A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update. I've been super busy at work and at home so I haven't had a chance to upload, plus this song was giving me a run for my money. We are 1/4 way there! Here's to hoping the next 25 fics are as good as the last ones! You guys have been awesome! BTW, this is a angsty chapter. No fluff. :(

A huge thank you to: 7, mwalter1, JollyRancher543321, PhoenixWytch, shopping-luva91, Jadestar1981, Americanchick, Jisbon-Fan, JelloFanatic123, NsCvIuS, and Dark_hearts for their reviews. BTW, Dark_hearts, all the songs you listed in your review for suggestions are in the shuffle. They were in their before you suggested them so I thought that was pretty cool that you thought of those songs and they were all in there.

Disclaimer: I don't own the song or the show. :)

Song: What Might Have Been

Artist(s): Little Texas

Sure I think about you now and then

But it's been a long long time

Well I've got a good life now

And I've moved on

So when you cross my mind

It had been a long time since he had thought about her. Every time he remembered moments of their time together, he couldn't help but smile. There was nothing but good. Great even. And he was doing great now, without her. He had moved on from his painful past and from her, from everything. She had been exactly what he needed at that point in his life. And he thinks he was exactly what she was looking for too.

He froze at the sight of her. Just sitting at the bar, having a drink. That's all. He hadn't seen her in a few years, and age was creeping up on both of them. But she was still the same beautiful Lisbon he'd always known. He knew he should just turn around and go, not say hello, make his presence known. But he couldn't resist seeing her again.

Jane walked up to the side of the bar, Lisbon was on the phone, too busy to notice him.

"Hey." The bartender threw out a smile at the sight of Jane. He was a regular every Wednesday night for the past year. "Same as always?"

Jane nodded, not saying a word. He didn't take his eyes off Lisbon, either. The bartender watched Jane as he poured his drink. He leaned over as he placed the drink in front of Jane, so that only Jane would hear him. "She's been on that phone for the last 20 minutes, fight with the mister it seems."

"Mister?" Jane looked puzzled.

"Yeah, she's got a ring on, I assume she's arguing with her hub."

"Probably right, Denny." Jane raised his glass to the bartender as he leaned back over to his side of the bar.

Lisbon through the phone down on the bar. "Ass."

Jane couldn't help but let out a slight chuckle. He didn't mean for it to come out as loud as it did, but when he saw Lisbon spin her head around, he knew he was going to get a mouth full.

"And what exactly is so funny?" Lisbon said with a feisty tone in her voice. Her eyes went from anger to shock when her eyes met his.

"Some things never change." Jane smiled cockily at her.

"Some things do." Lisbon's face brightened at the sight of his smile.

Everything that they had shared was crossing his mind once again.

I try not to think about what might have been

'Cause that was then

And we have taken different roads

We can't go back again

There's no use giving in

And there's no way to know

What might have been

He tried to push them out of his mind. It was making it so much harder to concentrate. All the emotions were flooding him. Taking him over. He tried to remind himself that whatever they had was gone, and everything was different now. Especially for her. She was married now.

"So who's the lucky man." Jane looked down at his drink and Lisbon did the same.

"You don't know him. His name's William."

"Strong name."

"Don't try to analyze my husband by his name. You don't know him."

"You're right. I don't. I'm sorry."

Suddenly he found himself wondering what life might be like if he were the one she married. What if they never parted ways? What if they never said good-bye? He shook his head trying to get rid of these ridiculous contemplations that his brain decided to cook up. There was no use in thinking about how different things could be. But he couldn't help but ask.

"What would have happened if-" Jane looked up at her to lock his eyes with hers before continuing. "-I never left?"

"Honestly, you probably would have ended up 6 feet under." Lisbon tossed him a quick mischievous smile.

"Same old cutting remarks, Lisbon." Jane tilted his glass to her before taking a sip.

"Some things never change."

We could sit and talk about this all night long

And wonder why we didn't last

Yes they might be the best days we will ever know

But we'll have to leave them in the past

"What has changed with you?" Lisbon asked out of curiosity.

"Eh." Jane shrugged his shoulders. "Really?"

Lisbon nodded, she wanted to know.

"I'm not married. Honestly, I haven't been with anyone since you."

Lisbon's face changed from playful to somber in a instant. Hearing those words come from him were heartbreaking. She had wished he had found someone and had moved on to a better life.

"Life's been good. I work with a PI company. Lot's of traveling." Jane nods his head in agreement with his own words. "I sleep, too."

He wouldn't admit it, but life was nothing like it was with her. It was always an adventure with her. She always wanted to be in control, but he read her like an open book. There were times that she surprised him, though. There were times where he thought there was nothing he wanted more in his life than to be with her forever. His life would be complete if he had her always and forever. Yes, those were the best days of his life.

Time came when he finally felt her pulling away. He still played the same tricks he always did. He could never cooperate long enough to hold a deep conversation with out turning it into some sort of game. She never really cared for the way he dealt with his guilt ridden past, but it became too much for her.

He couldn't change who he was, and he didn't know how else to deal with his grief. He would never get over his wife and child and what happened to them. He would never forgive himself. But he had decided to move on and with that he needed a way to cover up his past and the pain in which accompanied it. Playing games and keeping life interesting with his tricks kept his mind from going back to those painful memories. She understood that, and he was thankful for at least that, but he could never ask her to live with his careless ways.

So try not to think about what might have been

'Cause that was then

And we have taken different roads

We can't go back again

There's no use giving in

And there's no way to know

What might have been

"And I don't normally think my husband is an ass." Lisbon said after a brief moment of silence.

"I hope not." Jane smiled softly. "I hope he's everything you ever wanted."

"He is." Lisbon said quietly.

He couldn't tell if she was holding back because she didn't want to hurt his feelings or if he really wasn't and she was just lying to cover up the fact that maybe she was indeed, wondering the same as him.

"Anything like me?"

Lisbon seemed shocked at his direct approach to the subject. She thought about it before answering.

"He's nothing like you."

"I'm sure that's a relief." Jane set down his empty glass onto the bar.

"I didn't mean it in that sense."

Jane's eyebrows clustered in confusion but slowly relaxed allowing them to come back to their natural form as he realized what she was saying. Her husband was nothing like him. And that seemed to displease her in more ways than one.

The same old look in your eyes

It's a beautiful night

I'm so tempted to stay

But too much time has gone by

We should just say good-bye

And turn and walk away

He remembered that look in her eyes. The deep longing for something that was missing. The night turned into a beautiful one as soon as he laid eyes on her. He was enticed to stay with her, but he knew if he did, things would lead into something they both couldn't control. He wanted so much to loose control, to be lost in her once again. He didn't want to hurt her though, she had a good life now, and he was finally able to live again, with out guilt or pain.

The best thing for both of them was to say good-bye with best wishes and walk away.

And try not to think about what might have been

'Cause that was then

And we have taken different roads

We can't go back again

There's no use given in

And there's no way to know

What might have been

No we'll never know

What might have been

It was so hard not to think about what could happen if he did stay. Even though he knew what it would entail. His place, no clothes, and a sea of regret after their love making. He knew the passion was still there, the heat was burning between them. He broke their eye contact, in hopes of getting rid of the chemistry that was piling between them.

"I should get going, Lisbon." Jane reached into his pocket and pulled out some money. He threw a few bills down and nodded towards Denny, letting him know he paid.

Jane turned his attention back to Lisbon who was looking down at her drink, refusing to look at Jane and say good-bye once again to one of the best things that ever happened in her life.

"Take care." Jane grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips and placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

Lisbon's head shot around just as he placed her hand back down on the bar. He gave her a forced smile and turned around and starting walking away. Lisbon watched him walk away and then slowly turned back to the bar. She thought for a moment of how slim the chances of her bumping into him were and how great it was to see him again.

It was a last minute decision, but she found herself running toward him and calling out his name. "Jane!" She had to tell him.

Lisbon opened the door to the restaurant and walked outside onto the sidewalk. She looked both ways before seeing him to her left, about to turn the corner.

"Jane!" At the sound of her voice, he stopped and turned around, just as she was running up to him. She flew into his open arms and wrapped her own arms around him tightly. She didn't ever want to let go in that moment. But it was just a moment. She slowly let go and brought her mouth to his ear.

"I think about it too." She pulled back and met his gaze. He knew what she was saying.

What might have been.

RnR, if you like.

- Kai