Chapter 30

This chapter is dedicated to J C Morgan for her suggestion on a scene for Milo and Emily.

Saturday Night 2:30 am

Lucky looked at the sleeping woman in the bed and sighed. How had he ended up here?

Playing hero again, good move, he silently chided himself.

He drove Melana home but then had to help her upstairs and into her apartment. The alcohol had kicked in to the point that she was out of it and mumbling about Milo and some guy named Jake, both of who obviously never loved her, if her slurred words were to be believed.

Then she passed out in his arms.

Now Lucky was afraid to leave her, afraid to even look away, because she could be drunk enough to throw up and choke on it or to stop breathing. Lucky wasn't sure if she was at that point or not. He doubted it but if he went home and something happened to this gorgeous heartbroken beauty, he would never forgive himself.

He pulled up a chair and settled in to wait out the night.

A few hours later

They had flown all night over the ocean. Nikolas and Kelly talked for hours about their past and their dreams.

It was when Nikolas brought up Stefan that Kelly started to understand this man she was halfway to being in love with already. All the things he said about Stefan's loyalty and devotion reminded Kelly of the things she saw in Nikolas. And when he spoke of how cursed Stefan had been, never able to outrun the war his mother and brother started with the Spencers, Kelly saw that Nikolas viewed himself the same way.

She would do anything to show him that he wasn't a replica of anyone who had come before in his family. He deserved to break free from his past, and she wanted to be the woman who helped him do just that.

Because Nikolas was making all her dreams come true. As they rode in the backseat of a rented limo through Paris, Kelly scooted close to him in the backseat. His arm slid around her shoulder.

She rested her head on him.

"Tired?" Nik asked

"Little bit," she whispered "But I don't want to go to sleep... not alone at least."

He titled her head up, with his hand under her chin,

"You don't have to, Kel."

Robin and Cruz rushed from the parking garage at General Hospital into the building and then the elevator.

She punched a button and then the doors slid close.

Their eyes met. In the car on the way home there had been tears and regrets from her, about time loss and holding onto anger too long. But not about being with Cruz, and for that he was grateful.

Stark fear decorated her features and made Cruz shake slightly at the slight of it. He reached for her hand, "Whatever happens, you can lean on me, got it?" he asked her.

Robin nodded, and while holding his gaze she felt almost strong enough to face whatever she was about to find out about Patrick's condition.

They exited the elevator hand in hand and saw Epiphany behind the nurse's station.

"How is he?" Robin cried

"Still in surgery," the head nurse told her. "Follow me."

Cruz gave her a questioning look. She clutched his hand tighter, silently urging him to come with her.

Epiphany took them to the waiting room. Robin stepped through the door and gasped.

The room was packed with her friends and family : Uncle Mac sat next to Georgie, Robert was pacing, Anna was red eyed, Noah was staring blankly into space while Bobbie rested her hand on his leg in comfort, Lainey and Ned stood near the window whispering to each other, Luke and Tracy were in a corner together. They had been at the Haunted Star with Robert when the call came.

Pete looked terrified and Liz held his hand, trying to keep him strong.

The room went silent as they all turned to look at her.

Robin lifted her chin, looked at Cruz for strength, and then said "He'll be fine."

Nikolas and Kelly checked into a room and went upstairs.

She gave him a lingering look- full of promises of all that night would be- and without a word stepped into the bathroom.

When she came out later, she was wearing only lingerie.

Nikolas sat on the bed, without his shoes on, his shirt was pulled out of his pants and a few buttons were undone.

He said, "I just want you to know..."

Kelly raised a finger to her lips. She shook her head no.

There would be no more talking tonight.

He stood up and reached out his hand to her, reached out toward a future he wanted to believe was possible.

And when her lips hit his, he felt it to his core, and as her hands desperately ripped open the buttons of his shirt, Kelly fought to pull Nikolas all the way into what she wanted: a world where he kissed her naked body every single night.

Sunday 5 am

Spencer wailed from his crib. Milo jumped off the couch at the same time Emily was jumping out of the bed in the other room.

Milo had the baby in his arms when Emily walked into the living room.

"Good morning," he whispered.

"It is even morning?" Emily yawned as she grabbed the diaper bag.

"It wasn't the last time he woke up," Milo said "It is now."

They got the baby changed and fed. They were all sitting on the couch together, Spencer was cooing.

"Thank you," Emily drug out the words "for staying her this weekend. Baby care is so much better as a tag team sport."

"No problem."

Emily stared at him, loving the way he looked holding a baby. Something in her gut actually fluttered for the first time ever.

It was an ache born of wanting to be a mother.

A image of them in a hospital room with a newborn flashed in her mind, and she lost her breath. Because it wasn't some fantasy.

Emily knew, without a doubt, it was a premonition.

Milo smiled and asked "Daydreaming, Em?"

"No." She scooted close to him, letting her shoulder rest against his. She inhaled his scent, and felt weak and secure at the same time.

She gave him a quick kiss. Spencer caught his hand in her hair.

She laughed and untangled his grip from her locks.

"Looks like this little guy is as crazy about you as I am," Milo said.

Emily blinked back tears, she darted her gaze away, feeling exposed. All her emotions were bubbling toward the surface and it shocked her. Milo was no Starter Guy anymore.

He was who she wanted to spend forever with and there was no doubt in her mind about it.

Milo saw the change in her, the way she was biting her lips and slightly shaking.

"Tell me," he said softly.

She looked at him. "Will you spend next weekend here too? Not as a babysitter but...will you ... do you want to... Milo," she placed her hand on his cheek "I'm crazy about you too. Absolutely crazy for you."

His eyes darkened with desire. He swallowed. "Do you really want to wait till next weekend? How about Monday night I make us dinner over here and then I show you just how much what you just said means to me?"

"You got yourself a deal, Milo."

Sunday, 7 am

Melana woke up and groaned, as the hangover monster took hold of her.

With her eyes closed, she wondered Why did I drink so much? Oh yeah, the hot singer who was singing about being crazy in love with some one... god, it would be something to be that woman.. having that guy to come home to every night...

Her mind flashed to him, remembering how he was talking to her at the bar, how his smile was breathtaking.

A slow and sexy grin spread over her face.

"Good morning, beautiful."

Melana bolted upright and yelped when she saw Lucky sitting in a chair a few feet away.

"What the hell? Why are you? Did we? You're him! That sexy...um.. singer ..."

"And you are the mouthy drinker. Now that we are reacquainted I should be going. I have to be at work in a couple of hours," he said.

Melana furrowed her eyebrow.

"I'm a cop, remember? Officer Lucky Spencer."

"Right, right, best of intentions... that was a great performance."

Lucky looked away, embarrassed. "I used to think I was a singer. I guess I was feeling nostalgic last night. I doubt I'll go back to open mic night again."

Melana peeked beneath the covers, she was completely dressed, and then climbed out of bed.

"You should," she told him "You're amazingly talented."

Lucky gave her a unconvinced look.

"So what made you stay the night?" Melana asked "If we didn't.."

"Just wanted to make sure you were okay," Lucky said

Melana felt something that she hadn't since she was a little girl: taken care of.

"Want some coffee?" she asked

"I should go."

"One cup. To pay you back. Or do you want me to be in your debt?"

"I guess I can stay for one cup. Not like I have anyone to get home to."

That was the first good piece of news Melana had been given in years.

She told him, "Okay you make the coffee, supplies are in the kitchen on the counter, while I shower and change."

Melana darted into the bathroom.

Lucky chuckled as he headed into the other room. Now he could add bossy to what he knew about her. Bossy, mouthy, and a drinker.

There was something very familiar, very almost Spencer-like about this chick.

And he liked that.

6:30 am

Elizabeth had to get home to Cameron before he woke up in the morning and found Lulu there instead of her.

Pete came with her. His eyes were red and he was as quiet as she ever saw him.

"Is Patrick...?" Lulu asked when they stepped inside of the apartment.

"He made it out of the surgery. We have to wait now," Liz said.

Lulu nodded. She started to leave but gave Liz a quick hug first. Lulu whispered, "Let me know if there is anything, any little thing, I can do."

Then she nodded at Pete and slipped out the door.

Liz went to check on her little boy, when she came back Pete was sitting on the couch, a hollow eyed expression on his face.

"He was always the better one out of the two of us," Pete said, his words were dazed. "He studied more, he took more chances, he partied harder, he fell in love first, and how he loved Robin... re really loved her... he lived... he was my... I want to be like him when I grow up."

Elizabeth sat down next to him and used her hand to gently turn his head toward her. She broke a rule then. You were never supposed to tell a patient's family something that might not be true.

But she knew what Pete needed and gave it to him.

Liz said, "Patrick is going to survive."

Pete couldn't think straight. He was desperate to believe her, to grasp at whatever hope was offered to him, and so he did.

"I can't get through this alone..." Pete said

"You are not alone," Liz told her and once more, like she had all night, she reached for his hand.

"I can't believe he was in a car accident...another car accident..."

"Another?"

Pete let his eyes drift close, when he finally opened them again he started to talk about the time he was in an accident. One that changed how he thought about life, and death, and love. One that changed everything.

7:45 am

Robin had paced for hours, she had cried, she had ranted at her father-because he was there and he could take it and she knew that- she had hugged her mother and clung like a small child.

Now she just sat in a chair, with Cruz next to her, and stared straight ahead.

Dr. Ford stepped into the room.

Robin immediately looked at Cruz, who gave her a steady and calm look that made her able to stand up and walk across the room. He followed her, his hand on her back.

Quietly, she ordered the doctor, "Tell me."

8 am

Kelly woke up and the first thing she saw was the amazing body of a sleeping prince. She smiled.

Kelly wondered from bed to the bathroom. Nikolas found her a half hour later, in a steamy shower, and stepped inside.

"Good morning," he said sexily

"Yes, it is a good morning," she agreed

Soon her back was against the tile and his mouth was on hers.

9:15 am

Ned and Lainey walked through the halls of General Hospital, hand in hand. They both wore exhausted expressions on their faces.

"I have a full schedule today," Lainey said, sighing, "Eight appointments with patients."

"Cancel them."

"I can't..." but her protest was weak.

"Cancel them," Ned repeated "And come home to bed."

And that is what she did.

Later, Lainey stripped down to her pink bra and underwear and crawled beneath the covers with Ned. He pulled her close.

They were both glad to be alive and in love. Glad to have this morning where they could lean on each other and get through this latest tragic turn of events.

He whispered, "I do love you. You don't doubt that, do you?"

"Not in the least." She smiled as he kissed her. "And I love you, Ned. I truly do."

10 am

He was in a coma. His brain was swollen.

Robin stood next to his bed, in the recovery room.

She was afraid to touch him. He looked fragile. And one thing Patrick had never been was fragile.

He looked like a hurt little boy. He looked like he could die.

But he couldn't... he just couldn't.

Robin said aloud, "You can not die."

She liked the way her voice sounded when she said it- strong and authoritative- so unlike she felt.

She repeated, firmly, "You can not die."

Cruz walked up the doors of the recover room. His breath caught at the sight of Robin, such a tiny woman and terrified right now, but with her back straight and her chin out. She was ready to take on this battle.

She glanced over and met his eyes. A small smile came to her lips.

Silently, they agreed that everything would work out just the way it was meant to.

NOTE- thanks for reading to this point. I still have no clue how long this story might run. When I sit down I am going to put some work into it and figure out a good spot to wrap up all the stories. I feel like this fic is now entering the last act.

Thanks to all who ever left a review on this story,

Sara