Work Text:
Robby has had his fair share of terrible ideas over the course of his fifty plus years on Earth. However, as he sits in his Jeep outside of Dana’s house, he thinks this one might actually take the cake.
He’d gotten an invitation in the mail a few months back; a cousin he had been close to once upon a time was getting remarried and really wanted him there for some reason. He had tried using the busy, overworked doctor excuse, and it had almost worked, but then he had made the mistake of mentioning it to Jack, who said he’d cover his shifts while he was gone and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Then, the longer he thought about spending the weekend alone in Philadelphia watching all of the happy couples laugh and dance and witness yet another marriage when he hadn’t even had one himself, the more it sounded like hell to him.
Which is what led him to this most recent bad idea: Dana as his plus one to the wedding, pretending to be his girlfriend.
He’d posed the question to her one day as they were walking to their cars after a long shift.
“Aren’t you a little old to be lying to your family about your love life?” Dana had asked with a scoff.
“Probably. But if I have to listen to my great aunt Ruth tell me what a shame it is that I haven’t settled down one more time, I think I might go crazy.”
“So, you’d rather tell her you’re dating a Catholic divorcée and send her to an early grave?”
Robby laughed, “She’s in her 90s, I don’t think that is what will send her over the edge. Besides, this is David’s third marriage. You’ll be fine.”
Dana had thought for a moment, then leaned against her car and crossed her arms. “What’s in it for me?”
“You mean just the idea of calling me your boyfriend isn’t enough for you?” She didn’t answer, just raised an eyebrow, and Robby sighed. “I’ll pay for everything the entire weekend. Your hotel room, food, anything. All weekend. I’ll give you the money for a new dress, if you want.”
Dana thought about it for a beat and then said, “Okay, I’ll be your fake girlfriend for the weekend.” One hand disappeared into her bag to grab her keys, the sound of her car unlocking came a few seconds later.
Robby’s eyebrows shot up, “Really? Just like that?”
Dana shrugged and slid into the driver’s seat, “I would have done it for free, Robinavitch.”
–
So here he is, sitting in Dana’s driveway on a Friday morning, ready to drive them almost five hours to Philadelphia for a long weekend of pretending. It’s a terrible idea and he’s an idiot for suggesting it, he knows, but if anyone can help him pull this off, it’s Dana.
There’s a sudden tap on the passenger window and Robby was so lost in his thoughts that it causes him to jump.
He unlocks the door and Dana swings it open with a smile, “Good morning, boyfriend.”
He shakes his head, mutters a good morning, and hands her the coffee he brought for her once she’s settled.
“Oh, is this part of the Michael Robinavitch Boyfriend Experience?” She asks as she takes a sip.
“I bring you coffee at work all the time.”
“Yeah, coffee from the breakroom. That doesn’t count.”
–
They’ve only been on the road for about an hour when Dana reaches over to turn the music down. “So, what’s our story?” she asks.
He glances at her for a second before turning his attention back to the road. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we should probably come up with a solid story for how we got together. You know, get on the same page so we’re not telling people different things.”
“Right…” he nods. “We met at work. It’s easy, simple…”
“It’s a cliche. A nurse and a doctor, you know.” Dana adds. “But it’s probably for the best.”
“We’ve known each other for years, but just started dating about six months ago. Still kind of a new relationship, but we’re comfortable with each other.” Robby goes on.
“We’ve known each other for years, so why have we just started dating?”
“You were married.” He supplies.
“You spent all those years pining for me, didn’t you?” Dana smiles.
Robby scoffs and rolls his eyes, “Sure, if that helps.”
“Who made the first move?”
“I did, once your divorce was finalized, once I was sure you’d agree to go out with me.”
“I was hesitant, having just ended a 35 year marriage, but you were pretty convincing.” Dana ponders. “You made it hard to say no.”
“What can I say, I’m a charming guy.”
It’s Dana’s turn to roll her eyes. She shifts in her seat, “We should probably know each other’s favorite things.”
Robby nods, and the car falls silent before he breaks it with, “Your favorite color is green, but not a bright green, more of a darker, forest green. You prefer sweet over savory, hence your drawer full of chocolate and candy at work. You’re a morning person, specifically around 4am; you enjoy the quiet that comes with it, and you like to watch the sunrise.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he notices that Dana is staring at him, mouth slightly agape, and stops talking.
“How do you know all that?” She asks.
He clears his throat, shrugs his shoulders, and quickly switches lanes. “I pay attention.”
“I don’t remember ever mentioning my favorite color.”
“You did, once. Santos was giving you the third degree during a lull in patients one time. Zodiac sign, favorite color, that kind of thing. You’re a Virgo, by the way.”
Dana makes a noise, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff.
“Sorry,” he says. “I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable.”
She shakes her head, “It didn’t…it doesn’t. I just wasn’t aware that you paid that much attention to me. I don’t even know your favorite color.”
“I’ve always paid attention to you.” He pauses. “I don’t really have a favorite color. I am a Gemini though.”
–
They finally make it to their hotel in Philadelphia late in the afternoon. They approach the front desk to check in, Robby’s hand finding itself on Dana’s back.
“Good afternoon, are you checking in?” the receptionist asks.
“Yes, the name is Robinavitch.” Robby offers.
The receptionist types at the screen in front of them, then smiles, “Yes, it looks like we’ve got you in the Executive suite, Mr. and Mrs. Robinavitch.”
“Oh, we’re–” Dana starts.
Robby cuts her off, “No, the reservation was for two rooms.”
“I’m sorry, sir. You only made your reservation for one room, not two.”
Dana turns to look at Robby, but he refuses to make eye contact. “Can you switch us to two rooms? I’m sorry, I must have forgotten to select two.”
The receptionist is silent for a minute as they look through the availability before shaking their head. “I’m sorry, sir, we’re completely booked.”
“It’s Philly in November, what do you mean you’re completely booked?” Robby’s voice is louder than necessary, and suddenly there’s a calming hand on his arm. His eyes finally meet Dana’s.
“Robby, it’s fine. Just take the room.” she says.
He takes a deep breath and blows it out, “Fine. We’ll take it.”
–
As the elevator ascends to the twentieth floor, Robby is the first to speak. “I’m sorry, I promise I didn’t do this on purpose.”
“That didn’t even cross my mind. Seriously, it’s fine.” The elevator doors open and Dana steps out first. “We’re adults, we can share a hotel room for a couple of days.”
“I’ll sleep on the couch.” He offers.
She rolls her eyes as they approach the door to their room. “And listen to you complain about how your feet hang over the side and how your back hurts all weekend? I’ll pass.” Dana swipes the keycard and pushes the door open once the light turns green. “It’s a king bed, right? Try to keep your hands to yourself and we’ll be fine.”
Robby follows her inside the room, dropping his bag by the door. Dana takes a lap around the room inspecting the bathroom, the bedroom, and then stopping at the large window that displays a view of the city.
“Not bad.” Robby says, coming to stand beside her.
Dana shrugs, “I prefer Pittsburgh.”
–
After they’ve eaten and after they've taken turns showering, Dana sits cross-legged in the bed, her back against the headboard. Robby sits next to her, a safe distance away, legs stretched out in front of him.
“So,” Dana begins. “What do you expect from me tomorrow?”
“What do I expect from you?”
“PDA, Robinavitch. Touching, hand holding…kissing. What do you need from me?”
“Oh,” Robby swallows. “I didn’t really think about that.”
Dana moves closer and reaches for his hand then, interlocking their fingers. Robby stills.
“This is why I’m asking.” She raises their joined hands. “You can’t freeze if I go to touch you tomorrow.”
“I won’t!”
“Do we need to practice?”
“I’m a grown adult man, I don’t need to practice touching a woman.” Robby rolls his eyes.
“Prove it.”
“Dana–”
She shifts so that she’s facing him now, staring at the side of his face. “You want to convince your family that we’re together tomorrow, Robby. You can’t be afraid to touch me in front of them.”
The room is silent, Robby refusing to meet Dana’s eyes. This really was the worst idea that he’s ever had, he’s sure of it now. How on Earth did he think he could do this? Spend a whole weekend with Dana away from the ED, away from Pittsburgh, pretending to be a couple in love with each other, and then just go back home to normal.
“I think,” he finally says, “I think this was a bad idea.”
“What do you mean?”
He finally turns to look at her. Her eyebrows are furrowed in confusion, hair still damp from her shower, and suddenly Robby can’t think about anything other than kissing her. His hand reaches out, finds the back of her neck, and pulls her to him.
A sound escapes her mouth, like she’s about to say something, but then his lips are on hers, and it’s Dana’s turn to freeze. When he pulls back, she’s staring at him, like a deer caught in the headlights, and he mentally curses himself. Dana is one of three people he’d consider his friend in Pittsburgh, and he definitely just fucked that up by kissing her.
“I’m gonna go for a walk.” He mutters, sliding out of the bed, leaving Dana sitting in the same spot, breathing heavy and watching as he walks away and out of the hotel room.
–
Robby returned to the room sometime during the night, after Dana had fallen asleep. She wakes before him, eyes opening to the sight of his face, close enough to feel his breath against hers. Dana hadn't realized how lonely it had been at night after Benji left, it was nice sleeping with someone next to her again.
Robby looks softer, more peaceful while he’s sleeping. He’s handsome, she’s always thought so. She thinks back to before; before her girls, before Benji, when Robby was a fresh faced resident and she was just an RN and becoming charge nurse hadn’t even crossed her mind. Robby always seemed to be around. Wherever Dana was, Robby was there too or, at the very least, not far behind. The way she’d feel eyes on her and would look up to find Robby looking at her from across the ER. How his hand would find the small of her back when he brushed by her.
When she thought he was finally going to make a move, Robby pulled back. She had overheard him talking to Jack in passing, talking about his newest hookup, and realized that she was being ridiculous. He liked the chase. He liked that she wouldn’t give in to him. That’s all it was, she told herself.
Then she met Benji, and her relationship with Robby shifted, and that was that. But there’s always been this nagging what if? in the back of her mind. What if there really was something there? What if she would have made a move on him? She loves her girls more than anything in the world, and most of the years with Benji were good, but she still can’t help but wonder if it was supposed to be Robby instead of Benji. Would she still be a 50-something year old divorcee?
The kiss last night had caught her off guard. Yes, she was the one to suggest it, but she expected it to be more technical, that they would talk it through first. To make sure they were on the same page. She certainly didn’t expect him to say that it was a bad idea, kiss her, and then leave. At least, Dana thinks, that she wasn't wrong about there being something there.
–
Robby wakes to an empty bed. He can hear the shower running in the bathroom, so he knows Dana hasn’t stolen his car and driven back to Pittsburgh without him. Not that he’d blame her if she had.
He feels like an idiot. Dana probably hates him right now, and to make it all worse they now have to pretend to be a couple in front of his extended family. He hasn’t even let himself think about how awkward the ride back home to Pittsburgh is going to be. He should have known he’d screw this up. Who was he to think he could successfully pull this off with Dana of all people?
On the drive to Philly, while planning out their fake relationship story, Dana had jokingly accused him of pining after her for years. Robby had rolled his eyes and laughed it off, not daring to let her in on that secret of his.
When he first started his residency at PTMC, the beautiful blonde-haired RN with an attitude was the first person he’d taken notice of. She wasn’t afraid of making sure the medical students knew she was smarter than them. She also wasn’t afraid to let any of the doctors know when she thought they were wrong. He had always wondered why Dana hadn’t become a doctor herself, she was more than capable. But as he watched her more and more; the way she was able to calm even the most scared of patients, and the care with which she handled each one, Robby knew that nursing was where she belonged.
As time went on and they became closer at work, maybe Robby’s hands would find the small of her back, maybe he’d stand a little too close than professionalism called for. Maybe he would find that he was constantly searching for her throughout the ED.
When he finally had mustered up the courage to ask Dana out, he’d overheard a group of medical students talking .“So, you definitely think they’re fucking, right?”
The group was inside the breakroom, huddled around the table there. Robby was just walking past, on his way to his next patient when he heard them. He usually wasn’t one to listen to gossip, but then he’d heard them say Dana’s name.
“Have you seen the way that he looks at Dana?” Someone else speaks up. “If they’re not hooking up already, they’re definitely headed that way soon.”
“Lord knows Dr. Robinavitch is a lucky bastard either way.” The first speaker sighed.
Robby hated that he’d allowed Dana to become a source of gossip for the med students, so he pulled back. He tried to keep his hands to himself more often, he took to hooking up with any women who weren’t blonde, and the next thing he knew Dana had met a construction worker named Benji and they were getting married.
It was for the best, he’d told himself.
The door to the bathroom opens and Dana steps out, already dressed. Robby’s breath stutters as he takes in the sight of her. She’s wearing a brown satin dress that falls to her shin with a slit on one side up to her mid-thigh, and her hair is down. Her hair is always straight, Robby doesn’t think he’s seen her hair styled any other way except in a scrunchie or claw clip, but she’s taken the time to do something to it, because it falls to her shoulders in waves.
“Hi.” Dana finally speaks. "The bathroom is all yours."
“Hi.” He studies her face for a minute before adding, “I’m sorry about last night.”
“Don’t.” She shakes her head, eyes pleading. “Please, not right now."
Robby nods, stomach filling with dread. He definitely fucked everything up.
–
The ceremony seems to drag on, but Robby thinks it only feels that way because the slit in Dana’s dress is allowing for her bare leg to press against his pants-covered one. She also insisted they hold hands, and his palm has long been sweaty and he feels a little embarrassed.
As he listens to David read his vows, his gaze drifts to Dana. David speaks about how Sarah is his other half, how he knew from the moment that they met that he didn’t want to go another day without her, how she knows him better than he knows himself. Robby’s throat tightens suddenly and his gaze drops to his and Dana’s hands, the faded line around her ring finger where her wedding band had been so long.
The bride and groom exchange rings before the officiant pronounces the couple husband and wife, and then, “It is my pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Robinavitch.”
Robby’s gaze lifts back up to find Dana already looking at him with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face.
-
Robby’s been dreading the reception the most. As soon as he and Dana step inside the room, his great aunt Ruth is on them, surprisingly fast for a woman her age.
“Mikey!” She exclaims, immediately going in for a hug.
“Aunt Ruth.” He pulls back, turning to Dana, and introduces the two. “This is Dana…my girlfriend.”
Aunt Ruth gives Dana a long look, eyes dragging from head to toe, before speaking. “How’d you manage to snag a woman like this?”
Robby sighs and drags a hand down his face at the sound of Dana snickering.
“We met at work, we’ve worked at PTMC together for years.” Dana supplies.
“And how long did it take this nephew of mine to ask you out?”
“26 years.” she replies.
“Michael.” Aunt Ruth’s tone is admonishing and Robby cringes.
“She was married!”
Aunt Ruth tsks. Her eyes then catch on someone else and she excuses herself. “If you’re able to lose Mikey at some point, come find me. Boy, do I have some stories.”
Robby’s head drops, his eyes closed as she walks away.
“Mikey.” Dana says, a teasing smile on her face, as she threads her arm through Robby’s.
He groans, “Don’t start.”
–
Robby finally asks Dana to dance later in the evening. As he leads her out onto the dance floor, the beginning notes of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon start to play. One hand finds the small of her back, the other lacing his fingers through hers. Her free hand rests against his bicep as they start to sway to the music.
“I think we did it.” She whispers.
“Aunt Ruth does seem happy now.” He agrees.
When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
“Thank you for doing this.” Robby says after a long moment.
Dana shrugs. “It’s nice getting to see you outside of the hospital. You clean up nice.”
Robby feels his cheeks heat, and he starts to rub his thumb against her lower back. “It is nice. I like you in this dress.”
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart
“Are we gonna talk about it?” Dana asks, eyes looking up at him.
“About what?”
“You kissed me and then you ran away.”
“I did not…okay, I ran away.” Robby sighs. “I’ve never been good at this.”
“Just how many fake relationships have you been in, Robinavitch?” Dana teases.
“Dana, I’m trying here.” Robby sighs, “You weren’t wrong, what you said on the drive here. I have been pining after you all these years.” He watches her eyes go wide, but continues. “I’ve probably been in love with you for the last 37 years, and not a day goes by that I don’t hate myself for not saying anything.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asks.
But now it’s getting late
And the moon is climbing high
Robby takes a deep breath then blows it out. “I overheard some med students gossiping about us one day. I hated that the way I was with you allowed for them to talk about you behind your back. I didn’t want anyone to think you were sleeping your way around the hospital.”
“I was a big girl, Robby, I could have handled it myself.”
“I know that. Believe me, I wish I would have done things differently. By the time I realized a few months later that I was being a fucking idiot, you had met Benji, and I knew I lost my chance.”
Dana’s hand moves from his arm to the back of his neck, fingers rubbing gently at the skin there. “Well,” she says, “looks like you’ve got a second chance. What are you gonna do with it?"
One corner of his mouth tips up in a smirk, and he tilts his head down, stopping just an inch from her lips. He whispers, "Not be a fucking idiot," then closes the gap, pressing his lips to hers.
I want to celebrate
See it shining in your eye
Because I’m still in love with you