"Lucy, I'm still not entirely sure this is the best way to go about this." Mary glanced at Lucy before looking back at the road.
"It has to be now. At their checkup today, the blood was drawn for the DNA test. Even though Kevin is going to have the same test, Ryan's attorney will push for the RFLP test. I have to try to stop him, Mary."
"But to just go there without telling Kevin. And to take them with you." Mary had reluctantly agreed to take Lucy to Ferncliff following the twin's first checkup.
"Kevin would have tried to stop me, and you know it. I have to do this." With a determined sigh, Lucy turned and stared out the window.
Grateful for the fact that the twins were apparently going to be car sleepers, Mary glanced in the rear view mirror at them. "I understand you needing to face him, Lucy. I really do. But is taking them really the right thing to do? What are you planning?"
"I'll know when I get there." She shrugged. "I know Kevin has a few patients he has to see this afternoon. By the time he figures out I didn't go straight home, I'll have my answers."
"And you'll be ready to face him?"
"Yes." She looked at Mary. "Kevin wants to make this his fight. But it isn't. I got myself AND my girls into this. I need to get us out of is."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"Me, too." Lucy whispered and turned to stare out the window.
Ryan sat in the chair and stared at the door. When they'd brought him to the visitor room, they hadn't told him who was coming to see him. Finally the door opened, and Ryan was shocked to see Lucy standing in the doorway.
"Lucy...." He tried to stand, but the chains on his wrists prevented him.
Lucy turned to the guard. "Take those off."
"I can't."
"Then get someone who can." Her voice was strong and she glared at him.
"The only one who can order that is his doctor."
"Then get him!" Lucy turned to Ryan. "I don't have a reason to be afraid of you, do I?"
Ryan's eyes met hers. "No."
The guard didn't look sure. "Ma'am, you might not know what you're dealing with-"
"I know exactly WHO I'm dealing with, and I want those chains OFF OF HIM!" Moving closer, Lucy stared at the guard. "Now go get someone who has the brains and the authority to unlock him!"
After the guard left, Ryan began to laugh. "Wow, that was a side of you I hadn't seen yet."
Shrugging, Lucy sat down across from him. "I have my reasons."
"Oh, I'm sure you do, Lucy. Does my dear brother know you're here?"
"No." Lucy decided being honest with Ryan was the best way to handle him. "And I'm sure you know what his reaction is going to be when he finds out."
"Can we all say 'not a happy camper'?" Ryan smiled at her.
"I can say he's going to be furious. But I had to come."
"Why?" Now she had Ryan's interest.
The door opened again, and several orderlies entered with the guard.
"Okay, Chamberlain. We're going to do as the lady requested. But you make a sudden move, and you know what's going to happen."
Lucy rolled her eyes in disgust and sighed.
"I can be a good boy, can't I, Lucy?" Ryan smiled at her.
"I guess we're going to find out." She met his eyes evenly and didn't smile.
Once Ryan's wrists were free, Lucy stood and watched him for a moment. Making a decision, she went to the door and knocked on it.
Ryan watched her intently until the door opened again. Then he stood so quickly the orderlies advanced on him. For a moment he was speechless.
An orderly entered with a single stroller holding both babies.
Slowly, aware of the angry eyes on him, Ryan moved around the table and got close to them.
Kneeling down beside them, Lucy looked up at Ryan.
When Ryan got about two feet from the stroller, the guard moved to his side. "That's close enough."
Ryan turned to the guard, but Lucy interrupted him. "This is MY decision. NOT yours." Her words were directed to the guard and she pulled the stroller closer to Ryan.
Kneeling down, Ryan looked at them. Despite his best efforts, he began to cry at the sight of them.
"I'm having a problem with this." The guard spoke again.
"And I'm having a problem with YOU." Lucy glared at him. "Ryan won't hurt them."
Gently, Ryan reached out and took one of their hands with his own.
"Victoria Lynn." Lucy's voice was soft.
For a brief moment, Ryan glared at Lucy. "I'll call her Lynn."
"I can understand that."
"And this must be Marissa Dominique." He moved his hand to the other baby. After a moment, Ryan looked at Lucy. "I had the pleasure of meeting Dominique a few brief times. She'd be proud."
"I hope so." Lucy's voice was soft. After a moment, Lucy moved closer. "What happened to your wrist?"
"Like you care?" He started to get snide with her, but when his eyes met hers, he shrugged. "Temper. I'm sure you know what that's like with Kevin."
"I'm not here to discuss Kevin with you. If that's what you want, I'm leaving right now."
"No. I won't. Promise." He almost begged her to stay.
Victoria started to fuss a bit, and Ryan waved her rattle in front of her. Moving to them, Lucy lifted Victoria out of the stroller and cuddled her for a moment.
"Do you want to hold her?"
Standing next to her, Ryan watched Lucy put the baby in his good arm.
The guard moved closer. "I can't-"
"This is NOT your concern." Lucy glared at him again. "So just back off."
Shaking his head, he watched Ryan hold the baby gently.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Lucy, I'm still not entirely sure this is the best way to go about this." Mary glanced at Lucy before looking back at the road.
"It has to be now. At their checkup today, the blood was drawn for the DNA test. Even though Kevin is going to have the same test, Ryan's attorney will push for the RFLP test. I have to try to stop him, Mary."
"But to just go there without telling Kevin. And to take them with you." Mary had reluctantly agreed to take Lucy to Ferncliff following the twin's first checkup.
"Kevin would have tried to stop me, and you know it. I have to do this." With a determined sigh, Lucy turned and stared out the window.
Grateful for the fact that the twins were apparently going to be car sleepers, Mary glanced in the rear view mirror at them. "I understand you needing to face him, Lucy. I really do. But is taking them really the right thing to do? What are you planning?"
"I'll know when I get there." She shrugged. "I know Kevin has a few patients he has to see this afternoon. By the time he figures out I didn't go straight home, I'll have my answers."
"And you'll be ready to face him?"
"Yes." She looked at Mary. "Kevin wants to make this his fight. But it isn't. I got myself AND my girls into this. I need to get us out of is."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"Me, too." Lucy whispered and turned to stare out the window.
Ryan sat in the chair and stared at the door. When they'd brought him to the visitor room, they hadn't told him who was coming to see him. Finally the door opened, and Ryan was shocked to see Lucy standing in the doorway.
"Lucy...." He tried to stand, but the chains on his wrists prevented him.
Lucy turned to the guard. "Take those off."
"I can't."
"Then get someone who can." Her voice was strong and she glared at him.
"The only one who can order that is his doctor."
"Then get him!" Lucy turned to Ryan. "I don't have a reason to be afraid of you, do I?"
Ryan's eyes met hers. "No."
The guard didn't look sure. "Ma'am, you might not know what you're dealing with-"
"I know exactly WHO I'm dealing with, and I want those chains OFF OF HIM!" Moving closer, Lucy stared at the guard. "Now go get someone who has the brains and the authority to unlock him!"
After the guard left, Ryan began to laugh. "Wow, that was a side of you I hadn't seen yet."
Shrugging, Lucy sat down across from him. "I have my reasons."
"Oh, I'm sure you do, Lucy. Does my dear brother know you're here?"
"No." Lucy decided being honest with Ryan was the best way to handle him. "And I'm sure you know what his reaction is going to be when he finds out."
"Can we all say 'not a happy camper'?" Ryan smiled at her.
"I can say he's going to be furious. But I had to come."
"Why?" Now she had Ryan's interest.
The door opened again, and several orderlies entered with the guard.
"Okay, Chamberlain. We're going to do as the lady requested. But you make a sudden move, and you know what's going to happen."
Lucy rolled her eyes in disgust and sighed.
"I can be a good boy, can't I, Lucy?" Ryan smiled at her.
"I guess we're going to find out." She met his eyes evenly and didn't smile.
Once Ryan's wrists were free, Lucy stood and watched him for a moment. Making a decision, she went to the door and knocked on it.
Ryan watched her intently until the door opened again. Then he stood so quickly the orderlies advanced on him. For a moment he was speechless.
An orderly entered with a single stroller holding both babies.
Slowly, aware of the angry eyes on him, Ryan moved around the table and got close to them.
Kneeling down beside them, Lucy looked up at Ryan.
When Ryan got about two feet from the stroller, the guard moved to his side. "That's close enough."
Ryan turned to the guard, but Lucy interrupted him. "This is MY decision. NOT yours." Her words were directed to the guard and she pulled the stroller closer to Ryan.
Kneeling down, Ryan looked at them. Despite his best efforts, he began to cry at the sight of them.
"I'm having a problem with this." The guard spoke again.
"And I'm having a problem with YOU." Lucy glared at him. "Ryan won't hurt them."
Gently, Ryan reached out and took one of their hands with his own.
"Victoria Lynn." Lucy's voice was soft.
For a brief moment, Ryan glared at Lucy. "I'll call her Lynn."
"I can understand that."
"And this must be Marissa Dominique." He moved his hand to the other baby. After a moment, Ryan looked at Lucy. "I had the pleasure of meeting Dominique a few brief times. She'd be proud."
"I hope so." Lucy's voice was soft. After a moment, Lucy moved closer. "What happened to your wrist?"
"Like you care?" He started to get snide with her, but when his eyes met hers, he shrugged. "Temper. I'm sure you know what that's like with Kevin."
"I'm not here to discuss Kevin with you. If that's what you want, I'm leaving right now."
"No. I won't. Promise." He almost begged her to stay.
Victoria started to fuss a bit, and Ryan waved her rattle in front of her. Moving to them, Lucy lifted Victoria out of the stroller and cuddled her for a moment.
"Do you want to hold her?"
Standing next to her, Ryan watched Lucy put the baby in his good arm.
The guard moved closer. "I can't-"
"This is NOT your concern." Lucy glared at him again. "So just back off."
Shaking his head, he watched Ryan hold the baby gently.
"Monk, calm down."
"I just wish I knew where she was." Standing at the French doors, Kevin shook his head.
"Did she actually SAY she was coming straight home?"
"She said she was....." Kevin turned to Victor. "She didn't say what she was doing." It hit Kevin and he got angry. "She made it a point to NOT say what she was doing after she left the hospital. All she said was that she'd see me at home." Victor knew what that meant, but he also knew that Kevin knew, so he said nothing. It would only make Kevin worse.
"She has something planned, Victor. I'm not sure what, but-"The phone ringing interrupted him and he ran to it. "Hello?"
Victor couldn't hear the other end, but Kevin identified himself, and after a few seconds, became even angrier. Thanking the person on the other end, he hung up the phone. More like slammed it on the table.
"What is she thinking?"
"What?" Victor was almost afraid to ask.
"That was Ryan's doctor at Ferncliff. He's agreed to keep me informed as Ryan's next of kin. Guess what? Ryan has a visitor."
Closing his eyes, Victor sighed. He didn't have to guess.
"Well, he has THREE visitors! How could she do that, Victor? What did Lucy think she would accomplish taking them to SEE him?!" Kevin grabbed his keys and moved towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go GET her."
Not giving Kevin the chance to tell him no, Victor followed him out the door and got in the car with him.
Lucy watched Ryan hold Marissa and put Victoria back in her stroller.
"There's something else on your mind, Lucy." His tone was soft as he gently bounced Marissa in his arm.
"I never said there wasn't."
"Let me guess, you brought them here to soften me up to...what? Give up MY children?" He laughed. "Not happening, Luce."
Lucy cringed inside, but didn't let him see how much it affected her to hear him call them his children. "I do want to talk to you. Alone." Moving to him, she reached for Marissa.
For a moment, Ryan held the child back from her. "So am I supposed to say goodbye?" His tone challenged her.
"No. I'll bring them back." Ignoring his tone, she took the baby out of his arms and put her in the stroller. Then she turned to the guard. "Take them back out and leave us alone."
"I can't leave you alone with him."
Lucy sighed. "Yes, you can."
"No, I can't. I've given in to everything else you've asked. You want him loose, you get protected." The guard was adamant. "Everyone else can leave, but I'm staying."
"Fine. Just stay and be quiet." Giving in, Lucy watched the orderlies take the stroller and leave the room.
Ryan sat down and watched her carefully. As she moved to the other side of the table, he began to laugh.
"What's funny?"
"You. I thought you had some grand plan in the works, and I just realized that you're winging it."
Caught off guard at his words, Lucy laughed. Sitting down, she shrugged. "You're right. I'm winging it."
"Let's start with the obvious question. Why are you here?"
Her eyes met his for a moment, and they didn't falter when she answered him. "I don't know. I just felt like I had to see you. And don't ask why I brought them, I have no idea."
"I'm glad you did." He smiled at her.
"Me, too. Answered a lot of questions for me."
Now Ryan was intrigued. "Like what?"
"You love them. I can tell by watching you."
"And you....what, didn't think I was capable of loving anyone? A monster like me couldn't possibly love anyone, right? I mean-"
"Shut up." Her words were direct and Ryan stopped. "You can't read my mind, so stop putting words in my mouth. I was there when you delivered them, remember?" The word 'remember' dripped with sarcasm, then she continued quietly. "I saw the look on your face when you saved their lives. You have said that you want to be a good parent for them. I guess I'm wondering what that means to you."
He didn't answer her, and she pressed him. "Come on, Ryan. What does being a good father mean to you?"
"Being there." He finally answered. "Not judging them because of things they can't control. Could you hate them because I'm their father?"
"I love them no matter who their father is." Lucy was careful to not agree with him. "Babies are simple. You love them, they love you. Easy and unconditional." When she said the word 'unconditional' Ryan's eyes narrowed and Lucy knew she's hit on something. "All they understand is that you love them."
"Unconditionally." Ryan agreed with her. Leaning closer, he looked at her. "Why did you use that word, Lucy?"
His stare made her uncomfortable, like he suddenly knew more about her then she wanted him to, but she didn't falter. "Because it's what everyone wants. Unconditional love."
He knew he had her and he smiled. "And you want to give them what you never had."
"Don't you?" She glared at him.
Now his smile faltered and he shrugged. "Okay, I guess we can agree that I was never exactly the favored child. Guess you weren't, either." When she didn't answer him, he leaned closer again. "Come on, Luce. After everything we've shared, you can tell me."
"Not much to share." She shrugged, trying to hide how uncomfortable the conversation was suddenly making her. "You're right. I wasn't the favorite. I was more like the least favorite. At least that's how I felt. I wasn't even hers. She raised me, but I could never forget I wasn't hers."
Her direct honesty threw him for a moment. "You never fit in." His voice was quiet and he reached for her hand.
"Ryan, we've both spent a lot of our lives surviving despite who our parents were." Tears came to her eyes. "I don't want them to live the same way. Can you understand that? I'm not afraid you'll hurt them. I'm afraid of other people hurting them because of you."
"And you think if Kevin's their father it won't happen?" Ryan's voice rose and he pulled his hand away from hers. "Come on, Lucy. The entire Collin's family is like a psychiatric circus sideshow. You're right. People will have expectations of them because of it, no matter which of us gets the Father's Day card. And if unconditional love is what you want for them, it isn't going to come from Kevin." Standing, he leaned across the table until his face was only a few inches from hers. "You, of all people, should know that one."
"He loves them."
"But there's always conditions, aren't there." Sitting down, he shrugged. "What happened to you when you didn't live up to them?" Ryan knew that he'd hit a sore spot even before he saw the pain flash across her face. "You think it's going to be different with them? The first time they let him or Victor down, you'll find out just how conditional their love is, Lucy."
He was really getting to her, and Lucy knew she had to put a stop to it. Standing, she paced around the side of the table. "This isn't about anything but them, Ryan. I don't know much about your childhood, but I know it wasn't great. Worse then mine, I do know that. But I know how it feels when other children have something to hold over your head." Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him. "I was the only kid in my school that didn't have parents. Every other kid teased me because I was poor and my own parents didn't even want me. Do you have any idea what other children are going to say to those girls if you're their father?" This time he didn't answer her, and she leaned closer to him. "Come on, Ryan. This is a no brainer. Children can be cruel." Her voice rose and she became angry at the thought that he might want this for them. "You don't think other kids are going to pounce on the fact that their father is a serial killer? You don't think the other parents won't be afraid for their children to be around them? You really want our children to grow up that way?!"
Ryan was so shocked at her outburst that it took him a moment to realize that Lucy had actually called him their father. "NO! I don't want that for them." He stopped and stared at her, fighting his own tears. "But they're mine, Lucy. What do you want me to do?"
Realizing what she'd said, Lucy sighed. "You want to be their father? You want to be a better father then either of us had? Don't make them survive who you are. It's that simple, Ryan."
"It's NOT that simple, Lucy. I was a resident of Port Charles, an upstanding one until right before Baldwin took your baby and split town. You know how much that hurts. Now you want to do the same to me?" No longer fighting his own tears, he stared at her.
His words took her by surprise and she sat down. "This isn't how I wanted this to go." Her words were so quiet he had to strain to hear her.
"What?"
"THIS! I came here to beg you to let them go." Crying, she shook her head. "But I can't. You love them, and I do know how it feels to have your heart ripped out." She smiled through her tears. "Gotta tell you, Ryan, I liked it better when I didn't think you had a heart."
"Well, I liked it better when I thought you were an airhead with a great body." He laughed softly. "So where does that leave us now?"
"I don't know. I want what's best for them."
"And you still believe that's Kevin, right?" Ryan's eyes met hers, and she could see how much it hurt him.
"With all my heart, Ryan. He's with them, and he loves them." She shrugged.
"He's not exactly stable, Luce."
"Like either of us are?" She smiled at him again. "I'm can't cut you out, Ryan. I wanted to, I'd still like to, but I can't."
"At least you're honest with me. I appreciate that."
Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him.
"I didn't mean it that way. I swear I didn't. I mean that you're not sitting there telling me what you think I want to hear to get me to do what you want me to do. That's what everyone else around here does."
"I won't play games when it comes to them." She shrugged. "I guess I-"
The door opened and Mary appeared. "Lucy, we need to go."
Meeting Mary's eyes, Lucy knew something was wrong. She stood and looked at Ryan. "This isn't over, Ryan."
"It never will be, Lucy."
As she left the room, Lucy followed Mary to the waiting room. When she reached the door, she stopped. Kevin was standing next to the stroller glaring at her.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Monk, calm down."
"I just wish I knew where she was." Standing at the French doors, Kevin shook his head.
"Did she actually SAY she was coming straight home?"
"She said she was....." Kevin turned to Victor. "She didn't say what she was doing." It hit Kevin and he got angry. "She made it a point to NOT say what she was doing after she left the hospital. All she said was that she'd see me at home." Victor knew what that meant, but he also knew that Kevin knew, so he said nothing. It would only make Kevin worse.
"She has something planned, Victor. I'm not sure what, but-"The phone ringing interrupted him and he ran to it. "Hello?"
Victor couldn't hear the other end, but Kevin identified himself, and after a few seconds, became even angrier. Thanking the person on the other end, he hung up the phone. More like slammed it on the table.
"What is she thinking?"
"What?" Victor was almost afraid to ask.
"That was Ryan's doctor at Ferncliff. He's agreed to keep me informed as Ryan's next of kin. Guess what? Ryan has a visitor."
Closing his eyes, Victor sighed. He didn't have to guess.
"Well, he has THREE visitors! How could she do that, Victor? What did Lucy think she would accomplish taking them to SEE him?!" Kevin grabbed his keys and moved towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go GET her."
Not giving Kevin the chance to tell him no, Victor followed him out the door and got in the car with him.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Lucy watched Ryan hold Marissa and put Victoria back in her stroller.
"There's something else on your mind, Lucy." His tone was soft as he gently bounced Marissa in his arm.
"I never said there wasn't."
"Let me guess, you brought them here to soften me up to...what? Give up MY children?" He laughed. "Not happening, Luce."
Lucy cringed inside, but didn't let him see how much it affected her to hear him call them his children. "I do want to talk to you. Alone." Moving to him, she reached for Marissa.
For a moment, Ryan held the child back from her. "So am I supposed to say goodbye?" His tone challenged her.
"No. I'll bring them back." Ignoring his tone, she took the baby out of his arms and put her in the stroller. Then she turned to the guard. "Take them back out and leave us alone."
"I can't leave you alone with him."
Lucy sighed. "Yes, you can."
"No, I can't. I've given in to everything else you've asked. You want him loose, you get protected." The guard was adamant. "Everyone else can leave, but I'm staying."
"Fine. Just stay and be quiet." Giving in, Lucy watched the orderlies take the stroller and leave the room.
Ryan sat down and watched her carefully. As she moved to the other side of the table, he began to laugh.
"What's funny?"
"You. I thought you had some grand plan in the works, and I just realized that you're winging it."
Caught off guard at his words, Lucy laughed. Sitting down, she shrugged. "You're right. I'm winging it."
"Let's start with the obvious question. Why are you here?"
Her eyes met his for a moment, and they didn't falter when she answered him. "I don't know. I just felt like I had to see you. And don't ask why I brought them, I have no idea."
"I'm glad you did." He smiled at her.
"Me, too. Answered a lot of questions for me."
Now Ryan was intrigued. "Like what?"
"You love them. I can tell by watching you."
"And you....what, didn't think I was capable of loving anyone? A monster like me couldn't possibly love anyone, right? I mean-"
"Shut up." Her words were direct and Ryan stopped. "You can't read my mind, so stop putting words in my mouth. I was there when you delivered them, remember?" The word 'remember' dripped with sarcasm, then she continued quietly. "I saw the look on your face when you saved their lives. You have said that you want to be a good parent for them. I guess I'm wondering what that means to you."
He didn't answer her, and she pressed him. "Come on, Ryan. What does being a good father mean to you?"
"Being there." He finally answered. "Not judging them because of things they can't control. Could you hate them because I'm their father?"
"I love them no matter who their father is." Lucy was careful to not agree with him. "Babies are simple. You love them, they love you. Easy and unconditional." When she said the word 'unconditional' Ryan's eyes narrowed and Lucy knew she's hit on something. "All they understand is that you love them."
"Unconditionally." Ryan agreed with her. Leaning closer, he looked at her. "Why did you use that word, Lucy?"
His stare made her uncomfortable, like he suddenly knew more about her then she wanted him to, but she didn't falter. "Because it's what everyone wants. Unconditional love."
He knew he had her and he smiled. "And you want to give them what you never had."
"Don't you?" She glared at him.
Now his smile faltered and he shrugged. "Okay, I guess we can agree that I was never exactly the favored child. Guess you weren't, either." When she didn't answer him, he leaned closer again. "Come on, Luce. After everything we've shared, you can tell me."
"Not much to share." She shrugged, trying to hide how uncomfortable the conversation was suddenly making her. "You're right. I wasn't the favorite. I was more like the least favorite. At least that's how I felt. I wasn't even hers. She raised me, but I could never forget I wasn't hers."
Her direct honesty threw him for a moment. "You never fit in." His voice was quiet and he reached for her hand.
"Ryan, we've both spent a lot of our lives surviving despite who our parents were." Tears came to her eyes. "I don't want them to live the same way. Can you understand that? I'm not afraid you'll hurt them. I'm afraid of other people hurting them because of you."
"And you think if Kevin's their father it won't happen?" Ryan's voice rose and he pulled his hand away from hers. "Come on, Lucy. The entire Collin's family is like a psychiatric circus sideshow. You're right. People will have expectations of them because of it, no matter which of us gets the Father's Day card. And if unconditional love is what you want for them, it isn't going to come from Kevin." Standing, he leaned across the table until his face was only a few inches from hers. "You, of all people, should know that one."
"He loves them."
"But there's always conditions, aren't there." Sitting down, he shrugged. "What happened to you when you didn't live up to them?" Ryan knew that he'd hit a sore spot even before he saw the pain flash across her face. "You think it's going to be different with them? The first time they let him or Victor down, you'll find out just how conditional their love is, Lucy."
He was really getting to her, and Lucy knew she had to put a stop to it. Standing, she paced around the side of the table. "This isn't about anything but them, Ryan. I don't know much about your childhood, but I know it wasn't great. Worse then mine, I do know that. But I know how it feels when other children have something to hold over your head." Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him. "I was the only kid in my school that didn't have parents. Every other kid teased me because I was poor and my own parents didn't even want me. Do you have any idea what other children are going to say to those girls if you're their father?" This time he didn't answer her, and she leaned closer to him. "Come on, Ryan. This is a no brainer. Children can be cruel." Her voice rose and she became angry at the thought that he might want this for them. "You don't think other kids are going to pounce on the fact that their father is a serial killer? You don't think the other parents won't be afraid for their children to be around them? You really want our children to grow up that way?!"
Ryan was so shocked at her outburst that it took him a moment to realize that Lucy had actually called him their father. "NO! I don't want that for them." He stopped and stared at her, fighting his own tears. "But they're mine, Lucy. What do you want me to do?"
Realizing what she'd said, Lucy sighed. "You want to be their father? You want to be a better father then either of us had? Don't make them survive who you are. It's that simple, Ryan."
"It's NOT that simple, Lucy. I was a resident of Port Charles, an upstanding one until right before Baldwin took your baby and split town. You know how much that hurts. Now you want to do the same to me?" No longer fighting his own tears, he stared at her.
His words took her by surprise and she sat down. "This isn't how I wanted this to go." Her words were so quiet he had to strain to hear her.
"What?"
"THIS! I came here to beg you to let them go." Crying, she shook her head. "But I can't. You love them, and I do know how it feels to have your heart ripped out." She smiled through her tears. "Gotta tell you, Ryan, I liked it better when I didn't think you had a heart."
"Well, I liked it better when I thought you were an airhead with a great body." He laughed softly. "So where does that leave us now?"
"I don't know. I want what's best for them."
"And you still believe that's Kevin, right?" Ryan's eyes met hers, and she could see how much it hurt him.
"With all my heart, Ryan. He's with them, and he loves them." She shrugged.
"He's not exactly stable, Luce."
"Like either of us are?" She smiled at him again. "I'm can't cut you out, Ryan. I wanted to, I'd still like to, but I can't."
"At least you're honest with me. I appreciate that."
Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him.
"I didn't mean it that way. I swear I didn't. I mean that you're not sitting there telling me what you think I want to hear to get me to do what you want me to do. That's what everyone else around here does."
"I won't play games when it comes to them." She shrugged. "I guess I-"
The door opened and Mary appeared. "Lucy, we need to go."
Meeting Mary's eyes, Lucy knew something was wrong. She stood and looked at Ryan. "This isn't over, Ryan."
"It never will be, Lucy."
As she left the room, Lucy followed Mary to the waiting room. When she reached the door, she stopped. Kevin was standing next to the stroller glaring at her.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Staring at the wall, Ryan sighed. Everything Lucy had said was still sinking in to him. He was their father, and now he was sure Kevin wasn't even a consideration for that. He smiled when he realized that Kevin hadn't touched her. At least not then. Not sure why that made him so happy, he allowed his thought to drift to the girls.
"It's time to go back." The guard gestured to Ryan's arms, and he stood with them behind his back. The guard put the cuffs above the cast and led Ryan out of the visitor's room.
Before they got out the door, Ryan turned and glared at him. "Don't ever make the mistake of thinking I would hurt my daughters again."
"Yours." The guard shook his head. "Their mother's not exactly a great role model if she got knocked up by you."
"That's enough!" Shoving him with his shoulder, Ryan advanced on the guard. "What happened between me and Lucy is NONE, and I'll repeat that, NONE of your business. Lucy is none of your business, and those babies are off limits to you. Do we have an understanding?"
"Keep it up, Chamberlain, and it will be a long time before you see her or those babies again. Do WE have an understanding?"
"You think I'm bad?" Ryan laughed. "Cross their mother. I'm a pussycat compared to her." The guard didn't pretend to even think about that, so Ryan shrugged. "I just kill them. Quick and over. That woman has left a long line of people that WISHED they were dead when she was finished with them. Which do you think is worse?"
The guard's eyes finally met Ryan's and he began to wonder just what it was about Lucy that had Ryan so interested.
Taking a deep breath, Lucy squared her shoulders and met Kevin's stare. "Doc."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Exactly what I told you I was going to do."
You NEVER mentioned bringing them."
"I know. That was more of a....a feeling I had."
"You mean an urge to act first and worry about the consequences later."
His tone infuriated Lucy and she took a deep breath to keep from screaming at him.
Victor took the moment of silence to approach Mary.
"I had my reasons, Victor."
He nodded. "I know you did. Did you get any of the answers you wanted?"
Glancing at Lucy, who was still trying to calm down, Mary looked at Victor. "I don't know."
"You never get the answers from Ryan. Why Lucy can't figure that out, I have no idea." Kevin was more then ready to fight with her, and Lucy turned to Mary.
"I'm ready to go."
"This isn't over, Lucy." Kevin continued to glare at her, and she turned to face him.
"It is until you can actually talk to me." Without another word, Lucy turned to Victor. "Victor, could you ride back with us? There is a lot on my mind, and I'd like to talk to someone who isn't going to scream at me."
Victor knew Kevin well enough to know that he needed to get Lucy out of there quickly. "I'd be delighted to. Let's go. Maybe Kevin will take the time to himself to CALM DOWN." His words were very deliberate and his eyes met Kevin's.
As Victor and Mary took the stroller out the door, Kevin tried to approach Lucy again. Trying to avoid a confrontation, Lucy began to talk. Telling Kevin that she'd go straight home and she'd see him there wasn't enough. Taking her arm, Kevin held it.
"Let go of me." She kept her voice low.
"I want to know what you thought you were going to accomplish by bringing them here. You know how I felt about YOU coming here, what did you think I would say about them being here?"
Finally, Lucy turned him and glared. "I thought you would do the same thing you ALWAYS do when I don't agree with you. What you're doing now. You think it's wrong, so there's no way I could actually be right. Who cares about what Ryan actually said or did, I mean, since I was told by you this was the wrong thing to do. And we all know how perfect you are and how...what, Doc, stupid I am?"
"I never said that."
"No, you just tell me that I'm wrong every time I don't agree with you. And you don't want to hear the reasons or what I'm thinking."
"How could there be a valid reason for exposing them to Ryan?" His voice rose, and finally Lucy stopped and stared at him.
"This is IT, Doc. What we talked about last night, remember?" He was confused, but she shook her head. "It just hit me. I'm doing it again. I didn't tell you where I was going today because I was afraid of what you were going to do." Tears came, and she backed away from him. "As much as I love you, I don't think I'll ever be ready."
"Ready?"
She began to cry harder. "Ready to stop protecting myself from you. Ready to stop being afraid of doing something wrong. Ready to stop worrying about what will happen if I do something you don't like. Because if it's not what you want me to do, you don't like it."
"That's not true." Kevin started to argue, but he trailed off when he realized that it was exactly how she felt.
"I just need to think. I wasn't lying when I said I had a lot on my mind. We'll talk tonight. I promise." Turning, she left him alone in the room.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
The first ten minutes of the car ride had been Lucy telling Victor in a running monologue what had happened with Ryan.
After she finished, Victor and Mary were quiet for a few minutes. Finally, Mary shook her head. "Okay, I've heard all about Ryan. I remember when he was caught, I remember all the threats, and what he did to Felicia. He tried to take her children. This just doesn't sound like everything I've ever heard about him."
"I have to say, me either. But it does resemble the conversation I had with him." Victor briefly filled Lucy in on the conversation he'd had with Ryan on the phone.
From the back of the car next to the car seats, Lucy leaned forward and began to talk. "That's what I mean. When he took Georgie, he wanted to play this control game with Felicia. But when Georgie started crying and wouldn't stop, Ryan panicked. He called Kevin. Not to play games, but because he was afraid of losing control with her. He's a lot of things, Victor. I'm not going to pretend to believe he has a conscience, because I know he doesn't. But he's always been....." She shrugged, trying to find the words. "It's like a soft spot for children. I wanted to know how deep that soft spot ran. THAT'S why I took them with me."
"So now what do you think?" Victor glanced at her in the rear view mirror.
"He wants them to have what he never did. Unconditional love." She caught the pain flash across Victor's face. "I'm sorry."
"No. It's how he feels, and I can't say he isn't justified feeling that way." Victor sighed. "I made so many mistakes that so many people have had to live with."
"Stop." Mary and Lucy both spoke.
"The point is that I'm sure of one thing." Lucy tried to shift the conversation back to Ryan. "This isn't about beating Kevin. This is about the fact that Ryan really doesn't believe that Kevin will love them unconditionally."
"I'm on that list, too, I'm sure."
Shrugging, Lucy nodded. "I'm just telling you what I got from talking to him."
Turning to her, Mary watched her carefully. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Kevin wasn't sure that this was all about them. What about you?"
Shifting, Lucy turned to the girls and avoided Mary's eyes. "Ryan likes to push my buttons. He had to find out how in order to get me to......" Hesitating, Lucy sighed.
"Lucy..." Mary's voice was soft.
Shrugging, Lucy finally looked at Mary. "He reminded me how conditional Kevin's love was where I was concerned." She took a deep breath to fight the tears before she continued. "Ryan wants me to believe that it would be the same with them where Kevin's concerned. But I don't believe that."
Victor finally caught on to what Lucy was feeling, and he glanced in the rear view mirror at her briefly. "But you do believe things haven't changed where you're concerned, don't you."
Biting her lip for a moment, Lucy shrugged. "That's something I need to talk about with Kevin."
"You're right. You do." Reaching over the seat, Mary took Lucy's hand. "Honey, you two love each other so much. Too much to not work this out."
Nodding, Lucy turned to the twins. "I know."
Exchanging glances, Mary and Victor both knew how Kevin reacted to this was going to determine what was or wasn't going to happen for him and Lucy. They both just hoped he would talk to her about it.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
It was over an hour after Lucy, Victor and Mary had arrived at the lighthouse before Kevin finally came through the front door.
Standing, Victor moved to him. "You ready to talk to her?"
Kevin nodded. "Has she said anything?"
"Nothing I'm going to repeat." Victor stared at Kevin like he should have known that. "This is between you and her. I think you know how important it is that you stay calm."
"I get the feeling that everything is riding on it." Kevin shrugged.
"That's right. It is." Joining them at the stairs, Mary looked at Kevin. "But I also know how much you two love each other, and I know that when it comes down to it, that's all that matters."
Smiling at her, Kevin nodded. "I'm glad she feels the same way."
"She does. Now go TALK to her. I don't mean lecture her or tell her how wrong you think she is. TALK to her." Mary moved closer to Kevin as she spoke, and nearly glared into his eyes.
"I get the message, Mary. Thanks."
Taking Victor's hand, she pulled him towards the door. "It's time to let them work it out."
"I couldn't agree more." Victor turned back to Kevin for a moment. "I do expect a full report later."
Laughing, Kevin nodded. "I'll bet you get one from both of us."
"We're counting on it." Mary smiled at him and dragged Victor out the door with her.
When Kevin entered the bedroom, he stopped and watched. Lucy was sitting on the bed nursing one of the girls. The other one was securely tucked between her body and the pillow on the bed. Her attention was completely on her daughters, and Kevin approached her slowly.
She bit her lip when she realized that Kevin was there, but she didn't say anything.
Sitting down gently, Kevin watched her. "You want me to feed her?" He gestured toward the baby next to her.
"No." It came out sharp and she shook her head.
"Okay."
Lucy sighed. "No, it's not okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap like that. I just....."
"You just don't want me near any of you and I can't say that I blame you. I acted like a jerk earlier, and did exactly what I promised you I wouldn't do. Again."
A confused expression crossed her face and she stared at him. "No, that's not it. I mean, you DID act like a jerk, but that had nothing to do with it." Her voice trailed off for a moment as Marissa was showing all the signs of being finished. As she shifted the baby in her arms, Kevin made no move to get closer. Her eyes met his and she offered the baby to him. Smiling, he took Marissa and began to burp her as Lucy took Victoria in her arms. As soon as Victoria was happily nursing, Lucy finally tried to speak again.
"I feel.... So connected to them when I'm nursing them. And I really needed that tonight." Her eyes rose to meet his. "That's what I meant."
Standing, Kevin moved to the window. "It's a connection between you and them. And it's something that Ryan and I can't threaten you with or fight over, right?"
Her face showed her mind processing his words, and after a moment, she shrugged. "I guess so. I hadn't really thought about it in those exact terms, but yeah, maybe."
"I can't blame you. I guess I haven't been much better then him about this. I'm as ready as he is to fight over all three of you." His eyes met hers.
"That's just it, Doc. There IS no fight. I love you. And YOU'RE going to raise them with me." She sighed. "But we can't just dismiss Ryan. He can cause a lot of trouble if he wants to."
"If he wants to? Lucy, that's what he lives for. There is no IF to that. He'll do anything he can to cause trouble."
"THAT'S why I had to go see him, Doc. I wanted to know what kind of trouble he's planning."
"And?" Kevin moved closer to the bed. "Do you have an idea?"
"I don't know exactly what he's planning." She admitted it, but before Kevin could jump in she continued. "And if you say I told you so, this conversation is OVER."
"I guess that means you think you learned something today?" At her expression, he realized she thought he was being sarcastic. Sighing, he sat next to her. "I'm not going to say anything. I want to hear you. I really do, Lucy. I want to hear what you're thinking."
For what seemed like an hour to Kevin, Lucy simply stared at him. A suspicion nagged at the back of his mind, but he waited for her to speak.
"There's no use pretending to him that he's not their father anymore."
"YOU TOLD HIM?!" Before he could stop himself, he screamed at her. When Lucy, Marissa, and Victoria all visibly jumped at his outburst, he shook his head. "I'm trying to not yell at you, but you need to explain this to me. Why would you tell him?"
"I didn't, Doc. He knows. I'm just not sure what he's going to do."
"What do you mean by that? Lucy, we KNOW what he's going to do. He's going to use them to-"
"Stop." Shaking her head, Lucy stared at him. "You promised to listen to me."
Sighing, Kevin stroked Marissa's back and sat next to Lucy on the bed. "You're right. I'm sorry. Go ahead."
"Believe it or not, I think I made an impression on him."
Kevin's mind went back to the conversations he'd had with Ryan concerning Lucy. Whatever it was, she was right. She'd gotten to him on several levels. Against his will, he smiled. "I'll tell you that you made him want to love you AND kill you."
"I have that effect on a lot of people." She returned his smile. "Including you on occasion."
They both laughed softly. Then Lucy continued. "You need to remember one thing. Whatever happens with their birth certificates, YOU are their father, Doc. YOU'RE the one that is going to be with them, hold them, watch them grow up, YOU'RE the one they're going to depend on to love them no matter what."
The way she said 'no matter what' made Kevin realize how deep that fear ran in her. "Lucy, I do love them no matter what." Moving closer, he touched her face gently. "I also love you no matter what. I know I haven't exactly proved that to you in the past, but I learned that no matter what, I DO love you. Even when I didn't want to, I did. I couldn't stop myself. I don't ever want to try to NOT love you again. Someday you'll believe that."
She nodded, but couldn't answer him.
"Lucy, exactly what did Ryan say to you?"
"He told me that he would never judge them or take what he thinks you and Victor did out on them." She said it too easily, and Kevin knew there was more.
"And?"
Lucy shrugged.
Moving closer, Kevin stared into her eyes. "What did he say about you?"
"Nothing new."
"You know, you said that you got to him, but I think he got to you." Slowly, Kevin reached for her hand and squeezed it. "Please tell me what he said that has you this uncertain, Lucy. At least give me the chance to answer whatever accusation he threw at me."
"He didn't throw any accusations at you, Doc. He just...." She sighed. "Okay, we spent a few minutes pushing each other's buttons. I figured out how to get to him, and he already knew how to get to me."
"By what, Lucy? REMINDING you that I left you once?"
"Left me once?" Her eyes met his. "It was that simple to you, Kevin. THAT'S what he reminded me."
His eyes dropped from hers and he sighed. "Lucy, it wasn't-"
"Don't. We've already been over this, and if I wasn't going to try to get past it, I wouldn't be here. The point is, he wants them to have unconditional love. And he doesn't think you or Victor are capable of it." Having said it, she turned her attention to Victoria and shifted the baby to her shoulder.
"What do you think?"
"I think Ryan is holding a grudge. But I reminded him what will happen to them if he is named the father."
"You think I won't love them?" The thought that she felt that way cut into his heart, and it showed on his face.
"NO! That's not what I think. I don't think that he's thought that. I just tried to get him to see how OTHER people will treat them because of him. Other kids." She bit her lip and moved Victoria to look at her. "When we're kids, we all pay for who our parents are. And the price for them would be too high if he's their father." Tears came to her eyes and she focused them on Kevin. "I tried to get him to see that."
"And what did he say?"
"He tried to convince me that anyone in the Collins's family would be hard for them to live down." She shrugged. "Psychiatric circus sideshow were his words, I think."
Unable to stop himself, Kevin laughed softly. When Lucy looked surprised, he shrugged. "I can't exactly argue that point."
Smiling back at him, she reached for his face. "I kind of like it. Never know what to expect."
"Do you think you got anywhere with him?"
"I don't know. He loves them, I'm sure of that. He's afraid that if he doesn't win this, he'll never see them again."
Realization crossed Kevin's face. "You identify with that, don't you."
Lucy didn't answer him, and that told him everything. Sighing again, he moved closer to her. "What do you want to do, Lucy?"
"I don't know. I mean, I know I want you to be their father. What I don't know is if I can take them away from him completely. You're right. I know what that feels like. And I'm not sure I could do it to anyone else. Even him."
For a few minutes, Kevin played with the baby in his arms. It was hard for him to admit it, but he knew how much it would hurt if Lucy took them away from him, and he'd seen Ryan the day they were born. It would hurt Ryan just as much if they managed to keep them from him. "Maybe we can..... I don't know, Lucy. I'm reaching here, I know it. But maybe NOT taking them away from him is the way to convince him to give them up."
Instantly, Lucy's head jerked up and she looked at him. "You're really thinking that, too?"
"You do realize that the entire town will think WE'RE the crazy ones, here." Kevin looked at her. "They'll still probably suffer for it."
"Not as much as they would if he gets a judge to order an RFLP test, Doc. You know that."
Standing, Kevin began to pace around the bedroom. "What are we thinking, here, Lucy?"
"We're thinking of making a deal with him. Hoping to reach some human side of him for them. THAT'S what's important, here. Them. I do believe that we all agree on that."
His eyes met hers and he couldn't argue with her.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Victor, when are you going to stop punishing yourself?"
"How can I, Mary? This has gone so far beyond Ryan. He's taken everything out on Kevin, and now two innocent babies."
"That's NOT your responsibility, Victor." Mary sighed and led Victor to the sofa to sit with her. "I knew Ryan. Before he was captured. He did make something of himself, Victor. He was a bright, upstanding Pediatrician. What HE chose to do with it was HIS problem. Not Kevin's, and certainly not yours."
For a moment, Victor simply stared at Mary. "Kevin said he really does love children."
"I know he was wonderful with them. So does Lucy. That's why she wanted to go see him today." Mary sighed. "I have to admit, I would have felt better if Kevin had known what she was planning to do."
"He never would have allowed it. And, knowing Lucy, there would have been a big fight before she found a way to do it anyway." Victor smiled. "As much as he wants to, he has no control where Lucy's concerned. Over her or himself."
"Do you think she was right?" Mary stared at Victor.
After thinking for a moment, Victor sighed and nodded. "I think she needed to face him. I also think she has the best chance to find out what's going on with him. As furious as he is about the babies being with Kevin, he's no happier that Lucy has chosen to be with him as well. Hopefully she can get through to him."
Before Mary could reply, the phone rang.
"Hopefully it's one of them to tell us everything is okay between them." Victor picked up the phone.
"Victor?"
"Good news, I hope?" Victor started to nod at Mary, but the response he received stopped him.
"I'm not sure for whom. I'm sure you know Lucy and I had a conversation today. And I'm also sure you heard all the details from her. I needed to hear a few things from you." Ryan sighed.
"I know you got to see the girls today, Ryan. That had to have effected you." Victor spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully.
"Gee, that's a shocker. A man gets to hold his daughters and it affected him. Guess you are a genius, Victor." Ryan's tone was snide. "I do know they're mine, so don't bother trying to protect Kevin."
"I'm not trying to protect Kevin, Ryan. I'm trying to protect them."
"That's good. You protecting a child." After almost laughing, Ryan's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "I need to know something. What's different? What's so different this time that I'm supposed to believe that you'll really look out for them the way you never looked out for me?"
"I can't make anyone understand what happened over thirty years ago, Ryan. All I can do is tell you something you already know. Lucy is NOT Melanie. There isn't going to be situation where anyone will have to protect either of them from her."
"What about him?" Ryan began to speak faster. "I know there are a lot of people that would gladly kill me to protect them from me. What I want to know is who is going to protect them from Kevin?"
"Kevin would NEVER hurt those children, Ryan! I know you and him have issues, and I caused it. But to even suggest that Kevin would-"
"You don't think the way he treats Lucy won't effect them? I watched them, remember, Victor? Everyone is so intent on protecting the babies from me, who's protecting Lucy from Kevin?"
Confused, Victor thought about what he was saying. "Kevin loves her, Ryan."
"He loves her so much he dumped her at the altar." Ryan laughed. "Of course, considering the family she was about to marry into, maybe he did her a favor. But I know she doesn't see it that way."
"What are you really asking, Ryan?"
"I know her, Victor. As you know, I know her VERY well."
Victor winced at the meaning behind his words.
"It wasn't hard to make her give up Baldwin and her other daughter. She hurt that little girl for Kevin. What else could Kevin get her to do?"
"That was YOU, Ryan. You broke up her family, you lied to her, used her, manipulated her and did everything in your power to destroy her to get to Kevin." Victor's anger got the better of him and he began to scream at Ryan. "You KNEW she would choose Kevin over Scott. So you played on that. You played on all the damage Kevin had done to her, and you used how deeply she loves him to hurt her. So who in the hell do you think you are to suggest Kevin would hurt her now?"
Ryan didn't answer.
"Come on, Ryan, this is simple. What is it about Lucy that the two of you couldn't get enough of hurting her?" Completely forgetting whom he was talking to, Victor continued to scream at him. "You're mother was a monster and I was a coward. But that doesn't excuse how you've treated Lucy!" Mary approached Victor, and he stared at her for a moment before continuing quietly. "Or is that the reason you've both hurt her so much? She's the exact opposite of the coward or the monster. She loves unconditionally from her soul and she'd stand up to anything to protect someone she loves. Do either of you understand that? God knows Melanie and I didn't teach either of you anything about that." Reaching for Mary's hand, Victor laughed, but there was a deep sadness to it mixed with tears. "It took me too many years to realize what it means to be in love with a wonderful woman. And how to work to be worthy of what it brings to your life. I treasure that. And I can't tell you how much it hurts me to see that all either of you have learned is how to use how deeply Lucy feels to hurt her."
For a few seconds after Victor stopped speaking, Ryan was silent. When he finally spoke again, his voice was a strained whisper. "You're right about her being the opposite, Victor. You're right about both of us using the fact that she can forgive anything when she loves someone. I know what Kevin did to her. I know because I used it against her. But what's going to stop Kevin from doing it again? I know he didn't APPROVE of her coming to see me. How did he make her pay, Victor? And what is it going to do to those girls?"
"It won't do anything to the girls, that much I can promise you, Ryan." Victor sighed. "He's just as worried about the effect you're going to have on the girls as you are about the effect he's going to have on them." Before Ryan could answer, Victor continued. "And I'm worried about the effect BOTH of you are going to have on Lucy."
"Who appointed you her protector?" Ryan's voice was snide.
"She did." Victor's answer was very matter of fact. "When she included me in her life and loved me no matter what either of you did to her."
"Wow." Ryan whistled. "Are you really capable of loving her?"
"I can't explain it to you, Ryan. You're mind is already made up concerning what I'm capable of and not capable of. For her sake she's very lucky she's not really my daughter, no one knows that better then you. And I believe it's her father's loss that he never knew her. So we fit into each other's lives, and I'm grateful for that. That's all I can say."
Ryan was so quiet that Victor began to wonder if he'd hung up the phone. Finally he answered Victor in a whisper. "The three most detached men on the planet and she managed to get to all of us, huh. Tell me something, would you protect her from Kevin the way you're determined to protect her from me?"
"Yes." Victor didn't hesitate.
"I guess that's all that matters, right?" Before Victor had a second to think about what he said, he continued. "Tell Kevin I want to see him."
The line went dead in Victor's hand and he looked at Mary. "This is either going to end quickly or get very messy."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that Ryan wants to see Kevin. Will they put a stop to this mess, or will they challenge each other?"
"Victor, the last thing Lucy, Victoria, or Marissa need is those two fighting over them like two dogs over a bone."
"I know that. But if they both manage to keep in mind what's important it might work out." Shrugging, Victor pulled Mary to him and hugged her. "I meant every word I said to him about loving a good woman, you know."
"I know. And I do love you." She returned his hug.
"I'm going to wait to hear from one of them before I talk to Kevin."
"I guess that means we have some time to ourselves before we get involved again." Smiling, Mary kissed Victor softly.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Kevin was beginning to question how fit he was to raise Marissa himself. The baby wouldn't stop crying no matter what he did. He'd been rocking or walking with her in his arms for just under an hour and she showed no sign of stopping.
"I'll take a turn." Lucy appeared in the doorway. "Victoria is asleep."
"You know, you read about babies doing this on occasion, but it's a whole different story when it's YOUR baby."
"I know." Smiling at him, Lucy reached for Marissa and rocked her gently as she walked. "You look tired, Doc. Why don't you get some sleep?"
"What about you?"
"I think I did sleep a bit when you brought her out here." Lucy shifted Marissa to a better position on her shoulder. "Hopefully she'll get too tired to keep going soon."
"We can hope, right?" As they laughed, the sound of Victoria crying carried out of the bedroom.
They both moaned and Kevin headed for the bedroom.
Holding her daughter, Lucy walked around the living room, rocking her gently as she did. Kevin had put a soft jazz tune on the CD player, and Lucy laughed at the thought of him trying to turn them on to jazz this early. "I don't know, Marissa. What's your Daddy going to do when he realizes that for the next few years your idea of great music is Sesame Street?" Laughing at what she pictured his expression was going to be, Lucy moved to the window.
The CD ended and Lucy realized that she'd listened to the entire thing. And at some point during the last piece, Marissa had finally fallen asleep in her arms. Carrying her into the bedroom, Lucy stopped when she saw Kevin.
He'd fallen asleep on the bed with Victoria beside him blocked by pillows. Quietly, Lucy put both girls in their cribs and moved to the other side of the bed.
The instant he felt her against him he rolled over and put his arm around her. "Lucy?"
The way he mumbled her name, she knew he wasn't quite awake. "Yeah." She snuggled closer and felt him softly kiss the side of her head.
"I love you." He whispered in her ear and she held his arm with her own.
Smiling to herself, Lucy moved closer and closed her eyes.