Chapter 7:

Robin sighed deeply, letting the water run down her body as she replayed the nights events in her mind. She could not stop smiling as she shut off the faucet and stepped out of the shower. Wrapping herself in her fluffy robe, she felt like she was floating on air. Patrick told her he loved her...he really loved her. She had been waiting for what seemed like forever and just when she had almost given up hope...he came through. Humming softly to herself, she skipped out of her bathroom and into her bedroom. Turning on her stereo, the sounds of Kelly Clarkson's new song soon blasted through her speakers.

Guess this means you're sorry

You're standing at my door

Guess this means you take back

Dancing her way to her closet, she searched for her pajamas, air-drying while she sang along.

All you said before

Like how much you wanted

Anyone but me

Said you'd never come back

But here you are again

Putting on her pajama shorts and a thin tank top, Robin proceeded to her mirror and ran her brush through her hair.

Cuz we belong together now, yea

Forever united here somehow, yea

You got a piece of me

And honestly...

Using the brush as a makeshift microphone, Robin closed her eyes and sang like Patrick was right next to her.

My life (my life) would suck (would suck) without you

Just as she was going to go into the 2nd verse, the sounds of hand clapping flooded her ears. Looking up, she became aware of the amused smirk of Nikolas Cassadine. Completely embarrassed, she rushed to the stereo and shut off the offending appliance. "Okay how much of that did you see?" Robin asked as she placed her hands on her hips.

Nikolas just continued to laugh as he shut her door behind him and sat himself on her bed. Leaning back he smirked, "Enough to know that you have a career in Music if your dream of saving lives at General Hospital falls through."

Robin grabbed one of her throw pillows off her bed and hit him as she finished getting herself ready for bed. "Now is there a reason you're here this late at Casa de Scorpio or did you just feel the need to annoy me?"

There was a long pause as Nikolas tried to put his thoughts into words. He looked back at Robin, one of his oldest friends and the one person he thought could help him with his conflicting emotions, and with tears in his eyes whispered, "My dad is dying."

Rushing into his arms and holding him close as he sobbed, Robin felt her own face wet with tears. She knew how much his dad meant to Nik. Their families had been very close and she thought of Stefan like a second father. She couldn't believe that this was happening. After a few minutes passed, Nikolas stepped out of her embrace and started pacing her room. Robin watched him as he walked back and forth mumbling angrily to himself. "How did you find out? What happened? How bad is it?" Robin couldn't help the onslaught of questions that came out of her mouth. She was curious as well as worried and needed Nikolas to stop pacing and fill her in before she exploded. Grabbing his hand and pulling him back onto the bed, she turned her body towards his and said, "Okay, start from the beginning."

"Well my dad has been acting weird for a while now but I didn't think anything of it. He'd been going out of town frequently, but I thought it was for the new business merger he'd been talking about. Well anyways, today Jase and I were just hanging out when my dad said we were going to be having guests over. Thinking it was more of my dad's associates, I opened the door to find my mom and her new family on the other side."

Robin was all too aware of the drama between Nikolas and his mother. Being so young, they didn't understand why she had left but as they got older they learned the truth. She had fallen in love with adventurer Luke Spencer and together they had built a new life. They had moved back into town a few years ago with their two children, Lucky and Lulu Spencer. Right off the bat Nikolas had clashed with his step-siblings. She didn't pay much attention to the Spencers but from what she'd heard, they wouldn't be becoming best friends anytime soon. Lulu, best friends with Georgie Jones, had an ongoing "feud" with Maxie or in other words, Maxie took it upon herself to make her life hell. Lucky, a year younger than the rest of them, hung out with the popular Jocks and had taken Elizabeth from her brother. Though honestly, even if the two siblings were as kind as could be towards her, she still would have stayed away from them because her loyalty was to the Cassadines. Snapping out of her thoughts she listened as Nikolas continued with his story.

**********

(Flashback)

Jason looked around the dining room table, noting the defensive and tense postures of the ten guests' present. Sitting at the head of the table was Stefan, who seemed pre-occupied and distracted. To his left sat Nikolas who was shooting daggers across the table at Lucky who was seated between his girlfriend Liz and mother, Laura. Next to Laura was her youngest daughter, Lulu. Seated at the other end of the table was Alexis Davis, then Maxie and then Jason. It was an interesting crowd and the silence that had ensued was interrupted as the servers brought in the meal.

Stefan, hoping to make small talk, looked over the ground and said, "I hope you all enjoy this evening's prime rib, chef has been working extremely hard all afternoon to make this." As he said this, he noticed that his ex-wife's youngest had not touched her meal. "Lulu, is there something wrong with your meal."

Lulu pushed her plate out in front of her before answering, "I'm a vegetarian." "Then just eat your salad in silence." Maxie replied cattily. "Maxie, just worry about your own meal." Alexis warned. Jason shook his head as he waited for what he knew was coming next. Maxie, never one to let anything go spoke up, "I just think it's rude that she's not eating what the chef slaved over all afternoon for us to enjoy. Vegetarian my ass, I saw her wearing a fur lined jacket just last week" "Oh shut up Maxie!" Lucky called out. "Why don't you keep your mouth shut Spencer!" Nikolas angrily retorted. Soon the table was filled with yelling and accusations being thrown before Stefan slammed his fist onto the table ending all discussion. "Maxie, I'm sure Miss Lulu knows what foods she likes and Lucky, do not ever disrespect another guest at my table. Now let's continue with this wonderful meal."

After a few more minutes of silence Alexis announced that Maxie was chosen to be an intern for Devane Fashions and would be assisting Brenda in putting together the Annual Fall Fashion show. Congratulations were given and Maxie went on about how excited she was to be chosen. Not missing the spiteful look on his girlfriend's face, Lucky decided to add his two cents, "Well isn't that nepotism at it's best." Jason, aware of the dig at his cousin, turned towards him and asked, "What the hell is that supposed to mean Spencer?" The angry gaze between the two was broken by the soft voice of Elizabeth Webber, "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it Jason. It's just that Maxie is your cousin, so of course she would be the one chosen to be a part of the family business." "What's the matter Lizzie...jealous?" Maxie replied. She had worked hard on her proposal for the internship because she didn't want to get the position based on the fact that she was a Scorpio. "Why would she be jealous? She has more talent than you in her pinky and she doesn't have to rely on her family to get ahead." Lulu shouted out standing up for her brother's girlfriend. She was so tired of feeling inferior to Maxie Jones. "Stay out of this Shrewlu, no one is talking to you!" Maxie angrily shouted back.

Trying to calm the situation, Laura softly said, "Maxie, that was uncalled fo, my daughter is just trying to be honest with her opinion, so let's just move on." Alexis, fed up with trying to play happy family with her brother's ex yelled, "Don't talk to my daughter about honesty! Especially when you were going behind my brother's back for years...you hypocrite!" Tired of all the fighting, Nikolas stood up and walked out of the room. "Look what you did!" Everyone was so busy arguing that they didn't even notice Stefan follow his son out of the room.

Catching up to his son in the living room area, he joked, "Well that was quite a dinner show. We should charge admission next time." Noting that his son wasn't as amused, he turned serious. "I'm sorry that didn't go quite as expected."

"What exactly were you expecting dad? What was the point of inviting them over here?" Nikolas quietly asked. "Why are you suddenly pushing me towards mom? Do you not want me anymore?"

Pulling his son into a deep hug, Stefan shook his head, "I will always want you Nicky. You are the greatest and most important thing to me. I just don't want you to harbor any more anger towards your mother because you're going to need her someday and I don't want that weight on your shoulders."

Nikolas pulled out of his father's hug and asked, "What are you talking about? I will never need her, just like she didn't hesitate to leave us. I know who my real friends and family are and I don't need the love of a woman who didn't care enough to stay."

Stefan couldn't keep his silence any longer as he told his son, "I'm sick Nikolas." Nik looked up surprised. "Do you want me to call Alfred? Was it something you ate?" Stefan moved closer to his son, taking his hands in his and looking deep into his eyes he sighed, "No son...I have cancer."

Nikolas felt his heart stop, he couldn't breathe at the thought of his dad dying. Shaking his head in denial he looked to his father in hope that it was a joke. But was only greeted by the slight tear in his father's eyes as he nodded. Not able to deal with all the emotions that he felt himself drowning in, Nikolas left. He drove without a specific destination and ended up in front of the Scorpio's where he saw Robin's light on. Needing a distraction, he headed inside towards her room.

(End of Flashback)

*****

"I'm so sorry Nicky." Robin commiserated as he finished his story. Luckily she didn't know what it was like to lose her parents but working towards a medical career she knew all too well the complications of cancer. Scooting back in her bed and getting under the covers, she patted the side next to her as Nikolas took of his shoes and joined her. Laying back, she put her arm around her friend and let him cry on her shoulder. "Do you remember the time when we stole your dad's car to go to that Rock concert in New York, only to end up getting lost then arrested in Millerton?" Nikolas laughed at the memory. "He was soo pissed, I wasn't sure what was worse...going home with my dad or staying in jail with that crazy sheriff." "Or how about the time your dad bought you the new horse and a blizzard was coming so we decided to bring the horse into the house to keep warm?""Haha I thought Alfred was going to have a heart attack when he walked into the living room to find Butler chewing on the drapes." The two shared similar stories and reminiscent memories until they were slowly drifting off to sleep. "Thanks for keeping me company tonight Robs...I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been here."

Keeping her eyes closed, Robin turned over on her side, "No matter what happens with your dad Nik, you have a lot of people to lean on me. Your aunt, my family, Jason, Maxie, Patrick...we're all here for you."

Grinning widely, Nikolas mentioned, "Speaking of Patrick, what's going on with the two of you...miss My life would suck without you?"

Robin groaned as she put her pillow over her head muffling her reply, "Goodnight Nikolas." Still continuing to tease her, Nik pulled the pillow off her head and placed a kiss on her forehead, "Sweet dreams Robs...but keep the ones about Patty boy dry since I'm here and that would be awkward." Turning over and slapping him on the shoulder Robin grumbled, "Goodnight Nicky."