While on the Cassadine mission, Robert discovered the ties to the Quartermaines that led him to Port Charles. Among those whom his research uncovered were: Edward and Alexandria Quartermaine, Lucas Lorenzo Spencer, and Laura Webber Baldwin. Laura was young and beautiful, and reminded him of Lily. It was easy to pour on the charm toward her for the sake of the mission. Inwardly, he was almost relieved when she showed no personal interest in him. His relief was complete once he realized the relationship between her and Luke wasn't quite history, and Luke decided to take his chances and believe him over Alex and Edward, and the three became friends. After O'Reilly was killed, a devastated Robert accepted Luke's assistance in bringing Mikkos Cassadine's evil plans to an end.
They stowed away on the Cassadine yacht in order to discover why Mikkos wanted the Ice Princess, and where he disappeared to. Among the passengers was Victor Cassadine's latest love interest, Tiffany Hill. Tiffany was a beautiful and smart, if somewhat shallow, woman. She liked to be seen on the arms of rich, well-connected men. After Victor was arrested for his part in the Ice Princess case, she gravitated to Robert, believing he, too, was well-connected. As for Robert, he didn't dissuade her of that notion as he, too, was really only looking for companionship. The fallout with the WSB, which left Ballentine peeved that the formula was destroyed, along with the loss of O'Reilly, led him to resign, and at loose ends. He decided to stay in Port Charles with no real idea of what he would do with his life. When Tiffany discovered his true worth, they drifted apart, but still remained friends.
The turning point for Robert was Luke and Laura's wedding. Knowing the obstacles they faced, had him yearning to settle down and find someone with whom he could share his life. Unfortunately, Luke and Laura's happiness didn't last. Two months after they were wed, Laura disappeared without a trace. Robert now fully understood the despair Luke must have felt.
A case of mistaken identity was the catalyst to the beginning of a relationship that he regretted almost as much as the disastrous one with Anna. If not for an oddly coincidental appearance by Laura Templeton at the same time Luke's Laura disappeared, he and Jackie might never have met. Jackie Templeton was a smart, ambitious reporter with whom he believed he could have a long-term relationship. Working together to solve the David Grey case, and freeing her sister from his influence, they found an easy camaraderie and an ability to work well with one another. He even secretly arranged for her to get the "scoop", as she had lost her job due to her concern for her sister.
Meanwhile, Luke, still missing Laura, and finding running a nightclub unfulfilling, decided to go to the mountains to recharge and find peace with the past. He came back a week later with a very beautiful, young woman in tow. Robert had little way of knowing at the time that his life was about to get very complicated.
