"The One" – Part 2

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: Awesome! You're reading part 2. Glad that I didn't scare you away :D

This story is an alternate future fic! It takes place nearly ten years after "Bury The Castle" and "Lion's Den".

This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's Profile for details!)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

Fiona was nearly half done with her latte. Adam was late. In the past twenty minutes she found her mind wandering back to when she had last seen him. It was seven years ago at his alma mater, Syracuse University. He had been a freshman at the time. As she recalled they had a number of fights about his choice of school. She wanted him to attend a university closer to New York City. The last two years had been long distance and it took a heavy toll on their relationship. Syracuse had the programs he wanted and though it was in the States, it wasn't that far from Toronto.

By the end of his first semester they decided to end things. They still loved each other but they weren't growing together. At that point in their lives, they were being pulled towards different directions. It had been a long time coming, but the break up had been incredibly painful for both parties. It had taken a long time for her to get over him. She had some casual relationships but it was a couple of years before she seriously dated anyone else.

Suddenly her phone beeped. It was a message from Adam.

** Almost there! Sorry – Adam T. **

Fiona smiled. She could almost picture the words in his voice. However, when she did she was thinking of how he used to sound. When they broke up Adam had been taking testosterone for around six months. His voice had started to deepen, but for the majority of their relationship his body was completely female. It was weird seeing him the other day looking so grown up.

She agreed with Beth. He was very handsome. He was tall and seemed fit. His eyes were the same but the rest of him had changed remarkably. He was much more masculine looking.

"Fiona?" a deep voice called.

She looked up and spotted him standing in front of her table. He had a lopsided grin, and seemed slightly out of breath.

"Adam?" she said as she stood up.

He chuckled and came around to kiss her cheek. "It's good to see you," he said as he pulled away. When he met her eyes and she was filled with a feeling that she couldn't quite explain. After a moment she broke contact.

"Sit," she chuckled. He nodded and followed suit.

"Sorry I'm late. I got lost and ended up at the wrong stop," he apologized.

She waved him off. "Don't worry about it."

"Did you order already?" he asked as he placed his coat on the back of the chair.

"Yeah. A waitress will come by in a bit," she told him.

"Ah," he responded and threw his messenger bag on the floor, next to his feet. "So, Fiona Coyne! I definitely didn't think I'd run into you."

She smiled broadly. "Same here. You're the last person I expected to see!"

"Well, I didn't think you rode the subway. Quite frankly, I'm surprised you saw fit to grace us mere mortals with your presence!"

He was teasing her. He visited New York many times when they dated and she made her dislike of the subway plain.

"Well, I've matured. Seven years is a long time," she responded.

They laughed.

"It's nearly a decade," he noted and raised his eyebrows. "Does it make you feel old?"

She snorted. "Ugh! You and Beth, I swear that joke isn't that original!"

Adam's smile tightened a little, but she didn't notice. "Speaking of Beth, where is she?" he asked in a casual tone.

Fiona smiled. When they spoke on the phone yesterday she had told him about her life. After graduating from FIT with a fashion degree, she hit the ground running! She had her own boutique in the Upper East Side, which she co-owned with a friend. They created and sold their own designs. Currently she was living in Inwood with her girlfriend, Beth, and two roommates.

"She's not coming. Her friend owns a gallery in Chelsea and Beth's helping him set up for a new show," Fiona told him.

"Ah, that sounds interesting," Adam commented.

"Beth's a visual artist but she also moonlights as an art curator," Fiona explained.

"Wow, sounds like you two are an artistic power couple. Your apartment must look interesting," he complimented.

Fiona softly laughed. "The only home decorating style the four of us could agree on was a modern-minimalist look. It's limiting because I kind of wish there was more color in our living space."

"Uh… You lost me on modern," Adam admitted.

They laughed.

"All you need to know is minimalist sucks," she quipped. She looked into his eyes for a long moment. They hadn't seen each other in years yet talking with him was so easy.

"Duly noted," he said softly.

"So, how are you liking New York City so far?" Fiona asked, switching the topic.

He grinned. "I love it!" He had recently moved from Boston three weeks ago. He transferred from the office there, where he worked in Tech Support for a large pharmaceutical company. He found a short term lease, rooming with an old friend from college. They shared a two bedroom apartment in the Upper West Side.

She smiled. "Not nostalgic for Boston yet?" she teased.

"Nope! Three years was enough," he quipped. After college he moved back to Toronto for less than a year before landing his job in Boston and obtaining a visa to work in the United States. The New York office had better options for advancement, so he had been angling to switch for awhile.

"No girls you left behind?" she inquired.

"None I'd stay for," he grinned. She gave him a look.

She had heard through the grapevine – well, mainly Holly J – that Adam had become quite the ladies' man after their split. She knew for a fact that he hooked up with a few of their old classmates during his summer breaks in Toronto.

"There was a girl, but we broke up months ago," he admitted. He and Emily had dated for five months. Their break up was messy and he was glad it was over between them. He had been with other girls since then, but they were nothing serious.

Fiona's smile faltered a little. Luckily he didn't seem to notice. She didn't know why but upon hearing his words she felt… jealous? She knew it wasn't right because she had a girlfriend. A long-term girlfriend! She shouldn't care who Adam dated or had dated, but part of her did.

"I'm happy to be single. I've only been here for a few weeks and I can attest that the girls here are incredibly beautiful," he chuckled.

Just then the waitress stopped by. Fiona was grateful for the interruption. She took another sip of her latte as she watched Adam order.

.

tbc

A/N: Well, we learned quite a bit over coffee! Fadam broke up in college :( Fiona owns her own boutique! And Adam is a ladies' man?

Reviews are like a tip jar for writers :D