**Author's note: This is the final chapter. It is set immediately after the end of Solid State Society. Thanks for reading!**

Batou gave her shoulder a quick, brotherly squeeze. "I'm going. See you tomorrow."

Time to man up. She couldn't let him walk away, not now. "Wait."

He paused. Kusanagi stared out the window, completely still though every muscle in her body urged her to move. He was impassive, unreadable. She breathe deeply. 'We need to talk."

"No, we don't." He spoke carefully, as if she were made of glass. "You were right. It's done, over. Years ago, now. We can forget it. I already did."

"But-"

"I'm just glad you're back, is all." He flashed the feral grin she'd missed so badly, but it faded too swiftly.

"No." She said firmly, turning to face him. No more running. "I didn't forget it. And neither did you."

"Forget what?"

They both started; they'd forgotten the two Tachikoma who'd been sitting silent on the opposite side of the pool, observing them. Kusanagi pointed to the door. "Max, Musashi. Out."

"But Major-"

"Out."

"But what didn't Batou-san forget?"

"Out!"

"Awwww…you're mean, Major." They obeyed reluctantly, stamping like angry toddlers/

Batou smiled after them. "I have to say, I'm surprised. I never thought you liked them much. Anyway, I'm glad to see them."

"I knew you would be." She willed him to understand. But he didn't reply. Uncomfortable silence settled over them. She struggled to banish it. "Batou, about that night-"

"Wait, Major." He interrupted. She saw in the iron set of his jaw that he too had made a resolution. "I understand why you took off."

"You do?" Maybe this would be easier than she'd expected.

"You had every right to be pissed with me. I should have known…Hell, I did know better. You were vulnerable, and hurting, and you didn't know what you were doing."

"Batou-"

"I took advantage of that…I should've sent you back to bed, alone. And I've been beating myself up over it for two years now, and I feel like shit that you've been regretting it all this time. It was nice of you to tell me you weren't drunk, but I know it's not true."

"Batou-"

"Hang on, I'm almost done. I hope you'll accept my apology so we can move on." He'd rehearsed this, he had to. It was far too stiff and formal for her Batou.

Kusanagi almost laughed. "I don't accept." Before his face could fall, she added, "Because I wasn't drunk and I don't regret it. And I don't appreciate you calling me a liar." There. No turning back now.

He gaped. "Major-"

"Motoko."

"What?"

"My name." She felt a flush creeping up her neck and fought to control it. "I like the way you say my name."

"Damn." Absently he rubbed the back of his neck. "What's the deal?"

"Look, I felt terrible because I used you. I needed someone…someone who cared about me. Someone who loved me. I knew you wouldn't just be awed by my body."

"Well, I wouldn't say that's entirely correct." He offered a smile that was almost shy. "You mean we both felt lousy all this time and didn't even need to?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"All that guilt and confusion…" He chuckled, but there was an edge of bitterness to it. "That's what we get for being human, huh? Well, now that's cleared up, we can get back to business as usual."

"Wait. Please." It felt strange to ask; she rarely made requests. Usually she gave orders. "If it happened again-"

"I didn't mean-"

She overrode him in a rush. "If it happened again, it would be okay."

He was already shaking his head. "Can't do it, Motoko. I can't do the friends-with-benefits thing, not with you. Not if…it doesn't mean anything. I love you. You said it yourself. It would just fuck me up, to do it that way." He shrugged, sheepish, apologetic.

"That's not-" She spoke sharply, frustrated with herself for being unable to explain, with him for not understanding. "Listen: I like you. I like your voice, and the way you think, and your sense of humor. I like you honesty and your kindness, and how you smile and how you frown. I like watching you sleep, and how you kiss, and…Christ, I even liked missing you. I like how you never go easy on me, and how you trust me…" She hesitated. "Is that love? I don't know. I don't know what that is, really. I remember I loved my parents, but that was different, and it was a long time ago. I loved Kuze, but I was a little kid then, and that was different too. I don't know. And maybe you can't live without knowing. And if you can't, that's okay too. We never have to talk about it again. Business as usual."

She turned back to the window, suddenly afraid to look at him. Batou was silent a long time. She bit her lower lip, waiting. After an eternity she heard him move. Then he loomed beside her. She didn't dare meet his gaze. He reached out and took her hand. His skin was rough and calloused. Gently he twined their fingers together. "So, Motoko. I'm not really the dinner-and-a-movie type."

She exhaled slowly. "Me neither."

"How about that?" He pulled her into his arms. She let him.

On the other side of the wall, Max and Musashi listened intently.

"Love certainly is difficult, isn't it?" Musashi marveled. "I wonder why humans are so obsessed with it."

"Who knows?" Max replied wistfully. "Even so, I'd like to try it sometime."