A/N: Yay, another chapter! Things are getting interesting again. I hope you enjoy!

"And you're sure that you're not dating your boss? Because you look insanely hot in that dress" Julie said and eyed Elizabeth's appearance. Elizabeth laughed.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not dating my boss" she said and went looking for her purse. It was Saturday evening and Michael would pick her up any second now. "And thank you for the compliment" she said when she found her purse in a corner of her room. She then hurried down the stairs, Julie following her.

"Why am I never invited to barbecue parties?" Julie sighed and flopped down onto the couch.

"Well, why am I never invited to private viewings? You go to these exhibitions all the time" Elizabeth said and took her coat from the hook.

"Let's swap. The next exhibition is yours"

"Maybe next time" Elizabeth said when the doorbell rang. She slipped into her coat and opened the door.

"Hey there. You look nice" Michael greeted her.

"Hey yourself and thank you, but you look nice yourself" she said with a grin and eyed his appearance. He was wearing a white linen suit.

"Thanks. Melissa chose it. You're ready?"

"Absolutely" she said and turned around to Julie. "Don't burn the house down while I'm gone" she winked.

"I won't. Have fun"

"Is that work I see there?" Michael asked when they sat in the car. Elizabeth had pulled out a few crumbled sheets of her purse.

"Not exactly. I printed out my e-mails. Haven't had the time to read them yet" she said and tried to read the papers in the twilight. Their ride took some time and Elizabeth was able to finish reading her last e-mail and making notes for her response when they finally arrived at their destination. To say that she was shocked would be an understatement.

"The party is here?" she asked and stared at the big house in front of her. There were a few windows illuminated, but a lot of them were dark.

"Yeah, pretty big house, but well, Richard can afford it I think" Michael said and got out of the car. Elizabeth remained inside. Michael opened her door and waited for her to get out, but she didn't move. "You ok?"

"You know Richard Sheppard?" she asked and looked at him.

"Yes, we met a few years ago. He's an old friend. You know him as well?" he asked surprised.

"I worked for him" she said and got out of the car slowly. And I loved his son, she thought. Had she known that Michael wanted her to accompany him to Richard Sheppard's barbecue party, she would have stayed in New York.

"You worked for him?"

"Yeah, it's a long story" she said and slammed the door shut. She could hear people talking and laughing behind the house. There was also music playing.

"You have to tell me some time" he said and started walking towards the little path that led into the backyard. Elizabeth followed him slowly. Her heart was racing for no reason and she felt nervous. John would probably be there as well, but that didn't need to concern her. She had spent the last three months without him. She had stopped thinking about him and she had stopped loving him. That's what her brain told her.

The music drew nearer and Elizabeth found herself in a big crowd of people. The backyard was decorated neatly and bathed in colorful lights. There were tables set up to her right and the barbecue grill was on her left. She recognized Josh behind it and a small smile played across her lips. That had to mean Mia and Mr. Robbins would also be there.

"Elizabeth?" a voice asked and she turned around to look into Evan's face.

"Evan. It's nice to see you" she said and gave him a hug. He was wearing a black suit and his hair was shorter than it had been 3 months ago.

"It's nice to see you too and sorry, but you look incredible in that dress" he said and she laughed. She had left her coat in the car.

"Thank you, but you look very dashing yourself" she smiled and he picked at his tie.

"I hate suits, but Richard insists on them. Don't take this the wrong way, but what the hell are you doing here?" he asked and his eyes travelled to Michael.

"Evan, this is Michael Henderson, Michael, that's Evan Lorne" Elizabeth introduced them and they shook hands. "Michael was kind enough to invite me to accompany him"

"Don't mention it. Would you excuse me for a second? I think I just saw Richard over there" he said and let her and Evan alone. When he was out of sight she looked back at Evan.

"I had no idea whose party it is, otherwise..."

"You wouldn't have come" he finished the sentence for her.

"Probably not" she said honestly.

"I see you've chosen the lifelong grudge" he commented and Elizabeth thought about it for a moment. Then she shook her head.

"No, I haven't, but I continued to live my life"

"With that Michael guy?" he asked and she raised an eyebrow at him.

"That Michael guy is my boss and he invited me along, because his wife can't walk with a broken ankle, because she stumbled over a toy of their 3-year-old daughter"

"Sorry, that was rude" he said apologetically.

"You're forgiven. Do you have any idea where the drinks are located?" she asked. Evan led her through the crowd over to a long table. He then handed her a glass of red wine. "Is John here?" she asked and looked around. She just wanted to make sure.

"Not yet, but I don't think that he will come at all" he said and Elizabeth tried to ignore the slight disappointment she felt. "He and Richard are on the warpath, but Kelly wanted him to come. I have no idea if he'll do her that favor" he sighed.

"They're still not talking to each other?"

"No, John moved out about a month ago and I think since this morning Richard really hates him"

"What happened?" she asked and took a sip from her wine.

"His and Caroline's divorce was finalized. The papers with her signature arrived this morning and Richard has to give a part of his company back to Caroline. I would guess that it is better when John doesn't come here, because I don't think Richard can stay calm when he sees him" Evan said with a sigh and took a sip from his own wine. Elizabeth was silent. He had really done it. He had really gotten a divorce. He had moved out and he had ruined his father.

"He wouldn't freak out in front of all these people, would he?"

"I'm not so sure about that. Here he comes" Evan said and Elizabeth turned her head to see Richard Sheppard walking towards them.

"Elizabeth! What a surprise to see you here" he said and held out his hand to her. She took it and shook it slowly. "Michael told me you're here with him" he added.

"Yes, I am"

"I had no idea that you're working for the UN. Michael just told me. That really was a surprise"

"I can imagine" she said and peeked sideways at Evan.

"May I ask why you chose to work here?" he asked, coming straight to the point.

"I made the decision out of private motives" she said politely, not wanting to go into detail. The only person who knew the whole truth was still John.

"I see"

"Would you excuse us for a second, Richard? I think we might get something to eat. It smells delicious" Evan cut in and Richard Sheppard bowed his head slightly, but she didn't miss the glare he gave Evan.

"Elizabeth, it really was nice to see you again" he said and left them alone.

"Did you see that glare in your direction? What did you do?" Elizabeth asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm the best friend of his traitorous son" he sighed. "You want to grab something to eat?"

"Thanks, but I'm fine. I think I'll take a look around" she said and excused herself. She walked through the crowd and looked around. She could see Michael talking to a man in a grey suit just a few feet away from her. Unfortunately she couldn't see neither Mia nor Mr. Robbins anywhere.

She left the crowd of people behind and walked down to the bench that was hidden behind the trees at the side of the house. She sat down and watched the people at the party. She didn't know any of those people and she guessed that no one would miss her. A breeze made the leaves of the trees rustle and she rubbed her arms against the sudden coldness.

It was strange to be a guest at one of the Sheppards parties. A few months ago she had still worked for them and had helped to organize the parties. Now she was one of the guests. Somehow she had felt more comfortable on the other side. She had felt more comfortable with Mia and Josh and Mr. Robbins. And John. She nearly groaned when his name popped into her mind.

He really had gotten a divorce. He hadn't just said things, he had really done it. She wasn't bearing a grudge against him, she had never chosen that option, but she hadn't forgiven him either. She wasn't angry at him anymore, there was just the hurt and the disappointment left, but those feelings had become bearable over the last three months and after both John's and Evan's words.

Another breeze shook the trees and she hugged herself against the chill of the evening. She jumped slightly when something warm slipped over her shoulders and her arms. It was a jacket. John's jacket.

She watched him round the bench and sit down next to her. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and looked back ahead again. He didn't say anything, he just sat there and Elizabeth realized that for once it didn't hurt to be near him.

"I can't go to that party. Dad hates me" he said after a while.

"Yeah, Evan told me what happened" she said and she could feel his eyes on her. She didn't turn to look at him though.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here with Michael"

"Henderson? Your boss?" he asked and she could hear a slight change in his tone.

"Yes"

"I see" he said and rubbed a hand over his face.

"Evan told me that you moved out" she said and leaned back.

"Yeah, I have an apartment just a few minutes from here. It's closer to the air field"

"That sounds great"

"It is" he said and stood up. "I should go. I don't think it's a good idea when I show up there" he said. Elizabeth got up too. She wanted to take off his jacket, but he stopped her. "Keep it. You can give it to Evan later or..." he stopped and looked at her. She could see that he was thinking about something. "Or you could accompany me" he then said. Elizabeth looked away from him, back towards the party. It had sounded like a simple suggestion. Michael was still engrossed in a conversation, now with a woman. She didn't see Evan anywhere, but Richard Sheppard was nearby.

"Ok" she said and looked back at him.

"Ok"