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Rose stared at the book in her lap. She blinked and shifted on the bed. She tried starting over at the top of the page for the fourth or fifth time. She tapped her index finger against the side of the page.
Finally, the door to the bathroom opened and Rose could close the book. Peter walked out of the room in just his boxers. Even after the months they’d spent together, seeing him took her breath away. She’d never been so instantly turned on by someone else in her life. Rose took a deep breath. That wasn’t what tonight was about. They’d had all the hot, passionate sex this week. Tonight was just about being together, one last night. Tomorrow Peter would fly off to no one knew where and it was anyone’s guess when they’d see each other or even get to talk again.
Rose took a deep breath to steady herself. Peter was doing this, he had to. He’d come back to her. Right? Rose shook her head so her bangs fell forward. Damn, this was not her night.
The bed dipped next to her and she looked up. Peter was sitting next to her, looking almost scared. Rose smiled at her sweet boy. God forbid Peter be worried about his own safety or his future. No, he was worried about how Rose was taking all of this.
Rose set the book down on the nightstand and laid down in bed. She got on her side, facing Peter. After a second, Peter moved to turn off his bedside light. Rose reached out a hand, “No, “ she said. “Leave it, please.” Peter nodded automatically. Rose watched him as he shifted down on the bed. Once he was situated, the low light of the lamp framed his face in a light halo. Rose reached out a hand and cupped his cheek. All of the wounds had long since healed and Rose was now incredibly familiar with Peter’s body. Yet, she could still remember them though. It was fresh in her mind, and occasionally her nightmares, how battered and bloody Peter was in that field after the bomb blew up. Now he was going out there, again. Only this time Rose wouldn’t be there with him.
“Hey,” Peter said softly. He reached out a hand and thumbed away a tear from her face. Shit, Rose hadn’t even realized she was crying.
“Sorry, I-”
“Don’t apologize,” Peter said. “I’m the one that’s leaving.”
“No,” Rose said quickly. “You know I’m not mad about that.” Rose focused on his face, making sure to get her point across. “I know you need to do this. I want you to do this. I just…damn, I’m gonna miss you.”
There were more tears then but Peter wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Rose was able to hide most of them in the crook of his neck. Normally she wouldn’t hide from Peter like this. They’d both broken down various times the last couple months. Rose truly believed they only got through all the funerals and debriefs and hearings because they had each other to lean on. But with this…there was still too much guilt in Peter and too much nuance in Rose’s jumbled emotions. She did want him to go. She knew he had to do this- wanted to do this. Rose wanted to support him in this.
“I’m gonna miss you too, Rose. Please know that,” Peter said.
“I do, I do,” Rose assured him. She kissed his bare shoulder before pulling back. They relaxed back on to the pillows, Peter’s arms still around her. Peter's jaw was clenched, a clear sign that he wanted to say something but was holding back. Rose trailed her fingers along his jaw, watching as the muscle untensed. “What’s on your mind?” Rose asked gently.
Peter shifted on the bed. His right arm came up from her waist so Rose could lay her head there, his hand in her hair. Peter’s left arm stayed around her waist. It was something important. A ring flashed through Rose’s mind for a split second before she pushed the thought away. That wasn’t it. He’d be more of an eager puppy if that’s what he was leading up to.
“I, uh, I know we talked about…”
Peter fell silent again. Rose waited for him to collect his thoughts. She kept brushing her fingers along his face and jaw.
After a few moments, Peter started talking. “I know you said to go straight to California when I’m back.” She had. Rose already had a small studio apartment leased in Emeryville. Peter had the address though she knew he’d find her even if she moved.
When Peter didn’t continue, Rose decided to nudge him along. “I mean, I know you’ll have your debriefs and stuff here. But once that’s done, you’ll have some time before your next mission, right?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I will.” Peter took a deep breath. “I can’t ask you to wait for me, Rose.”
Rose furrowed her eyebrows. “Peter-”
“No, look, you’re going to be in California. I have no doubt that you’ll make your startup successful. I don’t want to hold you back. If you meet someone-”
“Hold me back? Peter-”
“Rose, you deserve someone-”
“I deserve someone who would help stop a government conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States,” Rose said firmly. “Now where can I find one of those? Cause it sure won’t be in Silicon Valley surrounded by a bunch of smooth talking hucksters who are only interested in their own success.”
“Smooth talking hucksters?” Peter asked. He was smiling again. Good.
“Yeah, and a bunch of Elon Musk type ‘industry disruptors’,” Rose said, just to make Peter laugh. It worked. “That’ll be my dating pool over there. So trust me, I will not be missing out on anything.” Peter looked at her for a long moment. Rose held his gaze. He wanted him to know how sure she was about this. “I know you have to go out there and keep us safe. I know there’s countless other Redfield’s and Wick’s that are up to something. All I need from you is to come home to me, safe and sound. If you can do that, then I can wait for you.”
“I won’t be able to call or text very often. If at all,” Peter reminded her.
“I know. We have an emergency plan. I know how to get a hold of you if I need to. And you’ll let me know you’re alive when you can.” Peter still seemed unsure so Rose added, “I want you. And I want you to do what makes you happy. I can wait.”
Peter leaned down and kissed her. Rose wrapped her arms around his neck and put every ounce of emotion into the kiss that she could manage. Peter’s lips were familiar now. The taste of him was familiar. His body pressed against hers was familiar. Rose never wanted to forget any inch of him.
They pulled away after a few moments. There was no tension in the air now. Peter’s doubts seemed calmed for the time being.
“So, hucksters?” Peter asked.
Rose laughed. “It was something my aunt would say. She was not a fan of any of the boys I dated from the Bay Area. She did however love the one theater major girl I dated while at Berkeley.”
“Was this the girl you got arrested with?”
“No, that was Ashley,” Rose corrected.
“Right, right, Ashley,” Peter said. Rose laughed at his tone.
“And we weren’t arrested. The officers never actually took us in for processing.”
“Yeah, probably because your aunt or uncle made a call.”
Rose’s eyes blew wide. “Oh my god! Do you think?” Peter laughed at her shocked expression as Rose re-evaluated her teenage and college years.
They spent various hours sharing stories and jokes and laughs. Eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms, the light from the bedside lamp keeping them illuminated.