Chapter 15
Robin opened the door to the house and was surprised to see Maxie and Emma standing in the living room waiting for her. "Hey guys – what's going on?"
Emma just giggled and handed her mom an envelope. "This is for you mommy."
Robin took the envelope and winked at her little girl. "Is it from you?"
"No, it's from your secret admirer." Emma leaned down and picked up a single red rose. "This is too."
"My secret admirer? Hmm, I wonder who that could be?" Robin took the rose and then opened the envelope. She pulled out the piece of paper and read it out loud. "Go to where you had your first meal with the love of your life."
"It's a treasure hunt!" Emma jumped up and down, excited to be a part of the game. She reached down and picked up her backpack from behind the sofa. "Come on Maxie."
"Wait – where are you going?"
"I am taking Emma to her friend's house for a sleepover while you go and find your treasure." Maxie took a moment to hug her cousin. "I love you. Have fun!"
"I love you too." She leaned over and hugged Emma. "And you too. Be good and have fun tonight."
"I will and I love you too mommy." Emma grabbed Maxie's hand. "Let's go!"
Emma dragged Maxie out the door while Robin read the note one last time before heading out the door. "To the Metro Court."
Robin got off the elevator and walked over to the bar. "Excuse me? I was wondering…"
"Good evening Dr. Scorpio." The bartender set a glass of champagne on the bar. "Compliments of your secret admirer."
"Thank you." Robin reached into her purse to give the man a tip but he waved her off.
"It has more than been taken care of ma'am." He smiled at her again before going to take care of another customer.
Robin drank her champagne and remembered that first dinner with Patrick. He had been so arrogant, insisting on sitting with her and wanting to know why she didn't like him. She lied and told him that she didn't hate him, she just found him mildly amusing. Denial had definitely been her friend at the time.
It was also the first time she had opened up to him – talking to him about Stone and Jason while he told her a little bit about his parents and his dad's drinking problem. They hadn't known it at the time but it was the beginning of something special for the two of them.
Robin finished her champagne and set the glass back down on the bar. She started to get up but the bartender stopped her. "Dr. Scorpio, I am to give this to you before you leave." He handed her another rose and note.
Robin opened up the note and read the card inside to herself.
You first kissed the love of your life here.
Robin slid the card back in the envelope and headed to the elevator.
Robin got off the elevator and headed straight to the nurse's desk. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who was holding her next clue. "Good evening Epiphany."
"Dr. Scorpio – it is so good to see you again." Epiphany came out from behind the nurse's desk and hugged her tight. "You look well."
"Thank you Epiphany - so do you." Robin sighed as she looked around at the hustle and bustle of the hospital. "Looks like some things never change."
Epiphany glared at Dr. Obrecht as she stormed down the hallway. "And some things do." She turned her attention back to Robin. "Any chance we may be getting you back here on a permanent basis?"
"I have an appointment with Mien Fuhrer next week so we will see." Robin didn't want to get anyone's hopes up about her returning to GH full time. "I think you might have something for me?"
"Yes I do." Epiphany went to nurse's desk and got out another rose and note. She handed them to Robin and smiled. "Don't keep me in suspense – what does it say?"
Robin opened up the note and laughed. "Sorry Epiphany – this note is not for public viewing."
Epiphany shook her head. "Good night Dr. Scorpio."
"Good night Epiphany." Robin waited until she was on the elevator before she read the note once more.
Go to where you first offered to 'bang' the love of your life.
"Dr. Scorpio?" The woman behind the bar of the Floating Rib flagged Robin down as soon as she walked in.
Robin took a seat at the bar. "Yes?"
"This is for you." The woman set a shot of tequila, a salt shaker and a lime slice down on a napkin in front of her. "I'm supposed to tell you to lick it, slam it and suck it."
Robin rolled her eyes but did as she was told, remembering the many nights spent here when the place was called Jake's and Coleman kept the tequila coming for girls nights out. As soon as she was done, the woman set another rose and note on the bar. "You are one lucky woman."
Robin smiled. "I know."
Robin walked into the courtyard and instantly was taken back to that night almost nine years ago when her entire future changed. She read the note one more time before looking around for the next clue.
This is where we first said I love you to each other.
Robin looked around for a clue but didn't see anything. She was looking under a bench when she heard music coming towards her. It was Cloud 9, the song Patrick had serenaded her with the night he had first told her he loved her.
She turned around to see Kelly walking towards her with her iPod held up. "This is unbelievably corny and sweet at the same time."
Robin laughed out loud. "You just described the man perfectly."
"Here." Kelly handed Robin another rose and note combination. "I have a date to get to myself."
Robin hugged her friend close. "Thank you Kelly."
"All I want is for you to be happy. You deserve it." Kelly pulled back. "Now go – you're almost to the end."
Robin took a deep breath and then opened up the final envelope.
This is where third time was the charm.
Robin stepped into the holding room and saw Patrick sitting at the table with his hands in cuffs. "Hi."
"I bet Mac loved getting to cuff you again." Robin sat down and took his hands in hers.
"Yeah he did." Patrick squeezed her hands. "Robin, I love you. I have always loved and I know I always will. You are the only woman who understands me and can deal with my arrogant ass – putting me in my place when I need it. You saved my life, literally and figuratively. You have given me everything I never knew I wanted."
Robin wiped away a tear. "And you saved me. How do you think I got through the past years? By thinking about you and Emma, remembering everything we have been through and what we have created together. Remembering all those little moments and hoping we could have them again kept me alive and sane."
"And I threw it all away." Patrick looked down, ashamed at the way he had behaved over the past few years.
"No, you did what you had to do to create a good life for our daughter and I love you for that. Your devotion to Emma and determination to give her the most normal life possible is the sexiest thing about you."
He smiled at her. "Not my dimples?"
"Not even close." She stroked his hand. "I love you and trust you more than anything and I hope you know that."
"And I love you and trust you more than anything." He sighed. "Robin, you are the only woman I have ever been in love with and I want to grow old with you. I want to go to Emma's dance recitals and soccer games together. I want to sit next to you when she gets married and play with our grandchildren together. I want to be old and gray, sitting on the front porch in our rocking chairs doing the crossword puzzle together and realize that I love you more than the day we first got married." Patrick stood up and walked around the table. He got down on one knee and pulled her engagement ring out of his scrub pocket. "I want it all and I want it all with you. Robin, will you marry me?"
Robin bit her lip and smiled at him. "With all my heart, yes."
Patrick jumped up, slid the ring on her finger and wrapped his still cuffed hands around her waist. "I love you so much."
Robin got on her tiptoes and kissed him. "And I love you, so much."
She laid her head on his chest and hugged him tight. Finally, they were a family again.
