Chapter 53

Patrick impatiently bounced his legs up and down sitting in the airport lounge. He was on standby for the first flight back to Port Charles and was tired of waiting. He had called Robin twice to check on her resulting in a warning of a sex freeze if he called a third time. He absently flipped his phone opened and closed resulting in a few withering looks from other people in the lounge.

Standing up, he walked to a quiet room and closed the door behind him. Needing to do something to pass the time, he dialed Nathalie's number.

"Hello? … Gracie put that down! I said! Put.that.down." Patrick smiled as he listened, thinking it a preview of things to come. "Sorry about that. Hello?"

"Hey Nat, it's Patrick."

"Oh Patrick" she sighed. "Gracie has a new fascination with knives and though I have them out of her reach, I turned my back for 30 seconds and she was climbing on a chair to pull them off the top of the fridge."

"Sounds like you have your hands full."

"How much do you think I'd get for her on ebay? I have my eye on this great Louis Vuitton bag" Patrick laughed. "You think I'm kidding don't you? Just you wait mister."

"I can't wait. Nathalie, it's my baby."

"That's great that you're thinking like that Patrick – that's all that matters."

"No Nat, we had an ultrasound and Robin is further along that we originally thought. I'm actually the father."

There was a long pause and Patrick checked his phone to make sure they were still connected. "That's wonderful news Patrick. I am so pleased for you" she enthused.

"Nathalie, is everything okay?"

"It's fine. You must be over the moon."

"I am but not so far over that I can't tell something is wrong."

"Nothing's wrong" she said quickly. "So tell me, how do you feel?"

"God Nathalie, I never thought anything could feel like this. You know me, I'm not an effusive person but it's like I'm seeing new colours or something."

"Oh lordy, we've lost him. Patrick Drake is officially a romantic" she teased.

"Funny girl. I'm sure it's just a phase and it will pass but for now…did I mention I'm going to be a father?"

Nathalie laughed lightly. "You may have mentioned that. Patty, you're going to be a great dad. Robin is one very lucky woman."

"I'm the lucky one" he said quietly.

"Have you guys talked marriage or anything?"

"Not yet. I ..uh…I'm still coping with the fatherhood thing. And truthfully, I think things kind of work the way they are. I mean we need to move in together but other than that – it's working."

"How is Robin feeling… Gracie honest to god, if you do not sit still and do as you're told, I'm selling you to gypsies!" Patrick flinched as he picked up on the edge to Nathalie's voice.

"Nat?"

"Yeah, sorry. How is Robin feeling?"

"She's doing all right. Still quite a bit of morning sickness but…"

"That's it Gracie! I've had it. Get upstairs to your room RIGHT NOW! You are in a time out!"

There was a long pause and Patrick could hear Grace whine and cry as she stomped out of the room.

"Nathalie, seriously, are thing okay?"

She let out a huge sigh. "It's entirely possible I'm not coping all that well at the moment."

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"Can't sleep, can't eat. The kids are making me mental. I went back to work and they sent me home after I sent a copy of our strategy to opposing counsel."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah well, apparently there are like 29 stages to grief and I'm stuck at 1 or is it 2?" she tried to joke.

"What can I do?"

"Can you bring Andrew back?" she asked bitterly.

"No"

"Then there's nothing you can do."

He felt her pain acutely. The euphoria of discovering that he was a father had pushed the ever-present pain of Andrew's death to the side but it was never far from reach and still had the capacity to stop his heart.

"Come for a visit" he offered.

"What? No. I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because – I don't know – the kids and who wants the bitter widow around?"

"I do. Look Nathalie, you've been so good to me and Andrew was my best friend in the whole world – if I can't be a safe place for you guys to come to then I've failed him." Nathalie said nothing but Patrick heard her sniffle and could tell that she was crying. "Nat – why didn't you call me and tell me it was so bad?"

"I don't know" she said quietly "the funeral is over and everyone has moved on so the moment is over."

Patrick exhaled. "I haven't" he said.

"Haven't what?"

"I haven't moved on. I miss him so much Nat and I still can't believe that he's gone. Come for a visit. I'm moving into a new place early next week, there's tons of room for you and the kids. You can hang out with Robin too – you'll love her."

"I'll be raining on your happy parade"

"No you won't. Besides don't you think I need as much practicing of my parenting skills as I can get? Your children are good victims" he teased.

Nathalie laughed in spite of herself. "You know P there's a large part of that is terrified you're about to be a parent. I feel like you should be wearing a safety vest or something."

"Excellent then you can come and spend time and lecture me on all the things I need to know to be a parent."

"Fine – we'll come up at the end of next week."

"Good. Nat – you have to promise you'll call if you're feeling low."

"Did it hurt?"

"What?"

"All this personal growth you've been going through?"

"Shark"

"Quack"

"I love you Nat, take care and kiss the kids for me."

"I will….and Patty?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really happy for you. Drew would be out of his mind with joy if he were here"

"Thanks" he said thickly. "I'll see you next week."

xoxoxoxo

"You didn't seriously tell him you would withhold sex did you?" Brenda asked.

"Of course I did. Two times Brenda – he called twice in the space of an hour"

"He's worried about you – it's cute"

"It's not cute, it's annoying. I'm not made of glass you know."

"God you're impossible. First you're mad at him because he wasn't calling and now you're mad at him because he does call – is therapy really out of the question?"

"You're hysterical" Robin said dryly. "I'm pregnant, you know."

"So what was your excuse before?"

"Why do I keep you around?"

"Because I make you look normal and well adjusted" Brenda retorted.

"Ah yes, I knew there was something."

"So dish – how do you really feel about him being the father?"

"I can't explain it Bren – it's like everything is working out how it's supposed to. I mean I know we're still kind of new in a relationship but this just feels right."

"Are you worried about the HIV exposure?"

"I'm terrified" she said quietly. "I have no idea what I'll do if he tests positive – it would be devastating. To know that I brought this monstrous disease to him…." Her voice trailed off.

"But you say he's not worried?"

"No – he's being ridiculously well adjusted and calm about it all."

"Then follow his lead Robs. You need to take care of my godchild and yourself. Concentrate on that."

Robin smiled into the receiver. "Godchild? Feeling rather confident are you?"

"Oh please. Like you have better options"

"I could – Port Charles has changed a lot since you lived here."

"Is Sonny still running his coffee business?"

"Yes"

"Is Carly still crazy?"

"Yes"

"Then really it hasn't changed all that much. So how hot is your boyfriend when he's all macho and cave man like?"

"Pretty hot" Robin admitted "I would never tell him but god- Brenda – you should see what it does to me"

"Eww – this could be a moment of oversharing."
"Oversharing? This comes for you?"

"Point taken"

"I'm going to be okay, right?"

"Okay? What do you mean?" Brenda asked in confusion.

"Being a mom. Do you think I'll be any good at it?" she asked quietly.

"Don't you?"

"I don't know – I'm so overwhelmed. It just seems so ….it's a child Brenda – I'm going to be responsible for another human being" she said worriedly.

"Then you'll be perfect"

Robin giggled. "I think you're biased."

"I'm not. Hear me out. For as long as I've known you Robin you've been taking care of other people. Maxie, Georgie, Sonny, Stone, Jason, me. You have been responsible for us in so many ways – this baby thing is going to be old hat." Robin was quiet on the other end of the phone. "Robin, are you crying?"

"Maybe"

"Are those hormones going to even out any time soon or do I need to send you waterproof mascara?"

"I'm hoping soon" she snickered "because most days I'm a mess. When do I become the glowing earth mother?"

"I gotta run mamacita – I'll talk to you soon."

"Love you Brenda"

"You too sis."

xoxoxoxo

Robin settled into the couch and was reviewing some work she brought home when she heard Patrick's key in the door. She jumped from the couch and launched herself at him before he was even through the door.

"You're home!" she said kissing his lips.

"A guy could get used to greetings like this" he said, dropping his bag and pulling her closer to him. He seized her lips and gently coaxed them apart, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She greedily accepted it and began to suck on it. Patrick quickly wondered if he would ever get tired of kissing her like this.

"How did it go?" she asked when they finally parted.

"I think we came to an understanding"

"Did you punch him?" she asked, examining his hands.

"Not a single punch was thrown" he said, kissing her forehead.

"I ordered a pizza – it should be here any minute." Patrick leaned to kiss her again when they heard the knock at the door. "Perfect timing" she said, opening the door.

"Dr. Robin Scorpio?"

"Yes?"

"This is for you" the man said, passing her an envelope.

Robin looked at it quizzically. "Not pizza?" Patrick asked as she opened the envelope. He noticed Robin's face pale as she read the contents of the letter. "Robin, what is it?"

"It's from Bruce – he's trying to force me to take a paternity test." She looked up at him. "I don't think you guys came to much of an understanding at all."