I survived camp! Just - I got the flu but other than that I'm fine. And camp was awesome - but back to the reason you're reading the ramblings of a complete stranger living in middle earth… Lots of lizzie and romano mush… just the way you ordered.

Disclaimer - er's not mine. If I was d'ya think I'd be posting this on the internet before the season was out on tv - I'd lose my job as the best damn script writer they ever got - and I'd be just as poor as I am now. Okay so this disclaimer has gone on for too long… just read the damn story…

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Robert opened the fridge, looking for some inspiration for lunch.

"We should have picked something up." Elizabeth suggested, sitting on a stool.

"No, there's lots of food - what do you want? Oh, wait - here we go. He pulled out a quiche and put it on the bench. There was a note sitting on top, "Welcome home - here's my present - it's your favourite."

"From Dorothy, my housekeeper." Robert explained taking the lid off.

"What is it?"

"Spinach and Feta quiche - mmm…" he smiled, "trust me," he saw Elizabeth's doubtful expression, "it's better than hospital food."

"That doesn't say much." She teased

"It's good, promise." He turned on the oven, "Now, lets see what we can do about a salad - and what will Ella want?" He said, looking back in the fridge - pulling out lettuce, tomatoes, and other salad ingredients.

"Um, do you have some bread - I'll just make Ella some sandwiches."

"Sure, just over there," he pointed to a cupboard. They worked in companionable silence. Ella was watching a video in the lounge across the hallway. She wandered in just as Elizabeth was putting the bread back.

"Here you go sweetie," Elizabeth lifted Ella to a stool and handed her the jam sandwich.

"Oh, Robert, where can I find a plate?"

Robert handed her a plate then put the quiche in the oven. Elizabeth looked at it doubtfully, again.

"Trust me." He insisted, teasingly.

"I do." She smiled. He smiled at her, his eyes wandered to her lips then to Ella.

"Good sandwich?" Ella nodded and smiled, revealing the semi-digested contents of her mouth. "Lets hope my quiche gets the same reaction from your mother." He pretended to whisper and winked at Ella, who proceeded laugh and deposit a significant amount of her lunch back onto the plate. Robert laughed. Elizabeth found herself watching him and smiling - Robert was laughing! This was a man who'd just had his arm removed. And not just any man - someone who had his own personal dark cloud. Smiling was more than to be expected. Laughing, she would have guessed, was out of the question. But she was more than happy in her surprise. Ella certainly brought out the best in him - okay, maybe not just Ella. He opened the fridge and got out a bottle of orange juice, poured three tumblers full and put the bottle away. Ella gulped hers down and banged the empty tumbler back on the bench.

"Time for your sleep." Elizabeth said, removing the tumbler from her daughter's hand. Ella shook her head and made stubborn eye contact with her mother.

"Careful." Robert warned the toddler, "You mom's been known to beat me with her stubbornness, and I'm bigger than you are."

Ella looked at him confused as Elizabeth picked her up. "Do you have a spare bedroom where I could put her down?"

"Sure," Robert led the pair upstairs. The guest room had a cot! Elizabeth looked at him confused.

"I have a niece - so she's fifteen now, but she visited when she was little too. Knew it would come in handy one day." He grinned. Elizabeth put Ella down, despite the toddler's squirming.

"I'll check on lunch," Robert disappeared out the door.

"You are amazing with her." Elizabeth said softly as she entered the kitchen.

"She's a great kid." Robert gestured to a seat for her and sat in his own.

"She is. But that's not what I meant." Elizabeth sat down and Robert waited for her to explain. "She brings out a side of you that I never saw at the hospital - until recently."

"I have a thing for younger women." He teased, serving two slices of quiche. Elizabeth just looked at him. "What can I say? I have high standards and Ella is more gorgeous than any of those argumentative ambitious idiots at work - myself included."

"Robert…"

"Plus, she's funny, intelligent, affectionate, honest, trusting and just like her mother - it's no wonder I like her." Elizabeth just smiled and shook her head. Robert turned serious, "As much as everyone at the hospital can't stand me they admire intelligence and decisiveness and authority"

"Things you have in spades."

"So I let that define me, they respected me and I wanted no more from any of them. But Ella wouldn't be impressed by all that stuff."

"She's not the only one." Elizabeth said tentatively

"That's why I like her mother too." He smiled and leaned over to kiss the beautiful face before him. He couldn't believe he had the boldness to do so but she kissed him back, caressing his face with her hand. He pulled back, smiling. "Lunch is going cold."

She smiled, "Okay, enough stalling, I'll just have to be brave and try it." She looked doubtfully at the quiche. Robert laughed and took a bite.

"Come on Lizzie, have some faith. I won't poison you. Not today."

She smiled and took a bite. It was creamy and salty and warm. She didn't hide her surprise very well.

"You of little faith." He shook his head, taking another hungry mouthful, watching her lips eating appreciatively.

"Sorry," she smiled, "It's very good - you're right." She smiled and sat watching him contentedly.

"What?" He asked, swallowing.

"Nothing." She shook her head and took another bite.

As Elizabeth finished her slice she yawned.

"Sorry, the company's not as good as the food."

"The food wasn't that good." She teased, laughing, and yawned again, "sorry."

Robert shrugged, "why don't you go have a rest - there's a great sofa in the lounge - very comfortable, I've spent many a night on it - when the stairs were just too daunting and the fire was just too warm."

"You sure." Elizabeth asked - the offer was very tempting.

"Yeah, go for it. I'll clean up and keep an eye on Ella."

"Okay. Thank you." Elizabeth backed out of the kitchen, saying, as she left, "wake me if Ella stirs."

Robert finished the dishes in record time and forced himself not to run down the hallway to the lounge. He held his breath and poked his head through the door. Elizabeth was sleeping on the couch, her hair spread around her face, her arms wrapped around herself. She was so beautiful - and so peaceful. Robert was quite happy to just sit on the coffee table and watch her sleep. So he did - for as long as he dared - he didn't want her to wake and find him staring at her - or did he? Ella. He could check on Ella. He snuck out of the lounge and took the stairs two at a time. Ella was fine - breathing deeply, clutching her blankets. She looked so much like Elizabeth. Robert knew he would be haunted by the image of Elizabeth forever - no matter what happened between them. But maybe things could work out? There was a chance - more now than ever - she'd said she wanted him - maybe she didn't quite love him like he did her - but maybe she could, one day… Ella rolled over, tearing Robert from his thoughts. He tucked the blanket under her warm body and left the room, returning to his perch on the coffee table. Elizabeth opened her eyes as he sat down. She smiled at him.

"Good sleep?" he asked. She nodded. "Ella's still sleeping." He answered her unspoken question. Elizabeth yawned and stretched as she sat up to face him. Robert let out a sharp breath.

"You all right?" she asked him, suddenly concerned.

He nodded, "You are so beautiful." He looked away awkwardly, realising he'd spoken his thoughts aloud, "sorry."

Elizabeth moved forward so she was sitting on the edge of the couch and their knees were touching. "Enough with the doubts Robert. There's no where else I want to be." His face was only inches away but she wanted him to make the first move - he needed to believe her. And she needed to know it. He searched her eyes for what seemed like hours. But he wasn't prepared for what he found - so much adoration, longing, even dependence. Tentatively he leaned forward, brushing his lips carefully against hers, still refusing to break eye contact. She blinked at the touch of his lips but kept looking into his eyes. "Believe me." She whispered desperately.

"I do." He replied hoarsely and kissed her again, closing his eyes and throwing restraint to the wind. He pulled her closer with his hand between her shoulder blades. They simultaneously dropped to their knees in the space between them on the floor. There was no rush - they were both so surprised to have gotten this far - and minutes later they had hardly moved. Robert pulled back and just looked at her face, smiling.

"We should try a real date some time." He said lightly.

"I'm pretty sure today counts."

"Well, in that case, to quote one in a million American films, can I see you again?" He said softly

"Yes." She whispered and kissed him again then smiled. "It was the best first date in a while."

"Despite the whole return from having arm amputated in hospital thing."

"Yeah, apart from that." She smiled and took a deep breath in and out - still holding eye contact… until she yawned again.

"I knew it - that's the effect I have on women." He laughed - despite his attempts to play-serious. Elizabeth shook her head and laughed with him.

"Go back to sleep if you like - I mean, if you're still tired."

"No, I should get Ella up or she'll never sleep tonight."

"Let me. I could use the practise. And you could use the sleep - am I right?"

Elizabeth slowly nodded and lay back on the couch, watching him leave the room.

She woke to soft laughter and opened her eyes surprised to find she was alone in the room. She stood up and followed the enticing sound to its source. She found them in the library - Robert lying on his back with Ella sitting on his stomach. He was laughing and she was bobbing up and down as his laughter shook his body. Elizabeth stood in the doorway, watching and smiling.

"Mama!" Ella gave her away. Elizabeth stepped into the room.

"Lizzie." Robert smiled and tried to sit up but didn't quite make it. Elizabeth picked up Ella and Robert sat up.

"Have you had fun?" she asked Ella

"See, she has no faith in me." Robert said to Ella, stroking her head. Ella giggled, nodding.

"I have great faith in you." She kissed Ella, then Robert - though for a little longer. "It looks like she's not the only one who had fun."

Robert looked down at his crumpled and twisted clothes then straightened them hurriedly. Elizabeth just smiled at him. "Thank you. The sleep was great."

"Good. You want to stay for dinner?"

"You sure?" Elizabeth put a squirming Ella down on the floor.

"Well, you said you didn't mind seeing me again - what can I say - I'm a bit quick on the up-take."

"Dinner would be great - I mean I'd love to stay - but you need to rest."

"Yeah." He relented - her surprise was evident. "Maybe another night though."

Elizabeth nodded. "Oh, I almost forgot, I have to change that dressing before I leave."

"Here comes the bit I've been waiting for." Robert rolled his eyes. "I get turned down for the second date and she insists on biting my arm off."

"Well I was going to use my hands but if you insist." She chomped her teeth together.

Robert laughed, "in the kitchen eh? Don't want to gross out your innocent daughter."

"Okay. I don't know about innocent though. She's known to be far too charming and weasel her way into staying up late, getting extra sweets and many other equally suspicious things." Elizabeth said, following him out of the room.

"Sounds like me." He shrugged.

"You are many things Robert - but I've never thought of you as innocent, or, for that matter, charming - no offence - but you've boasted of your honesty - and charm and honesty rarely meld well."

"Okay, fair enough." He sat on a stool in the kitchen as Elizabeth put her bag on the bench and pulled up another stool. She let one foot rest on the bottom of his stool so that her knee touched his. She hoped this might comfort him because the next few minutes might be uncomfortable to say the least. Robert took off his shirt and looked at her knee touching his. He didn't want to give away his pain by looking her in the eyes. She peeled off the tape that held on the dressing and sensitively removed it. It was clean and healing well so she quickly put the new dressing together and wrapped it up again, trying to touch him as little as possible. She was finished but he didn't move. He remained there - staring at their knees, not moving.

"You okay?" she asked putting her hand on his shoulder. The muscles were tense.

He looked up, "Yeah. Thank you."

She nodded slightly, "turn around."

He complied without question and she softly started to massage the muscles in his shoulder, careful to avoid getting too close to the wound. She tried to ignore how good it felt to touch him - but she wasn't doing a very good job. Then he moaned.

"Sorry." She said taking her hands away.

"No, that's good. My shoulder gets really stiff - I don't move it much - it hurts enough when it's still." He explained.

"Oh." She moved her hands back to his shoulder - more aware of their touch than before. She kept rubbing his skin, feeling the taught muscles slowly loosen beneath her touch. Could she have the same effect on the man as she did on the muscle? Yeah - she had already - to some degree. He was a lot more relaxed around her than she'd ever have imagined. She couldn't remember how many times he'd amazed her that day - with his openness. He was letting her see him. Was she letting him see her? Not to the same degree. She needed to let him in a bit. She hadn't given anything away - but she needed to. This was one of the reasons he found it so hard to believe she wanted to be with him.

She left her thoughts there, realizing the ache in her hands. Reluctantly she let go of his shoulder. She walked around to face him, "I'm no masseuse - my hands will fall off soon."

"We can't have that happening. The hospital won't know how to operate without you and I think one or other of us should be fully armed." He teased, taking her hand. He stroked it with his thumb, "thank you."

"I hope it helps. I really should go." She turned to look toward the door into the room where Ella was.

"Yeah." He stood up beside her and followed her back to where Ella was playing happily. "How's it going?" he scooped her up as Elizabeth picked up the toys, depositing them into a bag. "Did you miss your human jungle-gym?"

Ella giggled, and poked his nose, "yeah."

"I think I've got everything." Elizabeth stood up and put the bag over her shoulder. She followed Robert out of the room, then out of the house. He put Ella in her car seat and took the bags from Elizabeth and put them in the car as well.

"Okay, so I'm working at 2 tomorrow so could I drop Ella over here about 1?"

"Come for lunch? You can't turn down a second date twice in one day."

"Sure I could, but I have no wish to." She kissed him - surprising both of them, but she missed his mouth - hitting the side of his nose.

"We'll have to work on that tomorrow, over lunch." He laughed at her, then taking her face in his hand, he gave her a decent good-bye kiss.

"Oh, well, one of us got it right." She said breathlessly, a minute later.

"But he doesn't mind helping - anything for you Lizzie." He said sincerely then opened the car door for her. "Bye Ella." He waved. "Bye." He mouthed to Elizabeth, holding her eye contact and trying to restrain his grin as she backed out the driveway.