"What are your plans for the day?" Patrick asked. He watched her with one eye open, both arms serving as pillows for the boys.

"I thought I might go shopping," Robin said after a pause.

"With your shop key?" Patrick challenged grinning.

Robin blushed. "Okay so maybe I was going to take a peek over at the bakery if I had time which I probably won't." To further illustrate her purpose, she held out her to-do list.

"If I help you, just imagine what we could get done." Patrick suggested, successful in extracting one arm without disturbing either son.

"That's okay. I can do it." Robin assured him.

"I have no doubt," Patrick began, "But unfortunately we have prior engagements." That said, he climbed out of bed snatched the list from her grasp.

"What prior engagements do we have?" Robin wanted to know, hands on hips. She glared playfully at her husband when he motioned for her to be quiet. The last thing either of them needed was to wake up the baby.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be much of a surprise now would it?" Patrick hedged, rubbing her back and rocking her slowly.

"It's not really a surprise since you already told me something is happening. There. You see?" She challenged.

"Sounds like a technicality." Patrick reasoned indecisively.

"People get off on them all the time." Robin countered giving him a little kiss in case he continued to argue with her.

"Nice try," He pointed at her. "You definitely get points."

"What else do I get?" Robin giggled at his wide-eyed expression.

"Can't tell," Patrick shook his head.

"Please?" Robin dragged out the word in desperation.

Patrick closed his arms around her. "Don't worry so much. I know how you feel about surprises and I wouldn't be subjecting you to one if I didn't absolutely know that you're going to love this one."

"Alright," Robin agreed. "I trust you."

*****

The phone beeped at him, seemingly mocking him, and Evan reached for it. The tiny pink cell phone almost disappeared in his hand as he flipped it open and peeked at the message. While one part of his brain screamed he had no right to look at any incoming message the more rational side that said her enemies could be sending something vulgar, despite their agreement, and he would rather intercept it than let her be subjected to such a thing.

At least that was what he told himself. She was sleeping, or trying to in the bedroom. Every few minutes he would hear her stirring, his ears already attuned to even the slightest noise. He was left alone in the living room which was exactly how he preferred it. How else could he think? She was a constant distraction, his own fault, and he was starting to wonder if his original idea would actually work or if he would, unintentional as it may be, cause her an ever greater deal of pain. Was it worth all he would have to put her through if the end result was to his liking?

He had to believe it was. Otherwise, why go to such extremes to protect her, to see her through this addiction no matter what it ended up costing him? A selfish rationalization, he thought to himself, since it was her life he was turning upside-down, her dreams his secrets were robbing from her, and her body he was attacking by spouting out his ultimatum.

She had asked that he not sleep beside her anymore and he had conceded that it was probably best. Her reasons were somewhat rational even though he was there for every attack, every nightmare. She couldn't hide those from him. Only her pride kept her from asking him if she could break the rules, just once, just one time. He knew even that would be sacrificed as time went on. And he hated himself for it.

The phone beeped again, signaling a second message, and he was torn from his self-deprecating thoughts by the noise. He pressed a button to make the screen light up and then he clicked on the messages one at a time. The first was a forward from a friend Lulu had probably forgotten she had. The second, the one that stood out, was from Lucky. He was reminding her not to be late for Robin's surprise party. She'd be late alright, Evan mused. She would not be leaving this apartment.

How was he going to explain what had happened without her brother going after him with a baseball bat? He was pretty good with his gun but he knew better than to underestimate the man. Going to Luke would cause far more trouble than it was worth and, in the end, Evan bet he'd still fail to make the old-timer see reason. That left only one person.

They had only met the one time, but she seemed to like him enough to waste a whole roll of film on him. He recognized Laura Spencer as the mouthpiece for the entire family, both immediate and extended. If he wanted to keep Lulu safe without alarming too many people he was going to have to go to Laura. And, whatever he did, he would have to edit out as much as he possibly could to keep from spooking her enough to go to the commissioner. If anyone else was involved he had no doubt Lulu would get lost in the shuffle and end up hurt. And that he wasn't willing to risk.

*****

"Shh." Elizabeth gestured to everyone gathered in the darkness. "They're coming."

The various members of the Spencer family took their cue and scattered themselves behind the counter and booths. Patrick was leading a blindfolded Robin towards the store, Morgan holding her one hand and pushing Nathan in his stroller.

"This is ridiculous," Robin exclaimed impatiently. "Don't let me push the baby into a moving car okay?"

"I've got Nathan, Mommy." Morgan pointed out with a giggle.

"Let me just get the door. Stand right here." Patrick instructed and he yanked the door open almost silently.

"No peeking." Morgan warned.

"I wasn't." Robin argued.

"Alright," Patrick slid the blindfold down and turned on the lights.

"SURPISE!" The shout rang out through out the shop as family and friends shot up and began to laugh at the shock on Robin's face.

"What is all of this?" Robin wondered, her eyes fluttering to each smiling face.

"It's called a welcome back to business now feed us cause we are hungry party." Lucky joked.

Robin laughed out loud and glanced back at Patrick. "I had no idea."

"I've gotten better at surprises." Patrick reminded her.

"Not really. Mom and Elizabeth came up with this idea. He was just told to get you here." Lucky explained.

"Lucky!" Elizabeth protested. "We just helped. A little."

"So this is why you wouldn't let me sneak over here this morning." Robin muttered.

"Well I knew you were ready to get back to work and I thought this would be a nice way to bring you back into it." Patrick explained.

"Not to mention, built-in customers." Dillon pointed out as he sat down at the counter.

"I don't know what to say. Thank you." Robin told them.

"Do you really like it?" Morgan prompted.

"Of course I like it. I love it." Robin went on.

"You know," Mac interrupted, swooping around the counter. "Lucky was only half-kidding about you feeding us."

"I wasn't even half-kidding." Lucky defended himself. "I was totally serious."

"Well what does everybody want?" Robin asked, bombarded by a dozen different answers. "Just a second. One at a time."

"Say it." Luke whispered to Patrick.

"Nope." Patrick shook his head.

"Come on. You've got to." Luke insisted.

"Say it." Cruz teased.

"Fine. This was a great idea. Thank you for thinking of it." Patrick gave in smiling at the way his wife glowed in the midst of the people they cared most about.

*****

"I think we need to have a little talk," Laura whispered throwing her arm around Bobbie's shoulders and luring her away from the crowd. Her sister-in-law had done a good job of pretending nothing was wrong and, polite as it was, Laura could see through it.

"Talk?" Bobbie decided to play dumb. There was always the off chance Lulu would show up and distract her mother's well-intentioned questioning. "What do we need to talk about?"

"Why you and your husband are on opposite sides of the room." Laura clarified.

"Laura. Not every married couple has to spend every second near each other. Luke's on the other side of the room too."

"But I'm not glaring at him." Laura challenged folding her arms.

"I do not glare." Bobbie protested.

"So you admit something is wrong?"

"I didn't say that."

"But something is, isn't it?"

"I don't know for sure." Bobbie whispered. It was futile to try to keep things from Laura. Sooner or later everyone ended up confessing it all to her.

"What do you think is wrong?"

"I think...I think Cruz has found someone else." In the back of her mind, Bobbie had thought she might feel relief at sharing her suspicions with someone. She was wrong. It wasn't relief. It was the nerve-wracking anxiety she might find out she was right. After all, if anyone would know, it would be Laura.

"Ridiculous," Laura countered with a shake of her head. "Have you seen the way he looks at you?"

"Then why is he getting phone calls from a Kate?" Bobbie spit out the name as if it were made of poison.

"Kate who?"

"Kate Husband-stealing Tramp." Bobbie declared.

"Don't hold back now," Laura teased, fighting back a smile. "Now Bobbie you know he wouldn't do that to you."

"No?" Bobbie arched her eyebrow carefully. "Then why is he taking her to lunch at our restaurant?"

"Bobbie, were you spying on your husband?" Laura didn't know whether to smack her or give her a high five. It was so un-Bobbie.

"I wouldn't have to if he would just talk to me."

"Have you tried talking to him? I mean, I know it's a novel concept, but our men would never know we were mad at them if we left it to them to figure it out. Like we have that kind of time." Laura sighed.

"And what exactly am I supposed to say Laura? Hi honey, how was your day? By the way, who's the blonde tramp that keeps calling you?"

"I say that's a good opener," Laura admitted.

"I can't."

"How else are you going to know?" Laura wondered. "I know it's hard. I remember when I thought Luke was."

"You did? When?"

"Lulu was a year old. Luke and I had a deal that he would take her with him in the mornings and I would take Lucky and then we'd trade kids on the weekends to keep from being worn out," Laura began. "Her name was Natalia and she worked at the cookie counter."

"The cookie counter? Luke does have a sweet tooth."

"Not anymore he doesn't," Laura argued. "I went up there and got the little tart fired. She was shamelessly flirting with him; Lucky told me so."

"Oh taking the word of a six year old. That's completely rational."

"Hey. I had to do something. And I'll tell you what; he never went sniffing around the

counter again." Laura leaned against one of the booths and closed her eyes. "I'm not saying it was the most mature way to handle it and you and I are different, but if you think he has betrayed you then you have to find out. If not for yourself than for your daughter."

"What if I don't want to know the answer?" Bobbie whispered, her eyes darting to her husband's form.

"Well I could ask him but that might be kind of awkward." Laura pointed out, getting Bobbie to at least crack a smile. She had never seen her sister-in-law so down and out.

"You might get a more truthful answer than I would," Bobbie admitted softly. "All he tells me is his late meetings these days are work related."

"Is it possible that it is work related?" Laura tried.

"Not when Becca and Axe don't know anything about it."

"Then it sounds to me like you need to go and speak with Kate. I would suggest you not admit your true reason for doing so."

"Are you, Laura Spencer, suggesting I lie?" Bobbie pretended to sound horrified.

"Guilty."

"I think I like you better when you are devious."