Chapter 14

Even though they had offered to pick her up Anna insisted she was fine and would just get a car at the airport. Emma opened the door when she got there and greeted her with a big hug. "I missed you, Grandma."

"It's only been a few weeks, but I missed you too," Anna told her with a smile. They walked into the living room together and Anna was greeted with hugs from everyone.

Noah walked over to her, "Hi Mamma," he held up his arms so she would pick him up. He gave her a hug and a kiss, then leaned back and looked around her, leaned in and looked behind her. "Bampa?"

"Oh buddy, Bampa has to work. He was trying to make it here to be with you."

"No Bampa?"

Anna hugged him closer and rubbed his back, "Sorry not this time."

He tightened his grip on her "Lub you, Mamma."

A tear came to her eye, "Oh. I love you too Noah."

"He doesn't understand why I can't call dad either," Robin said from beside them. "I'm glad you made it. Lub you mom."

"Lub you too," Anna said with a smile "When did he start saying that?"

"About a week ago."

"It is so cute, I remember when Emma lubed people too."

"I know," Robin said with a smile. "Emma said she didn't remember that so we showed her a few videos, she was so little."

They all started talking happily and visited for a little while, then Robin said she had better get back in the kitchen. Patrick and Emma were busy playing a game together and Anna noticed Noah was sitting on the couch quietly holding something. Anna came over and sat with him, "Hey little man what do you have?"

"Bampa," he said quietly and showed her the picture he was holding.

"You miss him, don't you? Let me see what I can do." Anna pulled out her phone and sent a quick email. 'Your junior agent needs some technical support. Video chat ASAP.' She knew this account should be strictly for WSB business but he had told her she could do this. Anna might not know where he is but at least he will get the message and hopefully will call soon. "Now we wait, I think you should be getting a call soon." She picked up a few of his toys and got him to start playing with her.

About half an hour later Robin was sitting with them when Anna got a call. She smiled and pulled Noah onto her lap. As soon as the screen filled with Robert's face Noah smiled, "BAMPA!"

"Hi Noah. I miss you, little man."

"Lub you," he kissed Anna's phone.

"I love you too. I'm sorry I'm not there to play with you."

Anna put her head beside Noah's, "He expected you to be with me. He looked so sad because you aren't here."

"I'm all but done here but won't make it back in time."

"Bampa, come here."

"I can't this time. I can talk to you like this and I'll come see you very soon."

Robin leaned over, "Hi dad."

"Hi sweety, sorry I can't be there."

"I know, thanks for calling him. I'll see you soon, I have to go cook."

"Alright, I love you."

"Lub you too dad."

Noah was babbling away at Robert, he only really understood about half of it but was smiling happily listening to him. Anna was listening to them as well, smiling. After about half an hour Robert said he had to get back to work. "I need to go buddy but I'll see you soon, I promise."

"Bye bye Bampa."

"Bye Noah. Thank you, Anna. I think I needed that as much as he did."

"I couldn't sit here, seeing him look so sad when I knew I could fix it. I lub you."

Robert smiled, "I lub you too," then the screen went dark.

...

Friday night Robin decided she want to talk to her mom, Patrick was at work and the kids were in bed. She wasn't leaving until Sunday but Robin wasn't sure they would get a chance like this again. She smiled and handed Anna a glass of wine who was sitting on the couch in her living room, "I want to talk to you."

Anna wasn't sure what had brought this on but knew she would listen to Robin no matter what it was. "Alright, what's going on?"

"That's what I'm wondering too." Robin sat down beside her, "You made Noah so happy when you got dad to call him yesterday."

"He told me he might not make it and gave the OK to contact him if needed."

"I thought that was how you managed that, not just a text message then?"

Anna smiled, "No a little higher clearance was needed."

"Have you been talking to him a lot since he left?"

"Yeah, until he went on assignment."

"Mom," Robin took her hand and suddenly looked serious. "You know how he feels right?"

"Your father?"

"Yes, I'm talking about dad."

"We're each other's past. I have my friend and we have our family."

"He loves you. Mom, he dropped everything because you asked him to stay with you. There was no other reason other than that, he will do anything you ask of him."

"I think you're exaggerating."

"Mom, I am not. How many relationships has he been in since you?"

"I don't know."

"None that were serious. He might date a little but he is not looking for a relationship. He has no interest in finding someone new. I told him he has to start thinking about his happiness and he told me his family was enough."

"Maybe it could be for me too."

"No mom, that is not what I'm saying." They can both be so frustrating, Robin thought. "When Noah was about three months old dad came for a visit, we sat up talking one night because Noah was fussy and he was helping me with him. We got talking and he told me something that broke my heart."

Anna could see the tears in Robin's eyes already just from thinking about it, "What was that?"

"Do you know why dad left for Bern without you?"

"Yeah, his male pride wouldn't let me take care of him."

Robin shook her head, "No that wasn't it all. He left without you because he was still worried he was going to die. He didn't want to put you through the pain of losing him again, not like that. He loves you so much he walked away because he couldn't stand the thought of you being hurt again like you had been twice before." Robin wiped at the tears on her cheeks.

Anna'd had no idea, he had never said a thing to her. "Why didn't he tell me that after? Why didn't he come back to me then?"

"You said you were done waiting for him, but mom he did come back. When he left after my wedding he believed he'd lost you for the last time."

Anna tears were now falling freely, why had Robert never told her this? Why hadn't she followed him to Bern? "So why doesn't he want a relationship?"

"He is still committed to you. Mom, you're the only person he wants a relationship with."

Anna knew that before she'd asked but still had to hear Robin say it. He hadn't hit on her once while he was at her house, he had kidded around some but she knew he wasn't serious. He was being strictly her friend, and he had been for years now. Did he really believe there was no chance that they could get back together? Wasn't that what she believes too? There will never be another love like the one she shares with Robert, she's known that forever. When he showed up for Robin's wedding he had flirted, he had said such sweet things to her, he had talked about their love for each other. She hadn't given him any indication that she was interested, she had still been a little annoyed about how he had left. Anna realized he hadn't flirted with her since then. He had tested the water, thought it was unsafe and retreated. "That was the last time," she said out loud but to herself.

"What was?"

"Christmas, your wedding. That was the last time I can think of that he really flirted with me, that I felt like he wanted more than friendship."

"I don't know about any of that but mom, can you at least think about giving him a chance. I know you were both happy while he was staying with you. Maybe you could be happy together." Robin leaned over and kissed Anna's cheek, "Just think about it, OK." Robin got up and went to her bedroom leaving Anna alone to think.

Happy that Robin had left the wine bottle there Anna refilled her glass. Could there still be more for her and Robert? She hadn't let herself think about this in years. Could that still be something she wanted? She knows he loves her but was he really still in love with her? She had buried her feeling for him so deep, she hadn't wanted to think about them, to think about him. She knows she still loves him, that will never change but could there be more? Did she want more?

When she had finished her wine Anna got up, this was something she was going to have to put a lot of thought into. There could be no mistakes this time, Anna knew if she did decide to try again she had to be sure that was really what she wanted, she wouldn't get Robert's hopes up just to crush him if she decided she didn't want to be with him. She went to bed knowing she might not get much sleep but that she should at least try.

A/N BoandNora-ItsOneWord there's that push you thought might be needed.