Chapter 13
Port Charles 2005
Months after Stone had left Paris Robin had started thinking about being with him again. By the time she had got around to telling him his girlfriend answered the phone and she had given up. She had dated several guys over the years but Stone was her go to. He was her rock, her best friend and she knew that she was that for him.
Robin had come in from Manhattan General to consult on a case for Jason Morgan. He had lost his memories again and had a tumor. Tony sent her his scans. She had brought her boyfriend with her in case he needed surgery.
Robin had met Noah in a bar. She had become a friend to him and helped him get his life together. She tried to help him build a relationship with his son but Patrick was a jerk. He hated her relationship with Noah and was vocal about it. She was a couple of years younger than Patrick and he had a problem with them. He had accused her of being a gold digger.
Robin knocked on Sonny's door. Jason had been working for Sonny as an enforcer since he returned to Port Charles. She hated what had become of Sonny but she also noticed the change in him. He seemed to tire of the business but he felt trapped. Max let her in.
"Hey Robin." He smiled.
"Mad Max what up? I brought you something." She held up a bag of cannoli. "From NYC." He hugged her.
"You are too good to me. Sonny is having a brandy with Stone." She walked into the living room.
"Hello." Sonny grinned then stood to hug her.
"Hey sweetheart. I am so glad you are working on Jason's case." Stone smiled.
"If anyone can help it is definitely Robin. Hey girl." He hugged her.
"Hey boy." He smiled.
"Where is your boyfriend?" He asked.
"At the hotel." She looked at him like don't start.
"Sonny did you know that Robin got herself a pap pap?" Robin rolled her eyes.
"A what?" Sonny laughed.
"A pap pap. He is like 65." Robin shook her head.
"He is not 65 he is 50." She argued. He rolled his eyes.
"So he is just one step away from the glue factory instead of two." Sonny laughed.
"Don't encourage him. You have some nerve Hef. How old is KiKi." Stone chuckled.
"Sasha is of age. She is 23." He bit his lip. "I am not mad at Hef."
"Hef is a pig." She poured a glass of wine then sat down. "Noah is a nice man. He is very sweet and gentle." Stone put his head down and chuckled.
"What?" She glared at him.
"Oh I am not saying what I just thought. It was kind of… Vulgar." She rolled her eyes.
"Since when has that stopped you?" He laughed.
"He is old. Someone with a bad back can't exactly blow your back out." Her mouth dropped open. "In other words gentle is the only option."
"You know older men can show a woman things some younger men can't. So in some ways they can be the better lover." He chuckled.
"Please that is not exclusive to old heads. That is exclusive to the lover and the lover's technique. Or it could be that you love him with such a fierce intensity that it makes the sex better. Twenty plus years takes the father figure song to a whole different level." Sonny looked at them and sipped his brandy. It was like watching a tennis match.
"I don't need a father figure. I have Mac for that." He looked at her.
"That is not what I meant. You know it too. I just don't get it. There are plenty of guys within a decent age range. He has a son older than you. He has already had his great one. Don't you think you deserve that?" She sipped her wine.
"The idea of soul mates is over rated. " She shrugged.
"Maybe." He licked his lips. "Anyway are you coming to see my spot tonight?"
"Yeah my girls are working at GH so it is perfect. We will be there. In fact I should go change." She stood. "laters." She hugged Sonny. "I am hoping for some of your wonderful cooking soon."
"Sunday." She grinned.
"Cool." He watched her walk away. Sonny looked at Stone. He knew the look on his face.
"She is taken and so are you." He reminded.
"What are you talking about?" Sonny looked at him.
"You were just checking her out." Stone sighed.
"I don't remember her ass looking like that. I mean. I like it a lot. She has grown into a beautiful woman. I can notice without it meaning that I want to… Go back there." He shrugged.
"You were looking at her like she was a juicy steak." Stone laughed.
"She has a juicy…"
"Spare me the details. Why did you two never get back together?" Stone stood.
"We are better friends. Leave it alone." Sonny objected.
"You give me plenty of shit about Brenda. I don't get it. I have never seen you love someone the way you loved Robin and she may have said she loved the doctor with a fierce intensity but she doesn't talk about him the way she did you." Stone rubbed his head.
"We were kids." Sonny shook his head. "I killed our child. We were never the same after that romantically. Oh then she happens upon me comforting Jenna. It just… Too much has happened. So you want to bring up Brenda. I can admit that Robin is the love of my life. I have just accepted that we are not going to be together." Sonny put his hand on his shoulder.
"She does not blame you." Stone licked his lips.
"Yeah she does. That is why she pulled away when she left. Look I don't want to get into it. I am going to go check on things at the club." He walked out.
Later at the club Robin came in with her friends. She wore a pair of jeans that hugged her curves and a deep red blouse that was sheer at the neck. She wore a pair of high heel boots.
"He said he would meet us out here so that we can go into the VIP section." Robin said. The line was long. They moved to the front. "Hi we are on the list."
"There is no list tonight." The bouncer said.
"They are with me. Sorry I got held up." Stone said as he led them in. Robin looked around.
"This is nice." He smiled.
"Yup. I bartend sometimes." He showed them to the VIP section. The waitress approached.
"Stone are you having the usual?" She smiled.
"No I am going to live a little tonight. I am off duty. So bring me whatever they are having and put it on my tab." Kelly, Robin and Lainey smiled.
"Two bottles of your best tequila in that case. Limes and salt. A couple of beers." She smiled then walked away.
"So Mr. Big Stuff how do you manage this with your career?" Robin asked.
"I catch the train and I have good employees. If you treat them well then they pay it forward." He smiled. "Mr. Big Stuff sounds kind of dirty." She shook her head.
"That is because your mind is always in the gutter." He smiled.
"Not always." She looked around.
"So where is KiKi?" She asked.
"Sasha is in LA. One of her clients is having an event." He looked at Lainey and Kelly.
"She is a publicist." He smiled. "She doesn't really like to party that much anyway."
"This is nice. You can still hear the music but you can have conversations." Robin said.
"So is pop at the hospital or waiting for you at the hotel?" He asked.
"We are going the route of drug therapy. Noah went back to MG because one of his patients needed him. He will be back if surgery is necessary." Kelly and Lainey glanced at each other.
"Too bad. I thought that we could hang out. Get to know each other." She shook her head.
"No thanks Hef. I don't need you corrupting my sweet man." Stone rolled his eyes.
"Noah was a player back in the day." She sighed.
"I know all of his past. Do you notice that I respect you hot romance with Sasha?" he laughed.
"You just call her KiKi and an airhead." She smiled.
"I did not call her an airhead. I just said that the supply in her head must have inflated those boobs she has. She makes you happy and that is all that matters." She ruffled his hair.
"What is the difference?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Hold on it is time to lick it, slam it, suck it." He swallowed thickly. An image of slamming then licking and sucking her popped in his head. She showed him what it meant.
They hung out talking and having drinks. Kelly and Lainey abandoned them to hit the dance floor. Stone looked at Robin.
"You don't want to dance?" She shook her head.
"It is a little too crowded." He smiled.
"Yeah tonight isn't the best night if you like mellow. That is Thursdays and Sundays. We rotate our playlist and theme." He stared at her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He licked his lips.
"Like what?" He challenged. She crossed her legs.
"Like a lion." He smiled.
"I prefer tiger." He winked. "You look good. I am noticing." He bit his lip. She ran her hand through her hair.
"Thanks." She smiled.
"You're welcome. So 90's night seems to be popular." She smiled nervously. The DJ made a call to slow it down with a song by Dru Hill.
"Dance with me?" He stood and reached out his hand. She took it.
Wish I never told you "you should leave" Not that way I love you
Wish me and you never had my seed
No I better stop it that's a lie
Cuz girl you were the apple of my eye
Took a little time for me to see
That girl I need you right here next to me
I could let you walk away
But I'm not goin out that way, no
Not goin out that way
I can't live without you
Can't be without you
I'm beggin' you to stay, to stay
Even though I said that you should leave me
I want another chance just to adore you
I still believe in you and me, I love you
Won't you take the time (Love you)
Take the time to see (Leave me)
I don't wanna have to live my life in misery
I wasn't ready for you to set me free (Adore you), (I'm in love)
Don't give our love away
He held her close to him. She let him as they swayed to the music. She could feel his heart racing and wondered if he felt hers. Words can't describe how I feel about you [Chorus (Dru Hill):]
Only Heaven knows how much I do
Girl I'll put my own life on the line
I'd cherish and protect you with my life
All that s*** I said girl I didn't mean
I'd die without your love baby if you leave
I could let you walk away
But baby I'm not goin out that way
Might as well just kill me [Bridge] We need each other
All My Life (all my, my life, I'd sacrifice for you)
Sacrifice (baby, I'd sacrifice for you, baby I'd sacrifice)
After that rising sun
Is another day begun
I won't live without you
Won't be without you
I'm beggin you to stay (Can't you just understand I just don't wanna be with you?)
Please stay
I taught you how to love
You taught me how to love
And from that we created love (I love you)
You stayed with me when I was doin' wrong
So why'd you leave me when I started doin right
The beauty's gone
I love you
I love you
He lifted her chin. He looked into her eyes. "Robin I…"
"The DJ ruined it. We were getting our groove on…" Kelly looked at them. "Looks like the groove is up here."
"Are you guys okay getting home?" She asked them.
"Yeah we are good." Kelly smiled. Robin took Stone's hand. They left. They didn't see someone watching them.
Chapter 14
Robin and Stone were mostly quiet on their way to her hotel. He pulled her into a kiss as soon as they got in the door.
"You were saying something back there." She looked at him.
"Are you ready to hear it?" He looked into her eyes.
"I love you. Does that answer your question? I mean if I am honest. I have been waiting for you all these years." He looked confused. "I don't want to talk now. We can talk tomorrow." She kissed him.
"Okay but I was going to say that I love you." He smiled. As she started undressing him.
"I kind of knew that." She kissed him.
"You did, did you?" She pushed him on the bed then undressed seductively.
"You got a problem with that?" He shook his head.
"Put the boots back on." She did then she straddled him.
Robin lay in Stone's arms out of breath. "Damn that was…" He kissed her.
"It was. So where do we go from here?" She smiled.
"I think we go on a date and we have a talk during that date. Right now I just want to be in the moment." He pulled her closer.
"Okay but we need to tell Sasha and Noah. I will do that tomorrow. She is not due back in town until Friday. So why don't you bring your sexy ass over tomorrow and cook me dinner. We can rent a movie and we can talk." She smiled.
"I can do that. You bring dessert." She laid her head on his chest.
Part Two
Robin walked into Stone's apartment. She found it odd that the door was cracked. She had a bag of groceries.
"Hey Cates you should really lock your door. This is Port Charles." She noticed him sitting on the couch with Sasha.
"Hey you must be Robin? Michael said you would be in town." Sasha stood.
"Did you go grocery shopping for him? I made him a few meals to get through my time away." She smiled. Robin figured he hadn't told her.
"No I was going to actually cook dinner. I thought he was on his own. You know he is a horrible cook." Sasha laughed.
"Well he is going to have to learn. He is going to be a daddy in about seven months or so." She put her hand to her belly. She felt sick but she smiled.
"Well congratulations. This is just something to make pasta. You two enjoy it." Sasha gave her a curious glance.
"You won't stay to celebrate with us?" Robin shook her head.
"No. I have to get back to the hospital." She sat the bag down.
Stone couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He could only see her eyes. She walked out.
"Sash I am going to see that she gets to her car okay?" He stood then went after her.
Robin bolted down the steps. She didn't want to risk him catching her at the elevator. He caught her at the car. He grabbed her.
"She just told me five minutes before you came in. I…"
"Don't apologize for your child. Look we were drinking. We felt nostalgic. It is okay." He shook his head.
"We were not drunk. I meant what I said and so did you. I don't have to be with her to be a father." She shook her head.
"Yes you do. Don't put her through that. She loves you." Her tears fell. "It just wasn't meant to be."
"Baby please listen to me. We." She got in the car. She backed up and sped off. He put his hands on top of his head and cursed. He knew that he had to take responsibility but losing her again had hurt more than the first time.
Sasha looked at Stone when he came in. "Is everything okay?" He nodded.
"Yeah she is here working on Jason's case. Something is going on with his head." He shrugged.
"Jason is in the hospital?" She asked.
"Yeah. He practically lives there anyway. I have a headache. I am going to lie down okay?" She felt his head.
"Just a headache Sash." He walked into the bedroom.
Chapter 15
Late 2006
Robin had provided GH with the tools needed to save Jason but she couldn't stay in Port Charles. She couldn't stay in Manhattan either. Once she left Port Charles she had disappeared. She didn't reach out to her friends and family. She didn't call Stone nor return his calls.
Stone was miserable without Robin. He had called her but her number changed. He had tried going to see her but she had moved. Sasha had a boy. Stone didn't pay much attention to the blonde hair and blue eyes. Sasha had green eyes and her hair was an auburn. He didn't ask for a DNA test but when Matthew had gotten sick he had found Sasha and Jason in an embrace outside of his room. That is when he began to notice the similarities. He approached them and Jason told the truth. He exploded at them then walked out. He focused on his career. He was done with relationships.
Chance happens some people call it fate. Others say it is destiny. Stone didn't believe in any of those things. He was stuck in traffic in Chapel Hill. He was in a cab. He was there on vacation and to get away from the hustle and bustle of his life. It didn't look like he had escaped much. The cab door opened.
"Listen I just had major surgery and I told the doctors that someone was here for me. She is on her way to make sure. So I need you to be kind and pretend to know me okay?" She didn't look at him. He was wearing shades. "Here she comes."
"Robin you were supposed to take the wheel chair." Robin smiled.
"You know how I feel about that." She shook her head.
"Doctors make the worst patients. Please listen to your discharge instructions. I want to see you back in a week to decide if you need further treatment." Robin bobbed her head up and down. Her doctor handed the gentleman her discharge instructions.
"Please be sure to make sure she follows this and that she is back here in a week. I didn't believe you existed but I am glad to see you." Stone nodded.
"Okay see ya next week." Robin rolled up the window. She turned to snatch the paper from the man who was reading the paper.
"How rude…" She would know that face anywhere. Glasses or not. The lips, the frown, the hair. His hands were shaking.
"I.. I.." He looked at her. She moved to get out of the cab but the cab pulled off.
"Can you stop please?" She said.
"No keep driving. You are not pushing me away." She laughed.
"You are already away, Stone." He sighed.
"You walked out of my life I did not ask you to." She ran her hand through her hair.
"Well, since you know. I need to ask you not to say anything to anyone. This is my business." He looked out the window. He laughed without humor.
"I almost sent you a text." She said finally. "Three words. I need you."
"And I would have been here." She shrugged.
"I realized that I didn't." He looked at her.
"Bullshit." He spat. "Give him your address." He told her. She didn't argue. He could see that she was tired.
Stone took his bags out of the car. He smiled at the little house she had. It was certainly in the country. She walked slowly toward the porch. He left his bags on the driveway then picked her up.
"Where are your keys?" He went in her purse.
"This isn't necessary." She groaned. He opened the door. He laid her on the couch then went to retrieve her bags.
Stone sat in the chair. "What stage? What type?" He looked at her.
"3B, breast." She closed her eyes. "I am tired. I had chemo today. I don't need to do it every day. It was an infusion treatment." She laughed.
"I have the aggressive kind. My tumor grew so fast. I always do exams I don't know how I missed it. I had to have some lymph nodes removed but the good news is that there is no metastases into the organs or chest wall. Just the lymph nodes. Some lymph nodes. So surgery and chemo and hormone therapy are the therapies. There is a 49% survival rate which is better than stage four." He stared at her his throat closing. He swallowed a few times.
"Why didn't you call your family?" She laughed.
"You know how I found my mom back in 99? Yeah well earlier this year I find that my dad is alive. It would kind of be poetic justice for them to watch me die."
"You are not going to die." He said quietly.
"Let's look at the odds. 51 is greater than 49 and I have never been lucky. I don't know if I want to continue with chemo. I feel awful right now." He looked at her.
"Can I borrow your car?" He asked.
"Sure whatever." She waved. He left. In her car he let his tears fall. Then he pulled himself together. When he returned she was sleeping. He had stocked her kitchen with all organic food and drinks. He brought her a juicer and herbs. A lot of different things he thought would help.
Robin woke up. She stretched then looked around. Maybe she had dreamed him but there he was reading on his lap top.
"You should drink that. It is fresh juice and it shouldn't add to nausea or anything. You have to stay hydrated." She stared at him.
"Why are you still here?" She asked him.
"Do you really have to ask?" He looked at her.
"What did you have? Did you get married?" He put his laptop down.
"She had a boy. She moved in but we didn't get married. I was his dad for nearly six months. He got sick. Anyway I found out Jason was the father. I should have known. I mean he had blonde hair and blue eyes but I refused to believe that I gave up everything based on a lie. The hardest part was walking away from Matt. I was the only dad he knew." He frowned then shook his head. "I miss him." She softened.
"I bet you were a good dad." He smiled.
"I tried. What are you doing out here all alone?" He asked her.
"I like it that way." She shrugged then tried her juice. "Good."
"I am so sorry. I tried to tell you that so many times. We were finally on the same page." She closed her eyes.
"I couldn't watch you raise a child that wasn't ours. I know it was selfish but it just opened that wound and I couldn't. I was waiting for us to get to a place when we could think about Angel and you not think about it being my fault." He stared at her. He moved to the couch.
"I never thought it was your fault. If I hadn't been an ass to you, you wouldn't have been so stressed out all the time. You were so focused on taking care of me. I didn't take care of you. You got into that fight because of me. I hated myself for that. I carried it with me." He wiped her tears. "I never blamed you."
"I knew that you didn't mean what you said. You were angry and so was I. It did hurt but I knew that when you remembered things would be okay and if you didn't you would fall in love with me again. There were moments when you would let me in. I remembered how it took you some time in the beginning to trust our friendship. I believed in us. I don't blame you. Since you are here I may as well tell you." He looked at her.
"Tell me what?" He asked.
"I made tapes for the people I love. In the event of my death." He closed his eyes.
"I will get yours." She stood. She got it. "Don't listen to it now. Wait until I am sleeping."
"I wanted you to be the first and I wanted you to be the last." She admitted.
"I wanted to tell you that day in Paris. Then I couldn't identify it. It was like I loved you from this place deep inside of me that I never knew existed. As I matured and time passed I came to realize that you are half of my soul. I could go through life going from one relationship to the next but no one could ever reach that place in my heart. I could be happy but not truly happy. I love you so much that it hurts. You have no idea how miserable I have been not talking to you." He said.
"Why didn't you?" He looked at her.
"Because I was scared. So much had happened. Sonny knew. When you came back to Port Charles he caught me checking you out. I lied of course. Then he brought up me riding him about Brenda and I admitted that you are the love of my life. That song came there and it was like fate." She smiled.
"You don't believe in fate." He shrugged.
"How can I look at you and us and not believe in it? I dunno maybe more like denying it exists. I need to be here Robin. So when I stay I need you to not kick me out okay?" She looked at him.
"As much as I want to give you a hard time. As much as I want to run away or push you away I need you. I mean it is hard to accept but I have always needed you." He hugged her carefully.
"I am going to take my meds. I am in a lot of pain." He laid her down then got them for her. "I am glad that you are here but I am going to warn you that this could get ugly. I am not talking about being sick I am talking about my attitude and moments where I may wallow."
"I am not going anywhere." He helped her up the steps.