A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry that it took me so long to update but real life has been a little hectic recently. However, things have finally started to clear up and I've got several more stories in the works. For anyone that's interested, I do plan on finishing 'Out of Shadows' but it might be awhile as I suddenly seem to have been overrun by plot bunnies. Also, I just graduated from college, so a review might be an appropriate graduation present (hint, hint...)

With a deep sigh, Scotty signed his name to one final report. As soon as the stack of papers that were currently residing on the corner of his desk were delivered to the District Attorney the Cahill case would be officially closed. In spite of himself, he couldn't help but be relieved that he would never have to deal with it, or the emotions that it had caused to surface, ever again.

The first time he'd seen a picture of the victim had been a shocking experience. The crime scene photos, themselves, had nearly brought him to his knees with the reminder of the chances that Lilly took with her life on a daily basis, but it was that single candid picture that had stayed with him. While it was true enough that she bore a striking resemblance to Lilly, it was the differences between the two women that had startled him the most. One look at that photo had simultaneously caught his imagination and tore at his heart.

Meredith Cahill had been happy, the kind of happy that shown in every line of her face and in the sparkling eyes that even a faded photograph couldn't dim. Her smile had been open and friendly, seemingly untouched by the ugliness of the world that would eventually end her life. In an odd way, it was as though he was being given a glimpse at what Lilly might have been, had the circumstances of her life been different.

In the time that he'd known her Scotty had been able to find out very little about Lilly's past, but those few, meager bits of information that she had let slip made him ache for the life that she had known. He didn't know the whole story, what had happened to put so many shadows in her eyes, but he did know that he had never seen her that happy.

His Lilly had never been given the chance to be that innocent, that joyful. She had never been protected from the harshness of the world and those rough edges had slowly worn on her soul. Scotty had seen first hand how hard it was for her to trust anyone, to allow anyone behind the walls that she had so solidly constructed around herself. Lilly tried so hard to hide her emotions behind her tough cop facade, but those brief glimpses into her pain were what now motivated him. It had become Scotty's mission in life to make her happy. Just once, he wanted to see Lilly experience the kind of unrestrained joy that had been so evident in Meredith Cahill's gaze.

He couldn't name the exact moment when his feelings towards Lilly had gone beyond the tentative friendship that their partnership had fostered between them. When they'd first met, Scotty had thought her to be rather distant and closed off. It was only after he'd spent time with her that he had discovered her secret. Lilly used that distance to hide, not that she felt too little towards the people around her, but that her emotions often overwhelmed her to the point that she felt the need to protect herself from their impact.

Once he'd seen through her act, it seemed as though every barrier that he had erected in his mind to keep their relationship strictly professional had gone tumbling down in an instant. The attraction that he'd felt toward Lilly at their first meeting had come roaring back with a vengeance. Scotty could no longer fight what he was feeling and, if he was honest with himself, he really didn't want to try anymore. Since he'd finally given in to what his instincts had been telling him all along, he'd been having too much fun slowly leading Lilly toward the realization that she, too, was interested in more than just a partnership.

With the decision as to whether or not he was going to pursue a relationship with Lilly finally made, it was almost impossible for him to keep his distance. Scotty found himself leaning over her shoulder, pretending to read what ever file she was studying at the moment just so that he could inhale the soft, subtle scent of her perfume. When they walked side by side he began resting his hand casually at the small of her back or the curve of her hip under the pretense of guiding her steps. While he knew that it was entirely likely that Lilly would object to his touch, it was simply too hard to resist any excuse that allowed him to feel the heat of her body against his palms.

Lilly hadn't objected, though, leaving Scotty both surprised and grateful. Her acceptance of his casual, seemingly accidental touches gave him the courage to try something a little more direct, where his intentions couldn't be mistaken for anything but what they were. It wasn't long before he was given his chance.

It had become a common occurrence for Scotty to find himself lost in thought throughout the day, his gaze locked on Lilly, studying the deceptively fragile lines of her face. The range of emotion that crossed her features in the span of an hour never failed to mesmerize him. This time, though, rather than quickly turning away as he usually would, when Lilly glanced in his direction he caught her eyes with his. Held her gaze and refused to look away. For the first time, Scotty allowed a fraction of what he actually felt for her to show, making his eyes shimmer with repressed heat.

As he watched, a faint blush had risen to stain the porcelain perfection of Lilly's cheeks. Her breathing had grown quick and ragged until, finally, the intensity of the moment forced her to break their connection. When she'd excused herself to get coffee, Scotty had, for an instant, assumed that he'd blown his chances. He'd been mentally kicking himself when he noticed her pause in the doorway of the breakroom. The shy smile that she cast over her shoulder had sent his own heart racing and reinforced his determination.

They'd progressed slowly from that point, the heated glances coming more easily between them until they were no longer enough and the craving for something more became too great to ignore. The first light touch of their hands, that first shocking contact of skin to skin had sent sparks flowing throughout his body in pleasurable bursts. The fine tremor that he'd seen run through Lilly told him that the sensation had been mutual.

While he'd initiated their first touch, it hadn't taken long for Lilly to begin making her own advances. The day that she had casually run her foot along the inside of his leg as they sat at their desks discussing a case had quickly risen to join the ranks as one of Scotty's favorite memories. He hadn't been so excited at someone playing footsie with him since he'd been a boy. It wasn't just the physical contact that had thrilled him, though it had been wonderful all on it's own. What truly made it so important in Scotty's mind was the fact that it had been the first time that he'd ever seen the sparkle of mischief light Lilly's eyes.

Scotty clung to that memory now because it hadn't been long after that day that Lilly had begun to distance herself again. It didn't take a trained detective to see that she had finally realized that their flirting was leading up to something and that this sudden understanding had her ready to run. Scotty knew that his only option was patience, but every day it grew harder and harder to force down his frustration. Any type of pressure would push Lilly away from him forever and that knowledge left him with no choice but to wait for her to come around, even though such inactivity went against every instinct that he possessed.

More than anything, Scotty wanted to be able to let the world know that Lilly was his, that they belonged together. Lilly might be blind to her own appeal, but he certainly wasn't. He was all to aware of the looks the other guys on the force gave her, the not so subtle plays they made for her attention. The real reason behind his offer to handle all of the paperwork for the Cahill case was his need to keep Lilly as far as he could from that sleazy D.A. Kite who was always giving her the eye.

He would love to be able to warn them all off, to let them know that Lilly had already found her man and that he didn't appreciate anyone trying to get in the way. Even more than that, Scotty wanted the right to do all of the little things for her that were a part of being in a relationship. He wanted to open doors for her and pull out her chair, to give her flowers for no other reason than the fact that he knows they'll make her smile. Hell, he even wanted the right to buy her drinks when they went to First Thursdays. Above all else, he wanted to spoil her, to make her feel special because he knew that no one else ever had.

Unfortunately, the only way that he would ever be allowed to do any of those things was for Lilly to finally take a chance and believe that he would never do anything to hurt her. That he would, in fact, do everything in his power to make her happy. He'd thought that he would make her more comfortable by placing the decision in her hands, but instead it seemed as though she had frozen under the weight of her own fears. He was doing his best to give her the space that she seemed to need but, as his feelings for Lilly continued to grow stronger, he didn't know how much longer he could hold out.

Finally finished with the paperwork, he gathered everything into an envelope and marked it for delivery to Kite. A few charming smiles and a little flattery later, Scotty had saved himself a trip by sliding his file in with a few others about to be delivered to the D.A.'s office. A quick search told him that Lilly had yet to return from the warehouse, leaving him at loose ends for lunch.

The case had hit Lilly harder than any of them and Scotty had harbored grand ambitions of taking her out in order to relieve some of the pressure that she had placed on herself. Instead, it looked as though he'd be grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the office to wait for Lilly's return.

He'd barely made it a block before he saw Lilly wandering in his direction, completely oblivious to the world around her. Scotty couldn't control the grin that tugged at his own mouth at the sight of the mysterious little smile that curled her lips. She seemed lighter somehow, more happy than he'd ever seen her.

Placing himself in her path, Scotty waited for Lilly to eventually notice his presence. Instead, still lost in her own mind, she walked directly into him, not noticing until it was too late that he was there. He couldn't help but laugh at the look of shock that came over her face when she finally recognized him. Scotty knew that, in that moment, everything that he felt for Lilly was plainly written on his face for her to see, but he couldn't seem to help that either.

"Hey, Lil. I was just on my way to grab some lunch. You wanna come? It's my treat."

He could practically see the panic rising within her as his own smile faded away. Scotty knew better than to let it hurt him, but each small rejection, every step she took away from him, felt like the twist of a knife in his stomach. If their relationship didn't change soon he knew that, eventually, the pain would become too much to bear and he would be forced to let her go.

"Another time, then. I guess I'll see you back at the office." He stepped past her, refusing to allow Lilly to see the disappointment in his eyes. Before he could walk away, he felt her hand on his shoulder.

"Scotty?"

He turned back and, before he had a chance to realize what was happening, Lilly was kissing him. The feel of her lips on his stunned him momentarily but he recovered quickly, not willing to risk missing a single second of something that he'd been dreaming about for so long. He pulled Lilly into his body, holding her tightly to prove to himself that she was really there.

With his free hand he caressed her face, cradling her cheek in his palm as he explored her mouth. On her lips he could taste the bitter bite of the coffee she'd been drinking, the more mellow undertones of cinnamon and chocolate, and the delicate spice of Lilly, herself. It was a combination that weakened his knees and lured him further into her embrace.

The intrusive blast of a car horn brought Scotty back to himself and he frowned at the two familiar, grinning faces as they slowly cruised by, waving as they went. Returning his gaze to Lilly, he ran his thumb softly over her chin, forcing her to face him. The mixture of affection and embarrassment that he saw in her eyes melted his heart and relieved the doubts and fears that had been praying on his mind.

He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, testing it's silky texture between his fingers before tucking it gently behind her ear. "Not that I don't appreciate it, but you mind telling me what brought that on?"

A dazzling smile was the only answer that Scotty got, but it was enough. For the first time since they'd met, Lilly was truly, blissfully happy. The way he saw it, their future together had never looked so bright.