Finn waded into the sea of people. He hated these events – fancy parties filled with fancy people eating fancy food. Why did a sandwich taste better in miniature form? Under any other circumstances, he would avoid this soiree like the plague. But he had a mission. Find Emily.

Nothing was stopping him.

After Lance relayed Emily had skipped town, Finn felt momentary despair followed by anger rising inside. Again. It was all too familiar. A repeat of eight years ago.

Except it was not a repeat. Unlike last time, she had not run away to the other side of the world. And more importantly, he knew Emily would come back. Her life was in Washington. It was only a matter of time until she returned. He simply had to wait.

Patience was a skill he was working on and he put every trick in the book into practice.

First, he sought out Max. His friend had missed breakfast the next day followed by radio silence with no response to Finn's texts asking him to meet. He knew Max was avoiding him. It took some doing, eventually tracking him down running sprints in between two buildings on the far side of the base.

As the man sank to the ground, gasping for breath due to his efforts, Finn joined him and poured out his story. He told Max everything about his relationship with Emily – how they met, how they fell in love, how she left him, how he never stopped loving her. Everything but the private parts - unlike his one night stands these moments were for him and Emily only. Still, he tried to express, as best as he could, how much Emily meant to him and how their breakup shaped his life.

Max listened to it all, not saying anything until Finn had run out of words. They sat in silence for several long minutes before Max thanked him for explaining it. "I knew she was too amazing to be single," he said, snorting.

Finn resisted the urge to remind his friend she was exactly that. Single. While he was convinced Emily still had feelings for him, it did not mean she was willing to let him back into her life. Or that he deserved her love.

Finding more about Emily's whereabouts and more importantly, when she would be back in Washington was surprisingly easy. After the tribunal, Lance had suggested drinks to celebrate a job well done. Surrounded by sisters, on both his and his wife's side, the man seemed to yearn for male companionship. Finn happily agreed, honestly enjoying the other man's friendship. All it took was one leading question about Emily and Lance nattered away, providing the details Finn needed and more.

His recognizance mission complete, Finn not only knew Emily would be back in town the next night but had garnered an invitation to the retirement party her firm was holding that evening. It was taking place in the lobby of her firm's offices and Lance assured him Emily would be there along with a new lawyer from New York who had just joined the company.

Finn now knew the time and location of his battle. He began planning. Getting his hair cut was easy. Buying a new suit was a bigger issue. He hated shopping and had no idea where to get something last minute. Yet he could not show up in jeans or his camo cargo pants. He considered his military formals but did not want to draw that kind of attention.

Lance came through again, recommending a local tailor who had several off the shelf options and offered same-day alterations. With the aid of this professional who had been in business for over 30 years for a reason, Finn selected a grey suit that fit him like a glove but was also surprisingly comfortable for such formal attire. It reminded him of Emily's eyes. A deep blue tie, a crisp white shirt and soft leather shoes completed the look.

Freshly showered and shaved, Finn donned his suit of armour and set out to find the woman he loved.

Canapes and chit chat surrounded him. The lobby had been transformed with waist-high tables covered in black cloth, low lighting and gold streamers hanging from the ceiling. Near the exit to the elevators a small stage was currently occupied by a three-piece Jazz band, a huge "Happy Retirement" banner hanging over their heads. People milled about in small groups, drinking and laughing.

Plucking a glass of champagne off of a passing by tray, Finn surveyed the landscape, searching for the sweet face or auburn hair he could not wait to see. Butterflies swarmed in his stomach.

He came up empty.

The skin on the back of his neck prickled and he resisted the urge to rub his chest. Reminding himself it was still early, he decided to circle the room. As he came up to a large potted tree, he heard a familiar voice on the other side.

"I don't know why Emily insists on wearing that wretched thing. It's so tacky," Mary whined.

The other woman, Sophie he thought was her name, chided Mary in a loud strong voice, perhaps trying to be heard over the music. "You know she never takes it off."

"Don't I! When the flimsy bracelet broke, I thought we'd finally be rid of it. But oh no, next day, there's that stupid charm hanging around her neck."

He drew closer to their conversation. Through the greenery, he could see the two women facing each other. Mary was wearing her usual scowl.

"I mean who wears an anchor around their neck. Think about it. No wonder she's stuck, won't move on. An anchor weighs you down."

Finn froze. Had he heard correctly? Did Mary say anchor?

"I used to hate the rain." Finn lazily dragged a finger across Emily's bare stomach. "Now I love it."

Emily shifted beside him to peer at the window currently teeming with water streaks from the storm. "What made you change your mind?"

Finn smiled. "Us."

Emily's face squished in confusion. "Sorry?"

"Think about it. The first time we kissed...raining. The first time we..." Finn referenced the bed, "did this...raining. The rain is good for us."

"I love you rain or shine."

A now-familiar heat bloomed inside of him. Familiar, yet it still took his breath away. He would never tire of hearing Emily using the word love around him. About him.

If someone told him a few months ago he would be loved by anyone, never mind this most amazing woman, Finn would have laughed in their face. Or punched them. Yet here she was. Better than any fantasy. And she did love him. He could feel it. Always. He found himself trusting her love. Loving her back was surprisingly easy.

"I have something for you." Finn reached over and pulled a small paper box from his nightstand. He had intended to give this to Emily when she first arrived but had been quickly distracted.

Emily stared at the box, a mixture of curiosity and delight on her face. Her expression made his heart flutter. It might be his new favourite look after the smile she reserved only for him. No third, because there was the way her eyes blazed when she wanted him. Oh, what was he thinking? He loved all her expressions. As long as she was looking at him. "Open it."

Lifting the lid off the box, Emily gasped at the trinket inside.

The conversation the other day had given Finn an idea. Asking Simon for an advance on his paycheque had been embarrassing. And it meant another month without a cell phone. Still, he hoped it would be worth it.

The new look on Emily's face said it was. He wanted to freeze her expression and frame it forever.

Emily was pulling a fine chain out of the box. Attached to it was a silver charm in the shape of an anchor. She held it up, admiring it as it twirled about, regarding it with glassy eyes.

"To remind you. I'm your anchor. You can always count on me." It looked a bit flimsy in the late afternoon shadows. He had wanted to buy something gold, something more substantial, but it was all he could afford. "It's only silver," he said, making the excuse.

"It matches my eyes."

There was that flutter in his chest again. The beauty before him always saw the good in everything. In everyone. Even a loser like him.

"I love it, Finn." Her voice was raspy. Steel-blue eyes found his. "I love you, Finn." She leaned forward and brushed his lips with a soft kiss.

"I love you too, Em." Finn caressed her cheek. It was getting easier to say out loud. To express himself around her. Tell her how he felt. "Here, let me put it on." Taking the slim chain, with a little effort he undid the clasp. Emily held out her left wrist and he hooked the bracelet around it.

Holding the small silver charm between her thumb and finger Emily declared, "I'll never take it off."

Finn's mouth went dry.

All this time.

Eight long years.

And she still wore it.

A thousand questions flooded Finn's mind. Why had she never taken off his charm, the symbol of his commitment to her? Why wear it after dumping him? And the one he was always afraid to ask himself - Why had she left him in the first place?

The nerves in his stomach settled as the last vestibules of doubt drained from him. He knew one answer for sure – Emily had kept their love alive by wearing his anchor.

Finn scanned the room urgently. Far too much time had been wasted already. He had to find Emily.