Better Days
By Candie

Chapters 7-8

Chapter 7

- The Next Day
Setting: Robin’s Apartment
(It’s early in the morning. Robin is sitting at her kitchen table with Aidan eating breakfast. After Patrick left last night, Robin watched about two episodes of Lost and decided it was “too detail-oriented” to watch after having such a “detail-oriented” conversation with Patrick. She instead grabbed a magazine that Georgie left on her coffee table and flipped through it until she fell asleep on her couch. Robin had the best sleep she had in weeks. When she woke up, for the first time in the longest time, she felt refreshed. She decided to call Aidan and spend the day with him while she could, since she knew that he had to return to Pine Valley eventually. Sitting across from her, Aidan reaches for a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice.)

Aidan: So, we were at this ball and having a great time when suddenly the place exploded.
Robin (shakes her head): I cannot even imagine what must’ve went through your mind.
Aidan: You know, I’m usually calm and can react to anything, but I was a little shocked.
Robin: And Erin’s okay?
Aidan: She’s fine and so is her family, but waiting to find them… those were the longest moments in my life.
Robin: Remember when I told you about the train crash? (He nods) It was insane to be in the middle of such chaos.
Aidan: Looking at moments like those, there can be some sort of goodness that comes out of them, if you survive. I would like to think you come out of it with a greater appreciation of life.
Robin: Or you should at least try to.
Aidan: Did that happen to you after the virus outbreak?
(Robin sighs as she breaks off a piece of her muffin.)
Robin: I thought I did and there are times when I’m convinced that I did, but… I’m still who I am.
Aidan: And who is that?
Robin: Cautious and hesitant.
Aidan: Oh, that’s bull!
Robin (laughs): Excuse me?
Aidan: You are Anna Devane’s daughter! You are not cautious; at least not innately! If you are cautious and hesitant, then someone made you that way. You didn’t start out that way.
Robin: Maybe I did, Aidan. My parents lived these insane lives with no boundaries… maybe I had to find some.
Aidan: Your mother told me how you came to Pine Valley to find her yourself… that wasn’t respecting boundaries. You left the city you grew up in and all the security you knew to create a life for yourself in Paris, that wasn’t respecting boundaries. And you returned to this town to save the life of a man that broke your heart… that certainly wasn’t respecting boundaries.
Robin: Aidan…
Aidan: Robin, I get that you want to protect your heart. I get it. I even respect it, but you might not need to guard it as tightly as you do. (Smiles) How about this? You drop the boundaries for at least a week or two and see what happens.
Robin: And if all hell breaks loose?
Aidan (smiles): It’ll probably be the best hell you’ve ever lived through.
(Robin has to laugh and shakes her head.)

Setting: General Hospital
(Patrick Drake walks through the elevators of General Hospital. He scans the sixth floor of GH then immediately spots who he was looking for – Alan Quartermaine. He quickly runs toward him before he loses him again. Alan looks up at the sound of his name.)

Alan: Oh, hello Patrick.
Patrick: Dr. Quartermaine.
Alan: What can I do for you?
Patrick: My schedule. Do you think I can have a few days off?
Alan (smiles): Going on a much deserved vacation?
Patrick: Not quite. There are just a few things that I’ve been putting off that need to be taken care of.
Alan: Then, by all means… take the days and enjoy them!
Patrick: Thanks, Dr. Quartermaine.
(With great enthusiasm, Patrick turns around quickly and smacks directly into Elizabeth Spencer whose arms are filled with folders. They fall quickly to the floor as she sighs annoyed.)
Patrick: I’m sorry.
(Liz bends down to pick them up.)
Liz: I’m sure you are.
(Patrick sighs then helps Liz pick up the folders as well.)
Patrick: You know… the other day, I heard you.
(Liz looks back at him.)
Liz: Heard me?
Patrick: About Robin.
(Liz stands up slowly holding her fallen folders.)
Liz: Oh.
(Patrick stands up as well and hands her the remaining folders.)
Patrick: She knows the truth about Carly.
Liz (simply): Good. (Sighs) Look Patrick, I know that I was a little hard on you and I’m sorry.
Patrick: You were just looking out for a friend; I get it.
(Liz tilts her head and looks at Patrick.)
Liz: I was… and not just Robin. (Simply) You were there for me when Lucky was missing. You know, Robin once told me that you weren’t as shallow as you seem and that your slick come-ons were mostly an act. I didn’t believe her and I think there were times when she no longer believed that herself, but… I have a feeling she wasn’t completely wrong. I guess, I just wanted you to prove her right. (Looks at him) Good luck with that.

Setting: The Docks
(Robin Scorpio is walking along the docks with her cousin. They stop when they approach the launch leading to Wyndemere. Aidan looks out at the water and stares at the rather large building across the Port Charles River.)

Aidan: So, that is?
Robin: Spoon Island. My friend, Nikolas, lives there.
Aidan: By himself? Must get lonely.
Robin: Probably does.
(Before Aidan can respond, his cell phone rings and he reaches into his jacket.)
Aidan: Devane. Tad? Hi. (Looks at Robin) Well, I intended in staying in Port Charles a few more days. Oh! (Surprised) What?!?! Okay… no… no… I’ll come back as soon as I can.
(Robin turns toward her cousin concerned as he closes his cell phone.)
Robin: Is everything okay?
Aidan: That was, Tad, my business partner. Long story, but his wife recently came back from the dead and now ran off.
Robin: Seems to be happening a lot lately, huh?
Aidan: Seems so. He needs my help to find her.
Robin: Go! Aidan, I’m fine… I promise.
(Aidan sighs somewhat dejected.)
Aidan: I was just hoping to spend more time with you.
Robin: And you will, next time… hey, maybe I’ll land on your doorstep unexpectedly.
Aidan (laughs): Give me a taste of my own medicine, huh?
Robin: I’m serious… go back to Pine Valley, I’m fine.
Aidan: Okay, I’ll go on one condition.
Robin: Okay.
Aidan: You think about what we talked about earlier. (Kisses her forehead) Drop some of those walls, Robin. (Looks at her) And live a little. (Smiles) If you regret it, you can come to Pine Valley and personally pummel me.
(Robin bursts out laughing.)
Robin: Pummel you? You honestly think I can beat you up?
Aidan: Yes, you’re small… but you’re tough. (Touches her cheek) Your last name may be Scorpio and while that is something all together different to be proud of, you’re also a Devane… don’t forget that. (Kisses her cheek) I’ll call you when I arrive in Pine Valley. I love you, sweetie.
(Robin nods tearfully then watches her cousin, Aidan, disappears up the stairs of the docks. She smiles while touching the side of her cheek where he had just kissed her. How did her mother know how much she needed her cousin? As annoyed as she is that her mother is incommunicado, Anna Devane still pulled through for her the only way she knew how. Robin jumps slightly when her cell phone rings. She answers it.)
Robin: Hello?
Patrick: Were you serious about giving me that chance?
(Robin pauses for a moment; a moment that doesn’t get lost on Patrick. She takes a deep breath.)
Robin: Yes, I was serious.
Patrick: Good, because I’m picking you up in about four hours.
Robin (shocked): You want to go out tonight?
Patrick: What? You have other plans?
(Robin locks her jaw slightly.)
Robin (jokingly): No, but I thought you might have… oh, don’t tell me! Someone canceled on you and you have to occupy yourself somehow tonight.
Patrick (laughs): Right, Robin. We both know there’s only one person I want to keep me occupied tonight and I’m talking to her… so, what do you say? Will you keep me occupied?
(Robin rolls her eyes slightly then sighs.)
Robin: Fine.
Patrick (smirking): What was that? Can you repeat that?
Robin: Just pick me up at 8.
Patrick: I will, but Robin… I am taking YOU out.
Robin: Okay?
Patrick: You do know what that means, correct?
Robin: Patrick, I have been on a date more than once in my life.
Patrick: Yes, but not with me. I want you to have a good time… so…
Robin (simply): Patrick, I want to have a good time too.
(Patrick smiles widely.)
Patrick: Good. I’ll see you at 8.
(Robin sighs as she closes her cell phone. She looks down at her watch. She had four hours to get ready. And she didn’t want to admit it, but she wanted tonight to be an unbelievable night. She wanted to impress Patrick. She wanted to prove to him that she could have fun. She wasn’t frozen. Robin wanted to look beautiful, feel beautiful. She wanted to not only be treated like a woman, but she wanted to feel like one. It was a tall order, but not an impossible one. Robin sighs and starts down the docks back toward her apartment. She had to get ready. She had a date tonight.)

Setting: Patrick Drake’s Apartment
(Patrick lived in a simple apartment; nothing too crazy or flashy. He found this apartment his second week in Port Charles by mistake actually. He was originally staying at the Metro Court when Robin had asked him to treat Jason, but Patrick always hated hotels because they weren’t personal. The irony of that belief wasn’t loss on him. Patrick wasn’t a “personal” person, but his apartment was. That’s why he never shared his space with anyone. Believe it or not, he had never even taken a woman back to his apartment, ever. And now here he was straightening up in his apartment, just in case by some miracle from the heavens, Robin wanted to see his place. Patrick knew that would never happen, but he had to straighten up just in case. He hadn’t been this nervous since… he had never been this nervous. This was just a date. Patrick freezes for a moment. This wasn’t just a date. This was his only chance with Robin and he knew that. He had one chance and if he messed up tonight… that was it. Patrick takes a deep breath and walks toward his bedroom. He had to get ready. He had a date tonight.)

Chapter 8

- Hours Later
Setting: Robin’s Apartment
(It’s a beautiful spring night. Robin Scorpio walks out of her bedroom wearing one of the outfits Elizabeth asked why she didn’t wear more often. She stops to study herself in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She questioned her outfit about twenty times already. She questioned her hair too. She questioned almost everything until she settled on a beautiful black dress with a deep v-neck, cap sleeves and mid-length full skirt… and she wore her hair wavy. It seemed like a good idea at the time… until she looked in the mirror for the twentieth time. Maybe she should’ve picked out her mid-length black skirt with the button-down light pink blouse and black blazer… no, that was too professional. She was going on a date – not an interview! Robin sighs again. She was going on a date; not a dinner based on a bribe; not a dinner that happened by chance because she’s at the same restaurant as Patrick. This was an intentional, purposeful date. Robin sighs again with her whole body inhaling and exhaling. She was going on a date. A date with Patrick Drake. Robin glances at her clock it was 7:59. She had one minute. One minute to gather her thoughts. One minute to calm down the nerves in her stomach. She had one minute… if Patrick Drake was punctual. Meanwhile, outside of Robin’s door, Patrick Drake stares at the same spot on Robin’s door that he’s been staring at for the last ten minutes. He had heard once that a man shouldn’t be early for a job interview; it would make him look too eager. Patrick rubs his neck… okay, this wasn’t a job interview but these words of wisdom kept running through his head. He glances down at his watch. It was 7:59. He had one minute. One minute to regain his composure. One minute to become the Patrick Drake he normally is. And one last minute to question the outfit he chose. He was wearing basic black pants with a button-down green shirt and black blazer. It seemed like a good choice in his bedroom, but standing in front of Robin’s door… he wondered if green was too bold. Well, it was too late now. It would take him at least fifteen minutes to drive home, change and get back here… and he would be fifteen minutes late for this date and Robin would slam the door in his face. He didn’t have time. Patrick looks at his watch. He didn’t have any more time. It was 8:00. It was time. He closes his eyes, rolls his shoulders back, clears his throat then knocks on her door. He could do this. He was Patrick Drake. Inside of her apartment, Robin jumps slightly at the sound of Patrick’s knocking on her door. It was time. Robin slowly walks toward her door and Patrick can faintly hear the sound of her heels approaching. She looks through the door’s peephole, takes a deep breath then opens the door and stares back at Patrick. Wow, he looked handsome.)

Robin (blurts out): You’re on time.
(Patrick just stares back at Robin. Wow, she looked even more beautiful than usual.)
Patrick (blurts out): I do wear a watch.
(Robin smiles slightly. Well, they still had the banter going for them. She looks back at Patrick.)
Robin: Let me just grab my purse.
(Robin turns around to go back into her apartment, but before she turns fully, Patrick gently grabs her elbow stopping her. Robin freezes at the feel of his skin on hers. She slowly lowers her eyes to his hand as does Patrick.)
Patrick: I… uh… got you these.
(Robin looks back at Patrick and notices that in his other hand, he is carrying a bouquet of yellow tulips.)
Robin (surprised): Wow!
(Robin slowly takes the flowers from Patrick’s hands and takes a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent.)
Robin: These smell and look so good.
Patrick: The florist said that giving someone yellow tulips is a way of telling them that there is sunshine in their smile.
(Robin looks back up at Patrick, a little skeptical, but smiling all the same.)
Robin: Really?
(Patrick throws back his hands.)
Patrick: Hey, I’m no florist… that’s just what I was told.
(Robin looks back down at the flowers in her hands and smells them again.)
Robin: Well, no matter what the meaning is… (She looks up at him) They’re beautiful… thank you.
Patrick: Well, you earned them… there is sunshine in your smile.
(Robin just stares back at Patrick and swallows the lump forming in her throat. She silently prays for a moment that he doesn’t do this to her the entire night, then prays for another moment that he does do this the entire night. She had to do something; she couldn’t just stare back at him holding flowers… so she smiles. Genuinely. Robin smiles at Patrick as another way to thank him again for the flowers and he smiles back. Okay… this was getting too strange. Robin backs away slightly.)
Robin: I’ll put these in water then grab my purse.
Patrick: Sounds good.
(Patrick watches Robin walk into her kitchen then exhales a held breath. She was smiling at him! For a moment he had hoped that she didn’t do that the entire night – smile at him in that way, but then he shook his head and thought how badly he wanted her to smile that smile at him. That was a real smile. It wasn’t forced or… because she was laughing at his expense. It was because she wanted to smile at him. And that made him smile. A goofy smile. He didn’t realize how goofy until Robin was staring back at him holding her purse, looking at him somewhat strangely.)
Robin (awkwardly): Uh… are you ready?
Patrick: Yes!
(Robin walks toward her door then looks up at Patrick as she opens it.)
Robin: You never did tell me… where are we going?
Patrick: You’ll find out.
Robin: I don’t know how I feel about surprises.
Patrick: But, I bet I know how you feel about big reveals.
(Robin looks up somewhat taken back with widened eyes.)
Robin: How big?
Patrick: Huge.
(Robin looks back at him.)
Robin: Patrick, what are you referring to?
Patrick: Well, I’m sure you spent a number of your nights wondering how and where I was spending my own evenings after I left GH. Well, tonight I will show you.
(Robin stops and looks at Patrick.)
Robin: Are you for real?
Patrick: Aren’t you in the least bit curious?
Robin (skeptically): Perhaps.
Patrick (smiling): Perhaps? (Smiles wider) I can handle “perhaps.” Let’s go.
(Patrick starts walking down the hallway of Robin’s apartment complex. She watches him for a moment then starts walking to catch up with him.)
Robin: But…
Patrick: Come on… you can show me how you spend your evenings later, if you’re feeling left out.
(Robin has to laugh slightly as she just shakes her head then follows Patrick. Somehow she knew this was going to be an evening that she would remember for some time to come.)

Setting: An Establishment Right Outside of Port Charles
(After leaving Robin’s apartment complex, Patrick guided her toward his car and proceeded to drive for a good thirty minutes. He watched her silently from the corner of his eye as they passed city limits. She was freaking out slightly and he had to get a small kick out of that… mainly because she wouldn’t say anything. She was trying SO hard to prove that she was up for anything he threw at her tonight. However, Robin was simply freaking out once she saw the sign that clearly read “last exit in Port Charles.” Where was he taking her? Every single thought ran through Robin’s mind. One moment she was convinced that he was taking her to some dark, creepy club that he picked up cheap, sleazy women in. That thought made her open her purse and double check that she brought her, Purel, hand sanitizer with her and sigh a small sigh of relief when she saw it at the bottom of her purse. The next moment she was convinced that he was bringing her to some real gaudy restaurant that he brought every single one of his dates to. That thought made her imagine some overly gaudy maitre d’ showing them to “Dr. Drake’s favorite table.” She shuddered a bit in her seat and once again clutched her Purel. And in the final moment once they passed city limits, Robin was absolutely convinced that he was taking her to some real seedy “no-tell motel” that he took all of his one-night stands to. That thought caused Robin’s mouth to fall slightly and then curse herself for not bringing two bottles of Purel… and maybe some pepper spray. Okay… that last thought caused her to laugh out loud, which resulted in Patrick to looking over at her and smile himself. In that moment, all of those thoughts flew from her mind and she told herself to just let Patrick take her wherever he wanted to. She could always buy more Purel and she didn’t necessarily need pepper spray… she took several self defense classes. It was only about another fifteen minute drive until Patrick finally stopped at their destination. She looked at Patrick somewhat curiously as he announced, “we’re here” and that’s all he announced. He simply turned off the ignition of his car then opened her car door. Patrick saw her brown eyes stare back at him questioningly as he extended his hand toward her. It was then he said the four words that summed up the entire evening completely: “Just. Go. With. It.” Robin sighed then placed her hand into Patrick’s much larger one. She would let him take her into his world. Robin took a deep breath, suddenly feeling like this more than just seeing where Patrick spends his time… she wasn’t sure what made her feel that way… maybe it was the way he was looking at her or the way he held her hand as he helped her out of the car and didn’t let it go once they started walking. And they walked for a few moments until they landed in front of what seemed like a small bar or club. Robin looks back at Patrick curiously and he just smiles.)

Patrick: Get ready to be entertained.
(Robin’s mouth fell again as her next thought flew into her mind… he wasn’t taking her to a strip club, was he? She subconsciously grasped her purse tighter and felt the outline of her bottle of Purel. She watched Patrick nod toward one of the men standing at the entrance then walks them through the doors of the club. She can faintly hear music that she can’t quite make out and stops when an older gentleman flies toward her and Patrick at the sight of him.)
Man: Dr. Drake! We haven’t seen you in a while. I was starting to think we lost our best customer.
(Patrick just shakes his head.)
Patrick: Work just got crazy for a while.
Man: Well man, don’t ever let work get too crazy that you can’t enjoy a good escape.
Patrick: I’ll try not to.
(Robin watches the two of them curiously then jumps slightly when Patrick turns toward her.)
Patrick: Robin, this is Clive.
(Robin looks back at the older gentleman and smiles somewhat awkwardly.)
Robin: Hi Clive.
Clive: Hello Robin… so you must’ve worked some magic on, my man, Patrick here.
Robin (confused): What?
Clive: He’s never once brought a lady here.
Robin (confused): Here?
(Patrick and Clive look at each for a moment then Patrick looks back down toward her.)
Patrick: Only the best blues and jazz club in Upstate, New York.
(Robin watches Patrick curiously as he leads her further into the small, intimate club. And that was when she could fully hear the music. This really was a blues and jazz club. She sighs somewhat relieved at the sight and sound of an older gentleman on the stage playing a soulful rendition of Ray Charles’s “I Believe to my Soul.” Clive gently escorts Patrick and Robin to an intimate table in the corner of the small room.)
Clive: Enjoy the tunes.
Patrick: Will do, Clive. Thanks.
(Once they’re alone, Patrick pulls out Robin’s chair for her then sits down himself directly across from her. She stares at the stage for a moment in amazement then looks back at Patrick.)
Robin: You really come here?
(Patrick’s looking toward the stage as well and turns toward Robin at the sound of her voice.)
Patrick: As often as I can.
(Patrick looks back at the stage for a moment as the singer segues into another Ray Charles’ classic, “You Don’t Know Me.”)
Robin (softly): And you’ve really never brought anyone else here?
(Patrick looks back at Robin. He knew he was risking something by bringing her here. He was letting her into his world. He was letting her see a part of him that no one else did.)
Patrick: You’re the first.
Robin: Why?
Patrick: I wanted to show you that there is more to me than you think. And that all those nights you thought I was making my way through the population of Port Charles’s women, I was most likely just here drinking a good glass of bourbon listening to some blues by myself.
(Robin nods and looks down at her hands. Patrick looks back at her trying to read her.)
Patrick: If you don’t like blues or… we could always leave.
(Robin’s head shoots up and she quickly touches Patrick’s hands to stop him from speaking.)
Robin: No!
(That had come out more forcefully than Robin had meant to.)
Robin: I want to stay.
Patrick: Oh! (Relieved) Good. (Smirks) Because I really didn’t have a plan B.
(Robin is forced to laugh. She stares back at Patrick for a moment; taking in the true beauty of his face then allows her eyes to travel back toward the stage.)
Robin: You don’t need one.
(Robin continues to stare at the man on the stage. However, Patrick’s eyes lower to her hand covering his – she hadn’t removed it.)
Robin: My dad use to listen to the blues. (Distantly) I don’t know if he still does.
(Robin lowers her eyes for a moment then looks back at Patrick.)
Robin: How about that for irony? I think I now know more about you than I do my own father.
(Patrick raises his eyes and looks back at Robin as well.)
Patrick: I’m sorry.
Robin: Don’t be. I love it here. (Looks at the stage) What brought you here?
Patrick: You.
(Robin’s eyes widen slightly and she looks back at Patrick.)
Robin: What?
Patrick: It was one night after we fought over one of our patients. I was so furious with you that I got into my car and I kept driving. I landed here.
Robin: Was it the Jeffrey Hayes case?
Patrick (surprised): Yeah, how do you know?
Robin (smiles): That’s the night I discovered knitting.
Patrick (laughs): Well, on our next date you don’t have to return the favor of showing me the secrets of your past time.
(Robin looks back at Patrick curiously.)
Robin: Next date?
Patrick (smirks): Well, you haven’t removed your hand from mine yet.
(Robin looks down at their joined hands then back at Patrick.)
Robin: I guess I haven’t.
(Robin stares back at Patrick for a moment then looks back at the stage without moving her hand. He smiles for a moment then gently runs his thumb across her soft skin. That one simple gesture… that one simple touch made him feel things that he hadn’t felt for anyone. Patrick stares down at their joined hands then looks back up toward Robin. It was in the moment, he was certain that he was in trouble.)

to be continued...

Close window to return home

The Romantic Garden's Site  was created, designed, and is maintained by Heather.
Copyright © The RG Site 1998. All rights reserved.