Christian's POV
"Thank you Gail, the cake looks magnificent." Finally something is right about this afternoon!
"We'll be back at 9 pm for a meeting with John Flynn, if you could set up a little supper for then, it would be very much appreciated" and she doesn't even register shock at the fact that John Flynn is coming here at that late an hour, I guess she is very rarely shocked anymore after the things she's had to do. She nods and we leave for the hospital to pick up Elliot and then go onto dinner.
We can't get to the hospital quick enough, I need to make sure Ana is ok after the visit by her mother and I feel like I need to touch her to ground myself. Taylor to his credit makes the trip in the least time possible and I am in Ana's room as quickly as I can be and am rewarded by a tired smile from Ana, she looks exhausted. Kate has done a lovely job with her makeup and hair but I don't think Ana needs makeup, she is such a natural beauty and how on earth is she supposed to remove it all when she can barely move. I guess Kate didn't think of that but I assume it at least stopped Carla from making nasty remarks about Ana's appearance again today and if that was the case, it was worth it.
I intended to just touch her hand but I can't stop myself reaching down and kissing her lips, just a gentle butterfly kiss but it sends a shock through me and it's like a light switch, she turns me back into a human being, banishing the darkness once more. It takes all my effort to pull back and not deepen the kiss but I have a feeling if I did I'd have Elliot whooping like a baboon and I don't need Ana wondering why and having to explain it to her. The small smile on her lips is reward enough and adds to the peace that I feel when near her.
After asking how she feels and with her saying she is ready to sleep everyone takes the cue and starts saying goodbye, while they do that, I ask Ray to step outside for a moment and ask him if he'd rather I ask Carla to leave Seattle, if I pay for her flight would it get her away from Ana and does he know whether Ana would want that as I can't see that she is helping Ana at all. He looks like he'd be ready to pay for Carla's ticket himself but says it has to be up to Ana because she is going to be hurt either way. If Carla stays she is going to continue to hurt Ana with her words but if she goes then Ana will feel that she doesn't care for her at all and she's had enough rejection from Carla in the past and then he stops like he's already said too much and I desperately want to know what has gone on. When I ask him though, he shakes his head and says "It's Ana's story to tell, I need to let her tell it, perhaps you can ask her, you've managed to get closer to her than anyone I have ever seen."
He then stops and looks me square in the eye, "Young man, you seem a decent fellow but if you hurt Annie in any way, you will be answering to me, she's seen too much and been put through too much in her short life, I need you to walk away now if you are not going to look after her. I will be here this time for her, you don't need to be unless you are going to stay the distance – however long that may be. She is NOT someone to play with and then discard." And he fixes me with a look of steel.
For such a taciturn man, I'd say that is the longest sentence I have heard him utter and I understand the gravity of what he is saying, having seen those background reports.
"You have my word that I will not hurt your daughter and I will stay the distance. I have committed to her health plan and will ensure that she is returned to you in as full health as possible. As to her heart and her mind, I promise to do the best I can with what I have, we don't know each other yet but I don't intend to hurt her in any way, even the thought of it is abhorrent to me in every way." Ray stands there looking into my eyes and I swear that despite him being Ana's stepdad, he has the same ability to see through me and I worry what he is actually seeing but whatever it is that he sees, he finally nods and gives me his hand to shake.
Grace's POV
"Why thank you Christian, is that one of Gail's creations? Yes? Lovely, we'll have it with coffee. Are you going to want to save some for Ana? She should be able to eat some solids tomorrow and a small sliver of this should lift her spirits. How is she doing?" and then I pause "What?"
Christian just laughs and says "Well, I was going to say "Here Mom, here's a cake from Gail, we could have it with coffee and is it ok for Ana to eat solids so that I can bring her some? Are you a mind reader now too?" and he kisses me on the cheek and I am glad to see that smile on his tired face. He seems to have aged ten years in the last two days, it's not so much his face, it's more his eyes, there's something different, an even greater sadness or something. He hands me the wine he has brought and I know it will be magnificent, the wines he brings are always the best and I'm glad he indulges himself a little and that the ever present shadow of Taylor is there to ensure that he can have a glass or two and relax with us.
He then says he needs to leave by 8pm as he has a meeting at 9pm and wants to quickly stop at the hospital. I realise that he is here under sufferance as he'd much rather be sitting with Ana and decide to instruct the kitchen to bring through everything at a much faster rate than normal once the rest of the guests arrive.
Elliot is being himself and ribbing his brother but it is for once a gentle ribbing that is making Christian smile, I love that my boys seem to be closer as well over the last two days like they are sharing something without competition. I am sure that Elliot is over the moon as we all are that Christian seems to have found someone delightful but nothing is getting him to speak about her and it is up to Elliot to provide us some information from Kate. I can't believe that the boys have managed to connect with roommates, well, that will make family dinners easier for the girls. Oh listen to me, I have the boys practically married off already!
Even Carrick is joining in the pre-dinner conversation about Ana but Christian won't share why he is so enamoured of her and I am not willing to risk him retreating into his shell and change the subject to mention that the committee for the SUB ball is just finishing up and will be joining us for dinner. Christian looks at me questioningly and I explain The Seattle Grace Emergency Upgrade Ball and Elena thought it would be easier to call it the SUB Ball. As I mention Elena, Christian stiffens and it is though a black cloud descends, his face contorts and his hand clasping his wine glass tightens and then I hear a crack and he curses.
"Sorry Mom for swearing, it's cut my hand," he manages to grind out between clenched teeth and Carrick runs to get my bag while I try and staunch the bleeding with a napkin and Elliot hovers with a look that reflects what I am feeling – what just happened?.
"Christian, are you ok darling? What..what just happened?" I ask because I can see that Christian is shaking and it has nothing to do with the cut in his hand, I wrack my brain to work out what I said before he reacted that way and realise it was when I mentioned Elena. I stitch up his hand and look questioningly at him.
"Nothing mother, I was just holding it wrong, there must have been a crack in it" he fobs me off but now I am starting to feel uneasy remembering that look I saw on Elena's face last night.
Just then, Elena sweeps into the room dressed in her usual black garb, her blonde hair artfully in place, her too red lips air kiss me and she ushers in the young girls that she has helping her and I hear a hissing in-draw of breath from Christian and look at him as he narrows his eyes and clenches his hands by his side. Elena reaches out her perfectly manicured talons to grab him on his arms and he literally jumps back with a look of pure hatred and I don't know what is going on, Elena has been part of our family for so long and they have always been friendly. "Christian it's lovely to see you" Elena persists and says "Let me introduce you to Susannah and Sheree, they are helping with the SUB Ball we are organising" and she cackles as she introduces the two girls. They are both beautiful brown haired girls dressed prettily and they make Elena look twice as old as they are both quite young. Christian nods at Sheree and gives the death stare towards Susannah who drops her head and I can't believe he is being so rude. Everyone stands there uncertainly and I realise I need to get back to my hostess role and ask everyone to sit and have a pre-dinner drink. Christian doesn't move, his jaw is tensed and I see a twitch as he contains his temper.
Something is going on. I look towards Elena and something like fear crosses her eyes but she quickly masks it when Christian scowls at her and speaks in what sounds more like a growl "A word with you Elena in the dining room," and they walk off towards the dining room.
Christian's POV
"What the fuck are you attempting to do Elena, seriously? You bring Susannah, a former submissive of mine and you know it because you arranged it, into my mother's house. You call the ball the SUB ball. What, did you bring Sheree here as an audition for a sub role? If you are trying to get our BDSM lifestyle out in the open, you are doing a great job of doing so and it will not be pretty when everyone finds out – what is your game? Are you attempting to make mischief with my life? What is your issue? What has gotten into you over the last two days? You attempt twice to get to Ana in the hospital, even after being asked to leave and without any reason for being there. What link is there between you and Ana? You are fucking playing with fire. I do not want you in any part of my life and if you do not leave voluntarily, I will ensure that you do so in such a way that you will be ruined. Do you understand me?"
"Christian, why are you doing this to me? I am the one that made you, I took you from a 15 year old who was on the road to prison and ultimate ruin and look what I did for you. I made you what you are today. I am the reason you are so successful today. I taught you control, I taught you how to think. I made you and this is how you repay me. You know that love is for fools, why now? You lose your mind over some dimwitted girl over what? I have Sheree here that is just exactly what you want and she's not all broken into pieces in a hospital and of no use for your needs. And you have very specific needs, I know…." she simpers and tries to lift her fake breasts into view as she leans into me.
"You did nothing but teach me to fuck Elena. You taught me nothing. You stopped me having any relationships beyond you. You pulled me down into your depraved world and lifestyle where all I have done is hate myself and I stupidly listened to you. Who says I needed the canings, the almost medieval torture you laid on me. Not only was it completely wrong that you introduced me to the lifestyle when I was 15 and would have done anything for a fuck but you were nasty to boot. You weren't a caring Domme and I learnt from you until I understood better about the needs of submissives, what you did to me is not what I did to the girls I had but it was still empty, each girl just a vessel. No love is soul draining and I am understanding that now. Finally I have some goodness in my life, if by some miracle, Ana wants to have anything to do with me, I don't have to worry about someone finding out about what I am doing. I don't have to worry about losing my business because someone has seen something or heard something. I have realised over the last two days that I don't need anything that you told me I needed, I need someone to love me and I need someone to love. I don't need someone that I have to control. You are a fucking depraved bitch who still routinely ruins little boys. For fucks sake Elena, I was fifteen when you started fucking me and fucking with me…."
I didn't hear the door open, I hadn't heard anything, no footsteps, nothing and suddenly I see my mother, her face white, her eyes dark and she is stalking towards Elena and she slaps her hard across the face, once on the right, once on the left and I don't know what else she is going to do when dad comes running across the room with Taylor by his side. Taylor takes hold of Elena's arm as mom screams at her "You are a pedophile, you knew everything about Christian and you used that to get to him. How dare you, you need to rot in hell you fucking bitch. Get out of my house and I never want to see you again unless it is in court. I can't believe I allowed you in my house and opened up my sons to your depravity. Did you just ruin Christian's life or did you attempt it with Elliot too?"
I see both Dad and Elliot standing there ashen faced, shocked and absolutely disgusted and I realise that they have heard everything. Dad is holding Mom who is shaking and looks like she is going into shock as Taylor opens the door for Elena who runs out clutching her face in her hands. I don't care what happens to Elena, hell would be too good a place for her, I have just lost my family and I know that I will lose Ana too, once she knows the truth. No-one, let alone someone as pure but damaged as her is going to want to have anything to do with me. Elena has ruined everything, my past is wasted, my future is gone. My life as I know it is ruined. I know I have lost my family in one fell swoop and turn dejected to walk out of the house.