Chapter 22

Robert was out walking the waterfront, after all these years it still helped him clear his head, get his thoughts straight. It wasn't really helping much this morning though, the thoughts he was trying to get clear in his head were attached to a lot of memories he has down here. He spent a lot of time down here, so had she. They spend a lot of time talking down here. Robert stopped and looked out at the water. Anna had been on his mind so much lately, he knew that bringing up their past, their connection was the reason. There had been moments between them, the other night he had wanted to kiss her so much. Anna normally would get a little annoyed or pretend at least when he would say anything remotely close to the fact he still craves her. She hadn't even batted an eye when he had said that the other night. He knows he flirts with her, that was never going to change but at the Nurses' Ball, she had been flirting too. Robert smiled thinking about it, Anna flirting with him even though she's involved with Finn. Yeah, they've been fighting because of what he'd said about Robin but as far as he knew that was after the Nurses' Ball.

She felt so good in his arms, that kiss, it was to prove a point but it had done a lot more than what he had meant it too. Ever since that day, he's been thinking about Anna, about holding her, kissing her, making love to her. The other night if she hadn't suggested getting drunk he knew that evening could have ended very differently. They would have struggled to not act on what he was sure they were both feeling. He knows he wasn't the only one that felt it that night, that pull between them.

"Hello, Robert."

He turned and smiled, "Hello Laura." He stepped towards her and gave her a hug. "How are you?"

"Good, a lot going on but I'm OK."

"That's good. I heard the charges against Kevin were all dropped."

"Yeah, I don't know what that actually means for us but I am glad he isn't facing charges now. He's trying to get his career sorted out. Lulu is dealing with a lot and I have Spencer here at the moment so there's lot's to keep me busy."

Robert still had his arm around her shoulder, "Oh, so just a little bit for Madam Mayor to deal with," he said making her smile.

"Yes. What about you? I like that you're here and that we're getting to talk more often but what is it that's keeping you here?"

Robert turned to look at her, he knew there was no point trying to fool her. "I'm hanging around for Anna. I know she's got Finn but what she's dealing with involves me too. There are things she's wondering about that I was there for. I've been able to help her keep her wits when she starts questioning things she shouldn't be."

"Do you want to talk about her?" Laura asked.

Robert knew there was more to that question then what she actually said. "I think we should go get a cup of coffee. That's what I think."

Laura smiled up at him and they started walking, smiling together. "Robert if you want to talk about it I'm here for you."

"Don't you have enough on your plate?"

"I will always have time for my old friend," she said with a smile.

...

"Anna I think we should talk," Finn said as he walked into the sitting room. He didn't think Robin was here at the moment.

"Yeah I think we should," she said as she turned to look at him.

"I know I've said things that I probably shouldn't have. I'm trying to understand why you feel the way you do."

"You are trying to understand why I know Robin is my daughter. I have told you, I know because Robert is the first man I was with. I couldn't have had a child before meeting him."

"That's what you think. Anna, you have to realize both memories can't be right. You can't have had a child with Faison if Robert is the first man you had sex with. That can't be."

"Exactly, I am not Peter's mother," Anna insisted.

Finn was getting frustrated with her, why doesn't she see her logic doesn't prove she's right about Robin. It just suggests Peter might not be hers but it also could mean that she isn't the woman that Robert met and had a child with. He wants her to understand that but it's like she just refuses to here him.

"Finn, I know I'm right about Robert. I know I'm right about Robin. With everything I'm dealing with why are you trying to take that away from me as well? The one thing I know I don't have to question you insist on questioning. You want to believe Peter is mine so much that you won't even listen to me about Robin."

"I still think you just want that to be the case and won't even consider what I'm saying. You have convinced yourself Robin is your kid so you refuse to listen to reason."

"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this until after I've gotten the results," Anna said trying to remain calm. She exhaled not sure what else she could say or even wanted to say. Anna was starting to feel like for some reason it was important to Finn for Peter to be her son.

"Shouldn't you have them by now?"

"Brad wasn't sure how long it would take to get the results, it could be anytime though."

"Anna, you realize you've ruined any chance of having a relationship with your son now, right?"

"You just don't know when to stop, do you? Why are you here at this time of day? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"

"Am I being dismissed?"

"I'm done talking about this, whether you leave or not I don't care."

Finn stood there looking at her in disbelief. He wanted to keep talking, he is so frustrated that she is so willing to just wait. She is going to be destroyed when it comes back that she's wrong about Peter and he just wants her to be prepared. If she doesn't want to face that possibility now then he doesn't know how he can help her later when it turns out he has been right all along. It doesn't seem like he has any intention of leaving so Anna turns and walks out of the room. Finn should be getting back to work so he decides to leave as well.

...

Finn wasn't sure what he wanted to do this evening. He knew if he goes home one of two things is going to happen. Either he ends up fighting with Anna again or she just ignores him all evening and they go to bed without talking to each other again. That's what's happened the last three night and he wasn't looking forward to it happening again.

Talking to his brother might help him so he gives him a call. Chase agrees to meet him so Finn makes his way to Charlie's. "Hey Finn, if you keep calling to meet up I'm gonna start thinking you like me or something," Chase said with a grin as he joined Finn.

"Yeah, I'm just using you as an excuse not to head home yet."

"That doesn't sound good. What's going on now? Scorpio still causing problems?"

Finn had hardly even thought about Robert in the last few days. After Patrick and the kids left the day before yesterday he hadn't been around. "No, we'll maybe but not like you're thinking."

"This seems like it could be a rather long conversation. I think you're going to have to by me dinner."

Finn smiled, "Yeah, that works for me. You don't have plans with Willow this evening?"

"No there's something she needed to do this evening. Talk to me, what's going on?"

Finn thought about that for a second. "Anna and I have been fighting since the day after the Nurses' Ball. I was talking to Patrick she overheard me now we can't seem to have a civil conversation."

"What did you say? Was it about Scorpio?"

"I was trying to figure out why she has basically already decided that Peter isn't her son but won't consider that Robin isn't hers. I don't think I'm out of line." Finn told him what was on his mind but couldn't help but wonder why he had brought up Scorpio yet again.

"You just want her to face facts."

"Exactly."

"I hate to say this but I'm sure Scorpio has something to do with her attitude about this."

Finn thought about that, "Why do you say that?" What does he know about them?

"If Robin isn't their kid doesn't that mess with their history? If he's trying to get her back he isn't going to want Anna to believe Robin isn't theirs. He's gonna use their past to show her they are meant to be together."

"You do have a point. That was where she went after informing me she had overheard my conversations and that I was wrong. Apparently, they got drunk together and when she got home she didn't even bother coming to bed."

"Finn man that's not good. She met with another man, then didn't want to see you. I hate to tell you this but I think Anna might be turning to Scorpio for more than just someone to talk to if you know what I mean."

Their food arrived while Finn was trying to make sense of what Chase had just said. Would Anna do that to him? They are very close, he's noticed they do touch a lot, they do sit very close to each other. He knew he had seen them flirting with each other. He put his head down as Anna words repeated in his head, 'I will never love you the way I love Robert.' Maybe Chase did have a point. "You know what, I think we should talk about you and Willow while we eat. I don't want to think about what might be going on."

Chase could see that Finn was upset now, more than he had been when he had gotten here. "Finn I just want you to be realistic, I didn't mean to make it worse."

"No, I think you're right. There could be something going on between them. That would explain why he's still here. That would explain why she wants to blindly accept that Robin is theirs. You're probably right and you've helped me open my eyes."

Chase wasn't sure what else to say, he's glad Finn knows he should be concerned about Anna and Robert but he knows they really should be talking about something else. So he starts talking about his relationship with Willow. As they eat he can tell Finn isn't really listening to him. Whatever he was thinking now he's just glad Finn is aware that there are other factors that might be leading to the fighting between him and Anna.

When they were done eating Finn said he had to get going so he got up a left. When he left he know he wasn't heading home. He was in no mood to talk to Anna so he decided to go see Alexis instead. She seems to be able to talk some sense into him and tonight he knew that was what he needed. It was a little later than he thought it was when he got there but Alexis still answered when he knocked.

"Hello, Finn."

"Sorry, I know it's late but can I come in?"

"Yeah, what's going on?"

"I just need to talk."

"Alright, come in." Alexis leads him over to the couch. They sat down facing each other. "So what's on your mind?"

"I think I might be losing Anna."

"Finn don't be ridiculous. You and Anna are fine."

"No, I don't think we are. I know she doesn't want to listen to me when I'm just trying to prepare herself for when the truth comes out. Then there's Robert, why is here? She runs to him when we have a disagreement. He's telling her what she wants to hear. They have a history together."

"Finn, I really think you are overreacting," Alexis tried to reason with him. "Anna is dealing with a lot right now. Just give her time, everything will be fine."

"No, I know what I'm talking about. Anna and I are hardly talking and when we do we just end up arguing about the same thing. Oh, but she has time for him."

"Finn, you just need to be patient. Give Anna a little time and I'm sure this will pass. You'll start talking again and it will all work out."

"I'm glad you sound so confident." He looked at Alexis, "I don't know when the last time we had a minute alone was. It feels like she's been pulling away from me for a while now."

"I think you're imagining that."

"I don't think I am. Just like I don't think I'm what she actually wants."

"Is this about what Alex said?" Alexis couldn't believe she was hearing this, that Finn was thinking this way. He got up and started pace so Alexis stood as well. "Finn, think about what you're saying."

"I have and it makes sense. I'm not right for Anna, who am I kidding."

"Finn."

"No, hear me out, Alexis. I was basically forced to be a part of her world. Yeah there was an attraction there and her lifestyle is very exciting but it's not for me. Now this problem with her memory, I'm not the one she needs. I'm just making this harder on her. She's got Robert here and I think he's giving her what she needs and maybe in more than one way."

Alexis put her hands on his arms, "Finn, this can't be easy for either of you." He couldn't actually be thinking Anna is cheating on him, could he?

"It's not and it would be easier for her if it was Robert she was turning to. Robin is on her side letting Anna know she's there for her. I make her angry."

"She's confused."

"So am I. I'm confused about where our relationship can go. I don't like that Anna is turning to Robert and," he paused and looked at Alexis, "I hated the idea of you spending time with him."

"With him?"

"Robert. I didn't want to think about you dating him or spending time with him. I was relieved when you said you weren't. You aren't are you?"

"No," suddenly Finn pulled her into his arms. "Finn, what's this about?"

"I'm not sure," he said close to her ear. He leaned back to look at her still holding her, "Alexis," he didn't know what he wanted to say and acted first. She was surprised when he kissed her but that didn't mean she didn't respond. They held onto each other as the passion grew in the kiss.

The kiss was intense and she liked it but Alexis knew it was wrong, she pushed him back, "Wait, Finn what are you doing?"

"Something that feels good." He kissed her again.

For a moment Alexis got swept away in the passion then pushed him away. "You can't do this to Anna," Alexis said as she stepped away from Finn. She really liked kissing him and the dreams she'd been having about him weren't helping her think clearly at the moment so she wanted to put a little space between them.

"She's already doing it to me. I know you think there's nothing going on between them but I know there is."

"So you came here to punish her. You're using me to get back at Anna?"

"No." Finn took a moment to figure out what he wanted to say. "We were nice. When we were together it was fun. We never got to figure out what could have been. Maybe we should have."

"Finn you're upset and I'm sure you don't actually mean what you're saying."

"I think I do."

"If that's the case then you'll still feel this way tomorrow. I think it would be best if you left so we don't do something you'll regret."

Finn was watching her, he didn't think he had offended her but he could tell she really did want him to leave. "Yeah, I guess I should go. I'll be in touch." He turned and walked out of her house. What was he doing? Why had he kissed her? The big question was why didn't he feel guilty about it?