Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. I'm really glad Cal's coming across in such a positive way! There's more Robyn and a little bit of Lofty in this chapter too.

Tato Potato, it is very difficult for Cal, but I am hoping he'll be at least on the way to feeling happy by the end of the story. Thank you for your review - I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter.

CasualtyFanForever81, thank you for your review - I'm really happy you enjoyed the update. There's a lot of Lily in this chapter so I hope you'll like this one too.

ETWentHome, no, it's not easy for Cal! Maybe Sophie should have said no for his sake, but she probably didn't know how much Cal loved her. Besides, it would have ruined my story! Thank you for your review.

Guest/TimeLadyOdair, I thought it was you! I'm sorry to hear schoolwork is getting in the way of more important things like reading and writing, but I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I hope you didn't hurt yourself falling over the coffee table! I think Cal will get over Sophie eventually - but he's going to need some time. Ideally some time without Ethan and Sophie kissing in front of him. Thank you for your review!

Robyn checked that nobody was coming and then pushed open the door of the on-call room. "Come on. Quickly."

"We're not allowed in here!" said Lily.

"No, it's fine," said Robyn. "No-one will catch us. Max and Zoe used to come in here all the time."

Lily covered her eyes with her hands and leaned against a cupboard. "I think I did not need to know that, Robyn."

"Don't worry, Lily," said Sophie, as she sat on the bed. "I'm sure they've changed the sheets since then."

Robyn giggled. "I'm not even sure if they they used the bed anyway!"

Lily jumped away from the cupboard as though it had burned her.

"But I don't know for sure," said Robyn quickly. "I only know what I overheard Max telling Lofty." She sighed. "It's a shame about Max and Zoe. They were such a good couple."

"What happened?" said Sophie.

"Zoe cheated on Max on her hen night," said Robyn, as she sat beside Sophie. "Then she just went off and married him like nothing had happened."

Sophie looked shocked. "I always thought Zoe was so nice."

Robyn nodded. "So did I. So did Max. Seriously, I used to respect her, but she's just an old slapper."

"So, what happened?" said Sophie, half-sympathetic, half-excited.

"She told Max in the middle of the reception," said Robyn. "The wedding reception, not the hospital receptions."

"And what happened then?"

"There were big explosions," said Robyn dramatically. "Zoe nearly died."

Sophie gasped in horror. "You mean Max tried to kill her?"

"No! Of course not," said Robyn. "Dylan's boat exploded. Didn't Ethan tell you? Honestly, that man is useless."

"So, if that happened at the reception, they're probably not really married," said Sophie.

"Yeah, they are," said Robyn. "I was at the ceremony. But Max wants a divorce."

Sophie looked a bit confused. "So they did consummate the marriage? Max must be much faster in the bedroom than he is out of it!"

Lily cut in quickly. "Excuse me, Sophie and Robyn. I'm not sure we should be discussing Dr Hanna's... private affairs."

Robyn waved her concerns away. "Don't worry about that, Lily. We're girls! We always talk about the doctors' private affairs. It's practically the law."

Lily began to feel a bit worried. "Do you also talk about me?"

"I'm sure they only say good things," said Sophie quickly.

"Yes, of course!" said Robyn, not terribly convincingly. "But we're going to talk about Cal and Ethan now. You are so lucky, Sophie. I wish I had those two fighting over me! Or any two men fighting over me!"

Lily frowned. "But you have Lofty. Why would you want two when one is enough and where there is a risk of Lofty becoming hurt?"

"Welcome to girl talk," said Sophie. "We don't just confide our innermost secrets, you know. We complain about what we love; yearn for what we don't want and then decide it's all hilarious and collapse into mindless giggles. Oh, and then we do each other's hair."

"But… why?" said Lily.

"Because it's fun!" said Sophie and Robyn.

"I see," said Lily dubiously. "So, I must complain about what I love. I am very unhappy about being a registrar. I would like to complain about the extra work and responsibilities. It is very… frustrating that I must work all the time instead of talking to the nurses and the students about handsome doctors and who is sleeping with whom." She looked at Sophie and Robyn hopefully. "How was that?"

Sophie smiled. "Almost worryingly convincing!"

"Now yearn for what you don't want!" said Robyn.

Lily thought for a moment. "I want Caleb Knight so badly, I feel as though I might… develop angina. He has such… such enormous… muscles and I just want to… to take them in my hands and fondle them."

Lily looked at Sophie and Robyn triumphantly, quite pleased with her effort, but they were both looking over her shoulder in horror.

Lily turned to see the door was open and Lofty was staring at her. "Take what in your hands and fondle them? Lily, are you hitting on my girlfriend or Ethan's?"

"What are you doing here?" demanded Lily.

"I just thought I'd let you know Mrs Beauchamp's looking for you and Sophie," said Lofty.

"Right," said Lily. She straightened her skirt self-consciously. "Thank you, Lofty. And… and I wasn't talking about a woman."

Lofty shrugged. "Shame. It would be nice to have someone else to talk to about fit girls. Ouch! Robyn, that hurt."

"So did what you just said," said Robyn, but she was smiling. "Maybe, as Lily and Sophie are deserting me, you could stay for a few minutes and make it up to me?

"Maybe I will," said Lofty.

"I think that is our cue to leave," said Lily to Sophie. "Very quickly!"

Ethan was standing by the nurse's station when Sophie arrived with Lily. He was surprised she wasn't wearing scrubs, but he couldn't say he was disappointed. She looked beautiful. Very beautiful. And he should probably stop staring.

Sophie nudged Lily. "Who's that gorgeous doctor over there?" she said, nodding towards Ethan.

Lily looked a bit surprised, but then she seemed to realise Sophie was joking. "That is Dr Hardy. He is in a very serious relationship. Now, please pay attention, Sophie."

Sophie smiled at Ethan. "Oh, I'm paying very close attention, Lily."

Ethan smiled back. He was playing very close attention too.

He just hoped Cal wouldn't see them.

Louise put two files down in front of Sophie and Lily. "Okay, we have a twenty-nine year old male with dizzy spells and rather large muscles that probably are worth examining. Or a seventy-one year old female who is passing blood clots after having her haemorrhoids banded. Take your pick."

Ethan knew that Lily would either choose either the nearest file (the haemorrhoids) or the one that interested her most medically (probably also the haemorrhoids).

Lily pursed her lips for a short while in thought. "We'll take the dizzy spells."

"Good choice!" said Louise approvingly. "And I love the matching outfits, by the way."

Ethan hadn't even noticed they were in matching outfits. He hadn't really looked at Lily.

"Presumably, Louise, as you're bringing this to our attention, you don't feel this patient is a time-waster," said Lily.

Louise shook her head. "He could be, of course, but I thought he was worth bringing to your attention for the muscles if nothing else."

Sophie nudged Lily and giggled. "Lily likes muscles, don't you, Lily?"

"I…" Lily looked like she didn't know what to say.

"They warm the cockles of her heart," said Sophie. "Lily's really not into shrimps at all."

Ethan walked over to Sophie and spoke into her ear. "What was I telling you last night, Sophie? Remember your plaice and don't rock the boat."

Sophie smiled and turned to face Ethan. "For cod's sake, Ethan, I can't believe I'm herring this."

"Don't be so crabby," said Ethan. He took her hand in his.

"Ethan, I thought we were sole mates!" said Sophie.

"We are, darling, but you've got to admit you're skating on thin ice," said Ethan.

Sophie moved closer to him. "I think I've haddock enough of you."

"Are you telling me to get trout?"

"I just don't think we're singing the same tuna anymore," said Sophie.

Ethan shook his head and smiled. "I'm sorry, but you're really making me flounder."

"Bass-ically, you've got the wrong end of the stick again," said Sophie. "Maybe I should give up on emergency medicine and become a sturgeon like Mrs Beauchamp?"

"Sturgeons are not usually considered edible fish," said Ethan. "You're just a prawn in this game, Sophie."

"You're making up the rules as you go along!" said Sophie. "I think that's a bit shellfish."

"How do you two think of these things?" said Louise, amazed.

"Oh, it's just a matter of mackerel thinking," said Ethan modestly.

Lily picked up the file. "Excuse me for interrupting. But I think there is something very fishy about this argument. I suspect it is not an argument but a method of flirtation. Dr Hardy, I'm sure you have some work to be getting on with."

"Yes, of course," said Ethan. "I'm sorry, Lily." He checked that Cal wasn't around and kissed Sophie quickly. "I'll see you later, sweetheart. I know you'll be brilliant."