A/N: It appears that I'm on track, however, I'll be traveling for the next few weeks and know I won't get to update until mid March, but I'll definitely be back. I hope you enjoy this one. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 29
The crowd assembled around the dining room table and randomly took seats. Today was definitely one to celebrate. Robin and Emma were released from the hospital and the Drake family had just moved into their first house. Nothing less than a family dinner would do.
Noah filled glasses with Pelligrino as everyone around the table chatted about what had happened over the past few days. Passing dishes of spring salad and cheesy chicken pasta, everyone filled their plates and for the next 15 minutes silence descended upon the table. There was a special portobello mushroom pasta just for Maxie. Nothing but the sounds of chewing and Emma cooing could be heard. After the edge of hunger had been taken off, Patrick finally spoke.
"This has been great! First, Maxie and Anna take care of moving us into this house and then you guys arrange for this dinner. We have the best family," he declared as he gazed across the table at his family. He felt very grateful as he sat back comfortable in his dining room chair.
Robin nodded in agreement. "My husband," she started with a grin, "has a point. We are so lucky to have each and every one of you in our lives. Now back to this fabulous dinner, where did it come from? I've got to get the number so we can order later."
"Anna cooked it," Maxie answered, her tone matter of fact, taking another bite of her salad. Anna beamed.
"Anna cooked it?"
"Mom cooked it?"
Mac and Robin replied in unison, then started laughing. Both of them knew that Anna Devane was no cook. Yes, Robin had dinner with her and Noah a while back and it was good, but Robin had known that Noah was mostly responsible for that. The thought that her no nonsense mother might actually develop domestic skills was more than Robin could wrap her brain around.
"Yes, I cooked it," Anna confirmed, an eyebrow raised.
"What do you mean?" Robin asked skeptically, clearly confused.
"I mean, I cooked it," Anna reaffirmed. Then as if she was speaking to a young child, she explained, "I boiled the pasta and grilled the chicken and the portobellos, before I combined them with the sauce and baked it all together to get the desired effect." When no response was heard from either Robin or Mac, Anna continued, "What? Did you think I was just taking the cooking lessons for show? Or to see Noah in an apron? If that's all I wanted, I would have just asked."
"Okay," Matt interrupted. "I don't know where this is going, but it feels like it's going down the road of way to much information for anyone present here."
"I agree," Patrick added. "Let's just enjoy the food and turn the conversation elsewhere." Patrick turned to Matt. "So how's your life going?" He glanced between Matt and Maxie, who were seated opposite each other, with raised eyebrows.
Matt glared at his brother, before turning his gaze to meet Maxie's eyes. Neither Maxie nor Matt wanted to discuss what was happening with them in front of the whole family. Robin was already looking at him with interest. What could he say that would steer the conversation clear of him and Maxie? Now might be a good time to share his news.
"It's going well. I got released to go back to work today."
"Really?" Maxie asked from beside him. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"You were busy and I knew it could wait," he answered with a smile.
"I'm so happy for you!" She laid a familiar hand on his arm in her excitement.
"Thanks," he replied to her with a smile. Then to everyone else at the table, "So, it looks like I'll be back in the OR very, very soon."
"I guess that means I'll be losing you in the lab," Robin commented.
"Not necessarily," Matt countered. "I've enjoyed working with you on the research, so I'd like to continue when I have any extra time."
Robin grinned at her brother-in-law. "I'd love that."
"That's great news Matt," Noah said. "It'll be good to have you back at work."
"I heard you've been covering extra shifts while I've been away." Noah nodded in response. "Thanks."
"Just trying to do the right thing for my son."
Tension filled the room momentarily. Anna, being able to assess the situation, changed the subject.
"Robin, your father asked that I give you something for Emma," she said, passing Robin a pink wrapped package.
Having finished her pasta and sipped a bit of her Pelligrino, Robin took the package from Anna and asked, "Should I be afraid?"
"It's from your father. Of course, you should be afraid," Anna replied with a grin.
Robin, smiling in return, tore into the package. She always loved when her father surprised her with gifts when she was a little girl. Robin never knew what to expect and oddly, the feeling was no different as she opened Robert's first gift to his granddaughter. As soon as she got a look at the gift she burst into laughter. Holding up a miniature lock pick set in a shade of hot pink, she said, "I guess he's planning to get Emma started early!" Only her dad would consider this a practical gift.
Matt, having no idea what Robin was holding, asked the question, "What is that?"
"It's a lock pick set," Mac answered.
"Why would Emma need that?" asked a confused Noah.
"Robert has this thing about members of his family, especially the girls, being able to get out of tight spaces."
"My granddaughter is not going to be picking locks," Noah said. Anna just shook her head, as he had no idea.
"Robin has a set," Patrick interjected. "She carries it all the time."
"Why?" Noah asked Robin. This conversation was getting more bizarre by the moment. Babies? Lock picks? In pink, no less. This was way beyond his nice, safe world of neurosurgery.
"It comes in handy when you've lost a key or been kidnapped or just need a miscellaneous tool," she answered from experience. "With these Emma will never be locked out of this house or yours."
Noah didn't question further, but it was obvious that his curiosity and that of his son's had been piqued.
"Speaking of this house," Anna started. "I still have to upgrade your security system."
"What do you mean? What do you have in mind?" Patrick asked, knowing that the house was already wired with a standard security system.
"Just some additional lighting outside and motion sensors inside and out. The system in the house is adequate, but it could be better and since my granddaughter lives here, I need it to be state of the art."
"You guys are really into security, aren't you?" Matt asked, with a bit of a perplexed frown.
"I'm a spy. Security is second only to excellent surveillance," she answered with a sad smile. "Hopefully, you'll never experience just how important it is." Silence fell over the room as they thought of all the things that were reported on the news everyday and all the people they'd lost, some violently, some not.
"Is anyone ready for dessert? I don't want to think about the need for security any longer," Maxie said pulling the conversation to something much more enjoyable.
"I am," Robin replied. Turning to her mother, she asked, "Did you make that, too?" This new side of her mother intrigued her. Gone were her childhood days of failed dinners and burnt brownies and cupcakes.
"No," Anna answered with a toss of her hair. "Maxie ordered it from that brilliant little bakery on the pier. I'm sure the pie is divine."
"Good," Robin replied. "I don't know if I could take it if you made desert, too."
Giggles and chuckles filled the room, as Anna retrieved the apple cobbler from where it was keeping warm in the oven. Noah joined her in the kitchen and helped carry the coffee pot and cups while Anna placed the cobbler on the tray beside the dessert bowls and spoons she'd taken from the cabinet. Adding a bowl of ice cream from the freezer, she returned to the table amongst oohs and aahs.
Silence descended again as the family savored the dessert. The combination of cinnamony warm apples and cold ice cream caused Maxie to groan in pleasure. When she opened her eyes, they connected with Matt's. The smoldering look in them almost caused her to drop her bowl. Maxie felt heat trace down her spine and spread. Looking away, she took another bite of the ice cream to cool off and looked up at Robin, who with a knowing look winked at her. Maxie rolled her eyes and avoided contact with anyone at the table until everyone finished.
Rising from the table, Maxie took a stack of dirty dishes into the kitchen to have a few minutes alone. Matt, however, didn't respect her privacy in that moment. Following her into the kitchen with his own stack of dishes, knowing that any member of their family could walk-in at any time, Matt quickly set the dishes on the counter and pulled Maxie into his arms.
She turned to protest, but he quickly silenced her with his mouth against hers. For long minutes, his tongue stroked hers. Just as suddenly, he pushed her away from him. As they both took heaving breaths, he muttered, "I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Maxie asked with a touch of confusion, followed closely by irritation. "You're sorry you kissed me?"
Looking at her as if she had grown another head, he said, "What? No!" He took another calming breath, before he continued with a whisper, "I'm sorry I came on so strong, but I had to taste you."
"As wrong as this probably is with both our families right outside the door, I'm glad you did," she said stepping into the curve of Matt's body. Laying her hands on his chest, she leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Let's help clean up and get out of here."
"I like the way you think," he replied, pressing a hard kiss to her lips before turning to the dishwasher.
--
"I wonder what they're doing in there?" Robin asked to no one in particular.
"Probably something fun," Anna answered with a grin at Mac's frown.
Just then, Matt came back through the door, grabbed the tray from the corner of the table, and started stacking dishes.
"You look like a pro doing that," Patrick quipped.
"I am," Matt confirmed. "I used to bus tables when I was in high school."
"Wow," Robin replied. "You never know what you'll learn about people if you spend enough time with them."
"No, you don't," Noah agreed with a sad smile. Matt met his father's eyes and knew that Noah regretted not knowing him better, but he wasn't ready to just ignore the past. Not knowing what to say or do, he stacked the rest of the dishes, leaving the stemware, and went back into the kitchen.
"What am I going to do about him?" Noah asked.
"Give him the time he needs to let you in and give him space to move while letting him know you won't leave him," Mac answered. "I personally have a problem with giving my girls the space to move, but at least I've admitted my problem."
Robin laughed at that. Her Uncle Mac definitely had a problem with giving his girls space, but they never once questioned his support or love. Two out of three wasn't bad, especially when she, Maxie and Georgie had just ignored him when he got too overprotective. Some of those times, they should have listened. Their lives might have been easier.
"Uncle Mac, you are a little overprotective, but deep down we love you for loving us as much as you do," Robin said rising from her chair and wrapping her arms around Mac's neck from behind.
"That's nice to hear, especially when you've all given me such a hard time about it," he teased. To Noah, he said, "See, they just want you to think they hate that you care."
Robin yawned unable to hold it back another minute. Mac must have felt it, because he said, "Let's help finish this clean-up quickly so we can leave these three kids to get some rest."
"Don't leave. I love having you all here," Robin replied, leaning back as a yawn caught her at the end of her comment.
"We know you do, but you're exhausted," Mac said, standing and grabbing his glassware. "Rest assured, we'll be back to visit."
"You'd better. I can already imagine the back yard barbecues here at the house," Robin commented.
"I'm so glad we have all of you around," Patrick said. "I love that Emma gets to grow up with so much extended family."
"Me, too."
Half an hour later, the dishes were stacked tightly in the dishwasher and it was running for the first time. The previous owners had replaced the appliances to help sell the house quicker. It had definitely been a selling point for Patrick, who knew nothing more about washers and dryers and dishwashers than how to use them and that knowledge was limited.
The family had dispersed to their respective homes and the new Drake home was relatively quiet except for the baby noises that occasionally came over the baby monitor. Robin had fallen asleep on the love seat in the sitting area of their bedroom with the bassinet close by. Patrick had to smile at his family. His family. He still wasn't used to that, but then he'd only been the head of a family for a week. Watching his girls sleep, Patrick realized that he wouldn't change a thing.
--
"Why are we here?" Maxie asked, glancing out the window as Matt pulled in his parking space at the apartment.
"I thought you might like to see my new apartment."
"I saw it for the first time the other day when Patrick walked me through to take care of his moving."
"Well, you haven't seen it with me," he replied with a grin.
"What are you thinking?"
"That I'd like to spend some time alone with you, without the risk of our family interrupting."
"I think I like that," she returned. "What do you have in mind?"
"Just being with you," he answered, warmly. Taking her hand in his, he threaded their fingers together and moved their joined hands to his thigh.
"Wow, you are a charmer,"she said with a smile, then frowned. "I'm going to have to be careful with you."
"Why?" His confusion was evident.
"Because you could get past my defenses if I'm not careful."
"Good to know." He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll have to remember that."
"Just remember don't try getting past defenses unless you plan to be around to protect the vulnerable areas you create." Maxie's expression was a serious one.
"I'm not going anywhere, except into the apartment," he said, getting out of the car. Circling it, he opened Maxie's door and grabbed her other hand pulling her from the car. "How long do you think we have before your dad sends someone looking for us?"
"Maybe a couple of hours," Maxie giggled. Matt didn't realize how close that was to the truth.
They made their way into the building and entered the elevator, pressing the button for Matt's floor.
Turning to Maxie, he pulled her into his arms. "That's long enough to do a little dancing around my living room floor since the apartment is empty except for my bedroom."
"Your bedroom?" Maxie asked, walking through the door that Matt held for her. The first thing that she noticed was the moon shining through one of the many skylights onto the gleaming hardwood floor. It was so bright that Matt didn't have to turn on any lights in the apartment. She could already imagine furniture scattered around the room and a fire in the fireplace.
"Yeah, I just bought Patrick's furniture since he wasn't taking it to the house. So, you'll have to help me furnish the rest and maybe add some touches in there later," he said, as he watched Maxie circle the room. Slipping the iPodĀ® from his pocket into the JPL docking system he'd brought over to the apartment that morning, he started a jazzy number before moving into the moonlight giving off what he knew was an eerie effect.
"Are you sure you want my help?" Maxie asked him from an eerie light of her own.
"Yeah. I'm hoping you'll be spending a lot of time here and I want you to be comfortable. I want you to feel at home when you're here," he said. Without another word, he held out his hand and Maxie, without hesitation, walked slowly to him and placed her hand in his. Pulling her close, he pressed his lips to hers and started moving slowly in a circle around the room. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers and whispered against her lips, "I just want you to stay close by."
"I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be," she whispered back before initiating a kiss of her own.
--
RING! RING!
Mac could hear the phone ringing as he was struggling with his key. Stumbling through the door in his rush to get into the house, he quickly answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Mac? It's me, Felicia."
Time stopped for Mac momentarily. Why would Felicia call him after all this time? It had been almost a year since Georgie died and he hadn't heard from Felicia since then.
"Mac? Mac?"
"I'm sorry, I'm just surprised to hear from you," Mac explained. Moving to the sofa he took a seat waiting for Felicia to continue.
Just when he thought she wasn't going to, she said, "I was thinking about all of you and I tried calling Robin, but it appears her number has changed or something."
"She just moved into a house with her new husband and baby," Mac said, not understanding why Felicia would be calling Robin.
"She had the baby? That's wonderful. How are they?"
"They're fine. There were some problems with the birth, but both mother and daughter are doing fine. I didn't know you knew she was pregnant."
"I call Robin occasionally to see how everyone's doing. It didn't seem right to call you. I've caused you more than enough pain."
"That never stopped you before," he retorted, then felt guilty. "Look, I'm sorry. Everyone is fine and I don't have the number to Robin's house in front of me, and I'm sure you have her cell number. It's likely that she's had it off with everything that's been going on here."
Having given her all the information he had, Mac waited for her to end the call.
"Thank you Mac. I know I don't have the right to ask you for anything, but please tell Maxie that I love her."
Mac closed his eyes thinking about the fiasco that was Georgie's funeral and the time he'd spent with Felicia later. That he still felt pain when he thought of her, confused him. That he had loved her was an understatement, but that was over; had been for years. He shouldn't still care for her at all other than the fact that she'd given him two beautiful daughters. So, why did he?
"I will," he finally promised, hanging up the phone.
"I love you, too," she whispered to the dial tone.
