Chapter 58

Patrick held Joshua as he waited for Emma and Robin's parent to arrive at the hospital. Mac was down in the lobby, ready to bring the group straight to the nursery so they could meet the latest addition to the family.

Joshua Malcolm Scorpio-Drake was sleeping contentedly in his father's arms. 21 inches long and weighing in at 8lbs, 7oz, he was a healthy baby boy with dark brown hair and his father's dimple. He had had his first bottle, burped and then had quickly fallen back to sleep, exhausted from his first few hours out of his mommy's tummy.

"Daddy?" Emma was in the doorway, being held in her Uncle Mac's arms. "Is that my brother?"

Patrick carried Josh out of the nursery and over to his sister. "Emma, meet the little boy who will be annoying you for the next 50 years."

Emma looked down at the little boy nestled in her father's arms. "He looks like me – he has mommy's freckles."

Patrick smiled at her as she leaned down and gave her baby brother a kiss. The smile quickly faded with Emma's next questions. "Where's mommy? Can I see her?"

Mac looked at Patrick and quickly answered for him. "She is sleeping right now – having your brother made her really tired."

Emma's little face fell at the news. "But I want to see her."

"Me too baby, but she will wake up soon and then you can see her." Patrick was trying to keep it together but he didn't know how much longer he would be able to.

Mac decided it was time to step in and help out. "Why don't you and I go have dinner to celebrate your new baby brother being here? Then we can go back to my house and watch movies so mommy and daddy can get some sleep. Sound good?"

"Can I get a bacon cheeseburger?" Mac nodded his head. "And a chocolate milkshake?"

"I think that we could definitely arrange that." Mac smiled at her while watching Patrick closely. He needed to get Emma out of there before Patrick completely broke down. "Give everyone kisses and hugs and we will get going."

Emma kissed her brother one more time and then gave all the adults kisses and hugs, saving her dad for last. She gave him two kisses. "The last one was for mommy – can you give it to her for me?"

Patrick took a deep breath, swallowing back his tears. "Of course I will baby. Go have fun with Uncle Mac." He looked at Mac. "Thank you."

"Just take care of her," Mac looked down at Josh, "and him. We'll call you later."

Mac carried Emma down the hall and to the elevator. The three adults waited until the doors closed before Anna walked over and took Josh out of Patrick's arms and handed him to Robert. She then wrapped her arms around her son-in-law and walked him over to a couch. Patrick collapsed into it.

Robert gently walked their grandson up and down the hall as Anna comforted the man. "Patrick, how is she?"

"I don't know. They put her isolation…" he paused for a moment, "Epiphany said it was touch and go, they almost lost her." Epiphany had stopped by to meet the latest member of the Scorpio-Drake clan and had told him exactly what had happened during the c-section – she felt he had a right to know.

"But they didn't." Patrick looked at Anna. "Our girl has survived so much and she hasn't even seen her son yet. Trust me, she is not going anywhere, not for a long time. It's like Mac said, she just needs a little sleep and she will be back to arguing with you in no time."

She took his hand in his. "Robert and I are going to spend a little time with our grandson – you go and check on Robin." Patrick looked at Robert and Anna could see he was torn about leaving the newborn – Joshua would not be allowed in isolation. "We'll take care of him – go."

Patrick sighed and, after giving Josh one last kiss, left the nursery and went to see his wife.

"He has your freckles and my dimple." Patrick held Robin's hand in his gloved ones as he told her about their son. "Epiphany said he let out a big scream when they got him out – probably pissed to be leaving you. He is definitely my son."

Patrick waited for a response but none came. "Anyway, he is healthy and his first HIV test came back negative. We'll do his protocol but the doctor sees no reason why he won't remain that way."

Patrick's face mask caught his tears as he began to cry. "Come on Sunshine, you can't give up now. We have survived so much, faked deaths, psycho stalkers, epidemics, kidnappings – you have got to stop doing that to me by the way, to get to here and you are not quitting on me now. I'm just playing by your rules. We agreed that walking out was acceptable, giving up was not. So don't give up – not now."

Patrick squeezed her hand and laid his covered head down on her bed, watching her closely. "I love you."

"Love you too." Robin's soft voice was music to his ears.

"Hey, hey," he sat up on the side of the bed and stroked her face, "welcome back."

"Josh?"

"Healthy, happy and currently being spoiled by your parents." Robin looked at him and he answered the question before she could ask it. "Negative."

Robin let out a sigh of relief. "What happened?"

"Placental abruption but you are going to be okay now." Robin touched his face mask as a look of disbelief crossed her face. "I swear – Dr. Nord is just being extra cautious. We are all going to be okay."

Patrick pushed the call button. "I'm going to let the doctor examine you while I check on Josh." It took all the self control he had to not rip off his mask and kiss her. Instead, he touched her face and then squeezed her hand. "Welcome back Adventure Girl."