Stevie was finished getting ready for dinner when Alex arrived. Robin opened the door with a giggly Summer on her hip.

"Oh, it's you..." Robin said at the sight of her ex. He was dressed casually, jeans and a button down shirt, holding a large bouquet of red roses.

"Wow, settle down. Your excitement is overwhelming." he said in a flat tone and Robin smiled. "I'm here for Stevie. And who's this cutie? The famous Summer?"

"I'm famous!" the curly haired blonde squealed, wiggling to get down. "I'll get mommy."

"Be careful on the stairs" Robin called after her. "Dinner will be done shortly. Stevie would want me to tell you to make yourself at home..." Alex smiled. "But I'm not Stevie. I'll bring you a drink but don't leave a ring on my coffee table. Use a coaster." Robin left the room and Alex chuckled to himself, setting the flowers down on the precious coffee table.

Stevie descended the stairs, holding Summer's hand. Alex turned around, his jaw dropping.

"You look..." He couldn't come up with a word that summed up just how he felt.

Stevie blushed. "Do I look alright?" She smoothed her body hugging dress that exposed quite a lot of cleavage.

"You're gorgeous! You look like a star." He got up and kissed her cheek.

"Good, she's down!" Robin said, coming back from the kitchen, handing Alex his glass of water. "Summer and I are going out. How about some ice cream, little one?"

"What kind?" the little girl asked, a sly smile on her face.

"Vanilla?" Robin offered.

"No thanks. I'm staying with mommy and her other man friend."

"Other man friend?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.

Stevie's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Summer!"

"He's very, very handsome! He's a prince and when he marries my mommy--" Robin put a hand over the talkative girl's mouth.

"Okay, how about chocolate ice cream?" Summer nodded eagerly. "Then off we go. Bye Stevie, Bye Alex." Robin picked up the almost-five-year-old and held her under her arm like a football, racing toward her door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" the brunette said in a sing song voice and just like that, the door shut and they were out of sight.

"So you're dating someone?"

"No, not at all. Lindsey came by this morning, we talked on the phone a little but nothing happened."

"Hm" Alex said, taking a sip of the water Robin had brought him. Stevie went to check on dinner, smiling as she saw the chicken parmesan with spaghetti already placed onto two plates. Wine was chilling in the fridge, ready to be served as two glasses were also set out on the counter.

"Looks like it's all taken care of."

Alex joined her in the kitchen as well. "If this is Robin's doing, it's probably poisoned."

"No, because she would have labeled my plate." Stevie said as if this were part of any normal conversation.

Alex chuckled. "Ah, you're right. You're her best friend. She couldn't live without you."

"Well, I couldn't live without her either." Stevie moved their plates and glasses from the counter to the table, going to the refrigerator to retrieve the wine. "Would you do the honors? she asked, holding out the bottle and the corkscrew.

"My pleasure." he said with a seductive smile, taking the wine bottle from her. Stevie sat down, watching as he easily popped the cork and poured the rich red liquid into their glasses. "I have something to confess."

"Alright" Stevie didn't look up as she cut her chicken into bite-size pieces.

"I didn't just come here to try to convince you to come back in the studio, but I would love it if you did."

"Okay" Stevie put her knife down.

"I came here because I like you, Stevie, and I miss you." She was clearly shocked, buying herself some time to think of a response by taking a long sip of her wine. "Not just in the studio but I miss being around you."

"We barely know each other" Stevie said, trying to remain logical.

"I know, but I can't help it. I can't stop thinking about you." He took her hand but she withdrew it.

"Alex, I..."

"It's Lindsey, right? Now that you've seen him you're falling for him again."

"That's not it at all, but I'm a little overwhelmed. You're a great guy, Alex but I just got back into town. I'm hopefully starting my music back up with you, I have a little girl who needs her mom and now I've got Lindsey who wants a relationship with the daughter he never knew. I'm confused and I'm scared...I just really need a friend right now." Alex nodded. He wanted to understand but he was ultimately disappointed. "I'm sorry, I wish I could have shared your feelings. I really do."

"You don't have to say that."

"I mean it. I'm glad you told me. Who knows where this could go. Maybe one day we can be something more but I have to take his slow."

"Okay." Alex was nodding once again and Stevie knew he was still processing it.

"I didn't mean to ruin dinner" she said. "Eat, it's bound to be delicious. Robin's a great cook."

"You didn't ruin dinner, I did. You're right, Robin knows her way around the kitchen." He cut his dinner into strips and mixed it up into the spaghetti in silence. He didn't actually talk for quite a long time as they ate and drank together. Stevie placed her hand on top of his and he stilled his silverware.

"I care about you Alex, even if I don't have feelings for you in that way. If you're serious about wanting me back in the studio and it won't be too weird for you, I will happily come back."

He smiled. "It won't be weird for me if it's not too weird for you. I don't want to make you feel...well, I don't know...thank you."

"No, thank you." Alex lay his utensils down and stood up to hug Stevie. She wrapped her arms around him and he wrapped his around her. As they parted, he looked into her eyes. They were warm, kind...inviting. Without thinking, he pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened at first and her body tensed, but then she relaxed, her eyes closed. Her hands moved up his body to cup his face, one of his firmly planted on her upper back, pressing her into his body the best he could. Suddenly, she placed a hand between them and she pushed him away. "Alex, no..."

"Stevie..."

"Please, just go."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, just...see you Monday? In the studio?" He nodded, walking out of the kitchen, through the living room and out the door. She heard the door shut and she sat down, picking up her wine glass and downing the rest of the crimson alcohol as tears fell down her cheeks.