Hey everyone, this is the second chapter. I hope everyone likes it. I also wanted to send a special thanks to ma1teo for reviewing the last chapter.
Chapter One
April 2008
A couple of months had passed by since Nadine Crowell learned that one Bruce Riley Emerson had been killed in the line of duty in Iraq. The blonde haired, blue eyed nurse went on with her day to day life working at General Hospital and living her life the best she could in Port Charles, New York.
"Stop making trouble for your mama in there." She touched the now swollen bump in the middle of her stomach as she stopped at a bence in Rice Park. "If only Aunt Raylene could see us now."
"Aren't you just the picture of impending motherhood?"
"Hello there Robin. How are you feeling today?"
"I'm okay. I should be asking you the same thing."
News of losing her fiancé to the war had gotten around the hospital, but not faster than news of her pregnancy had.
"I'm better, thanks."
"ROBIN! There you are. I've been looking all over for you."
"Go away Patrick. I already told you that I don't need you in my baby's life."
"And I already told you that I want to be in it." the young nuerosurgen left the park defeatedly after his on-again/off-again girlfriend gave him a look that could kill a man where he stood.
"Can you believe him?"
"Consider yourself lucky." Nadine snapped defensively. "You have the chance for the father of your child to be there with you every step of the way. Do you know how damn lucky you are Robin? I would give my all if it meant Bruce could be here for me and our child. But no! The great doctor Robin Scorpio can't afford to accept that luxury!"
"I'm sorry Nadine. That was insensitive of me."
"It sure was! The next time you want to push Doctor Drake away from his kid, think of mine and then realize how lucky yours is."
She got up from her bench the best she could with her ever growing bump and stormed off.
'Stupid hormones.' Nadine thought to herself as she wandered around the park trying to cool down. 'Dang woman should be locked up for denying a man the right to see their baby, even if its still in the belly.'
"Are you all right Nadine?" The voice that broke though her inner ramblings was smooth but full of concern. "Is the baby okay?"
"Huh, oh hello Nikolas. I didn't see you there." The young mother-to-be flushed in embarassment. "How have you been? How's Spencer doing?"
'Poor girl. You can tell these past few months haven't been easy on her.'
"We're both doing well. Thank you for asking." He motioned to a nearby swingset where the heir to the Cassadine fortune played with his grandfather. "He's been asking about the nice nurse that took him to see me."
"Spence is such a sweetheart." She bit her lip looking at the little boy being pushed by his gramps. "Have you decided what to do?"
"Emily tells me I should do it."
"But you're scared of losing her?"
"Yeah," he nodded with a wistful look in his eyes. "I envy you."
"I don't see how?"
"Bruce left you a legacy. I wasn't that fortunate with my soulmate."
"I'm sorry." Nadine said unconsciously rubbing her stomach. "But if it makes you feel any better you shouldn't."
"Why do you say that Nadine?"
"Because you won't have to look into a small child's face and see the love you lost staring back at you. I mean you kind of do with your son since his mom died after having him. But I know that the love you felt for Emily was different. I could see that in your eyes the night of the ball."
"Did he know? That you were carrying his child?"
"He knew. It's kind of ironic because he was here for a couple of days. And then one day he proposed. And then I got the greatest news in the world." She paused thinking carefully about her next words. "This baby, was his last gift. I wonder sometimes."
"Wonder what?"
"If he knew that he wouldn't make it back at all. If maybe the proposal was his way of saying that he'd love me from the grave in case anything happened to him." She looked down to her belly with a sad smile. "If he knocked me up on purpose so I wouldn't be mad at him in case he died."
"I think if anything he did it so you'd always have a living breathing piece of him with you."
"I wish I could believe that." the tears shone brightly in her big blue eyes. "I just really miss him."
"Of course you do." Nikolas told her as he took her in his arms. "You'll see I'm right when you're laying in that hospital bed holding your child. And it will be even more special because of the love that helped create it."
"Thank you Nikolas." She cried into his shoulder. "I really needed to hear that."
'What did I ever do to deserve such an amazing and understanding friend.' She thought as she closed her eyes.
'How could I ever doubt she wouldn't get my pain.' He thoutht to himself. 'If anything, she's feeling my pain possibly ten times more than I could myself.'
"Daddy! Come play with me and Gramps!" the little boy came running up to them. "Hi Nurse Nadie! Will you come play swings with us?"
"I wish I could Spencer." She looked at the little boy as his father picked him up. "I'm not sure if I can?"
"Why not?" he asked resting his head on Nikolas' shoulder. "I missed you Nurse Nadie."
"I miss you too sweetheart." She rubbed his little face with her hand. "How bout this. I'll sit in the swing next to you while your daddy or grandpa pushes you?"
"Can we go get cookies from Gramppy Mike's after?"
"I think we can talk your daddy into it." she said with a small smile reserved just for him. Her eyes got wide as she put a hand to her belly.
"Nadine, what's wrong?"
"It kicked. The baby kicked."
"This calls for a celebration. What do you say Spencer?"
"Does this mean we get cookies from Grampy?"
"Only if you say please."
"PLEASE!" the little boy exclaimed throwing his arms around his father's neck.
"You know that you'd be outnumbered if you said no?"
"As if I ever had a chance?" he asked while setting Spencer on the ground to tell Mike they were headed to Kelly's.
Both the small child he previously held in his arms and the pregnant nurse standing in front of him giggled at his reponse.
"You sure didn't." she said over her shoulder while rubbing her baby bump again, the laughter finally starting to reach her eyes again if only for a brief moment.
Okay, I think I'll leave it here for now. Please let me know how I'm doing. Also, I haven't decided if this will show a Nikodine friendship or romance. What would ya'll like to see happen with them? Let me know how you feel about this.