Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's Anatomy, et al.

Author's Note: Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing, I sincerely hope you continue to love this story and the wayward direction it will take, which is shaping up to be really wonderful. Thanks to Mona and Danielle for your anonymous reviews.

See You Soon – Part 5 – 'Well, we are newlyweds …,'

Derek breathed, exhaling as he cleansed his lungs – 'out, out' – he breathed, the stale, humid air inside the small bathroom suddenly insufficient, his dire need for oxygen suffocating him while he stood absolutely still and stared at his reflection for another long moment … his eyes tired, his skin pale, he was overrun, crippled by fatigue. He shook his head now and closed his eyes and his chest burned. His eyes popped open in response. He reached to his left and slowly turned the doorknob, pushing the door open with the pads of his fingers, just a crack was all he needed – 'push, push' – a gust of fresh, yet recycled air rushed through the new breezeway … and yet it still wasn't enough.

For he needed more, he needed an escape, the shortest distance to freedom – he needed to extricate himself from the chokehold of his injuries – and more than anything, he desperately needed and wanted to be alone with Meredith and connect with her, in private.

His heart banged around in his chest – still seemingly in search of that congruent rhythm – something he was sure would take time, though all he really knew he needed was to feel whole again. And to him, being whole and healed had taken on a new meaning entirely, for after the shooting, he realized that being whole wasn't just about him or Meredith anymore. Because if all that had happened had proved anything to him – it was that they were meant to withstand the test and trials of time – and as such, their union had become an absolute, and for that alone, he would be forever humbled. He shook himself from his reverie and looked toward the door.

"In about an hour," he heard Meredith report, her melodic voice vacillating as she likely paced around inside the room next door. He sighed and wondered with whom she was speaking. "Yes, I will … sure, I have another minute … it's disconcerting, I know," she exhaled.

He braced himself against the counter, the linoleum, sticky against his clammy palms, his wedding band sparkling under soft warm light of the sconces that flanked the mirror. He blinked then and focused on the tightness of his chest, a single fissure that ran the length of his wayward scar. He inhaled, constricting his lungs – measuring the dull ache he felt there in comparison to the morning before – and the morning before that … and the one before that too.

And as he did, he reminded himself that it had only been four days.

Four days since he'd opened his eyes to this third chance, almost one month since the shooting … one month since his second chance began. He grabbed his toothbrush and noticed Meredith had prepared it for him, a swirl of his toothpaste already applied to his brush and then he smiled, for his wife so far from a marathon runner now – her commitment so evident – so tangible in all that she did for him, from the everyday mundane to the saving of his life … she was in this marriage. And with that, he began to brush his teeth, happy to focus on the routine task, if only for a brief moment.

"We're all right … which is … amazing … Derek's amazing," he heard Meredith murmur and from the tone of her voice, he knew she was smiling. "We can't get on a plane right now … I just, I'm not ready for that," she continued in just above a whisper. "I want Dr. Hartman to give him the 'all clear' … it needs to come from her," she explained. "I found a place … a resort, a private space on the ground floor … … yes, it will be perfect … I think … … all together … about another three weeks," she reported softly, informing the caller of their plans to stay in Scottsdale while he recovered. He rinsed his mouth. Meredith sighed heavily. "So … tell me, how is she? She's not returned my calls," she exhaled, wherein he knew she was asking for Cristina.

Cristina … who was flailing now like a fish out of water and understandably so, for the home she once sought so much calm and solace within – the O.R. – a place so anesthetized and protected from the world outside, Seattle Grace, a mere extension of herself … was damaged and broken and would never be the same. His heart pulsed, struck again with the crumbling image of everything that had always been so right and balanced in his life … and therein, he began to wonder again: how did everything get to disjointed and unmanageable so quickly, for all it took was a split-second and an unfortunate chain of events.

And thereafter, in the aftermath that still held true … for now all it took was one haunting memory, one blur of the events of that day to take him back – Cristina with her wide, serious eyes, Meredith and the watery depths of hers, Clark and the barrel of his gun in his shaking hand – one facet of the day and his mind swiftly moved to those last few seconds before his world changed forever.

He closed his eyes on his reflection in the mirror and waited then … waited for the crack of Clark's trigger to come, 'POP!' … or the shrill of Meredith's cries, 'DEREK!' … his own trigger-reflex barreling through his mind as he lay on the catwalk – a memory of his father and his embedded fear the night he was killed – a recluse image, compounded by the warbled sounds of that childhood moment, so deeply suppressed, he was truly blindsided as the hot blood drained from his wound and his upper body slowly went numb.

Drowning now, Derek opened his eyes and switched his focus, struggling to free himself of his past. He turned and faced the door, setting his hand upon the knob. He pushed it a fraction more and listened to Meredith counsel her caller (likely Owen), her soothing voice healing him now as he grappled with his deep-rooted fears and pinned them down, his knuckles white with pressure as he clung to the knob.

'They were okay', he reminded himself, allowing those memories to free-fall away – down and away and into his psyche (for now) – compartmentalizing them there for later use until all that remained was Cristina and her raw surgical talent and quick thinking that saved him … Cristina … and of course his father.

He exhaled and stepped from the confines of the bathroom, the last of his worries dissipating now as Meredith turned around from her small suitcase and fastened her eyes to his. He watched her whole face soften as she tilted her head and held one finger up. He nodded in assent and held her gaze, trying his best to allay her fears as she listened to her caller report that there was likely no change to Cristina's withdrawn behavior. Something he knew he would need to do something about when they got home. After all, she saved his life and she was terrorized whilst doing it, and then just like that, the idea of becoming whole and healed took on yet another all encompassing meaning.

He sat down on a nearby chair and looked around the room, this small place he had grown accustomed to and yet was so ready to flee from. Meredith sat down on the other chair and reached for his hand. Their bags were packed and within the hour he would be discharged and they would set off and be … together. They would heal one another and he knew, with just a little bit of time, they would also become whole again.

Meredith smiled at Derek and regarded him as she bade farewell to Owen and for a split-second, the smallest fraction of a second, she wished she be there for them. But then, there inside that same flicker, her eyes darted down to her wedding band and then she knew – she wouldn't trade the next three weeks, alone with Derek – for anything.

"See you soon," she said quietly into the line. "Call if you need us, but we're planning to stay here for now," she smiled tightly as she politely ended the call.

###

Marta Hartman looked up from Derek Shepherd's chart and smiled broadly. "You're recovering beautifully … the ablation has successfully eradicated the tissue in your heart that triggered it's abnormal rhythm," she remarked, her eyes moving over the young couple as something struck her. "And it would seem that your recovery from your first emergent surgery was perhaps even bolstered by your body's relaxed state following your anoxic injury," she reported as she tilted her head, thinking now that she was seeing the real Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd, not the brilliant surgeon he was or she was about to be – she saw just them, the married couple, husband and wife – just a woman and man, waiting to hear their fate as they seemed to hang on her every word. "I also wanted to mention that Meredith's instincts were probably what saved you … for it is my belief that your body might not have been able to overcome the shock of another open heart surgery to repair the arrhythmia," she sighed, jotting down one last notation on the chart before she closed it and looked up to find the couple, still suspended in limbo while they waited for her final assessment. She smiled broadly and then continued. "So … at this point … I don't see any reason why we can't stick to our plan to discharge you today," she reported evenly with that same broad smile.

She watched Meredith and Derek exhale and smile and squeeze one another's hands, relief spilling from them as they thanked her – their eyes shining as the energy inside the room suddenly shifted – bursting now with renewed hope and excitement. The experienced doctor smiled now too, allowing herself to live inside that moment with them, this miraculous moment when the energy seemed to bounce and teem inside a hospital room when a patient was discharged. And as much as she thought she would tire of this force of nature over the years, she did not.

Because there was nothing quite like it – there was just something about that overwhelming sense of relief and the way it bolstered a patient's recovery – it truly was a testament to the human spirit. And although Meredith and Derek were not the typical couple she worked with, as she sat across from them, she watched them closely, basking in that light of hope and renewed confidence … with them, somehow bolstered herself by their unique connectivity. She felt her smile reach her eyes before she spoke again.

"I understand you'll be staying put for a couple of weeks," she prompted softly.

"Yes, it would be our preference to have our follow-up appointments with you," Meredith answered. "I just want … I can't have anything impede our recovery this time …," she sighed, her voice trailing off as she tried to find the words she was looking for … she just needed a minute, just a second for the world to stop spinning. She felt Derek's eyes upon her and therein she met his gaze.

"It would be my pleasure," Marta smiled warmly at the pair. "And I think a break, a true break from the mundane can sometimes make for an even easier recovery," she said softly, trying her best to assess Meredith. "Right now, you're approaching five weeks post-op from your first procedure – but with your body's shutdown and the rest you took here – I would put you more at about six weeks out," she sighed with a smile.

"It's hard to believe it's been over a month … since …," Meredith breathed, her voice trailing off as tears stung her eyes – her mind pining on several touch points … the death toll, the incredible loss of their baby – she felt a surge of distress and resisted the urge to rest her hand upon her belly … 'soon, soon', she promised herself, she would tell him as soon as the time was right (if there was such a time).

Marta smiled genuinely as she watched Meredith carefully for a beat before she turned back to Derek, effectively drawing the young doctor from her thoughts. "Just remember those golden rules: walk, but don't exert yourself and if you sit for over two hours … get up and take a walk," she chuckled. "It's a balancing act, recovering from open heart surgery the way you have been," she encouraged.

"It is," Derek smiled weakly as he held Meredith inside the contour of his embrace – his mind already swirling around the idea of spending the next few weeks alone with her – time that would afford them the chance to reconnect and find one another again. "I feel … good … about as well as I expected to feel …," he mused reflectively, though knowing that he was an excellent health before everything happened, was certainly something he was counting on to see him through.

"Well, you're a healthy man – both physically and cognitively – you'll bounce back," Marta assessed without a doubt in her mind. "But … I'll also say, you've been under duress – and whether you feel it or not – a lot has happened, aside from your surgical procedures," she continued with a small smile as the power-couple looked to her. "You've been through a lot and sometimes rest and relaxation can be some of the best medicine, but I'll also say …," she paused thoughtfully, tilting her head as she regarded them for a beat. "I …ah, I have a colleague who specializes in post traumatic cases – I've seen her myself and she's very good – so if you a need a referral … it would be my pleasure to make an introduction," she smiled, her eyes moving between them as she surveyed their inclination with regards to therapy.

Derek eyes swept over Meredith's before he turned back to Dr. Hartman. "Thank you … I think, at first, and I speak for both of us here … I think, we just need time – the next couple of weeks alone are necessity for us – but later … perhaps … yes, that would be nice," Derek smiled genuinely, knowing that at some point, he and Meredith, both together and apart from one another would likely need some assistance – for there was no escaping it – this ordeal had left them with a host of vulnerability issues that neither one of them were equipped to handle alone.

"Well … as we say, 'time heals all wounds' … and I believe it does," Marta smiled. "Of course, my door is always open to you both … even beyond the next couple of weeks …," she sighed with that same encouraging smile as she stood.

"Thank you, Marta," Meredith replied as she and Derek stood with the good doctor; she slipped her hand into her lover's and squeezed.

"Our discharge paperwork is fairly straight forward, so I'll send Alejandra momentarily and we'll see each other again … one week from today," she smiled. "Alejandra will make that appointment for you," she explained, her eyes moving over the pair of them.

"Terrific," Derek smiled. "As long as everything continues as planned, I look forward to it," he chuckled, squeezing Meredith's hand.

"It will, you're doing just fine," Marta chuckled with a knowing smile. "Listen, if you make your appointment for late morning, perhaps the three of us can have lunch together as well – no pressure, of course – but I'd really love that, especially in light of your clinical trial successes …," she suggested, in part for herself, but also for them … for she knew they needed to slowly get back into the groove of their lives.

"We would enjoy that as well," Meredith smiled genuinely, her eyes moving from Marta's to Derek's.

Derek beamed and wrapped his arm around Meredith's shoulders before he drew her near. "You know, it was Meredith's idea … the trial, the virus injection," he quipped proudly, his mind lingering on the trial and the events that led to their reunion.

"I think I read that somewhere … yes," Marta smiled in return. "Doesn't surprise me though," she said thoughtfully.

Derek chuckled. "Me either," he doted, moving his hand to the small of his lover's back where he left it.

Alejandra breezed into the room, bringing with her Derek's coveted discharge papers. The threesome smiled as they watched her glide across the room. "Whenever you're ready Dr. Shepherd," she prompted, situating the papers on the small table in the corner.

"Well then," Marta said to the group. "I'll leave you in Alejandra's capable hands," she smiled genuinely as she shook Derek's hand.

"Thank you again," Meredith murmured softly, holding the good doctor's gaze.

Marta smiled, releasing a small chuckle. "You know … when you called me that night … I wasn't sure about what kind of woman I was going to meet … or who I was even expecting Ellis Grey's daughter to be …," she said, her voice trailing off as she shook her head and pondered Meredith Grey, her mind reeling around the young doctor's mother and her unruly temperament. "But …you're much softer around the edges than I imagined – no less hardcore and just as brilliant, mind you – just … softer …," she smiled, watching Meredith's face turn still as stone before she was surely about to protest, though Marta wouldn't hear of it, for instead, she set her hand upon the young woman's shoulder and looked her straight in the eyes. "Anyway, in the end, it doesn't matter who I was expecting to show up here … because, well – what I'm trying to say is that you have what it takes to truly be one of the greats – and not just in the O.R. like your mother ... ," she stated evenly with a smile. "After all, life is made up of more than that for you, I can tell," she said softly, tilting her head as a couple of tiny tears slipped from Meredith's eyes.

Meredith sniffled and nodded, but remained quiet, unable to trust herself to speak. She sniffled again and leaned into Derek's heat, losing herself for a beat as Marta's words lingered in the stale air – 'and not just in the O.R. like your mother' – yes, this much was true … especially over the course of the last week … life, for Meredith Grey had truly moved beyond the walls of the coveted O.R.

Derek felt Meredith succumb to his hold upon her as he watched her face twist with emotion. He pressed his lips to her forehead and spoke up instead, his warm, reassuring hand still sitting low and comfortably on her back. "I couldn't agree more, Marta …," he finally replied – because it was true – Meredith Grey was really on her way to becoming one of the greats.

###

Derek smiled at Meredith as Alejandra navigated a wheelchair through the doorway of his room, a sheepish grin spreading along her face as she did. Derek rolled his eyes, playing along as he stood up and then sat in the chair. Alejandra smirked and leaned forward, meeting his spirited eyes as he looked up to find her. "You knew this was inevitable," she chuckled at his antics.

"Yeah well … I hoped …," he scoffed playfully as he settled back and into the chair, catching Meredith's side-long glance at she swiped her purse from the table and held the door open for them.

Meredith smiled warmly at Alejandra and sighed. "Thank you again, Alejandra, for everything," she breathed as they headed toward the nurse's station.

"My pleasure," Alejandra answered as she dropped Dr. Shepherd's file onto her desk and turned back to Meredith. "Come, I arranged to take you both down myself," she smiled genuinely.

Derek smiled and looked back to the women. "So let's roll," he smirked, chuckling at his lame joke.

Alejandra snickered and began to push the wheelchair down the short hallway, coming to a slow stop at the waiting elevator where they glided over the threshold, making their way to the main lobby and exit three floors below.

"Make sure you drink a lot of water, keep yourselves hydrated out there," Alejandra reminded the couple as she glided the wheelchair off of the elevator a minute or so later.

"We will, the climate is certainly something to get used to," Meredith commented as they headed through the main sliding doors, the arid, desert air slamming into them as they swiftly moved from the comfort of the air-conditioned hospital.

"Wow …," was all Derek could say as they glided toward the curb, realizing that the covered entryway hardly made a difference at all with regards to the heat … dry, oppressive and hot.

Alejandra stopped at the curb and Meredith smiled at her. "We're okay from here," she murmured, holding Derek's hand as he stood slowly.

"You sure?" Alejandra queried; scanning their faces, though she was quite confident they would be just fine.

"Yeah … we're parked right over there," Meredith pointed, her finger aimed at a small jet-black sedan with black tinted windows.

"All right then," Alejandra smiled.

"Thank you, Alejandra," Derek breathed, draping his arm around her shoulders where he squeezed. "You're the best," he smiled genuinely, meeting her liquid brown eyes for a beat where they stayed.

She chuckled and smiled at the couple. "See you next week," she said as she winked.

"You will," Meredith confirmed as she laced her fingers through Derek's and they watched her go. "Shall we?" she asked of him once Alejandra made it back inside.

Derek smiled and nodded, squeezing Meredith's hand as he turned toward the ground level of the parking garage – the sun flooding down and along all of its sides – the car along the interior wall, tucked away from the sun by a large structural column. They walked slowly then where all Derek could do was focus how good it felt to breathe and fill his lungs with fresh air, however dry and dehydrating it might have been – he was out – and the sun was shining and they were finally alone! The day belonged to them … and so did their future.

He exhaled as they slowly approached the car – Meredith fishing into her purse for the keys as they did – her smile bright and cheerful as she unlocked the doors from remote and moved to open the passenger side for him. He smiled and felt a surge of relief consume him – an energy, a lot like waves crashing at the shore – a light pummel to the tense muscles of his back; just enough to wash over him as he exhaled sharply and let a fraction of his stresses go. He breathed in and out – watching closely as everything slowed down and Meredith opened the passenger door and tossed her purse into the backseat, her focused eyes meeting his as she moved aside to help him sit down – but Derek smiled and turned toward her instead.

"Meredith … wait … wait," he breathed, finding her emerald gateways in the privacy of the darkened corner, cupping her face in his hands as he pressed her back against the side of sleek black car. She smiled and stared at him, her cheeks flushed as he pressed his forehead to hers and basked in her aura for a beat. "I … come here," he whispered into their heat, his eyes vacillating over hers as she smiled.

Meredith leaned forward and the concept of time came to a speedy halt before Derek brushed his lips against hers, soft and quick – they kissed, slow and long – her heart racing as she opened her mouth to the familiarity of his, making love to him there as their bodies and minds and hearts began to surrender to their uninhibited proximity. She heaved, panting for air as she eventually pulled away and stared at her lover – his tired blue eyes blurred with passionate haze as he remained in his same spot – one hand cradling the back of her skull where he held her still and quiet inside their moment.

"I've dreamed of this," Meredith confessed over the thumping of her heart. "This moment, right here … alone, outside … with you, discharged … healthy," she heaved breathlessly, unable to look away from her lover's penetrating gaze.

"It's a great dream … come true …," Derek sighed with a small reflective smile as he drew her near, kissing her again as the hot air swirled around them without discrimination. He sighed breathlessly, his weakened heart racing now as he pulled back and stared at her, much how he often did now … with absolute awe and admiration.

###

Derek watched Meredith carefully as she navigated through the streets of Scottsdale, the sun high in the sky above them, its powerful rays beating down upon the car – the shaded windows and the blast of the air conditioning counteracting the weather conditions only slightly – he smiled and let his head fall against the leather headrest and concentrated on his heartbeat … his rhythm slow and steady until his eyes became heavy and closed, the car lulling him comfortably as his lover moved him toward yet another safe place. His body was suddenly weightless, his stress responders unraveling now as he exhaled and listened to the air conditioner, feeling the ebb and flow of traffic and the effortless power of the small black sedan as they moved … on and forward … together.

The car eventually came to a gradual stop. Meredith's giggle floated through the small space … Derek smiled and slowly opened his eyes.

"We're here," she whispered, setting her hand upon his weathered cheek as she checked him over.

Derek smiled and winked at her before two car attendants dressed in matching trouser pants and Hawaiian style shirts opened the car doors for them in unison. A rush of stifling hot air instantly swallowed them up, bringing with it the substantial weight and strength of the Arizona sun. Meredith winked back at Derek before she swiftly got out of the car. Derek watched her go, smiling as he looked on as she interacted with one of the attendants. She giggled and took a claim ticket from the man before she made her way around to the passenger side of the car and leaned down to offer her hand to him.

"Do you need some help?" she asked of him. He smiled and took her hand without hesitation wherein she gave him the leverage he needed. "It'll get easier," she said intimately as he came to stand in front of her, his hands suddenly pinned to her hips now.

"I know," he agreed with a weak smile, the hot air, unmoving and heavy as they stood under the covered entryway to the handsome boutique hacienda Meredith had chosen for them.

###

Derek walked with his hand laced through Meredith's, the hot sun beating down on their shoulders, the baseball cap she'd purchased for him, hardly enough of a shield for his eyes … he'd need sunglasses, for sure. His eyes swept the luxurious grounds and gardens – a desert oasis by definition, perfectly balanced by architecture and design – overgrown palm trees, cacti plants, coupled with time-released misting devices … their feet clipped against large terracotta tiles, rusty with color and age. He squinted and read the directional signs as they made their way along the interior courtyard of the hotel – 'casitas' to the right, spa to the left, golf course straight ahead, plunge pools on both sides of the property – he smiled and tightened his grip on hers, turning to look at her, thoroughly ensconced in her sun hat as they moved together.

###

Meredith slid the key card into the slot and gently pushed the heavy oak door open with her fingertips, a rush of cold air breezing from within as she did. Derek's eyes swept the suite, where adjectives like 'intimate, serene, and lavish' came to mind. He stepped inside and sighed with relief, turning toward Meredith as she closed the door behind them.

"Wow…," he breathed, looking around the spacious suite again, a smile setting along his face as he stepped further inside the vestibule. "God … this place is gorgeous," he whispered as he turned around and around again before he stopped and came to stand behind his woman.

"Well, I figured … we are newlyweds," she giggled happily, safe and warm and finally ensconced in a private place with her lover … they were alone, she smiled.

"We are …," he agreed as he held on tight and embraced their new beginning, smiling as he set his hands upon her tense shoulders and pressed a kiss to her neck as she tilted her head back and met his gaze briefly.

He smiled held her close, savoring the cherished moment before he continued to survey the intimate space she'd chosen for their retreat. He sighed and leaned into her heat – allowing the world outside to finally fall away – wherein he basked in the soft light infiltrating through the partially drawn shades … the billowy fabric just enough of a barrier to all that moved outside the sacred space. He exhaled, touching on the various points within the suite as he continued to absorb the simple, yet luxurious one-room enclave, a king-size four-poster bed in the center … the dark, rustic fireplace in the corner … the deep leather sofas and lounge chairs … a crowded floor-to-ceiling bookshelf … a small kitchenette ... a peek into the marble-tiled bathroom.

"So what do you want to do first?" Meredith murmured as she stepped in front of him and took his hands in hers.

"Something different …," he smiled down at her, his hands moving to her warm cheeks where they stayed.

"Different sounds good … but what?" she pondered, searching the deep blue seas of his eyes wherein she spotted a spark of something different … uncharted, yet familiar all the same.

Derek chuckled and stepped closer, his nose brushing against hers as he held her there. "Have we ever done 'nothing' together?" he pondered with a wry grin.

Meredith laughed and pressed her lips to his, soft and quick, she kissed her man, her eyes dancing as she pulled back and away. "No … not really – rarely, together – we're busy people," she giggled breathlessly as she stared at him.

"Hmm, mmm … always so busy," he agreed thoughtfully, his mind moving over the hurried state of their lives until everything just … stopped. "We need a rest," he whispered, ducking down to kiss her perfect-fit lips again.

"So … we rest," Meredith agreed softly against his open mouth, taking him by his hand as she pulled him backwards toward the bed. "Do you want to shower … with me … first?" she asked of him as the backs of her knees hit the edge of the bed.

"Like we used to …," Derek said wistfully with recollection, his hands moving to flank her face again, his mind deluge with precious memories: hot, soothing water, the massage of his lover's slippery hands … alone and lost amidst the steam. He smiled. "Later … for now … would you lie with me … and just forget the world?" he asked, his eyes resting on hers as he moved his hands down to the hem of her tank top.

"Yeah …," she whispered, her own fingers twist on the belt loops of his jeans where she held on as his lips grazed the underside of her neck, pressed against the flutter of her pulse, kiss, kiss.

They moved then, Meredith out of his arms to close the drapes and turn a dim light on while Derek stood still and undressed, his eyes following her as she moved about the suite. She grabbed her bag and two bottles of water, setting both near one of the bedside tables before her fluid movements stopped and she came to stand before him. She smiled and kicked her shoes off. He did the same and she giggled.

Smiling radiantly now, she kept her eyes pinned to his as she slipped her jeans down and over her trim hips, stepping from them before pulled the linens back and sat on the edge of the well-made bed in nothing more than a tank top and some mismatched panties. Derek gently pulled his shirt from his shoulders and came to stand in front of her. She looked up to find him in the filtered light before she unbuttoned the fly of his jeans and pushed the worn fabric over his hips and down beyond his knees. He kicked himself free and they slipped into bed, instinctively curling into one another as if no time had passed.

"Come closer," he urged her then as he drew her near, pulling her knee up to drape her thigh over his hipbone, her head next to his shoulder as he lay back and let it all go.

Closing his eyes, he took a private moment to listen to the silence that suddenly ensconced them. He opened his eyes again and drew her even closer, the heat of her body a welcome sensation as he lost himself within her calming aura. She stirred in his arms and gingerly set her hand upon his heart muscle, his crooked scar hot under his white cotton shirt, Cristina's handiwork healing under her gentle touch as he watched the deep wells of her eyes fill with thick tears.

She sniffled into the silence and began to blink with haste, pushing her tears away while he stifled his own surge of uncontrolled emotions, tamping them down and out like the flame of a candle at the end of the night, just before bed. He smiled weakly and slowly rolled toward her and she toward him, her hands on his weathered cheeks – her nose brushing against his as she held him in place and stared at him – perhaps willing herself not to fall apart.

"All I want for the next few days is to stay right here with you," he confessed softly. "I don't want to go anywhere … I just want you, alone … to feel you with me …," he rambled, his words stuck in his throat … his heartstrings pulled tight … tug, tug.

"Just sleep and room service … and me and you …," she smiled intimately, her lips moving to his as she held on tight, pulse, pulse.

"Yeah … can we do that?" he asked of her, his mouth moving against hers still.

"We can do anything you want to do …," she smiled as she pulled back slightly, ever so slightly. "We can do that …," she whispered, resting her head on the pillow next to his.

Eye to eye, the lovers smiled at one another … their fingers entwined, their hearts beating in unison as their gateways finally closed in submission to everything they had been through … to get to the present … to here and now … this sanctuary under the sun where they would begin to recover … together.

See You Soon Part 6 to follow.