CHAPTER 2

"Is it this one?" Romano asked, gesturing out the window at the row of houses.

"No it's the next one," Elizabeth responded, and he slowed down and turned into the driveway.

The drive over had not been an uneasy one, as Elizabeth had half expected. Instead they'd traded medical 'did you knows?' along with stories, about their days as inept med students. Robert had had Elizabeth almost in tears of laughter, when he'd regaled his tale, about the time he'd delivered a baby in the hospital cafeteria as a med student.

You wouldn't think to look at them, that these were two people facing large crossroads in their lives.

"I'll get Ella if you could unlock the front door for me please?" She handed Robert her keys, and realized they were working together as a team, just as they used to in the OR. The thought made her realize just how much she missed operating with him.

Once inside the house, Elizabeth headed upstairs to put Ella down and told Robert to make himself at home. He looked around at the house.... it wasn't lavishly decorated, but it was comfortable. Ella's toys lay strewn about the family room floor, and there was an oversized beige couch, a big screen TV covered with fingerprints...Ella's no doubt. Robert decided he liked it here as he took off his coat, and hung it across the railing of the stairs. He slipped off his shoes and sat down on the couch.

Elizabeth returned moments later, having put on a sweatshirt. "Would you like some coffee...tea... wine?" She asked him, walking into the kitchen.

"Do you have any juice?" he replied, as he absently flipped through a photo album lying on the table.

"Sure, but don't you want a big boy drink?" she joked, as she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Oh no Lizzie...no height jokes don't even think about it...my ego is far too inflated right now and I'm rather enjoying it." He said, still flipping the pages of the book.

Once in the kitchen, she poured him a glass of juice. Feeling surprisingly relaxed, her previous thoughts of a glass of wine went out the window, and she put the kettle on instead.

Walking back out, Elizabeth handed Robert his orange juice and sat down next to him on the couch. Neither of them said anything, but they stole sideway glances at one another and traded small smiles. Robert finally took a deep breath, and turned to face Elizabeth. He put his hand gently on top of hers.

"Lizzie...I'm not sure how...well...what happened between us today...happened.... and I'm glad it did.... but I need to know that it's not out of pity." Elizabeth attempted to interrupt him, but he continued in a voice that was more formal than passionate.

"I fell for you the first time I met you five years ago. Trust me, there's nothing I want more, than to be able to call you mine.... except, maybe for you to call me...yours. These past years I've watched you with other men and it's hurt me like nothing I've ever known.... which is why I feel the need to tell you that this, whatever this is...it has to be all or nothing Lizzie, cause I don't know if I can..."

"Oh Robert shut up." Elizabeth said, as she leaned over and pressed her lips against his. He deepened the kiss and guided her down to the couch covering her body with his. She wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him closer to her. He responded with a moan and a gentle nibble of her bottom lip.

Just then the kettle began to whistle.

Robert groaned.

"Next time something makes a noise while I'm kissing you, we might just have to get into a competition with it...and just so you know...I always win."

Elizabeth blushed, as she got up to make her tea. Safe inside the darkness of the kitchen she closed her eyes.

How in the world did this happen? Robert Romano is sitting on my couc,h and he's just snogged me. How on earth did this happen?

"I'm happy." She said aloud, and smiled.

"What was that Lizzie?" Robert called from the other room.

"Nothing." She said, as she walked back to the family room with her tea, and sat down.

He turned towards her on the couch.

"Mumbling hex's under your breath really isn't necessary.... you could just ask me to leave." Elizabeth shook her head, ignoring his ever-present sarcasm.

"Robert, I know you're scared." She looked at him intently. "Well, so am I.... I'm not exactly stable at this point in my life...but this...it just feels right."

Robert nodded in agreement, and smiled.

"Yes it does." He breathed softly, as he brushed a stray hair from her face and kissed her fleetingly. "But I really want you to consider every aspect of this Elizabeth. Like I said, this is not something I'm willing to go into half ass."

"I know your not."

Her breath caught in her throat as Robert began kissing her neck, and ran his fingers through her hair. The words came out of her mouth before she even had a chance to stop them.

"Robert would you like to stay here tonight?"

TBC