Author's Note posted below.

Part 2

Chapter 8

Month 3 out of 6

Home

by Anastasia Rose Steele-Grey

Once there was a cub that grew up with the buffalos. He didn't know how he came to the place, but he tried so hard to fit in. His mother buffalo would treat him coldly but he remained optimistic, and he strived to be the baby buffalo she dreamed of.

The cub craved for meat but decided to eat plants instead.

"Mother, I have a surprise for you," he said while trying to hide the one thousand blades of grass he brought for her.

"Save that surprise, little cub. I will never be impressed with you," the mother buffalo walked out and the cub spent the whole day crying. It didn't take long before the sky joined him in mournful tears.

He still tried to make her happy but each attempt was unsuccessful. The little cub tried to play with little buffalos but they teased him for being different. The cub spent his days walking all alone dreaming of another life where he lived in a place where he truly belonged.

One night there was a crime made! The biggest of all buffalo was found dead with a huge bite in the middle of his stomach. Blood poured heavily and all the buffalos were frightened as they knew another creature was about to wipe out all of them.

"The cub did this! Look at his teeth! He did this!" Everybody accused as if they were persecuting mobs with pitchforks at hand. The cub was weeping while trying to save himself. He claimed that he didn't have anything to do with the crime yet no one believed him for he was different.

All the buffalos prepared to rummage him and it tore him apart knowing that one of them was his mother. On his feet he ran and ran as fast as he could, thousands of buffalos aiming to kill him from behind. Underneath the calm breathing of the moon was the panicking cub with one foot already stepping on the floors of death.

The cub stopped in front of a lion. It was the ruler among their habitat. Its mane was made of pure gold and he roared so loud all the buffalos lost their horns. The cub subconsciously hid behind him.

All the buffalos ran off yet the cub was still crying as if he wore the most painful scar. The lion nuzzled him and whispered to his ear, "I've been searching for you my whole life."

"Huh?"

"You're my son. You're the heir of this kingdom."

At last, the cub found his home.

Ana's fingers reminded me of a dog's movement when it wanted to remove the water from its body. They were shaking so fast that I could barely imagined it moving in slow motion. She seemed uncomfortable with this story and I swore she wanted to cry.

I was preparing our dinner when she asked my opinion on this story she just wrote. She was biting her nails and it was never a good sign. I turned the microwave off and focused on her.

"Ana, this story is beautiful. You write marvellously as always. Why do you seem to be so bothered?"

She shook her head over and over, "Christian, I . . . ugh . . . I don't know! It's just that that story is pretty much personal to me. I am not nervous if people will like it. I just don't like the feelings rushing over me when I read that story."

"Baby, if you want to cry then come here," I stretched my arms open and with no hesitations she wrapped her arms around my torso and cried to my chest.

I embraced her so tightly in return and let her cry out. Her tears felt like acid on my chest as they managed to go through my heart and burn it. I never liked it when she cries. I wanted to stop her but it just seemed impossible. I kissed her temple and the top of her head. That pattern continued on for fifteen times.

"Ana, please tell me what I can do. What can I do to make you stop crying?"

She shook her head.

I asked a wiser question, "Why are you crying, Ana?"

That's when she pulled back and her broken expression tore me apart. I cupped her face with my hands and they fit perfectly. I effortlessly wiped those tears away using my thumbs and my heart swelled when she turned her head to kiss the palm of my hand.

She looked me into the eyes so vulnerable when she said, "I am the cub, Christian and I've always wondered about my real family. I know I have you and Sierra but what about my mother? I just . . . I just . . ."

That's when I pulled her in again and kissed her forehead.

I promised to myself that I'm going to do something about this. I'm going to find Ana her home.

~S.A.~

It wasn't a Sunday but Reverend Steele was in the church reading the New Testament (probably) and staring at nothing. He seemed to be lost in thought and I secretly hoped that he was punishing himself for all those years that Ana suffered. I hoped he wanted to kill himself because he let Carla hurt Ana so much to the point that she was a lost cub running as fast as she could.

He was the preacher yet he didn't practice what he preached.

He always told fathers to take care of their family but what did he do? I thought of myself letting Sierra have the same situation as Ana and I'd rather be dead if that were the case. I imagined myself slashing a knife through my daughter's skin and it made me want hurt somebody instantly. I couldn't hurt my daughter.

There's no place where I can hurt my daughter.

"Reverend Steele?"

He was startled and he almost fell from the chair.

"Christian, what are you doing here?"

"You owe Ana. You owe Ana a lot."

He looked repentant.

~S.A.~

Raymond Steele was the son of the most wanted drug lord in New York. Ironically he fell in love with chief police's daughter, Sierra Watts. They embarked in a forbidden romance and it resulted to a baby. In a world filled with violence Raymond found hope, love, and warmth with his two girls but that was until his father shot Sierra through the chest.

Ray ran away with Ana and for six months they found themselves in the state of Washington. Ray remembered being starving with a wailing baby and that was until Carla showed up. She was the religious daughter of a reverend and with their connections they protected Ana.

Back in New York, the Steele's drug trading was put to a halt when an enraged Chief Officer Watts killed Ray's father in one of the most sought operations. That was five years ago and the police officer was now the mayor of the state.

Five years. No one was haunting them for five years. I asked Ray, "Why did you stay with Carla for too long when you have no one to run away from?"

"Misery is addictive," he selfishly confirmed.

While Ana was in school I carried Sierra while doing some research on the internet. Everything was true! I read articles about the Steele's drug business and how Raymond Steele's existence was forgotten as the issue had been solved. I saw Sierra's pictures and she was so beautiful. She looked like Ana—not much but mostly. She had a bright future until she fell in love with a guy coming from a messy background.

They were worlds apart but what came out of it was my wife.

I clicked and clicked all links Google gave me and there were his grandparents. Mr. Watts seemed uptight while his wife was smiling. It was confirmed that the two lived alone since they lost their one and only daughter. I felt a wave of emotions flow over me upon knowing that these were Ana's family and I found them for her!

I kissed my baby girl over and over again, excited to inform that I was going to make her mother happy.

Stumbling upon one website, my grin was wide as the Cheshire Cat's. I immediately knew how to reach out to them. I was looking at the headline and thanked God for this blessing.

I phoned her with no hesitations.

"Carietta Pierce speaking," she opened the call.

"Cara, this is Christian. I am going to ask you one huge favour."

~S.A.~

"Yes, we met a year ago when they remembered their daughter in her death anniversary. They are affiliates of my father. Trust me, Christian, they are very wonderful people! Mayor Watts is kind of cold but they are very nice! His wife is a ball of sunrise."

Cara and I met in one of the school benches the following day and I was kind of disturbed by the worry written all over her face.

"Then what are you waiting for, Cara? Let's dial them now!"

She was annoyingly hesitant, "Christian . . ."

"What's wrong, Cara?" I was so pumped up but she was ruining the mood.

"Christian, you have to understand that if you tell them about Ana then they are going to want to have her. She is going to be in New York. That is going to be inevitable. I know them and they are desperately seeking for their daughter. You have to weigh things first, Christian."

I was being impulsive but I didn't care, "Dial them, Cara, please."

She didn't listen, "Are you willing to go to New York with them?"

I didn't answer. The plan was to be a successful businessman here in Seattle and give the best life for Ana and Sierra.

She pressed another question, "What are you going to do if Ana decides to move there and brings your daughter with her?"

"No! Cara, no, that's never going to happen. Ana will never leave me. She loves me, Cara. Even though things aren't perfect I swear that she doesn't plan to leave me at all. We are still going to be complete despite everything. I am going to be with her and she is going to be with me. We are going to be together and that's sealed."

Her look was sympathetic that it made me want to walk out. After a few moments she gave up and dialled her phone.

While it was connecting Cara expressed, "It doesn't surprise me at all, you know. I always thought there was something special about Ana."

I agreed with her.

She put the phone on loud speaker, "Oh hello Sarah!"

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Watts! It's Cara."

"Oh Cara! I always thought your name is Sarah. How can I help?"

"Somebody needs to talk to you," she informed before handing me the phone.

"Hello Mrs. Watts? This is Christian Grey."

"Christian Gay?"

"Christian Grey," I repeated my name.

"Oh Grey! Sorry about that! You need to talk to me?"

I took one last glance at Cara and she was still worried. I considered all the possibilities. What she said was true. Ana could be heading off to New York with the family she's been searching. There were possibilities of us being separated but I had faith in her. She's never going to leave me as she knew that it is I where she truly belonged.

I will always put her first. She needed to know her home. She was the lost cub then I will bring her home.

"Mrs. Watts, I am your granddaughter's husband."

A/N: Thank you for all the support you've given! You make my days exciting! Wow! 37 reviews last chapter! It exhilarates me! Thank you!

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Thanks to those who say that I am talented. You don't know how it's boosting my (coming to existence) self-esteem. Thank you!

Margo.