The Outback Club, Port Charles
The club is packed now with invited guests all organized by Mac and Tiffany. This party is celebration of multiple events for the Scorpio family in recent months. The two most important being their safe return and their new baby on the way and even though they do not want to acknowledge it with fanfare, Tiffany decided to throw in their recent civil ceremony when they were remarried after the divorce papers were finalized expeditiously. She won't tell them that part as Sean reminded her several times that it would not be a good idea.
Tiffany decided to make it a formal affair and told Anna that Mac was trying out this new theme to see if he can attract a higher clientele. In actuality, she loved formal affairs and it gave her an excuse to buy an expensive gown for the event. Anna was not too thrilled at first, until she found a stunning maternity gown in red that she knew Robert would love.
Anna decided to hold out on the formal part of the evening until the last minute, because she knew it would be a deal-breaker for him, she knows him so well. "Mac, Mac" Tiffany yells to him at the door. "Robin just called and said they just left, so they should be here in ten minutes."
"Great, ok, let me cut the music for now," just as Mac is about to turn away from greeting people at the door, Holly walks in. He is stunned and completely unnerved. Tiffany is also a little taken aback but in her usual candor says, "This is a surprise, Holly what are you doing here?"
"Well Mac invited me and I thought I would take him up on it." She says with a smile looking around the club at all the familiar faces. Nobody else has noticed her yet since they are all embroiled in having a good time.
Mac is just staring at Holly in disbelief but he manages to croak out. "Holly, glad you came but unfortunately there is a private party happening here tonight, I think I might have mentioned it. But since you came all this way, why don't you have a seat at the bar and George will set you up on the house." He strains to say it all without sounding unnerved.
As Holly walks away, Sean walks up to both Mac and Tiffany and says quietly, "What's going on here? Why is she here?"
"Well apparently, Mac invited her and well here she is. Sean we cannot make a big deal out of this or it will ruin everything, if we act like it's a problem it will become one. Just ignore it for now, they are going to be here in about five minutes, ok?" Tiffany says
"What does she mean you invited her?" Sean barks at Mac. "Whats the big deal?" Mac asks not knowing Sean's real concerns. "Look, it's a long story, but to sum it up quickly, Holly called me a couple of weeks ago, she sounded very upset and I went to see her and well I mentioned to her on occasion to come to the Outback if she was ever in Port Charles again, and well she just picked the wrong night, that's all."
"What do you mean on occasion? Do you mean it's been more than once that you have seen her recently, Mac what the hell is going on?'' Sean spits at him. "I don't answer to you Sean." He says emphatically as he walks away to the bandstand.
Frisco walks up to Sean, "Stupid question, but what is she doing here?"
"Don't ask, I'm still not 100% sure myself. But it actually might work out to our advantage."
Tiffany looks at them both confused and is about to say something, but then Mac makes the announcement about the music and the Scorpio's impending arrival. Everyone quiets down while Holly who is sitting at the far end of the bar sips her drink and tries to remain unnoticed.
Suddenly the door opens, and Robert and Anna come in holding hands and smiling at each other and everyone yells surprise. They are stunned into immobility and are instantly swamped by their friends greeting and congratulating them. They both accuse each other of setting this up, but then immediately Mac and Tiffany take responsibility.
Anna is so overcome with emotion she is in tears and quickly goes to Robert's side as he puts his arms around her shoulders. They are escorted to their table with Sean, Tiffany, Frisco, Felicia, Bobby and Tony. Mac goes back to the stage area and proceeds to make a toast to his family, thanking them for still being in his life and for bringing home the news of another niece or nephew.
It's an emotional speech for all and he gets too choked up to continue until Robert goes on stage to get hug him and bring him back to the table where he hugs Anna who is also an emotional wreck.
This entire scene is observed by Holly who is overwhelmed with jealousy and thoughts of hopelessness and has to leave out the back way to the apartment behind the club.
The evening progresses with dancing and crowd mingling. Mac has been busy playing host and the evening's MC, almost forgets that three hours ago Holly showed up on his doorstep. He knows he's playing with fire getting involved even on the most innocent level with Holly, but he felt an obligation to see her when she called.
He knows when she left that first night she was a mess, not knowing what her place was in the whole situation. He really did not want her to leave like that but it was for the best at the time. His main concern was his brother and his wife. However, he knows now that events have transpired in recent weeks least of which is Robert's confirmation of the finalized divorce from Holly which made him think that she must be feeling very lost and alone right now. Mac became pretty close to Holly during the weeks his brother and sister-in–law were gone. They bonded over trying to raise Robin not knowing if her parents would ever return. Now he just has to try to explain this to his brother.
What will he think? knowing Robert he won't even try to understand, but then again stranger things have happened. As he's thinking all of this, he realizes that she is nowhere in the club, where could she have gone. He heads for the apartment area in the back of the club.
Mac finds her sitting on the couch trying to compose herself. He comes in and says "Here you are, I've been looking all over for you."
"I'm sorry Mac, I made a huge mistake coming here tonight, I didn't realize this was the night you were planning for this party. I should really go before anyone sees me, I don't want to spoil anything."
"Don't be ridiculous, you came all the way up here, why don't you come inside, these are your friends too, I'm sure Robert and Anna will not mind at all." Mac tries to say convincingly, although not believing most of it himself.
"Maybe in a little while, I'm going to make a few phone calls to go back to New York tonight, if can I use your phone?"
"Sure make yourself at home here and stay as long as you like. I'll stop back in a little while. Look it's late and I'm pretty sure Robert and Anna will be leaving soon because it looks like she's getting very tired very fast. So why don't you come out then if you are that uncomfortable, ok?" Mac says with a smile. He's such a sweet man, so much like Robert she thinks, so much like him.
"Yes thank you Mac. Seems like I'm always saying that to you lately." She says smiling back.
The dance floor is packed as Frank Sinatra's "I've Got You Under My Skin" is playing. Robert and Anna are also on the dance floor as well dancing very intimately together and much as they can with her stomach in the way. They are whispering and looking into each other's eyes as if they are the only ones on the floor.
After kissing her again, he says "You know, it's as if this song was written specifically about the way I feel about you. All these years, and I could never get you out my system. I'm as sure as hell glad I didn't. I have truly never been happier than I am right now." He kisses the tears on her cheek and then kisses her long and hard before twirling her and then very seductively dipping her to applause in the room.
She is totally and completely embarrassed, but at the moment has never been so in love as she is right now. Looking at this man, who loves her completely and unconditionally, she is overwhelmed. This man who knows her like no other has before. Who accepts her faults and her past and who will do so until death do them part as they have now vowed to for the third time in their life together. She wraps her arms around his neck not caring any longer the scene they are causing. "I adore you Robert." She leans in as close as she can and kisses him taking his lower lip between her own.
"I've known these two for more years than I will ever admit to, but I can honestly say that I have never seen them this happy and I must say it's long overdue." Sean says to Tiffany sitting next to him. "Yes, I know. They deserve this after everything they have been through. I hope that you can now forgive yourself Sean and put the past behind you. They are happy and you deserve to be happy too. It's all in their hands now Sean, it's up to them to make this work. All three of you have made decisions in the past that affected the course of your own lives, you are not solely responsible for everything that has happened Sean, please remember that." Tiffany says while grabbing his hand.
"I know that, I do and they know it too. I think for once we are all going to finally have the happiness we deserve." He says solemnly but with a smile. "I just hope Holly's appearance here tonight will not ruin this happy occasion. I still don't understand what is going on here, and I'm very sure you know a lot more than you're telling me Sean. So be prepared to give me the details when we get home." Tiffany says with conviction. "Yes dear, I promise, in fact I might need your help with something." Sean says suddenly thinking of an idea.
"Love, do you want to sit down for a bit you seem tired?" Robert asks taking notice of the huge yawns as she rests her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, I guess so, I just don't want this night to end it's been so wonderful. I can't believe they planned all this and that our devious daughter was in on the whole thing. I wish she was here with us tonight, but I'm sure she's having a better time with all her friends. I hope the house is still standing when we get home." She says chuckling.
They walk over to the bar area, not wanting to join the crowds just yet. "I'm sure the house is fine, I just hope Olin is fulfilling her chaperoning duties. Oh and thanks for springing that one on me while we were walking out the door. You knew I would never leave if I'd known she was having boys over tonight." He says to her.
"Hey you two, why don't you wait until this one's done before you start on the next one." Frisco says as he and Felicia join them at the bar after observing that dance floor display. "Shut up Frisco." Felicia says as she swats him in the stomach.
Robert asks the three of them if they need drink refills and walks over to Mac and Sean at the other end of the bar area. Anna, Frisco and Felicia continue talking but as Anna glances over at Robert who is laughing and smiling with his brother and Sean, she is struck once again by how utterly attractive he is. When he is truly happy, like he is now, he is like a beacon for her and all she can think of is getting him home so that they can be alone. 'He's mine and that happiness is because of me, our daughter and this baby' she thinks proudly. 'We came so close to losing all of this.'
As he is walking back with the drinks, he catches her looking at him and thinks to himself, "I know THAT look" and returns her gaze. He is struck by how beautiful she looks. He hands her and Felicia their drinks and stands next to Anna who links her arm in his while still sitting on the barstool.
Frisco and Felicia catch the exchange of looks and decide to hit the dance floor. "Have I told you tonight that you look absolutely breathtaking in this dress? It's so true what they say about pregnant women. You are by far the sexiest thing I have ever seen." He says while leaning over to kiss her while she sits on the barstool.
She places her hand on his neck and then kisses him deeply. "Yes you have, twice in fact and may I say that you, as usual, look good enough to eat in your tuxedo." While she is stroking his face and hair, she says "I just love your hair this way. You look incredibly sexy and if you ever let your hair grow out again, I'll cut it in your sleep, do you hear me?" she chuckles.
All he heard was "good enough to eat" so he is unresponsive until she kisses him again. This time he turns it up a notch kissing her very sensually and with intent. He doesn't realize that he's also beginning to insinuate himself between her legs. "Robert, Robert" she breaks the kiss, "We're in public, sweetheart." She says reluctantly while looking around to make sure they are not drawing unwanted attention. She is just as turned on as he is, and thinking maybe it's time to go. Robin's party should be over by now and then they can start their own.
"Wanna go? I can just say I'm getting tired which is half true and we can say our goodbyes, ok?" She says while still holding on to him. He's looking at her with such lust in his eyes that she feels they must leave now. "Let's get Robert junior home, so his parents can play." He says with a smirk. "Hey we don't know it's a boy yet you know, it could be another little girl." She says while taking his hand as he guides her off the barstool.
"Nope it's a boy, I know it is, I can feel it. Besides it just has to be. I don't think my heart will be able to handle another teenage girl and all the worries and the baggage that goes with it plus with all that estrogen in the house, I'll never survive." He says in all seriousness.
She laughs out loud and says "I think you're right. I hope it is a boy and that he looks just like you, especially with those eyes." He loves her laugh and she looks so utterly beautiful when she's happy. "I love you so much you know." He says with a smile. "And I love you, more than you'll ever know." She replies.
In the dark shadow of the hallway leading from the apartment, Holly has witnessed the entire exchange unnoticed. She was about to come out but stopped when she noticed them on the dance floor. She immediately fixated on Anna's wedding rings and Robert's. She remembers she never had an engagement ring nor did Robert have a wedding band when they were married and for some reason that bothers her greatly now.
"That should be me in his arms, carrying his baby and going home with him tonight. Fate can be so cruel" She thinks to herself. If it wasn't for Anna's return into Robert's life seven years ago and the constant intrusion into her marriage with Robert, she never would have left him and gotten on that plane. Something inside her snaps at that realization and she becomes more determined than ever to follow through with her plans. "You belong with me Robert, it is our destiny."
As everyone joins them in the bar area, including Mac, both Robert and Anna eventually announce that they are leaving and begin to thank everyone and say their goodbyes. As they are heading toward the entrance to leave, Holly comes from behind the bar area to stand next to Mac at the hostess podium. Mac notices her at the same time Robert and Anna do. Both are coming up the small steps with Sean and Tiffany behind them.
Mac momentarily panics and can't hide the guilty look on his face as both Robert and Anna are shocked but hide it with trained precision as they continue up the stairs. "Holly, surprised to see you here tonight." Robert says suddenly to break or add to the tension, he's not sure. One thing he is sure of, his brother has something to do with this and can't wait to hear the explanation.
Grabbing his hand to settle him a bit, Anna says with as much grace as she can muster. "Holly, good to see you, I'm glad I had the chance to thank you in person for taking care of our daughter for us. I know Robin is very appreciative, I hope you've received her letter."
Now the scene has attracted a little bit of attention from the other party goers in the room who were watching Robert and Anna leave. "Yes, yes I did it was very sweet and I'm actually still working on my return letter to her. She's very intelligent, you should be very proud of her." Holly responds with equal grace.
"Yes, we are thank you." Robert says quickly then adds "Thank you everybody and especially Tiffany and Mac it was a wonderful evening we will never forget it." He says as they both hug Tiffany and Mac successfully ignoring the awkward situation. As Robert puts his arms around Anna's shoulder he tells Sean and Tiffany, " Goodnight everyone. Mac I'll talk to you tomorrow." He says the last part with a pointed glare toward Mac, which he reads as intended. Then he grabs Anna's hand as they retrieve their coats and walk out the door.