Chapter 204

It's you and me

She rubbed her lips together, the briefest of smiles appearing as she realized that someone had covered them in balm. Her eyes fluttered as she tried, with great difficulty, to open her eyes. It felt as though the life had been sucked right out of her; though given what little she did remember, it was probably an accurate feeling.

She blinked several times as her eyes tried to adjust to the lights in the room. Her limbs felt heavy and any effort made to move was met with significant resistance. Sighing quietly, she slowly turned her head to look around and smiled slightly as she saw her Uncle Mac ensconced in the chair beside her bed, reading the newspaper.

"Hi," she croaked.

Mac dropped the paper and smiled gratefully at her. "Well look who's decided to wake up." Rising from the chair, he kissed her cheek. "Nice to see you."

"How…how long have I been out?" she asked, wincing as she tried to move. Mac slid his arms underneath her and carefully pulled her to a sitting position.

"On and off about two days. Patrick has been here the whole time until Noah and I ganged up on him and sent him home to sleep, eat and shower."

"Thank you" she replied.

She had felt Patrick's presence at different times – her hand in his, his lips on hers – and she was grateful someone was looking out for him while he was looking out for her.

"Never underestimate the determination of the grandfathers" he teased.

"So you've….you've seen her?"

Mac nodded as his eyes welled once again. He felt as though he were going soft in his old age but Kathleen was such a wonder and the pay off for every difficulty and challenge Robin had faced that he could not help but be touched by her.

"She's a beauty Robin. You did good."

"How is she?" Her voice was still weak and she tired easily.

Taking her hand, he squeezed it reassuringly. "She's doing great – she's put on some weight and she's got a good strong grip" he stated proudly.

Robin beamed, a hint of colour breaking through the paleness. "Did you ever think you'd see the day?"

"I wasn't sure" he admitted. "This seemed a long way off all those years ago."

She gave a small nod of her head. "We've….travelled a long road together. I never would have….I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

Holding her hand in both of his, Mac gave her a watery smile. "I wouldn't have traded a minute of it, Robin."

"Not even when I killed the skunk?"

Chuckling softly, he shook his head. "Not even that. It has been my joy to raise you and share in this with you. I am so proud of everything you've accomplished and of the chances you've taken. That little girl is the luckiest girl in the world to have you as a mother."

Tears trickled down Robin's face as she kissed her uncle's hand. "Well if she's half as lucky as I've been, she'll be doing okay."

"Awww. Look Kathleen" Patrick whispered loudly as he came through the door pushing the bassinette, "your mom and your Grandpa Mac are being schmoopsy. This is one of those times that we talked about where it's okay to point and laugh."

Rolling his eyes, Mac got to his feet. "Nice to see you returned to your former smart-alecky self" he joked. Bending down, he kissed Robin. "I'll see you later sweetheart."

"Mac, you don't have to leave" Patrick told him.

"I do. The three of you need some time together." As he passed by Patrick, he reached out and gently touched the newborn's hand, eliciting a small satisfied sigh as he did so.

Robin beamed as Patrick brought the baby to the bedside. "You look good" she told him appreciatively.

"I was just thinking the same thing about you."

His heart had leapt as he came through the door. In the last 48 hours she had woken intermittently, and talked a little but it had all been somewhat jumbled or unfocused. Now though, she seemed to be turning a corner.

"It's time for Kathleen's bottle – do you feel up to giving it to her?"

"I'm not sure how well I can hold her" she said softly, "could you…could you help me?"

Leaning in, he kissed her softly. "You bet."

He placed the bottle on the side table and placed a pillow across Robin's lap; then lifting his wriggling daughter up from the crib, set her down on the pillow before sliding in behind her, taking care not to jostle her. He passed the bottle to Robin and then supporting her arms from underneath, helped her to hold Kathleen.

Robin pressed the nipple of the bottle to her lips and her rosebud shaped mouth latched on immediately, sucking greedily on the formula. With a shaky hand, Robin stroked her downy hair.

"Hi my love" she whispered. "I'm sorry I've been sleeping so much. Have you been good for Daddy?"

Patrick dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "She's been great. While you were sleeping we were hanging out in here and I was telling her how amazing you are."

Leaning back against him, feeling the strength in his body, Robin sighed softly. "I can't believe I'm holding our daughter," she whispered.

"I can't believe how amazing you look with her in your arms."

Robin shook her head. "I wasn't ever sure this….this would happen" she admitted quietly. She tilted her head to the side, looking back at him. "You have given me a life that I didn't think was possible."

Patrick shook his head. "I didn't give that to you Robin – you gave it to yourself. You refused to be blocked from what you wanted or to simply accept something as impossible because someone told you it was that way. And those just two of the reasons why I love you."

Kathleen squawked and pushed the bottle from her mouth, looking up in to her mother's eyes. Robin smiled lovingly at her and with Patrick's assistance, sat her up and tapped her tiny back, burping her.

Seeing her arms tremble with fatigue, Patrick carefully retreated from the bed and took his daughter in his arms, holding her up to Robin for a kiss.

"You're such a good girl" Robin cooed tiredly. "Mommy loves you so very much." Patrick kissed her before placing his sleepy daughter back in the bassinette. "Can she stay?" she asked.

Patrick nodded. "She can stay with us for a few hours."

Her eyes were beginning to droop but Robin smiled. "Good." Patting the bed, she looked at Patrick. "Are you getting back in?"

"I don't want to hurt you – you must be pretty sore still."

Looking at her i.v. Robin raised her eyebrows. "Like I can feel anything. Besides," she said shyly, "I'm kind of cold and you could warm me up."

As the corners of his mouth twitched up into a smile, he quickly toed off his shoes and then gently climbed back in behind her. His arms closed around her and Robin melted against him. He whispered several soft, tiny kisses along her neck.

Robin looked over at her daughter sleeping peacefully and let her head fall against Patrick's shoulder. So much about him and about Kathleen were the culmination of dreams she had dared not to imagine. And at the same time they were proof that she could dream big again. There was more for her to accomplish, more for her to experience and she knew now – she understood now – without a doubt that there was nothing to stop her.

Closing her eyes, she gave a small smile. "You're holding on pretty tight," she told him.

His grip loosened immediately. "Am I hurting you?"

She snuggled in further against him. "No, I kind of like it. I'm sorry….I'm sorry I scared you," she said tiredly.

"I'm just glad you're okay" he told her. There would be no feeling that could match quite what it meant for him to be able to hold her now, hold her after coming so close to never being able to do that again.

"Robin?"

"Mmm?" she replied sleepily, fatigue creeping up slowly.

"You know that picture my mom painted? The one with me and the butterfly and the anchor? You are my anchor. She was painting you, even if she didn't know it."