"You realize," Kevin said, "you're going to have to buy a house."
Will nodded, taking another bite of his pancakes.
"With at least three bedrooms."
"Three?" Mira looked at her son. "Why three?"
"One for the two of you, one for me, and one for Mick."
"Ah, I see." She glanced at Will. "Makes sense to me."
"Definitely," Will agreed.
Mick appeared shocked as he said, "You're serious?"
"Well, if you'd rather not." Mira smiled at him.
"I… I…" he stuttered. "I don't know what to say."
"'Yes' works," Kevin said, grinning. "Or better yet, hell yes."
"Hell yes," Mick echoed.
"Good, then it's a done deal." Will patted Mick's shoulder. "Now we just have to hope the captain wants me back. I know he'll love having Mira on the team."
"We hope," Mira said. She grinned a bit. "If not, we're going to be racking up frequent flier miles big time."
The frequent flier miles became a moot point an hour later. Captain Newsome told Mira enthusiastically that he was more than willing for her to transfer from her police force to his. "In fact, I'll do everything I can to facilitate the move."
Will hugged her as he waited for the other shoe to drop.
Captain Newsome looked long and hard at him. "You know I want you back, but are you certain you're ready?"
"Meaning, can I handle it after being gone for eighteen years."
"Yes. A lot's changed in that time—new laws, new rules and regulations. You'd have to get updated training, pass the physical, and be recertified to use your weapon."
"And then I'd be back on the street as a beat cop."
"Only for as long as it takes me to pull you out of it for undercover work. You're too good at it for me not to use you."
"I was. There's nothing to say I still am," Will countered.
Newsome nodded. "True, to a point. But—" he smiled slightly, "—technically, you spent the last eighteen years 'undercover', despite various attempts to find you, so I'd say you've still got the knack."
Will looked at him in surprise. "You tried to find me?"
"Hell yes. We don't like losing a good man, no matter why he walked away."
"Well, I'll be damned." Will chuckled. "Maybe I do still have the knack, as you put it."
"That's what I'm counting on," Newsome replied seriously. "Are you willing to do everything it will take?"
Will looked at Mira before nodding. "Yeah, I am."
"Good. Now here's what we have to do."
Twenty minutes later Will and Mira left Newsome's office. As she linked her arm with Will's, Mira said with a grin, "You look a bit shell-shocked."
"I feel it. Still"—he smiled—"I also feel better about myself than I have in a long time."
"You should," she replied seriously. "You're back to the life you were meant to live."
"Which includes you." He put his hands on her waist, gazing at her. "You made this happen."
"Me?" She shook her head.
"Yes, you. I would have walked away once Kevin was safe, but there you were, telling me you cared. Telling me you still loved me. It made me feel like I was worth something, in spite of everything."
"I just…"
Will stopped her words with a kiss and then said, "Shall we grab the guys and go house hunting?"
Mira smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I think that would be a lovely idea." Then she kissed him.
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