Chapter 21

"Come on Robin, I want to get this over with." Patrick paced the living room while Matt sat on the couch waiting to leave for the welcome party. He looked at Matt who raised his eyebrows at his brother. "What?"

Matt shook his head. "It warms my heart that you are so excited to be attending a dinner in my honor."

Patrick sighed and sat down next to Matt. "Sorry, this has nothing to do with you and you know it."

Robin came running into the room, Emma right behind her. "Sorry, I was trying to find the right necklace to go with my dress." Robin was wearing a dark green, off the shoulder dress that hit her right above her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail and she wore little make up – she didn't need it.

Patrick looked at Robin and his heart stopped. All these years and she still took his breath away. "You are beautiful." He crossed the room and pulled Robin into his arms and kissed her.

Emma couldn't help but smile at her parents. They love they had for each other was rare and special. After giving them a moment, she spoke. "You need to get going, especially since you are bringing one of the guests of honor with you."

Matt stood up. "Now we're talking. It won't be much of a party with just Dr. Jackson."

Emma saw her father's face when Matt mentioned GH's newest doctor - he actually had cringed. "Dad, do you have a problem with Dr. Jackson?"

Robin couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's question. "Your father just thinks that Dr. Jackson was a little too interested in me when he was working with us before."

"Yeah, like anyone could get between you and Dad. Whatever made him think he stood a chance?" Emma was laughing until she noticed the uncomfortable looks that her parents and uncle shared. "Is there something I should know?"

An awkward silence engulfed the room. Emma had been just a little girl when everything happened with Lisa Niles and her parent's separation – she didn't remember any of it. As far as she knew the only separations her parents had had were because of Jerry Jax and Nikolas.

Robin finally broke the silence. "Of course not but we do need to get going." She hugged her daughter. "Thank you for the necklace, it's perfect."

"Not a problem." Emma couldn't help but feel that there was something her parents weren't telling her. She took one last look at her parents and knew they weren't going to reveal a thing. "I, uh, I'll let you guys get going. I'll talk to you later."

Emma headed to the door and the three doctors all let out a sigh of relief. "That was close. I didn't expect…" Patrick's voice trailed off as Robin hugged him close.

"I know." Robin looked at Matt. "Are you okay?"

"I guess so – it just caught me off guard, that isn't something I want to remember." Matt had been defending Robin when he accidentally killed Lisa. He had done his time and worked hard to rebuild his life following his release from prison. Eventually, with a little aid from Robert and WSB, Matt was able to not only get his medical license reinstated but also get his record expunged.

"Me either Matt." Patrick had never really forgiven himself for cheating on Robin. That one moment with Lisa had led to a year of hell and heartbreak. "I guess that is one of the reasons I don't like Terrell showing back up – it reminds me of a time that I would just as soon forget."

Robin held tight to her husband. "I know, although I did enjoy that Valentine's Day when you tried to act like you weren't jealous and challenged Terrell to a game of darts. That was one amazing kiss."

"It had to be – I needed to remind you of what you were missing." Patrick smiled at his wife, amazed at her ability to pull out one positive moment from that horrible time.

"I knew – why do you think I came back?" Robin stood on her toes and kissed Patrick one more time.

Matt rolled his eyes and shook his head. No one was coming between his brother and his wife – even a blind man could see that. "Alright lovebirds, let's get going. I don't want to be late for my own party."

Patrick gave Robin one last kiss and then took her hand. "Let's go."

"Dr. Scorpio – it is a pleasure to see you again." Terrell approached Robin and Patrick while Matt went to speak with Tom.

"That's Scorpio-Drake Dr. Jackson." Patrick pulled Robin in front of him and wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Been that way for, what, over two decades now?"

"Of course, I was just speaking professionally." Terrell didn't really look at Patrick, his focus was on Robin.

"Actually she goes by Dr. Scorpio-Drake professionally as well. If you paid attention to my wife's research, you would know that." Robin closed her eyes, almost embarrassed at her husband's display of jealousy.

"Of course I pay attention to Robin – her work is extraordinary." Terrell smiled at Robin. "I was hoping we could finally get that darts rematch now that I am back in town."

"I'm sure we could arrange that. Jake's is now The Floating Rib but Patrick and I would be more than happy to meet you out there one night for a few games." Robin smiled at Terrell and then looked at Patrick. After Dr. King, she was making sure that there were no mixed signals with anyone. She was madly in love with her husband and she had no problem making it clear to any man who crossed her path.

Patrick leaned down and kissed her before looking at Terrell. "Sounds good to me – I seem to remember being happy with the outcome of our last darts game."

Terrell's smile became tight and he stepped away from the couple. "Great. Well, I need to mingle with the other doctors so I will talk to you both later."

He walked away from them and Patrick set his chin on top of Robin's head, gently swaying her to the music that was playing in the background. "I don't think he likes me very much."

Robin giggled and turned around to face her husband. "I don't think so either but it doesn't matter what he thinks because I happen to like you very much."

"You do huh?" Patrick smiled at her and leaned down to kiss her again.

"Yeah – I do." Robin couldn't wipe the grin off her face as Patrick kissed her once again. "I really do."

"Good because I kind of like you too." Patrick kept Robin in his arms. "A little bit."

Robin stuck out her bottom lip in a fake pout. "Just a little bit."

"Well, maybe more than a little bit." He leaned down and kissed her again but this time it was passionate and full of all the love he felt for her. Reluctantly, he pulled away. "Now, let's go to our table before we add to our already notorious reputation."

Patrick took Robin's hand and led her to their table. Minutes later Matt joined them. "I don't think Dr. Jackson is having a good time."

"Why do you say that?" Robin looked at her brother-in-law curiously.

"Because the glares he is giving this table speaks volumes. What did you say to him Patrick?"

"I was very nice to him. My wife, on the other hand, made it clear that she wasn't interested in him." Patrick wrapped his arm around Robin's shoulders and pulled her closer. "He is probably just upset that he came back here for nothing."

Matt watched Terrell carefully. Something was off about the man's whole demeanor, he seemed almost obsessed with what their little family was doing. "That must be it."

Matt turned his attention back to Patrick and Robin. "So, is RJ pitching tomorrow?"

Matt half listened as Patrick and Robin bragged about their youngest son's pitching prowess. Nathan would be at the game tomorrow and they needed to have a little talk.

It was time to find out everything he could about Dr. Jackson.