I wrote this story for my friend's birthday so no complaining about the couples. lol. And just FYI, Little Noah does not exist in this universe.
Chapter One
Anna reads the headline from the newspaper as she presses a warm washcloth to Robert's forehead. This is what she can do for him. This is what is normal.
"I hate that you have to do this Anna. I hate that I can't…"
"You are not less of a man Robert. You saved your daughter's life. You probably saved your brother's wife too. You stopped a lunatic from wiping out an entire town. I am proud of you Scorpio. Nothing you say will ever make me see you as anything less than a hero."
"You give me too much credit Luv. You were the one who finally killed him. "
"Only because he would have killed you if I didn't. "
So many people died at Ryan's hands and yet they found something important that night…they found each other.
"Sit up Robert. Your family is going to be here soon. You can wallow any other day but not today. You are going to let me help you take a shower and get you dressed…And you are going to sit at our table for Thanksgiving Dinner. Everyone loves you so much. "
"Does that include you," he asks, hopefully.
"Especially me."
She kisses him softly and helps him off the bed. She knows that he hates the fact that he is paralyzed from the waist down and has to rely on her for his basic needs. He hates that they cannot make love, as both of them want… but she also knows he appreciates that she stays. They have only just admitted their love for each other and yet Anna dropped everything to take care of him…just as he did when she lost Finn.
"What would I do without you Luv?"
"Good thing you never have to find out."
Kiki leans on Griffin as they walk into the home of her newly discovered parents. It was odd to think that when Ryan was trying to strangle her, he actually gave her something to hope for in the end. He gave her the gift of being someone else's daughter…someone other than Ava's.
"How are you feeling," Griffin asks his fiancée. She walks with a cane now but it could be so much worse. She feels incredibly blessed. She also knows Griffin is afraid to let her out of his sight given that she came within seconds of death.
"I am doing better now. I do not know what I am supposed to feel now that Ava is dead though. I thought she was my mother for years but she never treated me like one. Do you think Ryan was right Griffin…Do you think I wasn't wanted by anyone…"
"Don't let the voice of a dead man rob you of your future," Anna says, as she appears with Robert in his wheelchair. She walks over to Kiki and envelopes her into her arms.
"I know that I speak for your father as well as myself when I say this…We love you…we want you…we grieved for you."
"Do you really mean that?"
"We mean it," Robert states. He wants to stand up so he can hug his daughter but Anna shoots him a warning look. He knows better than to test her.
"Would you come here and give your old man a hug? I would do it myself but your mother would skin me alive if I attempted it."
"He's right, "Anna states. "I would."
When Kiki goes to Robert's side, Griffin turns to Anna. "What is going on between you two? Something has changed hasn't it?"
"More like we realized what hasn't changed."
Griffin kisses Anna's cheek as they walk towards father and daughter. Anna whispers in Griffin's ear. "No matter what is said, he wants what is best for his daughter. "
Griffin smiles because he knows what she means. No father ever believes that anyone is good enough for his little girl.
Robin, Emma and Nikolas arrive moments later with the food. Anna helps Nikolas bring it all in from the limo as Robin and Emma go visit with Robert and Kiki.
"I guess you are my sister," Robin sates. "Welcome to the family."
"Thank you. And you must be Emma."
Emma smiles as Kiki reaches for her hand. "I am so sorry about your daddy sweetie. I hear he was a good man."
"He was the best," she admits.
"Well I am not your dad and I will never pretend to be," Griffin states. "But I can be a pretty good listener."
"Thank you," Emma admits sadly. Patrick had been one of the many that Ryan had killed. Robin still grieved for him terribly but she was grateful that her friend Nikolas had turned out to be alive. He was a great support for her. They helped each other really…They understood what losing a spouse to murder meant.
"How are you daddy," Robin asks. "I know you are a proud man but you are taking care of yourself aren't you?"
"Your mother insists on making sure I do," he quips. Robin narrows her eyes at her parents. "Oh really…how long has this being going on?"
"You shush," Anna states, as she wraps her arms around Robert's neck. As if on cue the doorbell rings.
"You and mom huh," Robin whispers.
"That's what keeps me going…the idea that maybe we might finally get it right."
"Don't push her away dad. Don't you dare."
"Not a chance. We have each other's back Robin. We always have."
"Except this time, it's more. "
She kisses his forehead as she rises to greet her Aunt Felicia and her Uncle Mac."
"I love you daddy. I am so grateful you survived. I couldn't lose you too."
He squeezes her hand and she knows it is his quiet way of telling her that he is sorry about Patrick and that he will always be here for her.
Mac and Felicia greet the family with hugs and kisses. Maxie soon follows with little James. Anna brushes the hair back from Felicia's face and smiles. "If anyone understand what you are going through, it is me. Don't you dare blame yourself for this? That man was obsessed with you just as Faison was obsessed with me. It is going to be all right Felicia. He will never hurt you again."
"Thanks to you and Robert. You saved so many lives when you showed up. And I know how much you are suffering now."
"He's going to be all right okay. It is you I am worried about."
"I'll be alright eventually. Mac and I have news."
"Well don't keep us in suspense."
"Not till dinner. For now, I just want to enjoy our family and that Ryan's reign of terror is finally over."
"I wish I could say that I am sorry about Peter but…"
Felicia reaches for her hand. "He conned you into thinking he was your son…into thinking that you let that animal touch you. You have every right not to miss him."
"If Robert had not gotten there when he did, I might have lost my real child. He might have lied about who fathered my child but he knew damn well I had one…We lost precious time with her because of his hatred for me."
"I am so sorry for everything he did to you Aunt Anna," Maxie says. She looks away almost as if she is ashamed so Anna pulls her into her arms. "Maxie, you are my God Daughter and I love you. This is not your fault. I am only sorry he hurt you too."
"It was too soon for me to move on. I should have known better. From now on, it's just me and James."
"You take all the time you need to grieve for him…Just don't close your heart off because of something that one unworthy man did. You have a beautiful heart Maxie Jones. Don't ever forget it."
They hug and then Robert calls for everyone to sit at the table. It was time for Thanksgiving Dinner. Maxie follows Felicia into the living room as Anna returns to Robert's wheelchair. She is about to push him into the living room, when he grabs her hand.
"Thank you Annie. I know I do not say it often enough but I just want you to know that I appreciate all you do."
"I know you do Robert. I appreciate you too. Let's go eat."
Anna helps Robert out of his chair and into the seat at the head of the table. When he is finally comfortable, she settles in beside him. They know that all eyes were on them but neither of them seemed to care. This was what they did for each other. This is what loving someone looked like.
"All right," Robert starts. "Now that we have everyone together, I would like us to hold hands. I am going to say Grace."
Nobody dares to say a word when Anna shoots them that look. This was her family. Her children. Her man. It did not matter if they were married or divorced. They were family. They always had been.
"Dear Lord," Robert states, as they all join hands and bow their heads. "I would like to start off by saying thank you for letting me live…for letting Kiki and Felicia live. We lost many people in this town because of a killing spree we had no control over. God Bless their souls."
After Robert stops talking he looks between everyone seated. "Now I want everyone to tell me something they are thankful for. It does not have to be major. Let us start with Emma."
"I am thankful for my mommy," Emma states.
Robin smiles as she holds her daughter close. "Oh Sweetie. I am thankful for you too. I am also thankful that my father and my sister are still with us."
"I am thankful for Robin's friendship," Nikolas stated.
"I am thankful for my new family," Kiki states.
"I am thankful for my fiancé," Griffin says.
He knows that not everyone knew about them so some eyes widened in shock and congratulations.
"I am thankful for my little boy," Maxie says.
"I am thankful for Felicia's life," Mac states.
"I am thankful for…the new baby we are going to have."
Mac puts an arm around Felicia's shoulder and kisses her cheek.
"Oh my God…that was your news," Anna stated excitedly. "
"Excuse me Devane but we are not finished with our prayer," Robert jokes.
She shoots him a challenging look but eventually says, "As much as it pains me to admit right now…I am thankful for you Robert...even when you drive me crazy."
"Oh I think she loves me," Robert jokes, kissing her cheek.
"Don't flatter yourself." '
"Oh come on Luv…I am thankful for you too."
"That's cheating Robert. You have to pick something else."
He pauses as he looks at the faces seated at the table. His life might not be so easy right now but it was worth it. All of this was worth it for more moments like tonight.
"I am thankful for my family…each and every one of you. Now let's eat."
"You need help old man," Anna teased as she picked up her fork.
"I think my hand works just fine thank you."
She knows he was teasing her and it made her smile. This could have had a very different ending. Robert could have been one of the casualties.