The only way to fully appreciate the law while working in law enforcement was when it worked against you. According to the Sydney Australia Airport, Mac Scorpio looked like a terrorist. Even though he had told them he would be carrying his gun. Apparently he looked like a risk and had spent the last twenty-four hours handcuffed to a seat sitting next to a member of airport security. Stupid Australia. Stupid Steven Webber. Stupid, stupid master plan.

At least he didn't have to worry about controlling his temper when he saw his son-in-law. Steven Webber had the rare opportunity to witness Mac Scorpio at his most frustrated. As it should be. The man had abandoned his pregnant, vulnerable little girl and she wasn't going to do anything about it, so Mac had no choice. He didn't want his excuses, he wanted a solution. Steven needed to make a decision and he was going to have to make it today.

Mac reached the Crowne Plaza a day later than he had anticipated, but at least he had made it here. He could practice a little optimism. It worked well for Kristina. Maybe he should invite Steven to a play date with some nice china and real tea. Oh, but how could such a thing happen without the stuffed rabbit? He was losing it, seriously losing his mind. He pounded on the door impatiently.

"I know you're in there Webber! Open the door!"

"Relax." Steven laughed, opening the door and inviting his loud and obnoxious father-in-law inside. "You're going to annoy my neighbors."

"Annoy?" Mac repeated. "ANNOY? Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get here?"

"Not a clue, but I'm sure you'll tell me all about it. Sit down. Do you want something to drink? I have...something." Steven deduced, shutting the refrigerator.

"Did I do something in particular to deserve you in my life? Because I will gladly apologize for it now if I can turn back time." Mac grumbled, helping himself to a glass of water. The hotel room was about the size of his living room and on the inside he was smiling. Not that he wanted his son-in-law to do badly. If he failed, Georgie would suffer. It was just nice to know that perhaps things weren't as wonderful as he was putting on for everyone else.

"Well lucky for me, you can't. I'm guessing there's a reason you stopped by. Not that I'm rushing you. I would love to spend the day participating in this passive-aggressive argument." Steven drawled, pouring himself a glass of ice water.

"Would you like to know or do you think you can guess? Go ahead. I've got time." Mac folded his hands in front of his crossed legs and smirked. For the first time all day, he felt in control.

"I have to assume you wouldn't have come this far if it didn't have something to do with Georgie. Something serious."

"Would you like a sticker?"

"I'd like some answers. Georgie won't tell me."

"You'd like answers? You would like some answers." Mac took a large gulp of his water and set his glass back down.

"Mac, come on." Steven kicked at the bottom of the glass table in the middle of the room and it shattered.

"At least it seems like you care now."

"I've always cared." Steven argued.

"Then what are you still doing here?" Mac challenged. "Hmm? Something is going on in your wife's life that you know nothing about and when she won't tell you, what do you do? Huh? What do you do? You sit by the phone and wait for the call."

"I'm sorry I forgot to pick up The Great Husband's Manual. I'll do that first thing tomorrow." Steven bit back.

"Steven, Georgie's pregnant."

"What? Pregnant."

"Yes, pregnant. I don't think we are comfortable enough with each other to get into how that could have happened."

"When...when did she find out?" Steven tried to go over the last few conversations he had had with Georgie. He had known she was hiding something, but he hadn't pushed her enough.

"A week ago."

"A week?" It had been longer than that since they'd spoken. She had kept this from him the same way she had tried to keep the scare from him. Before he had at least confronted her. What had he done? Mac was right. He was wasting away here like a man who had fallen down a bottomless well.

"If you're wondering why she didn't tell you, it's because she was afraid of your reaction." Mac didn't know why he had felt the need to tell Steven more than the basic information. What Georgie thought or how she reacted to the stress of this newfound development was her business. She had made it a point not to tell Steven. Was he making a mistake?

"My reaction." Steven echoed.

"If you're going to repeat everything I say this is going to take a lot longer than it needs to." Mac groaned. "Now I came here because I believe, or have been forced to believe that you're an okay guy. You wouldn't abandon your wife. I know that. You know that." He made certain to emphasize the words abandon and wife.

"What are you even doing here? You must have been happier than hell when Georgie told you she didn't want to include me, her husband, in this pregnancy at all." Steven accused hotly.

"Don't tell me what I am or how I feel, Mr. Webber. My reason for being here, my only reason for coming to you today is because I don't want my daughter to think she has to do this alone. That said," Mac took a breath. "If that is your intention, tell me now. I can go back and support her decision not to tell you and you can both go on with your lives. Her family can help her raise that baby and you won't be out anything."

Steven hadn't ever felt angry beyond words, but he knew if words could kill his glare would have sawed right through the back of Mac Scorpio's head. He had to get a grip. How could he when all he felt was anger, no rage. He was outraged that this was happening and that Georgie hadn't been the one to tell him.

"I'm staying across the hall. Let me know when you've made up your mind." Mac got up and left.

*****

"Should I come back?" Hunter teased, holding a cup of coffee directly over Maxie's head.

"Go away Hunter." Maxie whined, pulling the covers up over her face.

"If I go, the coffee goes with me." Hunter threatened.

"Mean." Maxie accused from under the blanket. Her voice was muffled and her mood was sour.

"How did last night go? I'm guessing well if you're sleeping in." Hunter surmised with a grin.

"It's Sunday." Maxie protested.

"You never sleep in." Hunter pointed out.

"I hate you. Leave me alone."

"You know that's not going to happen." Hunter plopped down on the bed and set the coffee next to the table. "What happened last night?"

"Disaster." Maxie moaned.

"Nice place." Ric commented as he slid across the vinyl bench seat across from her. "Come here a lot?"

"No. Hunter suggested it." Maxie flipped open her menu and hid behind it.

He was determined not to rise to her bait. She was only bringing up that Hunter guy to make him jealous, possibly even to make him mad enough to stand up and walk away. Well she was just going to have to be disappointed. "Reminds me a little of Kelly's."

"It's nothing like Kelly's." Maxie shot back.

"Really?" He quirked an eyebrow. "Take away the red vinyl and the grandmother behind the counter, add in a jukebox and Mike and it could be Kelly's twin."

"Whatever."

"Have you tried the chili?"

"They don't have chili."

"Shame." He folded the menu. It wasn't as if he had come here for the food anyways.

"What can I get you two?" The waitress wondered. Her auburn hair was wound up at the base of her neck, a pen and notebook in her hand.

"I'm not hungry. Can I just get a cherry coke please?" Maxie asked.

"And for you?"

"Iced tea."

"Be right out."

"How are you enjoying L.A.?"

"It's not home."

"Well feel free to head back."

"Not without you."

"Are you sure you wouldn't like something to eat?" The waitress pestered.

"We're fine." Ric dismissed her with a smile. "Don't think you're getting out of talking about us Maxie."

"What about us?"

"Don't play dumb."

"I just figured that's what people expected from the blonde."

"Maxie."

"Yes Ric?"

"You know why I came here. Why can't we talk about it?"

"Sometimes I miss how things used to be." Maxie admitted. "But that doesn't mean I thought it was worth all the hell...Damn it Ric."

"It was worth everything. It's still worth something." Ric pointed out. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't."

"You hurt me."

"I know I did. I am willing to do anything to make it up to you."

"And just what do you think you have to do?"

"Whatever it is you want me to do."

"I told you what I wanted you to do."

"If you really wanted me to leave you alone and return to Port Charles, you wouldn't have accepted my gifts today. You wouldn't be sitting here with me now."

"I knew it was my only chance for a frilly pink bike."

"I find it amusing you still think I'll buy your rationalizations." Ric mused quietly. "I never have you know."

"You always have."

"Wrong." Ric leaned across the table and grabbed one of her hands before she could move it out of his reach. "I know you. And I know when you are lying to yourself. And when you want to push me away because what we have is too real, too scary for you to deal with."

"What's real about it?" Maxie challenged, yanking her hand back. "We went out, we had sex. Now we don't."

"It was more than just sex Maxie. We both know that. Neither of us put that much effort into something that was just sex. I admit I thought that was all it was in the beginning, but that's not the case now."

"What is it then?"

"Damn it Maxie." Ric swore. "Somehow, and I don't know how, you are the only person I want to spend time with. When something good happens, I want to call you first. I miss you dropping by my office. I miss seeing you at Kelly's. I miss our phone calls. I miss cooking for you. I miss everything about you. Your laugh, your enthusiasm, your loyalty to your family even if I don't completely understand it. When you're hurt I want to kill the person who hurt you. So the fact that I hurt you is killing me inside."

"I...I..."

Taking advantage of her stunned response, Ric stood up quickly and moved to the other side of the booth. Before she fully realized what his intentions were, he kissed her. "I meant what I said. I'm not leaving L.A. without you."

Her intention had been to push him away, but her hands wouldn't cooperate. How could she have let this happen? She knew, damn it she knew if she let him kiss her...but she hadn't let him. She wasn't stopping him either. She intertwined their hands and placed them on his thigh. He might have control of her mouth, but damn it, she was holding his hands captive.

He took a step back when oxygen became a necessity. "The number for my hotel is in the card with your flowers. Call me when you are ready."

"Damn you." Maxie growled, pushing him out of her way and running out of the diner.

"Chicken." Hunter lovingly teased her.

"I'm not a chicken."

"Where's the card?"

"Dresser."

"Underwear drawer?" Hunter grinned, pulling out the tiny white card.

"Shut up."

"My little Maxie is growing up. I only wish I could actually meet this man. I mean without him running the other direction." He pulled the blanket down. "And you know that doesn't happen."

"You'll get that chance." It was Maxie's turn to look smug.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm inviting him over for dinner tomorrow and you're going to be here."

"Darn Max, I can't." Hunter feigned disappointment. "As much fun as playing referee would be, I'm busy."

"You are not. I checked your schedule."

"Yes, but I got a few new numbers today."

"It's eight in the morning."

"I had to get coffee."

"I hate you. How can you abandon me?"

"Sorry."

"No you're not."

"You're right. I'm not. I'll totally help you pick out what you can wear tomorrow when you go to his hotel room."

"Nope. Your expertise is not needed."

"What?"

"Or appreciated."

"Bitch."

"Ass."

"Love you."

"Give me the coffee."