Chapter 23
By Sunday the excitement about their return was starting to calm down a little. There had been many friends stopping by to visit, there had even been reporters calling for interviews as well as TV stations that wanted them to be their guests. It was Tiffany that finally convinced them that they had to give some kind of interview so Saturday afternoon they filmed an interview and that seemed to help answer most of the questions people had.
Robert and Anna were up in the room they were staying in stretched out on the bed just talking. Robin had gone to visit some friends and Mac and Felicia were downstairs with the girls. "Have you noticed Mac is sleeping in the study?" Anna asked.
"Yeah, I had noticed that. He won't tell me what's going on between them. All he said was that they are having problems."
"I know we've never seen them together as a couple so I don't know what they're normally like but there seems to be something keeping them from connecting. Do you know what I mean?"
"Yeah, it's like something has caused a rift between them and they don't seem to be able to get past that."
"I think I'm going to ask Robin. I just want to know because I don't want our being here causing them any more problems."
"Alright," Robert agreed. He knew Anna wasn't a gossip and didn't usually poke her nose into other peoples personal lives. "So tomorrow Mac is taking me down to headquarters, did you want to come with us?"
"Of course I do." Anna knew this was kind of the feeling out part of their plan. Mac says he doesn't want to be commissioner any longer. He might start telling people that tomorrow, the major and DA have to be on board for this to even be considered but Anna just had a feeling it wouldn't be long before Robert had his job back.
"What about you, do you have any plans this week?"
"I think Bobbie said lunch on Wednesday." Anna turned onto her side and put her hand on Robert's chest, "My head is healing fine. Charlotte won't be a problem now. I want to make that other appointment."
"Let me know when it is. I want to be there, Luv," he said as he rubbed her back.
"You aren't going to say we should wait? That it isn't the right time."
"Anna I'm not waiting for anything anymore. I have you back and I don't want to waste time thinking there will be a better time later on. If we want to have another baby I think we should find out if that's even a possibility as soon as possible. Why would we want to wait?"
She smiled and kissed his cheek, "I'll call tomorrow and make the appointment."
"I want us to go after our dreams, Anna. We're together and I'm not going to waste any more time."
Their conversation was interrupted by yelling from outside their door. Clearly, Mac and Felicia had moved away from the girls so they wouldn't overhear them but must have forgotten that Robert and Anna were in their room. "So it's not bad enough you won't stay away from Luke but when I mention Frisco said he might want to come here when he was done with work you get all worked up. What am I to you, Felicia? Am I just the guy you're with because the one you want isn't around?"
Felicia didn't answer right away. "I don't know," she said quietly. So quietly that Robert and Anna still didn't know if she had said anything.
"You don't know?" Mac questioned. "Are we just wasting our time trying to make this work?"
Felicia's head was down when she answered, "I don't know. I'm sorry Mac, I don't know what to tell you."
"Do you want to be with me? Can you answer that?"
"Mac, I don't want to just give up on us but all I seem to do now is hurt you."
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"I was talking to Bobbie while you were away. There's an apartment at the Brownstone that the girls and I could use. I don't want to give up on our marriage but I think we need to take a little break and just try to become friends again. Be the person the other one can't wait to talk to. We are so off right now I feel like we're just making everything worse."
"You want us to separate?"
"I want us to make our marriage work, Mac. If that means we live apart for a while then I think that's what we should do. I do still love you."
"I still love you too, you know that. Have you already told Bobbie you'll take the apartment?"
"No, I told her I'd let her know after you got back."
"Can we talk about this again after the girls are in bed? I want to save our marriage. Will you at least talk to me more about why you want to do this?"
"Alright, this evening we'll talk more."
Then Anna and Robert heard them walk away, Anna wiped away a tear. Her head was still on Robert's chest and he was slowly rubbing her back. "I won't ask Robin anything. That is between them, hopefully, Robin hasn't noticed there's anything wrong."
"She has been distracted by her own happiness so I hope you're right. I guess that might explain why Luke left so quickly after saying hello, he didn't even stick around so I could introduce you."
"The look Mac was giving him I wouldn't have stuck around either."
Robert nodded then he kissed the top of her head, "I'm not going to let on that we overheard them. They may have thought we were sleeping."
"Alright, I think that's a good idea."
...
It was Monday evening and Sean and Tiffany had come over to visit before they had to head home tomorrow. Annie had gone off to play as soon as they had gotten there. They had already been there for some time when Sean asked, "So Mac did you tell everyone you're quitting yet?"
"I actually mentioned that to the mayor this afternoon, after Robby and Anna had left the station."
"Really?" Robert asked sounding very surprised.
"I did and he asked me if I knew anyone that was qualified to take over if I was to resign. When I mentioned your name big brother he's eye lit up. I am not kidding."
"I might have to start looking for office space soon then," Anna said with a big smile.
"Why?" Tiffany asked.
"Well the way we are hoping this turns out is that Robert gets reinstated as commissioner, then Mac and I can open up a PI office."
"Then we are all doing what we love," Mac added. He looked at Falicia, "I want to focus on us and I knew the stress of my job only adds to the problems we're having," he said quietly so only she would hear. She nodded and gave him a little grin.
"I think that sounds wonderful. Robert, I think they would be crazy not to take you back," Tiffany said with a big smile.
"I'm not going to get too excited until I know a little more. For all I know if Mac steps down they might bring in someone new to replace him. Don't start, I'm just being realistic," Robert said before anyone could say any of the responses he knew would follow.
Anna smiled and touched his arm, she was sitting beside him on the couch, "If the mayor did that then he is a complete moron," she smiled up at him, "That's all I'll say."
"Sean, when will you all be back to visit again?" Mac asked to take the attention off Robert.
"I have to get back to the office but I think this summer we are going to take some time off and come back here."
"You can hold him to that. I usually have to force him to take time off, this time it was his idea," Tiffany told them all with a big smile. "I want you all to remind him often that we are coming back here in a couple months."
"I want to come, no one will have to remind me."
"Do it anyway," Tiffany said and they all started laughing.
"My best friends are back here, oh and alive. Of course, I'm going to come back," Sean said joining in on the laughter.
When it was time for them to leave and all the hugs and goodbyes were said, Sean took Robert and Anna over to the side. "I want to be kept informed about how the case against Charlotte goes." The nodded that they would, "I know I've said this several times over the last few weeks but it is really amazing that you are both here. I missed you both so much."
They all hugged again then Robert smiled, "I missed you too. So many times I picked up the phone to call you. Just wanting to talk, to ask you for help. You came at the right time though, and having you Mac and Frisco deal with Charlotte when I had more important things to handle means a lot."
"I better get out of here before I lose my cool and everyone here sees me tearing up."
"Oh we can't have that now can we," Anna teased and kissed his cheek, then Sean turned and followed his family out of the house.
Robin was sitting talking to Felicia and Mac had already gone into the study, "I think we're just going to head up to bed. Goodnight," Anna said and took Robert's hand and lead him up to their room.
They started getting ready for bed then Anna sat down on the foot of the bed. "So I hope you are not busy Thursday at 1:30."
"I don't really have a demanding schedule at the moment," he told her with a grin. "What are we doing on Thursday?"
"I made my doctor's appointment, you still want to come with me right?"
"Yes," Robert tried to stop the smile that formed on his face. Just like getting his job back he didn't want to get too excited about them maybe having a baby until they knew more, but that didn't change the fact just the thought of it made him very happy. They were both hoping that this could be a reality and when it was just him and Anna he let his emotions show a little more.
"Come sit," Anna said and patted the bed beside her. "We'll find out what all our options are. I might be wrong but I think you want this more than being commissioner again."
"Anna I can do whatever job, I'm not worried about that. Ever since that night I woke hearing you talk about us having another baby I have thought about it a lot. Anna, I fought for so long. I lost you, then I found you only to lose you again. Then I spent years working to keep you safe, then years looking for you again. I finally have you back, it's not that we're together but we're still running. You aren't going to die from your injuries. You are here with me and we are getting our life back. After everything we have been through don't you think we might finally get it all? I want to have a baby with you, more than anything Anna."
She hugged him, "I want that too. Oh Robert, I want that so much. You're right the other things don't matter, we're together, we're going to stay together and I really want to be able to have your baby."
He kissed her lovingly at first, then their need for each other started to take over, "A little practice at that baby making," he said into her neck as he kissed her.
"Do you really think I'd say no," she giggled as he kissed along her shoulder.
...
When Robert got back to the house on Wednesday afternoon he was meet by Felicia who had tears in her eyes. "Oh, I thought you were out for the afternoon."
"No, sorry. Anna was meeting Bobbie for lunch and I didn't have any plans so I just came home."
"Um," she exhaled, "Well I guess you'll figure it out this evening anyway."
"Are you and the girls going to the Brownstone?" When her jaw dropped open Robert started to explain, "Anna and I were just talking in our room on Sunday, we didn't mean to overhear your conversation."
Felicia stepped towards him and Robert hugged her, "I love him, I do but everything is just so wrong, so confusing and I really think this is best for us. I think a break to make sure we don't completely ruin everything is what we need right now."
"I understand. Does Mac know you're leaving today?"
"Yeah, he's going to pick up the girls after school and taking them over to the Brownstone so we can explain to them what's going on."
"Well since I have nothing to do today please let me help you get what you need to the Brownstone." He leaned back some so Felicia will look up at him, "He's my brother but you're my friend, I want you both to be happy. Whatever that means."
"Oh, that means so much thank you. I have missed you so much. I really am happy for you and Anna even if I haven't shown it all the time."
"We noticed something wasn't right and the fact Mac is sleeping in the study kind of gave it away."
Felicia sniffled then let out a little laugh, "I want it to work out for Mac and I but right now I just feel like this is what we need, some space a little time away from the fighting."
"Alright, we don't have to talk about this if you don't want to."
"Thanks, Robert. It's mostly just the girls' toys and out clothing that we're taking with us."
"Alright, let's get started so you're ready to have that talk with them later."
"Thanks, Robert," Felicia gave him a weak smile then they started carrying things out to her car.
...
That evening it didn't take a much to figure out Mac was upset and the fact he was drinking hard stuff rather than his regular beer was all the proof they needed. Robin had gone out with friends again, as great as it was having her parents back it had been too long since she had seen many of her friends. Anna and Robert were sitting on the couch together talking when Mac decided he needed to talk.
"So when are you taking your stupid job back?" Mac kind of fell into the chair by them. "I don't need the stress from that crappy job. I want to enjoy what I do. I'm so tired of it. You know what I want?"
"What do you want Mac?" Robert asked.
"I want my wife to look at me like Anna looks at you. She used to," Mac paused looking down at his glass. Robert was about to say something when Mac looked up again. "I think she still loves me, she says she does."
"That's what she told me today. She loves you and feels that something has to change or your marriage won't make it."
"I want to make those changes, I want her to love me like she used to. I hate being commissioner have I told you that?"
"Yeah, a few times."
"Your job sucks, bro." Mac finished his drink, "I'm dragging you down there tomorrow and telling them I quit and that you are replacing me. You can take over, I don't want it. Me and Anna are going to be great partners. I never had this much stress when I was a PI and I was raising your teenage daughter at the time."
Anna and Robert both tried to hide their smiles, Robin had told them some of the trouble she had caused for Mac when she was in her teens, lots of which happened while she was with Stone. "Well, what do you expect with the Devane wild strick in her?" Robert said and grinned at Anna.
"And your stubborn attitude, my god when she would do something and I had to rep, repor, give her shit for something, that was when I was reminded of just whose child she was. Do you know how hard it is to yell at someone when all you want to do is hug them and cry because you miss their dad so damn much? You too Anna, she takes after both of you."
"Yes she does," Anna agreed.
"So tomorrow, Robby. Let's do this. Let's get you your job back."
"Well let's see how you feel in the morning first. I am busy all afternoon so I would have to be out of there by noon." Anna smiled, that was well before her appointment but knew he didn't want to miss it.
"Yeah alright," Mac smiled. "Hey, do either of you want another drink?"
"You are the only one drinking Mac. I think if we're going to go talk to the mayor in the morning you might want to switch to water, maybe have a shower," Robert suggested.
"Are you really going to come with me, Robby?"
"Only if you're ready to go in the morning, I'm not kidding about having plans." Anna had already gotten up to go get Mac some water. "I would love to be commissioner again, you know that already. So get some rest and tomorrow we can go and get the ball rolling on making that happen."
"You're serious, right?"
"Yes. Mac, I need to have a job, don't I? If commissioner is available then I want the mayor to know I want it. Me and Anna have other plans and we need to start somewhere, employment is a good start, then a place to live. We're trying to do this one step at a time but some of what we want we don't want to wait for."
"You guys can stay here as long as you want. I mean that, don't even worry about a place to live."
"Alright, thank you."
"This is your house, of course, you can stay here."
Anna touched his shoulder, "Here Mac, drink this. I think I'm going to take your brother up to bed and I suggest you try to get some sleep too."
"Yeah, I will after I'm done this."
Anna smiled at Robert and he stood up, "Sounds like you have a busy day tomorrow, we should get some sleep."
"Night, Mac," then Robert followed Anna up the stairs. "It looks like we could find out a lot tomorrow."
As they entered the bedroom Anna stopped and faced him, "Tonight we dream about what we want to happen tomorrow. What we want to happen in the near future," then they put their arms around each other and kissed tenderly.