Katie quietly slipped in, placing a tray of scones on the bar and heading for the piano. She smoothed her skirt under her as she sat on the piano bench and cracked her knuckles, flexing her fingers. She was feeling a little nostalgic and it was evident as her fingers began to move, the ring on her left ring finger glittering and sparkling as she played. She knew the song well, her eyes closing as she smiled. How very far she had come. So much had changed in the months since she'd last played in this place.

The tattooed lady had vanished, in her place a woman who worked for the federal agency her family once feared. Married to a fellow agent. Expecting a baby. She'd saved Katie's life, shooting Katie's mobster uncle when he'd held Katie hostage. Katie had sold her top floor that had been in her family since before the skyscraper was built, making herself a very rich woman. Yet she lived as though she didn't have it, opened her own cafe that had quickly grown very popular. And Nate. Her Master. Her fiance, soon to be her husband. All they had been through together. Oh yes, much had happened over the year or so. But here? Where universes collided and no mention was made to reconcile the differences in time? It all converged beautifully. But though it had been two years since her mother's death, Katie still missed her. Maybe she could find a way to honor her at the wedding.

Nate followed, holding the door open for Katie then slipping through himself, watching her move towards the piano with a dancer's grace. He paused to remove his burgundy leather jacket, hanging it on the hooks by the door, baring the plain white polo underneath. She started playing the song she had been when they had first met, at this very club. At that very piano.

He strolled over to stand behind her, listening to her play. So many things had happened to them since that day oh so long ago. Or was it really that long ago? There were days it felt like he'd known her forever and days where he felt like it was only yesterday. The G-man had helped when he wasn't a part of their lives, working only on what he had heard Katie say that day on the phone. It meant she had to sell the studio, but it gave her freedom she never had before. He helped her to soar.

Wedding. Planning. The G-man and his wife were to be the Best Man and Matron of honor, that's what they meant to the couple. More than just saviors, they'd become close friends. They still needed to plan, but there was no rush. They weren't going anywhere.

Katie felt Him behind her and leaned back as she finished the song. She looked up at him with gentle gold-flecked blue eyes. She'd been able to go back to her original dark brown hair and had wasted no time in doing so. Her vital documents still read Kathleen Nichele McMichael, but once she and Nate wed, she'd revert to Katherine Nora….Whitley. She smiled. “I want to pay tribute to our parents. My mom…your mom and dad….at our wedding.” She said softly. “Maybe reserve seats for them. Photo collage. I want to feel like they're there…in some way.” She shifted on the bench to make room for him. “Can you believe a year ago you sat here with me and wound up collaring me?”

Nate placed his hand on her shoulders and looked down with his steely greys into her blue eyes. He'd enjoyed his time with her as a redhead, but he knew how much she preferred her natural hair color. Perhaps in another life, another part of the multiverse, another him would have a redhead partner, but he was happy with His Kitten.

“That… Would be nice.” The little hitch in his words as he remembered what happened to his parents, the reason he became an EMT with the fire department. What happened to her mother, why she had something she hid in public. “They're always with us, they shape what we do.”

He moved around the bench to sit next to her, close, sharing the warmth of his body as he had that first time. “I remember it as if it were yesterday, Kitten. It's a memory I will never forget.”

Katie took his hand as he sat and squeezed. “I know. It's more for us than them.” She murmured, leaning her head on his shoulder. “I'm supposed to go dress hunting with Daniela tomorrow. Do you want pictures or would you rather be surprised?”

Nate reached up to stroke her hair with his free hand, his fingers slipping through the dark brown strands. “Make sure to take some gingernut biscuits with you.” He'd brought some for her when Katie had asked for the ginger tea. He'd taken a wild guess that it was for a pregnant woman. As a medic, he could tell. “I want to say yes, but that would just be being awkward! How about you surprise me?”

Katie “You should see her now, she sent me…oh!” She breathed and pulled out her phone. She opened up her text messages and showed him a picture. “Did Seeley send you this one?” The picture was of Seeley and Dani, his hands on her rounding belly with an '18 weeks!' sticker between them. They both had looks of joy on their faces, Daniela giving the camera a 'thumbs-up'. “They're apparently going to find out the gender next week.”

Nate took Katie's phone and looked at the picture. “He's not much for modern tech, I'm not sure he's figured out how to send a photo!” He peered at the photo. _{“That'll be you, one day.”} He smiled at His Kitten and handed her phone back. “They look so happy.”

Katie blushed bright red. _{“Promise, Sir?”} She teased lightly. “They do, don't they?” She said softly, putting her phone away and then turning back to him. “I feel that happy with you, you know.”

Nate grinned and kissed her flushing cheek. _{“I promise.”} He wouldn't have said it if he didn't believe it. “I've noticed you do. You make me happy. I feel like you've been a part of my life, well… Forever, really.” He turned his head away so she couldn't see his cheeks turning red.

Katie took his hand. “Let's go home _{and see if I can make you blush harder.”} She whispered.

Nate stood, then helped her up, leading her to the door. _{“It's going to be easier to make you blush, Katie. Do you know just what it takes to make a pro blush?”} He grinned at her, all traces of the blood coursing through his cheeks gone, only his winning smile and steely grey eyes.

Next: Greta Garbo Sigh