Disclaimer: I do not own MTMS or Rhoda, MTM Enterprises and 20th Television do.

Author's Note: Begins eight months after the end of Not Expected.

Reference to/Spoiler for: MTMS Lou's Second Date (S4.E22) and Rhoda The Return of Ida (S4.E01)

-Nearly eighteen months earlier, October 1977-

Rhoda's divorce had been finalized. She was a single and free again to be with whoever she wanted. She saw a few people in a casual setting but nothing serious. She abstained from anything that would cause the divorce to be dragged out. Though her mother wasn't happy her mother would still be there for her.

When Phyllis, Bess, Murray, Georgette and even Ted found out about her separation, one thing was certain, they were all vexed at Joe for doing this to her. She was thankful for her friends supporting her. The two who were there for her the most Mary and Tessa. A few months earlier Mary brought Tessa over to help cheer her up which helped greatly she loved her niece so much. Rhoda was amazed at how quickly her niece grew.

So, after talking with her mother she went home got freshened up. After applying some lotion and perfume she put on the dress she had on when she and Lou tried to have dinner in her apartment. She then packed a small carry-on bag, notified Brenda she would be out of town for a few days to take care of some matters and went to the airport and managed to get on the last flight of the night to Minneapolis. While on the flight she thought about one person in particular. Lou Grant. She recalled their first make out session.

-A year earlier, September 1976-

They had been talking about her separation and other things when the spark from years earlier resurfaced now and sparked within him. He and Rhoda locked eyes. Rhoda began to feel all tingly, the good kind of tingly. They put their drinks down and as they closed the distance between them, Rhoda felt the invisible spark and she moved towards him. Once the distance between them was nearly nil, he placed his hands on the back of her neck and pulled her in and tilting his head to the right and gently kissed her to test the waters again.

Rhoda was surprised the first time he kissed her but not this time. She responded by wrapping her arms around him and kissed him back leading to a brief make-out session. What she had told Mary about Lou still stands true. Rhoda thought this feels wrong and yet it feels so right.

After a minute, they parted lips briefly and gazed into each other's eyes. He knew he had to kiss her again. Letting his finger run across her jawline, he supported the back of her head, leaned in and once their lips met up all else seemed to melt away. It started out slow but as soon as Lou felt Rhoda's hand in his hair and the other hand on his shirt he knew what to do. Their kisses went from languid and sensual at the start and quickly escalated to hot and heavy with both of them fighting for tongue dominance.

They almost took it to the next level when Lou came to his senses and he broke the kiss. Rhoda whimpered at the loss of his lips. Rhoda opened her eyes and Lou said to her gently, "Rhoda, I like you I really do. I think there maybe something for us. But I think we shouldn't progress right now since you are separated and not yet divorced. If you and Joe decide to remain together, you have my word that I will keep this under lock and key. However, if it indeed doesn't work out between you two then we should explore the possibility."

Rhoda smiled. That was one more thing she loved about Lou, for putting her situation ahead of his need. She knew he was right. There was no need to complicate the separation.

For the remainder of the flight, all Rhoda could of think about was Lou. After their second brief time together, they stayed in touch as friends He had sent her gifts and encouragement as a friend supporting a friend. He was someone whom she could talk to and that he could do the same. He had been so incredibly patient during the divorce process. Now it was time to reward his patience. Nearly three hours later, she arrived in Minneapolis. With her one luggage in hand, she caught a cab and headed straight for the destination. When she got to the apartment complex she went straight up to his floor.

Meanwhile, Lou had just gotten home from a late meeting with the owner of the newspaper. He just wanted to get something eat some scotch before heading to the shower and then to bed. Before he did anything else he sat down and rested for a bit. There has been a certain someone on his mind this past year. Rhoda Morgenstern. He knew she someone special especially the fact she also liked sports, like hockey for instance. That brought him back to a few years earlier.

-February 1974-

After they agreed to meet at the game, Lou shook hands with Rhoda when she kissed him on the cheek, obviously a kind friendship gesture. But something sparked within him. He and Rhoda locked eyes. There was something inside him that burned bright but Lou couldn't explain. But then he didn't want to explain. As he closed the distance between them, Rhoda began to feel the invisible spark and she moved towards him. Once the distance between them was nearly nil, he pulled her in and tilting his head to the right and gently kissed her.

After a minute, they parted lips briefly and gazed into each other's eyes. Lou saw there was nothing in her eyes and he thought great I really screwed up something good, I better go.

Before he could go he felt a tug on his hand and he looked over and saw Rhoda smile. He wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out so Rhoda spoke. "Lou, you are a great guy and not like most guys I have been with or dated. But I think we should remain friends for Mary's sake, you know so it does not get weird for her or for you at work."

After a brief pause, she added, "How about this, if a few years down the line we are both single maybe then we can try again."

Lou nodded. After they shook hands a second time he went home.

Then a knock came on the door which brought him out of his thought. Wondering who it might be at this time of night he went to open the door. When he did he saw Rhoda standing there looking oh so beautiful in the same dress as she wore a few years earlier, looking as equally ravishing as ever he felt his heart rate speed up. Not able to take it any longer, Rhoda jumped forward, placed her hands upon Lou's face and planted a kiss so hard on Lou that it knocked him backward. Lou had managed to hold on to Rhoda with one arm and closed the door the other arm. Once that was done, Lou wrapped both arms around her waist and held her close as he responded to the kiss. When they parted lips, Lou lead Rhoda to the couch. After she dropped her travel bag by the couch, they sat down Rhoda said it up front. "My divorce has been finalized. Gosh, I feel like a failure even my mother made her point and…"

Lou placed a finger on her lips and quieted her. He said, "Rhoda, you're not a failure. You and Joe were just not meant to be."

Rhoda smiled. She said, "I am free to be with you if you will still want me."

Lou faked being incredulous and said, "Of course I have been waiting for this moment for so long now."

The truth was Lou celebrating inside. For the longest time, he wanted to be the one treat and romance the woman in front of him like a queen. He wrapped her in his arms and they sat there for a little while. Rhoda loved being in his arms. She thought maybe Lou was the one for me all along. Maybe if they have gotten together earlier they would have been together longer.

She looked up at Lou and saw nothing but love and support in his eyes. Suddenly he didn't want food or scotch for the night. He was hungry for something else. Slowly their lips moved towards each other and before long made contact. Now there was really no turning back. They kissed briefly before his lips temporarily left hers and he kissed his way down her neck eliciting moans from Rhoda. Rejoining his lips with hers Lou eased himself down on the couch, pulling Rhoda on top of him. Their kisses lead to a heated and frenzied make out filled with desire. As they continued to make-out wound Lou wound his left arm round the small of her back holding her close to him. Lou then ran his left hand through her hair. Her luscious locks felt so silky between his fingers. Parting lips for a bit to get air in their lungs, Lou saw how swollen Rhoda's lips had gotten whispers to him, "Take me, Lou, I am yours. Make love to me."

This was the moment he had been waiting, they had been waiting for. They get up off the couch he leads her to his room. Before entering his room, he turned out the hall lights. They entered his room, but not to sleep but what was asked of him. As soon as they get in and Lou closed the door once and he opened his arms, she fell right into them. When their lips touched the world around them melted and they were lost in their own little place. They kissed for a while, alternating between slow and intense.

Moving her lips away from his, Rhoda then allowed her lips glide up his neck upwards and then moving towards his ear all while having one arm around his neck and her free hand in his hair. As she kissed his neck, the mixture scent of Lou's cologne and scotch overwhelmed and intoxicated her. The combination drove her wild. Lou discovered as Rhoda was kissing his neck the blend of her lotion and perfumed made him crazy. Now he really wanted to kiss her again. After she reached his ear she nibbled it for and then looked into Lou's eyes. There was definitely lust and desire radiating from both their eyes. Lou whispered to her, "You are wearing too much clothing."

In a husky voice dripping wanton need, she whispered, "I could say the same for you Lou."

As their lips crashed upon each other, they began undressing each other. Lou helped her out of the dress while Rhoda helped him with his tie and button down shirt. With all the outer layers clothes on the ground, they fell onto the bed. Eventually, the remainder of their clothing was shed. With protection in place, they released their built-up yearning as their bodies came together in harmony and bliss.

-x-

The next morning the sun shone through rousing Rhoda first. She didn't want to be awake as she didn't want to leave dreamland. She had the best dream where a guy who made her feel so loved. But alas, it was no use. However, when she felt an arm wrapped around her and when she looked up she saw who it was and she smiled and thought back to last night. It wasn't a dream it was for real. Lou and I finally made love. Over three and half years was so worth the wait. Wow the way he held me while making love to me was incredible, gentle at times and rough at other times. Oh, and that mouth of his.

She could tell he was sound asleep. She moved up and gave a quick kiss on the cheek before gently moving his arm and slowly getting out of bed. There on the ground was his button-down shirt. Rhoda grinned she picked it up and button a few buttons. She brought the shirt up to her nose and smiled. She could smell the scent and she loved it. She then tiptoed out to make coffee for them, leaving the door ajar. Ten minutes later Lou woke up. Hoping to find his lady by him only to see that side of the bed empty. He was forlorn. Maybe she is having second thoughts.

He let out a sigh when he heard the door open. There he saw Rhoda walk in with two cups of coffee. He smiled when saw her in his shirt. He thought there is nothing sexier than seeing your woman in your shirt with tousled hair. Wait does this mean?

He sat up and Rhoda walked to the bed, sat down and gave him his coffee. He took a sip and it was perfect, black with one sugar. He leaned in kissed her and said, "Good morning my beautiful lady."

Rhoda beamed as she kissed him. "Good morning my handsome prince. Last night was incredible."

Lou smiled back and said, "It was."

After a brief pause, he took another sip and then asked, "Does this mean we are together?"

Playfully smacking Lou in the shoulder, Rhoda put down her cup of coffee did the same with his cup. She leaned and kissed him and said, "Of course we are. I love you, Lou Grant."

Lou felt his grin grow by the second. He positioned his hands behind her neck and pulled her in for a kiss, a longer one this time. Parting lips they gazed deep into each other eyes and he said it, "I love you too, Rhoda Morgenstern."

Rhoda's heart was so full it could burst. She then snuggled into Lou's side. This was where Rhoda belonged, in Lou's arms. They stayed like that for a few minutes and then he asked casually, "Any plans for today?"

Rhoda said, "I do need to go see Mary and Tessa. They have no idea I am here."

Lou smiled. Why don't we go and surprise them together?"

Rhoda beamed. She knew it would be the beginning of great relationship.

A/N 2: Thanks for reading the second chapter of "Happiness All Around". Reviews are appreciated!