March 1991

Anna slowly opened the door to her home, nodding goodnight to the two poor officers who had been assigned the graveyard shift of protecting her and Robin. Glancing at her wristwatch she noted that it was just past midnight.

Quietly walking to her room, Anna gathered up a pair of pajamas and a robe before entering into the bathroom. Sighing in anticipation, she turned the water on in the shower to as hot as she could stand it.

Peeling off her clothing, Anna eyed them with disdain. They smelled of hospital and the light stench of char from Robert’s now ruined office. She fought a wave of nausea and balling them up in her hands, it took everything in her not to throw them in the trash. Instead she tossed them in the nearby laundry basket and shuddered.

Stepping into the shower, Anna turned her face into the spray. In the quiet of the shower Anna couldn't escape all the thoughts that she had been pushing aside for the past few days and they now ran unleashed through her mind.

She had almost lost him. Oh God, she had almost lost Robert.

In fact, medically speaking, for a minute or two she had. In the short time it had taken her to get a cup of coffee so he could talk to Sean, Robert had almost been ripped away from her forever.

The taste of salt on her lips surprised her as she didn’t even know she was crying, but a moment later uncontrollable sobs wracked her body. Anna slid down the tiled wall to rest at the bottom of the shower, pulling her knees to her chest. The hot water rolled off her body, seeming to bring to the surface all of the fear, anger, and pain from the last few weeks with it as she cried.

A few years ago when Anna had thought she first lost Duke in that warehouse explosion there was a long moment where she knew she could literally have laid down and died. All breath had left her body and her mind had gone completely numb. But then the anger had set in and the determination to avenge him had kicked her into high gear. When he had come back to her, only to die in her arms with a different face, Anna’s loss had been profound but not as soul shattering as she would have expected. While she had mourned her beautiful Scot and would always cherish the love she had with him, she took comfort in the fact that she had gotten to say goodbye this time.

But even the idea of losing Robert hurt on a completely new level. When he had lain in that hospital bed, unmoving and unresponsive to her touch, a part of Anna’s soul had felt as if it was missing. On that fateful day, 6 years ago, when she arrived on his doorstep looking for their daughter she knew then that he would always in her life. Even when he was in Australia with Holly, he was just a phone call or plane ride away. Or when she and Robin had been about to go into witness protection with Duke, she knew that somehow Robert would find them. Despite their ups and downs of the past few years, he had been her constant. She had never really questioned whether he would always be there.

Until now.

Anna had been completely serious when she had told Felicia that she would not let him die. She hadn’t the courage to tell him the truth and stop him from leaving her 14 years ago. She’d be damned if she let him go and do something stupid, like dying, to ruin their second chance.

Anna finally realized the water that had once turned her skin pink was barely lukewarm. She forced herself to stand, swaying slightly as her head now felt as though it was wrapped in cotton from her crying. Her eyes were sore and suddenly she felt incredibly bone weary. She quickly finished up her shower, only giving her hair a swift wash. Then, just as quickly, she dried off and slid into her pajamas. After popping two aspirin, she brushed her teeth and padded out to the bedroom.

Seeing a form huddled on the other side of her bed, where it had been smooth before she had gone to take her shower, gave her pause. Studying the image before her, she broke out into a wide smile.

Her completely “cool” teenaged daughter was halfway burrowed under the covers, squeezing the life out of the stuffed koala that Robert had sent her that very first Christmas. One leg hung over the side of the bed and her hair was fanned out on the pillow like a wild woman. Biting back a chuckle, Anna gently lifted the covers and slid Robin’s leg back in. Dark brown eyes fluttered open and caught sight of her.

“Mom?” Robin’s voice was sleepy and questioning. Anna climbed into the other side of the bed, waiting for her presence to actually sink in. A half a heartbeat later Robin sat straight up and her eyes widened. “Is Daddy okay? What happened?”

Anna shushed her, smoothing her hand over Robin’s messy hair and leaning forward to kiss her forehead. “Your dad is fine. They took him off the ventilator and he's breathing completely on his own. He woke up and talked to me for a while before Monica gave him something to help him sleep again. He was demanding a phone and a TV, actually, right before he nodded off.”

Robin’s sigh of relief mixed with a giggle. “He would.”

Anna chuckled too and looked down to entwine her fingers with Robin’s hand.

“Mom,” Robin started and Anna looked up sharply at the tremble in her child’s voice. Robin’s eyes swam with tears and Anna could tell she was struggling with her words. Finally, she just let out a soft cry and muttered, “I was really scared.”

“Oh Baby,” Anna said and gathered Robin into her arms and rocked her back and forth, like she had when she was a small child. “I know. It’s going to be okay.”

“Can I go see him?” Robin asked, pulling back and furiously wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“Yes, you can come visit him tomorrow after school.” Anna said and Robin immediately began to shake her head.

“Mom, I can’t go to school!” Robin protested. “I won’t be able to concentrate until I see Dad.”

“Robin,” Anna began to counter argue but she stopped. How could she ask her daughter to go to school, knowing that she would feel the same way if she had to go to work? “Okay, compromise. You go for a half a day and then, after lunch, Olin will bring you to the hospital.”

Robin opened her mouth again but Anna shook her head.

“Listen to me. They'll be doing some tests and you won’t be able to see him until the afternoon anyway. At least this way you can get some education in.” Anna said and with a small sigh Robin nodded her head.

“Okay, but I get to leave right after lunch. You promise?” Robin asked, staring closely at her mother.

“I promise.” Anna said and then bit the corner of her lower lip. “Um, you’ll have to have a plain clothed cop with you too. At least for now.”

Surprisingly, instead of the argument Anna expected, all Robin did was sigh again.

“Fine, I’ll just tell the teachers to put aside the usual desk.” Robin said, half-heartedly joking.

“Oh, Darling,”Anna said, her eyes filling with tears. She pulled Robin into her arms again and held tight. “Your life has been anything but easy with us as parents, hasn’t it? I’m so sorry.”

“Mom, it’s okay.” Robin said, hugging Anna back before pulling away. She looked intently into Anna’s eyes and with gentle fingers brushed away her mother’s tears. “Really, it’s okay. Even though we’ve been through some crazy things…”

“To say the least,” Anna interjected, but quickly apologized at her daughter’s exasperated look.

“Like I said, even though we’ve been through a lot, I never once doubted that you and Daddy do what you have to do in order to protect me. Or that you love me.”

“Oh, Sweetheart, we do. So much.” Anna said and Robin smiled at this vehement statement.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that despite everything…I wouldn’t change a thing about my life.” Robin finally finished and with a happy sigh Anna hugged her again. Smirking behind her mother’s back Robin added, “Well, maybe one thing.”

“What’s what?” Anna said, refusing to let her out of the hug.

“That I’d live in a house with parents who have the same last name.” Robin hinted and pulled out of Anna’s arms squealing with laughter when her mother’s fingers poked into her ribs.

“Don’t push your luck.” Anna said and grinned down at her still giggling child. But the twinkle in her eyes gave away her true feelings on the subject. With a satisfied grin, Robin laid down again as Anna tucked the covers up under her chin.

“Goodnight, daughter of mine.” Anna said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

“Night, mother of mine.” Robin retorted before yawning and wiggling down further under the covers. Then softly, she added, “Goodnight, Daddy.”

Not surprisingly both mother and daughter were out cold once their heads hit the pillows. But for the first time in days, they both fell asleep with smiles on their lips.