Grace

I'm at loss with my boys, I can't understand why they keep these secrets from us. I'm happy that Elliot has found someone, but at the same time hurt by the deception. What bothers me even more than his deception is that he has been hiding her for months, and I haven't even noticed? Another wave of anguish runs through my body, making the dull ache in my head stronger. What kind of mother am I? First I don't see that my friend is abusing my boy, and it went on for years! Now the other one hides what should be the happiest time of his life. And I had no idea.

The thoughts and self-accusations are like a tornado roaring inside my head. I watch my beautiful family eating brunch but I can't participate. The ingrained manners keep me in my seat, involved with the idle chit chat, but honestly, if anyone asked me, I wouldn't be able to say what we have been discussing.

I try to focus, I look at Christian with his Ana, their small touches and hidden smiles warm my heart. She's so good for him I think, watching him lean in and peck her on the cheek. I can hardly believe this is the same man that just few weeks ago didn't allow anyone to touch him; who snapped at anyone coming in his way. Now Christian's acting like boy in love and I can see he's got it bad. My heart blossoms of the memory of Christian hugging me, giving me the one thing I've been denied all these years. The one thing that proves to me that he forgives me for my failure to protect him. He never blamed me, but I have blamed myself. With him hugging me today, I finally start to feel that we will be alright; the past didn't destroy him, it didn't destroy my family. In these last few months, that has been my worst fear; what if we never get past it.

I take a sip of my wine, and watch Kate with Elliot. He seems happy but awkward, which is strange as he's usually always at ease. Kate, well I just don't know what to make of her yet. She's pretty, and seems genuinely happy to meet us, but something just doesn't sit right with me. Kate's overly enthusiastic about anything Christian or Carrick say, but Mia is overlooked by her totally it seems, and she's not liking it one bit.

The brunch goes by without any serious subjects being brought up, the discussion remains on a semi-awkward polite level. The pounding in my head is getting worse, I massage my temples and hope for the ache to lessen. Kate has somewhere she needs to be, so Elliot goes to send her. I hate to admit it but all of us let out a breath of relief when the door finally shuts behind them. I rub my temples trying to relieve the throbbing pain within.

Christian is the first to comment on his brother settling down and Mia soon voices her displeasure of Kate. No surprise there I think, even a blind man would have seen the shunning, although subtle, that Mia received. The discussion flows easy until Carrick brings up the NDA. Although I agree with Ana that it would be disrespectful, and a huge sign of distrust towards Kate, deep inside I hope she would agree to it. To challenge things Carrick asks what would happen if Elena was brought up, and Kate would write about it. I think my heart will stop. Elena. Oh god, I can't go through explaining Elena to Ana.

I look at Ana, but she doesn't seem fazed, nor surprised by Carrick's words. She knows. I feel like someone is twisting my heart, like trying to squeeze out every last drop of fear from it. He told her. Christian has told her everything, even about his past. Oh God bless her, she knows all and she's still with him, even with all his demons now out in the open. No wonder he is a changed man. There has been times I've thought that he hasn't even told us all.

I close my eyes, the bright daylight flooding through the windows making my headache worse. Mia asks Christian if he wants to show Ana his trophies. Oh, that would be lovely. He was always such an accomplished rower and athlete. I tell them it is ok, they can go, I just want to get some Advil and go to rest, the emotional morning now beating it's steady rhythm inside my head. Carrick massages my shoulders, in the same way he always does if I have a headache. His strong thumbs pressing into the skin on my neck, strong circular movements, around and around.

I lie down on my bed, and Carrick brings me two tablets and a glass of water. He's so thoughtful, even after all these years. I give him a tired smile and a thank you. As I look at him I notice a mischievous glint in his eyes. Let me in on the fun will you. "What? What are you up to, grinning like the cat that ate the cream?" "Didn't you notice what Mia asked Christian?" "No, I can't say that I did, my head was and is killing me, making it hard to concentrate" I say shrugging. "She asked him to show Ana his trophies" "Yes?" Carrick shakes his head in disbelief "You don't remember?" It takes a while before it dawns on me. "Oh" I say, and Carrick grins saying "Oh – indeed. I was thinking you are getting old my dear, forgetting the most used excuse in this house" I can't help the laughter that bubbles from within, as the memories come rushing back. Elliot did use that a lot, and he thought we didn't understand what it meant. "Christian never used it though" I say and the humor vanishes from the room, the grim reality of why he never brought anyone home crawling back into my mind. Elena.

Carrick lies down behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He tries to be serious but I can feel him still grinning into my neck. "Something else you want tell me?" I ask him. "Well, Christian is going to show her his trophies and I bet you my next month's salary that he's showing her his family jewels as well" Carrick manages to blurt out before he starts laughing. I swat his arm "Oh, you're so bad" still smiling at his comment.

Anastasia

I watch the brothers hugging and notice that Mia is wiping a tear threatening to fall from her eye. Christian letting them touch him seems to be an emotional roller-coaster for the Grey family. I can't help but wonder what they have been thinking all these years with Christian so isolated from them, emotionally and physically.

Christian is the first to let go, and Elliot shrugs, slumping his shoulders in defeat. "If you want her to sign a NDA, then you ask her... but I am not going to do it for you" Elliot say and Christian nods, his expression serious "Thank you Elliot". They both push their fingers through their hair and Mia and I can't help the amused smiles sneaking their ways on our lips. Those two are two peas of a pod, adopted or not.

Christian's phone rings and he pulls it from his pocket, the CEO returning in an instant. "Grey" he answers the phone, his gaze darkening and his fist tightening with each second that passes. Mia tries to chat with me, she's going on about some restaurant downtown, but I can't concentrate, my focus is on Christian pacing the room; not saying much, mostly listening to whoever it is on the other line, only grunting a few questions at times.

"Fuck" he hisses as he finishes the call squeezing his phone in his hand with such force I'm surprised it doesn't break. I get up and go to him, acutely aware of my lack of underwear. He stops his pacing when I get near; he reaches for my hand and I catch it, that strong soft grip of his so gentle around my hand. He pulls me close to him, pressing his forehead against mine and says "I'm sorry baby..." I know what he's going to say; he doesn't even need to finish that sentence. He has to work. I'm disappointed, well actually that is a huge understatement, but I get it. As the CEO, he has to do, what he has to do. Even if it means cutting our time together short on a Sunday.

"Don't leave yet..." Mia whines, pleading "Please? Pretty please?" Christian gives her an apologetic smile. "I've got to go, I'm having a conference call in an hour" he turns to me and asks "Do you want to stay?" Without underwear, um gee... Let me think. I shake my head no. "I'll go with you, I'm quite exhausted..." he furrows his brow at my words but he says "Ok sugar, whatever you want" Elliot arches his brow coughing into his hand "pussy-whipped". Christian says "Oh, fuck off El" with a huge grin on his lips.

Christian

I look at Ana, trying to figure out what's wrong, why doesn't she want to stay. She said she was exhausted, and immediately I'm worried about her. To be honest it doesn't matter; if she doesn't want to stay, then she's not staying. I want her at home with me anyway, even if I will be working. Work now seemed as such an easy excuse… Reality being quite far from it though.

Mia hugs me quickly, then she gives Ana a huge squeeze reminding her of the lunch date they just talked about. Elliot shakes my hand before tugging me into a one armed man hug. He approaches Ana, and for a second I think he'll hug her again. Oh the hell to the no, I feel her apprehension rising alarmingly. I shake my head no, and thank fuck Elliot gets it. He opts for a handshake telling her "It was nice to meet you Ana... Thank you making my little brother into a mere mortal, making him give into his needs," winking as the blush rises on her cheeks. Yeah, yeah... We have sex, big deal, get over it El; I think as I catch Ana's hand and say "Come on baby... Let's go". Her petite hand fits mine perfectly and I enjoy the grateful look she gives me as we make our way down the hall. I sneak a peek at the stairs and smile at the memory of that kiss.

"We're leaving" I type on my phone and press send. It takes only seconds before Taylor appears from the downstairs library.

We walk to the car, the wind a bit stronger now, twirling Ana's hair as I lean to kiss her, holding her tight, but she seems uncomfortable, she doesn't even return my hug. "What's wrong?" She frowns and looks at me like I've suddenly totally lost it. "What's wrong?" she repeats my words, her voice sharp "What the hell do you think is wrong?" I have no clue. She runs her hand over my pockets, patting me down until she finds what she's looking for. And then I get what's wrong.

She pulls the panties from my pocket and gets in the car, she stops only to say "Would you mind?" before closing the door in my face. Taylor gives me a questioning look as he walks around the car to get into the driver's seat. "Taylor" I say "give her a second" thankful for the heavily tinted windows of the car.

I wait for a moment, how long does it take to wear a pair of panties anyway. Finally the door opens and I get in, nodding to Taylor and Prescott to get in as well.

"Are we ok?" I ask, Ana shrugs and sighs. "Yeah, we're fine, but I'll get you for that someday Chris… I can't believe you made me sit there surrounded by your whole family without panties," she huffs. I know she's trying to appear angry, but I'm not feeling it, the glint in her eye tells me she's not feeling it either. The thought of her panty less is nevertheless making my cock twitch. Oh boy, I have got it bad. I move over to sit right next to her, I put my hand on her thigh and lean in against her; my lips just inches away from her ear, as I whisper "I'm sorry" my voice hoarse; I feel her shiver to my words.

She lifts her brow as she turns towards me saying "No you're not". She bites her lip and places her hand on my thigh as she leans in; the touch of her hand so tantalizingly close lighting my desire like a bolt of lightning. She moves her hand up, until her fingers brush against my ever growing erection. I gasp of her sudden boldness as she caresses my cock through the fabric of my pants. "I'd say you were enjoying yourself quite much… leaving me uncovered like that" she says her voice a needy breath on my skin. Then she closes in but just before she is about to kiss me, she gives me a mischievous smile, pecks me on my nose and says "Please don't do it again". She removes her hand from my crotch, leaving me craving her touch, then leans back, turns her gaze towards the view, ignoring me totally.

It takes me a moment to gain my wits, my cock still throbbing in my trousers begging for her touch. But that touch will have to wait as my phone buzzes in my pocket alerting me of a new email. I dig my phone out, as I move back to my side of the backseat. Ana doesn't say anything but her sigh doesn't go unnoticed; she kicks off her shoes and lifts her feet onto the seat between us. She leans her head against the window and watches the landscape as Taylor drives us back through the garden, out the gate and down the street.

I sit still holding my phone, I haven't even looked at it yet, as my eyes are focused on Ana. She doesn't even realize I'm looking at her; her focus somewhere beyond the horizon. A faint frown marrows her brow at times, but otherwise she looks so serene. Everything is perfection; her long eyelashes, her fair skin, that lock of hair that always falls to her cheek. My eyes take in every detail of her, the mounds and valleys of her beautiful body, her slim legs folded onto the seat, her hand in her lap. Fuck Grey, you are really going soft, aren't you? I cannot believe that this beautiful woman is mine, she knows about all the shit of my past, and she hasn't left. I was sure she would.

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by the buzz of my phone, but this time it's not an email, the fucking thing is actually ringing.

AN: Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!

I'm so sorry for the delay in updates. RL has been getting to me, and I had to get the second chapter to A Strange Dinner written, as it was playing on my mind all the time. Go check that out, but be warned it's a bit.. um... different!

Reviews are highly appreciated, as usual!

H xoxo