I Would Know You Anywhere

Alex lead Anna down the hallway that lead to the altar in the church that she was about to be married in. She does not know why but she feels quite nostalgic today. She does not have a right to be thinking about what she has lost on what should be one of the happiest days of her life.

Yet she still sees his face in her mind…memories of outdoor weddings and promises of forever.

"Anna, you are shaking," her twin sister Alex states, concerned. "Is everything alright dear?"

What could she say to her sister? She should not be thinking of memories gone by on her wedding day.

"I'm fine, "she states, and continues the walk towards the altar. Her heel catches on something and when she goes to pick it up, she is startled.

"Where…where did this come from," she asks her sister.

Alex glances at the man's watch, concerned by the look in her sister's eyes.

"Maybe someone dropped it," she suggested.

She let her fingers trail over the back to find the engraving she knew instinctively would be there. "This is Robert's watch. I had it engraved for him the second time we got married."

She would tell Anna that there must be a logical explanation for the sighting but she is unable to find one. Anna darts out the front doors of the church, calling for a man, she long deemed the love of her life.

"I don't understand, "she says. "Am I losing my mind?"

Alex puts her arm around Anna's shoulder. "It's only natural that you would miss him today Anna. You two were supposed to have your happy ever after and you did not get it. It is okay to feel this way."

"But what about his watch? I am not making that up Alex. How did it get here?"

"I wish I had the answers for you. Do you want me to tell David that the wedding is off? Maybe you are still not ready."

"I don't think I will ever be ready to let that kind of love go…I know that I will never love anyone like my Robert. He was the love of my life. Even when I did not remember him, I saw him in my mind…But he is gone Alex. My husband is gone. Forever. Time to move on."

Alex did not question her sister as she moved forward. She did not have the experience to do so. She just hoped her sister would not live to regret trying to move on too fast.

"Who gives this woman to be married to this man," the minister asks.

"I do," Alex says. Anna's daughter Robin was supposed to be here but the weather prevented the plane from getting here on time so Robin urged her mother to continue without her. She was feeling agitated but she tried to focus on the man in front of her. She did love him. She did.

"Is there anyone here who can show just cause why these two people should not be lawfully joined in marriage," the minister asked.

It was then that the doors flew open and a man stepped inside…a man she never thought she would see again.

"Robert," she gasps.

"Hello Luv," he says. "It's been a long time hasn't it?"

"Anna," Alex yells, just as her sister passes out from the shock. "Someone get her a glass of water," she asks. David wants to be close to his bride to be but Alex warns him to back off. She has just had the shock of her life.

She opens her eyes a moment later and she is looking into her husband's eyes. "This is real isn't it? I'm not dreaming?"

"I'm here Luv. I have missed you so much. Please tell me it is not too late for us. "

"Your watch. I found your watch in the hallway. You were here weren't you? Why did you leave?"

"I was knocked out just before I could get to you. "

"Who would…?"

Her eyes landed on David and soon she was rising to her feet…lunging for the man she was just about to marry. "You son of a bitch," she rails, forgetting her manners in the house of the lord as she brings her hand against his cheek hard. "How could you do this to me David…You knew how much I loved him…How I was desperate to find out if he was alive. How could you keep him from me?"

"Because I knew what would happen if you saw him…I just wanted to have a chance with you...It's been years Anna…he's had years to get to you…why does he choose now to show his face?"

"That does not matter to me David…all that matters is he is alive. You kept something from me that had the potential to change my life forever…how can we have a marriage if you don't love me enough to be honest?"

She leaves no question that the wedding is off when she slips off her engagement ring and chugs it at him. "We are done David. Thank you for making my choice so easy. Now I do not have to feel bad for breaking your heart. You don't have one."

"Anna, Wait…Please just give me a chance to explain," David calls after her. Robert steps in his way and glares at him.

"Stay the hell away from my wife Hayward. Believe me; I have killed for her before. You don't want to test me."

Robert finds Anna sitting on the steps of the church entrance. He sits down next to her and their fingers immediately entwine.

"Where have you been all these years Robert?"

"At first I was being held in some tiny room with only the sounds of your screams to keep me company. I tried to escape Anna…Many times…But every time I did, they would send me pictures of your 'death.' They would remind me how close they were to Robin. When I finally accepted that I could never get back to you…"

His voice cracks so she reaches out to stroke his face. "What is it Robert? You can tell me. "

"I hope you are not going to hate me for saying this Luv…"

"I could never hate you Robert. I tried that remember?"

He chuckles as he looks into her dark eyes. "I asked them to take my memories. If you were dead and Robin was better off without me…"

Tears cloud his eyes and suddenly there she is…his beautiful girl.

"I was never better off without you daddy," she says, and he rises to his feet, taking his daughter into his arms and stroking her hair. "How are you here daddy? How is this possible?"

"I survived. I did not have any memories of who I was until I walked up those church steps and saw your mother. I didn't know why I was supposed to be here but something inside me told me that I would find the answers here. I knew I had found them when I saw you Annie. I would know you anywhere luv…"

Anna smiles as she joins her husband and her daughter for a group hug. "Why does it not surprise me that your love for me was stronger than your need to forget me…mine was too. Even when I did not know who you were, you were still there in my mind…and when I finally remembered you, I was heartbroken that I lost you. What do you say we make our love last this time?"

"I like the sound of that," he says, as he kisses her softly. Anna and Robin did not press him for the details. Right now, they were just happy that their hero was finally home to stay.

The End