A Mother for Robin

Five minutes later, Sean returned with Robin. The dark-haired little girl was all smiles again after having a bubble gum ice cream cone. She appeared to have forgotten about the huge outburst just before she and Sean had left. "Hi, Love," she said happily. "Uncle Sean had a chocolate cone and I had a bubble gun one. See?"

She opened her mouth to show Anna her green, purple, and blue spotted tongue. Anna couldn't help but laugh. "That junk will rot your teeth out!" Anna warned.

"Since I've stayed with Daddy, he let's me eat all the foods you and Grandma call 'junk.' That's what he likes to eat best," Robin said, giving her father a smile of mischief.

"I guess he hasn't changed," Anna said softly.

"Robert, I have another date with Tiff tonight, so I have to be going now," Sean spoke up. "There's a lot I've got to do before I pick her up. Give me a call later, okay?"

"I will," Robert said.

"Goodbye, Uncle Sean. Thanks for the ice cream," said Robin.

"Anytime, kid," Sean replied. "Bye, Anna."

"See you later," Anna told Sean as he walked out the door.

"Daddy, what are we going to do today? Can you, me, and Love go to the zoo?" Robin asked after Sean had left.

"No, not today," Robert said.

"Why not?"

"Robin, your father is very busy today. Let's go have a talk upstairs. We have to talk about something really important," Anna insisted.

"About Grandma? Is she alright? Why isn't she here, too?" Robin asked worriedly.

"No, Grandma's fine. She's taking a nap at the hotel right now," Anna answered. "This is just about you and me."

"Okay."

"I think I'll go make some lunch," said Robert. "You can talk in here." He walked across the living room and entered the kitchen.

"What do you want to talk about, Love?" Robin asked, a serious expression on her adorable little face.

"Sit down on the couch, sweetheart," Anna said. They sat down on the couch as Anna began to tenderly stroke Robin's dark hair.

"Do you really like my hair, Robin?" Anna asked.

"Yes, Love, it's really pretty and it's just like mine."

"Robin, I want to tell you a story. But please promise you'll try not to interrupt."

"Okay, I promise," Robin said.

"Long ago I fell in love with a wonderful man. We were so happy, he and I. We did all sort of exciting things together. We thought it would never end," Anna said dreamily. "But then a bad man hurt me. He made me tell a horrible lie. The lie I told hurt the man I loved. It caused him to be very angry... and then he didn't want to be with me anymore."

"Did he go away?" Robin asked.

"Yes, he went away. I missed him very much. Then - ohhhh Robin; this is so hard. I don't know if I can bear to tell you the rest."

"What is it, Love?"

"Robin, the man I loved wanted a divorce. We got a divorce and he went away. I was all alone. Then - I had a little baby, but I was afraid that the bad man might hurt the baby, so I pretended - I pretended that the child I had was not mine to protect her. You see, I was afraid the bad men would come and hurt her."

"Love, I don't understand," Robin said sadly.

"Robin, you are my little girl," Anna blurted out. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I never wanted to keep it from you, but I had to."

Tears were coursing down Anna's cheeks. With tenderness, Robin reached out to brush them all away. "Don't cry, Love," Robin said softly. "I always did wish you were my mommy."

"Ohhh God, say you can forgive me," Anna sobbed, holding her daughter tightly. "Robin, I couldn't bear it if you hated me."

"I love you," Robin said. "Does this mean you and Daddy used to be married?"

"Yes, we were, long ago. But we are divorced now."

"Ohhh," Robin said sadly. "So who am I going to live with?"

"Your father and I talked about it. He wants you to stay with him on weekends and some holidays, but you will be living with me for the most part. Would you like that?"

"I think so. But I wish I could live with both of you, ALL the time."

"I know you do, sweetie. But your dad and I don't get along. You wouldn't like it if we fought all the time."

"I guess it's okay, then. Are you, me, and Grandma going to live here instead of Italy?"

"Yes, we are going to get a house here in Port Charles," Anna stated.

Robert emerged from the kitchen. "Lunch is ready, Robin," he announced.

"I'm not hungry," Robin said. "My tummy hurts."

"Too much ice cream," said Anna.

"I'm going to go lay down," said the little girl. "See you later, Daddy. Bye, Love."

"Goodbye, sweetheart," Anna said, giving her an affectionate kiss on the forehead.

Robin rushed up the stairs, looking sad and confused. "How did she take it?" Robert questioned.

"Better than I expected," Anna replied. "I think she's a little mixed up right now. She's too young to really understand. And she's upset about the living arrangements."

"I feared she might be. I want her to stay with me, until I get the house bought. It might be a couple of days. She could use that time to get used to the idea of you being her mother."

"I guess I'll go then. I'll call her later."

Anna turned to leave, but Robert spun her around, into his arms. "One more thing, Anna," he whispered, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. His mouth was hot and passionate as it overtook hers. Anna felt dazed as his tongue moved against hers.

He let her go as she looked at him as if he'd slapped her. "Goodbye, Anna," he said as she walked her out the door.