It was tradition for all of the children to gather together on Halloween to celebrate Lance's birthday as well as go trick-or-treating once the presents had been opened and the groups assembled. Robin hadn't celebrated this holiday since the second year she had been with Logan, and Lance had barely begun to walk and talk by that point. Adjusting her blue leather halter top, she ushered an enthusiastic Morgan through the archway once Alice, the housekeeper, opened the door to greet them. Alice explained that the earlier guests were waiting in the living room, but they didn't need to hurry since there were still family members who had yet to arrive.
The foyer of the Quartermaine mansion opened up to a colorful living room of black and orange balloons, streamers, and dinnerware. Robin wasn't sure when she had started viewing Elizabeth as her safety net in the overwhelming crowd of family members, but the absence of her friend left her feeling very uncomfortable. She noticed Uncle Mac and Alexis over by the couch, neither sitting, discussing something. It would be so easy to walk over to them and become engrossed in whatever they were talking about, but she figured it was time she stopped letting the size of the family intimidate her. She had picked some night to get over her anxiety, seeing as the party consisted not only of Spencers and Scorpios, but Quartermaines too. Morgan pulled down his Spider-Man mask and ran over to where he noticed Kristina and Georgie talking. She could take a few lessons from her son, Robin realized.
"I'm going to kill you for making me buy this costume." Elizabeth whispered into Robin's ear as she came up behind her. She tugged on the tight simulated leather cat suit. "Was I deranged when I bought this?"
"Oh, the tail is adorable though! And I'm betting you won't be getting any complaints from Lucky. Just be sure to keep it G-Rated for the kids." It felt so good to smile without feeling pressure behind it. Her mother had done the unthinkable: she had taken a break from her campaigning and decided to spend the week with her daughter and grandson. When Robin had invited her to the party, she had turned it down, but never explained why.
Elizabeth looked her friend up and down with a steady eye. Shaking the adorable tail in Robin's direction, she smirked. "And this outfit is purely to declare your female power right? Has nothing to do with Patrick and finding a spare room somewhere."
"Hey, I am Wonder Woman!" Robin whispered emphatically. "You just don't know." To further prove point, Robin flipped the black wig she wore and flexed her arms so that the rubber boobs poked out.
Elizabeth tried not to laugh but it was too hard. The picture was both adorable and hysterical at the same time. "So if you're Wonder Woman and I'm Cat Woman, are we allowed to be talking tonight? Or do we have to do a stupid catfight?" She paused realizing her words. "Pun not intended of course."
"I think we can call it a truce for the kids since, we both know, I'd kick your butt." Robin teased, smirking smugly.
Arching her eyebrow, Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh please. I just have to jump on the furniture and you wouldn't be able to reach me."
"A short joke so early in the evening? You're a hell of a lot braver than I am." Patrick interrupted, pleased at the way Robin's shoulders tensed at the sound of his voice. He knew all he would have to do was reach out and touch her--there was no more than a foot of space between them--to get her to turn around, but he decided not to press his luck.
"Cat Woman is afraid of no one." Elizabeth responded. "And she can spot trouble a mile away. Excuse me. Four kids. One cake. No adult. Disaster in the making."
"Elizabeth--" Robin protested as her friend zipped past her. She had to swallow down a handful of responses she had for Patrick, still able to acknowledge the children around them. Just turn around him and tell him to leave you alone. Go ahead. But she couldn't. If she so much as faced him, she wasn't sure she would be able to speak at all. "Was there something you needed, Patrick, because I'm really in no mood to start another scene?"
"Oh, am I bothering you? I had no idea." Patrick answered with fake sincerity.
"Yes, you are bothering me. Please go away." Robin demanded airily, hoping he would take the hint and leave her alone.
"Maybe I could believe you if you were actually looking at me instead of drilling a hole into that wall." Patrick goaded arrogantly.
Without giving him even a second to gloat, she twirled around and caught his surprised stare. "How have you been?" I can be civil, Robin's tone implied. I can even be rational...as long as you don't touch me.
"Now was that so hard?" Patrick challenged condescendingly. "And terrible. Thanks for asking."
Robin hadn't been expecting that. She had assumed he would carry out a speech of self-importance before ever admitting that he missed her. Of course, he hadn't said anything like that. He could be miserable for a completely different reason. Maybe something had happened that she was not aware of. No, she was over thinking this. "I'm sorry to hear that." She caught herself before she asked if there was anything she could do, but he must have been anticipating it, because his lips curved upward in spite of himself.
"This is ridiculous." Patrick insisted impatiently, his voice suddenly much quieter even though that they had been practically whispering all along.
"I agree. We should be here to wish Lance a happy birthday, not get wrapped up in our own issues." Robin replied, feeling quite proud of herself for being such an adult about this when all she wanted to do was storm off in the opposite direction.
"Can we please talk somewhere else?" Patrick urged, his eyes darting at the simplest flicker of light.
"Where would you have us talk, Patrick?" Robin wanted to know, folding her arms in an unimpressed motion.
"If I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you out of here, I will, but I thought you didn't want to cause a scene." Patrick reminded her.
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Robin countered stubbornly. "If you want to talk to me, you can schedule a meeting for later this week."
"So it's like that huh?" Patrick didn't sound pleased. "We've come this far just to take a hundred steps backward?"
"Tonight is about Lance, and the rest of the kids. Look, there's Lucky and Cameron! I'm going to go say hi." Robin was about to put her words into action when Patrick's hand shot out and caught hold of her arm.
"We can quietly sneak out for a bit or it can be a screaming match all over again. Either way, you're going to talk to me tonight--or at least let me get a word in edgewise."
"Let me tell my uncle I'm stepping out so he can keep an eye on Morgan." Robin jerked her arm out of his grasp and made her way over to her uncle.
Patrick knew better than to trust she would follow him out. He waited for her eyes to meet his a second time before he made a single move. For a short person, she was fast when she was angry. It was the first time he had had trouble keeping up with her. "Slow down there, Cujo." He mocked, reaching for her hand. He might as well have made a crude comment for the way she reacted to the mere brush of his fingers against hers. She bristled instantly and started toward the front door until she noticed a swarm of guests enter. Nodding toward the stairs, she didn't wait for Patrick to follow her.
She'd lost them. Cameron had disappeared into the sea of children almost as soon as he hit the door. One would think a three-year-old dressed as Elvis would stand out, but apparently Elizabeth was wrong in her assumption. Lucky was somewhere, but she was damned if she knew where. Probably off cornered by some rich cousin of the Quartermaines. It would serve him right for picking that costume. Slash from Guns-n-Roses? For a music executive, his costume seemed to indicate his taste was terribly dated.
Keeping her eye moving, she tried to find other familiar faces in the crowd. Elizabeth had caught sight of Robin and Patrick disappearing upstairs. Either they would fight out whatever had been bothering both them or Robin would come storming down the stairs in the next ten minutes. She knew Luke and Laura were somewhere but she hadn't found them yet. Good thing. She could only imagine Luke's comments on her Cat Woman outfit.
Smiling she watched as Lance dance around in the middle of the sea of friends and family. She couldn't quite make out exactly who he was supposed to be. While the other children were superheroes, fairy princesses and celebrities, Lance was dressed in a suit and tie, wearing a pair of what she guessed to swim trunks underneath. She had tried to ask Lucas what Lance's costume was but all she managed to decipher from his mutterings was something about it being Dillon's fault and why should they encourage creativity.
Out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth spotted Courtney's arrival, on the arm of whom Elizabeth assumed to be her boyfriend AJ. She had never met the man, but he looked nice enough. Courtney's blonde hair was hidden underneath a curly auburn wig, her curves displayed to flawless effect by the red evening gown she wore. Although she had never met AJ before, Elizabeth assumed he had added the salt and pepper effect to his hair. His tuxedo was flawless and he carried a large jewelry box in his free hand. Leave it to Courtney to come to a children's party dressed as Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Elizabeth giggled to herself.
"There you are!" Lucky's voice caused her to turn around quickly. He ambled toward her, pushing the curly dark hair of the wig out of his eyes. Which she thought was somewhat ridiculous since they were covered by dark sunglasses. Reaching her, he wrapped his bare arms around her waist and nuzzled at her neck. "I thought you had left me."
"Impressionable children present. Including your sister." She sighed, not wanting him to stop, but realizing they had to. "Do you want to listen to her complain about this all night on the way back home?"
Lucky pulled back a fraction of an inch and lowered the sunglasses on his nose. "Killjoy."
"Sorry." Elizabeth giggled. She wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing she was just pouring salt into the wound. He'd make her pay for that later tonight, she smiled wickedly. "So were you cornered by some groupie I have to go destroy now?"
Slowly Lucky smiled. "Nope."
"Why are you smiling like that?" It made her nervous. Lucky knew something she didn't. This couldn't be good. "Your parents? Your dad saw this outfit didn't he?"
Lucky laughed. "Not yet. You'll know when he does." Kissing her lightly on the lips, he pulled her closer to him. "I told you how much I love this costume right?"
"Once or twice." Elizabeth allowed, kissing him quickly. Robin had only said for her to keep it G-rated. There was kissing in G-rated movies wasn't there? "Come on tell me why are you smiling?"
"Come with me." Lucky pulled her gently out of the corner and started to lead her across the room.
"Lucky? Where are we going? Lucky?"
Casting a glance over his shoulder, he couldn't hide the mischievous smile from her. "Ned and Lois are here. Lois is just dying to meet you."
"You see my boy," Edward began, placing one wrinkled hand on Lucas' shoulder as they moved through the growing crowd. "this business is all I have to give my grandchildren and that means I have to know all of the dealings, including those of my daughter's."
Lucas knew he was wading through dangerous waters even considering investigating his mother-in-law's suspicious behavior, but a wicked part of his brain pointed out that Dillon had brought this on himself, first with siding with Cruz over Bobbie and then letting Lance pick out his own costume from the clothing in his closet. "I understand. I'll have to think about it." He said cryptically, not planning on taking the job, just wanting to push his husband's buttons a little before he gave a real answer.
"What is there to think about?" Edward countered hastily. "This is about the family's future--yours and mine. This is about Lance and any other children you might have over the span of a lifetime."
"And the future of my marriage is put under terrible strain if I say yes." Besides the fact that he didn't want to do it.
"Well of course you wouldn't tell Dillon." Edward replied as if they weren't discussing anything of serious consequence.
"Tracy might not be squeaky clean, but I trust her a heck of a lot more than I'll ever trust you." Despite his words, Lucas patted Edward on the shoulder as Dillon started to approach.
"Grandfather." Dillon nodded. "Enjoying the party?" He eyed the meeting between his grandfather and husband suspiciously. Edward had not been thrilled about the marriage in the first place, ranting about how his family continued to be associated with the likes of Luke Spencer and it was only Lance's birth that had predictably softened that tone. But Edward never willingly sought out Lucas, even after all this time. Something was up.
"Yes. Very much. That grandmother of yours is a true gem. She always throws such excellent parties. I think I hear her calling." Edward excused himself gracefully, but wasn't able to resist winking at Lucas, to which the other man sighed in feigned agitation.
Tugging at the cape Lucas wore as part of his costume, Dillon gave him his super jumbo charmer smile, the one he used to get out of trouble and get information. It was illegal in three states. "So having fun?"
Lucas bit gingerly on the end of his plastic pipe. "That's the most you've said to me in days. Does that mean Georgie is otherwise occupied?" He kept his voice very even, but the intent behind his words was very direct.
Dillon rolled his eyes. "We're back to this again? How many time do I have to tell you there is nothing between Georgie and me but memories?"
"A lifetime, actually. A lifetime you had before me. I'd rather not discuss it at our son's birthday party." He snapped, fully realizing that he had been the one to bring her up.
"But you'd rather discuss something with my grandfather?" Dillon pushed the ET baseball cap back on his head before crossing his arms.
"Business is business. I sometimes find it in strange places, but I have to have something to do while you go off on your movie adventures." Lucas shot back tersely.
"You and Lance are always welcome to come. You know that."
"Well, gee, thanks for thinking of us." Lucas rolled his eyes, copying his husband's juvenile stunt.
Dillon sighed. "Baby, my life is with the two of you. I don't know how to convince you of that." Shaking his head, he muttered under his breath. "You are just like your mother."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Lucas planted his hands on his hips, pressing the pipe into his left hip.
"Nothing. Just you both seem determined to push away love when it comes around."
"Don't drag my mother into this just because you've got fight or flight issues." Lucas warned in a low murmur.
"I'm not dragging your mother into anything." Dillon defended hotly. "And you're the one with the fight or flight issues my dear."
"Am I?" Lucas laughed harshly.
Dillon pointed his finger into Lucas's chest hard. "You are the one inventing drama where this is none and hasn't been for years. You are the one sniping at me for every little thing from Lance's costume..."
"He looks like a homeless person!" Lucas retorted angrily.
"He's fine. He's being creative."
"Just like you, right? Just like you thought you would creatively leave one sexual preference and try another one? That's what you're saying."
Dillon threw up his hands in frustration. "When did you become the irrational drama queen here? I thought that was my role!"
"I can't talk to you when you're like this. I'll just have to tell Edward that I'm declining the offer." Lucas decided, smiling on the inside, and nodded in the older man's direction to get his attention.
"What offer? You're thinking of working for Edward?" Dillon shook his head incredulously. "I thought you said that was a deal with the devil?"
"Maybe it's preferred over listening to you deny something I know to be true." Lucas argued, stabbing the pipe in-between his lips.
"Sherlock, get a clue." Dillon retorted, tugging at the cape.
"Stop it!" Lucas shouted, smacking his hand away from his costume.
"You change your mind?" Edward interjected, his smile wide. It didn't even seem to matter that Dillon was within hearing distance.
"No. My answer is still the same. Excuse me." Lucas shoved past both of them.
"Would you let go?" Robin shrugged away from Patrick's touch and stumbled farther into the room. Though she had expected him to look put off by her behavior, he couldn't have looked any less afflicted.
"Sit down." Patrick ordered, gesturing toward the bed. "We've got a lot to talk about."
"As compelling as this is, I'm sure my family will start to wonder where I am soon. Can we speed this up?"
"You can't still be mad at me about what happened the night of your birthday. Even you're not that petty."
"Maybe if you gave me a little more credit, we wouldn't be in this position." Robin shot back, never letting her eyes stray from his. Frustrated, she plopped down onto the mattress and waited for him to do the same.
"Oh so now this is a man-woman thing? By not taking advantage of you on your birthday, suddenly I'm the asshole? Wow. The sick thing is that you actually believe yourself justified in staying mad at me."
"This is not about whether or not you're an honorable guy, so please, spare me." Robin begged, holding out her hand to mimic a stop sign.
"Then explain to me why you're pissed at me, even after all of this time." Patrick challenged, finally taking a seat next to her.
"You don't get to decide when I'm ready for something." Robin answered simplistically. "I'd like to think that I know what I'm getting myself into when I make the decision to be intimate with the man I love."
"You wouldn't have been able to enjoy it." Patrick insisted, moving his hand to cover hers, but again she was just beyond his reach.
"I guess we'll never know, now will we?" Robin shot up to her feet and paced the room, copying his earlier actions. "Are we done?"
Though she was merely referring to the current situation, Patrick couldn't help but think of the question applying to their relationship as a whole. He supposed that's what drove him to his feet, what carried him those necessary steps until he was standing directly behind her. "Not even close."
Robin's voice cracked slightly when she continued, "Isn't it ironic how the tables have turned? Now, instead of me seeing Logan when I look at you, you see him when you look at me. You can't get past what happened."
"I'm not ever going to get past what my brother tried to do to you. Can you?" Patrick swallowed thickly.
"I've tried, but every time I do, you're there putting up a roadblock. I don't need you to baby me, Patrick. I need you to trust me. After everything we've been through, why is that so god damn hard for you?" Robin whispered in agony.
"It's not you I don't trust." Patrick argued brokenly.
The bitter retort died on Robin's tongue when his words struck a cord in her. So that's what this was really about. Again, little to do with her and more to do with his own insecurities. She wanted to find fault in that, but her own masochistic nature wouldn't allow it.
When she didn't say anything, he felt as if the air was choking him. Perhaps, she didn't trust him either. And why should she? Look what had happened to her in the short time they had been together. Unable to speak, having backed himself into a corner with his damn honesty, he depended on the one certainty he could always count on: the understanding swirling around in Robin's chestnut gaze.
"There's nothing more you could have done that night." Robin assured him, making certain that there was no confusion about which night she was referring to.
"There has to have been." Patrick shook his head.
"No." Robin's eyes glistened with tears. "You did what you could."
"It's not enough. I shouldn't have left you alone." Patrick argued in self-deprecation.
"What were you going to do, Patrick? Follow me from work to home? He would have gotten to me eventually, if not that night. He planned this out. You couldn't have known." Robin told him.
"That's a real comfort. Thank you." Patrick sighed in agitation. "Maybe Courtney was right."
Robin laughed maniacally, "Are you feeling alright? You're speaking nonsense." She actually touched the back of her hand to his forehead to check for a suspected temperature.
Her hand felt too good against his skin. "She said that I made you a target. What if that's exactly what I did?"
"It's done." Robin pointed out impatiently. "Can't you just get past it?"
"No."
"That's awfully hypocritical of you then."
"I suppose that's exactly what I am, but please explain."
"You obviously don't think I'm taking the attack seriously enough. You think it's okay to judge me and tell me how to handle what happened to me. Let me ask you a question," Robin held his stare. "if Lucky hadn't found out about your exposure, would you have told him?"
Patrick backed away from her as if she had slapped him. "It's not the same thing." He countered desperately.
"Isn't it? You feel victimized just as I do. Say that you wouldn't go back and change anything about that night if you really think it'll make me feel better, but don't sell me this bullshit about you being unaffected by the entire experience." Robin demanded, taking a step toward him, one accusatory finger pointed in his direction.
"So much good has come from it." Patrick insisted.
"Stop it!" Robin shot back, reaching for his hand. "Stop saying what you think I want to hear! Tell me how scared you are. Face what happened. It doesn't make you less of a man, just please. Please." She repeated emphatically.
"Robin…" He murmured as his hand slid across her left cheek.
"No! Don't feel sorry for me." She broke their powerful gaze and stared at the curve of his shoulder, wanting so badly to take a final step forward and rest her head against him.
"I don't feel sorry for you. I don't want to talk about this. I don't want to talk at all." Patrick decided, yanking the black wig off of her head and threading his fingers through her hair. Conflicted, she accepted his mouth when it joined hers in a scorching kiss and pressed her palms into his shoulders.
Robin wasn't sure how far she wanted him to carry this, how long she could go without hearing him tell her that he was, indeed, terrified about what his six-month test would reveal. She knew it kept him up at night even though she hadn't spent the night with him in what felt like forever. This wasn't going to solve anything. She was still trying to rationalize away her decision where Logan was concerned—she didn't want to think about how Patrick would react—and he was still hiding in the veiled clarity their lovemaking always provided them.
She was only aware of movement when the back of her knees pressed into the edge of the mattress. He was heavy against her when they fell into a scramble of limbs and, for a moment, she let her body revel in the feel of him. His muscles were hard and perfectly sculpted under her fingertips and she found herself leaning into him to deepen what was already a derailing kiss. One of his hands cupped her face while the other skidded over her shoulders and located the zipper on the back of her top. She trembled beneath him, her eyelids fluttering as his teeth grazed her tongue.
Turning her face away, she tucked it into the crook of his shoulder, sobbing quietly. He sat up, taking her hands in his to pull her into a sitting position, and she saw the internal battle going on in the deepest crevices of his eyes. He lightly stroked her cheek as if to apologize and she closed her eyes, letting the tears fall silently into her open palm.