Here you guys go, next ch! Yay! Hope you like it.

(Maureen's POV)

My heart stopped seeing her sitting there. I forgot to breathe. She was actually here; she came back to New York…I'm not sure if this was a permanent return but right now I really didn't care, she was back for moment. She looked absolutely beautiful standing there at the table; her eyes connected to mine. I can't believe she had come back to New York for my birthday. And more importantly, she had come back without Kristin. I don't know exactly what that means, it could be nothing…but at the moment I was going to analyze it; I was going to enjoy the fact that she was here with me…for now.

I don't know how long I was just standing there, staring at her, but it must have been long enough for Mark, because I was soon feeling his hand on my back, lightly pushing me forward. It seemed like it took forever to walk to fifteen feet to the table…my eyes remaining locked to Joanne's every step of the way, my smile somehow getting bigger with every step.

"Happy Birthday," she sweetly told me as she hugged me hello.

"What are you doing here?" was all I could say.

"Mark and Cara invited me," she said looking at the two of them now taking their seats at our table, "thought I'd come help you celebrate since I haven't gotten the opportunity for the past five years," she smirked taking her seat as well.

"Thanks," I quietly said; and almost as an automatic reflex placed my hand on her knee. I didn't even realize that I done it until I felt her hand on top of mine. I smiled once realizing that she apparently didn't mind this reflex of mine.

"So let's order I'm starving," Cara laughed taking hold of one of the menus, quickly flipping through the various entrees.

The rest of our dinner was filled with your basic small talk and reminiscing. I loved every moment of it. It was as it was suppose to be. Mark with a pregnant wife that he truly loved and Joanne with me…life seemed perfect right now. Mark and Joanne seemed to be enjoying, a little too much if you ask me, bringing up memories of me being completing sloshed. They were basically rolling on the ground half of the time. And honestly looking back it was funny and if I were them I'd be laughing too. It was so nice to be around Joanne again, especially to see her smiling and laughing. Cara caught me a few times just staring at her and smiling. She'd never say anything, but the next time I'd make eye contact with her, she'd grin and I'd know she'd caught me…but I didn't care.

After dinner, drinks, and dessert we all decided that we should probably leave; even though I don't think any of us were ready for the night to be over. Outside the restaurant Mark and Cara excused themselves grabbing a cab and heading back home. I hugged them both goodbye, quietly thanking the both of them for the best present I could have asked for. They both made Joanne promise to keep in touch and come by before she left to go back to Chicago; which meant she wasn't here for good, but I quickly pushed that out of my mind…she was here tonight.

Once the two of them had left Joanne and I just stood on the curb; complete awkwardness between us. It seemed so weird to me. I had dated this woman for years and now it was if I'd just met her tonight; the first date tension that comes at the end of the night.

"Well," I was failing miserably at trying to break the tension.

"Ok Maureen this is silly," she finally laughed, "we're acting like we just met."

"Exactly what I was thinking," I smiled. "You want to go grab a drink or take a walk." She was silent, so I decided to play the it's my birthday card, "I'm just not ready to go home yet, especially on the night of my birthday."

Joanne looked up at me realizing that I was going to use it's my birthday to my benefit. "Yeah, sure. Where to birthday girl?"

I wanted to say back to bed, but I somehow contained myself, "how about over to the park, just sit and talk?"

"Sounds good," she smiled. I started to walk across the street and quickly found myself being jerked back towards the curb by Joanne as a cab flew by, "damn it Maureen," she gasped.

"What?" I tried laughing it off, "I'm good," I smirked. She shook her head at me, rolling her eyes…I just laughed at her. I then noticed that Joanne still hadn't let go of my arm and that she was slowly running her hand down my arm until she was able to lace her fingers in between mine.

We walked to the park pretty much in complete silence; still holding each other's hand tightly. The silence wasn't of the awkward silence of earlier, but a comfortable silence. Finally we made our way to the park and over to a bench.

"So where's Kristin?" I blurted out. Truth was I was dying to know; I just hadn't planned to blurt it out like that though.

She seemed a little shocked I had even asked. "Well, she had business in California this weekend, so she couldn't make it."

"Oh," I sighed. "when is she going to be home?"

"She's coming back to Chicago on Wednesday," she easily responded.

"So," I cautiously proceeded, "are you staying here until Wednesday?"

"Depends I guess."

"On what?" I curiously asked.

"On if someone wants me to," she adjusted herself so she was now sitting closer to me.

"What does that mean Joanne?" I curiously yet somewhat agitatedly asked. "Joanne you can't keep doing this to me. You can't keep giving me some sort of hope that you may come back to me. I can't take this; I love you."

"Wonder if I'm not just giving you hope?" she asked standing up walking over to the banister to overlook the river.

"Joanne," I softly asked now standing beside her. "What's going on? Why did you really come back here?"

"Maureen," she turned back towards me, "damn it," she frustratingly spouted reaching into her purse pulling out her phone. "Hello? Yeah we'll be right there."

"Who was that?"

"Come on Maureen," she started running back towards the street, "Cara is in the hospital." I rushed after her. Excited that Mark and Cara were going to be parents but pissed of that yet again our conversation was being cut off.

What did you think? Like it? Hate it? Let me know please! Don't hate me too bad at leaving you guys hanging, yet again, like that. Wasn't even really planning on the chapter to go this way, just seemed to. Thanks for reading!