Chapter 11

"I think Robin knows about us"

"Oh?" Noah asked, unbuttoning Brenda's blouse. She couldn't remember the last time Noah had actually let her take off her own clothes but she didn't mind. Pushing her blouse from her shoulders, he sucked lightly on her neck. "What did you tell her?" he asked before moving to the other side.

She found it difficult to concentrate on anything other than his lips on her skin. "I...uh....I told her nothing was going on."

Smirking, he put her hand against his already straining erection. "I wouldn't call this nothing."

Brenda licked her lips as the tips of her fingers danced over the length. "Oh it's certainly not nothing." Pulling his green sweater over his head and tossing it to the side, Brenda pressed her lips in the middle of his chest. "I just didn't want to out you. And I think she bought it - I mean she dropped it after that."

He threaded his fingers through her hair. "I don't have a problem with it Brenda" he said kindly. "We're under wraps because it's what you want"

She took a step back. "Is it a problem for you?"

He held out his hand to her. "No. Whenever you're ready, I will be too."

"What if I'm never ready?"

He pulled her to him and slowly danced with her in the middle of his living room. "Then you're never ready."

"I'm not embarrassed to tell people we're dating" she said against his chest.

"I know."

Lifting her head she looked up at him. "How is it that you are so understanding?"

He smiled and tugged gently on her bottom lip. "Because I'm incredibly old and I've lived an interesting life." He closed his eyes as she ran her hands over his chest. Every time she touched him he felt energy course through his body. He had resigned himself to a solitary life and was quite comfortable with his decision and then Brenda charmed her way in and now he couldn't imagine not sharing his bed or his life with her. "I love the way you touch me" he said huskily.

She pushed her hips into his eliciting a hiss. "Really?"

Walking backwards, he sat down in the rocking chair he had made several years before and held out his hand to her. Brenda sauntered to him and hooking her legs through the open spaces straddled him. Noah groaned as she made contact with his arousal. She ground her hips against him as he slowly rocked back and forth. Crashing her lips on to his, Brenda claimed his mouth. Sucking greedily on his tongue, she threaded her fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss.

Noah couldn't keep his hands from her. Pushing her blouse the rest of the way from her body, Noah buried his face between her breasts breathing in her heady scent. He pushed himself further against her and smiled as Brenda mewled. Sliding her bra straps from her shoulders, he freed her breasts from their cups. Hotly locking eyes with her he watched her reaction as gently twisted and tugged on her nipples. Brenda threw her head back and pushed herself further into his hands, heat gushing between her legs. Hiking her skirt up over her hips, she continued to move in circles over him, feeling the throbbing through his pants. He lavished her neck and shoulders with wet, hot kisses. Nipping at her collarbone, he gasped as she rolled his nipples between her fingers. "Okay beautiful girl, I need you out of that skirt" he panted.

Brenda unhooked her legs and slowly slid from his lap. Dropping her head she looked at him from under her eyelashes. "This skirt?" she asked seductively. Noah nodded wordlessly unable to take his eyes from her. Reaching behind her, Brenda unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the ground. Stepping out of it she hooked her thumbs through her black satin panties. "I suppose you want these off too?"

Noah stared at the damp patch between her legs and thought he would come on the spot. Brenda slid her panties down her legs and kicked them to the side. Spreading her legs slightly she palmed her breasts and sighed deeply. Unable to take anymore, Noah stood up and unzipping his pants, let them fall to the floor. Brenda arched an eyebrow as she stared at his jutting erection. "No boxers? My, my Dr. Drake - what would people think?"

"They would think that you are clearly driving me mad. Come here" he growled. Brenda walked towards him and gently pushed him back into the chair. Sheathing himself quickly, he stared at her wantonly. Hooking her legs through the open spaces, she hovered above him, letting his sensitive head graze the entrance to her tight channel. She lowered herself on his shaft at an agonizing rate. Noah gripped her hips and pushed up into her. "Ahhh!" Brenda exclaimed as he filled her. Rocking back and forth on the chair, Brenda moved up and down, clenching around his shaft. Dipping his head, Noah ravished her breasts. Taking her nipple between his teeth he smiled as Brenda cried out his name. She needfully ran her hand through his hair and over his shoulders. She could not get enough of him and always wanted more. Noah began to thrust harder as he took her whole breast in his mouth. Leaning forward Brenda sucked hard on his neck, stopping only as her orgasm tore through her.

"Fuck NOAH!!" she cried, her head thrown back. Feeling her spasm around him was more than he could resist and he climaxed hard against her.

Brenda collapsed against his shoulder and nuzzled his neck. Leaning his head against the back of his chair in exhaustion, he closed his eyes as he traced his fingers down her back. Brenda closed her eyes, content. She listened the steady rhythm of his heart while slowly running her hand over his chest. "I like this chair" she murmured.

"I love you Brenda" he said softly. Her eyes flew open.

xxxxx

Rolling over and feeling an empty space beside her, Robin pried her eyes opened. Sighing, she sat up and threw the covers back. Grabbing Patrick's hoodie, she wrapped it around her and padded down the stairs. She stopped on the last step and looking in the living room smiled as she wiped the sleep from her face. Cradling Rian in his arm he was reading The Cat in the Hat. She walked in to the room and cuddled up beside him on the couch, pulling the throw around the three of them.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked kissing his shoulder.

"No"

"Gracie, Ellie or Nathalie?"

"Yes, yes and yes" he said as he tickled Rian's chin.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Robin marveled at how much Patrick had grown in the time they had known each other but getting him to talk about his feelings was still a near impossibility.

He shook his head. "I can't fix it for any of them - I either don't know what the problem is or I don't know what the solution is."

She rubbed his shoulder. "You're not meant to know everything."

He sighed deeply. "Nathalie was with me every step of the way when you were sick, offering advice and support. Even when I crapped all over her she wouldn't back away and what can I do for her in her time of need? Nothing."

"That's not true. However the custody decision comes down Patrick she will need you. You are her history here. You're the only one who knows Drew and that's important in all of this." She laced her fingers through his. "Now talk to me about Ellie."

"No change - full paralysis from mid-chest."

"How many times have you called in?"

He smirked. "Enough that Epiphany threatened to remove my spleen through my nose if I called again before I'm back on shift." Robin giggled. "I just don't understand it - I've reviewed her films and all the operative notes and I can't find a single reason as to why the paralysis continues. The swelling should have gone down enough to see some improvement. Her parents are devastated and I have nothing to tell them."

"Baby, sometimes there aren't answers" she said soothingly.

"What if I did something Robin? What if this is my fault and not only can't I figure that out, I have no clue how to fix it for her." He lifted his arm, allowing Robin to snuggle in closer to him.

"Her tumor was enormous and it's not outside the realm of possibility that there are pieces of the tumor pressing on her cord. As she starts her chemo the pieces may shrink and she'll improve."

Patrick was silent for several minutes as he stroked Rian's face. "I promised her Robin - I promised her that she would be up and playing with her friends after her surgery." He sighed. "Having a bedside manner sucks!"

She laughed as she dropped a kiss over his heart. "I know it's hard Patrick. You've done the very best you can with her and you'll keep working to make her better, that's all anyone can ask for."

He leaned his head on hers. "Sometimes my best isn't enough" he said softly.

xxxxx

Nathalie nervously pulled on the collar of her blouse. She had dressed head-to-toe in black figuring colour would be inappropriate for the day. Grace had spent nearly 20 minutes with the judge, Alexis and Douglas. The sympathetic look on Alexis' face when she returned from chambers told her all she needed to know. Her daughter blamed her for the death of her father and not understanding what was at stake would have wasted no time in sharing that thought with the judge. He asked for a three hour recess to consider the evidence and now nearly five hours later she sat beside Alexis waiting to hear the fate of her children.

The judge started the preamble to his decisions about how difficult custody decisions are and how heartwarming it was to see so many people who wanted the best for Grace and Oliver.

"It is clear from both the testimony of Mrs. Walker and my conversation with Grace Walker that this is a family in a lot of pain. Grief provokes different behaviour in different people and while I recognize Mrs. Walker's right to find comfort and peace where she can, she is no longer a single woman whose decisions only affect her. Every choice she makes has a direct impact on her children. While I certainly have no doubt about her love for her children, this case is not about who loves the children more, it is about what is best for Grace and Oliver. Children need structure and boundaries and they need to be able to rely on their parents to provide that to them. Past behaviour is a good indicator for future behaviour and unless Mrs. Walker finds some professional help to assist her with the reality regarding her husband's death, I am concerned that she will resort to the promiscuity and perhaps even drug use of her youth. I would therefore strongly encourage Mrs. Walker to seek assistance from a counselor or suicide support group or both. Until she seeks the help I believe she needs I am not confident about her ability to parent in the best interest of her children. Therefore, I hereby award temporary physical custody of Grace Walker and Oliver Walker to John and Anne Harder with unsupervised visitation by Nathalie Walker every second weekend, beginning with this coming weekend. My decision today is temporary and I will revisit it with all parties in three months time."