"Welcome back, David and Aisling," Wendy said, greeting them at the door to our suite. She'd arrived about five minutes ago, and other than asking what else I hoped to learn, then me raising my idea for the end of the session, she'd kept conversation general. Showing my bio family back into the suite, they sat on the sofa they'd shared before.

"Yes. Thank you for coming back. If you feel anything like I do, I'm sure your heads are spinning right now. When I started the search for my biological mother, I never thought I'd find living relatives. Still, at least I'd recognized there was a possibility of finding out something. I appreciate this must be even more of a surprise to you both; I can't thank you enough for your willingness to answer my questions."

Peering primarily at my birth father, Aisling's response was the more telling. Her eyes swollen and red, she wouldn't meet my eyes. She'd obviously been crying. This time David sat closer to her and held her hand. It was clear he was giving her his support and not the other way around. Now I'd focused, I recognized my half-sister was struggling, and glancing at Wendy I noticed she'd also picked up on that.

"Since this is a day about getting to know each other, Ana? Could you start by telling David and Aisling a bit about yourself and how you and Christian met?"

"Um, ok," Ana agreed, putting her teacup on a side table next to her.

"I'm twenty-three. My birth dad died the day after I was born, but my mother Carla married my stepfather Ray when I was little so he's the only father I've ever known. I grew up in Montesano which is about two-and-a-half hours southwest of Seattle. Ray was a military man, and the tours of duty were hard on Mom. They split when I was in middle school, and she remarried, and we moved to Las Vegas with her new husband." Ana paused, quickly taking a sip of tea to calm herself before continuing. "I hated it in Las Vegas, and Daddy had left the army by then, so I returned to Montesano to live with him and finish high school there. Mom's now on to husband number four," she continued with a slight eye roll, "and lives in Georgia."

David and Aisling were listening politely.

"After I graduated high school, I attended WSU, Vancouver for college where I majored in English Literature. I met Christian a few weeks before graduating. He'd given a large donation to the agricultural department of the University and was going to give the commencement speech and confer the degrees at our graduation. My roommate had arranged to interview him for the student newspaper to coincide with that. On the day she was meant to meet with Christian, she had the flu and was too sick to drive to Seattle for the interview, so I went in her place."

"And it was love at first sight," I interrupted, giving my wife a wink and taking her hand in mine. "From the second Anastasia fell into my office, I fell under her spell."

"Fell into your office?" Wendy remarked with a lifted eyebrow, a smile lifting the edges of her lips.

"At times, Anastasia suffers from an inability to stay upright," I teased.

"It's true," my wife agreed with a pretty blush and a giggle. "I frequently trip over my own feet."

"So how would you describe Christian's courtship of you?" Wendy prompted.

Anastasia giggled again, making my cock twitch against my leg.

"Relentless and completely over the top! He wouldn't take no for an answer! It was a whirlwind of flowers and restaurants. He even flew me to New York and organized a private tour and lunch at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Library!"

"I'm a very driven man," I explained to David and Aisling. "When there's something I want, I put all my time and resources into achieving it. It's a technique that's helped me succeed at business, and after a couple of false starts, it earned me Anastasia's love and trust, too."

"For someone who once said he didn't do hearts and flowers, you've changed your tune," Anastasia whispered, her eyes meeting mine, referencing a time when I genuinely believed I wasn't able to offer her my love.

"Only for you, baby. Only ever for you."

Ana let me lift her hand to my lips, kissing her palm softly. Turning to my sister she asked, "So Aisling? What are you studying?"

"I'm in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts," she replied, smiling shyly at Anastasia. "As well as the core subjects, I'm taking Arts and Ideas in the Humanities and Social Theory and Practice. I'm not really sure what area I intend to go into, yet."

"You're in second year?" I asked, cautious not to spook her.

"Just started," she confirmed with a nod. "I'm enjoying the social theory stuff, but there's not a lot of jobs in that area except academia, and that's not the direction I want to go."

While I had no concept what social theory involved, I was certain one of my many companies would need someone who did that. One of the people in HR could look into it for me.

"I had no clue what I wanted to do in second year, either," Ana confided. "It wasn't until I took a subject on commercial publishing and editing at the beginning of third year I decided that's the area I wanted to work in."

"So, you work?" Aisling asked in surprise, looking from Anastasia to me. "Surely you don't need to?"

"We googled you after the first session and got an idea of just how successful you are," David explained, meeting my eyes in apology.

"Well I was on maternity leave until a few weeks ago, but I love my job," Ana replied smoothing over a potentially awkward moment. "I've started back eight hours a week reading manuscripts from home while our son has his day sleeps. Finding new talent is the best part of my job, anyway. Before I went on leave, I discovered and helped edit Boyce Fox' book."

"Obsidian Subterfuge? I loved that!" Aisling squealed. "Da? That was one of the books you bought me for Christmas, remember?!"

Ana grinned, recognizing a fellow reader. "I found his manuscript in a pile of unsolicited submissions, and he had me hooked from the very first page. It needed work, but he's so easy to interact with! I probably shouldn't say, but since you've signed an NDA, I suppose there's no harm in telling you he signed a three book deal and is finishing up his second book now. With a bit of luck, I'll get to help edit this one, too!"

"You didn't tell me that," I commented, loving the excited flush on my wife's face.

"It's a few months away, yet. Since you wanted to make Wednesdays your day at work with Teddy again, I was considering returning to the office one day a week just to focus on that project." I nodded. The idea had merit, especially if it made my wife's eyes sparkle like this.

"So, you're a hands-on father?" Wendy asked, reining the conversation back in. For a moment I'd forgotten she was there as the talk had seemed almost natural.

"I try to be. With the business now established and going well, I'm able to delegate more of my responsibilities. When I started my company, I was so busy making deals and building up GEH I didn't have much of a life. Then Anastasia came along, and our son, and it's changed my perspective on everything."

"Parenthood does that," David said with a chuckle, his face falling when he realized how potentially hurtful his comments could be given our connection or lack thereof before now.

"Sure does!" I replied ignoring the gaff. "If you don't mind, I'd like to hear about your life? Where you grew up, how you met your wife and your time in the army?" I wanted to press to learn more about Eleanor, but with Aisling feeling the way she did, now was not the right time.

David spent the next half hour telling stories about growing up as the middle child in a working-class family in Boyne Falls. He outlined his schooling, relationship with his parents and siblings, and even his love affair with Amy Hobson. I almost expected it to hurt – hearing David talk about a love he shared with someone other than my birth mother. However, when I thought about my parents, my mind went straight to Grace and Carrick Grey. David talking about Amy, and his experience as a parent to Aisling was surprisingly ok.

We were all laughing at a story of David and a disagreement with his younger brother when Ana commented how she missed all that growing up as an only child.

"I know what you mean," Aisling said, still smiling. "Do you think you'll have more than one?"

"We'd like to," Anastasia replied, smiling at me sweetly. "Not for a while, yet, though. Still - it would be nice to get a look in next time!"

"Theodore doesn't look anything like you?" David asked Anastasia.

My wife laughed.

"Not one bit! From his copper curls to his gray eyes, Teddy's every bit Christian's mini-me!"

I gave Anastasia a querying glance, and she replied with an almost imperceptible nod, followed by one from Wendy. We'd decided to play this part of things by ear but it seemed like as good a time as any.

"He should be awake from his nap, now. I'll just pop next door and check, but if he is, would you like to meet him?" Anastasia offered.

"We'd love to," David grinned, seeing Aisling's approving smile.

Anastasia stood and left the suite to fetch our boy.

"Does Ana get along well with your family?" David asked curiously in her absence.

"Absolutely!" I chuckled. "My mother worships Anastasia and has claimed her as a second daughter. It took my dad a while to warm up, but now he adores her too. My sister and brother have always loved her. You have to understand, before Anastasia, I was very private and closed off. I worked all the time and didn't see my family very often. She didn't just give me her love, Anastasia helped me accept love from other people, too. My whole family cherishes her for that."

I would have said more, but Ana returned carrying our little man. He was laughing as she tickled him, unaware of the four sets of eyes trained on him.

"Oh!" Aisling gasped, looking at Teddy then me. "I see what you mean, Ana!"

Ana sat next to where Aisling and David were seated. Holding Teddy on her lap facing toward them, Ana kept it light until Aisling reached forward and tickled Teddy's toes, saying hello. Happy to be the center of attention, Teddy gurgled happily at her.

"Perhaps you'd like to hold him?" Anastasia suggested.

"I'm not sure," Aisling nervously replied.

"I would," David piped up, taking Teddy when Ana passed him over. For a few minutes, we watched on as David pulled faces at Theodore, earning several squeals and giggles. Aisling smiled at her father's antics.


"How are you feeling?" Anastasia asked me once the door closed behind Wendy. After taking cheek swabs from myself and David, Wendy was having a priority paternity test performed; not that either of us was in any doubt what it would reveal. Today I'd met my father and half-sister, and all in all it had gone well.

"Good. Drained. Did you want to go out for dinner tonight? Or would you rather stay in?"

"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to grab room service, watch a movie and just chill out the three of us."

I swear sometimes Anastasia was a mind reader. "That sounds perfect," I agreed, relieved after a tough day I could just be myself.

"Look through the menu and order whatever you think I'll like. Can you also ask them for a small serve of grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies for Teddy? Since we're staying in, Gail and Taylor might as well have the evening off. I'll just let them know."

An hour and a half later, we'd finished our early dinner and Anastasia was feeding Teddy as I was going through emails and speaking with Andrea. Because of the time difference, while it was 7:30 pm in Detroit, it was only 4:30 in Seattle. Surprisingly, everything was ticking along well in my absence. There were the usual things that needed my approval, and meetings I needed Andrea to set up for my return, but there'd been no emergencies – a fact for which I was grateful. I wanted to focus on my family during this trip.

Once I'd finished with Andrea, I called Welch providing him with my birth mother's correct name, tasking him to discover everything he could about her. Now he had her correct name and date of birth – she'd switched date and month on my birth certificate although the year was correct – Welch was quick to assure me he'd be able to compile a dossier on her without delay.

"All done?" Anastasia asked when I'd disconnected my call with Welch.

"Yes. Teddy bear in his crib?" I asked, using Ana's nickname for our son.

"Fighting sleep, but yes." She'd turned down the lights in the bedroom part of the suite and I could hear Theodore grumbling but with no conviction. If we kept our voices down and stayed out of eye contact, he'd be asleep in a few minutes.

I poured a scotch, lifting a wine glass to Ana questioningly. When she nodded, I checked the wine fridge, selecting a decent New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and pouring her a glass.

"What a day," I murmured, pulling Anastasia on to my lap as I leaned back on the sofa and took a sip of my drink.

"Did it go as you hoped?" she asked as she curled up against me, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"I guess. I'm glad they're ok to meet up again. Speaking of which, did you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Not really. I checked earlier, and it should be a nice day," my wife replied, toying with my hair with her soft fingertips as she sipped from her glass. "Did you have something in mind?"

"I thought maybe we could visit Eleanor's grave? The location was listed in Welch's initial report. It's an unmarked lawn plot in a cemetery just out of town, so I don't suppose there's much to see…"

Anastasia kissed my neck, her fingers not stopping in my hair. "Perhaps we could take a picnic? Spend a bit of time there?"

"I'd like that," I murmured, draining my scotch and running my fingers back and forth on Anastasia's thigh. "Speaking about things I like; that bath this morning was something special. Fancy another now we have a little more time?"

"I think you could persuade me," Ana agreed, her voice breathy and needy. "Why don't you go pour the bath while I see if room service can rustle up a picnic basket for tomorrow?"

Aware Ana had already pumped and fridged some breastmilk, I poured us each another drink, padding through to the bathroom with our glasses. On the way through our bedroom, I checked, and sure enough, Teddy was fast asleep, peacefully lying on his back. I closed the bathroom door almost completely, so the light wouldn't disturb our son. Then I shed my clothes, turning on the taps for the tub. As it filled, I looked at myself in the mirror, turning and counting the twelve circular dots. Seven on my chest, five on my back. I knew from Grace there had been more, but some had healed without scarring. Well; physical scars at least.

Closing my eyes, I could still recall the smell of burning flesh when the pimp pressed his cigarette against me. That half a second after the act before the pain started. A quarter of a century later, I knew how the pain got worse in the days that followed, not better. Clothes rubbing would irritate, but the worst was when the weeping liquid would dry on a shirt, sticking it to the wound. Any movement would rip away the makeshift scab, causing the site to bleed again.

It had been Grace who had shown me that wetting the shirt first made it hurt a lot less to remove. That first night in the hospital, she'd made everyone leave the room, then sat beside me on the bathroom floor, convincing me to get into the bathtub before using a kidney dish to pour the warm water over my t-shirt before helping me remove it.

I'd give my parents a call after my bath. They'd be hoping to hear from me, and I had promised.

"Looking sexy, Mr. Grey," Ana said, slipping into the bathroom, placing our phones next to our drinks on the stool beside the bath before shedding her clothes.

"I'm glad you think so, Mrs. Grey."

"I know so," she replied with a definite smirk. She climbed into the tub, scooting to one end and leaning back, opening her legs for me to sit between. Usually, she rested against me so I could play with her.

"We can switch soon. I thought you could use a shoulder massage first?"

I growled softly. With my touch issues, seeing a masseuse had never appealed. However, since I craved Ana's touch, I loved the sensual massages she'd give me when I was tense. Ten minutes in and I was putty in my wife's small hands. "I've died and gone to heaven," I moaned as Anastasia teased each stubborn knot from my neck and shoulders. "You should go into business… you'd make a fortune!"

"You'd like me rubbing other men? Naked? In the bath?"

"Never!" I grumbled, rolling between her legs until I was on top of her, face to face.

"Christian! There's water everywhere!" Ana squealed, looking at the wet bathroom floor – a direct consequence of my sudden motion.

I really couldn't give a shit and told her as much. Right now my thoughts were centered on my wife, and her sweet little pussy conveniently placed right beneath my hardening dick. I'd already started kissing her neck, whispering naughty words intended to excite, when my phone rang.

"Fuck!" The same word I'd been using just seconds before, this time it was in exasperation.

Ana reached across to the stool and picked up my phone. Bellevue. My parents.

"Can you?" I asked. I didn't want to snap at my Mom, and it was going to take me a moment to regain my equilibrium. It had been a stressful day, and I'd been seconds away from losing myself in the love of my life.

Nodding, Ana answered the call.

"What the fuck, Christian?!" a shrill female voice shouted, easily heard despite not being on speaker. "I mean seriously… what the fuck! I come to see Mom and Dad for dinner, and they tell me you're in Detroit meeting your birth father and sister? When did this all happen, and why am I the only one in the family who doesn't know about it!"