Chapter 3
Over the next two weeks, Anna only saw Robert a hand full of times and each time he kept his word and they kept right up with how they had been talking to each other since she had returned to Port Charles. She found it amusing that she could be just as condescending as he could. Since she had learned of his return from the dead it had felt like their little squabbles were an odd type of flirtation. Now when they did talk she felt that even more. Anna knew they had made the right decision about not being seen together when Alcazar had asked how much time she and Robert spent together. Clearly, Robert was becoming more of a concern to Alcazar. She had to finish this assignment and it won't help if he thinks she's working with him. What was Robert doing with Skye anyway? Even if he isn't trying, he has managed to annoy Alcazar and that isn't going to make her job any easier.
When Anna got called out of the country she made sure to call Robert, she hadn't gotten to see Robin before she had to leave and she wanted him to keep an eye on her while she was away. She couldn't say much while they were on the phone, there were so many people around her but she had wanted to talk to him just the same. Besides what they needed to talk about would be better done in person. So just before ending the call, she said, "There's a beautiful night by a lake that plays in my mind when I'm alone."
"I see the same scene when I close my eyes Luv. Be safe." Then they ended the call. Robert was smiling when he'd hung up, while she's out of town he had better find that secluded hideaway for them. The dream of being with Anna again had gotten him through some of his roughest nights, and now it looked like that could actually become a reality. First, he has some work to do himself, he had to get Skye out of Port Charles and away from Alcazar. When he looked up he saw Mac standing by his table, had he been there long? After hearing her voice Robert had gotten lost in his thoughts of Anna. Robert knew he needed to make amends with Mac, he knew his brother hasn't forgiven him yet, but Robert wants his brother back in his life just as much as Anna and Robin. "Hi Mac, join me."
"Don't mind if I do. From the look on your face, I'm guessing that call was about your latest assignment. Should we expect you to be leaving soon?" Mac asked as he sat down.
"No that wasn't a business call. Actually, it was Anna, she's heading out of town, and wanted to make sure Robin knew, so she called me to pass on the message." Robert suspects the look on his face Mac was referring to, might suggest more than a casual call but he hoped Mac wouldn't ask.
Mac smiled not knowing if he completely believed that explanation so he just said. "I'm glad you two can talk. So you're going to be staying for a while?"
"Yup, that's the plan. Look, Mac, I want you to know I never wanted to hurt my family the way I did. When I went after Anna to save her, I never dreamed the reason I wouldn't come back would be the WSB forcing me to stay away."
"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret, I didn't believe you were dead. After they gave us the news, I just wouldn't except it, neither did Robin at first. I think a part of me always held onto that hoped. First Faison, then when Anna came back I knew it was possible that you were out there, even after she told me she had remembered you dying," Mac admitted. "What I don't understand is why you didn't contact me sooner. What kept you away, Robert? Why no phone call to say you were alive at least, even if you felt you couldn't come home I could have understood if you had just talked to me?"
"The longer I had to... work covert ops. the more time I spent at the bottom of a bottle. That was how I lived with myself. If I had to be drunk to be around myself and what I had become, how could I put the people I love through that?" There was shame in Robert's voice.
Mac hadn't thought much about how all of this had affected his brother, only what it had done to those left behind. Robert was different now but still the same. Robert had never let people in easily, now he seemed almost completely closed off. When Robert was around his family Mac knew he was trying to make up for everything and find a way to just to a part of their lives.
"Once I got involved with the Medical Rescue Agency I started to feel like I had a purpose again. I couldn't be there for Robin or the rest of my family, but at least I could help those other people."
"You could have contacted us though," Mac insisted. "Your family deserved to know."
"Just to lose it all again?" Robert questioned, then took a deep breath, "In under a year I got my family back, Anna and I were married and the three of us were finally living as a family. You and I had just forgiven each other so I had my brother back as well. Then it was all gone in a blink of an eye. Faison took Anna, and the WSB black boxed her, I knew I might die trying to save her but I had to try. The WSB set us up and stole it all away. The bastards knew I would do anything to keep them safe." As he spoke Mac could hear the anger grow in his voice, then Robert suddenly got up to leave.
"Hey Robby where are you going?" Mac stood as well.
"I'm sorry Mac, I know I should stay and talk to you but I need to be alone right now." Mac watched him walk away. Until now he hadn't realized how much emotional pain his brother was in. They had taken everything away from him and turned him into a killer. The man he once was is there, he's just so afraid of being hurt again he won't let the walls down, but Mac thinks he had just gotten a glimpse over it.
Robert made his way down to the docks, he had felt his anger growing and didn't want to say or do anything that he'd regret. He wasn't mad at Mac but he knew at times he had taken his anger out on whoever was closest. He has been working on it and it had been a couple years since he had beaten anyone up out of anger. Thinking of happy times with Anna had always been the easiest way to calm himself. Here where they had spent so much time together look out at the water dealing with whatever problem it was at the time, the anger just seemed to slip away as fast as it had come. Hopefully, Mac will understand his behavior at some point, just one more thing he'll have to work on straightening out.
Feeling a lot calmer Robert decides to head to the Haunted Star, no one should be there to bother him right now. He had to make some calls then he'll go pay a visit on Robin at the hospital. Anna won't forgive him if he doesn't look in on her while she's away.
As the days past Robert made all the arrangements to get Skye out of town. He had popped in to see Robin a couple time, which seemed to make her happy and he had only annoyed her once. It was so wonderful to hear her laugh and see her smile. He had even met Mac for drinks, they had talked some more and Mac seemed to understand about his abrupt exit the other day. Maybe he was making some headway with his brother after all.
...
Anna was busy and enjoying the adrenalin rush of the assignment but her mind was back in Port Charles. She hated being away from Robin although it does sound like she and Patrick were working things out. Hopefully, there'll be good news on that front when she does get back. It was the nights that were the hardest. Every night she let herself think about what had happened between her and Robert and she felt more confused by it. She knew she loved him and he loved her. She knew if there was a way, nothing would make her happier then being able to be with him. She also knew their track record, why had they been torn apart so quickly both times they had been married? Faison and the WSB, that's why. They both have become so guarded, not wanting to let anyone in. Except when they were alone by the lake it all just seemed so easy, she had let him in, as he had her. He is still her safe place, the home she has always needed. It had felt so good to just let everything else slip away, even just for a little while. Could she really open herself up for the heartache that seemed to be inevitable though? She loved Robert, even when they were fighting. Could she get over losing him again? When she closed her eyes she could feel his lips on hers. He had been so gentle, she felt like he was willing to go as slow as they needed. She hadn't even remembered who he was and he was in her mind all that time. Robert knew all along what they had lost, and thought he had failed her twice as a husband. Is he as scared as she is? Anna would go over these same thoughts each night until eventually, she'd think of a happy memory of the two of them. Then Anna would finally drift off to sleep with a smile on her face.
...
When she got back to Port Charles Anna was looking forward to seeing Robert. She didn't think the reason she needed to see him was going to because Alcazar was furious about the fact he had spirited Sky Quartermain away. Alcazar believes Anna is working with Robert and helped him get Skye out of Port Charles. So when Robert meet her at the Metro Court it was one of those moments where she wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss him or punch him in the face. Why did he need to get involved at all? To get Skye and her child away from a dangerous situation, that's why. He was just being the good guy, but it was just so infuriating that it had made her job harder.
Of course, when Robert saw her, he was annoyingly charming about her needing to see him because of how much she had missed him. She had, but Anna needed to know what he had done first. While they were talking Patrick found them to tell them about Robin and his accident during a surgery. He had been stuck with an infected needle while operating on a patient with AIDS. Robin was being strong for him, but he knew she was struggling with the feelings this was bringing up for her.
Anna felt like she had let Robin down yet again. Having Robert there with her to talk her through her doubts had helped so much. Robert had convinced her that Robin needed her mother. He told her she might not have always been there but she is now and Anna has to take advantage of the opportunity. Whenever it came to Robin they had always been able to put everything else aside and deal with the situation together. When they were talking he was her best friend and co-parent again. They decided Robert would go talk to Patrick some more and Anna would talk to Robin.
When Anna went to meet Robin she was worried that she wouldn't want her advice or to even listen to what she had to say. Anna had been wrong, Robin did need her mom. They had talked about what had happened, and how it was making her think about Stone and everything they had gone through. It had meant so much to be needed by her little girl. After they had talked Anna wanted to unwind it had been a hectic day since she had returned.
She was heading back to her room when she found the note with a key taped to the top of it tucked into her purse. 'If you need a little time away from it all go to where the music and Friday once played. Please take advantage of this secluded hideaway.' She smiled then read the note a second time, then started to play with the key. What was he up to? This was Robert's handwriting, but it doesn't seem like he is asking her to meet him somewhere. She looked at the key in her hand, it looked like a regular house key. A secluded hideaway where the music and Friday once played. Then she figured it out, this was a key to the cottage. How had he gotten his hands on this? Anna decided not to question it, instead she grabbed her car keys, she wanted to be alone and no one would bother her out there.
When she got to the cottage she didn't see his car anywhere, maybe she was going to have the place to herself. She went inside, it was a little different then she remembered, but then she recalled Robert telling her about him and Katherine trashing the place during an argument. It looked very nice now, though it seemed like it wasn't used very often. She started to look around, someone had been here, there was a little bit of food in the fridge and a glass by the sink. The piano was still there and she could picture Robin sitting with Katherine learning to play, a happy tear rolled down her cheek as she remembered. Anna went over and sat on the couch and put her feet up then let herself relax. She was sure no one else was there so she closed her eyes, she hadn't realized she was so tired, and she quickly drifted off to sleep. The sound of the door woke her.
"Sorry Luv, I didn't mean to disturb you," Robert said as he came in the room.
"That's OK. What time is it?" she asked sleepily she had no idea how long she had been asleep.
"It's a little after midnight. I didn't actually think you'd be here tonight," he told her.
"Is it ok that I am?" she asks a little unsure of the situation.
"Of course it is," Robert assured her. "I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to get away from it all, this can be where we go to get away. That is if you don't mind that I might be here with you once in a while."
"Thank you, Robert, this is perfect. You're right, I do need to get away sometimes, like tonight and of course, I don't mind you being here." When she smiled at him she could see his tension ease.
"I talked to Partick earlier, he's a good man, better then I thought he was. He endangered his own life to save his patient," he told her.
"Yeah, I heard. He was right, Robin is going through a tough time right now. Even though she knows all the facts she is still worried about losing Patrick like she lost Stone. She knows how unlikely that is but she can't change how she feels about the situation," she told him. "It was so heartbreaking. You were right she let me in, she needed her mom and I was actually here for her." Anna wiped away a tear as she spoke.
Robert had joined her on the couch and brought them both a glass of wine. "I'm glad you were there for her, you were always the one who handled this type of thing. I would have made a mess of it all."
"How on earth did you arrange this?" Anna asked, looking around the room.
"Well after Katie finally believed it was really me, she agreed to let us use this place. I explained that we are both trying to rebuild our relationship with Robin. That sometimes I need to be alone and I felt you did as well. She told me that we could use it as long as we needed, she hadn't been here for about eight months and wasn't expecting to make it back anytime soon."
"She is such a wonderful woman, you must give me her number so I can thank her for this," Anna told him.
"I will, she already has yours, and she says hi," he said with a grin. "I missed you by the way."
"I thought about you every night I was gone. About us and if we should risk our hearts again."
"Anna I don't want to rush into anything here, I've had my heart ripped out twice and I'm a little gun shy. I just can't lose you again I need you in my life as my friend if nothing else. No one else can put me in my place when I'm being impossible. You know how horrible I can be, and you can get through to me when no one else can. I need you."
"You're right I do understand you better than anyone else, that's how I get through to you." Anna looked him in the eyes. "I also know how wonderful you are. You care for others so much, even if you don't let them see it. I know how much you love our daughter. When we are alone like this, I'm with that man I fell in love with all those years ago. You think you've changed so much I couldn't love you, but you haven't, you've hardened, we both have. It all fades away when we're alone, I let down my defenses and I feel that connection we have always had with each other."
"It was always so easy when you and I were away from everything else. There's nowhere I would rather be than alone with you." Robert leaned back and pulled her closer to him, Anna snuggled into him and they just sat together. It was close to 5 am when Robert woke up, Anna was still there in his arms. He brushed the hair off her face, and his heart melted. This woman was his heart, his reason for living. He had dreamed of waking up with her in his arms but never believed it would happen again. Slowly he works his way away from her and gently lowers her head trying not to wake her. He hadn't brought much out here but there was coffee so he went to make some.
Anna woke up and smiled when she smelt the coffee. She looked around but didn't see Robert anywhere, he must have started the coffee just before he left. She went and got a cup out of the cupboard, even after the remodel everything seemed to be in basically the same places she remembered. She was sitting at the counter sipping her coffee when she felt a hand on her back, he hadn't left after all. "Good morning, thanks for making coffee."
"It's the least I could do Luv, you made one of my dreams come true last night."
Anna almost spits her coffee out, what was he talking about? "Excuse me?" She turned to look at him.
Robert was grinning from ear to ear, "In my dreams, we were in a bed, but I'll take what I can get." Anna stared at him waiting for him to continue. "I got to hold you in my arms while I slept and wake up with you in the morning. It was the little things like that, that I held onto that kept me going all those years."
Anna smiled then stood up and wrapped her arms around him when he put his arms around her she felt herself relax into him. It felt so good being in his arms. When he kissed her neck, it was like every nerve in her body woke up, she wanted him that was clear, but she wasn't sure she was ready to take that leap. She didn't think he was either. She still tilted her head back offering her neck to him needing his touch, she moaned with pleasure as he kissed her and then he pulled her body closer to him. He placed kisses along her neck slowly moving up to find her waiting lips. When their lips met she felt the electricity that she knew would be there, this man can send her over the edge of desire with the slightest touch. Part of her wanted to rip their clothes off and have wildly passionate sex, but another part was yelling to stop before it got that far.
It was Robert that pulled away, "I want you so much Anna, but I think we should stop, for now at least."
"I think you're right," she smiled.
"When I hold you in my arms I can't help myself," Robert admitted. "I know we should wait and take this slow but I can't help the effect you have on me."
"I know what you mean, I want more but I need to wait, to be sure," she agreed. "I think we should get out of here, it wouldn't do for us to show up first thing in the morning together. It's still early enough that I can get back to my room without being noticed coming in."
"You go Luv, even at this hour I would be noticed going back to the Quartermains." So Anna finished her coffee then left. She decided she would go have a shower then try to get a hold of Robin, maybe meet her for breakfast. She wanted to find out how last night had gone with Patrick, she was worried about both of them. Hopefully, Patrick's next test would come back negative as well, she could tell Robin loved him and couldn't stand the thought of Robin having to go through this all over again. Her daughter was a strong woman but she could only take so much, and she had already been through too much pain because of her parents.
