Raining on Sunday

Robin knew Patrick was growing impatient of her insistence to watch their best friends from afar. One baby was in Elizabeth's arms while Lucky danced and rocked the other one to sleep. She couldn't believe these two, of all people, had managed to keep such a secret. She had underestimated them! "How do you feel?" She alerted her presence and walked across the room with Patrick on her heels.

"Like I just pulled two trucks in a monster truck rally." Elizabeth smiled.

Robin had to smile back. She leaned down and hugged Elizabeth while Patrick stood behind Lucky and glanced down at the pink bundle in his arms as if he had no idea what a baby looked like that. "How could you not tell me?"

"I was convinced Lucky would crack after two weeks." Elizabeth protested. "I didn't think we'd actually keep it a secret."

"Hey! I resent that." Lucky protested mildly.

"So it's Lucky's fault?" Patrick smirked.

"Always." Elizabeth smirked.

"Two babies at one time and a four-year-old? Girl, you're braver than I am." Robin admitted nudging Elizabeth's left shoulder.

"Again, Lucky's fault."

"I thought the picking on me was supposed to stop with the delivery." Lucky rolled his eyes as he adjusted his daughter to his shoulder.

"Sorry. I think it continues until they come home from the hospital at least." Elizabeth smiled over at Robin. "Want to hold him?" she offered.

"Of course. Let me see my nephew." Robin cooed to the tiny blonde as she collected him into her arms.

"Careful. Watch the head." Elizabeth cautioned

"I've held a few babies before." Robin rolled her eyes, but smiled just the same. Of course Elizabeth would be protective.

"That was more for Patrick. He's looking a little confused about how this whole thing works."

A perplexed look played across Robin's features. Sure enough, Lucky was entrusting his only daughter to his older cousin and Patrick couldn't have looked more terrified. He held the baby as if she might be a time bomb, but something told Robin not to help him. He would have to figure out how this worked and it'd be good for him to do so before the baby came. She stared down into the beautiful green eyes of the baby in her arms. From here, she could tell that the twins differed in hair color, but she'd have to get closer to notice any more than that.

"She's a baby, not a bomb." Lucky laughed as he rescued his daughter from Patrick's trembling hands. "It's ok Gracie. No one was going to let him drop you on your head."

"Gracie?" The older couple asked in unison.

"Lauren Grace actually. Lucky just started with Gracie, but I think I like it." Elizabeth explained with a smile.

"It fits her." Lucky offered as way of explanation.

"Gracie Spencer?" Patrick touched the baby's dark brown head. "How did you come up with it?"

"Lauren is a pretty close combination of Mom's name and Elizabeth's mother's name." Lucky explained. "And Grace is for Steven's favorite actress."

"Grace Kelly." Elizabeth added. "And I've always just liked the name. There aren't many Graces around and he swore she couldn't have another kid with her name in her class."

"And what about this handsome little guy?" Robin wanted to know while she made funny faces at the baby in her arms.

"Well Jacob for my grandfather." Elizabeth explained as she looked over at Lucky. "You want to take the middle name or you want me to save you the embarrassment?"

"Ha. Ha." Lucky managed. "Fine. It's Patrick. His name is Jacob Patrick."

"You named him after me?" Patrick didn't try to hide his surprise. Robin noticed that he was hovering over her and finally relinquished Jacob into his waiting arms. "Well he's obviously a lady-killer with those green eyes and my name to live up to."

"Jacob Cruz just sounded wrong." Lucky deadpanned.

"And in an effort to keep him from ever having your reputation, we're calling him Jake." Elizabeth threw in.

"You would try to make this all about you." Robin teased him, swallowing thickly at the vision of Patrick holding his namesake.

"It is about me. Hello, he has my name." Patrick reminded her glibly.

"As his middle name. That will only be used when he's in trouble." Lucky pointed out. "Wait a second....that actually does make it more appropriate than I thought."

"I'd smack you if I thought I could do so without dropping this little guy." Patrick assured his cousin.

"You couldn't do that if you weren't holding him." Lucky scoffed.

"They just have to ruin a sweet moment don't they?" Elizabeth whispered to Robin.

"What amuses me is that you're still surprised." Robin sat on the edge of the bed.

"My brain is on a pain delay still." Elizabeth assured her.

"You did a great job." Robin told her. "I called your brother."

"Good. What'd he say?"

"He said he would be here as soon as he could and that you should convince Lucky to take off some time so you can sleep during these first few weeks."

"So he's pretending that I didn't already tell him that Lucky is doing just that? Did he actually use Lucky's name or just refer to him as he?"

"He is getting better. Apparently his girlfriend knew Lucky's name." Robin said.

"Girlfriend?" Elizabeth sputtered. "Excuse me?"

"Well at least I assumed she was a girlfriend. She was with him when I called and it's the middle of the night there."

"He is in trouble when he gets home." Elizabeth declared. "Serious trouble. Gives me grief about my love life but he finally meets someone and decides not to tell me? So wrong."

Treading softly, Patrick pointed out, "That doesn't necessarily mean she's his girlfriend."

Both Robin and Elizabeth turned and gave him steely looks. "What do you mean by that?" Elizabeth managed.

"I'd back out now if I were you." Lucky muttered to his cousin.

"Some...sometimes guys...stupid, stupid guys think it's best to be casual with women. There's a good chance that she's not as special as you're both making her. When does his production finish? Soon right? What sense would there be to engage in a serious relationship?"

"There wouldn't be." Elizabeth admitted. "But casual is not Steven's style. If she's there, then he's serious. Which is why I'm confused why he never mentioned her."

"He'll be home soon enough. And I'm sure you'll meet her." Lucky tried to assure her, sitting down on the opposite side of the bed as Robin, wrapping his arms around Elizabeth's shoulder and pulling her head to his shoulder. "I don't think he up and married her without telling you."

*****

Sherry Lockhart shoved her way past some frustrated nurses, her heels slamming piercingly against the maternity floor. This story was going to send her straight to the top of her field. No more take-out boxes littering her apartment: She was moving uptown. Though there had been no definite time table for Spencer's girlfriend to go into labor, how fortunate for her that she just happened to weasel her way into the baby shower? The aunt might have been suspicious, but she hadn't called Sherry out. A very loud, very blunt young man shoved her out the door, but not before she heard the girlfriend announce that her water had just broken.

Graham Nelson had been boasting for months about how sneaky he was sneaking the first real shot of Elizabeth Webber. He had been promoted three times since then based on that one stroke of luck! It didn't help that he was part of her team or that he had stolen the job she wanted. He was going to be shitting bricks when he found out that she had managed to get the first picture of Lucky Spencer newborn baby! She couldn't wait to tell him!

Of course, she hadn't gotten over to the nursery yet, but she was making her way slowly there. She didn't want anyone to recognize her and, after the chance she had taken showing her face at the shower, it was entirely likely that one member of the Spencer bunch might single her out. So she didn't have the picture? She had the delivery! After casually brushing past the mommy-to-be, she had planted a video bug on her sleeve. Though Sherry hadn't made it back to the van to check out the footage, her cameraman promised that it was some pretty compelling stuff.

She had been surprised to find out that this was Spencer's second time as a father. She estimated the boy's age at around three or four and damn if he didn't look exactly like his father! His son hadn't been mentioned in any previous press releases, but that was all about to change. Sometimes things really did work out. Suddenly all of the bragging and condescending remarks she had had aimed at her seemed worth it.

"Aren't they just the most perfect bundles of sugar you've ever seen in your life?' Daphne exclaimed to Taggert as she stood in front of the nursery window. She had been mildly perturbed to arrive at the shower fashionably late as promised only to find it completely abandoned. If it hadn't have been for the slightly angry party hostess, she would have missed seeing this glorious sight. No wonder Lucky was so confident he could keep that rock he bought a secret!

"They're cute." Taggert managed. He had an image to maintain and if he didn't watch his girlfriend would have him using words like "adorable" and "precious" as if they were acceptable to a man like him.

"Miss Vega!" Despite the pep talk she had just had with herself, Sherry couldn't pass up the opportunity to see one of her favorite artists in person. Eat your heart out Nelson, she smiled happily. "Is that really you?" Thanks to years of wearing too little makeup and never staying with the times as far as fashion was concerned, Sherry had an obvious advantage: She didn't look like a reporter.

Putting on her best "meet the public" smile, Daphne reluctantly turned her attention away from the two little darlings that were melting her heart at the minute. Offering out her hand, she subtly moved out in front of Taggert. "Guilty I'm afraid."

"I'm your biggest fan! I'm sure you hear it all the time, but I really am! Would you sign this?" Sherry pushed a blank notebook toward Daphne eagerly.

"Why of course sugar!" Daphne easily drawled. "What's your name?"

"Sherry." She practically squealed. What was next? Was she going to stumble on Elvis? While Daphne had her hands full, she edged closer to the nursery. "I didn't know you were expecting a baby." She said casually.

Taggert practically choked as Daphne just laughed. "Oh no. Not me. Just visiting a friend is all."

"I have to say, I was so disappointed when it came out that you and Lucky Spencer weren't an item." Sherry admitted on a long sigh.

"Oh sweetie. We could never be together like that." Daphne giggled as she patted Sherry's arm. "We're far too much alike."

"But you would tell me if you were expecting a baby, wouldn't you? I mean...I am your biggest fan." Sherry added lightly.

"Those days are many, many years away." Daphne assured her. "I have a career to be thinking of."

Taggert recovered enough to lean forward and touch Daphne's shoulder. "Baby, I know you hate to do this but if you want to make that visit, we're going to have to go now. Visiting hours are almost over and you have to be in LA in the morning." He didn't know where the urge to censor his conversation came from, but something about this fan girl was rubbing him the wrong way. There was nothing obvious, but there was just something screaming at him to get Daphne away from her and quickly.

Glancing down at her watch, Daphne whistled softly. "Shoot Sugar. You're right." Smiling apologetically at Sherry, she handed back the notebook. "I've got to run. Price of fame you know."

"Who did you say your friend was?"

"She didn't." Taggert said quickly. "She wants to keep her private life private. You understand." Lord this girl was nosy.

"Yes. I'm sorry." Tears sprung to Sherry's liquid blue eyes.

"Pay no attention to him. He's just a big meanie." Daphne assured her. "But I do have to go. I hope to see you at a show some time."

Sherry brightened. "Thank you so much for the autograph!"

"No problem!" Daphne called as Taggert led her by the arm down the hall.

Preview - . Her dark hair covered her flawless face and the shirt he recognized from yesterday had inched up in her sleep just enough to tease him with the barest hint of skin. Kneeling down, he rubbed her denim clad leg lightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.