A/N: So actually, Season 10 was really just an 8-hour valentine to shippers. I never thought they'd actually go there. I guess either us shippers lucked out with their focus groups, or TPTB must read FanFiction! Either way, I'll take it!

~.~.~.~.~

Bobby was just snapping his phone closed as he returned to the little bar at the Italian pool hall.

"Hey man, was that one of the girls from earlier?" Lewis asked, shaking his head the way he always did when musing about Bobby's success with women. "You're a regular chick magnet tonight. Whatever you're wearing, gimme some."

"Huh?" Bobby muttered over the din.

"I thought you were crazy turning them down, but you were just being smooth, huh? Or did one of them slip her number into your pocket? Was it the hot one? The blonde?" Lewis and Bobby had spent the past few hours focusing on their pool game, but all evening women had been throwing themselves at Bobby, and he was even less responsive than had been usual for the past few years.

"Nah," he said, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "I really wasn't interested."

Lewis's face lit up with a knowing look. "You seeing someone? Chicks can always tell when a guy's taken. It makes 'em hot."

Bobby grimaced and pursed his lips. "Seeing – uh, not exactly." He looked away and seemed to deflate a little. "It's actually a lot more serious than that."

He hadn't wanted to do this now, but it had to be done. Lewis was going to be pissed at him either way… better to get it over with and not compound the problem by keeping secrets.

"Bobby, you dog! How long has this been going on?"

"Uh, well…"

"And when do I get to meet her?" Bobby knew his friend would be disappointed to have been kept in the dark… but even more disappointed once he knew the truth. "I knew it man," he added. "There was somethin' about ya."

"You already know her," he blurted. Lewis pulled up short and his forehead creased in concentration. "It's Alex. Eames."

Lewis's face went slack. "Detective Alex?" He asked.

Bobby nodded.

"But she…" Bobby cringed inside for what he was putting his friend through. Poor Lewis, couldn't even comprehend it. Was it that incredible to people? Lewis grimaced, the pain evident on his face. "She's your partner!" He finally said.

"That she is," Bobby agreed solemnly.

"You're dating your partner?" No, he wasn't dating her. But Bobby just nodded. "Isn't there a rule about doing stuff like that?"

"There is not," Bobby replied.

Lewis abruptly turned and marched out of the venue. Bobby settled the tab with a sigh and followed, slowly so as to give Lew a chance to either cool off or make a clean getaway, whichever he wanted to do.

Bobby eventually sidled out the back door, joining his old friend at the corner of the building, staring down at his shoes while Lewis finished smoking a joint.

"You never answered me," Lewis said, "How long has it been going on?"

How long? "Lew… I – I've been in love with her for years," he managed to say. "But, I asked her out three weeks ago."

"And it's… serious?" Asked as though he was hoping against hope the answer would be no.

"It is." It was serious, between them. And it was a relief to say it.

"Are you gonna marry her?" Lewis asked baldly. Bobby recoiled from the question… truth was, he wanted to. Was it that obvious? "Aaw sorry, man, didn't mean to put you on the spot."

"It's OK," Bobby said, nudging Lewis's shoulder. "And I'm sorry… if I –"

"Hey, Bobby," Lewis cut him off, a little too quickly, "The heart wants what it wants, I guess. And you sure do make a cute couple."

"Thanks, man." Lewis was a class act, no matter what. Bobby was lucky to have friends like him, after everything. "And don't mention the, um, getting married thing to Alex, OK?" No need to spoil the surprise.

~.~.~.~.~

A/N 2: Heh. And let the post-finale fic-a-thon begin.

WORDS: 735 UPLOADED Tuesday, June 28, 2011