Chapter 12

Robin moved to the cabinet and pulled the plates out. "Thank you for feeding Callie baby girl."

Rylee beamed at her grandma, proud that she was helping. "You're welcome grandma."

Robin and Michelle were giving Rylee little chores to do around the house so that she could learn responsibility. Feeding the cat, along with making her bed and putting up her clothes, were the ones she had to do every day and the little girl excelled at all of them.

Robin set the plates down on the counter and kissed her granddaughter on the top of her head. "So what are we watching tonight?"

Michelle had study group tonight so Robin and Rylee were having a girls night in with a movies and pizza. "The Rylee movie!"

Robin groaned. "Can't we watch something else Ry?" Inside Out had been good the first dozen times they had watched it but it was quickly getting old. "How about Lady and the Tramp?"

"No – I want to watch the Rylee movie." The little girl loved that the main character had her name. She sat at the kitchen table and pouted. "Please grandma?"

Robin shook her head, well aware that she would give in. Although she was big on making sure Rylee behaved and had good manners, she was still a grandma. "Fine but I pick the movie after that."

"We get two movies?" The little girl couldn't believe her luck.

"Well I don't have to work tomorrow – do you?" Robin tickled her granddaughter and the little girl giggled.

"No." The doorbell rang and Rylee ran to the front door. "Pizza!"

Robin ran after her. "Rylee wait for me before you…"

Rylee threw open the door and instantly jumped at the figure standing there. "Uncle Patrick!"

Patrick caught her easily with one arm while balancing the pizza in his other. "Hey kiddo." He carried her into the house. "Wouldn't want me to drop supper, would you?"

Robin walked over and took the box from his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"Michelle said that you two were going to have a movie night and I promised Rylee that I would watch Inside Out with her." He hugged the little girl. "Right?"

Rylee nodded. "Right." She gave her grandma her best pleading look. "Please grandma?"

"Yeah, please grandma?" Patrick pouted.

Robin put the pizza on the coffee table and threw up her hands. "Fine but I still get to pick the second movie."

"Deal." Patrick set Rylee down on the couch. "What can I do to help?"

"Put the movie on while I go get the plates and napkins. Do you want apple juice, milk or water to drink?" Robin was already headed towards the kitchen while asking the question.

Patrick headed to the dvd player. "Can we please have a little Sprite?"

Rylee joined in. "Yeah grandma, please?"

Robin shot Patrick a quick glare. "You are a horrible influence."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I try."

She sighed. "Fine – one glass of pop but that's it."

Patrick waited until she was out of the room before he winked at Rylee. "I told you I could get her to let you have pop."

"I heard that." Robin shouted from the kitchen. She walked back in moments later with the plates and three drinks balanced on them. She saw that Patrick was sitting on the couch with Rylee watching the previews. She set everything down on the coffee table and then joined them. "Let's eat."


An hour and half later, Patrick was cleaning up the dishes while Robin got Rylee into her pajamas and her teeth brushed. Tonight had been great so far – watching the movie and eating pizza had been more fun than any date at a fancy restaurant he had ever had. Rylee had stayed between the two of them but she had taken turns leaning on her grandma and Patrick.

He put the leftover pizza in the refrigerator and smiled at the front of it. It was covered in a mixture of pictures of their family and drawings Rylee had done. The little girl was amazing and Patrick had a lot of fun with her. The truth was that, except for Michelle, Patrick had never been much of a kid person. It wasn't surprising that Rylee had the same effect on him.

"Ready for the second movie?" Robin poked her head into the kitchen, interrupting his thoughts. She had changed into her yoga pants and old t-shirt and looked absolutely adorable.

"You bet." Patrick followed her back into the living room and joined her and Rylee on the couch. "What are we watching?"

They were halfway through the movie when Patrick noticed that Rylee had fallen asleep on Robin's lap. The way the little girl was lying was obviously very uncomfortable for Robin. "Robin, why don't you let me put her to bed?"

"Michelle wanted to tuck her in." Robin yawned.

"Okay." Patrick stood up and moved over to the opposite side of the couch. "Then let's at least get you both comfortable." He sat down and slid one leg behind Robin as he turned her around. Leaning back against the pillows, he pulled Robin down to his chest so that she was lying in between his legs while Rylee laid on her chest. He then wrapped his arms around her so that he was helping hold the little girl in place.

"Thank you." She adjusted herself a little more and soon she was comfortably situated on the couch. Rylee's arms slid down Robin's sides and the little girl let out a little snore.

"So where is the boyfriend tonight?" Patrick wanted to know about his competition.

"My friend Keith is working tonight." Robin and Keith had agreed to take it slow. Besides their two dinner dates they had also had lunch the other day but so far there had only been a few kisses on the cheek. Keith was well aware that Robin was just starting to date again and agreed to be patient. "But you will see him tomorrow night at the ball."

"I heard he was taking you." Elizabeth had been more than happy to let Patrick know about Robin's date for the Nurse's Ball. "Maybe you could sit with me and my date?"

Robin felt a little hurt at his comment but quickly shook it off – obviously he wasn't as crazy about her as he had claimed. "Maybe." She yawned again. "Shut up and watch the movie – this is the best part."

Patrick looked at the screen and saw Tramp pushing a meatball towards Lady. He wrapped his arms a little tighter around Robin and Rylee. "Yes it is."


Michelle unlocked the front door and walked into the house. "Mom? Patrick?" She had seen the doctor's car in the driveway as she was dropped off. The study session had gone great and she felt confident that the test next week would be a breeze.

She walked into the living room and smiled at the sight she was greeted with. Patrick, her mom and Rylee were all three asleep on the couch together, perfectly content. She tiptoed over and nudged Patrick. She waited until his eyes opened and smiled at him. "Having a good time?"

Patrick nodded. "The best – there's leftover pizza in the fridge."

"Maybe after I get this one to bed." She picked up her daughter and began to carry her to her bedroom. "Could you…"

Patrick had already picked Robin up off the couch and was following Michelle down the hall. "Which room is…"

Michelle tilted her head towards the door at the end of the hall. "Down there."

"Thanks." Patrick carried the still sleeping Robin down to her room. He used his foot to pull the blanket off and then gently laid her down on the bed. He then tucked the covers over her and kissed her on the forehead. "Good night Robin."

He walked out of her room, taking time to look at the various pictures she had on her dresser. There were pictures of her with Michelle, Roger, Rylee, Mac and her parents and various other relatives. He was just about to leave when he saw one more picture. It was of her and Patrick right after their first surgery together – Liz had taken it to celebrate the new GH 'dream team' and given them each a copy.

The surgery had been extremely difficult and the patient had almost died on the table but Robin's quick thinking and his quick hands had saved the day. The patient had stabilized, made it through the rest of the surgery with flying colors, and they had gone to Jake's that night to celebrate. They took turns buying drinks and Robin proceeded to beat him at darts while he kicked her butt in pool.

He loved this picture - they were still in their scrubs and stood with their arms behind each other's backs and had huge, tired smiles on their faces. It was the start of something special and he was certain that they both knew it.

He studied the frame and chuckled – his copy of the photo was in the same frame and he had put it on the dresser in his bedroom as well. "Great minds, huh Soltini?"

He took one last look at the sleeping doctor and left the room. He needed plenty of rest for the ball tomorrow night.