Mike startled, eyes darting up to the source of the voice, just as the women on his flanks did.

A man standing right before them turned, and Mike couldn't believe it. Holy god damn, it was Robert Goren! He'd walked by and stopped right in front of them...and none of them even recognized him. Of course, his face had been turned away...but no one even suspected anything from his back side.

Mike blinked, taking in the man before him.

He would never have believed it if he had not seen it himself, but those estrogen-driven lusting women who had been chattering right in front of him five minutes ago about Goren had been right. The Bobby Goren, Mike had known, in comparison to the man standing before him, had been a boy. Bobby Goren had been little more than a child then...it had taken him this long to age into a man. Mike could swear that Goren had even grown another inch since he last saw him in 2005. Mike couldn't believe the difference in maturity between the Bobby Goren Mike had worked with years ago and the Goren standing in front of him now. God damn, in comparison now, three years ago Goren had been practically a kid.

There was nothing of an childlike in the Robert Goren that stood before them now. Even if it had taken him this long to grow up, he had done so undoubtedly.

Gwen was the first to find her voice. "We're sorry, Detective, we didn't mean to be rude."

Goren looked down calmly at Gwen, obviously running through a mental check to find out if he knew her, then shrugged. Goren did not hold a drink, rather he had his hands in his black slacks' pockets. He wore a black dress shirt and a blood-red tie. His jacket was MIA, probably out in whatever car he came in, but what Mike noticed was the tie. It was make of silk and shimmered in the light. Not something your everyday NYPD detective could afford.

Goren was no longer lean. He was heavier, his thin striated muscles having become thicker and blockier. He still looked like he was in excellent shape, better, Mike begrudged, than himself, but in a different way. Taut muscles had turned into muscles for sheer power and strength. He was a much more substantial man than he'd been three years ago.

Goren's hair had grown noticeably darker and curlier as well. Mike Logan had recalled a man with hair that looked smokey...the Goren in front of him now had hair that was midnight black.

Riley interrupted Logan's thoughts. "Detective Goren, what have you been up to?"

Goren, whom Mike just discovered had been studying him in return, turned down to Riley. He allowed himself a small, cordial smile as he answered. "Not a lot, to tell you the truth."

Mike finally asked."You're not still chasing your demons?"

Goren froze, bringing his eyes back up to Logan. Mike could not believe the look behind those chocolate brown eyes. The eyes had changed too. In fact, it was the eyes that had changed the most. It was the look behind his eyes that Mike couldn't believe. The crazy look, it was gone. The spark in Goren's eyes that had always made Mike certain he was insane was missing. His expression was still alive, but it wasn't on fire like it had been. There was a calm, a patience in his gaze that Mike would not have suspected in a million years if he lived to see it.

And there was no fight in Goren's look as he answered. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Logan?"

Mike Logan's voice grew less hostile, merely because his opponent didn't seem to want the fight, and answered. "Yes it has, Goren."

Goren nodded, then answered. "No more demons."

Mike blinked, staring at Goren right in the eye. This man before him was a completely different person than the cocky son of a bitch he'd known three years ago. Hell, this guy was even bearable.

Gwen asked. "So, are you still with the department, Detective Goren? I've heard that your skills are in high demand."

Goren shook his head, smiling more to himself but did not answer

Riley's eyebrows rose. "You're not with the NYPD anymore?"

Goren shook his head. "Something like that. It's a long story."

Mike was stunned by what he was hearing...and the nonchalant attitude Goren had about it. The job used to be this guy's life...what could possibly have changed that for him?

"So, Goren." Mike asked awkwardly. "What have you been up to these days?"

Goren studied Mike a moment, maybe taken off guard by the fact Mike was willing to have a civil conversation with him, then answered slowly."I own my own consulting business which I run out of my home. It gives me a chance to spend time with my son."

Mike thought his jaw was going to hit the floor. As it was, he was sure his mouth popped open at the comment. He was not in the least prepared for that surprise. Mike had never imagined Bobby Goren ever having children, because he couldn't imagine a woman who would put up with his craziness. That and Goren, before, had always struck Mike as the type that wasn't comfortable around children. Obviously, all that had happened in his life over the last three years had tamed him.

Riley perked up. "Detective Goren, you have a son?"

Mike managed to gather his wits enough to pop his jaw closed again. Leave it to the women to talk children and luckily give him time to adjust.

Goren's face broke in a genuine, actually pensive and secretly delighted smile. "Yeah...Benjamin."

Gwen was all smiles. "That's wonderful, Detective Goren. How old is he?"

"Twelve months." Bobby stated, proudly.

"Aw!" Riley made the sound of womanly adoration."You have a baby? Do you have a picture of him?"

Goren flashed her a bright smile, his expression saying as clear as anything of course I do, I'm a father, aren't I? and he reached into his back pocket and withdrew his wallet.

He opened the wallet and reached in, withdrawing a small photo and handing it to Riley.

Mike leaned over to look and Gwen leaned over him to see the picture too.

It was a picture of a very happy looking one year old, a stuffed NYPD teddy bear was clutched in his arms as he smiled, toothlessly at the camera. Mike smiled at that, despite his earlier attitude toward Bobby Goren and the whole demons business. The boy in the picture looked a little small for being a year old, he was wearing a blue jumper that had dinosaurs, of all colors, printed on it. He had a youthful look about him that didn't appear to be fading, and an impression of his face seemed to be reminiscent of Bobby Goren. His curly hair was sandy blonde. The baby had chocolate brown eyes that stared at the camera, in a comical serious expression, the photographer obviously having been trying to get him to laugh and/or smile.

Riley passed the photo over to Gwen, looking back at Goren. "He's beautiful, Detective Goren."

Goren smiled. "Thank you."

Mike added. "Yeah...in all sincerity, Goren...congratulations."

Goren considered Mike a moment, and found he was quite serious. Goren nodded."Thank you, Mike."

Gwen handed the photo back to Goren, who took it with his left hand. As he put the photo back in his wallet, Mike for the first time noticed Goren's hands. They had been hidden in his pocket before, but he saw them now. His left ring finger bore a gold band.

Mike nodded his chin toward it. "You're married too, Goren?"

Goren stopped, looking up at Mike then down at his hand. He stared at his wedding band a moment, then nodded. "Yep."

Mike shook his head. "Damn, Goren...you've changed a lot."

Goren stuffed his wallet back into his back pocket and commented. "Good thing, I guess...you couldn't have hated me any more back then."

Mike stiffened, then said. "Goren...I was just...I was worried about Alex. I thought you were going to get her...you know..."

Goren finished solemnly. "Killed? Hurt? Yeah, I know. Believe me...I was scared of the same thing."

Mike's eyes widened at the admission. Goren had been afraid he'd endanger Alex too?

Riley smiled knowingly. "Speaking of Eames." Then her pitch changed to address someone slightly further away. "Hello, Alex."

Mike pulled his eyes away from Goren to see that Alex Eames was approaching them.

Goren turned, looking behind him at his approaching partner.

Eames looked up at Goren, giving him one of her rare and privileged smiles, which disappeared and was replaced by a more fake one as she greeted the group. "Hi Riley, Mike...and...Gwen?"

Gwen nodded. "Nice to see you again, Alex."

Eames stepped up beside Goren, standing close as she shook hands with the three before her.

Mike was the first to ask. "How have you been, Alex?"

Alex smiled. "Great... thanks for asking, Mike."

Riley glanced up at Goren beside Eames, then back to Alex. "We were just talking to Detective Goren about his son. Have you seen him, Alex?"

Eames very nearly broke into an all out smile. Instead, she looked up at Goren, who returned the tight smile as both tried not to let show any amusement.

Alex nodded. "Yeah...I saw Benjamin before Bobby did." Which was true. Sometime during the fourteen and a half hour labor, Bobby had passed out thus not getting to see the baby until he regained consciousness. So she got to see the baby first.

Mike started to wonder.

Eames turned to Goren. "Actually, I came over to talk to you, Bobby. I was just going to call and check with the babysitter, make sure Benjy's okay."

Bobby nodded. "All right, say hello to your mother for me." Then reached his arm around Alex's body. Pulling her in faintly, just enough to lay a kiss on her forehead, then let her go as Alex passed him a smile and left...pulling out her cell phone as she moved through the crowd.

Riley and Gwen were speechless, and Tom felt his suspicion being answered. He recalled the picture of baby Benjamin...his hair was most certainly not black like his father's...his hair had been a very familiar blonde, whispers of his face that had not quite seemed Goren's, but before he hadn't been able to place.

Alex rejoined them very shortly, looking up with her entire attention on Goren. "Bobby...Mom said she can't get Benjy to sleep." Then she smiled. "Probably misses his bedtime story."

Goren gave her a crooked smile. "Mom just can't tell the Little Engine that Could story like the expert can."

Alex shook her head, smiling. "Anyway, I thought we'd go pick him up and head home...maybe you could tell him that story. You ready to leave?"

Bobby nodded. "Yeah." Then turned to Mike and the two women. "Mike, Riley, Gwen...it's been nice seeing you."

The women were quite cordial and Mike was sincere as he returned the sentiment. It really had been pleasant seeing Goren again. Hell had officially frozen over in Mike's little universe.

As they were turning to leave, Mike called out. "Goren...Alex...congratulations to the both of you."

Both turned, regarding him a moment, then Goren nodded and Alex said. "Thank you." Before turning back. Goren's left hand, gold band hitting the light, came up to rest on the small of Alex's back. Alex lifted her left hand to wave at someone as they left...a small left hand that had its own gold band on the ring finger to match Goren's.

Mike watched them go, stunned.

Those people were not the ones he'd known three years ago. Both Goren and Alex had changed considerably.

Maybe the changes were for the best.

He'd never actually known either to look content before. They were now.

One thing was certain...no one at this party was the same person Mike had known at one time. It only struck him at that moment, but he was in a room full of strangers.

Such were the peculiarities of growing up, even for people like Bobby Goren and Alex Eames... or was it Alex Goren now?

FINIS