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Spoilers: None

He hadn't seen her in two years. Things had kept him busy, an except for the occasional one line e-mail, he hadn't had any contact with her in that time. He hadn't told her he was coming back – he knew it would bother her that he hadn't told her, and he also wanted to see how she'd changed before actually meeting up with her. So he walked in the building and flashed the badge that he knew was very old and probably no good. They didn't pay much attention, and he was waved through. He continued up until he reached their office, and then hesitated outside the door.

The desks looked the same – arranged in the same pattern they always had been. Cho and Rigsby were standing in a corner, looking out the window, talking. They looked the same as they always had – a little older, but for the most part, unchanged. He let his eyes glide over them, deciding that he would spend time analyzing the changes later. Van Pelt was at her desk, focused on whatever she was researching, but even from the back Jane could see her pregnant belly and the flash of a smile she sent Rigsby's way whenever their gazes met. Lisbon was either in her office or not there. Since she had never missed a day of work in all the time he had known her, Jane decided that the office was a pretty safe bet. After all, she would never go after a lead solo.

Finally, he opened the door and grinned widely, "Did you miss me?"

A collection of excited gasps, cries of "How are you?" and one very uncomfortable hug around a very pregnant belly, followed. The door to Lisbon's office remained closed. He was tempted to hurry over, but he wanted a few questions answered about the rest of the team first.

"So, Rigsby, finally make your move?" he asked, his voice teasing as he eyed Grace. They both blushed, but Rigsby pulled Grace closer and smiled.

"You give horrible flirting tips, by the way."

"And Cho, still just as serious I see," he smiled, and the stony agent kept his face locked smooth, his muscles twitching slightly in an effort to keep a straight face.

"Always," he replied.

"And where is our favorite boss?"

"In her office," Cho replied, nodding his head towards the closed door.

Jane smiled and headed towards the door. The other three all separated, knowing that they wouldn't get Jane's attention back until he had talked to Lisbon. If Jane had been paying attention, he would have noticed that there was something they weren't saying. But at the moment, all he cared about was greeting his ex-boss. He paused just outside the door, peering through the blinds for the chance to see her without her knowledge.

She was beautiful. Her hair was just a few inches longer – hardly noticeable – and her face a touch more serious. She hadn't smiled, not for a while, but he would soon rectify that. He took another moment to study her, ignoring the strange looks he was sure the rest of the team was shooting him. He wanted to savor this moment, in case she was angry with him for leaving. He took in everything about her that he could, and then opened the door.

"Have you closed any cases without me, or are you still hopelessly in need of my help?"

He was rewarded with a brilliant smile, and a millisecond hug. It was more than he had expected from her, and his response was a little slow. Still, he enjoyed a brief moment in her arms.

"How have you been?" she asked, leading him to sit on the couch – his couch! – in her office.

"Not bad, you know," he shrugged. He had paid his debt – protected her and paid the price, but it all seemed worth it now.

"Yeah." She gave a half-smile. She opened her mouth to say something else, but then he froze. There, shining in a ray of sunlight, out in the open, he saw it. Her beauty was marred by a thin band of gold, encircling her finger.

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