Anna doesn't arrive home until after 9. She drops everything on the front table by the door in a big heap. She's exhausted and needs a shower desperately. She had called Robert earlier and told him what was going on and he just told her to be careful and he'll see her at home later. He was going to go see Mac at the Floating Rib. She was hoping he would be home by now, but knows he isn't from the security panel app on her phone that he has not entered the house yet. She debates joining them, but then feels they need to spend time together alone, she heads for the bedroom.

She hears her doorbell ring and I hoping its Robin. She looks at the security panel and it is Robin. She is thrilled to see her but is concerned that she is here so late. She opens the door. "Hi, is everything ok?" Anna asks. "Yes, sorry Mom, yes everything is great. I just haven't seen you and Dad in a while, you know just us. I'm usually just dropping off Emma. Just wanted to have an adult conversation with you guys." Robin says smiling as she walks in. "Oh ok, yes it's been awhile hasn't it? There has been so much going on with all of us. You're right we haven't really spent quality time together. Unfortunately, your father isn't here he's out with Uncle Mac." She says following Robin into the kitchen. She suspects there is more going on but is going to wait her daughter out.

Robin goes into the refrigerator and gets a bottle of water. "Really? That's great. I'm surprised you guys could stand to be a part for more than 3 minutes." Robin says laughing. Anna knows now there is something else going on. "Robin what's wrong?" "Nothing Mom, nothing at all, I was just missing you guys and just wanted to hang out with you. Emma is sleeping and I think by now so is Patrick so I figured I would come over and see you guys. No big mystery." Robin says walking past her and into the living room. "Wow this place looks great, you have done a tremendous job making this really feel like a home. Its got both of your tastes in here, makes me think what…" Robin says choking up. Anna walks up to her from behind and hugs her. "I know, we all think about that all the time but we can't go back, we can only go forward. We just all have to remember we are NOW where we were destined to be and be extremely grateful for that. I thank God everyday for this chance again as I'm sure you do." They hold each other for a while.

"I do Mom, I really do its just sometimes I wonder what all of our lives would be like now, if you and Dad didn't disappear all those years ago." Robin says crying now. Anna hugs her tighter. "I think about that too Robin, but everything happens for a reason. Your father and I are not dwelling on the past and what happened we are just really enjoying the present and the future. You have to as well." Robin nods her head and turns around in her mother's arms. "I'm trying, but sometimes its hard." Anna is perplexed about that. "Why is it hard?" Anna asks knowing the answer. "Sometimes. Don't get me wrong, Patrick has been completely committed to me and to Emma, but sometimes I wonder." She stops. "Wonder what?" "If he is with us out of commitment only." Anna is stunned. "Why would you even think that?"

They both go sit on the couch and Robin steals herself to get into this conversation with her mother. "Mom, I don't really know how to even convey what I'm thinking, it's a little personal so bear with me." Anna looks at her with her eyebrows raised but has a feeling where this conversation is going. "Ok, I'm listening." Anna says. "Ummm, its probably just me, I don't know, but I feel like the passion Patrick and I had for each other is not the same as it was before everything happened." Robin says trying not to look at her mother. "Don't get me wrong, its been good, really good but I just keep wondering if its because everything that has happened, or maybe we are just getting older. But then I look at you and Dad and it makes me wonder if there is something else going on." Anna is a little taken aback.

"What does your father and I have to do with this?" Anna asks genuinely interested. "Well ummm, I remember when you and Duke were together now and back when I was a kid it was no where near how you are with Dad. You are a completely different person. You are so happy and you and Dad can never keep your hands off each other. Don't you remember when I was a kid after you were married, how many times did I walk in on both of you? Even when you weren't together, you guys always seemed to be all over each other. I have to say it definitely confused me back then. And even now, when I call you or come over, I can tell by the conversation that we interrupted something. Its like you guys were and are always in a constant state of… I don't even know what to call it. And when you both look at each other its like you want to do it right then and there. You have this way of looking at each other and its as if you know what the other is thinking." Anna laughs out loud at that.

Anna really doesn't know what to say, but she tries. "Look Robin, when your father and I weren't together we were best friends and still loved each other very much. Maybe we should have been a little more discrete in retrospect. However, when were remarried, we weren't even together for a year when it was all taken away. We were still essentially newlyweds and it's the same as it is now. Who knows what would have happened if we were still together all these years and we will never know." Anna says. "I don't know Mom. Each time you and Dad were broken up it was because of outside forces and then when we came into Dad's life when I was little you were always together even though you were both in love with other people. I keep telling myself everyone is different, but Patrick and I have been back together almost as long as you and Dad now this time and I want what you have. I want Patrick to look at me like Dad looks at you. I want that connection you and Dad have with each other and how you are when you are together. Its not there and I'm not sure it ever was. I wonder if it's something else going on with him. You know, and I know we discussed this numerous times, Patrick and Dad are so much alike and I wonder now if its me." Robin says with tears in her eyes.

Anna is stunned that her daughter feels this way and is very sad for her. She sees in her all her insecurities that she had with Robert before they first got back together in 1991. Is he not attracted to me anymore, does he not desire me anymore, does he still not trust me? It was a terrible period for both of them right before they both let their guards down and she called him out on all his bullshit. It was a rough time until they fought it out and realized they were both fighting something very powerful. "Look Robin, you don't remember and actually didn't know a lot of what went on between your father and I before we were remarried. We fought like cats and dogs until we hashed it out. We talked it out and it took a long time. We had a lot of baggage that we were both carrying for a very longtime and it needed to be aired out. But we did it and after that it was amazing. It's almost the same as what happened this time. You need to talk to Patrick or kick him in the head or tie.." Anna stops, remembering Robin doesn't know about that.

Robin thinks her mother is making a lot of sense. Her and Patrick really haven't discussed the Sabrina issue or what they are both really feeling now. It has been great being together again as a family, but she still feels like something is missing. But there is still something she wants to ask her mother but really doesn't know how. "Thank you, you make a lot of sense, you're right we need to talk this out and I need to tell him how I'm feeling. But Mom I have to ask you something that really is very personal and in the past I wasn't open to hearing about it, but I'm kind of desperate here to get an understanding." Anna looks at her daughter now a little afraid of what she is going to ask. "okaaay." She says. Robin starts chuckling and is turning red. Anna notices and smiles because she now knows what's coming. "Okay, just bear with me here please. Ummm, like I mentioned before when you and Dad are in the same room its like your minds are always off somewhere else and I'm pretty sure what you both are thinking about. What is it about the two of you that gets you to that state every time? I mean you guys are not exactly in your 30's anymore, how do you do it or I guess what is your secret?" Robin finishes without looking at her mother. It was the subtlest way Robin can think of to ask the question.

Anna thinks oy, how do I answer this. She thinks about it for a second. "Um, first of all as you will learn, age is not a factor if you are madly in love with someone. Secondly, you know your father, on the surface he is this male chauvinist, ego driven pain in the ass and always strives to be right or at least be the winner in everything." She laughs as she says it. Robin agrees. "However, I think both your father and I are the same in some respects as far as that is concerned. This has always translated into everything." Anna says looking at her daughter who is beginning to get the message. "Even though your father can be self-centered and self-absorbed at times, his greatest ummmm pleasure has always been pleasing others and doing everything he can to make those he loves happy and I am the same way." Anna says hoping her daughter gets her meaning. "So when we are ummmm together, it's about making the other the happiest they can be. And as result it makes everything better. With us it has never been about bringing all the baggage we have into the bedroom its always about just enjoying being together. We have fun, we enjoy just being together and loving each other. I guess it's the best way to describe it. Do you get what I'm trying to say?" Anna asks not really knowing how she can continue.

Robin nods but looks like she still has more questions. Anna hopes she can stop those questions but she's too late. "So how do you both know what will make the other umm the happiest they can be?" Anna closes her eyes briefly not really knowing how much more detail she can give to her daughter. "Mom, I'm sorry I know this is really personal and I know its making you very uncomfortable. Believe me its not a conversation I want to be having with you, but you guys are the only ones that I see around me that are in a state where I want Patrick and I to be in." Anna sighs. "Robin, no couple is ever the same as the other, ever. Don't try to be like us, be like who you are. If you keep trying to mimic something, you'll never be happy." Anna says caressing Robin's head. "I know Mom believe me, I just want 1/10supth/supthe passion you and Dad have for each other, I used to have it somewhat with Patrick, but things have changed. I mean you're in your 50's, Dad is in his 60's and it seems you guys are at it constantly." Robin says deflated. "Have you even talked to Patrick about any of this?" Anna asks. "No not really, I don't even know how to say it without insulting him and his ego." Anna chuckles slightly at that. "Robin, your father and I believe it or not talk about things, our likes and even dislikes. This is one aspect of my relationship with your father that I have not had with any other man, and that is the ability to talk in detail about EVERYTHING. This is one of the best parts about our relationship; we can say anything to each other. I have said things to your father that I could never imagine saying to any other man because I just never felt that closeness and that trust before. It's a huge part of our sex life and always has been. Robert loves it and so do I. For example just the other day we were talking on the phone in our offices and we got each other into such a state that we both rushed home to see each other. It's always been that way with us when we were together. There is no embarrassment, well as you know your father never gets embarrassed, but for me its extremely liberating because I can really be myself when I'm with him and I enjoy every minute of it." Anna says wistfully as she is recalling that day. She almost forgot who she was talking to when she looked over at Robin who has a stunned look on her face but is smiling.

"Seriously?" She says. "Yes seriously." Anna admonishes. "Sorry Mom I just can't picture you doing that. My parents are having phone sex." She says chuckling and putting her face in her hands. "Do you want me to tell what we say to each other?" Anna asks trying to get back at her. "Good God no, I get the picture. You guys are really one of a kind." She says smiling. "Robin, just talk to Patrick. Get it all out in the open. But do it in a way that is not accusatory. Tell him how you are feeling, maybe he is also feeling something is not right. You need to talk it out. I will ask you one question, because this is very important. Are you still attracted to him sexually? You may love him, but for any relationship to survive, there still needs to be attraction and not the passing kind. You need to really feel it. As you know, I loved Duke and still do on some level but I guess I love the Duke from 25 years ago. Because of that it was never going to last. It took me a long time to realize that and well with your father its completely different. I am madly-love with the man I met 35 years ago, I am madly in-love with the man I remarried 22 years ago and I am madly in-love with the man he is now." Anna says smiling broadly. Robin smiles at her mother loving how she talks about her father and then she thinks on how to respond. "Yes, Mom I am still madly in love with him on every level, I don't feel my feelings have changed for Patrick, I wonder if his feelings have changed for me. I just feel like something is missing." Robin says sighing. Then she adds "Thank you, I know this was not easy for you or for me for that matter." They both chuckle and hug each other tightly. "Maybe I should have Patrick talk to Dad and get some pointers." They both laugh at that but both internally think it's maybe not such a good idea. Anna says, "I don't think your father is going to want to talk to Patrick about sex or anything anywhere near that landmine when it involves you." They both laugh.

Robin stayed for another hour and they talked about everything that is going on in their lives now. As Robin is getting up to leave, she asks her mother what her plans are for tonight with her father. "Well I was going to have the discussion with him tonight but it's getting so late, I'll save it for tomorrow." She says. "So he is totally playing chicken with this isn't he?" Robin says laughing. "Yes he is and Ill get even, he will be the roadkill." Anna says hugging her daughter as they both are laughing. "I love you Mom, thank you for everything tonight I really needed it." "I'm here for you always and I love you more than anything. You are the best part of me, of us and we are so blessed that you are our daughter." They both have tears in their eyes