Chapter Seven -

Life and the E.R conspired to prevent Elizabeth getting to Roberts until the day after next. She had to use her foot to knock on the door as her hands were full of a huge pile of folders, that she was struggling to contain. When Emma opened the door to her all she could only see was the top part of her face from nose up.

"Jeez, here let me help you," she said taking some of the weight from her. "Am I happy to see you."

"Being a pain is he?"

"Put it this way, if he hadn't already been shot I'd shoot him myself! But then I'd have to stay longer so its not an option."

"Is everything okay?"

Emma took a deep breath. "He thinks I'm nagging him and is being very mature in how he projects it."

Ahh, thought Elizabeth. So she'd been right at dinner, when she'd picked up on a level of prickliness between the two. Her presence had dumbed it down but Jess also seemed well versed in running interference.

"Where's Jess?"

"She went of to do some sightseeing and shopping this morning. So I have had the displeasure of him all day. C'mon in. Are all these for him?"

"Yes," she said. "I was supposed to bring them over yesterday, but well, I just didn't get the chance."

"Its too much," Emma muttered.

Elizabeth followed her through to the den where Robert was sat at his desk, working through what looked like department budget reports. He looked up annoyed as they entered but broke into a smile when he saw Elizabeth and then arched an eyebrow in surprise at the amount of paperwork she'd brought.

"He's been at that all day," Emma said disapprovingly and dumped the pile of files she was carrying on the end of his desk. "And now you have more!"

"Yeah, and she's been on at me all day."

"You're supposed to be taking it easy Robert!"

"I am...I'm sat down!"

Elizabeth smiled as she watched them both trying to out-scowl each other.

"You thirsty, Lizzie?" Robert asked staring pointedly at Emma. "I'm pretty parched, myself."

Emma muttered something under her breath and then asked in an overly sweet voice, "Would you like something to drink Elizabeth?"

"Tea would be lovely, thanks."

"Fine. Robert?"

"Same."

She stared at him expectantly, and he rolled his eyes but said, "Please."

Emma muttered something else unintelligible and left.

"Wow, that really is a mountain," he said pointing at the pile of papers she was still holding. "I take it those are for me?"

"Well they were, but now I'm thinking its not such a good idea."

"Why?"

Elizabeth inclined her head in the direction of the departed Emma and Robert made a snorting noise. He signalled for her to bring them over. "Give," he said. "Don't worry I'll handle her. Have a seat," he said and started looking through what she'd brought him.

"Do I detect an atmosphere?"

"Its like nag central here," he said sulkily folding his arms across his chest. "And Jess abandoned me. She took herself of sightseeing this morning and left me in her mothers evil clutches all day."

"Robert are you feeling picked on?" she laughed.

"Its not funny Lizzie," he said a little too grouchy for her liking and went back to the paper he was reading.

Elizabeth took a good look at him. He did actually look a little tired. Emma was probably right about overdoing it.

"Robert are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said not even looking up from his reading.

"Hey," she said reaching over to cover his hand with hers. The contact caused him to stop and look at her.

"Talk to me," she said.

He pulled back his hand and leaned into his chair and closed his eyes briefly. He brought his hand up to rub the bridge of his nose and looked at her. She thought he looked incredibly vulnerable.

"You're a day late."

"I know, I'm sorry." She filled him in on her hellish day from yesterday, leaving out just a few things and he nodded taking it all in. "So that's why you didn't come round?"

She nodded. "I'd have called but I was stuck in the OR and by the time I finished it was too late to call. "

"And the other night, you had fun right?

"Yes I had a wonderful time. Why would you even ask? Robert, what is it?"

He nodded. "So I didn't do anything wrong? I didn't y'know upset you, or make you feel uncomfortable when we said goodnight?"

"God no, why are you asking?"

He relaxed visibly and gave a small dismissive shrug. "It's just something Jess said...you know what, never mind. Forget I said anything." That was the last time he'd let a teenager wind him up. "So, we're okay?"

She leaned forward and reached for his hand again, linking her fingers through his. "Yes, we're okay. Now tell me why exactly your sister wants to kill you."

This time his free hand covered his eyes.

"Told you already she's a nag. Its relentless, on and on...do this, don't do that. This is my home, Lizzie….its supposed to be an oestrogen free zone where I can relax. I'm...feeling a little..."

She watched him struggle to find the right words and gave his hand an encouraging squeeze.

He gave her a small smile in return. "I guess I'm feeling...smothered? I'm used to my own space, especially here. At the hospital Donald had me contained, but I thought when I got home it'd be better, but she's just so...ARGH!" He sighed, and thew his hands up in the air. "She's treating me like I'm an invalid…like.."

She watched and listened as he became more agitated. "Robert look at it from her point of view. She gets a call out of the blue telling her that her brother's been shot. You didn't see her face when she saw you, lying unconscious and hooked up to all sorts of strange machines. Robert, she was terrified. And you were hospitalised for weeks. Of course she's going to be worried about you and wants to help you get better."

"So you're on her side?" He said sulkily.

She sighed. "Its not about taking sides, but obviously I am somewhat programmed to bat for team oestrogen. And she's right you do actually look tired. Have you even taken a break today from all of this. All you see, is that you were cooped up in hospital and now you're feeling confined in your own home...you've probably got cabin fever," she said. "I think maybe you just need to get out of here for a bit?"

Robert nodded in agreement. "Suppose you're right. Hey, you want to go grab some air? Take Gretel round the block with me?" He asked brightening up.

Elizabeth looked a bit unsure. "Are you able to handle the big beastie?"

He looked offended. "One, she is not a beastie, her name is Gretel and you should accord it to her," he said reproachfully. Elizabeth adopted a suitably chastised face. "And two, you will be handling her for me. Please, Lizzie...get me out of here!" He flashed her his best puppy dog eyes and she laughed, though she actually thought that sounded like the perfect distraction. It would get him away from the paperwork and Emma, and likewise give Emma a break.

"C'mon then, lets bust you out of here," she said. "I'll tell Emma to cancel the tea."

"Yeah, great," he said smiling. "Let me just find my sneakers," he said pushing himself away from the desk.

Elizabeth took note of his barefoot status again. "Do you have an aversion to footwear I'm not aware of?"

He looked at her like she had asked a stupid question. "No, I just like to be comfortable when I'm home. We spend hours upon hours on our feet Lizzie, the first thing I do when I get in is kick off my shoes. You don't?"

An image of her big pink fluffy slippers came to mind but she wasn't prepared to share that just yet. She left him searching for his footwear and wandered of to find Emma, who she found in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches to the tea.

"I'm sorry Emma, could we cancel the tea?"

Emma stopped what she was doing and turned around. "Why? You're not leaving already are you? That's got to be a new record even for him."

Elizabeth smiled and waved her hand. "No, we're going to take Gretel for a walk."

"Is that wise?" Emma said.

"I'll handle Gretel, don't worry. The fresh air will do him a world of good and he can't work if he's outside. I think he needs to get out of the house, and I think you could do with a break too."

"Did he bitch about me?"

"He's frustrated. "

"With me?"

"He's frustrated with the situation. I don't think I need to tell you that your brother is a strong, independent individual. He just wants his independence back. You'll just have to be patient with him."

"Yes well, I don't think I need to tell you that patience is not a virtue us Romano's have in abundance."

"Hey, we're taking Gretel out for a walk," Robert said walking into the kitchen with the dog in question.

"Okay. Just be careful."

"Yes mom. You do know she's a doctor right?"

"This is what I've been putting up with! Fine, good, go," she scowled. Actually she could use some alone time. "Are you going to ask her?"

"Yes."

"Ask me what?"

"C'mon, you can walk and talk at the same time, right?" he turned and headed for the front door picking up Gretel's leash of the table.

Emma looked relieved. It seemed everyone could use a breathing space from each other.

"Not too far and not too fast," she said quietly and Elizabeth nodded.

"I heard that," he hollered over his shoulder.

Elizabeth shook her head in bemusement and stepped outside into the early evening sunshine, where he was waiting. She reached across and took the already tethered Gretel from him.

"So we going for a walk or not?" he said.

She rolled her eyes and proffered her free arm to Robert, figuring he'd be able to set a pace he was comfortable with.

He raised a surprised eyebrow, shrugged his shoulders and linked his arm with hers.

"Lead on then," she said.

"Oh, now I'm allowed to lead?" he smirked. "C'mon this way," he said and they set off arm in arm.

"Where are we off to then?" She asked after a few minutes of walking.

"There's a park not ten minutes away."

"Pace okay, not too fast?

"Lizzie," he said warningly.

"Sorry."

They walked on in companionable silence for a few more minutes and soon reached the park.

It was a lovely evening and still warm enough that the park was still packed with families and children playing, people jogging and dogs being walked. Robert pointed out an empty free bench and they made their way over and sat down. After a quiet minute she chanced a sly glance over to see which part of him was moving. She allowed herself a smile when she saw his thumb tapping lightly on his thigh. Always moving. He caught her smiling.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just this is nice," she said appreciating the parkland view. "Its beautiful isn't it?"

He fixed his eyes on her. "Picture perfect."

She could feel his gaze on her and knew the comment had been directed at her. "Looking forward to coming back to work?"

"Yeah."

Gretel had settled down by her feet and plopped her head over her right foot. "Can I let her off the leash?

"Not unless you want to watch her play ten pin bowling using those kids over there as skittles."

"Really? I'd have thought you would have her better trained than that."

"Who's to say I haven't trained her to do precisely that?"

"So what did your sister want you to ask me?"

"Oh, yeah. So we were hoping you could do us a favour. Well, me really. Its a bit short notice."

"Of course, what is it?"

"My mom's not been well and even though we've spoken on the phone she needs to see me in the flesh. Prove that I'm really okay. I know its an imposition, but I wondered if you'd be happy to take care of Gretel for me again? It would only be for a few days? Two, three tops. Or will that cause you problems with Greene?"

She was silent for a moment disappointed. That meant she wouldn't see him yet again for a few more days. After yesterday, she needed these visits more than ever.

"When were you thinking of going?"

"Tomorrow."

That soon?

"No it won't cause any problems," she said quietly.

"You're sure?"

"Yes," she said her tone a bit short.

He looked at her. "You don't sound sure."

"I just said its fine."

"Well, you don't sound fine, Lizzie. Seriously, she can go in kennels. It's not a problem."

"No, honestly I'd be happy to do it."

"Yeah? Well you might want to tell your face that."

Cheeky bugger!

"So, tell me Lizzie, why for the glum face?"

Oh to hell with it, he was going to find out anyhow. "Mark and I had a talk yesterday and the upshot was….we split up."

He looked away sideways and lifted his hand to his mouth in an effort to hide the smile he couldn't stop from forming.

She looked across at him waiting for him to say something.

"Well, say something," she said eventually when he didn't.

Oh God did she expect him to comfort her?

"Sorry, not sorry?"

She looked disappointed and confused.

"What do you want me to say, Lizzie? If it's tea and sympathy and a bottomless tub of ice cream you're looking for, you've picked the wrong Romano; Emma's back at my place. Me, I'm the one who'll get you drunk and let you use me for revenge sex. Look, Lizzie you know me...I don't do the fluffy stuff. I'm no good at it...I don't know what you want me to say," he said floundering. "I'm not sorry, and Greene's a moron!"

She looked so sad sat there and he wanted so much to put a smile back on her face. He wanted to go and find Greene so he could punch his lights out for upsetting her but knew selfishly, he'd probably end up slapping the man on the back and congratulating him on his stupidity.

"I could smack him around a bit for you," he offered actually half serious.

She giggled a bit at that. "You wouldn't be able to reach."

"Oh, low blow Lizzie, but not as low as my leg sweep would be, landing him flat on his ass."

She chuckled picturing it. "You would to, wouldn't you?" She said affectionately.

"Say the word Lizzie and he's toast," he winked. "Look I'm no good at mushy stuff as well you know, but he's a moronic idiot for letting you go..."

"Yes he is."

She looked so down and he wanted to make her feel better but didn't know how or have the right words. He reached for her hand and slid his fingers between hers. "I could sit here and tell you what I think you want to hear, about how sorry I am, and blah-blah, whatever….but I think we both know I'd be lying...but I am very sorry that you're upset. If you won't let me hurt him, then tell me what I can do?"

She still stared dead ahead but she squeezed his hand and he gave her a squeeze back. She wasn't giving him much to go on so he fell back on what he knew. "Revenge sex is still on the table," he said jokingly trying to get her to smile.

That made her smile slightly and she shook her head amused. "I'm not really upset...its more..."

"What?"

She turned and looked at him. "I'm actually bloody furious! And will you stop talking about revenge sex!"

"Oh, sorry," he said innocently. "It was angry sex you wanted then?"

"Robert will you be serious!"

"Serious sex? I can do that too. All kinds of sex, I'm very talented."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"And there it is," he said triumphantly.

"There what is?"

"That beautiful smile."

"Thank you Robert," she said softly. "You're actually not bad at the mushy stuff you know."

He made a scoffing face. "So since you claim you're not upset, tell me why you are 'bloody furious'," he said mimicking her British accent.

"Oh, God this is embarrassing!" He looked at her questioningly. "He dumped me," she blurted out.

She watched his jaw drop open as he realised her words. "That's right, HE ditched ME! Mark bloody boring dullard Greene ditched me...ME!" she said with a sweeping hand gesture at herself. "How dare he?!"

Robert couldn't help himself and burst out laughing. Man, he knew Greene was an idiot but a stupid one to boot!?

"Don't you bloody laugh at me," she said trying not to laugh herself. "Its not funny!"

When he got his laughter under control he said. "I refer you to my earlier spot-on assessment that the man's a moronic idiot."

"He is, isn't he? Thank you."

"So is that the real reason why you didn't come around yesterday?"

"No. Yes, no, okay a little bit. Work really was hell and then that happened and I was too outraged and...embarrassed."

"But not upset?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm not upset...just pissed he beat me to it. I'd already decided to end it before I came to yours for dinner the other night, but the lanky turd beat me to it!"

Robert was quiet as he digested that new bit of information. Had she been going to do that because of him?

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just thinking."

"About?"

She was a free agent again. He wanted to ask her out. They had come such a long way and he didn't want to jeopardise this friendship that they had finally managed to forge. He wanted more, but he also knew he'd always settle for less where she was concerned. What he didn't want to do was make a wrong move and have her run away from him. Was there even an etiquette to asking someone out so soon after being dumped? A grace period?

"What are you thinking?"

He shook his head slightly.

She thought she knew. She hoped she did. She had developed feelings for him, and she wanted to explore those feelings. But was she too late?

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" she asked trying to break the silence that had fallen between them.

"Early."

"For a couple of days?"

"Three, tops."

"Robert?"

"Hmm?"

"When you get back from visiting your mother, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me?"

He sat staring dead ahead and said nothing. Well, that answers the etiquette question then, he thought.

"Robert?"

"Yeah?"

"I asked if you wanted to have dinner with me? On a date...as in a romantic date...to be clear." God, woman, stop stammering!

"Yeah, I connected that dot Lizzie," he said with a chortle. "Of course I do, its just..."

"What? Why do I sense a but coming?"

He closed his eyes. "I don't want to be a rebound thing," he said softly. "I'm not that kind of guy. Well okay I have been that guy….but not with you, Lizzie. You..you, are all I've ever wanted. With you, I want to be a 'yours for life' guy...and you need to know that."

"You wouldn't be a rebound thing because there's nothing to rebound from." She reached up her hand and turned his head to face her. "I like you and I would very much like to get to know you better." She looked into his eyes and saw possibilities. Possibilities of love and passion and a promise of a future together. It was all there for the taking looking back at her, shining up through those dark eyes, and she knew then she wanted it, she wanted it all.

"Robert, must we make everything difficult?"

"Of course we must...its the dance we do." He smiled and lifted his hand cupping her cheek in his palm. "My beautiful, gorgeous Elizabeth...I would be honoured to have dinner with you."

She beamed back at him leaning her face into his touch. He pulled her closer so their faces were almost touching and dropped his voice to a whisper. "And just so you know, I would've let you use me for revenge sex..."

"Robert..."

"Or angry sex, or any kind of sex really."

"ROBERT!"

"Over and over again."

"ROBERT!"

"Until I was nought but a dried husk, but then you could rehydrate me and we could do it all again, over and over.."

She covered his mouth with hers and silenced him.

His initial surprise at her sudden boldness threw him for a second, but he recovered quickly enough. He kissed her back slowly taking his time enjoying the taste and feel of her mouth. He moved his hand from her cheek up to the back of her neck and caressed the soft skin there, felt her delicate neck hair and then let his fingers explore further playing into her mass of curls. He pulled her gently closer to him and deepened the kiss, letting his tongue explore further still and she moaned in delicious response, opening her mouth to meet him.

He moved his lips down to her neck and traced a line of kisses down to her collarbone, inhaling her perfume and her scent. She tilted her head back allowing him full access and he slowly worked his way back up, all the way until he found her lips again. "Robert," she moaned into his mouth and it nearly undid him right there and then. He pulled her into an embrace and whispered against her ear. "We need to stop now or we're going to get arrested."

"Hmmmm….Is this really happening?"

"Yep," he said. He repositioned himself and placed his arm around her shoulders pulling her into his side leaving no possibility of a space between them. She leaned into him and reached across for his other hand and held it in her lap. She felt his arm around her shoulders shift slightly and then felt his fingers begin absently playing with the soft curls by her ear. Always moving, never still she thought and smiled into his chest. They sat like that happily watching life go by until the sun started to set and darkness started to fall.

"Guess we should go," he said and stood offering her his hand. "Emma's probably going to give me an earful for staying out."

Elizabeth accepted his hand and let him help her up. Gretel stirred detecting movements and climbed to her feet too. Slowly they walked back hand in hand to his house.

When they reached the driveway they stopped by Elizabeth's car.

"You want to stay for dinner tonight?"

"I do and I don't."

"Afraid you can't keep your hands off me in public already, huh?"

"Something like that," she snickered.

"No, I know what you mean." He took both her hands in his. "I want this, us, to happen naturally. No gossips, no siblings or nieces sticking their beaks in."

"Agreed." She leaned in and kissed him and he pulled her into his arms pushing her up against the side of the car. He was enjoying the feeling of her in his arms, enjoying the very fact that she was his at last. They stopped when things became too heated again. He moved his mouth to her ear.

"I can't wait to see you again," he said.

"Me too. Will you call me tomorrow when you get there?"

"Of course."

She unlocked the car door and handed him Gretel's leash.

"You still have a house key, right?"

"Yes. Goodnight Robert," she said and kissed him again.

He reached around and opened the car door for her and she climbed in, then he leaned down for one last kiss. "Goodnight Lizzie."

88888888

Emma was in the kitchen when she heard Robert letting himself back in. She went to find him and found him in the process of kicking off his sneakers. She looked around for Elizabeth.

"Hey," he said looking up. "Jess back yet?"

"She's upstairs washing up for dinner. Thought Elizabeth might be joining us? Where is she?"

"Had to leave. Early start tomorrow."

"Did she say yes to Gretel?"

"All sorted."

"You were a lot longer than I thought you'd be. Must have been a good walk?"

Here we go he thought.

"It was."

"Had a good talk?"

"Yes."

"So has she dumped that boyfriend yet?"

Robert smiled despite his efforts not to. "How'd you know?"

"Duh, she told me she was going to."

"Oh."

"And?"

And what?"

"And has she got a new boyfriend then?" She smirked.

Again his mouth betrayed him and acted independently turning into a huge grin.

She grinned back, ran over and hugged him. "Oh my GOD! Robert I'm impressed."

"Shut up and get off me."

"Why didn't she come in?"

"For precisely this reason."

"Oh, I'm so pleased for you Rob. How many years have you been pining over her? Did you kiss her?"

"Shut up!"

"Oh my God, you did!"

He wriggled himself free of her. "I'm going for a shower."

"A cold one?"

"Shut up!"

"Okay," she called out in a sing-song voice. "But I want details and I'm going to bug you until I get them!"

Robert's hand stilled on the stair-rail and he rolled his eyes, taking in a deep breath. It was going to be a long night.

TBC