Chapter 3

"How are you doing, Mom? I heard you poured Ava's martini all over her," said Lulu while having lunch with Laura at Laura's apartment.

"I'm still hurt and confused about Kevin and his behavior, but if I must admit, it felt exhilarating pouring that drink over Ava," replied Laura.

LuLu said, "Well, she deserved it. She hates KiKi for sleeping with Griffin, yet she turns around and sleeps with another woman's husband. The apple didn't fall too far from the hypocritical tree."

Laura nodded in agreement. "True. Very True."

"So, are you and Spencer going to the Talent Show tonight at Rocco's school? He's telling jokes. It is so precious. He'd really like you to be there. It also gets you out of the house."

"I wouldn't miss it. Oh! Would it be okay if I brought someone else? Besides Spencer."

LuLu was perplexed. "Um. Sure. If I can ask, who are you bringing?"

Laura smiled. "Robert."

"Scorpio?"

"Yeah. He's in town and Anna is busy with Finn. So, he has been spending time with me."

LuLu said, "Mom."

"What, LuLu? He's my friend. One of my oldest and dearest. He is cheering me up right now," replied Laura.

LuLu groaned. "Mom! Kevin just broke your heart and is parading around with Ava Jerome. I know Robert is one of your best friends, but don't use him as a rebound. Everyone will get hurt in this situation. Trust me."

Laura sighed. "LuLu, I appreciate your concern, but I am not using Robert as a rebound. He's in town for a while and not many of my old friends live in town anymore. So, it's a treat that he is here. He cheers me up. LuLu, I want to cry every second of everyday. My heart hurts. Sleeping in my bed hurts because I reach for Kevin and he's not there anymore. Everywhere in this apartment makes me think of memories with Kevin. So, I am grateful that you are looking out for me, but honey, spending friendly time with Robert makes the pain hurt less. Please understand."

"Just be careful, Mom."

Laura reached out and patted LuLu's hand. "I will, honey, I will."

Later that day, Robert visited Laura. The two of them were sitting on her couch talking about old times when Robert decided to bring up a difficult subject: Laura's love life.

"So, Love, I want to hear about how a woman of your beauty and grace has ended up with a bunch of jerks."

Laura froze. "I don't want to talk about this, Robert."

Robert replied, "Laura, you are a wonderful woman. I just want to understand why you pick men who don't deserve you."

"It was me who didn't deserve them, Robert."

Robert scoffed. "Really, Laura? Scott Baldwin, Stefan Cassadine, Kevin Collins, and..."

Laura interrupted, "Your best friend, Luke Spencer."

"He may be my best friend, but, Love, he never, ever deserved you."

Laura was silent.

"Just tell me, why Baldwin, why Cassadine, why Kevin, Why Spencer?"

"You really want to know?", asked Laura in a quiet voice.

"Yes, I would if you want to tell me," replied Robert gently.

"Scott Baldwin was my first love. He helped me through some very difficult times when I was very young, you know the whole David Hamilton saga. But as I look back, he loved me but not enough in the way that a marriage could survive. Later, being with my was like a competition for him and Luke. He will always be a friend I can rely on, but our love lacked passion and want. Our love was sweet and pure, but it became stale."

Robert said, "That must have been a hard pill to swallow and realize."

Laura nodded and responded, "It was, but without him I don't know if I would have learned what type of love I was looking for."

"What about Cassadine?"

"Stefan. That was complicated. At first, that relationship was built upon a need for friendship because both of us were so lonely when I was help captive on that island. That relationship was filled with lust. I loved him for raising Nikolas, but I don't think I ever really, truly loved him. It was all lust and want. And when he came to Port Charles, I was lonely after Luke abandoned me and he wanted me. But, yet again being with me was a competition between him and Luke. I was yet a pawn in a sick game these men played."

"You aren't a pawn, Laura," said Robert grabbing her hands to comfor her.

Laura began to cry softly. "I know that now, but my God, I was constantly being a pawn in a digusting game between Scott and Luke or Stefan and Luke. I felt worthless."

"You, Laura, are not and never will be worthless," replied Robert rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

Laura smiled through the tears. "Thank you."

"What about Collins and Spencer?", questioned Robert. He knows he is pushing her limits, but he wants her to open up. He knows Laura never gets the chance to open up because she is always fighting for something. Robert wants to give her The chance to finally say what's on her heart and in her mind.

"Luke will always be the love of my life. I know our relationship started horribly. I have regret that moment everyday since, but I don't regret the life we built together. We had two beautiful children. We had a good twenty years together. Yes, we had a couple of knock out, blow out fights, but the love was still there. He gave me passion, excitement, and a family, but Luke came with a plethora of complications. He was a free spirit. And I was too when he met me. I was 17 and was in a marriage that was stressful. He offered me a life of excitement and speed. I saw things and places I never thought I would see. But, Luke was always making the decisions for us. He said we were a team, but he was always the captain. When we moved back to Port Charles, at first he was fine with having a stable, calm life. But later he reconnected with the mob. There were gun fights in my house!

LuLu and I constantly had to go stay at Beecher's Corners. When he found out about Nikolas, he became evil. He wanted me to choose between him and Lucky or Nikolas! How do I choose one son over the other?! They are both my babies! And Luke thought because he was on Lucky's side it would make the decision easier! I made that choice once! I chose Luke! I chose him and yet after all this time he doubted my love. All I wanted was to get to know the son I left behind! Luke was cruel. He blamed me for his inability to go out and see the world and chance down the bad guys. He hurt me, but I always forgave him because I knew deep down buried in his heart he loved me more than he was hurting me. Gosh, saying that out loud sounds so sick," said Laura.

"I watched you both fall in love with each other. He loved you, Laura. I know he did. I don't know what happened to him later in life, but one thing that will always be true is that he will always move Heaven and Hell to make you happy."

Laura cried. "I know. And I would do the same for him."

Robert replied, "I know you would. You always did, even at the sacrifice for your own happiness."

Laura tearfully nodded.

"That brings us to Doctor Kevin Collins."

Laura remained silent.

Robert said, "Love, if you don't want to talk anymore it's okay. I was being nosy anyway."

"He was supposed to be the one, Robert," whispered Laura.

"The one what?"

"The one who I spend the rest of my life with. He was my knight and shining armor. He was the end. There was never going to be anyone after him. There couldn't be. No one could top him. He was perfect. He was an old friend like Scott, he was passionate like Stefan, and he unconditionally loved me like Luke. And he was stable. He was perfect."

Robert frowned. "He couldn't have been perfect if he did what he did, Laura."

Laura angrily replied, "That is what I don't understand! He was fine while I was gone in France with Spencer. He called me three times a day. We FaceTimed everyday. He visited once a month. And while we were there together it was like we were never separated. We were so in sync. Then two weeks before I came home, he became distant. He forgot our phone calls. We never FaceTimed anymore. And when I came home, he never wanted to touch me anymore. I just don't understand, Robert! He promised me that he would never break my heart. He vowed to be faithful! And then he does this! What is so wrong with me?"

Robert pulled a sobbing Laura into his embrace and held her tight. He whispered, "Nothing, Love. Absolutely nothing is wrong with you. You are perfect and any man would be lucky to have you fall in love with them."

After leaving Laura's to get ready to go to Rocco's talent show, Robert decided to take a detour on his way to the Metro Court. He used his WSB connection to find Ava's address. It was time someone put Kevin Collins in his place, and that someone would be Robert. He walked up to Ava's apartment door and knocked. Ava answered and said, "Robert Scorpio? What do I owe the pleasure?"

Robert asked with a fake smile, "May I come in?"

Ava moved aside and replied, "Sure."

Robert saw "Kevin" sitting on Ava's couch like he didn't have a car in the world. Ava asked, "So, Agent Scorpio, what are you here for? Is Julian or Olivia in trouble with the WSB?"

"No, actually I am here to speak with Doctor Collins."

"Kevin" stood up and said, "If this is about Laura, don't bother. We are over. Alexis delivered the divorce papers this morning."

"Actually, this is about Laura. She owes you one of these," said Robert.

Before "Kevin" could reply, Robert punched him in the jaw and kneed him in the groin. "Next time you decide to break her heart, make sure you know who you are messing with. Laura was in this town before you and she will be after you. She was loved by this town before you and she will be after you. You are no one. You made the biggest mistake of your life giving her up. Have fun with your mob boss slut." And with that, Robert left Ava's apartment with a grin on his face.

Ava went to go get ice from her kitchen and "Kevin" groaned in pain. "I didn't know Laura was so fucking beloved," he muttered to himself, "or I wouldn't have switched places with Mr. Laura Spencer."

"Can you explain to me why we are at a kiddie talent show? We could be throwing back scotches," complained Robert as he, Laura, and Spencer walked into the elementary school auditorium.

Laura elbowed Robert. "My grandson is performing. Wouldn't you show up to one of these if it was Emma or Noah?"

Robert groaned. "Yes."

Laura laughed.

Spencer said, "Hey! There's Aunt LuLu. She's waving us over."

Robert, Laura, and Spencer walked over to LuLu and everyone greeted each other and took their seats.

As the talent show began, Robert whispered, "You owe me a drink after this, Love."

"Anything for you, Agent Scorpio," Laura whispered in reply.

As the talent show continued, Robert did the classic yawn and stretch move. Only he knew what an emotional afternoon Laura had and he wanted her to know she had someone to lean on. LuLu and Spencer eyed Robert's every move. They knew what he was doing, and though they like Robert, they both believe that it is way too soon for Laura to move on to anyone, even Robert Scorpio. While Robert was making a classic move, and Spencer and Lulu were watching him, little did the family know that Ryan was sitting a few rows behind them watching Laura and Robert. He watched Robert wrap his arm around Laura and pulled out his phone as Laura leaned into Robert's friendly embrace. He snapped a couple pictures and left before anyone noticed him. "Kevin's really going to hate these. Perfect," said Ryan with a pep in his step as he left the school to make a visit to Ferncliffe.

"Brother. Wakey wakey," said Ryan greeting a very drugged up Kevin in his room at Ferncliffe.

"What do you want now? Here to administer a higher dose of these drugs your giving me," replied a groggy Kevin.

"Well, Brother, I learned that people think of you as Mr. Laura fucking Spencer. If I knew that, I wouldn't have switched places with you."

Kevin noticed Ryan's bruised jaw. "Is that why you have a messed up jaw?"

Ryan gently rubbed his jaw and replied, "Yes. Robert Scorpio is in town and decided to show me that I made a huge mistake giving up Laura."

"Well, I told you. I wouldn't hook up with Ava in a million years. Robert is Laura's oldest friend. He's just defending her. I respect him for that."

Ryan grinned evilly. "I don't think you will respect Agent Scorpio after you see that he's putting the moves on your wife."

"What do you mean?", Kevin asked in fear.

Ryan handed him his phone with the pictures he took on the screen. "Take a look for yourself. Your precious Laura must not have loved you so much that after a few days of separating from you, she is already moving on."

"We didn't separate! We are still married! You are ruining my life! She loves me! She would never do this! It's you who is breaking her heart, not me! Please, Ryan, if you have any sort of affection for me at all, please let me call her. Let me tell her that its me in here and you out there. If I asked, she wouldn't say anything to the cops or to Ava. I want her to know that I am still here and I still love her. Please."

Ryan snatched his phone back. "Oh, Brother dear, begging does not suit you. I prefer it my way. You were always trying to change me. Now, I am changing who everyone thinks is you. Im just giving you a taste of your own medicine."

Kevin screamed, "I never took your place! I was trying to help you! For God's sake, Ryan, I was trying to be a brother! You are being a bastard. I wish you died in that fire for real."

Ryan froze. "If that's how you feel, that's how you feel. I'll come around soon. Enjoy your new dosage of medication. It will knock you right out."

"RYAN!", screamed Kevin as Ryan left the room.