A/N:Thanks for hanging with me for this one. There will probably be a sequel. The quote mentioned is by Brian Andreas.

His eyes bounced between the line in front of him and the clock on the wall opposite him. He could just barely see Paula blocking off the end of the line. With a sigh, he forced a smile and reached for the next book. Twenty more minutes and he would be on his way back to the hotel to meet Kate. He tried to lose himself in the signings, talking with each of his fans.

"Who should I make this out to," he asked, reaching for the next book he was handed.

"Kate." He heard her familiar voice and for a minute, he was back in the past. At a signing for a book written out of anger and rejection. Signing a book for the woman he loved, but had been turned away by. Shaking his head, a grin took over his face as he glanced up to see her, lip caught between her teeth." Behind her stood Paula. The end of the line.

He took the book and signed it, grinning as he stood to give it back to her. She was in his arms in an instant, laughing as he held her tight. "My flight got in early," she said, pulling away slightly. "So, I thought I could just meet you here. Good surprise?"

"Best surprise," he said, kissing her temple gently. "You must be exhausted, though." He had worried about the trip being too much for her. He knew she could walk longer distances, but after three months in a bed, atrophy was a lot to recover from.

"I'm fine," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. "At least, I will be as soon as you feed me."

"I think we might be able to make that happen," he said, pulling on his coat. He tucked her arm under his then waved goodbye for going outside to climb into the town car.

They at Ivar's, overlooking the bay. She looked amazing in a black turtle neck and dark jeans, hair curled and falling over her shoulders. He was glad to see she had grown some of weight back that she had lost while in the hospital. Her jeans weren't as baggy, her cheeks a bit fuller than when he had seen her a week before. "How's the tour been going," she asked after their order been taken.

"Exhausting," he replied, "Vegas was a nice distraction. Went and saw Cirque at the Mirage. You would have loved it." He told her about the Beatles music and the woman who had been on the trapeze for "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and about the daredevils riding motorcycles. She laughed when he told her about some of the crazier fans, bearing their chest for him to sign. There had been a time when she would have been jealous if he told her that. Now, he just squeezed her hand and told her he only signed books.

After lunch, they walked along the wharf, her tucked tight against his side against the chilly wind. They stopped for coffee, which she groaned over after tasting before returning to the hotel. The traveling had worn her out and her muscles were aching so he let her soak in the bathtub while he met with Gina about some edits for the chapters he had already written for the new book.

He had just finished when she walked out, hair in a messy bun and wearing leggings with an oversized shirt. She curled up on the bed and reached for the book he had signed, opening it with a crack.

He watched as she ran her finger over his signature, a soft smile on her face. "What'cha thinking about," he asked, laying next to her on the bed.

"What you wrote," she said, "And the dedication. I didn't understand what it meant." She shifted to face him, letting him take half of the book in his hands. "For the extraordinary KB. Sometimes there are no words for this." He had written the dedication after many days and nights of pondering what to put. It was his first novel since they had decided to be together and wanted it to mean something to her, but would leave the rest of the world out of the life he shared with her.

"I feel like there's some deeper meaning behind this, but I can't remember what." He heard the frustration in her voice and pressed a kiss to her forehead, smiling.

"There is," he said, kissing her again. "It's an adaptation of my favorite quote. 'I read once that the ancient Egyptians had fifty words for sand and the Eskimos had a hundred words for snow. I wish I had a thousand words for love, but all that comes to mind is the way you move against me while you sleep and there are no words for that."

A smile broke across her face as she lifted herself to face him, running her thumb against his lips before gently kissing him. "I've missed you," she said, running her hand through his hair. Missed his smile, his laugh, his frustrating ways. Everything he had shown her since the day she woke up, confused and feeling very alone in the world. He smiled at her and returned her kiss, pulling her close.

"I knew you'd find your way back to me," he whispered, brushing his hand along her cheek. She laughed lightly and closed her eyes, inhaling the scent she always used to identify him. A bullet had taken her away from him. Love had brought her back. The unending mantra of a life built together.

The End