Chapter 7

Evening once again found Robin locked away in her bedroom, just wanting to be left in peace. It wasn't like Holly was doing anything wrong other than just being there. That's the problem. Robin wanted to be left alone. To the world her parents are dead, when Robin is outside her house she had to let people think she believed that. Well fine, that's one thing but at home, she didn't want to have to do that. It isn't hard for Robin to miss her parents, because she does every day. Every day she worries about them. Wonders if her mom has found her father yet. Are they safe, was he injured, has she been. It's concern about her parents that has Robin feeling so emotional. She wished there was a way to help them, anything, but she knows there isn't. Other than staying here, and staying safe.

Robin had been in a really good mood when she got home and she had even gotten to visit with Uncle Mac for a while before he went to the club. Maybe it was her tone, maybe Holly was trying too hard because this isn't easy for her either. Whatever it was, this tension between them couldn't go on.

How can she talk to Holly about her thoughts and feelings when her thoughts and feelings aren't what Holly expects? She isn't in mourning, Robin knows it is only a matter of time before she gets a call. There will be news of her parents' return. Robin didn't want to open up and talk to Holly about her feelings because she didn't want to have to pretend or make things up. Those thoughts don't even need to be in her head, she won't let them in. She is getting through this one day at a time and that is what everyone expects of her. Maybe if Holly would just back off and accept that Robin doesn't want to talk it would be better. She's got Felicia and Tiffany and even Bobbie for that. Then Robin smiled, she's got her Uncle Mac and Uncle Sean as well. It wasn't personal to Holly, she was always nice to Robin. She just knows them better and they know her better too.

Robin was happy that Holly had signed the papers, finally. That should have lowered the tension between them, Robin realizes that, but it hasn't. Could she just tell her Uncle Mac that it would be easier on her if Holly moved out? If Holly wants to stay in Port Charles Robin didn't care, Robin just wanted her own space. This house should be Robin's space. It is their family home after all.

Robin walked out of her room, she felt like a snack and knew her emotions were all over the place again. That was the worst part of this. Teens shouldn't have to deal with hormones and grief and all the other stuff she's dealing with. One minute she's crying, then she's so deep in thought wondering what is going on with her mother she's pretty sure people think she is catatonic again. This is another reason it would be nice if Holly wasn't here. Getting a snack shouldn't have to involve a visit. Holly is trying too hard and whenever Robin tries talking about any of this with her they just start arguing. Well, maybe it's Robin that starts arguing.

Later that evening when Robin was finishing cleaning up after dinner Mac returned so Robin asked him if they could talk about something. They were sitting at the kitchen table talking about school and how glad she is that it's out for the summer. Robin was trying to work out how to bring up what she wanted to talk about. Finally, Mac asked, "What did you really want to talk to me about?"

"I wanted to ask you something." Again she paused but knew she just had to get it out. "Are you worried we can't do this on our own? I mean, do you still need Holly here, helping?"

"What do you mean by, need her here?"

"I don't need a babysitter. You and I are doing good, right. I'm not that much work. Uncle Mac, I love that you are here and I don't want to make any of this harder on you. I know having to take care of me is way different than what your life has been before now. I mean how can you go off on your next adventure if you have to watch me?" She looked up at him and knew that wasn't really a concern. "Uncle Mac, what I'm wondering is, do you think you still need Holly here because you can't look after me on your own?"

Mac realized it was the fact Holly is here, in this house, that was bothering Robin. When they had talked earlier Robin seemed to be in a good mood but was on edge again when he got back. Is that what's causing the fighting? Was Holly's presence making all of this harder on Robin? "I think you and I have found our way. We might stumble a few times yet but we make a pretty good team," Mac told her, hoping to get a smile out of her.

"I don't want to be rude, but would it be possible to ask Holly to stay somewhere else?"

"Is that why you seem so angry with her, cause she's here and your mom isn't?"

Robin suddenly realized that had to be it. She couldn't figure out where the anger was coming from before now. "Yeah, maybe it is. I think that might be at least part of it. When I'm out, I expect people to ask me how I am. I know they mean well but it's like each time it happens they are reminding me my parents are gone. When I come home I don't want to deal with that. Holly always wants to know how I'm doing. If there's anything I want to talk about. She says we should talk about my feelings and that I shouldn't bottle them up. I got lots of other people to talk to, I had a wonderful time with Olin this afternoon and she hardly mentioned any of that stuff."

"I get it. When you get home you want to be left alone, just have time to yourself."

"Yeah, I don't want to think about that stuff all the time." It wasn't quite a lie, she didn't want to think her parents were dead at all. "Besides, I like it when it's just us here. I am finally really getting to know my uncle."

Mac smiled, he liked getting to know her better too. Robin's right she doesn't need a babysitter and if that's what Holly feels like to her then maybe he should talk to her about finding somewhere else to stay if she's planning on staying in Port Charles. "Alright, I'll talk to her."

"I'm sorry you feel this way," came from the doorway. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop and I honestly only wanted to help."

Mac and Robin were now both looking at Holly. Mac felt bad she had overheard that but it annoyed Robin. Why was she everywhere? They had waited until they were alone so they could talk and she still came back. Why can't she just leave them alone? "I don't need your help. I have people for that!"

"Robin, I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine. I've had to deal with this before. I can do it again and the same people that always help me are here to help me now."

How can she say she's dealt with this before, Holly wondered. Yes, she's had to deal with death and loss but this time it was her parents. "This isn't like the other times you've lost people. Your parents are gone and you are going to need a lot of time and a lot of support to come to terms with that."

As she was speaking, Mac could hear what Robin was talking about. Just let it go, Holly, when she wants or needs to talk she does. Robin doesn't need to be told over and over that her parents are gone. Was this what it was like all the time? When he was busy with the club, was Robin being grilled to talk about her feelings?

Holly was still speaking when he started listening again. "I think it would be a good idea if you talked about how all of this is making you feel how it's affecting you."

"I don't care what you think! It doesn't matter anyway, she's going to bring him home!", then Robin stormed out.

Mac looked over at Holly then followed his niece out of the room. She had said that backwards, it was Robby that had gone after Anna not the other way around. What else had Holly said that he had missed? Why was Robin so angry and what made her say that part about she's going to bring him home? He was standing in the living room, Robin had gone straight upstairs to her room. He could follow her but thought it would be best to let her calm down some. There is a lot of both her parents in that young woman and they all have tempers, he wasn't in the mood to deal with hers at the moment.

Mac sighed then turned and went back into the kitchen to find Holly there. What he had just witnessed proved Robin was definitely right about one thing. It was time for Holly to find somewhere else to stay. If her being here is affecting Robin this much then there needs to be space between them. Maybe Robin is wrong her anger out on Holly but she's just a kid and she is dealing with a lot. "I think we should talk."

"Actually, I don't think we need to. I'll pack up my things. Me being here is making things worse for Robin not better for her."

"Thank you for understanding. This is all so hard on her."

"If you'll excuse me. I should be going." Holly let out a sigh as she left the room, she didn't want to cause Robin any more pain so it was more than time to leave. The quicker she got her things together the faster she could be out of Robin's home. The poor girl, she doesn't need any added stress.

…

They hadn't talked much on the way to the motel, Robert seemed rather tired and Anna was watching to make sure no one was following them. Now that she has found Robert, she worries they will have to be more careful. They stepped into the room and Robert put down the bags he was holding then he turned to her and opened his arms. Anna smiled and stepped into them, wrapping her arms around him as well.

"This feels so right," he said as he closed his eyes, holding her close.

"I have missed this so much, I've missed you so much." Anna leaned back and looked at Robert's face. She wanted to kiss him but wasn't sure if she should. It's Robert but he's not himself either. "It feels good being in your arms again."

"I might not know much, but this, this I know. You are definitely what was missing." Then he leaned in and kissed her nose.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled at him. That is so Robert, he's in there. Now they just need to figure out what kind of help he needs so he can get better and remember everything else. "I am so happy I found you."

"I am too. Why don't we eat, you can tell me how you got away from that explosion. Where you were. How you found me. Then I think I'll need to lay down for a while."

"Alright, you can have to short version while we eat." Anna stepped out of his arms and they started getting their dinner out. Robert put his few belongings by the bed. It was just a change of clothes and a few trinkets he had collected in his time here. As they ate Anna told him all she could. For a brief time, they had both been on the tanker. She told him about being moved to a couple of places then finally ending up in that place in the Adirondacks. He was smiling listening to her as she told him about her escape and how she managed to get back to Port Charles so quickly. He was damn proud of her. She is an amazing woman, and she is his wife, he thought happily.

When she was done he asked, "Why is it I know the things you are telling me are right. You mentioned Port Charles and I knew that's where we live. Faison, that's who took you from me," he paused then added, "both times," he added a little unsure. "Is that right?"

Anna nodded, "It is."

"How can I know that? If I don't remember my life how do I know that?"

"I don't know. Maybe your injuries are causing the memory loss, maybe it's only temporary, maybe seeing me is helping. I don't know. Maybe I'm triggering things you just haven't thought about." She reached up and touched his cheek. "I think you should lay down, you look tired."

Robert looked over at the bed, "Will you lay with me? All I want is to close my eyes and know I'm safe in your arms."

"Of course, I will."

Anna walked over to the bed and laid down, Robert quickly joined her. She put her head back and closed her eyes, actually able to relax a little now. She has found him. They can figure out what has to happen next later. Right now this is all that matters. Anna smiled and looked down when Robert put his head on her chest and one arm around her. She put her arms around him, stroking his hair with one hand. "This is what's been missing. You are my safety net. I know I'm going to be okay now."

"I won't let anything happen to you." She smiled thinking about him saying something so very close to that not all that long ago. He had been referring to her and Robin. "Oh and happy anniversary. It was actually last week but it's still wonderful to get to say that to you."

"One year, that's better than the first time." Then Robert lifted his head and looked at her. She was smiling so he grinned, "I'm right, I know I am."

"Yes, you are." Anna couldn't look away, this is her husband, she's found him. Robert is safe and he will be okay after he's gotten the medical attention he needs.

Slowly he moved closer, he couldn't look away, he could get lost in those eyes. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly. Then he leaned back and smiled, he had felt that instant electric pull when their lips met. "Happy anniversary." Anna was smiling at him, could there be anything better than this? He didn't know the last time he felt this secure, this loved. Yes, there was a lot he still didn't know and there was something seriously wrong with his head but he has her back, that's what matters. Anna is here and she will look out for him. He put his head back on her chest and closed his eyes. "I love you, Anna."

Anna started stroking his hair again. "I love you too."

He let himself drift off to sleep, certain tonight, he would finally get some real sleep. Anna fell asleep shortly after he did. Safe and secure in the arms of the man she loves. Even injured he would protect her if needed. She had not felt this safe since Faison had taken her away from him.

…

Anna woke up feeling wonderful. She felt well-rested and like today she could actually relax a little, that she didn't have to get up and get to work. Anna was warm and secure, she was on her side and there was a body spooned up behind her, his arms holding her tight. She smiled to herself. Yesterday she had finally found him. Robert is here with her. Now they just have to figure out what they have to do so they can go home to Robin.

"Good morning."

Anna smiled and turned slightly in his arms, happy seeing him smiling back at her. "Good morning. I just thought we were going to have a nap, not sleep through the night."

"I needed that. I feel good this morning. I feel like I really slept."

"If you've been talking in your sleep maybe you haven't been sleeping that well. That might be part of why you've been so tired. Even when you're sleeping, you aren't resting soundly."

"Even though my body needed rest, my mind was still working. Sleeping on the floor could have been part of the problem as well."

"Maybe, or maybe that same thing that told you were in danger at the hospital was keeping you from fully falling asleep. There might have been a part of you that knew you had to be ready to run at a moment's notice."

"That could be it. I always felt like I had to be watching for someone coming after me. Like my life was in danger."

"When you came after me the WSB put a black box order on you, apparently you knew that would happen. It meant you were to be terminated on sight. I already had one and that was why you had to find me. You were trying to save my life." Anna stroked his cheek as they adjusted. Anna was now on her back and Robert on his side so they could talk more easily. "It seems like the things you held onto were what was most important at the time of the explosion. You had to find me, you remembered that. You were in danger, you remembered that. You wanted to find me and get home to Robin and you remember her."

"I want to remember it all," he said, putting his head on her shoulder.

"I know, and you will. The black box orders have been removed. The WSB apparently found evidence that proved I was a prisoner not with Faison willingly. Ronda told me that there was a recording that made it sound like I was with Faison willingly but they had eventually determined that had been faked. I don't know when that was made but maybe Faison was recording some of the conversations we had and pieced it together somehow."

"Who's Ronda?" Robert was mostly following what she was saying but was pretty sure he didn't know that name.

"Agent Ronda Norris, she was my keeper at that facility the WSB had me at. She's the one that told me about all this stuff."

"So if the WSB doesn't want to kill us, what kind of danger are we in?"

"I don't know. Is the DVX out there looking for any of us, would they just want to find Faison? Could they want to kill us just because of who we are? If the WSB finds us, what are they going to do? They don't want anyone to know we are alive so what would they do with us if they find us? I don't think we'd be in danger but they would try to stop us from getting home to Robin."

"K, so we need to stay hidden from both those organizations." Anna nodded in agreement. "We need to get me looked at by a doctor but we should probably get out of Argentina before we do that." This was a little odd for him, she's talking about these secret agencies and he's following what she's saying. He knows about the spy world. Why remember that?

"Yes, we need to get somewhere no one would be looking for us or Faison."

"Alright, what kind of support do we have, if any?"

"Other than the WSB Robin and Olin are the only ones that know I'm alive and on a mission to find you."

"That's not much help. Robin can't do anything and Olin's always there when we need her but this isn't Port Charles."

Anna turned her head to look at him, "You remember Olin?"

Robert grinned, "Yeah, I guess the commish does remember Olin." He let out a sigh as he rolled onto his back. "I like this, as we talk there are things I just know. It's not that I'm suddenly remembering them, it's like I can finally access them."

"As time has passed, there must have been some healing and now with me here I think you are reminded of those things. It might just be a partial or temporary memory loss you're dealing with."

"Maybe, but there is still something wrong."

"I know, darling." Anna turned and put her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "Is it wrong that I don't want to move until we have to go back to Selena's?"

Robert grinned as he laughed a little. "I don't want to move either."

"It's settled, we are staying like this until we have to go talk to them. After that, we can figure out what our next move is."

Robert put his head back, "Alright." If this was all they were going to do today, he was perfectly fine with that. He felt good, he felt safe. Whatever they are facing now they are in this together. Having her here in his arms felt like he was recharging, she just makes things better and now that they are a team again he knows they will get out of this situation. Then eventually home to their daughter.

…

To Anna it had felt more like Selena had just wanted to see Robert again before they left than to offer up anything useful to them. As if she hoped he might decide to stay. The boys, especially Juan, had been happy to see him. They didn't find out any more than they had known when they got there. Robert had already told Anna most of what they had.

When they were back in the motel room, Robert sighed as he collapsed into one of the chairs. "That wasn't very helpful was it?"

"No, it wasn't," Anna agreed. "Juan's cute though, I think he's gonna miss having you around."

"Yeah, I like him. He's curious and we would go for walks and talked a lot. I think he liked having a man around. I think Selena liked having a man around too."

"She was hoping you'd be her man," Anna stated, with a knowing grin.

"I know. I kept telling her I'm married. She'd flirt, some nights she'd drink a little and get more flirty. Those nights I just went to bed earlier. It was harmless but I never wanted to give her the wrong idea either."

"You have always been a charmer but you never messed with married women and as a married man you don't mess with other women. My god, when Faison used mind control and made you believe the worst of me. Cheating is not in you, and you hated thinking it was in me."

"You wouldn't. Never." Robert sat for a moment thinking about what she had just mentioned. "I had to be deprogrammed, right? What if what Faison did then has something to do with what's happening to me now. Could he be behind me not remembering things?"

"I have no idea. Do you remember that?"

"I remember being very angry with you. I can remember a blonde doctor helping me and then you finally helping me get past that. I know you would never do that to me. You would never hurt me like that. I knew you didn't go with him willingly because you would never do that to me."

"Is it that you are remembering things or are these feelings you have?"

"I'm not sure. Some of it feels like a feeling is telling me what I'm thinking is right. I want to remember but I can't and then there will be something in my head that I just seem to know. Does that make any sense?"

"Yeah, it does. You have had some kind of head trauma. Until that is healed or treated or whatever it is you need I think your memory is going to be messed up. Maybe there's a lot you know or will remember we just don't know yet. I don't want you worrying too much about that. We can take this step by step, we don't need all the answers right now. You're still healing and stressing trying to remember might not be what's best right now."

"So trust what I think I know and let you lead the way."

"Yeah, besides you like it when I take charge," she said with a sexy little smile.

"Yeah, I think I do," he smiled back. Robert stood up again, "Well what do we do now?"

"We need to figure out where to go next. It needs to be somewhere with a good healthcare system and where no one would expect us or Faison to show up."

"Let's figure that out over dinner. We should go out, have a nice dinner somewhere. What do you think, Roxie?"

"Alright Steve, do you have any suggestions?" They were going to be travelling as Stephen and Roxanne Conner and had better get into the habit of referring to each other that way.

"No, I thought you were taking the lead," he said, making them both laugh.

"Let's get out of here. There's a little diner not far that has really good food."

While they ate they agreed that they should go to Canada. Robert could get the medical attention he needs and they wouldn't be far from home. Since they wanted to keep a low profile they agreed a smaller area would be better and agreed Nova Scotia would be a good place to lay low for a while.