A/N: Many thanks to my beta, Calicutie77. All mistakes are still mine!

Edited today July 25th. Edits are underlined.


Chapter Forty-five

The next day, the honeymooners cruised around former hideouts on a sea stream boat which was fitted jet skis, snorkeling gear and kayaks. Other days were spent taking walks along jungle paths, hand in hand. The adventurous newlyweds dodged sharks while scuba diving among coral reefs. And in one of their trips, they were thrilled to see turtle eggs. They loved seeing the turtles resting on the shore at night.

Other days, they spent most of the day making love and visited the island spa and gym in the late afternoon. Or they simply snuggled together on a hammock in the back patio, listening to the gentle surf, and enjoying the view to the pristine beach below deck, bathed by crystal-clear waters and fringed by palm trees.

Sometimes, in the late afternoon they headed for the Sunset Bar on Mahe Island and mingled with the other guests. The Sunset Bar-a cabana hut teetering above the ocean on stilts- was famous for offering the best view of the sunsets at Seychelles. As soon they sat down at a small bistro table, the couple relaxed, enjoying the soothing sounds of the sea lapping underneath and the raging waves as the crashed on the stones below.

…...

The morning of their last day of their honeymoon, Ana awoke before Christian and looked under her pillow. Every day since their arrival at Seychelles, her amazing husband had been leaving her a little treat for her to find under the pillow. The first day it had been a small Rocher chocolate—her favorite candy- wrapped in a golden wrapper. The following days, she'd found new lingerie with their tags. And now this: a square velvety box.

"Oh, Christian, you shouldn't have," she said even as she took the box in her hands and held it in suspense.

Christian stirred in his sleep. He then opened one eye.

The box held a gorgeous dark gray pearl necklace and matching stub pearl earrings that she knew she would always treasure.

"Hey, beautiful," Christian mumbled with a tiny smirk, stretching.

"Oh, Christian," she murmured shaking her head in amazement. "This is gorgeous. I absolutely love the color."

"I ordered it while you were sleeping," he joked. In reality, he'd ordered it online from a local store called the Black Pearl. The pearl set was 18ct gold handcrafted in Australia, each pearl had been especially handpicked by an expert pearl dealer.

"Thank you so much," she said pecking his lips. Seeing the tears of joy in her eyes he knew she treasured his gift and realized how little it took to make her happy, made him want to shower her with gifts that she would no doubt, consider extravagant, so he was still being careful and letting her adjust to his wealth little by little.

…..

Grace, Mia and Teddy welcomed them home with their smiles and a personalized giant banner that read: Welcome home Ana & Christian.

Ana briefly greeted Mia and Grace with a smile before zeroing in on Teddy. He was pushing his toy vacuum around the room seemingly engrossed in the activity but he stopped moving when he saw his mom approach him.

"Teddy! I missed you so much!" Ana called with tears in her eyes, crouching down to his level, arms opened wide. It had only been a week and half since she last saw him, but he already looked a little different-something she couldn't quite readily identify- than when she last saw him.

Teddy smiled at his mother and met her gaze. He was looking at her, really looking, connecting with her. Ana held her breath in suspense as she watched him come to her and fall into her embrace. "Oh, baby, I missed you!" she rocked him tightly in her arms until Teddy had enough and wiggled himself away.

Then, he did something unexpected. He turned to Christian with the most angelic of expressions and raised his hands up, signaling he wanted to be picked up. He made steady eye contact with Christian until Christian had lifted him into his arms all the way up. While lifting his hands up to be picked up was not something new, what was new was that the gesture in this case was a genuine attempt at connecting with Christian. In times past, Teddy had raised his arms in this way whenever he wanted something like getting out of his crib.

Ana, Grace and Mia looked on, all smiles while Christian lifted Teddy up high in the air, bouncing him in the air to make him laugh.

"Ana, Christian... you won't believe this," Mia started excitedly, "but Teddy has been asking for things now using words. It all started the other day when he wanted a cookie. Not perfect pronunciation, of course, but he said the word cookie."

While Ana was blown away, she also felt a bit of sorrow. "Why didn't you tell me right away?" It sounded like Teddy had a wonderful week of breakthroughs and she wasn't even around to witness it.

Mia bit her lower lip, casting Ana a guilty look. "I'm sorry. I just thought you guys would catch the next flight back as soon as you heard..."

"Yes, Mia and I discussed it. We thought it was for the best," Grace said. "We wanted you two to have the best honeymoon ever."

Ana and Christian exchanged a knowing look. The two women clearly had the best of intentions, no harm done, they decided.

…..

Later

Soon it was time for Teddy's nap. Ana rocked him to sleep and later came into the living room. Christian was sharing with Grace and Mia some pictures from their honeymoon. Christian waited for Ana to join then before moving on with honeymoon related small talk; Grace enjoyed listening to all the details regarding Coco-de-Mer and the dinner party. Mia was impressed with Christian's clever negotiating in exporting the forbidden fruit to the United States, even if it was just for their personal consumption. After sharing a few lighthearted chuckles, Mia excused herself and Grace thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring Ana and Christian up to speed regarding Ray and his health condition.

Ana listened to Grace in shocked silence. While she had heard Grace talk about Multiple Sclerosis in connection to her father, she still felt numb inside. She quickly snapped into attention however, when she learned that Carrick not only helped Ray with his medical treatment but he also invited Ray to live in one of his rental properties free of charge for as long as he needed.

"What I don't understand is why Carrick felt he needed to offer him free room and board, he should have let him go back to where he came from."

Grace was a little shocked at Ana's response but she quickly recovered. "Carrick has always been generous," she said proudly. "Over the years that I've known him, he's helped scores people, hasn't he, Christian?" She barely waited for her son to nod before continuing. "He has helped people with cash, resources...whatever they needed. Often times these were people he knew who were down on their luck, sometimes total strangers... so of course he would help your father, Ana. He's part of our family now."

"So that's what my father is now-another charity case for Carrick Grey?" Ana said pointedly.

Christian and Grace exchanged a look. Neither one had expected such a strong reaction from Ana.

"Ana, I don't understand why you're so upset. Clearly, Carrick and I have done our best to offer our help to your father because we care about you."

"Okay and I appreciate that. But-" she looked at Christian for help as she was suddenly at a loss for words.

"I think Ana and I need some rest," Christian said. "Jet lag."

"Of course," Grace said politely. She came over and kissed Ana and Christian warmly on the cheek. "I love you both so much. We're so happy you're home."

After Grace was gone, Christian told his wife she overreacted, his folks had meant no harm, they'd only wanted to help.

"I don't want to see him again. He needs to go back to Canada where he belongs."

It seemed to Christian that Ana was holding on to a great deal of bitterness and resentment against her father. "Hey, if you don't want to reconcile with your father, that's fine. But you gotta let go of the anger and animosity toward him for your own good," Christian admonished her.

" I don't recall lecturing as part of our wedding vows."

"And I think you're being too darn sensitive," Christian retorted. "You're acting as though you're the only person who's ever been abandoned by a parent as a child. It happens all over the world to millions of people, Ana. Somehow, you got to get over this, baby."

Ana looked at her husband in disbelief. Her feelings were hurt and Christian felt a twinge in his heart. She tried to leave but he caught her elbow.

"Ana," he murmured quietly. When he spoke again his tone was light."Hey, you know something...We just had our first married argument," he told her, teasingly, trying to ease the tension between them. "Well, at least it wasn't over something petty like folding socks and underwear..."

Ana rewarded him with a small smile. "That reminds me of something, baby. I never said anything before but I can't hold back any longer." Pause.

"Okay," Christian replied a bit cautiously. "What is it?"

Ana took forever to respond, deliberately dragging out the suspense, making him wonder if she was about to say something serious or unpleasant.

"I didn't want to say anything before since it seemed rather petty...but now that you bring it up, it just reminded me." Another long pause. Christian started tugging on his shirt collar. "It's the toothpaste. Every time there's a new tube I can't help but notice how you squeeze it down the middle. And it just gets to me. I'm a bottom squeezer, in case you haven't noticed. Anyway, squeezing from the middle makes it harder to get everything out of the tube and it's driving me crazy!" She concluded in a half-serious, half-joking tone.

Christian listened with a small smile on his face. What he found most amusing about her story was the delivery; her candid expression and the lightheartedness of her tone.

"Speaking of crazy. I'm totally and completely crazy about you. Did you know that?" he murmured pulling her into his arms and rewarding her with a sweet kiss.

….

After giving the matter some thought, Ana decided to agree to meet her father one afternoon. She had timed her outing so that it coincided with Teddy's nap time. She told Sawyer she was driving, she was meeting her father at Starbucks and didn't need anybody to go with her. Sawyer tried to talk her out of it. Taylor had left him specific instructions; he was there to drive Ana wherever she needed to go. But, Mia usually drives herself, she retorted. Once she got down to the underground garage she zeroes in on a red Audi 3, the one she'd heard Christian describe as the safest car on the planet.

Before driving off, she checked her phone one last time. Thinking that Sawyer will be contacting Christian any minute, she might as well contact Christian herself and tell him. Otherwise she would have waited until later this evening to discuss the matter with him.

"I'm driving to Starbucks and meet Ray. Gave Sawyer time off. Will be back in an hour. Love you." She texted.

She received a reply ten minutes later just as she was parking the car in a busy parking lot.

"I'm in meeting. Text me as soon as you get home. Love You."

Ana was glad she got to Starbucks early as she had a choice of seating. She choose a bistro table closest to the window with a view of the street. She wanted to see him get out of his vehicle and have the extra time to think. She had wanted to meet him alone in a public place rather than at home, it had been her choice. There might be some things said that she would want to stay private.

At last, the man that called himself her father showed. He was walking slow, his gait awkward. She wondered how often he thought of her all these years, if he ever thought of her when watching the movies they'd enjoyed watching together.

"Thank you for coming and giving me a chance to explain," Raymond started. Ana said nothing, she just stared at him with a blank expression. "I'm living my last days." Tears collected in his eyes.

Ana stared at her father dumbfounded. While Grace and Carrick had given her the heads up, she still didn't expect for him to come right out and say it, right off the bat. and then look at her as if that was all he needed to say. Was she supposed to fall apart at his blatant ploy to arouse her sympathies?

How about her hurt, her pain of growing up without a father? Where was he when she needed him the most? Shouldn't he be talking to her about that?

"Grace and Carrick told me about your illness. Multiple Sclerosis. Why do you say that? How could you be living your last days? Last I checked, the condition is not fatal. I read that most people with MS have the same life expectancy as the general population."

Raymond looked stricken. "I have the acute type of MS."

Ana shook her head. She was sitting with her chair the furthest away from him as possible, and even though the table was small she managed to keep her arms and hands close to her body so there was no chance he might accidentally touch her. "Was this what you wanted to discuss when you said you wanted to explain?" She retorted in a curt tone.

She was angry, so angry it was hard to see straight. Yes. She had every right to be angry, didn't she?

"Annie, I can see you're upset. And I suppose you have a reason to be angry but you have to understand...I never meant any of this to happen, for us to be separated without any contact all these years. Please understand, that's NOT what I wanted..but your mother, she put so many obstacles in the way," he said adopting a far away look. "My only crime was falling in love with another woman. Your mom made my life miserable, I was very unhappy in our marriage when I met Holly. But still I remained faithful. I wanted us to part amicably and she even refused to a divorce. But Carla had to punish me and she used you as a way of getting back at me."

"I think that pretty much sums your side of the story, doesn't it?" Ana said coldly. "So what's new?"

Raymond blinked in disbelief. This hardened young woman didn't sound like his Annie at all, she didn't sound like the daughter he'd imagined her to be.

"Why is it...are you listening to me? Put yourself in my shoes. Would you have stayed in a loveless marriage?

"Yes, I would have," Ana said without hesitation. Her tone attracted the attention of a few of the customers at nearby tables but Ana didn't even give them a glance. "As a matter of fact, I did. I stayed married to my first husband because of my son, because at the time I thought it was the best for him. Now I know better, I stayed in an impossible situation because I thought I was worthless. I thought no one else would want me..."

Just like you didn't want me, she almost said out loud.

"I'm sorry were in a bad marriage...so you should understand-"

"I should understand nothing, you're not going to tell me how I should feel...you have no right." Ana retorted coolly.

Raymond Steele winced as though she had slapped him. "You're acting as though I had a happy life. I wasn't happy but I had made my choice. And then there was Jonathan too, he had health issues so I couldn't just leave-"

"Who is Jonathan?" Ana cut in.

Raymond took a moment to respond. "He's your brother, he was born premature and had to spend a few weeks in the NICU and-"

While her father went on and on, Ana watched his lips move but did not hear the words. She couldn't believe she had a brother. Her father had another child whom he had NOT abandoned. Another child he'd watched movies with or taken to fishing expeditions. The little girl she'd once been felt jealous and betrayed. The day you left home, daddy, I felt so frightened and abandoned. I needed you desperately but you weren't there anymore. Were you angry at me, what did I do? You left me, daddy. You left me! I never knew why!

"Ana, are you listening?"

Ana blinked a couple of times. How long had she been spaced out?

"About Jonathan..." She scrambled to organize her thoughts. "Is Jonathan okay now?"

Raymond smiled. "Yes, he's in his senior year of high school and...well, he's been getting into trouble in school but-

"Well maybe you should go back to Canada and practice with him how to become a better father. Sounds like he still needs you," she retorted with a trace of bitterness. She looked around her, people were going about their business, ordering coffee and having conversations. "I-I have to go back home." She grabbed her purse and made a motion to leave but her father reached over to touch her arm. Instead of pulling away she stayed put compelled by the anguish in his face. "Annie, please listen. Just five minutes, please."

"Okay. Five minutes."

"I haven't told you much about my childhood, back then you were too young for me to have shared it with you." He paused to check for her reaction but her expression was unreadable so he decided to continue anyway. "I wasn't raised in a loving home. Both my parents were abusive, verbally and physically abusive. Life at home was a living hell. I ran away when I was sixteen and have been taking care of myself ever since then. I made my own way, I was homeless for a while and lived through some really tough times. I'm sorry I was not a better father, but I didn't have good role models to begin with. Do you know what I'm saying?"

Ana gave him a long hard look. It was amazing to see how little he truly cared about her, it all seemed to be about him. She'd been listening to him speak for the last twenty minutes and he couldn't even give her a simple declaration of love. "I'm sorry too. I guess that explains it all...thanks for telling me about YOUR miserable childhood," she said with sarcasm. "I gotta go."

"Wait."

But Ana didn't wait. She dashed out the door and got in the Audi in two seconds flat. As she drove off, one of Kelly Clarkson's song played on the radio. Before she knew it, she was choked up thinking about the lyrics. She'd heard this song before but this was the first time she really paid attention. This song was clearly about a daughter who was abandoned by her father.

I begged you to want me, but you didn't want to

But piece by piece, he collected me up
Off the ground, where you abandoned things
Piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me
Six years old and you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
He loves me
Piece by piece, he restores my faith
That a man can be kind and the father could, stay

And all of your words fall flat
I made something of myself and now you wanna come back
But your love, it isn't free, it has to be earned
Back then I didn't have anything you needed so I was worthless

Amazingly, the lyrics mirrored her life. She had begged her father to stay but he left anyway. And then piece by piece Christian collected her and filled the holes in her life. He never walks away-and yes, knowing that he would never just walk away makes her feel incredibly safe and secure. He takes care of her. He never asks for money-okay, this one would be a little funny if he ever did. She smiled a little through unshed tears. He loves her. YES! Piece by piece he restores my faith that a man can be kind and the father could, stay-Just watching him with Teddy, yes, he's a father that stays. And all of your words fall flat, I made something of myself and now you wanna come back- this is exactly what's happening right now, isn't it? His words fell flat and now he wants to come back. But love isn't free it has to be earned-okay, I'm still thinking about how this one applies. Back then I didn't have anything you needed so I was worthless.

The more she thought about the lyrics, the more tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She went on driving and did not pause to wipe them away. Kelly had really put everything she had into this song, hadn't she? The phone rang and when she glanced at the screen, realizing it was Christian, she smiled through her tears, and took a few deep breaths to calm herself before answering, placing the call on speakerphone.

"Hello," she mumbled as she got to a stop light, wiping away her tears. She still sounded tentative and afraid, like she'd been crying.

"Ana, are you okay? Are you driving?"

"Yes. I'm on my way home. I'm five minutes away."

"Hey," he mumbled softly, "Have you been crying, sweetheart?"

"Maybe a little bit, but don't worry. No big deal, talking to my father made me sad. Can can I call you when I get home? I need to focus on my driving."

"Everything is gonna be okay, baby. I love you."

"I know. I love you too," she whispered before hanging up. Tonight when Christian got home she was going to make sure and show him how much she loved him, how much she trusted and appreciated him.

A/N: I hope this last part spoke to those of you that have felt abandoned by their father either physically or in spirit.

I posted my new story You're My Talisman a few days ago. I hope you like it well enough to review. The story has potential; it could be short or as long as this one depending on whether you want to give it a chance. It might seem a little slow in the beginning but I promise it will get better!

Another story recommendation: Fifty Shades of Ordinary by PassionForGrey. Check it out!