Rob paced backwards and forwards outside Becky's hotel room. He ran a hand over his head and looked at his phone for the millionth time. Seven past seven. If he didn't hurry up she'd open the door to see him pacing in indecision and he wanted her to know there was nothing indecisive about him wanting to make amends. He shoved the phone back in his pocket, stood at the door and lifted his fist.

*

Becky paced backwards and forwards inside her hotel room. What was taking him so long? She knew he was out there. She could see him through the peephole as he wore a path in the carpet. Maybe her crazy woman act in Linc's bathroom had scared him off but she hadn't been able to help that. Her anxiety levels had been sky high ever since she'd heard about Linc's accident and having to be aloof and pretend as if she didn't care that Rob was in the same space had drained a lot of her energy.

She sat on the edge of the bed. There was no way she was going to make this easy for him and if he walked away then he walked away. His choice. Becky sighed and wondered how she'd cope if he did walk away. She took a breath and wondered about fate. Was fate real? Was Linc's accident fate so that she and Rob were brought together in the same place? Was it fate that had made her trip? Was it fate that Mike's elbow connected with her nose and was it fate that had put Rob in a position to catch her, and then cart her into the bathroom? So many events had happened to bring them to this point; him now pacing outside and her waiting inside.

Becky got up and went into the bathroom. She looked at her image in the mirror. If he did knock on the door he'd probably run away as soon as he saw her face. Her nose was swollen and red, her eyes puffy like she'd been stung by a bee. She grinned and thought with a nose like that she could join the circus.

As she turned on the tap and wet the corner of the hotel washer to dab the crease near her nostril, a loud determined knock sounded on the door. Becky shut down the water and stared into the glass. Did she want this? "Do you?" she whispered. It had been hard when they'd first been separated, and then to know he'd wanted to be with another girl was even harder. Then there was Kane and her trust in men had plummeted even further. If it wasn't for Demi, Becky didn't think she'd have gotten through the last few years on her own.

"Do you want this?" she asked her image. "You're a grown woman now, not a teenager. He's a grown man. You've both learned a lot about life." Becky stared at herself some more. She knew all about Rob's self-destruction. Sheila had never lied to her and Becky suspected Sheila had never lied to Rob about the things she knew of Becky's life.

The knock sounded again. More determined this time. Becky looked at the door, and then back at her image. She took a breath and nodded. "You're not children anymore. Shit happens and you're still alive. You got through it. You think about him every day, have thought about him every day, even when you were with Kane. His behaviour and ruin of his career tells you it wasn't easy for him either." Becky smiled. "He's here," she whispered to her reflection. "Waiting just outside your door. If you want this you better hurry up and answer it. Do you want it?" she asked.

Grinning widely Becky nodded and said, "Yes. I want this."

*

Rob lifted his clenched hand to bang on the door once more. He paused and lowered his fist. Maybe she wasn't there. He blew out a breath. She had to be there. He was sure he'd heard water running. One more time, he told himself. Knock one more time. Wait one minute, and then leave if she doesn't answer. Everything came in ones lately and he was sick of it. One more knock. One more minute. He wanted things to come in twos. "Okay then," he said. "Two more knocks, and then wait two minutes."

With resolve he raised his hand and thrust it forward. The door swung opened.

"Whoa!" Becky ducked. "What the hell?"

"Shit. I..." Rob stepped forward. "I was about to knock."

Becky straightened and held onto the opened edge of the door. "Well. Yeah. I do get that. I'm not deaf. I did hear you the first time."

"Right." Rob put his hands in his back pockets. "So why didn't you answer the first time?"

"I have a life, Rob. I wasn't sitting here waiting for you to knock on my door."

"Right. Okay." The wind seemed to have dropped, so the sail of determination that Rob had felt earlier, had him stranded on still water feeling like an idiot. What to say next? "So... should I leave?" He pulled a hand from his pocket and thumbed over his shoulder as he screwed up the corner of his mouth.

"Well." Becky let go of the door, stood at attention and folded her arms. Maybe she needed to ease up on the bitchiness, just a little. "I guess you're here expecting to talk. Right?"

"Yeah." Rob nodded. "I'd really like to talk." He sucked in a breath and added, "Calmly."

He knew instantly that was the wrong thing to say. Her face turned bright red and with that swollen nose she looked like she was going to pop.

She snapped, "What are you implying?"

"Sorry." Holding out his hands he added, "I... it's... just... I didn't mean anything by it but... like... ah... earlier... ah..."

Becky knew what he was trying to get at but there was no way to say what he was trying to say without upsetting her. He knew it and she knew it, and then suddenly she felt like she wanted to burst into laughter. The poor bastard was like a blubbering idiot. Should she let him continue and revel in his suffering or hand the prick a life raft. "Okay. Stop. I get it," she said. "But you deserved my wrath. In fact you're lucky I didn't stab you with the toothbrush and the only reason I didn't is because Linc hasn't used it yet."

"Yeah." Rob grinned. "I said as much to Linc."

"Oh," Becky scoffed. "So you're talking about me behind my back."

"It wasn't... Becky. Not like that. It was..." Rob scratched his head and let out a breath. "Fuck. You're not making this easy."

"Making what easy, Rob?" Becky shifted her weight to one hip and pinned him with her eyes. "Are you here to borrow a cup of sugar? If so I don't have any."

Rob chuckled, looked away, and then back at her. "I'm not here for sugar, Becky."

"Well?" she pressed. "We've talked so what else do you want?"

"I want to talk proper. I want us both to talk."

"We're talking. I can see your mouth moving and I can even hear you." Becky knew she was being stubborn but what was she supposed to do? Fall into his arms. No way.

Letting out another breath of air, Rob tried to read her. He used to be so good at it. She was putting up walls because he'd hurt her, he understood that much, so how to break them down? That was the question. "The thing is, Becky, if you and I are going to be bridesmaid and best man at Drew and Trin's wedding, then I want us to be friends. I don't want..."

"What do you mean Trin and Drew's wedding?" She felt like the breath had been punched out of her. Becky stared at him. Maybe he wasn't here to fix things the way she thought. Had she missed something? Why didn't she know Drew and Trin were engaged? Why would Trin keep that from her?

The anguished look on her face had Rob wanting to take her in his arms. Instead he said, "That yell that had us all running into Linc's room today and the cause of your ah..." Rob tapped his nose, and then pointed at her face. "Was because Drew dropped on one knee in front of Linc and asked Trin to marry him. We kinda missed finding out what it was all about because of ah..." Once more he tapped his nose and pointed at her.

"Will you stop pointing at my nose?" Becky demanded. "I know what happened. It's blaringly obvious every time I look in the bloody mirror so you don't have to tell me how ugly I am."

"You're not ugly, Becky." Rob dared to take a step just inside the door. "I think you're beautiful."

It's not going so great is it?

If Becky keeps digging her heels in Rob might walk away :(

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