Sorry for the delay in getting a chapter up and out work gets insanely busy of xmas time, as well as I've been battle some health issues. I know this chapter is a short one but its been through my beta and is ready to go so am going to post it and do a longer chapter for you guys for the next one. Thanks for being patient and waiting for this I know its taken some time. But one thing i have learnt is over December and January my time is rather slim for doing anything par work and family.

Over the last few days due to his work schedule and dealing with overseas companies, Christian and I have hardly spent any time together.

With everything going on I'm only catching sight of him when he wanders into work for another meeting, it's like being back at school. We've had more phone calls than physical time together. I know he comes home as his side of the bed is always slept in, plus I feel him pull me close, but he is often up and gone before I wake. Gail said the same is happening with Jason too. She told me Christian told him to take some time off to spend with the family, but he flat out refused. He feels responsible for what is going down right now and that he should have had things under better control. No one knew what the bitch troll was going to do. Her opening a new bank account on our wedding day to me is a massive red flag, and she did it in the morning before we went to the courthouse. I'm now wondering if she knew about the marriage all this time but then again maybe not who knows. All I do know is that I'm so damn confused by it all. I want time with my husband not a cuddle in bed, but face-to-face time; no work just the two of us, a movie, drinks and relaxing with our cell phones turned off.

Like that is going to happen running a multi-billion dollar company means downtime is near impossible to have. Plus, I think Christian has forgotten that we have a gala dinner at his parent's place this weekend. As per his usual super organized self, he has typically everything sorted and in place by now. Including what I am wearing.

"Sawyer," I call knowing he is not that far away. He appears within seconds.

"Yes Ma'am."

"Drop the ma'am thing Sawyer, it's Ana remember. Has someone sorted out everything for the gala on Saturday?"

"Yes, ma'am. Taylor has had me dealing with it all, and we'll be all set for the event. I have hired a few extra security for the night to be posted in positions we feel are unsafe and more worrisome, so with the current events unfolding normally these areas are monitored, but on the night there will be guards at these spots."

"Thank you, Sawyer."

"No problem ma'am. Let me know when you're ready to leave for work, I'm your detail today. Prescott and Reynolds both have other duties today."

"Who's here with Gail?"

"That would be me, ma'am." I hear coming from Brown, the new recruit, but old army buddy of Jason. When he heard what was going on, he made himself available to be here at our sides helping, more so protecting Gail and Sophie.

"And Sophie?"

"She isn't feeling the best today so, Dr. Trevelyan Grey should be here soon to look her over."

"I'm here now Gail, and please call me Grace. So, where is this darling granddaughter of mine right now."

"In the lounge watching TV." Gail looks at me as if she's wondering if its alright for her to be there.

"This is her home just as much as your home Gail, it is fine. Ring me if you need anything."

"Will do," Gail replies. As I'm about to leave I notice Grace indicating she wants to talk to me as she motions her head towards our room.

"A quick word my dear."

"Everything okay Grace?"

"Everything is fine, I'm just worried about Christian. Carrick said he was not looking the best. Is everything alright between you two? I know here I am asking about Christian when I should be asking the same thing considering Carrick also been working extra long hours with the Elena drama. God, I despise saying her name."

"Everything is good with Christian and me, he's just dealing with work issues. If Carrick hasn't told you, then I will. The IRS is going through GEH records right now, so he's stressed out, but the worst thing is Elena set up an offshore bank account in Christian's name and was putting funds into it. These are the same funds we suspected she was taking from the salons."

Man, it feels nice to talk to someone else about this. Grace looks lived at the information I have just given her.

"No. Carrick has mentioned it. He won't break client confidentiality. However, he did say he saw Christian daily, but I thought it was to do with the cases against Elena not something like this. I'll see if I can get some time to go and see him to check him out. Don't forget about this Saturday," she says as she gets off the bed to go leave. She turns around and places a kiss on my cheek.

"Remember darling it's mom now." I so wish my mom had the same loving, caring voice Grace has, or at least had even a part of Grace's caring nature and fondness for me.

"We haven't Grace we'll be there." Once she reaches the door, she stops and turns to me.

"Maybe we should make a lunch date with him. Might be easier to get him to sit still in his office. Are you free today for lunch?"

"I can be."

"Check his schedule for me please darling and let me know what time he's free for lunch and schedule something in so he stays in his office. I'll bring lunch with me." Then she is gone.

It's times like this, seeing Grace so caring, loving even to those that are not her flesh and blood. This is what makes her an exceptional mother, and human as well as one of Seattle's most sought-after pediatricians.

I wish my mother could've been more like Grace. Maybe then I wouldn't hate her so much. I'm not sure if hate is the word to use. I had a loving, caring home and environment then 'bam,' she leaves with me and after that is was one guy after another. All she thought about was money, and I was a payday for her. Ray would not neglect my care, so for her, it was a way to have for someone else to take care of me financially, and she still had money for herself. Did she ever love me? Damn it now I'm crying, over my no good mother.

I suppose it's every little girl's dream to please their mother and have them love them and be there all through their life. I don't. I go over to my jewelry box and pull out the only item I have from her. Actually, it's the only item I kept, and I did so because my biological father had it made for me. I suspect if it weren't for Ray knowing about it, I wouldn't even have it now. I read the inscription, 'You will always be my ray of sunshine.' Who knew that he'd only get to see me and hold me a couple of times before he was taken from us.

To this day I still feel awful for how I treated Christian when I was given this box. Now I have it in a space he had made just for this bracelet. There's even a spot to put a photo of my other dad. It's safely hidden where no one would find it unless they knew about the hidden compartment in the jewelry box. I know I can't make up for my behavior and since I'm trying to be less resistant to him gifting me things, I notice that he hasn't wanted to give me things. The day we won and lost the battle, were left hurting and fighting indeed wasn't a great way to spend a wedding anniversary. The tension at dinner wasn't anger I was feeling from Christian it, was hurt. Ray was pissed at me, and it didn't take long for Grace and Carrick to realize something had happened during the day to warrant such a negative vibe.

I'm so lost in my thoughts, imagining what I could have done differently, my reactions, my feelings, that I don't feel a pair of muscular arms wrap around me from behind until I feel his warm lips on my cheek.

"Baby, you okay?" Christian asks as he notices my tears and what I'm holding in my hand. I turn and bury my head into his chest letting the tears and emotions flow.

"Ana, baby want's wrong?" He asks once I stop crying.

"I'm sorry for everything the day when you gave me this."

"You've told me that before, it's in the past that is where it stays."

"I know, but today I just realized how much of an asshole I really was. You listened to me, and I still throw it in your face."

"We have been down this road before, let's just leave it there...in the past and move forward," he says as he wipes my tear-stained face. I know I'm going to have to reapply my makeup before work.

"Wait...why aren't you at work."

"Because the only way Jason is going to get any time with his daughter is if I work from home today. He is hopeless at following orders. Andrea said she'll get Ros to bring over anything important if need be, but today is just going to be boring paperwork and a few phone calls. Oh, and by the way since your home, dad has informed me, and he did try and call you, but Gail said you were talking to mom. Carla decided to dispute the agreement that was set up for when you went to live with Ray saying she was forced to sign it under duress and she was paid to sign it."

"What the hell?" I can't believe it, of course, she is saying this.

"I know. It's not the information I was expecting to hear from dad. He's in the kitchen and wants to talk to you and Ray is flying in to talk to Dad. I hope you don't mind me doing that? It sort of gave me some reason to be away from work."

"No that is fine. It's easier for Ray to come here than for your dad to go to him with everything that is going on at work. Also, I told your mom about the IRS. She wants to see you and have lunch...just to check up on you."

"I know she bailed me up before I came in to see you."