Thank you Knocked Up for those two wonderful lines at the end.

He was supposed to be transcribing his notes into the charts. He was supposed to be getting ready to see his next patient. Ric realized he should be doing any number of professional activities but he couldn't. He was distracted and he knew it. It wasn't even for fun reasons this time, like figuring out which date idea he could convince Maxie was a good one. Opening the desk drawer, telling himself it was to check his appointment calendar, he sighed as his fingers willingly ignored his brain's commands and pulled the sheets of paper out one more time.

Flipping to the last page, his signature stared back at him. There it was. One pen stroke from Kate and his marriage was officially over. He had expected to feel regret, remorse, or even sadness today, but instead he felt relief. The mourning of his marriage took place a long time ago; he had already grieved and started to move on. However, it was still startling to see it almost completed, so cold, so final, and so impersonal.

All that was missing was Kate's flowing penmanship, the one he knew she had perfected for autographs, not the chicken scratch she used for taking notes in the field. The idea had floated through his mind to call her, make sure she had received the papers, even given to his irrational instinct to make sure she was doing ok and not listening to any of his sister's advice. But he had managed to talk himself out of it every single time.

"This is really it, isn't it?" He mused to the phantom vision of Kate that formed in his mind. "Somehow it seems there should be more than just this."

Maxie tilted her head in confusion, having to read over his shoulder to understand why he was talking to himself. "I never figured you for a crazy person." She teased as she twirled his chair around and sat in his lap.

Flipping the papers over so she couldn't see them, Ric blinked in confusion as his hands automatically found her waist. "Where did you come from?"

"There are many theories." Maxie laughed making a reach for the stack of papers.

Without missing a beat, he stilled her wrist. "I thought being seen in public was a bad thing," Glancing over his shoulder, he continued teasing her, "You left the door open an eighth of an inch and there's daylight out. We might be seen together or something equally awful."

"I told my family so there's really no threat." Maxie explained placing a kiss above the top of his ear and pushing some of the short hairs she found there out of the way.

"You told them? I thought that was going to lead to your father charging after me with a gun, firing away." Ric smiled as he pushed her hair behind her ear.

"I didn't actually mean to tell them. It just kind of came out. I was trying to prevent a mob war from starting between my uncle and cousin. She came over to tell us she was engaged."

"So now I'm still a diversionary tactic?" he teased her.

Maxie kneaded at the back of his neck with her fingers. "Actually you look like you could use a diversion."

"Do I now?" He tilted his head to one side, tracing his fingers up her arm.

"Do you wanna tell me about it?" Maxie offered sincerely.

"Careful. Someone might think we are dating."

"Nah." Maxie shook her head. "I just want to make sure all of your attention is focused on me." The last few words were whispered into his right ear.

"Like you'd allow it any other way." He pulled her closer to him, placing a kiss on her lips.

"Good point." Maxie leaned into his lips and then pulled back abruptly with a frown.

"What?"

"I have to go back to work soon." She nodded toward the paper bag she had set beside the desk. "I brought you some lunch."

Ric quirked one eyebrow up in amusement. "You brought me lunch?" he repeated with a laugh.

Maxie watched him uncertainly. "Is that okay?"

"It's different. Ok but different."

"I just wanted to do something nice." Maxie pushed herself out of his lap and onto her feet.

"Come here." He stood up and pulled her closer to him. "I like you being nice to me," he whispered into her hair.

"Too bad." Maxie made a halfhearted attempt to dislodge his arms from around her. "It won't happen again."

"Wanna bet?"

"That depends." Maxie asked her voice suddenly low. "What are you offering?"

Shooting her a wink, he whispered, "What do you want?"

"Tell me what you were doing before I walked in." Maxie replied with a knowing look.

"Thinking about you."

"And you put it on paper?" Maxie inquired in a mocking tone. "Why don't I believe that?"

"What about if I told you it affects you?" He reached behind him and grabbed the papers, placing them in her hands.

Maxie stared at the letterhead and her eyes slid slowly down the first sheet. "Divorce papers?"

Ric nodded. "Everything's official except for Kate's signature."

Maxie didn't have a sly remark so she decided not to say anything.

"Nothing to say Blondie?" Ric reached out and played with the ends of her hair. "Never thought I would see the day you would be speechless."

"Any regrets?" Maxie wanted to know setting the papers back on the desk.

"No." He answered quickly. "I still care about Kate, but this is right. For both of us."

"Then we definitely have to celebrate." Maxie decided. "What do you want to do?"

"Would this be you asking me out on a date?"

Maxie bit back a smile. "Gosh, a date. I don't know if we're ready for that yet."

"It is a huge step." Ric nodded, trying to keep his own smile back. Catching sight of his watch, he reluctantly stepped away from her. "I have a patient waiting."

"But you didn't answer my question." Maxie reminded him blocking the door.

"What question is that?"

"Do you want to go out tonight and celebrate? And, if you do, what do you want to do?"

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, brushing her hair behind her ear. "As long as you're there, I think I'll enjoy anything."

"Call and let me know. I get off—I'm off around seven." Maxie caught herself before she prevented them both from returning to work.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Okay," Maxie squeaked as she headed out the door. "Bye."

"See you later Maxie."

*****

"It can't be as bad as you're making it sound." Alexis assured her fiancé resting her hand over his. He hadn't stopped pacing since he'd entered the room and he was starting to make her dizzy. Still, he was a nice distraction from the fact that Kristina had been cast in the school play and Dr. Bernstein swore she wouldn't be able to go and watch her.

"It's worse than bad. We're talking about that guy being a part of our family." Mac stressed with a dramatic wave of his hands.

"Is this really such a shock to you honey?" Alexis couldn't hide her incredulity. Getting involved with Robin meant taking on her disease and her son. Patrick was half committed from the moment he'd come to those realizations.

"Do you suppose I could have him arrested?" Mac mused aloud.

"On what charge?" Alexis lifted both eyebrows at him.

"I can make one up. What about stalking?" Mac threw out there.

"Stalking Mac really?" Alexis didn't sound pleased. "You just have to accept—"

"I don't have to 'accept' anything." Mac interrupted rudely. "He didn't come to me and ask if he could marry Robin. At least that would have shown him to have a tad bit of respect for her family."

Alexis figured out she could remind him that Logan hadn't asked his permission other, but there was no reason to shoot Patrick in the foot. "From what you're telling me, it seems very sporadic and unplanned. Maybe there wasn't time—"

"But there was time to put it in the paper?" Mac raged.

"That was part of the engagement. That doesn't count." Alexis countered.

"It counts." Mac grumbled. "What kind of life is he expecting to give my niece and nephew? He's a flake."

"He loves your niece." Alexis pointed out.

"So?" Mac didn't sound interested.

"So you're saying if my father was still alive, you would have tracked him down and gotten his blessing before asking me?" Alexis gave him a look.

"Honey, your dad was a nut job and it's different." Mac informed her as nicely as possible.

"You have to consider Patrick's point of view." Alexis insisted.

"I don't have to consider anything where that man is concerned. Oh did I say man? I meant little boy. He's a horny adolescent who is just looking to solidify—"

"Stop. I don't want to hear this." Alexis put her hands over her ears.

Mac's face screwed up in disgust. "Lexie, you're going to send me straight to Kevin Collins if you put thoughts like that in my head."

"Whether or not you approve, Robin has made her decision."

"She's being a fool."

"She's in love."

"She's just without options."

"What? What are you talking about? Out of options?"

"It's not easy when you've got kids." Mac clarified.

"You made a very sexy single mom honey." Alexis taunted him.

Mac smiled in spite of his current mood. "You always know just what to say don't you?"

"I've dealt with irrational males all my life." Alexis explained reaching for his hand.

"I'm not being irrational." Mac huffed.

"Right. You're being protective. A little too protective in my opinion. She's an adult now Malcolm."

"Not to me." He whispered. "To me she'll still be a spunky little teenage girl with big brown eyes and an even bigger heart."

"And she's gotten hurt before." Alexis recalled. "You can't put her in a bubble no matter how much you might want to."

"Have I kissed you today?" Mac asked with a crooked smile.

"Nope." Alexis beamed.

*****

"I don't see a ring." Bobbie announced without preamble as Robin crossed the lawn. It was difficult to tell if she was confused by the missing piece of jewelry or if she was merely challenging Robin to offer up some kind of explanation.

Stopping at the bottom step of the porch, Robin said, "It's being fitted."

"Hasn't my nephew bought you jewelry before? Shouldn't he know your ring size?" Bobbie pressed.

"He bought me a locket. It's different." Robin explained.

"I see." Bobbie commented. "Did you pick out the ring together?"

"No." Robin shook her head. "I've only seen a picture of it."

"That's poor planning on Patrick's part. He plans everything." Bobbie recalled.

"He can be spontaneous." Robin defended.

"That's true." Bobbie agreed. "But not on matters of the heart."

"Maybe it was a mistake coming here." Robin was beginning to wonder why she had even bothered. Of course Bobbie deserved to know about the shop, but she could have gotten out of that with a phone call.

"Wait." Bobbie held up her hand. "I'm not trying to be the bad guy. I'm just trying to understand."

"I think Laura said something similar to Lucky and Elizabeth when she found out about the baby." Robin said dryly.

"We're friends right?"

"I thought we were. Now I'm not so sure."

"I don't have to support every decision you make."

"So you don't support Patrick marrying me?" A look of hurt flashed across Robin's face.

"I didn't say that! I'm just not so sure about the timing. You just got Morgan back."

"So what? We're trying to give him a stable home. Why is that suddenly a crime?"

"It's not." Bobbie took a breath and tried again. "I don't want you to get invested in something that—"

"Might end in divorce?" Robin finished for her.

"I wasn't going to say that."

"I'm selling the bakery to a woman interested in turning the building into a dress shop. I just thought you should know."

"But you love the bakery."

"I don't have time to take care of it."

"No?"

"No. Just leave it at that. I contacted all of my clients. I've finished all of the remaining cakes and had them delivered." Robin met Bobbie's eyes finally. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"I need you to tell me the truth." Bobbie replied brazenly.

"You know," Robin pointed at Bobbie. "When Patrick told me about you and Cruz dating and having a baby, I was supportive. I jumped to your defense immediately. I didn't question your reasons for being together and I thought Majandra was a perfect testament of your love for each other." Angry at the tears building, she went on, "You think just because you don't yell that you're not mean. This is mean."

"Robin, I—"

"Don't worry Mrs. Rodriguez." Robin cut her off coldly. "I won't bother you again."

Previews: "If I told you, then what is the point of the surprise?" he asked in his best serious tone. Seeing the pout she was wearing, he couldn't help himself. He laughed. "Come on. Get in the car."