Chapter 11
It hadn't taken Anna long to find him. There was really only one place she had even considered looking for him. As Anna approached, Robert stood staring out at the water but he turned to her when she was close. "I had to leave before I did something I would regret." His training mixed with the kind of anger he is feeling, they both knew he had made the right choice.
Anna walked right over to him, as soon as they were close enough their arms went around each other. With her head against his chest, she sighed and breathed him in. This is what she has needed, all she has wanted since Sean shocked them with his secret betrayal. His cheek rubbed against the top of her head, as he was kissing her hair. "I know. I'm glad you walked away."
"I think we need to talk."
"Can't we just hold each other. I don't want to talk about that right now."
Robert nodded, closing his eyes. He just wanted to hold her close, to know he has her back. What Sean did, what Sean took away, that can wait. This is what matters, what he needs. Anna is the one he loves. The one he gets to plan a life with. Don't let yourself think about what was taken away, not right now, he reminded himself. "Alright. We can talk about it later at home." Anna nodded as he stroked her hair. "I'm sorry about interrupting yours and Duke's conversation. I guess I shouldn't have hit him, but the way he was shaking you. Like he had a right to lay a hand on you. I didn't like it, Anna."
She understood that he was saying so much more. He didn't like that someone thought they had the right to control her. That another person wanted to interfere with their life. "He didn't like what I had told him and was trying to make me see things his way, I think he deserved it."
Robert leaned back and Anna looked up at him. He stroked her cheek as they gazed into each other's eyes. "How are you doing? This is a lot to deal with, are you feeling okay?"
"Now that I have seen you I feel fine." Robert started to say something but Anna touched his lips and kept talking. "The baby is fine, I am not feeling anything to suggest anything different." Robert let out a little sigh and Anna hugged him a little tighter. She loved that he is so invested in the pregnancy.
With their arms still around each other, they stood watching the boats out on the water. Neither one felt the need to talk now. Having the other one there with them was all they needed. After several minutes Anna asked, "Didn't you mention going to our place?"
"I did." He leaned in and kissed her lovingly. "I stayed there last night," he said smiling at her.
"I know Olin told me. You should have come up to our room."
"I didn't think that was something you would be ready for, Robin was home."
"I would have just wanted you to hold me. Like I want you to do tonight. I assume you're staying there again tonight since you may have just broken Sean's nose."
"I think it's best if I do. I don't know how I'll feel about him down the line but right now all I want to do is beat his face in."
"He apologized again before I walked away."
"I don't care."
His response didn't surprise her and made her smile. "I didn't want to hear it either. Come on Scorpio, let's get out of here so we can go home."
"Hmmm, that sounds wonderful." They turned and walked away, hand in hand.
When they both got back to the house Anna led Robert into their office. There was no one else there at the moment but they might return before they are done talking. She looked at him and let out a sigh, Anna knew they had to talk about what Sean had told them but where do they even start?
"I guess there's no point in waiting to do this."
Anna looked up at Robert as he spoke. "I guess not." Oh good, she thought. Robert must know what he wants to say.
"I've had this for weeks."
Anna shook her head slightly, "What?"
"I didn't have to do this last time." Then he grinned and got down on one knee. He had the ring box in his hand and when he opened it Anna covered her mouth with her hands. "Anna Devane I married you almost ten years ago, apparently we should have had a shot back then. We should have welcomed Robin into the world together. Now we get another chance to get it right. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, making you happy, loving you. I want to be there for you and our kids. Will you marry me?"
There were tears in her eyes as she smiled happily. "Yes! I wasn't expecting this but yes! Yes, I will marry you!" She put her left hand down and Robert slid the ring on her finger. She looked at the ring then up at Robert as he stood up. "I love it. I love you!" Then she kissed him passionately.
When the kiss ended Robert stroked her cheek with his thumb, smiling at her. "I was going to wait until you had the papers but now that I know our chance was taken from us all I want is for you to be my wife again."
"That's what happened, isn't it? None of us can say what would have happened but we never got the chance to find out."
They had talked about this before and he knew what she had done for the DVX. "They played us perfectly and like good little pawns we did exactly what they wanted." He pulled her closer, "I love you, Anna Devane. I have always loved you. I never stopped, I couldn't stop. No one is ever coming between us again."
"Never." She stroked his hair. "Oh Robert, I love you so much." She closed her eyes holding him close. "I know we would have stayed together."
"You really think so? I know we would have struggled at times but I know the love we share. That connection I feel with you is like nothing else I have ever experienced."
"You were finally that place I belonged. I was lost for so long then there you were. Arrogant smug and the sexy man I had ever seen. Then only a few days later," she said with a mischievous grin. "I knew I had found the man I was meant to spend my life with."
"How long will we need to plan a wedding?"
"You aren't messing around."
"Not now, not anymore. We never should have been apart, I want to correct that as soon as I can."
"I couldn't agree more." Her fingers moved through his hair as she pulled him in and kissed him passionately.
"We better move this upstairs if you're going to kiss me like that."
"You're right, I don't know how much longer we'll be alone here." She turned, taking his hand and pulled him out of the room. She giggled as they hurried up the stairs and into their bedroom.
Robert pulled her into his arms as soon as the door closed. Her arms went around his neck as she kissed him passionately. Their need for each other taking over as they started pulling at each other's clothes. Breathing heavily half-dressed Robert took her face in his hands. "I never want us to be apart again. They took years away from us," he said, the emotion in his eyes reflecting her own feelings. They aren't going to waste the time they have now, they both know this is what was meant to be.
"We get to make up for that now."
His hand plunged into her hair pulling her in and kissing her deeply. They started moving towards the bed, the last of their clothing removed as they went. Anna pulled Robert down onto the bed with her, wrapping her legs around his waist. "I need you, Robert." It was more than the physical need they always felt for the other driving them. They needed to know the other one is with them. That no one will ever take this away again. It felt like reclaiming what had been taken. As he's length slid home, "Oh Robert! That feels so good!"
Sheathed in her warm folds, he started to rock his hips. Why had this been taken away from them? Alone with this woman, Robert knew he was where he belonged. Nothing will ever compare to the way she makes him feel. This woman is all he has ever needed. "Oh, Anna." He turned and kissed her tenderly. He wanted her to understand just how much he loves her. How much she means to him.
Anna started to rock her hips, wanting more from him. "Harder, Bobby." Suddenly he kissed her hard, then lifted her hips, thrusting harder. They are Bobby and Annie again. Two people madly in love that just want to start a life together. As she neared her release Robert knew he wouldn't last much longer either. "Yes! Oh Yes! Just like that!"
Robert collapsed on the bed beside her. Breathing heavily Anna smiled over at him then kissed him. "I love when you call me Bobby when it's just me and you," he said smiling at her.
"I am going to be Annie Scorpio again very soon, Bobby." She rolled so she was leaning on his chest. "We just wanted to be free to have a life of our own. We get to do that now. That's what I want to think about tonight. We are getting married." He could hear the excitement in her voice as he stroked her hair. "I don't want to think about the time we lost right now. I am too excited to worry about that right now." She leaned in and kissed him. "I am going to be your wife."
"Yes, you are." Still stroking her hair he asked, "Do you think our daughter is home yet?"
"If she's not she will be very soon."
"I think we should get dressed then. Both our cars are here, she might come looking for us."
"You make a very good point." She gave him a quick kiss then got out of bed. Robert watched as she went and got some clothing then walked into the on suite bathroom. Robert had a grin on his face as he watched then got up himself.
After he was dressed, Robert sat on the foot of the bed. He smiled looking at the photo on the nightstand on Anna's side of the bed. His little family, smiling back at him. Robert was fairly sure it had been taken around the time they had told her they were her parents. He let out a sigh with a little laugh, if he was honest with himself, even then, he wanted a life with Anna. He understood why she had to do what she did. They had a daughter together that until then neither was actually raising. Anna was involved in Robin's life but Filomena had been the guardian figure in Robin's life. If only she was here to see this, Robert thought. How many times had she hinted, not so subtly, that she felt Roberto and Anna belong together. No matter what he might have felt for Anna at that time he was married to Holly. Even though Holly had not taken it well and left him for a time when she found out about Anna he was still committed to that relationship. Even if he was running around Port Charles kissing his gorgeous ex-wife.
Robert closed his eyes thinking back to what it had felt like to kiss her again after all that time. They wanted people to believe they were together and it was very easy to put on a convincing show. He knew even then that she felt it too but he was still angry, he was still hurt. It would have been so easy to get caught up in their act but then he still wasn't sure he could let himself trust her again. He is so thankful he let her back in, that they became such good friends.
"What's with the silly grin?"
He looked up, Anna was standing right in front of him. "I was thinking about you. How wonderful it was when you came back into my life. Causing trouble, a little caper involving jewels," he put his hands on her hips pulling her closer, "exciting me."
"It was such a wonderful kind of torture to kiss you again. It was as amazing as I remembered but it wasn't real. You were no longer mine, no matter what my heart felt."
"I can't stand what Sean did to us but I think I'm glad he told us now. Now that we've found our way back to where we belong." Anna ran her fingers through his hair as he spoke. "I don't know what would have happened if he had told us when you first came back."
"I don't want to think about what might have been. There's no point wasting time on that. I want to think about what we get to have now."
"You're right. Come on let's go see if our kid's home," he said as he stood up.
They were talking happily as they came down the stairs. "See, I told you they were here."
Anna looked over at Olin, a quick glance and Anna knew she had kept Robin from looking for them. "I guess you were right kiddo. Are you staying for dinner Commish?"
"Yeah, I'm staying." Robert and Anna walked over and sat down on the couch. "I'll have to pick up more clothes. I have casual clothes here but not many suits."
"So does that mean you are staying here tonight," she asked quietly.
"It does." He reached over and took her left hand, "Are we telling her?"
She beamed with happiness as she nodded. "Robin, there's something we want to tell you."
She took a couple of steps towards them, "What is it?"
"Your father asked me to marry him," Anna said then held her hand out.
"You said yes. I knew you would say yes!"
"You knew he was going to ask me?"
"Well of course I did. He asked me if he could."
Anna covered her mouth, "Aww." She looked over at Robert as a tear rolled down her cheek. "That is so sweet." Anna leaned in and kissed him lovingly. Then turned and hugged Robin now that she was closer to them.
"I was so excited when Daddy asked me. I'm glad he finally asked you because it was getting really hard to keep that secret," she admitted, making them both laugh. "Now you can live here."
"Well not quite yet," Robert said then looked at Anna. They both knew he didn't want to stay at Sean's at the moment.
"Why can't you stay here with us, Daddy?"
"It's just that since we aren't married," Robert started.
"If you made a baby, doesn't that mean you've slept in the same bed already?"
Robert's mouth dropped open at his daughter's question, "Um."
"Dad is going to be staying here for a few days anyway. Maybe while he's here we can convince him to just move in with us now."
Robin nodded, "Alright." Then she leaned in so only Anna would hear her. "How long do we have to convince him?"
"I think at least three days." Anna had no idea how long it would be before Robert would even think about going back to Sean's but maybe there was no reason for him to now.
"Okay." Robin leaned back, "I'm going to go do my homework."
"Alright sweetheart," Anna said. As Robin walked away she started thinking. What could she do to convince her dad that he should move in with them? She wants him there, she wants to see him first thing in the morning. She wants him there to cuddle with before bed.
After Robin had disappeared into the kitchen Robert turned to Anna. "We've talked about this. I thought you wanted to wait until we were married."
She nodded, she had been the one that wanted to wait. "That was before. We are engaged, we are having a baby and besides, we should still be married."
"Are we talking, couch in the office or curled up with you in bed?"
"I want you in bed with me. We've made a baby, so we've slept in the same bed already," Anna said with a grin and Robert started laughing. "Move in with us. This is our house, move in and make it our home."
"Alright," he agreed with a smile then leaned in and kissed her tenderly. "I'll call Tiff tomorrow to have her keep Sean out of the apartment while I get my things." Robert put his hand to his forehead, "I really don't know how I feel about that man now."
"I know," Anna stroked his hair. "Let's go see if dinner's ready. Give Robin a chance to try to convince you to move in."
That made Robert smile, "Yeah, alright." They got up and walked hand in hand into the kitchen.
…
Tiffany walked through Robert's office door as she knocked. "What is going on between the two of you?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Robert looked up at her, "He hasn't told you?"
"That you tried to break his face for some reason."
"He knows why I hit him," Robert insisted, putting his hands on his desk as he stood up.
Tiffany had known Robert long enough to know that this wasn't just some little disagreement. His body language was telling her this was different, Sean had done something to cause this kind of anger in Robert. "He doesn't want to talk about it. All he will tell me is that at least now you know the truth. He is hardly talking to me, I went to see him last night, I saw his face and he said he wanted to be alone. Why did you hit him?"
"Well, Sean and another man set in motion the events that lead to me and Anna getting divorced ten years ago. He didn't like that his agents had gotten married and wanted to leave the WSB. What we felt, what we had, none of that mattered to him. I have loved her every day since I left her. Yes, I've had other loves, other relationships but none were like what Anna and I share."
Tiffany had sunk into one of the chairs by his desk as he spoke. That was not what she had expected to hear. She didn't doubt for a second that Robert was telling her the truth. "Why would he do that?" she asked in disbelief. "Why did he tell you that now?"
"There's more to it than I can tell you and there are other people involved. There was something I hadn't even thought of that could have at some point reared its little head to cause problems or lead to problems for Anna and me, so Sean felt he had to finally be honest with us."
Tiffany was starting to understand now. This isn't something they can talk about freely and it was a lot more than business as usual. This had been very personal. "Alright, I'll talk to him and see if there's more he's willing to tell me. I'll go over to his office now and keep him out of the apartment for the evening. Is that long enough?" He had called her to ask about that earlier, that was what had lead to her coming here.
Robert was still standing, "Yeah, I had moved a fair amount of my things to the house already so it's just what's left in my room I need to pick up. I think it's mostly clothes."
"I thought you were going to wait until you and Anna were married to move in."
"That was before this. I asked her to marry me yesterday, she asked me to move in last night. We both said yes."
"Congratulations!" she said smiling happily. Tiffany got up and walked around his desk then hugged him. Then she looked at him, "I hope you guys get past this."
"I don't know what's going to happen."
"Please don't hate him for a mistake from the past."
"It wasn't your life he took away. It wasn't your daughter he kept from you. He cost me ten years with my family. I could have lost Anna to Lavery forever. That's what he took away. That's a lot to forgive."
She leaned back and touched his cheek, "Don't forget that you and Anna found your way back to each other on your own. No one will take that away this time."
"Thanks, Tiff." She gave him a quick kiss then turned and left his office. He sat back down at his desk. Checking the time, if he waited another hour he will still have lots of time to pack up his things and he'd get his work done. Robin had been so excited when they told her this morning that yes he was going to move in with them now. Tonight he will have officially moved in. He looked at the paper on top of the out tray, his change of address paperwork filled out. It was official, he and Anna were really starting their life together, finally.