Chapter 13
Duke stared at the papers in his hand, it was final, his and Anna's marriage is officially over. He had been in Port Charles for the last nine days but it felt like time was standing still in some sick twisted way where he is stuck in his worst nightmare. He was home but he wasn't, he was staying at the club while their home sat empty. Anna has already moved on and she didn't want him in her life any longer. It was very clear that nothing was ever going to be the same again.
He tossed the papers on his desk, he knew this was coming, Anna had told him she was granted the divorce. Now seeing it in black and white, Duke knew he had to accept it. Maybe he should head back to the city for a while, then he sighed. He didn't want to have to deal with Olivia trying to convince him that he should be with her now. That Anna was never the right woman for him and that he should be with her. He rubbed his forehead, it wasn't much longer before he would have to return and would have to face her but it wouldn't be today. Today he wanted to feel sorry for himself. Today he wanted to mourn the end of a marriage. The end of what was probably the best thing that would ever happen to him. He had let it slip away though. Duke slumped back in his chair, he'd had his perfect woman but now she is gone. He put his head back, all he could think about was what he had lost.
…
It was just after one when Robert grinned and said hi to Felicia as he entered the PI office, then he knocked and opened Anna's door. "What is so important that this couldn't wait until we got home?" Robert asked as he walked into Anna's office.
She looked up and smiled, "This," Anna said excitedly, holding up papers. "I am single and free to marry you any time we want." She got up and hurried over to him, throwing her arms around him.
He grinned, "That is important." Anna nodded as Robert leaned in and kissed her.
"I couldn't wait to tell you," she bit her lip, "and I really wanted to see you."
"Did you?"
Anna turned as she took his hand and led him over to her chair. She turned him so he would sit then after he had Anna got on his lap. Robert smiled, one hand on her side the other on her knee. "I am so happy and I wanted to be in your arms." She put her hands around his neck. "We are engaged, I am free to marry you. Robin is excited about all of this." She gave him a quick kiss, "Do you know what the best part is?"
"What's that?" he asked as he stroked her hair.
"That I can do this now." Anna leaned in and kissed him tenderly, then leaned back and smiled.
"I like that we get to do this too. So Miss Devane, how do you want to celebrate?"
Anna smiled as she thought about his question. "I can think of a few ways," she said as she started undoing his tie. "We could pick a wedding date." She pulled his tie off and tossed it over her shoulder.
"You want to start planning the wedding?" he asked as his hand slid up her leg to her thigh.
"No," she said with a little grin and started unbuttoning his shirt. After several were undone she slid her hand inside his shirt.
"I like what you're doing but I feel I should tell you I did not lock the door behind me and Felicia is in the outer office."
"I don't know what you had in mind but I'm alright if all I get to do is touch you." Anna smiled her hand now stroking his chest. They leaned towards each other, kissing passionately. When the kiss ended Anna whispered, "For now." Robert started slowly planting kisses along her neck, as her fingers played in his hair. "Mmm, that feels wonderful." She brought his chin up so she could kiss him again. A slow sensual kiss that left them both breathing heavily. "As much as I don't want to say this, I think we need to stop that for right now."
Robert tucked some loose hair behind her ear, "You might be right."
She put her head on his shoulder, her hand still inside his shirt. "Are you still going to be able to come with me next Wednesday?"
"Wednesday, that's the ultrasound, right? Yes, I will be there, I want to be there."
"We finally get to see this little one."
Robert put his hand on her stomach, "Will we actually see the baby? I know we'll be able to hear the heartbeat, but we'll be able to see him?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, we will. I love that you are this excited."
"Oh Anna, of course, I'm excited." He slid his hand up under her shirt resting it on her stomach. "You know, one evening behind locked doors. I wouldn't say no to a little office sex."
Anna giggled putting her head back as he leaned and kissed her neck. "I wouldn't say no either," she whispered beside his ear as he continued to kiss her neck.
"Can we do this kind of thing when your tummy starts getting bigger?"
"What the hell did you just say?" Neither of them had heard the office door open.
Robert and Anna both looked over to see Duke standing in her doorway. Felicia behind him, "I'm sorry. He just walked in and went right to your door. I tried to stop him."
Duke stared at them. Robert's clothing half off as he was pawing at her, it made Duke sick. Why was she smiling while he touches her like that? He felt his anger building seeing another man, seeing Robert Scorpio touching Anna. Duke wanted to tear him to pieces, rip his arms right off. He watched them stand up, they don't even look guilty. Why is he still touching her? "You aren't needed here, Scorpio."
"What are you doing here?" Anna asked, ignoring Duke's comment.
"I came to talk to you. I wanted to know if the divorce is really what you want. It isn't what I want and you know that."
"You know it's what I want."
"I wanted to talk."
"You came here to pick a fight about the divorce. I take it you got the papers already," Anna said as she picked up her copy, waving them at him.
"What did he say as I walked in here?"
"We were having a private conversation and it's none of your business."
Duke held up his hand as if he was about to say something but no words came. Tummy starts getting bigger. That was what he had heard. He was sure of it. Duke felt gutted, could this really be happening? "Are you pregnant?"
"What if I am? That is no longer any of your business." Anna was angry that he had barged into her office. "Why are you here?"
He looked down at her stomach, he knew that blouse, did it seem tighter? Then he looked up at Robert, "You son of a bitch." Robert had been standing beside Anna, his hand on her back, but he had planned on letting her handle this on her own. "You were just waiting for us to have a little fight. You've been in her ear poisoning her against me. We would still be together if you hadn't interfered."
"No Duke! You do not get to blame Robert for this. I made choices just like you did. You want it to be your way. I have to give up what I want. I have to do what you want. Not anymore. I am doing what I want. I am going after what I want. Robert and I are together, we're getting married and yes we are having a baby."
Duke couldn't talk, it felt like he couldn't breathe. He'd walked in on them about to have sex in her office now she tells him they are having a baby. He covered his mouth, still unable to form words. He turned and saw Felicia still standing behind him. There was a sadness in her eyes that told him it was true. He turned and walked out of the office. Felicia looked over at Anna and Robert then turned and followed Duke. He is still her friend and he is going to need someone. Even if it isn't her, Felicia still wants to make sure he'll be alright.
After the main door had closed behind Felicia, Anna turned and looked at Robert. "Well, that's one way for him to find out." She covered her face with her hands shaking her head slightly.
Robert wrapped his arms around her. "He was going to find out. Now he has."
"He'll want to talk to me again."
"Of course he will. If he had knocked and not just barged in on us I think that could have been a very different conversation."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Anna had put her arms around him now as well. "Have you gone for lunch yet? I think we both could use a change of scenery."
"I would love to take you to lunch." He gave her a kiss then started buttoning his shirt again as she picked up his tie. Duke's interruption was not going to ruin their day.
…
They were sitting at a table at the Grill. Anna was smiling but she was not really paying full attention to their conversation. She was happy that she was free to move forward with Robert but she knew she couldn't leave it like that with Duke. She'd wanted him to know the truth but that was not how she should have told him about the baby.
While they ate Robert could tell Anna was distracted, she was listening to him but wasn't really adding to the conversation. He felt sure it had to be because of Duke appearance at her office. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Anna looked at him, a small grin on her face. She was grateful Robert seemed to understand. "I need to talk to him." Robert nodded but didn't say anything, she needed to get this off her chest. "I need to make him hear me this time. To really hear me and understand why we are together and why I had to give up on him and I."
"I think that's a good idea. It will help you, moving forward. I think you need to do this."
Anna took his hand "I need to do this on my own. I think when we're done here, I'll go by his club, see if he's there."
"Alright, but call me after please or come by my office."
Anna was glad he wasn't trying to convince her that she didn't need to do this or that he should go with her. She had broken Duke's heart and she owes it to him to explain what happened. "I will. This evening I am going to want some of your undivided attention."
"Maybe a little more of what was happening in your office."
Anna grinned, "We won't have to worry as much about interruptions."
"You mean I might get a little further than some kissing."
Anna laughed at that, "I think you just might." She leaned over and kissed him tenderly. "Thank you for lunch. I think I should go talk to him before I change my mind."
Robert tossed some cash on the table and they both stood up. They walked outside and Robert turned to her, "Take the time you need to deal with this. I'll be waiting for you whenever you're done."
"Thank you." Anna hugged him tightly, then kissed him lovingly. "I love you so much."
"I love you too."
"I should go." She turned and started walking off in the direction of Duke's Club. Robert watched her for a moment then turned, he had to get back to his office.
Anna took her time walking to the club, she wanted to have time to think about what she needed to say to him. What she felt he needed to know. She had told him that yes there is a baby, she hadn't told him about what had happened. Should she? Yes, she owes that to him, Duke needs to know the truth. As she opened the door to the club Anna took a deep breath, stilling her nerves.
She saw Angel first, he smiled at her like he always did. "Hello Anna, what brings you here?"
"I was hoping Duke is here, I need to talk to him."
"Yeah, he's up in his office. You can head up. I should warn you he was pretty upset when he got back."
"I know he was, he was at my office earlier."
"Oh, I see." Angle nodded knowingly. Their fighting hasn't gotten any better since the separation. It just didn't happen as often because they aren't around each other.
Anna turned and walked over to the elevator, "I need him to hear me out. I need him to know the truth, that's why I came here today. I know it will more than likely cause a fight but Duke needs to understand." She looked back over at Angel, knowing he had been listening. Again he just nodded. She wants closure and maybe if Duke hears her out he will finally get some as well.
The door opened and Anna stepped on. Anna took several slow deep breathes, she doesn't want this to be a fight she wants to explain that's all. The doors opened again to his office. "Hello Duke," she said before stepping off. "I hope you don't mind, Angel told me to come up."
He looked up, there is the most beautiful woman he will ever know. He lowered his head, but he has lost her. "Yeah come in," he said as he rubbed his forehead.
"I'm sorry about earlier. You didn't walk in on what you might think. We were just talking." Anna stepped further into his office.
Talking? They had never done that kind of talking, Duke thinks as he pictures what he had walked in on earlier. "I should have knocked," Duke admitted.
Wow, alright. That surprised Anna. "I came here to talk, I hope we can do that without any yelling. I want to tell you what happened. I have tried before and you don't let me finish or we start arguing before I get that far. You deserve to know what happened."
"Alright, have a seat." Duke had been furious when he had returned earlier, he hated seeing Anna with Robert. He knows that he is going to have to accept that they are together but that is not an easy thing to do.
Anna sat down, thankful that Duke seemed to be reasonably calm at the moment. "I need to tell you what happened, you have every right to be angry and I will understand if you hate me."
Duke already knew he was not going to like what Anna was about to tell him but he wanted to know the truth. "Go on."
"I broke our vows. I willingly slept with another man, a man I have always loved before I asked you for a separation."
"You what?"
"Please let me get this all out." Anna's eyes were pleading with him to just give her a chance to speak. "We never meant for that to happen, but we knew we both wanted it to. It happened during a case I took, I can't tell you about that because of the sensitive nature of that case. I had to take someone with me I could trust completely and someone I knew would never talk about what we had been investigating."
Duke focused on his breathing as she spoke. She had come here to tell him what had happened and he needed to hear her out.
"The situation we were in required us to be very close all evening. Things happened during the investigation, we were both," she paused, "experiencing the same things, the same feels. It had already been established that the events of the weekend and the investigation were never to be spoken about again. We gave in to our feelings, to our desires and Robert and I spent the night together."
Duke was trying very hard not to yell at her, "You slept with Scorpio?"
"Yes. I know it was wrong but we believed no one was ever going to know."
"Now you're with him. Are you living with him?"
Anna knew she needed to tell him the truth, "Yes, Robin and I moved into our new home first. Robert has now moved in with us."
She's living with him. She's pregnant. That's why she wanted the divorce so badly. They wanted their perfect little family all together. "How long did the two of you wait before jumping into bed again. How long has it been going on?" Duke demanded he felt he deserved to know.
"When I told you I wanted to end our marriage. That was when Robert and I started seeing each other."
"Seeing each other. Don't you mean sneaking around behind my back!"
"No, I don't! We never tried to hide when we started going out. I had already told you I wanted to end it. I realized I love someone else and they love me. You were always going to make me choose, make me bend so you could do what you needed to do. You have a lifestyle and all that comes with it was never the life I wanted. What would I have had to give up next? What would you make me choose between?"
"You talking nonsense, I would never put you in a position like that."
"You don't know that, do you. The people you work with, Duke, you can never know what might happen." She paused, "You never know what might happen, I have been given a chance to correct a wrong we didn't know had happened. Robert and I never should have broken up. We know things now, things that we didn't know before, I'm sorry I can't explain it better than that. We can't talk about it."
Again Duke felt a sort of jealousy go through him, they had secrets that no one else can know about. Yeah, that had a lot to do with their work but that didn't mean Duke had to like it. How many times had them working a case led to them getting into bed together? "WSB I suspect?"
"You know it is." She tilted her head, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "Duke, I'm sorry for hurting you. I think everything has happened for a reason, you being pulled back into the life you tried to leave for me but couldn't. I know you tried."
Duke looked up and saw the softness in her eyes. "Oh Anna, I wanted to be the man you needed. I tried to do what you wanted."
"You couldn't break free from your past and neither could I. You were right, Robert always had feelings for me, I always had feelings for him too. You know I did."
"It feels nice to hear you finally admit that. I knew it was true but you kept ensuring me that there was nothing to worry about. You kept insisting he was your past, that he was around for Robin. You wanted him there and he never missed a chance to be by your side. I must be the biggest fool in all of this."
"Duke, I swear there was nothing going on between Robert and I. We were denying what we felt, we wouldn't admit it but we have now. Until I was sure our marriage was over until I knew it wasn't what I wanted any longer nothing happened between Robert and I. We found out that what broke us up never even should have happened just the other day. We are in love and we are going to get married."
Duke's nostrils flared as she spoke. It didn't matter how long it had been since he had first found out they're together, Duke did not want to accept it. Was that why Robert had decked Sean? Did he have something to do with their breakup? Breathe he reminded himself. What has she told him? "You slept with him while out of town before you asked me for the separation. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"But you say you weren't having an affair all that time?" Duke wanted to understand what she was telling him. She had felt the need to come here so he wanted to find out what he could no matter how much it hurt to hear.
"No, we never talked about what had happened that night. We had told each other our true feelings the night we were together but we had meant it to be a way to finally let the other one go."
"That isn't what happened. You left me for him."
"I asked you for the separation because of the fighting not because I cheated on you. I am not alright with you working for Victor Jerome. We were fighting about that and that is what drove a wedge between us."
"You slept with Scorpio and you are trying to say that was because of me working for Victor."
"No, I am not. What happened between Robert and I had nothing to do with you or who you work for. What happened between Robert and I that night was about him and I, no one else."
Duke was trying to remember when had she gone out of town with Scorpio last, when had this all happened? He was away a lot but if he's right it was maybe a month before she asked for the separation that they must have slept together. Does that mean two months after that they were together? "Two months, is that all it took for you to give up on us?"
"We had problems before that. We were fighting already. You were working for Victor, you were back in that life. You are working for a known mob boss but I should just be okay with that. I'm not allowed to complain, I am just expected to accept that."
"Anna, I never," Duke paused, she was right. He had promised her he would leave that all behind. He had but only for a very short time. She wanted a life free from the violence his lifestyle could bring and he couldn't give her that. He couldn't even keep that promise for six months. "I'm sorry I put you in that position, it was never what I wanted."
"I know that. I know you wanted to change, I know you tired." She shook her head, "I made mistakes too. I cheated on you. We can't change what's happened but I would like to move on. I am tired of fighting with you whenever we see each other. Our divorce is final so can we please stop fighting now?"
"I will try my best to keep my anger in check. I have to go back to the city for a few days but will be back soon. I think I am going to sell our house."
"If that's what you want to do. That house is yours and I don't want anything if you do sell it."
"Alright." Duke stood up and walked over to Anna, as she stood as well. "Thank you for coming here. I think I should have listened to you a lot sooner."
Anna grinned, "Maybe that would have helped, maybe we would have just fought about that too." Anna touched his cheek, "I'm sorry for hurting you the way I did." She could see the sadness in his eyes. "I should go." With that, she turned and left.
Duke was left staring after her. Their conversation did help, he didn't feel that same type of anger he was before she came to talk to him. Now he knows that anger was all directed at Scorpio. He will pay for interfering, he will pay for stealing his wife.
…
Anna went home after talking to Duke, she knew she wouldn't be able to focus on work again today. She checked the time as she entered the house, it was just after four. Robin had dance and was going for dinner at her friend's after and Robert would be at work so she should have the house all to herself for a while. She sighed as she tried to relax her tense muscles. Rolling her neck as she took a few deep breaths. She had better call Robert she thought. Then she noticed a note on the side table. She picked up and read 'Pampering awaits you, come up to our room.' Anna smiled, holding the note to her chest.
She turned and hurried up the stairs, she opened their bedroom door and heard the water running. She looked over as the scent of lavender washed over her. There, leaning against the door frame in his robe was Robert. "I thought you might like a nice hot bath."
Anna smiled as she walked over him, "I hope you are joining me." Then she pulled the tie on his robe, just enough to see that he would be. She ran her fingers down his bare chest.
"I am here for whatever you might need." Robert started undoing the buttons on her blouse then slowly sliding it off her shoulders. He leaned in and kissed her shoulder as he undid the zipper on her skirt. "Your bath awaits." He let her skirt fall to the floor then took her hands pulling her into the bathroom. He leaned down and turned off the water then moved back to Anna.
"I think this is exactly what I need." Hands moved over her body, removing her underwear then she undid his robe. "You get in first." Anna didn't want to think about anything else, nothing that has happened today mattered now. All she needed to think about was being here with Robert. She got in the tub and his arms went around her. She leaned back as bubbles surrounded her. "Mmmm, this is wonderful." She closed her eyes and put her head on his shoulder, a smile on her face. Truly grateful that this is now her life, that she once again has Robert as the man in her life. "I told him about our night together. I needed him to know the truth."
"I know you did. We can talk about all of that later. Right now I am pampering you," he said as he started rubbing her shoulders.
"Yes, you are." She turned and kissed him. Quickly all other thoughts were put out of her mind as he kissed her passionately.