A/N: Typically, once I thought I had finished something -- it just wouldn't leave me alone. Apparently, I just had to write Liz's first meeting with Chase's first 'serious' adult significant other. There will (very soon) be a second part of this. I almost made it a separate story, but I thought it should go in here for clarity's sake. And as I said before, I may be inspired yet again to go back and fill in more incidents of Chase's history. Hope you all think this part is up to standard with the rest of it -- despite it being outside the original plan.

Growing Up Chase

By Rebel Yell

The Girlfriend, Part One (Age 23) Takes place between Ch. 20 and Ch. 21

"Robbie!" He wasn't in the least surprised when Lizzie threw herself at him for a typical whole-body hug, and he laughed at her obvious enthusiasm. A few minutes later, after Liz had let go of him and was finished inspecting him for whatever she always seemed to look for (as if he might be visibly broken or something), Rob stepped back and wrapped one arm around his girlfriend.

" Amy, this is Liz. Liz, this is Amy."
" Oh, I'm so glad to meet you! Robbie's always talking about you." Liz smiled brightly, but Rob knew her well enough to know she was faking the enthusiasm. That, and Danny had already called and given him a heads-up that Liz was apparently determined to find fault in Amy.

" He talks a lot about you too." Amy wasn't as good an actress, and it was obvious she wasn't particularly keen on this meeting either. Personally, Rob thought she didn't appreciate fully the fact that she wasn't meeting his actual biological family. If she thought Liz was a tough audience…well, at least she didn't have to worry about pleasing the world-renowned Dr. Chase and Rob knew without a doubt he could have dated the most saintly girl ever and his mother would have hated her anyway.

" Dan and Jen made it in yet?"
" Oh, yes, hours ago. You know Jen, always early to places."
" Are we just a party of five then?" Amy asked, and Rob tried to discretely shoot her a sharp look. He'd told her not to make a big deal out of the fact that Liz was single.

" Yes. Five." It wasn't the first time for five -- Colin sometimes joined them on holidays -- but it was the first time they were two couples plus one.
" Are we meeting Dan and Jen for dinner then? Or do we have other plans for tonight?"
" They should be down any minute -- we were just waiting for you. Why don't we have a seat, so Amy and I can chat, get to know each other?" Liz asked, gesturing to the very comfortable, very expensive, furniture in the lodge's lobby.

" Dobs, would you get me a drink, love? I'm parched."
" Of course. Liz, can I get you anything?" Rob asked, gesturing to the pub connected to the lobby -- Liz thought it a bit early to drink to be honest. It was barely half four.

"No, none for me, Robbie."
" Hurry back, Dobs. I'll miss you." Liz grimaced, both at the ridiculous nickname (she was so teasing Robbie about that later) and at the entirely unnecessary, mildly obscene kiss that Amy pulled Robbie into. Liz was suddenly grateful that Jen and Danny were far more discrete in their show of affection. Finally, they separated, and Robbie headed for the pub.

"So, I've heard loads about you." Liz started, after Amy said nothing for a few moments. The truth was, Robbie had briefly mentioned having a girlfriend and that she would be joining them for the holiday -- but that was about all Liz knew. She suspected Robbie hadn't really told Amy much more about her. He didn't really talk about himself or the people in his life much. Even to other people in his life. Well, not unless you asked and Liz had been studiously ignoring the idea that Robbie had a serious girlfriend. "You met at the hospital?"
" Yes. I'm an attending in radiology. It's hard to miss Rob -- every woman in the hospital has her eye on him. We went out with other friends a few times before we started seeing each other exclusively."
" Robbie usually doesn't date exclusively you know. You're the first girlfriend of his to ever come on holiday with us."

" I know we've just met but…could you please not call him Robbie? He's not six years old -- he's an adult and a doctor. He hates that you still call him Robbie."
" He's never mentioned it." Liz replied defiantly, mildly angry that this girl who'd known Robbie only a few months would presume to know him better than she did.

" You know how he is. He'd never actually say anything for fear of hurting your feelings or upsetting you. He's such a doormat. I swear he doesn't know how to say 'no'."

" He's not a doormat." Liz shot back, wondering why Amy would be dating someone she didn't seem to respect, " Robbie just likes to make people happy."
" He's a doormat. I don't mind, really, I like him compliant. He's a great fuck too -- that doesn't hurt in the least."
" I wouldn't know."

" Your loss," Amy smiled, but in a way that Liz could tell wasn't really meant to be friendly, " Rob's just as obedient in bed as out of it. Does exactly what a girl wants, just when and how she wants it. He's very…enthusiastic."
" He's like my brother. I certainly wouldn't know."
" You've known him since…year one of school?"
" Yes, but I already knew Danny who just lived down the road a bit, our mums were friends. Robbie's known Danny since they were just weeks old, and that's how I met Robbie when we started at the same school."

" And the two of you never…dated or anything?"
" Of course not! As I said, he's like my brother. Just like Danny."
" I see." Liz knew Amy didn't really see, didn't really understand the relationships between Robbie and Danny and her. She was about to point that out, when she saw Robbie headed back towards them. He wanted them to get along, it was obvious, and for Robbie's sake she'd try to like Amy. And so long as the other woman stopped talking about sleeping with Robbie, she'd be able to pretend. She hoped. Because something about her just didn't sit quite right with Liz.

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" Dinner was lovely, Liz. Thanks so much, it's been ages since Dan and I went dancing." Jen giggled, tipsy from the wine she'd been drinking all evening, and still swaying to music that they could no longer hear. It was late (nearly midnight) and Liz was unsurprised to realize she'd enjoyed the evening out despite Amy's presence. Which might not have been entirely unpleasant -- she was fairly intelligent and made Robbie laugh which was nice -- if she hadn't been hanging off Robbie as if she were a clingy vine. Danny and Jen didn't seem to notice though.

" Tomorrow night it's up to you and Danny to sort dinner arrangements." Liz reminded, earning a vigorous nod. Danny laughed, pulling his wife against him to keep her from swaying so much. They were standing outside Danny and Jen's room, just down the hall from Rob and Amy, and Liz's room as well.

" Dan, I think you need to take your wife to bed." Robbie was smiling, as Jen started to sway more heavily. She'd had a lot of wine, to be fair, and was a total lightweight.

" Good idea, Rob -- best you've had since...I'm sure you've had one before I just can't concentrate right now. Dan, take me to bed. And be creative about it."
" Please, that's more than I want to know." Liz giggled, pretending to be shocked. Danny just smiled, and dropped a quick kiss on his wife's lips.

" Good night, everyone. Tomorrow at eight for breakfast before hitting the slopes?"
" Sounds perfect." Liz agreed, and Danny keyed open the door, tugging his wife behind him.

"Good night!" Jen gasped, giggling again, just before the door shut and cut the couple off from those remaining in the hall. Normally at this point, Liz would go back to the room she shared with Robbie and they'd lounge about maybe even just doze off together on his bed, not doing anything particular just enjoying being around each other. Needless to say, Amy's presence was going to change that routine quite a bit.

" Liz, you going to stop by for a bit? I'm not tired yet -- product of working third shift lately. I'm usually just off work about now."
" I'm ready for bed, Rob." Amy cut off Liz's reply, wrapping her arms around his waist as they walked down the hall towards their respective rooms. Robbie glanced down, smiled, but clearly didn't get the hint.

" I guess we'll have to watch old films in your room then, Liz."
" Sounds wonderful. It's been ages since we had time just the two of us." Liz managed to restrain her childish impulse to stick her tongue out at Amy -- and then tried to figure why she felt like she was competing for Robbie's attention.

" I was hoping you'd join me in bed, Dobs." Amy whined, one hand rubbing Robbie's chest in what was probably supposed to be a sexy manner. Liz thought it just looked like she was petting a big cat or something. And that stupid nickname still sounded ridiculous.

" I always stay up late with Liz, love. It's a ski-holiday tradition. Well, all our holidays, actually. I'll be in later."
" Nothing I can do to persuade you to join me instead?"
" I wouldn't say nothing…" Robbie allowed, as Amy's hands wandered to places that made Liz resolutely look away. It was faintly disgusting, that she'd be all over Robbie like that in a public hallway. Although she was pretending to study the painting on the wall, she could just see out the corner of her eye as Amy pulled Robbie into another kiss that was a lot deeper than the ones they'd been exchanging all through dinner and dancing. She waited a few moments, realized that Robbie had been sufficiently distracted from any hope of watching classic films together, and finally turned back to face him. She watched in an odd horrified fascination for a few more moments, then tapped Robbie's shoulder impatiently. He tried to pull away, but Amy pulled him back into the kiss. Liz hit his shoulder this time, and he broke away suddenly.

" I'm going to bed. We can watch films tomorrow. Good night."
" Good night." Amy replied, entirely too sweetly, and Robbie managed a quick half-reply before Amy had unlocked their room and was tugging him inside by his belt buckle. Liz shook her head, disappointed in Robbie for some reason, and headed next door to her own room.

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" I hate you!" Liz greeted Robbie the next morning with a punch to the shoulder, as she joined him, Danny and Jen for breakfast in the hotel's restaurant. She wasn't disappointed to see Amy wasn't with them.

" Ouch. I don't think I quite deserved that."
" Oh, you deserve it."
" I'm sorry about cutting out on the films--"
" Oh, that I was willing to forgive!" Liz retorted angrily, as she stole a piece of toast from Robbie's plate. "I will NEVER forgive you for dating a screamer." It was almost worth it though, almost a fair revenge, to see both Danny and Jen choke on their breakfasts and Robbie blush the same bright red as his shirt.

" Lizzie!" Robbie was glancing around, seeing if anyone had overheard.

" I swear, if you don't gag her, I will kill you both! I didn't ever want to know all that much about…your…proclivities. Honestly! I heard your name so many times last night I'm sick of it! I don't care if you are the greatest lay ever -- I don't want to hear it! Your neighbors at home must love that! It's disgusting all the…moaning and…ugh!"

" Would you at least stop shouting." Robbie complained, his face still bright red and his eyes firmly on his own glass of juice. Normally, Liz wasn't a big fan of talking about sex and things like that, at least not in public places, but she really was enjoying making Robbie uncomfortable.

" I listened to her shout for an hour last night! And AGAIN this morning!"

" Liz, please, can we not talk about this here?"
" Fine. But don't think I've forgiven you. That was the worst night I've ever had. Absolutely disgusting. I'm going to need therapy now."
" So…uhm, Liz, what's the plan for today?" Jen asked, after a few moments of silence descended on the table. The waitress, apparently seeing that Liz really was staying, came over to get her order (so she stopped trying to swipe Robbie's food) and they all moved on to more polite conversations. They had nearly finished their meal when the group of young women at the table next to them got up to leave. One of them -- maybe twenty years old and, Liz had to admit, absolutely stunning -- dropped a small piece of paper next to Robbie's elbow.

" If you've got a spare hour or so sometime this week, give me a call or stop by my room." The young woman kept walking, her friends giggling madly as they left as well. Robbie looked somewhere between shell-shocked and sick to his stomach. Liz almost felt badly for him, until she remembered having to listen to him having sex with her.

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Six days later, Liz's feelings about Robbie's girlfriend had not improved. Not least because she had barely let Robbie have an opinion about anything the entire time. She even ordered his food for him more often than not. And she was always hanging off him and touching him and reminding them all that they were sleeping together (although they hadn't had horribly loud sex again, thankfully) in new and interesting ways. When Amy did let Robbie talk, she didn't seem to think much of his thoughts -- often acting like he was saying someting ridiculous or stupid or completely childish. Which, yes, sometimes, he was -- he tended to act immature when on holiday with Danny, they both took the chance to act a bit like boys again -- but Jen just rolled her eyes or laughed at them, like Liz herself. So, now, Liz was recruiting for her cause.

"Danny, honestly. It's been six nights of our vacation. I haven't had a moment's time just with Robbie nor have you and we're all going home tomorrow."
" Liz, I hate to be the one to say this -- again-- but Rob's going to fall in love, settle down and get married and…you're not going to be the most important woman in his life. You should get used to the idea now."
" Yes, but Jen never acted like that! Okay, so she didn't like the cuddling bit, and we stopped that. I understand that. But she's never been such a bitch about us doing things just the three of us -- or even just you and I. Jen understands us. Amy doesn't even try. She just wants Robbie all to herself all the time. "
" It's still a new relationship. Novelty hasn't worn off."
" She treats him like he's an idiot. And she seems obsessed with him...in the sexual way. You haven't noticed that they seem to spend all their time in bed? Or acting like they want to get back to it?"
" I had noticed that." Danny admitted, and Liz grinned in triumph. She was getting somewhere, if she could get Danny convinced as well that Amy wasn't good for Robbie, then together they could convince Robbie. Failing that, they'd recruit Colin, who could almost always be counted on to be reasonable about Robbie's behavior.

"Well, that's not normal, is it? She's always trying to drag him off upstairs, or not wanting to join us for things -- he's barely even been able to talk her into skiing at all. Which means he's not gone skiing because he doesn't want to leave her alone. I mean, how many times a day can they have sex?"
" Apparently, quite a few." Danny scoffed, and Liz smacked his shoulder lightly.

" You aren't bothered by the fact that she acts like she owns him? Or that she's only interested in him for sex? I mean, she barely even lets him speak. All the conversations are about her, or her opinions about other things we talk about. If he does get to voice a thought, she acts like she's just indulging him. And she talks about him like he's…I don't know. I just don't like it."
" She's not that bad, really. She's just less shy than most, I reckon. Tells it right like it is. Sometimes in more detail than we might like, but she's honest at least. And Rob doesn't seem to mind her monopolizing conversation."
" I don't like it -- any of it. She ought to have more respect for herself and for Robbie than to talk like that about their sex life. And it's rather weird, don't you think, to say that sort of thing to his best friends whom you've just met? I mean, you wouldn't have spoken like that around Jen's brothers would you? Or her girlfriends?"
" Jen's brothers would have killed me if I so much as mentioned sex and their sister in the same sentence before we were married -- still might actually. Yes, all right, that bit is weird. And yes, Jen and I are both uncomfortable with it. So is Rob, to be fair. He says he's talked to her about it -- it just doesn't seem to make much difference."
" She doesn't respect him, or his opinions. She doesn't let him do anything -- she barely lets him out of her sight. She controls him."
" You make her sound like a hulking menace who threatens him with some sort of abuse if he steps out of line."

" No. She just leads him around by his cock. Which, may I say, I find disturbing and disgusting to even think about. It's Robbie. I just…I had the same problem with you, but luckily Jen is much more normal about things. I know Robbie is a man, and he has sex, but I really didn't care to be confronted with the details, or even the generalities. It's the worst whenever Robbie leaves Amy and I alone even for a few moments. She always talks about having sex with him, as if I were interested! If she talks like that around the hospital, Robbie's going to have a lot of very uncomfortable rumors going around about him."
" I'll talk to him again. Is that what you want?"
" Yes. He'll listen to you. Apparently, he thinks I'm just being overprotective or something -- he said something about a mother hen and fussing and I ignored him so I wouldn't have to slap him."
" I'll talk to him. I won't say it'll make a bit of difference, though."