Chapter 43

Robert stretched then rolled wrapping his arms around the warm body beside him. Even though she was still asleep, Anna snuggled in closer. Robert kissed her shoulder, then smiled as he breathed her in. He might have been exhausted when he got back last night but waking up here with her was worth it. When Anna moved her hand up and touched his Robert smiled, "Good morning."

"Mmmm, morning. This is how I like to wake up."

Anna turns so she is laying on her back, Robert leaned in and kissed her tenderly. "I am so glad I came back last night."

"I am too." Anna stroked his cheek, then kissed him back. Slowly the passion grew as their hands move over each other's body. This is how it should have always been. All they wanted was to be with the other. They make love tenderly then get out of bed. Robert went to have a shower while Anna went downstairs.

When Robert joined her, she passed him a cup of coffee. "Oh thanks, Luv." He took her hand and guided her over to the table. "I think I should tell you what I learned while I was gone."

"Alright, it must be important."

"It affects you, that's why I didn't want to tell you over the phone." He took a sip of his coffee before continuing. "You know Frisco made it possible for Hen, Peter to get in to visit Alex that quickly right?" Anna nodded. "He also wanted to be kept informed about what happened during their visits. The first day was not recorded, the second day was because of the interaction between them on the first day. Frisco requested the second visit to be recorded."

"What kind of interaction?"

"I'm getting there. Anna, I watched their second visit, a few times. It was rather clear that they knew each other before. That they also knew who they are to each other." He saw the confused look on Anna's face. "Peter already knew that Alex is his mother, they have known each other for some time."

Anna looked into his eyes, "You're serious about this?"

"I am. There's still more." Robert told her about the account Alex and Peter had talked about. That they didn't know what it was but that both he and Frisco felt that somehow it was the motivating factor for some of Alex's actions.

Anna took that all in, Anna sighed the said quietly, "She thought it was a ticket out but it turned into a curse."

"I guess that's one way to put it. I spent the last couple days trying to find any clues as to what that account might have been, whose it was, who it was meant for but I couldn't find anything."

"Does it matter now?" Anna asked.

"Probably not. Anna there something else as well." He took her hand, "While they were talking Alex asked Peter if he could reverse the suggestion."

"Suggestion, what suggestion? On who? What does that mean?"

"We aren't sure. Peter said he didn't think it mattered now but Alex said she wanted it reversed because quote 'I've put Anna through enough, fix this for her.' I don't know who they were talking about though."

"You're telling me that they planted some kind of suggestion in someone close to me, why?"

"I don't know why. We don't even know what kind of suggestion it was." Anna got up and started pacing, no wonder he didn't want to tell her this over the phone. After giving her a little time to think about what he had just told her Robert stood up. "I think it had to be something that would have helped them protect their secret," Robert suggested.

Anna nodded as she continued to pace, "Yeah." Robert just watched her pace, he knew she was trying to make this all make sense. Then she stopped, her mouth hung open, "Oh no, Finn."

"What about Finn?"

"I told you I had to tell you something as well last night. While you were gone, it became very clear Finn is interested in us getting back together."

Robert nodded slowly, "OK."

"We talked at Kelly's and the Metro Court, he came here one night. At first, he was very apologetic, talking about his mistakes. I told him he just caused to many fights. He told me about sleeping with Alexis and why he did that. He even finally said that he thought part of the reason he was so adamant that Peter had to be my son was because of you being able to tell me Robin is ours."

"Anything else?" he asked calmly.

"He kissed me," Anna said flatly.

"Do I need to hurt him?"

Anna smiled, "No, he did it and left. If he tries it again then you can."

"Deal." Robert stepped a little closer, "So you think something could have been done to Finn."

"Yeah, before he couldn't give me the slightest reason as to why he felt so certain that Peter was mine. He had no reason to believe that. I would have accepted him saying he was jealous that you could reassure me when he couldn't. If he could have given me any type of a reason but he couldn't, he wouldn't even admit that he was wrong when we got the results. Now he knows he had been wrong, he admits it and he can almost justify why he felt like he did. What changed?"

Robert nodded, Anna could be on to something. "When was the first time you talked to him, was Peter back already?"

"Thursday morning, I had actually been talking to Peter about his visit just before that." Anna put her hand to her mouth, "He lied to me about their visit. He told me what I would think happened between them not what really did."

"He would still want to keep their cover story intact," Robert pointed out.

"Yeah, you're right. I know he had gotten back the day before that, could he have already talked to Finn? How much would it take to reverse the suggestion?"

"I think Faison tough Peter about mind control, it could have been a sentence, a word. There was more than likely something to trigger it and another to remove it."

Anna sighed, they had used Finn. Did they cause the problems between her and Finn with what they had done? She closed her eyes trying to accept this latest news. "What do you think the suggestion was?"

"You're the one that thinks it was done to Finn what do you think it is?"

Anna looked at him, Robert could see the sadness there. "I think they made him believe Peter had to be my son. They made him feel like he had to convince me of that. Like I had to have someone reinforcing that."

"That could be it." The cause of their fighting wasn't Finn's fault if she's right, that's why she looks sad Robert realized. He walked over to her and kissed her cheek, "I'm gonna give you a little time to let that all sink in." Then he turned and walked out of the room.

Anna sank down into a chair, why is there always outside forces affecting her life? Can she be sure this is behind her now? What is the next thing that comes between her and happiness?

...

Finn had been busy with work, he had wanted to try talking to Anna again yesterday but wasn't able to. This morning had been busy again but now he had the rest of the weekend to figure out his next move. He didn't know if Robert was still out of town but Finn hoped he was. He felt like Anna might actually forgive him for what he had done. She kept saying it was behind them so was there a chance that she could take him back, that Robert is just a distraction.

Finn felt he had made it clear that he wanted them to get back together. Maybe Anna's had time to think about what he has been saying, what he wants. Finn thought about going over to her place but decided to call her instead. He would ask her to meet him for lunch and hopefully, she will say yes.

Finn smiled when she answered, "Hello."

"Hi Anna, how are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you busy? I'm calling to ask you to lunch."

Anna knew she wanted to talk to him but she didn't know if she was ready to tell him what she suspected. She would rather spend the afternoon with Robert but thought it might be best to talk to him now. "Yeah, alright. Where?"

"I could pick you up."

"No that's alright, I'll just meet you."

He was a little disappointed by that but at least she had said yes, "Metro Court, in an hour."

"Alright, I'll see you there." After she hung up Anna went looking for Robert. She hadn't seen him since he had walked out of the kitchen.

Robert was trying to stay out of Anna's way at the moment. He knew she had a lot to think about and figured it was best if she had a little space while she did that. He had gone up and put away his clothes and was now down in the room that was going to be his office. He was just getting things together making sure they were labelled then taking them to the other room she uses as storage.

"Are you avoiding me?"

Robert looked up to see Anna standing in the doorway, he smiled. "No, just giving you space to think."

"Is there a difference?" she asked with a smile as she stepped into the room.

He stepped towards her, "Yes, I made sure I was easy to find when you were ready to talk." He wrapped his arms around her.

Anna put her head against his chest, "I am going to go talk to Finn."

Robert rubbed her back, "Alright."

Anna looked up at him and touched his cheek, "Hey, you know I have to do this."

"I know, it's just I really don't like that he's putting the moves on you. When I kissed you I told you I was going to do it and there was a reason behind it."

Anna kissed him, "That was some kiss," she smiled again. "You are the one I want kissing me and I already told you if he does it again you can deal with it."

Robert smiled and kissed the tip of her nose, "Are you going to tell him what we suspect?"

"Yeah, I think he was actually asking me on a lunch date when he called but I will make it clear that is not why I'm there."

"Alright, I'll be here waiting for you."

...

Anna walked into the Metro Court and saw Finn waiting for her, as she walked towards him Finn stood up. He leaned in to kiss her but she put his hand on his chest stopping him. "You need to stop that, I'm with Robert."

"You always let him kiss your cheek."

"Yes, I do." Anna took a seat so Finn sat back down. Anna wanted to talk but she didn't want to give him the wrong idea.

Maybe he hadn't made as much progress with Anna as he had thought Finn realized. "Well, I'm glad you agreed to join me for lunch."

"I came because there's something I need to talk to you about."

"I want us to talk more too, Anna. I know if we talk we can get back to where we were. There is no reason we shouldn't try to work this out."

"Finn, I am not here to work on our relationship. You need to understand that. If you can't then I will just walk away right now."

"Anna."

"No Finn, I mean that. I came here because I want to talk to you. I want to find out something and it affects you. You can stop trying to get me to take you back, it won't happen."

Finn suddenly felt like a fool he's been trying so hard for the last couple days to make any kind of progress with her and clearly, it was pointless. He hadn't even thought about what she wanted. The waiter came over and took their order then Finn said. "What do you want to talk about?"

"When Robert got back he told me about why he had been called into headquarters. Finn, I am going to ask you this again. Why were you so positive that I had to be Peter's mother? When did that become something you knew had to be the truth?"

Finn sat looking at Anna, why was this still so important to her? She told him that she wants this to be behind them, that him cheating on her should just be put behind them. Could this actually be more important to her than that? What does it even matter now? "Does it matter? Why do you care about that?

"Please Finn, I just really need to know what made you feel that way."

Finn sat back in his chair, folding his arms in front of himself. She had said Robert told her something, something that affects him. What does that have to do with what she's asking him now?