"Dating you is going to be like this a lot, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?

"I say 'let's celebrate' and your reaction is to invite me over to your house." Maxie explained moping.

"What's wrong with my house?" Ric wondered looking around, trying to keep the smile off his face. "I remember you begging to come here at least once before."

"That is such a guy thing to say. So what's the plan? Roast marshmallows in the front yard?" She couldn't help but sound bored. For his reputation, Ric was turning out to be very straight-laced.

"I thought we covered this before." Ric shook his head. "Surprises are a good thing."

"Surprises?" Maxie grabbed his wrist so he would stop long enough to look at her. "What kind of surprises?"

"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."

"Forget it."

"If you want to stay here and ruin the date fine. But just know it will be entirely your fault."

"You said 'surprise.' You didn't say date." Maxie hurried to point out.

"That's part of the surprise." Ric explained with a chuckle.

Maxie eyed him suspiciously but got in the car anyway. "I have the right to take the car if this surprise sucks."

"When have my surprises ever sucked?" He questioned confidently as he turned the engine and began to back out of the driveway.

"What surprises?"

Making sure no cars were coming in his direction, Ric risked a long glance in her direction. "Have you forgotten about the first time I was allowed in your house?"

"I know I pretended to be surprised but that's just because I was trying to spare your feelings." Maxie assured him buckling up.

"Oh baby. I didn't realize you cared so much."

"I read somewhere that that happens to a lot of guys." Maxie teased him with a full smile.

"And I've read that what happened to you is very rare for women."

Maxie reached over and smacked him on the back of the head. "Focus on your driving. Ending up in a ditch is not on tonight's agenda."

*****

Planning a date for Maxie had been problematic from the start. First, there was even getting her to agree to go on an actual date with him. And then her continued reluctance to have him meet her family. Not that Ric was entirely eager to have that meeting. The Commissioner carried a gun and could probably shoot him in cold blood and make it look like an accident. Once he finally got the date, it had to be the right kind of date. It couldn't be too tame or too ordinary. Not for Maxie. She demanded effort and attention. And he aimed to satisfy those demands tonight. And any others she may have.

Coming here tonight was a calculated risk. It would provide them with enough privacy for any of the reasons they might need it. But it also carried the risk of being perceived as a little conventional. He shrugged as he continued leading her to what was quite possibly his second favorite spot in the entire town. With one of his hands on hers and the other on a wicker basket, Ric smiled over his shoulder at her. "Almost there."

"Where are you taking me?" All Maxie saw around her was darkness. She was glad she had worn flats instead of heels because one wrong step and she would fall on her face.

"You'll see. It's just over here."

Maxie had pretended not to see the basket in his hand because he seemed insistent on surprising her and she liked that idea. "Aren't we a little old for Hide and Seek?"

"That depends. Do you want to seek something?" He winked outrageously and pulled her just a little closer to him than was strictly necessary.

"I thought this was supposed to be a surprise." Maxie whispered tucking her arms around his waist.

"This is only the beginning." He stopped walking long enough to drop the basket on the ground before he leaned down to kiss her.

"Lead the way." Maxie smiled at his lingering taste on her lips.

"Just turn around. Because we are here."

"Ric." Maxie's jaw dropped as she took in the exquisite view laid out in front of her. He had spread a blue and green checkered blanket over the highest point of the hill and lined each side of the blanket with unlit tea candles. Port Charles was nothing more a shadow under the cover of a twinkling sky.

"You approve?" He made his way over the blanket, lighting the candles with the lighter he had shoved in his jeans pocket.

"You kidding?" She managed as she watched the candles light up the deep crevices of his face when he leaned over them.

"Then come over here and join me."

Maxie took his advice and sat on the farthest end of the blanket. "When did you have time to do this?"

Ric scooted closer to her and reached around to grab the basket. "I had some time after my last patient." He pulled out a bottle of wine and two glasses from the basket. Opening the bottle with ease, he offered her a glass. "Wine?"

"Please."

Carefully filling her glass so he wouldn't splash any on her, he then turned his attention to his own glass. Raising the glass towards her, he smiled. "A toast?"

"To discovery." Maxie decided.

"To discovery." Ric repeated as they clinked the goblets together. After taking a sip, he began to rummage through the basket again. "I hope you are hungry."

"You cooked?" Maxie pulled two plates and forks from the basket.

"I'm a man of many talents."

"So you've told me." Maxie rolled her eyes. "What have we got here?" She made a grab for the main course dish.

"Chicken Milanese." Ric explained smoothly. "It's a specialty of mine and it's messy. Which I know you like."

"A specialty huh? So you cook a lot?" Maxie split the main course between the two plates leaving plenty in the container in case she had to create a diversion and throw her half over the hill.

"I dabble. A man can't live by take out alone."

"You finally did it." Maxie congratulated him.

"Did what?"

"You truly surprised me. This was a good idea." Maxie told him.

"Good." He drawled before leaning over and pulling her lips toward his own. "Because this is exactly the perfect way to celebrate."

Maxie blamed the crickets, the first warm night of spring, and the familiar feel of his lips pressing into hers. She dropped her fork and looped her arms around his neck; her fingers pushed into his shoulders. The night was already shaping up to be a pretty good one. She couldn't believe he had put this kind of thought into setting up a real first date for them. Truth was he had been surprising her all along.

Circling his own arms around her waist, he pulled her closer to him so she was almost sitting in his lap. Pausing just long enough to breath, he rested his head on hers. "Food's getting cold." He whispered.

"So? We'll just heat it up when we got back to your house. Problem solved." Maxie reasoned adjusting her body so that her right thigh brushed against Ric's left one.

"I love the way you think Blondie." His hands began to roam her body as he once again crushed his lips against hers.

Previews:

"I'm in a fine mood." Robin told them.

"Robin, babe. I'm pregnant not blind. I saw the "wide load" sign Dillon hid behind his back when I walked in and I know you're not in the best mood."

"I made no such sign!" Dillon protested. "And if I had it was totally at Lucas' suggestion."