Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.
~Ice-T

I'll see you around, I guess.

When he left the squadroom for the last time, Alex believed it was the last she would see of her now-former partner. She turned in her badge, made a couple of calls, and went on with her life, which she knew would never be the same without him.

Early one sunny, late spring Saturday, almost six months after she resigned from the NYPD, Alex got a phone call she never expected to receive. She picked up the phone, anticipating a call from her sister. "Hello," she said brightly.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then a quiet, familiar voice from the past, saying, "Hi, Eames."

Everything came to a dead halt, including the march of time. After an eternal pause, she said one word, "Goren?"

"Yes. How have you been?"

She couldn't help being annoyed. "Is that all you have to say?"

"I, uh, I would have called, uh, but I, I've been out of town." He paused, but she didn't say anything. He continued uncertainly. "I, uhm, can I take you to lunch?"

"You're buying?"

"Of course."

"When and where?"

"This afternoon? Uhm, say two o'clock, at the diner you like so much in Bay Ridge?"

"The one with the to-die-for cherry pie?"

She could hear the smile, and the affection, in his voice. "That's the one."

"You twisted my arm. I'll see you at two."

"Great. See you then."

She placed the phone in its cradle and spent the next two hours trying to decide what to wear. She finally decided on a snug cerulean shirt and simple blue jeans with her most comfortable boots. It was no coincidence that those same boots gained her a couple of inches on her six-foot-four partner...uh, former partner. She'd hated thinking of him in the past tense. Perhaps now that would change, though she knew from long experience not to get her hopes up.

Grabbing her purse and her jacket, she left the house in plenty of time to make her appointment with her past.

Bobby arrived early, as was his habit. He took off his jacket and slid into the booth he was shown to, but put off the waitress when she approached the table. "I'm waiting for someone," he said with a nervous smile. "I'm, uh, I'm early."

She smiled back at him, setting a menu in front of him. "I'll get another menu, then."

She returned with a second menu and two glasses of water, giving him another smile and promising to return when his companion arrived.

It was ten til two when he saw her enter the diner. Oh, God... His heart lurched. She looked...stunning. Until that moment, he really hadn't realized just how much he had missed her. He just stared at her until she saw him and started toward him. He got to his feet as she approached, leaning forward to kiss her cheek before she slid into the booth opposite him.

Sitting, he stared for a few long moments. "You...you look, uh, you look great, Eames."

She looked him over slowly before she responded, "You look pretty good yourself."

His mouth quirked into a soft smile. "You seem surprised."

"I..." She hesitated. She owed him nothing. "I am," she admitted. "It's been, what, five months? Nearly six?"

He nodded. "How is Major Case, lieutenant?"

The question put a lump in her throat. She took a drink of her water. Why the hell was everything so difficult with him? A simple question and she choked up. She waited until she felt composed before she answered, "I'm not with the department any more."

Her answer puzzled him. "No? Why not? What happened?"

"What happened?" she repeated, her anger flaring.

The waitress chose that moment to approach, saving him from an angry dressing-down. Alex ordered a club sandwich with applesauce on the side while Bobby asked for a BLT with coleslaw. Both ordered coffee. Once the waitress was gone, she continued, more calmly, "They made me fire my partner, that's what happened. I resigned that day, right after you left. I just...I couldn't continue after that."

He had the decency to look guilty. "I..."

"Don't say it, Goren," she warned. "Just like your termination, it was a long time coming. I guess the only thing that kept me coming back for more was you. You made it worthwhile to show up every morning, not the job."

He didn't know what to say to that, except to agree. "I, uh, I know what you mean. It got to be the same for me. Everything was wearing me down, except seeing you...even when you were mad at me."

They were silent as the waitress brought their coffee and sandwiches. When they were alone again, she said, "We had some rough times."

He shrugged. "Not so many, compared with the good times. I've missed you."

Her heart soared at his admission, and that made her angry. "So why have you waited until now to call me, dammit?"

"I've been out of town. I just got back."

"And your phone was broken?"

"N-No. I...I was at Quantico."

That should not have surprised her, but it did. "You...you joined the Bureau?"

He smiled the same shy smile that had always touched her heart. "They made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

She laughed, a sound that lightened his heart. She took a bite of her sandwich, then said, "So the profiler finally gave in and joined the BAU."

He nodded. "I guess you could say that. What have you been doing?"

"I called in a favor. I'm working with Jimmy Deakins."

His face brightened. Deakins, he knew, would keep her safe; he trusted Jimmy Deakins. "I'm glad to hear that. How is he?"

"He's good."

"And your family? Your parents and your nephew?"

Her expression softened. "They're all good." Out of habit, she almost asked about his family before remembering that he had no family. "How about you?" she asked instead. "How have you been?"

"I've been busy," he admitted. "Working my ass off."

Because he has nothing else, she thought sadly. But there was no hint of sorrow about him, which surprised her. In fact, he seemed content. "Well...it suits you," she admitted. "You really do look good."

He smiled that shy smile again, and her heart melted a little more. He said, "So do you."

He reached out and touched her hand with his index finger, lightly caressing it. She did not withdraw, and his expression remained soft. They ate in companionable silence, and she ordered a piece of the pie she loved. He just asked for more coffee.

As she finished her pie, he drew abstract designs over the tabletop with his finger. He was hesitant, uncertain, and he stammered as he said, "I, uhm, w-we...uh, we aren't partners any more."

"No, we aren't," she admitted.

She wasn't going to give him an inch, he realized. He might as well step into it with both feet. "I, uh, I...I was wondering...uh, are you seeing anyone?"

His question surprised her. "No, not at the moment. Why?"

He shifted uncomfortably. She was taken back to a time when she had the chance to watch him shift like that on a daily basis, and she missed him. He wouldn't look up at her. "I...I'm going out of town again, in the morning, and I...I wondered...when I get back, I mean, if you're still free...would...would you consider...uh, I mean...would you go out with me?"

She wasn't sure what she expected, but it certainly had not been that. She didn't know what to say, so she avoided a direct answer immediately. "Out of town? Where are you going?"

He hesitated when she didn't answer his question, but he would understand completely if she said no. He still wouldn't look at her, focusing on his hands. "To, uh, to South America. I'm part of a joint task force. I, uh, I expect to be gone for a few weeks." He hesitated. "I'm serious about this, Eames. If you're free, when I get back, I really would like to, uh, to see you."

She reached out and laid her hands over his, stilling them. "First of all, look at me when you ask me."

He looked up but before he could say anything, she raised her hand. "And second," she continued. "Why did it take you so damn long to ask me that question?"

Her open acceptance of his question without ridiculing him gave him hope, but it also sent his head spinning. He slid a hand from under hers and rubbed the back of his neck. Finally, he answered, "It didn't seem quite the right thing to do right after you fired me," he admitted. "I've been, uhm, thinking about it. I thought about it the whole time I was in Virginia. I was just, uh, hoping you were free, and willing..." He paused, looking at the tabletop again. "I also...I couldn't ask you, if I had nothing to bring to the table."

His expression was hopeful, and finally, she smiled. "All right, Bobby," she said, her tone more gentle than it had been. "I would like that, if I'm still free."

He nodded slowly. He had no business asking her to meet any terms. "I...I really would...like to, uh, to see you, you know."

She smiled. "Then hurry home," she said, her voice low and husky.

He closed his eyes. "I will," he promised, his voice a little strained. He cleared his throat. "I will," he repeated. "I-I'll try to contact you, while I'm gone...if...if I can."

"I'd like that," she admitted. After a pause, she said, " All right, then, I'll see you in another couple of weeks."

They exited the booth. Bobby quickly calculated a twenty-five per cent tip, dropped the money on the table, and paid the check. Then he walked her to her car, his hand resting lightly on her back. She enjoyed the sensation of his touch, as she always had. When they arrived at her car, she turned to face him, and they were quiet for a long time, content to just look at one another.

Finally, he stepped forward. Sliding his hand along her cheek, he leaned in and pressed his mouth lightly against hers. She made a soft noise of surprise before she slid her arms around his neck, encouraging him to deepen the kiss, which he did. He drew her closer, splaying his hand over her hip as his tongue explored her mouth. With reluctance, he broke the kiss and stepped back half a step. Placing a gentle hand on either side of her face, he softly said, "I love you."

Another soft kiss and he moved away from her and walked off down the street. His kiss had taken her breath away and by the time she got it back and found her voice, he was gone.