Chapter 7

Anna wakes up before dawn the next day. At first, she thought it was Emma that had woken her, but she didn't hear anything now and realized Robin was here and she will get up with Emma when she does wake up. Not sure what had awoken her Anna put her head on Roberts' chest and tried to go back to sleep. She lays there letting her fingers play with his chest hair and thinks about what all was said last night. If they could have only been honest with themselves back then, would they have told each other? Could we have been together sooner? I did love Duke, but... if only Robert had told her he loved her... that he wanted her back... was Holly aware of our feelings even when we weren't... is that why she thinks we were lovers... how could I have hurt Holly so badly... can she really still feel like I stole Robert from her...? Anna finally told herself they were together now and that was all that mattered. Thoughts of her and Robert fill her mind and she drifted back to sleep.

...

Holly woke with a terrible headache, she had made a fool of herself last night. She thought about her actions from the night before, had she really told Anna she wrecked her marriage, in front of their family. The scene of her exit plays in her mind, "Oh, Robert's going to mad, that was not part of the plan." Why does seeing them together make her want to scream, Holly wondered. She heads for the shower hoping that will help clear her head.

Holly sits in her robe sipping tea when there's a knock at the door. She wasn't expecting anyone but clearly, people know where she's staying. When she looks through the peephole, she saw Mac standing there, she really wasn't expecting to see him. When she opens the door they say hello, Mac waits to be invited in. He walks in and faces her, "What the hell was that last night, Sean and I told you to stop but you were determined to hurt them last night. How could you call Anna a home wrecker, accuse them of having an affair in front of their daughter like that? Do you feel better now, have you accomplished what you came here to do?"

Holly can't respond at first, she had wanted to annoy Robert, ruin his evening. She never meant to say what she had, she knew she had crossed a line. "I wanted to piss off your brother, just by being there. When that wasn't working I drank more and said things I never should have," she answered.

"Who do you think you are, all you wanted to do was cause them embarrassment? Why would you even go to their house? You claim you're not behind the notes, so why are you here and when are you leaving?" Mac demands.

"I came here to prove that I had nothing to do with those notes, and" Holly pauses, "because Robert pissed me off the other day on the phone."

"So your hurt feeling told you to make a huge scene and embarrass him and Anna? Holly, you should just go back to where ever you came from, just leave."

"Mac you don't get to tell me what I should do, now you should leave," Holly put her hand on his back and guides him towards the door. Mac lets her show him out, he had said what he wanted to anyway. Holly closes the door behind him and leans against it. If Mac is that upset what should she expect from Robert or Anna for that matter, she hangs her head.

...

When Robert wakes with Anna's head on his chest his arm is around her shoulders, he can fell the tension in them. Why was she so tense he wonders, he starts rubbing his arm across her back. She starts to stir, then looks up at him. "Morning Luv. What's on your mind?"

She rests her chin on his chest looking at him, "How do you do that? I just woke up and you know somethings troubling me." She smiles and kisses his chest, "I was awake a while ago and got thinking about what all was said last night. It was, what if's mostly, but then I started thinking about Holly, she is still holding on to so much anger, and it seems like I'm the cause of that anger. I'm so confused, just when I believe she isn't the one sending these damned noted, she comes over and lets everyone know how she feels about me."

"Don't let her get to you, all she wanted to do last night was be a pain in our butts," he smiles, "I can be your lookout if you want to go in and kick her ass." This makes them both laugh. "I love you, Anna."

"And I love you, Robert, I'm so glad I have you. You can always make me laugh when I need it the most." She kisses him, "What time is it? I think we have a house full of people that are going to want breakfast before too long." They get up and get ready for the day before leaving their bedroom.

When they entered the living room Robin looks up from playing with Emma and smiles, "Good morning, I was having a little trouble keeping this little one from going and waking you two up." Emma runs over and hugs Anna then demands Robert picks her up.

"Good morning Luv," Robert gives Emma a big hug, she cuddles in hanging onto his neck. He looks at Robin, "Morning sweetheart, is anyone else up yet?" she shakes her head. "Good I don't think I'll be able to cook right away," they smile at Emma.

"I'm doing the cooking this morning dad," Robin tells him matter of factly, she turns and walks off towards the kitchen. Anna told Patrick where Robin was when he entered the living room a short time later, so he went to see if he could help.

When Sean and Tiffany came into the living room they see the three of them on the couch. Robert has Emma standing on his lap holding her hand, while Anna leans into Robert with her feet pulled up under her, looking into Emma's face as she tells them a story only a toddler can. Sean stops, he couldn't look away. What he sees in his mind, is the young couple they once were, with their own young daughter happily playing. Sean had taken that away from them if he had only understood what they had. He bows his head and quickly wipes away the tear that's threating to fall. Sean watches for a little longer before moving.

When he gets closer Anna pats the couch beside her. When he sits beside her, Anna swings her feet down and sits leaning toward Sean. "You ok? There was a sadness on your face a little bit ago," she says as she slides her arm into his.

Sean finds her hand and squeezes it. "Oh, just some old guilt reminding me what I cost my dear friends." Anna can only imagine what Sean was thinking, "I'm so glad you two get to share these moments with Emma. I just got a glimpse of what could have been." They just lean on each other for a while, neither one needs to say anything else.

When Emma comes to take Uncle Sean to play with her, Sean gives Anna's hand another little squeeze before standing up. Looks like it's either dolls or block, Sean smiles when Emma picked blocks to play with. A little while later Patrick comes over to let them know breakfast is ready. As they make their way out of the living room Robert puts his hand on Sean's shoulder and gives a little squeeze before lowering his hand again. They look at each other Robert gives him a small smile, Sean gives a little nod then smiles back. Again no words were needed to say they'd always be there for each other.

Robin is so happy this morning, she had sometimes dreamed of mornings like these as a teen, she didn't know how sexy her husband would end up being, she smiles to herself. Waking up in a house with her parents and her Uncle Sean and Aunt Tiff, made her feel like a kid but it was made even more special by having her little family there as well. Before she and Patrick take their seats Robin grabs his arm, he looks down at her and smiles, then follows her gaze toward the table. "Those four people all helped influence the person I have become. You have a lot to thank them all for." She smiles at Patrick, "Promise me you'll try and spend some time with my dad and Uncle Sean before he leaves."

"OK, I promise. Is it safe to walk around with two super spies, should I be armed as well?" Patrick jokes.

"Oh right. Just take the same precautions you do when you go out with my MOM and dad," Robin smiles and shakes her head as she walks to the table.

After breakfast is done, Tiffany informs them that the Drakes and the Donelys will spend some time together today. It's agreed that an afternoon at the zoo is just what they need. Once all their guests are gone, Robert takes Anna over to the couch, they sit down close to each other. They don't say anything, Robert strokes Anna's arm. When he reaches up and tucks her hair behind her ear, Anna turns to look at him, she looks into his baby blues, without looking away Anna straddles Robert, and takes his face in her hands, "Because of you, I have everything," then she kisses him.

Robert breaks the kiss, "You are my everything." and kisses her neck as Anna starts unbuttoning his shirt, Anna puts her hands on his bare chest, and he reaches up and unbuttons her blouse, he pushed it off her shoulders then takes one breast in his hand as he leans in and kisses the top of the other, Anna throws her head back, and runs her fingers through his hair, enjoying his touch. Robert pushes himself up just enough to so he could turn them Anna wraps her legs around him as he lays her on her back. Anna pulls him down on top of her, then pushes his shirt off. Robert's hand moves down to undo her pants but there is a knock at the door, Robert looks up, then back at Anna, "They'll go away," he kisses her.

Another knock, a little louder this time, "I don't think they're going anywhere," Anna says. There's another knock louder still. Robert stands and he picks up their shirts he hands Anna hers and she heads out of the room, he puts his shirt on and is still buttoning it when he opens the door.

Holly stands there taking in his state of undress and messy hair. Really I just interrupted them, she thinks. "Hello Robert, I came to apologize."

"Well, you better come in then, because I'm not the one you need to apologize to." Robert steps back letting her enter. Anna re-enters the room at the same time, confirming to Holly she had very bad timing indeed. Anna was not expecting to see Holly, she sighs and rolls her eyes, hating that Holly knows what had just been going on.

Holly clears her throat then looks at Anna, "I owe you an apology Anna, I was out of line last night and I said things I never should have. I'm sorry." With that Holly turned and walked out the door. She couldn't get out of their house fast enough, as she walked to the car Holly thinks, really I interrupt sex, their closeness lead me to drink tell I made an ass of myself and I come here and... she shakes her head, then smiles, "That's twice in three days, maybe I should just keep popping over at random times," she said to herself, Holly gets into her car laughing.

Inside the house, Anna looks at Robert confused, "Really? That was odd right."

"Um, I think she was kind of embarrassed," Robert said trying not to smile. Moving closer to her.

Anna looks at the floor then smiles and looks back up at Robert, he puts his arms around her, "Her timing really sucks," she says, then they both burst out laughing.