Chapter 32

Lulu sat on the swing twirling in circles and letting it spin free. She had thought about going to the hospital to be with everyone while they waited through the surgeries but it was too difficult to go back there. The hospital held no happy memories for her and she didn't want to be in the way. She had thought of calling Ethan but didn't want to come across as too needy.

Ethan. She couldn't help but smile at the mere mention of his name. He was kind and generous, hot and loving and he liked her – a fact she was still having a hard time wrapping her head around. They had shared a bed on Valentine's Day and Lulu couldn't remember a better feeling than waking up in his arms. His body was so warm as she curled up beside him and he had kissed her and touched her and made her feel safe and desirable all at the same time. It had been the single most loving experience of her life. They had lain in bed together until the mid-morning when hunger finally got the best of them and she offered to make pancakes. Almost inseparable since that day, Lulu found herself thinking about him almost every waking moment.

"You're going to throw up if you keep spinning like that." Looking up, she blushed immediately as Ethan stood before her. Noticing the sudden flush to her face, he smiled. "Dare I ask what you were thinking about?"

"Why? In need of an ego boost?" she retorted jokingly.

"Nah" he said, taking the swing next to hers. "I just want to make sure that it's thoughts of me and not some other guy that would make you blush like that."

"Some other guy?" She shook her head. "Um, Ethan, there is no line-up of guys wanting to date me."

He pulled her swing closer to his. "Well that makes me very happy on a selfish level but Lu, I'm not sure you see the way guys pant after you when you walk by."

"Um – you must be confusing me with someone – anyone else."

He shook his head, grinning. "Nope. I see them – when were in the coffee shop or grabbing lunch, guys are checking you out constantly. It's a good thing I'm not normally a violent person or else I would have gotten in a few fights by now."

She rolled her eyes. "Flattery will get you nowhere with me."

"Oh?" he waggled his eyebrows. "How about kissing? Does kissing get me somewhere with you?" Leaning in, he captured her lips and kissed them hotly.

"I don't know" she teased, breaking the kiss. "Where do you want to get?" Her green eyes sparkled

Ethan let out a tiny growl. "You have no idea what you do to me, do you?"

She smirked. "Care to show me?"

Reaching forward and grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her from her swing and on to his lap. He nipped at her lips before finally coaxing them apart and sliding his tongue in her mouth. Lulu seized his tongue and sucked hungrily on it. They both moaned as they deepened the kiss. He ran his hands through her hair, slowly threading his fingers through the silky strands. In need of air they finally broke apart, slightly breathless. "What are you doing out here anyway?" he asked, stroking her face with his gloved hand.

She shrugged. "Just hanging out."

"You looked like you were deep in thought when I came along and I'm smart enough to know it's not just me you were thinking about."

"You think you're that smart do you?"

"I know I am." He grinned. "What's up?"

She ran her fingers over his cheek. "Nothing."

"Liar" he said softly.

"Gracie is having a bone marrow transplant today – right now actually."

Ethan tilted his head to the side and studied Lulu's face. She was such an innately compassionate person and it was one of the things that drew him to her. She also didn't realize how much she had to offer and he wanted to show her in as many ways as possible. "How come you're here and not there then?"

"I didn't want to get in the way."

"That doesn't sound right" he said curiously. "From everything you've said, you're really tight with your brother and his girlfriend. I'm sure they'd be really happy to see you." She shrugged again. He pushed her bangs from her eyes. "Lu, are you afraid to go?"

"Afraid might be too strong a word" she replied quickly. "I just…I don't know – I hate hospitals."

"Would it help if I went with you?"

Her eyes widened in surprised and yet she wasn't truly surprised, he had never failed to amaze her. "I thought you had an economics class."

"I do and god, it's the most boring thing on earth – GNP, GDP – who cares? Besides, it would mean I get to hang out with you."

"You would really do that?"

"Hang out with you?" He pulled on her bottom lip. "Every chance I get."

"Okay" she nodded.

He stood up, letting her slide from his lap. "Let's go, Joe." He held out his hand and Lulu wrapped hers around it.

xxxxx

Nathalie bounced her legs up and down as she watched the minutes tick by on the clock. Noah had stayed with her and listened while she articulated much of her fear. Feeling like it was out of her system, she stood up ready to face her friends. He had walked her to the waiting room with a strong hand at her back and she took great comfort from that. It had now been nearly 45 minutes since the surgery started but to her it felt like hours. Standing up suddenly, everyone looked at her in surprise.

"I'm going to go get some coffee" she announced to no one in particular.

"Think you might consider some decaf?" Patrick teased her gently.

"P?"

"Yeah?"

"Remember when I was pregnant and drinking decaf?"

He let out a loud groan. "Please – go find the jet fuel – drink it straight from the pot if you have to – I do not want to relive that again."

She grinned at him. "Wimp."

"Dude – I have scars – real physical scars."

She rolled her eyes. "Number one – please don't 'dude' me again – it creeps me out. Number two, as for your real physical scars – again I say – wimp."

With no comeback he stuck his tongue out at her. "That's mature" Robin snarked, enjoying the banter between the two old friends.

"A little back up would be nice."

"Are you kidding me?" she said incredulously. "You keep telling me what a big boy you are – you can handle yourself."

"When I call myself a big boy – that is not what I'm referring to."

Nathalie groaned. "I think I'm going to hurl." She turned to look at Nikolas. "Do you want anything?"

Smiling he shook his head. Nathalie winked at him before leaving for the cafeteria. Robin watched him as he stared after her. Getting up she crossed the room and sat beside him. "You really love her don't you?" she asked softly.

Nikolas looked at his friend and smiled shyly. "A lot." Dropping his eyes he fidgeted with his fingers. "She's amazingly strong and loving and independent and I don't know how I've lived without her all these years."

"I'm really happy for you." Robin rubbed his arm.

"Me too. If we can get through this, I think we have a real shot at a future."

Patrick looked up at hearing Nikolas' words. "You know Nik – you've done a lot for her. She and Andrew were great together and I could never imagine them with anyone else but things change and I'm glad she's found you."

Nikolas' mouth fell open slightly at Patrick's admission. He was well aware of the connection between Patrick and Nathalie's past and a part of him felt insecure about it, that on some level he was being measured against a ghost. But hearing those words from him, the acceptance of him as part of Nathalie's life, washed away all of his fears.

"Thank you for that. For the record – she's done a lot for me too."

Robin smiled. "I'll say – is that an actual colour you're wearing – a red sweater – will wonders never cease?"

"Hey!" he protested. "I've worn colour before."

"Oh please" Robin snorted. "Only if you count grey as a separate colour from black."

"Are you implying I'm some kind of dark lord?"

"No implication" Robin teased. "I'm full on calling you one."

"I thought we were friends."

"We only hurt the ones we love" Patrick jumped in.

"Get away from me" Nikolas shooed. "Go back to your big boy."

Robin giggled and went back to sit beside Patrick. She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "You're a good man" she whispered.

Nathalie returned with Ethan and Lulu in tow. "Look who I found making out at the entrance to the cafeteria – and I do think they were using tongue" she said in a loud stage whisper to Robin.

The young couple both blushed furiously and Lulu made a desperate attempt to change the subject. "Ethan, I think you know everyone here except for Nikolas – my brother. Nik, this is Ethan."

Nikolas stood up and shook his hand. "I'm not feeling particularly menacing today so I reserve the right to intimidate you later."

Ethan grinned and nodded. "Sure."

Everyone settled in and returned to clock watching. Nathalie rested her head on Nikolas' shoulder and closing her eyes, managed to fall into a light slumber. He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. She hadn't been asleep very long when she felt him gently nudge her awake. "Nat" he whispered.

Blinking and wiping the sleep from her eyes, she looked around the room and was horrified to see her parents standing in the doorway. She groaned. "What are you doing here?"

"Imagine our surprise to discover second hand that you have consented to surgery for children you do not have custody of." John said tightly.

"Oh just fuck off would you?" Nathalie said tiredly. "My child's life is at stake and I make no apologies for what I did."

"You are in violation of a court order…" Anne started.

"And you are a living heart donor" Patrick retorted. Anne glared at him.

"If your process server had been a little faster then I wouldn't have been able to consent but too bad for you, he got to me after I signed. You have two choices now – pull up a seat and pray for your grandchildren or drop dead – at the moment I could really care less what you choose."

"You ungrateful little whore" John spat. Lulu gripped Ethan's hand as the tension in the room rose.

Nikolas stood up quickly and marching over to them took them both by the arm and led them into the hallway. "I have had it with you two. You will not ever and I do mean EVER talk to Nathalie like that again. I am the Chairman of the Board of the hospital and if it so behooves me, I will have thrown out of here on your asses." Letting go of their arms he turned to John. "I told you to think carefully about your next move and I'm not sure you heeded my advice. As a result, I think if you call your firm you will find that most if not all of your government contracts have either dried up or been buried so deep in committee that they will never see the light of day. It's going to be pretty hard to keep that firm going with no income to speak of." John flinched at Nikolas' pronouncement. "If you want to stay and wait for news about your grandchildren you can but if you say one disparaging thing about your daughter I will end you with one phone call."

Frantic to regain the upper hand, John narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

Nikolas' eyes darkened and he smiled knowingly. "Not at all John. I don't make threats, only promises."

"You will regret this" he warned. "You may think you're powerful but do you have any idea who you're messing with son?"

He shrugged. "Do you?" Everyone in the room watched the confrontation in the hallway.

"Excuse me, can you tell me where the Nurses' Station is?" A man asked, interrupting them.

"Down the hall to the left" Nikolas said, not taking his eyes from John.

Nathalie's eyes widened and she looked at Patrick who had the same expression on his face. "It's not just me, right?"

He shook his head. "No" he said hoarsely. "He could be Drew's twin."

"I need to talk to him" Nathalie said urgently, standing up.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Robin asked.

"It can't be a coincidence" Nathalie said, straining her neck to see him. "Maybe he's related to Drew – maybe it's a sign of some kind." Nathalie slipped from the room and headed down the hallway after the stranger with her husband's face.