Robbie Lewis sat with his sergeant in the garden of their favorite pub. Lewis was hopeful that another beer might lighten Hathaway's mood. Ever since he had apparently broken up with Penny Larson, Hathaway had been back to his old awkward self. When Penny had left for the US a few months ago to care for her mother during a serious illness, Robbie never would have predicted that he wouldn't see her again. He liked her, and even more, he liked what she had done for Hathaway's general mood. While she was gone, Will McEwan's case had come up, and James had gotten tangled up with the ghosts of his past, and with Zoe Kenneth. Penny didn't return to Oxford until long after James had recovered (well, recovered physically, at least, Robbie thought). Robbie had asked about her once, and James had answered that her mum was in good health again and Penny was back in town, but his tone made it clear that he did not want to talk about her. He never mentioned her again, and Robbie thought it wasn't his business to meddle in his sergeant's love life, no matter how much he wanted to. Although, Robbie thought, if Penny had been in James' life a few weeks ago while they were investigating everyone at Crevecour Hall, she presumably would have kept him from jeopardizing his career by getting involved with a suspect— Robbie was grateful the lad hadn't left the force, but Hathaway definitely needed someone besides himself looking after his best interests. He was getting too old for sergeant-rearing.

He was just about to ask James if he wanted another round, when he looked up and saw Penny Larson herself walking toward them. Her expression was that of a hunter who has her prey in her sights. Her eyes were fixed on Hathaway while she made her way across the grass. Robbie could not help noticing the dress she was wearing, in a cornflower blue color that flattered her eyes and fair skin and a simple style that showed off her slim figure to its best advantage. Robbie glanced up at Hathaway and saw that he had seen her as well, and that the dress seemed to be having the effect that Penny had presumably planned on. While keeping her eyes on Hathaway, she gave Robbie a little wave as she passed by. James desperately gulped down the remainder of his beer and said "How did you find us here?"

Penny gave him a sly smile. "You two are not the only detectives in Oxford." Then she hitched herself up to sit next to James on the stone wall surrounding the garden. She reached over and removed the empty glass from his hand and set it on the table. "Have you had a few?" she asked.

James nodded. "Is that a problem?" he asked, a bit defensively.

"Oh no," Penny said. "In fact, it should make things a bit easier."

"Make what easier?" Hathaway asked warily.

"This," Penny said as she reached over, pulled James toward her and kissed him full on the mouth.

James put his hands up for a second as if to push her away, then surrendered and put his arms around her.

Robbie watched. Perhaps he should get up and go to the bar for another, but he didn't want to miss how this scene ended. Better than television, this was.

The kiss went on for quite some time. From the looks of it, Penny had Hathaway where she wanted him. Whatever had happened between the two of them hadn't changed their attraction to each other, that was for sure. Although, James would have to be dead to not respond to her looking so beautiful and getting to the point in such a direct way. In straight fact, he'd have to admit he was a bit envious of the lad right now. He started thinking about what he would do with his evening alone after Penny led James off to her bed for the night.

Then Penny surprised him. She finally released James, looked into his eyes and spoke in a level voice. "James Hathaway, I love you. I miss you. Come back to me. I love you." Hathaway looked as if he had been shot, his face full of pain. Robbie revised his opinion of Penny's motives. She was certainly hunting Hathaway, but she was going for a bigger trophy than a single night, she was going for the whole man, heart and all. Robbie settled in and hoped they wouldn't notice him. This was going to be interesting.

James finally recovered enough to speak. "Penny, we've been through this. You don't want me. You're better off without me. I told you I've decided it's best for everyone."

Robbie knew what happened when you told women that you knew what was best for them. He marveled that his sergeant hadn't learned that lesson yet, and waited for Penny's response.

"James Hathaway," she began in an impatient voice, "When you left the priesthood behind, did they not tell you that you also had to leave behind that patriarchal, patronizing, crap attitude toward women? The 15th century is over; we're allowed to have our own opinions now." Robbie smiled to himself. This girl was definitely worthy of Hathaway. Then she surprised him again. She put her lips close to Hathaway's ear and said in a low voice, "You'll find the trade-off to be quite worth it." and then kissed him on the neck.

Robbie watched in admiration. Hathaway was in quite a state—it was obvious he had no idea how to respond to her. It was easy to see the battle between his desire to convince her he was right and his more physical desire as it played across his face. Robbie idly wondered if he should get Penny to teach a training course on interrogations...she definitely knew how to keep James off-balance. Although her methods so far would not be quite appropriate for use at the station.

James managed to croak out, "You're not playing fair."

Penny responded as Robbie anticipated she would. "All's fair in love and war."

"Which is this?" James asked, rubbing his head like a confused schoolboy.

"You've not been paying much attention, James. I love you, and I'm willing to fight for you." She leaned over and whispered something in his ear that Robbie couldn't hear. James closed his eyes, and Robbie could see the force of will the younger man was using to keep his composure.

Hathaway visibly pulled himself together and tried again to reason with her. His eyes softened for a moment as he looked her over. "Look how perfect and...and beautiful you are. I'll just break you."

"Perfect and beautiful?" Robbie thought to himself. That was not up to Hathaway's usual level of vocabulary. He wondered how drunk James really was, or was it Penny's presence that had addled his brains? His money would be on the lass in a battle of wits between the two of them today.

Penny smiled at James. "James, you're forgetting that I'm not one of your delicate English roses. I'm American, remember? We come from much hardier stock. You won't break me."

Robbie stifled a laugh. Hathaway was facing long odds indeed that he'd win this battle. He looked up at his sergeant, who looked like a drowning man who had just lost his grip on a rope. Robbie decided that it was time for him to try to move things along. No point in torturing the lad when anyone could see how this would end. Try as he might, James could not hide his love for Penny while he did his best to put her off.

Robbie finally spoke. "Hathaway, look at me."

James looked at him gratefully, assuming that Robbie would save him. "Sorry to disappoint you, lad, " Robbie said to himself, " you'll be thanking me later." Then he spoke up, "Do you love her, James?"

James looked shocked that he was being attacked on both sides, rather than getting the reinforcements he had been expecting. "Th-That's not the issue, sir. It's more complicated than that."

"Don't be daft, man. It is the issue. So tell me, do you love her? And don't lie, the answer is written all over your face."

James nodded slowly then burst out, "But she deserves better. I'm no good for her!"

Penny opened her mouth to speak, but Robbie held up his hand to stop her. He knew how to handle his sergeant. "I know you, and I know a bit about women. Face it, this is the best woman you will ever find in your life. Don't give up on her. Give her a little credit for wanting to put up with you, no, make that a lot of credit. I don't know what the problem is between you, but you'd have to be blind not to see how you two feel about each other."

James started, "But, but..."

Robbie interrupted him by saying gently, " Follow your heart, lad. The rest will sort itself out one way or the other. Now I'm going to ask you again. Do you love her?"

"Desperately," James whispered, then hung his head.

Robbie looked over at Penny, who shot him a look of victory. He nodded at her to take over now.

Penny took Hathaway's face in her hands and looked straight in his eyes. "I love you, James, no matter what stupid thing you think you've done. I love you. I love you. I love you." She kissed him gently after each declaration of love then wrapped her arms around his neck. James returned her embrace, although he still looked near tears. Penny's lips found his again, and James finally gave in. His desire for Penny had definitely won out over his desire to be right.

Robbie watched them carrying on and wondered if it was his police duty to write them a citation.

They finally broke apart. Penny jumped down from the wall and bent down to kiss Robbie on the cheek while giving him a big smile and a look of gratitude. Then she turned and took Hathaway's hand and led him away.

Robbie watched them walk through the gate. He was happy for Hathaway, but was also a bit glad that his own days of being pounced on by beautiful women were over. He wouldn't have lasted half as long as his sergeant had under the same circumstances.

Laura Hobson suddenly appeared with two beers in her hands. "Mind if I join you?"

"You just missed seeing Hathaway captured by his American girl."

"I know." Laura smiled mysteriously. "I couldn't hear the dialogue, but it looked like quite a show."

Robbie looked at her quizzically, then put it all together. " You brought her here, didn't you!"

Laura nodded.

"Aren't we just a pair of meddling old ladies, then!" Robbie observed.

"Speak for yourself," Laura replied. " I prefer to think of myself as Cupid's assistant."

"Well, here's to true love, then." He raised his glass, and they drank.