They received the subpoena on a quiet morning in March. They had been sitting in the kitchen going over the plans for the nursery that Lexie had stared becoming obsessed with when the doorbell rang and Robert, happy for the escape went to answer it. He walked back into the kitchen and Lexie looked up at his face. He was studying the documents in front of him and Lexie was worried. The last thing they needed now was for one of them to get sued for malpractice. "What is it?" Lexie asked. Robert made no move to answer so she stood up and looked over his shoulder at the documents in his hands.

As her eyes scanned the papers her heart sped up. It was a subpoena to testify in a case that had been brought up against her father and Landon. The charges ranged from money laundering to tax evasion and Lexie was named as a material witness which meant that she would be one of the people that could seal the deal on their fate.

They looked at each other and both understood the relevance that this trip would bring. She would have to be in presence of the two people she feared the most and there wasn't a damn thing Robert could do about it. They were scheduled for a closed deposition and that meant that Robert would not be there, it would be Lexie and them. Robert went into the study to call his lawyer and Lexie pored over the papers. He emerged minutes later with a grim look on his face. "There is nothing we can do except that you can request that your lawyer be present." Lexie started to cry and her hand went instinctively to her stomach. Robert felt sick to his stomach. He had more of a stake in this than just sending the woman he loved into the lion's den; he was not sending his child also. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she sobbed.

They spent the weeks leading up to the trip back to New York doing what ever they could to not think about it but neither were successful. Lexie had started having trouble sleeping and because of the baby she refused to take anything. Robert had started drinking more frequently, never getting drunk; he would never put that added pressure on Lexie, but just enough to numb him. The night before their scheduled flight Robert found Lexie trying to pack with shaking hands as the tears poured down her face. He walked up behind her and took her hands in his, trying to provide some comfort even though he had none to give. They lay in bed quietly that night and as the sun started to come up Robert got up to make some coffee before their early morning flight.

They were quiet through out the flight and as the plane touched down and the passengers started to disembark neither made any move to get up. Robert took her hand and they looked at each other, their eyes locking as he tried to silently convey the faith and pride he had in her. They stood slowly and he pulled her to him, his arms wrapping securely around her. "Everything is going to be fine love." He whispered into her hair and she pulled him to her closer.

They had little time to check into their hotel room before they made their way across town to the Law Office of Higgins and Clark. As they stepped out of the elevator Lexie's grasp on Robert's hand tightened as they spotted Landon and her father conversing with their counsel. Landon was the first to notice them and his mouth took on an arrogant grin that made Robert want to pound the power Landon was feeling out of him. The couple approached the men and Lexie never made eye contact with either of them. "Lexie darling, so good to see you." Landon made a move to kiss her cheek and Robert pulled her out of his line of grasp. Landon smiled at Robert and extended his hand. "Robert Romano, good to finally meet you." He said and Robert made no move to shake his hand. "Yes, you are everything I imagined you to be." He said with the cool tone that made Robert sick.

"Ok, if everyone is here than lets begin." Jack Carter's attorney said as he collected the papers they would need.

"My attorney isn't here yet." Lexie said with all of the calmness she could muster.

"Yes, he called and said that he wouldn't be able to arrive until tomorrow but we are on a deadline so we have to go ahead with this today."

Lexie looked at Robert with terror. She would have no one on her side in the room with her and although Robert would have done anything to change that he also knew that there wasn't a thing he could do. Robert gave Lexie's hand one last squeeze then kissed her cheek. "I am right here. No worries." She smiled at him and over her shoulder he could see the smirk had left Landon's face.

Robert watched them exit through the conference room door and took a deep breath to calm himself when he saw Landon's hand go to the small of Lexie's back to guide her in. Landon turned slightly and grinned at Robert before he shut the door.