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Rachel had apologized to Robert. It was a little uncomfortable, but she told him she was sorry for getting so emotional earlier. He said it was no problem, and that he understood. Rachel still felt odd around him, but she figured just to try and ignore it. She'd be leaving in a couple of days anyway.

"Rachel, Robert and I are going out tonight," Elizabeth said. "There's this new restaurant and we have a reservation for eight o'clock. Would you like to come with us?"

"Oh, no thanks," Rachel said. "I'll stay with Ella."

"The nanny's coming over, actually," Elizabeth said. "But you can stay with her, and keep them company. Or you can go with us. It's up to you. If you stay, you could order a pizza or something. There's not much here to eat, I'm afraid. Kris is vegetarian and always brings her own meals."

"Okay."

Later on that night, Robert and Elizabeth were in the kitchen, getting ready to leave. Kris had come over and was tending to Ella.

Rachel had been in the guest room, but she came into the kitchen to get a Coke. "So, Rachel, do you have everything you need?" Elizabeth called out. She was looking in the hall mirror and applying some lipstick.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine."

"Oh wait," Elizabeth said. "I forgot to give you some money to get a pizza."

"I got it," Robert said. He reached into his pocket and took out some bills, and handed them to Rachel.

"Thanks," she said. She looked down at them in surprise. He had given her fifty dollars. "But, I don't need that much-"

"Well, you can order what you want from the pizza place," he said, "Or you could use it to take a cab and meet us at the restaurant. If you change your mind."

"Okay, well thanks," she said. It still seemed like too much money, but she didn't know what to say.

Robert and Elizabeth put on their coats. "Okay, we're going now," Elizabeth said. "Kris, we're leaving. The phone number for the restaurant is on the fridge, or you have my cellular number."

"Okay," Kris called out from the other room. "Have fun."

"Thanks," Elizabeth said. "And Rachel, I know you have my cellular number too if you need it. Let us know if you need anything."

"Okay," Rachel said. "have a good time."

Seated at their table at the restaurant, Elizabeth turned toward Robert and smiled. "It's been a long time since we've had a Saturday night out," she said.

"Too long," he said, smiling. He took her hand and caressed it gently.

"That was nice of you to invite Rachel to take a cab over," she said. "You think she will?"

"No," Robert said. They both laughed a little. "You know, we might cramp her style or something."

"Just as well," Elizabeth said, smiling. The waiter brought their food. "Oh, this looks marvelous." They both started to eat. After a few bites, Elizabeth looked up and looked across the room. "This place is packed," she said. She lifted her eyebrows and her mouth opened slightly. "Oh, my."

"What?" Robert said.

"Uh..nothing," she said. She smiled uneasily. "It's just - well, I just saw someone sit down, that's all."

"Well, Lizzie, a lot of people are sitting down," he said. "You just said it was packed." She nodded. He looked at her, amused. "Who exactly has just sat down?"

"Maybe you should turn around and take a look," she said.

He raised his eyebrows. He shifted in his seat and looked behind him. Across the crowded room, Carter and Abby were sharing a table with Peter Benton and Cleo. Robert turned around to face Lizzie again. "Great," he said sardonically.

"I know," she said, and smiled. "Well, it's a hot restaurant. Everyone is here."

"Apparently," he said, sighing in exasperation. "Talk about a mood- changer."

"Now, Robert," Elizabeth said. "They probably won't even see us. Just ignore them and enjoy our evening if you don't want to go say hello."

"You want to say hello?" he said. "Don't we see them enough?"

"Well, I see Abby and Carter almost every day," Elizabeth admitted. "But I haven't seen Benton and Cleo in a very long time. It would be nice to say hello, don't you think?"

"Don't 'I' think?" Robert said. "Much as I'd love to relive my beautiful friendship with Peter Benton, I think I'll pass. I guess I can see why you would be so happy to see Peter again, fond memories and all that."

"Robert," she said warningly. "You're being silly. Don't tell me you're jealous of Peter after all this time."

"Jealous?" Robert repeated. "I'm not jealous." He thought for a minute. "Okay, maybe a little."

"There is no reason for you to be," Elizabeth said firmly. She touched his hand. "Peter and Cleo are very happy, and I am very happy with you. As I hope you are with me."

"I am," he said.

"I don't feel anything but friendship for Peter," she said, giving Robert's hand a squeeze before letting it go and returning to her dinner. "You're the only one I want."

"Well, good," he said, and grinned. "But you know, I still don't really want to go talk to them or anything."

"Okay," she said. "Well, if they see us or pass by here, we can't just ignore them, of course."

"I don't know about that," Robert said, almost under his breath.

"Robert," Elizabeth said sternly, as if talking to a child. "Be good."

They talked and ate, enjoying their dinner. Near the end of their meal, John Carter walked by their table. "Elizabeth?" he said.

Elizabeth looked up. "Hello!" she said.

"Hello!" he said. "Hello, Dr. Romano."

"Carter," Robert said, surprisingly cheerfully. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Carter said. "How are you?"

"Great," Robert said. "Nothing like a good meal." He slid closer to Elizabeth, resting his arm on her shoulder.

"Is Abby with you, Carter?" Elizabeth said.

"Is she ever not with him?" Robert said. Elizabeth gave him a warning look. Robert smiled at Carter. "We get such pleasure at seeing the two of you together," he said.

"Uh huh," Carter said cautiously. "Well, thanks. Yeah, Abby's over there." He motioned towards their table across the room. "I'm surprised you didn't see us actually!"

"But you didn't see us either, did you?" Elizabeth said, laughing nervously. "Until just now, of course."

"Well, that's true," Carter said. "Anyway, I was just heading in there," he gestured towards the men's room. "But it was great to see both of you."

"Wonderful to see you," Elizabeth said. Robert smiled wryly. Carter walked away. "Did you have to be so rude?" Elizabeth said, exasperated.

"I thought I was pretty good, considering." Robert said.

Elizabeth sighed. "Oh well. I suppose this kind of thing happens."

"What kind of thing?"

"Seeing our co-workers outside of work."

"Co-workers?" Robert said sarcastically. "They're all under me. Subordinates would be the better word."

"You just want everyone to be afraid of you," Elizabeth teased.

"They are."

"Don't be so sure. Your bark is worse than your bite."

"I thought you liked my bite," he whispered seductively.

Elizabeth blushed. "Robert."

Carter appeared again at their table. "Hey, I forgot to mention, Peter Benton is out with us tonight."

"Oh really?" Elizabeth said.

"Yeah, Cleo too."

"That's wonderful," Elizabeth said. "I haven't seen them in quite a while." She looked at Robert and he smirked.

"Well, they'll be thrilled to hear that you're here," Carter said. "I'm sure you'll be glad to see Dr. Benton again, Dr. Romano." He smiled. "Well, I'd better get back to my table. Nice seeing you." He waved at them and walked back to his table.

"Did you hear that?" Robert said to Elizabeth.

"What?"

"Carter! He was being smart with me."

Elizabeth smiled. "Maybe you deserved it."

"Come on, Elizabeth."

"Well, we'll have to say hello now," Elizabeth said. "There's no way around it. It would be rude not to, you know."

"Oh, heaven forbid I should be rude," Robert said. "We're eating dinner, let's just enjoy it. No going over to anyone's table. If they want to stop over here on their way out, they can."

"We'll probably be finished before they are," Elizabeth fretted. "We'll be walking out first."

"So, we'll be walking out first." Robert said.

The waiter came by. "Dessert?"

"Yes, I would like something," Elizabeth said.

"We like to stay at our table as long as possible," Robert said to the waiter.

"I see," the waiter said, smiling. "May I recommend the tiramisu?" Robert and Elizabeth agreed and ordered two with coffee. The waiter left and returned a few minutes later with their order.

"It's very good," Elizabeth said to Robert.

"Uh huh," he said slyly.

"What, Robert?"

"Nothing, it's just, you don't have to be scared of those idiots."

"I am not scared of anyone," Elizabeth retorted.

"So you admit that they're idiots?"

"Robert!" she said, then laughed. "Stop it."

"You didn't deny it," he said. He stuck his tongue out. "Der."

"Stop making me laugh," she said, her face turning red. "I don't think they're idiots."

"That's good," he said in a lower voice, "because they're headed this way." She looked at him in surprise. "Yeah. I guess they skipped dessert." Carter and Abby were headed over towards them.

"Where's Benton and Cleo?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Must have snuck out the back way."

"Robert stop it," she said, trying not to smile. "There isn't a back way."

"Sure there is."

"Elizabeth, Dr. Romano, how are you?" Abby called out. Carter, standing next to her, smiled.

"Hello, Abby, we're fine, how are you?" Elizabeth said.

"Wonderful," Abby said. To Robert, she said, "Isn't this is a great restaurant?"

"The best," he said.

"I want to come back next week," Abby said to Carter.

"Next week?" he repeated.

"Hey you've got the money," she said playfully, punching him lightly. Robert looked at Elizabeth and rolled his eyes. She shook her head at him.

"Hey, what happened to you two?" Carter said, over his shoulder, as Cleo and Peter appeared.

"It was great to see you," Abby said to Robert and Elizabeth. To Carter, she said, "I'll be outside."

"Smoke break?" Carter said. She smiled mischievously. "All right, I'll join you." To Peter, he said, "We'll be outside." Carter smiled again at Elizabeth as he and Abby left.

"Hello Peter, Cleo," Elizabeth said.

"Hi!" Cleo said. "Such a surprise to see you both."

"Isn't it?" Robert said. Peter was silent.

"It's been a long time," Elizabeth said, making eye contact with Peter.

"Yes, it has," Peter said. "I don't think I've seen you-" he hesitated, "since Mark's funeral. I'm sorry, Elizabeth." She nodded gratefully. Peter's eyes flickered back and forth between Elizabeth and Robert. "Carter mentioned that you two were - involved."

"Well, sorry if that spoiled your dinner, Peter," Robert said heartily.

Peter glared at him. "He told me another time, he didn't tell me tonight. Our dinner was just fine."

"Glad to hear it," Robert said. "So, Peter, Cleo, how are things in Skokie?"

"Schaumburg," Peter said coldly.

"Oh right, Schaumburg. Good private hospital, but in the middle of nowhere. Shame you had to move so far out. You know, if you ever wanted to come back to County, I'm sure we could dig something up." He looked slyly at Elizabeth. "Lizzie, isn't there a surgical position to be filled?"

"That's a per diem position," Elizabeth said.

"So, what's wrong with that?" Robert said innocently.

"Dr. Romano," Peter said angrily, "You can take your position, and shove it where the-"

"Peter, let's go get our coats," Cleo said hurriedly, putting her hand on his arm. "It's getting late." She turned to Elizabeth and Robert. "It was nice seeing you."

"You too, Cleo," Robert said. Cleo walked off. Benton still stood there, glaring at Robert.

"Well, Peter, always a pleasure," Robert said. He put his arm around Elizabeth and smiled at Peter.

Peter stared at Elizabeth, his mouth open.

"Feeling okay, Peter?" Robert said.

"Elizabeth, how could you!" Peter said, fuming. He turned and stormed off.

Elizabeth looked at Robert, stunned.

"So much for your great friendship with Peter Benton," Robert said.

"Oh dear," she said.

"Yeah well," Robert said. "At least we got a chance to say hello."

They both burst out laughing.