A/N: Wow this was a long time coming and I apologize for the wait. This chapter was quite possibly the most difficulty I have ever had writing. I went through countless drafts, toying with dozens of ideas. I was so frustrated at one point that I nearly killed Tristan off! Not to worry, the insanity passed and I finally wrote an ending. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story! You are all amazing!

Epilogue: Full Circle

Rory fingered each of the worn pages before placing them carefully back into the torn envelopes. She ran a finger across his messy writing. She could see him scrawling her name and address across the front of each letter in a rush to get them in the mail.

There were 330 letters, one for each day of the 11 months he was gone. At the end of each letter he had written 'with all my heart'. For 11 months that had been the phrase she lived by. Each time a letter had arrived she had ripped it open eagerly her eyes scanning the page before coming to rest on those 4 little words.

She carefully placed the letters into their box, closing the lid with finality.

That part of her life was over, but sometimes it helped to remember. It was like a bad habit really; the way she would hole up in the closet reading his familiar words. Sometimes she smiled, sometimes she cried, but she couldn't bring herself to let well enough alone.

She stood up from the floor of her closet and brushed the dust off her jeans. Standing on her toes she tried to reach the top shelf to place the box back in its place.

She didn't flinch as two hands wrapped around her waist. "Need some help?" a deep voice asked as hands reached up to take the box from her arms and place it back on its shelf.

"Thanks." She said turning in the circle of familiar arms.

"Hey?" Tristan said bringing his hand up to cup her cheek "Why so sad?"

She smiled "I'm not sad."

"Really?" he asked smirking "Then what's with the tissues?" he said gesturing to the pile on the floor.

She sighed "I was reading your letters."

"Again?" he asked "Why don't you just throw those things out? They make you sad every time you see them."

She nodded "But they make me happy too." She reached down to hold his hand "They remind me of how much I love you and how much you gave up for me."

He started to shake his head but she put her finger to his lips. "No. No talking for you. The letters are a part of our history and there is no way I'm getting rid of them."

He threw his hands in the air "Fine. I'm not going to bring it up. I just hate seeing you sad."

"I know." She grabbed his hand.

He rolled his eyes "Sometimes I just don't understand you."

She laughed "I'm a woman babe, you're not supposed to!"

Tristan bent down to pluck a piece of paper off the floor. "Looks like you missed one." He said holding it out to her.

She took the envelope and glanced down at the date. "This was the last one." She said with a smile.

Tristan took the envelope with interest as he pulled Rory out of the closet and to the bed. "I don't even remember what I wrote." He said nonchalantly.

"Really?" Rory asked surprised and a little stung. She knew almost every word by heart.

"Nope." He said shaking his head.

Rory pulled a single sheet of paper out from the envelope. "I remember opening this and being pissed off because it was so short." She said smiling.

Tristan rolled his eyes "Yeah that sounds like you; pissed off because your husband who is fighting in a war torn country didn't have time to write you a letter the length of War and Peace."

"I have my standards." Rory insisted defiantly, unfolding the paper. "Dear Mary," she started to read.

It's been too long. Too long since I've seen you, since I've held you and far too long since I've kissed you. Instead I'm halfway across the world thinking of you and wishing that you were in my arms tonight. You probably have some idea of how that feels. Tonight it's worse for some reason. Maybe it's because it's too hot. Or the fact that the food sucks more than the first time you tried to cook dinner. It could also be the fact that I have sand in places a man really doesn't want sand to be! So tonight I realize what you mean when you tell me "I miss you so much that it hurts."

Hmm James and Ty are going to kick my ass if they ever read this. What would they think of their Commander going soft? But to be honest I don't give a damn, I just want to be home!

How is everything? I've asked that question so many times in the last months that it probably seems redundant now. How's your mom? Luke? Not to mention my little brother-in-law (by the way it's still weird to have a brother in law who is 7)? What about the girls? Tell Jill congratulation on the new job, I always saw her as a teacher! She can whip those first graders into shape! Tell Allie and Kate hi for me, and make sure to mention that their husbands are annoying as hell sometimes!

But most importantly how are you? Is everything at the house okay? Did those guys get the pipe in the basement fixed? I can see you rolling your eyes at me when you read this…but I'm your husband, I'm allowed to worry! Does it still sound weird to you? Husband…wife. We only had a week before I left…I can't wait until I have the chance to actually be your husband (And yes that does include the dirty stuff).

Rory laughed. And cleared her throat as she began to read the last lines, she looked up startled when Tristan recited them along with her.

I love you sweetheart. More than I could ever say. I'll be home as soon as I can. With all my heart,

Tristan.

Rory looked up trying to keep tears from surfacing "I thought you didn't remember what you wrote?"

Tristan smiled "It came back to me."

Rory carefully folded the letter back into its envelope.

"I remember writing this and thinking that I would probably be home before it got to you." Tristan paused, remembering "But someone" he looked at her with a grin "made me promise to write every day, so that's what I did."

Rory nodded "Such a good military man following orders." Tristan rolled his eyes. "Actually I got this letter just before I left to meet you at the airport."

"I knew you had been crying that day!" Tristan exclaimed.

"How do you remember that?" Rory asked "That was the first time you had seen me in nearly a year and the first thing you noticed is that I had been crying?"

Tristan shook his head "No it was the second thing I noticed."

"What was the first?" Rory asked leaning against his chest.

"I noticed how incredibly beautiful you were." He said wrapping his arms around her.

"I was wearing jeans and a shirt of yours!" Rory exclaimed rolling her eyes.

Tristan laughed. "The shirt was on backwards too." He shifted her in his arms so that he could see her face. "But you were still the most beautiful thing I had ever seen."

Rory brought her hand up to stroke his cheek "Funny, that's exactly what I was thinking about you."

Tristan smiled bringing his forehead to brush against hers "See, we were made for each other." he said and kissed her.

Rory smiled against his lips.

She couldn't agree more.

A/N: Well there you have it. It's simple, and very much them. I hope you all enjoyed it! Please let me know what you thought!

Thank you to everyone who read the story but especially to everyone who takes the time to review! You are all the best readers a writer could ask for!

Devaney