Chapter 37

Duke was so tired of Olivia going on about how exciting it was going to be once their baby was born. She was making it seem like she had always expected them to get married and live happily ever after. That this was something they had planned for. Not once had they even mentioned marriage. He knew what he had wanted when they started sleeping together and he had been sure that was the same thing she had wanted. Sex, plan and simple a little friendly companionship but nothing more.

He was sitting at the bar in Club Duke when she walked in. It had been a week since she'd been here with her father and as far as Duke knew she still hadn't told Victor about the baby yet. When he saw her walk in smiling Duke felt annoyed. She sat down beside him, "Hello, Olivia."

"Hi, Duke. How are you? I just came from my doctor's appointment and everything is wonderful."

"I told you I wanted to come with you. If I'm here when you have appointments I want to be there."

"Oh, you don't have to do that. These are just check up and talking about how the baby is developing."

"I know that and as the father of the baby those are things I'd like to know about."

"You have too much on your plate already running both clubs. You worry about that and I'll just let you know what happens at my appointments. There really is no reason for you to come with me," Olivia insisted.

"Is there a reason you don't want me there?"

"Of course not. I just don't see the point in you being there."

Duke thought about that for a second. This wasn't the first time he's gotten an odd feeling about this sudden pregnancy. "The next appointment I am going with you," he stated matter of factly.

"Duke, I told you there is no reason for you to be there."

"I want to be there and that is reason enough. We didn't set out to have a child but apparently, we are so I want to know what's going on with it. There is no guaranty that we will even still be together when the baby is born."

"Don't say that Duke I love you and I know we can make this work."

"You don't love me. Don't try to pretend that this is more than it is. A casual relationship that we were both enjoying that got complicated."

"How can you say that, Duke? How can you think I don't love you?"

"Because you don't, we aren't in this for love."

Suddenly Olivia started to cry, "I can't believe you are doing this. Are you breaking up with me? What about the baby?"

"All I said was that we don't love each other and that we were not in this thinking it was leading to happily ever after. Now there is a baby to consider and for that baby, I am willing to see if there can be a future for us but I am not going to marry you just because there is a baby either."

Olivia continued to cry, now she was holding her stomach, "I know we could be happy together Duke. We could raise our baby together and find a way to love each other. Just please don't give up on us yet. Please stay and try to make this work between us."

"I said I would and that is what I intend to do. I need something from you though. You have to stop going on about how happy you are, about how exciting this is because that is making this very confusing. This was a physical relationship and we liked spending time together I don't believe either of us saw this lasting forever. This is really hard for me to accept but I am trying to adjust."

Olivia wiped at her tears, then turned to leave, "I'll try not to be excited about our baby but it will be so very hard because I really am excited even if you aren't." Then she walked away her shoulders slumped forward, her head down clearly very upset by their conversation.

Julian had come into the club just after Olivia but neither she or Duke noticed him. He had hidden so they wouldn't see him when they started arguing. He had to give it to Duke he was trying to be straight with Olivia about how he felt and Olivia was being overly dramatic as always about this. He knew his sister and he knew she wasn't above scheming to get what she wanted. Was this a trap to get Duke? Why didn't she want him to go to the doctor appointments? Why hadn't she told their father yet? Julian waited until Duke had gone into the kitchen before he left. They didn't need to know he had witnessed their argument.

...

Robert was sitting in Anna's office when Felicia brought in a single envelope, "I think you might want to see this."

There was still no return address but besides just being addressed to Anna Devane, there was writing on the back, 'Devane, not Scorpio, never Scorpio'. Anna looked up at Robert, she already knew this was going to upset him. She opened it and pulled out the letter, 'You married him! Again! How could you? You belong with me not him, never him. I am the one you should love!' Before handing the letter to Robert she double checked the postmark. "Miami again, I don't know who it is but they know a lot about us and he must have known me at some point in our past."

Robert took to letter and read it, he worked to remain calm then looked up. "I want to show this to Sean. He's involved now and there might be things he knows about that we don't. Maybe one of his sources has had some luck and come up with something."

"I agree, Sean would want to be told now since he knows about the others."

"I know this was sent from Miami but I still want you to be careful. I'm going to go over to Sean's office you can come with me or just meet me at home."

"I have to finish up with this then I get to tell Jack Matthews his wife is cheating on him and show him the evidence. So I'll see you at home."

"Alright, Luv. Remember just make sure you're safe, I don't want anything to happen to you." Then Robert stood up and walked over to her, he leaned down and touched her stomach, "Or our babies. I love you." He kissed her tenderly then turned to leave.

She smiled after him, "I love you too."

Robert had shoved the letter and envelope into his jacket pocket and didn't want to think about what was written there. He knows if he let himself then he would be out for blood by the time he got to Sean's but he couldn't really help thinking about the letters either. Whoever this was, knew them, knew things about them and unless he was very wrong, was at least a little obsessed with Anna. He started running through what this might mean, what the other letters said. This man, Robert was sure it was a man now, said Anna should be with him, not Robert. Maybe Duke had an old friend sending these letters just to mess with them.

He let out a long breath, Robert didn't really think that was it. There had been one mentioning that they had seen them together but before now this person must not have known he and Anna had gotten remarried. This latest letter the sender seemed mad, they were angry that Anna had married him but why? Who was this person and where in their past did he fit in? That was more reasons for Robert not to think it was Duke. Besides they hadn't even seen him really since he'd shown up at their wedding. Anna had told him about Duke coming and apologizing but other than that nothing. He knew this wasn't really Duke's style but also knew that he couldn't rule anyone out completely until they knew a little more.

Sean looked up when he called for Robert to come in, Anna had called to tell him Robert was on his way there. "I hear she got another letter."

"Yeah, and this one's different. Whoever this is, seems to be angry about the fact Anna and I are married," Robert said as he handed the letter to Sean.

Sean read it then shook his head, "I don't like this. I want to go down to Miami and see what, if anything I can find out."

"Do you have any idea where to start looking?"

Sean shook his head, "Not really, but I have to do something."

"I'd offer to come with you but there's a bigger reason for me to stay here. I don't want to leave Anna here alone if whoever this is comes here, comes after her. We have only told Robin and Filomena so far but I think Anna will understand why I felt the need to tell you."

"What's going on?"

"Anna's pregnant, we're going to have twins."

"Twins," Sean said with a smile, "you aren't messing around. That gives me even more reason to find out who this is and deal with them." Then Sean stood up and shook Robert's hand, then hugged him. "I think this calls for a drink, dad." Sean turned to pick up a couple of glasses and a bottle of brandy, he knew for a fact this was Faison and he was going to track him down and stop him. He would not come between them again, he would not do anything that might cause any problems for Anna and her babies.

...

Victor had called Julian into his office for a meeting. There were problems that Julian needed to be aware of and they were all coming because of that bust that had in Port Charles. There were business associates that were not happy, there were contracts that were not able to be filled on time. "I want to know what happened. There had to be something that led that cop to finding the warehouse and the shipment," Victor said as Julian sat down.

"I'm sure there is but no one is talking. He couldn't have just stumbled on the warehouse so someone had to have told him something. Are you sure it wasn't Duke or someone at his club?"

"Do you not trust Lavery now?"

"I don't know. I believe him and I feel like I should trust that him and Angel wouldn't turn on us but what else could it be?"

"That's what we need to find out. That cop might have seen something and that was why he stopped going inside. Maybe he started tracking the truck."

"I hadn't even thought about that," Julian admitted.

"Some cops are good at their jobs Julian. We have to accept that but I still want to know if that's the case. Was it just good police work that tripped us up?"

"How can I find that out? Duke and Angel were the only two that knew about the shipments going into the club."

"Make sure that's true. Make sure we know what happened. Being slowed up by the cops I can deal with, our associates may even accept that. Having a trader in our ranks I need to know about and if that's the case we need to deal with them now."

"Alright, I'll see what else I can find out." Julian got up, "Is there anything else we need to talk about?"

"No, just go get me some answers."

"I will," then Julian turned and left Victor's office.

...

Duke was heading back to Port Charles, there were things there that needed his attention but it was more so he could have a little space from Olivia again. She was trying, maybe too hard, to prove to him that there could be a future for them and not just because of the baby. He had told her he would see where their relationship could go and he was. That being said he also needed a little time to think. He did care about her, he didn't want to hurt her. That was still a long way from loving her, a long way from wanting to spend the rest of his life with her.

Olivia was a beautiful woman, but that wasn't enough to build a relationship on. Yes, there is a physical attraction, one that they had explored and one that Duke really had felt had run its course. His plane was about to land then he would have to focus on club business. After that maybe he would talk to Angel about all of this. Even if Angel couldn't tell him what to do, it would help to talk to someone about this, someone that understood the business. Just talk it through get it out of his head and put it into words.

He had gone out on three dates with Olivia since they'd had their talk about if there could be a future for them as a couple. She could be nice, she could be funny at times and she was driven. Those are all things he admired in people but that didn't change the fact he just didn't see a future with her. She was missing things like compassion, a kind heart and what she was driven at was having power in a family business Duke really hated that he had to be a part of. She saw other people's flaws as something to use against them. She always says she would do a better job running the Family after her father is gone than Julian, she's right if personality was all it came down to. She could be ruthless and would do what was needed to get what she wanted. Duke suddenly felt a little ill, was he what she wanted? Was this baby her way of making sure he didn't leave her? How had he not thought of this sooner? Was she playing him, somehow thinking he would help make her father see she could run the Family? Duke didn't like being played but he suddenly felt that was exactly what was happening.

...

Sean was waiting for an update from the contact he had sent to Miami. The DVX wasn't the only organization that had agents that might not be as dead as it was believed. Lars Anderson had once known Robert and Anna rather well, his life changed forever around the same time as their first marriage ended. They had known him as the Swede and Robert had lied, saying he was the double agent, not Anna. Robert believed that lie had led to the Swede's death. Sean had known the truth and had given the Swede a new life as a Lars Anderson letting everyone believe the Swede had been killed for being a trader. It was what he had wanted, Lars was starting to lose faith in himself and as an agent that was as good as a death sentence.

The Swede had not been angry when Sean told him he was being used as a scapegoat. Sean had let him believe that it was all part of a plan to get someone inside the DVX that had failed. When Sean had called Lars he only had to say it was time to repay the favour. Lars knew that meant he had to help him any way he could. When he had told him he had to go to Miami and track down Cesar Faison because Sean was sure he was not dead and was now trying to cause problems for Robert and Anna Lars didn't hesitate.

When the call from Lars came in Sean went to see Tiffany at the TV station. "Hello darling, what brings you here?" she asked with a smile.

"I have to go down to Miami on business. There was some big mix up with a shipment and the client is understandably very upset. If I don't want to lose them as a client I need to handle this personally."

"Oh, when are you leaving?"

"I actually want to get there as soon as possible. If I can leave today then I will." Sean stepped a little closer and took her hand, "I know this is short notice and I will be busy most of the time I'm there but I was wondering if you would want to come with me?"

"Oh Sean I would love to but I have a lot going on here at the moment and can't just leave. Besides, if you're going to be busy I don't see why I should go. I will make you take me away soon. When we both have the time to enjoy ourselves." She stroked his cheek as she spoke.

"Baby, I will take you somewhere wonderful when we have the time. I should get going, I want to deal with this as quickly as possible." He pulled her into his arms, "Then I can get back here to you." He kissed her then turned and left. Sean was glad she hadn't wanted to join him.

...

Olivia knew she couldn't be seen talking to Dino so she had him meet her at a little corner pub that he knew about. She saw him sitting at a table in the corner and went over to join him. "What is so important that you needed to see me?"

"I needed to talk to someone and you're the only one that knows what I'm up to," Olivia said as she sat down.

"You mean trapping Duke," Dino said with a smirk.

"Shut up, I need a drink."

"Oh, that's why you wanted to meet in a bar where people don't know you."

"Just get me a drink." Dino shook his head but got up and walked over to the bar to get Olivia a drink.

It might just be a little corner pub but it had a great lunch menu and many people in the area went there on their lunch break. The woman sitting at the counter with her coworker had noticed Olivia when she came in. She had only met her once but she recognized her. It seemed odd that she would be meeting some man here when she gets so upset when all Duke would do was talk to women that came into his club. That seemed like quite the double standard and did that man just take her a martini? She watched them talk, she didn't know who the man was but he clearly knew Olivia. They talked for quite a while, well Olivia did most of the talking. Even though she couldn't hear them it seemed like Olivia was annoyed and was venting to the man she was with. What was going on here? She didn't want Olivia to recognizer so she tried to keep her head down but this might be something she would tell Duke about, whatever this is.

...

Anna was smiling happily at her desk, she had turned her chair so she could look out her window. It was a beautiful day out, it was starting to warm up and she just knew it was going to be a beautiful spring. Mindlessly she started rubbing her stomach. "Little ones, I can't wait for you to get here. You are already so loved by myself and your daddy. He is amazing and you are going to love him."

"Did I just hear what I think I hear?" Felicia asked from Anna's doorway.

Anna turned and looked up at her still smiling, "If you heard me talking to my babies then yes."

"Babies, as in twins?"

"We're having twins! I'm a little over three and a half months pregnant and Robert and I couldn't be happier. We had only told Robin and Filomena, then Robert told Sean the other day. So we agreed that we could start telling more of our friends last night."

"Congratulations!" Anna stood up as Felicia walked over to her, they hugged each other tightly. "This is so wonderful. I'm so happy for you and Robert."

"I didn't think this would happen so quickly but it wasn't like we were trying to prevent it either," Anna said with a big smile. "We hadn't really planned on twins."

"Does anyone? When did you find out?"

"Just before we moved into our new house."

"You said Robert told Sean, is that why he's leaving town? He wanted to get out of here before Tiffany heard about this and she starts talking about weddings and babies," Felicia said with a big grin trying not to giggle.

sAnna grinned back, "I doubt that has anything to do with why he left. Did he say where he was going?"

"Miami, there was something there that needed his attention."

Anna felt certain that it must have something to do with those letters she had been getting. He had said he was going to be looking into where they were coming from. "Oh alright." Anna sat back down, "So what are your plans for tonight?"

"Bobbie Simone and I are all going to Duke's, just a girls night out. When I mentioned that Sean was going to be out of town Bobbie said she was going to call Tiffany to join us."

"That should be fun, Robert and I are taking Robin out for dinner then she wants to have a movie night with us at home. She has told us she understands we are going to be very busy when the babies get here so she wants us to spend a lot of time just the three of us together before they are born."

"That is a very smart little girl you have."

"Yes, she is. Hi Luv. Hello Felicia," Robert said from the doorway. "Are you almost done here?"

"I was just waiting for you to get back."

Felicia turned, "Congratulations daddy," she said with a big smile then gave him a hug.

"Thank you."

"I just caught Anna talking to the babies so she told me the exciting news." She kissed his cheek then turned, "I have a night out to get ready for so have a great weekend.

"Did you talk to Sean today?" Anna asked as she got up from her desk.

"No, why what's going on?"

"I think he might have a lead on where those letters are coming from. Felicia just told me he is on his way to Miami."

"Well, I hope whatever it is, he finds this person and puts an end to their silly little game." Robert wrapped his arms around her, "Now Mrs. Scorpio, we have plans of our own and I think it's time we get out of here as well."

Anna kissed him passionately, then smiled at him, "Take me home Scorpio." He took her hand and they left the office smiling.