Two weeks later Brook Lynn walked off the elevator at General Hospital wearing a pair of tailored gray wool slacks and a matching cropped blazer. She had been going out of her way to present herself as Mrs. Nikolas Cassadine in public. Brook Lynn, Nikolas, and Spencer had spent three extra days in Aspen waiting for the weather to clear up before they were able to fly back to Port Charles. The same day they made it back to Port Charles Nikolas had to fly to a business meeting in London. He decided to take Brook Lynn and Spencer along with him and they were gone for a couple of days. But when they finally arrived in Port Charles Brook Lynn had gone to the hospital for a pregnancy test and today she was getting the results back from the test. Brook Lynn walked over to the nurses' station and frowned seeing Elizabeth standing there. She was the last person she wanted to know anything. She spotted Robin and walked over to her. "Robin...Hi...uh have you seen Dr. Lee?" asked Brook Lynn.
Robin looked up from the chart that she was writing in. She smiled. "Hi, Brook Lynn. How are you? Dr. Lee is with a patient but she should be out soon. Do you have an appointment with her?" asked Robin.
"I am doing well. Uh..yes...yes I do. I am just here to get some test results. She said that I should stop around noon...so I am just hoping that they are ready...I came in for a test a couple of days ago...do you think the results are ready? I mean that is enough time for them to be ready right?" said Brook with a small nervous laugh. "I guess I shouldn't be in a rush anyway...Nikolas is supposed to be meeting me here when he is finished with his meeting..."
Robin chuckled softly and rested a comforting hand on Brook Lynn's arm. "That is plenty of time for the results to be ready. And if they weren't ready Dr. Lee would have called you ahead of time to reschedule your appointment for a different time or a different day. So how as the trip to Aspen?"
"It was amazing, Robin. Nikolas and I had such a great time with Spencer. We taught him how to ski and he's really great at it. Spencer is such a fast learner. And then we were snowed in for a couple of days so we played a lot of games and watched movies. We had so much fun that Nikolas thinks that we should go on another family vacation in a couple of months. He's thinking somewhere tropical this time." said Brook.
"I am so happy for the two of you. Nikolas seems happy. He invited me and Emma over to have dinner with you guys this weekend. How are you adjusting to married life?" said Robin.
Brook smiled and said "Yeah, I don't exactly have a lot of friends in Port Charles and I think this is his way of trying to get the two of us to be friends...and he wants to catch up with you. He was complaining about how busy both of you are right now." Brook smile and said "Oh, I like being married to Nikolas he is so much fun. But at the same time it makes me nervous because I don't want to embarrass him as his wife. There is a lot more scrutiny than I thought there would be..."
"The hospital and Emma keep me very busy but that is not excuse for not spending time with one of my best friends. And I think it would be wonderful getting to know you. There must be something very special about you for Nikolas to have fallen so quickly for you. Don't worry about the scrutiny…just be who you are. That is who Nikolas fell in love with. Why don't you have a seat and I will page Dr. Lee and let her know that you are waiting for her." Robin was just glad that Nikolas was actually happy. She had seen him around the hospital once or twice in the last couple of days and it seemed that he was wearing a perpetual smile.
"Thank you Robin." said Brook with small smile. She walked over to the waiting area and had a seat.
Elizabeth had been watching the exchange between Robin and Elizabeth. She walked over to Robin as casually as she could as soon as Brook Lynn sat down. "What is she here for?" asked Elizabeth rolling her eyes. "She is probably waiting around for Nikolas to finish with the hospital's board meeting."
Robin said "She's here to see a doctor..." Robin felt torn at the moment. She considered Nikolas and Elizabeth to be good friends and she knew how Elizabeth felt about Nikolas' marriage to Brook Lynn.
"Which doctor?" asked Elizabeth curiously.
"I have a patient that is waiting for me. We'll talk later Elizabeth." said Robin dodging the question and leaving the nurses' station to head over to the AIDS' wing.
A few minutes later Nikolas walked over to Brook Lynn and asked "Dr. Lee hasn't seen you yet?" He kissed her cheek and had a seat next to her.
Brook Lynn shook her head. "Robin said that she was with a patient but had her paged so that she knew that I was waiting for her. I am so nervous, Nikolas..." Brook unconsciously rested her hand on her flat stomach. Not knowing was making her feel sick to her stomach.
Nikolas reached over and squeezed her hand. "I know that you are nervous but pregnant or not we will be fine." He kissed her temple. "Try not to worry..."said Nikolas knowing that it was a lost cause. In fact, Nikolas had spent the majority of the board meeting thinking about the results of this test.
Dr. Lee walked over to Brook Lynn and Nikolas with a smile. "Mr. and Mrs. Cassadine, I am sorry that you had to wait on me for so long. My last appointment ran over a little. Please...come with me to my office so that we can discuss your test results."
Nikolas took Brook Lynn's hand and walked with her to Dr. Lee's office. "Don't be nervous..." said Nikolas to her quietly. He could feel how tense she was just by holding her hand.
Once they were in the office Dr. Lee said "Please have a seat." She motioned to two chairs in front of her desk. She walked around the desk and grabbed a file that was sitting on top of the pile that littered her desk.
Brook Lynn and Nikolas both had a seat and Brook Lynn was the first to speak up. "So...Dr. Lee...what is the verdict here?" asked brook Lynn.
"Well, the blood test was conclusive, you are pregnant. Congratulations." said Dr. Lee.
Brook took in a deep breath and looked over at Nikolas.
Nikolas smiled at her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "This is magnificent news. So what do we need to do now?"
Dr. Lee handed clipboards to Brook Lynn and Nikolas. "Right, now I need both of you to fill in your medical history and your family's medical history...as much as you can. After you fill out those forms then a nurse will come in and take some blood from you Brook Lynn and we will also need for you to give a urine sample."
Brook was looking over the medical form sheet but stood when Dr. Lee mentioned taking a blood sample. "Why do you need to take more blood is everything okay?" asked Brook.
"Oh, yes. Everything is fine. This is just standard procedure. We take the blood to test for a myriad of diseases and to check the blood type and Rh factor. And we do the urinalysis to check for kidney or bladder issues." said Dr. Lee.
Brook Lynn nodded and said "Okay..."
"Afterward, we will move into an exam room and I will conduct a physical exam and a pelvic exam. And we will figure out the due date." said Dr. Lee.
"Oh I didn't know that this appointment would be so long..." said Brook Lynn. She turned her attention to Nikolas. "If...if you can't stick around that is okay. I can do the rest of this appointment by myself." said Brook knowing that he had work to do.
He kissed her cheek and said "I will just push back my meeting a couple of hours. After the appointment is over I'll take you out for a late lunch to celebrate."
"Are you sure...you don't have to feel compelled to stay...the rest of the appointment will be boring anyway...oh no offense Dr. Lee." said Brook Lynn.
"None taken..." said Dr. Lee with a smile. "But many first time mothers do find it comforting to have their significant other present during the appointment."
Nikolas smiled and said "There...you see doctor's orders. I am not going anywhere Brook."
Brook Lynn smiled she was relieved that he wasn't going to leave.
Dr. Lee said "I m going to go secure an exam room and let the two of you fill out those medical history forms." Dr. Lee smiled at them before exiting the room.
Brook Lynn filled out the forms trying to remember all of the family medical history that she could. "So what meeting are you pushing back this afternoon?" asked Brook curiously.
"I have a meeting with the lawyers to discuss the acquisition of a small energy company based out of Colorado. But it isn't anything that can wait a few hours..." said Nikolas.
"Are you really happy about this..?" asked Brook looking into his eyes worriedly.
Nikolas stood up from his chair and kneeled in front of her so that he was looking into her eyes. "This wasn't planned but I am very happy…you never have to doubt that." promised Nikolas.
Brook giggled softly and said "Okay…I believe you." She leaned in and kissed him. "Come on we need to finish the medical histories before Dr. Lee comes back."
Nikolas chuckled. He stood up and sat back down.
About fifteen minutes later Dr. Lee walked back into the office. "So...how is everything?"
Nikolas spoke up. "We've both finished our medical histories and our families' medical histories." Nikolas motioned to the clipboard placed neatly on her desk.
She smiled and said "Alright, well let's get you into the exam room." Dr. Lee led them down the hall to an exam room. "I'll be with you shortly. There is a hospital gown right there for you to change into and a specimen cup sitting on the counter. There is a bathroom in this room right through that door. A nurse will be in soon to take some blood from you."
Brook smiled. "Thank you." Once the door closed Brook Lynn started changing into the hospital gown. She frowned. "This thing doesn't offer very much coverage." complained Brook holding the back of the gown together.
Nikolas chuckled softly. "I think you look beautiful." Nikolas unbuttoned his suit jacket and had a seat in one of the chairs in the room.
Brook picked up the specimen cup from the counter and frowned in disgust. "Well...here goes." Brook disappeared into the bathroom and turned the water on in the sink.
A few minutes later Elizabeth knocked on the door and then walked into the room. She paused seeing Nikolas. "Nikolas...what are you doing here?" asked Elizabeth.
Nikolas looked up from his cell phone and said "Oh...hi Elizabeth. How are you doing? How are the boys?" He paused a moment. "I am here with the Brook for an appointment with Dr. Lee. We found out today that...she's pregnant."
Elizabeth had to bite her tongue she wanted to say something evil and snarky but knew that it would only make him angry. "I am doing...good. I've been keeping busy here at work but because of your help with the money I haven't had to spend so much time here. I've been spending a lot more time with the boys and they are loving it. Are we still on for Daddy day tonight...? How is Spencer?"
Nikolas nodded and said "I can't wait to see the little guy. This is the longest I have gone without seeing him in person. Although, I do appreciate you e-mailing those pictures to me. I just wish he could have been a little older so that we could have gone with us. Spencer had an extraordinary time in Aspen. He is doing great we've been juggling things though. Norma is out sick so Brook and I have been taking care of Spencer. Brook had to drop him off with Lulu so that she could come to this doctor's appointment."
"Why didn't you just leave him with some of the other staff at Wyndemere?" asked Elizabeth confused.
"Oh we've been trying depend on the other staff less. If Norma isn't around then Brook and I make an effort to be the ones to take care of Spencer. Or see if he can spend time with a family member. He's really been enjoying it I have to say." said Nikolas.
Brook walked out of the bathroom with the specimen cup in hand. She nearly dropped it seeing Elizabeth standing in the room. She hastily sat it on the counter so that she could grab the back of her hospital gown and maintain some modesty. Brook had a seat on the table. "Hi...Elizabeth..."said Brook.
Elizabeth forced a cheery smile. "Hello Brook Lynn. I am here to draw your blood. I am going to need a couple of vials. Before I leave you will start to feel like I am a vampire. I hope this isn't uncomfortable for you..."
Brook Lynn shook her head and said "No...no...no of course not." Of course it was uncomfortable but she wanted to try her best to be friendly with Elizabeth for Nikolas' sake and for Aiden's sake.
Elizabeth smiled and put on a pair of gloves. "Okay then." She got ready to draw Brook Lynn's blood.
Brook Lynn winced and turned her head in the other direction.
"Does it hurt?" asked Nikolas looking at Brook Lynn with concern in his eyes.
Elizabeth said "I haven't even started. I am just cleaning the area with alcohol." Elizabeth was irritated thinking that Brook was trying to make a big deal out of nothing.
"Oh no...it isn't that. I have a serious fear of needles. Don't mind me just go ahead. I was upset when Dr. Lee told me that she needed to draw more blood from me." said Brook.
Nikolas stood up from the chair and walked over taking Brook's free hand. "I didn't know that you were afraid needles." said Nikolas kissing her forehead. "You have quite a few anxieties." said Nikolas chuckling softly.
"Hey this is no laughing matter! Besides I don't know what you are talking about. I don't have any anxieties." said Brook laughing.
Nikolas smiled and said "I remember someone having a panic attack while we were on the plane together...you had to breathe into a bag. You were so cute."
Elizabeth finished drawing the blood. "Okay, I am done." Elizabeth checked the labels on the vials to ensure they were labeled properly.
Brook Lynn said "Really? I didn't feel a thing. Thank you, Elizabeth."
"Not a problem...so Nikolas I will see you tonight when I drop off Aiden..." Elizabeth paused a moment as if something had just occurred to her. She almost couldn't hide her smirk. "Actually, would the two of you mind taking all three boys for the night? I never really get any time alone and...on Christmas Eve you were saying how you wanted the boys to be close..." Elizabeth was positive that Nikolas and Brook wouldn't be able to handle her three boys and Spencer on short notice without Norma.
Brook Lynn was shocked. She couldn't believe Elizabeth was willing to let her sons come to Wyndemere. Brook looked at Nikolas. "I'd love to have all the boys over..." said Brook letting him know that she was on board if he was. She didn't know when Elizabeth would make this type of overture again.
Nikolas smiled at Brook. He turned his attention to Elizabeth and said "Sure, I'd love that and I know that Spencer will love it. What time will you be bringing the boys over?" Nikolas glanced at his watch trying to gauge how late he could stay at his meeting.
"Well, I was actually thinking that you and Brook could pick the boys up from daycare and I can just drop by later on with their overnight bags. This is really a life saver. I need to give the house a good cleaning and it is so much easier when the kids aren't there." said Elizabeth.
Brook said "Oh sure...we can do that." Brook realized that she'd be on her own for a couple of hours while Nikolas was at his business meeting but she figured how bad could it be?
Nikolas said "Okay, we'll pick up Aiden, Cameron, and Jake when we get ready to leave the hospital."
"Great! Thank you guys so much. I will call down to the daycare to let them know that you will be picking the boys up. Just let me know when you are ready to leave and I will give you my keys so you can get their car seats out of my car." said Elizabeth with a smile. She walked out of the room feeling quite satisfied with herself.
Nikolas looked at Brook. "Are you sure about this?" asked Nikolas. "Four little boys is a lot to take care of and I will be in that meeting with the lawyers for an hour or so at least."
"I will be fine, Nikolas. I need to stop by the Quartermaine mansion to see my grandmother for a minute. Apparently, my parents sent a letter to the mansion for me. Why she couldn't bring it to the board meeting and give it to you I will never know. I think she just likes to be difficult." said Brook.
Nikolas nodded and said "Alright, but if you need me for anything just call me okay...?" Nikolas' cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and frowned. "Listen I need to take this...but I will be right back." said Nikolas.
Brook smiled and said "Okay..."
What should have been a five minute called turned into 45 minutes. Nikolas hurried back to the room as soon as he could. He knocked lightly and walked into the room. "Brook I am so sorry...what have I missed?" asked Nikolas seeing that Dr. Lee was in the room.
Brook said "We were just finishing the appointment. Dr. Lee just wrote a prescription for me for prenatal vitamins."
"We were just wrapping up the appointment but I can touch the highlights if you like." said Dr. Lee.
Brook shook her head. "No, I am sure you have other patients. I'll tell him all of the important stuff. Thank you for your time Dr. Lee."
Dr. Lee nodded and said "Alright. I will want to see you again in a month...make sure you set up the appointment. Have a good day." She smiled and left the room.
"Brook...I am so sorry...I didn't expect the call to take so long. The energy companies CEO is getting a little skittish so I was on a conference call with him, his lawyers, and my lawyers...and I can't push the meeting back now…so I am going to have cancel our lunch plans…baby I am so sorry and I will make ..." said Nikolas once they were alone.
Brook cut him off. "You don't have anything to apologize for...I told you that you didn't have to stay for the rest of the appointment. It was no big deal...she gave me a quick physical and then did a quick pelvic exam. I am six weeks pregnant. And then we talked about the baby's due date. I'm due on September 4...I am going to go change back into my clothes." Brook stood up and collected her clothes and went into the bathroom to change.
Nikolas knew that she was upset with him.
Brook came out of the bathroom a few minutes dressed in her clothes. She picked up her purse and said "Okay I am ready to go." She walked out of the room with him. "You need to stop by the nurses' station to tell Elizabeth that we are getting ready to leave and we need the car seats for the boys."
Nikolas nodded and said "Okay..."
"I'll meet you down at the car." said Brook. She walked off in the other direction. Brook went down to the car to wait on Nikolas, Elizabeth, and the boys.
Steve Webber walked over to the car and smiled. He was carrying the car seats.
Brook laughed seeing him struggling. She walked over taking one of the seats for him. "Here let me help you with that." said Brook chuckling.
Steve smiled and said "Thank you. I was a little more confident I could bring them at one time until I actually started walking with them. Do you need help getting them buckled into the limo?"
Brook said "That would be really helpful. I am still working out the mechanics of this thing. Though I am getting pretty good with Spencer's booster seat. He hates it by the way... he thinks he too old for a booster seat." She chuckled and climbed into the limo getting the car seat buckled into place.
Steve Webber climbed in behind her and got the other two car seats buckled in. "Congratulations on getting married by the way..."
"Oh thank you." said Brook with a smile. Brook chuckled hearing the kids laughing as Nikolas brought them to the car. Brook smiled at them. "Hi guys!" said brook. She helped get them strapped into their car seats with help from Nikolas and Steve Webber.
"Bye boys be good." said Steve getting out of the limo.
Nikolas hugged Brook. "Are you sure you can handle the boys on your own?" asked Nikolas looking into her eyes. "And...I am really am sorry for missing the appointment. It will not happen again...time just got away from me while I was on the phone."
Brook said "I will be fine...don't worry." She kissed him softly. "I am not angry Nikolas...it is no big deal. I love you and I'll see you a Wyndemere later." said Brooke with a smile.
Nikolas nodded and said "Alright...I love you too. Bye. Bye boys I will see you later." He waved to them.
The driver closed the door and then got back into the limo and took off heading for the Metro Court first to pick up Spencer.
Brook Lynn called Lulu's cell phone.
Lulu answered after the first ring. "Hello?"
"Hi, Lulu. I am finished with my doctor's appointment and I am on my way to pick up Spencer. But I was wondering if you could bring him down to the car for me? Elizabeth is letting Cameron, Jake, and Aiden spend the night at Wyndemere and they are in the limo with me. I don't want to leave them alone and I definitely don't want to try to bring all of them up to your office." said Brook.
"Oh wow...sure I can bring Spencer down. I will head down with him now. I'll see you when you get here. Bye." said Lulu.
A few minutes later the limo pulled up at the Metro Court. Lulu walked out holding Spencer's hand and helped him into the limo. "I am actually off work for the rest of the day. Kate is in New Zealand for the weekend. Do you mind if I hangout with you guys?" asked Lulu. She figured it was the perfect way to spend time with all four of her nephews.
"Sure that is fine with me. I have to stop to see Tracy first though if you don't mind tagging along over there you can ride with us." said Brook.
"Okay good. Where is Nikolas?" asked Lulu climbing into the limo as well. She got settled between Cameron and Jake's car seats.
Brook helped get Spencer buckled into his booster seat. "Nikolas had an important meeting to get to after the appointment. But he should be back later on...he said that he wouldn't be too late."
Lulu nodded and said "Oh okay..."
It didn't take long for the limo to make it to the Quartermaine Mansion. The driver opened the door as the girls helped the boys get out of the limo. They all headed into the Mansion.
Lulu asked "Alice, do you know where Tracy is?"
Alice said "She is in the sitting room with Mr. Quartermaine."
Brook Lynn said "Thank you Alice.' Brook walked with the boys into the sitting room.
Tracy looked up hearing the commotion. "What...is going on?" She smiled seeing Lulu and hugged her. "Hi dear." He hugged Brook Lynn.
"Hi Tracy." said Lulu. She smiled at Edward. "Hi Edward." said Lulu.
"Nikolas and I are keeping all of the boys this weekend and we picked them up from daycare after my appointment at the hospital." said Brook Lynn. "Where is the letter from my parents?"asked Brook.
"Well, we actually wanted to talk to you...you can let the boys play while we talk." said Tracy.
Lulu said "I can handle looking after the boys while you are talking."
Brook Lynn said "Okay..." She handed Aiden over to Lulu.
"Come on guys." said Lulu leading them out of the room.
Brook Lynn walked over to a chair and had a seat. "What is going Gran?"
"Well, I've been talking to daddy and we've decided to offer you a position at ELQ and to give you access to the trust fund that we set up for you...you can call off this silly marriage." said Tracy.
Brook smiled a little. "No thank you. I am not married to Nikolas for the money...I love him. And we found out today that I'm pregnant...I'm due September 4...I know that you two don't approve but please try to be happy for me..."
"What?" asked Tracy her jaw dropping slightly.
"My appointment at the hospital this afternoon was with Dr. Lee...she confirmed that I am pregnant. We thought I might have been pregnant when we were in Aspen. But then the weather and then Nikolas had a business trip...but we found out for certain today...you're going to be a great-grandmother..." said Brook with a small laugh.
"I am going to be a great-great-grandfather? I suddenly feel even older than I normally feel..." said Edward.