The alarm buzzed too early in Alex Eames' opinion. Why had she volunteered to work on a Saturday? Then she remembered. The point was to keep busy, so she wouldn't think about the fact that today was her fortieth birthday. She pressed the snooze button and turned over. She began starting thinking about her life so far and how it turned out so differently than she expected. She was officially forty, single, and her only companion was her bird, Polly. She had friends, and a family that loved her, but Alex couldn't help but feel like she had missed out on some of the things she had wanted in life. A husband and children, that's what she had dreamed of, and she'd had both, but they had both been taken away.

She crawled out of bed and tried to focus on the positive while she showered and dressed for the day ahead.

At least she had Bobby. Well, to some extent anyway. He was her partner and best friend. But Alex had admitted to herself a long time ago that she wanted to be more. She wanted to be the one woman her loved with all his heart, the one he married and who had his children. She wanted to be the one he grew old with. If only he loved her like she loved him. Then her life would be complete.

--

About an hour later, Alex walked through the elevator doors of the 11th floor of 1PP. Bobby looked up as she came in and grinned at her. She smiled back at him. As long as she could see that man smile everyday, she'd survive. She sat in the chair across from her partner and smiled again when she saw the bag of Skittles with the bow tied around it sitting on her desk. He knew her too well. She glanced up at Bobby, noticing that he looked especially handsome in what looked like a new suit. 'A suit that one might wear on a nice date with their partner' she thought wistfully. She let her mind wander for a moment until a familiar voice shook her out of her daydream.

"Eames? You okay?" Bobby looked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. The hearing goes with the years you know?" Alex replied with her signature sarcasm. "What'd you say?" Only Bobby could've noticed the hint of sadness in her eyes and voice.

"I was just wondering if you wanted any coffee." Bobby said. "Sure. I'll get it for us." Alex said and quickly jumped up, and was halfway to the break room before Bobby could react. She wanted a reason to get up so Bobby wouldn't ask her what was wrong. The middle of the squad room was not the place she wanted to tell her partner she was having a mid-life crisis. She wasn't even sure if that's what this was, or if she was just a little depressed. Either way, she didn't want Bobby to know that he was the main reason she was feeling down.

Bobby stared absently at his partner's empty chair trying to figure out what had Eames so down this morning. 'It's probably just a birthday thing.' he decided. 'I was depressed on my fortieth too. Of course, the reason I was so depressed had a lot to do with Eames.'

He thought about the years with Alex. Bobby was still amazed that she hadn't left him. She had put up with his 'quirks' for almost 7 years. He would be forever grateful for their partnership and her friendship. She was by far the best partner he had ever had, and his best friend in the entire world. But secretly Bobby wanted so much more. He wanted to hold her and kiss her, to tell her everything would be alright when she was sad, like today. To be the reason that beautiful smile filled her face with joy. He wanted to be her husband and the father of her children. The one she grew old with. If only she loved him the way he loved her. Then he would be truly happy.

--

The day went by rather slowly, with no new cases for the dynamic duo. They had finished up the last of the paperwork and were heading out the door. Both were glad they had the rest of the day off, but not wanting to go home. Bobby broke the silence.

"Can I take you out to dinner tonight?" he asked almost shyly.

"Sure Bobby, I'd like that." Alex said. "Pick me up at 7?"

"See you then. Oh yeah, be sure to dress up." Bobby replied with a big grin and a wink.