Chapter 10

November 13, 2007

"I'm sorry about Noah. I know you two were close." Anna Devane murmured.

"It's not just that. Patrick has been so distant since it happened. I mean, it's his dad, his last true family. If it weren't for this baby, he wouldn't have anything. I'm worried, Mom." Robin admitted, turning her face away.

"He'll have you regardless, my love." Anna countered, patting Robin's hands. eagle eyes saw too much.

Her caramel-brown, shoulder-length hair flew in front of her face and she had to push back her own urge to cry. Robin had often thought as a small girl that Anna's "I have these terrible nightmares. They're so vivid." Robin's voice went quiet.

"About Noah?" Anna supplied.

"No. It's not really about anyone. It's just a feeling in my gut. Something is very wrong." Robin insisted with conviction.

"I've always taught you to trust your instincts. Have you spoken to Patrick about these nightmares?" Anna wanted to know.

"No. I don't want to bother him. He's grieving." Robin replied.

"So are you." Anna pointed out.

"Did I tell you about the nursery?" Robin swiftly changed the subject, wiping her tears away.

"No. You know, I still cannot believe you waited until you were six months along to let your own mother know she was going to have a grandson. I can understand not telling your father." Anna playfully scolded.

"I didn't want to tell you, not until I knew where I stood with Patrick." Robin explained.

"You didn't tell your father before me, did you?" Anna inquired.

"He kind of showed up at the hospital during one of my appointments. Having Patrick there was a plus. Dad was still pretty surprised, but he was happy to see Patrick at my side." Robin answered.

"Now, the nursery?" Anna persisted.

"I walked in on Lucky and Patrick fighting over where to put the crib. It was the most adorable thing. So far, the room itself is decorated in little blue ducks." Robin couldn't help but smile.

"There. That. Do it more often, won't you?" Patrick suggested, bending down to give her a kiss. Anna watched the scene with open speculation and motherly intuition. They pulled apart, both smiling.

"I have a few things to discuss with you, Dr. Drake. We've only had one real talk and my daughter interrupted that. I say that with love." Anna assured Robin.

"Of course. What are you doing here?" Robin queried, tilting her head to stare up at him.

"I like the coffee." Patrick mused, yanking a leaf from her hair. "One of these days you're going to have to explain your obsession with plants."

"Robin was just telling me about your father. I am incredibly sorry for your loss." Anna murmured, holding Patrick's hand in-between both of hers. It was a strange moment, one that Robin wasn't quite sure what to do with. First, the baby room debacle, and now there was open consoling?

"I appreciate that. I'll leave you two to your talk." Patrick left them there, left Robin in a stupor.

"I see what you mean about the distance." Anna noted.

"I can't break through the brick wall that is Patrick Drake. What should I do? A part of me likes the mystery, while the other part screams, 'You're having a baby together. You need to figure out where you are so that there's stability for your child.'" Robin looked up.

"I can't tell you what to do. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly the fine example of mothering that I should be. Your childhood is a testament to that." Anna reminded her.

"I'm who I am because of you, you and Dad. I've learned to take care of myself. I'm just a little out of my league here." Robin sighed.

"Then you should know what to do. If something is bothering you, just talk to Patrick. I'm sure the dreams will stop." Anna offered consolingly.

"Maybe you're right about the talking thing." Robin blew out a breath.

*****

NOVEMBER 14,2007

"You're getting in over your head, Robert." Anna hissed at her ex-husband as they hid in the coat closet of Lorenzo Alcazar's three-story home. It was around three o'clock in the afternoon and they had been awaiting the hotheaded mobster's return. Robert was the one to suggest the closet, had said that it provided both security and a fantastic vantage point of the house. Now they stood here, a mere two feet of space between them, hot and cramped.

"You could have brought sandwiches." Robert mocked, smiling at her frustrated glare. "No one forced you to come here." He pointed out, closing the closet door once more when he thought he might have heard a servant walking past them.

"Someone had to keep you out of trouble." Anna countered, folding her arms. It was almost pitch-black, but Robert didn't have to see her to read her facial expression. She had seen him sneak into the mansion and, like a snoop, she had followed. Startled, Robert had backed her into the closet and they had been there for almost half an hour. Anna was about ready to kick him in the shin and run for the door.

"Do you think you can act as a lookout while I pick up what I came here to get?" Robert asked, raising an eyebrow at Anna. She huffed and shuffled past him. He, in turn, stopped her in her tracks by touching her shoulders and blocking her exit. "I'd rather not get caught if we can help it." He explained when she struggled against him.

"I'm sure that's the only reason we've been in this closet so long." Anna grumbled, easing open the door and motioning for him to get on with it. They both stepped out of the closet and went in two different directions. Robert hurried to Lorenzo's study where he knew the contract was while Anna made herself comfortable on the ottoman. If the mobster did show up, at least she had a plan for how she might deal with him. She hadn't come out of her marriage without learning how to lie like a pro.

*****

"You just missed Pete." Patrick noticed, looking Robin up and down when she walked into his apartment. Pete had stopped by earlier that day, but had vacated as soon as he realized that Robin would be coming over. Despite Patrick's efforts, Robin and Pete couldn't or wouldn't get along with each other. He would have to keep trying. They were both incredibly important to him. He didn't want to lose either one. Of course, if asked, he would choose Robin but he had more riding on her staying with him, for one his son.

"Sad." Robin answered sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at him and walking over to where he was. He was stretched out with his hands behind his head on his brand new black leather couch that he had let her pick out for him a week previous. Robin picked up a baby book she found on the matching lamp side table she had suggested he pick up-the book had been his own decision. She stared down at the title: The Ugly Duckling. "You have such cute taste in books." Robin noted, flipping through the book she had memorized as a small child.

"Lucky and I just finished the nursery. Do you want to-?" Before he could even finish the question, Robin was halfway up the stairs. Smirking, he ran after her. "You have to close your eyes." He explained placing both of his hands over her eyes.

"Patrick." She moaned, anticipation heavy in her tone.

"Patience is a virtue." Patrick whispered into her ear.

"It isn't one of mine." Robin replied in a strangled voice. Patrick reached past her and turned the doorknob.

"If you don't like it…" Patrick's voice trailed off.

"I'm going to love it." Robin interjected confidently. Patrick's hands dropped from her eyes and he flipped on the lights. Her mouth dropped open as the room stretched out in front of her. It was only when tears came to her eyes that Patrick started to worry. Sensing this, Robin put her right hand in his left one and let him lead her into the room. It was difficult to not fall into the middle of the room and just sob. She wasn't an overly emotional person, at least she had never thought she was. Something had shifted. She couldn't blame the hormones. This was happiness.

She smiled at the ruffled drapes over the window next to a white crib. They were blue and covered in little yellow moons and white stars. The guys must have changed the wallpaper because it was now illustrated in white clouds and blue elephants. The wall was a dandelion yellow color and there was a blanket hanging from the adjacent wall covered in zoo animals. Under the blanket was a stark-white toy chest filled with an indeterminate amount of goodies. Sitting atop the toy chest was a blue momma kangaroo with a little baby in her pouch. The lining of the crib matched the blanket with its gray zoo animals and blue coloring. The mattress matched the yellow in the wall. The crib itself was the same white as the toy chest. The changing table was next to the crib on the opposite side of the room as the toy chest. It was white as well and doubled as a bookshelf. Robin fingered each book lovingly, titles like Animal Fair catching her eye. In the cabinet of the changing table was a stack of baby diapers and a Diaper Genie. It was perfect.

"We can change it." Patrick promised, breaking the ten-minute silence.

"NO!" She insisted, her voice rising. She buried her face in his chest when the urge to cry became too strong to fight. He chuckled, drawing circles over her back with his hands, and rocked her gently. "How long did this take you?" She mumbled into his chest.

"It was worth it." Patrick answered instead, kissing her forehead and directing her gaze toward the wooden rocking chair she had missed. It sat in the corner under the other window in the room looking ancient, but she knew better. Robin sunk into it, rocking back and forth as if she was practicing. "There's one more thing." She heard Patrick exclaim before he left the room. He was back a moment later with a mobile in his hands. They walked hand in hand over to the crib and assembled it. Robin turned the little knob and they listened to it play "Lullaby and Goodnight."