Scorpio House, Port Charles
"Robert, everything is fine, just open the door, dear." Anna says through gritted teeth and trying desperately not to lose the patience that she is barely clinging to. Anna is carrying the baby as Robert asks for the hundredth time if everything is ok. They proceed inside and the baby is still sleeping soundly. Robert and Robin are both carrying everything inside and take everything upstairs to their bedroom while Anna goes and sits on the couch with William.
She is so happy to be home, their home with their new baby and their daughter. It seems all so surreal to her right now. Robert and Robin come down the stairs and they are just looking at him and Anna and are smiling. Robert can see that Anna is tired and the doctors said she does need her rest and a lot of it.
"Hey why don't we go upstairs and put him in the bassinet in our room so you can rest for a little while." He says. "Yeah, I want to change and he should be ready to eat again soon anyway." They all go upstairs and Robin sits on their bed. They have situated the bassinet at the end of their bed and have placed a rocking chair and changing table in the corner by the window.
"You want to hold him for a minute?" Anna asks Robin. Robin smiles widely and says "Yes." Anna proceeds to show her how to hold him and the baby is still sleeping soundly. Robert and Anna just stand and watch the scene. Robert remembers his camera and whips it out of one of the bags and takes a picture. Anna chuckles slightly thinking they are going to have to add film development to their household expenses.
Its been about two hours since they have been home, and Anna has been dozing on the bed while William continues to sleep and is very comfortable. She is so happy to be home and in her own bed. She is sore all over and is extremely tired, but she is extremely happy. She lifts her head when she hears him making sounds in his bassinet. She then wonders where Robert and Robin have gone to.
She gets up carefully and looks at him. His eyes are open and he has his fist in his mouth. She smiles at him and at how beautiful he is. She never thought this would happen for her again and she marvels at the sight of him. He starts to really fuss and she looks at the clock and knows he is past due to eat again. He starts to really cry and she picks him up and quiets him as she goes back to the bed and gets comfortable. She begins to nurse him and is again amazed how easily he took to it. Robert comes in right after and sees them and smiles.
"How's he doing?" He asks quietly.
"Very good." She says looking down at him. Robert sits next to her and caresses the baby's head. Anna looks up at him and smiles. They kiss briefly as they watch their son eat.
"How do you feel?" He asks.
"I feel,…. blessed." She says looking over at him with tears in her eyes. He kisses her again. "Me too."
Robin comes to the door. "Can I come in?" She asks. "Of course you can." Anna says. Robin comes over and sits on the bed next to her dad. "He's so tiny." She says.
Robert figures the two of them need time alone. He gets up and says. "I'm going to see about dinner. Any suggestions?" He whispers.
"Hmmm. Just something light for me like a salad or something." Anna says.
"Ok I'll place an order at Kelly's and go pick it up." Robert says looking back at his family. Anna smiles at him as she watches him leave. Robin watches for awhile.
"Does it hurt?" She suddenly asks her mother.
"No not really. It in the beginning. Right now, I'm a little sore all over though. It will take a couple of days." She says.
"Did you feed me like this?" She asks.
"Yes I did and I loved it. I loved being this close to you and you were such a good baby." Anna says. Robin smiles.
"He is really cute. I don't know who he looks like yet though. He kind of looks like dad, but I don't know."
"Well he is still a little swollen, his features will change in the next couple of days. I think he is definitely your father though. He has your father's eyes." Anna says.
"I thought all babies had blue eyes when they're born." Robin says.
"They do but William's is much lighter than I remember yours being. Yours turned my color within like a week." Robin smiles and caresses his head.
"His hair is almost blond." Robin says. "Definitely your father's hair. Your hair was black when you were born and only lightened a little bit like mine." Robin smiles. Robin sits for a moment and is thinking and Anna can sense it.
"Robin are you ok?" She asks.
"Yeah I really am. I don't want to sound sappy or anything, but this is what I've always wanted for us." Robin says. The tears start falling and Anna hugs her daughter with her free arm.
"I love you sweetheart. You and your dad and now your brother is all I've ever wanted too. We all deserve this. You're right, you and your father are getting really sappy lately, I feel like I'm the emotionally stable one right now." Anna says laughing and Robin joins in. She has her daughter in one arm and her son in the other, she knows she had never been happier.
After dinner Anna has gone back to bed. It will be time to feed William again soon, so she figured she should sleep while he does. Robert and Robin are downstairs watching TV, when Robert asks, "What's your plans for tomorrow? I know it's been a crazy couple of days, but you do have that class tomorrow."
"I figured I would stay home and help mom tomorrow." She replies.
"Don't worry I'll be here and Olin will be here. I don't want you to miss it. Ok? Plus its Thursday tomorrow and then it will be the weekend." Robin smiles at him and agrees.
"I better get stuff done for tomorrow then." She says getting up and kissing her father.
After about an hour, Robert closes up downstairs and head upstairs. He walks in their bedroom and they are both sleeping soundly. He quietly takes out his pajamas from his dresser and goes into the bathroom. He comes out 20 minutes later and sees Anna is awake.
"Hi." She says smiling at him.
"Hi, did you get some rest?" He asks kneeling beside her by the bed.
"Yes definitely." She says caressing his face. "What time is it?' she asks.
He looks at his watch. "930."
"Hmmm, he is sleeping good. I hope it lasts." She says smiling.
"He looks very content right now. So go back to sleep." He replies.
"Where are you going?" She asks.
"I was actually going to bed. I'm a little tired myself. Robin is doing homework. She is going to class tomorrow." He says.
"Ok good. She should. I don't want her to miss this class. Well for one since it cost us a fortune and two because she will need these credits for college and it will give her a leg up. Come and lay with me." She says and he smiles.
He gets comfortable and she lays her head on his chest. She groans a little with the movement.
"You ok?" He asks. "Just a little sore." She says.
"That's to be expected. You know over the next few days and possibly a week, you are going to be very sore as your breasts fill with milk and with all the stitching you had, it might be a longer than usual recovery." He says very clinically.
"Robert please stop reading the books. Its freaking me out." She says chuckling. He chuckles as well.
"I just like to keep informed."
"Yeah I know."
"They also say massages will help in reducing breast discomfort." He says.
"Figures you would focus on that. I knew you had an ulterior motive." She says smiling and he chuckles.
They lay like that for awhile and both fall asleep until they hear William crying. Robert immediately is awake and goes over to his son and picks him up. He quiets him down. Anna sits up sleepily and gets comfortable against the headboard.
"Should we change him first?" he asks.
"I don't think so. He should be fine, plus I don't think he will be too accommodating unless he eats first."
He comes over to the bed and she takes him. He goes back to his side of the bed and lays down and watches. It amazes him. When the baby is done, she looks over at Robert who is fast asleep and she smiles. Its late now and she hopes William will sleep for at least four hours now. She has finished changing him and puts him back in the bassinet. She crawls gingerly back into bed, shuts out the light and gets comfortable against Robert's back. She kisses his neck and drapes her arm across his waist. Today was one of the best days, if not the best day of her life, she thinks and quickly falls asleep.
The night passed as expected. William was up every couple of hours. Robert helped out as much as he could. Its 7am and Robert gets up automatically. Anna is against his back fast asleep. He smiles and tries to extract himself without disturbing her. She awakens.
"Where are you going?" She asks sleepily.
"Just going to make sure Robin is up go back to sleep." He says bending down to kiss her.
He shrugs into his robe and goes to look at William who is sleeping soundly. He smiles and then goes out of the room quietly to ensure Robin is up getting ready for her class at 8. Robert sees Robin off to class, greets Olin and then goes into the office to check in at work for a while. After an hour, he goes back upstairs and sees Anna in the rocking chair nursing William. She looks up and smiles when she sees him.
"Are you hungry? Olin's here and she's making you something."
"Yeah I could eat. He's almost done."
The baby is sleeping and she gets up from the rocking chair and goes over to the changing table. Robert comes over and joins her.
"I think its your turn Dad." She says smiling up at him. Anna instructs him on what to do and is really surprised and happy at how good he is. They are laughing and smiling as their son sleeps through the entire thing. Robert takes him and holds him and goes to sit in the rocking chair while Anna goes back to bed. She watches them together and is choked up at the sight.
"Robert put him back in the bassinet and come lay with me for a while." He looks up and smiles at her. They both sleep soundly for another hour. Anna wakes up first and looks up from Robert's chest and sees him sleeping soundly. She caresses his chest as she looks over at the bassinet watching her son sleeping.
"How are you feeling?" He whispers. She smiles and looks up at him.
"Hmmm much better, but I need to take a shower." She says.
"Ok come on lets go before he wakes up." She smiles at him as he helps her get undressed and into the shower.
"You're joining me right?" She says to him over her shoulder.
"Yes I am." He says getting undressed. He washes her body and she is in heaven and feels so much better.
"Thank you. I love you so much."
"I love you more." He replies kissing her sweetly
It's been a week since both Anna and William have been home and everyone has settled into somewhat of a routine. There has been a steady stream of visitors almost every day and for the first time Anna is enjoying the quiet with just her and William. Robin and Olin will be home soon from Robin's dance practice session and she is looking forward to the help while she finishes feeding William.
The doorbell rings just as she's putting William in his bassinet in the living room and she makes sure he's settled and still asleep and then goes to answer the door. It is a delivery man with a large wrapped bouquet of flowers attached to a stuffed bear. She thanks the delivery man with a tip and brings the flowers into the living room and proceeds to unwrap it.
She is stunned to realize as the flowers become visible that the bouquet contains orchids, very large orchids. Her hands begin to shake as she searches frantically for the card and finds it buried deep in the arrangement. She has to brace herself with the overwhelming sense of relief she feels when she reads that the card is from Robert's friends Luke and Laura. She remembers Robert mentioning that he had spoken to Luke a couple of days ago and that they were possibly planning a visit in the near future.
She berates herself for overreacting and reminds herself that Faison is dead, truly dead this time and that he will never again interfere in her life. Faison. That name conjures up such feelings of dread, pain and misery. She has not thought about him or her ordeal in months and is disgusted that he is part of her thoughts now as she stares at William sleeping peacefully. That part of her life is over forever and they have all moved on leaving it in the past.
She suddenly remembers, Robert. Robert never did question her or even attempt to ask her about any aspect of that awful time in his captivity. She is again bothered by the fact that he never once voiced his concern over what happened or what he thinks might have happened. She knows he is a very proud man and very possessive when it comes to her. However, considering all that happened, it bothers her that he can't put that aside his pride to confirm or dispel his suspicions of what she went through with Faison for all those weeks. She vows to herself that she will have this discussion with him. She will not let him get away with thinking or imagining the worst when in fact she was rather fortunate that nothing significant did happen.
The doorbell rings again and she is pulled from her thoughts but thinks she has to disconnect that thing for awhile if she is ever going to keep this baby sleeping.
"Hi Anna, are you guys up for a visit from Uncle Mac today?"
"We always are Mac, get in here. He's sleeping now but it will give us a chance to talk for awhile, Robin should be home soon too." Anna says with a smile as she lets him in.
"You look great, looks like you are already back to your fighting form." He says with a wink.
"Yeah right. I think I'm a long way from that, but thanks anyway. So what brings you by today considering I just saw you yesterday? Keep in mind I am not complaining at all." Anna says with a little humor but senses something is up.
"Well actually there is another reason I am here, I spoke to Robbie this afternoon and he extended an invitation for dinner for tomorrow night." Mac says without looking at her.
"Okaaay, I'm happy to hear it, but you could have called and RSVP'd. I'm sensing there is more to it though, isn't there?" She says
"Yeah there is, you see I have been avoiding a situation and well actually a conversation with you because quite honestly I don't know how to approach the subject."
"Mac, just ask me or tell me or whatever. I'm sure it's not as bad as what you're imagining. God, you and Robert are so much alike. It drives me crazy. Just bite the bullet already." She says with a slight smile.
"Okay, you asked for it. Well you see I'm involved with someone right now that I would like to bring along tomorrow and well, um this person is someone you know and well I have kind of avoided bringing her around because of that and well she is getting impatient with me and rightly so, so I think tomorrow would probably be the best time to kind of bite the bullet as you said. But I wanted to make sure that you would be ok with it. I don't want to make you uncomfortable in your own home or in any situation really so well here I am to ask you first" He stumbles out.
Anna is valiantly trying to contain her laughter and is successful, up until the last part. She chuckles a little because she knows what's going on, but obviously he doesn't think she does. So much like Robert, she thinks. Give them a life and death situation and they are as cool as ice, ask them to express their feelings, they are bumbling fools.
"Mac, relax, I know what's going on and it's completely fine. Yes Holly and I have history, obviously, but things have changed dramatically and we all have moved on with our lives. If she makes you happy that's all that matters to me. Besides, I have never been insecure in my life and I'm not about to start now. Robert and I have an understanding and we both know where we stand with each other and that will never change. So trust me when I say this, you are both welcome here and not to make you feel bad or anything, if I was Holly I would be a little pissed off too that it took you this long." She says trying to lighten the mood.
"Thanks Anna, I know I have not handled this well at all and I should have definitely done this sooner. But it's not every day that you date your brother's ex-wife and well I couldn't find any books on the subject on how to handle these social situations. You're the best you know, Robert's lucky to have you. And I know he knows it." He says smiling at her.
"Yes he does know it because I remind him every day. Actually Mac there is something I want to ask you. Since it does involve Robert, please feel free to not answer because it's a brother confidentiality thing or something."
"Okay shoot, what's up?" He says sitting down.
"I don't know where to start actually, I mean everything is great and since I've known Robert, we have never been happier, but there is one thing that has been bothering me since we returned from South America." She says sitting across from him.
"What is it Anna, did something happen? Is it Faison?" Mac asks suddenly griped with fear.
"No, no it's nothing like that at all, believe me. It's actually very personal and it's very difficult for me to ask this question, but I need to know and yes it does have to do with Faison."
"Okay, Go on", Mac says suddenly confused.
"It's been almost six months since I was rescued from Faison, I spent almost two months in his captivity, with this man whom everyone knows was obsessed with me. It was a terrible time I know for both myself and for my family. However, I'm struggling with the fact that Robert has never asked me once what happened during that time, in fact he has never once brought it up since we've been back. Is it me? Or is there something seriously wrong? Or are there things that I do not know?" Anna says to him as they sit across from each other in the living room.
Mac leans back against the couch not sure on how to respond. He is a little shocked at this revelation, but knowing his brother like he does, he understands why.
"Anna, first of all, its not you. If it were anyone else we were talking about here, I would find it a little strange. But you of all people should know how Robert deals with situations like this. To him not knowing is more bearable than facing the truth whatever that might be. I have to tell you, he was completely frantic when you were taken, it consumed him. Of course he didn't open up completely to me about what he was thinking, but I knew that he would go to the ends of the earth to find you. Even after we found out about Faison knowing you when you were a child and there was suspicion that you might be with Faison willingly with the tape and the letter and everything, he never…."
"What? What are you talking about? What tape? What letter? Did Robert actually believe I was with Faison willingly? Oh my God, oh my God, this can't be true." Anna stands up quickly and starts pacing with her hand on her forehead.
"Anna, wait hold on a second, slow down. I can't believe this; I thought Robert would have told you all of this already. Alright listen to me. Sit down for a minute and listen." She stops pacing and sits down in the chair but is still staring at the floor in shock.
"Right after you were taken, a tape recording of your voice was sent to him. It was confirmed that it was your voice by the WSB and on it you told Robert to forget about you, that you were happy with Faison and that you should send Robin to be with her mother. Even after it was confirmed to be authentic, Robert felt very strongly that perhaps Faison had hypnotized you again. He even went to Tom Hardy to have his suspicions confirmed. Tom of course wouldn't give him any information regarding your case, but something he did say did indicate that Faison had some kind of hold over you that you were not ready to let go of. He didn't say what kind of hold, but I think Robert felt it had nothing to do with any feelings you had for him, that maybe it again was more of the same Faison manipulation. Then he found out from Holly that Faison knew you as a child. That really threw him but again he put it behind him. In fact, Anna a lot of things that came to light during those first few weeks kind of threw all of us." Mac says with some remorse recalling the moments when he found out Anna was a double-agent. He feels this is not the time for that conversation and is not really sure if there will ever be a right time.
He continues, "Then Sean mentioned to Robert that he saw you crying that day after visiting Faison in jail before he escaped. Sean said at first he thought it was emotional relief, but that maybe in light of everything else, that maybe it was something more." Mac stops as he sees Anna is getting more and more upset.
"But you see Anna, even when others were starting to have doubts, when this circumstantial evidence was piling up, I truly believed that Robert never bought into those theories, his faith in you and your relationship kept him going. He still risked everything to find you and bring you home. I think the fact that he hasn't asked you about it shows that he never doubted you for a second." He waits for a response, but she just sits there with her hands on her cheeks holding up her head as tears stream down her face.
"Anna say something, anything. I know it's a shock to you to hear all of this now after so much time has passed, but look at the both of you now, you've never been happier, you have a new son. Why dredge all of this up again after all this time, what's the point?" He asks desperately.
"Well obviously there are things that I didn't know that shed a whole new light on this situation. I mean my husband might have thought I ran away with our arch-enemy to live happily ever after, with his best friend and mine actually fanning the flames of that suspicion. I mean, my God Mac, after everything that has happened in our past, in our first marriage and how long it took us to finally reconnect after all those years, for him to even think for second that I would betray him and be with Faison willingly, makes me physically ill." She says suddenly exhausted and emotionally spent.
"Anna, do what you feel you need to do, and maybe when you have time to digest all of this you will see things clearer, but know this as fact; Robert loves you more than life itself and I honestly believe now there is nothing you can say or do that will ever change that. But don't press him, because as you know he doesn't respond well to pressure and might shut down, albeit temporarily. So bringing this all up now when it should be such a happy time for both of you, well, I'm not sure it's the right time yet, but that's just my opinion." Mac says while standing.
"I don't know, I do need to think about it. But I don't know if I can wait now with everything I know." She looks at Mac who looks completely distressed.
"Mac don't look so guilty, it's not your fault. I needed to hear all of this. I can't say I understand but on some level, knowing him, I can see why after all these months he never even broached the subject. I think I know now what needs to be done." Anna says emphatically regaining her composure and her strength. She hugs him tightly.
"Please don't worry, ok? Everything will turn out for the better once this is all settled and out in the open." She tries to reassure him.
"I can't promise I won't worry and please don't be upset with Sean. He was just trying to protect Robert by looking at things objectively when he knew Robert could not." Mac says
"I know that, Mac. I can't say that I understand his position completely. I mean I thought he knew me as well as he knew Robert, but whatever, I'll deal with him later." She tries to lighten the mood. This is not Mac's problem and she has no right to bring this on him.
"Don't worry. Tomorrow night is still on and I'm looking forward to it, ok?" Anna says with a forced smile.
"Well on that happy note, I have to go and get the club ready for tonight. Please call me if you need anything, I mean anything, understand?" Mac says.
"Yes, I will, I promise. You know despite everything, you did turn out to be a pretty okay Brother-in-Law." She says with a wink.
"Gee thanks. I'm touched. I'll see you later." He kisses her on the cheek at the front door and leaves.
Anna leans heavily on the door as it closes behind Mac. She is reeling from what he has told her. All of the moments and the conversations that have occurred over the past months since her return come flooding back. It all begins to paint a very disturbing picture. It makes her so sad that he would be carrying around this thought that something might have happened with her and Faison or that he even remotely thought she was with him willingly. Robert always wants to know everything, but in this case the silence from him is deafening. She gasps as she suddenly realizes that he may suspect that either Faison forced himself on her or worse that she gave herself willingly. And at the root of it is something she didn't tell him again. She is distraught.