Neal Caffrey and Ashley Nolan knew each other from the beginning. Ashley was there when Neal's father died. Neal was there when Ashley's mother walked out. Ashley was in love with Neal. Neal was in love with Ashley. When senior year came around, Ashley thought that they would move in together. Neal thought that he could get Ashley to run away with him. Ashley went to California. Neal went New York.

Ashley got an office job. Neal became a con artist. Every year, Ashley got a message on her birthday from an unknown number. She knew it was Neal. Once and a while she would get a message with an address sometimes accompanied by a room number. They were always wrote down somewhere.

Suddenly the messages stopped. Ashley moved on in life. She got a boyfriend, she got a promotion, she almost forgot about Neal.

During a con, Neal met Kate. He fell in love with her. They moved in together, he started doing bigger cons, he forgot about Ashley.

Years later in New York, after Kate had died, Neal was working with the white collar division to avoid prison. On Ashley's birthday he sent her a text with an address.

Ashley was still in California. When her birthday passed she got a message from an unknown number. She knew that Neal had come back.

Six months later, Ashley found herself in New York standing before Neal's house. She buzzed in through the gate and introduced herself to a woman. Ashley was led up the stairs and down the hall. Just like the text said, there was a key under the mat and she unlocked the door.

Ashley walked in. Neal was busy with his glass of wine. Ashley's heart was pounding and she said his name with a clear voice. Neal turned around with wide eyes and a breathless smile.