Duke is pacing in his room and has been since leaving Anna's this morning. He is afraid to actually go out in fear for his life. He doesn't know what came over him. He has been having so much trouble controlling his rage. He knows it's a by-product of the years spent in that Turkish prison, but it is still not an excuse and will certainly won't be for Robert who will want to kill him. He doesn't know what to do and who to turn to. Anna and Robin will never forgive him. He knows that. However, his main concern right now is Robert Scorpio. Even though he knew Anna told him to go before the cops came because she didn't want Robert finding out, he also knows Robert always manages to find out the truth. It was only a matter of time. In that clarity, he knew there was only one thing he could do and it could possibly solve his other problem as well. He took out his phone and dialed.
Sonny agreed to meet Duke this late only because he sounded desperate. He knows what's been going on in his life lately with Anna, but he sounded like something very bad had happened. Sonny approaches and sees Duke looking out over the harbor. "What's this all about?" He asks Duke. " I have a problem that needs to be taken care of and I need your help." Duke states without looking at him. "Is this Jerome related or is it something else?" Sonny asks. "I need your help in neutralizing Scorpio." Duke states. Sonny chuckles slightly. This was not something he expected. "Do you find this funny?" Duke asks still not turning to face Sonny. "No I find it very concerning. When you say neutralize, I'm assuming you mean something permanent. Duke, I know what has happened in the last couple of months, but doing this is not going to solve your problem, its only going to create more problems." Sonny says looking at Duke and noticing he has a look on his face he has seen before and it concerns him greatly. "Something else has happened and now I believe I am in danger." Duke states. Now Sonny is concerned. "What's happened?" Sonny asks. "Its not anything I can go into, I am asking for your help. Just trust me on this." Duke replies. "Duke, do you have any idea what you are asking and what the ramifications will be? This is not taking out some low-life soldier. You are asking to neutralize a Deputy Director of an international organization not to mention the fact it is Robert Scorpio who has a tremendous reputation in this town and around the world. I will also add is Robin's father." Sonny states hoping to talk him out of it. "I know all of that, but it does not change what I believe needs to be done." Duke says now looking at him directly. Sonny bows his head and knows Duke has made up his mind, but he knows something is not right with him and he needs to buy time to figure out how to handle this. "Ok, give me 24 hours to come up with something and Ill be in touch." Sonny says. Duke nods and walks away without another word.
Sonny stands there looking out onto the harbor trying to figure out how to proceed. Scorpio has never given him any grief; they have historically stayed out of each other's orbits. There is mutual respect there and he is Robin's father and knows that Robin adores him. "Dad." He hears from behind him. Sonny turns around and sees Dante. "I take it you heard all of that." Sonny says matter of factly. "Yes I did unfortunately. Dad, I know from your reactions that you are not going to do as he asks." Sonny smiles. "But this has escalated to a point that I need to take care of this and I want to do that without involving you. Right now you have Lavery running your business and my concern is that he will use your resources anyway and then it will be out of my hands. We need to stop him for multiple reasons." Sonny nods his head he knows his son is right. He looks up, "What's happened, what is Lavery talking about?" Sonny asks. Dante is struggling with telling him and Sonny can see that. But Sonny is pretty sure he knows what's happened. "Does it involve Anna?" Sonny asks. Dante nods. "How bad?" Sonny asks. "It was stopped before it got bad. Robin stopped it." Sonny bows his head. Now he's pissed that Robin had to be there and witness it. "Does Scorpio know?" Sonny asks. "No Anna begged me not to file officially because Robin called 911 and to keep it under wraps I think for that reason alone." Dante says knowing he's saying too much. "Now I know why he fears for his life." Sonny says looking at Dante. "Yup, that's why I'm here, I'm keeping a very close eye on him. But Dad I gotta tell you something is very off with this guy. He was locked in a Turkish prison for 20 years that has to have affected his mental state and I think its all coming to light now with what has happened with, Jerome Scorpio and Devane. I think he's obviously a danger to the Scorpio family and now to you. If you refuse his request, I fear what he will do next." Dante says genuinely concerned for everyone involved. "I know, I just have to figure out what to do next." Sonny says. "For starters, I think you need to take back control." Dante says. "I can't do that now with the Avery custody situation. But I can let Lavery think he is still in charge and let everyone else know who is really in charge. That should buy us some time." Sonny says. "Good. Just know what has happened here stays between us.. for now. I've gotta go Dad, we'll be in touch." Dante says. "Thank you Dante." Sonny hugs him. "And thank you Dad." They both walk away in separate directions.
The next morning, Anna rolled over in her sleep and instinctively seeks out Robert. She was awakened when she felt the coldness and the emptiness from his side of the bed. She looked at the clock, it was after 7. She could still smell the scent of his cologne in the room and his scent from his pillows. She breathed it in and smiled. Despite what happened the day before, she feels extremely happy especially about last night. He was so gentle and understanding. The man never ceases to amaze her. The Robert from 30 or even 20 years ago would not have handled what happened so maturely and with such consideration. Life has definitely changed both of them, she just hopes he is not trying to lull her into a sense of false security. She knows the old Robert is just lying beneath the surface ready to come out. Then she began thinking about Duke though and what happened. She shuddered. She was at the same time angry and very concerned. She vowed then and there not to let it affect here anymore and put it out of her mind. She sat up and noticed across the room, a single white rose and a note. She smiles and walks across the room to her dresser and reads the note. "You are my everything, I love you more than I ever thought love was possible. See you tonight and don't make any plans. PS, don't think I didn't notice my closet." She laughs out loud through her tears. She doesn't think she could love this man more than she does already but each day changes her opinion. Today is her last day off and she plans to make the most of it. She wants to put the finishing touches on a few things at home and has plans with Robin and Emma for lunch at Kelly's. She heads for the shower.
Anna walks to Kelly's and is about to go in when she feels his presence and turns around. "Hey hot stuff, what brings you here?" Robert says walking up to her. "Hi, I wasn't expecting to see you until tonight. I'm meeting Robin and Emma for lunch and enjoying my last day off." She walks up to him as he pulls her to him and gives her a sweet kiss. "Well, I was thinking about you all morning. Leaving you in that bed this morning all naked and sweet, I just knew I had to see you before tonight." He says as he kisses her long and sensually. They get carried away for a moment until Anna realizes they are in public and in full view of whoever is in Kelly's at the moment. She ends the kiss and says "Thank you for my gift this morning." "You are very welcome." He says still holding her to him. "And thank you for last night. It was wonderful." She says looking into his eyes while straightening his tie. "It takes two." He says looking at her and smiling. "Robert, why are you really here?" She asks still playing with his tie. "I told you, I missed you." He replies smiling. "Robert I can read you like a cheap novel. Don't even try." Anna says smiling. " I can take care of myself and you know that more than anyone. Nothing is going to happen to me. Plus I don't think he will try that again" Robert sighs and says, "Be patient with me please. I know you can take care of yourself, I know it. It's just in my DNA to always want to protect you. Its something I can't control." Anna smiles and hugs him. " I love you more than anything but you cant follow me all day long, you have another full time job." She says laughing slightly. " I know, I promise I will try my best." He says giving her a quick kiss. " Ok that's all I can ask. So get back to work and I promise I will make it worth your while." Anna says wiggling her eyebrows and with their coats blocking anyone's view from inside Kelly's she glides her hand up the front of his pants. Robert is startled at first, but then recovers and kisses her taking her lower lip between his own. They both moan into the kiss. "Ill see you later. Be careful, I love you. Oh and we will talk about my closet later." He says winking at her and walking away leaving her breathless. She watches him walk away, smiles while touching her lips and composes herself before going into Kelly's. After she walks in, Duke appears from around the corner. He saw and heard everything and the look on his face is one of murderous rage.
Unfortunately Robert and Anna's plans were interrupted yet again with another murder on the docks. Anna was called away at 930pm at a very inopportune time. Again it was another brown-haired, brown eyed hooker who was mutilated and dumped into the Port Charles harbor. Again no forensic evidence to go on to link to a perpetrator, but it is exactly the same MO and victimology. Anna spends the next day going over the cases so far and knows that her next course of action it to bring in the FBI.
The next 3 weeks are uneventful, no additional murders but the case is still very hot and it's taking a lot of Anna's time. Although Robert and Anna have been like 2 ships passing in the night over the last couple of weeks, they are both reveling in being together and more importantly living together again. They are enjoying their new home and having their family and friends close by. It seems like time has stood still and its like it was always meant to be this way. Since Mac's question over a month ago about marriage, neither has brought up the subject but both have been thinking about it constantly. It is what both want but both are afraid to approach the other. Anna feels Robert is holding back because of what happened with Duke and because of his unusual insecurity when it comes to her. She has talked to Robin about it and they both came up with an idea. Robert and Anna have converted one of the rooms in their penthouse to Emma's room. It is completely adorned to her liking right down to the curtains, the bedding and the toys. Emma has picked out almost everything on shopping trips with Anna and Robert seems to bring home a toy every night. Robin laughs at all of this because now Emma wants to stay at her grandparents house every night and almost has in the last couple of weeks, but she has put her foot down a couple of times knowing they need their time alone to just be themselves without a child underfoot. She knows the feeling.
She is so thankful that her parents have given her and Patrick time to themselves after a long separation of nearly two years. Emma is now texting both her grandparents if she can come over almost every night. But of course, they both reach out to Robin to make sure its ok with her and Patrick. One evening Anna and Robert were on the couch in front of the fire with the music playing in the background. Emma had texted both of them earlier, but they checked with Robin and she said no and told them to enjoy their evening which is what they were doing. They spent the evening drinking wine and talking. It was a wonderful evening for both of them and as they both reveled in just being together. Anna brought in a bowl of strawberries and was teasing Robert with them. He knew it would annoy her if he pretended, he wasn't interested. As she was laying back on the couch with her feet in his lap, she was sucking on a strawberry. He wouldn't look at her and took the remote and turned the tv on. He had the slightest smirk on his face and she saw it. The next thing he knew a strawberry hit him square in the nose and then another hit him in the head. He pounced quickly, taking her foot that's in his lap and tickling her. Then he grabs her sides and starts tickling her. She is laughing uncontrollably as she tries to get away. She is finally able to grab his hands and he lets her overpower him as she pushes him back holding onto his hands. She tries to tickle him too but it doesn't work. "You forget, I'm not ticklish, nice try though." He says smugly. She knows what will get him and she grabs him through his pants. He is completely at her mercy now. "You were saying?" She said looking down at him. "Was I saying anything, I wasn't saying anything" He says. She laughs at him and then kisses him.
They were getting very carried away when they heard their doorbell ring. They knew it had to be Robin since she had a security card. Anna laughed as she was sitting straddling Robert's lap. They both quickly put their clothes back on and Anna threw a blanket on Robert to cover himself to give him time to get back to normal before answering the door. There was Robin and Emma who was obviously crying very badly since she looked a mess. " Hi you guys, what's the matter? Why the long and sad faces?" Anna says as they both walk in. Emma immediately runs to Anna. "I wanted to see you and Grandpa, but Mommy wouldn't let me." Anna looks up at Robin who rolls her eyes. "Why don't you go to your room and get your toys and bring them into the living room." Anna says and Emma runs to her room. "Mom I'm so sorry. I tried to call and text you guys, but there was no answer. I know we interrupted your evening, but Patrick and I could not calm her down. I know I shouldn't have given into her, but it was going on for hours." Anna laughs and then hugs her daughter. "Its completely fine, you didn't interrupt we were just watching TV." Anna says lying. "Yeah right Mom. By the way, your buttons are completely off and I can see you're not wearing a bra." Robin says laughing. Anna is mortified as she looks down and notices and now is totally panicked as to where her bra could be. "You guys crack me up." She says to her mother and goes to see her father. Anna gives her daughter a dirty look and then pushes her as she walks past her. As Anna walks behind Robin into the living room they see Emma snuggled up next to Robert while watching cartoons. Robert looks up and Anna motions to her shirt and he shakes his head yes in the affirmative. She is immensely relieved. It's nearly 10pm when Robin leaves but before confirming with her mother that their plan for Robert is in place. Anna says yes and she details to Robin what she plans to do. Robin is so thrilled that this will actually happen very soon.