Beautiful Disaster

Chapter: 9

Pairing: Robert/Holly

Rating: PG

September 4TH 1992

Tiffany ordered a glass of red wine while she waited on Holly at the Outback. She had been busy at the television station the last few weeks and had only talked to Holly over the phone. She was anxious to see her in person. While she waited she picked up the menu and began looking over it.

"Am I that late?" Holly asked as she approached the table.

Tiffany put down the menu. "It's about time." she said, getting up to hug her friend. "Wow, you've really popped." she commented as she placed her hand over Holly's rounded stomach.

"Yes, I know." Holly replied, sitting down. "You should see some of the looks I've been getting from people in this town."

"Oh." Tiffany sighed, following suit. "It's none of their business."

"It's Port Charles." Holly pointed out. "Everything is everybody's business."

"I'm not going to argue with you there." she replied. "Have you heard anything from Robert?"

Holly smiled sadly. "No." she answered. "He hasn't made any contact with anyone since he left. I hope he's alright."

"I'm sure he's fine. He's just working his issues out." Tiffany assured her. "He'll be back soon."

"I certainly hope so." she sighed. "I don't think I could live with myself if he missed out on the baby's birth."

"He was gone two and a half months last time right?" Tiffany asked. "It's only been about eight weeks since he was here. I'm sure he'll show up soon."

"Tiff, do you mind if we don't talk about Robert?" Holly asked.

"Oh, sure, honey." she agreed. "How's Robin?"

"Nervous about starting high school." she told her. "We spent yesterday afternoon shopping for new clothes and all of yesterday evening crying about our fears."

"The two of you have grown really close over the past few months." Tiffany pointed out.

"Yes we have. Robin's a great kid."

"Excuse me." Mac said as he approached the table. "Holly, I thought you and I could discuss Robin."

"Is something wrong?" Holly asked.

Mac sat down in the empty in between Holly and Tiffany. "Nothing's wrong, it's just that I've been spending a lot of time here at the club and I haven't been able to give Robin the attention she deserves."

"Didn't you and I have this conversation a few weeks ago?" Holly asked him. "When I suggested that Robin come live with me."

"Yes" he replied. "But I promised Robert I'd take care of her and besides you're pregnant and you don't need the added stress."

"Mac, Robin living with me wouldn't be added stress." she assured him. "I like having her around. You'd still be keeping your promise to Robert, you'd be taking care of Robin and you could see her whenever you like."

"I don't know." Mac sighed.

"Come on, Mac." Tiffany spoke up. "Holly could use the practice and this would be a good way to dispel all those nasty rumors about Stepmother's being wicked."

"Good point." Holly commented. "Why don't you come over in the morning and we'll discuss this with Robin?"

"Okay." he reluctantly agreed as he got up. "I'll see you in the morning."

Tiffany watched as Mac walked away. "You're certainly taking on a lot of responsibility." she commented. "Those maternal instincts must be kicking in."

"Robin's my step-daughter." Holly replied. "There's no reason why she shouldn't stay with me. Besides I hate staying in that big house all alone."

The Next Morning

Holly slowly made her way down the back stairwell and into the kitchen. She decided that she would remain in her pyjama's for the rest of the day, the effort of changing simply wasn't something that appealed to her. After a quick but healthy breakfast Holly ventured back upstairs and into the room that would be the nursery.

The room was bare except for a rocking chair. Holly had hoped that once Robert got back they could fix the nursery up together. Now a little more than halfway through her pregnancy she worried that Robert wouldn't make it back in time and childbirth wasn't something she wanted to go through without him.

After feeling a fluttering movement in her stomach, Holly brought her hand up protectively over her abdomen. She smiled to herself. The baby was moving and for the very first time she was able to feel it. It was definitely a good, warm feeling sort of like butterflies. Everything up until now had seemed so surreal but after finally feeling movement nothing had ever felt more real to Holly. Nothing had ever made her feel so alive and close to Robert even though he was oceans away.

Holly heard the doorbell echoing in the distance. Mac and Robin were precisely on time. She made her way out of the nursery and downstairs to greet them.

"Good morning." she greeted them as she opened the door.

Mac kissed her cheek. "Good morning." he replied as he made his way inside.

"Where's Robin?" she asked, leaving the door open and following Mac over to the couch. "She's not upset is she?" she asked as she sat down. "The important thing is that she's happy."

"I'm here." Robin announced as she walked through the door and dropped two suitcases in the middle of the floor. "So where's my room?

tbc...