Anna was finally in bed, after a long day helping Robin adjust to mothering Emma, trying desperately to find a comfortable position, but this baby was simply not cooperating. It seemed no matter how she turned, her belly was in the way and no matter how she adjusted her numerous pillows, they weren't cutting it. For the last few weeks, the only rest she could find was curled up with Robert. Some way, some how, their bodies just fit together. He gave her support in all the right places, but the man was a wreck and Patrick had finally insisted on taking him for a guys' weekend before the baby came in the hopes of saving everyone's sanity. As much as she appreciated the intentions, she found herself slightly perturbed that Robert, Mac, and Patrick were up at the cabin enjoying some rest and relaxation while she was being driven to the brink of insanity by the constant discomfort. Pregnancy at forty-eight was definitely not the same thing as pregnancy at eighteen. Finally she gave up any illusions regarding sleep and made her way downstairs for a nice, hot cup of tea. Robert was definitely going to owe her a nice, long nap when he got back in this afternoon. As she sat there slowly drinking her tea, and allowing its warmth to soothe her and the baby, she couldn't help but reflect on Robert and their little surprise.
Experiencing the pregnancy with Robert by her side this time, made all the difference to her. Her pregnancy with Robin had been a difficult one, both due to the injuries she was still recovering from at the time and her own fear. She was no more than a child herself, and every aspect of bringing a new life into the world had been utterly terrifying. Filomena had been wonderful to her from the moment she'd shown up on her doorstep, unsure of where else to go, but it was not the same. It was Robert's reassurance she'd needed, and Robert's reassurance she'd been denied. Hell, he hadn't even known she was pregnant. A couple of times, she'd considered seeking him out and telling him, knowing that his sense of honor would bring him back to them, to her, and hoping that somewhere along the line that honor would turn into love again. Even at such a young age tying a man down with a child was simply not the kind of woman Anna was, and though some may call it foolish pride, she was proud of that fact. So she'd waited and hoped and prayed that he'd forgive her and come home on his own. He never did, but somehow as difficult as it was she made it through and had made sure that Robin was no worse for wear. However, that didn't keep her from realizing how amazing it was to have your partner there to hold your hair as you threw up and to work the knots out of your back when your body and all its old war injuries rebelled against the additional weight on your frame. Though she hadn't experienced it quite yet, she imagined labor would be a similar tale. Anna had never quite bought into the body forgets myth, as it hadn't been her case. She remembered quite well the pain and hard work of bringing Robin into the world. It had been worth it, but it certainly hadn't been easy or particularly fun. She was glad that this time she would have Robert by her side to support her, as any loving partner should. To have that partner be the love of your life, was icing on the cake. As wonderful as Duke had been during what little time they'd been able to enjoy their impending parenthood, and as hard as David had tried to be something he just wasn't for her sake and for Leora's, neither one of them knew her like Robert. He had this magical way of knowing just what she needed when she needed it, and although at times it came across as overbearing and drove her absolutely batty, she appreciated it none the less. Come to think of it, after that nap, she would definitely have to show Mr. Scorpio just how much she appreciated him perhaps with black underwear. Twenty years later and the man was still a sucker for the right undergarment. The fact that she could even think of "entertaining" Robert was yet another testament to the difference between this pregnancy and Robin's. Her age definitely brought along new aches and pains that even with her still unhealed injuries had not been present when she'd been expecting Robin, but she also found that this time, she was much more confident. She'd been here and done this before. She could appreciate the experience for the miracle it was and rejoice in her body's ability to bring forth life anew instead of feeling self-conscious and afraid as she had all those years ago. This time, just as before, she was full of hopes and dreams for the child to come, and this time, unlike before, she knew that she had it in her to be a good mother and help this child reach his or her own dreams. It was such a comfort to her that for a moment she found herself starting to lose herself happily in thoughts of the future.
Robin woke to the sounds of rustling in the kitchen and immediately knew who it was; her mother had been extremely restless all weekend long. She claimed it was because she couldn't sleep without her father, but Robin was starting to worry that a different reason was responsible, a reason that was due to make his or her debut in just under four weeks time, and was turning her into a nervous wreck. She wasn't sure if it was the doctor or the Scorpio in her that couldn't help but think of every single thing that could possibly go wrong with her mother's pregnancy and delivery. About the time she reached placental abruption in her internal rolodex of gloom and doom, she gave up all pretense of sleep and got up to join her mother.
Robin found her, just as she had the morning - make that night - before, sitting at the table sipping a steaming hot cup of tea. "How are you feeling Mom?"
Anna practically jumped out of her skin at the sound of Robin's voice. Her "spidey sense," as Patrick liked to call it was definitely off at the moment. Whether it was pregnancy brain or exhaustion causing it, she didn't know, but either way it was disconcerting. "I'm fine, darling. I'm just a bit tired, that's all. It'll all be alright once your father gets back this afternoon."
A bit tired? 'Yeah right,' thought Robin. It was obvious her mother was exhausted. The bags under her eyes and the general quietness about her were dead giveaways. Her mother was never quiet, calm yes, especially now as the pregnancy had seemed to activate some sort of Zen state of contentedness in her, but never, ever quiet. Robin thought that perhaps it was that quietness more than anything that made her feel uneasy and nervous. She was incredibly happy for her parents, and especially her mother, but she didn't think she'd be completely happy until her brother or sister arrived and she knew with absolute certainty that everything and everyone was alright. She'd always felt a very close connection to her mother, and had been absolutely devastated to lose her all those years ago. How much so she hadn't realized until the that fateful day at Wildwind when she'd gotten her mother back, and now the thought of anything happening to her sent her anxiety levels through the roof. She didn't know how she'd have made it through the last few months without her mother there to coddle her when she was down and to push her to talk to Lainey and get help when she'd been too stubborn to accept that she needed it, and not only that but to be there to pick up the slack with Emma without judging her until she'd finally managed to turn the corner. A corner that her current mental unrest reminded her was just the beginning of her healing process, a process that she needed her parents to help her through. She needed her dad to set the cards on the table in the way that only he could, and she needed her mom to soften the reality of those cards in the way that only a mother, who understood exactly what her child was going through could, and for the last couple of days Robin couldn't help but feel the quiet she'd never felt before, and to feel it turning into distance. She knew intellectually that it wasn't distance. It was introspection. It was preparation for what was to come, but it was still a foreign feeling coming from her mother, and it still unsettled her. Not to mention the fact that she'd managed to sneak up on her without even trying.
"You know you worry about me entirely too much."
Perhaps her mother's senses weren't so dulled after all. It would certainly appear that the quiet hadn't made her any less observant, or despite what she may have felt earlier any less in tune to her, "Yeah well, I learned from the best."
"Yeah well," Anna chuckled back with a mischievous smirk, her head cocked to one side, "I'm the mother. It's my job." The look was so innately Anna that Robin instantly felt more at ease. Not completely at ease, but better than she had in a long time.