Shooting a sidelong glance at Robin, Elizabeth wondered just how long they were going to ignore the fact the other girl had obviously been crying when Elizabeth had arrived earlier. She had picked up on Robin's discomfort with her timing and had suggested manicures and pedicures instead to distract them for the moment.

Completing a final stroke, Elizabeth held up her friend's tiny foot for inspection. "Okay color verdict?"

"Pink." Robin replied noncommittally.

Elizabeth fixed her eyes on the ceiling. "Sure give her some baked goods and she'll rattle on for hours, but ask her if she actually likes the color of her nails and it's discussing politics with three year olds. Good. Fine." She stuck her tongue out in Robin's direction. "I should change it to Get Laid Red just for meanness sake."

Robin blinked. "I'm sorry. What did you say?"

Holding up the bottle of nail polish, Elizabeth waved it around. "I said I'm changing your toes to Get Laid Red unless you actually start joining me here on planet Earth."

"I don't think I'm going to be the best company today." Robin said in an apologetic tone. "Tell me about your date with Lucky."

Remembering all too vividly how the date had almost ended, Elizabeth felt herself blush. "It was nice. I had a good time."

"Explain that blush, Missy." Robin demanded, nodding in her friend's direction.

"Well first we went to the movies, but it wasn't exactly a typical movie date."

"No?"

"Have you ever been to the State Theater?"

"My mother took me when I was a little girl."

"Then you've never had a guy rent it out for you just to play your favorite movie on the big screen?"

"What?" Robin blurted, almost kicking Elizabeth in the face.

"Watch the feet!"

"I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting--wow."

Elizabeth giggled. "Yeah wow was pretty much an overused phrase that night."

"You mean there was talking involved?"

"Yes Smarty Pants. We actually carried on conversations."

"What movie?"

"Say Anything."

"I love that movie! When he's outside her window with the stereo..."

"I know! It's good thing no one else was actually in the theater with us because I'm pretty sure my constant chatter would have gotten us kicked out."

"You talk in movies? Good to know."

"Only when I have it memorized and it's John Cusack." Elizabeth fanned Robin's foot with her hand and surveyed her work. Not too bad. "Anyways after the movie, he took me to what he referred to as part two of the date."

"Part two? Sounds very interesting. Is that why you're blushing?"

"Not entirely."

"You're killing me. Tell me!" Robin begged, pouting.

"Well he took me to L&B studios which of course immediately lost him points because you know taking me to where he works?"

"Right."

"So we get there and apparently my favorite band in the whole world just happened to use those studios to record some new tracks for their new CD and oh yeah, they said I could have a copy, so he plays it for me."

"He should write a book on the perfect first date." Robin fanned herself in an overdramatic fashion.

"I know. If it hadn't have happened to me, I would swear it was some cheesy dating reality show."

"What happened next?"

"Well I questioned his sanity for planning all this for someone he barely knows..."

"Barely knows? Elizabeth." Robin patronized.

"Robin. Would you be thinking straight after all that?" Elizabeth arched her eyebrow.

"I may not be the right person to ask."

"Details on that statement please?"

"Later. I'm trying to live vicariously through you."

"So you want to cut right to the part where I almost shoved him against the control panel and had my way with him then." She moved back quickly to duck what she was sure to be another flying foot.

"Surely I did not just hear that right. Elizabeth Webber almost jumped a guy, on the first date no less?"

"Yes, yes she did. And it is so all his fault too."

"I can't believe I'm still paying for cable." Robin grumbled, leaning forward. "Do go on."

"Well after I questioned his sanity, he proceeded to tell me he did know me." Catching Robin about to comment, she pointed a finger in her friend's direction. "Shut it." Satisfied when Robin mimed closing a lock and throwing away the key, she continued. "Well then he kissed me and somehow we both ended up on his chair."

"What stopped you?"

"Cell phone."

"Yours or his?"

"Mine. And it was my grandmother."

"Was everything all right?"

"Oh she was fine. She was just being her concerned self."

"How did Lucky react?"

"He was actually a total gentleman about it. He just gave me a copy of the CD since we didn't actually listen to it and took me back home."

"Do you think you would have slept with him if you hadn't been interrupted?"

"I was undoing buttons. So yes."

"That's one incredible first date. In fact, I think I could add up all of mine and still be left unsatisfied."

"I know it makes me nervous for the second one."

"When are you seeing him again?"

"Friday."

"That's only three days away! What are you going to wear?"

"I don't know. My fashion consultants haven't told me yet."

"Courtney's on location this week. Dare we ask my mother?"

"Only if she doesn't suggest a gun holster. Somehow I think that might frighten him away."

"She's yet to shoot anyone." Robin defended.

"Key word yet." Elizabeth reached over Robin's leg to grab at one of the magazines she had brought with her. "So enough of you living vicariously through me. Please fill me on what happened between you and Patrick."

"What do you mean?"

"He saves your life by pulling you out of a car. He doesn't leave your side while you are in a coma even though your family hires a freaking bodyguard to keep him away." Elizabeth paused and looked around. "Where is She-Rah anyway?"

"She caught something at the hospital and my mother informed her of my medical status."

"So she'll be back once she's better then?"

"Yeah." Robin agreed.

"Okay so where was I?" Elizabeth tapped the magazine to her chin as if in deep thought. "Oh yes, staying around even in the presence of armed resistance. Does all this and he was in your room when I left it. I told you my night. You tell me yours. That was the deal."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Does he have anything to do with the crying you were doing earlier?"

"I had a bad dream."

"Why do I not believe a word of that?"

"We got into a fight, okay? It ended badly."

"How badly? I have to go hire a hit man to club in the knee badly or we'll laugh at this over margaritas later badly?"

"He knows I'm HIV . He says that I told him before he got me out of the car."

"Okay and he was angry about it?"

"No. I was angry."

"Why?"

"He purposely exposed himself to save my life."

"Just playing devil's advocate here, why was this a bad thing?"

"He acts like it's no big deal."

"His being exposed? Like he's not been tested?"

"No, he's been tested. He's negative for now. The nurse put him on anti-viral medication. From what I gathered, he's been taking the pills dutifully."

"Well that's good. So if it's not that, how is he not taking it seriously?"

"He wants me to enter into a no-strings sex agreement."

Elizabeth dropped the magazine straight to the floor and stared open-mouthed at Robin. "He actually said that?"

"He's never been shy."

"What exactly did he say? How exactly did he propose this?"

"I asked him if, when I was well, we were going back to hating each other. Instead of answering me, he kissed me."

"Which is exactly the answer you were looking for right?"

"I didn't say that."

"You wouldn't have asked the question if you really wanted to go back to constant arguing and sniping at each other."

"He tells me some bullshit about how he could never bring himself to hate me, not even in the beginning, which we both knew was a lie."

"You avoided my question. Don't think I didn't notice that." Elizabeth leaned down to pick up the magazine she dropped. "Okay continue after proclamation of bullshit."

"I call him on it, and he makes this snide remark about knowing what I want...that I want him."

"Which you do."

"Doesn't matter."

"Yes it does. You just don't like the fact that he was right."

"He saved me. Of course I feel closer to him because of it."

"Sure that's what it is." Elizabeth shook her head over Robin's denial. "Okay go on."

"Even after we talk about the HIV, and how I first got it, he's still convinced that no-strings is the way to go."

"How exactly did he work the whole no-strings concept into the conversation?"

"We were talking about it first and then he told me that his first test had come back negative by which point I found out that he knew about the exposure."

"Fighting ensued soon after?"

"Yes."

"How did it end?"

"I told him to leave and he stormed out."

"Slam or no slam?"

"Slam."

Elizabeth let out a low whistle. "Okay it's burn his pictures bad."

"Do you think I was out of line?"

"Well if he was really proposing a no-strings sex thing then no. If there was some possible way you misinterpreted? Then yes."

"He offered a concession which I didn't for a second believe."

"What concession?"

"Monogamy."

For a second time the magazine hit the floor. "Say what?"

"He said he was willing to give it a try if I really wanted him to."

"So he offered a string-attached sex thing?"

"More or less."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Okay now I am officially confused."

"I can't carry on any kind of relationship with Patrick."

"Can't because you don't want to or can't because he confuses you?"

"I don't trust him."

"I can't argue with you there."

"Plus, he's Logan's brother. How awkward would that be?"

"Very. But a great way to tell Logan to kiss your ass." Elizabeth reached down again to pick up the magazine on the floor. At this rate she was going to get a great workout.

"What's in that magazine?" Robin wondered, snatching it away from her. She flipped through a few pages until she spotted a face she recognized. "Look it's Luck--"

Elizabeth grabbed at the magazine and felt her face drain of color. Robin had flipped to a page with a picture of Lucky, his arm around Daphne. She closed her eyes and shoved it back at Robin. "The date. Tell me what day they say that picture was taken."

"Saturday."

Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying and concentrated on her breathing. "Last Saturday?"

"This past Saturday."

She began blinking rapidly to keep the tears at bay. This was ridiculous. She had known Daphne existed. Hell she had even seen pictures of them together before. It had been one night. One incredible night, but still one night. "I don't know why I'm acting like this. It's not like we discussed being exclusive or anything."

She would be fine. She would be fine. And she would keep on repeating that in her head until she believed it. "It's not like I didn't know about that Daphne girl beforehand. I mean I saw a picture of them together last week."

"Elizabeth, you need to take a deep breath or you're going to pass out." Robin reached for friend's hands and squeezed them tight.

Returning the squeeze, Elizabeth followed the advice and took a deep breath. "It was just one date."

"I don't think Lucky would agree with you on that."

"I'm not the one in a national magazine with my arms around some twiggy gorgeous thing."

"He put more effort into that one date than most men do in an entire relationship."

"Yeah, then why was he out with her the very next day?"

"Publicity?" Robin posed the question carefully.

"He doesn't need the publicity."

"I didn't say for him."

"I'm not following. Explain."

"You have to figure being Lucky Spencer requires a few public appearances. Let the papers say what they will. I think you should take this to Lucky before you start jumping to conclusions."

"And say what? I had a second jealous freak-out over seeing a picture of him with another woman?" Elizabeth snorted. "Yeah that move brings all relationships to the next level!"

"You deserve an explanation."

"What if I don't like the one I get?"

"Then you'll know he's a creep and you can go onto someone better."

Elizabeth sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "On second thought, I think that gun holster may come in handy after all. Think your mom would mind parting with it for the night?"

"Just make sure you don't shoot off anything important...you know, in case he's innocent."

"How about if I only threaten him with it?"

"You better make sure the chamber is empty." Robin advised.

"The what?"

"There's no way I'm giving you a gun."

"I'll get someone to beat up Patrick for you."

"Beating up is one thing. Blowing off someone's head is quite another."

"Okay, what if first I threaten Patrick and then I move onto Lucky? Do I get to borrow the gun then?"

"What would Patrick have to do to keep from being shot?"

"Burn his not-so-little black book and promise to abide by whatever strings you set?"

"On the one hand, I honestly think you'll end up shooting off a toe. On the other..." Robin mused.

"On the other hand you also think I would shoot off something far more valuable to him and it excites you."

Robin put her hand over her mouth and turned her back, having not considered that possibility. "I can't give you a gun." She said finally.

"Damn." Elizabeth caught Robin's eye and smiled. "Can we come up with a plan B over margaritas?"

"Yes please."