I posted today because I didn't want to leave you with a cliffhanger over the weekend... Aren't I nice:)

This chapter is mainly "filler/flashback" but also needed. All mistakes are mine. Enjoy

I'm have not been looking forward to this girl outing with Emma. She offered me a day at the spa, saying I needed some much-needed girl time with my sister in law. Also, we needed to get all dolled up for the charity banquet tomorrow night, that will help raise money for the homeless community and the shelter.

Going to the spa is something Emma and I have done a couple times over the months since we met. I've been putting off doing this trip because hanging out with Emma on my own isn't my favorite past time.

The first time we went was before her's and "Trey's" wedding. She would gloat how sweet and attentive my man was. Gushing about their dates and how he proposed. I don't know how I made it through that day without killing her. The second time was before my wedding when she said I deserved to be pampered before my big day. That every girl deserves the princess treatment for her wedding. She mentioned she would love to do it for me, knowing that I had no family and no friends. I guess she felt sorry for me.

All in all, the spa treatments do have their benefits, because after a nice oil massage my skin is so soft and it drives Christian wild. He can't keep his hands off me. Well, when his hands can touch me.

Emma and I are both sitting in large leather chairs, our feet dipped in a foot spa, while we sip on champagne.

I reminisce of the day that Christian painted my finger and toenails for me for my fifteenth birthday. He bought a bottle of purple nail polish, purple being my favorite color, and a plastic tiara from the dollar store. He also bought me a yellow sundress from the goodwill. He said he wanted me to look glamorous for my birthday. He also bought himself a gray wool suit with a maroon shirt for the occasion.

Even though our clothes were cheap; we looked good.

He made me feel like a queen that day. Well, he tends to always makes me feel like a queen on the highest pedestal. But that day was special, perfect even. We had just gotten our G.E.D's and we knew we would never make it to our High School Prom.

Not that we would've been able to afford it anyways.

Christian took me out to one of the abandoned building's we frequent often. It was where many of the people we knew had set up home. It was one of our many getaways when things got bad at home.

I was in shock when I walked into the sprayed painted, run-down, creaky old building, because there in the middle of the room was a table with two chairs and a red and white tablecloth. I found out later that was borrowed the table from the pizza place around the corner. There was a lit candle in the middle of the table, Christmas lights dangling down, I'm sure the power coming from an outside source. Also, an old boombox playing some classic hits from the 80's. And the piece of resistance were the cheeseburgers from McDonald's for dinner.

"Happy birthday and happy Prom, baby." He smiles down at me. I'm still in a state of disbelief of what he's been able to pull off. "I know it isn't much-"

"Are you kidding me?" I say cutting him off. "This is perfect." I wrap my arms around his neck, "How did you do all this?"

"I had some help." He shrugs as he starts swaying us to the music.

"I can't believe you did all this for me. You know I would've been just as happy cuddling with you all night."

"I would do anything for you. Anything to see you smile. You deserve everything that comes your way baby."

"You make me look like a slacker in the b-day gift department. You're always wowing me." My head rest of his itchy suit and I run my hand down the buttons of his shirt.

"I loved your gift this year…" he purrs as his hand moves down my back and he grabs my ass. "You were naked, in my bed. You let me fuck you anyway I wanted. Best gift ever."

"That's all I need too, you know."

"I want to give you the world, Anastasia." He bends down and kisses me deeply, hungrily as we keep swaying to "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel

"Rose-"

I'm cut from my daydream and draw my attention to Emma.

"Yeah?"

"I've been calling you. What color do you want for your nails?" She asks. In front of me is the nailtechnician smiling at me, waiting for an answer.

God, I must have really drifted away.

"Purple. Please."

"Purple?" Emma questions me, somewhat disgusted by my color choice.

"It's my favorite color. Plus, it will-um-go well with this plum dress I have that I've been dying to wear for the banquet tomorrow." It's not a total lie.

She gives me a weak smile before nodding her head.

I'm guessing she's not a fan of purple.

"Yes. The banquet. I love what you and Trey have done with the charity. It's always good to have people that know what they're doing and talking about. I'm sure will raise a lot of money tomorrow night."

"I hope so. You can tell how much all the thing we're doing has really helped the community. There's light in people's eyes now, from when they first came in. They have a safe place to go, eat, be warm, and treated normally. The staff is excellent. I'm glad the building is large enough to accommodate so many people at once. It's nice we don't have to turn people away. I just wish it could be more." I say proudly of all the work that has been done over the last months.

The hardest part was getting all the permits we needed to basically run a hotel. Thankfully, with two big names on board of the charity they were easily pushed through.

I wish I could get this program in every city- shit every state would make all the difference in the world.

"I'm glad it's doing well. The attention you and Trey are bringing has also helped bring attention to my magazine. Between my marriage and this, it's what I needed to be on top again. I've always gave to charity. Something my grandfather instilled in me, but this is the first that it's ever made any news or impact. I'm sure it's doing this same for Thomas."

"Well, I'm glad?" I say bitterly, but I try to cover it with some fake sweetness.

We didn't do this to help your image lady, but whatever helps you sleep at night.

"Trey really worries about you." She says changing the subject. "I could only wish my brother and I were as close as you too."

"Well we've been through a lot together. We're the only ones that understand each other's woes. I worry about him too."

"You have nothing to worry about. As his wife, I'm taking good care of him now. I'm sure Thomas is doing the same for you. Neither one you will really have to worry again." Emma takes my hand and squeezes it.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and puke all over her when she talks about taking care of Christian. I'm about to say something when she continues to gloat about my man.

"I'm glad to see even with the horrors you both endured that you both turned out so well. Your both well mannered, have etiquette, and sincere. When maybe in reality you don't owe the world anything. I mean you could have been a couple of drugged up nobodies. I mean that's how you were raised. The whole nature over nurture concept, it seems that you might have not had a choice but to fail, but you overcame it. It's all a delight to see." She grins, her full white smile.

"I saw that when I met you both in that bar. Your brother had this spark about him and I wouldn't have been interested if I didn't see this desire to want to live and keep going. Your brother-" She stops and whistles through her teeth.

Please I beg, to the lord above, don't say anything about you sleeping with Christian. I don't know if I could turn of the urge to want to cut her up in a million pieces if she did.

"Anyways...I'll spare you the details."

Thank you, lord.

"It seems that everything worked out, right? Like I said you two somehow made it through maybe even better people."

If you only knew what our plan really was. I bet your tone would change.

"I think from a young age we both knew what we didn't want out of life. It helped we had some good people on our side. That helped point us in the right direction."

"Yes, I have to say you both really turned my head on the hobo community. I used to think they were a bunch of lazy, good for nothing, smelly people. I mean some are still lazy…but I see things a little bit different now… God… I have this awful kink in my neck. I hope that Sandra can get it out today…" She says rubbing the back of her neck.

I bite my tongue, hard. Hard enough that I taste blood. This conversation makes it slightly easier to want to take this conceited bitch's money. It's taking all the fight in my not to want to rip her head off and give her a verbal lashing.

Thankfully, we're interrupted before more horseshit can spew from her mouth, when the technicians come back and start rubbing our feet.

Emma goes silent as my mind shuts off thinking about the past again. And I remember when things were really grim there was always someone there for us.

I open the door to Christian's dingy apartment. His mom's pimp, Rob, has just left, so I know access would be easy as she waits for her next john.

Wouldn't be surprised if it's the same guy that finished with my mom an hour ago. I've never been happier when I invested in a pair of earmuffs to keep out the noise of my mother. God, she's fucking loud.

I close the door and I startled the figure lying on the couch.

"Ana?"

The barley put together woman sits up on the couch staring at me.

"Hi Ella." I mumble.

She gets off the couch and stumbles to me. She reeks of booze, sweat, and menthol. She touches my face and gives me a lopsided smile. "You're beautiful. It's no wonder my son and Rob are so-so- why they want to screw you." She laughs. "Rob wants to know if you want to be on his line of girls. He thinks you'll make bank for him. For us."

I shiver at the thought. It's freaking sick. I'm fourteen.

"No thanks." I say disgusted.

"Oh, you don't have to be shy darling." Ella wipes her hand across her nose, wiping the dripping snot from her nose. I'm sure she just finished snorting a line of coke. "We heard you and Christian going at it the other day. You're quite vocal young lady. It turned him on."

I pale. I can't believe they were home while were having sex? We always try to make sure they're gone.

"He thinks your perky." She says with a snort laugh and bounces her boobs in her hands. "I was about your age when I started. Then I got knocked up with the rat that put me out of commission for so long. I lost good money during those months."

"I came to see Christian…" I remind her.

She sighs, "Think about it. Your tight young body could bring in a lot of cash. He's in his room, licking his wounds. He knows better than to get in Rob's way." She rolls her huge dilated eyes, and stumbles back to the couch.

My heartbeats in a panic and I rush to Christian's room. I push open the door and I don't see him right away.

I go to his closet and slide the doors open. There, in the empty closet, is Christian curled into a ball. Shaking like a leaf.

"Babe," I kneel next to him.

Christian's face turns to me, I gasp at the sight of him, the tears rush from my eyes. His eyes are swollen, he's bleeding from his nose, face, and scalp.

"What did he do to you? Why?" I shout out between my sobs. My heart and body ache for him. This is the worst I have ever seen him. His eyes are completely empty, lacking any life. His usual strength and confidence is shattered on the floor with him.

He doesn't say anything, his swollen eyes focus on me. "We should go see Peter…. He can-"

"No." he mumbles.

"Yes." I say sternly.

Christian huffs and hides his face back into his legs. I brush my hand through his blood-soaked hair. "Babe, Peter can help you. You need help. Please." I beg him and start to cry harder.

Peter is someone we met when we were ten on the street. He's a veteran from the Vietnam war. He's the sweetest guy. The biggest heart of anyone I ever met. After the war, he found it hard pressed to find a job, he suffered from PTSD and is missing a leg. Our government basically pushed him aside after everything he did for our country. Peter has been on the street for over twenty years and he never complains. He's great for a good story, always shares, and always lends a hand. He's one of the many people that help keep Christian and I in line and out of trouble.

Christian sighs and looks back at me. Some of the life coming back into those grey orbs that I love so much. "Fine. But I don't feel like moving yet." I reach out his arm out and pulls me to him. He hisses as my arms wrap around his waist. That's when I notice the blood seeping from his shirt.

I lift up the now red stained shirt and there's a large gash across his stomach. It doesn't appear to be too deep, thankfully.

"I'm fine."

"Please don't try to sell me that bullshit because I ain't buying it." I look around for something to press on his wound and find a towel and push it to his stomach to help the bleeding. "Can you walk? I don't think I could carrying you." I lightly chuckle.

I'm grateful when he chuckles back. "Yeah, I should be able too."

After I get Christian changed and his mom closes herself in her room with her john we venture out to the ally Peter has set up camp with a few of his buddies.

Peter sees us and wheels himself to us. "Fuck kid, what happened to you?" he exclaims as he looks over Christian's beat up body. Christian's arm is draped over mine as I hold him up. I know the walk was exhausting for him.

"Come sit down, and let me look you over. Ana can you go to my tent and get my bag?" I nod after I help Christian down to a chair. Who needs a doctor when you got Peter?

I grab the supplies and hand the bag to Peter and let him get to work. I can't help, but wonder what lead to this beating he got from Rob.

"Why did he do this? You always know to stay out of his way. You promised you would after last time he went nuts."

"He saw us having sex, Ana. He made a comment about your body." He chokes out and I can see the fire burning in his eyes. "He talked about how he wanted to fuck you, rip your pussy in half. I charged him. I got a punch in before he took me down. Then he got out his pocket knife. My mom stopped him and I ran off. Only good thing she's ever done for me." he says angrily. "Nobody talks about you that way. I wanted to kill him."

"Christian…" I kiss his temple. I start to cry again and turn into a blubbering mess. He's always protecting me, I just hate that he gets hurt like this in the process. It's not fair. Why do we always end up on the other side of a fist.

"Don't cry, Ana…" He says softly and all I want to do is wrap myself around him and make all his pain go away.

I opt to take his hand and squeeze it, "I love you…" I tell him.

Christian hisses when the rubbing alcohol hits his wound. "Fuck..." he grits out.

"You don't want an infection…" Peter says.

"I want you to stay away whenever Rob is around. I don't trust him. Promise me."

"I promise." I agree.

"I know a guy." Peter interprets. "He could help teach you some boxing moves and some self-defense. If you can knock them back sometimes they end up fluttering away. I think it's something both you kids need to learn."

"That would be great…" I tell him.

"Good. His name is Mark. You'll like him. Now why don't you two stay here tonight. I would like to keep an eye out on you. If you start getting worse we might have to take you to the hospital."

"No..." Christian snaps.

"Hush child." Peter reprimands him. "Only if necessary. You don't want to leave your girl all alone would you?" Christian shakes his head. "Well, that's what's going to happen if you don't get proper care. Now I think you'll be fine, but like I said just in case. Now I want you to go lay down and I'll have of the guys go find you some ice."

"Thanks Peter." I move to give him a hug and he chuckles.

"I'm glad I was here. Now rest both of you. But no shenanigans you're still too young for that."

We spent two days out there while Christian healed, and made our way back to our personal hells. Sadly, Peter would pass away a few months later. The day he passed was agony. Christian and I felt like we lost a part of us, someone we considered family. The state did see that he was laid to rest in Arlington VA, where he belongs, with his fellow soldiers. I'm thankful that was done right for him. I only wish we could've have gone to say goodbye.

After another two hours of torture at the spa, Emma drops me off at home, telling me how we 'must do it again.' Thomas still isn't home and I'm grateful, because the massage always makes me lethargic. After our toes were painted I didn't have to gab with Emma till we were back in the car. I thought my dislike of her was because she got to have Christian, now I know it's because she's really a stuck-up bitch. I should get an Academy award for having to act through her shit.

I pull out of my phone before diving into bed. I have a couple missed texts from Christian and I smile at his last one.

* Golf sucked. Never again. So, I need you to make me feel better and tell me how smooth is your skin right now? Would you like me to come over so I can lick my tongue all over you? I'm missing how good you taste.

I laugh and decide to take a picture of myself to send to him. * I don't know. You tell me.

*I can't tell… You're wearing to many clothes.

* I'll send you something later, whenever I move out of this bed. Plus isn't your wife home? I don't think you could escape to come and use that tongue on me anyways.

*Wanna bet?

*Tomorrow. We'll sneak away to a coat closet.

I tease him, but I know that he will make good on it. If not a coat closet… somewhere. I have a feeling I'm going to get fucked with an inch of my life tomorrow for leading him on.

Yay me.

As always I love hearing your thoughts, so drop me a line :)

See ya tomorrow...