Hilton Hotel, Aruba, 4pm, March 1st, 1992
The foursome finally arrive weary, disheveled and exhausted at the hotel. While they sit in the lobby chairs, Sean is at the desk arranging 3 rooms under different aliases. He finally comes over and says, "Okay we're all set" and hands Robert and Mac their room keys. They proceed to the elevators which takes them to their floor. As they exit the elevator, as if on autopilot Anna begins to head to hers and Robert's room, but Robert grabs her hand and says "Wait a second Anna, we need to talk to Sean first" and he guides her by the hand into Sean's room after he opens the door. She's confused and a little irritated, but she complies. They are all sitting in chairs around a coffee table in Sean's suite. Sean speaks first. "Anna, you asked on the plane, why we couldn't just go straight home instead of coming here and I told you, we would explain later and you would understand once we explained it all to you. Well the thing is, we are here because it is still not safe for either you or Robert to go home yet." She doesn't respond, but has a confused look on her face waiting for him to continue. "After you were taken, and after they found out Robert went after you, the WSB put contracts out on both of you, using the Black-Box protocol" At her shocked expression, Robert grabs her hand and says, "Look, I know it sounds bad, but Sean has people working on removing everything in our files, with a 99.9 percent expectation of success. That takes care of the systemic aspect of our problem, but we still have the human aspect of our problem, meaning the agents on the case who are fully aware of the situation. But as of right now, we are pretty certain they have been neutralized, so now we just have to wait here, to receive confirmation of both situations." Robert finishes rather quickly. "What do you mean neutralized? Please tell me that it's not what it usually means." Anna asks with desperation in her voice. Trying to keep the mood light Robert responds quickly, "No, it does not mean that at all, it means re-assigned and put under deep cover for a very long time. Sean's contacts, which are very high up, are working on that right now. You see I found out recently that Sean has been holding out on us, with all these high-placed operatives of his" he says with a wink toward Sean, who smiles faintly in response. With that, Anna exhales in relief, then looks around at the three of them. "Is that it or is there more?" she asks of no one in particular. The three men look at each other and Robert finally responds, "For now it is, we will talk more later, I think right now you need to get some rest because you are dead on your feet and I need a shower, because" he pauses to smell his shirt, "Yikes, So let's go and we will get together later for some dinner. Sean call our room if you hear anything." Sean nods and says as he stands patting Robert on the back as they walk toward the door, "You got it buddy, Anna get some rest and don't worry, we will be home soon and this will all be over." He kisses her on the cheek and she turns around to look at both him and Mac. "I don't know if I can ever thank you enough for everything you have done for me, for us. I..I really don't know what to say" she starts to choke on her words and has tears in her eyes. "Don't say anything Anna, we are all family and this is what families do for each other, don't ever forget that." Mac states emphatically looking at both her and Robert. All three hug each other briefly, before Robert and Anna head to their room.
As they enter their room, Robert suddenly remembers something and stops, telling Anna he will be right back. As he steps back he sees Mac existing Sean's room. "Mac can you come here a second?" as Mac walks over, Robert asks, "Can you do me a favor?" "Sure what is it?" Mac responds "While we were in the lobby, I noticed several clothing stores and little shops, can you go down there when you get a chance and pick up some cloths and toiletries like toothbrushes for both Anna and myself, oh and a razor for me. I don't want to leave her right now, but we have nothing with us to change into or use. Nothing fancy, just use your judgment. Just charge it to the rooms. Don't use your own credit cards" Robert asks rather quickly. "Yeah, sure no problem, I'll do it right away, besides I need some things myself, I'll be back soon." Mac replies. "Thanks mate, I really appreciate it" Robert says affectionately taking and shaking his hand. He watches him go until he disappears down the hall, then he turns and heads back into his room. He finds Anna lying backward on the bed, with her legs dangling off the end and her arms splayed out to her sides. She's out cold. He chuckles to himself as looks at her and is so overcome with the fact that she's here, and he has her back safely. He still has not asked her, nor can he tell if she is pregnant. The baggy pants and oversized shirt has hampered his ability to determine for himself. For right now, he just wants to revel in the fact that finally, finally he has his wife back. "Wife, Oy, Holly", he suddenly remembers. "Lord, now how the hell am I going to break THIS wonderful news to her?" he thinks and heads for the bathroom to take a shower. He turns the shower on and begins to strip off the grimy cloths he has been wearing for the last two days and ducks under the shower spray. He's in there for over twenty minutes, thinking up scenarios of the conversation he has to have with Anna and so far none are very pleasant. "Well its gotta be done so no sense delaying it any longer" he says to no one as he is about shut off the shower. "What's gotta be done?" Anna asks. Suddenly appearing behind the now-open shower curtain, almost giving him a heart attack for several reasons as he stands there taking in her naked body.
"So it's really true. You are pregnant." He says in a whisper that she barely hears above the sound of the shower. She stares at him and she sees his eyes well up with unshed tears. At that moment she is so overcome with emotion that she can't find her voice. She has waited for over fourteen years for this moment. This one moment denied to her before. To be able to tell this man whom she has loved more than life itself for so long, that "Yes I am carrying our child". But all she can do is smile at him and nod her head yes. He then holds out his hand to her, which she takes as he pulls her into his embrace. They stand there under the spray just holding each other tightly, not saying anything. He releases his hold slightly so that he can place his hand on her slightly bulging stomach over the baby, his baby that she carries inside her. "Amazing" he finally says to her. "I know, I still can't believe it myself. I still can't believe that we are here together again so that I could tell you in person and see your face as it is right now" She says through choked tears while looking up at him into his eyes and placing her hand on top of his. "Are you ok, how do you feel? How far along are you do you think? Were you able to see a doctor yet?" He stammers out all in one breath. "Shh, Shh", she says softly while placing her fingers over his lips. "Robert, I'm fine, in fact, I have never felt better especially right at this moment. I think I'm a little over four months if my calculations are correct. We can talk about the rest later, so stop worrying, ok, everything is fine." She reaches up and kisses him gently on the lips and he responds. It quickly escalates as they begin to devour each other with lips, tongues and wandering hands. Two torturous months of longing, desperation and hopelessness, comes pouring out of both of them. As she reaches for him and takes him in her hands, he stops suddenly. "No, no don't" he stammers out and stills her hands. At the look of hurt that quickly sweeps across her face, he immediately mutters as best he can at the moment with his eyes half closed. "Not.. here, dangerous….. you"
With that pitiful declaration and the equally pitiful strained look on his face, she bursts out laughing uncontrollably. God how she has missed him and the laughter, even the tears, but always the laughter. She didn't fully realize how much until this very moment. After she recovers with her forehead against his chest, she looks up at him and quips "Okay Tarzan, let's move this party somewhere more safe. For me…. of course." She takes his hand and leads him out of the shower toward the bed in the middle of the room. She begins to crawl onto the bed as he is watching very intently every move she makes. He is mesmerized and is so utterly awestruck by her beauty and the way she moves, that he briefly thinks that he might not make it, when suddenly there is a knock at the door. It shocks them both and they just stare at each other for a split second in stunned silence. Anna is the first to move as she hops off the bed and runs into the bathroom to grab the two white robes she saw hanging on the back of the door. She runs back through the room to throw one into Robert's face. That startles him into awareness as he quickly puts the robe on as he responds turning toward the door and through clenched teeth, "Who is it?" "It's Mac, I need to ask you something, it's important" he says quietly. Tying his robe belt with a little more strength than is necessary, he waits until Anna has hers on and tied, and then he opens the door. With all the patience he can muster considering everything his brother has done for him, he says, "Hey what's up?" Mac in all seriousness says "Sorry, well, I was just downstairs and in looking at all the clothing selections they have, what do you guys want? I mean button-down shirts or pull-overs and what sizes." Robert just stands there staring at him in disbelief; finally he asks incredulously "What?" Mac continues, "Well they have all different kinds down there, the long shirts with buttons down the front or ones without, like sweatshirts and t-shirts and I figured I better tell you what they have so you can decide for yourself before I pick out the wrong things." He stammers out quickly. Robert, still trying to control himself, cannot control his next sentence, which unfortunately comes out a little harsh despite his best efforts. "I didn't mean 'What' as in 'describe it to me' I meant 'What' as in 'WHO THE HELL CARES', just pick something." He almost shouts. "Geez, alright I will. You don't need to bite my head off. But knowing you, I will never hear the end of it when I pick out something you don't like, see ya" Mac says while storming off.
Robert shuts the door slowly still not believing the conversation he just had and wishing he could get back the last minute of his life. He leans his forehead against the door and shakes his head. Then he hears her. He turns around and sees Anna with both hands clasped tightly over her mouth desperately trying to silence her laughter. "Something you find amusing?" he asks with a smirk. Then she loses it and just lets it out. It's a sound that he doesn't think he could live another day without hearing again. Up until yesterday at this time; he thought he never would. Noticing the sudden look of complete love wash over her husband's face, Anna is taken back and slowly calms her laughter, mirroring the same look. His face suddenly changes to one of sadness as he looks down and then back up at her again. "Please, don't ever leave me again Anna, I won't survive it." He says with such conviction that it startles her and she loses her breath. "Robert", she says on a choked breath and it's the only thing she can say because at that moment she knows without a doubt that what he just said is true. She walks up to him until she stands right in front of him. She proceeds to drop her robe to the floor and then unties his and pushes it off his shoulders. She then kisses the middle of his chest "Never, never again." She whispers, while closing her eyes and grabbing his hand at the same time. She leads him back to the bed so that he is standing in front of it facing her. She places her hands on his chest and runs them up to his shoulders and she gently guides him to sit on the bed. While looking directly into his eyes, she places one knee then other onto the bed on either side of his thighs. She places her arms completely around his neck while she proceeds to fully sit in his lap.
They are intimately pressed against each other now and as they both feel the sensation at the same time, both sets of eyes go wide briefly, then slowly close on exhaled moans. She feels his lips on her cheek, on her jaw and on her neck. She realizes he is murmuring to her how much he loves her, how much he missed her. She is overcome with emotion and the tears that have been threatening to fall finally cascade down her cheeks. They are tears of joy and relief as she is finally in this man's arms again. His lips are on hers suddenly, as his tongue seeks entrance which she immediately grants. Their kisses quickly turn desperate as they both can't seem to get enough of each other. They pause briefly when the need for air becomes overwhelming. He gently turns and lays her on the bed trying to calm them both before it's over too soon. She welcomes this new pace as she wants to remember every moment of this long-awaited reunion. She has missed him with her whole soul as well as her body. The feel of his chest against hers; of his arms around her; how he whispers his love for her; his scent that never fails to ignite a fire inside her. She never thought she would taste him again or see the way he looks at her while he makes love to her. She buries her face is his neck placing her lips and tongue on the area that pulses with his life. She closes her eyes as she wraps her legs around his waist and as her hands roam his warm back from his waist to his buttocks. She can't get enough of him and she never wants this to end. He is saying her name over and over again as he begins to explore her body, drawing slowly downward to reacquaint himself to the taste and softness of her skin. She watches him with intense desire as he appears to be committing her body to memory and as if he doesn't ever want to forget or be without her again. Her heart fills to bursting as she watches and feels him gently kiss her belly. Their eyes lock as he places his cheek on her skin above her stomach and both sets of eyes fill with tears. He continues kissing and caressing her belly. It is amazing to him that his child, their child is inside her and that they both are safe in his arms. She can feel the tears fall on her as she continues to watch him. He looks up at her with the sweetest smile and then he is above her again and then suddenly, inside her. Immediately she arches off the bed at the intense sensations. "Oh Robert, Oh God", she says on an exhale. "Anna, Anna" Robert moans into her open mouth. They begin their dance immediately as weeks and months of separation overwhelm them both. They move in sync against each other until finally wave after wave hits as they both arch and then collapse against each other. Moments later, they are still breathing heavily into each other's open mouths. Robert moves first and rolls gently to her side and up on his elbow. He becomes slightly concerned after thinking suddenly about the baby. He looks at Anna whose eyes are still closed and whose mouth is still open breathing heavily. "You ok" he asks with what feels like a throat full of cotton, while stroking her damp face. She doesn't answer right away, but opens her eyes staring at the ceiling for a beat, then slowly rolls her head toward him looking straight into his eyes. Slowly, a smile spreads across her face and she responds "I'm more than OK, I'm perfect." "Yes, yes you are." He responds with such love in his voice, that her heart nearly bursts.
He awakens as the first light of a new day appears through the windows of their room. Through the fog of sleep, he briefly wonders where he is and what has happened. Then he feels it. That familiar weight against his back. Her arm and leg are wrapped around him from behind and her body is pressed tightly against his back in a position that has been the norm since they started sleeping together. He closes his eyes and loses himself in the sensations. These simple gestures and situations, he realizes, he had taken for granted during their short time together. He used to wake almost every morning to her wrapped around him in some form or another. She would unconsciously seek him out in her sleep and attach herself to him even during the hottest nights in the summer and even though he would be burning up from the added heat of her body, he never disengaged himself. He secretly calls her his barnacle because he knows that she would physically hurt him if he said it out loud. His mind unfortunately goes back to her time away from him; her time with Faison. It's too much for him and he closes his eyes with the weight of it. His mind contemplates the possible scenarios. What did he do to her? What was she forced to endure? The images of the time last year when Faison hypnotized him into seeing scenes in his mind of the two of them together suddenly appear in his mind's eye. He shudders uncontrollably and his survival instincts automatically kick in. He banishes the memories from his brain and refocuses on the feeling of her all around him. He suddenly feels the overwhelming need to see her face as she sleeps. He slowly turns himself over and succeeds in not waking her or removing her arm and leg from around his body.
They are now nose to nose as they share his pillow. He is again struck by how beautiful she is. He can't resist and reaches out to caress her cheek with one finger. She briefly stirs and burrows impossibly closer while tightening her grip on him with her arm and leg. They are now pressed intimately close together and he involuntary closes his eyes trying to prevent his body from reacting because he knows she needs to rest. When he opens his eyes again moments later, she is looking at him with that devilish smile on her face knowing how her movements are affecting him. "Hi." She says while reaching out to caress his face. "I thought it was another dream, but you really are here with me." She says quietly with tears in her eyes. "It is a dream Anna, it's my dream come true." He kisses her gently. He pulls back slightly. "I didn't mean to wake you, you need your rest." He says concerned. "I am rested Robert. Last night was the best night sleep I've had in two months. Being here with you, in your arms again is all I need. I thought I'd never get this chance again. I thought this was all lost to me forever. All those weeks alone…"She says but breaks down crying uncontrollably pulling him closer. "Shhh, shhh it's over now Love. It's all over and I will never let you out my sight again, never again." He says holding her closely and stroking her hair as her face is buried in his neck. He can feel her tears on his skin and it breaks his heart that she had to endure such a nightmare. He is choked with emotion and unshed tears as he just holds her and lets her vent all of her pent-up feelings. He knows she needs this to begin the healing process but seeing her in pain is one thing he has always had trouble coping with. She has quieted and is overcome with the smell and the taste of him as she kisses his neck and his jaw. "God, how I've missed you. I love you so much." She says to him after several minutes. He is overcome with emotion just being able to hold her again. "Missing you is just not enough to say what its been like without you in our lives. God Anna, the love I feel for you and the loss of it has consumed me. I love you with everything I am." His voice is strained and choked to her ears and she realizes how rare these displays of raw emotion are for him. She is overwhelmed with her love for him. "Show me." she whispers against his lips as she pulls back to look into his eyes again.