Chapter 5

Mac was happy that this time he's in Port Charles Robert actually wasn't busy with work. They were actually getting time to visit while he's here. Today Robert was a little on edge but Mac wasn't really sure why. "What's on you're mind Robby?" Mac asked as they walked into Kelly's. "I can tell something is bothering you."

"Nothing's really bothering me. There's just a lot on my mind." That wasn't a lie, everything that Anna had been dealing with was weighing on his mind as well. He had never like to see her struggle and he could only imagine what it must feel like not knowing if what she thinks she knows is even about her. Then there was the fact they were going to see Sean and Tiffany right away and he was worried that it would be even worse than the last time. Of course, there was also what had happened last week at Anna's house.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

"Pick one, go with the most recent thing that happened."

"No," Robert told him with a grin. "It's just something that happened and I know it's not going to happen again so I shouldn't even be thinking about it."

"But you are," Mac said and grinned back. They walked up to the counter to get coffees.

"And thinking is all that's ever going to happen so just drop it."

Mac knew his brother well enough to know when he was done talking about something. "Fine, so is it just Robin coming this year?" he asked changing topics.

"No, she's bringing the entire family this year. I have been informed I must attend this year and I should refrain from punching or arresting anyone," Robert told him.

Mac smiled, "That did make last years rather memorable though. Anna mentioned you are going to see Sean in a couple of days."

"Yeah, we want to go rather soon. It sounds like he's having more bad days than good lately and we want to try and see him while he still knows who we are."

Mac knew this was going to be hard for them, he also knows he would have to be Felicia's shoulder to cry on when they went to see them. Knowing what to expect when they go might help him. "Felicia wants to go see him right after the Nurses Ball. Let me know what we in for."

"I will and that's a good idea. He always thought of her as a daughter, he always looked out for her."

"I know, his Aztec Princess," Mac said with a little grin. "How's Tiffany doing?"

"She's a lot tougher than people give her credit for but this is rough. When I was there last time we talked a lot and she hates seeing him slip away but cherishes the time when he is all there and lets her know just how much he has always loved her."

"Still I would hate having to watch that happen to Felicia."

"You wouldn't turn your back on her either, you would stay by her side through it all."

"She would do the same for me," Mac said nodding his head slightly. It hit him that Robert didn't have that. He had been alone for so long there was no one that would be there for him if he ever had to face something like this. He was just starting to feel bad for his brother when he realized just how wrong he was. They don't talk about it but there was one thing that had been true for a very long time. Robert's family would always be there for him. He had Robin, she had her own family but they would all be there for him. The part of that that they didn't talk about was the other member of the family, the person that always seemed to come when he needed her like he always does for her. Mac knew Robert had a supporting loving family that he had made with the one woman he would always love.

Robert smiled at him, "You are a lucky man, you know that right?"

Mac looked at his brother and smiled, "Yeah I do. So what are we doing now?"

"I thought you wanted my help?"

"Yeah but I think I just want to hang out with my big brother. Let's go get drunk or something, just go have a good time."

Robert smiled at him, "Yeah alright." He realized their conversation had made Mac want to just spend time together. It made him feel the same way, take time to enjoy each other while they're here. "We should arrange for a ride later, if we doing this we're doing it right and neither of us is going to be in any shape to drive."

"Now you're talking. I'll let Felicia know what's going on."

"What's going on?"

Mac turned to see Maxie standing behind them, Peter was with her. "Your uncle and I are going out and your mom is going to need to pick us up later."

"Oh, that kind of night. You two are always very entertaining after a few," Maxie said with a smile then noticed her uncle wasn't smiling at all. She glanced back to see Peter looking at Robert like he wanted to hit him. "Um, so what are your plans?" she asked Mac.

Mac noticed the tension between Robert and Peter as well, "We just decided to go out so no plan other than to arrange a ride for later."

"Are you going to be here long Uncle Robert?"

"Around longer than I have been lately. There are a few matters I am here to get to the bottom of." Robert then looked back at Peter, "Make sure things are what they really seem. Find out if what's believed is actually the truth."

"What are you getting at?" Peter questioned, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Some times things aren't always what they seem. I know a few things, a few things that put other matters into question."

"If you've got something to say just say it. I thought Anna would have told you to leave me alone by now."

"Anna is used to me not doing what she tells me. Hmm, I wonder?" Robert looked Peter up and down, "Yeah, that could work. She just might have done that." Robert looked back at Mac "I'll be outside." He patted Maxie's shoulder, "It was nice seeing you again. You and I should sit and visit while I'm here, alone," he said looking back at Peter then walked out of Kelly's.

Mac watched Robert leave then looked back at Maxie, "I'm gonna take off, talk later sweety." Mac kissed Maxie's cheek then followed Robert outside. When he caught up with him, "Wow, you really don't like Peter do you?"

"He can tell everyone that will listen that he isn't like his father but he is. He can charm people but I don't trust him. What is Maxie doing spending time with him? If it wasn't for Peter, Nathan never would have been killed. Peter might not have pulled the trigger but he put into motion the events that lead to Nathan's death."

"I think they're just friends."

"Yeah like the guy who has a pet lion right up until the day that lion eats him."

"He can't be all bad there's some good in him too, Anna's his mother."

Robert turned and looked at him, "Is she?"

"What?"

"Alex admitted there are memories that aren't Anna's in her head. Do I believe Anna ever slept with Faison? Since the moment she told me that it didn't ring true. There is too much between us that doesn't fit with that having ever happened."

"If she was ashamed of it, maybe she just never knew how to tell you," Mac suggested.

"So she couldn't tell me. She couldn't tell Lavery but she could tell this moron she's with now? Do you really believe that he's that important to her? That they have a more meaningful relationship than she had with me or the toilet flush?"

Mac smirked at his reference to Duke, "So what exactly are you saying?"

"When were these memory mapping experiments done?" He paused, took a couple of steps then looked at Mac again. "In 1991 when Faison used mind control on both me and Anna she swore she never slept with him. Am I supposed to accept that she was lying to me then?" Mac was listening but didn't know what to say, he didn't believe Anna would have lied about something like that to Robert. "Alex," Robert said simply.

Mac's jaw dropped, "You think Alex is Peter's mother?"

"It makes a hell of a lot more sense then it being Anna."

"How do you prove that? How do you even suggest that to Anna?"

"I might not have to, she is already questioning things she thinks she knows. If she could question our history she sure as hell can question Peter."

"She was questioning your history, like what?"

"Apparently Alex hinted that she knows me. That she really knows me."

"I didn't think you've ever met."

"I haven't and I had to prove that to Anna," Robert grinned, "she believes that now."

"And just how did you do that?"

"I have my ways," Robert said but wasn't going to tell him how. "Alex only told her about one memory that was implanted and I know there would have been more than that. Peter would be one hell of a big one."

"Anna is trying so hard to have a relationship with him and it sounds like he just refuses to forgive her. Finding out she's his aunt would save her a lot of heartache."

"He wants to act like he's not like Faison. He can forgive Valentin for delivering him to that sick bastard but he can't forgive Anna for what, giving birth? Trying to hide him from Faison. I think there's more to this than any of us know and he might already know Anna isn't his mother and that's why he won't let her get close to him. He was the one holding Morgan all that time. Oh, he'll say he didn't know anything and he was just holding him but I don't buy it."

"Have you mentioned this to Anna?"

"No, I can't. If she starts to question it then I will tell her what I think but she already knows I can't stand the guy. If I suggested it she might just think it's because I don't like him."

"You have a point, Anna has to come to this conclusion herself before you can help her find out the truth."

"Yup, so for now I just have to wait." Robert looked over at his brother and smiled, "I thought we were getting drunk, are we doing this or not."

"Lead the way big bro," Mac said with a smile then they walked away together.