ROBERT & HOLLY SCORPIO: DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 4

MAY 1983

Holly slams the door shut as she comes into Robert's office. "That is enough, Luke. I have had it with this attitude of yours. Robert is only trying to help me. Why can't you see that?"

"What I see, English, is that you are with him instead of me. I don't think there is any denying of that truth."

"That isn't true, Luke," She pleads with him. "This is all a temporary situation that we just have to make it through."

Luke glares at Robert. "And look who is enjoying every minute of it! And I am not going to stand here and watch as he gloats while you defend him to me!" On those words Luke walks out the door.

Holly slowly sits down in a chair. "I am sorry, Robert."

"It's not your fault, Luv. You are just the victim of circumstances."

Holly smiles at him. "I appreciate your trying to make me feel better, but I know this is just as hard on you. You have lost your friend because of me and I am fully aware of that fact."

"No," Robert argues, "I have lost my best friend because of Luke's damn stubborn pride. But eventually he will come to see that I am not against him, that I am still here for him. And Holly," He waits until she looks at him to finish his sentence. "I will ALWAYS be here for you, too. I value your friendship and what we have came to mean to each other."

"I know," She says softly. "It's the same for me. Anything you need, anytime you want to talk, I am here for you, too. Though lately it seems I am always on the taking end of this friendship instead of the giving."

Robert laughs. "Well, not that I am keeping score, but I will make sure you get to catch up."

Smiling, they stare into each others eyes for a brief moment. Holly finally breaks the spell. "I guess I had better go find Luke. I will see you later at home, right?"

Robert nods his head. "I'll be there. Hey, everything will be fine, I promise. And have I ever broken a promise to you?"

"No," Holly says with a smile. "You haven't."

As the door closes behind her, Robert sits down in his chair and releases a long sigh. Never has anything in his entire life been as hard as letting Holly go and he doubted that it would ever get any easier. In many ways, Robert understood where Luke was coming from. Having loved and now lost Holly, he knew the pain of not being with her in every way, the same way Luke couldn't be with her in the way he wanted. But at least Luke had the future with Holly to look forward to, whereas, he did not. Maybe when their year was over and the divorce finalized, he would just leave Port Charles. He could always join the WSB again. Sadly, the thought of that life again held little appeal for him. Robert chuckles to himself. Who would have thought that he, Robert Scorpio, super spy and playboy, would find more pleasure in a wife and home than any other adventure he ever had in the past. And now he had lost it as quickly as he was given it. He lost his best friend and now his wife. Yes, maybe he should leave town because he knew it would hurt like hell to watch Luke and Holly together. He wouldn't be able to bear it.