Chapter 22

Robin got down from her stool and stretched. Hours spent bent over a microscope were not good for the posture or the muscles. Closing her eyes, she rubbed the back of her neck trying to release the tightness. Her lips curved into a smile as she felt a familiar pair of hands on her shoulders, massaging them. Leaning back, she felt his warm breath on her skin.

"Looking for a little release?" he asked huskily.

"Why doctor - I'm a married woman - my husband will object."

"Husband? You are too beautiful to stay with that lout, leave him and run away with me" he said, kissing the back of her neck.

"You are so right" she teased "Let's get out of here."

"Hey!" Patrick objected. "You could at least put up a little fight."

Robin turned around to face him, giggling. "Aw, are you pouting?"

"I do NOT pout." He crossed his arms across his chest as Robin arched her eyebrow. "EXCEPT when my wife is so willing to run away with a handsome stranger."

"I see - he was handsome was he? Arrogant much?" She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "I hate when our schedules overlap and I don't get my morning cuddle time with you."

He smiled, snaking his hand around her waist. "Me too - though it's not the cuddling I'm missing."

Robin rolled her eyes. She took it as a good sign that Patrick was playful again. Though it didn't mean he was free of worry, it did mean that he was feeling hopeful and hope was something she could work with. She linked her fingers through his belt loops. "How are our friends today?"

Patrick let out a deep sigh. "Gracie was sick most of the night and hasn't been able to keep anything down this morning. I think Garcia is going to consider putting in a central line and doing intravenous nutrition if her stomach doesn't settle in the next few hours. Poor thing, one more procedure."

Feeling his heart hammer in his chest, she ran her hand over his chest soothingly. Patrick wanted so badly to support Grace and Nathalie in the way she had supported him when he needed her but he felt things so deeply and so intensely that at times he could be knocked back by the smallest thing. Some may have viewed it as weakness but she saw it as proof that he was the man, and then some, that she always knew him to be. "How's Nathalie?"

"I finally convinced her to take a shower and change into the fresh clothes Lulu brought her but she wouldn't nap in my office and she hasn't eaten anything in almost two days. She seems to be living on coffee."

"You know, I can't hold Rian enough these days. I go to the daycare and pick him up and squeeze him. I swear his first words are going to be 'mommy stop hugging me!'" Robin grinned.

"No, I'm pretty sure his first words are going to be 'daddy stop hugging me'" Patrick winked.

"You too, huh?"

He nodded. "I also did something last night that may get me in trouble" he said carefully.

"Were you having another party for one in your office?" she teased.

"Nice. Really nice. You get caught once and you never live it down."

"What did you do?"

"I called Nikolas and told him to come home."

Robin's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow - you took initiative" she said slowly "and did something Nathalie begged all of us not to do. Feeling brave lover?"

"She won't lean on me Robin. It was the same thing after Andrew's funeral - she would be busy doing things, talking to people, being constantly on the move and when she should have been crying on my shoulder, I was crying on hers."

"About Drew?"

"About you" he admitted sheepishly. "She'll open up to Nikolas, I know she will and I don't care if she yells at me - she needs him."

Robin wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest. "You are just full of surprises."

xxxxxx

Patrick stood outside Grace's room, arms folded across his chest and watched. He was hopelessly behind on his chart work but he couldn't stay away. Grace was sleeping and Nathalie was watching, exactly as it had been for three days. He wanted to help but every time he tried Nathalie would just reassure him that she was fine and turn the conversation on him. She was so adept at doing it that often he didn't even realize it happened until he left the room.

"Patrick."

He turned his head to the voice. "You got here quick."

"You said it was urgent" Nikolas said. "I had my pilot leave early this morning, Greece time."

"Hey Lulu" Patrick said, finally noticing her.

"Hi Patrick - how are things in there?" she asked, nodding in Grace's direction.

"Grace is pretty weak from the chemo."

"How long has Nathalie been there?" Nikolas asked, his eyes firmly locked on her sitting in the chair at Grace's bed side. Her legs were tucked underneath her and she had a blanket strewn across her lap.

"Three days - she's only left long enough to take a shower. I can't get her to leave."

Nikolas nodded. "I've got it." He looked at Lulu and nodded as he gently opened the door to the room. So used to the constant stream of doctors and nurses, Nathalie did not even look up. He crouched in front of her, resting his hands on her thighs.

Nathalie looked down, not quite registering that he was before her. "I've missed you" she said softly.

He smiled at her. "I've missed you too." He rubbed her legs gently. "Come on" he said quietly. "It's time to go." She shook her head violently. "It's okay - Lulu is going to stay with Grace -she won't be alone and Mary has picked up Oliver and he's back at Wyndermere."

Standing up, he took her hands and pulled her to her feet. Nathalie was too tired to resist. Taking off his coat, he put it around her shoulders and guided her down the hallway. Completely wrapped up in taking care of her, Nikolas was oblivious to whirr of the camera's motor drive as it snapped picture after picture.

They said nothing on the car ride to the launch and Nikolas held her tightly as the boat crossed the water to Wyndermere. Once home, she began to shiver and he picked her up, carrying her upstairs to his bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he passed her the t-shirt and flannel pajama pants that Alfred had laid out and set about starting a fire in the fireplace. Nathalie changed and crawled under the covers. Still shivering, she brought her knees to her chest and pulled the blankets around her. Nikolas watched her as he pulled his sweater off and laid his pants over the back of the chair. Pulling the covers back, he got into bed with her and gathered her in his arms. He rubbed her back and pressed his lips against the top of her head. He closed his eyes as she tangled her legs through his. He had missed her - every night in Greece he would fall asleep thinking about her body against his, her legs wrapped around his, the feel of her lips on his skin. He thought Greece would give him the space he needed to put her behind him but she was closer there than ever. Patrick's phone call gave him the excuse he needed to come home - to come back to her.

"I love you" she whispered.

"I know" he whispered back, his lips still against her hair. "Close your eyes and go to sleep, I've got you." Sighing, Nathalie melted against him and fell asleep quickly. Nikolas watched her sleep for a while before the jet lag took hold of him and he drifted to off.

xxxxx

Nathalie sat up with a start, gasping for air; throwing the covers back, she tried to get out of bed. "Gracie!" she said hoarsely. "I have to go to the hospital."

Nikolas took hold of her waist and pulled her back. "Shhh. You're okay Nathalie."

"I have to go to the hospital" she repeated. Her arms shook and she fell back against him.

"Lulu is there - Gracie is fine" he said reassuringly. He continued to rub her back as her breathing evened out. "Just breathe, okay? The only thing you have to do right now is breathe."

She rested her head on his chest, letting him soothe her. As he ran his hands through her hair, she turned and placed a gentle kiss on his bare chest. Placing a second and a third one, she heard his breath hitch. Tilting her chin upwards, he captured her lips softly. It was their first kiss in nearly a month and he felt his stomach flip as he made contact with her lips. He fingered the N hanging from her necklace.

"You're still wearing it."

She nodded, closing her hand over his. "I've never taken it off." Sitting up she pulled the t-shirt over her head and tossed it from the bed. Shimmying out of the flannel pants, she did the same thing.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going to go mad if I don't feel your skin on mine." She tugged at his boxer/briefs and he obliged by lifting his hips. Lying on her side facing him, she ran her hand along his side, Nikolas bit his lip.

"Nat - I didn't come home to...."

She put her finger against his lips. "It's not about sex Nik" she locked eyes with him, "I just want to love you and have you love me."

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before moving on top of her. Pushing her legs apart with his, he nestled in between them as he captured her lips. Alternating between her bottom and top lip, he nipped at them until her tongue darted out and coaxed his lips apart. Their tongues tangled and suddenly Nikolas couldn't taste enough of her - he had been starving without her. Feeling his arousal harden against her legs, Nathalie pushed her hips against his, encouraging him. Placing her hands over her head, he laced his fingers through hers, dipping his head to gently kiss her neck. Feeling his weight against her, she finally realized she was safe and she was where she belonged. He closed his mouth over one nipple, sucking on it before slowly letting it go. She moaned as he moved to the other one.

"Oh Nik" she panted, still moving her hips against hers. He felt the blood pumping through his body and was surprised at how quickly he hardened. But his body would stir at just the thought of her. Lowering one of her hands, she closed it around him, stroking him lightly. Nikolas buried his head between her breasts, unable to form a coherent thought. He had been sure that he would never have this with her again and now that it was here, he didn't want to rush it. Lining his tip up at her slick entrance, Nathalie pushed against him, gasping as he entered her. He lay still inside her for a moment.

"Are you okay?" he asked, stroking her cheek.

She locked eyes with him. "I am" she said hoarsely.

Nathalie traced her hands down his back as he began to thrust slowly inside her. He wanted her to feel safe enough with him to give into her feelings. He knew, that in typical fashion, she had been swallowing her fear and worry to keep going and he wanted her to let go. He pushed deeply inside her, letting her feel him. Her lips parted, breathless with every motion. Her hips met his, joining them together. They gazed lovingly at each other as they built to their climaxes. His kisses became hungry as he teetered on the edge, not willing to let go until she did. Tiny spasms rocked her body as her release started at her toes and moved up her body.

"Oh god, Nik" she was almost panicked at the feeling rising through her body.

He hovered above her mouth. "Give into it Nat" he said huskily "Come with me." Unable to push the feelings back any further, Nathalie lifted from the bed, holding tightly to Nikolas as her body shook forcefully. Letting himself go, he filled her before falling against her, breathless.

He slowly pulled out of her and rolling on to his back, wrapped her in his arms and waited. He traced his fingers on her shoulders and pressed his lips against her temple. And then it started. One release gave way to another and the tears she had been holding on to for weeks fell. She sobbed against his chest while he lovingly rubbed her back. "You're okay - let it out - let it all out." As Nathalie finally cried herself to sleep, Nikolas lay back against his pillow staring at the ceiling, grateful for the second chance. He would not allow anything to separate them again.