Chapter 68
Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Emerging from the bedroom, holding her dress together at the back, she walked to Patrick and stood in front of him. "Can you do my dress up please?" she asked.
Looking up from the newspaper, he let out a low, slow, appreciative whistle. "I think I'd rather get you out of that dress than in to it"
With a small chuckle, she shook her head. "Hello? This is the first time we've been dressed since last night, you're hardly deprived."
As he pulled the zipper to her red dress up and hooked the clasp at the top, he dropped a soft, lingering kiss on her bare shoulder. "I like how you think that would be enough. There is never enough where you're concerned."
Smiling happily, she did a small twirl in her dress. The bodice was fitted to her hips with soft, gauzy material flowing down to the floor. "You like?"
Inhaling sharply, he nodded. "You have no idea how much."
"You look pretty handsome yourself" she remarked, admiring his tuxedo. He wore a rich black silk tie in place of a bow tie and she unconciously licked her lips as she drank him in.
Seeing her appreciative look of him, he grinned. "We could stay in you know - we don't have to go."
"Yes we do." Walking to the closet she pulled out both of their coats. "We promised Alan, not to mention we get to watch Eric and Alexis be awkward around each other - that's entertainment."
He slipped on his coat before helping her with hers. Holding her by the lapels, he stared silently at her for several beats. She was happy, her eyes were sparkling and bright and she had never looked more beautiful. He wanted to sear the image to his mind. "I love you" he told her earnestly when he finally spoke.
Robin was finding it harder and harder to ignore the rumbles in her stomach that told her something was off. She placed her hand over his heart and said, "I know. Is something wrong?"
Dipping his head, he nipped her lips. "No. I just want to make sure you know." There would be time enough for truth later.
Spotting Alexis near the bar, Patrick and Robin walked over to join her.
"You look amazing!" Both Robin and Alexis exclaimed at the same time before dissolving into a fit of laughter.
Having regained her composure Robin cast a quick glance around the room and asked, "Eric not here yet?"
"No, not yet" she smiled, trying to mask her disappointment. She was sure he had changed his mind and returned to New York; she was feeling quite foolish at being so excited over what was likely just him fulfilling an obligation for a friend.
"I'm sure he's probably trying to figure out how to tie his tie. He's not so good with simple tasks," Patrick offered.
"Leave it to Pantsy to try and ruin my reputation when I'm not even here to defend myself" Eric interjected sidling up to the group. He kissed first Robin and then Alexis on the cheek. "Patrick and I are clearly the luckiest men in the room."
Alexis groaned inwardly as she felt herself blush at his compliment. The reddening of her cheeks did not go unnoticed by the other three.
"Geez Smitty, it looks like you even got a haircut - you're high class."
Rolling his eyes in mock frustration, he shook his head. "Despite what you wrote on the bathroom walls at school I wasn't actually raised in a barn."
Looping her arm through Patrick's, Robin grinned at Alexis. "Shall we go to our table before Abbot and Costello carry on with their routines?"
"Sounds like a great idea" she agreed. She hesitated only for a moment before placing her hand inside Eric's outstretched hand.
The ballroom at the Metrocourt was awash in red and white decorations. At each place setting on every table was a large fortune cookie with a love fortune peeking out from the end. Centrepieces were an elegant arrangement of long stemmed roses and small tealight candles adorned the tables providing soft, romantic lighting. The glitterati of Port Charles society was out in full force to support the hospital. Patrick was surprised but pleased to see his father. Noah, dressed in a midnight black tuxedo, was seated at the Chief of Staff's table and looked as though he was enjoying himself. He was amazed at how happy that made him. Seated at the same table as his father was Robin's uncle and when they had gone over to say hello, he could not help but feel as though Mac was taking the measure of him or evaluating him in some way. He knew that Mac was one of the most important people in Robin's life and in a new experience for him, he wanted very much for Mac to think he was good enough for his niece.
The dinner was culinary wonder, each course an explosion of flavours, heightening the senses. In between courses both women excused themselves to powder their noses, leaving Patrick and Eric alone.
"How are you doing?" Eric asked casually, reaching for his wine glass.
"I'm okay" he told him quietly. "I'm telling Robin tomorrow. My dad is going to be with me."
"Good. I know it won't be easy but I think you'll feel better with all the cards on the table."
"How...how bad is the chemo going to be?"
"Bad" he replied evenly.
Patrick let out a small, mirthless laugh. "Well thanks for not pulling any punches."
Eric smiled wryly. "Well I could but you're bound to find out the truth." He took a long sip of his wine and set his glass down. "I gotta tell you that despite all that's going on with you right now, I'm not sure I've ever seen you as happy. Pantsy, in some ways you are calmer, more together, than I've ever seen you."
"I'm in love" he answered simply, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards in a smile."They shouldn't call it falling in love though - I mean falling makes me think of panic and fear and it's not like that. It's like...I don't know, it's like sliding in love or something."
His friend smirked. "Full marks for effort in the romance department."
"Oh shut up" he told him kindly. "Your date is looking hot."
"Yes she is."
"Are you going to do something about it?" he prodded, enjoying his friend's slight discomfort.
The apples of his cheeks flushed suddenly and he cleared his throat trying to shed his embarrassment. "I'm hoping to"
Raising his wine glass, Patrick tipped it in his direction. "Welcome back."
"Are you two behaving yourselves?" Robin asked sliding back into her seat and closer to her boyfriend.
"Never!" Patrick teased as he kissed her. Robin curled her hand around his lapel, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.
Draping his arm across the back of Alexis' chair, Eric leaned in and whispered conspiratorally. "I think they should get a room, or we should pelt them with bread until they stop."
Alexis was dizzy for the nearness of him. She had been sneaking looks all through dinner and was enjoying the way he filled out his suit. And now with his face so near to hers, she was intoxicated by his clean, fresh scent and she kept leaning in closer. Swallowing thickly, she tried to right herself before she fell all the way into him. "Bread bombs it is."
"Don't be jealous - you could join in." Robin teased, breaking the kiss. She smirked as both Eric and Alexis dropped their gaze shyly.
"It looks like they're going to start the dancing before dessert" Alexis said trying desperately to change the subject. "Do you dance?" she asked Eric.
He nodded and Patrick shot him an incredulous look. "Since when Smitty?"
"Hello? Are you forgetting that you and I are dance masters? Well of two particular dances that is."
"Oh? What dances are those?" Alexis asked, trying to ignore the rising heat in her body as she felt his fingertips moving lightly against the back of her bare shoulder.
"The white man shuffle - which we sometimes like to change up by throwing in the overbite" he said with faux seriousness, "and the grade 7, Stairway to Heaven sway. We are very good at both of those"
Alexis covered her mouth as she laughed and Robin snickered. "Geez Patrick, I mean I've seen the shuffle but you've never shown me the overbite," Robin teased.
"I don't like to show all my skills at once" he answered. "I have a few tricks up my sleeves."
"Up your sleeves or in your-"
Patrick cut her off by pinching her lips shut. "That'll do hot stuff."
"So are you saying you won't dance?" Alexis prodded as the music began to fill the room.
"Not all. Just being up front with my skill level."
"I consider myself warned," she grinned. "Shall we go put your skills on display?"
Pushing back his chair, Eric rose to his feet and pulled out Alexis' chair. "I would really like that." Taking her by the hand, he led her to the dance floor.
Alexis felt her body hum as his hand slid slowly up and down her back. With one hand on his shoulder and the other curled around his, she was lost in how strong he felt, how solid he seemed. She smiled as her eyes met his.
"You're beautiful" he told her softly, dipping his head.
"Thank you" she whispered.
He kept his eyes locked on hers, telegraphing his intent. He let his lips hover above hers for a moment before closing his mouth over hers. Alexis moaned slightly as her tongue tangled with his; his arm tightened around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
Pulling away she ended the kiss as quickly as it began and Eric looked at her in surprise. "Did I...Did I overstep?"
"No" she replied with a small shake of her head.
"Okay" he said slowly, confusion tinging his voice. "Is something wrong?"
She flashed him a nervous smile. "There are a lot of eyes in this room - including my ex-husband and I'm suddenly feeling like they're all staring at me."
"And you don't want to be stared at."
"Not by them anyways."
Eric's eyebrow quirked up and a small grin spread across his face. "Hypothetically speaking, if I were to say let's get out of here -what would you say?"
"Hypothetically I would say I need to get my purse."
Robin elbowed Patrick in the ribs as they watched their friends moving in time with the music. "They like each other!" she exclaimed giddily.
"So it would seem" Patrick agreed, pleased to see his friend taking a chance. "Can I take you for a spin around the dancefloor so I can show off my hot and sexy girlfriend?"
"Yes please" she replied with a big grin.
Closing his hand around hers, they walked to the dance floor. Patrick sighed happily as he took her in his arms. He loved the way she felt and the way their bodies seemed to always be in sync with each other. As she rested her head against his shoulder, he slowly threaded his fingers through her hair; it reminded him of rain falling through his fingers.
Holding open the door to his suite, Eric felt suddenly sheepish as Alexis crossed into the room.
They had stayed for dessert and enjoyed a couple of more dances but found it difficult to sustain a conversation as they were interrupted multiple times by people wanting to say hello to Alexis or by those curious as to who she was spending her time with. Finally, Eric dropped the hypothetical and asked her if she wanted to go some place quieter. She had agreed readily and did not even blink when he suggested his suite. Now that they were there, he was suddenly nervous.
"We could go to the bar" he suggested as he closed the door behind him. "If that would make you more comfortable." He set down the bottle of wine and two glasses he had cajoled the bartender into giving him.
Alexis sat down on the dark suede sofa and smiled at him. "Would it make you more comfortable?"
Taking off his jacket and hanging it on the back of the chair, he undid his tie and laid it over his jacket. "I'm plenty comfortable" he said with a grin. "Wine?"
"Please" Alexis kicked off her shoes and tucked her legs up underneath her. Accepting the proferred glass, she ran her finger along its rim as Eric sat down on the couch - not right beside her but definitely within arms' reach.
Conversation flowed easily between them as it had during the two phone calls they had shared in advance of the gala. She told him more about the Cassadine family, being careful to hold the most salacious details back so as not to scare him off. She spoke of being a mother and how she had never given it much thought but the moment she discovered she was pregnant with Kristina, she felt her whole life shift and was grateful for it. A small shiver worked its way from her head to her toes as he lightly trailed his fingers through her hair as she spoke.
Eric told her about his family - a large working class family from Washington. Everyone in his family was an athelete of some kind - except for him. His sisters had attended college on basketball scholarships and his brothers had played football. He told her how it was strange at times, being so different from all of them and that feeling of isolation was at the core of his friendship with Patrick. They had met each other their freshmen year, immediately recognized similarities in each other and formed a deep and abiding bond.
It had not escaped her notice that he continued to move closer to her as they spoke; his fingers becoming bolder, tracing her collarbone and down her shoulder. Surprising even herself, her hand slipped inside his shirt and swept across his broad, smooth chest. In anticipation of the kiss that she knew was coming, her breathing became shorter and her eyes darkened in desire.
His thumb dragged along her jaw bone as his eyes remained fixated on her mouth. He rarely lacked in confidence in any area of his life but when it came to women he was unsure of himself. All reason in his mind was telling him to stop, not to rush in too quickly but he pushed it away, listening instead to his heart that was quietly nudging him to take a leap of faith.
The kiss was electric. Sliding his arms around her, he pulled her flush against him before leaning back against the arm of the couch, taking her with him. Their hands and lips explored each other - tentatively at first. But as their whispered moans of delight filled the room, their exploration became more heated, more insistent.
Reluctantly pulling away, Eric exhaled slowly and closed his eyes.
"You're stopping?" Alexis asked, in confusion.
His eyes were heavy-lidded and his breathing was ragged. "I don't want to" he told her. "What I really want is to get you out of that dress but I don't...I'm not sure what you want. The next move is yours."
"I see" Alexis grabbed hold of her skirt and unsteadily got to her feet.
Eric swallowed down his disappointment as he sat up. He didn't want the night to end, he didn't want his moment with her to end but he also didn't want them to stumble into something and regret it later. It had been a very long time since he found himself as interested in a woman as he was in her. Standing up, he moved to start buttoning up his shirt which had become untucked and completely unbuttoned. He looked up in surprise when Alexis placed her hand over his and gave a small shake of her head.
She unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor, stepping out of it. It was a bold move on her part, demonstrating a confidence she had not felt in a long time but she was finally feeling ready to take a chance again and after kissing him, she knew Eric was the chance she wanted to take.
Eric's lips parted slightly as an appreciative whoosh of breath escaped from the back of his throat. "You sure?" he asked breathlessly.
"Very" she replied with a nod.
Shrugging off his shirt and letting it fall to the ground, he stepped towards, slid his hands around her waist and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his hips and fastened her mouth to his as he carried them into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed.
Valentine's Day was turning out better than either could have ever imagined.
"May I cut in?" Mac asked as he approached Robin and Patrick on the dance floor.
"Gee Mac," Patrick deadpanned, "I'm not sure - who would lead -you or me?"
Chuckling, Mac shook his head. "Your boyfriend is a wiseass" he told his niece.
"I know but everyone has their faults."
Leaning in, Patrick stole a quick kiss from her. "You're a star for putting up with mine" he teased. Stepping out of the way, he ceded his place to Mac and made his way back to their table.
He filled his wine glass and watched as his girlfriend danced with her uncle. Her head was thrown back as she laughed at something he said. Robin was a person without pretense. She was exactly who she presented herself to be and made no apologies for it. For all of his trademark arrogance and bravado, he was never as comfortable in his own skin as she was - it left him both envious and amazed.
Not surprisingly, his mind drifted to thoughts of his illness and what was to come. He considered it nothing short of a miracle that he had been able to go an hour without being consumed by thoughts of it but the hour was up and the thoughts were back. Despite his father's reassurances that so much progress had been made in surgical technique and in therapy, he was not comforted. He knew the risks - brain damage, loss of mobility, death - and he knew given the size of his tumour he was hardly the ideal surgical candidate.
He watched as Robin glided across the floor in her uncle's arms, he wondered what would be the worst outcome for him. As a surgeon he had seen all kinds of results from surgery - favourable and unfavourable - and he understood in a way that few could that there are worse things in life than dying. What if he lost his memory? His memories of Robin. What if he woke up from surgery and no longer knew what it felt like to kiss her? What if he couldn't remember the sensation of her body moving with his? How deep would the loss be if he could not recognize the love in her eyes? How devastating would it be to have her touch - a touch that could reduce him to jelly - be unfamiliar?
He was afraid of dying in surgery because there was so much left he wanted to do with his life. He was afraid of it ending before he had the chance to really become the man that his potential had foretold. But those fears paled in comparison to the cold chill he felt at the possiblity of waking up to his life and no longer knowing it. The only acceptable outcome for him was to have the tumour removed and be able to resume his life exactly where he left it. It was just the odds of that happening were not in his favour.
As a second dance started, he was about to rise to his feet and reclaim his girlfriend on the dance floor but his mouth suddenly filled with an alkaline taste and his hand started to shake. He groaned and felt his eyes well with tears. He didn't want another seizure, not here, not on this night. It had been magical and he wanted it to continue. Much like the night of the Nurses' Ball, his flight instinct was in high gear. Swallowing thickly, he turned on his heel and tried to outrun the oncoming seizure. His legs were uncooperative as the muscles spasmed painfully. Doubled over, unsure he could walk any further; he looked up in surprise as he felt a supportive arm go under his shoulder.
"D-dad" he stammered. "I'm..." His voice trailed off as his tongue was already getting fat in his mouth.
"I know" Noah guided him out of the ballroom and down a side hallway as far from prying eyes as he could.
There was no way of stopping the seizure but the least he could do was protect his son's dignity. Shrugging off his jacket, he laid it down on the ground and guided Patrick on top of it. With his nimble hands, he quickly undid his son's tie and the top two buttons on his shirt. For as long as he lived he would never be able to forget the look of abject fear in his beloved son's eyes just before the seizure took hold.
He bit down hard on his lip as he watched his son writhe and spasm on the floor, wishing there was some way - any way - to make it stop.
"Noah"
The sound of Robin's voice pulled him from his thoughts as he turned around. She was wrapped in her uncle's arms and her brown eyes shimmered with unspilled tears. All he could do was nod his acknowledgement, for what was there left to do?
Mercifully, the seizure ended quickly and Robin shot from Mac's arms, kneeling down beside him. She brushed his damp hair from his forehead and kissed him softly. "I'm here Patrick" she told him, "I'm right here."
"Do you want me to call an ambulance?" Mac asked Noah quietly, disconcerted by what he had just witnessed.
Noah shook his head. "No. We just need to get him home and I'll check him out there."
"I have a Town car and driver" Mac said, "I'll call him and have him meet us out front. As soon as you're ready, head down."
"Thank you Mac" He turned his attention back to his son.
Patrick's breath came in ragged rythym and he groaned as he tried to sit up. Robin slipped behind him, letting him lean against her. She circled her arms around him and held him tightly as he tried to recover his strength. Glancing up, she and Noah shared a knowing look. This couldn't go on any longer - they both knew that.
They were also both terrified of what was next.