Robbie and Laura could still hear Lynn's music blaring throughout the house. To Robbie, that was OK, but he'd worked up and appetite as had Laura, so they were going to leave the sanctuary of Robbie's home office to proceed to dinner, where he hoped that Lynn had made them something substantial for the evening meal.

As they got ready for dinner, namely making sure everything was zipped and buttoned and their hair was presentable, Robbie mentioned to Laura that McGregor had called him, seemingly out of the blue. Laura stopped still and tried to put a stoic look on her face at the mention of McGregor. Laura mentioned to Robbie "Yes, I saw him while Lizzie and I were visiting the station earlier today. He knew me on sight and asked me about you. I told him that you had remarried." Laura smiled up at Robbie was she mentioned this, making certain that his shirt was correctly buttoned.

"Yes, McGregor called me, congratulated me on being remarried. But you didn't tell him that I married, you, right?" Robbie asked of Laura.

"No I didn't, I was ready to leave so I didn't have time to discuss things in detail. How do you know?" Laura asked of Robbie.

"Well, McGregor called me to see if you were "available" as in interested in dating him." Robbie told her with a grin.

Laura was shocked and embarrassed. Also angry, with herself, she guessed. "Robbie, I …I'm surprised. He didn't say anything along those lines to me. If he had, he might have needed first aid or more drastic measures, after I got done with him. I'd call him presumptuous, at best. " Robbie thought the whole scenario was humorous, but Laura did not. She was quiet, but Robbie knew she was angry, and McGregor seemed to be the source.

"Laura, what's wrong? This is a funny situation, no harm done. McGregor apologized and was suitably embarrassed when I told him that you were lucky enough to have married me." Robbie waited for Laura's mood to lighten, but it did not. Robbie pushed a bit more.

"Laura what's wrong? McGregor meant no harm." Robbie repeated to Laura.

"No he did not but, he'd made reference to being glad that you had not "gone the way of Morse" and drunk yourself into the grave after Val's death. Hearing that comment from him hurt me. I didn't tell him off, but I wanted to."

"Laura, McGregor was not that far from wrong. If you had not been my friend through that dark time, and if I'd not gone to BVI to get a new start and if Lynn had not started to come around and talk to me again, I would have gladly gone the way of Morse. My life would have been too painful to keep going. That's just the truth, Laura." Robbie smiled gently, trying to sooth Laura.

Laura was still not quite placated, but she was a bit calmer. "OK, Robbie, I give in to your honesty, but I still felt that I needed to…" Laura was not quite certain how to finish the sentence.

"Defend me, Laura? You wanted to defend me. "Robbie suggested.

"Yes, I did want to defend you, but I just walked away, in anger. Not feeling enough self control to tell McGregor the whole story." Laura felt like she was confessing something.

Robbie tenderly pulled Laura to him. "Laura, thank you for loving me to the point of defending me, even when what McGregor said was true. Now, let's put this behind us and go get something to eat. Lynn has been waiting for us, I suspect."

Laura agreed, so she and Robbie proceeded to the kitchen. The music was still on the loud side, so Robbie reached over and lowered the volume. That got Lynn's attention. She'd been waiting for them to emerge from the confines of the home office. Now it was time to serve the evening meal, she thought. After all, dad and Laura had already had their "dessert".