Robert arrived in New York later that afternoon, and directed the officers to Filomena's apartment. His knock on the door was answered by a small, grey-haired woman. "Hello, Filomena. May I come in?" "Roberto! What are you doing here?" She looked down the hall, as if looking for someone, seeing only a patrol officer standing guard outside her door. Confused, she closed the door and said, "Where's Anna? Didn't she come with you?" "No," Robert simply stated, looking around. "I have to ask you, where's Robin?" "Robin?" she asked in her Italian accent. "My bambina is in school." He was not surprised she didn't deny her existence. "When is she expected home?" "Why? Where is Anna? Why isn't she her with you? Did something happen to her?" Again, Robert ignored her questions. "When is Robin expected home?" he asked again. "I'll pick her up in about an hour." "Could she stay with a friend for about an hour? I need to talk to you." Concerned, Filomena said, "I could ask her friend, Jessica's mother, if she could stay with her. She lives in the building, too." She makes the call, while Robert studies his surroundings. Hanging up the phone, Filomena relays Robin won't come home until she calls them back. "Okay, Roberto, tell me why you're here, and why Anna's not with you." "Could you get Robin's hairbrush, please." "Her hairbrush? Why?" "It's important. I'll answer your questions after." Filomena looks questioningly at him, shrugs her shoulders, and does as he asks. Quickly, Robert takes Anna's comb and three evidence bags out of his pockets. He pulls some hair off the comb, places it in one of the bags, takes out a pen, and dates it: October 29, 1953. He hurriedly rummages on the desk for a pair of scissors, snips off some of his hair, and places it in the second bag, and dates it September 2, 1946. Filomena returns with the brush. He proceeds to repeat the process for bag number three. "What's her birth date?" he asked. "It's April 15, 1979. Why?" She was curiously watching him. He quickly adds the date, and asks, "May I use your phone?" "Si," she said thoroughly confused. He placed a call to Dr. Carswell and finds that Monica had called ahead and he was expecting Robert's call. He asked how soon he could get the results and was told later that afternoon. Robert gave him Filomena's phone number from its number faceplate and hung up. After being sure the bags were properly sealed, he went to the door, handed them to the officer outside; instructing him where they need delivered, and closed the door.
"Now we can talk," he said, turning, walking over to the sofa. "May I sit down? I'll tell you about Anna, but I have some questions first. When did Anna come to you, and how long have you been Robin's guardian?" "Oh, Roberto, Anna came to me right after she was released from the hospital. She was five months pregnant with your child." "How can you be so sure Robin is mine? She could have been with someone when she left me for that last mission." "Oh, no, Roberto! Robin is yours. If you had seen how devastated she was, so lost..." Robert flashed back to images of Holly after she accepted Luke's death and the loss of his baby. He quickly slammed the door on those memories. "What did she tell you?" "She told me everything. About the mission, about her being a double agent, and how she accepted that last mission to save your life." "I have trouble accepting that." "After Robin was born, Anna was so fearful for the bambina's life, that she left her with me. She said she was going back to the states to start a new life, and that she would send for us when she able to. She sent for us a year later. I love Robin like she was my own granddaughter." "Has Anna ever told her who she is, or who her father is?" "No, even though she was no longer spy, she was afraid my bambina would be in danger." "Filomena, I'm having tests run to determine if Robin is my daughter. Anna's lie has made that necessary, as I cannot take her word for it. I'm waiting for a call on the results. I'll tell you why Anna is not with me. Anna may very well be dead." "Dead? Oh, Roberto, no!" Filomena cried. "How?" He proceeded to tell her the events of the last few days, leaving nothing out. Filomena was visibly shaken, and in tears. "O, my poor Anna!" "I need to ask a favor of you. If Robin is my daughter, I want to take her home with me. The problem is, I'm not properly prepared to care for her, and my job would prevent me from taking a lot of time off. Could you come to Port Charles with me and stay until I can make other arrangements? Your presence would make the transition easier." Oh, Roberto, I would do anything for my bambina. Of course I will. All Robin ever wanted was a mama and a papa like the other kids at school. I'm sure when you tell her who you are, she'll be very happy. After she's settled, as I won't be needed any more, I think I'll return to Italy. While I'll miss my bambina, I miss my home, and my sister is very ill and has been asking me to return to my village to care for her." Robert stands up, walks over to the desk, picks up a picture, and says, "Tell me about her."
An hour later, Robin came bursting through the door. "Grandma, Grandma, thank you for letting me stay at Jessica's. We made cookies. I brought you one." "Bambina, where are your manners? You shouldn't run through the door like that. We have company." Filomena scolds, as she wraps her in a hug. "Oh, hello. My name's Robin, what's your name?" Robert couldn't help but smile back at her. He decides to use a less intimidating version of his name to put her at ease. "My name's Robbie. It's nice to meet you, Robin." Just then the telephone rings. Filomena answers it. "Hello? Yes, he's here. Just a minute. Roberto, it's for you." "Thank you. Hello? Yes Dr. Carswell...? You have the results...? Are you sure?" After a few more words are exchanged, Robert hangs up. Giving a visual signal to Filomena that he needs to talk to her, Filomena tells Robin to get washed up for dinner. "Okay, Grandma," Robin says, as she skips out of the room. "That was the test results I've been waiting for. These tests are new and untried yet, but they reveal that there's a 97% chance I'm Robin's father.""I told you, Roberto. Robin is yours" "How are we going to tell her in a way as not to frighten her?" "We'll tell her you're a friend of Luv's." "Well, that's a start." Robin comes back in the room and asks, "What's for dinner, Grandma? I don't smell your sauce cooking, "I'm sorry, Robin. It's my fault. I've been having a nice visit with your grandma, and we forgot about the time. Tell you what. I'll treat. We'll order Chinese." Filomena makes a face. "Grandma doesn't like Chinese." Okay, how about pizza too?" "Oh boy! Chinese and pizza!" Robin says excitedly, and then she gets a sad look on her face. "What's the matter, bambina? You like them both." I know, but I only eat Chinese when Luv is here. I miss her. When will she come visit us again?" Robert felt guilty about what she will eventually have to be told. "Robin, Roberto is a friend of Luv's." "Yes, can you tell me stories about her? I haven't seen her in a long time." He wanted to know the Anna that gave birth to Robin, but didn't totally abandon her. While he no longer loved her, he wanted Robin to keep her memories. After dinner, Robert said he needed to go, but he would come visit again tomorrow morning. "Robin, you need to get ready for bed. I come tuck you in after I say goodbye to Roberto." "Okay. Goodnight, Robbie. I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him a big hug before she left the room. "Robert told Filomena, "We need to tell her tomorrow. Can you pack some things up and we'll leave tomorrow late morning? I need to get back." "Okay, Roberto." "We'll come up with a plausible explanation. Goodnight."
The next morning at breakfast, Robert talked about going back to Port Charles. "Would you and your grandma like to come with me?" he said smiling. He was wondering what kind of parent he would be to her. Again, a pang hit him that Holly would not be there to help him, but he chased the thought away. At first, Robin was excited, but she grew sad once again. "But Luv won't know where we are. She'll be sad if she can't find us." Filomena and Robert looked at each other. They knew they couldn't put it off any longer. Robin had to be told the truth. At least as much as she could handle. Filomena said, "Bambina, do you remember me telling you about Poppa?" "You said God wanted him to be in heaven with Him, but you miss him. You said he is watching over us. You, me, and Luv." "That's right, bambina, he is. But now he needs help because you are getting to be a big girl, and he can't keep up with you. So God asked Luv to help him." "You mean I won't see Luv anymore?" No, bambina," Filomena said sadly. Robin began to cry and put her head in Filomena's lap. After a few minutes, Filomena sat her up, and wiped her tears away. "Robin, do you remember telling me you want a mama and papa?" "Yes," Robin hiccupped. "Roberto is sad too. He wants to be a papa, too." Robert decided he needed to make his case. "Your Grandma's right. I am sad and lonely. I would like a little girl just like you. Would you like me to be your papa?" Then we won't be sad and lonely anymore. We'd have each other." "Can Grandma come live with us too?" "Yes, she can come and stay as long as she likes." I guess if Grandma can come, then I guess it'd be okay." She gave Robert a hug, which startled him, until he relaxed and hesitantly, at first, hugged her back. "Okay," he said cheerfully. "Let's get going!" Later that afternoon they arrived at the townhouse. After busily exploring the house, a late lunch, unpacking and dinner, an exhausted Robin fell asleep on the couch. Robert carried her upstairs, with Filomena following. He was amazed at how right she seemed in his arms. Two days later, a body washed up near Beecher's Corners. The body was badly decomposed, so Robert once again contacted Dr. Carswell, who identified it as Anna Devane. /span/p
