We inspired a Kic fic? That's awesome! Can't wait to read it! I thought you might enjoy a non-cliffhanger Friday update.

Robin swirled a tiny paintbrush in-between her middle and index finger, wishing she could be working in the craft room. She had ordered a plain two-story dollhouse offline around Christmastime and it just happened to come in yesterday. Patrick had managed to get it upstairs and set it on the back table before she realized what was going on and started bugging him to let her up so she could get started on it. As a little girl, she had always wanted to refurnish dollhouses, but something had always gotten in the way. Until they brought her to Uncle Mac, she and her parents had moved every two years to avoid any of her father's growing lists of enemies. She had never gotten to be in one place long enough to even make friends.

She didn't know how she was going to survive the next four weeks on bed rest. Not being able to do simple tasks that made her day more enjoyable was going to drive her crazy. Patrick was going to drive her crazy if he didn't stop hovering over her. Morgan constantly wanted to know what was wrong with her, but she didn't have the strength or the motivation to do so. He had been through enough; she didn't want to promise him a baby brother or sister when everything was still in the air. So far, Elizabeth had managed to keep her mouth shut and no one else knew about the baby, but there was no guarantee that it was going to stay that way. She could feel it pressing, the questions growing, and the uncertainty building. What was she going to do with her life? She couldn't possibly keep the bakery with no one to work it. Lucas and Dillon wanted to take Lance away for Spring Break and then she would have no support.

The bakery had been her first success and she knew it wasn't going to be easy to give it up. She would have to meet with her lawyer soon and then her real estate agent, but there was no way she could do any of that while she was on bed rest. She couldn't do shit while she was on bed rest besides watch crappy Lifetime movies and corny, over-the-top, redundant soap operas. She wasn't allowed to be on her feet for more than ten minutes at a time and even that had been a compromise she and Patrick had come to. She couldn't cook but she could read all of her cookbooks; she couldn't even make Morgan a grilled cheese sandwich because apparently that was just too much for her to accomplish. Maybe she would take up sewing. She didn't think she was one of those moms who sat in a rocking chair and knitted booties or pajamas. What was she going to do for the next month?

"Hello? Anyone home?" Knocking lightly on the open door, Lucky ventured further into the apartment, spotting Robin easily enough on the couch. He knew Patrick wasn't home; he had planned his visit around that, so why was Robin laying there with the door wide open? Between her and Patrick, he was guessing there would be more security than Fort Knox around the apartment and Morgan at all times.

Not that he was anyone to talk about less extreme measures to protect Cameron. Even though the meeting with Dara had been positive and the lawyer seemed confident he would be able to retain primary custody of his son, he couldn't shake the feeling Tony and Lisa would pull some long forgotten transgression out of thin air and the judge would see him as a terrible parent, losing Cameron forever. Although both Dara and Elizabeth had tried to gloss over that point, Lucky realized the stakes. If he lost this case, there was no way Tony or Lisa would allow him near Cameron ever again.

If he was honest with himself, his own behavior lately could do that for him. Elizabeth was willing to testify, but if she was asked if he was attentive and present for her pregnancy right this second, she would have to say no. When Lulu and the kids returned home, he had thought the nightmares and flashbacks would stop. They hadn't. It was getting harder and harder to hide them from Elizabeth and Cameron, so he had taken to staying at the office as late as possible. This was hurting his son and making Elizabeth suspicious. But he wasn't going to burden them with this. Elizabeth especially had enough going on right now.

Robin glanced up. "Lucky? Jesus, you scared me." To further prove her point, her hand rose to her chest and she reminded herself to breathe normally.

"I knocked." Lucky defended himself. "If you didn't have your door wide open Shortstack, no one would be able to walk in and surprise you." He pointed out, scooting her feet over so he could sit down.

"That's true. I must have forgotten to close it when I came in. I have a lot on my mind." Robin explained staring down at the paintbrush she had forgotten she was holding. "I haven't seen you for a while."

"Work." It was a lie, but his father always preached if you were going to lie it was easier to tell the same one to everyone. Much easier on the memory.

"I'm not judging you. I haven't exactly made myself...I've been kind of hiding out as well." Robin pointed out blandly.

"No." Lucky drawled, feigning shock. "You don't say." Damn it if Elizabeth hadn't been right. Robin looked paler than normal and as if she hadn't slept in a month. If he wasn't so caught up in his own stuff he would have noticed this.

"Would you like some tea?" Robin was thankful she hadn't been an avid coffee drinker...or rather that she hadn't been addicted to it so the idea of having to leave it alone for seven more months wasn't a big sacrifice. Maybe it was her mother who had gotten her hooked on tea and scones or maybe it was her English background. Maybe she just needed something to prove that she wasn't actually from here would never quite fit in and she was okay with it.

"Don't make anything on my account."

"It's fine. I need to get up anyway." Robin waved off his concern and headed for the kitchen.

Noticing the doll house for the first time, Lucky moved closer to inspect it. "Robin, you do realize Morgan is a boy right? I don't think he's going to want to play with a doll house." He called out into the kitchen.

"It's mine." Robin explained. "I always wanted one. Sugar?"

"Plain is fine." He raised one eyebrow at her as she returned to the couch. "Always wanted one? I've known you since you were five. You have not always wanted one. You were always one of the guys."

"Yeah? Well, some things change."

"Not everything." Lucky took a cautious sip of the hot beverage. Maybe the tea would keep the jitters away, unlike his usual coffee. "For example, I'm still here to solve all your problems." He teased her.

"What problems would those be?"

"Try me."

"I'm afraid to have Morgan gone for more than an hour at a time. He's over at Uncle Mac's right now. I've been calling every fifteen minutes just in case...just in case something happens and they can't get to the phone right away."

"I'm at ten minutes with Cameron." Lucky admitted. "And if one more person says it will just take time..."

"That's a lie." Robin snapped handing over his tea and reaching for her own. "It doesn't get easier. It could be a month; it could be a year; or even ten years. I'm never going to feel safe leaving him anywhere."

"I'm reconsidering the idea of having him home schooled."

"I don't think I want Morgan to go back to school. They're obviously incompetent. The last time I...the last time..."

"I know." Lucky put down his cup and grabbed Robin's hand. "Too bad we had to have social kids who like people. This would be so much easier if they hated everyone."

"Maybe." Robin whispered. "Patrick said you weren't sleeping. Is that true?"

"Patrick has a big mouth." Lucky sighed as he leaned back into the pillows. "And he's worried over nothing. It's work. I told him the same thing."

"Is it?" Robin ventured lightly as she took a sip of her tea.

"Would I lie?"

"I would hope not to me." Robin didn't care if she was being a hypocrite or not. Something was wrong with Lucky. Telling him anything about her and Patrick's baby wouldn't solve anything, but if she could get Lucky to speak up...

"You play dirty." Lucky closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Lying to Robin was harder than he had assumed it would be. This wasn't supposed to be about him. He had come here specifically to help her, but she kept dancing around the edge of the issue. Turning this into his turn on in the Pathetic Spotlight wasn't in the cards, but if it would get Robin to start talking, he was game. "Tony and Lisa are suing for custody." Not the whole truth but certainly closer than he had told in awhile.

"Why?" Robin placed the cup on the side table knowing that if she set it anywhere near the dollhouse, it would spill.

"Besides the fact Tony hates me? Let's see: the accident, the kidnapping attempt, and although I'm not one hundred percent on this one, I think Elizabeth moving in and being pregnant played a role too."

"You had no say in any of those things. I'll admit you had a little something to do with the last one, but the others...no completely out of your hands." Robin smiled for him.

He rolled his eyes at her "little something" comment. "Unfortunately there's no talking with them about that this time. And the fact I forgot to call them after Logan did...well what he did, doesn't help."

"I don't think you should tell them about what Faison did to you." Robin responded almost out of place. "No use giving them ammunition."

Lucky did a double take at her casual mention of Faison's name. Then he narrowed his eyes. "Yeah because you know how much I love sharing about that."

"Is that why you're not sleeping?"

"Maybe. I don't know." He shrugged. "Probably isn't helping."

"Do you need me to testify?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't want you to do anything too stressful right now."

"I want to be able to help you." Robin insisted.

"And I appreciate that, but Shortstack you are approximately two seconds away from a meltdown. You are avoiding Patrick. You're avoiding Elizabeth. The last thing we need is them to start talking to each other because they are bored."

"That would be quite a sight, wouldn't it?"

"It might be the real reason I can't sleep."

Patting his right shoulder softly, Robin forced him to look into her eyes. "I know about nightmares Lucky." She whispered.

He caught the sadness in her eyes when she whispered. "You're worrying about more than Morgan aren't you?"

"This isn't about me." Robin scooted to the other side of the couch and took another drink of her tea.

"Robin. This is me. I haven't run from anything you've told me since you were five. And that includes dating Jason Morgan."

Robin let out a long sigh. "What was I thinking?"

"Obviously you've confused me with some friend who gives up easily."

"You mean like Courtney?" Robin snorted.

"Not specifically, but hey we can go with her."

"How could she do that, Lucky?" Robin turned her face away when she noticed the fresh tears on her cheeks.

Moving to wipe the tears he noticed falling, Lucky pulled her close to him for a hug. "If I could answer that I would."

"I trusted her with my life. She was always there. I told her all of my secrets. We used to braid each other's hair." Robin recalled.

"It seems way too simple to say some people change but there it is. And it's not always for the better."

"She stole my son, Lucky. She stole him and wouldn't let him come home."

"And she'll pay for that Robin. I have no doubt your uncle won't rest until she comes to justice. One way or another she'll pay."

"She could do it again."

"Lulu's pretty confident she was following Emily's orders. I know that doesn't make it any easier, but I don't think she would try it again alone."

"Did she have anything to do with my breaks?" Robin almost shrieked. "Is she the one I should blame for...?"

"Blame for what?"

"Lucky, I—" Robin broke off.

"Robin? What's going on?"

"I can't." Robin whimpered.

"Hey. You know I would never pressure you. But you can tell me anything. You know that."

Robin ducked her head. "I'm pregnant." Her voice was barely above a murmur.

"What?" Lucky leaned closer so he could hear her better. Surely she wouldn't have kept this quiet. "I thought you said you were pregnant."

"I am." Robin glanced up. "I am pregnant. Ten weeks along. I—we didn't tell anyone because..."

"You remember Mom's reaction to our news and freaked out?" Lucky guessed, smiling at her reveal. And Cruz said he had competition issues.

"I may not be able to carry it to term." It was never going to get easier to say, was it?

"What? I mean...are you sure about that?" Lucky sunk back, stunned. One these days maybe he would figure out the whole planned pregnancy concept, but he had loved his children the second he adjusted to the idea they were coming. He couldn't imagine being told there was a possibility they wouldn't survive.

"That would explain why the first doctor wanted me to have an abortion." Robin replied dryly.

"The first doctor? So you found another one?"

"Yes." Robin nodded. "Dr. Walker. She's very nice."

"So this is why you've been avoiding everyone right? And why Dillon suddenly has taken over baby shower planning?"

"Patrick made me go to the hospital after a week of not being able to sleep. Dr. Lansing confirmed it. After we got Morgan home, I figured it would be best to talk to Sonny...you know about protection? Anyway, he killed himself in his cell the night before, but no one noticed until we found him. I collapsed and the new doctor told me that I'm on bed rest for the next four weeks. I have what's called Toxemia. It's a high blood pressure in pregnancy."

At one point in time maybe he would have felt sorrow for another senseless death, but the truth was Sonny Corinthos courted death for years before it caught up with him. Letting out a sigh, he met Robin's cinnamon colored eyes straight on. "And you're refusing to ask for help because?"

"What do you mean? What could any of you possibly do?"

"Talk with you. Sit with you. I'm pretty sure I'm more interesting than that soap of yours."

"I could probably audition for it for all the trouble I've caused so many people." Robin mused.

"You aren't trouble."

"Oh, man." Robin groaned. "You have no idea."

"Shortstack if you were real trouble I would have nothing to do with you. I have high standards you know."

"Look at what I've done to the people I care about if you don't believe me. Morgan would have been safe and never taken from his school. Patrick wouldn't be forced to come to terms with not only my untimely death but also that he has to be a father."

"You know I think someone told me once that some things were totally out of my hands. You had a little something to do with the last one, but the rest you had no control over."

Robin startled herself with a laugh. "How are we going to get you back to sleeping?"

"How are we going to get you through this pregnancy?" He countered easily.

"One day at a time I think."

"You know I don't even think I liked that when it was TV show."

"At least soaps used to have depth. What do they have now? Little kids getting shot in the head."

"Not that we would admit to knowing about that."

"On that note..." Robin got to her feet and snuck over to the movie shelf. "Want to watch Jack & Jill?"

Lucky groaned. "I knew promising you to be there no matter what would bite me in the ass."