"What the - " Steve started, but the man motioned for him to keep silent.

Von entered. "So how are you two going with Morgan Brown?" she asked Gabrielle and Bart. "Well - Bart you've had a productive day." Von noticed nodding toward the toy truck and puppet which was still on his hand.

"Yeah, it's been great fun!" Bart laughed.

"Well I'm about to start my last few home-care visits for the day. Anything you would like me to do?" Von asked.

"No thanks, Von. You've done so much already," Gabrielle said smiling.

"Wait, Von. You walking to the car park? I'll walk with you. I'm just about to send these up to pathology," Bart said standing up. "Hopefully they will take less time than usual."

"Don't get you hopes too high, Bart," Gabrielle muttered. "See you, Von."

Bart winked and followed Von towards the ED doors. As Von exited, Bart gave a fleeting thumbs up at Gabrielle and nodded.

Meanwhile, Steve and Claire stared at the cupboard door, confused.

Gabrielle resumed her work before saying, "Coast is clear, Hughes."

Claire and Steve glanced at Gabrielle. There was no response from inside the cupboard. She sighed and walked over to the cupboard.

"Hey stranger!" she greeted Vincent, yanking the door open.

Gabrielle and Vincent hugged each other.

"Look at you!" VIncent said, nodding toward her baby bump.

"So how are you?" Gabrielle asked shaking her head meaningfully. Trust Vincent to figure everything out. Immediately, he understood.

"Yeah, really great! Miss Australia though..."

"Come on, Vincent. You and I both know the reason why you left," Gabrielle said referring to his previous marriage to Charlotte. "How's it going?"

"Well, I got over you," Vincent said jokingly.

"Ha, ha. Very funny." Gabrielle said sarcastically.

Steve looked up. Had they been together?

"Vincent!" Bart barged through the room and shook his hand.

"Bart, you've finally learnt my first name - it only took you three years," Vincent said.

"Sense of humour still intact," Gabrielle said. "Jokes are a little tacky."

Vincent frowned. "Thanks for the analysis Gabby."

"So what's been happening with you?" Bart asked. "How's the whole Canada gig going?"

"Bart what more could he ask for? He's moved to Canada, is head of surgery of some top hospital, has his own office with his name on the door and his own desk and chair. He even colour-codes all his files!" Gabrielle said sarcastically. She had paid a visit to Vincent last year and hated it. The snow and wet weather was unbearable.

"Look whose talking! Frank's promoted you to the tea room?" Vincent asked nodding toward the crowded table. "What is this Gabs?"

"Only renting it for the day, Vinny," Gabrielle said.

Bart, Claire and Steve stared at both of them.

"Didn't you both used to hate those names? 'Gabs' and 'Vinny'?"

"Yeah, still do," Vincent said. "Although I have no idea why. Just thought it never suited me. Gabrielle, isn't because your ex used to call you that, that's why you hated it?"

Gabrielle stiffened when she heard this. So did Steve.

"Isn't that what your ex still calls you?" Gabrielle argued in an attempt to avoid answering the question.

Meanwhile, Steve was glaring at Gabrielle. Before, back in the country, everyone knew about the 'Steve and Gab' couple. They were like the Brad and Angelina of Armidale - everyone knew everything about them. Except the break up.

Just then, the phone rang. It was pathology. While Gabrielle picked up the phone, Vincent introduced himself to Claire and Steve.

"Hi," Vincent said, "Vincent Hughes, surgeon. Used to work here for five years."

"Steve Taylor - registrar." They shook hands.

Oh my God! Vincent thought. This is Gabrielle's ex. When Gabby had first started working at All Saints, she had told Vincent the real reason for leaving the country for the city was because the 'love of her life', a so-called Steve Taylor, had slept with her best friend in their own house and she couldn't bear seeing him again. Vincent had no idea he had started to work here.

"Claire Anderson. So you must go a long way back with Von," Claire commented.

"Yeah, we did. I've known some of these guys, like Gabrielle and Bart for so many years. We all used to be very close..."

"My patient is dying because of your negligence!" Gabrielle slammed the phone back down.

"If violence isn't solving the problem, you're not using it enough," Bart said.

"Bullshit. We've been waiting the whole bloody day, and all they care about is their paint balling night tonight." Gabrielle said.

"Let me try, Gabrielle," Bart offered.

"All yours, Bart." Gabrielle sighed and sat back down in her seat.

"Woah, haven't seen one of those tantrums in a long time, Gabby," Vincent said.

"Don't push it."

"We'd really appreciate it if you did hurry it up, please - hey, they hung up on me!" Bart said.

"I told you. Flattery doesn't get anyone anywhere," Gabrielle muttered.

"I'm going to check on Morgan. Poor guy still has no idea what's going on," Bart shook his head and headed for the lift.

Soon after Bart left, Mike entered the tea room. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Vincent.

They both stared at each other and there was an awkward silence. Steve and Claire watched confused.

"Vincent," Mike started.

"Mike."

Another awkward silence.

"Oh, for God's sake can you two for once in your lives leave your bloody pride on the shelf. Kiss, make up, or I'll do it for you," Gabrielle scolded. "You know, you two made our lives miserable... I'd go as far as to say you were nearly as bad as Charlotte and Zoe."

Mike and Vincent's mouths twitched slightly. They walked forward before shaking each other's hand.

"So how's Canada?" Mike asked. "Head of surgery living up to its expectation?"

"Yeah, it's great. Obviously, it hasn't for you. Change of scenery... MRU, right?" Vincent smiled.

"I reckon it's the best move I've made in years."

Bart entered. "No luck." He plonked himself on a chair. "Mike, Frank wants to talk to you."

"Well, best better get a move on. I'll catch you later, Vincent."

"Yeah, see you."

Gabrielle and Bart watched both of them.

Vincent turned around. "Hey! We're not as bad as Charlotte and Zoe, right?"

Bart shuffled his files.

"So where are you staying?" Gabrielle asked.

"Thought I might crash at your place for a few nights... I'm kidding Gabrielle." Vincent laughed at her shocked face. "Probably stay with Charlotte - let me ask her, first."

"Doesn't she know you've come?" Bart asked.

"Didn't want to ruin the surprise for Von... Charlotte usually open her mouth at the wrong time."

Less than ten seconds later, Charlotte walked back into the tea room. "Completely forgot to get Zach's sun hat." she started picking it up from the floor. She hadn't noticed Vincent in the corner. Vincent crept up behind her and covered her eyes with her hands.

"What the - ? Ok this isn't funny."

"Guess who, Charlotte," Gabrielle said smiling.

"There's only one person that ever did that to me. It couldn't be - "

Vincent spun her around to face him.

"Vincent!" Charlotte shrieked. In amidst tears and laughter, Vincent held her close and kissed her on the top of her head. "I can't believe you made it down here!"

"What? And miss Von's priceless reaction when we surprise her tonight? Never."

"Look, can we go and grab a coffee? I've got Zach at the moment. He's with Frank. Gabrielle and Bart, do you guys want to come?" Charlotte said, wiping away tears.

Bart took a step forward, but Gabrielle interrupted. "Nah, we'll catch up with you two later."

They both walked out of the room with their arms around each other's shoulders. Gabrielle, Bart, Steve and Claire watched them walk out.

"What the hell are you doing?" Gabrielle asked.

"She offered us a coffee..."

"You idiot, let them have a moment together. They haven't seen each other in three years!"

"Do you reckon they ever got over each other?" Bart asked Gabrielle.

"... I think they finally have..." she replied.

"You know, it's always hardest to get over your first love..." Bart said.

Gabrielle looked at him. He was thinking about Ann-Maree. She squeezed his hand gently. It was true, you never did get over your first love.

Claire interrupted, "So what's Charlotte and Vincent's story?"

"Ah, that's too long a story," Gabrielle said. "And I need to go and chase up my patient's blood results."

She walked out of the room.

About five minutes later, Gabrielle had not returned yet and Steve and Claire were still on their break. Bart was attempting to clear up the table.

Bree walked in. "Hey," she said.

"Hi Bree," Claire said. "Had a busy day?"

"Yeah, it's been hectic. Steve, you should re-start up the MRU. We need all the help we can get out there."

"Once, it's sunk into Mike that he can't get back on the horse just yet. That'll be the day." he replied.

"Bart!" Bree said. "Hey, I just saw Vincent Hughes outside with Charlotte and Zach. Is he here for the party tonight?"

"Yeah, and decided to come and pay a visit to Charlotte, I'm guessing," Bart said.

"So what's their story?" she asked.

Bart stopped dead. "You don't know?"

"No."

"Bree, are you for real?"

"Oh my God, is it that big?"

"This is amazing. Bree it's like the gossip of the decade and you didn't even know it. Hey Gabrielle!" Gabrielle had just walked back in.

"Guess what? Bree doesn't know about Vincent and Charlotte."

"No. Bree Matthews, I'm surprised."

"You guys are freaking me out. What am I supposed to know?"

"Bree! Where've you been? It happened under your nose the whole time!" Gabrielle mocked.

"So tell me!"

"No," Bart said. "We'll leave you in suspense for a little longer, right Gabrielle?"

"Damn you two," Bree said.