Chapter 45
Patrick stood at the altar with Noah and Mal. Although he was trying his best not to, he was shaking like a leaf. Noah noticed even though he was busy cradling his grandson. "You okay sport?"
Patrick looked at his dad. The sight of his father and son standing there together made him smile. "Just want to get this over with."
Noah laughed. "Ready for the honeymoon?"
Patrick shook his head. "It's not that, although I definitely am. No, I am just worried that something is going to happen to stop us from getting married." He reached over and patted his sleeping son's back. "Maybe we should have just done what Robin suggested and gone to city hall."
"Patrick, there is nothing wrong with wanting a real wedding with both your children and your family to witness it." Mal whined a little bit so Noah began gently rocking him. "Today isn't just a celebration of your remarriage, it is a testament to how much you and Robin love each other. Trust me, there is not a person here today who is not thrilled to see you two get remarried, especially me. You two have earned this, enjoy it. Now you tell me what is really going on."
Patrick sighed. "What if Nikolas or Helena do something today? I interrupted Nikolas and Robin's wedding and I could see them stopping ours in retaliation."
Noah understood what Patrick was saying and tried to comfort him. "Son, the same people who stopped that wedding are making sure this one happens. Security is tighter here than at a prison. Jason has spared no expense with the guards and the security system is top of the line." It didn't work - Patrick wouldn't relax until he and Robin were actually said I do.
The preacher came up to the altar and the music started up. Patrick took a deep breath and concentrated on the end of the aisle. He saw his beautiful daughter walk down the aisle, smiling broadly at her daddy. He smiled back at her but his heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. She took her place on the left side of the altar as Robin and Robert appeared at the end of the aisle.
She was beautiful, arm in arm with her father as they strolled down the aisle. She kept her eyes on him, tears of joy already forming in her eyes. Within moments she was with Patrick and their children standing in front of the preacher as her father sat down in the front row with Anna and Mac.
"Welcome everyone. Patrick and Robin have chosen you, those special and important to them, to witness and celebrate the reuniting of their life together. Today, as we create this marriage, we also create a new bond and new sense of family - one that will undoubtedly include all who are present here today. I ask who gives this woman to this man today."
Smiling, Robert stood up. "Her mother, her uncle and I do." He sat back down after giving his daughter a wink.
"Very well. The bride and groom have decided to skip the formalities and go straight to their vows." The crowd laughed as Patrick smiled at Robin. The couple had decided to make the ceremony as quick as possible; to them this was just a formality. They also didn't want to give anyone a chance to object.
Patrick took a deep breath and then took Robin's hands in his. "I am a jerk." Robin looked at him in shock. "There's a point, just let me get to it. I let my selfishness and hurt stop me from seeing what was actually going on with you and I gave up. I believed the lies I was being fed and not what I felt and knew in my heart. I forgot that walking out is acceptable, giving up isn't."
He began shaking with emotion as the tears came. "But then I got a miracle, a second chance. You came back to me. You came back to me and we were blessed to get not only another chance but a beautiful son. I promise you now, in front of everyone that we love, that nothing will come between us again. We will fight, it's in our nature, but we will always find the compromise. We will challenge each other to always be our best in and out of the hospital. Most importantly, we will love without doubt because we are soul mates and nothing and no one will ever separate us or make me question it again. I love you, beyond reason, always."
Robin's tears cascaded down her face. "Patrick, the only reason we are standing here today is because of your faith in our love and our family. You were my strength when I didn't have it, my faith when I lost it, my courage when I was too afraid to fight. You have given me more than I could ever repay."
"From the moment we met, you have made a point of showing me that I could have everything I never thought I could. You have given me a future when I was certain one wasn't possible. You have given two beautiful children." She paused to smile at Emma and Mal. "You have given me you and I could not want or ask for more. You are my soul mate and nothing and no one will ever separate us again. I love you, beyond reason, always."
There wasn't a dry eye in the garden after the two finished their vows. Even the preacher took a moment before continuing the ceremony.
"Do you Patrick take Robin to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, til death do you part?"
Patrick smiled at Robin. "I do."
"Do you Robin take Patrick to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health, til death do you part?"
Robin nodded happily. "I do."
"Do you have the rings?"
Noah and Mal handed Patrick Robin's wedding ring. He took Robin's left hand back in his and spoke. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Emma handed her mom Patrick's ring. She took his left hand in hers and spoke. "With this ring, I thee wed."
The preacher smiled at them but they remained fixed on each other. "By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Patrick, you may kiss your bride."
The words were barely out of his mouth and Patrick grabbed Robin and kissed her. Oblivious to the people around them cheering, they kept kissing until Noah finally got Patrick's attention. "Uh Patrick, you've got plenty of time for that later."
Patrick laughed, holding his wife in his arms. "You're right dad." He looked down at Robin. "We have all the time in the world."
Taking his son in his arms and with Emma walking between them, the Scorpio-Drakes walked down the aisle to start their lives together.
Nikolas sat at his desk and stared at the photographs in his hand of the wedding. His investigator had gotten some wonderful shots for him. Robin looked beautiful in her wedding dress and they all looked happy, especially Patrick.
He picked up a photo of Patrick and his father. "Enjoy it while it lasts Drake. Robin and I will be together again, soon."
Dr. Endicott knocked and came into the room. "Everything is ready Mr. Cassadine. The subject has been prepped and the procedure will begin shortly."
"Thank you – I will expect to kept up to date on all developments." He dismissed the man with a wave of his hand. He picked up a picture of Robin from the desk. "Soon, Robin, soon."
The End
I am continuing this storyline in a second story called Coming Back Around. The first chapter will be up tomorrow.
