Hello, dear readers! I'm back after a long hiatus which I definitely didn't intend to go this long. The summer got busy and before I knew it, a few months had passed by. Please feel free to go back and read the last couple of chapters if you forget where we left off. For any new readers to "Just Visiting," welcome, and to all the old readers, thank you for sticking with this story!

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"So where is she?" Elizabeth said to Robert. They were in the kitchen. Robert had talked to Rachel the night before about going to the Lincoln Park Zoo with Elizabeth and Ella. It was Sunday, and Rachel was leaving on Monday, so they thought that the zoo would be something fun to do before she left.

"She's upstairs getting ready," Robert said.

"Quite a talk you two must have had last night," Elizabeth said.

"Yeah, well, everything worked out. She's not a bad kid, just a little lonely, I guess."

"And she likes the Lincoln Park Zoo," Elizabeth said, rubbing her temples. She pushed away some things on the kitchen table, turning them over, as if looking for something. "Damn this headache."

"Are you sure you still want to go?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she said crossly. "It was your idea, wasn't it?"

"Nooo - it was Rachel's," he said. "She thought it would be fun to take Ella, I didn't disagree. Look, if you don't want to go, you don't have to go-"

"Robert, I didn't say that," Elizabeth interrupted. "I'd like to go to the zoo. It's just that I have a splitting headache and I can't find the bloody pills."

"What - Excedrin? It's in the bathroom."

"No, not the Excedrin," Elizabeth said impatiently. "I have a sinus headache and I need my prescription sinus medicine." She pushed her hair off her face, resting her hand at the top of the head. "God - it's really getting worse."

"I'm sorry," Robert said. "I'll help you look. You checked the upstairs cabinet already?"

"Yes," Elizabeth said. "I checked the upstairs bathroom, the downstairs bathroom, everywhere. I think maybe I put them in here somewhere." She pointed towards the kitchen cabinets.

"Why would you put them in there?"

"I don't know! I just did."

"Lizzie-"

"Robert," Elizabeth snapped, "If you tell me anything about how it was poor form for me to put them somewhere I wouldn't remember, I swear I'll--"

"All right, all right," Robert said quickly. "Don't kill me." He opened the cabinet above the dishwasher and looked inside.

"I looked there already," Elizabeth said. She pulled upon the drawers of another cabinet, looking furiously. "I looked here already too. Damn it! What did I do with those pills?"

"I wish I knew," Robert said. Elizabeth turned and glared at him. "I do! I wish I knew, Lizzie. I'm trying to find them."

"I'll find them myself," she said. She hastily opened some more drawers, looking around. "God, my head is pounding." Robert squatted down on his knees, searching through the lower cabinet, as Elizabeth searched the cabinets above him. "Damn!" she said. "I can't find it." She banged the upper cabinet shut and as she did her leg slammed the lower cabinet drawer shut, right against Robert's head.

"Ouch!" he cried out.

"Robert!" she said. She bent down on her knees, surprised. "I'm sorry." She reached out a hand to touch his head and he winced. "Are you hurt?"

He looked at her in amazement. "Lizzie, what do you think? Yes, I'm hurt. You brained me, in case you didn't notice." He sat down on the floor and held out a prescription container. "Here's your pills."

"How did you-"

"I found them in the cabinet and was just about to tell you, when I felt a sharp drawer connect with my left temple," he said. He winced again. "God!"

"Robert, thank you," she said. "I'm so sorry!"

"Just take your pills, Lizzie," Robert said weakly, "and then maybe, if it's not too much trouble, get me an icepack."

Elizabeth grabbed a glass of water, and took her sinus pills quickly. She took the icepack out of her side cabinet, and filled it up with ice. "Come on," she said, "Come sit on the couch."

"I'm fine," he grumbled.

"Well, just sit on the couch, and put the ice on there," she suggested. Robert got up and moved into the living room. "Fifteen minutes," Elizabeth said. She put the icepack against his head, then took it off after a moment and looked at the reddened spot before putting the pack back on. "It's not so bad, you know."

"Oh, really?" he said sarcastically. "Compared to what?"

"Well, maybe you can cover it with something."

"Oh sure, Liz, I'll just cover it up with all that hair I have," he said. "What is wrong with you?"

Despite the situation, Elizabeth laughed a little. "I meant, a hat or a bandana or something."

"A bandana?" he said incredulously. "Great, I'll look like I'm joining a rock band. You know, I just love the ideas you come up with sometimes."

"I'm sorry!" Elizabeth said, and laughed again.

"Oh good, this is funny to you. I'm glad I could turn your mood around today, Lizzie. How's 'your' head? You seem to have made a miraculous recovery."

"You know, those pills really worked wonderfully," Elizabeth admitted.

"Super! Well, you know anytime I can help, just let me know."

"I will," she said, teasing him. She lifted the icebag, and kissed the spot on his head. "I really am sorry."

"I know you are," he said good-naturedly.

She put the icepack back on his head. "Ten more minutes."

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"Ready for the zoo?" Elizabeth said.

"Yeah! I am," Rachel said. She turned to Ella "Ella, are you ready?"

"Zoo," Ella said. She pointed towards Robert's dog Gretel. "Gretel go too!"

"No, love, they don't allow dogs there," Elizabeth explained. Ella pouted, and Elizabeth stroked her hair. "I'm sorry love, Gretel can't go."

"Don't worry Ella, we'll have fun," Rachel reassured her sister.

Robert came downstairs wearing a fisherman's hat. "Ready?"

Rachel stared at him. "Robert, what's with the hat?"

"I had a little accident," he said. "Bumped my head. Are we ready to go?"

"Wait, what about Gretel?" Elizabeth said. "Did you take her out?"

"When I got up this morning."

"Maybe we should take her again," Elizabeth said. "We might be out for quite a while."

"I'll take her," Rachel volunteered.

"Really?" Robert said.

"Yeah, why not," Rachel said. She turned to Ella. "Wanna take Gretel for a

little walk?"

"Walk!" Ella agreed.

Rachel grabbed the leash. "We'll be back in a few," she said, as she, Ella

and Gretel headed outside.

"Thanks," Elizabeth called out incredulously. She turned to Robert, surprised.

He pulled her close. "She's an angel," he said, smiling.

Elizabeth shook her head, "It's a miracle," she said, and they both laughed. "Whatever did you say to her last night?"

"Aah, you know, just stuff."

"Well whatever it was, it worked wonders," Elizabeth said. "And now we have a few minutes alone."

"Yeah, I'm still in pain from your little wallop," he whined.

"I'd better kiss it again and make it all better," she teased.

"Actually, my mouth is hurting me," he said. "I need to be kissed there."

"Oh, all right," she said. She put her arm around him, and they began to kiss.

************************************************************************ "Well, where should we go next?" Elizabeth said, looking at the zoo map. They'd been at the zoo for a couple of hours. "We've already seen the bird house, the children's zoo, the penguin and seabird house. Where next? Rachel?"

"It's up to Ella," Rachel said. "Ella, where do you want to go next?" She looked at the map. "The Bear and Wolf Habitat, the Primate House, the Lion House-"

"Lion house!" Ella said.

"Okay," Rachel said, grinning. "The Lion House it is." They all walked over there and as they got close, Rachel took Ella's hand and they ran in there. Robert and Elizabeth stood outside, watching.

"They get along well," Robert said.

"Yes they do," Elizabeth said. "I'm glad." She turned to him and touched the brim of his hat, smiling.

"What?" he said suspiciously.

"Nothing," she said, grinning. "You look so cute." She ran her hand over the bump on the side of his head.

"Ouch," he said. "It still hurts, you know."

"Don't be such a baby."

"Don't hit me on the head!" he protested.

"Rob, you're whining," she teased.

"I am not!"

"Yes you are," she said, putting her arms around his waist. "You're being a brat."

"You are," he said. He put his right hand on her breast.

"No, you are," she whispered. She kissed him on the cheek. He reached forward and kissed her full on the mouth. They stood there kissing for a few minutes.

"Okay, we're done," Rachel announced, as she and Ella skipped over to them. "Ella didn't like the lions. She said-Ew." Rachel interrupted herself as she realized Robert and Elizabeth were kissing and embracing. "Yikes, guys, c'mon, no PDA."

"PDA?" Elizabeth said, as she and Robert reluctantly broke apart.

"Public display of affection," Robert said. "How long have you been in this country again?"

Elizabeth shot him an annoyed look. "I've never heard of PDA. It's not even a real word!"

"It's an expression," Rachel said. "For when two people are, you know, being gross in public."

"We were not being gross," Elizabeth said, mildly annoyed. "We're adults!"

"Besides, Rachel, where else would you have us kiss?" Robert said, grinning. "You're always around."

"Not for long!" Rachel said. "Tomorrow, I bid you guys bye-bye."

"Oh, is it tomorrow already?" Elizabeth teased. "I'd forgotten."

"Yeah, yeah," Rachel said. "Don't worry, I'll be glad to leave too." She softened. "I mean, it hasn't been all bad. Thanks, you guys, for having me."

"I'm glad you came to stay, Rachel," Elizabeth said. "I really am." She looked over at Robert, who looked distracted, and she gently touched his arm.

"Me too," Robert said. "And I'm starving."

"Yeah, let's eat already!" Rachel said.

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Another chapter coming soon - probably in about two weeks when I get back from my vacation. Hope you enjoyed this light-hearted chapter - let me know!