Dockside Bar, Punta Carton, Venezuela
Robert downs his drink in one final gulp, as he continues to stare into the distance. He smiles faintly at the memory of that final night with her. It was one of the best nights, if not the best night in his entire life, for so many reasons. It was truly the culmination of their years together, their trials and tribulations, their hopes and their dreams. To him it was perfect and he thought it really was the first day of the rest of their lives together. As he continues to remember vividly the events of that night, a frown slowly replaces the smile on his face.
Scorpio House, January 5th, 1992
It is later that same night and there is only the one low light on in the bedroom. Anna has her head on Roberts chest with her eyes closed. Robert is staring into the distance with a small smile on his face, while drawing circle patterns on Anna's bare arm. He thinks she is asleep, but suddenly she asks, "Robert, why don't you shut the light and get some sleep, you have an early flight to New York, tomorrow." "I know, I will in a minute Love, I'm just not tired yet. Is the light bothering you, I thought you were sleeping?" He asks. "No, it's not bothering me. What are thinking about?" She asks sleepily. With humor in his voice, he says, "Well nothing really, just kind of, I don't know, thinking and wondering, that's all." "About what?" she asks quietly with her eyes still closed. "Well, since you asked, I was wondering about your tremendous stamina lately, have you been taking B12 shots or something?" he says quickly, so he can brace himself for the coming onslaught. "What?" she barks, sitting up suddenly and leaning on one elbow to look at him. "What do you mean my tremendous stamina? and what do you mean lately?" Chuckling through her response he replies "Relax, relax. It's just an observation that's all." She is not amused. "What are you trying to say?" She asks. "Anna, you have to admit, that lately, and when I say lately, I mean like the last two or three weeks, that you have been, how can I say this delicately. As horny as a jack-rabbit with the energy of the Energizer Bunny." With a mortified and shocked look on her face, she smacks him really hard on his chest and yells "ROBERT!" "Ow, hey that hurt. Don't look so shocked and act all virginal all of a sudden. I'm just analyzing the facts sweetheart, I mean, granted we are still technically newlyweds and everything, but come on we are now up to what, seven or eight times a week. And sometimes like today, which includes this morning in the shower, three times in one day. Oh and if you want to get really technical, by my last count its 5 to 3 in your favor today and" while pausing for a glance at his bedside clock, "Today is not officially over yet. And before you hit me again, I am NOT complaining at all, so unclench yourself, ok. I am just wondering something, that's all." She looks at him in shock after his diatribe. And is speechless for a second before she says with narrowed eyes, "What? What are you wondering and no I am not taking B12 shots?" Still looking directly into her eyes with a mixture of love and hope, he asks, "Could you be pregnant?"
Suddenly, the air completely escapes from her lungs, she just stares at him as a myriad of emotions rush through her mind, as well as thoughts and images of the last few months. It has been such a chaotic period for them, with the Cartel, Faison's obsession and escape, Robin's teenage issues, and the holidays. He's right she suddenly realizes. It could be a possibility remembering a particular weekend in the not so distant past. She also remembers that she has been on a roller-coaster of emotions lately and if she was truthful with herself, she has been somewhat insatiable. She regains herself and looks into his face and all the shock, the annoyanceand irritation are completely forgotten as she sees how utterly hopeful he looks. As she tucks the hair behind her ear she places her hand back on his chest, rubbing it gently. "Sorry, I hit you so hard." she says kissing his chest. "S'ok, I'm used to it" he says with a smirk. She laughs and kisses him gently on the lips. "Look, I don't know if I am, but now that you mention it, it is a possibility. Aside from your juvenile and colorful activity report, I too have briefly reviewed the facts, but of course from a more intellectual perspective." She says. "Of course." He says rolling his eyes. She ignores him and continues. "The pill is only 99% effective and I know we talked about this, and decided to wait until after the holidays to start trying. But, remember that Halloween weekend, Remember? Robert, are you listening to me?" She scolds him realizing he's staring into space. He finally snaps out of it, but still has a deer-in-headlights look on his face.
He says very quietly, "Yeah, yeah I'm listening, I remember." She continues "That was some weekend, wasn't it? I think that we probably were testing the odds." she says now with a big smile on her face. "Yeah, yeah it really was. I'll definitely never forget it." He says wistfully, kissing her gently, he pulls back, "Do you really think it's possible?" He asks quietly, putting a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Yes, it's actually very possible and now that you mention it, I do feel a heightened need for, well you know", she says a little shyly, looking at him. "I told myself, that it was just US being, you know US, but it has been a little more intense than usual lately." She says to him. "Anna, it's been more than just a little intense, it's been like , I don't know, Us on steroids." He says with a slight chuckle. With that, she laughs out loud and says, "You're right, and, now that I think of it, it's definitely more than a month since my last period, in fact, oh my God, I haven't had it since November." she exclaims. He quickly adds, "I thought so, I was just thinking, wow, it has been a long time since Anna's bitten my head off for no apparent reason or downed a whole box of Chips Ahoy in one sitting. Well that definitely confirms it." She glares at him "Ha, you're hilarious. Oh God Robert, it really is possible." she says suddenly very excited about the possibility. It would mean she truly will have everything that she has ever wanted.
She was so frightened when she asked her doctor the question she had been putting off for months knowing the possibilities could be heartbreaking. She was so elated when her doctor told her all those months ago, that children were possible again; that she and Robert could plan on having more children which is something she has always wanted with this man. She vividly remembers that day after leaving the doctor's office with the news and heading over to the station to tell him. He was in the middle of a staff meeting and she burst into the conference room after tracking him down. He was so startled, instantly thinking something was wrong with either her or Robin that he whisked her out of the room and down the hall to his office. She will never forget the smile and the utter joy on his face when she told him the news and how she jumped in his arms. It was one of the happiest moments of her life. That night both excited at the prospects and planning for their future they mutually decided to wait until after the holidays to start trying with everything else going on in their lives at that moment. But life has a way of making decisions for you she thinks. She snaps out of her trance and looks up quickly into his face and sees that smile again and she knows without a shadow of a doubt that this is something that he really wants and she knows for so many reasons. "Anna, it would make another dream of mine come true." He states emphatically before kissing her gently on the lips. He pulls away for a second and says "Actually it would tackle 2 dreams with one shot". "Two?" Anna asks confused. "Yeah, well the first is obvious, I would get to experience the entire pregnancy with you from beginning to end which means more than I can say and the second is that for the next couple of months, well ,my wife is a sex-machine". This time, she pulls out about 4 chest hairs in one shot. "Ow, what? what did I say? Say listen you're enjoying this marathon period just as much as I am and you know it. As a matter of fact I am pretty sure other people know it too." He says with a smile.
"What does THAT mean?" she yells at him. "Anna,…come on. Pretty soon Olin and Robin will suggest that you need to see a psychiatrist or something. Are you telling me you didn't notice the blank look on our daughter's face or the smirk on Olin's not to mention the complete silence at the table this morning?" he asks. "I didn't notice anything unusual at all, what are you getting at?" She says defensively. "Well I think the excuse of having nightmares and screaming my name are starting to wear a little thin. And let's not forget this morning in the shower and that deafening scream you let out." Now totally and completely mortified, but still defiant, she recovers quickly and responds "Robert, as usual, you exaggerate, it was not that loud, plus both doors were closed, so, no I think you are imagining things, and no one heard me but you." Hoping and praying to herself that what she is saying is true. "Anna, the Seismograph Center at Fordham probably registered the sound. Right now hundreds of little scientists are still running around bumping into each other saying ""What the hell WAS that?"" he says, fully laughing at her now, seeing her face turn three shades of red. "Shut-up. God I hate you. Stop laughing this isn't funny. Do you really think they heard? This is awful, how do I explain THIS to our daughter? This is YOUR fault" she rambles out. "Naturally, since I was the one minding my own business taking a shower, when someone decided to interrupt me to "conserve water" he says while making air quotes. She crashes her head to his chest, totally distressed. He decides to have mercy on her, "Anna, boy you are so easy, I was exaggerating, a little." He winks. "Maybe you can just tell her you fell in the shower or something." he chuckles. "Were you really exaggerating?" she asks hopefully. "Yes, yes, don't worry. Look, back to other issue, can't we find out if you are pregnant sooner rather than later? Do we have to wait until you make an appointment? I mean I really, really want to know, like now." He says smiling at her. "So do I. I can pick up a test first thing in the morning and do it then. They are not 100%, but they are pretty accurate." She looks at him and smiles, "You're really are happy about this aren't you?" She asks sliding up and onto him fully, so that they are now nose to nose. "Like I said, it would be another dream come true", he whispers against her lips. Looking directly into his eyes she emphatically states "I love you Robert, so very much." "And I love you, more than you'll ever know." he grabs her head gently with both his hands and kisses her deeply; he stops suddenly and asks, "Did you say you brought Chinese home?"
Dockside Bar, Punta Carton, Venezuela
Of course, he never did learn the results of the test, or if she even took it at all he thinks to himself. She was gone two days later, taken by that lecherous monster and his whole world was turned upside down. However, his instincts tell him that she must be, he knows it deep down in his soul, that she is carrying their child again. Over the last 2 months he has continuously vowed to himself and to her that he will not be apart from her during this pregnancy. He will not again miss this special time in their lives that all parents should experience together. "I promise you Anna, we will be together again, you me and Robin and this new baby, we WILL have our happily ever after", he whispers out load to no one. Just then, the payphone he had used starts ringing and he gets up quickly to answer it. He picks it up and hears a tone, he then takes out the small device which looks like a beeper from his pocket and places it next to the receiver as several tones ring out in rapid succession for the next 15 seconds. The tones stop and he removes the device and hangs up the phone, looking around the bar making sure no one is looking at him. Satisfied, he takes the device, back to his table and presses the button that says "trnsl". After about 5 seconds, the device translates the series of stored tones into a message on the small screen which reads "on way 18hrs mx".