The lyrics are from "This Year's Love" by David Gray

"Excuse me? Does no one in this sorry excuse for a hospital understand the simple concept of answering a question?" Maxie threw up her hands in frustration, nearly tossing her phone directly into the open elevator doors behind her.

Apparently the art of the dramatic had lost its appeal in Port Charles in past years. The nurses and doctors barely paid any attention to her as they continued to hurry about their business, reading charts and discussing patients. She stomped her foot in annoyance. All she had was a cryptic message from Alexis stating Georgie was at the hospital and it might be a good idea if she came down. Of all the times for Ric to be out of town, it would have to be the one time that she would welcome his help.

Sam was not in the business of comforting people. During the most intense situations, she wanted to be far, far away. She wasn't without feeling; she just never knew what to say. Still, Maxie was clearly worried and so was she. It wasn't like she had explained what the phone call had been about in any sort of detail, just that her sister was at the hospital and no one would answer their phones. Awkwardly, she rested her hand on Maxie's right shoulder. "Did they mention which floor she was on?"

"Sixth. I think sixth."

"Let's split up. We can cover more ground that way. You take this hallway," She pointed to the one to their left, "And I'll take that one." To the right. "When one of us finds the room number, we'll text it to each other. Okay?" As she made the offer, she could see the refusal in her friend's eyes. "Should I stay with you then?"

Over her friend's shoulder, Maxie pointed to the approaching figure of Alexis, with Georgie following right behind. "I think we were just found." Racing over to them both, Maxie crushed Georgie into a hug. "You're alive." Pulling back, she shot her sister a quizzical look. "Wait, if you're alive why are you here?"

Georgie could barely meet her big sister's eyes. Biting into her bottom lip to keep from completely losing it, she answered, "St-St-Steven. He was hit...a hit-and-run."

"Steven? Steven? Why are we here about Steven?"

Georgie faltered and then explained, "He's my husband."

"You didn't tell me you had a brother-in-law." Sam pointed out, feeling about two inches tall when she realized Maxie hadn't known.

Maxie shook her head. She had to have heard Georgie wrong. Married? In Paris? Miss Goodie Two Shoes had kept something like this a secret? Georgie could barely keep quiet about what Christmas presents she bought everyone. "Wait. Back up. Married secretly in Paris? Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?"

Maxie took another step back as reality hit her. "Oh my God. You told Dad. He's had a stroke."

"No. No." Georgie shook her head. "Dad's fine. One of his officers called while we were at dinner, the one where we planned on telling him everything, and it seems that Steven's car stalled or something and then someone plowed him down and left him there."

"So you got married without anyone knowing and Dad isn't here as a patient. And Steven is but not because Dad tried to kill him?" Maxie shook her head. "And I have the reputation as the drama seeking sister?"

"Maxie." Georgie found a smile for her sister, but it quickly crumbled.

"Georgie." Maxie sighed as she pulled her sister into a hug. "You sure can pick your timing kid, I'll give you that."

Georgie decided to keep the run-in with her new "in-laws" a secret for now. No reason to bring up such bitter memories. "Dad left a while ago to try and locate the car. It would have a hell of a dent in it. Steven's out, but breathing. That's what the doctor said. The name sounds like Serengeti, but I can't remember what it is. He's the chief neurologist at Albany Medical. Alan called him. He's been running tests and promises it'll be hours before he can tell me anything. Elizabeth is in with him now."

"So I'm officially the last person to know?" Maxie pretended to huff. She sucked at being comforting so pretending to be put out would at least give Georgie something else to focus on.

"Basically." Georgie smirked. "Thank you for coming." She could see the surprise in her sister's gaze when she reached for her hands. "I really needed you here." Georgie admitted.

"Well where else would I be?" Maxie swung her hands out wide. "And look I even brought friends! Sam, come here and meet my newly interesting sister."

Sam's head shot up at the excited mention of her name and she headed toward the two sisters, noticing how much they didn't look alike. "Hi. I'm Sam. Sam McCall."

"Hi. Georgie. Georgie Webber."

"Okay that is officially the weirdest thing to come out of your mouth ever." Maxie declared. "Oh and Sam this is Alexis, our soon-to-be step mom."

Alexis, who had been silent beside Georgie, stepped forward to shake Sam's hand. "Alexis Davis. Hello. Did you say your name was Sam McCall? That name sounds familiar to me. Do you, by any chance, know David Harper?" She could already tell by the lifting of this young woman's eyebrows that she recognized his name, at least.

Sam prayed she wasn't blushing. "We've been introduced." She explained. "You're the District Attorney, aren't you?"

"Former." Alexis replied. "It is nice to put a face with a name."

"Hold the phone. You know Sergeant Harper? Enough for him to talk about you?" Maxie placed her hand on one hip. "There are some details missing."

"I said I knew the name." Sam threw back under her breath.

"No you said you've been introduced." Maxie corrected.

"Fine. We've met." Sam replied grudgingly.

"And we'll be talking." Maxie gave her friend an all knowing look. Obviously Georgie wasn't the only person in her life that had been holding out on her where details and men were concerned.

"Excuse me?" Harper made his way carefully toward the four women. Of course he had noticed Sam right way, and any other time he might have made his way over for the pure pleasure of trying to get under her skin, but right now he had a job to do. He had to find out any information he could about who had almost killed the Commissioner's new son-in-law while keeping the family in the loop. "I'm sorry to interrupt..."

"No. It's fine. What's up?" Alexis inquired adamantly.

"The Commissioner wanted me to come here and see if there have been any changes." Harper smiled towards the youngest Jones girl, recognizing her from the pictures in Mac's office and the file he had started to fill on her for Alexis. He supposed he was probably out of the job, at least as far as the D.A. was concerned. "He expressly wanted to know if you were ok Mrs. Webber."

"Am I the only one looking for Elizabeth's mother when they hear that?" Maxie wondered under her breath.

"Daddy asked about Steven?" Georgie's entire face lit up. "No change. Dr. Ferlinghetti is still doing tests."

Technically the Commissioner asked about his daughter, not the newfound member of the family tree, but Harper saw no reason to take away her happiness right now. He offered out a business card to her. "My cell number is on the card. Please call me if anything changes so I can keep your father informed."

"I will. Thank you, Detective." Georgie watched him go with little interest, her focus again on the closed hospital door. Why couldn't she be in there with him? She could hold his hand, talk to him. Of course, he needed Elizabeth as much as she needed him, and it wouldn't be right for Georgie to bust in unannounced.

"Ladies. Call if you need anything." Harper nodded his head as he headed back towards the elevators. "I'll await your phone call."

Sam watched David's retreating back with an almost aloof air about her. Inside, her brain was screaming that she do something, anything, but what could be done or say anyway? He hadn't even addressed her. Well, what were you expecting Sami? In public, you're partners and, now that the District Attorney's stepdaughters had managed to bring their own secrets to light he really doesn't need you anymore, now does he? He was just trying to make you feel included; he didn't actually need you though. You bought it, did you? You? The cynic? Well that's what you get. Outside of the bedroom, his gun is more important than you are.

"Does anyone want any coffee? I hear the machine's is better than the cafeteria's." Alexis offered, trying to break the silence.

Not failing to notice the way Sam's eyes were watching Harper's back, Maxie made her way over to her friend, nudging her with her shoulder. "Go on. You know want to follow him." She whispered as Alexis and Georgie made their way towards the machine.

"No. He's busy." Too busy for me to pick a fight with him in public, Sam thought dejectedly.

"He's playing messenger for my father. It's called kissing ass." Maxie said sagely.

"Screw him. I'm here for you. Is there anything you need me to do?" Sam countered.

"Honey if you want to screw him, then you shouldn't be sitting here with me."

Sam narrowed her eyes. "I didn't mean in the literal sense, Maxie."

"Details. Details." Maxie dismissed Sam's comment with a wave of her manicured nails. "I'm fine. As is our good friend Sergeant Harper."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Promise me you won't tell him that. His head is big enough."

"Rule number is never hit on a friend's guy. That is such a Lulu thing to do." Maxie rolled her eyes. "However you do realize that you do owe me information?"

"What do you want to know?" Sam was tired of having no one to discuss it with. It wasn't like Maxie was going to blab it all over town. Who would believe it anyway?

"For starters, is he the guy? The one you keep saying is annoying but talented in all the right areas?"

"Yes."

"Smug as hell and can back it up where it counts." Maxie tilted her head. "Aren't you a lucky girl?"

"Am I? He didn't even notice me standing here."

"What did you expect him to do? Drag you down the hall and ravish you in a broom closet? He's working Sam. Even I know better than to interrupt Ric when he's working."

"I know." Sam blew out a breath.

"And haven't you been telling me all week that you two have been fighting? I mean he's a guy. They don't know the fight is over until we tell them it is."

"I feel like I'm on a tight rope juggling plates."

"Join the club on that one."

*****

Patrick had no warning. One second he was watching a re-run of Cheers and the next thing he knew the front door was being thrown open and Morgan was in his lap speaking what could only be described as gibberish. "Morgan! What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting—" It had not missed Patrick's attention that Robin hadn't joined them. He didn't immediately look for her, focused on ruffling Morgan's hair and smiling at him.

"Uncle Dillon called and said we could come home. Isn't that awesome?"

"Yes it is! I'm so glad you're back!" Patrick admitted without a bit of modesty. It was too soon after the kidnappings for Robin to be whisking him off to another goddamn country. As if misreading his anger, she stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes focused on her shoes. He told himself he would address her just as soon as he could be convinced this wasn't all a dream. "Let you come home?"

"Yes. He called us and said something and then Robin said we had to come back. Is my room the same? You didn't get confused and make it the nursery, did you?" He gave Patrick a wary glance.

"Of course not." Patrick laughed. "I would never do that."

"You've got to see Robin. She's as big as a watermelon." Morgan said the next part very quietly and Patrick suspected he was attempting to spare her feelings. "My baby brother sure needs a lot of room, huh?" Without giving him a chance to respond, the little brunette gave Patrick a big hug and then fell fast asleep as if he had used up all of the energy he possessed.

Patrick easily lifted Morgan into his arms and, once he made brief eye contact with Robin, carried him upstairs. Pausing, he finally spoke, "I'm just going to put him down. Then we'll talk."

If you love me I got to know for sure

Then we'll talk? Robin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Yes, they needed to talk. And, no, she didn't want Morgan waking up to them arguing if that's what their "talking" came to, as it often did. His tone was completely unreadable. She couldn't tell if he was upset or tired or even happy to see her. He hadn't said a thing to her until it became necessary. Her carefully constructed speech died on her lips when he came down the stairs and stopped in front of her. She noticed that the door was still open, but neither of them thought to close it. She couldn't move, she realized. She couldn't move and she couldn't speak.

Cause it takes something more this time than sweet sweet lies oh now

He placed his left hand on the rail as if he needed it to keep him standing and fretfully licked his bottom lip. Her eyes didn't stray from his once she collected enough courage to meet them. He had worn a similar, guarded expression when he had seen them off. What didn't he want her to see now? She had understood the use for it then, but why now? Why when she had come home? His eyes ran down her ever-changing body in a tortuously slow motion, so long she was blushing when they finally returned to her face. All of the books in the world couldn't prepare a person for reality. Expecting to see disgust clouding his expression, she was shocked to see him smiling. He closed the space between them and cupped her face in his hands, startling her. He carefully pulled her against him, somehow closing the door without relinquishing his hold on her now tear-streaked face. Discovering her current emotional state, his hands started to tremble, or did something else cause it?

I start to forget how my heart gets torn when that hurt gets thrown

Robin placed one hand over his hand and the other looped around his neck as she lifted herself up enough to kiss his lips, a groan escaping them both at the light contact. His hands left her face and slid into her hair, pulling it from the loose braid and spreading it all across her shoulders. The silky strands brushed delightfully across his knuckles and he kneaded just below her scalp. She tilted her head and the kiss changed, deepened, carried them out of the foyer, past the living room, and into Patrick's office where he had set up a long white loveseat and nothing else. One arm looped around her, he carefully lowered her onto the loveseat and settled between her legs, groaning as she scraped her fingers across the back of his neck.

"This is talking?" She heard herself murmur, barely suppressing a laugh but feeling her lips curve into a smile. "We should have talked long before now."

"This is all the talking we need right this second." Patrick ground through his teeth in an almost hiss, pushing her long black skirt up her legs and over her stomach.

"I'm not complaining." Robin assured him as he turned her toward the edge of the loveseat and ducked his head beneath the elusive material of her skirt. He left a trail of kisses across her lower abdomen and nuzzled his nose against her yellow panties. Her underwear always had to match, he remembered, knowing he would find a sunflower-yellow bra when he made his way to her breasts. For now, he was content on this particular area.

Before I open up my arms and fall, losing all control

Even though he had made love to her countless times, she still shook beneath his mouth. He knew better than to take offense to it; the fire their passion ignited was as overwhelming as it had ever been. His left hand fell from her waist and tugged the scrap of material down bit by bit; he stifled a groan when he uncovered skin. When his lips made contact with such vulnerable flesh, she cried out, and he reached up to slide his free hand across her lips, silencing her.

He followed the seductive swerve of her outer thighs with his mouth and then, gradually, let his mouth brush across her inner thighs, the scent and taste of her filling his nose and mouth. He licked and kissed and bit every inch of dripping flesh he could get to and then he adjusted his body so he could pay special attention the rest of her lower body. Grabbing both of her feet, he wasn't surprised when she tried to pull them away. His grip held and he closed his lips around her right ankle, applying just the right amount of pressure and, eventually, reaching for the remaining foot to bestow the same amount of satisfaction there.

Robin's quiet whimper was enough to make Patrick lift his head. He kissed his way up her body, completely removing the skirt, and then got to work on her powder-blue top. Together, they wrestled it off of her. When he met her eyes this time, his eyes and mouth were wide. Breasts were breasts, he had always told himself. Some were larger than others and some fit perfectly in his hands. He hadn't thought of hers as even a little small, but this was a definite change for them. Though he knew she would smack him for it later, he wondered if he would get to keep these after the baby came. He unlatched the clip of her bra and drew it away from her skin, still a little awestruck. His thumbs ran across the tips, making them both shudder in ecstasy, and causing the ruby nipples to pucker. Smiling, he put his lips to them and sucked until they were plump and wet and she was clawing at the collar of gray pullover. Off came what had once been his clothing leaving him in tight green boxers.

Patrick paused above her, a thought appearing to him. She stirred when he stood up, but he explained, "I don't have a condom. Just a second sweetheart." He jogged upstairs, bypassing Morgan's closed door, and finally located the condom. When he returned, Robin was braced on her haunches, smiling. Patrick hurried to her and with the condom in place pushed away the last barrier of clothing between them.

Instead of easing into her as he had expected, there was an alarming tension as their flesh kissed. She whined beneath him, trying to take everything he was offering, but he could tell it had been too long since he had been inside of her for her body to immediately adjust. Slipping his thumb between them, he lightly stroked her inner flesh, his fingers entering her for the first time that night. He kissed away the tears he saw on her cheeks, keeping his body rigid above her.

"Patrick." Robin shut her eyes on building pleasure and he pushed himself a little deeper, the clasp of her body over his robbing him of adequate air. "Do it. Do it now please?"

"It's okay. We're just going to go slow." Patrick explained, sliding into her another inch and catching her cry in his mouth. "I want to make this so good for you." He whispered against her ear. "When you come, I'm going to be right there with you. Come for me baby. Let me feel you come." He adjusted his body once more and was able to ease into her completely. "That's so good." As he said this, he lightly scraped his teeth across the tip of her ear and sucked it into his mouth.

Robin whined, hooking her legs around his lower back. He surged forward and she felt that last bit of struggle leave her body only to be replaced with a blinding tension. As promised, Patrick followed her orgasm with one of his own and in a matter of minutes they were both completely spent, both inside and out. He forced himself to stand up and discard the condom.

"Where are you going?" She wanted to know.

"Nowhere." But he didn't return to the loveseat. He couldn't. If he did, he might never get to tell her what he had been practicing for the better part of six months. She looked at him questioningly. And then he said it.

Cause who's to worry if our hearts get torn

Previews:

"How could you make this decision without me?"

"I didn't."

"You did. You've made up your mind. I'm just supposed to go along with it because now you've decided I should know. Now, after you've made all the arrangements."