Important note: Read this flashback, you all. Please don't skip it. ;)

It will give you a lot of info about the last two days before Ana left Christian, six years ago.

[The flashback in this chapter is the continuation of the flashback of chapter 7: The secret...]

As Ana's eyes fluttered open the next morning, she decided to stay in bed just a little longer.

"Five minutes." Was what tumbled from her lips, as she stretched her body lazily.

Her mind instantly brought her back to the events of the day before. After Mia and Christian had one heated discussion( no, it was more like a fight… no, a battle) that lasted almost an hour, Mia decided to go back home.

Or to be blunt; Christian decided that for his little sister.

Way to go, Christian. Now Mia had one more thing to add on her 'list'.

The list of reasons why she hated Ana's guts. Ugh!

"Well, it is what it is." Ana whispered.

Now she had to focus on doing her big task. She was very happy and not to mention surprised that Christian had decided to accept her help.

While still lying in bed, Ana threw a quick glance at the clock and saw that it was 5:30 in the morning. She decided then that it was time to get up and get ready. Ana wanted to prepare for the long and exhausting day that lay ahead. From experience she knew that the first day was the hardest.

As she made her bed, Ana let out a deep breath. Even though it's been six years, she still felt that gnawing pain in her gut, whenever she saw or thought about Christian.

She was this close… this close to marrying him then. However, after her mother wrote the name of the child that had died fourteen years ago, and she had asked Christian about it, everything turned into chaos.

*Flashback*

She shook her head furiously at that." No! Tell me, please. Tell me where he died? Did it happen here in Seattle?"

Christian let out a deep breath and shook his head." No, it happened in New York." He replied, his voice breaking at the end.

As those words reached Ana's ears, it instantly went dark before her very eyes, the burden of those words too much for her heart and body to take.

As Ana's eyes fluttered open slowly, a bright light shone in them." Ouch." She whispered, as her eyes fluttered shut, while carefully massaging her temples.

Man, her head hurt as if someone had hit her with a brick. Crap!

"Ana? Are you OK, sweetie?" she heard a familiar voice say from afar.

"Christian?" she said softly, and attempted to sit up from her lying position.

"Please, lie still on the bed, Ana." She heard him say lovingly, as he gently helped her lay down." The doctor is on his way. He'll be here within a minute or five."

"OK." She replied, and let out deep breaths.

What had happened again? She wondered, as her eyes landed on her wonderful boyfriend.

Aah, yes. Christian had just confirmed her suspicions about the incident of eight years ago. It was indeed his little brother who had died that tragic, rainy evening…

As she attempted once more to sit up, Ana's whole body trembled. She had to tell Christian— the man she loved with all her heart, that her mom had witnessed the accident that killed his younger brother. She had to. There was no way around this.

"Christian." She said, and held onto his upper arm." I have to…"

"Ana, baby. Lay still, please?" Christian insisted, while looking her with loving eyes.

She shook her head at that, and frantically began to sit up once more." No! I have to tell you something important." Ana pointed out, as tears pooled in her pretty eyes." It's about my mom, and your bro…"

However, he gently cut Ana off." Ana, the doctor is here, sweetie." Christian pointed out, and got up from the bed." You can tell me after doctor Russo has given you the proper medical treatment. OK, babe?"

Ana shook her head, as tears spilled from her eyes." No, I have to tell you now." Were the words that left her lips, but Christian didn't hear her. He was speaking to the doctor and already leading him inside the bedroom.

xxx

Twenty minutes later, Ana was able to get up and walked over to the bathroom, as Christian walked the doctor out. While looking at her own reflection in the mirror, her hands clenched into small fists.

Her mother… she was in the car with someone, when Christian's brother Shawn, died. Ana knew it's been more than eight years, since the evening of the tragedy. However, she couldn't let it go. As Ana thought about how it must've been for Christian's parents, not being able to have closure regarding their son's death, a gut wrenching pain cut right through her heart and soul.

At a certain point, a loud sob escaped her pale lips, as she put herself in Grace and Carrick's shoes. Oh, how heart breaking it must've been for them to lose a child in such a horrific way. Tears spilled uncontrollably down Ana's face, as she imagined how the both of them felt and obviously still feel, when they lost their baby boy.

"I have to make it right." Ana whispered, as she decided to confront her mother about that evening.

No matter what she or anyone would do now, it wouldn't bring Shawn back. However, she had to do something to give Grace and Carrick the closure they deserved. One that was long overdue…

As Ana frantically wiped away her tears and made herself presentable, she walked out the bathroom door. Before walking out the bedroom, she grabbed her handbag and phone and walked down the stairs.

Ana was determined to find out from her mother who she was with that tragic evening— Even if she had to force it out of Carla, she will get that info out of her! This big secret was kept too long! Too many people, including Christian's parents and Shawn's siblings had endured enough pain after the incident.

Ana was aware of the possible consequences for her and Christian, when the secret were to be revealed. She planned on telling Christian personally that her mother witnessed his brother's death and also who was responsible for it.

She knew it would be difficult and maybe impossible for him to process the information. However, Ana wanted no secrets between herself and Christian. Not when she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She wouldn't be able to live with herself.

So even though there was a possibility that Ana could lose Christian, after he finds out that her own mother and Ana kept the tragic incident a secret, she wanted him to know the truth. He deserved the truth… the whole Grey family did. And Shawn deserved justice.

While gathering all her courage, Ana walked into the living room, where Christian was. She was going to tell him everything and after that, she planned on interrogating her mother.

'My mom has to tell me who was responsible for Shawn's death! And she will tell me!' Ana thought, as she walked over to Christian, while her heart rammed against her rib cage, almost as it if wanted to leap out of it.

Ana was terrified at that moment, but there really wasn't a way around it. It pained her, almost making it hard to take in breaths, because she didn't want to lose him… God, she loved him so much! He was her everything.

And yet, Ana gathered the last of her strength and closed the gap between them.

He turned his face towards Ana, and smiled instantly." Come here, sweetie. Doctor Russo says that you'll be fine." Christian said, while Ana reached him.

At that, Christian instantly pulled Ana in a loving and tight embrace." You scared me, Ana." She heard him say, as her nose landed in the crook of his neck.

Ana's eyes fluttered shut, as a huge lump formed in her throat. She held onto him for dear life, as it dawned on her that it was a possibility that this moment here, was the last time in his warm arms…

But then Ana thought.' No, I have faith in Christian. He will eventually forgive me and he and I will get through this. Christian and I will fight to stay together. No secret will tear us apart. I won't allow it.'

Why? The reason was simple really… Because he and Ana were meant to be.

She pulled away first, and looked up, locking eyes with him." Christian, I have to tell you something important. Please don't hate me after knowing the truth about what happened eight years ago." Ana said softly, as a lonely tear rolled down her cheek.

Christian simply said." What is it, sweetie?" he asked, genuinely concerned, while cupping her face and caressing her cheek lovingly with his thumb." I could never hate you, Ana."

Ana smiled through her tears." I know that. We will get through this." She replied.

"Uhuh, no matter what it is, big or small." He pointed out, and smiled at Ana." You can tell me now, sweetie."

Relieved, Ana let out a deep breath. She will tell him everything about the secret and yet Christian will find a way to forgive her... that, Ana was certain of.

Their love was strong like that…

But just as she was about to tell him the truth, Christian's cell phone rang loudly, interrupting Ana.

She looked at him with pleading eyes." Christian, please let it go to voicemail." Ana begged, but his eyes already landed on the display.

He furrowed his brows and apologized to Ana." Sorry, sweetie." He said." What the hell? It's my father's lawyer. I've to take this."

As a sigh escaped her lips, Ana plopped herself down onto the couch, while a thousand and one things bounced inside her skull.

After a few minutes though, he ended the conversation and walked over to Ana." Sorry, sweetie. We will talk later, OK." Christian said and kissed her on the top of her head." I have to go now."

"But… where are you going, Christian?" she asked, looking at him perplexed.

He sighed deeply at that, and cleared his throat." It's my dad. He's in jail right now." Christian explained to Ana." He was in a fight with someone in a bar and now I have to bail him out."

Christian then promised her to have that talk later and walked hastily out the front door with his car keys and wallet in his hands.

Ana silently watched him go and heard him start his Porsche.

'OK, later we will have that talk. In the meantime, I'll go to my mother to find out who was responsible for Shawn's death.' She thought, while walking out the front door.

But little did Christian and Ana know that this was the last time they would see each other… and talk in person as a harmonious couple.

** End of flashback**

A knock on the bedroom door brought Ana back to reality.

"Ana, it's me." She heard Christian say." Are you up already?"

She instantly walked towards the door and swung the door open." Yes, I am." Ana said.

"Let's do this, Ana." He demanded, while locking eyes with her." You can look at my legs now and decide which method will be the best one to get me back on my feet."

Ana nodded and looked at Christian with determination in her eyes." Give me fifteen… twenty minutes tops, and then we'll get to work immediately."

Note: So... tell me what you think about the chapter?

Thanks for reading, you all. :)

And of course thank you for the wonderful reviews. :)

You guys totally rock! ;) And I love you...

J