All credits for the plot of the story go to startofamoment on Tumblr and her amazing headcanons.

Whatever's Meant to Be Will Work Out Perfectly

He's just paid for a full bag of snacks to eat while waiting for his flight when Jake hears someone call him from behind his back.

"Jake?!" He hasn't heard this voice in a (too) long time but still recognizes it right away. The tone is a little hesitant and tinted with surprise but when he turns around and their eyes meet, he can see Amy's instantly light up. A bright smile forms on his face as well at the sight of his ex-partner and more importantly friend in front of him.

"Oh wow, Ames! What are you doing here?"

To say he's startled too would be an understatement; it's been so long since he last saw her.

She takes a few steps forward, pulling him into a friendly hug before answering. Jake's heart warms up at the feeling of her arms wrapping around his body while his own instinctively fall on her back, tightening the embrace.

Damn, he missed her. More than he thought he did.

(And, to be honest, he'd thought about it a lot. Even after all these years, he still gets nostalgic over their time as partners sometimes, when he looks at the desk opposite his but doesn't see her there. His 'new' partner is fine – really, he doesn't have much to complain about her; they've quickly gotten along and she's fun and very good at her job but there's still something missing.

She's simply not Amy, as Amy is irreplaceable to the Nine-Nine. To him.)

"I was away for the weekend on a police conference. You?"

Her answer makes Jake smile playfully. Of course that's what she was doing here. She definitely hasn't changed a bit – or at least not much. He takes a moment to look at her and study her. Her face is soft as she's smiling at him, eyes still shining with the apparent joy of having bumped into him. She's wearing simple jeans and a flowery blouse instead of her signature pantsuits and her hair looks shorter than he recalls it did but all in all, she still looks much the same.

Still absolutely stunning.

"Went to see my sister for a bit."

At that, Amy's expression changes and her brows furrowed in question.

"Your sister?!" She seems stunned – and rightly so.

Even though they tried as hard as they could to keep in touch after Amy got promoted at her new job and left the city, it's been years now and their conversations have slowly (and very sadly) turned into a few texts here and there, mostly birthday wishes or happy new year messages that quickly die down after a few exchanges of "how you doing?"

So of course Jake didn't think about telling her about the shocking news his father shared the previous year at a Thanksgiving dinner: he's not the single child he always thought he was.

Far from it.

"Hm, it's a long story." He brings his hand to his neck, scratching nervously. "Do you… is your flight leaving soon? I suppose you came here far too early, Santiago-stylez? So if you have time, maybe we could catch up and I'd tell you everything about her… and the others?"

Amy laughs, the sound of which sends shivers running down his spine. Another thing he missed: her laugh. More importantly, he missed being the one to make her laugh.

(He was pretty good at it, he has to say. It's nice to see some thing never change, no matter how long as passed, and he still is.)

"Actually, yes. I do have a lot of time ahead and I'd love to catch up." She offers him a sincere smile before she goes on, amusement back on her face. "Do you have time, though? From what I recall, back in the day you weren't the type of guy who arrives early for anything."

"Oh yeah, no, still that guy. I would have definitely been late if it weren't for my flight being delayed. So now I'm actually very early."

"Great. Just give me a minute then, I need to tell my partner not to wait for me."

For some reason, Jake's heart tightens a little in his chest at the mention of another partner – which is stupid, really. It's completely normal she made new friends and colleagues along the years, people he doesn't know and most likely will never meet. She probably even met someone – as in, romantic-stylez.

A new wave of pain hits harder in his chest at the thought.

Was she wearing a wedding ring?! The idea occurs to him all of a sudden. He doesn't think he saw one. But he didn't really pay attention to that.

Anyway, it shouldn't matter.

Yes, there actually was a time he thought maybe something could happen between the two of them. But it was so long ago now. She was still living in New York City, and they were still seeing each other pretty regularly. Charles was right. He did like her. Realized it the hard way, coming from the ache he felt after she left the Nine-Nine for Major Crimes despite his desperate attempts at making her stay.

And yes, there were some times, like when they met at the Boyle-Linetti wedding and shared a weird romantic moment there, he thought the feeling might be mutual and he almost asked her out.

But then she told him about her promotion, about the new city she was going to live in, so far away from home – so far away from him – and suddenly the possibility of a 'Jake and Amy' became vain.

He wasn't good at doing long-distance relationships.

(Still isn't.)

He can't help himself though, and discreetly take a look at her left finger when she comes back, smiling at him and offering to go sit somewhere so they can talk.

No ring.

He releases a sigh of relief.

"So, how's everyone at the Nine-Nine?!" Amy barely waits for them to settle down to ask about their common friends and colleagues.

"Good. Everyone's still here and everyone's fine. We miss you, though. When are you coming back to see us?"

Amy blushes – he can see it start from the tip of her ears.

"I'm so sorry. It's been such a crazy year. I passed the Sergeant's exam and then I just… focused on my new job a lot. But I'll come back to New York soon, promise. I miss you too. All of you. A lot. And I'm so happy I ran into you today."

Her features soften as she brings her hand to his and squeezes lightly – she really seems to feel bad and sad for losing touch.

(Not that it's entirely her fault. Jake didn't do better at it. He's not good at keeping up with people he doesn't see on a regular basis, unfortunately. His goldfish memory that makes him forget about them be damned.)

(Not that he could truly ever forget about Amy. She's been there, hidden somewhere at the back of his mind, every day since she left the city.)

(Since she left the precinct.)

But instead of wallowing, he decides to focus on the good news.

"You're a sergeant now?! That's awesome, congrats!" He grins, truly happy for her – he knows how important her job is, and how she dreams about making captain someday.

(Being the youngest captain of the NYPD used to be it for her, even, she confessed on a stakeout when they were still working together.)

(Maybe it still is, and maybe that's what'll make her come back home at some point in her career.)

In the meantime, he's just glad she took a new step towards her goals. Even though it's not at the Nine-Nine, and he feels a little sad he didn't get to witness it.

Be there to celebrate with her.

He hates how they've drifted apart so much through the years…

"Thanks." She blushes a little harder, averting her gaze for a second before putting it back on him and god, she's adorable.

He missed her so much.

One question quickly leads to another, turning into a lively conversation with the both of them updating each other on their lives, joking and teasing each other. Really, it only takes them a few minutes of getting acquainted with each other again before everything feels like years didn't pass and they never parted ways.

It's like they're back at the Charles' and Gina's parents' wedding, drowning into each other's eyes after Amy pranked Jake into dancing with Gina's great aunt.

(Not that it was the last time they saw each other. They both went to their ex-captain's funerals about a year and a half back, but it wasn't really a place for laughter and friendly conversations – a place where they could simply enjoy each other's company.)

"They had a divorce, actually," Jake informs Amy when she asks about them – apparently, he's not the only one having throwbacks to this night.

"Oh no. It's so sad. Their wedding was so beautiful! I had so much fun that night."

"Me too. Especially during that slow dance with Aunt Susan," Jake jokes, making Amy laugh.

"Oh yeah, I remember that. You two had great chemistry."

She shoots him a knowing look and grin that makes him snort.

There's a pause after that, during which none of them talks, staring at the other straight into the eyes. Amy is the first to avert her gaze.

"So, uh–…" She clears her throat. "Speaking of chemistry and weddings, tell me about you! Are you seeing someone?"

"Nope. As single as ever." He hesitates for a second before asking as well. "You? Any Mister Santiago waiting for you at home?"

"No. It's just me too. I didn't feel like dating for a while – too focused on my job."

"Cool. Cool cool cool."

He can't help but feel relieved – a little happy, even, if he had to admit.

Jake can feel something switch in the atmosphere between them after that, and not only from his side. It's like this confession about none of them seeing anyone broke the last wall remaining between them and gave them permission not to restrain themselves anymore.

It starts with small details barely visible to the few people around – more tender smiles, leaning further into each other's space, bolder flirty banter.

But then Amy laughs – truly lets out a loud, hearted sound at one of his stupid jokes and Jake finds himself gazing at her in pure awe, completely starstruck.

"God, I missed you so much," he lets the words out loud.

He never wants this moment to end – never wants to have to say goodbye.

Amy's laughter dies down after that, looking at him with a serious glint inside her eyes mingling with an oh so tender expression.

"Me too." She takes his hand in hers. "To be honest, I–… I often think about what it would be like, if I'd never left." Jake looks down at their laced fingers.

"Me too."

In his fantasies, if she'd stayed after the wedding, he would have asked her out at some point, and they'd be together since. Would have been for a while.

Maybe they would even be married by know?!

Who knows. These are just fantasies. Maybe they would have never gotten together even if she'd stayed.

And anyways, she did leave and the sad reality that followed is they lost touch – only to bump into each other years later at a random airport far away from home.

From each of their own, separate homes.

He knows it's stupid to have any faith whatsoever, then. And he knows he should restrain himself from leaning towards her as she does the same after silently staring at each other for a full second, his eyes switching between hers and her lips as they get closer. He knows it's only gonna make things more complicated and hurt harder when they have to part.

Still, it's like his body is moving on its own. He can't keep his thoughts straight. Maybe they could somehow make it work? Build a relationship while only seeing each other once in a while? Some people manage that.

So why not them? He could be willing to try that.

For Amy.

Jake keeps leaning closer and she doesn't seem to stop either.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boarding for flight 969 to New York City with Air USA will start shortly."

"Dammit! It's my flight."

Jake suddenly draws away, before their lips can even brush, and the moment is immediately lost. He's able to think rationally again and see how bad an idea this would have been if they'd gone through with it and kissed.

No matter how much he wishes he would be right now, he's not a man for long-distance relationships.

"You should… you should go, then. You don't want to miss it." Amy settles back in her chair, keeping her distance with him. She looks a little disappointed in the turn the events took – and, really, he is too – but Jake tries to persuade himself it's all for the better. She's barely meeting his eyes as he watches her, hesitant.

He doesn't want to leave.

Maybe they could build a new life here, in Dallas? He almost offers. But he doesn't. He takes his bag and starts to walk away.

"It was really nice to see you again." He stops and turns after only a few steps. "Hopefully we won't wait to run into each other next time."

Amy finally looks up, shooting him a shy smile.

"I'll try to fly to New York soon. I promise."

He has to fight hard not to just go to her and kiss her goodbye.

Jake dutifully joins his gate, lost in his thoughts and his heart aching the same way it did the first time he went to work and she wasn't there. The same way it did when she announced she was leaving the city.

It doesn't get easier with time, apparently. Quite the opposite.

"Sir, can I get your boarding pass, please?"

The stewardess' voice is what eventually brings him out of his dark thoughts. He watches her, a little astonished for a full second before his eyes land on the paper inside his hand, with the name of the city he's supposed to be going back to written on it.

He can't do it.

"I'm sorry, I–… I need to go. Don't wait for me to leave. Or maybe do. I really don't know if what I'm about to do is the most romantic gesture or a stupid idea that'll blow up in my face spectacularly. In this case, I'll still need the flight."

He doesn't wait for the woman to say anything and turns around, going back where he was mere minutes ago, but Amy isn't there anymore. She probably went back to the colleague she mentioned, he thinks.

It doesn't stop him. He runs around the airport for a while, looking for her among the crowd of people sitting in the different areas, until he eventually finds her.

"Finally, you're here."

"Jake?! Aren't you supposed to be boarding right now?"

"I couldn't go." He wants to say more; he prepared a whole speech in his head during his run but he's panting right now and has to stop to catch his breath.

So much for a 'big romantic gesture.'

"I don't understand. Is there a problem? Did you forget something?" Amy frowns.

"I just… I can't let you go again," Jake confesses when he's finally breathing normally again. "I did it once and I've been regretting it ever since. I really like you, Ames, and I really wish we could find a way to make things work between us somehow. Because my life's never been better than when you were in it."

"Jake–…"

"I know it's crazy. But we're crazy people, right? We see crazy things every day."

He stops, staring at her with hope in his eyes while trying to read into hers.

The more she keeps silent though, the more the hope disappears and he feels like it was, indeed, the worst idea he's ever had in his life.

(And he's had his load of bad ones.)

"So this is why you worked your ass off to get that promotion to New York, uh?!" A man Jake didn't see before suddenly talks as he looks at the both of them with an amused smile.

"What?!" He shoots him a confused glance before bringing his gaze back on Amy. She offers him a shy smile.

"Jake, this is my partner, Matthew Glenn. Matthew, this is Jake, my ex-colleague from when I was working at the Nine-Nine."

"Nice to me you, man. I've heard a lot about the guy whose shoes I could never fill. Though now I understand why." He laughs and Jake finds himself even more confused.

"What?!" he repeats, too stunned to form another word. "What does he mean, a promotion for New York?"

"It's really not official yet, that's why I didn't want to tell you anything. But yeah, part of the reason I worked so hard during the past year is so that I could come back home."

"Really?!" Jake's eyes instantly light up at the news. Amy's smile broadens.

"Really. I couldn't bear being apart anymore either."

It's all it takes for Jake to break the remaining distance between them and do what they've been interrupted before: he kisses Amy, with a passion equal to the addition of all the years of building up to this moment. They don't draw away too quickly when their lips eventually part, smiling with their foreheads resting onto each other's.

"I really liked your speech, by the way. Very cheesy," she teases him.

Jake laughs.

"What can I say? I'm a true romantic."

He sees as Amy rolls her eyes and can feel her shake her head.

"Aren't you going to miss your flight, though?"

"Last call for flight 969 to New York City. Everyone should be on board by now," a voice announces through the speakers, as if on cue.

It makes them both chuckle lightly. But still Jake doesn't move.

"Nah, I can take the next one."

He pulls Amy into another kiss. Now that he found her again, he doesn't want to ever let go – and the good thing is, he apparently won't have to.