A/N: Guess who's back? ME! I'm so sorry for my long absence, but I swear this story isn't dead. I just haven't had the time, or quite honestly the motivation, to write for this fandom for a while, but hopefully another chapter will tide you over for a while. My next update will not take a year though, I promise. Anyway, thanks for sticking with this story. Please read and enjoy (and review if you feel so inclined) :)

#7 - "Lost in the Moment"

"What about a handbag? Girl's like these types of things, right?" Will Pinkerton asked, holding up a garish bag complete with pink embroidery and coonskin fur.

Kate only had to raise an eyebrow at her partner before he hung it back on the rack stand, mumbling, "Apparently not..."

Kate couldn't help but silently smile as she watched him wander off to try and find something else that could serve as a decent birthday present for Miyo. Throughout the day she had quickly learned that although Will possessed several abilities, shopping for women was not one that he excelled at.

"Honestly Will, could you really imagine Miyo carrying around something as abhorrent as that?" Kate asked a moment later, once certain they were out of earshot of the old woman trying to sell it.

"How was I supposed to know it was unfashionable? At least it would've been something she doesn't already have," Will said in defense, wrapping his coat tighter around himself as a brisk winter breeze blew through the town. "Why can't we just say that the fancy hair pin you bought her is from me, too?"

Kate's sigh was visible in the frigid air. "First off, I bought the pin for her with my own money, not you, so you can't take credit as the giver, and secondly, only a few people are coming to her party tonight, and for you to give her a present out of your own goodwill and fortune would be the kindest gesture you can offer."

The two of them ducked inside an old bookshop for a moment, more to escape the cold than to browse for books. Kate brushed the light dusting of snow off from the shoulders of her coat and looked around the small shop, taking in the particular scent of musty books and old leather.

"You think Miyo likes books?" Will questioned as he wandered deeper into the store, running a finger alone the spines of the old tomes stacked precariously against the wall.

"I'm actually not sure," Kate admitted honestly, watching him crouch down to read the title of a book on a lower shelf. He took one glance at it, snorted, and then stood back up and continued his hunt.

Kate felt her lips tug upward in a smile as she observed him and his amusing behaviour. It was hard to believe that nearly a year ago he was lying comatose in a bed, struggling to heal after his near fatal duel with Jesse James, the infamous outlaw who also managed to survive.

And also allude apprehension.

Kate held back a sigh as she turned to look out the window, watching as a few miniscule snow flakes fluttered to the cold, hard ground outside. They hadn't had a single lead on him for a whole year, and as much as she wished he had just given up his felonious ways and left Missouri for good, she had a feeling that the Pinkerton's Detective Agency had yet to see the last of him.

A triumphant cry brought Kate out of her troubled thoughts as she turned to see Will waving a small leather notebook in the air, grinning at her in success.

"Miyo is always saying she wants to be a detective, and what better way to get her started than giving her her own sleuthing notebook." Will handed the small book to Kate, who swiftly examined it and returned it back to Will with a shrug. Notebooks weren't exactly rare in Kansas City - the Dubios itself probably had several lying around behind the counter - but Kate refrained from pointing this out to her partner, who was looking ever so pleased with his find.

"It's better than the handbag," she finally conceded, throwing Will a smirk. He barely refrained from rolling his eyes and turned away, awakening the older gentleman behind the counter so he could purchase the blank book.

When the transaction was complete, Will and Kate loitered by the entrance to the shop, prolonging their impending departure back into the frigid air. They still had nearly the whole day before everyone was to meet up at the Dubios for the party that night.

"So what are your plans for the rest of the day?" Kate asked conversationally. She really wasn't looking forward to the long walk all the way back to her house.

Will shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest and settling himself against the door frame. "Probably hang around at the Dubios and see if Annalee needs me to fix anything again. Contrary to what I say, my life really isn't that exciting whenever I'm not on a case."

"Trust me, I know," Kate responded wryly. There had been more times than she could count that he'd shown up at her house in the middle of the day, bored out of his mind and pleading with her to go on a ride with him, or play a game of cards, or just do something to relieve his boredom. She often took pity on him and adhered to his requests, which was why they saw each other nearly every single day, if not the entire day.

Yet it seemed neither of them grew weary of each other's company.

"Well, I'm planning on finishing the new mystery book I purchased the other day - I just started but I think I've already discerned who the murderer is," Kate informed.

Will shook his head incredulously. "Aren't mystery books boring though, after we've solved real ones? I mean, why read about it when you can live it!"

This time it was Kate's turn to shake her head. "Spoken like a true ignoramus."

Will frowned at her, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "Like a what?"

Kate smirked and patted his chest with her gloved hand. "Read more, and you'll figure it out eventually."

Their banter continued for a while longer before a loud, pointed sigh came from the bookshop owner, who was glaring at them in agitation for disrupting and delaying his mid afternoon nap.

Will and Kate took that as their cue and reluctantly left, bidding each other goodbye until later that evening.

A few hours later night befell the bustling town, and Kate found herself walking the familiar path from her house to the Dubios once again. By the time she arrived at the Saloon her eyes immediately spotted Will at one of the corner tables, talking animatedly to an enraptured Kenji and amused Miyo. Kate couldn't help the affection smile that graced her lips as she made her way toward them.

Will's eyes met hers as she was halfway to their table, and the grin he sent her nearly mirrored her own. Kenji and Miyo turned to see what had captivated Will's attention and interrupted his story, and had Kate been paying closer attention she would've noticed the covert, knowing look that flashed between her two friends as they regarded her and Will.

"I hope I'm not too late," Kate greeted them all with a pleasant smile. "Happy birthday, Miyo." She handed the girl an elegantly wrapped parcel.

"Thank you!" Miyo said gratefully as she placed the parcel next to two others in the center of the table. "Really, none of you had to get me anything."

"Of course we did," Will argued good-naturedly. "It's your birthday, you deserve to be spoiled for a night."

Miyo simply beamed in response as Kate pulled up a chair, and the previous conversation continued. A few minutes later Annalee and a few other girls whom Kate assumed were Miyo's friends came over with drinks, and they all toasted Miyo and celebrated that she was officially one year older. After they had downed their glasses and requested refills, Miyo opened her gifts, and was pleased with all of them.

"Thank you, everyone," she said sincerely, looking happier than Kate could ever remember.

The rest of the evening was spent reminiscing and laughing as their little group told favorite stories and experiences they had all shared in the past, yet as the clock grew later the Dubios subtly shifted into a dance floor. All the tables were pushed aside and couples were jumping and sliding against the old wood floor, some more in tune with the music than others. Kate was content to just sit back and watch her friends enjoy themselves while she enjoyed her third mint julip, but apparently Will thought otherwise.

"C'mon, I know you can dance," he whined, his pleading likening to that of a toddler's. This was the third time in twenty minutes he'd asked her to dance.

"There's a difference between can and want, mind you," Kate replied firmly. "I know I can dance, but I don't want to."

"Please, Kate? Everyone is dancing, even Kenji!"

"Precisely, which means there's hardly room on the dance floor for another person." Kate took another sip of her drink, inwardly grinning as Will began a new approach.

"What if I got the band to play your favorite song? Will you dance with me then?"

"Probably not," Kate answered. "I have a question for you though - why is it so imperative that I dance with you? This isn't some bet, is it?"

"What? No!" From the shocked look on Will's face she immediately realized he was being earnest. "I've just never had the opportunity to dance with you before, and I think it'd fun." He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet before she could utter any sort of protest. "Please, Kate, can't I have at least one dance with my friend?"

His stormy blue eyes peered imploringly into hers, and Kate found the objection she had been about to give stuck in her throat, effectively silencing her. Only half aware of her actions, she mutely nodded.

"Great!" Will's wide smile broke whatever trance she had been momentarily cast in, but before she could change her mind he was already tugging her into the midst of the crowd, casually slinging his arms around her waist as he swayed with her to the music. "This isn't that bad, right?" he asked cheekily.

"Hmmm," was all Kate gave in response, pursing her lips and raising her eyebrows indifferently. Yet if it weren't for all the people surrounding her and the inconsistent beat of the music, Kate found that she liked dancing with Will, and enjoyed the warm, comforting sensation of his arms around her.

She ended up dancing with him for two more dances before she finally called it quits and decided to go home. It was nearly midnight, and she didn't want to sleep the following morning away.

Will, the ever-gentleman, insisted on walking her home, and Kate found herself pleased at his chivalrous assertion. They slowly ambled through the town, pressed closer together than normal (to keep warm, of course), and Kate found it strangely heartening at how far their friendship had grown in just over a year. Will would never have been so eager to dance with her or even cared that she had to walk home in the dark a year ago, but now they had grown fond of and genuinely cared about each other - though how much they cared, Kate preferred to not dwell on.

When they finally reached her house, they bade each other goodbye with the promise to meet up again in the morning, and Kate couldn't help but smile to herself as she watched him leave, never having imagined how much he'd impact her life.

She performed her nightly routines and fell asleep with ease, but was rudely awakened early the next morning by an incessant pounding on her front door. Concerned, she immediately answered and found herself face to face with none other than Allan Pinkerton.

"Allan?" she questioned, standing aside to let him in. "What are you doing here? Why are you here? Not that it's good to see you, of course."

"I'm afraid I've come to bring you grave news, my dear," Allan began, foregoing the chair Kate gestured for him to sit at in favor of pacing.

Kate swallowed nervously, but remained as cool and poised as ever. "And what is the news?"

Allan stopped walking and faced her, his eyes troubled. "He's been spotted - he's in a little town named Marshall, just east of Kansas City."

Kate's throat went dry. "You don't mean - is it -"

"Yes," Allan answered grimly, clearly understanding who she was alluding to. "Jesse James is back."