Chapter 12

Nathalie said nothing as they made their way back to Wyndermere. Her parents would arrive tomorrow morning at 9 with a representative from Child and Family Services to assume custody. Patrick had offered to return with them to Wyndermere and she had merely shrugged. The three of them walked into the main sitting room and both men sank into chairs, Nathalie remained standing.
Nikolas patted the seat beside him. "Come sit with me for a couple of minutes"

"No" she said with almost no trace of emotion in her voice. "I asked Alfred to get the kids' things ready and as soon as he brings them down we'll head home."

He looked at her in surprise. "You're ...you aren't staying here tonight?"

She shook her head. "My parents are coming first thing in the morning and I want to spend the night alone with my children." Patrick shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he watched the car crash before him.

"I can be with you in the morning if you want" he offered.

Nathalie smiled sadly. "That's kind but I would hate anyone to think that I'm returning to my promiscuous ways."

Getting up from the chair he walked towards her, trying to reach her before she got too far away. "Nathalie, we love each other. That is hardly promiscuous."

She backed away from, almost afraid for him to touch her. "I think we need to rethink things Nikolas."

He rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. "I cannot be the only one fighting for us Nat - if you want this to work you have to meet me half way."

"I don't have any fight left so I don't think this is going to work." She looked over to the stairs as Grace came bounding down. Mary followed behind carrying Oliver.

"Patty!!" she squealed, bypassing her mother and running straight to his open arms. He scooped her up as she covered his face in kisses.

Nikolas put his hand on Nathalie's arm. "You can't mean that" he said quietly. He felt her slipping from him and he was overcome by sadness. Blinking several times he tried to will his tears from his eyes.

Her eyes were vacant as she looked at him. "I do. You're a wonderful guy Nikolas and there is a woman out there who will make you very happy."

"I don't want another woman, I want you" his voice rising as panic gripped his chest. "Stay and fight - fight for us."

She shrugged. "I am ashes where I once was fire." Walking over to Mary, she took Oliver in her arms. "Come along Grace - we're going home"

"I don't want to go!" she said forcefully. "I want to stay here and wait for Lulu."

"NO!" Nathalie snapped. "We are going home now. Say goodbye to Mary and to Nikolas and let's go. I am not asking you, I'm telling you."

Grace's bottom lip quivered at her mother's sharp tone. "I don't wanna go" she whined.

"Yeah well, we don't always get what we want - you'll learn to live with disappointment - I have."

"Nat..." Nikolas made another attempt.

"I'm sorry Nikolas" her voice trembled as she spoke. Grabbing the two backpacks she headed to the door with Patrick and Grace following behind. Patrick shot Nikolas a sympathetic look but it did little to change his feeling that he was watching part of his life walk out the door. He sank to the couch and cradled his head in his hands.

xxxxxx

"Judge Jeffries?"

"Yes?" the judge asked not looking up from his papers.

"I have a delivery for you" the young man said approaching his desk.

"You can leave it out front with my assistant" he said dismissively.

"I don't think you'll want me to leave this with your assistant." He tossed the thick envelope onto his desk.

The judge flinched and picked it up. Tearing open the seal, he smiled as he thumbed through the packet of bills.

"Mrs. Cassadine thanks you for a job well done" Bruce said.

Pocketing the envelope, the judge looked up. "Tell Mrs. Cassadine that I am always happy to help."

xxxxxx

"Mmm - pureed carrots - how tasty are those?" Robin asked Rian as he mushed his food with his hands before sticking them in his mouth. Rian giggled as his brown eyes danced with laughter.

"I've always thought food was more fun if you were allowed to play with it."

Robin jumped. "Brenda! I didn't hear you come in." She rubbed her hand over her heart trying to steady her breathing.

"Sorry" she said sheepishly. "I called out, I thought you heard me."

"That's okay." She offered another spoonful to Rian. "What brings you by?"

"Is Patrick here?" Her eyes darted around the room.

Tilting her head, she curiously studied her friend's face. "No - he's with Nat - what's up?"

"Poor Nathalie" Brenda said quietly. "I can't imagine what she's going through."

Robin nodded. Patrick had been almost as distraught as Nathalie when the decision came down. Tearing from the courtroom Patrick kept walking until he was standing outside taking one unsteady breath after another. Robin followed him with his winter coat in her hands. She wrapped it around his shoulders as he stared at the sky. Standing behind him she snaked her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. He said nothing instead closing his hands over hers. It only took a few minutes before she felt the tension leave his body.

"Patrick is going to stay with her while she packs up the kids. I guess her parents are coming in the morning." Robin fed another spoonful to her son. "And now that we've made some small talk, care to tell me what's up?"

Brenda got up from her chair and walking to the counter, poured herself a glass of wine. "So, um, remember last night when you asked me if something was going on between Noah and me?"

"Yes and it cost me a wine glass."

Taking a big gulp, Brenda placed the glass back on the counter. "I lied."

"Really" she replied sarcastically. "You don't say."

"Do you need me to give you a minute or two so you can gloat about being right?"

"I'm a good multi-tasker" she said as she wiped carrots from Rian's hands. "I probably only need 30 seconds." Robin danced in her seat. "I am so right! I am so right! Kay, done."

Brenda rolled her eyes. "You're hysterical" she deadpanned.

"Thank you" she grinned. "So...you're sleeping with my father-in-law."

"God -it sounds so Maury Povich."

"Really? I was thinking it sounded more Jerry Springer - now if you were pregnant and didn't know who the daddy was *that* would be Maury"

Brenda nodded. "Good point."

"So - sex with my father-in-law - how long has that been going on?" she asked casually.

Brenda reached for her wine glass. "Since your wedding." Robin raised her eyebrows. "Can we discuss details later? I have a problem." She pulled her sleeves over her hands, nervously twisting the material around.

"What's the problem?" Robin asked in concern.

"He told me he loved me."

"Pardon?" she asked amusedly.

"He told me he loves me!" she repeated frantically.

"What did you say back?"

"Nothing" she shrugged "I kissed him before he could say it again."

"I see. Could you please pour me a glass of wine - I think I'm going to need it."

Brenda brought the bottle and a second glass to the table and slouched into the chair beside her. "He loves me Robs - what the hell does that even mean?"

Robin bit back a smile. "I think it means he really, really likes you to which I say good for both of you."

"Aren't you weirded out by this?"

"It's my father-in-law Bren - not my father. Of course when Patrick finds out he might implode but that will just be fun for me." She was genuinely happy for both of them. She held Noah in such affection and wanted him to be happy. That he could find that with her best friend, who needed a man to love her for exactly who she was, was just a bonus for her.

"Can we not tell Patrick just yet - I'm not sure I can handle that right now."

Robin giggled. "I'm not sure Patrick can handle that right now!"

"I have to admit I'm a little disturbed at how much you're enjoying this."

"Brenda - do you love him?" Robin asked seriously. "Because if you don't or if you can't, you need to cut him loose."

She chewed on her bottom lip. "I could love him Robin but I could hurt him really badly."

"Then don't hurt him" she said firmly. "Loving him is not a choice Brenda - your heart dives in before your head can catch up but hurting him, that's a choice and you don't have to do that."

"He's a good man Robin" she said quietly as she swirled the wine in her glass. "He is so gentle with me there are times I think I might pass out from it all."

Robin closed her head over Brenda's. In the more than 10 years they had been friends there was very little they hadn't shared with each other. "It's okay to accept what he's offering you Brenda. You and I have both spent years running from love and I have to say when you finally stop running and let someone in" she looked at Rian "the results can be off the charts."

"I haven't listened to my heart in so long that I don't know where it even is."

"You know sometimes if you just take a leap, your heart will make itself known soon enough."

Brenda shook her head. "I don't know" she whispered.

"Noah would be worth taking a chance for."