Chapter 41

Robin looked at him in surprise. "You want to come to Rome with me? Do you remember all the shoe and handbag shopping last time?"

He nodded, sitting down on the bed. Placing Rian in his lap, he pressed his lips in to the top of his head. "Hi little man" he whispered. Looking back up at Robin, his deep brown eyes, took on a familiar glint. "Just to be clear, I don't want to be involved in any conversation with Brenda about her hooking up with my father."

Robin laughed lightly and sat down beside him on the bed, facing him. Running her fingers through his hair, she gave him a small smile. "I would love if you came with me but what are we going to do about our little guy? Take him with us?"

"I've spoken to my dad and he's agreed to take him for a week – he's going to use a week's holidays for it."

"That's awfully generous of him."

"He's always happy for Rian-time." Patrick spun his wedding band around his finger. "I'm sorry to be so clingy."

Robin looked at him in surprise. "Clingy? Baby, you're not clingy"

He gave her a small smile. "I feel clingy – I can't explain it – it's like there's something in the air and I just don't want you traveling without me and I don't want to be without you."

She ran her hand along the back of his neck. "So then we go together." Leaning in, she pressed her lips softly against his. He parted his, his tongue darting out, running along her bottom lip. Moving closer to him, Robin wrapped her arms around his neck and began to kiss him deeply, passionately. It didn't matter how many times they kissed, each one felt new yet familiar all at the same time.

Moving his hand to cup her face, both Robin and Patrick laughed as Rian began to squawk. Picking his son up so that he was at eyelevel, he grinned. "Jealous? Are you looking for kisses too?" Patrick gave him big, loud kisses on his cheeks, prompting squeals of delight. He looked at Robin who was beaming. "I guess we'll have to save our play time for later. I'll pack up his stuff so we can drop it at my dad's on our way to the airport." Getting up from the bed, he tucked Rian under his arm, pretending he was an airplane.

"Hey Patrick" Robin called to him as he reached the door.

"Yeah?"

"Rome will make for some great baby making practice" she said, grinning.

Patrick looked at her and then at Rian. "Do you hear that sport? Your momma and I are going to practice making you a brother or a sister while you hang out with gramps – this, my son, is what we call a win/win situation."

Laughing, Robin returned to her packing. Though she never would have asked him, she was grateful that Patrick was coming with her. She too felt something in the air and wanted to stick close to those she loved.

xxxx

"How was Gracie?" Nikolas asked rubbing Nathalie's feet.

Nathalie let out a quiet sigh. "She's still so weak. She opened her eyes for a bit but didn't really recognize me. Dr. Garcia thinks it will be another day or two before she really comes around."

"And my aunt Alexis – she's working on the appeal?"

"She is" Nathalie confirmed. "I don't know how good our chances are but I have to try." She watched Nikolas' face carefully. He had been distracted since he had come home and despite gentle prodding on her part, he had yet to reveal what was bothering him. "And then, when all is said and done, I'm going to pull monkeys from my behind and fly around on them."

"That's good" he said absently.

"I think so" Nathalie said, making a face. "I've also decided that you and I should have a three way with Alfred – do you think that's a good idea?"

He nodded. "Alfred – yeah – great."

Nathalie pulled her feet from his lap. "Nikolas Cassadine – I have just proposed having sex with your butler and you agreed" she said sharply but kindly.

Looking up in surprise, his mouth dropped open. "Er, what?"

"What in the world has you so distracted?"

"I need to go on a business trip" he said, looking at the table in front of him.

"When?" Nathalie asked cautiously.

"Tonight."

Crawling over to him, Nathalie turned his head to face her. "What's going on?" she asked gently. "You are not yourself."

"I want to marry you – you need to know that I want to marry you."

Knitting her brow together, she struggled to follow. "I do know that."

"It's my grandmother – she's escaped from the institution I had her placed in."

"And?"

"And she's a psychopath Nat – she will come after you if she thinks you're a threat to what she wants. If we're going to get married, I need to find her and have her locked up where she can't hurt anyone."

"And that's why you have to leave tonight?"

He nodded, dropping his eyes. He didn't know how to explain his fear to her. He was so close to having what he wanted – what he needed – to having the life he dreamed of but the closer he came the greater the terror. His fear was two-pronged - his grandmother's depravity knew no limits and he knew that Nathalie would be her main target; he also feared that Nathalie would leave – that the insanity that is the Cassadines would prove to be too much and he would be alone again.

She could feel the tension coming from him in waves. Every muscle in his body was tensed and his breathing was shallow. Concerned, Nathalie crawled across him to lean against the arm of the couch. Drawing him against her, she began to massage his shoulders.

"What are you doing?" he asked quietly.

"Trying to get you to relax. You are wired for sound and I don't want you off traveling like that."

"I'm fine" he protested weakly.

She continued to rub his shoulders, pushing deep in the knots. "We do not have to get married Nik. We can simply continue as we are…"

"No!" he snapped, sitting up straight. He spun around, facing her, fury streaked across his face. "I want to marry you – I want so very few things in my life but I WANT this. Don't make compromises!"

Nathalie blinked several times, taken aback by his quick temper. "Nikolas" she said calmly.

He looked up sheepishly, mentally kicking himself for yelling at her. He wondered if he reminded her of her father when he did that. He was embarrassed that he had taken his frustration out on her. "I am so sorry – I shouldn't have…"

Putting her finger to his lips, she looked at him intently. "You do not need to apologize to me. Come here" she said, pulling him to her. Reluctant at first, Nikolas relented and snuggled in to her. She ran her hand down his back, soothing him. "Baby" she said quietly, "I love you no matter what. Psycho Granny – whatever – none of that is going to scare me off. Do what you need to do and come home – I'll be here, I promise."

He looked at her in surprise. "How did you…"

"I just know" she smiled, pressing her lips against his cheek. "I love you" she repeated.

"I won't be gone more than a couple of days but I've spoken to Alfred, Alexis and Lulu – you won't be alone."

She flashed a small smile at him. "I know all evidence says otherwise but I don't have a problem being alone."

He nodded against her skin - the warmth from her body and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat soothing him. "I know" he said quietly. "But I don't want you to be alone – I don't ever want you to feel like that again in your life."

Pushing the hair from his forehead, she kissed him gently. "You cannot undo what's been done in my life Nikolas – you are not responsible for the childhood I had."

"I just want you to feel loved and safe."

"I do" she assured him. "Every moment of every day with you." Lifting his head, he captured her lips in a long, hot, wet kiss. Her heart hammering and breathless, Nathalie broke the kiss first. "Wow" she said, fingering her lips.

"I love you" he said, gazing in to her green eyes. "More than I ever knew was possible." She ran her thumbs along his brows, looking at him lovingly. "I should go pack." he said extricating himself from her embrace.

"Okay" she said, looking at him cautiously. In the ten months that she had known Nikolas she had never seen such darkness around him. Afraid for him but not of him, she worried that if he couldn't get his grandmother under control he may go to a place where she couldn't reach him.

xxxxx

Patrick placed his and Robin's bags on the scale at the check in counter and passed their passports to the agent. Linking her fingers through his, she rested her head against his arm. They had had an early morning, dropping Rian off to Noah and she looked forward to relaxing in the comfort of the airport lounge prior to take off.

"Here you go Dr. Drake and Dr. Scorpio-Drake" the agent said, handing them back their boarding passes and passports. "Enjoy your flight."

"Thanks" Patrick said, flashing his dimple. Robin rolled her eyes. She was amused by Patrick's flirtation – it was like breathing to him and he hardly recognized when he did it. Sure of his commitment to her, she enjoyed watching other women swoon over her husband's charms.

Hand in hand, they headed to the security checkpoint, their every move being watched. Bruce slammed his head back against a post when he realized Robin was no longer traveling alone. Reaching in to his coat pocket, he pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial.

"What's the problem?" came the clear, crisp voice.

"She has company"

"Well I guess you're not going to Rome any more."

"I suppose it's time for Plan B"

"Yes – my contact confirmed my grandson is out of the country which means the little tramp is all on her own with no one to ride to her rescue. You know what to do."

"Done." He snapped his phone shut and stared after Robin and Patrick as they disappeared behind the security wall. "Soon Robin – very soon."