"Babe, let's go I'd love to stay here with you, but I told you I have a standing dinner date," Said Nathan trying to reign in his impatience. He couldn't remember it ever being this hard to leave the house. He thought checking himself out in the mirror.

Maxie came out of the kitchen. They were in Nathan's one bedroom apartment above Kelly's. "I could cook dinner for you."

Nathan laughed, "You don't cook."

"That's the fun part."

"As much as I'd love to stay and burn food with you," he said nuzzling her neck, "I'm going to go hang out with my girl today."

"Your girl?" she asked eyebrow raised forcing him to look at her.

He managed to put his foot in his mouth once again. It was beginning to turn into a regular thing with him. He sighed, "you know that's not what I meant."

She folded her arms across her chest and stood stone faced.

"We've talked about this. She's a really good friend. I don't know that many people in port Charles. I'm not exactly making any new friends being a cop either?" said Nathan grabbing his jacket out of the coat closet by the door.

"I can understand that. It's just. . ."

"Maxie you are perfect," he said kissing her forehead. "Now please," he said begging her.

"Alright, you can go," she said grabbing her coat and heading down the stairs. "On one condition?"

"Sure, what is it?" he asked walking out the door of Kelly's.

"You have to set up a date for the three of us to hang out?" she asked. It was more of a test than anything else. She wanted to see how he'd react. Or if he'd just continue hiding his little mistress in plane sight.

"Sure, why not. I'll set something up when I see her today," he said. It wasn't a bad idea, but it wasn't the best one either. Why did he feel like he was being forced to share his best friend with Maxie. He kissed Maxie goodbye and jumped in the car. The ride was short, but gave him time to sort out his feelings for Sabrina. They were just friends. Sure there had been a few moments together that had hinted to something more. That didn't mean they had to act on it. Maxie was enough for him. He just kinda wished he had met her first. He knocked on the door and Sabrina answered on the third knock.

"Nate," she said hugging him enthusiastically.

"Heyy," he asked squeezing her with the same fervor.

"Come into the kitchen. I just finished the rice krispies," she said guiding him into the apartment.

"What no tour?" he asked smiling.

"Tour later, eat first," She said grabbing a small treat and bringing it up to his lips.

He took a bite nodding his head in agreement, "This is great."

"Good, cause this was my first time making it. I had to call my aunt Juanita in puerto Rico for help," said Sabrina carrying the bowl out into the living room.

"You, didn't have to go through any of the extra trouble," he said sitting on the couch beside her.

"It's the least I could do with you saving my life and all."

"So what are we watching?" he asked pointing to the tv.

"I don't really have many macho movies," she said going through their DVD selection.

"Macho movies?" he laughed grabbing another spoonful of the rice krispies.

"Yessss, but I do have this," she said throwing the movie too him to look at.

"Die hard," replied Nathan, "works for me."

She popped the DVD in and went back to the couch.

"So what's for dinner?" he asked casually.

"Oh, I was supposed to cook dinner too. When did I turn into June Cleaver?" she asked hitting him the chest with her elbow.

"Hey, sorry," he said playing into the pain rubbing his chest even though the hit didn't hurt. "Will just order out?" he said grabbing the phone off the table.

"Pizza," she offered.

"I have pizza all the time now. Let's go for Chinese," he replied having the perfect place in mind.

"Wow so adventurous Chinese," she said poking his side teasingly.

He gave the place their order and hung up, "it should be twenty minutes?"

"They deliver?" she asked.

"Of course," he said turning back to the movie that was just starting. Sabrina got up and cut the lights off. Nathan grabbed some more of the sweet treat and settled in next to Sabrina on the couch.

Maxie had decided to follow him. She knew he was going to Sabrina's but how could she trust that the whole thing would be innocent. She had to see it for herself. She knew she couldnt just knock on the door and expect for them to welcome her with open arms. She walked around that whole building and found a fire escape. She looked through every window hoping to spot Sabrina.

Anyone who saw her might mistake her for a burglar so she tried to be stealthy. Although she could remember from her times with Spinelli that stealth wasnt her forte. She climbed up to what seemed to be Sabrina's living room. The blinds were drawn, but there was a small opening at the bottom. She could see them laying on the couch but couldn't make out what they were doing. She hit her head on the window trying to catch a better glimpse.

"Did you hear that?" jumped Sabrina looking around.

"You know we're not watching a scary movie," said Nathan watching her amused.

Sabrina looked towards the window and screamed, "Maxie."

"Maxie?" asked Nathan why would she yell her name. He got up and turned on the lights, "What are you talking about?"

The doorbell and rang and she screamed. Nathan looked at her puzzled at the way she was acting.

"I thought I saw Maxie at the window," said Sabrina realizing that she sounded crazy.

Nathan opened the door grabbing the Chinese food from the delivery man. He pulled out his wallet and gave the man an extra twenty dollar tip. For staying even though he probably heard her hysterical screaming.

Maxie ducked away from the window. She walked back down the ladder just in case one of them decided to peak out. This definitely didn't turn out the way she replayed it in her head. She wasn't expecting to be found out so soon.

"What about the window?" said Nathan going to the window opening the blinds and peering out after the delivery man had left. He couldn't see anything or anyone for that matter this late at night.

Maxie saw his reflection turn away from the mirror and she continued down the stairs. This night was a bust, but if she had to. She would try to catch them together again sometime. For now she just got back in the car and rushed home.

Sabrina looked down at the floor embarrassed at herself. She must have let that conversation with Maxie bother her more than she thought. She rubbed her forehead anxiously, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything."

"Why did you though? You know that I'm seeing, Maxie," said Nathan rejoining Sabrina on the couch.

"I know," replied Sabrina feeling stupid. Inviting him to her house was wrong. Her mind was obviously playing tricks on her some weird guilty conscious thing for wanting someone she couldn't have.

"How?" Asked Nathan confused.

"she told me about you too," said Sabrina not sure she should even go any further. When her brain was screaming to just drop the subject and himgalling with it.

"When?" asked Nathan wondering why she hadn't told him herself.

"Today, outside of Kelly's. After I left you on my way back to work," explained Sabrina seeing no harm in giving him at least that much.

"Well, what she say?" he asked curiously.

"Nothing important. You know what Nathan lets just call this a night," she said standing up walking towards the door.

"No."

"No," said Sabrina growing agitated.

"Just tell me what she said," said Nathan standing up walking closer to her.

"Fine, she said that you too were dating. And I better stay away from her boyfriend," said Sabrina already regretting bringing it up. Still it was the only way to get him out of her house and hopefully her life.

"She said that," he said in disbelief.

"Believe what you want," she said honestly. She wasn't going to go through everything she went through with Britt with Maxie. No she was getting off this crazy train before she started seeing Maxie's reflection in the dirty dish water.

"Maybe she has a right to worry," he said his pulse racing as he brought his hand to her cheek. Wrapping them around the brown curls at the nape of her neck as he pulled her in close. The need between each other palpable.

The door swung open snapping them back into reality.

"Don't mind me, lovebirds," said Felix closing the front door behind him, "just going to my room. Feel free to finish whatever it is you were doing."

"No, don't worry about it I was just leaving," said Nathan politely. "I can stay though," he said looking searchingly into Sabrina's eyes. Their it was again that attraction that undeniable pull. He couldn't deny it any longer there was something between them. He wanted to know what it was. It was the same feeling he used to have with Maxie. He still does, sometimes if he was honest with himself. Yet, if she asked him now to leave her he thinks he would.

Sabrina huffed, "Just go." Sabrina's days of playing second fiddle were over. He was with Maxie and they both needed to remember that.

"Okay," he said leaving.

"I hope I didn't ruin you guys night," said Felix throwing his keys on the table and putting his bag on the floor. "Looks like you and boyfriend were getting pretty hot and heavy."

"Felix, time for me to come clean. He was never my boyfriend and we are not dating?" said Sabrina annoyed flopping down on the couch.

"What? Who do you expect me to believe you or my lying eyes. You too were all over each other at the bar and ya seemed more than a little cozy with him a few minutes ago," said Felix sitting on the couch with his legs crossed.

"Felix, he is dating Maxie!" yelled Sabrina. It wasn't Felix's fault, but the fact that she was even in this predicament was frustrating enough.

"So, there is some truth to the rumors. Are you having some dirty little tryst with him?" asked Felix. He didn't know whether to high five her. Or smack her until she comes to her senses. More importantly, why didn't she tell him about this earlier when the rumors first started. Did she feel like she couldn't trust him anymore?

"Come on Felix. You know me better than that there is no truth to those rumors. I didn't know he was dating Maxie until fairly recently. Not that it matters cause I haven't done anything inappropriate with him."

"Yeah, makes sense. No way Maxie is married to that hot, French guy who just walked out of here," said Felix thinking to himself.

"Married?"

"Oh, yes he's married to Maxie and you're the home wrecking slut trying to break them up. By sleeping with him in the conference room."

"The conference room," repeated Sabrina disgusted.

"And various other places," shrugged Felix. "Hun, I'm your best friend when did you stop telling me things?"

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb now. Lying about your relationship or lack there of with Nathan. What else are you keeping from me?"

She winced, "I almost fell off the fire escape a couple of days ago."

"What were you doing on it in the first place?" asked Felix surprised and glad that she was sitting in front of him seemingly healthy.

"I left my keys on the table. That day you said you weren't taking yours. I ran into Nathan and it was his idea to try the fire escape to get in."

"Where does the falling part come in at?"

"The ladder was still wet I just slipped and fell and Nathan grabbed on to me and pulled me up to safety."

"Well, I'm glad he was there. I wouldn't know what to do without you," he said uncurling his legs and pulling her into a hug.

"There's more."

He pulled back, "I'm all ears. No judging. Well judging a little."

"I started crying out of fear, relief and even hope. He holds me for twenty minutes straight, on that fire escape and that's all we do. He doesn't pull away. He doesn't try to kiss me. He doesn't try to look at my face that I was sure was streaked with running mascara. He just wraps me in his arms without an ounce of selfishness in it. What am I supposed to do with that?" she asked tears welling up in her eyes.

He pulled her into a longer hug, "You like him don't you? For real."

She nodded, her head on his chest. Poor girl he thought if he wasn't careful she was going to get her heart broken all over again. This time by some over zealous ladies man. He would have his work cut out for him this time. To keep his girl out of harms way and that was beginning to mean away from Nathan.