Disclaimer: Sadly enough, I don’t own anything. This is written for pure enjoyment only and no profit!

Rating: This chapter is rated T.

A/N: This will be the final chapter of the story. I’ve enjoyed writing this so very much!

Special Thanks: I would like to thank: 27dayz, AlexisFFMimi, Amber Hermione, blueberriebutt, Bonegee, candidata, cathwill, D.M.A.S, FashionIsLove, FoxyWombat, JenniDinoRobot, LadyMarmalade282, Psykogrl, RHunter, spottedhorse, tova77f. Also, thanks to the reviewers on my favorite tv website. You guys know who you are.

CHAPTER: 20

They both lay there for a few moments, Gil’s arm still possessively around Catherine. What they had just done felt so damn good. Both had yet to come down from their high, nor did they want to. Both wished they could feel this way forever, hoping this love they both shared for each other would never burn out.

Gil wasn’t sure what to say to her, only knew how he felt and when he started to speak, Catherine turned onto her left side to face him.

“You’re amazing.” She whispered as she kissed him softly on his healing, though still bruised, lips.

“Only because I have an amazing lover.” He whispered back, sexy as hell, and leaned in to kiss her. Oh what he could do to her.

When he pulled away, she brushed her hand against his lips and jaw line.

“Does it still hurt?” She quietly asked.

“Not anymore.” He smirked as she continued to rub her fingers over his bottom lip.

“What about your head?” She moved her hand up to his soft curls around his temple.

“Catherine, I’m fine.” He reassured her and seductively kissed her once more.

“Hmm…” She moaned. “Gil, if you don’t stop, I might have to have my mad, wicked way with you again.”

He raised an eye brow to this but responded to her comment nonetheless.

“Oh? I might just have to let you.” He whispered and gripped her ass briefly.

She moaned closing her eyes briefly at his touch but then opened them once more to look at him.

“And here I thought you said that you weren’t a…what was it again? Oh yes! You weren’t a horny teenager anymore.” She grinned as she quoted him during their time of passion.

“See what you do to me?” He joked as he continued to hold her.

He didn’t want to let her go because of so many fears. He was a kind; soft spoken man that could easily be hurt and she could see that in his eyes as he held onto her tighter. Gil’s insecurities started to come out and he could only hope that she’d see through his apprehensiveness. Somehow he just couldn’t process what was going on but he new now that it was real.

After a few moments, Gil pulled back and had an unreadable look on his face. Worry? Perhaps unsure? He was definitely deep in thought as he rested his right arm under his head.

“Gil? What’s wrong?” She closed the small gap in between them once more; their naked bodies teasing each others.

“Hmm? Oh, nothing Catherine.”

“Don’t lie to me, Gil. I don’t like being lied to.”

“Sorry.” He confessed. “I’m just…insecure I guess. I’ve never had anything this remarkable happen to me before. I guess I’m still trying to adjust to the fact that you love me.” He disclosed.

“I can understand that, Gil, because I feel the same way. Everyone has their insecurities…especially when they don’t or can’t understand how something so beautiful can happen to them…” She paused. “But you do know that I love you, right?” He nodded his head. “And I know that you love me. We can get through and figure out the rest later. We got through the hard part; actually confessing our love to one another…and now…now all we have to do is sit back and feel the love we share for one another.” She cupped his face with her right hand.

Gil understood what she meant and he physically relaxed more.

“Does Lindsey like me?” He randomly blurted out like a child.

She knew where this was going and had never really thought about it before this. Well, she had but not before they started…

“She doesn’t really know you, Gil.” She hesitated. “We did…um, talk about you though.”

This made his eyes instinctively perk up. “You did? When and what did this conversation entitle?” He was very interested now.

“Last weekend….when I came home on Sunday. I told her that I thought I was in love with you…” She drifted off.

“And what did she say?” He relished in the confession.

“She rolled her eyes as if to say, ‘duh.’ She said she already knew that…so it didn’t surprise her…”

“Wait, you loved me or have been thinking about…us…before this happened?” He asked.

“Of course, Gil. I told you that I’ve loved you for a very long time and you know that…and…and after last weekend; of you holding me and comforting me…well, I couldn’t get you out of my head, my thoughts. I—you comforted me, Gil and I actually felt…loved. It felt good, real good to know that when I woke up, you’d be right there.” She paused and bit her lip.

“Catherine?” He encouraged her to continue.

“Then, then I had that dream about you. I was so, so scared. I hated myself for never telling you that I loved you. I wanted to hold you, feel you and never let go. Then I realized it was a dream and there was nothing I wanted to more than to tell you how I felt while I held you in my arms; never letting you out of arms length. I wanted to live that every day of my life, holding and comforting each other, and forget about what I had dreamt but I figured—“

“That I didn’t feel the same?” He finished for her.

“Yes.” She silently confirmed. “And if I had never had that dream…I don’t think I would’ve ever had to courage to tell you how I feel…”

“I feel the same way that you feel about me, Catherine.” He smiled. “And look where we are now.”

They both glanced down at each others naked form.

“As long as we have each other and love each other…there’s no place I’d rather be. I love you so much, Catherine.” He informed her as he rubbed the small of her back. "And I can promise you that I'll never hurt you or leave you for as long as I live."

“I love you to, Gil.” Catherine spoke as she returned the soothing gesture. “And I know that you'd never hurt me. Your soul, you're so gentle, Gil." She paused briefly. "We have so much to talk about.”

“Yes, yes we do…but let’s forget about all of that for right now. Forget about work, forget about life in general and just be caught up in this moment, ok?” He whispered.

“I can do that. There’s nothing I’d rather do and there’s no place I’d rather be.”

They held each other and silently thought about the future that they would have with each other. Would she and Lindsey move in with him or would he move in with them? How would Lindsey take it? What would happen to their jobs? All doesn’t matter right now. All they cared about is that they were finally together after all these years and no one would break them apart.

“Gil?” She softly asked.

“Yeah?” He asked and briefly pulled away from her to look into her eyes.

“Hold onto me. Hold onto me and never let go.”

“I can do that…” He reached for her once more. “Always and forever, Catherine.” Gil reassured her and kissed her forehead.

Gil now had the life that he’d always dreamt about.

--

END

A/N: So, this is the end guys. I know it’s not too long but I’m thinking about doing a sequel later. Not right away because I have a lot of other stories lined up that I’ve been thinking about…but you never know. I have an idea that involves Eddie. (Evil Laugh).

So, what did you think in all? I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you all for the kind reviews!

-Snyder-