Ch 4: Dashing knight or Sexy sulton?

Ana and Christian had just made love when Paul called. He wanted Christian to help him get his wife back into the states. Both went to Paul's and Rebecca's house to come up with a plan. Paul came to the door and didn't see Ana at first as he asked Christian to come in. Ana appeared before him saying she wanted to help.

Ana had told Paul that while Christian was down there the last time with Paul he realized there was more going on than he thought. She explained that his family was tight with the royals, but Grace was down there talking to Edmund.

"Wait so, what you're saying is that your husband is friends with these people?" Billy asked.

"Yeah. They've been friends for a while," Ana told them.

"I told Ana that I saw my mother talking with Edmund and they weren't talking about family either. The two of them weren't avoiding each other by all means. I heard her mention Rebecca's name too."

"Oh that's just great," Billy told his brother Paul. "What do we do now?"

"Paul aren't you forgetting one important thing here?" Ana asked.

"What's that?"

"Rebecca. Christian did take you down there and he said she didn't want to leave until she could find her son."

"I get that Ana, but there is more at stake here. She doesn't know what the Prince is capable of and I do."

"So how are we going to do this?" Ana asked them.

"I suggest we hire some people who do these sort of things. They could go in, get Rebecca and get out. It could be a covert operation," Billy suggested.

"You do that and you will get my sister killed," Cassie said to Billy, not liking his plan at all. She and Rebecca were separated when they were kids. They had just found each other a year ago. "I will not allow you to put my sister's life in danger like that. There has to be another way."

"Cassie…" Paul started saying.

"You can't go along with this Paul. You're going to put her life on the line if you do this. Christian tell them not to do this. You of all people should know the dangers they are talking about."

Christian looked back Cassie's way. He understood that she was scared for her sister's life. But she had no idea what his family was like.

He got up and walked over to her, "First of all, you know nothing about where I'm from. Secondly, I'm here because my wife cares about your family, and we want to support you all anyway we can."

"Support is one thing, open combat is another," Cassie told Christian.

"What do you suggest we do Cassie, sit here and twiddle our thumbs?" Paul asked.

"Let me help you. I can reach out to Rebecca."

"Wait a second, if anyone can reach her husband can," Billy told Cassie.

"Cassie has a point," Ana told them all.

"What are you talking about?" Billy asked, looking back at Ana.

"Cassie is Rebecca's sister, if anyone is going to reach Rebecca it's her sister...just hear me out," Ana said, getting up from the couch. "Prince Richard isn't very fond of you, Paul, because he's Rebecca's husband and she had a child with this Richard guy right?"

"Is there a point to this, Ana?" Paul asked.

"Look, you have to understand, that this is a very awkward situation for all of you. You want your wife back but the Prince wants his son back. If Rebecca is able to help him find their son then she can return to you."

"Yes, but, she doesn't understand, he threatened her life if she didn't help him."

"But Cassie has no tangle ments with this guy. She could actually help her sister and help the prince too."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Ana. That's exactly what I was trying to say. Please, Paul, let me help," Cassie asked her brother in law. "At least think about it."

Cassie along with Christian and Ana left Paul's. They told him that if there was anything else they could do let them know. Cassie was happy that it seemed like her brother in law was listening to her.

"Paul, please tell me you're not going along with what Cassie is saying," Billy asked his brother.

"I don't know what to think. I just want my wife back." He told his brother leaving the room.

The next day day, Christian told Ana he had a meeting. Ana told him she wasn't feeling too well, that she felt nauseous and dizzy was going to stay home. He kissed her bye, leaving the house. Ana had plans of her own. She met with Cassie as they discussed on how she could help her get her sister back.

They came up with a plan. Cassie was to be sick and go into the hospital for tests. Ana would put the call into San Cristobel using her connections to the palace. It worked as she was able to talk to Prince Richard. She asked to speak with Rebecca.

She told her friend that her sister was in the hospital for tests. Ana told her she didn't know what was wrong with Cassie but that her sister needed her. Rebecca let her know she would be coming home soon.

Cassie was being wheeled into a room when Ana let her know she got through and that her sister was coming home. She told Ana thank you for everything as she left to go back home.

Meanwhile Christian came back from his meetings. He met his mother and her boyfriend in the living room.

"There is he! I haven't seen you in days. How is my son doing these days?" Grace asked Christian.

He fixed himself a drink. "It's easy to miss each other when you're out of the country," he told her.

"Excuse me?" Grace asked, looking at her son curiously.

"Mother, I saw you in San Cristobel. You were in a rather cozy conversation with Prince Edmund. I thought you two couldn't stand each other."

"I'm not exactly sure what you mean. You do realize how this family operates," Grace suggested as he took a drink.

"Yes, I do." He told her in between sips.

"I was there on business, Christian. We do have certain business operations down there and I was just making sure that everything was going accordingly. As far as Edmund is concerned, we settled our differences. You should try it sometime." Grace told him. "Now the real question is what were you doing in San Cristobel? And why didnt say something to me?

"I was in a rush, I had to get back home."

"You were so in a rush you couldn't even say hello to your own mother," Grace quizzed her son.

"I was there to help some of Ana's friends. They ran into trouble down there and I offered to help."

"I see," Grace said, walking away and sat in the leather chair. "You're too busy to help your own family, but when Ana barks you jump is that it?"

"We're always in need of help these days aren't we mother."

"That's not the point and you know it." Grace told her son not amused with his answer. "You know, Christian, I thought that we had come to an understanding, but I see that's not the case at all."

"Mother, don't insult me. You know that I'm always here for you, Mia and John. Always." He leaned down to his mother, placing his shot glass down on her the desk, "But let me make one thing clear to you, as far as me and Mia, you promised us that our business would go legitimate. You gave us your word. We expect you to fulfill it."

"So you should. As long as you know where your loyalty lies, Christian," Grace told him back.

He walked off and headed up the stairs to his wife. Christian came in and saw his wife laying on the bed. He went to her saying how much he missed her.

"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"Much better. I think it was just a twenty-four hour bug. Have you talked with Paul yet today?"

"No, I haven't. I tried calling your cell but you didn't answer. So I called the house, they said you had stepped out for a while."

"I accidently left my phone charging. I went to the hospital today."

Christian looked at her again. "You did…" he really looked at her and thought to himself, could she be pregnant? "I knew it! I knew it! You had all the symptoms, dizziness and nausea. You're pregnant aren't you?"

Ana was stunned with Christian's reaction. She got up from the bed saying to him, "Just because I was at the hospital, it doesn't mean I'm pregnant." Looking back at her husband she said, "I'm not pregnant, Christian."

He looked at her confused. "If your aren't pregnant then why were you at the hospital?"

"I was there to help with Cassie. We pretended that she was sick so that way I could call in to San Cristobel and get a message to Rebecca and so that she would come home. That's all it was."

"Oh…" he told her.

"Back to this pregnancy thing, you jumped pretty quickly to that conclusion fast, how come?"

He walked over to Ana putting his arms around her waist. "Well, honey, we only been making love every day for the past month I just thought that…since we haven't been taking any precautions or anything..." his voice trailed off.

"I see," Ana told him.

"So, one would only assume that you're pregnant."

"You're so wonderful to want a family with me. But I have to tell you, I have been taking precautions…" her voice trailed off when she saw the look in his face as it was contorted. "Oh my...I'm sorry Christian, I thought you knew."

"No, no, sweetie, I didn't know. How long have you been on the pill?" he asked.

"Do you really want an answer to that question?" Ana asked him.

Let me take a wild guess, since she's been on the pill since Jose. Ugh! Why am I torturing myself?! I don't even want to think about Ana with another man.

"Christian…" Ana asked him, noticing his discomfort.

"Just give me a minute…" he said leaning over the table in their bedroom. He was trying to reel in his emotions. He knew that Jose and Kate were engaged now but she the fact of knowing that they used to be together made him sick.

"I'm really sorry...I thought that you knew." Ana told him gently.

He looked back at his wife. "Ana...I'm not mad at you...I'm just ...I just really want to start a family with you so bad."

Ana went to him pulling him closer to her for a hug. "Do you know what that means to me that you want a family? It makes me love you even more. I just think that we should wait to start a family until…"

"You want to wait and make sure the family business is clean before we start. I get it, I do. I just want everything with you baby and I don't want to wait."

The couple sat on the bed and talked more about having a family. Ana still wanted to go back to school and finish her degree. Plus he talked about his mother and the fact of their family business hopefully going legit.

"You know," Ana whispered to her husband, "When it's time for us to start a family we will know."

Christian held her in his arms as he whispered back. "That's true. In the meantime we could always dream."

"And we could practice too," Ana purred. He moaned to her as he leaned in to kiss her as he laid her down onto the bed.

They made love and Christian had to leave for another meeting. Ana took a shower and made a call to Cassie. She asked if her sister was on her way and Cassie told Ana that Paul actually talked to her and told her it wasn't true. Paul also told Cassie that was a dangerous move to make. The ladies discussed what to do next when Cassie told Ana that Paul hasn't called her yet. She thinks he's working with the guys.

Ana was about to tell her her plan for going after Rebecca, but Christian walked into their bedroom, cutting off the conversation. He saw his wife dressed in a towel.

Damn she looked good in that towel! He thought to himself as he walked over to her.

"How was your meeting?" Ana asked her husband.

"Who cares! If I had known my wife would be dressed in towel I'd come home sooner," he told her dipping down to give her a kiss. He was pulling the towel from her body.

"Wait just a minute there, Christian!" she squealed to him.

"What? I'm only admiring the view, but why did you have to cover it up with a towel?" he asked.

Ana laughed. "I wore it just for you. But I really need to ask you a question," she told him.

"The answer is yes!" he told her excitedly.

"Hold on...you don't even know what I'm going to ask yet."

"When you're dressed like that how can I say no?" he kept trying to kiss her but she backed away playfully.

"Okay fine what's your question?" he asked her while undoing the buttons on his shirt.

Ana looked at her husband, thinking to herself that he had a great looking chest. Oh my gosh, my husband certainly has a great chest. I just wanna run my hands up and down and feel of his muscles. Hmmm. Damn it, I'm getting of track!

Ana shook her head a little as she asked,"Do you see yourself as a dashing knight or a sexy sulton?"

"Hmmmm...that's a rather weird question. Where is this coming from?"

"Well...I remembered that Edmund casually mentioned the masquerade ball in San Cristobel, and since I've never been to one of those before, I thought maybe we should check it out and maybe spend time on the beach perhaps."

"I see...you want to go to a royal ball?" Christian questioned.

"Sure. I think it would be a lot of fun."

"Ana…" he said to her.

"Christian…." she said back.

"Be honest with me. You really don't want to go to that ball do you? You want to go and rescue Rebecca."

"If we went to the ball and I ran into Rebecca that would be nice. I could find out what is going on."

"No, we're not going." He told her flat out.

Ana changed into her night slip as she began talking with her husband. She was telling him that they could use the invitation to go down there and see what was going on.

"Baby, I realize that you want to help your friends and I love you for that, but I said no. End of discussion."

"But why can't I just go down there and see what is going on?"

"Honey, you're being ridiculous! There is no way you are going to find out anything. Our connections we have are gone and furthermore, you would be putting your life in jeopardy."

"Christian, I just don't understand why you won't let me go down there and see for myself. I know Rebecca, she didn't do what she's being accused of. I want to do anything I can to help her."

"Ana, I get that you want to help your friends. I do. But what you are suggesting is very dangerous. I can't let you go down there knowing what is going on."

"I know she would do this for me if the situation was reversed. Why can't I go down there and talk to Richard…"

"Do you not understand that San Cristobel is not a democracy? Do you have any idea what that means? He is the ruler of that country meaning he could do whatever the hell he wants."

"I understand that...but...when I talked to him …" Ana was saying but when she saw the look on Christian's face it wasn't good.

"What do you mean you talked to him? When?" Christian questioned.

"The other day when I was trying to help Cassie get in touch with her sister by pretending she was sick."

"Oh yeah...I'm sure that went over well with the prince when he found out it wasn't true. What the hell were you thinking?" Christian asked, raising his voice to her.

"I was thinking I was trying to save my friend. Look, I get that you're worried about me and I love you for it. But I know I can do this. You make sacrifices everyday for your family business, why can't I just help a friend?"

"Ana, I have already helped them. I took Paul into SC to get his wife to which she didn't want to leave. I offered up the yacht, I'm not about to offer up my wife."

"Your not offering, its my choice to go," she told him.

"No way. You're not taking one step into SC is that clear?" he demanded.

"Christian...please…" Ana begged.

"Why on earth do you insist on putting your life in danger?" he asked. "I have tried very hard to keep you away from my family dealings, and yet you want to go right into a line of fire. The risks are way too great, Ana. You and I both know that my mother has been taking secret trips down there, so whatever is going on it's way too dangerous."

"It's my choice to go Christian. I can't set back and just watch Rebecca lose her family."

"What do you think my job is huh? As your husband, it's my job to protect you and look after you," he pointed out angrily.

"Oh really? Then what's my job? To fetch you dinner and vacuum?" she asked condescending.

He threw a pillow out of frustration. "It's not about that. I have worked too damn hard to keep you from being a target with my family and the business. I'm not about to let you to go down to SC all by yourself. I love you way too much, the answer is no, you are not going!" he yelled.

This was so unfair! All I wanted to was to help Rebecca. I looked back at my husband and he was mad as hell. Well guess what I am too.

Ana got up from their bed that she was setting on and ran out of the room slamming the door shut. Christian picked up a nearby vase and threw it at the wall out of frustration as it broke and he tugged on his hair.

He blew out a breathe. "Why must she insist in putting herself in danger? Doesn't she know how much I love her and want to protect her?"

Grace came into their bedroom looking at Christian lifting her eyebrow to her son and seeing the broken vase. She could hear them from downstairs arguing.

"Trouble in paradise, son?" she asked.

"Whatever, mother. Stay out of this," Christian warned her as he walked out of the room.

He looked all over the mansion to find Ana but he couldn't. He hated that they were fighting.

I'll just talk to her tomorrow and we will sort this out.

Ana was in another bedroom. She was tossing the pillows angrily off the bed as she pulled on the covers. As she settled in her eyes were wide open.

I hate fighting with Christian but he is just so damn stubborn. Grrrr!

Ana turned over; she had no idea when she fell asleep until the light from the sun started peering into the window. She got up grabbed her robe and walked to their bedroom. She went to talk to him and try to make up but he was gone already. Ana got dressed and left the house.

A/N: I hope you all liked it. I figured it was time for some drama! Let me know what you all think. I wasn't going to update, but since its new years day, I thought why not. There will be another chapter Friday!