Her father had called an hour ago to tell her that they were having a great time and she shouldn't worry. How he had known she would worry she wasn't entirely sure. She had walked up and down the length of the apartment, just trying to find something to do. French soap operas might have been more interesting if she hadn't known what they were saying. She had eaten something that hadn't agreed with her and now she was trying in vain to get rid of her stomach ache. It was too quiet. Snatching her cell off its charger, she dialed a familiar number, estimating that her friend would have been up and around by now.

"Hello?" Elizabeth answered cautiously. Ever since Cameron discovered that pressing numbers led to him talking to people, she had been terrified Tony or Lisa would look through the call log and see the call to Lucky. It was probably the best thing to happen to Lucky all week, but there was no way she was going to let him be blindsided by angry Grimes if she could help it.

"Permission to speak." Robin teased, noticing the tightness in Elizabeth's voice.

"Oh thank God." Elizabeth nearly collapsed in relief. "It's you."

"Expecting Sean Connery?"

"Ok you are the one with that crush, not me. I was totally expecting Pierce Bronson."

"How are you friend?" Robin felt tears spring to her eyes, but she didn't know why. It was just a phone call. Maybe it was the time between this phone call and the last one.

"Exhausted. Hormonal. Stressed. Happy. You know you're basic confusing ball of fun. What about you? You haven't bought out Chanel without me have you?" It was such a relief to talk to Robin directly, Elizabeth couldn't put into words.

Robin tried to think of a snarky response, but her throat closed up before she could. She was blaming the hormones. "I told them I'd have to talk it over with my fashion consultant."

"Good answer." Elizabeth nodded her approval, as always forgetting Robin couldn't see her. "It sounds awfully quiet where you are. Where's Morgan? I thought for sure I would hear him swinging from the chandeliers."

"Oh, he got bored of that. My dad took him to Disneyland."

"I'm sorry your dad took him to Euro Disney? I thought he was too young to be a grandfather and all."

"Let's just say he's handling it better than he thought. I think he might be buying my kid off with candy."

"I hear that's a popular option. I'm already dreading when the twins get old enough to eat solids. I'm not leaving them alone with Luke ever."

"You know Lucky said the same thing at first and we saw how well that turned out." Robin laughed.

"True and unless you're having a girl, Gracie's the only granddaughter in town. I'm doomed."

"Sorry. A boy." Robin confirmed.

"Really? You're sure? It's a boy?"

Robin couldn't believe she hadn't told Elizabeth already! She smiled in excitement, "Yes. A little boy. He wasn't...um...shy about letting us know."

"Oh so something we can completely blame Patrick for?"

"Completely. And don't think I don't remember you not telling me that you were having twins."

"Again who on Earth would figure Lucky to be able to keep that a secret? I gave him a week tops before spilling."

Robin could have asked how Lucky was, but she decided to hold her tongue on the subject. Until he had Cameron back, he wasn't going to feel better. "Have you seen Georgie? She leaves Paris and I get one phone call in which she tells me she landed safely. That was weeks ago."

"Actually I have. She randomly attached herself to me at Luke and Laura's anniversary party and Grams told me she's popped up a few times over at her house."

"Really? I didn't know they were close."

"I didn't either. Has she always been into baking because suddenly she's asking Grams for all kinds of recipes?"

Robin barely contained her snort. "Georgie can't even scramble eggs."

"I don't know. Maybe that personality pod thing Patrick was telling me about got her too."

As per usual, any mention of Patrick made Robin's stomach turn. Now she knew he was avoiding her phone calls. "It's not a crime to try new things. Maybe she's trying to avoid catching Uncle Mac and Alexis going at it like rabbits. I heard that was something that she used to have to suffer through before she left." The idea made Robin want to wash her mouth out with something pleasant, but alas there was nothing in the refrigerator but Grapefruit juice.

"Oh eww. That's like thinking of your siblings having sex. No pictures needed."

"Speaking of, did you get Steven to spill about his little fling up here?"

"No. My parents have made light topic of conversations a little hard to come by."

"Your parents?"

"That's right I didn't tell you. They finally arrived. After Steven flies half way around the world and decides to move back to Port Charles for a while at least and move in with Grams at her house to help her recover, they show up. With the evil she-witch in tow."

"I was thinking Sarah would think up a good reason not to come. What are they doing in Port Charles anyway?"

"Well not to see the twins that's for sure."

"What do you mean? What other reason would they have?" Robin sensed something was terribly off.

"Well that would be the rational reason and we both know my parents aren't rational. No they've not seen the twins outside that one damn paper and they are a month old. I believe the reason they told Luke when they arrived unannounced was they were here to save the family's good name from my completely irresponsible and attention seeking ways."

"What aren't you telling me? And since when do they...? Oh no." Robin didn't like the puzzle pieces she had to work with and she didn't like where they were choosing to fall. "What did they do?"

"They're staying in town to testify for the Grimes. They volunteered."

"What kind of clusterf—what?" Robin must have heard wrong. They were evil, but they wouldn't—they wouldn't.

"Basically my reaction. Minus a breakdown and about a three day crying fit."

"I'm a bad friend." Robin murmured, her bottom lip trembling. "I should have known about this before now. I should have called. I'm so sorry. I'm so—sorry."

"No don't you dare. There was nothing you could have done and you are supposed to avoid stress. Believe me Steven did exactly what you want to do. He told them to go to hell and stay away from all of us. No I am not going to be responsible for your stress-related breakdown. No way."

Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Robin's brain warned as she began to hiccup. "I'm sorry. I'm a mess right now."

"I believe you are allowed when you are pregnant and you've only told four people."

"Six. I told Georgie and Morgan." Robin corrected.

"Well I wasn't counting Patrick so I guess that would actually make five."

"When is the trial?" Robin asked, trying her best to keep her voice from shaking.

"Monday. How'd your Dad and Georgie take the news?"

"Shock. Awe. The usual. Georgie said she's happy for me, but she thinks the proposal was just about the baby. My dad's been hovering over me and I was relieved when he said he was taking Morgan to the theme park because if I spent even one more minute with those two watching my every move, I think I might have screamed."

"So if Georgie knows what did you threaten her with to keep it from your uncle? And sorry chica, hovering family is what I hear concerned parents do. Remember how I couldn't go a foot without Laura or another Spencer being right there?"

"That I can't figure out. I begged her not to say anything and she said she wouldn't. I had a feeling she was hiding something too, but heck if I know what it is."

"When are you coming home? Cause I think together we can totally figure it out."

"Four more weeks."

"My phone bill is going to be huge by then."

"Mine too." Robin agreed.

Elizabeth chewed her bottom lip. Lucky was occupied with the twins and if he found out Robin was on the phone, she knew he would insist she talk longer. It has been far too long since she and Robin had discussed anything of importance and now that the surface updates were out of the way, it was a comforting reality that she may just have a chance to throw out anything to Robin and have it analyzed away. "Robin? I'm nervous."

"About what?"

"The custody trial. And you can't breathe a word of this to anyone Robin. Not Patrick and for God's sake not Lucky."

"I think you're safe." Robin said pensively.

"If it was just my stupid parents and evil sister I could be ok. I mean it's not like there's any proof they are even aware what goes on in my life much less can judge what I'm capable of. But Tony's retirement...."

"Tony's retiring? When was this decision made?" Robin asked incredulously.

"I think about the time Cameron moved in. The PI Cruz hired found out he told his boss it was to take care of Cam full time."

"What a jackass." Robin blurted out.

"Thank you. Everyone's been trying so hard not to set Lucky off that no one's said exactly that."

"Well I'm not afraid to say that it was a ploy to look good for the courts. Which I know you've already considered. I wish I was there." Robin whispered, knowing why she wasn't.

"I know you do. And I so understand why you aren't, but I really miss you."

"I miss you too. I feel selfish for leaving like I did." She hadn't been able to breathe in Port Charles. She prayed it would be different when she returned. Would they stare and point? Tears threatened behind her lids and she scolded herself for being such a whimp.

"You aren't being selfish. I am. You left to take care of your baby and to see your father. That's not selfish. I am told in some parts of the world that is how a family works."

"They're just excuses. This isn't about me. Tony has a weakness and it's his pride. I bet Dara will play him like a fiddle."

"That's what Patrick and Cruz keep saying."

"Well they know what they're talking about." Robin agreed, nodding even though Elizabeth couldn't see her. "The Grimes aren't invincible; it just feels like they are because Cameron's not home with you right now."

"I think I'll keep repeating that until I believe it." Elizabeth paused, twisting a piece of hair between her fingers. It was a gamble, but she owed it to her friend to at least try to press the subject. "Speaking of Patrick..."

"What about him?" Was this Elizabeth being subtle? Robin really couldn't tell.

"He misses you. It might be a good idea to call your fiancé."

"I've tried to call him." Robin promised, trying to keep the anger out of her voice.

"Ok well I will let you know that when he's not at home, he's hanging out here if you are ever looking for him."

"If he wanted to talk to me, he would have by now. I don't have the energy to fight with him."

"I know this is going to sound strange coming from me, but Patrick and I are working on being friendish. And I think he just doesn't want to look like he's pressuring you to come home sooner than you planned."

"At this point, I wonder if he wants me to come home at all." It was a fear she had had since boarding the plane to Paris. Would Patrick really wait for her? Would the time apart give him a chance to resort back to his relationship-phobia tendencies?

"Of course he does. He loves you and is going insane without you."

"Can we talk about something else?" Robin pleaded.

"Did I hit too close to home for you?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Sweetie, one of the reasons we're friends is we are the queens of denial and evasion."

"I'm not evading anything. I keep calling; he keeps sending my calls to voicemail." Robin insisted.

"Again I know this is odd with me defending him and all but, honestly, I don't think he has a clue what to say to you."

"What do you mean? A simple 'I miss you' would work."

"He won't say cause like I said we're friendish and I suspect this is far too emotional for him to actually talk to the guys about, but I get the impression he's scared that you don't want to come back."

"Well that doesn't make any kind of sense. Why would he think that?"

"Why do you think he doesn't want you to come home?"

"He doesn't want me to come home? Did he say that?"

"No. What's he said when I've sworn you do want to come home is that I would know better than him."

Robin chewed on her fingernail in contemplation. "I don't know what to do. Things have been so tense between us since before I even left. I don't know what I could even say to him. He made it very clear he didn't appreciate me leaving at such a crucial time." Crucial for him? She was the one that was getting fat. She was the one who was having cravings for things she couldn't get here. She was the one who cried at the drop of a hat.

"Robin, I don't know if you've noticed this, but Patrick doesn't deal real well when things are out of his control. And this whole pregnancy is. It's not in either of your control and you both hate that. And you both have this annoying tendency to deny you feel what you feel. So off the top of my head I'm thinking be honest with him. Tell him the full on truth. Just like you would tell me."

"What happens if I talk to him and tell him the truth and then he doesn't want me to come home? Engagements are broken all the time. What if the reason he's not answering or calling me back is because he doesn't love me anymore?" Robin figured if she was going to be vulnerable for anyone, it might as well be Elizabeth.

"Honey he still loves you. He can't stay in the football field you call home because it's too quiet. He'll never admit this in a million years, but Cruz swears he's seen him sneak the books Cruz read to get ready for Majandra out of Bobbie's house. Robin he's invented a 'best uncle' war with my brother just to keep from going home. Hello he's being friends with me."

"Really?" Robin didn't mind the tears even as they spilled over her lashes.

"I swear on chocolate cherry cheesecake."

"I've been craving that so bad since I've been here. I think I may have cleared out the bakeries in a six-mile radius."

"Of course! I mean hello it's chocolate cherry cheesecake."

"Do you know where Patrick is right now?" Robin asked cautiously.

"He's not here although I'm sure he'll show up around dinner time."

"I'll call him until I get him." Robin decided, knowing Elizabeth wouldn't allow anything less.

"It's about time you listened to me. Please remember I am a genius."

"How could I forget? Don't let this custody thing get you down. Lucky will win because the good guys always do."

"Unless that hack of a bastard is writing it."

"Love you."

"Love you too. You wait to call this long again I'm sending you the guilt trip pictures."

"Kiss the babies for me."

"Like you had to ask. They have to like you better than Patrick."

Previews:

"No. No. No. We're just the uncles." Steven tried to get across.

"You don't have to be ashamed. You don't have to make up a story. This is the twenty-first century." She reminded them.

"No, see you've got it wrong." Patrick shook his head furiously.