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Chapter 2
Sabrina couldn't believe whom she was staring at. "Britt?"
Sure enough, her sometimes arch-nemesis was piloting the sedan down the street. Sabrina couldn't wrap her mind around any of this. This day was all too bizarre.
"What?" Britt asked. "You're looking at me like I just kidnapped you. For the record, I didn't. You jumped in here. Which is kind of weird considering I could have been a serial killer or something."
Sabrina debated about whether she would rather take her chances with a serial killer or Britt Westbourne, and then shook her head. She recalled now that she had made peace with Britt once Nathan came into the picture. Truth be told though, their hatred for each other had tempered sometime before that. Britt had been amazing to Sabrina after the hit and run crash ultimately stole away the life of Sabrina's baby boy.
A new tear came to Sabrina's eye, thinking of how her sweet Gabriel never truly got to live.
Sabrina tried to shake off the melancholy feelings swirling inside of her, threatening to choke her, but the day was definitely taking its toll on her. "It wasn't weird. It was … foolhardy," Sabrina admitted. "But I just needed to get away from there. I can't believe Patrick-"
"Showed up to claim you - movie-style?" Britt asked. "I wanted to be surprised but honestly I'm not. I always knew Patrick loved you and that's why I hated you so damned much."
Sabrina sniffled. She didn't know how to respond to that so instead she looked around the interior of the roomy sedan as Britt navigated the street. "This isn't your Lexus."
Britt shook her head. "No, it's not. This big old thing belongs to Nikolas. The Cassadines have about a dozen of these actually – same color and model… Anyway, I borrowed this one to come to the wedding today."
"I was surprised not to see Nikolas in the chapel," Sabrina said. "Or maybe he was there and I just didn't notice…"
"You were distracted, true, but no, Nikolas was definitely not there. Even now that he knows Nathan is his cousin, he didn't feel that he could come."
"Why?"
"He is mad at me and doesn't want to see me for a bit. He took Spencer to Paris to visit his mother Laura. He left two days ago. I don't know when he'll return."
"I'm sorry."
Britt tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as they sat at a stop light. "Don't pity me. I am more than sure that I earned his indignation."
Sabrina didn't want to press but she couldn't help but asking, "What happened?"
"Elizabeth Webber happened. She kept hanging around, annoying the crap out of me, so I punched her – hard," Britt said. She rubbed the knuckles of her right hand. Sabrina could see that they were bruised. "So she's sporting a broken nose now and I'm –"
"In the doghouse with Nikolas."
"Right."
"So that's why she wasn't at the ceremony either. She's hiding her injury?" Sabrina guessed.
"Maybe. Or she ran off with Nikolas and Spencer to Paris. Who knows. Who cares."
"You obviously do."
"Wait. Hold up here. Why are we talking about me and my problems when you just played runaway bride on your wedding day to my brother?"
Sabrina sighed. Fresh tears threatened but she willed them back. She twisted her tiny fists in the damp material of her ruined gown. "I feel so bad, running out on Nathan that way. He's been nothing but a gentleman and a wonderful friend and –"
"A friend? Come on, Sabrina. You were about to marry the guy and the best thing you can think of to call him is a 'friend'?"
"Britt, that's not what I meant… exactly. I didn't mean-"
"Okay well if you don't love him, then maybe you should cut him loose."
Sabrina grimaced. "Wow, Britt! Here I was thinking you and I had actually buried the hatchet. You even pretended to be supportive when Nathan told you that we were getting married. But all along you didn't think I was good enough for him, did you?"
"Don't put words in my mouth, Sabrina. I just meant that if you don't think you can make it work with him, then don't leave him hanging in limbo, okay? Because being second best sucks - a lot. God knows I know that."
Sabrina sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bitten your head off. After all, you did sort of ride to my rescue."
"Not sort of. I did."
"Why are you helping me anyway?"
"Believe it or not, this time I have no ulterior motives. I just had a feeling you were going to book it. And I was right."
"Why not just leave me standing in the rain?"
"I don't know… I guess I felt bad for you. Patrick has put you in a really awful position."
Sabrina pictured Patrick's face – the sincerity in his expression when he begged her not to marry Nathan. She still loved him. God, she really did. How could she give her whole heart Nathan when it still belonged to Patrick?
Sabrina nodded. "He kind of has, hasn't he?" She said quietly. "I don't understand why … If he felt that way… If he really does loves me … Why he didn't say anything before Nathan and I actually made it to the altar. I understand better than anyone the embarrassment and devastation Nathan must be feeling right now. Oh god! I've hurt Nathan – one of the best people I've ever known." The tears began to fall anew.
"There are tissues in my purse," Britt said. She pointed over her shoulder to her handbag sitting on the leather backseat. Sabrina reached for the bag and pawed through it until she found the packet of Kleenex. She opened it and withdrew a tissue, dabbing at her eyes as they continued to spill over.
"I've made a mess of everything, Britt," she cried. "Why didn't I just send Patrick away and marry Nathan?"
"Uhh because you love Patrick?" Britt guessed. "Look, I adore my brother and I don't want him to be hurt ether but believe me, it sucks to realize that you're a distant second at best. The quicker that band-aid gets ripped off here, the better."
"Maybe I should go back…" Sabrina dropped her head into her hands. "Oh I don't know. I don't want to face anyone right now."
Britt didn't offer a reply for a moment as she coasted the car to a stop. Sabrina looked up to see them parked at the docks, in front of the launch to Spoon Island. "Feel like hiding out for a bit?" Britt asked.
"Yes. I don't want to face anyone."
"Well as I said, Nikolas and Spencer aren't there. Alfred won't say anything – he knows better … so you can come with me to Wyndmere… if you want to."
Sabrina looked at Britt through watery eyes. "Why are you being nice to me right now?"
"I guess just seeing you standing in the rain like that, looking so lost … There was a part of me that just thought… I can't believe I'm saying this … but that you didn't deserve to be in so much pain. After all you've been through – after all I put you through … It sucks."
"Britt, I don't know what to say…"
"Nothing cliché or Hallmark-y please," Britt said. "Don't even thank me. Let's just head to Wyndmere okay?"
Sabrina nodded. "Okay."
XoXoxo
Patrick drove around Port Charles for hours looking for Sabrina. He had been to her place twice in case she'd come back there but there was no trace of her. Felix and Nathan were also out hunting for her. Patrick was worried that she was in trouble but figured that she had probably disappeared to give herself time to clear her head.
It was after nine P.M. when he finally returned to his place. He had promised Emma that he would tuck her in every night that her mother couldn't and he'd meant it. He would have to resume his search for Sabrina later.
He walked through the door to find Emma sitting on the sofa with Anna. Anna was reading to her from the book "Goodnight Moon". Emma immediately flew off of the couch and into Patrick's arms.
"Daddy!" she cried. "It's so late. Did you find Sabrina?"
Patrick hugged his little girl tightly. "I'm sorry I'm late. I saw Sabrina but –"
"Is she coming to live with us like you wanted her to?" Emma asked desperately.
Patrick looked over at Anna. He couldn't read her expression. Was she angry that Patrick wanted Sabrina back? Did she think that he should spend an eternity waiting for Robin to return from wherever she had run off to now? He looked away.
"I don't know, baby. I want that but it's up to Sabrina now."
"I can call her! I know her phone number by heart. I'll call her and beg her to come here and be with us forever." Emma scrambled from Patrick's arms and raced for the phone in the kitchen.
Patrick sighed before following after her. He, himself, had tried calling Sabrina's cell until Felix had informed him that it was still sitting in her bag at St. Luke's. He would have to explain this to Emma and he didn't know how. He had gotten her hopes up yet again only to completely dash them.
Emma had the phone cradled against her ear already and Patrick could faintly hear it ringing. He hoped against hope that Sabrina would return for her phone and answer his and Emma's pleas, but he also didn't think that he was going to be that fortunate.
Emma looked at him sadly. "I got her voice mail. Should I leave a message?"
Patrick shrugged. "If you'd like to, go ahead." He didn't want Sabrina to think he had put Emma up to this but he also was desperate enough to hope that somehow she received the message and returned the phone call – returned to them, period.
"Sabrina," Emma said softly. "It's Emma Drake. I am just calling to tell you that I love you and I wish you would come to me and my dad's house and be with us forever and ever. Please call us back or just come over, anytime. We really love you. We need you. Daddy looks so sad without you. I don't want him to be sad anymore… Well, bye for now."
Emma hung up the phone and then slowly drifted over to her father. She cried against his hip as he placed his hand gently on her trembling shoulder. Emma cried for a long time and Patrick held her as tightly as he dared, willing back tears of his own.
XooXoo
Patrick finally managed to get Emma tucked in. He pulled the covers up to her little chin and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. She offered him a weak smile and then rolled onto her side and fell asleep. Patrick watched her for a long moment before walking out of the room. Anna was sitting in the living room still, looking concerned.
"Patrick," she said, "we need to talk."
Patrick nodded and slipped into the chair opposite her. "I know what you're going to say."
"I don't think you do," Anna said.
"If it's about Robin-"
"It's not about my daughter. Not exactly. It's more about how you promised Emma that you would bring Sabrina home and –"
"And I failed."
"I wouldn't say that. I am sure Sabrina will come around and realize she still loves you too… I just hate to see Emma upset in the meantime. She's lost far too much in her young life. She's only a little girl, Patrick, and she has to deal with problems that would cripple most adults."
Patrick nodded. A tear escaped his eye. "I know. I've tried so hard to protect her from everything, from every hurt and ache. And all I do is mess her up. I don't deserve her. Just like I don't deserve Sabrina."
"Patrick-"
"You know it's true, Anna. I am a pretty fucked up person."
"Stop the pity-party, Patrick. You're a good man. You, like Emma, don't deserve to suffer so much. But you are stronger than you think. You're an adult and can certainly pull yourself up by your bootstraps and keep moving forward. On to hopefully better things. And if that includes Sabrina…"
"I love her, Anna. The way I thought I never could love anyone."
Anna nodded. "I know. I see that in your eyes whenever she's near."
"I don't want you to hate me or Sabrina."
"Never! Robin, god love her, can't be here and I know she certainly would never want you to be alone and miserable. She loved you too much for that."
"How is she anyway?"
"She's getting better. After all she endured over the last several years … She's starting to heal. She's with Robert now of course and he's being the father to her that he always was meant to be."
"Anna, I want her to be happy. I want her to see Emma too, when she's ready and not suffering so much… But there's no hope for us. I think I knew that when she returned from being held captive by Cesar."
"But you felt you owed it to her and Emma, to pick up where you left off before she 'died?'"
"Yes. I love Robin but … I'm in love with Sabrina."
Anna swiped at a tear drop. "I know. And I'm happy for you. I am. I will always wish that you and Robin could have gotten the happy ending that her father and I did not, but sometimes things work out differently and it doesn't have to be a bad thing."
She grabbed his hand and held on tightly. "Now, Patrick, if Sabrina is really the one you want and I know she is, fight for her, okay? Don't give up. Bring her back here and let her have the chance to be an amazing stepmother to Emma. Don't ever compromise your happiness for any one or any reason."
Patrick nodded and squeezed her hand back. "You may not be my mother-in-law anymore, Anna, but you're always going to be my friend."
Anna smiled. "I am glad." She let go of his hand and stood up, reaching for her car keys. "Have a nice night and remember what I said."
"I will."
"Good," Anna said. She then waved goodbye and walked out the door, leaving Patrick with a hell of a lot to think about.
