Usual disclaimer: Characters are not mine, 'cept for the twins and the idea for them did come from reading another story, so credit to whoever that was.

Title ideas needed!

With her typical enthusiasm Mandy wasted no time and bounded straight over to the man on the opposite side of the quiet road. He only improved on closer observation.

My my, the difference ten years make. Mandy could have laughed when the image of James at eleven, pushing his glasses up his nose while his hair flopped into his eyes popped into her head. Comparing that to this image of masculine... yumminess was really the only word for it, before her now. Well, a major improvement to say the least.

Unfortunately that image, that man, was approaching her at a pretty high velocity right now. Or rather, she was approaching him at a pretty high velocity.

"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry!" she blurted out as she had to catch hold of his heavily laden arm to stop herself. His brilliant green eyes, behind glasses of course, widened with surprise and alarm as they both swayed precariously on the point of falling. In an odd slow motion, her own eyes widened to match his as the realisation that his box was going to go flying dawned on them both. She winced as the items went flying, the lamp bouncing in a high arc over the tarmac.

"Sorry!" she cried out again, instantly dropping to grab at it.

"Its o-... Mandy?"

She flushed as she tossed her thick hair back to look up at him, one hand resting on the lamp as she crouched. Frozen in shock, he stared down at her with one corner of the forgotten box hanging from his hand. Clearly he recognised her instantly.

"Hi! Oh it's been so long James! Here, let me help with that."

"Oh Mandy, how silly of you!" Her mother suddenly interrupted as they were surrounded by her family, George and Adam trying valiantly to hide their laughter as they also scooped up James' belongings.

"Very graceful darling," Adam teased, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.

She gifted him with a rueful smile as she stood, assorted items in her arms. "Aren't I always?" she rejoined playfully.

"No!" Sophie supplied, now in charge of both straining black lab pups reattached to their leads. The family laughed together before turning to look back at the one person there whose laughter was conspicuously absent.

James had barely moved. The box still hung limply from his hand, only his posture had relaxed slightly out of shock. His expression was weirdly hard to read now which caused Mandy to feel a flicker of uncertainty. James had always been easy to read. An open book, at least for her. He jolted out of his trance with a jerk.

"Ah, thank you. Allow me." His voice was smooth and rich and exactly the same as Mandy remembered. She relaxed into a large smile. He was still her James. Bringing the box back up into his arms, the Hopes smiled as they piled everything back into it.

"Oh dear, that isn't too neat. I am sorry James."

"It's no problem Emily, no problem at all..." He trailed off, staring at Mandy. She was rather taken aback to hear him refer to her mother by her Christian name.

Apparently Emily was fine with it as she gave the young man the bright smile Mandy learned from her. "How are you James? Johnny Sturgess said you were a blessing for his practise."

Mandy listened with interest as it became obvious that her parents had given James some links to veterinary friends for work experience. She was overjoyed that he too had followed their childhood dreams and become a vet.

However, as her parents and her childhood best friend talked, the perceptive woman began to notice small things that she didn't understand. She followed the conversation aptly, smiling gently at the funnier anecdotes, putting her hand on James' well-muscled arm a few times and joining in with her own witty comments. But every time, the raven-haired man avoided her eyes, flinched away from her touch and was noticeably colder towards her than her parents. He was nothing more than cordial!

That wasn't how it was supposed to happen! This was James, her James! This was the boy she had loads of crazy adventures with, doing things she'd never have dared now. This was the boy that always was just one step behind her, knew the meaning behind every look in her eye, knew when to groan at the tone in her voice and never never let her down! Why in the hell was he pretending that she was just a stranger he met on the street?

The blonde fumed, wanting to demand he look at her but knowing that was entirely childish and impolite, especially in front of her parents. Her eyes slowly narrowed the longer he ignored her. Eventually her dad flicked a worried glance at her dark face and the very bored twins and started to pull them away. Quickly, Mandy tried once again.

With a sincere hand on his forearm she gave him a shy smile and said, "I'm sorry about that." She nodded towards her family slightly, her parents now wrapped up in the twins' complaints of boredom. "Family, you know."

His eyes went cold. "Not at all. Your parents have been very helpful."

"I'm glad. It's so very good to see you James." She inched closer to him, her smile once again stretching her face. She was astounded when his face closed down into a mask, hiding every emotion and he stepped back slightly. She let her hand drop, entirely dumbfounded as he responded differently to every other man she'd met.

"It's nice to be reacquainted with you also Mandy. Unfortunately, I have to be off. Very busy."

"Oh, er, of course." She looked at him in askance, amazed by his stiff formality."Bye then..."

"Goodbye."

"Why doesn't he like you?" came a voice at her side. She was struck for a second as she looked down to see a black head to match the one quickly striding away from her, before her sister's head lifted and their mother's brown eyes blinked up at her.

"He does like me."

"Doesn't seem like it."

"Don't be silly Soph. James was my best friend."

"Oh! Then why was he ingoring-"

"He was not ignoring me Sophie. He was just talking to Mum and Dad as well as me."

"Seemed like he was talking to them more." Sophie's tone was sly, seeing how this bothered Mandy and never passing up the chance to tease her.

"Hmmm."

"I guess you haven't seen him in awhile, right? Hey, guess what! Mum and Dad said that his dog was Meg's and Coby's daddy! Isn't that cool Mandz?"

"Blackie... Yes, very cool Sophie." The two walked back to their family, Sophie yabbering away to her adored older sister. As far as she was concerned, James Hunter was forgotten now her teasing was over.

By contrast, words were bouncing around Mandy's head unforgettably. 'He was my best friend.', '... haven't seen him in awhile, right?' but mostly 'Why doesn't he like you?'

I wish I knew Soph.

Bit of a cliffhanger there, enjoy!

As ever, plot bunnies are very welcome as I only have a very vague idea as to where this is going. They might help me to write it faster too!

On that note, sorry for the massive delay again. I am massively grateful to all reviewers and very sorry if I haven't replied. I've got to that awful stage in life where A Levels and university applications take over. Which is why I am writing this at 6:18 in the morning... Oh well!

Thank you for sticking with me, as ever.