A/N: This feels like a transition chapter. Needed to have some fluff, yet also spice things up a bit. One grammar question. The word choose. Is it with one 'o' when it's past tense or is it one 'o' when it's present. Because I chose for two 'o's in the present tense, but I wasn't sure and the grammar check doesn't say if either is wrong. For the next chapter Alex's nephew appears. However I'm not sure what the three of them should do. Comments, ideas, suggestions and grammar pointers are welcome.

Part ten

"You sure you're going to be okay?" Alex asked as Bobby limped into her apartment.

"I'm sure I can manage. A massage would be nice though."

"Sorry, no can do. Don't have any oil."

"What about?" He left the sentence unfinished, knowing she would understand him.

"I threw it away."

A uncomfortable silence fell between them. Both remembered that evening vividly and everything that happened after that. "Want something to drink?" Alex asked, taking the easy way out.

"A beer please."

Alex raised her eyebrows at that, but Bobby didn't see. He was on his way to her couch. She grabbed two beers from her fridge and walked back into the living room. Bobby had found a seat on her couch. Handing him his beer, Alex looked around. Guessing that a slight distance between them was probably a good thing, she sat down in a chair. She felt Bobby's eyes on her, but kept her eyes on her beer.

"Alex?" He was hesitant, unsure of her reaction.

"Mmm..?" She kept her eyes averted.

"Can we… I missed you." He confessed. This got her attention and their eyes met. "Can you sit next to me? I want to feel you close to me again."

She pondered his plead and had to admit to herself that she wanted to feel him next to her also. They needed to restore their connection, maybe this could be the first step. Nodding her agreement she stood up and sat down next to him. She did leave some space between them.

He had another request, even more trickier than the other. He doubted she would agree, but he had to try, had to explain why. "I… I know we need to talk. I hoped we could put that aside for a moment." Seeing she was about the object, he silenced her by putting his finger on her lips. His face now mere inches from hers, he continued. "I'm not saying I don't want to talk about it. I feel like our connection has been ripped apart. We need to restore it. I… I need to feel it again, need to reassure myself. Can we just enjoy this evening, enjoy being together?"

She needed the same thing and with a small nod she showed her agreement. "I'd like that, Bobby."

Encouraged by her agreement he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer until they were side to side. She allowed it, but sat stiffly next to him. He'd never done this before, not even when their friendship had been strong.

He squeezed her shoulder softly. "Relax." After a few seconds he felt her muscles relax.

"What should we do?" Alex didn't want to sit in silence with him. In the past they could both find comfort in the quietness that sometimes fell between them. Now, that comfort wasn't there anymore.

"Let's see what's on TV."

A while later Bobby was on his fourth beer and Alex her second. They were watching a strange movie or so was Bobby's opinion. Quickly he realized it was a chick flick. Alex had argued since it was her apartment and her TV, it was her choice to make. He couldn't really argue with that.

"Secretly you're a romantic." Bobby said, watching the movie. He really didn't get why she liked it. She laughed at almost every joke. There were two men fighting over the same woman. One, named Daniel, appeared to be a jerk. The blond chubby woman seemed to know that, but was nevertheless attracted to the man. The other guy, called Mark, was the silent type, though slightly arrogant. The woman had just dumped Daniel and was now looking for a new job. Curious about her taste in men, he wanted to know which one she would choose. "Who would you choose?"

"What?" Alex asked, startled by Bobby's voice. She'd been too focused on the movie. She'd seen it one time before and still liked it. It was the silliness of Bridget's thoughts and actions combined with a feeling she knew all to well that made her like this movie.

"Which one of the two would you choose?" He asked, nodding toward the TV.

"Well there's Daniel, who is a jerk and has some serious commitment issues, but who's just really sexy. He's charming as hell, he knows it and knows how to use it. Plus the fact that I've always had a weak spot for Hugh Grant. And Colin Firth, who has terrific eyes. Love that he's so tall and seems to be the perfect gentleman. His eyes, they can make a girl melt. His body, his eyes they do all the talking. He doesn't have to say anything to get attention. He's charming too, but in a underrated way. I would go for Mark Darcy, because he's reliable." Her eyes went back to the screen, indicating the conversation was over for now.

Several beers later, most of them Bobby consumed, they saw how Mark kissed his Bridget in the middle of the street. Alex smiled at the happy ending and stretched her stiff muscles. Sitting up, she had been leaning against Bobby, she looked at him. He was emptying his beer, she really didn't know how many he'd consumed so far. She really didn't feel like dealing with a drunk Bobby.

"Are you attracted to him because he's charming and outgoing?" He suddenly asked.

Sometimes she wished she could get inside his head. She didn't know who he was talking about and where exactly that question came from. They hadn't been talking about anybody. As a matter of fact, they hadn't been talking at all, just watching the movie. So, where was this question coming from? "Who are you talking about?"

"Mike."

She gave a frustrated sigh. What happened to putting things aside for now? Or did that only count for his feelings and issues. Hers apparently weren't important. She was already losing her temper. "I thought we were going to enjoy being together tonight and not talk about… stuff."

"This isn't stuff." He argued.

"Really?" She shifted away from him.

"Are you gonna answer my question?" He started to sound demanding.

She was not going to do this. "No, not when you explicitly told me not to discuss the past few weeks with you. If you want to go down this road, you're going to have to answer my questions too. Like why you can't stand the thought of me seeing Mike, or why you're jealous. Don't start this Bobby, unless you're willing to finish it." She warned him, hoping she was getting through to him.

"I'm right, aren't I? You like his charm. He's got you wrapped around his finger."

That was the alcohol talking and she knew it. She was not going to do this. "Shut up, Goren."

"What? Truth to hard for you?" He badgered her.

"Shut up! Don't do this or you're going to lose the one chance you had." She stalked out of the room straight into her bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

TBC...