Romano busied himself in his study once he returned from his play date with Elizabeth and Ella at Discovery Zone. He was surprised that Gretal was the only one who greeted him when he walked in the door that afternoon. He logged onto his computer and sent off a few more obligatory e-mails to the contacts he had created who were interested in his progression at work. He had expected his answering machine to be flashing rapidly with Kerry Weaver's action plan for Romano's role in revealing himself, and his new technology, to the hospital. It was sure to lead to millions of dollars in free publicity for County General. Perhaps even national recognition. With Weaver as Chief of Staff, this would be the biggest boost to her professional career that she could possibly hope for. Romano remembered Weaver nearly drooling at the prospects when he first introduced her to his preliminary achievements.
But she hadn't called. Romano couldn't imagine Susan Lewis keeping to herself. She had been pushing for him to make public his work at County for a majority of the month that he had been practicing secretly. Romano shook the thought from his mind. He had planned on making a trip in tomorrow and decided he could hold off planning his future until then. Besides, he thought as he shut down his computer and pushed his chair back slightly from his desk, I have plenty of other things to think about today.
Last night could not have gone better. He admitted to himself it was possibly the single best night he had ever shared with a woman. Granted he had certainly experienced much more with woman in the past. He smiled thinking that aside from their shoes, they remained fully dressed throughout the evening. And when they finally retired to their separate bedrooms, he knew that he wasn't the only one who rethought that decision a million times before falling asleep. But even now, alone in his study, Romano was confident that they had made the right choice. "No regrets." he announced aloud.
Romano found himself missing Elizabeth as he thought about the previous night. They had only separated a few hours ago, and he knew that this space between them was necessary. I don't want to rush her. She needs to process. It was fairly painful to spend the day with her in public, not holding her and kissing her as he had before, but that was the right thing to do. Romano had decided that he would be best to hold down his affection for Elizabeth when Ella was around. Aside from their brief goodbye kiss on the cheek, the two of them had had no physical contact.
He was entering unfamiliar territory, but he had seen enough to know that stepping in quickly as both a husband-figure to Elizabeth and a father-figure to Ella would only lead to difficulties for all of them. He had to go slow. It would be excruciating but certainly not any more than the last five years had been. In fact, his current self-disciplined restraint was infinitely better, as he knew that Elizabeth shared his feelings. Romano let his mind wander to what their next meeting, without Ella, would be like. With clothes on, Romano had already learned so much about her body. Romano leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He mentally reviewed the sensitive spots on her side that caused her to laugh uncontrollably, as well as the areas of her back and neck that brought a completely different verbal response. He smiled wickedly as how much more there was to figure out. He decided he didn't know nearly enough about her ears… or her arms…
The ring of the doorbell and Gretal's barks from the back room interrupted his thoughts. He did his best to cover his smile as he opened the door. Elizabeth was standing at his step with a sleeping Ella in her arms and determination on her face.
"Robert," she said curtly.
Romano let go of the control he had on his smile and let it fill his face completely. Then registering her tone, he hesitantly answered, "Elizabeth."
"May I come in?" she asked still full of businesslike stuffiness.
Romano opened the door wider allowing her in. Elizabeth walked in briskly. She didn't bother walking out of the hall or attempt to put Ella down. She glanced around the entryway and then looked back to Robert. He was the first to speak, "something on your mind Elizabeth?" He added with a smile, "not quite sure what to do with a sleeping baby?"
"No Robert. Ella and I are perfectly capable without you."
The words hit Robert harshly. He physically recoiled at the sound of them. His smile faded and his eyes went to the floor. I never doubted that you were, he thought silently. But then he stood straight up and bitterly opened the door, "Well Elizabeth, thank you for your visit. Let's not do this again some time."
"I honestly don't understand you at all." She answered letting her reserve fade a bit. She walked towards the door. Romano closed it before she got there.
"You don't understand me," he scoffed.
"Don't do that Robert. Don't try and make this about me."
"How can it possibly be about me?" he spat.
"How can it? How can it? Oh please Robert! Who do you think I am? Do you think I have some open door policy with men staying in my guest room?"
"No… I didn't assume…" he tried to reply, to try to calm her down, but he didn't understand what she was getting at.
Completely ignoring his response she continued with her heated monologue. "Well, I don't. Last night changed things. For me anyway!"
"For me too…" Romano interjected softly.
"…Probably just some sort of twisted one-uping you wanted to do for payback with Peter and Mark!"
"Stop, right there!" Romano answered loudly, finally finding his voice. Elizabeth stopped talking but held strong to her rage. "I have waited patiently for last night. I've waited for over five years! You have no right to tell me how insignificant I thought it was!" Romano had answered her spite with equal amounts of fury. "Payback? Get out!" he ordered opening the door again.
Elizabeth started out the door. Softer, somewhat more reflective, he finished, "I can't believe you blame me for last night."
Elizabeth stopped short with one foot still inside his home. "I don't blame you for last night. I blame you for today." She stated plainly, more than explained. But Romano had already shut the door behind her before he could try and make sense of the words. Today?
Robert threw the door open and ran down his walkway to her, "Elizabeth, wait." She stopped but didn't turn to him. He walked around her, so he could see her face. It looked as if she was blinking back tears. "I need to understand what you meant by today." Elizabeth closed her eyes and took a huge breath. Romano could see the impact that his yelling had on her. He felt guilt roll over him. "Please, Lizzie. Please, come back inside."
Elizabeth relented and turned back towards his house. Once they got inside he wordlessly took Ella from her and carefully laid her down on the floor in the study, atop blanket. Elizabeth sat down timidly on the couch. Romano excused himself to start some tea, and when he came back in, she had moved from the couch. She stood near his desk. She was finding herself much more comfortable standing.
"Elizabeth, I don't…"
"No Robert. Please let me." She interrupted. "I was wrong to doubt that last night was important to you. I know that it is what you wanted. I shouldn't have questioned that. But today…"
"yes today…" he repeated, still unsure of what he had done wrong.
"Today, you assertively withdrew every time I tried to touch you. Look, if you can only stand be near me in the privacy of your home, or mine…" She trailed off for a moment but finished before Romano could formulate a response, "Well I don't think I can do that Robert."
"Oh Lizzie…" he exhaled. There was an earnest sincerity in his tone. "It's not at all what you think…" He mumbled won't we ever get past these misunderstandings to himself, before continuing his explanation. "I know what I want. I have known it for a long time. But this is new for you. And while I don't doubt your feelings for me…now… you have Ella to think about. What I mean is we have Ella to think about. I don't want to confuse her. I can be her friend. And I can be your friend in front of her. And when we are alone I can be… I mean we can… Actually, I don't really know how to finish that sentence."
"I do…" Elizabeth looked over to the floor to see Ella sleeping soundlessly. She then walked over to Robert and kissed him… hard. He backed up with the force of her kiss. Once against the wall he was able to respond to her energy. Romano reached up with right arm and held onto the back of her neck. He kissed her back with such pressure it brought pain. Recognizing that she couldn't back away from him, she leaned her entire body against him, pining him to the wall. Romano broke the kiss to catch his breath. She kissed him again, not giving him the chance to calm down. Her arms moved frantically rubbing her hands momentarily under his shirt and then withdrawing them to pin his own hands to the wall.
She removed her lips from his and began teasing his neck. With his mouth finally free he tried to speak. "Lizzie… I won't… I can't… Lizzie… if you don't… I won't be… able to stop."
Elizabeth stopped kissing him and took a half-step back. This allowed him to stand balanced again on his feet. A coy smile crossed her mouth, "good."
Robert lunged at her as they wrestled down to the ground. Of course, once they reached the floor, they simultaneously turned their heads to see Ella, still asleep, but a mere few feet away. The mood was instantly broken. They smiled goofily at one another, and with a few gentle pecks, they both got to their feet.
Nervously they straightened their clothes.
Robert went to the kitchen where he was sure that the tea was, not only ready, but probably cold by now.