Chapter Two - Dinner with Friends

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are."

Matchmaker #1 - Jax

"Another round of drinks for all my guests tonight!" Jax shouted enthusiastically, raising his glass in another toast. "In fact, throw in dessert for everyone too! This is a celebration!"

The patrons who were enjoying their meals at the Metro Court raised their glasses in appreciation of Jax's generosity as he turned his attention back to Robin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Pierre has created this creme brulee cheesecake that just melts in your mouth. Served with a couple of glasses of Dom Perignon and we've got ourselves the perfect end to a perfect evening."

Glancing up at the wine steward who had suddenly appeared at their table, Jax smiled and said, "I think our glasses could use a little refresher, don't you?"

Robin giggled as she watched the stewardrefill her wine glass and asked, "Jax, are you trying to get me drunk?"

Jax winked and said, "That's the plan my friend."

Robin took another sip of her wine and then asked, "How am I ever going to get home? You are certainly in no condition to drive me."

"My dear, I own this hotel!" Jax told her, smiling over the rim of his wine glass. "You can have your pick of any of our finest rooms to rest your pretty little head."

Robin shook her head and laughed, "It is so good to see you like this."

"It is so good to feel like this." Robin reached across the table and took his hand in hers as he continued, "I'm a father, Robin. I just can't say it enough. It's not the most ideal situation and I didn't ever see it going this way, but none of that matters anymore. It stopped mattering when I saw his little face and held him in my arms."

Robin's smile softened as she asked, "Have you thought of any names?"

Jax squeezed her hand and said, "John Robert. After two of the coolest fathers on the planet."

Robin was visibly touched by his gesture and said softly, "If he takes after either of his namesakes, you are going to have quite an adventuresome kid on your hands."

"Sounds good to me." Jax grinned and he looked like he was about to say something else, but his attention was diverted to something going on behind Robin. "Wow." was all he said as he shook his head.

"What?" Robin asked, confused.

"Emily Quartermaine just walked in with Patrick Drake."

Robin's head whipped around and she spied Patrick and Emily being led to a table near the dance floor. Turning back to Jax, she asked, "Why does that deserve a wow? Patrick will date anything in a skirt. Why should Emily be any different?"

Jax grinned and picked up his wine glass. "No reason. I just thought..."

Jax chose that moment to take a sip of his wine and so Robin asked, "You thought what?"

He chuckled and said, "Well, I had heard that he was interested in someone else. Someone much closer to my heart."

"Who?" Jax pointed his finger at her as he took another sip of his wine."Me?" Robin asked incredulously. "Who on earth told you that?"

Jax smirked and said, "Do you really think I am going to tell you that? You look like you are ready to jump out of your skin right now." He chuckled again at her reaction and said, "If I gave up my source, I'd be afraid that you would make a call to your mother and have them disappear before the end of the evening."

"Well, your source was wrong." Robin said haughtily, smoothing her napkin over her lap. "Patrick Drake is no more interested in me than he is in that plant over there."

"Well, he's not interested in Emily Quartermaine either." Jax told her, glancing over her shoulder at the couple they were discussing.

"How do you know that?"

"I'm a guy, Robin. I can tell when another guy is interested in a woman. And that guy is not interested in that woman." He leaned across the table and whispered, "Not to mention the fact that he's looked over here about ten times since they sat down."

"Maybe he's looking at you." Robin whispered back with a grin.

Jax sat back and said, "Well, who could blame him? I am damn good looking."

Robin's laughter rang out through the restaurant and it was music to Jax's ears. He had missed his old friend. But he didn't believe her protests about young Dr. Drake for a second. Changing the subject only slightly, he asked, "So, if Patrick Drake is not interested in you...who is?"

Robin took another sip of her wine before answering him. "No one at the moment."

He chuckled and shook his head. "How do you do that, Robin? Do you walk around with a paper bag over your head or something?"

Robin smiled at his backhanded compliment. "I've been busy."

"So, I've noticed." Jax agreed. "I've barely seen you since you've been back, except for when I was at the hospital for Courtney's check ups."

"Are you going to start with me, too?" Robin asked him, smiling up at the waitress as she set a slice of cheesecake down in front of her. "Between Lindsay and uncle Mac, I am so tired of hearing about how I spend too much time at the hospital. I like my job and I'm lucky to have it."

Jax took a bite of his dessert and said, "I can understand that. But, I'm sure that Mac and Lindsay just want you to remember that there's a whole big life out there just waiting to be lived. And they don't want you to miss a minute of it. Neither do I."

"I am living it." Robin assured him. "And I'm happy. But having a life doesn't necessarily mean having a boyfriend. I do pretty well on my own."

"That's true." Jax agreed. Then, unable to resist teasing her, he said, "And you do have dubious taste in men."

Robin groaned and said, "Can we have at least one conversation where you don't throw in an 'I told you so' about Jason? You were right, okay? I was wrong, you and Brenda were right, I didn't listen to you and he broke my heart. Happy now?"

Reaching across the table to take her hand, he said, "Nothing that caused you that much pain could ever make me happy."

Robin looked up at him and squeezed his hand. "Sorry."

"I just want to see you happy." He told her, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. "And yes, for you, happy usually means being in love.You look good in love."

"Well, lately I've looked pretty foolish in love." Robin confessed.

"That's because French men are jerks." Jax told her, taking back his hand and having another bite of cheesecake. "Seriously, Robin, they like their women hairy and smelling like a cheap mix of perfume and cigarette smoke. But you're back in Port Charles now, and they grow men pretty good around here. You'll find one whose worthy of you soon enough."

Robin eyed him curiously and then said, "You know, for someone who's ex-wife has just kicked his heart all over creation...you sure do put a lot of faith in love."

"Don't you?" he challenged her.

"Love can let you down." Robin replied quietly, looking down at her plate.

"People let you down, Robin. Not love."

"Love isn't always enough." she said, pushing the remnants of her cheesecake around her plate with her fork.

"Yes, it is. You go without it long enough and you realize it's everything." Jax reached across the table and placed his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him. "The world is no longer a romantic place, Robin. Some of its people still are, however, and therein lies the promise. Don't let the world and all of it's cynics win. Keep believing in love."

Robin met his eyes with her own and a smile crept onto her lips. "You are such an optimist." she told him. Bringing his hand up from her chin to her lips, she lightly kissed his knuckles and said, "Actually, I do still believe in the idea that when people come together, they stay together. I take that with me when I going to bed at night. Even if I'm going to bed alone."

Jax glanced back over at Patrick, who looked very uncomfortable as he watched the tenderness that passed between Jax and Robin and said, "I don't think that you will be going to bed alone for too much longer."

"Is that a proposition?" She teased.

"Nope." He shook his head with a grin. "Just a gut feeling." At that moment, the band struck up an old Sinatra tune and Jax jumped out of his seat. "Dance with me?"

"I thought you would never ask." Robin replied, taking the hand he offered her and following him onto the dance floor. She couldn't resist sneaking a glance at Patrick as they passed his table and was happy to see that Jax seemed to be right...he didn't look like he was enjoying his evening with Emily.

Robin and Jax glided and twirled around the dance floor to the band's beautiful music in a repeat of their earlier performance at the hospital. As Jax danced her around the floor, Robin felt like she was young and free again. It was a wonderful feeling. But then suddenly, he stopped.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked, a concerned look on her face.

"Anton is trying to get my attention" He said, nodding toward the bartender. "It looks like there is some sort of problem."

"Well, you should go take care of it." Robin said, heading back to the table. "I'll wait."

"No, I have a better idea." Jax said, taking her hand and leading her in the other direction.

When Robin realized where they were heading, she stopped in her tracks. "No, Jax! No." She hissed at him. But it was no use. He was stronger than she was and he practically dragged her over to Patrick and Emily's table.

Patrick and Emily looked up in surprise as Jax and Robin approached their table. "Dr. Drake, I have a favor to ask of you." Jax began, in his most charming tone. "It seems some hotel business has come up and, as owner of this fine establishment, I must take care of it immediately. But, I have a beautiful date whom I've promised to dance with." he said, gesturing to Robin.

"I see your dilemma." Patrick replied, letting his eyes take a walk all over Robin's sexy, little black dress, strappy heels, and tousled hair.

"I thought you would." Jax said with a grin. "So, since it would be completely ungentlemanly of me to leave her alone, can I bother you to step in and take my place on the dance floor for a few moments?"

"Actually, Jax, I'd rather sit down..." Robin began to say, but Jax cut her off.

"Nonsense." Jax grinned mischievously. "You wanted to dance and you're going to dance."

"I didn't want to dance this badly." Robin said between clenched teeth, glaring at an amused Jax. "I don't need a babysitter."

"Sure, I'll step in for you, Jax." Patrick said, standing up and grinning at Robin. "I mean, you are paying for my drinks tonight."

"Good point." Jax said, raising his eyebrow at the two of them.

"What about Emily?" Robin asked desperately, looking down at her old friend. "I mean, she is your date and might want a dance of her own." When she and Jax were alone, Robin was going to throttle him.

Emily, of course, was no help. Unaware of what was really going on, Emily smiled and said, "Robin, I have two left feet. And I know how much you love to dance, so go ahead. I'll be fine."

"So it's settled then." Jax said, with a grin. "Dr. Drake, I leave this precious gift in your capable hands. Be gentle with her."

"I'll return her to you in perfect condition." Patrick said as Jax walked off toward the bar.

"I'm not a car." Robin muttered as Patrick took her hand and led her back out onto the dance floor. She ignored the butterflies that began fluttering about in her stomach as he pulled her close and they began to sway together to the rhythm of the romantic music.

"It seems you've been easily replaced by a business crisis." Patrick whispered into her hair. "Not really your idea of a romantic evening, hmmm?"

Robin snapped her head up and asked, "Are you following me?"

Patrick chuckled and said, "And people accuse me of being an ego-maniac? Don't flatter yourself, Scorpio. The Metro Court is the hottest dinner spot in town."

Robin rolled her eyes. "Give me a break. You knew I was going to be here. Everyone at the hospital could hear Jax ask me to dinner before he got on the elevator."

"The Metro Court serves a great salmon with dill sauce." Patrick replied with a smirk. "That's why I'm here."

"If I marched over to your table right now and asked Emily when you asked her to dinner, my guess is that the answer would be sometime within the last two hours." Robin challenged him. "After Jax asked me out."

"You can't possibly still think that I am jealous of that Aussie hack."

"Of course not." Robin replied sarcastically. "Why would you possibly be threatened by a charming, devastatingly handsome, successful man like Jax? You're not even man enough to play in his league."

"That hurt." Patrick said, pretending to be wounded by her words. "Was that payback for calling you a hypocrite?"

"No." Robin said, moving her body closer to his and pulling his face down until it was only inches from hers. She could hear his breath go ragged and see the desire cloud his eyes. Robin knew she had him just where she wanted him. She brought her lips closer until they were only a breath away from his and just as he closed his eyes for the kiss he thought was coming, Robin pulled away abruptly. Leaving him standing awkwardly on the dance floor, Robin smiled a sexy smile over her shoulder and said, "That was payback for calling me a hypocrite."