Apologies! Easy Mac microwavable Macaroni and Cheese, nearly the best invention ever, surpassed only by the internet, I'm sure. : )

And away we go!

Natalie

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"So, this Dr. O'Grady doesn't seem to know how to keep appointments." He changed the subject—things were getting just a little too heated for him, and he wasn't the one throwing the most fire.

"It would seem as though he doesn't" She was slightly deflated, but she hid it well.

"I wonder just exactly what his agenda is." He actually didn't care. The guy was his hero, as he was sitting there with the gorgeous Dr. Corday.

"I think I know." She said conspiratorially.

"Really? What?" He was curios.

"To clean your pockets out nearly every night." She said laughing.

He chuckled "I think you just may be right. And it's working." He sat back in his chair as the waiter approached the table with the bill. "Speaking of monetary issues." Romano said as the waiter laid the bill face down on the table. Robert swiftly picked it up and began to reach for his wallet.

At the same time, Elizabeth reached into her purse and extracted her wallet. She was determined to pay her fair share this time. She took out the money and laid it on the table.

He eyed her suspiciously, "And what, may I ask, is that?"

"You make enough of it Robert, I assumed you'd know." She said sternly.

"I know what it is, but what are you doing?"

"I'm paying for my half of tonight's dinner, Robert."

He looked at her and then slid the money back across the table so that it lay in front of her. "That's really not necessary." He said as he extracted the full amount from his wallet.

She sighed and pushed the money back across the table, and was suddenly met with Robert's hand as he had anticipated her move. Their hands touched, his on top of hers, and both of them jumped slightly at the unexpected contact.

They stayed that way momentarily, looking deeply into one another's eyes. He looked tenderly at her and uttered two words: "Elizabeth, please."

She broke eye contact and nodded almost imperceptibly as she drew her hand away along with the money.

She cleared her throat "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure." He said as he motioned the waiter back to the table. And he meant it. It was his pleasure, and it always would be.

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"Whoa." My companion said "That was intense even from all the way over here."

I sat there, silently, agreeing with the statement he had just made. "Definitely."

I was so happy for them—and I was proud of myself for having thought it up. These two were so clearly meant for one another. I should get a Nobel peace prize for setting this whole thing up.

"What are you thinking?" he asked me the way only men do.

"That I deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for setting this whole thing up."

He laughed "I don't know about the Nobel Peace Prize, but you definitely at least deserve to win the World Series."

I smiled "Oh, the world series is already in the bag."

"You're a little cocky tonight, wouldn't you say?"

"That's because I've been spending too much time with you."

"Touché" he said, smiling.

At that time, our waiter brought the bill to the table and placed it face down. He swooped it up in one motion before I had time to register what was going on.

"I'm paying, so don't even reach for your purse." He said firmly.

"No, no, no. I don't think that's necessary." If he paid, then it was a date, right?

"It might not be necessary, but it's what's going to happen. The end, no ifs ands or buts about it." He said as he placed the bills on the table. I started to respond, but he cut me off "And don't get indignant about it, either, I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just paying the bill."

Ugh, he knows me so well sometimes.

"Fine." I said.

"Fine." He smiled as he eyed me.

I rolled my eyes. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He said as he took a sip of his wine.

This wasn't a date. It really really wasn't, even though he paid. We were just two friends enjoying an evening together. That's all it was, nothing more, nothing less. Or, at least, that's what I told myself, and that's what I would have myself believe. And no one was gonna tell me differently.

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Romano stared at her briefly as he replaced his wallet in his pocket. She was so beautiful. It was truly hard for him to believe that she was truly sitting here with him, but she was, and he didn't care what the reasons were anymore.

She glanced quickly at her watch to avoid his stare. She was feeling things she hadn't felt in quite sometime, and truth be told it was quite overwhelming. "It's getting rather late, and I have an early shift tomorrow."

He was shaken from his thoughts at the sound of her voice. He didn't want to night to be over, but it had to end sometime. He glanced at his watch and quickly concurred "Oh, wow, I didn't realize it was so late."

"I know, neither did I." she said evenly.

"Well, shall we?" he said as he stood up and proceeded to pull her chair out for her.

"Thank you." She stopped for a moment. "I had fun tonight. Thank you."

He smiled tenderly. "I had fun, too. And sincerely, thank you."

She smiled back, and they held eye contact for a moment until Robert began to walk away; she followed, not noticing that a pair of familiar faces was doing the same.

The air was brisk as Romano and Corday left the restaurant. The two observers found a spot just within earshot of the two players.

Corday insisted on taking a cab, and Romano hailed one, politely, for her. She hesitated before getting in. There was an awkward moment between the two when Romano decided to fill it with "I had fun tonight." Echoing her previous words.

"Me too." She said, as she stood with the cab door open. She wanted him to say something else, to ask her out on a real date. But she didn't want to force it. And, somewhere inside, she didn't want to admit to herself that that statement was true. But, it was true.

"Well," she led off.

He smiled awkwardly. He wanted to ask her on a real date, but he was too scared of the consequences, so he did what any scared man would do: He just stood there.

Elizabeth finally decided that it wasn't going to happen and exhaled before smiling wryly and saying "goodnight, Robert."

"Goodnight, Elizabeth." He said and placed a small kiss on her cheek.

She got into the cab and he shut the door, tapping the back, and giving a small wave as the cab merged with traffic.

He mentally kicked himself as he placed his hand on his head. He was so close. So close.

He stalked to his car and drove home thinking about his missed opportunity, and wondering if another one would ever present itself again.

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My companion and I stood in the dark "What was that?" I asked in utter disbelief. "The timing was perfect! He wanted it, she wanted it! But somehow, still, it didn't happen!"

"I know. He chickened out, I suppose."

"That is total B.S.!" I shouted.

"Whoa, calm down there tiger—no need to scream at your players."

I shot him a look and he laughed. "Romano isn't the type to be a 'chicken'."

"That's true." My companion affirmed.

"So what happened?" I questioned, angry at this whole stupid game.

"He has a weak spot for her. That happens when strong men are in love, too, you know."

"I know, I know. But sometimes this is so frustrating."

"I agree—but someday, it'll happen. No doubt about that."

I nodded and my companion got me a cab, as we said goodnight.

I had a weak spot for him.

Perhaps he had a weak one for me.

But that was of no importance right now—I would not rest until I saw Dr. Robert Romano and Dr. Elizabeth Corday together happily and of their own free will and accord.

I would not stop until I hit that grand slam.

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More to come when I have time!

Natalie