- Author's Note: - First of all, this story is my baby. I have written numerous other fanfictions under various pen names over the years. Some for GH, some not. Some were complete and some faded away. This story has been a work in progress for many years and has had multiple versions that were never posted. It is extremely important to me and to my best friend/beta reader. There may be gaps between updates due to work, life, and my tempremental muse. I apologize now. But if you can stick with me than I don't think you will be sorry.

Important Fact for this story: It is completely AU. Forget what you know about General Hospital. As of now, you know nothing. Everything will be explained on a need to know basis. I will answer any questions you may have, but for the sake of my story please don't assume anything based off of the actual show. Thank you.

"It's alright. I'm okay. I think God can explain. I'm relieved. I'm relaxed. I'll get over it yet."

- I Think God Can Explain by Splender

She had left a spacious loft in Europe for this. She probably needed her head examined. The apartment had two tiny bedrooms with closets that were barely worth mentioning. The living room opened up into what she supposed was the dining room, although the only thing that marked it as such was the scratched up oak table with two chairs that didn't match. A Formica countertop bar separated the kitchen from the rest of the rooms, but she could see from here that two people would never fit in it at the same time. An array of plastic and plush toys littered the floor in front of the second-hand couch, a stark reminder that her best friend was a mother now. It seemed startling that they had all come this far, partially without even realizing it. Nine years away from the town had changed her while the place itself remained the same. All her childhood haunts were still standing, still open for business. For the most part, the same people that were in her life then would be in her life now. Except for one person. Her heart ached at the thought of it. They had all been inseparable for the majority of their lives. She had blinked and now it seemed so far away.

Her father had been best friends with Luke Spencer. The two of them were constantly getting themselves in and out of dangerous situations, then telling the stories repeatedly over drinks later on. That was how she had met Lucky. They would wait in fear together whenever their dads disappeared and then kept each other company when everyone else seemed to keep going on in their own ways. During most of her childhood, especially after her parents' deaths, Lucky had been the only thing she could count on. Then Emily had come along. She had been scared and defiant after being adopted by the Quartermaine's. Her mother had bonded with Monica during their respective battles with cancer and had begged the cardiac surgeon to take her young daughter when her struggles failed. It wasn't long after Emily that Nikolas joined the fray.

He was Lucky's brother by blood and enemy by legacy. But somehow they overcame all the lies, betrayals, and danger that surrounded them. They came out even stronger than ever for their efforts. Nikolas had spent his life in Greece, being groomed to be the Cassadine heir. His uncle had only brought him to Port Charles when his mother had called, begging for Nikolas to save his baby sister's life. Finally, there was Elizabeth. She was the one Robin had grown closest to in the end. She had been the love of Lucky's life. Everyone counted on her. She held them all together, even when she was slowly shattering. She was the one who they all turned to when things fell to pieces. Like now.

"Robin?" The door opened softly. She hadn't even heard the key turn in the lock. She turned around, tears stinging her eyes, and finally saw her best friend for the first time in nearly a decade. It was the same warm eyes, the same curly chestnut hair. But this Elizabeth was stronger, smarter. This girl had been to hell and back, clawing her way into the light alone. And on her hip was a beautiful little boy with Liz's dark hair and Lucky's bright eyes.

"Is that Cam?" It was a rhetorical question. Why would Elizabeth have any other child but her own in her arms? Suddenly it felt completely right to be back in Port Charles. All the memories seemed to be pushed into the back of her mind as she stared into the little boy's beautiful face. How could she have ever doubted this? Yes, the place was minuscule. But this was her family, the only things that truly mattered were right here. Her arms were locked around Liz and Cameron before Robin had even noticed her feet moving. It took awhile for her to be able to pull away and wipe the tears from her pale cheeks. Her hands seemed to shake when they brushed across her face. Cam squirmed in his mother's arms, demanding silently to be put down so he could play. Robin's eyes followed him as he made his way over to the assortment of trucks and other toys. "Liz, he's absolutely stunning."

"I know." You could hear the pride in her voice. No matter what she had gone through, she would never regret having her son. Robin felt a small stab of envy in the pit of her stomach. She would never glow the way Elizabeth did. Her eyes would never light up the way only a mother's can. She had traded those dreams in for an entirely different kind. Yet she could regret her selfish decision, even now when only she was left to pay the price. Elizabeth grasped her hand, pulling her backing into the present. "Enough about me. I want to hear all about you."

"Lizzie, you know everything already." Robin couldn't help but laugh. They had spent hours on the phone in recent weeks. There was nothing that hadn't been shared between them. What could there possibly be left to disclose? "Tell me about Port Charles, outside of your gingerbread apartment, which by the way, is so much smaller than you said."

"It's really not that small." Elizabeth defended, sweeping her hands out in front of her and nearly knocking over a lamp. She made a funny little face that was classic Liz.

"It's like one of those little Playskool houses for toddlers."

"It is not. Stop offending our apartment. It's very sensitive and you're going to hurt its feelings." Elizabeth held up a hand when Robin opened her mouth, knowing that she was probably going to point out that the place was an inanimate object that felt nothing. They both knew that it wouldn't matter. Liz would argue until they were both blue in the face and exhausted. And even then she would insist that it was a very emotional set of rooms. It was better if Robin just saved her breath now. "I talked to Nikolas this morning. So, he knew that you were coming home today. I'm betting he'll be here first thing in the morning."

"And Emily?"

"I called, but she wasn't feeling well. I'm sure she'll call back soon." Elizabeth sank down onto the couch, her eyes now focused on Cameron. Robin knew something was going on the second she caught Liz biting her lip. It was a sure sign that something was bothering the petite brunette.

"Talk to me." Robin sat down next to her best friend, tilting her head to the side and smiling softly. It was just like old times. They had spent so many hours on one couch or another, spilling their guts over ice cream and gummy bears. With Pixie Stix for Emily, of course.

"It's just that Lucky couldn't wait for you to come home..." Elizabeth's voice trailed off as a tear slipped down her cheek. The words made Robin feel like she had been punched.

"I should have... Long before now." She murmured quietly, her hand reaching for Liz's. She had been selfish to stay in France, especially after Nikolas had called her with the news. But, over there, it hadn't been real to her. She hadn't had to face one of her worst fears. Especially so soon after losing... Robin shook her head, dispelling the thoughts from her mind. "I was wrong not to come back. I was needed here, I know that. But I was scared. I didn't want to admit that it was real."

"I still don't." Elizabeth admitted guiltily. She sighed as Cameron crawled into her lap, resting his head against her chest. He always seemed to know what she was upset. It broke her heart to know that her pain was hurting him too. What kind of mother let this keep happening every day? Yet, she had no idea how to stop it.

"Don't you think for one second that he doesn't know you love him." Robin practically growled the words. If there was thing she had ever been sure of, it was Lucky and Liz. They had been destined for each other since day one. No one had ever been able to compare. The thought of anyone ever questioning that was ridiculous. She felt tears prick her eyes again. "We all do."

"Yeah. And he loves us." A sad smile graced Elizabeth's delicate features. A flash of anger lit her eyes, but faded as quickly as it came along. "I wish he was around to see his son though."

"I never thought for one second that it would be like this." None of them had. It should be different, for all of them. Lucky should be with his family. Nikolas should be blissfully happy. Emily should be a well-adjusted, shining woman with all the dreams she deserved. And Robin... Well, she should never have led the life she did. It was as simple as that.

"No use wishing for things that we don't have." Elizabeth banished all the pain from herself, just like that. "Look at me. I'm a mess." She gestured to the light pink scrubs that she still wore even though her shift had ended a good two hours ago. "I should have changed at the hospital."

"I still can't believe you're a nurse." Robin mused playfully. It was quite a change from the star struck girl she had once known. It seemed like all of their dreams had crashed over the years. "What happened to my little New York artist?"

"She grew up."

"Somehow we missed the exit for Never Never Land." They had been wise beyond their years with youthful spirits that had promised to never fade. But, she had learned that all promises ended up getting broken... Even if you had the best intentions when you started out.

"The directions had always seemed so simple, didn't they? Second star on the right and straight on to morning..." Liz's voice trailed off like a distant memory. They had all had their own Peter Pan complexes. Robin was going to save the world, just like her parents. Elizabeth was going to be an artist in the city while Lucky paid their way with his music. Emily was going to be a model, with all the glam and sparkles to go with it. And Nikolas was going to do whatever he had to do to escape the Cassadine name. It seemed like everything had changed. Liz made another face. "I think we got lost somewhere around two o'clock."

"Probably. That would be just like us, wouldn't it?"

"We were always really, really bad with directions." Elizabeth pointed out helpfully. "Didn't you used to think that West was North and South was West?"

"I think I just held the compass wrong. I wasn't a girl scout, you know." Robin leaned back into the soft couch. Maybe this could be home after all. Elizabeth smiled down at her son, who had fallen asleep during the course of their conversation. "I think we bored him."

"Nah, he just has a very small attention span."

"He must get that from you." Robin ruminated cheerfully, even if most of the pleasure she felt at the statement was that it mildly annoyed Elizabeth as always. It was an old joke in their group.

"You're really not that funny, Robin Egg." Elizabeth couldn't hide her smirk when Robin cringed at the old, embarrassing nickname.

"Whatever, Dizzy."

"So, seriously, what do you think of the place?" Liz got to her feet, careful not to disturb the sleeping little boy in her arms. She laid him gently into the crib she kept in her bedroom and found Robin pacing the apartment when she returned. "What are you doing?"

"I think I can walk the entire apartment in twelve steps, Elizabeth. Twelve!" Robin threw her hands up as she demonstrated her discovery. "Look, I'm serious. I'll count. One-Two-Three-Four..."

Disclaimer: I do not own "I Think God Can Explain". All rights belong to Splender.

I do not own General Hospital nor it's characters. It all belongs to ABC and their portrayers.

Basically, I own nothing by the plot.

Please do not steal my work.

I also do not own Peter Pan. I just refer to it a lot.