"So, what is this new partner of yours like?" Lemon asked pouring herself a large glass of wine.

"She seems really nice" AnnaBeth replied turning down the volume on the tv.

Jessica, or Chilli as she preferred to be called had done her first shift at 51. She knew her stuff and she seemed like a really nice girl. She was a little younger than AnnaBeth. She had felt bad that she hadn't exactly gotten the warmest of welcomes. Peter Mills had left a huge hole in their 51 family. But she had been the knew girl not too long ago. She wanted to make an effort to be there for Chilli.

"What about you Gabriella Dawson?" Lemon asked turning her attention to her best Chicago friend "I would just about lose my mind if the man I loved was working at a strip club"

"I'm not too worried about it" Gabby shrugged "It's just a construction job"

"You're either over him and you don't care" Lemon said narrowing her eyes "Or you slept with him and you know you have nothing to worry about because you're end game"

Gabby choked on her beer and shook her head.

"Why are they the only two options?" Gabby asked.

AnnaBeth pursed her lips and looked between her two friends. She knew Lemon had a scary knack for getting inside peoples minds. You couldn't hide anything from Lemon Breeland. She smirked turning to Gabby.

"You totally slept with Matt; how did I not know this?" She asked

"I was too busy being surprised about you hooking up with Severide" Gabby told her throwing a cushion at her.

"Wait what?" Lemon asked eyes wide "I thought you said you would never go there"

AnnaBeth held the cushion to her face not able to look Lemon in the eye. She had been waiting until she visited to tell her. She had been avoiding the inevitable speech about her going for men who would only hurt her in the long run.

"I know it's foolish" She sighed sitting back "But those feelings have just never gone away"

"Feelings don't make us foolish AB" Lemon told her squeezing her hand "They just make us human; he would be stupid to mess up a chance to be with someone as wonderful as you"

"Agreed" Gabby added "You're the best thing that could have happened to him"

"What about you then?" Lemon asked not letting Gabby keep the spotlight off of her for very long.

"We all thought we could have died, it was just a reaction to the day when the grenade went off, it didn't mean anything" Gabby replied.

"Oh, sweetheart you are foolish if you believe that" Lemon told her raising an eyebrow "Sex always means something"

"She's right" She nodded.

"So, you get it's not foolish it's human and I get foolish?" Gabby asked with a half-smile as she picked at the label of her beer bottle "I love Matt, but right now it can't work"

AnnaBeth didn't bother to argue with Gabby. She knew it would all work out in the end. She believed people who were meant to be together would end up together. It was like Lemon; she had been on a singles cruise to please her Grandma Betty but AnnaBeth knew she would wind up with Lavon in the end.

"Now what we really need to talk about is the coming out that happened at Crickett's vow renewal" Lemon announced sensing the need to change the subject.

"I did always wonder about Stanley" She nodded.

"Oh no sweetie, Crickett" Lemon said shaking her head "Best wedding ever, and the least tragic one all year"

"I am so proud of her" She said "But maybe not the ideal timing"

She could understand why Crickett may not have felt able to be true to herself growing up in the south, but it was really a time where everyone should be able to feel comfortable doing something as natural as just being who they were.

"And she's dating a firefighter Jasene from a few towns over" Lemon added.

It was nice catching up on her friends and everything in Bluebell. She did miss it. It was easy not to think about it too much with everything going on in her life. But when Lemon was there talking about home it did make her a little homesick.

"I feel like I've missed out on so much" She sighed.

"You can always visit" Lemon told her "I know I wasn't so supportive when you first came here, but I really am so proud of you AB"

Coming from Lemon Breeland that was the highest compliment you could hope for.

"Jonah Breeland less so" Lemon said "His new girlfriend is a total hussy"

"I thought he was dating that nurse?" Gabby asked.

"Oh no, he's moved onto someone who calls herself a model" Lemon scoffed "No manners, ridiculous hair and a skirt so short you can see Christmas"

"As long as he's happy right?" She asked with a shrug.

"I guess" Lemon muttered.

It was a little after 11 when Lemon left to head back to Jonah's. She had promised they would go out for dinner and plan a shopping trip while she was there.

She smiled as she picked up her phone and saw a message from Kelly.

Wish you were here; I can't believe you left me with Capp – S x

We had a great night, couldn't have been better – AB x

So, you didn't miss me at all? – S x

Girl time was needed, and I don't know you would have survived Lemon. But you know I always like to spend time with you – AB x

When do we get another night? – S x

When were you thinking? – AB x

Now – S x

AnnaBeth bit her lip as she looked down at her phone. She never invited anyone over that late. But there was a part of her that wanted to. Gabby had already gone to bed.

Come over – AB x