She threaded the fingers of one hand through his and led him over to the couch. Drew him down next to her, so close that their knees touched. Not letting go of his hand she tenderly caressed his long, calloused fingers with her own, lightly rubbing over his knuckles and the lines in his palm as though tracing a path that led straight from his heart to her own.

"Tell me?" she asked. Tell me how it went.

But she wasn't surprised when he shook his head. "Doesn't matter now. What's important is that I'm officially cancer free. And back to my old self. Well, with a few improvements," he added with a sly, playful grin.

Right. Sure. "I'll bet," she replied dryly, smirking back at him. That'll be the day.

You don't need to change, Robert. All the fights, all the frustration, all the years of utter loneliness…none of that matters any more. Only what we have now. Us, together. We'll make it work this time. I promise you, we'll find a way to make it work this time.

He reached an arm across her shoulders and she turned and leaned into him, craving his touch. As though reading her mind, he began to trace one thumb lovingly over the line of her jaw and down her throat. She felt all the muscles in her body begin to relax as the precious nearness of his presence began to settle around her like a down comforter on a crisp winter night.

I can't believe how happy I am, right now. Robin will be so happy too…

"Does Robin know?" she managed to murmur.

"Yeah. I called her on the way here."

She nodded. Good. Robin deserves that, to be the first to know her father's here - that he's come back to us.

Oh, you've really come back! Anna burrowed her head into the crook of his neck, almost purring with pleasure as his fingers danced over her skin like a melody.

How I love you, Robert Scorpio. Don't ever do that to me again. Don't take off without warning, without even giving me a chance to say goodbye.

"Robert?"

"Mmmm?"

She leaned up on one elbow to catch his eyes. "Would you do one thing for me?"

"What's that?" he asked lazily, still engrossed with the soft flesh over her collarbone.

"If you ever…if you ever walk out of my life again –"

He stilled and made as if to interrupt her but she gently placed her fingers over his lips. Hush. Just listen.

"If you do, just…just tell me before you go. I know you're used to being on your own, and that the lure of being an agent never really goes away. And, and…I won't try to stop you, I swear it." Even if it kills me. "Just tell me, please – that's all I'm asking."

He stared at her for a long moment, his blue eyes hooded.

"There were times this past year when I did miss it," he confessed, his expression dark and serious. "The excitement, the adrenaline. Being out there catching the bad guys. But you know what I missed even more?"

Yes. I hope so. Tell me. "What?"

"My daughter. Seeing her get married – finally. Witnessing my granddaughter's birth." His eyes bored like lasers into hers. "You."

She feigned disbelief. "You really missed me?" she asked in a mock-shocked tone.

His eyes crinkled with merriment. "Yeah. I really did."

"Good," she proclaimed, then sighed, brushing her thumb along his cheekbone. Oh Robert, I'm so glad. I missed you, too. More than I can say.

"And Mars Bars," he continued in a casual tone. "And red wine. Oh, and that great little Italian restaurant down by the pier –"

She slapped him lightly.

He grinned at her, oozing mischief.

Anna tried not to rise to rise to the bait, but found she couldn't help herself. He knew how to push her buttons like no other man alive. "If you're not careful, Robert," she warned, "you'll find yourself drinking your Mai Thai out in the street."

He glared at her haughtily. "That'd be a shocking waste of good brandy. Not to mention rum."

Anna shook her head in bemused wonder. I'm crazy to love this man. To love him so much that it hurts.

She sank back down against his chest, lost in the moment, nuzzling his face until their cheeks met. His breath was soft and warm on her ear as she trailed light kisses over the corners of his mouth and down the line of his jaw.

"I'm surprised –" he stopped, then began again. "I wasn't sure you'd still be here. In Port Charles. I thought you might have gone back to Paris."

Paris. The job. Spying. No. Not after everything that happened. Not without you. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him, but force of habit held her back, fear that she would give him an opening that he could use against her.

She had once told this man everything that was in her heart. Trusted him with all that she was, all that she wanted to be. If they were going to have any hope of reaching that level of intimacy again – and she was almost afraid of how much she wanted it – then she was going to have to remember how to trust him again.

So start now, she told herself sternly. Just say it.

"I couldn't. I just couldn't face it." She licked her lips, looking up squarely into his clear blue eyes. "Not without you. Not without knowing if you were going to be all right."

His sigh was weighted down with an entire world of regret. "Anna. I'm sorry –"

"Don't!" she cut him off fiercely. "Don't start that with me. No regrets, Robert, remember?"

A pause, then, "Yeah."

She brought one hand up to cup his cheek, stroking the side of his face. His eyes are looking tired. "You should get some rest."

"I'm fine," he said reassuringly. With a deft touch he smoothed a stray lock of hair across her forehead and tucked it behind her ear.

"You need to stay fine," she told him firmly. I'm not going through all this again.

"Anna." There was a warning note in his voice. "I said I'm fine."

I heard you. I just can't quite believe it. Not yet. Why can't you humor me just this once? But it had never been his way. He'd never been willing to make compromises for himself. For her, on the other hand… All at once it dawned on her what tack she should take. "Well, I need my beauty sleep."

As she anticipated, that changed things in his eyes. "All right." He paused, gazing at her. "I can find a hotel. I don't want to –"

"No," she interrupted quietly, suddenly feeling almost shy. It's been so long. "I – I want you to stay."

A delighted grin creased his face. "Guess I'm lucky this is a comfy couch."

She shook her head wordlessly. No. Not on the couch. Once again she took his hand in hers. She stood, pulling him up with her, and tugged him gently across the living room and down the hall.