Chapter 26

All characters belong to E.L. James

3 years later….

Date: March 22, 2015

"I'm so happy it's spring break" Mia squealed with excitement when Ana peeped her head inside Mia's bedroom door. Mia was practically skipping from the closet with a armful of clothes and hangers to the bed, dropping the clothes there. Bags were laid about all over her bedroom. She was packing for Oregon, visiting her parents. Ana moved some clothes around, clearing out space on the bed so she could sit down. Plopping down she asks "

You don't even go to school, so why are you so happy because it's Spring Break? You could visit anytime"

"So, I could be happy" Mia shrugged looking at Ana skeptically "Plus I get to have company"

Mia usually was stuck in the house, cooking, cleaning, and even painting whenever she got bored of looking at the colors on the wall. She didn't attend college, said she didn't need to.

They shared a small house with Luke in Metropolitan in Brooklyn. Surprisingly they ran into him at Madison Square Garden, when they went to see the Knicks play, he was attending NYU as well as Ana.

The house already had two bedrooms which were split between Mia and Ana and they gave Luke the basement solely for himself. It worked, since rent was so high in New York. Well, everything was high priced in New York.

Since Mia wasn't attending college, they couldn't get dorm rooms. Ana's tuition had fully been paid for, Mia had act surprised. The guidance counselor said it was paid and she should be happy. Also they were not at liberty to say from who. Ana had her suspicions but they were not confirmed.

For her birthday last year Mia had supposedly gotten her a red Toyota RV, stating it was better and safer than the subway and great on gas, another expense in New York. It was too great a gift but she was right, it was better than the subway. Christmas was jewelry, a pair of diamond earrings. Valentine's day was strawberry cheesecake Ana's favorite and a Ipad. The year before that was the same, more unexplained gifts. Laptop, Beats earbuds, Iphone, etc. She didn't need for anything.

Since Mia stood home her parents sent her money monthly which paid the rent, they chipped in as well. Luke worked as nights as a male nurse, which paid for groceries. Exactly what Ana wanted to do to make more money but she needed more training but she working nights s well at the clinic.

"You would have company this week" Ana said Mia rolled her eyes at that, stopping mid step towards the closet. She turned and ran back to the bed, jumping on it, raising to her knees she said "You should totally go to Bloomings"

"What for?" Ana looked at her like she lost her mind.

"For one it's spring break and cause you love me and you have vacation this week"

"That was like three things and exactly why I should home relaxing and getting rid of your chatter seems like a vacation enough"

"You don't mean that" Mia waved dismissively, getting off the bed walking back to the closet, calling out "Plus you owe me a favor"

"Not this grand" Ana snorted. She had begged Mia to go bike riding with her to the Brooklyn Bridge, which really wasn't that far from where they lived, just a good twenty through thirty minutes which had Mia swearing this was how she was gonna die.

The girls had been on a couple of dates but nothing extravagant. One would always accompany the other and if the guys got to rowdy, well they were from Oregon, they knew how to handle themselves, which came in handy in a place like New York.

The only thing they had to get use to in New York was the noise and the pollution and the pace. Everything was fast. Everyday blurred right into another. Days turned to months months turn to years quickly. Time flew. In Oregon time stood still, or maybe it was just for Ana when she was with Christian.

Mia was still hung up on Jarius which visited once and slept downstairs with Luke in the basement. He didn't stay for long just for a day, saying he just came by to check up on things. Kate and the girls came and stood for a week playing tourists. Hitting up China Town mostly, claiming that was where you got cheap stolen goods. They even hit up a strip club in Williamsburg and rode a mechanical bull, daring Ana to ride it, which she did.

No one interest Ana. No one came close to Christian. The night she rode the bull, she was a bit buzzed and a lot hammered that she almost kissed Luke but instead wound up throwing up in his lap. The next day she apologized in a hangover gaze and swore to herself that it will never happen again. She didn't want to give him the wrong idea, plus the three of them had a good thing going as friends and being roommates.

Love wasn't something she was looking for, sex maybe, without emotions tied to it, but not love. Yet no one made her skin feel like it was on fire. There was no attraction, no pull, no breathless moments. Maybe the problem was with her comparing every guy to Christian. No one made her feel like Christian. No one stared at her like Christian. No one found trouble like Christian. Maybe the problem was just… her. Yup, definitely her.

Ana's days started with classes at six and out by two. Training at Mt. Sinai from three to six and working at the clinic that was right across the street from six to eleven giving her no time for a relationship or thinking about Christian. Lies I still think about him constantly especially when I need a orgasm when touching myself. Not the same but less stressful days follow. It beats quietly crying over him at nights too. Keeping busy is a great recommendation to a broken lonely heart. Ana noticed Mia's lips moving she was so deep in thought she didn't realize there were sounds and words coming out of her mouth. Frowning in concentration Ana tried to keep up with her friend.

"I'm the judge of that a favor is a favor no matter how big or small"

"I'll think about it" Having no clue what she was suppose to think about but judging by Mia's widen smile it was a good enough answer.

"Nope. No time, I already packed your bags" Pack my bags? Ugh. I don't wanna...buuuutt… It has been three years already so Christian is probably out. What would happen if I see him? Oh god, would he think I was stalking him or worse, waiting on him like a stupid love sick girl? Hm, I could just play it off as Spring Break. Am I ready to get my heart broken again if he rejects me? Yes, yes I am.

"Of course you did" Ana mumbles. How about if I don't want to go" she adds feigning excitement just thinking about the possibilities.

"Too bad" Mia stared at her friend one hand on her hip. "Bags are already packed" with that she continued with what she was doing when Ana had walked in, without another word. Ana stood from the bed, dragging her feet downplaying what it actually meant to her and walked out of Mia's room.

When they reached Oregon they went straight to Carcass greeting everyone there. Ana noticed Grace wasn't there. The guys had come out of chapel welcoming them. You would think they would have picked them up at the bus terminal but no only Jarius showed up. He was a actual Men of Mayhem now, still doing Prospect works, pity.

Jason greeted Ana by calling her Shirley because of the time she made him a Shirley Temple with a pat on her back. She figured it was his way of saying he wanted one, so Ana made herself busy behind the bars counter and made a big batch after Carrick hugged her saying he missed her and Elliot and the others did as well. Teasing them they haven't grown an inch. They were only nineteen not much had changed in the three years, except Mia's hair color which was now purple her bangs were cut in a slanted dimension. She totally rocked the look.

Leaving Mia with her family Ana decided to visit the one and only family she had here. Hopping on her bike, putting on her helmet and leather gloves on her hands, sad thoughts when Christian gave it to her came to the front of her mind, she shook her head as if to bring them to the back of it, eyes on the road, she rode off.

Parking on the curb on the street she use to live and sneak out the window of, she turn off her bike, setting down her helmet and gloves and walked towards the house. Stepping up the three stairs to the porch, she rang Rays bell. He was home, the Trans Am was park in the front.

"Hello Ana" Ray said opening the door, seeing Ana standing on his front porch. Stepping out onto the porch, no hug, no kiss, no good to see you. No proud of you. No please come in side. Nothing. Just a hello. Ray leaned on the panel of the interior of the house, hands in the front pockets of his jeans. "How are you"

"I'm good Ray. How you doing?" Ana smiled.

"Still Ray, huh?" Was he for real? Why would she call him dad all of a sudden. He turned his back on her when she was locked up. Shit he kicked me out for the following his rules.

"Well yeah" Ana raked her fingers through her hair. Blowing her bangs when they just dropped down again in her eyes "You haven't earned the definition to the title"

"Is that right?" he replied condescendingly "What's your definition? I told you if you continued with that boy exactly how your life would be. I told you, you would be on your own"

"That boy's" Ana pointed out… "name is Christian and he gave his life up for me so I could continue with mines. What have you done?"

"I took you in when your mother was hoeing herself" his voice raising an octave.

Remembering what Elena had told her about him picking up girls on the street Ana responded with a snare "You like hoes don't you Ray? Like to pick them up and all that? Maybe Carla wasn't working the streets but at least she showed her true colors"

"You came here to blow shit in my face?" he gritted, arms crossing in the front of his chest, standing tall and defensive.

"I came here just to say hello. I have no hate in my heart for you Ray…. But jeez, learn how to take responsibility for your fuck up. Pausing for a bit, she looked down at her converse, foot fidgeting, she added in a low voice "I'm in college now working on my degree to be a surgeon. I'm a medical intern for now and work at a clinic" Ana didn't know why she was telling him this but somewhere in the depth of her soul she wanted him to be a little proud of her achievements. Glancing up through her eyelashes she saw a little smile playing on the edge on his lips but it disappeared quickly.

"Happy to hear you didn't throw your life away for a prick"

Lifting her head, her eyebrow quirked "That's the best you got huh?"

"Suppose so" Ray's shoulder raised and dropped in a half a shrug. "Glad to see you're alive Ana. It was good seeing you"

Feeling awkward she bit her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. Walking slowly towards him, hands shaking, reaching her arms out she hugged the man that was her dad. He was tensed at first, most likely from shock. But slowly his arms wrapped around her shoulders. "Goodbye Raymond" Ana swallowed back the tears that threatened to take over. It hurt her that she had to make the first move. Hurt her that he still had a hard heart for the crap he endured in the past. Hurt her because for some reason she stood between his past and his future. Sniffing she pulled back and looked up at him somewhat hoping for a warmth reaction. None. His face was hard to read, set like a stone. With a little smile she left his porch. Ana got back on her bike and rode off without looking back.

She rode and rode having no real destination. Why did she agree to come back here? There was nothing, absolutely nothing here, just awful memories. Her life, her dream, her future was in New York. First thing tomorrow she was heading back no matter how Mia reacts. Finding a small pub, neon lights shined in the evening sky like a sign from the heavens, Lionsheart. Parking her bike on their lot, she hopped off, taking off her helmet, hanging it on the hand rails. Leaving her gloves on, not wanting to leave her prints behind just in case, she walked towards the pub. Her heart pounded in her throat. Her hands were sweaty, nervous at what she would find. Scared of being killed. She could almost hear Christians voice telling her to turn her ass right back around. Too bad you're not here to keep me safe and out of trouble, asshole.

Opening the door taking a tentative look around, she spotted a not so friendly face, Grace, sitting at the bar, on a bar stool, drink in front of her on the counter. Walking a bit more determined to her answers, Ana took a seat right next to Grace, raising her hand to stop the bartender from asking if she wanted anything. All she wanted was answers.

"Hello Grace" Ana greeted with a huge smile on her face.

Grace glanced sideways acknowledging Ana, then back to her drink, saying nothing. If she was surprised or nervous to see Ana there, the bitch didn't show it. Ana continued, "I'm shocked to see you here. You know what Grace, no, no I'm not actually shocked. Nothing you do actually shocks me now"

"You're still a little bitch. I would had figured New York would had made you a better person"

"New York is a place for vultures Grace. It made me a lousy bitter person. Oregon preped me though, putting fire in my veins." Part of that was true. She was bitter, her light was gone. Her light stood behind bars. Her light never once wrote back to her. Not once. She had sent letter after letter telling him all about New York, how she wished he was there. She spoke about her classes, about her training, about her job even for the few dates she had. Nothing. Everything to what she ate to what she wore. Not one word back from him. Ana didn't understand. Elena made it seem he still loved her and that's why Christian had taken her place. Actions spoke louder than words. And his actions were silent, very silent. His actions was a kick in the head and gut wrenching pain in her heart. Every night she cried herself to sleep, until one day she said fuck it. Actually it was Luke who said Fuck it, asking if Christian was shedding a tear and losing sleep over her. Probably not since he couldn't even write back. Why am I back in Oregon again? Clearly the sign that read Welcome to Oregon was lying.

Christian kept to his word though. Ana was not allowed to see him. The first Thanksgiving break Ana went back to Bloomings just to visit the prison he was being held at only to be turned her away, thinking maybe he had a change of heart but, Christmas was the same. Spring break last year was the same. After that she spent all her other breaks in New York. Oregon had nothing for her.

"You were always lousy to me. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I was hoping I would see him. Is he out, yet… it's been three years already?" Ana blurted. Damn. I didn't want her to know.

Grace smiled. It wasn't sweet. It was wicked. That hate she had for Ana seeped right through her lips. "I wouldn't tell you that. What kind of mother would I be if I don't protect my son from you?"

It was Ana's turn to smile without humor. Leaning in she said "I don't know Grace, what kind of mother are you? One that sends a crew to shoot up your sons home. One that got him sent behind bars"

Grace eyes rounded wide, quickly changing her face looking down at the drink in front of her and started to twirl the straw around her drink "You did that. He's there because of you. My son cut all ties with you. He finally saw the chaos that you are"

He was there because of her, but it started with this woman sitting right here. "Does Carrick know you're hanging with a different club? Does the club know it was you who sent them to Christians"

"Don't you dare, pin this-"

"No Grace. You don't dare" Ana growled lowly, her gloved hands hitting the bars counter. Leaning forward she gritted "That cop the one that's dead… before he died he had the chance to say your name. Why would he do that?"

"Don't know"

"What would happen if Christian finds out you are behind this. You're the reason he's behind bars, Grace" as soon as those words left Ana's lips, a tall man with brown hair, a blue bandana wrapped around his forehead, stood behind Graces stool, placing his hand on the small of her back. Ana sat back and the guy Leaned down over Grace saying "Ready to go"

Grace looked like she swallowed a live fish, still flapping its body in her mouth with the way she pursed her lips and twisted. She lifted the little straw out of her drink, throwing it to the side, knocking back the rest of her drink, composing herself. "Give me a second" the man nodded, kissed her cheek and slapped her ass, turning around and walking away.

"He's cute" Ana teased. She finally had something on this lady. Most likely she wouldn't give Grace up. She didn't want to be like her.

"It's not what you think. Carrick is cheating on me. I didn't know about Christians drive by" Grace said explaining her infidelity. What the ever loving was going on?

"Wouldn't matter really, you're still sleeping with the enemy"

"It's not like that" Grace growled trying to keep her anger in check, pulling at the collar of her shirt.

"I wish I could believe you but that cop said your name, were you fucking him too"

"Yes" Grace explained quickly. A bit too quickly but her eyes, her eyes looking over Ana's shoulder spoke lies. Ana couldn't trust this woman in front of her.

"I would say you're such a crow eater, but I have a feeling you're lying and I'm going to get to the bottom of it. You have my word Grace" Ana promised. She rose from her stool saying "Have a good day Grace" and walked towards the exit doors.

They sat at the library sitting across one another, each reading their own book, a small stack piled on the middle of the table. K9 kept losing the line he was reading, reading it and not absorbing one word. He wanted to talk to Christian but knowing him he always had a few words. Giving up he lifted his eyes above the book in his hands, asking "You ready for tomorrow?"

Christian nodded without lifting his eyes from his book Mice of men, replying "I'm all set" K9 was a cool dude but he enjoyed his silence. K9 had walked in on Christian in the showers when two big guys tried to jump him. K9 jumped in saving his ass once again. The prison of course was no vacation especially when the news hit showing his face and how he was a compliance to cop killing. So shit was shady around there. Cops belittled him, bullied other cellmates to pound their wrath on him. The first day when Ana left was the one time he went looking for a fight. Three others were, one at the lunchroom, one in the yard and one in his cell due to the news. The last one was in the showers when K9 jumped in. After that no one fucked with him. Fucker knew everyone in prison, little did they know Christian was one of the Men of Mayhem the news just stated him as a "gang member" and the cop "a innocent bystander" which was shit. Innocent, maybe. Bystander, no. Fucker was undercover in his home when it got shot up. Word around was LionHeart was a notorious drug dealing MC club and the suppose innocent cop was looking into their club. What Christian couldn't figure out was why the shooting? Men of Mayhem didn't deal drugs. So what the fuck was the message they were trying to send? It wasn't about turf because they were all on the north side of Bloomings.

"Whoa freedom and pussy" K9 chuckled lowly shaking his head. "Must be nice"

"Glad you never sold us out" Christian retorted setting his book down on the table. K9 was there doing ten years he had about a good four more to go. He had gotten busted on a robbery gone wrong and aiming his gun at one of the cops, so the club could get away safely.

"You guys are my brothers" K9 nodded, tilting his head to the for a bit not knowing if he should ask or not, he put his book aside, elbows on the metal table. Leaning forward he decided he was going to ask "You going to see her or what?"

"Nah" Christian lips pressed in a thin line, and his jaw clench. He didn't like broaching the subject of Ana and K9 knew that. Each time he tried to bring her up, Christian always shot him down, but since he was being released in the afternoon, he figured why not "I'm sure she's forgotten me by now. Probably in the arms of some alpha kapa douche fraternity punk"

"You think?" K9 asked finally getting some info from the girl that left the flipping Christian off. When he asked Elena if she knew anything about the girl that had visited Christian, Elena simply said young love. When he pressed her for more she stated it's Christian's business and if he wanted him to know he will tell me, adding at the end that he and Christian had enough time to talk about it. They just had forty five minutes till her next visit. Three years later fucker had not said much.

"Dude she was just a seventeen year old youngin" Now my baby's nineteen years old.

"So. She could have waited" K9 laughed as if he didn't believe it himself. "What if she did?"

"Then she shouldn't have" Christian stated with no emotion. Elation ran through his blood thinking about it. Was Ana still his was? Shaking the thoughts away, he knew he shouldn't. Ana gave him hope. Hope was for fools. Ana showed him love. Love was forever. He still loved her but he most likely didn't have forever. Just look at where I'm at. "I'm not wrecking her life again. She doesn't need that"

"But you're out, right? Or…."

"I'm not planning on joining the club again. I'll do some runs if they want me to but that's it"

"Ah, how I wish I could" K9 smiled leaning back in his chair now "Breeze all up your hair… well yours... I'm bald. Just a taste of earth, your Harley and of course mayhem"

Christian stood up from his chair, ready to go to his cell and wait for the guards to come to pick him up and escort him out.

K9 stood as well walking out with him. When they reach Christian's cell K9 took gave him one of those bro hugs, patting each other on the back. Pulling back with a half smile K9 says "take care of my girl, Grey"

"Always. Nobody messes with Elena"

"I don't want her back in the streets. That will destroy me in here"

"Don't even worry about it. You have my word"

"Keep an eye on Helena. She's got her mother going crazy"

"Can't promise you anything there K9. Helena digs her own graves. She's got protection from the club not me but she's close to losing it" Don't know why she still has it.

K9 thanked him for his honesty and for giving him his word. Nodding his head he turned and left. One of the guards standing around unlocked his cell door. Christian went inside grabbing his letters and walked back out with the guard, heading downstairs.

He read all of Ana's letter knew everything about her, knew about her classes her training, her job, her fucking dates. Knew Luke was living with them. Ana didn't write that, Jarius had mentioned when he visited. It was Christian's idea to send Jarius up to New York since Mia kept mum about shit. He wanted to know what was going on and Jarius was the only one he trusted. He had written back but never had the balls to send the letters out. He wanted her to forget him, wanted her to just live her life without him in her mind. It took her two years to give up. He knew she had visited. So many times he almost caved in, but his Ana was stubborn, the guilt would have eaten her up and she would leave her dreams behind for him. He wanted to give her a second chance at real love. He wanted her to be happy, he only knew how to bring havoc.

Reaching downstairs he waited behind the gate for the guard to give him his clothes, wallet and phone. Once he received his stuff, he changed into his clothes and was ready to leave.

As Christian walked down the gravel yard towards the open gates to his freedom. His mind had one word replaying. Home. One person only came to mind. Blue striking eyes that could make a dead man praise. Beautiful flowy chestnut hair. One girl that captured his soul and made his cock hard, wearing only denim overalls and converses on. One place he only rather be. Ana