Lia and Faye had decided to go out for dinner that evening after their shift had ended. They both had the following day off, and with no need to get up early the next day they could unwind a little. The restaurant was a popular one downtown and was off one of the squares, halfway between their homes.

Lia went home before meeting Faye and took Huck for a quick walk, hoping to get a glance of Ben while secretly dreading that she might. Before heading to the restaurant she took the time to change into a pretty skirt and blouse. It was rare for her to go out anymore, so she felt her appearance warranted a little more effort for the cause.

The restaurant where they were dining was located in the partial basement of a house and because it was a below grade the view from the window was only of people's feet and legs. The space was so small that they had covered one of the walls with mirrors to make it seem larger, and the mirrors reflected the candles on the tables, giving the restaurant a warm, romantic vibe. Lia couldn't help but think that it was a shame that neither she nor Faye had anyone other than each other to with whom to share it.

Faye was already at a table by the window when Lia walked in and joined her, ordering a glass of white wine as she accepted a menu.

"I just had the thought that it's a shame that neither one of us had any romantic suitors to bring us to a place like this," Lia said, looking around at the couples scattered around the place.

"But at least we have each other," Faye said, raising her glass.

Lia smiled toasting her. "Here's to good friends," she agreed.

"Besides, it's unlikely my relationship status will ever change," Faye said, "I'm too old and set in my ways."

"Now that you've said that, wait and see if it doesn't happen," 'Lia teased.

They both knew that if Faye ever found someone to love that he would be a very special man indeed to take on her massive house and her thankless brother and sister.

"Hayes told me that he and Alyssa have been discussing the house, and when she turns twenty-one they want to sell it." Faye reached for some bread and a pat of butter.

"That's a good thing, right?"

Faye only shrugged as she buttered her bread.

Lia watched her friend, noting how all her movements were slow and specific. Faye wasn't one to rush through anything, and it was her unshakeable calm that had helped them get through many hard shifts at the hospital. She looked lovely, she had pulled her hair back and had put on a little makeup, and her pink sundress made her skin glow. Lia was an average size and height, but Faye was small and rounded with a Marylin Monroe type figure. Both she and Chloe knew that Faye thought she was fat, and they did all they could to tell her that she had the perfect figure, a figure any girl would envy, but it was almost as if someone was continually telling her she was fat.

"You look pretty tonight," Lia said, reaching for a piece of bread.

"So do you," Faye said with a grin around a bite of bread. "Did your new boyfriend see you looking this beautiful, if he had, I bet he would let you do whatever you wanted to his house."

"Haha," Lia said dryly. "No, thank goodness, I didn't see him, and Huck was on his best behavior."

"Is Huck ever not on his best behavior?" Faye asked, confused.

"Not when the nasty neighbor is around. It's as if he draws the worst out of that dog," Lia said, launching into the story about Huck's great escape and making it into Ben's house. She was in the middle of telling her about her head almost getting stuck in the door, realizing how silly she must have looked, when she saw Chloe walk in with an amazingly handsome man.

Faye was laughing so hard she was holding her head, and she didn't see Chloe and the man as they approached their table while Lia wrapped up the story. When Faye looked up, she was glowing and smiling, and it took her a minute to note the newcomers.

Clearing her throat, Faye kept her smile in place, but Lia swore she saw it falter for a moment. "Chole," she greeted. "Lia was telling me a Huck story, Lia this is Dr. Silas DeGraff. Dr. DeGraff, this is a friend of mine and Chloe's, Lia Haven."

"Ms. Haven," he greeted, holding out his hand. Lia noted a slight accent but was unable to place it. He was a very handsome man, his fair hair was slightly grey at the temples, his features were well defined, but his eyes were like blue ice, and he was massive. Lia thought that Ben was a large man, but Dr. DeGraff had him beat.

"Won't you both join us, we haven't ordered," Lia asked. "I think all the commotion we were making kept the waiter away." She gave him a brilliant smile which he returned politely. Cold was a word that came to mind as she studied him. "I take it you're the Doctor who is renting Faye's apartment?" she asked as they settled into the other two chairs at the table. Chloe sat next to Lia and Dr. DeGraff next to Faye.

More drinks were brought, along with more menus, and after they were settled, Dr. DeGraff answered her question as if no time had passed.

"Yes," he said, and that was all that he said. Perhaps he wasn't very familiar with the English language.

Lia tried to draw him out about his book, and he spoke about it some, before completely turning the tables on them, asking them how they met, and continuing to draw them out so that he had them all laughing within a few minutes. There was no doubt in Lia's mind that he could be a charmer when he had a mind to be, and that it was only himself that he disliked talking about. She also had the feeling that she wouldn't want him for an enemy as his sharp glance took in everything she did and said as if he was storing it to use later.

Lia couldn't help but note that while Faye talked and laughed it was minimal, and she wasn't as relaxed as she had been earlier. They were served and ate, and the meal was such fun that it seemed to go quickly, and when the check came, Dr. DeGraff insisted on paying which was fine with Lia.

Faye made a little protest, but she was so charmingly told that it would be an honor for him to pay for such beautiful ladies she stopped protesting.

As they rose to leave, Lia held Faye back. "What's got into you?" she asked softly.

"Nothing," Faye insisted.

Lia shot her an 'I know you better look'.

"Fine, he intimidates me, alright? Look how perfect he looks next to Chloe, they make me feel self-conscious."

"Did you realize that while you were sitting next to him, you looked like a beautiful little china doll, soft and breakable. I would give anything to look like that next to a man. All feminine and helpless, granted I don't really want to be helpless I only want to look like I am," Lia said in her forthright way.

It made Faye laugh and shake her head as she leaned in for a hug.

"You'll be safe getting home? Should we walk together, and you can drive me to my house?" Faye suggested.

They had worked enough time in the ER to know what horrors could befall a single woman alone at night.

"I'll take Lia home," Chloe offered, opening her car door. Chloe was the type who always got a parking spot right by the entrance. "Silas can walk back with you Faye since you're both going to the same place."

It was agreed upon, and Lia watched as Dr. DeGraff waited for Faye to join him and they started down the street. Their difference in size was remarkable, and it made Lia giggle a little before she jumped into the car next to Chloe.

"Well played Chloe," Lia said as she put on her seatbelt.

"What do you mean?" she paused, her key halfway to the ignition.

"Fixing Faye up with Dr. DeGraff," Lia explained.

"Did I?" she asked, eyes wide. "It wasn't my intention," she insisted.

"Wait, you don't have a thing for him, do you?" Lia asked mortified at the idea.

"No!" Chloe said loudly. "No," she repeated softly, "does Faye have a thing for him?"

Lia shrugged. "If she does, she doesn't know it yet. She says he intimidates her, and I can't blame her, he is a bit cold."

"Silas isn't cold, reserved maybe, but I think he's always been that way. When you get to know him, he is very funny and giving. He would do anything for his friends." Chloe said the last part so softly that Lia knew there was a story there, but she didn't feel comfortable asking about it.

"Well, he is most definitely one of the most charming men I have ever met despite being reserved, is he married, does he have kids?" Lia probed.

"He's not married now, and I don't know if he has been in the past, and I don't know about kids, I never asked.

"We'll maybe a walk will inspire both of them." Lia nodded at the thought.

"To what, have children?" Chloe asked, pulling out into traffic.

"No silly, to fall in love, have an affair, either or."

Chloe shook her head. "I love Faye, and I have high regard for Silas, but he would break her heart. Not on purpose, but he has a goal, and he's not one to let anything or anyone get in his way."

"They say you don't pick love it picks you," Lia said. The thought giving her pause. If that was the truth, she might be in trouble where Ben Emerson was concerned.