Legal Prejudice 2 - Weather The Storms

Chapter 34

Things were a little off between Robyn and Allie for the next couple of weeks, but Daniel told Allie he was sure things would get back to normal eventually and to just give her time. A major event in Robyn's own life swept her reservations about Dan and Allie completely out of the window. The new couple were totally intoxicated by their changed relationship, and for both of them it just felt as if life had fallen into place. At work they let it be known they were in a relationship, but were careful not to act any differently, and since they had always been affectionate no-one really saw a change. There were some raised eyebrows and Wendy looked appalled every time she saw them, but with Daniel at her side Allie didn't care.

Allie was between meetings and had dashed to the bathroom where she could hear someone sniffling. As she washed her hands she listened, wondering whether to knock on the closed door to check on whoever it was. She suddenly realised it was Robyn and she whirled 'round moving to knock the door softly, "Robyn, it's me. There's no-one else in here, open up and tell me what's wrong." The lock slid back and a tear-stained Robyn appeared. Allie saw she was clutching a plastic stick and she said flatly, "I'm pregnant Allie." Allie gasped and smiled grabbing her stickless hand, "Oh my God Robyn, that's good isn't it?" Robyn looked at her desperately, "I'm not sure Allie, it's the first month of trying. I was kind of hoping for a bit longer to get used to the idea." Allie smiled and pulled her friend into a hug "It's massive Robyn, but so wonderful and exciting." She laughed, "And you have another what, seven or eight months to get used to it." Allie's enthusiasm was infectious, and Robyn felt a glimmer of excitement rather than the anxiety she'd experienced since she'd first suspected the day before.

Allie squeezed her hands, "Come on, let's go before someone else comes in. I've got a meeting, but let's grab a coffee in thirty minutes." Robyn checked her face in the mirror and satisfied she looked almost her normal self she nodded and they left. When Allie was done with her meeting she went over to Robyn's pod and they grabbed coffee to take back to Allie's office. Sitting down Robyn said, "Hey, thanks for before. It was just suddenly scary." Allie nodded, "Yeah, I can imagine, but it's fantastic Robyn and it'll be so lovely to have another little one around. Is Jeremy in work today?" Robyn nodded, "Yeah, he's got a morning and afternoon clinic today." Allie smiled, "So why don't you go over there and grab lunch so you can tell him?" She looked hesitant, "I guess I could." She suddenly looked panicked, "Don't tell Dan. I need to tell Jeremy before anyone else." Allie grabbed her hand, "Don't worry, I won't breathe a word, promise, but go and tell Jeremy yeah." Robyn nodded and got up, "I'll call him now, make sure he's free. I'll speak to you later." Allie opened her arms and Robyn gratefully accepted her hug, "Thanks Allie."

Jeremy saw a post it note on the top file the clinic nurse passed him which said "Robyn called. She's coming for lunch twelve thirty unless you message her otherwise." He quickly picked up his cell phone and messaged, "Hi, Got the message about lunch. Free until clinic starts at one thirty. See you later." He opened the file to quickly see who was due in next, but his mind was preoccupied thinking about Robyn coming over, and he was just hoping whatever was on her mind wasn't related to Allie and Daniel. They hadn't really discussed it since the day they found out. She'd skipped Sunday breakfast the week before while he was in work and he knew she still wasn't really behind it. He was worried if they did start to talk about the situation it would open up a massive chasm between them that would be hard to repair. He pushed it to the back of his mind and forced himself to concentrate on the next patient.

He actually got through clinic on time and was running through some paperwork when Robyn arrived. He smiled as she came in and gave her a hug, "You okay?" She fished in her bag and brought what at first he thought was a pen out, and laid it on the table. He looked a little closer and it started to dawn on him. Robyn was impatient for the realisation to hit and she said, "I'm pregnant, it's a positive pregnancy test." Jeremy gasped and broke out in a smile, "Oh my god, so soon!" He reached out and held his wife, "We're having a baby Robyn, I can't quite believe it." Robyn laughed, "Me neither. I really didn't think it would happen the first month. Allie found me in the bathroom freaking out. She was so excited it kind of made me a bit excited." Jeremy held her, kissing her. Robyn added, "She won't tell Dan, I made her promise." He pulled back and nodded, "Of course she won't. Poor Allie, the keeper of secrets." Robyn laughed, "Yeah, we always seem to do this to her."

Robyn sat down and took a couple of sandwiches and two bottles of water out of her bag. "It was actually her idea to come over now." She peeled open the sandwich and looked down at her feet "Actually, I feel bad. Allie's always there for me, but I'm not always there for her. Walking over I realised she'll never have the excitement of being pregnant, and yet she was so excited for me."

Jeremy felt his heart warm and he moved his chair from behind the desk to sit alongside her. He lifted her chin, "Robyn, don't feel bad. Just go back after lunch and tell your friend you love her." Robyn put the sandwich down and burst into tears. "I do Jeremy. I don't know why but I have a blind spot with her and Daniel. I knew him long before Allie started, and I saw how miserable Carrie made him. Then Allie comes along and I watched him sobbing Jeremy when he found out what Stuckey had done to her. He was so vulnerable and I know it wasn't Allie's fault, but he was in love with her. I just couldn't accept he was happy to be in her life but not be with her. I still don't really understand." Jeremy held her close, "You have to trust them Robyn, trust Allie. I'm not blind, I figured out pretty early on that Dan was in love with her, supressing his feelings. I found it odd when I first met them. I knew Michael was her partner, but I couldn't quite figure out how Dan fitted in, especially since it was his estranged wife who'd hurt Allie. But he was here a lot with Michael, I could see they were helping one another to get through it. And when Allie came 'round in ICU they took it turns to sit with her, help her come to terms with what had happened. As I got to know them better and Allie in particular, I sort of understood. They are three of the most extraordinary people I've ever met, and I think the shared trauma they'd gone through forged whatever relationship they had. Michael was very much her husband, but Dan was a best friend to both of them. One night in the hospital she told me the last thing she remembered of the shooting was starting to lose consciousness and telling Michael and Daniel that if she had to die at least she was with the two people who loved her most in the world.

He paused, "Thing is Robyn, my relationship with Allie is different to the rest of you because I met her when she was so physically and emotionally fragile, but you know what, she fixed me just as much as I fixed her. At that point I'd kinda closed myself off, made work all my life was about. Somewhere along the way she cracked my heart right open, and that paved the way for me to fall in love with you. He kissed her and sighed, "Robyn, you didn't see her when she was an in-patient. Her recovery was slow, hard-going and she really, really suffered. I knew she, Dan and Michael were terrified she'd never really get over it, so I used to call in to see her before I left every day. I even used to come in on my days off to check on her, and I knew I'd become way too attached to all of them, but look where it's brought me." Jeremy kissed Robyn and pointed at the test still lying on the desk. Robyn smiled as Jeremy said, "So yeah, go tell Allie and Dan you love them Robyn because you're important to them both, and they need to know you're okay with them being together." He kissed her tenderly, "Best eat up, you've a baby to grow and I've got clinic soon."

Robyn came back through reception and quickly dropped her bag at her pod before checking if Allie was free. She messaged back to say she was just in her office so Robyn made two coffees and took them over. Allie smiled as she came in, "Oooo good thinking, coffee Robyn." Robyn smiled and put them on the meeting table, "I told Jeremy, he's really happy." Allie beamed "I'll bet. You are going to make amazing, lovely parents." Robyn sighed and started crying and Allie looked alarmed. Robyn shook her head when she got up, "No, it's okay Allie, I just need to explain something. I'm sorry for the way I've reacted to you and Daniel. I love you both and Jeremy has just reminded me of that. I should have just supported and trusted you, and I don't know why I didn't because you're always there for me." Allie gathered her friend in her arms. "It's okay Robyn. Dan and I, I know it's hard to understand, but I love him so much and I would never hurt him I promise." Allie grabbed her a kleenex and Robyn nodded, "Hey, why don't you call Daniel and I can tell him my news." Allie grinned and messaged him to come over. A few minutes later he came in expectantly, but his smile faltered when he saw Robyn's tear stained face. Allie grabbed his hand, "Robyn's got some news." Robyn took a breath and blurted out, "I'm pregnant." Daniel was taken aback for a few seconds, but then he laughed and pulled her out of the chair to embrace her, "That's amazing news. Congratulations Rob, I'm so pleased for you." Robyn sat back down and wiped her eyes, "Don't tell anyone just yet. I want to wait until I've had a scan and stuff before I tell anyone else yeah?" Allie reassured her, "We won't breathe a word."