Chapter 40

Rian squealed in delight as Alfred escorted his mother in to the main drawing room at Wyndermere. Nathalie was sitting with him on the floor, helping him build with legos. "You don't look too hungover" Nathalie smiled.

"You either" Robin said, sitting down on the floor beside her, gathering her son in her arms and kissing his cheeks over and over again. "Hi baby boy - how's mamma's sweet little boy?"

Nathalie grinned. "He slept through almost the entire night. Spencer seemed to be glad for the company - I think he misses his little buddy Oliver." Nathalie noticed how Robin's body stiffened slightly at the mention of her son's name. She let out a long, slow breath. "What happened?" Robin met her eyes and opened her mouth to speak but found the words harder to come by than she had imagined. Unconsciously, she tightened her grip around her son as she tried to think of the right way to tell her friend the news. Nathalie could see the struggle on her face and gave her a wry smile. "Quick and dirty Robin, I don't need diplomacy." She was becoming an expert at absorbing body blows.

"Your parents got a court order and had Oliver transferred to a hospital in Virginia. I am so sorry."
Nathalie closed her eyes and let the reality wash over her. Opening her eyes, she offered Robin a weak smile. "I guess I should have seen that coming. I just didn't think they would do it quite so soon."

"Is there anything I can do?" Robin asked as she rubbed Rian's soft, pliable hands with her own.

She shook her head. "No but thanks. I'm assuming they weren't able to transfer Gracie?"

Robin shook her head. "Noah says she's still sedated." Nathalie stood up and blew out her cheeks. "Are you going to the hospital?"

"I am" Nathalie pushed her shoulders back and stood up straight. "But first I'm going to call Alexis and ask her to appeal the order. No matter how this turns out, my kids need to know that I did everything I could to fight for them."

A small smile played at Robin's lips. She was sure she was getting a glimpse of the Nathalie that Patrick knew and admired so much. "Good."

Nathalie winked at her. "There's some fight in the old girl yet. Thanks for letting me know."

Standing up, Robin held Rian to her chest, feeling his warmth against her. "I'm sorry that I don't have better news."

She smiled as brightly as she could, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears. "That's okay. Have a safe trip to Rome and remind Brenda that life is too short to let love slip through your fingers."

"I will - take care of yourself Nathalie."

"Will do - see you when you get back." Nathalie watched as Robin bundled up her son and giving one last wave, smiled as they left. Walking towards the phone, her knees gave way and she grabbed hold of the wingback chair to stay upright. She took several deep breaths before pulling herself up and reaching for the phone. Sinking to the couch, she dialed Alexis' number.

"Alexis - it's Nathalie - I'm ready to fight for my kids."

xxxxx

Lulu groaned as she lifted her head from the pillow. "Oooww." She shielded her eyes from the sunlight creeping in to Ethan's room.

Lying on his side, propping his head up on his hand, he smiled as he tucked her hair behind her ear. "How's it going there champ?"

Narrowing her eyes, she winced. "No one likes a morning person" she grumbled.

"I think you like me" he said, grinning. "At least that's what you said last night between orgasms."

"What??" Lulu asked, sitting up quickly and grabbing her head.

"Drinks babe - you were drinking orgasms."

"I hate them both - they are evil, evil women."

"It really didn't look like they were forcing you."

"Whose side are you on?" Lulu protested, slapping his arm playfully.

"Yours" he teased as he kissed her nose. "Can I interest you in some coffee?"

"How about decapitation?" she groused, rubbing her temples.

"Nah – your head is one of the things I like best about you – I'd hate to lose that."

"Seriously – you are far too cheerful in the morning."

Ethan winked at her and bounded from the bed to get the coffee going. "There's a glass of water by the bed…" he called to her from the kitchen.

Lulu looked at the water and saw that her purse was propped against the bedside table. She smiled as she reached for it, pulling out her meds. He always took such good care of her and while she learned long ago that perfection in another person was impossible, he certainly came close. She sipped on the water before finally getting her meds down. Months after her diagnosis and she still had difficulty swallowing her pills. She wondered if it would ever get easier and at the same time was unsure if she wanted it to get easier – there was something about the struggle with her protocol that kept her very grounded.

Draining the glass, she moved slowly from the bed and walked to the bathroom. Ethan had insisted she leave some essentials at his place since she had been sleeping there almost every night since Valentine's Day. She stared at her toothbrush leaned up against his in the cup by the sink and grinned. The idea of love had scared her – her parents had a big, all-consuming love and she was sure that she would never find it; she was equally sure that she wouldn't know what to do with it if she did. She and Ethan were a long way away from all-consuming love but she did like the way her toothbrush looked in his bathroom. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before heading out to the kitchen.

Dressed only in jeans, Ethan leaned against the counter, cradling a mug; his eyes were closed and a small smile lay across his lips.

"Sleeping standing up?" Lulu asked, hopping on the counter beside him.

He grinned, his eyes still closed. "I'm just savoring the smell of the coffee – I love the smell of coffee." Opening his eyes, his breath hitched slightly as he took in the sight of his girlfriend on the counter beside him. "Almost as much as I love you wearing my t-shirt."

Lulu cocked her head to the side. "How much do you love me wearing your t-shirt?" He raised his eyebrows at her. "For example – enough to let me steal your coffee?" she asked, taking the mug from his hands and taking a long drink.

Moving from the counter, he stood in front of her placing his palms on either side of her hips. Leaning in, he nipped at her lips. "What's mine is yours" he said huskily.

Lulu shimmied closer to him, hooking her legs around his. "Really?" she questioned, her green eyes shining.

Ethan dropped his lips to her neck, leaving a trail of slow, wet kisses. "Really" he said against her skin.

Lulu lightly ran her fingers over his chest, tracing his collar bone. He moaned softly as her touch sent shivers through his body. Lifting his head, he seized her lips, coaxing them apart with his tongue. Lulu sucked greedily on his tongue as it swept in to her mouth and tightening her grip on him, pulled him closer to her. She threaded her fingers through his hair as they kissed deeply. Feeling the start of his erection against her leg, she moved her hips in small circles against him and smiled as she heard him groan into her mouth.

Breathless, they broke the kiss. Sitting back slightly, Lulu pulled the t-shirt from her body and tossed it to the floor. She sat naked in front of him, her skin flushing under his gaze. Panting, he licked his lips as he traced his fingers over her pert breasts, her nipples hardening under his light touch. Pushing into him, she closed her eyes and sighed as he palmed them, gently massaging them. Lulu moved her lips to his neck and began working her tongue in small circles around the hollow of his neck. With one hand, she reached down and stroked his erection through the denim.

Ethan stepped back, his eyes hazy with desire. Putting his hands on his hips, he looked at Lulu. "We have to stop" he said quietly.

"Why?" she asked through hooded eyes, her hangover long forgotten.

"Because" he said, motioning to his erection. "I'm well…..you make me feel so good."

Holding out her hand, Lulu smiled. "Then let me continue to make you feel good."

"Wha…what are you saying?" he asked.

"I want to…" Lulu swallowed and started again. "I want to sleep with you – I want to have sex with you - I mean if you want to." Her cheeks flushed crimson.

"If I want to?" he grinned. "Lulu…." he walked to her and slowly ran his hands down her sides. "I want to very much but I don't want you to feel…"

Putting a finger to his lips, she smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure – I'm ready – I don't want to wait any longer."

"Oh Lu" he whispered, closing his mouth over hers.

Picking her up from the counter, he carried her to the bedroom where he laid her gently on the bed. Stepping out of his jeans, he laid down beside her and began to explore her body with his fingers and his mouth, giving her pleasure she didn't know existed. He loved her slowly, long in to the morning, delighting in her reactions and her confidence.

They lay in each other's arms, sunlight beaming through the windows and Ethan kissed the top of her head while she slept. He had never felt more connected to another person than he did in that moment.

xxxxx

Robin looked at her half packed suitcase while Rian played with a truck on her bed. She had planned to be in Rome for a week and hoped that would be more than enough time to either get Brenda back to Port Charles or at least talking to Noah. If she could even get her to tell Noah her fears and explain why she ran, she felt confident she could convince Noah to go to Rome and reconnect with Brenda.

"Oh baby boy – you and your daddy make me so happy – we have to make sure Grandpa Noah and Auntie Brenda are happy too."

"Got room in that suitcase for me?"

Robin grinned as she turned around. Patrick was leaning against the doorframe, dressed in a navy cashmere turtleneck and his favourite jeans. His face looked lighter than it had at the hospital. "I'll need a bigger suitcase if I'm going to put you in there."

"Or less shoes" he teased walking in to the room. He cupped her face and covered her mouth in staccato kisses. "I'm sorry about earlier" he whispered.

"Are you okay?" she asked, holding on to his belt loops. She knew her husband couldn't be rushed in to sharing his feelings. He would always need time and space and she had vowed long ago that he would always have enough of both from her.
He shrugged. "I'm struggling a little."

Running her hand over his firm chest, she gazed at him lovingly. "Can I help?"

"I just miss him so much. I realized the other day that I'm not angry with him anymore – I have been so mad at him all this time but I'm not anymore and now I'm just sad."

Robin nodded as she linked her fingers through his. "It will be a year soon."

"I know" he said quietly. "And I guess I just want everything to be okay for Nat because if I miss him this much, I can't begin to imagine how this is affecting her."

"I told her about Oliver"

"And?"

"She took it like Nat takes everything – on the chin but wouldn't go down. She was going to call Alexis and try to fight the court order."

"That's good." Patrick looked at the ground before looking back at his wife. "Can I ask you something? You can say no – and I don't want to get in your way but I don't really want to be away from you right now and I was…um…"

Robin looked at him quizzically. "What is it?"

"How would feel if I went to Rome with you?"