Part - 11

The morning arrived with a certain ugliness if you asked Ana. The sun rose high and proud, not letting any clouds get in its way to make sure the day was a beautiful one. It felt like a cruel joke. Everyone was living as if nothing happened. Everything was still going on. Everything was fine. Fine and clueless, as if Maria and Emma weren't taken from their bedroom's last night. As if the police didn't come and go with a doubtful "We'll do everything we can.".

So Ana got dressed, like any other day, but she didn't do much. She couldn't. She didn't have the energy to even call out of work. She just didn't show up. She felt like all the energy and life was ripped out of her. She found her way downstairs, each step a drag, and made some tea. Tea always seemed to calm her nerves, but these weren't nerves she was feeling. It was her heart. She didn't touch her tea.

She sat down on the nearest seat. She could have sat on the kitchen chair with her untouched tea cooling in front of her for hours. And she did. She barely noticed Kate nor Carla come over. And she definitely didn't hear what they were saying. It was the same thing; they said what everyone else says when your children go missing. It was even hard to feel the comforting gestures Christian gave. Eventually, Carla left to warn as many people as she knew, and Kate fell asleep on the chair next to Ana. She had been up all night ever since Ana woke her with that devastating call in the middle of the night.

As Ana continued to stare at the counter, yet looking at nothing in particular and seeing even less, when she felt a warmth engulf her hand.

"I need to ask you something," Christian said, squeezing Ana's hand a little harder than necessary to get her attention.

Ana looked his hand on top of hers than trailed her eyes up to his. Her eyes were red and puffy, but it got to the point where tears just welled there, not even falling anymore. She hadn't heard what he said, but she was choked up again just by fierce look in his smokey eyes. That was when she knew he loved the twins just as much as she did. For the slightest moment, she hoped the police would find whoever did this before Christian did, because this Christian scared her.

"Okay," she replied softly. Her voice came out horse.

"I need to know where Ian lives."

Ana furrowed her brows.

"You think he did this?"

"There was no forced entry. We're running out of options here."

"How... How could he be so evil?"

"Anastasia, where does he live?"

She told him, then she started crying again. Crazy how things work. When you think you can't anymore, it starts again. Her ex husband was a lot of things, but he never showed overwhelming interest in the kids, even in court. He almost seemed happy when she was given full custody. He had more time to spend with his girlfriend. But Ana never seen him jealous (he never had to be, she only had eyes for him) and maybe that's where he was at now: jealous. She didn't know him anymore. She didn't know what he was capable of.

"Hey, don't cry," Christian whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. She slumped into him and cried even harder. There was a certain, gut wrenching feeling about knowing there was no way to protect Ana from this. "I have to go now."

"Christian?"

"Hm?"

"What will you do if you find him?" she muffled into his shirt.

Christian frowned. He didn't want to think about that.

"Whatever I have too."

The drive to Ian's house was relatively short, but it felt long. Christian was sure he had the kids. Who else would Maria and Emma go with willingly?

Christian parked near the sidewalk and walked the rest of the way. If Ian was there, he didn't want him to have any time to run off.

The house was big and beautiful. The kind with big windows and glass walls every where and no curtains in sight. Christian hated the idea of a glass house. He liked his privacy. As he walked up the cement walkway, he noticed there wasn't a car in the driveway, and although it could be in the garage, Christian doubted he was home. Ian seemed like the type to show off everything he had.

Christian knocked on the door several times then walked around the house, looking through the windows. When it was clear that no one was home, he got back into his car.

Kate tiredly pushed herself up on her elbows and glanced at Ana, who was still sitting on the chair next to her, staring straight ahead just like she was when she fell asleep.

"Maybe you should get some rest?"

Ana slowly shook her head.

"I'm fine."

Kate stood up and walked into the kitchen.

"You hungry? You must be hungry."

"I'm not." Ana replied.

Kate frowned then immediately gave a tight smile. She thought someone needed to stay positive. Sad Ana and Rambo Christian weren't cutting it.

"Alright."

Bam, bam, bam.

"I'll get it," said Kate as she strolled around the counter.

Ana grabbed her arm to stop her.

"I got it."

Kate nodded and stepped back. She watched Ana opened the door, but Christian never came in. In fact, she heard a woman's voice talking, then Scarlet came in.

"I'm sorry to show up like this," said Scarlet as she tugged her sweater around her body. Her red locks were in a pony tail.

"Why are you here?" Kate asked coldly.

"It's okay. She knows what's going on," Ana replied meekly as she shut the door.

"I... I do." Said Scarlett.

"Do you? Good. Then go the fuck home."

"Kate..." groaned Ana, but it came out very softly. She felt like most of her energy left her. She was a shell of herself.

Scarlett lifted her chin and straighten her shoulders as she stared at Kate.

"I don't want any trouble. I liked those kids too, you know. And if Ana will accept me, I definitely won't have you scare me away."

Kate gave her an unimpressed look.

"Ana's not in her right mind."

"Do you really think arguing with me is going to help this situation?"

"How do we know you didn't take them?"

"Don't you think I'd be with them, then?"

"I don't know! I just don't want you here! Ana, tell her to go!"

Ana rubbed her hands over her face. She just wanted silence. And if she had to pick between Scarlett staying or Kate being upset, the choice was obvious.

"I'm sorry, Scarlett," mumbled Ana.

"What... You're kicking me out?" scoffed Scarlett.

Ana shoulders slumped as she went back to her seat. She lifted her tea-cup, then set it back down.

"Go." Kate said.

Scarlett lingered by the front door. "Ana?"

Kate stepped in front of her.

"Don't talk to her."

"It'll just take a minute."

"She's doesn't have a minute!" Kate grabbed her arm and pushed her forward, towards the door.

"Let go of me - ow!"

Kate successfully put Scarlett outside then shut the door. She should have known it wasn't enough to get rid of her. Scarlett banged her fist against the door.

"Open the door!" Said the muffled voice from behind the door.

Kate sighed and dragged herself back to Ana.

"Sorry about that."

Ana just shook her head as she wiped her eyes with the sleeves of her shirt. She didn't feel like explaining to Kate that she didn't hate Scarlett anymore. She actually had a little soft spot for her.

Bam, bam, bam.

"I didn't want to fight!"

Kate rolled her eyes.

"Do you want me to get her to leave?"

Ana was about to respond when Scarlett said five words that made her nearly trip off her chair as she run to the door. She almost slammed into it because she was going so fast, then she struggled to unlock the door. It looked like a demon was chasing her with how fast she moving.

"What did you just say?" Ana asked, breathing heavily.

Scarlett seemed slightly surprised the door even opened, then she rolled her shoulders and put on a look that held a certain superiority in her eyes. It made Ana remember why she disliked her in the first place.

"What the hell did you just say?" Ana repeated.

"I said, I know where the twins are."

"Where are they?"

Scarlett sighed.

"Ana, I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't know what he was going to do. He only called me this morning, saying he wants me to buy plane tickets. I think he's trying to take them out of the country."

Ana covered her mouth to choke in a sob.

"Where are they?" Kate firmly interrupted.

"At his mother's house," replied Scarlett.

"Does he expect you to be there?"

Scarlett's shoulders slumped.

"No. He just wanted me to buy the tickets. I... I did think about getting them, but I came here instead. I'm so sorry, Ana."

Ana nodded, then went into the kitchen and grabbed the keys and her phone off the counter.

"What are you doing?" asked Kate.

"Texting Christian Ian's mom's address. He'll make it there before we do," replied Ana.

"You're going? What are you going to do?" said Scarlett.

"Whatever I have too." Ana repeated the words Christian told her earlier.

"Should I call the police again and tell them who it is?" Kate asked.

"No!" Scarlett yelled, "Ian could go to jail. He doesn't have custody, remember? This is kidnapping!"

"Well, he should have thought of that before he did this!"

"Do not call the police! Ana, tell her!"

Ana rubbed her temples. She wanted her ex to go away and stay away, but she also didn't want him to go to jail.

"Kate, call the police." She glanced at Scarlett. "I won't press any charges though, I just want to scare him."

The other two women nodded as Ana's phone beeped.

"Christian says he on his way. We should be too."

Kate held Ana's hand.

"If anything happens, I have your back."

Ana nodded.

"I know."

Scarlett stepped aside to let them walk out of the house.

"Can I come?"

Kate scowled. "No."

"It's fine," groaned Ana as she climbed into the driver's seat.

Kate frowned as she got into the passenger side and Scarlett got into the back seat. The tension was thick as blood the entire drive there.

Christian never answered a text so fast when he saw it was Ana. He was shocked she was up and about, let alone texting him, telling him that Ian was at his mother house with the twins. He told her he was on his way. He immediately changed directions and headed towards the address she sent. He wanted to talk to her more and have an real conversation, especially since she tended to be more opened on the phone, but he was speeding and even missing a few stop signs, so adding texting to that equation didn't seem to bright. He decided to wait. It'd be better seeing her in person when her face lit up once he got the twins back. And he was going to get them back. Christian frowned as he gripped the steering wheel tight. Just thinking about Maria and Emma being taken away in the middle of the night made his blood boil.

Ian's mother's house was more like a modern cabin. stretching with the "modern" part. It seemed like it was plucked straight out of a scary movie where teenagers go and end up getting chopped up by an axe wielding maniac. Christian drove a mile or so on the uneven dirt road to find the rustic place. At first, he wondered if he took a wrong turn somewhere, but then the house slowly came into view, slightly covered by the tree branches from the large trees that surrounded it. No wonder Ian brought them here. It was so hard to find and why the hell would anyone live here, let alone bring young kids here?

Christian didn't even turn off the car before he practically ripped his seat beat off and got out. He was fuming as he stormed up the makeshift stairs; logs. He knocked seven or eight times, finally getting fed up and was about to kick the door down when an older lady opened the door. She was homely looking, with glasses and a yellow, wool sweater. Her white and gray peppered hair was piled on top of her head in a huge bun, locked together with a hundred bobby pins, it seemed.

"Is Ian here?"

The woman blinked and nodded slowly.

"Ah, yes. He didn't say he had company?" She questioned as she eyed the stranger at her door.

Christian felt like pushing past the woman and going into the house, but decided against. She didn't deserve his wrath, Ian did.

"I need you to tell him to come outside."

Fear flashed across the woman's eyes.

"Is he in trouble?"

Christian narrowed his eyes. He didn't have time for a hundred questions. What if Ian seen his car and tried to sneak out the back?

"Ma'am, if you don't bring him out here, I will."

The lady's throat went dry so she licked her lips. Her son was never a saint, so she just hoped he didn't get himself in too much trouble.

"Alright. I'll send him right away." She left the door wide open as she walked deep into the house.

Christian faintly heard the old woman yell something upstairs then disappear into a room. He took a moment to peer inside the house. It looked nothing like the outside. While it was still dully colored with brown and maple furniture, it was clean and neat. Flowers in vases were set on tables, pictures with homemade frames were next to them, and a small TV sat in the middle of the room on a burgundy stand.

Footsteps stomped down the stairs and Ian came down. He froze by the bottom step as he locked eyes with Christian. The one, guilty look gave himself completely away, and Christian couldn't take it anymore.

"You son of a bitch," muttered Christian as he walked into the house. Quick as anything, he grabbed Ian by his collar and slammed him against the side of the stairs. "Where are they?" He asked through gritted teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ian said with a smug smile.

"I won't ask you again. Where are you the girls?"

"You mean, my daughters? You stole my wife and now you're -"

"You cheated on her, then you left her. Did you care about your kids when you did that? Because that sounds like a sorry piece of shit to me. Where the fuck are they?!"

"Fuck you!"

Christian pulled his fist back and punched him in the face. Ian's head snapped back against the bars on the stairs and he slumped to the floor, holding his head.

"Ah, you bastard!" He yelled as he raised to his feet and took a swing at Christian, which Christian easily ducked and punched him in his ribs.

Christian was about to hit him again when a small voice spoke.

"Christian?"

Emma stood in the hallway between the kitchen and the living room in her pajamas. She was oblivious to the fighting as she didn't see any of it, but she knew something was wrong and scrunched up her face in confusion.

"Are you and daddy being silly?"

Christian forced a smile until it actually turned into a real one. He missed them so much. Maria walked beside her sister, eating an apple. She dropped the apple when she see Christian.

"Christian!" She yelled out as she ran and jumped into his arms. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too," he chuckled. He looked down and realized Emma was tentatively hugging his leg. He shrugged. Well, it was a start.

Ian frowned as he watched the scene play out. They all heard a car drive up and the engine shut off.

"Who the hell..." Ian mumbled, but Christian knew exactly who it was even before the voices floated into the house from the open door.

"Maria, Emma, get over here now." Ian said firmly. They both looked disappointed, but they obeyed.

Christian gave Ian the coldest look possible as he slowly set Maria down so she could go to him. He wasn't going to make a scene in front of the kids and he figured Ian knew that as well. Christian glanced out the door again. Two could play at this game.

"Girls, mommy is just outside and she's been missing you so much. Don't you want to see her?" said Christian.

"Yes!" Emma beamed with excitement at this news.

"Mommy!" Maria yelled as she stopped her path to her father and ran out the door. Emma followed behind her slightly older sister outside.

"So you got tricks up your sleeve, huh?" hissed Ian. He was still holding his side.

"I should beat you to a pulp," Christian replied nonchalantly.

"Why don't you? Don't wanna hurt your hand?" Ian fake pouted. He was talking much braver than he felt.

Christian stepped forward and Ian stepped back.

"I won't because Maria and Emma shouldn't have to see their father like that. Even if he is a first class asshole."

Ian just scowled in response, so Christian continued.

"You should keep hiding out here. Or leave, I don't give a fuck. But if you even think about seeing those little girls, or Ana ever again, I will have not only have a retraining order plastered across your forehead, but you will be looking at jail time. I think you know the connections I have, so don't fucking try me. Understand?"

When Ian didn't answer fast enough, Christian shook him.

"Understand?!"

"Yes! I ... I understand."

Christian let him go.

"Good."

Outside, Ana was holding both her daughters as if they would turn into dust if she let them go. Kate was standing beside her with tears in her eyes, and Scarlett was awkwardly watching. She glanced at Christian when he walked out the house and gave a tiny wave.

"Hey, how's Ian?" Scarlett asked as she approached him.

Christian shrugged.

"As good as anyone in his position can be."

She visibly slumped.

"Oh."

"Did you let Ana know he was here?"

Scarlett nodded sadly.

"I feel like I betrayed him."

"You didn't."

"I didn't know what to do, you know? I never really liked Ana and I never didn't like her, but when he took her children it... It felt wrong. I was supposed to get him a plane ticket."

"I'm glad you didn't," said Christian, offering a small smile. She returned the smile and let him get to his family.

"... And don't ever leave the house without my knowledge, okay?" Ana was telling the twins as they got into the car.

"Yes, mommy." They replied. "Can we get ice cream?

Ana laughed. "I think we can do that." She shut the back door and bumped into Christian when she turned around.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Ana felt another sob coming up her throat and she swallowed it down. She flung herself into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I was so scared," she mumbled into his neck. Silent tears were falling down her cheeks. Christian held her, rubbing comforting circles on her back.

"Everything's fine now." Christian murmured.

"What if he does this again?"

"He won't."

Kate lingered by the other car door. "So, can we leave now, love birds? This place gives me the creeps."

Ana laughed as she pulled away from Christian and wiped her eyes. "Alright. Everyone ready?"

"I'm gonna stay here," Scarlett announced. "Charlotte will drive me back." Charlotte was Ian's mother.

"Are you sure?" Asked Ana.

Scarlett nodded. She watched how much Ana loved her kids and how much Christian loved Ana and how much Kate supported them. She didn't want to be a fourth wheel, making things weird for everybody.

"I'm sure."

They were soon on the road and Christian had offered to drive. Ana didn't find anything odd about it until after he dropped Kate off, he took a completely different street than the one to her house. She shrugged and didn't pay much attention. She was playing a game on her phone with Maria and Emma.

"We're here," Christian said as he parked the car.

"Oh, great, I'm so ti-" Ana stopped mid sentence as she glanced up from the phone. They were definitely not at her house. It was huge and beautiful. It wasn't a mansion, but it sure was close. She couldn't form a proper sentence as she stared at it. "C-Christian?"

"I was going to put off showing you, but after everything that's happened I don't want to waste another second not living with you. And..." He glanced back at the kids, who were not really listening because they were staring at the house in awe. "I wanna spend the rest of my life with you."

Ana was struggling to speak. She was overwhelmed with happiness and other feelings that were also on max. She looked like a fish out of water, but thankfully, it was Emma who spoke next.

"Can we live here?"

Christian glanced into the back seat and grinned.

"For as long as you like."

Hello there, this story has about two more chapters before coming to an end. I accept story requests, and I'm also up for collaborations if you're a fellow writer. Simply inbox me or leave your ideas in the comment section. Until next time, Sincerely, The Metrist.