a few snapshots... i'll get back to the plot later, this is too much fun...

you know what i've neglected for the last four or five stories:

disclaimer: what's the point, you know the line

"So, what do you want to do today?" Susan handed Rachel a hot chocolate and sat beside her, cradling a mug of hot coffee, almost wishing she'd got more sleep… almost.

"Um… I dunno." Rachel was pretty sure her Dad had said she was going home when Susan was ready to take her… but if Susan didn't know that then the possibilities were much more appealing.

"Well, your Dad probably wouldn't want us having too much fun," she teased, "but I have some shopping to do and you're welcome to tag along, I mean, if you don't want to go home right away."

"Cool." Rachel smiled. This was getting better all the time.

Mark stopped outside his door to find his keys. He could hear voices inside. And laughter – definitely a good sign. He smiled, letting himself in.

"He's way too old for you." Susan was laughing.

"Yeah, but he has the X-factor. I dunno, I can appreciate he's gorgeous without any sort of… you know."

Mark hoped they were talking about a celebrity.

"I guess. So he goes in the same category as Harrison Ford."

"I never really liked him, but like, Mel Gibson."

"Hey, he's not outside of my age range."

Rachel cracked up laughing as Mark walked into the kitchen. "Good evening ladies."

"Oh, hey." They turned to him in unison.

"How was your day?"

"Awesome." Rachel grinned.

Susan just smiled and offered him a cookie.

Mark nodded a bit suspiciously and took the offered cookie. They were home made – well, that gave away part of what they'd been up to all day. "So, did Susan spoil you rotten?" he sat down beside Rachel.

"Um…"

Mark laughed at them both – Rachel, unsure how to safely answer his question, Susan dreading his response.

"So, you guys want Pizza for dinner?" Susan stood up, headed for the phone.

"Yeah." Rachel forgot her anxiety.

"So what did you get up to all day?" Mark asked once Susan was gone.

"Well, Susan wanted to do some shopping and she let me go with her, and we just hung out for a bit then came home."

"Uh huh." Mark nodded, knowing he was hearing the understatement of the year.

"It'll be here in a while." Susan returned

"Cool, well I'm going to go and… um…" Rachel mumbled something and disappeared toward her room.

Mark was laughing silently.

"I think I did spoil her." Susan sat down beside him.

He just smiled at her. "I don't care. She's happy. I was never much for discipline…" he shrugged, grinning at her. He took a deep breath and let his eyes linger in hers luxuriously, "You're incredible."

Susan laughed and shook her head.

"So what did you do all day?"

"You mean other than painting our nails?" she teased.

"Well, yeah, other than that." He played along.

"Oh, you know, just… saw a movie, spot of shopping," she laughed, "ice cream, sushi, more shopping… I'm a sucker."

"Welcome to the club." He took her hand, "You know, today I should have been, well, fuming about all this with Rachel, but I didn't worry for a moment and I've been grinning like an idiot all day."

"Me too. She asked about us… if we were… you know."

Mark nodded.

"I managed to fend it off but maybe…"

"I'll talk to her. I think she's figured it out, but still. She likes you – well, she said you were 'cool' and that was before you spoilt her all day, so…"

"Well that's got to be good. So, how was work?"

"I can't remember." He had lost himself somewhere in her eyes.

She laughed lightly and touched his chin with her fingertips.

He was about to kiss her when the doorbell rang. Opening his eyes, he thought about getting up.

"I'll get it." Rachel called.

"There's some cash in the drawer…" Mark started.

"I know," came Rachel's reply.

Susan was smiling, knowing Rachel would be back in a moment, she leant in for a quick kiss, catching him off guard, then pulling back just in time. "Man, am I hungry." She covered her blush and got up to pour some drinks.

"Hey, you got vegetarian." Rachel looked up pleasantly surprised.

"Well, you said you didn't eat meat – same thing right?" Susan teased.

"Yeah, but… thanks." Rachel helped herself to several slices and took her plate through to the lounge to watch TV.

"Pizza without meat – I don't understand, but it's her life." Susan sat back down and put their drinks in front of them, "Vegetarian?" she teased, loading a plate with pepperoni for him.

"Ah, how well you know me."

"They haven't figured it out so she's on probation or something – like we're not understaffed already." Mark summarized the entire Is-Elizabeth-Killing-Her-Patients? storyline in one sentence.

"So, not the best time to go on holiday?"

"Why, what did you have planned?"

"Oh, nothing, just letting my mind wander."

"A holiday would be so good." Mark agreed. "I've been so tired lately – I just can't seem to catch up on sleep."

Susan looked concerned.

"I'm okay, just tired." He shrugged.

She reached out to touch his forehead. His temperature was fine but he didn't let her get away without kissing her like he'd wanted to all day – well, ever since he had early that morning. And the knowledge that he could do so when he got home had him on turbo-power all day.

"I knew it." Rachel walked into the kitchen right on cue, to get a drink. She ignored their embarrassment, got her drink and headed back to the lounge.

"Well, that… could have been worse." Susan laughed.

"Yup." He grinned then got up to clear the table.

"So," she followed him, "What's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Just the usual, why?"

"I mean, what about Rachel?"

"Oh, well, I was going to leave her at home, I mean I don't have a lot of choice. I'm on seven till seven again."

Susan nodded, "I could take her again."

"You're crazy."

"It's why you love me." She shrugged

"You are crazy." He turned to her, just looking at her, still awestruck.

She smiled contentedly and stepped into him, hugging him.

"What's this for?" he held her tight, resting his head on hers.

"Just because I can." She mumbled into his chest.

Mark kissed her hair, still holding her as close as he could without hurting her. "I still don't quite believe it."

"What?" she whispered.

"You're here."

She sighed, "Me either."