Okay...don't hate me.

I've had some unfortunate things happen within my family/ personal life, so that's why I haven't updated in months. I'm not really going to go into it, but it's been a rough few months. I'm still not sure how frequently I'm going to be able to update this, so it's up to you guys if you want me to just wait until I can commit more time to this story, or if you want me to just update whenever I can. It's up to you guys, majority vote wins.

That said, enjoy.

APOV

"Ethan, not that I'm not happy to see you...but what are you doing here?" I asked, somewhat hugging him back. I was surprised to see him, that was for sure. I hadn't even heard from him since he up and left a few months ago.

"I was looking for Katie, actually." he said, taking a seat on the couch.

I did the same, studying his newly tanned face.

"Must have been a nice vacation." I said, motioning to the tan.

He chuckled, "It was...interesting."

"Well Kate's at work, so she won't be back for a few hours." I said, standing up again to put together another box.

I'd decided that moving in with Christian just seemed right - and Jose had done everything aside from pack my stuff himself. Kate hadn't been as excited, but considering the way her and Elliot's relationship was going she'd be moving out in no time too.

"That's alright...I, uh, I mean can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course." I said, taping the bottom of the box together before turning to face him.

"It's about why I left."

I nodded, not understanding what was so...so...difficult about this that it needed a preface before being discussed.

"I got a girl pregnant, Ana."

Holy shit.

"What?" I asked, taking a seat on the couch again.

Ethan was a lot of things, but in all the years that I'd known him I would never have pictured him getting someone pregnant - well unless he'd been seeing someone - but there was no way Kate wouldn't have told me about that.

Hell there was no way I wouldn't have met her by now.

"It was the vacation I'd gotten back from when I first came here. It's why I left again, because she called me and told me. I wanted to be sure that she wasn't lying...so I went back."

"I mean who is this girl? What happened when you went back?"

"She was just a girl I'd met at the resort. We ended up getting completely trashed...one thing led to another and before you know it I'm getting a phone call telling me she's pregnant."

"So she really is?"

He nodded, "But she wasn't exactly a...modest girl, if you know what I mean. I went back to get things straightened out, because I figured if she was lying it was because she knew I had the money to take care of the kid."

Holy shit.

"This is like something out of a movie." I said shaking my head.

"Says the girl living with a guy who owns his own plane." he said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore his very valid point and asked, "So what happened?"

"After an extremely long and expensive process we got a DNA test. The kid's not mine."

"Well I bet you're glad to be back."

"You have no idea." he laughed, "Do you guys still have beer in the fridge?"

I shook my head, "You were the only one who drank it, and we weren't exactly sure when you'd be coming back..."

"I assume the only thing in there is the stuff Jose uses to make Mimosas."

I chuckled, "Obviously."

"Well I guess I know where I'm going." he said with a smile.

Before I could say anything the front door opened and in came Christian. He was helping me move my boxes to Escala.

"How many boxes of books could you possibly - oh, hello Ethan." said Christian with a chuckle.

"Hey man, how've you been?"

"Good, and you? Can't say I was expecting to see you."

"No one was." said Ethan with a chuckle, "This is my idea of a surprise, but of course Katie wasn't home."

Christian nodded, "Well I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."

With that he walked back into my bedroom to grab the rest of my boxes, but not before pressing a kiss to my temple on the way.

"I'll see you later, alright?" said Ethan, heading toward the door, "I've still got to see this new place of yours."

I nodded, "I'll see you later."

After he left I went back to putting together another box, but it didn't take long for Christian to show up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"What was that about?"

"I guess he handled the business he needed to take care of. Seems like he's sticking around for a while this time - which I guess makes it convenient that he's got a room to move into now." I said, turning to face him.

Christian smiled, "I'm glad you said yes."

"Me too." I said, leaning forward to press a soft kiss against his lips.

He groaned softly under his breath, his hands on my waist tightening for a moment before he pushed himself away from me.

"As much as I'd like to fuck you on this table, I think Jose just pulled up outside."

How was I supposed to come up with a response for that?

"Hellooooo love birds, how goes the packing?" called out Jose, tossing his binders onto the kitchen island before looking over to us.

"Pretty good." I said, shooting Christian a look, "We've got almost everything."

"Ah, young love." said Jose, putting a hand over his chest, "It just warms my heart."

I rolled my eyes and saw Christian attempting to suppress his chuckle.

"Did you know Ethan was back?"

"Ethan's back?" asked Jose, eyebrow raised, "Is he actually sticking around this time?"

"Seems like it. He's got a room here now anyway." I said with a shrug. "He was looking for Kate, but as far as I know she's still at work."

Jose nodded, "Well I can't wait to badger the information out of him."

I didn't doubt that he would, and I quickly turned away from him to tape up a box. There was no way I was letting him know that I already knew. I did not want that battle.

"If anyone can do it, it's you."

I could tell he was doing his usual Jose-Suspicious-Look, but luckily for me his Spidey senses must have been a little off today, because he moved past it.

"So what is this Saints and Sinners ball I've been hearing about, Christian?"

"What?" I asked, spinning around to glare at him.

Regardless of how much I loved the last dress he'd bought me for an event, I was getting really tired of having to find out all these things from Jose.

"Uh...well yeah, it's about two weeks from now...I didn't mention it because I didn't think you'd want to go."

Jose rolled his eyes, "Forget her, I want to go."

"Explain." I said, ignoring Jose's indignant pout.

"You basically choose to dress up as a saint or a sinner, so white and gold or black and red. There's music, food, drinks, entertainment."

"It's only the most talked about party every year."

"I've never heard of it." I said with a shrug.

"Not surprised." said Jose, "But we're so totally going. Even if I have to drag your pretty little sinner ass in there myself."

My eyes widened, "What makes you think I'd choose to go as a sinner?"

He snorted, "Please, with Sex God as your boyfriend there's no way you're going as a saint. Hell, none of us are." he said with a wink.

"Touche." said Christian with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes at both of them and picked up the box I'd just taped closed, "I'm going to gracefully exit the conversation."

The last thing I heard before shutting the door was Jose saying something about outfit choices.

Oh god.

CPOV

I couldn't be happier about Ana officially moving to Escala with me, especially after admitting to the whole...love thing.

It was still so weird to think that I'd said it - and that she'd said it back.

But I'd be damned if I was going to complain. I was beyond pleased.

Pleased wasn't even the word.

"So is Ana all moved in?"

I focused back on the phone call I was having with Mia.

"Yeah, she's upstairs unpacking her clothes right now."

Mia chuckled softly before saying, "I'm glad you're happy. I'm glad you have her."

I raised an eyebrow, "Meaning?"

"Meaning you had me worried. You were always so focused on the business that it seemed like it was going to be impossible for you to find anyone, because you just wouldn't let it happen."

"There's nothing wrong with being -"

"No, there's not." she interrupted, "But you can't seriously tell me that you'd rather it be just you and the business."

"Of course not." I said immediately. I was no idiot, Ana was the best thing that'd happened to me - and by far the most challenging.

But that was part of the fun.

"Good. There's hope for you yet." she said chuckling.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that made its way onto my face.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mia."

Before she could say anything, though, Ana pushed open the door to my office and stuck her head in.

"Oh, you're on the phone. Sorry -"

"It's fine." I said before she could back out of the room, "It's just Mia."

Ana smiled and said, "Tell her I said hi."

After getting Mia off the phone with a promise of doing lunch one day next week I motioned for Ana to come over to where I was sitting.

She rolled her eyes but still came around and sat on my lap, pressing a kiss to my lips before resting her head on my shoulder.

"Jose invited us to dinner."

"Oh?" I said, noticing the slightly hesitant tone of her voice.

"Uh-huh..."

"And?"

"Jordan's going too."

"And?"

"And Jose would really appreciate the moral support of us going. Kate and Elliot are going."

"Ana, just spit it out." I said, running a hand through her hair.

"Jose's dad is meeting Jordan for the first time...and Jose's meeting his dad's girlfriend for the first time."

Oh.

Well then.

"Of course we'll go."

Ana breathed a sigh of relief and kissed me, "You're amazing."

~OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO~

"So you think she's lying?"

I nodded looking over to where Jose sat opposite me on the couch at Escala.

"I think she's a lying manipulative bitch who has no reason to start telling the truth now. I'd bet my company that that black eye was fake."

Jose smirked, "Well that ones easy to debunk. You said she came over here two days ago?"

I nodded.

"So she should still be sporting a pretty good shiner, all things considered. Let's stop by the Lincoln's place and see what's going on."

"Seriously?"

"Oh come on Sugar Lips, I love me some good espionage. Don't ruin my dreams." he said fixing me with that trademark Jose stare.

Honestly I didn't care what he said, the fact that he'd called me Sugar Lips - after months of 'Christian' - I finally felt like we were making progress.

"Alright, we'll take the Audi."

Jose snorted, "No, we'll take my car. Your car isn't exactly discreet."

He had a good point, and Elena definitely knew my car.

~OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO~

"So what's the plan?" I asked as we pulled into the gated community Elena lived in.

"Espionage was the original plan...but I figured it'd be easier - and way funnier if we're right - to just go knock on the door."

I raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"Well if she's lying you can confront her about it right away...and if she's not...well I'm guessing we won't have to explore that option."

I looked up at the familiar house - it was the same one she'd lived in when I was a child.

"Well let's go." he said, turning the car off and getting out. I shook all the old memories from my head and followed him up the unnecessarily long driveway.

Before I could ask how we were going to tackle this, Jose rang the doorbell.

I expected Elena's housekeeper to answer the door, instead it was Elena herself, and shocker - no black eye.

Her eyes widened and she was obviously shocked to see me.

"Christian, what are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you, what with that black eye you had." I started.

"But it seems like his concern was for nothing. You look just fine to me." said Jose with a sugary sweet smile.

Elena opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to find the words - not that I blamed her. I mean what was she going to say? She was so obviously caught in a lie, I almost felt bad for her.

"I can explain -"

"Save it. I want to know why you faked the black eye and how you got Dylan to go along with this bullshit."

There was a pregnant pause before Elena opened her mouth.

"I faked the black eye because I wanted you to feel sorry for me. I mean Linc's not exactly Casanova, alright?"

"Can we fast forward to the good part?" interrupted Jose.

She looked as though something venomous was poised on the tip of her tongue, but the look on my face must have convinced her to keep it to herself.

"I paid Dylan. It wasn't really rocket science. I mean he wanted Ana back, he knew all the dirty little secrets about her and her mother and Stephen that it seemed fitting. We were both working towards a similar goal, plus he had a bit of a monetary incentive."

"So you paid him off to ruin Ana's life because you, a married woman, couldn't have the man she wanted? What is wrong with you, you crazy old hag?" asked Jose, his voice getting higher in pitch toward the end.

"She's not right for -"

"I'm only going to say this once." I said, stepping into her personal space and lowering my voice. "If you ever, and I mean ever so much as think about fucking with me, Ana, or anyone in her life, I will make sure that you regret for the rest of yours. Do we understand each other?"

Elena's shocked face was confirmation enough that she'd gotten the message loud and clear.

I stepped back and started to head to Jose's car, but I definitely didn't miss what Jose said to her.

"I hope you liked the flowers we sent you. Bouquets aren't cheap."

I stifled my laugh and we both got into the car, leaving the, as Jose put it, Bitch Troll behind.

APOV

"I could get used to this, you know?"

Christian and I were in his bed - our bed - and I'd finally managed to get my things unpacked.

Aside from the two stacks of books on the dresser that I still needed to find space for in the study, I'd perfectly blended myself into Escala.

It was crazy to think that I was living here. That I was home. That this was my life.

"Well I would hope so." he said, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Because I don't think I'm going to be able to let you go."

I couldn't help the no doubt goofy smile that made its way onto my face.

"Going to keep me as your sex slave, are you?"

He smirked, "You said it, not me."

We both laughed and I said, "In all seriousness though, I'm glad we're doing this. I'm glad we did this."

He smiled - one of those genuine smiles that he seemed to reserve solely for Mia - and apparently me.

"And to think you weren't going to move in." he said, chuckling.

"And to think you weren't going to tell me how you felt." I shot back with a chuckle.

I was slightly worried he'd close up and shut down on me, but he laughed - laughed - and said, "Better late than never, right?"

"Right." I agreed.

I mean really, how could I not?

I'm sorry for the months I've been away. I still love this story and don't want to abandon it, but life is complicated lol.

Either way I hope you enjoyed it even though it's definitely not my best work - I just wanted to get something out and let you guys know what's going on with me.

Like I said let me know what you guys want, random updates until things settle down, or for me to just wait until I'm able to commit more time and effort into this story. Majority vote wins.