It's Complicated

Chapter: 1

Pairing: Robert & Holly

Rating: PG

~Port Charles, Summer 1996~

Celia Quartermaine was having the worse day ever. It started out with her ex-husband harassing her in the parking lot, continued with artist block at her studio, and then wrapped up with her car breaking down. She walked through the penthouse door, unintentionally slamming it shut, and tossed her coat onto the back of the sofa.

"Holly?" she called out, making her way into the kitchen. She was hoping to find her roommate dishing up takeout. No such luck. She walked out of the kitchen and headed toward the penthouse stairs."Holly? Are you home?"

"I'm in the bedroom." Holly called back. "I'll be down in a minute."

"Are you alone?" she teased. "Robert's not up there, is he?"

"No." she answered, coming down the stairs. "Just me."

"Where's Robert been these past few weeks?" she asked. "I mean I know the two of you are taking it slow but I've only bumped into him in the hallway twice in the past two weeks."

"He's working on a case."

"I see." she replied. "Maybe he should take a little break and relax a bit."

Holly sat down on the sofa. "We had dinner together on Monday night."

"Today's Thursday." Celia was quick to point out.

"I know." she said. "I've been busy too with the Outback."

"Excuses, excuses." she said, sitting down beside her. "Do you have to work tonight?"

"I was going to." Holly told her. "But then I changed my mind. All these late nights recently have really worn me out."

"Then we'll just relax tonight." she said, getting up and heading over to the desk. "I'll order dinner and we can watch some crappy lifetime movies. It'll be fun."

"A lifetime move?" she questioned. "Don't you have enough drama in your own life?"

"Very funny." she smiled, flipping through the takeout menus "I'd rather not talk about Jimmy Lee. Or my day from hell. Chinese, Italian, Kelly's..."

"I could go for some pizza." Holly told her. "Supreme."

"You know I hate black olives."

"Pick them off."

"Ugh, alright" she sighed. "The things I do for you." she said, picking up the phone. "Just pizza, nothing else?"

"Just pizza." Holly said, reaching for the remote and switching it on. "Maybe you could swing by Kelly's though and pick up some chocolate chip cookies."

"I bet you've been through two dozen of those cookies this week alone."

"My daughter just left for college in Paris." she replied. "The cookies make me feel better."

"Ahh comfort foods." she sighed. "When Jimmy Lee and I split up I ate a half gallon of Ben and Jerry's every single night. I gained fourteen pounds." she recalled. "I hate men."

"Until the next one."

"There aren't many decent men in this town." Celia told her. "You got the last one."

Holly smiled. "Maybe." she said. "What about Mac? He's a good guy."

"I'll pass." she replied. "He's kinda...well..dull."

"Yeah, I know."

"Holly, did you and Mac ever..."

"No." she replied quickly. "Never an option."

"I see." Celia said. "I'll order the pizza and pick up the cookies first. The pizza should be ready by then."

"My keys are in my purse." she told her. "Don't hit anything with my car."

"What about Jimmy Lee?"

"Hmm." she sighed. "I'll make an exception."

The lifetime movie was boring them nearly to tears. Although it reminded them of things their own friends and neighbors had pulled in Port Charles. Backstabbing, cheating, home wrecking, unexpected pregnancies, cat fights. And until Robert returned a year ago, the local mob.

Celia reached for one of the chocolate chip cookies on the coffee table. "When you and Robert get married you should have a huge wedding."

"Married?"

"Yes." she said, taking a bite of her cookie. "I assume the two of you will be getting married at some point in the near future."

"We're taking things slow, Celia." she reminded her. "Its taken us some time to work through our issues and we're in a really good place right now."

"Slow, huh?"

"Yes."

"I would think a baby would certainly accelerate the process a bit."

Holly arched her eyebrow. "A baby?" she asked. "Where would you get an idea like that?"

"Come on, Holly." Celia smiled. "I saw the pregnancy test in your purse."

"Oh, that." she said, turning her attention back to the television. "I haven't taken it yet."

tbc...