God he was bored. The featured keynote speaker had been droning on about the Internet revolution and its impact on journalism for what Cruz assumed was an eternity. It would have helped if the speaker didn't speak in a monotone whisper even Ben Stein would find exhausting. The topic was at least three years out of date. Most of the magazines and papers represented had a thriving online edition. There were even awards scheduled to be handed out later tonight for them, but Captain Drone seemed content to point out the obvious.

The only bright spot of the evening was Bobbie had agreed to accompany him. She looked stunning in the simple dark blue dress she wore. It set off her creamy skin and made her hair resemble a flame even more than usual. The dark lights of the banquet hall, even if it was a Holiday Inn, made her glow. She was gorgeous and she was here with him. Cruz felt it in his bones that there were men just drooling with envy that he got to walk in with her.

She sat next to him, her knee brushing his every so often as she shifted. Clearly not paying attention to Captain Drone, her eyes kept darting around the room. Was she looking to see if she recognized someone or they recognized her? It was doubtful. As high profile as Brenda and Jax's wedding had become, Bobbie herself had kept a low profile with only her name and her business being made public. Jax had assigned a media relations expert from one of his many companies to be the spokesperson for the couple to the press. Idly Cruz wondered if that would be considered a promotion or a demotion for the lackey. It wasn't quite clear.

Even Axe had trouble placing her. True to his prediction, Axe had stared several minutes before he could place Bobbie's name, voice or even her face as a resident of Port Charles, much less related to Patrick and Lucky. He had even started calling her a nickname. Somewhere between the salad and the start of the speech she had become Earth Momma. Cruz recognized her eyes soften the more Axe called her by the nickname and he knew at least Axe no longer worried her.

Of course if Axe ever did start to connect actual people with names and faces, it would be a different story. But for now they would be fine. It didn't matter if Axe did spread the word the boss was seeing someone. No one would be able to figure out who Earth Momma was by Axe's descriptions. It was part of the other man's charm. And while at times it annoyed Cruz, tonight he was grateful for it.

So far their age gap appeared to be largely ignored by the larger crowd. Some tiny evil part of Cruz's brain reminded him that journalists were paid to be neutral. They were skilled at showing no reaction to things. Of course the free flowing alcohol at the even would probably lessen that professionalism as the night went on. The Insider was a small local magazine. No one wanted to network with him. Outside of his connection to L&B Records, he had no connections in the capital or New York City that could help get a big story before deadline. He was small time, a fact Cruz had long ago accepted. It didn't bother him and it actually inspired him to work twice hard to put out a publication better than those with more money and resources. A screw you to the old boys network.

And he was in no way ashamed to admit that he was using his under the radar status to test run going public with Bobbie. No one cared to know The Insider, so no one was looking at their table, which was situated in the far back corner of the room. Cruz felt like the starts that were nominated for the Golden Globes that no one thought would win, sitting far back in the dark and miles away from cameras.

Tonight had to be perfect. He knew he had to convince Bobbie going public could not be as awful as they both had feared. If no one reacted badly tonight, it would go along way in convincing her. No stares, no comments, no jokes. All good things.

Okay so he had rigged the deck a bit in knowing only Axe, who couldn't remember non-musical details, would be attending from home. And yes he lied to her shamelessly about the rest of the Spencer's not being able to make it. He may have causally mentioned to Laura that his mother was coming and she backed off. He may not exactly have told Patrick or Lucky exactly when the dinner was going to be held. And just maybe he put off Lulu from starting on the internship he agreed for her until after this was over. Alright, he admitted, maybe putting off Lulu wasn't entirely connected to this but it was a factor. The girl was a snoop. No telling what she would find in his desk should he leave it unattended.

The tepid applause broke through his thoughts and Cruz sighed in relief. The droning was over. Across the table he bit back his smile when he noticed Axe rolling his eyes to heaven. If Cruz had found it boring, his computer expert had probably found it pandering to the extreme. Bobbie leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear. "I'm supposed to remind you this is all worth it about now aren't I? That it wasn't that bad."

"Yes. Reassure me."

"If I was a good girlfriend I'd tell you, you would win, and we would celebrate all night." She caught his eye and winked.

"You are a good girlfriend. But I do sense a but coming."

Bobbie squeezed his knee under the table and traced a pattern on his upper thigh with her fingers. "But right now I'm a bored girlfriend and I need some incentive to be supportive."

Cruz leaned closer, running his hand on her thigh, moving the skirt of her dress upwards to expose her knee just enough so he could run his hands under the fabric with ease. Moving his hand teasingly slow, he leaned his forward and nipped her ear. "Does this help?"

"Maybe just a little." She lowered her voice but kept it steady. Catching her eyes, he noticed the challenge that lit them. She wanted to see how far he was going to push this.

Oblivious to Axe's presence at the table, he moved his hand towards her inner thigh, squeezing gently. Teasingly tracing patterns with his fingers, he whispered in her ear again. "What about this?"

He didn't miss the catch in her breath. She was getting caught up in this game as much as he was. Cruz battled for control. On the outside chance he actually won an award, there was no way he was going to walk up stage with a giant neon sign expressing just how hot he was for his girlfriend. But on the other hand, he was damned if he was going to stop right this second.

His fingers inched closer to their goal, slowly and gently gliding along her skin. Back and forth. Back and forth. He fought to keep his eyes focused on hers. Quickly he brushed along the edges of her panties and just as soon as he did, he pulled his fingers back, earning a barely audible whimper in the process.

"Careful, you'll get Axe's attention," he teased.

She reached under the table and pulled his hand off her thigh. Bringing his hand up to his mouth, she quickly placed the tip of one of his fingers in her mouth, sucked lightly and released him. "Careful or you won't get any attention at all."

"And the winner is The PC Insider!"

Axe leapt from his chair, pumping his fist in a celebration dance, chanting "Yes we won!" repeatedly. Cruz blinked several times trying to re-orientate himself. Where was he? Why was Axe here? More importantly, why was someone calling his name from way up front?

"Boss man! We won! You gotta go get the trophy!" Axe insisted, still beaming in excitement.

"There's no trophy. It's a plaque Axe." He said on autopilot. It was all starting to come back to him now. The awards dinner. He had been nominated. Apparently he had even won something. Although at this exact moment, Cruz didn't have a clue what he won. "You go get it."

"But dude, it's for editing and stuff. You do that. It's your award. You gotta get it."

Bobbie kissed his cheek and gently prodded him to stand up. "Go on Tiger. Get your award. We'll celebrate later tonight."

Patrick traced the path of raindrops as they splashed across his apartment window. His mother used to get onto him for smudging the car windows when he was a young boy. Noah hadn't really cared one way or the other; he had only ever scolded him when Mattie asked him to. In many ways, Mattie had been a single parent. Noah had supported his family financially and Patrick really believed the old man had loved his wife. If only he could have paid his sons that kind of respect and admiration.

Swallowing down the bitterness, he glanced down at the street, the cars represented by multicolored dots, the streetlights blurry and run together like an artist's pallet. He pressed his forehead to the glass, a chill starting at the tip of his fingers, moving up his arm, and settling in-between his shoulder blades. The apartment was warm and cozy, but the chill remained. God, he loved it when it rained. If only it had waited until tomorrow; maybe then he and Robin would have been able to enjoy the races. She had laughed when he'd first invited her along, saying something along the lines of, "I should have known you were an adrenaline junkie." It was strange to see it raining when the entire summer had been full of scorching sunny days so neither had expected the sudden change in weather. At least they hadn't gotten all the way there only to turn back; the rain had started as soon as he arrived to pick her up.

The decision to bring Morgan along had been Patrick's. Robin had been running late, very unlike her, and hadn't had a chance to drop him off at a babysitter's for the evening. Both guilty for putting her in such a compromising position and amazed at how incredibly adorable she was as this flustered woman he had come to like, Patrick had suggested she bring Morgan along. They could be stuck in his apartment together. He would show them his "secret" racetrack he kept up in the hall closet and even cook dinner for them. Robin had given him a speculative look, asked if he was certain, and then gotten Morgan bundled up in a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and a parka. Patrick hadn't realized they lived in Alaska, but he wasn't stupid enough to let such a comment slip past his smirking lips.

Lost in his thoughts, he jumped slightly when Robin's tiny arms wrapped around his waist, leaning into him and pressing her nose to the middle of his back. He settled his hands over hers, squeezing them softly, and closed his eyes. The chill abandoned him immediately, leaving him hot and uncomfortable in his jacket. Robin, completely oblivious, snuggled him closer. Lifting his feverish forehead from the window pane, he snuck a glance at her over his right shoulder.

Having been soaked through and through, she was now almost completely swallowed up in the t-shirt Patrick had lent her while hers dried, the material hitting her jean clad knees. Her hair had dried long ago leaving it a disheveled mess upon her shoulders. With all the grace and well-intentioned directness he could manage, he had offered his shower to her, but she had turned him down. He didn't use her same shampoo, she had tried to explain, and she didn't want to come out of the bathroom smelling like a boy. She smelled pretty nice at the moment and her hair was remarkably soft he noticed as he turned around in her arms and held a few strands between his fingers.

"You looked lonely over here all by yourself." Robin explained, making an exaggerated sniffing sound as she let his scent overtake her senses. Patrick stared down at her, his initial reaction to tilt her head back and kiss her…a reaction that was quickly replaced by a more rational one when he saw the deadly look Morgan was sending him from across the room.

"Thank you for thinking of me." He murmured, sliding his left hand through her hair. Her eyes sparkled as they locked on his and he felt his resolve breaking. Returning his eyes to Morgan, he asked, "You ready to get beat little man."

"Bring it on, Patty." Morgan sneered in a sickeningly sweet voice. The kid had it in for him and, while he couldn't entirely blame him, he wasn't going to let anything taint the smile on Robin's face.

"I thought you were going to let me play." Robin adorably pouted, folding her arms.

Watching the entire garment shift as she did this, Patrick shook his head arrogantly. "You're a girl. This is a man's sport."

"A remote controlled racetrack is too sophisticated for a woman?" Robin squinted her eyes and lifted her eyebrows audaciously.

"You don't see me slaving over a hot oven, do you? Women have their talents, and men have theirs. It's best that you just accept it honey." Patrick bestowed confidently.

"That is so sexist!" Robin accused, poking him in the chest.

"It's not sexist, it's true. It doesn't mean you don't have a lot of other great qualities." Patrick grinned, clearly enjoying himself.

"Wanna go first?" Morgan offered her his controller, his brown eyes full of wisdom, his mouth twisted in irony as he took in their easy banter.

"No, that's okay. Can I sit by you though?" Robin inquired, receiving a nod before she settled in next to her son.

"You aren't going to help him cheat are you Robin, because that's not what you should be teaching him?" Patrick assured her with a wink.

"He doesn't need to cheat." Robin countered with an eye roll. "Now come over here so we can beat you. That is, unless you're scared."

"I don't understand." Morgan looked truly confused. "Why would I throw rocks at her?" He was especially plagued by the illicit advice he was receiving from his oldest cousin.

"You like the girl, don't you?" Patrick asked and was met with an adamant nod from the younger boy. "You can't exactly let her know that, now can you?"

"I guess not." Morgan considered resting his chin in his palms.

"What makes her special?" Patrick wondered flipping over his card at the same time his cousin did. The kid was lucky, that was all. He had drawn the higher card again and was able to add Patrick's card to his pile.

"Mostly, she can color in the lines and she knows how to read better than me." Morgan admitted sheepishly.

"There's your in. Let her tutor you." Patrick told him.

"What does that mean?" Sometimes he forgot Morgan was still a little kid.

"Tell her you're having trouble and ask if she can help you." Patrick clarified.

"He could just ask me or Miss Rosenbloom for help if throwing rocks and conning a little girl doesn't work out." Robin interrupted, bending down to peck Morgan's forehead.

"What about me?" Patrick feigned hurt.

"What about you?" Robin inquired playfully.

"Somebody's bitter about being beat." Patrick whispered to Morgan.

"It was rigged!" Robin charged, her smile never leaving her face.

"Sure it was." Morgan teased, blinking at Patrick.

"Oh, now you're rubbing off on him. Just what I need. Two Patricks." Robin rubbed her forehead dramatically.

"You say that like it's a bad thing. I always wanted a twin." Patrick stated simply.

"To wreak havoc no less?" Robin assumed.

"Of course. And to go to the classes I didn't like." Patrick admitted.

"You don't like school?" Morgan questioned incredulously.

"Of course he likes school." Robin shot Patrick a dirty look.

"Oh, I loved school. I especially loved third grade." Patrick recalled a glimmer in his eye.

"What happened in third grade?" Morgan glanced from one adult to the other.

"Well, our old teacher Mrs. Montgomery quit and was replaced by a much prettier--" Patrick began.

"Morgan, can you help me with the dishes?" Robin's voice said that it wasn't a request. Sighing in resignation, the boy got to his feet and retreated to the kitchen.

"What'd I do?" Patrick challenged, looking lost.