Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, I'm just being a bum today and decided to add the last chapter of this story. I don't know how everyone else will feel about it, but I think I like where this all ended.

I'm considering doing a Motive Summer Exchange (a gift exchange in the summer), so if anyine is interested or knows someon that would be, let me know!

Read, and enjoy!

Angie has been sitting in the waiting room for the past hour, ever since they rushed Franco in, needing Oscar to stay with his father and tell them exactly what had happened. Lucas told her that the only thing Franco ingested was his scotch, and it was confirmed that it was laced with peanut dust. They got a hold of the bartender and he explained that the head of the event wanted scotch from a specific bottle, which was then handed to him by Alan Costello posing as his assistant. They had enough to book him, and she was grateful that the threat hadn't been more serious. If Franco had taken a larger sip, he might not have made it, and even that she wasn't certain about because she hadn't seen Oscar yet. She went up to the nurse's station and asked again if she could get an update, but all she got was that they were still working on him and that was all they had. She wanted to force her way back there, but knew that wouldn't go over very well. As she sat back down, Oscar came through the emergency doors and she stood back up immediately. He looked like he'd been put through the ringer; his hair sticking up at odd angles and how pale he looked. He came right towards her and she immediately opened her arms, catching him in a hug as he sagged against her.

"They lost him once, but they got him back. They think he's going to be just fine, he just needs some rest," he muttered against her skin, his voice cracking when he admitted that they'd lost him once. She huffed out a watery laugh, holding onto him tighter as his hands held onto her back with no signs of letting go. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, his face tucked into her neck as they just held one another. He and his father might not have the best relationship, but he still loved the man. Angie knew it was rough for them, but she was glad Oscar was here for Franco when he needed him. She knew quite a bit about regret, and she didn't want Oscar to have to live with himself if he hadn't been able to help save his father.

Oscar pulled back and shrugged awkwardly, the silent apology in his eyes as he tried to let her go. Angie had other ideas and ran her left hand up the back of his neck, scratching at his scalp soothing just because she wanted to feel close to him. She felt him shudder and he pulled her body back into him gently, willing to take the comfort she was offering. She wanted to cry; sad that the only time they were this close for so long is because he didn't have anyone else. She didn't want to let him go, she wanted everything they did tonight to be the way their lives were, and not because they were pretending to be something they're not.

"I'm glad he's going to be okay," she offered, her voice quiet as it ruffled the air near his ear. He nodded but kept her against him, and she kissed the side of his forehead softly as he finally loosened his hold on her.

"My dad wants to see you, make sure you're doing alright," he said, clearing his throat and rubbing at his eyes. She was surprised, but she nodded, taking his hand when he reached for hers. She threaded their fingers together, giving him a small smile as he lead them back towards the doors, but a nurse stopped them.

"I'm sorry sir, but only family is allowed back there," she said, looking apologetic but firm. He shrugged his shoulder and held up his right hand, the hand that was intertwined with hers, and showed the woman Angie's ring.

"She's my fiancée; she is my family," he stated, and motioned his head towards the doors that she opened with a faint apology. He waved her off, and walked them down the hall to where his father was sitting, staring at the wall. He looked to them as they came in, smiling at them weakly as he shifted. He motioned for them to sit, but Oscar made Angie take the chair beside his father's bed as he stood behind her. He nodded reassuringly as she sank down into the seat, smiling at Franco gently.

"I'm glad you're doing well," Angie said, and Franco just nodded.

"Oscar, could you do me a favor and find me something that is not water?" he asked pointedly, and Oscar squeezed her shoulder as he walked back out, giving his father a moment with his partner. He didn't like leaving them alone, but he trusted his father to behave himself.

"I am glad you were both there tonight Angie," Franco said, taking her hand and patting it softly, "I do not know what would have happened if you had not come"

"Please don't say that, we're both just glad that we got you here as fast as possible," she answered, knowing she did very little to help him.

"That is where you are wrong. Had you not been there, Oscar would not have come either. He remembers what it was like when he was a child and I had a reaction to something, he remembered the signs. He is the reason I am alive," he confided in her, and she knew in her gut that he was right. He was the one that knew he kept a shot of epinephrine in his briefcase, and he knew to call out for it.

"You should tell him that," she stated quietly, meeting his gaze determinedly as he just smiled in response.

"Oscar would brush off my appreciation, but I knew you would not"

"Franco, I know he makes it hard-"

"He is my son, I love him," he said simply, "But we have our differences. I am just glad that with you, he is happy. I did not want him to keep searching for someone like me. I wanted him to find you and make it last" he said, and it made her tear up, knowing that it wasn't at all what he thought.

"We're not-"

"I know you are not engaged, but it is plain to see that you love one another. Do not let pride get in the way of what is best for you both"

"I don't know if we can make it," Angie whispered, scared to admit her fears out loud, "But I'd like to try. I made a mistake by leaving and I don't know if we can fix that," she said, and Franco just picked up her hand with the engagement ring. He motioned down to it with his chin and met her eyes again.

"My son has never bought a ring for a woman, let alone be seen with both her and his family in public. I think you underestimate his love for you"

"I think I took it for granted," she mumbled, and it got a surprised laugh out of Franco that ended in a coughing fit. She reached over for his cup of water and pointed the straw towards him, helping him drink until he calmed down.

"It is only too late if you no longer feel the same way. And I do not think that is the case," he said, and she shook her head.

"I still love him, more so now if that's possible. I just don't want to disappoint him"

"Let him be the judge. But you must be honest, let him know that he is not alone in his feelings. I would love to one day call you my daughter-in-law," he said affectionately, and the tears she'd been keeping at bay spilled down her cheeks. She sniffled and laughed, dabbing at her eyes as Oscar came back in, looking at his father suspiciously.

"Everything alright in here?" he asked, looking at Angie more than his father. She just nodded, as did his father when he reached his arm out to give him the orange juice he'd managed to find.

"I know how much you hate cranberry," he stated, shrugging at Franco's thanks. Angie got up then, putting her hand over Franco's this time, thanking him for the conversation and telling him again how glad she was that he was okay.

"I hope I will see you soon," he mentioned, and she agreed, promising to come by once he was home.

"I would like that, but I will admit that I am getting tired now. Oscar, will you take Angie home and come see me in the morning?" he asked, looking at his son as they made their way to the door.

"Of course dad, I'll see you in the morning"

The ride back to the precinct was relatively silent, the cab getting there faster than either of them would have liked. As they got out, Oscar handed the driver money and stood on the curb with her, not wanting to say goodbye to her just yet. He pulled his keys from his pocket and motioned towards the direction of his car, the question made as clear as the answer as she followed him down the street. She shivered as the cold air got to her, and Oscar silently removed his jacket, draping it over her shoulders as they got to his car.

"Thanks," she mumbled, and he just nodded, opening the door for her as she slipped her arms into his sleeves and gracefully lowered herself into his car. The drive was short and quiet, and she was chewing on her thumb nervously the entire time. She was really giving Franco's words some thought, knowing that he was at least partially right. She didn't want to live without Oscar again, and she did have to put that into words eventually. He deserved that much, after everything she had put him through. She blinked distractedly, realizing that they were already in front of her house. She looked over at him and he smiled, looking at her curiously as she pointed her thumb in the direction of her house.

"You want to come inside for a bit? I was kind of hoping that you had a minute to talk," she asked, and she was happy when he nodded after a second. She got out of the car and waited for him on the sidewalk, walking up to her door with him. She unlocked it and motioned for him to go ahead of her as she flipped on a few lights, locked the door, and put down her purse. She met him in the middle of her living room, and he put a hand on her arm as she asked him if he was thirsty.

"I'm good Ang, but what's this about?"

Angie sighed and gestured to her couch, hoping he'd sit down and let her get everything out. He sat exactly where he'd been last week, and she sat on the coffee table in front of him as the skirt of her dress fanned out, forcing them to sit eye to eye as she spoke. She fidgeted with her fingers before he laid a hand over hers, tilting his head in understanding as she poked out her tongue at him teasingly, earning herself a laugh.

"I just wanted to say that-" she started, pausing and shaking her head as he just stared at her patiently, "Screw it. If I come back, can we start over?"

His eyes widened, and she shut her eyes in embarrassment for just blurting that out. She was hoping to start out slow, giving him a chance to see that she really did want to be with him instead of just saying it like that. She wanted him to feel how different this was for her, but all she was doing now was opening one eye slowly, trying to gage just how shocked he was. When she realized he was looking down at their hands, she watched the way he was using his free hand to reach into his pocket only to pull out one of her bracelets. She thought she'd lost it in the move, but she never would have thought this was how she'd find it. He dangled it from a finger, watching the silver sparkle in the lights as he spoke quietly.

"When you left, I assumed that one day you'd just come back," he started, and he cut her off when she tried to speak, "But I realized that I was just hoping for a miracle. You had to want to come back to work, to me, in order for us to work, and you just weren't ready. But when we decided to do this assignment, I went looking for this bracelet, hoping to make you see that you were always welcome in my life," he declared, and she sniffled at that, knowing that he'd always been much better at these types of things. He reached out, unclasping the bracelet and reaching under her wrist, closing it so it rested rightfully on her arm again.

"I never wanted you to think I stopped loving you, I just wanted to make sure we felt the same. I didn't know if-" he said, stopping because he didn't want to ask whether or not she'd loved him then. If she didn't, it would make his heart ache in a different way.

"I loved you too, still do, but I did back then too. It's why I thought we could eventually get past what happened. Even though we never said it, you made sure I felt it; it's why I cried so hard when I left. I assumed it'd be the last time you let me in like that so willingly," she admitted, dropping her face to stare at their hands. He placed his hand against he jaw, tilting her head back to face him, drawing her in closer as he leaned in. She closed her eyes as their noses bumped, their breath mingling as he held her in place. She sucked in a breath when his lips bumped hers, and she had to get something off of her chest before she burst.

"I couldn't tell you I loved you last time because I wasn't sure I'd come back, and that wouldn't have been fair to you" she rushed, her breath coming out in puffs against his beard, "And now, I just can't seem to stop," she whispered, afraid that if she spoke any louder that she'd wake up, realizing none of this was real. He removed his other hand from hers and placed it on the other side of her face, cradling her head gently in his hands as he stared at her with a mix of awe and respect.

"Is it selfish to ask that you don't ever stop saying that?" She had to laugh at that, because it made the little voice of doubt in the back of her mind quiet at long last.

"I know now that if I say it, you'll say it back. I don't have to guess how you feel about me because you've shown me. I just want a chance to do the same for you," she said, and leaned in to kiss him softly for the second time that night. It had been over a year and they just seemed to fall together naturally, like they were meant to be together like this the entire time. Angie smiled into the kiss so wide that they had to break apart, Oscar chuckling at her as he dropped his hands from her face.

"Is that going to happen every time I try to kiss you?" he asked, tilting his head teasingly as she batted her eyelashes at him. She winked and pulled him gently by the tie he was wearing, bringing them face to face once again as she spoke lowly to him.

"I don't know, maybe you should try it again..."

Oscar felt her pull him in, but this time he put his right hand behind her neck and drew her into a passionate kiss. His other hand came up to cradle her jaw again, and it was all Angie could do to put her hands around his neck and pull him that much closer. He felt her pulse race under his hands as he tilted his head a bit more, deepening the kiss as he dragged his teeth over her bottom lip seductively. It had the same effect it had last time when he heard Angie moan faintly, her nails digging into the back of his neck when he did it again. She returned the favor by nipping at his lip playfully, using her tongue to sooth the sting as he stuttered out a breath. He gently ran his tongue against her lips before she opened them willingly, her tongue snaking out to explore his mouth. They both groaned at the sensation, and Oscar leaned back, pulling Angie up off of the coffee table as she pulled at the skirt of her dress, moving it so she could straddle his lap. He leaned his back against the cushions, pulling her firmly on top of him as they broke apart to breath, Angie leaning her head back as Oscar nipped at her neck. He was making his way up to her ear, biting at it gently as a moan escaped her, and she could feel the smug smile against her neck as he bit particularly hard on her collarbone.

"Are you trying to leave a mark?" she asked playfully, but he pulled away, looking at her seriously before running his thumbnail over the extremely red mark.

"Depends…" he said, watching her shiver as her pupils dilated further, "Would you let me?" he asked huskily, his eyes almost as dark as the sky as she stared back at him.

"I think you should be more careful," she said, loosening her arms around his neck, sliding off of his lap and resting against his side, "Because come Monday, our boss is going to be giving us some weird looks if I turn up with a hickey and beard burn"

Oscar watched her, his smile wider than she's ever seen before as he leaned in to kiss her again. She felt his smile this time, and she couldn't have been happier. She took her left hand and ran it over the side of his neck, but he put his hand over hers and pulled it between them as he slowed their kiss.

"I bought that for you, because I'm in love with you," he said in between kisses, running his thumb over the band of her ring on the inside of her hand.

"I know, your father told me," she responded, kissing the corner of his mouth gently, "And I'm in love with you too Oscar"

"My father has a big mouth," he commented, and she pulled away to laugh loudly, throwing her head back in amusement. It was a sound he wanted to hear for the rest of his life, and he knew that this time, she'd let him in and keep him there. There weren't secrets and pain between them anymore; there was love and a bond that withstood their anger and regrets. He assumed this was what his father meant when he'd told him over the years that he'd find someone that just, fit. Angie fit into his life every way he needed, and he now knew he did the same for her.

"So…" she said, tucking her head against his shoulder as he threw his arm around her, "If that's your proposal, I think the delivery needs some work," she mentioned casually, and squealed when he poked her in the side that he knew she was ticklish in. She made to hit him but he pulled her into his arms, kissing the side of her head as she collapsed back against him, his jacket slipping off her right shoulder. He caressed her skin with his fingertips, making goosebumps rise on her skin. He smiled slightly, and turned his head into the side of her neck so she'd hear his next words loud and clear.

"When I propose to you, I guarantee, you'll know it," he whispered against her ear, and she felt his smile against her skin. He was serious, and the thought of being his wife made her want to stay right where she was.