A/N: This chapter is specifically dedicated to those who reviewed and asked about the Robin/Elizabeth friendship. I think you are really going to love this chapter!Elizabeth was completely in tears as she walked away from the confrontation with Jason and AJ. She had no idea what to do or how she was going to handle them being there at the hospital. She had no idea just how much she had wanted answers, just how desperately she had needed an explanation.
It wasn't until she saw them however that she knew. She knew she needed answers not just for herself but for her boys.
Worse than that though, if the confrontation was clue enough, Elizabeth now knew with some level of certainty that there was something both AJ and Jason were hiding from her and she wanted to know what. And she deserved to know.
Completely consumed with her thoughts, Elizabeth almost didn't realize someone approached her and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Robin," Elizabeth smiled as she saw her friend standing behind her, "Do you have news on the boys?"
"They are still in post-op," Robin said, wishing she had more to offer.
"Oh," Elizabeth said sadly, herself hoping that there was some sort of good news on its way. She needed it after how things went with Jason and AJ.
Robin took one look at Elizabeth and was instantly able to tell that she had been crying and that something had been weighing on her. Instinctively, Robin wrapped her arms around Elizabeth and held her tightly.
The two separated after a few minutes and quickly got to catching up.
"What are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked. "I thought you were starting your maternity leave a few days ago."
"I did, I am," Robin replied. "But when I heard about what happened with the boys, I knew I had to come back to the hospital to consult on their case. I knew I had to do this for Emma and for you Elizabeth. How are you holding up?"
"Not good," Elizabeth sighed as for the first time Robin noticed her tears. "Jason and AJ are here."
"Oh honey," Robin said softly as she pulled Elizabeth into another hug, allowing her to cry on her shoulder.
She wished she could take the pain of the last eight years ago, she wished she could have talked some sense into Jason and AJ. And most importantly, Robin just wished she had done more to prepare herself for this day because deep down, she always knew they would come back.
She just didn't know that it was going to take eight years and a near death experience for Jason and AJ to finally realize where they needed to be now and where they needed to be all along.
"I thought I was ready for this, I thought I was ready to see them again, but I'm not," Elizabeth sobbed unable to control the tears. "When I saw AJ, it was awkward, but it was manageable but then when both of them were in the room together, I just, I couldn't take it. Robin it has been five years since I've heard from both of them at all and I still don't have answers. But I know they are keeping something from me and I just can't, I can't take it anymore."
Elizabeth's tears continued to fall as Robin continued to offer her comfort and consolation. She listened to Elizabeth and allowed her to cry as much as she needed to. When Elizabeth finally seemed all cried out, Robin gave her advice in the way that only she could.
"Honey, I know this must be difficult, I can't even imagine how much," Robin said softly. "Jason and AJ, I've known them my whole life. I never thought either of them would be a bad father. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt when they left. And when you told me about that phone call with AJ, I knew there was something keeping him away. I can only assume the same with Jason. And I know you want answers, I think we all do. But right now, all that matters is that there are here for the boys."
"But Robin I can't stand being in the room with them," Elizabeth admitted. "I thought I could but there is this anger there, this tension. When I saw Jason, I just went to that negative place. I wanted to strangle him. And then he started to act so, so self-righteous, telling me I didn't need to know his and AJ's secret, and I just flipped. I told him, both of them, that there was nothing left to be said between us and I walked away. I don't know if I can go back there either."
"Elizabeth, you are by far the strongest person I know," Robin assured her. "You raised two boys on your own for almost what six, seven years before Nikolas came back into your life. And you did a fantastic job. You are the best mother I know and you always put your kids first. I have no doubt in my mind that you can handle those two Quartermaine boys. You always did when we were younger and I know you can still do it now."
"I think you are mistaking me for you," Elizabeth sighed. "You were the one who could always keep Jason and AJ in line. I'm pretty sure you stopped them from killing each other on at least one occasion. You were so good with them. I just, I don't think I can do it."
"You can do anything you set your mind to," Robin smiled at her longtime friend. "I know you and I know you can do it. Just remember this isn't about them, it is about your boys. And I know you want answers, but keep the focus on the boys. You don't have to talk to them about anything else. They are here now and that means something to me, it shows me they are willing to try, that they care, that they want to help. Whatever happened eight or even just five years ago, right now it doesn't matter. Getting those boys recovered, that is what matters."
"You always know what to say," Elizabeth smiled at Robin. "You always know how to fix things. I can do this. I can, I can be with them, around them. I can handle this."
"I know you can," Robin replied sadly as she prepared herself to tell Elizabeth something that was going to be a little more difficult to handle. "You can do this and you can do something else."
"What?" Elizabeth asked.
Robin took a deep breath. "Honey, you have to tell them about the accident," she said softly. "I know it isn't going to be easy and I know you don't owe them anything, but so long as they are here, I think you need to tell them what you know about the boys."
"I don't think I can do that Robin," Elizabeth said with pain filled eyes.
How was she going to do it? How was she going to tell the two men about what happened to their sons? How could she explain the details, at least those of which she knew? Would they understand or would they get lost in their own issues with each other? Either way, they were probably going to hate her, they were going to blame her.
No, she couldn't do it, she just couldn't.
"You can," Robin said, "and I will be right there with you if you want me to."
"I love you Robin and I appreciate you for offering," Elizabeth said as she grabbed Robin's hands, her words of confidence being the only support Elizabeth knew she needed. "But you are right. I can handle this and I think, I know, I have to do this myself. I need to be strong for my boys and this, this is just something I have to do for them."
Robin smiled as she nodded happily at Elizabeth. "It's the perfect mindset to have, that you aren't doing it for them, but for the boys. It's going to make it easier."
"I'll let you know how it goes," Elizabeth promised as she gave Robin another hug. "I'm so glad you were here. You have no idea how much I needed someone to talk to."
"I'm always going to be here for Elizabeth," Robin smiled as she returned the hug. "Anything you need during this, anything at all, I am here. Emma has already offered to watch Aiden too if you need anything. And Patrick and I will be here 24/7 getting the boys the best care possible."
"Robin, I can't have you do that," Elizabeth said seriously. "You are eight months pregnant and have to go on maternity leave. God forbid, I'd feel horrible if I was the reason anything happened to this little baby. You need to rest and be at home."
"Patrick is already going to say that when he finds out I'm here," Robin began, "but it doesn't matter. Honey, I'm not going to be able to get any rest anyway as long as the boys are here."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Elizabeth said, having only gotten about an hour of sleep since the boys were first admitted. "But please Robin, do what you need to do for this baby. The stress is enough with the boys here, please just promise me you won't overwork yourself."
"I promise," Robin said lovingly, so amazed by Elizabeth's concern for her. "Even when it is your boys in the hospital you are still putting everybody else first. That is the Liz I know and love. And she is going to be just fine. She is going to handle Jason and AJ and she is going to get through this. Because you are strong and have an incredible support system to lean on. Just remember that. You can always call me to talk or like I said, if you need anything, Patrick, Emma and I, we are all here for you 100 percent."
"You have no idea what that means to me, thank you," Elizabeth said as she held Robin's hand.
"We've been through so much together with our kids and everything else and you have helped me through one of the toughest times in my life with that HIV scare," Robin said as tears started to fill her own eyes. "Sorry, pregnancy hormones are making me emotional. But the point is you and your boys are family. I owe you my life and I would do anything for you."
"Even if I ask you to take yourself off this case and get someone else?" Elizabeth asked tentatively.
Robin sighed, knowing she couldn't deny Elizabeth anything, as much as in this moment she really wanted to.
"If that is what you want, then I will do it," she smiled. "But I am going to get the best doctor I can for the boys. It is all going to work out for the best Elizabeth, I promise you that. And I never break a promise to a friend."
"I know you don't," Elizabeth smiled as she received one last hug from Robin for strength.
She knew Robin was right. She wasn't going to be alone. She had a support system and she could lean on them if and when she needed to.
So with renewed confidence, strength and a mindset that told her this was all about her boys, Elizabeth returned to where Jason and AJ last were, prepared to tell them the truth and to handle any consequences or backlash that she knew was inevitably going to come from it.