Chapter 18
Anna looked around the living room, they had been here for almost two months but she knew she was going to miss this place. It felt like home and she was looking forward to coming back here. What happens next she is what she's most excited about. They are going home to Port Charles, she can't wait to be back there now. She wanted to see their friends again, she wanted them to find a house and get settled in. After that she just wanted to be with her family, to make up for the time they had lost.
Anna smiles as hands slid around her waist, "What are you thinking about?" Robert asked and kissed her neck.
"I'm going to miss it here, we have made some wonderful memories here."
"This is where I waited for you to come back to us, for you to recover. You're right, there are a lot of wonderful memories here. Thomas and me have been living in this house for a little over seven years."
"I want pictures all over our house in Port Charles. Art is beautiful but our family, I want them around us like it is here."
"I want some of your art around too. That's what's always been missing here. Our home had your hot works of art in it."
They both laughed and Anna turned in his arms, smiling up at him. "I'll have to buy some, I only had that one storage locker of hot artwork."
"That's alright, it's probably better there's nothing on the walls that could get you arrested."
"Yeah," Anna said with a laugh then gave him a kiss. "We leave for home tomorrow."
"Yes, we do." Robert leaned in and kissed her tenderly just as Thomas and Angus came into the room.
As it was getting closer to them leaving the two boys had been together almost every day. They had told their parents they wanted to have as much fun as they could so it wouldn't be so bad waiting to see each other until they come back for a visit. So today they were at Thomas'. "When are we going to Rocko's? We're hungry," Thomas said, hardly noticing what he has walked in on.
Robert and Anna leaned back in each other's arms. "We can go whenever you're ready," Robert said then gave Anna another quick kiss.
"We're ready," the boys said together.
Anna grinned as she turned away from Robert, "Well let's get going then." The boys hurried out of the room, Anna took Robert's hand as they followed them. Angus was sleeping over at their place since it was their last night here. Their flight leaves just before one tomorrow afternoon so his parents were picking him up in the morning before they left. Anna looked up at Robert, "I think I'm going to miss Angus too and I just met the kid."
"I know, he is a great kid. Leaving his best friend is what's going to be hardest for Thomas. The rest of it he is excited about."
"At least Maxie Georgie and Lucas are looking forward to having Thomas around. It won't be the same but at least he knows them already."
"They're cousins, remember," Robert said with a grin, remembering them telling the adults that. "It's good that he's going to have kids around his age that he can hang out with. I'm sure once he's in school he'll make new friends."
Once they got to the car they stopped talking about the move and started talking about what everyone wanted for dinner. They had heard the boys talking about the fact Thomas was moving a lot during their time here and knew they understood so tonight they only wanted to have fun.
…
Angus' parents arrived to pick him up the next morning with a couple of gifts. Angus grabbed one from his mom and handed it to Anna, "This one is for all of you but you can open it."
"Oh, alright," Anna said with a smile as she took it from him. She tore off the wrapping paper to uncover a picture frame with several pictures in it and the word friends written across the bottom. There were several pictures of Thomas and Angus and there were even pictures of them with both sets of parents. "Thank you," Anna said to Angus then looked up at his parents. "This is beautiful, thank you."
"We have the same one at home. That's why I had my camera so much so we would have lots of pictures of each other," Angus told them.
"Think of it as a housewarming gift," Joan said with a warm smile.
"I was just telling Robert yesterday that I want lots of pictures around our house in Port Charles," Anna told her with a smile.
Thomas pulled a gift out from behind the chair and gave that to Angus as he was trying to hand him a gift as well. As the boys opened their gifts the parents smiled seeing they had both had the same idea. There were things in there that they knew the other would like. Little things they had found together and wanted the other one to have. They had both even gotten the other one the same t-shirt. Thomas' was red and Angus' blue because those were their favourite colours. As they were checking out what the other one had given them, their parents started talking.
"I see not much here has been packed up," Keith noticed.
"We are not selling this place. When I need to come here for business this is where I'll be staying. Matteo is next door and will be keeping an eye on the place for us," Robert told him.
"Where we'll be staying," Anna corrected and Robert just smiled at her.
"We've already sent ahead the things we want from here. My brother told me they arrived the day before yesterday."
"All your friends must be happy that you're moving back," Joan said.
"They were all very happy to see us," Anna told her. They talked a little longer, giving the boys a little more time together before they had to leave.
"Three months, right Dad?" Thomas said as Angus and his family were getting ready to leave.
"Yes, I have to be back here in three months and you and Mom are coming with me."
"Okay, see you in three months," said Angus then the boys hugged each other. Anna wiped away a tear as she watched Angus and his parents walk back to their car. She might not know them well but she knew how much Thomas was going to miss his best friend.
She felt two different hands take hers, "Time for us to get going too, Luv."
She looked at both of them and smiled. "Time for our next adventure." She kissed Robert's cheek then put her arm around Thomas. Just then there was a knock at the door. Matteo was there to drive them to the airport. Sofia was back as well but they hadn't seen much of her. She was now working as a personal assistant to a busy business executive and seemed to really be enjoying the challenges that brought.
It seems like a blur, they got to the airport, their bags were checked, then they were on a plane and heading to their new lives in Port Charles. Anna smiled as she leaned against Robert then closed her eyes. He kissed the top of her head then turned to look out the window, a smile on his face as well. They are finally going home.
…
Mac was at the airport waiting for them, he smiled and waved when he saw them. Thomas got to him first and hugged him. "Hi Uncle Mac," he said excitedly. "Did you miss us?"
"Yes, I did," Mac answered with a smile. Then he turned and hugged Robert and Anna.
"So our other stuff got here without any problems?" Robert asked as they picked up their bags again.
"Yeah, I picked it all up the other day."
"That's good. There are a lot of things in there that Anna wants for our house."
"Don't worry, it all arrived safe and sound. Do you have everything?"
Robert double-checked, "Yeah. Let's get out of here."
They were happily telling Mac about their time in Australia on the way to his place, Thomas was doing most of the talking. "You should come with us one of the times we go back, Uncle Mac."
"I just might do that," he said looking back at Thomas in the rearview mirror.
"This is going to be so cool, staying with you for now."
"Oh, there's been a bit of a change of plans," Mac said as he pulled up in front of the house."
"Oh?" Robert said, turning to look at him.
"Nothing big, you're still staying here." Mac put the car in park and as he got out he added, "I just won't be." Mac was hoping they hadn't heard that part so it didn't ruin the surprise. He started helping Robert get the bags from the trunk. "Here Anna, these are your keys."
"Thanks." She took them, then she and Thomas walked up to the house. They were just opening the door when Robert and Mac walked up behind them. They all walked in together and instantly Anna noticed it looked different than when they had been here just two months ago. She couldn't help but think more of their things were out than Mac's. She continued to look around as they moved through the living room. "Mac, did you say you aren't staying here?" she asked, still looking around.
"That's right. I am living at my new apartment."
"Why do you have a new apartment?" Robert asked.
"Because this house was left to me and since my parents are actually alive they should be the ones living here."
They all looked up to see Robin walking down the stairs. "What are you doing here?" Anna asked as she rushed over and hugged her.
"The part I didn't tell you about the position Alan promised me was that I could finish my residency here as well. I got here last week."
"This is Awesome!" Thomas said and ran to hug his sister. "Are you staying here?"
"Yeah. Come check out your room."
"Okay!" Thomas followed her out of the room, a big smile on his face. They hurried up the stairs, Thomas passed Robin and turned into the room he had claimed as his. "Whoo!" There were cool posters, a few new games laying on the bed and then he noticed that lots of this was his stuff from home. The things they had packed up and shipped here.
"Lucas says those games are welcome home gifts and the posters are the ones he promised to bring over for you."
"This is so great." He looked around a little longer, then looked at Robin. "What about your room? Are you staying here with us?"
"Of course I am. Want to check out my room?"
"Yes!" then he followed her out of his bedroom."
Down in the living room, Robert was questioning his brother. "So who came up with this idea?"
"I could say Robin but I was already thinking about finding someplace else. Without Felicia and the girls here it's a big place for just me."
"That makes sense," Anna said as she came and sat down beside Robert.
"She told me that she was going to be moving back here as well and that was when we started talking about who should be living here. It's your house, you two should be the ones living here with your family."
"Thanks, Mac," Robert said smiling over at him as he put his arm around Anna.
"This is our home. After all this time we actually get to come home, Robert." She put her head on his shoulder and snuggled in closer. "We're home."
"Yes, we are Luv." There was loud laughter coming from the stairs, the three of them all turned to see what was going on. Robin and Thomas appeared on the stairs, hurried through the living room then vanished into the kitchen, both still laughing. "I am looking forward to having them both here," Robert said smiling after them. He turned to Anna, "Our kids are going to be here with us."
She smiled brightly at him, "You have been dreaming about this haven't you?" she asked quietly seeing tears in his eyes.
"Right down to it being this house," he said, his breath caught a little as the emotions hit him. Anna stroked his cheek and he looked into her eyes, "The four of us, all together in the home you wanted." He leaned in and kissed her tenderly. Then put his forehead to hers as she stroked his hair.
Anna teared up a little, knowing how truly special this was to Robert. It was special to all of them but Robert was the one that truly understood just how hard getting to this day had been.
Mac had been watching them but decided to go see what Robin and Thomas were up to. He knew they were happy that this was their home again but it was also a lot to take in. He knew both of them could be a little emotional this evening and felt he should give them a little time alone. "So Thomas, was this a good surprise?" he asked joining them at the table.
"Robin being here or that we are going to live here?"
"Both, either. Are you happy?"
"Yes! Robin is here and we are all going to live together." He looked around the kitchen, "I am so excited that we are going to be living here."
While they continued to talk in the kitchen, out in the living room Anna got up, holding Robert's hand. "I want to have a look around." There were a few of the things she had sent over already out. There really wasn't much left that was Mac's here. They walked into the den then looked at each other. "Do you think it's still there?"
"Do you think it's the same code?"
"We were dead, why would he change it?" Anna asked as they walked over to what should be a false wall. Robert easily found the hidden keypad, he looked at Anna then entered 85128. 85 for the year they re-entered each other's lives. 12 for the day Robin was born and of course 8 from CK8. They both smiled when they heard the lock click and the panel moved.
They stepped through the door to the secret room they had put in shortly after buying this house. It looked like Mac still used it but not that often. "This is our home, it has what we needed. This could still be a very useful room," Robert said with a raise of his brow.
"We're home," Anna said again as she looked around a little more.
Robert watched her, they hadn't even thought to come in here when they had been here before. Now that it was home again he knew they both wanted to explore. See what was still the same, what they liked, what they would want to change. "We are back in the home we belong in. The home you picked, that you wanted for us." He stepped over to her and they put their arms around each other. "We were only waiting until we were back in Port Charles. We already have a home. I want us to make this official again."
Anna knew exactly what he was talking about. She turned to him and took his hand, "Robert, will you marry me for the last time. Make me an honest woman," she said with a smile that lit up her face.
"I'd love to make you an honest woman. You are the mother of my children." They both laughed pulling each other into their arms and kissed then Robert picked her up and spun her around. "I think Alex needs to be here, I know it's just to make it legal but I want our family there."
"I want that too. I thought it would be a couple months before we had a home. That we would just go see a judge one afternoon. Now, I want a little ceremony here in our living room. Nothing big just us making it official."
"I married you on the 28th of June, 1991. This is just about a piece of paper but I still want to share it. To celebrate that we finally have each other back after all this time."
Anna smiled up at him as her fingers brushed through his hair. "It's not a wedding celebration. It will be a celebration of our family and that we are all finally home, together in this house where we belong." She wiped away the tear that rolled down his cheek. "Just like you dreamed." He nodded and closed his eyes, not trusting his voice at the moment.
Finally, he whispered, "I never even considered that Robin and Mac would agree that we should live here. That this is still our home."
Anna put her arms around his neck, "I think you should lock that door and we should celebrate being home."
He kissed her passionately, then leaned away only to press a few buttons on a keypad on the desk before they moved to the couch. Still kissing they started removing each other's clothing. It was going to be fun having a soundproof room they can lock from the inside.
…
When Robert and Anna reappeared Mac grinned watching them walk out of the den. "I thought Thomas told me he looked in there for you two."
Anna grinned over her shoulder at Robert, "Guess not," he said grinning back at his brother.
"I never saw the point in changing that code," Mac said and they all laughed.
Anna was leaning on Robert's arm, "We are going to get married here in the house whenever Alex can get here to be part of it."
"Thank you for giving us our home back, I never expected it but it makes this feel that much more real. We are finally home." Robert walked over and hugged Mac.
"I knew this was what I wanted to do even before Robin suggested it. Then when she said she was moving back I just knew it was the right thing to do." He looked over at Anna then stepped over and hugged her. "All of you together in the house that was meant to be your family's home."
"Thank you," she said. She gave him a kiss before letting him go.
"Well, I'm going to get out of here. Let you all get settled in."
Mac had just left when Thomas and Robin walked back into the living room. "Where were you guys?" Thomas asked.
"We just needed a little time alone," Anna told him.
"Oh. So when can Lucas come over?"
Anna smiled, "I think today it will just be us. I will call Bobbie tomorrow to find out."
"Thank, Mom." Then he turned and went back up the stairs.
Robin smiled, she knew where they had gotten to as well. "He is busy setting up his room just the way he wants it. He's unpacked most of his stuff already."
"He's excited," Robert concluded.
"We did have a while to work on it," she said with a grin.
"We weren't in there that long."
"I have known about that room for years and I am so glad I never found out the code to get in there." Robert and Anna just smiled at her comment. "I'm going to go make dinner."
"Thanks, sweety," Anna said as she led Robert over to the couch. "I'll call Alex tomorrow and once we know when she can be here we'll start planning a little wedding," she said as they sat down.
"We need to take a honeymoon. I need you all to myself. I have waited nine long years for that and I want two full weeks just you me and a bed somewhere warm."
"A bed somewhere warm is my dream location for any kind of trip with you," Anna put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I didn't know I could feel this happy."
"Neither did I." He kissed her again then sat back. This was their first night in their home as a family of four. He ran his fingers through her hair. "I love you so much, Anna."
"And I love you." She leaned in and kissed him. He laid back pulling her down with him. They weren't going to get carried away but neither of them cared if Robin or Thomas walked in to find them cuddled together talking and kissing.
…
They had been back in Port Charles for five days and Anna couldn't believe how quickly their house felt like home again. They had put up several of the pictures she had insisted came with them from the house in Bendigo. A few others had also been added including a brand new family photo, their first family photo. Anna and Robin had spent the day in New York the day before so Anna could find some artwork as per Robert's request.
Alex and Demitri will be there the day after tomorrow and will be staying for a week. Sean and Tiff were going to come to town as well. Wednesday they were going to exchange vows for the last time. Everything was coming together quickly and Anna couldn't be happier about that. Robin and Thomas are both here, she is going to be Robert's wife again in less than a week and there was no rush for her to figure out what she wanted to do now. She has her family all together and right now that was all that mattered.
Robert and Thomas came into the living room bringing Anna out of her thoughts. "Where did you two get to?"
"Mac wanted me to come down to the station so I took Thomas along."
"Lots of the officers said they couldn't believe you and Dad had a son but said it was great to meet me," Thomas told her beaming with pride.
Anna smiled at him, "I can just imagine, not only did we come back from the dead we also had a son while we were gone."
There was still a grin on her face and that confused Thomas some since he wasn't sure why his mom thought this was sort of funny.
"You forget that this is where most people here knew who your mom and I are. That they know what happened, many of them mourned us. The fact we are now back is going to take a little for them to get used to," Robert told him.
"Uncle Mac offered Dad a job," Thomas said, turning to Anna, apparently no longer concerned with what people might think about his parents.
"Oh, did he?"
Robert said down beside her. "Yeah, that's why he wanted to see me."
"What's the job?" Anna asked.
"Chief of Detectives. Not as demanding as commissioner, but it would give me something to do."
"What did you tell him?"
"That I had to talk to you first and if I do take the position it wouldn't be for at least two months."
Anna smiled at him not because he wanted to talk to her first but because he wanted more time with them before getting back to real life. "Thank you."
"You aren't the only one that wants to make up for the time we've all missed together."
Anna leaned over and kissed him tenderly, "I know."
"You do know other people's parents aren't like this, they don't kiss all the time," Thomas told them.
"I went nine years without kissing your mother, it will happen often now that we can, get used to it buddy."
"I am, I like that you guys are finally together, even if that means there's a lot of PDA."
"This isn't public, we are in our living room," Anna told him with a smile.
He laughed a little, "Yeah, alright." Then Thomas went up to his room.
"Do you think you want to work for the PCPD again?" Anna asked once they were alone.
"Yeah, I think I might. I will be here, not travelling. I'll be working with Mac. I think I might be interested in the position at least."
"If that's what you decide I know you'll be amazing at it."
"I don't have to give him an answer yet. Not until after we're back from our honeymoon."
"Good, we have other things to think about at the moment."
"Yes, we do." He leaned in to kiss her just as the door opened.
Robin walked in with Emily and Elizabeth, they were laughing and talking happily. They all said hi then walked through to the kitchen. Anna and Robert watched them then Anna smiled, "I love this. We are home, our kids are here and have friends that come over to hang out. Lucas will be over in about an hour by the way."
"Oh okay." He was smiling as well, this really was what he had dreamed about. Their family together, living their lives and just enjoying being together.