Disclaimer: They don't belong to me, but oh how i wish they did!

A/N: In the universe i'm using Ben is dating Suzie, the bomb didn't happen, and Chris was the victim of pride.

She smiled softly to herself as she saw THE sign. It proclaimed she was almost there. Ten kilometres to home. Home. What an interesting word. One she'd never really used with much conviction before. Here was the town she loved, with people and places familiar and loving.

Kelly started to stir from sleep, and Tess was glad she was so close. She didn't think she could wait any more time than was absolutely necessary.

She smiled in the rear-vision mirror and turned right, heading to the Imperial.

Chris was working hard. Her latest barman had just ditched on her and she wasn't really in the mood for work. Her head hurt, and her feet. She heard a door slam and looked up over the bar from where she stood. She could only see the lady's back, but she had a strange feeling of familiarity.

"Can I help you?" Chris knew that if she talked to the woman she would recognise her.

"Hi Chris. I was wondering if the gang down at the station still had their lunch's delivered?" Chris gasped. There was no doubt about it.

"Tess? Is that really you?" Chris resisted the urge to pinch herself.

"Yeah." Tess raised the baby capsule she was holding. "This is Kelly."

Chris peered at the small sleeping child in the capsule. "She's beautiful Tess. How long are you planning on staying in town?"

"I haven't' really thought that far. I just decided that I wanted to come back and I thought that if I put it off planning I'd back out." 'Again' she added to herself. "Do you have a room that I could have for a bit?" Chris was about to speak but Tess second-guessed her. "I brought her bassinet, and about ten billion other things."

"Can I hold her?" Chris looked very hopeful. "Oh, and in answer to you're earlier question, yes they do." At Tess' confused look she elaborated. "Do you wanna take their lunches down for me? I'm a bit short on staff at the moment."

Tess hadn't really thought about when she'd run into the others or even if she was ready to. 'Seeing as I'm taking the plunge a lot today, why not?'

"Sure Chris. I'm not sure about Kelly though... she's about due for a feed and I'm not sure how she'll cope with the bustling of the station."

"Well, seeing as how your doing me a favour by going down there, why don't I look after Kelly for a little bit and if you really don't feel like staying much longer, you can always use her as an excuse." Tess was amazed at the insight of the other woman, she had been thinking along those lines herself. "You must be a bit apprehensive about seeing them all again... particularly Jonesy." Chris shot Tess a cheeky smile. "Don't look at me like that, you're not the only one who's missed what's under her nose." The smile on Chris' face saddened. "Don't expect him to wait forever. Men are fickle, even the best of them and Evan Jones is definitely one fine specimen." (A/N: Sorry, it had to be said! He's YUMMY!!!)

"You know Chris, someone else told me that." Tess thought of her mother, and how different and yet alike she was to Chris. "And I'm inclined to believe both of you." She added, almost as an afterthought.

"Then what are you waiting for? Some sign from the heavens?" Chris felt young again, like she always did when she had played matchmaker in her head and the match was going to work.

Tess laughed, something that she hadn't done for a long time, not properly at least. "I'm not sure, maybe." Just then, Kelly woke up, and smiled up at the women above her.

"I think that might be you're sign Tess. Go on, take the lunches, Kelly and I will be fine for an hour or so."

So that's how Tess found herself outside the one place she didn't think she'd ever be again. She didn't think she'd ever have the courage to come back, after leaving him the way she had. She'd rejected his plan to marry her, when that was the one thing that she wanted most.

Tess took a deep breath and walked up the path she knew so well.

She reached the door and paused again. Suddenly she was plagued with doubts and what-ifs: 'what if no one wants to know me? What if everyone still hates me?' and worst of all: 'What if it wasn't Jonesy who called?'

"Pull yourself together Tess. You've managed to live for six months as a single mother. This should be a piece of cake." She told herself, not quite believing all she said.

A voice in her head that sounded like awfully like PJ piped up: "If you don't go in there you know you'll regret it. At least if you see everyone you'll know for certain."

With that revelation, she stepped up to the door and opened it.

"Hello, how can I help you?" A strange blonde was standing behind the desk.

"Why can't they ever hire anyone who isn't blonde around here?" Tess asked no one in particular. "Hi, I was wondering if Ben Stuart was in?" Tess told herself that Ben would probably be the best person to start with, seeing as how he always seemed to get along well with everyone.

Ben was sitting at his desk, waiting around with nothing other than paperwork to do when Suzie came up and stood behind him.

"Hey babe." He said, when he realised who it was. He thought he'd show some affection. They were, after all alone in the station.

"Don't." Ben looked surprised at her command. "There's someone at the front counter asking for you."

Ben raised an eyebrow and stood, somewhat reluctantly, his feet having been asleep. He walked to the counter, where he saw a blonde woman with her back to him, looking at the posters.

"Hi, can I help you?" He asked, somewhat perplexed as to who this was. He gasped as she turned around. "Tess?"

A/N: Thats as much as you're getting for the moment. Jess and I need some help from you. What did you think? Press the submit review button NOW!