Author's Note: Hello lovely readers. So once again I am apologizing for the length of time between updates. School has been crazy, as I have just recently changed my major to English Literature! With this change comes a much welcomed drop in my chemistry class, so hopefully I will have more time to update more frequently. Again thanks for reading!

Steeling myself against the coming social interaction, I get up from my desk at exactly 12:20. I walk a bit faster than I normally would over to the elevator, shakily push the up button, and enter when the doors open. On the short ride up to the main floor, I tell myself that all will be well, and warn myself not to fall for his charm again. I really don't need any insanity in my life as of this moment. Getting out of the elevator, I make myself look as confident as possible, and walk over to Division One.

Entering the café, I see Jane and Maura already sitting at a table in the corner. There are open tables all around them so I will just have to pick one of those. Angela is standing by their table pouring coffee for Jane when she looks up at me and smiles. This smile is a very knowing smile though, so I realize that Jane must have already told her the whole story. I rush to a table by the wall to sit, leaving one table between the ladies and myself. I sit so that I am diagonal from Maura, and she gives me a reassuring look. Angela comes over to me and I order some chai tea. Ok. I am ready for whatever may come.

Exactly 8 minutes later, I have been watching the clock on the wall, Chris comes in at 12:34. I smile and wave him over. He hurries over and walks up to me, planting a small but oh so adorable kiss on my head. Ugh why does he have to be like this? He is just too perfect sometimes. Swooning a bit while he sits down across from me, I glance over at Maura, who is smirking. Damn it Adi keep it together! Ok. Just as he sits down, Angela rushes over and takes our orders. He orders the club sandwich and offers half of it to me, because he knows I never finish my food anyway. I accept and just ask Angela for half a Caesar salad. She hurries back to the kitchen and Chris and I are left alone.

"So Adi," he begins, "Um… I really do sincerely want to apologize for how it ended. I never should have left you like that. You are honestly worth so much more to me than I ever let on. So if I accomplish nothing other than giving you an honest, heartfelt apology today, then I will leave satisfied. But if I do leave today with the possibility of you taking me back, then I will leave absolutely elated."

Stunned, I sit there for a few seconds, processing what exactly he said. He has always been so smooth, I really shouldn't be surprised. But alas, here I sit, struck by charm again. "I… Chris, um, that was beautiful." Looking around nervously, then finally meeting his eyes, I continue, "I'm glad that you understand what you did. You knew my problems, my insecurities, my trust issues. I accept your apology gladly. But know that it's going to take me a long time to be able to be close to you, emotionally, again. You're going to have to show me that you are worth it."

He nods in understanding. Just then, our food comes out of the kitchen carried by a particularly enthusiastic Angela. Yup, Jane definitely told her. Setting our food down she smiles at me, saying, "I'll be right back with an extra plate for you Adi. Is there anything else I can bring you two kids?" Shaking our heads and saying thanks, she disappears back into the kitchen, reemerging a few seconds later with a plate for me. "Enjoy!" she says with a smile as she sets it down. She goes and stands behind the counter, eyeing us every couple of minutes.

He gives me half of his sandwich and a few of his fries. I scoop a little bit of my salad onto his plate. We do this just as if we had been doing this from the very beginning; no animosity, no distance. It is just the two of us at the table as we share a casual lunch. He talks, I listen, and it is a semi-surreal experience, being with him having lunch for the first time in such a long time. Not only am I having lunch with him, but it is cordial and even a bit, dare I say, fun. We talk and talk and it is just like old times. Maura and Jane are having lunch too, smiling and talking about us-I can tell because they keep glancing over here. But I begin to stop noticing them as I focus more on Chris. I start to relish the old feelings creeping back into my mind. But I do have to remember that he hurt me, and I have to stay wary. Caution is key at this stage in our relationship.

After about 45 minutes of blissful lunch, Jane and Maura look at me and Maura gestures at her watch. I look down at our empty plates and back up at Chris, "Ok. I have to get back to work now…" He frowns a bit, but, I can tell that he understands. Jane and Maura are still sitting while I get up and begin to walk to the elevator. Chris follows me and walks next to me. We are silent on the elevator ride down, as he scoots closer and closer to me. He finally gets close enough and slips his hand into mine, intertwining our fingers. I look away and blush, but I don't remove my hand. We exit the elevator and he walks me to my office. Getting close enough to embrace me, he looks into my eyes. Jesus what is this some sort of fairytale? "Adi? I would really like to see you again soon. If that's alright with you I mean." I nod, "I would like that, Chris. My number is the same. Just call me later. Ok?" He nods, then bids me goodbye with a sweet, chaste kiss on my lips, and dropping my hand, he walks away.

Dreamy-eyed, I slip into my office wordlessly and shut the door. Not 5 minutes after I sit down at my desk, Jane comes busting through the door, Maura in tow. They sit down across from me silently and just stare. Maura is smirking a bit while Jane just bores into my skull with her eyes. They're obviously waiting for me to spill. But they were right there, hello, what else is there to say? I go start speaking, "So, uh, ya, that was Chris… Um. He's going to call me later. Um, he apologized. For everything. And he wants to see me again. I don't really know what else to say, I mean you guys were right there."

Maura just nods while Jane says, "Uhuh!" and Maura interjects, "He's cute, Adi!" At this Jane gives a somewhat embarrassed but mildly amused, "Maura!"

"What? It's true… You even said so yourself back in Division One."

"Nevermind that. Anyway, so Adi, how do you feel about it?"

"Um," I respond, I have to stop saying um so much, "I feel good and bad about it I suppose. I mean I really did love him, and he really did hurt me. But he came back and gave me such a heartfelt apology, and it was just like old times. And I liked that. It was wonderful. So at this point, I am just going to be careful. But I think I will let him make it all up to me and see him again. Like I said before, I don't have the best luck with men.

At this, Jane busts up laughing, "Neither does Maura, kid! You should hear some of her ridiculous stories. Like that one time…" She stops because Maura is giving her the death stare. But I really want to ask her to continue! I would love to hear Maura's disaster date stories. It would make me feel like less of a loser. But how do I ask Maura about her dirty past with men? I don't, that's how. But luckily I don't have to, be cause Jane continues on. "Like that one time you wanted to sleep with Giovanni! Remember, Maur? Haha, ya there was this guy Giovanni who I sort of grew up with. And Maura wanted to sleep with him, not even date him just sleep with him because he has 'excellent long bones' or something or another. But I warned her! I told her he was totally beneath her. And she didn't listen! And ya so they met at her house for dinner and then she came crawling back to the station because he…" Not being able to get it out because of laughter, Maura rolls her eyes and finishes, "He wanted to lick my face."

I had been trying to keep a straight face, but at this, I can't help but let out a giggle. While Jane is in a full on uproar, even Maura can't stifle her laughter at this either. In a laughing fit, all three of us sitting around my desk, I forgot that these women were my colleague and my boss, and I felt as if these women were my friends. And it felt wonderful. Maura is the first to speak, "Hey if you're going to say my dirt then I'm going to say your dirt, too!" Jane pauses, looking at her, correcting her, "It's not 'say your dirt', Maura, it's spit or tell dirt." Maura looks at her questioningly, but continues, "Well whatever, but how can we forget Jorge the nurse? Hmmm, Jane? Tell that story!"

Jane feigns shock and hurt and scoffs a bit, "Maura, that had a lot to do with you too! It wasn't just all me! So, Adi, I don't remember how long ago, but Maura had dragged me to one of her stupid yoga classes and there was this guy there. Maura was going to go on a date with the yoga instructor… Hey, Maur? Whatever happened to that guy?" Maura pauses, and looks off into the distance, "I don't know! After that date it just fizzled off… Anyway, so I told Jane to double-date with me and the yoga instructor, and after some pushing and prodding, she agreed. Jorge is in medicine…"

"Jorge is a NURSE MAURA!"

"Well whatever, but, anyway, he was perfect for her. She just didn't like that he had an overwhelming sensitive side!"

"An over- well if that's how you want to describe it then, fine. But I described it as more of a fluffy teddy bear, and not in a good way. Ya that was short lived."

"But he did give you those fudge-clusters. Yummy."

Jane rolls her eyes, and looks at me. "Ya, we all have dating horror stories, kid. You're not the only one. And Dr. Isles here has more than the average. She has a horrible, horrible, track record. How about that one time you dated that serial killer? Why don't you tell Adi that story Maura?"

Maura goes red, and looks away. "Maybe some other time. But anyway, yes, I have a horrible track record. There is no need to rub it in. And Adi, you and I can discuss some other time, maybe over dinner. But right now, for the time being, we all have work. Let's get to it!" Jane nods in agreement and they both get up. Jane walks out my door and Maura pauses, turning around to say something to me. "Adi, if you ever need to talk, you know, I am always here. And Jane is always here to talk as well. She seems brash and super tough all the time, but she cares about you, and all her friends really. We would love to talk to you if you ever need to. Ok?"

I nod, "Thanks, Maura. I will probably need to talk to someone about these new Chris developments. When it comes to him, I tend to be unable to think straight." Maura smiles and squeezes my shoulder, then grabs my hand and pulls me out of my office. "Hey Jane wait up! Let's all go up to the briefing together. You can sit with Frost, Adi. It will be fun!"

Jane scoffs, "Right. Fun. Murder. Oh so fun." Maura and Jane laugh and walk up to the elevator. When the doors open, we all step in. Jane gives me a look, then shoves me in the shoulder, laughing. Maura covers her mouth while laughing herself. I get over my initial state of shock, and start laughing too. The elevator ascends, carrying three super giggly women up to discuss murder. Maybe it is a good thing that Chris showed up after all.

A.N.: Again, thanks to all who read! Like I said, I will try to update more often. I have some ideas cooking for Adi. But still, any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated! Let me know what you would like to see.