If Dana took baby Jane home… to Robby’s empty house. Read full chapter on AO3

She couldn’t say how much time passed, with her wrapped around him like that… but it, it wasn’t an insignificant amount of time.

Only a distinct, soft rumbling sound and then Jane fussing broke them from their contented silence.

Groaning quietly as they stood and stretched, Dana held out her arms. “You had last feed, I’ll handle last change for the night.”

“Not gonna fight you over a dirty diaper.” Robby huffed, carefully transferring the baby to her arms.

Dana cooed at Jane as she moved to the spare room to change her. “I know, sweetheart, I know, I’ve got you.” She rubbed soft circles on the baby’s back as she glanced over her shoulder at Robby. “I’ll put her down in the crib too, once she’s settled.”

A few minutes later, Robby came up behind her as she laid Jane in her crib. “Set a spare toothbrush by the sink for you.” He murmured, a hand coming up to rest on her lower back as he peered over her shoulder into the crib at the sleeping baby girl.

Unconsciously leaning into his touch, Dana glanced at him. “Thank you,” when he shrugged as if it were nothing, she turned a little more to face him. “Really, this, this was a big ask, us staying here. And then,” she shook her head a little in disbelief, “then you stayed when you didn’t have to. When you could’ve hopped on your bike and been a state over by now on your ‘vision quest’. Thank you.”

Ears turning red, Robby gave her a cheeky smile. “Does this mean I get those quality time brownie points?” He asked, guiding her out of the room, hand still warm on her lower back.

She laughed softly, shaking her head again. “Sure, Robby, you get brownie points.”

Robby grinned wider, “do I get to hold onto those? For when I inevitably piss you off during some future shift?”

Pursing her lips to fight a smile, Dana gave Robby a playful shove. “You already planning on irritating me three months from now?”

“Nothing concrete, but just hedging my bets.” He spun a little to walk backwards down the hall ahead of her.

Before she could retort, a jaw cracking yawn escaped her. “I,” she exhaled, “I gotta throw in the towel. I’m wiped.” Dana admitted, a bit abashed that she barely lasted longer than the baby.

Brow arching, Robby peered at her. “And you were gonna work a double.” He teased, but grasped her hand anyway and towed her the rest of the way down the hall to the remaining bedroom.

If Dana took baby Jane home… to Robby’s empty house. Read full chapter on AO3

Taking the baby from his arms to give him a break, Dana expertly shifted the babe so her head lay over Dana’s heart to soothe her and began to bounce lightly. “She eat one more time?” When Robby nodded, she squeezed his arm in thanks.

But when Dana moved to sit on the couch, Robby—who’d been watching her with the softest eyes and an undefinable expression—stopped her. “Can, can I ask you a favor?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck and not quite meeting her eye.

Unsure how his favor could possibly compare to her commandeering his home, and apparently his first night of vacation, Dana cocked her head. “Sure thing,” she murmured.

Still avoiding her gaze, Robby sniffed. “Could, and if it makes you uncomfortable or weirded out we can forget I ever mentioned it,” he stalled and rambled, and Dana let him, knowing he’d spit it out eventually. “Could I hold you?” It finally came out; quiet, barely a whisper, and it just about broke her heart.

If Dana took baby Jane home… to Robby’s empty house. Read on AO3

Dana moved from nurse to doctor to nurse, fruitlessly trying to convince anyone of becoming an emergency kinship placement.

She’d done it before, when her girls were little. When they had almost everything already at their place, when her girls could act as a buffer between her and Benji. He could hardly be upset when they cooed and fawned over whatever small child she’d brought home for the night, or week.

Now?

Now the girls were grown, out of the house…. And Benji, though he wouldn’t really kill her as she’d joked, he wouldn’t stand for it.

It’d been one thing, when they were married. But now that they were divorced and awkwardly cohabiting until they could each find a place that didn’t scream sad, divorcee before selling… well, she had to play nice.

Had to play nice to get her half of the sale. Their negotiator had outlined ground rules when it was determined they wouldn’t sell the house immediately, but when it benefited them both.

One of Benji’s hard rules was no strays.

This included children, animals, and coworkers who needed a place to crash.

It’d been an easy enough rule to accept at the time, she hadn’t planned on bringing any outsiders into ground zero of her collapsed marriage and their odd arrangement.

But the baby girl….

She rocked the babe in her arms and the girl gurgled happily up at her. Heart strings tugged, Dana kissed the baby’s hat covered head before setting her back down.

“I got a plan, little one, don’t you worry, you’re not spending the night here.” She promised, before hurrying off to find Robby before he left.

Dana finally caught him with Baran, giving the woman final notes, tips and instructions for while he was on sabbatical. A more formal handoff than the changing of the guard that happened when night shift came in.

Catching his eye, and nodding to the side to let him know to find her when he was done, Dana went to start filling out the paperwork.

Fifteen minutes later, Robby slid onto the stool next to her. “What’s up?”

Lip catching between her teeth, Dana spun to face him. “I got a favor… I know you asked Whitaker, but can I stay at your place?” At his confused expression, she hurried to add, “until they find a family for baby Jane?”

Smirk tugging his lips, Robby shook his head, though his eyes were soft as they held her pleading gaze. “You’re taking her?”

A bit indignant, Dana huffed. “Not gonna let her stay here all night!”

Chuckling, Robby glanced around. “Princess owes me twenty bucks, when I get back.” He remarked with a grin, fending off her playful slap. “I called it hours ago, that if it came to it, you’d get her out of here.” His hand landed on her forearm and squeezed. “Of course, how else can I help?”

Which was how she roped him into helping her load up her car with the essentials kept on hand at the hospital for just such emergency placements; portable crib, car seat, diapers, formula, a couple extra sets of clothes.

What surprised her was that Robby followed her to his place on his motorcycle, helped carry up all the essentials, and even set up the crib in the spare room before offering to watch Jane while Dana cleaned up.

Her brows arched, but Dana didn’t mention how he planned to leave. Had been jonesing for it practically all day. Instead she smiled, trailed her hand across his shoulders as she walked behind him on her way to the bathroom and thanked him.

When she came back out, a T-shirt and basketball shorts were folded neatly outside the bathroom door. Smiling at Robby’s thoughtfulness, she snagged the clothes and pulled them on. The fit made her snort, the shirt would partially droop off a shoulder if she wasn’t careful and she had to roll the shorts at the waist a ridiculous number of times before they reached just about mid thigh.

Fic based on an interview with Katherine LaNasa saying a friend tried to set her up with Noah years ago. Read full chapter on AO3

Grinning, Robby laughed with her. “You’re not in your twenties?!” He teased, tone incredulous and loving how her laughter crinkled the corners of her eyes.

A halfhearted swat at him was her reply. “Oh, if I was in my twenties again,” Dana mused, “I might’ve taken Julie’s offer when she tried to set us up.”

Stunned, Robby blinked at her stupidly. “What?”

Brow lifting in surprise, Dana cocked her head. “Huh, thought she proposed the idea to both of us. What a girl’s girl letting me decide without the pressure. I’ll have to reach out, haven’t talked to her in ages.”

Setting his drink down, Robby shook his head. “Roll that back,” he mimicked the statement with his hands. “Julie, the other new nurse from when we first started, tried to set you up with me?” His hand found her knee again, god he couldn’t help himself especially given the topic of conversation.

“Yeah, I,” she looked at him closely, “you truly didn’t know?” He shook his head, mind racing at the missed opportunity. “Julie said ‘he has all that ER money’.” Voice dropping an octave and taking on a rasp to imitate Julie. “How do you say yes to that setup? It was so odd!” She laughed, swiping some loose hair off her face. “And I couldn’t help but think, well, what’s wrong with him? If she’s leading with that!”** Her eyes found his again, mirth dancing in them. “Turns out, nothin. Nothing was wrong with ya, Julie was just a shitty matchmaker.”

Still trying to catch up, Robby wet his lips. “Julie, she wanted us to date.” He repeated, wanting to make sure he understood that vital piece, so he could fully process Dana’s comment on allowing the set up if she ever got a do over.

Dana gave him an amused look. “That would be the definition of settin people up.” She quipped, “but Julie eventually went into peds, and, as I like to say, anyone who chooses that is coo coo for Cocoa Puffs.” She tapped her head and chuckled.

“And, and you’d, if given the redo, would’ve taken her up on it?” He couldn’t let this drop, not when his skin had been buzzing ever since she’d told him of the divorce. Not when for the first time, single might also mean available. And not just available, but interested?

Fic based on an interview with Katherine LaNasa saying a friend tried to set her up with Noah years ago. Read on AO3

“He’s gotten quite touchy feely since I was last here.” Monica commented, brow arching in her direction.

Only half paying attention, eyes roving the whiteboard in front of her, Dana hummed. “Well, it’s his first day back, he’s tryin some new things.”

Turning to face her fully, Monica frowned. “I thought he was leaving, not getting back.”

Marker cap now caught between her teeth, Dana’s brow furrowed. “Who you talking bout?” She managed around the plastic as she added notes here and there and wiped another spot clean.

Lips pursing in disapproval at her manners, Monica sighed. “Robinavitch. Who are you talking about.”

Dana took the cap from her mouth, covered the marker, and pocketed it. “Langdon….?”

The older woman rolled her eyes. “I don’t even know who Langdon is, why would I be talking about him?”

A bit confused, Dana shrugged. “Why’re you talking about Robby?” While the man wasn’t as emotionally constipated as before, she wouldn’t exactly call him ‘touchy feely’. Besides, their entire team had barely had a chance to breathe since the cyber shut down, let alone time for Robby to come and chat about anything not work related.

As if summoned by their conversation, Robby breezed into the nurse’s station. “Trauma one is open, patient is moving up to surgery.” He deposited some clipboards into their respective racks, grasped her shoulder as he passed and kept going.

Monica cocked a brow. “See?”

Baffled, Dana huffed in amusement. “Yeah, those feelings were just oozin off him.” She was now fighting with the fax machine, trying to send an order.

Smacking her hands away, Monica rid the infernal machine of yet another paper jam and got it running within seconds. “Not what I mean, Evans.” The former clerk murmured, side eying her. “His hands have been on you every time he’s been over here.“

She blinked. It wasn’t out of the norm for them to have a reassuring touch every now and then during a shift, but Dana didn’t think it’d been every time Robby had been at the station.

Apparently taking her silence for more than it was, Monica chuckled. “And don’t think I didn’t clock the empty ring finger, either, when did that happen?”

Her thumb automatically rubbing against the bare skin where her ring used to be, Dana shook her head. “Five months ago. But it’s not, Robby doesn’t—“

Before she could get any further, Robby swept back into the space. “Any chance our hospice cancer patient is moving upstairs anytime soon?” He asked, throwing a pen away and stealing one from her work space.

“I’ll call again, but no promises it happens before she doesn’t need it.” Dana replied, arching a brow at his theft.

Grinning and saluting her with said stolen pen, Robby reached over and gave her forearm a quick squeeze. “You’re the best!” And then he was gone again.

A smug look on her face, Monica hummed as she added stickers to several patient charts.

“You’re seein things.” Dana muttered, ignoring the older woman’s snort and refocusing on work.

Except, except every time after that, Dana couldn’t help but notice that Robby did, in fact, touch her whenever he was in her vicinity.

A hand on her upper back, playfully knocking his hip into hers, leaning into her so their arms were in contact from shoulder to elbow as they reviewed a chart, fingers drifting across her lower back when he slipped between her and the portable X-ray.

It’d never been distracting. These little touches.

Until Monica pointed it out.

Now, now Dana wondered how long Robby had been doing this. Surely, today was an exception, when the computers were up and running he wasn’t at the station near as much. This couldn’t have been going on for long with her being completely oblivious….

Right?

Brain not where it needed to be given the incoming traumas from the water park, Dana announced she was taking a quick break outside and slipped out the bay doors.

The cigarette was back in her hand, flipping between her fingers as she once more contemplated lighting it up.

“Ah,” a hand appeared from behind and plucked the cigarette from her. Flinching sharply, an acidic rebuke died on Dana’s tongue when she spun and saw Robby behind her, an apologetic look on his face. “Didn’t mean to scare you.” Before she deny any such thing, he added. “Thought you quit.” He eyed the cigarette critically.

She reached for it only for Robby to childishly hold it above his head with a smirk. “And I thought you wanted me to wait until after you left.” She retorted a bit harsher than intended, tipping onto her toes and fruitlessly trying to snag the cigarette back.

Smiling sheepishly, Robby tilted his head to catch her eyes. “I was being an asshole,” he admitted. “I think it’s great you’re quitting. Means I get to have you around longer.” His voice got softer at the end. That and the words themselves made her lose focus and her balance, tipping her forward more than she should and almost into Robby’s chest. Thankfully, his free hand automatically found her hip and caught her before they collided.

Dana recovered the best she could, given their new proximity and the heat of his palm radiating through her scrubs. “Oh, so it’s selfish, you wanting me to quit?” She arched a brow and took and small step away from Robby under the guise of crossing her arms, hoping the gestures would hide the heat she felt blooming around her collar and spreading.

His hand sliding off her hip when she moved, Robby just smiled. “More like doing the world a great service, by making sure you’re in it as long as possible.” Giving her a wink, Robby tucked the cigarette behind his ear and sauntered back inside.

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She stalled… going into her first ball.

Well, it was hardly her first. Yet Violet couldn’t deny the butterflies winging through her stomach.

Oh, if only Penelope were still acting as Lady Whistledown! She wouldn’t even have to go through the embarrassing act of entering this room and telling the ton her intentions. Her dear daughter-in-law could’ve simply written it up, everyone react privately in their homes, and Violet would never need to be the wiser as to how they felt.

Here she was instead, having to announce herself like some filly.

Bracing herself, Violet lifted her chin and strode inside, feigning a calm and collected confidence. She barely took her first step into the main ballroom before Agatha caught her, a gleam in her eyes.

Suddenly unsure, for anything that made Lady Danbury that giddy was certainly something to be unsure of, Violet tried to escape.

She didn’t get very far.

An unwaveringly iron clad grip latched onto Violet’s arm, and suddenly Agatha was firmly directing her to the edge of the dance floor and loudly pronouncing—several thumps of her cane ensuring the crowd’s attention—that Dowager Violet Bridgerton was once more in the marriage mart.

Mortified, Violet suddenly understood how her children must have felt when she’d done the same. Cheeks flooding with heat, she managed a weak smile at the crowd before hustling to the wall by the refreshments, Agatha chuckling as she followed.

”That was a horrid thing to do!” She admonished in a hiss, trying to cool her flaming face with her fan.

Lips curling up impishly, Agatha chortled. “Yes, and quite fun because of it.” At Violet’s glare, the older woman huffed. “Please, like you’d have done a better job. A delicate word here or there?” A raised, skeptical brow told Violet what her friend thought of that plan. “While you may be embarrassed, though there’s no reason why, everyone knows now and you won’t be pestered with questions. Won’t be subject to scrutiny, at least not up close. No, this was the best way.”

Unable to argue, as the deed was already done, Violet settled for snatching a glass of lemonade to hide her still reddened cheeks. Before she could say anything more on the matter, the wicked woman winked at her and then promptly sauntered off, abandoning Violet in the corner.

Unmoored, Violet shuffled back a bit further, feeling as she did as a child. It was one thing to attend a ball with the purpose of finding her children a spouse, it was another entirely to try and find one herself.

Though Violet was far from the child she’d been, she felt herself actively regressing. Ever the wallflower.

Astonishingly, the feeling didn’t last long.

It wasn’t that suitors flocked to her as they did when her boys were searching, the ton’s mamas weren’t shouldering their way over with prospectives. And Violet hadn’t anticipated such, but it was certainly far more than she would have guessed.

The youth of the ton approached her to ask to dance, and though their hands might not have been quite as proper as they’d be with a young lady newly on the mart, Violet found she didn’t mind. It bolstered her confidence, to be on the receiving end of such attention.

And if Antony was a bit protective, his glares sending as many scurrying as it encouraged, and if he cut into some dances where he thought Violet’s honor was being impinged upon, she didn’t say a word.

At lunch, Ava plopped down in a chair at their table uninvited, her chin propped in her hand. “It’s hot, isn’t it?” At their matching confused looks, Ava rolled her eyes. “The sex.” She emphasized. “You two look amazing, glowing, I should’ve guessed you were together sooner. The sex must be phenomenally hot.” She raised her eyebrows expectantly.

Appalled, Janine’s hands flew to cover her ears. “Ava!” She cried from the other table, “those are our moms!”

A snort escaped Gregory at that, but he gave Barbara and Melissa a small, acknowledging nod, while Jacob turned a vibrant red.

Melissa, however, grinned wickedly and leaned in toward Ava. “Hotter and filthier than you’d ever be able to believe.” She offered with a wink.

Hooting with delight, Ava fanned herself. “If you ever want a third,” she arched a brow and smirked, “you know where to find me.”

A small, distressed sound emanated from Janine as she fled from the room with Gregory following, his expression caught between amusement and horror. And poor Jacob, his face was now nearly pressed against the book pages in front of him, only the tips of his burning ears visible above the cover as Ava stood, flinging her hair over her shoulder as she left.

“Melissa!” Barbara scolded; her cheeks hot as she kept her eyes carefully away from any coworker in their immediate radius.

Amusement still glittering in her eyes, Melissa leaned in and lightly kissed Barbara on the lips. “I’m sorry,” her tone not holding even a hint of apology. “But it’s Ava, you know how she is. And you know they were all wondering, were going to talk about it once we were gone. Might as well give them the hot and juicy truth.” Voice dropping an octave at the end, Melissa let her eyes sweep over Barbara.

Heat flaring down her neck and chest as well now, Barbara bit her lip. “Still not appropriate.” She grumbled, though there was no real admonishment left in it. It was just Ava and Melissa acting how they normally did around one another. “In the future, though, if you and Ava must gossip, don’t do it in front of the kids.”

Melissa grinned. “Done. I think we scarred them enough as is, no need to pile on.” She stood, collecting their trash and throwing it away. “Ready?”

Taking Melissa’s proffered hand, Barbara huffed. “Scarred them but gave Ava masturbation material for at least a week.” She muttered so only Melissa could hear as they exited the room.

Laughter ringing out of her, Melissa leaned into Barbara’s side as they walked. “A month, easy.” She countered, smiling widely. “Would you ever…?” Her eyebrows rose suggestively.

An indelicate snort escaping her, Barbara shook her head. “I couldn’t handle the both of you. Besides,” she followed Melissa into her classroom and pressed her against the wall next to the door, just out of sight. “I just got you, and I’m not very good at sharing.” With a wicked smile, Barbara kissed Melissa soundly, the shorter woman gasping into her mouth. When she pulled back, Barbara cocked her head. “Are you?”

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She stared at her computer without registering its contents for a solid 15 minutes after Ted left. Her eyes flitting to the small, tantalizing pink box on the corner of her desk.

Rebecca tried to justify her reticence to the treat, mentally claiming she couldn’t let Ted re-sink any more hooks in her than he already had. She swore to herself after Rupert that no one would ever again take a piece of her.

And then Ted left, taking her heart.

Well, to be fair, she had tried to give it to him and he rejected it, seemingly unaware of the gesture. But the traitorous organ left with him all the same, a bedraggled stowaway.

When he came back, Rebecca thought perhaps her heart would’ve come with him. Slinking back to her like a dog with its tail between its legs.

But it hadn’t.

And so, Rebecca clung to the shreds that remained, stubbornly refusing to give any more to the delightful, kind, wonderful man who was once again her gaffer.

Even if that ‘more’ was simply enjoying the frankly fucking delicious biscuits he baked her. Perhaps it was because he baked them, that stalled her. Because that kind of thoughtfulness and time commitment should mean something. Something more.

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The itinerary for his first day back was a bit ridiculous, Rebecca had to admit. And yet, she couldn’t make herself remove anything from it. She wasn’t ready to spend one-on-one time with him.

So, that meant a morning meeting with the team (who were ecstatic to have him back), lunch meeting with fiscal, then one with Leslie for contracts and the like, and—of course—an afternoon press conference.

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Of course, Violet couldn’t blindside her children with her choice. She carefully penned a letter to each of them—except Hyacinth who still lived at home—stating her intentions and asking for their support.

Benedict jokingly offered up his 75 year old neighbor out in the country as an option so they might live closer to one another. Colin and Penelope offered to host a gathering to allow her to test the waters. Daphne was eager to go to the modest with her to purchase a few new dresses. Eloise questioned her sanity for reentering the marriage mart in her letter, but ultimately conceded that marriage had its merits in the end. Francesca applauded her bravery and sweetly encouraged Violet to let her heart remain open as she searched. Gregory made a cursory acknowledgement of her idea in his letter but then proceeded to ask for more snacks to be sent on in her next package, if possible.

And Antony…

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She was gone just as quickly as she arrived. And Ted found himself staring at the door long after she walked through it.

Still too stunned, and frankly delighted, by the way she walked in and called him ‘Coach’ to move; fearing that if he did, he’d wake up and realize it was a dream.

Blinking, Ted shook himself out of his stupor and made a round of the apartment to ensure he’d packed everything. His mind spinning even as he tried to distract it with menial tasks.

Yes, he had the job again, but Ted wasn’t sure Rebecca came to the decision happily. And he certainly didn’t want his happiness to come at the expense of hers….. but, he sighed and, attempted distractions forgotten, flopped onto the couch, Ted knew this was the best move for him. For his family.

Doc Sharon was always reminding him not to put himself last.

So, of course he was taking the job. Of course he was coming back… he just didn’t know how to smooth things out with Rebecca. Not even his last ditch attempt at an Oklahoma panned out as expected.

And Ted knew, despite her snarky remark on the sanctity of the word, that she hadn’t upheld it, not really.

Well, he had left her alone, despite whether Rebecca perceived it as such, so he’d just have to earn her trust back.

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Pretending to check her watch, Rebecca nodded. “If you think of anything else, let us know, Higgins will be your go to for all relocation aspects like before.” Giving him the best smile she could manage—which was tight even in her mind—Rebecca turned to leave.

“Oklahoma!” He called after her and she froze. Ted rushed to stand, not in front of her as if to block her exit, but in her line of vision. “You truly okay with this?”

Ever since telling her about the code word, he’d only used it on her the once. Though she’d used it several times, she could tell it made him nervous to use it now.

Her lips twisted briefly before she could stop them, but she quickly pressed them into a flat line, her mask she wore so often after Rupert sliding into place. “Ted, I cannot wait for you to rejoin our Richmond team. You did wonders before and, I expect, will perform wonders again.”

Ted nodded slowly. “Thank you, but that didn’t answer my question, not really. Oklahoma.”

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Despite her decision in her office, Rebecca found herself knocking on Keely’s door not twenty minutes later.

Face going from confused to delighted, Keely hugged her hard. “Hey babe! What’re you doing here? Not that I’m not glad to see ya.”

Smiling weakly, Rebecca threw a hand up. “I need to talk to you about something and you cannot share it with Roy.”

Eyebrows shooting up, Keely eagerly ushered her inside. “Oh! You’re in luck, he’s over babysitting Phoebe, got something juicy to spill?” When she glanced back at Rebecca, Keely’s enthusiasm waned. “Babe, what?” She stopped and looked Rebecca full in the face. “Who upset you? Is this why you don’t want Roy to know? Cause I’m just as able to give a beat down I assure you!”

A chuckle escaping her, Rebecca shook her head. “Ted.”