Chapter 13

After they had been home for a while Finn found Anna sitting by the fire holding a picture of Robin. He walked over and joined her. "What are you thinking about?"

"I don't know." Anna put the picture to her chest and hugged it. "My little girl, my beautiful little girl. I watched her grow up." Anna looked at the picture again. Finn watched her but couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

"You don't think Robin is Alex's do you?"

"No," Anna smiled, then looked at him, "I know Robert and I are her parents."

"Really? You're sure of that but not about Peter? How can you be so sure of one but not the other?" Finn really did just want to understand what she was thinking.

"I just do, alright."

"You can tell me."

"It's not something you want to hear about."

"Anna, talk to me, please."

Anna sighed then turned to him, "Have you ever been so in love that it consumes you? That it feels like you can't exist without the other person. That there is such a physical reaction that you knew you needed that person like you needed your next breath."

It took a moment for Finn to know how to respond to that. "I've been in love yeah. I love you."

"Finn, I love you too. What I'm talking about is different." Anna wasn't sure she can explain what she means so she decided to just try and explain. "Even when my choices took that away. When I had the chance all I wanted to do was make him understand. It took a while but once we were able to really open up to each other I admitted something. Even he didn't understand it at first but I know it was true. For a while, I was confused but I knew it then and I know it now. Peter cannot be my son, Finn. Robert was my first everything."

He looked down at his hands, it hurt a little to hear her talk about Robert like that. "I thought that must be who you were talking about." He paused for a moment then asked, "Your first lover?"

"Yes." Anna took a moment before continuing. "I had this dream a few days ago and it was about a conversation we had when I first came here. We had a lot of conversations when I first came here but this one was different. I had finally let him see that the scar I had wasn't real and I needed to make him understand why I had worn it since my face had been healed."

Finn knew she had told him a little bit about this before about her coming here to find Robert, to talk to him. Then how he found out about Robin, this must just be a more detailed retelling of that time. "OK, how did you do that?"

"Once he knew I really had worn it for six and a half years he wanted to know why." Again she paused trying to figure the right way to explain this. "Finn, I've never been promiscuous. Robert was my first lover, Duke was my second. I wore that scar so other men wouldn't find me desirable because Robert was the only man I wanted. I've been thinking about this a lot since I got back and I know that's what's true. In my heart, I know that."

"So you never had sex with Faison?"

Anna shuttered, "No. That man makes my skin crawl," Anna said bitterly.

"You're sure about this? Because you were also sure Peter was your son." Finn asked. Anna nodded. He couldn't deny she did seem to believe what she was telling him. "What did that mean earlier? What was that message to Robert?"

Anna gave him a half smile, "I think that should stay between him and I."

"He understood what it meant, that was why he touched your hand."

"Yeah," Anna nodded again, "Finn, when I told him about Peter I now know I hurt him because I took something special away from us. He's my past but it's full of wonderful memories," she said with tears in her eyes. Finn pulled her closer and held her. "I did believe everything I told you about Peter when I told you that."

"I know," he said as he stroked her hair, her head against his shoulder.

...

When Finn had been called into the hospital Anna decided she didn't want to sit around the house alone. She wasn't really sure where she was heading but had ended up walking along the docks, she hadn't wandered down to this area in quite some time she realized with a smile. Her smile grew as she saw someone standing a little ways away from her. Even though the bit of fog she knew who it was. "Hello Robert, funny finding you down here tonight."

He turned and smiled, "Hello Luv, it seemed like the right place to be."

"We really did spend a lot of time down here." She looked up at him, "Talked about a lot."

"Yeah, we did," he said studying her face.

"Can you forgive me?"

He tilted his head slightly and smiled, "There's nothing to forgive."

"I made you think that I,"

"Don't even say that. Just that thought," he said shaking his head slightly.

She moved a little closer and put her hand on his chest, "I know the truth now." She smiled up at him and admitted, "I might have overheard a little of that conversation you had with Tiff and it made me start thinking. You're right that isn't something I could have faked. You know then and it's been true all along."

Robert put his arms around her pulling her close, "What hurt more than thinking I hadn't been your first, was thinking that Faison had been. That he had touched you. That the man that took so much away from us took away," he paused and smiled at her, "harbour bells as well." He leaned back and stroked her cheek, looking into her eyes as he said, "Our first time, your first time." Robert leaned in and kissed her cheek, "You know I still love, I always will."

"I know," she smiled up at him, "the feeling's mutual."

Robert hugged her again then stepped back a little with a smile on his face, "That's the closest you've come to admitting that in a while."

"Oh shut up," she smiled back then gave him a quick kiss. "Walk with me?" He smiled and offers her his arm, she takes it as they walk away together.

Detective Chase had been down on the docks to talk to an informant and hadn't meant to follow Anna but when he first saw her, he thought he would just say hello. That was just as she met up with Robert, he didn't think they had expected anyone to witness their little rendezvous. After they had only talked for a few minutes they walked off arm in arm together. Chase couldn't help but wonder if his brother really did have something to worry about. They sure looked a lot closer than most exes he knew.

...

Alexis knew about Oscar's passing. When she saw Kim and Julian walking together out of GH she was struck with the realization that they actually were a good match. She could see he was being so supportive in her time of need. Kim had come into Julian's life at a time when he knew he had to make changes. Alexis knew she was still attracted to him, their physical relationship was amazing but she also knew that wasn't enough to build a future on. Alexis was trying to make wiser choices with her life now, she reminded herself. She couldn't help but notice the way Julian was with Kim seemed different than their relationship as well. She didn't mean the lowest part, the abuse that would forever change them. He just seemed different now and that was good.

Alexis knew she needed to find a different kind of man, too many times she picked men that only ended up hurting her. There had been a few nice men in her past but for some reason, those were the shorter relationship. Ned was the one she got closest two actually committing to but she knew they were never meant to work.

She was here to meet TJ and Molly they were going out for dinner together and hopefully tonight they wouldn't talk about Kristina or DOD. It was clear how Molly felt about it and Alexis was willing to at least admit it could be a cult so there was no point that taking up their even conversation. As she waited for them she noticed Finn talking to another doctor. She didn't think she had been watching him that long but she didn't notice Molly walk up behind her. "That is the type of man you should be looking for, mom."

"You are aware he is living with someone."

"I didn't mean him per se. I said someone like him."

Alexis turned, "Hi sweety. Are we just waiting for TJ now?"

"Yeah, he should be here right away. He just texted. Mom, I just want to have a nice evening with you so let's stay away from a certain topic."

"I was going to suggest the same thing," Alexis said with a smile.

They talked while they waited and when TJ joined them the all left smiling. Alexis hoped Molly hadn't noticed that she kept looking over at Finn while they had been talking. Molly's right, that is the kind of guy she should be with.