Chapter 26

Anna woke up in the morning with another slight hangover. With a smile, she thought what is it about Robert being in town, that this seemed to keep happening. She stretched in bed thinking about the night before, they had enjoyed themselves and drunk more than they should but at least they didn't do anything that they might not be ready for or that might be regretted. Yesterday had been a pretty shitty day, but at least last night had been entertaining and she had a wonderful time with Robert.

Anna got up hoping that she might hear back from Frisco today. It would be nice if she knew when she could talk to Alex. Anna did feel like she owes it to Peter to help him, it seemed like the least she could do. Anna started getting ready for the day, a smile on her face. She realized she felt very relaxed this morning. She wasn't thinking about DNA results, she wasn't wondering when the next fight with Finn would happen. Maybe Finn moving out had been the right thing for him to do, maybe they just needed a little space for now. If they weren't fighting all the time maybe they can actually talk about why they're fighting. Anna sighed, maybe it was good that he'd moved out because he wasn't who she needed and she was starting to realize that. Anna knew there was a lot she needed to think about.

...

Finn woke up next to Alexis, there were questions in his head but he didn't regret being here. He didn't feel like he should try sneaking out before she woke up. Had this been the right thing to do? Maybe not. Was he sorry that he was here? No. Had he used Alexis? Maybe but he didn't really think that was why he had come here. He did like her, he was attracted to her. Last night he had told her they had been nice when they were together and he had meant that. He sat up in bed then started to get up and get dressed.

Alexis lay in bed watching him, not sure what to say. Last night had been amazing but she knew it shouldn't have happened. He had just left Anna, yeah they've been fighting but she couldn't help but feel that Finn wasn't actually happy about the break-up. He had left, he's moved out and he'd been the one that came here to her but only after he was convinced he had seen Anna take Robert back to her place. Had this been payback for that? What had they done? Yet again impulsiveness had gotten her into a situation that she might regret. Alexis let him finish getting dressed before getting out of bed not sure how she felt this morning about what they had done.

When Alexis walked into her living room Finn was still there. "Good morning."

"Hi," she said wrapping her arms around herself.

Finn walked over to her, "I didn't want to leave without talking to you. Alexis, I don't know what this means but I want you to know I don't regret it." He leaned in and kissed her cheek then turn and left. Alexis watched him as he left. What had she done, she thought with a sigh.

...

Robert didn't know what he was going to do today but knew he needed to get out and get some fresh air, maybe a cup of coffee. Something to help clear his head. He was just about at Kelly's when he saw Anna. "Good morning."

Anna looked over at him and smiled, "Good morning. How's your head this morning?"

"In need of coffee. I see you needed some as well."

"It's tea but yeah. Why is it I have had two slight hangovers since you've been here?"

Robert moved a little closer, "I think you know why." Anna went to step back from him but Robert reached for her hand. "We need to drink so we don't act on what we both want."

"Robert," she turned and put her hand on his chest.

"I know you feel it too. I want to take you in my arms, I want to kiss you." He reached up and touched her cheek.

Anna closed her eyes and sighed, "I don't even know where Finn and I stand, how can I be thinking about any of that with you?" She opened her eyes and looked at him, "You know I'm thinking about it too. You know I want that but we can't not right now."

"You have no idea how much I needed to hear you say that." Robert leaned in and whispered, "I have wanted to kiss you again since that day at your house. I've wanted to do more actually." He kissed her cheek then smiled at her.

She was smiling at him, for weeks she'd been thinking about that kiss and how she had responded to him. "I'm glad you're thinking about nice things, fun things." She bit her lip then turned and walked away, leaving him smiling after her.

Chase watched Robert turn and walk towards Kelly's after Anna walked away. Why was it he kept finding those two together? He had heard most of what they had said this time and it appeared he had been wrong about them. They admitted that they wanted things to happen but apparently, so far nothing had. Again there had been lots of touching, and it was clear they were interested in there being more between them but they hadn't crossed that line. This was something he might want to pass on to Finn since he was the one that told him they were sleeping together. If Finn's making choices based on the fact he thinks Anna is cheating on him with Robert he should know that isn't happening. Before Chase could think about talking to Finn he got called into work, a new case for him to work on.

...

Anna was impressed by how quickly the arrangements had been made, they would be leaving this evening and meet with Alex tomorrow. Depending on how this all went they should only be gone a couple of days. She better let Robert know they had travel plans later today. She pulled out her phone to call him, "Hey Scorpio," she said when he answered.

"What's up?"

"We're leaving this evening, Frisco got us in to see Alex tomorrow."

"Alright, what time is our flight?"

"It's at 5:40. Hopefully, this doesn't take that long and we're back here soon."

"I wouldn't mind if we were away for a couple of days," he smiled as he said it.

"We'll be working Scorpio," she grinned.

"Yeah, I do my best work with you."

Anna knew he was no longer talking about work. "See you later," she said the ended the call a smile on her face.

Robert was grinning when he was done on the phone. "Should I assume you have to leave?" Mac asked.

"I have time to visit. Tell me about your trip." Robert was over at Mac and Felicia's, they had just got back the night before.

"It was good, there were a few times I think Sean was confused as to why I was there instead of Frisco but mostly it was good. He spent a lot of time talking to Felicia, they would talk about old times," Mac told him. "What's been going on here? Did that DNA matter get straighten out?"

"Yeah, mostly. Robin is mine and Anna's daughter. Peter is not Anna's but is closely related but he wants to know that for sure so he asked Anna if she could get a sample of her DNA and that is why Anna and I are heading out of town tonight."

"Finn's gonna love that," Mac scoffed.

"I don't think he gets to have an opinion. He moved out yesterday, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to Anna before he did."

"What? What happened while we were away?"

Robert told Mac about Finn and Anna fighting because of Finn's thought on the matter of whose mother she is and the attitude that went along with it. Robert said he wasn't sure exactly what had lead to Finn being upset enough to move out but from what Anna had told him it had sounded like Finn didn't know what he wants now.

"We missed a lot in ten days. Um, you didn't have anything to do with why they were fighting did you, bro?"

"Not the way I think you're thinking. I was able to remind Anna we knew Robin was ours while Finn was trying to convince her that Peter had to be hers but that there was no way we could be sure about Robin."

"That sounds crazy, why was he talking like that?"

"I have no idea."

"Can I asked you how you were so sure?" Mac hoped Robert hadn't done something that Finn would have been right to be upset about.

"Anna's cheekbones are not exactly the same, I know where that slight imperfection is on her right side. I caused it, Anna was injured by me while she was pregnant with Robin."

"So, by feeling that, what is it a dent? You knew she was the woman you knew then."

"I guess that's what it is. Where the bone healed you can feel that. I don't know what Anna was telling Finn or why he didn't want to believe her but even after Anna had the results they were still fighting."

"So you flirting with Anna hasn't been a problem?" Mac asked knowingly.

Robert smiled at him, "I don't know."

"I know you're usually subtle around other people but you aren't always. Have you been doing private flirting?" Mac asked with a smile he knew Robert still had feelings for Anna.

"What are you suggesting?" Robert asked acting hurt.

"You and Anna, unfinished business that you both don't talk about but I think you're both interested in. She flirts too, not as much but I've seen it."

"I don't know if that has had any bearing on what is happening between her and Finn."

Mac just nodded, he knew Robert was being honest. "Alright, well hopefully Felicia gets back before you have to leave. I think she said she had something for Anna from Tiffany. If you're heading out of town for a few days maybe you can pass it along."

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing her before I go," Robert said glad that the conversation was no longer about him and Anna. Then Mac told him a little more about their visit with Sean and Tiffany while they waited for Felicia.

...

Robert still wasn't exactly sure why Anna wanted to talk to Alex but he knew he wanted to be there. He wondered if he would have a chance to talk to her, to find out why she wanted Anna to think they had slept together when he knew they had never even met. They met at the airport, both ready for a quick trip. Even though Robert wanted to kiss her the moment he saw her, he didn't. Anna was still dealing with a lot and he didn't think she really knew what going on between her and Finn. Robert was willing to wait and see what might happen, she had told him she is thinking about them too so he felt he could wait.

They hadn't talked much on their flight, Robert had given Anna the letter from Tiffany but she said she'd read it later. They both seemed content to just sit quietly together, Anna's head on his shoulder. After they were checked in Robert went to get them something to eat, hoping to find someplace that was still open. While he was out Anna took the letter out and smiled, why hadn't she just texted me she wondered. She sat down and opened it;

Anna, my dear friend I know I could have called you or texted but I thought you might actually read all of this and really hear what I'm saying this way. Anna I want you to be happy, I want you to have good things and I want you to have love. I know you are involved with someone and I'm sure he's very nice. When you talk about Dr. Finn it seems like you do care for him, maybe you even love him. But Anna ask yourself is he who you see spending the rest of your life with?

While you were here with Robert I couldn't help but notice that you two are the same as you always were. You care for each other, you worry about each other. You could tell when he needed your support and you were there for him. I talked to Robert about what you've been dealing with and he is worried about you. I don't know if he'll tell you that but he is. Robert doesn't want anything that Alex might have done to you cause any more pain.

Anna, I don't even think you notice it but the way you and Robert are together would make other people assume you are a couple. You know that in the past it has even been questioned by people you're involved with. Does this Dr. Finn understand the relationship you have with Robert? I know you will sometimes try to push Robert away, keep him at arm's length. I think you do that because you know if you let him get to close then you'll have to admit you still have feelings for him. I think you try to play down just how important he really is to you. How does Finn feel about Robert's place in your life? Does he know about the lingering feelings you both have?

I am not trying to tell you who you should be with, I would never do that. I just want to make sure you are with the person that will make you truly happy. I am slowly losing the love of my life and I would give anything for more time with him. Since I know that cannot happen I am trying to make sure every day he knows I love him and that he is the one person that makes me happy. Don't waste what time you have left only being satisfied with the life you have. Be happy, be loved, be cherished. I want the very best for you.

I love you darling, Tiff

There was a tear in Anna's eye when she was done reading. It touched her heart that Tiff wanted to give her a little advice and had reached out to her. Leave it to her friends to team up to send her a message like this. She smiled wondering if Felicia knew what was in the letter. Had they been talking about her during their visit? It seemed clear that Tiffany thought Anna should at least consider Robert as the man she should be with. Had Felicia somehow know about the recent fighting with Finn and was that what had led to this letter? She folded it and put it back in the envelope. "Oh Tiff, I don't know what I'm doing right now, but you're right I deserve to be happy." She got up and put the letter away. Tiffany had been right, on the phone or in a text Anna wouldn't have really taken to heart what Tiff was telling her. Now she just had to figure out what was going to make her happy. Who, was going to make her happy.