Four
The next day Anna sat in her office impatiently waiting for Duke to call and say he was in Port Charles. By one o'clock Anna felt like this had been the longest day of her life. When he finally called he didn't say much other than he would be there in about half an hour. Anna wished she could have spoken to Robert this morning, just to help put her at ease but he was in court all day. She got up and went to talk to Felicia. "Hey," Anna said, trying to sound casual, "when Duke gets here, I don't want to be disturbed. There is an important matter we need to discuss."
Felicia knew about the problems between Anna and Duke. "Sean isn't in today and I will hold all calls, so you won't be disturbed," she said with a smile.
Anna smiled back, "Thank you."
"I didn't know Duke was back in Port Charles." It was an innocent enough question, she knew that he was living in New York at the moment.
"He just flew in so we could talk."
"Oh!" Felicia knew whatever they needed to talk had to be serious.
Anna turned to go back to her office, then paused and turned back to her friend, her hands now clenched in front of her. "Last night I told him I want a divorce," Anna admitted.
Felicia was momentarily lost for words. "Anna, I didn't realize you had gotten to this point."
"I know our marriage is over. We are on different paths and I need to end it. I need to be free to move on."
"You've thought about this then," Felicia concluded.
"Yes, I have." Then she grinned just a little. "I know this is what I want."
"If you don't mind me saying, you have seemed happier the last few weeks. I don't know what's all behind that but I like seeing you smile again."
Anna did grin at that. "I am happy. That's why I know this is the right thing to do."
"I'm here whenever you want to talk, remember that," Felicia offered with a kind smile.
"I might have to take you up on that after." Anna then turned and walked back into her office and went over to make herself some tea. She could use a little time to gather her thoughts before Duke arrived.
Anna knew this afternoon was not going to go well. She was sitting at her desk when there was a knock then her door opened. She looked up to see Duke walk in.
"Hi, Felicia told me you were waiting for me."
"I am. Hi, thanks for coming, Duke. We need to talk."
"I had to come. We can't talk about this over the phone."
"Have a seat. Did you want anything to drink?" she offered, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
"No, I'm fine, thank you." He sat down across from her. "How have you been? How's Robin?"
"She's fine. Excited about her dance recital tomorrow."
"Right, that's this weekend. I had forgotten."
"I wasn't expecting you to be there. I've already told Robin that you'll be working but would love to be there."
"Thank you." Duke nodded not sure what to say next.
"We don't have to make small talk. I want a divorce, that's why you're here."
"You only think you want a divorce." He stood up and leaned on her desk. "We love each other, Anna. I know there are problems right now but I love you. I want the life we planned."
Anna stood up as well, he would not talk down to her. She walked around to the other side of her desk then turned to him. "How can we have that when you're in New York working for the mob? I will not have my daughter living that lifestyle. I won't live that life."
"It won't last forever. I will be free of them. I owe them and I need to do this work for Victor."
"Do you really believe that they will just let you walk away? That one day they are going to say thanks Duke, you can go live your life now and that will be the end of it. Duke, we both know that will never happen. This is not the life I envisioned when we got married."
"I thought I was going to be free! I had to ask them for help again when,"
"No!" she cut him off, "you didn't have to do anything!" Anna was tired of this excuse. Again he wanted to blame his involvement with the Jeromes on her needing rescuing from Grant Putnam. "There were people working within the law that found me. Whose life's haven't been torn apart because of the choices they made."
This was the same fight they've had over and over before the separation, Duke realizes. She hates that he is indebted to the Jeromes and can't see that he had no choice but to go to him for help, now has to work for Victor. Anna kept insisting he should have just let the proper authorities find her. Let Robert and Sean find her, is what she meant. Apparently, he should understand that she doesn't need him to rescue her. She has Robert for that he thought bitterly. "Clearly we are not ready to talk about this."
"Duke, we can't just not talk about this and expect things to change between us. I know you will never be free of the Jerome Family and I will never be alright with that!" She stepped closer to him. "This isn't just about you and I. We are hurting other people in our lives. Neither of us is happy. I want to be happy again."
"We can be. Just give me a little more time."
"Duke, I can't. I don't have any more time to give."
"What do you mean? This is our marriage, why are you giving up on us? We can be happy again, Anna."
"I have to walk away before we hate each other. If I want to be truly happy I need to leave you so I can do what I want. I'm sorry Duke but I know this is what I need. There is something I need to tell you," she paused, how is she going to tell him this?
He stepped over to her. "I know right now it might seem like there's no fixing what's wrong between us, Anna, but there is. We both just need some more time. We'll both see that we need each other."
"No Duke, that is not what I need, you are not who I want to be with. I want a divorce. I am not going to wait for something to change. I know it won't. I will not get a phone call telling me you were killed in a shootout. I will not receive a ransom note when Robin is taken as a way to get to you. I will not live that way, neither will my daughter."
"No that will be yours and Robert's fault," he shot back.
"No! You do not compare police work to criminal activities." Her temper flared a bit.
He knew his anger had gotten away on him a little again. "Fine, I was out of line." He reached out for her hand but she pulled away. "Anna, please."
"I have made up my mind." She sighed, this should not be an argument, she needed to stay calm. "Duke, when I asked for a separation we both knew it could lead to this."
"It's been a month, Anna! What could have happened in a month that you are now sure that our marriage is over?"
Anna looked at him, trying to figure out how to answer that. She knew what had happened, what had changed. Again she wondered, how does she tell him that? "I need a divorce because," she paused again not knowing how to tell him about Robert, how to break his heart.
"See, you aren't sure either."
"I am sure. Duke, I have hurt you. I know I have. My feelings for,"
"Anna, what are you talking about?" Then he realized what she must be trying to say. "Anna, if you strayed I can understand. I did too, she meant nothing. We can get past that. It didn't mean anything. We both just needed to feel something."
Anna couldn't believe he had just casually admitted to cheating on her. Wait, his had been meaningless sex. She is in love with Robert. "No, that wasn't."
"Anna, we don't need to get divorced just because we slept with other people while we were separated. If you need to we can talk about that. It meant nothing to me. I was so upset. I felt so lost thinking I was losing you. I drank too much,"
Anna was hearing his words but they sounded so strange. He is admitting to cheating and she feels nothing. She isn't even upset, that's what's confusing her. He says it doesn't matter but, "You couldn't be more wrong," she cut in.
"What?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking about what you said. It does matter. What happened, it matters more than anything else."
"You aren't thinking about this clearly, it was just sex. Anna, I know we can work this out. I don't want to lose you."
"Duke, you already have. It wasn't just sex, I am not in love with you."
"Don't say that." He hated the idea of another man touching her but he knew if he wanted to save their marriage he had to accept she had done what he had.
"I want a divorce, why won't you accept that?"
"You will change your mind. Take some time, Anna. Think about what we've talked about today. I'll spend the night at the apartment here. I'll be at Robin's dance recital. We can talk more then."
"Duke, there is nothing to talk about."
"We are not getting a divorce!"
"I have already talked to a lawyer."
"I won't sign the papers!"
"Duke!"
"No! We will talk more about this but we are not getting divorced." Then he turned and walked out of her office.
Anna stood there lost for words, he had just refused her and now wants to talk tomorrow. Slowly she walked out of her office and looked over at Felicia. "That did not go like I expected." She put her hand to her head, "I think it was worse."
"I heard the last part. Can he refuse to give you a divorce?"
"When he sees the papers I think he will sign them." Anna turned and leaned on Felicia's desk. "I still have to tell him."
"Tell him what?" Felicia asked. She had gotten up and joined Anna leaning on her desk.
Anna looked at Felicia, one of her closest friends and smiled, "There's someone else."
"What? Who?"
"Not yet. I think it will be out soon."
"Is it serious?"
"Very," Anna said with a smile. Then she sighed, "I need to get home. Robin has her recital tomorrow and now Duke is going to be there. He said we can talk again there."
"That won't happen."
"No, it won't. Who is he kidding thinking we will get to talk there at all?"
"I don't know. You look like you could use a little break, what if I took Robin for a sleepover tonight? I could use the company."
"I would love you forever," Anna said as she leaned against her friend. "I need some time to think."
"Yes, you do."
…
After Felicia had picked up Robin, Anna sat thinking about what had happened with Duke this afternoon. How can he not see that their marriage is over? He was talking about them both sleeping with other people as if it meant nothing. They had both broken their vows but she had done it with a man she loves, before the separation. A man she now wants to have a life with. A man she is having a baby with. That was not the same as meaningless sex.
When Robin sees him tomorrow what is she going to say? Will she mention the divorce? Anna sighed, she needs to talk to Robert about this. Anna picked up the phone and called him. He was already at home so she told him she'd be right over.
Robert wasn't sure what this call could be about. She had already told him she's having his baby, he thought with a grin. He wondered if this had anything to do with Duke, had she finally gotten to talk to him? She had sounded a little upset on the phone though, so what had happened? He was relieved when he heard the knock at the door, time to get some answers he thought.
Anna walked into Sean's apartment when Robert opened the door. "What's going on?"
"He doesn't think we should get a divorce. Duke says we just need a little more time to think. He knows we can work this out." Robert followed her into the living room. "I told him it was time to move ahead with the divorce. That I need to end our marriage. Then he started talking, he hardly let me finish saying anything else. I told him last night on the phone so he came here today to talk in person."
Robert put his arms around her, "I don't like you getting this worked up."
Anna smiled up at him, letting out a breath, "That's why I came to see you. I needed to calm down and you have a way of doing that."
"Do I?" His hands slid lower down her back pulling her closer. He started to sway with her and Anna's hands went behind his neck as she let out a sigh, relaxing into him. "We will get this all worked out and soon you and I will get married, have a baby."
"This is what I needed, just a little reassurance."
"Is that all you needed?" he asked with a sexy little grin.
"No," Anna pulled him in and kissed him sensually. "I need you. Are we alone?"
"Yes." Robert picked her up and carried her over to the couch. He let her down as he got to it, both standing, their shirts were removed quickly. Anna's hands moved over his chest as the kiss deepened. "I want you so much," he said as he kissed along her neck, one hand on her ass pulling her closer still.
"I can tell." Anna's hand slid down his chest to his pants, slowly she started stroking him. They hadn't been together since the cabin and she didn't want to wait any longer.
"Should we move this upstairs?"
"Is Sean coming back?"
"He said he had a date with Tiff."
Anna claimed his lips again as his hands moved over her body. "I'm happy where I am." Robert slid the strap of her bra off her shoulder, trailing kisses after his fingers. She undid his belt, "I've missed you," she said just above a whisper as she undid his pants. Anna kissed her way down his chest then pulled open his pants and sat on the couch looking up at him.
"It was locked but I do have a key." They both looked over to see Sean standing there, a stunned look on his face. Sean was very surprised by what he had just walked in on. There standing before him were Robert and Anna half-dressed and there was no question about what was about to happen here. After a moment he looked down at the floor, "I'm going to go into the kitchen." Without looking up at them again he left the room.
Robert was doing up his pants as Anna put her blouse back on. "We are going to have to talk to him."
"Yeah, we are. Sorry Luv, I swear he told me he was going to be out this evening."
Anna smiled at him as he buttoned his shirt. "Then I hope he will be leaving after we've talked to him." She stepped closer and kissed him. "Our friends are going to find out. Having your roommate know will make it a little easier to get time together until we can be together publicly."
"You do have a good point but Sean did just walk in on us."
He grinned when Anna started laughing. "At least we hadn't actually started anything yet." Anna knows if it had been anyone other than Sean she would be freaking out right now but she felt certain that he would understand this. She knew they could tell him the truth, that he is not going to judge them too harshly.
Robert pulled her closer, laughing as well. "Are we telling him everything tonight?"
"I don't know. Let's just see how it goes. I think we can tell Sean everything."
"Alright." Robert took her hand and they walked into the kitchen together.
Sean looked at them, noting they were holding hands and neither of them looked guilty about what he had walked in on.
Anna didn't feel like Sean was judging them. She knew that look though, Sean wanted answers. "My marriage to Duke is over. I have already asked him for a divorce, he doesn't want that but now his mob ties aren't the only reason I do. I can't stay with him when I'm in love with someone else and having that man's baby."
Sean nodded, Anna just put it all out there, he appreciated that. She did not seem ashamed of what she had just told him. They both look like they just want him to know what is going on. "Alright. I have two questions. How long has this been going on? And did you say, baby?"
Anna looked at Robert then back at Sean. "We spent a night together about two months ago. It was meant to be a secret last night together. Instead, it was the beginning of something new." Then Anna grinned, "And yes, I said baby."
"Anna told me Monday that she is having my baby. We agreed that we want to be together. I am going to marry her. We are going to finally be a family."
"You know it's Robert's baby? You're sure about that?"
"Yes. Duke and I have been having problems for a while. We only separated a month ago but we haven't been intimate for months." She looked up at Robert and smiled, "I know Robert is the father."
"Can you keep quiet about this for a little while? We haven't even figured out how to tell Robin. Duke doesn't want the divorce so we need some time," Robert said.
Sean smiled, he was happy for them even if this wasn't the most conventional way for them to get back together. "Just let me know if I should avoid bringing Tiff over certain nights so you can have a few evenings to yourselves." Then he grinned, "Oh, and congratulations."
Robert and Anna both let out a sigh as he hugged them, Sean wasn't going to talk about what he had walked in on. "Thank you, Sean."
"Didn't you have plans with Tiff?" Robert asked.
Sean smiled, "I do. She got held up at the station so I came home to kill some time. I was going to do a little work."
"Well don't let us keep you," Anna said as she started dragging Robert back out of the kitchen. Sean grinned with a shake of his head as he turned to get himself a drink. He was happy for them.
Robert and Anna were halfway up the stairs when she looked back at him. "We need to finish what we started."
"Yes, we do." Once they were at the top of the stairs Robert pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately. They bumped into the walls a couple of times but made it to his bedroom. Anna quickly started undoing his shirt again, Robert pulling at hers. Their clothing was quickly removed then they moved to the bed. Their need for each other, the only thing that mattered now.
Her hands moved across his chest then around his neck pulling him closer. Anna needs him, even as he lowers her to the bed and plants kisses along her neck she knows it's not just physical. Everything that is going to happen now she knows she will get through because she will be facing it with Robert. With her hand in his hair, she brings his face to hers, claiming his lips, kissing passionately.
"Oh, Anna," he moaned into her mouth as she started stroking him.
"We better not get interrupted again," Anna said with a giggle as she rolled so Robert was now on his back. Slowly she kissed her way down his chest as she continued to stroke him. Robert propped himself up so he could watch her. She looked up at him and grinned then took him in her mouth. She ran her tongue around his tip before taking him fully in her mouth.
Robert watched her head bob, then put his hand in her hair, "That feels so good." She looked up as she ran her tongue along the length of his shaft. "Get up here," he said, his voice full of desire. Anna stroked him then kissed the tip of his shaft before crawling seductively towards him again. "You have no idea how sexy you are."
"I know the one man that matters finds me sexy and that's all that matters to me." Anna leaned in and kissed him as his hands moved down her body pulling her closer then rolled them over. "Touch me," she pleaded. His hand slid along her hip then moved between her legs. Looking in her eyes he slowly moved his hand towards her centre. Anna moaned as his fingers brushed against her moist folds. He rubbed her sensitive pearl making her moan then slipped two fingers inside. "Ahhh!"
He knew he had to have her right now, he couldn't wait any longer. He was still fingering her as he moved above her. "I need you, Annie." She reached down and positioned him then he pushed his hips forward filling her completely making them both moan with pleasure. Anna's head went back as Robert leaned in, kissing her neck as he slowly started moving his hips.
"Oh, yes." Anna kissed his shoulder as she held him close. Robert leaned back in her arms, pushing his hip forward. "It only ever should have been you," she whispered. He thrust harder, the things this woman does to him, he needs to please her, she needs to feel his love.
They are both lost in the passion they feel for each other as they thrash around his bed. Both taking what they need from the other while giving as much back. Words of love mixed with dirty desires as moans of pleasure filled the air. With Anna straddling him, her back arched as she called his name, he exploded inside her. Anna collapsed in his arms, both of them out of breath. "That was amazing," she grinned against his chest then closed her eyes.
"My god, I have missed you." A smile on his face, Robert put his head back and closed his eyes as he slowly stroked her back. He never wants to lose this again.