A/N: This chapter does contain the trauma that Ana went through. It doesn't go into detail like the previous chapter. You don't need to read it to follow this story but I need certain characters to know what had happened. I'm very sorry if I trigger any unhappy memories for anyone. That was not my intention. Thank you for the reviews, (I read each and every one), follows and favorites.

Annette (my name)

They held hands as they walked off the elevator. Christian took his briefcase and her backpack and set it on the floor by the stairs. He saw Ana walking into the kitchen. He followed her to see what she was doing. He leaned against the door frame and watched. She opened the oven and inhaled. She smiled at Mrs. Jones.

"Those patties smell good Mrs. Jones. What do you put in them?"

"It's my secret recipe." The both laughed and that made Christian smiled. "Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes. Would you like anything to drink or eat while you wait?"

"I'll have some tea." She looked at Christian. "Do you want anything?"

"I'll get something after I change."

He left them in the kitchen, grabbed their things and went to the bedroom. He went into his closet, picked out some jeans, a blue button down. He went back down the stairs, straight to the kitchen. Mrs. Jones said Ana was in the library. He went there and found her on the chaise reading a book. He went and sat down next to her. She looked up, smiled.

"I see you found me."

"I did. I need to talk to you."

"Ok."

"I made a promise to you last night and I intend to keep that promise but I need some help in doing that. I have my dad and grandpa coming for dinner and then I want us to talk to them about your mother and if there is anything we can do to keep in her in prison or away from you."

She looks shocked at first. "No Christian. I don't want them to know."

"They need to know Ana so we can help you."

"Do you how hard it was for me to tell you and now you want me to tell them. Why don't you call all your family so they can find out too?"

She stood up abruptly and ran out of the room. He called her name but she didn't stop. He heard her running up the stairs and he sighed. He went out the living room and found Taylor at the stairs.

"She is very upset. She ran to your room and she's crying."

"I know. Show my dad and grandpa to my office when they get here. Tell Mrs. Jones to hold dinner."

He went up the stairs toward his room. He could hear Ana crying from just outside the door. He opened the door slowly and saw Ana huddled in the corner, with her knees pulled up to her chest. She was trying to make herself as small as possible. Shutting the door slowly he went to sit down across from here on the floor.

"Ana, baby, I didn't mean to upset you and I understand that you don't want anyone to know what happened to you. I need their help. I wouldn't betray your confidence that is why I told you they were coming. They don't know anything yet and I won't tell them anything unless you give me permission to."

"I won't be able to look at them again. I will know that they know. Do you know how humiliated I will feel?"

"Ana you did nothing wrong. You were just a little girl whose mother was supposed to protect her not abuse her. You didn't ask for any of that to happen."

"I know but sometimes it's so hard. The memories don't go away. There are some nights that it feels like yesterday." She wiped her hands on her pants. "I know you are only trying to help. It's just hard for me to repeat that story. I didn't mean what I said in the library I was just mad. Can you call your grandma and tell her to come, please."

"I can do that."

"There is a file in my backpack. Can you get it?"

He went to the bag and took the file back. He returned to sit across from her and he started to hand it to her. She shook her head. "When dad died I had to go through his things. Some I kept and others I donated. I was looking through his safe and I found that file. It's the file of what happened to me. It has police reports, testimonies from witnesses. It also has pictures they took of my injuries. I didn't know he had it. I thought you might want proof of what I told you."

"I don't need proof but it night help." He said. "Are we ok now?"

She reached out and laid her hand against his cheek. "We are and I'm sorry for my outburst."

"Don't apologize Ana. While I call my grandpa, why don't you go to the kitchen and check on dinner."

"Ok but I think I will wash my face, first."

"How long have you worked for Christian?"

"Oh about four years."

"Do you like it?"

"I do."

"So you cook his meals and clean?"

"That plus the shopping for the food and the needs of the house."

"Do you work all week?"

"No. I have the weekends off. I usually go to my sisters. I leave precooked meals that he can warm up in the microwave or the oven."

"What is his favorite meal?"

"Mac and cheese."

"Really? I thought it would've been something fancy." She giggled. "His favorite dessert?"

"Chocolate cake. If those cupcakes are anything to go by, I'm pretty sure that he'll likes yours better than mine."

They both laughed. "Do you have anything to make brownies?"

"What do you need?"

Christian was in his study when someone knocked on his door. He was staring at the file Ana had given him. He didn't think he could read or look at those pictures. He told whoever was at the door to come in. His dad, grandpa and grandma came in. he stood up to greet them.

"Grandma." He said giving her a kiss on the cheek. He shook hands with his dad and grandpa. "Grandpa, dad. Thanks for coming."

"It was no problem son." he said. "What is going on that we had to be here?"

"I need some help and I thought with the both of you being lawyers you could help and grandma, I think she wanted you hear because she needs you."

"Who is she?" Carrick asked.

"Ana. It's Ana, right?" Sarah said.

"Yes."

"I still don't understand." Carrick said.

"Let me see if she wants to eat first. Excuse me for a minute."

They watched him go the hall and call Ana. He walked back in, leaving the door open. Ana came in a few minutes later with flour on her face. Christian smiled.

"What are you doing?"

"Making brownies. Well I was but they are in the oven now."

He stepped closer. "You have flour on your face." he dusted her cheek with his fingers. "There all done."

"We are in for a treat. Ana's brownies are the best."

"Mr. T I didn't see you there." she said walking to him and giving him a hug. "Mrs. T."

"Ana." She hugged her next and whispered in her ear. "I'm here for you Ana."

Ana timidly smiled and greeted Carrick next. "Mr. Grey."

"Ana."

She went back to Christian and stood next to him. "Did you want something when you called me?"

"I wanted to know if you want dinner now or after."

She bit her lip. "Um now I guess." She turned to the others. "Are you ready to eat?"

"I'm starving." Theo said.

"Then let's eat dinner and leave the bad stuff for later." Christian let the other go but held Ana back. "I'm ok Christian. This is inevitable so let's eat and then get this over with."

He nodded and they held hands and went to the dining room where Mrs. Jones had set up a feast. Ana gasped when she saw all the food. There were basket of buns, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, all the trimmings for burgers. There were also bowls of fries at each place setting. Christian held out a chair for her and she sat down.

"Its good thing you didn't tell Elliott you were having burgers for dinner." Theo said.

"I know."

"Since when do you eat burgers?" Carrick asked while fixing his burger.

"That's what Ana wanted for dinner." he said. "Go ahead Ana make your burger."

He watched as she fixed her burger. She didn't put any condiments on it, just the veggies minus the onions. She looked at him and smiled.

"What do you want on your burger?"

"Everything but I can make it."

"I will make it for you." She proceeded to make his burger and then set it on his plate. "Do you have any ketchup?"

"I don't think so but I will go check."

Everyone was watching them like they were the entertainment. Christian came back with a bottle of ketchup. "You're in luck."

She bounced in her seat and he watched her pour it all over her fries. She was about to take a bite when she stopped at cocked her head at Christian.

"Are the guys eating?"

"They are eating in the security room."

"Burgers too?"

"Yes."

"Good."

They all ate and the conversation was about the normal things. Ana ate but didn't really taste anything. She was worried about what the others would think about her past. Would they feel that she wasn't good enough for Christian? Would she bring him problems? Would they tell him that he should stay away from her? She didn't want to cause him problems but she would stay away from him if necessary.

Christian noticed Ana was usually quiet during dinner. They have only known each other for two weeks but when they have been together she is always talking. He knew she was worried. She looked a little pale. She was eating, finishing all her food plus what fries he had left. He also noticed the sublet looks that his grandma was giving Ana. Ana was clearing the table with his grandmas help. He joined the others in the living room while they cleaned. Ana came into the living room carrying a plate of brownies. He went to her.

"How do you want to do this Ana?"

"I guess just say what there is to say." She said tearing up.

Christian moved closer to her and cupped his hand to her check. "You're not alone Ana, remember that, not anymore." He pressed his forehead to hers and she grabbed him by the wrists. "I'm here." He knew his family was watching them with interest but he didn't care. Ana needed to know that he was there for her. He turned around and faced the people looking at them. He took hold of Ana's hand. She gripped it tight. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Taylor standing discreetly behind them but at a distance with the file in his hands.

"I asked you all to come today because there is something we need to discuss. Ana and I have decided to start dating. Since I am a well known person, Ana came to me and told me what happened to her when she was a child. It is public record so anyone can find out. She didn't want me to be blindsided once the media found out that we are dating. Anything said in this room is not to be repeated to anyone. It stays between all of us."

"Not even your mother?"

Christian looked at Ana, who nodded. "You can tell her what you think she needs to know." he said. "I'm going to try and give the condensed version. I don't want her more upset than what she is or she will get. Ana's mother, Carla, met Ana's step-father when she was a baby. They married but her mother was never happy. She had affairs and what not. When Ana was ten, her father caught her mother with another man. She was kicked out and the next day she took her out of school and ran. They were in hiding for a while; brining unsavory people into Ana's life. She was practically a slave to her mother. She did everything an adult should do to maintain their home. Her mother met a man and got married for the third time. They moved with him to Texas. By the time she married that man, she was already starting to abuse Ana, not just with words. One night, her mother was out and she was left with the husband. She felt uncomfortable so she barricaded herself in her room. He kicked the door in and attempted to rape Ana."

Ana started crying louder and Sarah went to get up but Christian shook his head. He gathered her in his arms, murmuring softly to her. He said something and she nodded.

"Her mother saw what was happening and threw her husband out. Once he was gone, she turned on Ana. She came into her room, yelling, putting the blame on her daughter instead of her husband. She tore the rest of her clothes off and beat her with a flogger. A neighbor heard Ana screaming and called the police. She was such a rage that they had to pull her off of Ana who had already passed out. The ambulance was called and her mother arrested. She spent three weeks in the hospital. She had broken ribs, swollen eyes, busted lip. Ana's back was the worst. I won't go into detail. She had to be put into a medically induced coma because she couldn't lie on her back or her front because of the pain she was in."

"The reason I'm really telling you all this is because Ana testified and her mother was convicted. She has spent the last ten years in prison and the last time she saw Ana, she threatened to finish what she started. Carla has been a model prisoner and at each parole hearing, Ray has been there to say why she shouldn't be let out. Now her ten years will be up in a couple of months. Ana is scared she will come after her. I want to know if there is anything we, I can do to prevent that or can something else be done."

The room was silent for what felt like an eternity. Christian looked around the room: his grandma was silently crying, his grandpa had his eyes closed and his dad looked in shock. He gave a quick glance at Taylor and nodded. He moved closer and gave Christian the file.

"I have a file that Ana gave me: that is copy of police reports, witness accounts, transcripts of the trial. There are also pictures of the injuries. I haven't looked at any of it and I don't want to. I have enough with what Ana has told me."

"May I see the file Ana? Is it alright with you?" Carrick asked.

"Yes." She whispered.

Christian handed the file to his dad who began going through it. "How did your father manage to get this?"

"I don't know. I didn't even know he had it until he died and I went through his things. Ray was former military and had friends everywhere. Friends who would anything for him." Ana said softly.

Carrick went through the papers and handed them to Theo He was skimming through the last of the papers when he came across the photos.

"Oh my God."