He knocks on the doorframe then leans against it crossing his long legs at the ankles. They've barely spoken since the beach when he'd purposefully tried to pick a fight with Piz. There hadn't been much to say after the apologies lost their luster.

"I'm looking for a private dick."

"Well you're in luck one just walked through the door, although technically he's more of a public dick."

And just like that they manage to fall right back in to the old banter that's always defined their relationship.

"I heard about the charges against your dad."

There's sympathy in his voice and it tugs at her heart strings even though she could have sworn she'd severed them. She fiddles with the stapler on her dad's desk in order to avoid looking at him but she can feel his eyes boring in to her.

With a sigh she shrugs, "Jake Kane will get his one day. I just hope I'm around when it happens."

"Going somewhere?"

Suddenly he's standing again and his height causes him to loom over her, drawing her eyes up to meet his. There's surprise written all over his handsome face and he's trying hard not to let his hurt feelings show but they're right there below the surface and it makes her want to go to him, throw her arms around him, and forget about all the mistakes they've both made the last few years.

Her mouth's dry and she has to swallow several times before she can get actual words to pass through her lips. "Virginia. I've been offered a summer internship with the FBI and unless my dad needs me here I plan to leave right after exams."

"Wow, Veronica, that's…that's great. Congratulations."

"Thanks."

"It's going to be kind of weird around here without you."

"I thought you were going surfing with Dick."

"Change of plans."

Silence fills the office space between them and while it's devoid of noise it's full of electricity. There's an aura of unspoken questions and unresolved issues, and it's not supposed to be so hard. Duncan was proof of that. Piz is proof of that.

"Veronica…"

"Don't," she replies pushing back her father's chair and circling the desk in order to eliminate some of the distance between them. "Just…don't."

Before she can stop herself she's leaning up to kiss him because while it shouldn't be so hard to love him, to be with him it's always been right.