Bonnie Sveen Fan, I love Cal too! But I don't think he'd be interested in either of us. Not in this story anyway! Thank you for your review.

Tanith Panic, Robyn looks great, she's rarely unhappy about the way she looks and it doesn't seem to be affecting her health, so she should go on being her lovely self! I love the idea of Cal imitating an owl's mating call to the Casualty theme tune! Thank you for your review.


Ethan put his arms around Honey. "Shh, darling. It's all right. We'll think of something. How about if I text Lofty? I'm sure he'd be happy to help."

Honey shook his head. "He's so clumsy, he'd probably tear your trousers."

"I don't think he's really clumsy," said Ethan. "More unlucky."

Honey caught the reproof in his tone. "I didn't mean that in a bad way. But I don't want him being unlucky with your trousers either."

"No, I can't say I'd like that either," said Ethan. He thought again. "How about Rita?"

"You what?" said Honey. She was angry now. "You want Rita poking around in your pants?"

Ethan held her more tightly. "Of course not. It would be excruciatingly embarrassing and I'd never be able to look her in the eye again. I just think she'd be very professional and keep it a secret."

"No," said Honey. "She's too… blonde."

"How about Zoe?" said Ethan.

"No way am I letting that cradle-snatcher near my fiancé!" said Honey fiercely. "I mean, I like Zoe. I like Zoe loads. I just think she'd enjoy herself too much."

"I very much doubt that, but why don't we ask Lily?" said Ethan. "Lily would be very professional and nothing fazes her."

"She'd also enjoy it way too much!" said Honey. "I've seen her watching you."

Ethan looked as though he had trouble believing that, but he didn't push it. "Louise?"

"Yeah, great idea, if you can cope with her being sarcastic about it for the rest of your life!"

"Okay," said Ethan. "That leaves the men."

"I think I'd prefer it if it was a man anyway," said Honey.

Ethan looked like he wasn't sure if he should agree or not. "How about your dad?"

"That would just be weird."

"True. Big Mac?"

"He'd tell my dad," said Honey. "They tell each other everything."

"So that leaves Cal, Max or Dylan."

Honey made a sound of frustration. "No offence, Ethan, but you've got rubbish friends."

"I don't know about rubbish, but I'm certainly not letting Cal anywhere near you," said Ethan. "How about Max?"

"No way!" said Honey. "He'd be really nice about it, but Zoe would follow him and watch the whole thing. It would be dead creepy."

"Okay," said Ethan. "Dylan?"

They looked at one another for a moment.

"You're right," sighed Ethan. "I don't quite like to say my friends are rubbish, but perhaps they aren't ideally suited to our current circumstances."


"Are you ready?" said Honey.

Ethan didn't think he'd ever be ready, but he nodded and smiled. Honey put her hand on the door handle and turned it.

Nothing happened.

"I don't believe it!" said Honey. "That stupid brother of yours locked us out!"

"More likely Robyn," said Ethan. "I don't think I've ever known Cal to lock a door. I've always wished he'd do it more often."

Honey sighed. "Well, whoever did it, we're as stuck as my hand is."

Ethan nodded, worried. "I suppose we'll have to knock at the door. I don't see what else we can do."

Honey patted his bottom. "Don't worry. I've got a plan. A brilliant, foolproof, genius plan that any barrister would be proud of. Never mind a barista."

Ethan tried not to feel even more worried.

"Put your arm around me," instructed Honey. "And I'll move my hand as much as I can so it looks like my arm's round you. Then we knock at the door; someone lets us in; we say we need the loo and they'll go off and leave us to it; we stand under the light and I try to untie myself."

"You know," said Ethan suddenly, as a rather belated thought occurred to him, "there is something you could do. Something very easy."

Honey looked at him eagerly. "What is it?"

"You could take your ring off," said Ethan. "Then I could go to the loo on my own; take my trousers off; remove the ring – and then the problem will be solved."

Honey stared at him in amazement. Ethan started to feel proud of himself for thinking of something so clever.

"Are you crazy?" said Honey.

Ethan came to the unwelcome conclusion that she didn't think his idea was nearly as clever as he did.

"I can't!" said Honey. "I'm never taking that ring off, Ethan. Never. I even wear it in the shower."

Ethan told himself he wasn't thinking about Honey in the shower. Definitely not.

"Besides," said Honey, "if you take your trousers off at our engagement party, the least you can do is let me watch."

Ethan told himself he wasn't thinking about taking his trousers off as he prepared to join Honey in the shower.

It would never occur to him to think of such a thing.

"So let's do it my way," said Honey, and she banged on the door loudly before Ethan could argue.

They heard a lot of clicks and a bit of swearing before the door finally opened. "Sorry: it's not easy opening doors when I'm holding hands with Robyn," said Cal, but his face lit up when he saw it was Ethan. "You weren't!"

"No, we weren't," said Ethan firmly.

Honey shook her head. "Definitely not. No. Just kissing."

"Are you sure?" said Cal.

"Oh, leave them alone, Cal!" said Robyn. "They're allowed to get some air if they want to."

"That depends on which body parts they're airing," said Cal.

Robyn gave him a reproachful look.

Cal turned meekly back to Ethan. "I'm sorry, Ethan and Honey. I didn't mean to be crude. It was just habit. But I'm trying to break it." He looked anxiously at Robyn and relaxed when she smiled approvingly.

"Are you coming back to the party then?" said Robyn.

Honey nodded. "Yeah, but we need the loo first."

"But not together," said Ethan quickly. "I mean not in the same… you know."

Cal laughed, glanced at Robyn and stopped.

"I'll go with you," said Robyn.

"I hope you mean with Honey," said Cal.

Robyn gave him a look that wasn't quite adoring but a bit too close to it for Ethan's comfort. "Of course I mean with Honey! I don't want to go in the men's. It'd give me nightmares!"

"Ethan naked wouldn't give anyone nightmares," said Cal.

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Ethan hotly. "Um, not that I actually want you to answer that question."

"Never mind: I'm still going with Honey," said Robyn. "Why don't you get me another drink, Cal, and I'll see you in a minute?"

Cal looked like he didn't want to go, but then he bent and kissed Robyn's cheek. "The lady's wish is the knight's command. See you later, beautiful."

Robyn giggled, then whispered to Ethan and Honey: "I know I shouldn't laugh really, but all that knight in shining armour stuff is actually quite hysterical."

"I think you should feel free to laugh as much as you want to," said Ethan.

"Maybe," said Robyn. She was still smiling. "Your brother really is cute. Did you know that, Ethan?"

"I hadn't noticed," said Ethan.

Robyn slipped her hand into Honey's arm. "Time for a gossip session, I think!" She and Honey walked towards the toilets.

Not having any choice in the matter, Ethan followed.

"No, Ethan: you can't come in with us!" said Robyn, laughing. Her eyes widened. "Oh my God! Honey, am I seeing things or are you…"

"You're seeing things," said Ethan. "I am a figment of your imagination. I'm not here."

Robyn's laughter faded. "You're stuck, aren't you?"

"No!" said Ethan.

"My ring's stuck," said Honey.

"Oh, don't you just hate it when that happens?" said Robyn sympathetically. "Seriously, I see it all the time in the ED. Come and stand under the light, Ethan, and I'll see what I can do."


Honey, Ethan and Robyn walked back into the party to discover Cal sitting in the corner, all alone with two drinks. His face lit up when he saw Robyn and he almost ran across the room, seemingly oblivious of everyone and everything else, including the fact that Max and Lofty were both looking him in a 'hurt Robyn and you're dead' sort of way.

I knew it! thought Honey triumphantly. I knew Cal and Robyn belonged together.

Noel came over to them. "There you are! I was wondering where you'd got to. And no, I don't want you to tell me." He walked towards an empty chair and climbed onto it. "Ladies and gentlemen. And Caleb Knight. If I might have your attention, I'm going to make a little proposal."

Honey clapped her hands in delight. "Oh my God! Are going to propose to Big Mac?"

"No!" said Noel. "For the last time, Mac and I aren't a couple. We're just mates. You know. BFF."

Honey cringed. "Dad, you are miles too old to say BFF. And just so you know, if a guy has a BFF, he's almost always gay."

Louise sidled up to Noel. "So, who is the lucky girl?" she asked, blatantly checking over his shoulder to see if Cal was watching her. He wasn't.

"There isn't a lucky girl," said Noel.

"Oh, so you are gay!" said Honey delightedly. "I knew it!"

"Honey, you wouldn't be here if I was gay," said Noel. "It's not that kind of proposal anyway. It's sort of a toasty sort of proposal."

Cal laughed. "Toasty? Sounds pretty hot to me!"

Noel ignored him. It was often the best way. "I'd like to propose a toast to Honey and Ethan. I'd like to wish them a long and healthy life, a happy marriage, and all the children they want."

"Thank you, Noel," said Ethan.

"Thanks, Dad," said Honey tearfully. "I love you."

Noel stepped down from the chair and put his arms around her. "I love you too, Honey. I'm so glad you came to find me."

"So am I, Dad," said Honey. If she hadn't come to Holby, she'd have missed out on knowing not only Noel but Ethan.

Perhaps Ethan was thinking the same thing. "I'm glad too," he said softly. "So very glad."