Ana
I wake up feeling like a bus hit me and I realize Christian is not here. Were the hell did he go? I ask Taylor and he is just as surprised. I hack into his GPS and what to smash something when I realize were he has gone. I cant deal with this shit right now. I call Alex and we meet in the garage.
"Steel what the fuck is your man up to?"
"He thinks he is protecting me from my mother. He overheard me break down on the phone earlier over things she said so he went over there to sort it out."
"What the fuck? What the hell does he think he can sort out?"
"That's a mystery to me to that's why we need to get there as soon as possible. Who knows what lies Carla could be planting in his head."
"Ana there is nothing Carla could say to Christian to make him love you less."
"Alex I just hope you are right."
"I am and we are here." We get out and I am surprised when a young man opens the door.
"Hello can I help you?"
"Hi my name is…."
"Anastasia." The young man says for me.
"How did you know?"
"You look just like her. Your mother. Come in she is in the den with your Fiancé." He shows me the way then leaves us to enter on our own. As I enter I hear Carla reply to something Christian said.
"Yes Christian I did fail Ana but I promise you it was not as bad as she made it out to be. I don't know what all she told you but…" I don't let her finish her sentence because I cut in.
"Hello mother." I say and see the surprise on all 3 of their faces. I walk right into Christian's arms and he holds me close.
"Hi baby." He says and I just barely hold in a laugh. I can't believe this man.
"Ana are you ok?"
"Never better baby. What are you doing here?"
"Same thing you are Christian. So other than that what were you about to say?"
"Ana what the hell is he doing in my house?" She asks pointing to Alex.
"He brought me here. Do you have a problem with that?" I can see she is battling and any other time he would have been thrown out but the lie comes out without a second though.
"Not at all. I was just wondering." I guess her disappointment of a daughter is now worthy of affection since she is marring a billionaire. Its funny how money talks. I don't bother saying anything else as she now just proved to me what I denied all these years. Just being me has never been good enough. I will never be good enough. It hurts so bad knowing Alex was right all along. I can't take it anymore and leave that house promising myself never to return expecting anything from Carla. Then a thought occurs to me and I relies she is the mother of the bride after all and pushing her buttons a little might be fun. I don't want anything from her but she does not have to know that. I turn around and find all 4 of them have followed me out.
"Mother I forgot to mention it's your duty as the mother of the bride to pay for my wedding." I say and I see Christian about to protest but stops short when he sees the look on my face. He knows exactly what I am doing and smiles. Alex is barley holding in his laugh. My mother turns to Christian with pleading eyes but he ignores her and keeps his eyes on me.
"You cant be serious Anastasia? Look who you are marring." It angers me when she says that and she gets saves by Sam whom we seem to always forget.
"Don't you dare Carla? You should be ashamed of yourself." He turns to me and I see something cross his face that I have never seen before.
"Ana I apologies for our lack of everything were you are concerned. I am ashamed of myself for letting it carry on so long. As you stepfather I would be honored to at least pay for some part of your wedding. I may not have much but its something and you deserve it. You are an incredible women and as of this moment I am going to make it my duty you know us better. It seems your mothers judgment of you has robbed me and your sibling's of getting closer to you." I choke up at that and can't stop the tears from spilling over. I can't believe he felt that way all along. I was a fool to just assume they would not accept me. Christian takes me into his arms and it feels right. I pull myself together and see that just maybe tings will be different. We are all alone now and I am grateful for this.
"Thank you Christian for everything."
"No Ana. I didn't do anything."
"You came here for me and because of you I may have a second chance at a real family."
"Ana all I came here to do was offer your bitch of a mother money to leave you the fuck alone. I may be calm on the outside but I am anything but calm on the inside. What she done to you in unforgivable. I will tolerate her for your sake but don't expect me to respect or even like her. Stan on the other hand seems like a god guy and he sees through her bull shit. I say give him and your siblings a chance and see were it goes." Hearing this coming from the man I love warms my heart. I give him an ok and a big kiss then make my way back into the house and am surprised to see the kids waiting for me. I know we are not blood related but they seem to be the only family I have. They also look as nervous as me.
"Ana these are your brothers and sisters. This is Sam he is 20." He looks like a very young version of Stan and this makes me smile. He looks nervous and I watch him glance at Christian every chance he gets.
"Hi Sam its nice to meet you."
"You to. Its about time you showed up." He says taking me by surprise and I cant help but laugh. I see my mother giving me death stares and I could not be interested wether she approves or not. This seems to break the ice and the rest goes smoothly. I'm introduced to Terry whose 16 and I know she is a girl that loves shopping and will get on great with Kate. Then there is Kevin who is 14 and wants to go into construction. The twins are another story. They are 7 and identical. I'm surprised at how much they look like me with huge blue eyes and long auburn hair. I glance at Christian and I think he just made the connection to. Carla is looking everywhere but at me. I look at San and he nods a confirmation to what I was thinking. Nicky and Nicole are Stan and Carla's kids and so is 4-year-old Joe who is the cutest kid I have ever seen. We have the same eyes but he has blond hair like his dad. He wants to be just like me when he grows up which puts a smile on my face. All the kids love sports and the outdoor stuff which is right up my alley. I instantly click with them and decide I am going to plan a camping trip for these kids. We spend a little more time with them until my phone rings and its time to go. Christian take me back home and I pack my bag then say goodbye. In the car I can tell Luke is upset about something and I know its me.
"Luke spit it out."
"Don't you ever put me in that situation again Ana."
"Situation? What the hell are you talking about?"
"The stunt you pulled earlier was not cool. My job is to protect you no matter what but how the hell am I supposed to do that if you dissaper on me?" Shit I guess he has a point. I didn't even think of that.
"Luke you are right and I am sorry. I promise it wont happen again. Its just I assumed because I was with Alex it would be ok." He nods ok but doesn't bring the subject up again. Christian's security are more family to me then bodyguards. I get my stuff out the car and am surprised to see a young women and a beautiful boy in the corner of the room. In the center is a man covered with a blanket. According to the officer in charge it's an overdose.
I glance at the child and he looks so familiar even tough I know I have never met him before. I run my tests and order the body back to the morgue. I get the facts from the women who now I recognize from Elliot's background check. These living conditions are not suitable for a kid. I know this first hand. It's not my place to tell Elliot and I also have no solid proof he is a Grey. I hand her my number and she promised to call if she needs help. I have a little chat with the boy and I am surprised at the bond we share. He even gives me a tight hug before I leave the scene. I leave with a lot on my mind and a stomach that rolls every time I think of what that kid could be going through.
There is no way I can sit back and do nothing. I call Jose and explain the situation and he promised me he will personally take over the case. Since I am the forensic specialist I am not allowed to get involved yet. As soon as this case is closed I have the permission to step in and get any information I need. According to jose it should be in about five days time giving me enough time to sort out a few arrangements.
