Vermouth leaned back in her chair. She took a deep breathe and reinitiated eye contact with the woman across from her. She had been rehearsing her story since the moment she hung up the phone after her talk with Yukiko. Over and over she had recited the exact words, down to the most precise details. It had to be perfect otherwise she would make her friend suspicious.

"I was kidnapped" She began soberly. Yukiko made no response to the words and instead simply continued to stare at her "I was knocked out after a party in Los Angeles. When I woke up there was rope tied at each of my wrists. The rope was floating off the ground so I concluded that it attached to the walls on either side of me. My ankles were shackled by metal cuffs that hooked to the floor beneath me. There was only one light on. It was dim and it was directly over my head. Whoever apprehended me must have noticed I had regained consciousness because four rows of florescent lights flashed on and the room was completely illuminated. The room was surrounded by mirrors. Luckily I had experience with mirrors and I figured out quickly that it was a two way mirror-"

"I've heard of this" Yukiko said, trying her best to relate to her seemingly outlandish tale "Sex-traffickers use a system like this in third world countries." Sharon nodded in agreement

"So if you recognize that then you can guess what happened next…" she ducked her head down, acting to the best of her ability. Yukiko was sharp but she was fooled by the act. Sharon's shame seemed completely genuine

"They….auctioned you" Yukiko strained to get the words out

"Yes. I was sold relatively quickly because I was famous. When the bidding stopped the lights went out again and I felt a firm hand push a moist cloth over my face." She paused to allow her friend to intake the information. She felt a degree of guilt with every word she said. Not because it was a lie, but because hearing the story was actually hurting the naïve woman in front of her. She was freely toying with her emotions and on some level deep below the surface, it hurt her as well. Nevertheless she continued on with her fable

"When I awoke again" Vermouth paused as the waiter placed a new cocktail in front of each of them. They both sipped their beverages before Yukiko signaled for Sharon to continue

"Please go on" Yukiko requested

"Of course. So when I awoke again I was in the back of a moving truck. I was surrounded by five other women, all of different origin. Or at least that's what I assumed from their skin tones and the total silence between them. I tried to gather my bearings and figure out where I was when I noticed something: there was nothing keeping me in the bed of that truck. Even more fortunately there was a sheet that covered most of the back window in the truck so we were hardly visible to the driver. I thought quickly and took the presented opportunity: I jumped." Yukiko gasped in shock. By this point the story had her on the edge of her seat. It was starting to sound more and more like an action movie

"But wait, Sharon, why didn't anyone ever come after you?" this was the question Sharon had prepared for more than any other

"Simple. They planted a body in New York with my appearance. That's why everyone thought I was dead." Yukiko pondered the concept momentarily before adding the circumstances up in her head and accepting the explanation

"Okay I understand. So what happened after that?"

"I managed to find a small town about six miles down the road. As it turned out I had been transported to a remote part of the Congo. Upon hearing my dialect they directed me to their U.S Embassy building. I told them my story and they arranged for my transport back. They told me no missing person's report had been issued in my name and that based on the date I gave them for my kidnapping I had been gone approximately seven weeks." Yukiko looked confused by the time frame

"So wait, if you were brought back to the United States after less than two months, where have you been the last five years?"

"Hiding, Yukiko, hiding" Yukiko was still considerably puzzled

"Why? Why didn't you just come forth and say you were alive?"

"Because the men that kidnapped me were still rooted here. If I had just come back and announced my return they would've come back for me. You see?" Yukiko nodded half-heartedly, trying her best to wrap her head around the story

"Then why now?"

"I got tired of hiding so I contacted the Government Protective Agencies. They agreed to mask my identity, but I have to leave the country. I wanted to say goodbye and clear everything up before I left." Yukiko started to cry and pushed her eyes away from her long time friend

"I'm glad you did" Yukiko mumbled, still sobbing "It's good to know you're alive and safe." Vermouth shut her eyes and reached deep down into the deepest reserves of determination she possessed and let out the last words she had come there to say

"Yukiko…" She started with a pause for consideration "I want you to meet me once more tomorrow night" Yukiko shook her head violently

"Of course! Of course I will! Where?"

"At the hotel I'm staying at. Here's the room key, it's room 1408 at the Sherriton." Vermouth handed her the key and left her at the table. Before Yukiko could object Sharon was already out the door of the restaurant. Yukiko sat and stared at the card which read 'Sherriton Hotels' on the side. She squeezed it tightly and stood up to leave, placing the half empty 'Amber Dream' on the table.

"Oh my, its already after midnight what am I going to tell Yuusaku?" She squeaked picking up her pace and quickly entering her car

"Oh hello Conan-kun!" Eri said in an excessively friendly tone, startling Conan who had known this woman since he was actually a kid. He looked up at her and noticed an expression to match her voice. He cringed at it internally but smiled back

"Eri-sama! What are you doing here?" Conan asked feigning childish innocence although he really did want to know why she was there

"Oh well I'm uh…" she blushed at the words before they even escaped her mouth "Staying for dinner" Almost telepathically Ran kicked her door down and searched the living room for the source of the words she had just heard.

"Ran-neechan!" Conan screamed in surprise as the shattered pieces of wood scattered all around the room

"What did you say?" Ran asked with a completely peaceful demeanor despite the means she used to enter the room

"Ran I think your father and I might take up residence with one another again…" She gave the words time to sink in. Ran's face lit up in a way it hadn't in a very long time. Conan smiled ear to ear as she hugged her mother. 'She looks so beautiful when she smiles' he thought as he continued to observe her

"What happened Okasan!"

"Well, we had lunch and we both admitted that we had been a little stubborn about our differences and decided it'd be better for everyone if we just lived together again" Ran looked at her mother with a pouting face

"You make it sound so unromantic!"

"Well I'm sorry your father didn't show up in a knight's costume and whisk me off of my feet Princess" Eri shot a look back at her daughter along with a menacing grin

"It's not like that!" Ran and Conan screamed out in unison. Both Eri and Ran looked over at Conan suspiciously. He sunk deeper into the couch and tried to laugh off the unrelenting stares

"I'm going to the Professor's house bye!" he yelled as he sprinted out the door, allowing no time for objection. Ran took a step toward the door to stop him but Eri grabbed her by the wrist, halting her progress.

"Okasan what are you…" she trailed off and noticed the concerned look in her mother's eyes

"Ran I need you tell me about something" Ran's countenance quickly changed to a serious once, matching her mother's

"Hai" she responded curtly, anxious to hear the query her mother had for her

"Tell me about Conan-kun and Shinichi-kun"

Kogoro gave Megure one last wave before exiting the office. As Kogoro disappeared into the elevator, Sato was the first to run out from her office and confront Megure

"Inspector?" Megure stared at her with an air of confusion "What was that about, with Mouri-tantei? Was it important? Did it involve a case?" Sato was never one to tiptoe around the point

"Um no actually it wasn't. It was something that's been ten year's in the making" Megure smiled again as he thought about it, taking in a deep breath of relief

"Well, what was it?" Shiratori asked from his desk a few feet away

"Hey shouldn't you be working?"

"You should tell us and get it over with. You know you're going to be harassed about it until you do" Yumi pitched in jokingly. Megure sighed, giving in to the truth in her statement

"Alright fine. For those of you whom are interested, Mouri has reconciled with his estranged wife"

"Kisaki Eri!" Takagi asked, poking his head from his desk, which was three desks back from Shiratori's

"Yes, Kisaki Eri. Or better yet, Mouri Eri" Sato and Yumi blushed at the romantic implications of the name adjustment

"That's fantastic news" Shiratori commented, earning nods from his fellow officers

"There's more." Megure said, regaining his composure and straightening up, trying his best to address the officers around him as their Chief Inspector and not just a pal

"Oh" Sato and Yumi recognized the change in his countenance and straightened up as well

"A-hem. Starting next Monday, Mouri will be returning to the police department as an inspector" the room fell silent at his words. It had been so long since he served with the police that most of the officers weren't even aware he had been an officer at all.

"But Inspector" Sato addressed him professionally "Who will be his partner?" Megure grinned at the question he had expected

"He will personally assist me on cases. In many ways he will be acting a co-Chief Inspector. I will still be his superior but he will be yours. Is that understood?" The precinct all acknowledged the decree in unison and returned to their work. Sato walked back toward her office but was stopped by a hand on her arm

"Sato-san" She looked down at the man whom she had recently declared her boyfriend. He was sitting in his chair with a concerned look on his face "What is it? Are you upset about Mouri-san?" He asked, holding her gaze throughout

"No, its not that, its just…."she stopped herself, shaking her head "It's nothing. Its stupid, I have work to do" she tried to pull away only to see Takagi gracefully slide out of his chair and stand in front her, now holding both of her arms

"It's not nothing. What is it?" This was why she had come to adore this man. He had a way of be both loving and stern. He could be awkward and innocent and yet completely serious and professional at the same time. It baffled her, but she didn't question it. She smiled at him, knowing there was no way he would drop the topic until she came clean, and dragged him into her office.

"The truth is Wataru, I don't like that he is getting such a high position. I mean, I've been here for years, working diligently and that tantei gets to supersede me. Its unfair" Takagi strode over to her and forced their eyes together

"Miwako, it's not your choice. I'm sure the Inspector doesn't think any less of you. You have to understand, he and Mouri are great friends and they were partners before he left the force. This is probably just as much for himself as it is for Mouri." Sato let her head fall onto his chest and rest there

"I guess you're right. Still…"

"I'm sure when the time comes, you'll be at the top of his list for promotions" He grinned at the top her head, knowing that was exactly what she wanted to hear.

"Thank you" she whispered bashfully, blushing as she pushed herself off of him. They stared at one another again and were both content in the moment until a very inopportune knock came at her door. Both jumped at the sound and separated with outlandishly red painted faces. Yumi walked into the office beaming merrily

"What is it Yumi?" Sato asked frantically, trying to retain a professional demeanor

"Oh, nothing, just wanted to give you this" she threw a thin manila folder on her desk and skipped out the office. Takagi and Sato turned to one another, Takagi scratching the back of his neck nervously. Sato, amused by his awkwardness leaned up and gave him a chaste peck on the cheek

"Get back to work, officer" Takagi blushed furiously

"H-Hai!" he yelled excessively and shot out of the office. She giggled to herself as he left. However her laughter was soon quelled by a thought that she had shoved to the back of her mind

'Did….did he just call me by my first name?' she sat down at her desk staring at him and continuing to ponder the question.

As Takagi flopped down in his seat, shaking all of the belongings on his desk, he found himself unable to concentrate due to a certain voice replaying in his head. He smiled and melted into his seat 'It's nice when she calls me Wataru…'

As Yukiko crept in the door to her bedroom she tried her best to slide unnoticed into her bed. She gave a sigh of relief when she made it under the covers with no movement from her husband. She turned to reach out and hold her husband closer when her eyes widened. She reached out further and still nothing. He wasn't there. Just as she rolled over to exit the bed the light flipped on and there he stood, staring at her judgingly from behind his spectacles

"H-Honey uh…why are you s-still up?" Yukiko stammered, already accepting how busted she was

"Sweetheart, its after one o'clock in the morning, where have you been?" his eyes were piercing, she couldn't have lied if she wanted to

"I was at dinner I told you" Yuusaku continued to stare at her

"For four hours?" he asked tersely

"Yes, honey, we were talking and time got away from us" he kept his eyes on hers, analyzing her for any sign of falsehood

"Then" he said, making Yukiko cringe "let's go to bed" he said smiling at her. She didn't seem to understand his intentions until he walked over to her and gave her a short kiss. Her eyes fluttered as he pulled back and crawled past her to his side of the bed. He pulled the blankets up to his chest and placed his glasses on the nightstand beside him. He flicked the lights off but smirked as he noticed his wife's eyes were still glued to him "What is it?" he asked

"N-Nothing" she hesitated before rolling over and relaxing her body. Yuusaku had almost drifted off to sleep before he felt a hand work its way onto his chest. This wasn't the usual 'putting a hand on you for comfort', this was….seductive. He opened his eyes and looked at his wife who was wearing a devilish smile

"You know" he said, placing a hand under her chin "I don't have to work tomorrow" she giggled at his hidden proposition

"You never really 'have' to work dear, you're an author" he grinned

"I suppose. Nevertheless, I was thinking-" before he could continue Yukiko pressed her lips urgently to his and he received her with open arms. She rolled on top of him and he pulled the blankets up on top of them both. It was a beautiful night. The day had been full of heart warming moments and meetings. Joy was bursting forth from many directions, but not all. Not everyone can be happy every night.

Forgot to mention in the last chapter, an 'Amber Dream' is a cocktail made with Vermouth and another very bitter alcohol.

not that its significant or anything :P

we're just getting started so keep reading