Chapter Four

"Hey Mike how are you doing?" Cassie asked as she walked over to the counter where Mike was at.

"I'm doing good. Business is slow today." he said softly. He had only known her for nearly three weeks and yet he liked her. Not anything romantic, but like a father would a daughter. She was a good person and deserved great things. " How are you liking Port Charles so far?" he handed her cup of herbal tea since she was pregnant and couldn't have caffeine.

"Thanks." she said as she took a drink " I'm good for now, but then again the morning is still young." as she sat down she heard Patrick's voice and turned around with a big smile on her face until she saw who was with him. Their eyes met and locked. She wasn't ready for this just yet, but she had to face it. All her old feelings came rushing back like a tone of bricks. She wanted to run very fast away, but her feet wouldn't, couldn't move. Maybe he didn't see her? She thought foolishly as Patrick walked over to her.

"Cassie hey." Patrick said as he walked over to her. The two exchanged a warm embrace. Patrick could feel the tension it was so thick you could cut it with a dull knife." Before anyone says anything you two need to sit down with each other and talk things out. You both are my best friends and I'm not going to be in the middle of you twos problems. Now I'm going to sit over here while you two sit at a nice table and talk." he sighed and looked at Pete" The key word being talk not yell or anything." He went over to the counter as Pete and Cassie went over to a near by table.

"Well, I guess congratulations or in order." Pete started awkwardly not really knowing what to say to her. Truth be told she was the only woman who ever got under his skin. Not a day went by that he didn't think of her. Dream of her. Want her. He wasn't sure if it was love, but it was close enough to scare him. When she walked away from him nine months ago it hurt him to the core, but he would never let her know that. Now here she was pregnant by someone else. He had to admit he envied the father of her baby, because he did the one thing that he could never do he got Cassie's love.

"Thanks." she said trying to clear her head. She still had feelings for him. If he asked too many questions he'd the truth about her pregnancy and she could not have that. She had enough to deal with." Look I'm happy for the time we had it's over now and we both live in the same town so I propose when we see each other we're polite and friendly. I bare no ill will toward you."

"I agree." he said as he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. To know that someone else was sharing her bed with her made him angry. He use to be that guy, but she needed more than just sex. He was a fool for not at least giving it a try." I should be the one angry with you because you left me."

"No, I didn't leave you." She said as she took a breath

"Okay then what do you call it?" he questioned" You came up to me said you were through and walked away." He regretted even saying anything because he knew she'd get mad

"The way I saw it and still see it is I could not have left you when we were never anything more than just sex buddies as you so politely put it." she told him trying to keep her hormones under control."and there is a big difference between sex and love."

"You're right I'm sorry." he said honestly" Truce?" he put out his hand to her

" Truce" she agreed as she put her hand in his. She felt that old spark again, but she didn't withdraw her hand instead she let him close his hand around hers." So, how have you been?" what she really wanted to ask was if he was with anyone? Was he in love? Has there been anyone since her?

"I've been good." He said feeling more at ease" I'm teaching down at PCU. How about you? Still working at being a writer?" he saw her features relax and a real smile came across her face.

"I'm a journalist now." she confirmed" I actually have my first assignment at the local paper." She liked talking with him it was one of the things that was so easy to do. She looked into his eyes and thought back to how many times she would lose herself in them.

"That's great." he said as he saw her eyes shift down to the table. She was afraid to look into his eyes. They lived in the same town so he would look into her eyes sooner or later. He wanted to ask if the father of her baby was still in her life and if she was in love with him? He had so many questions for her, but he didn't ask them. He didn't want to ruin the moment they had. She was more beautiful now than he remembered. It was more than just motherhood. She had grown more comfortable with herself. She wasn't seeking anyone's approval.

"Yeah, it's nice to be home again." she said as she risked a glance up at him again.

"You use to live here before?" he asked surprised. She never said where she was from. Then again he never asked about her life. He just got what he wanted that was it.

"Yeah, this is where I grew up at." she confessed as she saw Jason walk in. Her heart nearly stopped. He was still as drop dead gorgeous as the last time she saw him. Their eyes met for a moment before he turned his attention to a woman who came in by his side. She knew that was his girlfriend. Surprisingly it didn't hurt she was happy that he had found someone to share his life with. She brought her eyes back to Pete. Now if only she could find her happily ever after. She felt a sharp pain. " Owe."

'Are you okay?" Pete asked concerned for her

"Yeah, just a cramp."she said as it eased up

"How far along are you?" he asked

"I'm almost nine months." she said hoping he wasn't doing the math.

"Are you seeing a doctor?" he questioned out of concern. Even pregnant she still looked great. He missed her.

"Yes, I am. I actually have an appointment with Kelly the OBGYN down at general Hospital." she said informatively" Me and Kelly met when she was fresh out of med school so we've known each other for a very long time."

"You sound like you two are close." he said as he looked into her eyes. She was hiding something he knew by the look in her eyes. Whatever it was he wasn't going to pry it out of her. He knew her enough to know that she was a very private person.

"Yes, we are. Sort of like you and Patrick." she said softly as Patrick came over to them.

"So, kiddies you two are playing well I see." Patrick said as he pulled up a chair. He didn't miss them holding hands as them both pulled back their hands as if trying to hide it from him. Nor did he miss the look they shared with each other. He knew the look because he shared it with Robin. They were fighting what they felt for each other.

"We've agreed to disagree and to be polite to each other." Cassie said softly relieved and yet disappointed that Patrick came over to them.

The three sat there and talked about different things for a long time.