So, yeah it's been a while since I've posted anything. RL has been kicking my ass relentlessly, so writing has sort of taken the back burner. Thankfully, the amazing MMBabefanmmm is willing to help me jumpstart those stalled stories, so hang tight;)

Since I'm working real hard to getting back to all those stories, I decided the most important step was to listen to and take advantage of the muse, right? And oh did I write once I listened to it! And although it's for something new, I feel like it's stirred up the idea generator quite a bit. Hopefully, this will be the first of many updates to come this month:)

The story and title were inspired by 'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson

….

But Since U Been Gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on

….

You had your chance you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind

"Good to have you back." Tank said as I slid onto the front passenger seat.

My body practically hummed with appreciation at how good it felt to sit on such a gloriously comfortable seat. "Good to be back." I agreed as he pulled into traffic.

The drive was spent in silence and I was extremely grateful for that. I can't be sure what was occupying his mind, but mine was busy keeping my newest demons at bay. There was so much I wanted… No, needed to do that I was willing to bargain with them in order to get some things done.

A service call was issued for one of our clients near Quaker Bridge Mall and since we were about two minutes away, I gave Tank the go ahead.

"I'll take care of it." Tank swung the SUV into the only empty spot in the otherwise busy shopping center. He didn't wait for my response before he was gone.

I waited patiently, content with taking in the passing shoppers as they headed toward their cars or the next store on their list. Although Christmas isn't for several weeks, it looks like a lot of people are already getting their shopping done. Maybe there's a special going on? Maybe this shopping plaza is competing with the bigger mall just down the road.

And then, as I sat there, I spotted a very familiar someone. What caught my attention first were those wild curls. That strut as she walked was also unmistakable. But what sealed the deal was that tingle at the back of my neck. Before I even realized I was moving, my feet had already hit the ground and I was taking quick strides towards her retreating back.

"Babe." I called out to her before she rounded the corner, heading towards the back side of the shops.

My call made her freeze in place, her back going rigid and the bags in her hands clattering to the ground. Before I had the opportunity to help gather her items, she spun around. "Ranger?"

"Babe." I nodded for confirmation. My hands itched to reach out and pull her closer, so that my lips could press against hers. What kept me from doing so was the complete and utter look of shock on her face. It was as if she'd seen a ghost. Given my time away it's a fair reaction, I suppose.

"Wh-what…" She couldn't seem to be able to form a coherent sentence.

"There's a lot to catch up on." I flashed her my best grin, because I couldn't hide the happiness I felt at seeing her. And she looked good too! Painted on jeans definitely go with her.

"Yeah, yeah." She nodded, still giving me that wide eyed look. Her big blue eyes scanned me from head to toe as if she'd be able to gauge if it was really me just from plain sight.

"You have a minute?" I reminded that we had a lot to talk about.

"Yeah, yeah." She repeated, but with a nod this time. When I bent to pick up her stuff my movement snapped her out of the trance she was in. "Actually, no. Uhm, we definitely should…" Babe rummaged inside her shoulder bag for a few moments before handing me a white business card. "I really have to go, but… uh, call me..."

I took the card form her right hand at the same time as I transferred her shopping loot to her left. Our fingers brushed and even though I could tell she was just as affected by the touch as I was, I didn't miss the rough feel of the diamond on her ring finger. The realization of what that meant hit me like a bucket of cold water.

I blankly stared ahead of me until Tank joined me.

What the hell is going on? Although the thought was silent, Tank picked up on it instantly. His sigh as we angled into the SUV confirmed my suspicion. Babe was engaged.

"I hoped I would have time to brief you before you bumped into Little Girl." He muttered something about crappy timing. When I let him know I wasn't interested in that commentary, Tank blew out another sigh of resignation. "From the beginning?"

I growled at him. I've been away from her for twenty-seven months, two days, seven hours and… a very long time, okay. Of course I want to know what the hell led to that engagement.

"About 18 months ago Little Girl won the lottery." At my glare, he clarified. "You know, like the lotto?" When I didn't respond, he took it as a sign to continue. "It's actually a funny story…" Tank was stalling and he must have felt the impatience rolling off me in waves because he spilled the beans. "She used some of the money to buy her apartment building and renovate it. RangeMan handles the building's security. She also bought the Bonds office."

I cut him off, waving the business card she gave me for emphasis. I put two and two together once he said Babe won the lottery.

"And yes, she still lives in the same building." He muttered something about me not being able to recognize the building if I didn't know its located. Again, I growled at his attempt to stall. "Fine." He agreed to let me have it. "She's engaged."

"So what, now that she's a business woman and has more money than she'll ever need, Morelli is all willing to forget about his previous 'wife stays at home' views?" If it came out as a snarl, Tank didn't point it out.

"It's not Morelli." Tank muttered as he swung into the underground garage at Haywood.

What! Now I was in shock. Her being engaged to Morelli wasn't such a threat. They break up and get back together so much that it's hard to keep track of sometimes. But, if her future to be husband is not Morelli then it means it's very serious. Whoever this man is, he has to mean a lot to her. She's going to marry someone she's known for what? Two years tops? What the hell happened while I was stuck on my last, stupid mission?

"Who is he?" It was barely a whisper, because I didn't want to accept how fucked up the situation was. I mean, of course I want her to be happy. But another part of me, the selfish part that kept stealing kisses and moments even after I told her to go back to Morelli, didn't want to let her go.

"Ask her." For the first time since this conversation started, Tank focused his eyes on me and didn't budge.

"I have other ways of finding out." I reminded, pissed that he dared to keep the name from me. How can I fight for her if I don't know who I'm up against?

"You left without a word." His eyes hardened, daring me to argue. "She didn't know if you'd be back. Little Girl had the right to move on and she did." I liked it better when he was stalling.

"It wasn't up to me." He knows better than anyone what forced me to take that mission. The risks outweighed the benefits. I couldn't give her hope. That would have been cruel. Hell, it was supposed to be a six month period at most, if I survived, and, well, it took a hell of a lot longer than that.

"She doesn't know that." Stalling Tank was gone, only to be replaced by Blunt Tank.

The worst part about this whole mess is that he was right.

Just remember I'm a Babe;)