Pairing: Leo/Ainsley
Notes: Written for the LiveJournal TWW100 "Wilco" challenge. Which became something of a series when I wasn't looking.

Ainsley sits at the desk in her study, writing a letter that tells Leo everything that's in her heart. The reasons she left, how she wishes she'd stayed, how she's sorry she hurt him. It's all there, written in blue ink and tears, and she folds it up neatly, addresses the envelope.

Then she reaches out, opens the lacquered wooden box on her desk, and places the letter inside, on top of all the others that she's written but will never send.

Wiping her eyes, she closes the box, hoping that one day, he'll read her words, and will understand.

>*<*>*<

It's an ordinary Monday like any other, and when Leo walks into his office, his only hope is that they can get through the week without Toby or Josh pissing someone off, without them having to put out another fire of their own making.

It's an ordinary Monday until he reads his mail, gets to a letter with a California address and writing he hasn't seen in too long.

It not an ordinary Monday when there are tears in his eyes as he finishes reading, and past the lump in his throat, he asks Margaret to book him a flight.

>*<*>*<

The stars, Ainsley has learned, look different in California than in Washington. She knows this from all the times that she's wished on them, for courage, for strength.

She's doing that now, her efforts doubling when the cab pulls up, tripling when she sees his face. He walks slowly up the drive; she meets him halfway, and they stand, not touching.

"I got your letter," he says, and she shrugs.

"There's a box inside. Letters I never sent."

He nods. "I missed you."

Tears come to her eyes. "Me too."

Then he's holding her, and she's thanking her lucky stars.

>*<*>*<

The box is full of letters, all written in Ainsley's neat script, all addressed to him. Leo sits on the front porch swing, a blanket of stars above him, and reads them all, one by one. She insisted on it, and when he's finished, he stands, walking slowly into the house.

She's lying on the bed, but she's not sleeping, and he doesn't hesitate to kick off his shoes, lying down beside her and taking her in his arms. "I love you," he tells her. "Nothing can change that."

She buries her head in his chest. "I love you too."