A short drabble that popped into my head. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Not mine!

PsychPsychPsychPsych

Santa Barbara, California was absolutely beautiful at Christmas time.

Victoria smiled as she took in the beautiful lights and all the people rushing down the sidewalks. She used to be like them, always in such a rush. But now she took more time to just take things in.

She was so busy absorbing her surroundings that she didn't notice the man walking toward her until she bumped into him. "Oh, sorry…" Her voice trailed off as she looked up into a pair of hauntingly familiar eyes.

Carlton…

Lassiter smiled at his ex-wife. He was wearing a coat, and one arm was wrapped tightly around his chest. "Victoria. Hi."

She struggled to find her voice again. "Hey…"

He looked her over. "You look good. How have you been?"

"Fine… What about you?" He looked good, really good, and she was surprised. The last time she had seen him, he had been so full of anger and resentment. Time had been very kind to him, because now, he looked healthy and…happy.

A sudden gust of wind blew his jacket partially open, and Victoria caught a glimpse of a tiny face and blond hair underneath a tiny pink cap. Her eyes widened.

Lassiter caught her stare, and he smiled. "Her name is Molly." He adjusted his jacket again, not bothering to offer Victoria a better view of his baby girl.

"I didn't know…" She spotted a gold wedding band on his left hand, and an unexpected surge of jealousy went through her.

He nodded. "I've been married for almost three years now. Her name is Juliet."

Victoria brushed her hair out of her face. She had put him through hell toward the end of their marriage, and yet he had continued to fight for them. But she had crushed any hope of that. So she had no right to be anything but happy that he was remarried and had a baby. He deserved happiness after everything that she had put him through.

"That's…wonderful, Carlton. She's a lucky woman."

His expression was one of surprise, but he smiled. "Thank you. But I'm the lucky one."

Victoria nodded again, though she was pretty certain that Juliet was the lucky one. She had a very good man.

Lassiter looked down, then took a chance and kissed Victoria's cheek. "It was wonderful seeing you again, Victoria," he murmured.

"You, too." She gently touched his cheek.

"We should have lunch sometime." He took a step backward.

"Absolutely." But they both knew it would never happen.

Lassiter glanced at his watch. "I have to get back home. It really was great seeing you."

"Yeah." She absently touched her cheek, where he had kissed her.

He gave her a sweet smile before turning around and walking away from her.

Victoria watched him go until he disappeared from her sight. She had no right missing him, not when she was the one who ended things. But she couldn't help how she felt. At least he was happy. He deserved that much, for all that he had been through.

The wind began to pick up, chilling her to the bone. She finally pulled her jacket tighter around herself. Then she turned and went in the opposite direction Carlton had taken.

"Goodbye, Carlton."

The End.

A/N: Loafer, I managed not to kill anyone or make anyone too unhappy. Are ya pleased? LMAO. Thanks for reading, and please review!