The kiss was becoming something beyond passion. The heat of their mouths, the exploring of tongues was pulling them into a place they had only dreamed of. Robert pulled back and smiled at her. "I can't believe I am going to say this to you but."

She cut him off with another quick kiss. "I know. Neither of us is ready to rush into anything." They both smiled at her comment. They had had 10 years of foreplay and now they felt they were rushing. "Good night." She whispered and turned to leave. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him for one last kiss before letting her go.

She lay in bed feeling happy and confused. And also feeling like she was missing out on her life again. She wanted to be near him. To feel his body next to hers as she finally let herself live the fantasy she had held so dear for so long. She got out of bed and slipped out of her room and down the hall. She knocked quietly on his door then opened it slightly.

"Lex, what's wrong?" He asked getting up and she stopped him by shaking her head.

"Nothing. I just want to wake up next to you."

He grinned at her. "There is nothing that I would love more." He his grin became a seductive smirk. "Well, there are a few things but I can wait. Even if it is going to be damn hard to do." He pulled her to him and their lips met again. The passion was starting to overtake them again so they reluctantly broke the kiss. He led her to the bed and they lay down facing each other. Neither saying a word just enjoying the closeness as their hands intertwined. "I love you." He whispered and she smiled.

"I love you." She whispered back. She closed her eyes as his lips touched her forehead, then her cheek and then her lips again. She snuggled up to him and both fell asleep more content than they had been in years.

She stretched out with a goof smile on her face. The sun shown through the light chiffon of the drapes and she couldn't remember having slept better in her life. She laughed at herself. She had woken up several time in the middle of the night and snuggled up to Robert and each time she realized that it was real she would smile even bigger. She pulled on the robe he had brought her from her room and went down stairs to see where he was. She walked into the kitchen and looked around for him but he was nowhere to be seen. She poured herself a cup of coffee and aloud herself to stop and indulge in the rich smell of the liquid. He walked back into the kitchen and smiled at the sight of her standing in front of the kitchen window. The sun shown down on her ever so slightly and it made her almost glow. He walked quietly up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, handing her the rose he had picked in the garden for her. She smiled at him and turned to face him.

"You had better be careful or people are going to think you are actually a nice guy."

Robert laughed and shook his head. "You wouldn't do that to me. I have spent far too many hours mastering the fine art of assholyness." Lexie laughed and kissed him. "Well Lex, go get dressed."

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Why?"

"Well not that I wouldn't love to look at you in your nightgown all day but I have a special day planned for us."

"What are we doing?" He shook his head.

"It is a surprise." She grinned and kissed him. They went upstairs and to their rooms and got ready for the day.

They started off at a small café by the river where they enjoyed fresh bagels and rich coffee as they sat enjoying the sun and the cool breeze from the water. An hour later they strolled hand in hand down the path that ran the course of the water. They talked about old times and funny memories and the relaxed feeling between them was one neither imagine they would feel again. Around noon they were both feeling hungry again and Robert led them to a small shop where he had Lexie wait outside while he went to make his purchase. He emerged a few minutes later with a picnic basket and took her hand again.

"A picnic?" She asked and tried to peek inside but he playfully smacked her hand away. They walked to the park at the other end of the waterway and found the perfect spot under a huge tree. Robert laid out the blanket and the delicious looking contents from the basket.

"If you keep this up I am going to get as big as a house."

He laughed. "You are far to thin my dear. Either way no one will ever hold a candle to you." She smiled and kissed him. They lay back and enjoyed the fruits and cheeses from the basket and Robert grinned. He pulled a book out of his jacket pocket and she glared at him.

"You stole my book?" She asked and he nodded.

"I wanted to see what had you so captivated. And looking through it I must say that I am shocked Dr, Carter. A trashy romance novel?"

Lexie was laughing out of embarrassment and nodded. "It was the only thing at the airport gift shop. Impulse purchase I swear."

He rolled his eyes. "Well, lets just see what this impulse purchase has to offer." She tried to grab the book away from him and that only made him fight for it harder. He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her down to the ground with him on top of her to block her. "You are my prisoner now. And your punishment will be to lay here and listen to me read this horrid concoction of a story to you." She giggled and kissed him and as she pulled back she looked deep into her eyes. He could get lost in the rich green color that seemed to bear all the way into her soul.

"I could kiss you for days and never get tired of it." She whispered.

He smiled at her slightly. "Nice try. But I am not going to forget about." He pulled away and looked at the cover of the book. "Bittersweet passions?" He looked at her and she giggled.

"It has a good plot." She said in her defense.

"Uh huh." He said and sat up, pulling her so she was lying in his chest. "Ok, let's see what is going on with "Bittersweet passions". Orlando pulled the strings on her silk corset and gasped at her ample bosoms. "Yes Orlando, take me" Lanna said." Robert looked at Lexie. "You have got to be kidding me right?" All Lexie could do was laugh.

Robert continued to read and they would laugh hysterically at parts and though neither would admit it they were slightly turned on by the in depth sexual descriptions. They spent the afternoon under the big tree in the park, oblivious to the world around them. There were no Landons, no hospitals or pagers, nothing but each other.