. "I don't quite know what to do with my life. Returning to the dispatch centre seems the easiest choice, but is it the best? I have no idea..."

"Try it," Rosie finally said. "What's the harm in finding out if you have any chance of returning?"

In that respect, Buckley was definitely right.

"More like... I don't feel quite ready for this," she said, lowering her gaze.

"You have us," Rosa said. "Whatever you decide..."

Her friend didn't even realise she'd managed to plant a seed of uncertainty in the back of Lissie's mind. The only question was — what would she do with him?

She didn't have a chance to start thinking about it right away, because the roof door opened, and then Chim and Marrie appeared. The girl had a backpack on her back and immediately ran over to the two women talking.

"Auntie, I'm ready," she said with a broad smile. "We can go."

Rosie frowned, looking from her daughter to her best friend.

"Is there something I don't know?"

"I'm taking the little one for the night," Nash explained calmly, and Marrie just began to rub her legs with excitement. "Chim agreed." She pointed at Han, who only raised his hands defensively. "And Marrie can't wait to spend the night with her favourite aunt."

Rosie put her hands on her hips, looking at them both sternly.

"Excuse me, but where's my consent?"

Buckley raised an eyebrow, and Lissie smiled innocently.

"We're waiting for it."

"You planned everything without telling me, and now you want my consent?" Rosie looked at them suspiciously, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. "Can I at least know what the occasion is?"

"Does it have to be an occasion for me to spend the night with my aunt?" Marrie replied.

"Bonding time" Lissie added, then lowered her voice so only Rosie could hear. "You just passed the test, and I think it's a good occasion to celebrate in an empty apartment without the kids."

Lissie winked at her, and Rosie just laughed.

"You're impossible, but I love you just the way you are," Buckley replied.

BOBBY POV

BOBBY STOOD TO THE SIDE, LEANING AGAINST THE KITCHEN WALL. He watched as everyone else talked about Lissie's former work in the fire department. He was utterly shocked when he first heard the news, but at the same time, he felt a twinge of pride. He knew that at one point, Lissie had had enough of his work, but later she'd shown composure when she'd rescued Rosie and Marrie. As it turned out, she'd done it more than once, because according to Ian and Rosie, his daughter was a great paramedic. He had this little dream of maybe seeing it for himself someday.

"She's better," Athena said as she appeared beside him. "She's smiling, talking, she wants to go back to work... She's stopped pretending."

"Even so, I'm still afraid... Like I'm waiting for her to shut down again."

"I understand." She grabbed his hand for support. "But I think things are finally starting to fall into place."

Almost as if on cue, the first notes of music rang out through the firehouse. It was hard to tell if it was fate, or if someone had deliberately set the mix so that the first song was Dog Days Are Over, which Lissie loved so much.

His daughter whispered something to Rosie, then grabbed her hands and pulled her forward, where there was more space, and — as if it were normal, as if neither of them had been through any hardships — they began to dance. They jumped, threw their arms in the air, hummed fragments of the lyrics, and finally joined hands and twirled around each other.

Bobby smiled, because it was clear Athena was right. It didn't change the fact that he still had to worry about Lissie, but he could finally see that he was slowly getting his daughter back.

"You're right," he replied quietly, not taking his eyes off the dancing girls. "I think it'll be alright." He pulled Athena's hand to his lips and placed a brief kiss on it, thanking her for supporting him all this time. He wouldn't have made it without her. And above all, it was she who had arrived in time to save his daughter.

ROSIE POV

IT WAS DEFINITELY A WEIRD THING TO COME HOME AS A TWO, THOUGH ROSIE DIDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. Lissie was right that they needed some alone time, especially since after leaving the hospital, that wasn't even an option given her condition. Now they could finally go back to the way things were before — Chim couldn't give her any excuse that she "had to be careful." She was fully fit, healthy, and ready to spend the night with her man, just like she'd been dreaming about for some time.

Chim opened the door to the apartment, and the first thing he did was let her in, before following her.

"You're a gentleman," she smiled at her partner, leaning back against the wall next to her.

"For you, anytime, anywhere," Han said, kissing her full on the lips. "Besides, it's your night. You deserve the best."

She felt a warmth spread through her at the words, though she wondered if it was also a product of her emotions after the party Lissie had thrown for her.

She knew her beloved was right — this was her celebration. A celebration of how she had fought to get back to work, practically shedding sweat and tears for it. She was proud of herself, and no one could take that away from her.

Leaving Pennsylvania had changed her in every way possible — her only regret was that therapy with Jonathan had only allowed her to see her life from a completely different perspective. Her entire family, both her own and those she'd found over the years, had been there for her. Especially Chim — he'd been practically by her side the entire evening, aside from hanging out on the roof and dancing to "Dog Days Are Over" with Lissie.

She hadn't let him out of her sight either — especially since they'd returned from the firehouse. She watched as he placed his jacket on a chair, then began unbuttoning his shirt. His movements were so effortless that she wondered if he was doing it on purpose, if he was completely unaware of the effect it would have on her. Although it was hard to believe he was doing it completely unconsciously, or maybe he was actually doing it on purpose because he knew exactly how she would react.

"You're staring," she replied, noticing him glance her way every few seconds. "You've been doing this all evening. I know I was the guest of honour, but we practically spent 24/7 together. Don't you ever get tired of me?"

"You?" he asked, surprised. "Never in my life. And today... I'm just happy for the success of the love of my life."

"Keep talking like that, and the night will never end." She smiled slyly at him. He definitely knew how to please her in every way possible. Compliments and sweet words were among them.

Still, she didn't want it all to happen so quickly. If he was hoping for more excitement, he'd have to try a little harder, though she thought he was well on his way.

And they only had one night of complete silence... Strange as it may have been, it was equally wonderful — no Marrie, who toddled around the apartment in fluffy socks so lightly that just when they thought they had a moment to themselves, she suddenly appeared next to them out of nowhere.

Now it was just them...

Rosie swallowed, feeling less confident than she had moments before, but she wasn't about to show it. She approached the couch, lightly brushing it with her fingers, giving her lover a hint of exactly where she wanted to be. The only comment she heard was Han's snort of laughter, which spoke volumes — some had crazy lists, others went straight to the bedroom, and them? They felt most comfortable sitting on the couch, which is exactly what they did a few seconds later.

They sat down next to each other, but when she saw her lover's gaze drift to her lips, she felt her pulse quicken. Maybe she should really take Lissie's words to heart and make the most of this time.

"You've been glowing all evening," he said softly, looking her straight in the eyes. Rosie felt like she was acting like a teenager, as she felt like she'd momentarily forgotten how to breathe properly. "I'm so happy, you have no idea how much... The last time I saw you this happy was before you left Los Angeles. You were still happy when you got back, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't until Lissie showed up that things started to change, and now..."

"Therapy with Jonathan is really helping me a lot," she said, glancing at him. "I feel so much better. Plus, you, Marrie, Lissie, and all the rest are the best therapy too."

"You don't even know how proud I am of you," he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You've been through so much these past few months, but you didn't give up, and that's what got you to where you are."

The words hit her harder than she expected. She felt a knot in her stomach and tears welling up in her eyes, which she tried to push away so Chim wouldn't notice, though she wasn't entirely successful. He patted her shoulder to help calm her — it always helped both of them. He'd always supported her, even when she thought she could handle it.

"See how moved I am," she replied, exhaling loudly. "You know how easily you can bring me to tears."

He leaned gently toward her, smiling slightly, though his eyes told her he wanted something completely different.

"What if that was my plan all along?" he asked, laughing softly.

She felt her breath catch — Han's voice seemed to slip beneath her skin. She wasn't complaining about it at all, quite the opposite. Her body tensed under the familiar mix of comfort she felt being near her beloved, but also hunger, as the desire for closeness grew ever stronger within her.

The entire environment around them ceased to matter—it was just them and no one else.

"We're treading in rather dangerous waters, my dear," she giggled, trying to break the growing tension.

"Is this the first time we've done this?" he asked, brushing his thumb over her wrist. She turned her hand so she could intertwine their fingers. "After all, danger has been our daily reality for many years."

The fire she felt was spreading more — it took very little to boil Buckley red. Her lips curved into a smile again, a smile that was more a sign of growing boldness than anything out of the ordinary. She wanted it, but it was nothing new.

"Maybe this is a good time to stop talking?" She whispered directly into his ear, and he smiled broadly. "What do you think?"

The silence that fell between the two lovers was deafening, thickening with anticipation. Finally, it was broken by Chim's laughter, who clearly didn't believe his partner's words.

"Rosey..." He shook his head, as if he couldn't quite believe he'd just witnessed her words, though the way he gripped his beloved's hand said otherwise.

The couch they were sitting on practically waited for what might soon happen between them. Just remembering what they'd been able to do on it, before Buckley left, and even after she returned... The woman felt her face flush. She began to provoke him more and more, to make him notice, which he did.

The atmosphere was practically bursting with emotion —they were both well aware of that. Rosie didn't remember moving, but within seconds she was sprawled among the pillows, then glanced at Howie.

"What about you?" she asked him. "Are you waiting for a special invitation? Should I send it to you by carrier pigeon?"

In response, she heard only a laugh from the man, who had completely stripped off his shirt before leaning over his beloved, who absolutely couldn't tear her eyes away from him every time they found themselves in this exact situation. Chim leaned against the armrest with one hand and brushed the strands of hair away from her face with the other. Rosie felt a shiver run through her body — it was only a small gesture, but it had a profound effect on her.

"Do you expect an honest answer, or is it more of a joke?" he asked, as they both looked into each other's eyes.

"Try joking at a time like this, and you'll be spending lonely nights here, my dear," she said to him, practically in one breath.

The proximity of her beloved sent a shiver of excitement down Rosie's spine. She tried to remain calm, but watching her with such rapt attention, as he did at that moment, made it harder. Her pulse actually sped up. She felt his hand brush hers, pausing long enough for her to feel the heat burning deeper and deeper inside her. She let her fingers twitch, testing his reaction. Their hands lingered between them, the atmosphere growing more electric.

"Do we have a specific plan?" she asked him, clearly pleased. "You're a bit too calm for you today. I don't know how to take this."

"There's always one," Chim whispered, so close to her that his breath brushed her cheek.

"So, perhaps you'll fill me in, my criminal mastermind?" she asked. "What's it about?" she asked, "because my curiosity is killing me."

He looked at her.

"Of course I mean you," he said without the slightest hesitation. "After all, you mean the world to me."

She felt her entire body tremble. It wasn't the words he spoke to her, but the way he did it — as if she were the beginning and end of every thought in his head, because she'd known perfectly well from the very beginning of their acquaintance.

"So... Maybe it's time to put this plan into action? I'm waiting for you to act..."

She definitely didn't need to urge him twice — the weight of the man above her grounded her, and all reality around them simply vanished as soon as she felt his lips on hers. She'd been waiting for this all evening, and now that she could finally kiss him without fear, she wasn't about to let go anytime soon. Rosie slid her hand down his back and pulled him closer, letting him feel him even more deeply.

Chim ran his fingers down her side, then easily pushed her shirt up and over her head. They both took this brief moment to catch their breath, but then he connected his lips with hers again. He did it so skillfully that her lips parted in surprise, and Han immediately took advantage of it, sliding his tongue beneath the roof of her mouth.

Rosie moaned softly into his mouth. She wanted more.

She needed more.

Rosie's head fell back against the pillows, her chest rising and falling rapidly with the force of Chim's actions. His hands roamed her body, as if trying to memorize every single inch. She didn't owe him anything—she traced the tattoo on his chest with her fingernail, and when she heard him let out a soft purr of pleasure, she was only convinced that this was something he liked.

"Chim..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't think I've ever felt more... Please, don't stop."

"I definitely don't mean to," he replied, then laughed, panting.

The heat grew with each moment, the couch itself capturing their every twitch or confession. Literally everything around them dissolved — it was just them and their love.

Chim trailed his kisses lower to her jaw and neck, and she tilted her head back, giving him better access. He immediately took advantage, sucking on her delicate skin. She was sure she'd see traces of their nightly ecstasies in those places later, but for now, she didn't care at all. She seized that brief moment and pushed herself against his body, making him sit on the couch, and she quickly took a seat on his lap. The change in position clearly caught him completely off guard, but he didn't complain, simply returning to his activity.

Time was on their side, as one moment they were kissing and caressing each other's bodies, and the next they were shedding the last layers of clothing that separated them. Chim ran his hand over her breasts, sending shivers through her body. She didn't know if it was because she hadn't felt his touch for so long, or if it was simply because he was affecting her—but she felt like if she didn't feel him soon, she would completely burn up. She wanted to encourage him more, but it was as if the words had suddenly vanished from her mind.

There was only one thought: Chim.

Rosie ran her nails over his lower abdomen, then moved her hand to his member. At first, she gently cupped it between her hands, trying to gauge if he really wanted it, but the blissful look in his eyes and the smile on his face were enough to know she wasn't the only one enjoying this.

She didn't have to wait long for his reciprocation, as she felt his fingers between her legs, moving with such skill that she drew a deep breath. For a moment, she forgot what she was doing, completely absorbed in her own sensation, and when she remembered that it was he she wanted to please, he stopped her so quickly.

"I told you, today we're focusing on you," he whispered in her ear, and she simply nodded with a smile.

She let him take control. He wrapped his arm around her waist and settled her back down on the couch, nestled among the pillows. For a moment, everything seemed calmer; he wasn't rushing anywhere, as if he wanted to memorize every second of their shared experience. He kissed her with the utmost devotion, and she felt as if she might burst from the heat that surged through her body, but also from the emotions she felt. It wasn't just about simple fulfillment anymore, but the fact that everything they did had a deeper foundation — their mutual love for each other.

When their bodies finally merged, she felt as if she were falling apart completely. Her heart wanted to burst from her chest, and her breathing became erratic. Chim moved slowly, but she felt every movement with every fiber of her being. She wrapped a leg around his waist to bring herself even closer, even though there was no space left between them. She pulled his face close, then initiated a kiss that, in that moment, was more important to her than oxygen.

Only he could make her feel such happiness, fulfillment, and bliss all at once. Only he could heat her to the brim, and then do everything in his power to make it seem as if the entire world had ceased to matter. It was just her and him.

Finally, the moment came when their fire completely ignited. Chim had moved inside her a few times, but he hadn't let go of her. They were both in better spirits than ever, at least not in the last six months.

Chim rested his forehead against hers, still trying to catch his breath. When he succeeded, he laughed softly.

"We'll smash this couch to smithereens someday," he replied. "It's been here longer than Marrie's been alive, and it's still in one piece, despite all our shenanigans. It's quite a shock."

Rosie burst out laughing.

"I think it was definitely worth it," she said hoarsely.

She snuggled into his arms. She felt like it had been a truly good day, one that had ended just as she'd wanted it for so long. She knew perfectly well she wouldn't forget it for a long time.

She turned her head toward her beloved, then noticed that he was watching her very intently, which was definitely nothing new.

"What?" "She asked, a hint of mischief in her voice. "Do I have something on my face?"

"No. It's just..." he began, then squeezed her side, grounding her in the process. He smiled at her. "Sometimes I feel like your presence is a dream, and I'll wake up alone, just like I did for those six years... It's still too good a feeling for me to be entirely real."

She pressed her face against his shoulder to hide the tears that welled up in her eyes almost instantly. She hadn't thought that despite the passage of time, she would be able to hear such words from him again.

"I know that what I did..." she began, rubbing her eyes.

"Don't get me wrong," he replied, cutting her off. He ran his fingers down her cheeks, wiping away the tears that were forming. "As I've told you before, I have no hidden grudge against you. I love you, and that will never change in my life. I may have doubts sometimes, but then you come and dispel them, just like you did today on this couch."

She laughed.

"You're impossible," she said bluntly. "But I love you so much..."

"And the feeling is mutual, Rosey..."

She felt her heart skip a beat, hearing those words for the second time that evening. She had definitely never had to doubt her lover's feelings. There was a sense of confidence in him as he expressed his feelings for her, as always.

"Thank you," she said softly, so much so that Chim barely heard it.

"For what?" he asked, surprised, nuzzling her temple.

"For being there for me, even when I didn't deserve it. I know I hurt you, but I'm so in awe that despite everything I've put you through, you're still able to love me. You believed in me more than anyone else, that I would emerge stronger. You were truly convinced I'd come back to work. And you were right. Besides... you loved me even when I couldn't."

For a moment, Chim lay still, then his arms wrapped around her a little tighter than before.

"Rosie..." he began, feeling emotional himself after hearing what his beloved had said. "Since I met you, there's never been a version of you I haven't loved."