Together In Paris

Alex

Neal Caffery waited at the arrivals gate for Sara to arrive. He got dressed up in a chauffeur hat and jacket, and held up a board with "SARA" written across the front.
When he saw her, his face lit up with affection. Had he known the Mignon McLaughlin, he would have proven it in that moment, by falling in love with Sara all over again. Just seeing her made him smile.
She hurried through the crowds of people, weaving her suit case through behind her, until she got to his side. When they met he kissed her, passionately. She wrapped her arms around his neck, as if they were still young lovers. His hands trailed down her back, to pull her closer. She broke away first, and rested her forehead against his. He grinned at her.

"I missed you," he said.

"I missed you more," she smiled.

Neal's eyes shone, lovingly. It made Sara giggle.

"You look like Satchmo looking at Peter's pot roast!" She smiled.

"Oh tell me that old hound is still alive?" Neal begged.

"Who Satchmo or Peter?" Sara teased.

"Both," Neal said.

Sara leaned back to increase the space between them. "Satchmo was old when you left. He died years ago."

Neal's smile vanished. He even looked sad. "The first time Elizabeth trusted me to walk Satchmo, I knew I was becoming part of the family. I love that dog."

Sara gave him a pitiful whine, and brushed his fringe out of his eyes. "Oh babe."

Neal frowned. Something was wrong. He pulled away from her, and took her hand off of his cheek. Then he pulled her hand down so he could examine it.

"Where's your engagement ring?" He asked.

Sara looked down at her hand. Her smile withered.

"Err, I don't know," she answered, honestly.

Neal furrowed his brow, which caused his hat to tilt.

"You don't know? Why? What happened?" He asked, concerned.

Sara paused for a long time.

"I was mugged. They took my ring before I could get to my baton, and I lost it. It's gone. I'm sorry," shh said.

"It's not your fault. Don't worry, I'll find it for you,"

"No, you're out of the con game remember? I don't want you to slip back in to your old habits. Promise me you won't!"

"Is Peter on the case?"

"And Jones. The very best. So don't worry about it. It'll be back in no time,"

Neal forced a smile, and agreed not to do anything rash. He took Sara's bag and linked his arm though hers. Silently he made a mental note to set up a search for anyone fencing diamond rings in Manhattan. He only had one path to fall back on now.
A dangerous path.
An allusive path.

Alex.

-

Sara and their children stayed at the table to finish their meal when Neal ran downstairs to the door. Alex stood on his door mat, looking older than Neal had expected. Then again, it had been twenty three years since he last saw her.

"Neal. It's been a long time," Alex said.

"Yeah. Yeah it has," Neal nodded.

There was a long awkward pause as Neal stared at her. Somehow twenty years had barely changed her. She was still beautiful.

"Err Neal? The heist?" Alex said.

"Oh right, its better if we do this outside," Neal said.

He ushered Alex outside and shut the door over so that Sara didn't hear anything they had to say.

"I heard you were out of the business. What's this? One last con?" Alex teased.

"Special circumstances. Someone mugged my fiancé for her engagement ring. I want the ring back," Neal explained.

"What makes you think I know anything about it?"

"You're still the best fence in the business. If something like this was to cross your path, I'm sure you'd let me know."

Neal handed Alex a photograph of Sara where her engagement ring was clearly on show. Alex nodded slowly.

"Anything special for the mugger?" Alex asked.

Neal had been considering this question for a while now. He wanted revenge on Sara's behalf, but he also knew what Alex was like. Or was like. When he knew her, she would leave him barely breathing. Maybe she had mellowed with age. Or maybe she hadn't. Neal couldn't risk it.

"No. Leave him for the cops to deal with. Just get me that ring," he said.

Alex looked closer at the photo in her hand. "It's rather lovely. I wouldn't mind wearing it myself."

"Well if you hadn't kept running away for all those years, I probably would have married you," Neal said.

"Why didn't you?"

Neal thought for a moment. He shrugged, carelessly. "You kept running. You ran when I had Kate, and then you were there when she was gone, and I had you... then you were gone again. And then Sara came and along. I almost lost her to you, and that scared me. Because I liked you but I loved her. When I lost her to London... I really wished she would stay."

Alex gave a wry smile. "You have a thing for girls who run."

"Sara smiles like Sara doesn't care, but if you saw her like I did you would know how much she does. The first time I saw her cry, broke my heart into a million pieces. I never want to see that again. I have spent my life trying to keep that from happening. Now someone has stolen her engagement ring. That ring is proof that my destiny lies with her. I need it back," Neal said, seriously.

There was a strange look across Alex's face. Some sort of regret, entwined with happiness. She seemed to be genuinely happy for him, and yet sorry at the same time. Neal couldn't stop himself asking what was wrong.

"I don't regret a lot of things, but I do regret losing you. Sara is a very lucky woman. I sincerely wish you complete happiness," Alex explained. She took Neal's hand in hers, and squeezed it. "I'll do this for you, no payment necessary."

Neal had been wondering how he was going to pay for this. Restoring art work in even the best French galleries didn't pay as much as you might think.

"Thank you." he said.

Alex just smiled. She turned her back on him, and vanished into the night like she had done oh so many times before. Then, she was gone.
Sara watched her fiancé from the window of their house. She watched his ex-girlfriend melt into the shadows, leaving their family home behind her. Sara picked up her mobile. As she made her way back to the dinner table, she sent off a text. The children had vacated the table by the time she got back, taking their dirty plates into the kitchen as they went. Only Sara and Neal's plates were left. Sara looked up as Neal came back into the room.

"Who was that hon?" she asked.

Neal groaned as he took his seat. Age was getting to him. He smiled over at Sara.

"No one. They got the wrong door and asked for directions," he lied.

Sara chuckled. As much as Sara didn't like being lied to, she had to appreciate how skilfully he attempted it.

-

BZZZZ.

Theo reached for his mobile, still grinning like a hyena at Kate's joke about the government. Even Mozzie was laughing. Theo was convinced his namesake was still a conspiracist at heart, no matter how much he denied it.
As subtly as possible, Theo made faces at Neal to get his attention. When he succeeded, he tapped his phone. Neal understood. They both went back to joking, as if nothing had happened.

Both boys thought they were subtle. But Mozzie caught the gesture. He chose to say nothing, but he knew something was afoot.