Epilogue

Everything was perfect. The caterers had come and gone, and the table was set with linen napkins, candles, flowers and fine china. The beef tenderloin waited in the warm oven, along with potatoes, veggies and fresh-baked rolls. Steve nodded with satisfaction and turned toward the front door with an eager smile, a glass of wine in each hand.

"Welcome home," he said softly, handing one glass to Jaime.

"What is all this?"

"Consider it a reward for a job well done. Oscar called and told me you were on your way home; figured you might be too tired to cook so I whipped up a little something for you."

Jaime giggled quietly, kissing him on the cheek. "I don't see the empty Spaghetti-O's can, so I'm guessing you ordered in...thank you. You are so sweet. And yes," she added, clinking her glass to Steve's, "I passed the test."

"The...what?"

"Don't feign innocence, Austin. You know it wasn't a real mission."

"When did you find out?" he asked, sitting next to her on the sofa.

"When I got there and didn't hear a single voice coming from the entire building. Dead giveaway. But I brought back the envelope as requested - and Oscar gave me an A-plus."

"I knew you could do it," Steve told her, grinning proudly.

"Oh yeah - there was someone else waiting for me when I got back."

"Rudy, right?"

"Well, of course, but someone else too - Michael."

"I thought he wasn't your doctor anymore...?"

"He isn't. This was...um...personal."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"He told me what happened - with you, I mean."

"Ok. And...?"

Jaime smiled radiantly and inched closer to Steve. "Great work, Cowboy," she said, kissing him fully on the lips.

"He give you any trouble?" Steve asked, tensing.

"Nothing serious; just an ultimatum."

"Oh?"

"He said I had to choose - him....or you," Jaime admitted.

Steve hoped Jaime wasn't listening to the way his heart had begun to thud in his chest. "What'd you tell him?"

"He gave me 24 hours to think about it, but I told him I didn't need it; I've made my choice." Jaime snuggled against Steve's chest, savoring the way she seemed to fit so perfectly in his waiting arms. "I know we've got a lot to talk over - and I have so many things to try and figure out, but, well....here I am."

The kitten chose that moment to climb up Steve's pant leg and announce his presence. "Looks like he approves," Steve chuckled. "And so do I. Welcome home, Sweetheart."

End of Episode One