Hello everyone, I hope you're all safe and well.

This was originally going to be chapter twelve, jumping from their night away from camp in eleven where I had them making love on the flatbed truck to going home in this one. It all felt rushed though and parts that I wanted to write were missing because they didn't fit in there so that's why the last chapter was written and why there are two Ana pov chapters back to back before we go back to Christian in the next one.

Enjoy x

APOV

"Are you sure?" I asked Christian on our flight back to Seattle.

"Of course, they're important so must be shown."

Nodding, I smiled as I emailed the photos I had taken on my trip to Michael who would upload them to the university website which then would be seen by many different organisations that not only shared a love of agriculture but also the charities that Dembe worked with around the world. I had done this on all of my other trips, documenting the results and receiving many questions back about our work. The photos I have just uploaded though were different from others that had come before because they also contained images of my team, of everyone who had gone with us, especially the man by my side.

"How long until the press gets hold of those photos" Libby laughed.

"About five minutes after someone recognises Christian" Jasper replied.

They spoke the truth but anyone other than WSU and the universities that I share the results with, the charities also, would have to pay for the privilege to use them, all proceeds being used to buy aid which would be sent to Dembe and other places like hers that are in need.

"We will all be back home before anyone other than Michael sees them. I've asked him not to release them until tomorrow morning. I just wanted to make sure you were ok with me putting them up" I said, turning to Christian.

"Yes, my days of hiding who I am are over Ana" he whispered before his lips met mine.

We ignored Jaspers groan and the girl's sighs and giggles at witnessing our kisses, something they had all seen in the past few days. Grandma was so happy for me, for us when I had called to tell her but the one who had really celebrated and I mean popped a cork was Luke when upon hearing our news during our call, his words of about fucking time could be heard as well as that cork before his panic that the champagne was now all over his hotel room carpet, something that made Christian and I laugh as he ran to get a towel to clean it up.

I loved my boys, both in completely different ways and I was so blessed to have them back in my life again.

We had a smooth landing back at the airfield we had left which felt like a lifetime ago now. So much had changed with Christian and me but with everything else, nothing had changed at all. I still lived just outside of Vancouver Washington, still worked at the university where I will be starting back in just a few weeks time, while Christian's life and job were in Seattle. We will work everything out, Christian assured me even if he had to fly back and forth.

"What are you doing tomorrow," he asked me as we pulled through the gates of my home, passed the shop and cafe and parked around the side of the house.

"Feeding the masses, aka the animals. Giving grandma a break and probably fending off the press if someone sends them my way wanting information on you, none they will get from me though."

"Please don't worry about the press Ana, if they do come calling, I will have security here sorting them out."

"Christian, this is a farm shop, open for business every day. Having security here will turn people away. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. You're the donor for the university, that's well documented and that's the answer they will get if I'm asked as to why you accompanied me on the trip."

"And when they find out we're a couple," he asks.

"We'll speak about security then if the press becomes a problem. I don't want to hide Christian any more than you do even though I know what the headline will be" I stated as he brought his hand to my cheek.

"I'm sorry."

"No, no more sorry. We've started afresh, what happened before this trip is not important, what we do and where we go from now on is. The press will soon cotton on as to what is happening when they continue to see us together."

"And they realise how much you mean to me…. That worries me on another front too" he stated, taking hold of my hands within his.

"How so," I asked.

"Being in the business I'm in, there is always someone who is disgruntled, always someone who sees the money I have and will stop at nothing to get to it, which is why my family, my mother and sister especially have security around. Getting closer to home has made me realise more than ever, how I lived my life before."

"You're worried about this," I asked.

"About someone hurting you, always. I just got you back Ana, I can't lose you again."

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere. We have to keep our eyes and ears open, communicate with each other about how we're feeling. If I feel threatened then I will tell you and then if it will help you sleep a bit easier, you can position a guard somewhere around here, somewhere hopefully out of sight. Now with regards to tomorrow, the main thing I want to do is.."

"Catch up on your sleep" he stated, feeling like me a little jet-lagged.

"As much as I can. Susie who is one of my younger students, who finished her first year before we left has been here to help out with the animals while I've been away. I might ask her to stay on a bit, give us an extra pair of hands until school starts up again. You have to go back, run your empire" I asked.

"Tomorrow maybe, my company can run itself for just another day."

"Christian Grey, you slacker" I teased.

"You know me" he smiled, placing a kiss to my lips. One that had started chaste but soon turned passionate until a knock on the car window broke us apart.

Outside, stood my grandmother, a beautiful smile upon her face.

I had missed that face, I had missed being in this old woman's arms as she wrapped me up in one of the hugs that I loved and had missed so much.

"It is so good to see you my girl, and look at the smile on your face" she laughed, touching my cheek with her wrinkled hand. "It is good to see you too young man."

"You too Rose" he smiled as he too received a kiss upon his cheek.

"Your hand," I said, taking Grandma's hand into my own. When I had left for Africa the cast was still in place, now it was gone.

"All better," she said, squeezing my hand.

"The cria," I asked her as we entered the house, the shop and cafe closed for the day now as darkness had descended.

"Not yet, I think they're waiting for you" she replied.

I tried and failed not to look outside and hearing grandma's laugh as she told me to go, I was soon on my way out of the back door, climbing the fence into the alpaca's field.

I was quickly surrounded because once Barnard had come closer, the girls gathered around. I had been looking forward to seeing them, so excited the closer we got to home. I was also looking forward to the hot bath I would be taking, once I had told each and everyone one of them goodnight.

"Are you staying tonight son?" Grandma asked Christian as we sat on the porch drinking tea, the only sounds now coming from the critters awake in the trees.

"I'm not sure, I don't want to impose," he said, looking to me.

"You won't be imposing and if you have someone drive from Seattle to pick you up now, it will be the middle of the night before you get home. I won't have you doing that, I have a lovely couch" she told him.

At her words, I nearly spat my tea out, my laughter bursting forth at the look on his face. She was teasing him, Grandma had told me she would do just that, winding him up was just as good as a clip around the ear.

"The couch will be lovely thank you. Ana and I have slept on a bed around the same size for the past month, so I'm sure we'll fit on that."

Grandma's laughter echoed across the yard, scaring an owl in the trees. She stood, patting him on the shoulder before flicking his ear and then went inside.

"You deserved that" I laughed, as he pulled me closer to his side before I rested my head against his chest.

"What did I do" he laughed.

"When I told grandma that I had seen you in Seattle after visiting Kate, she told me if I spoke to you again to give you a clip round the ear, obviously she decided to do it herself" I giggled.

"I deserve..."

"Shush."

"I.."

"I said shush" I replied, crashing my lips to his so he couldn't apologise again. He did try though and I suspect he would again but I don't regret what happened between us that day, only the days that came after.

"We've just made out on your back porch" he whispered against my lips as I was now sat on his lap.

"I know."

"No mistakes, no regrets ever again."

It was Christian who brought his lips to mine then, our kiss continuing until exhaustion caught up with us and we went inside, sleeping not on the couch but in my nice and comfy, spacious bed, the bath having to wait until morning.

…..

By lunchtime the next day, all local news agencies were using the photos, the donations for the use of them building up. I had spoken to Michael not long after I had woken up, his reaction to seeing the results of the work we were doing out there, just as excited as mine. That was the main reason we had gone out there, to show that food could be grown in such a place as that, he didn't comment on individual people in the photos, just that we all looked to be having a good time.

"Yes Sam, that is all the story they are getting, for now, although a statement may come at a later date" Christian spoke into his phone, stroking the top of Mopsy's head as he stood on the other side of the fence.

Me, I was in the field with them all, having cleaned out the alpaca's bed and the other animals as well. I stunk but this was a smell I was used to, one that was familiar to me, the smell of sweat and animals was home and one Christian would have to get used to.

"Problems," I asked when he put his phone away in his pocket and walked around to the gate before entering. Christian looked just as relaxed as I had seen him over the past month, dressed just the same with his jeans and t-shirt but this time with my dad's hat upon his head.

"No, just the press wanting the story of why I was with your group."

"You sponsor the program" I replied.

"Yes, I think they're interested as it's so out of character than how they usually see me though."

"It is something they will have to get used to" I smiled as he was now surrounded by alpaca's while I continued my work.

"What's the difference between an alpaca and a llama," he asked, trying to solve the problem I have. Four alpaca's who wanted attention and only two hands.

"Size mainly. If a Llama was stood beside these, you would know the difference immediately, not just with said size but ears, face shape, temperament too. They both descend from the camel family so can spit" I said, laughing when Christian tried to step away from them, his problem though he had one on every side. "They will only spit if they see you as a threat Christian. Believe me, you would have known by now because Barnard especially, wouldn't let you stroke him as you're doing now or let you near his girls."

"Do his girls include you?" he asked with a smile.

"Of course, why do you think he puts his nose to my cheek every time I'm close to him."

"You look after Ana for me when I'm not around then boy," he said, running his hand through the wool at the top of his head. "Their coats are soft," he stated, running his hand then over Barnard's neck and back.

"They are, Grandma got them for me, I think as a pet not long after I arrived here as I told her I had been working with some previously. Some people keep them for their meat as well as their wool, we just use their wool, milk sometimes too."

"A pet" he laughed.

"Yes, some people have cats and dogs, I have alpaca's, pigs, chickens, goats and a cow."

"You have me too," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I do, can I keep you."

"Forever, if that's what you want" he whispered against my lips.

"Forever then" I replied before his lips met mine.

Kissing in the middle of a field of animals, to me there is no better place to be.

….

"Hey, Boo, what are you doing," Luke asked me that night on the phone.

Christian had gone back to Seattle reluctantly only an hour ago after Taylor had picked him up. It was back to civilisation for both of us and with no hiding no matter what the press know now of our trip, I was looking forward to the days ahead.

"Enjoying a cup of tea on the porch" a porch I had made out with Christian on the night before.

"You and your tea. While other teens were drinking alcohol and cola, you were always with your tea."

"And what is wrong with that," I asked him.

"Nothing, nothing at all. It's just one of those things you don't think of as important at the time but brings memories back."

"I know, Barnard likes to pop a few balls and watching him with one makes me think of the way you and Christian would throw the ball back and forth to each other over my back yard."

"Barnard, who the hell is Barnard and does Christian know you have another man in your life besides us two."

"Of course he does" I laughed. "And you know perfectly well who Barnard is, you were feeding him and the girls when you came to visit."

"I know, I can't wait to see them again, who knew camels could be fun."

"Are you trying to be funny, they're not camels" I complained knowing like always he was teasing me. As much as his teasing sometimes annoyed me back in the day, it was one of those things I missed too.

"I know" he laughed. "I saw the photos, every news channel I turn to, they're on there."

"Wars breaking out in the world, disease spreading and the headline is Christian Grey knee-deep in the dirt."

"Everyone expects war to break out somewhere, that's just the way this stupid world works, disease and famine too, although you're helping to eradicate the last one. Seeing a man who is usually dressed to the nines, pressed suit and shiny shoes in jeans and t-shirt, sweating as he's on his hands and knees in the dirt or playing with children, it's news to these people."

"That's the Christian we know, the kind caring man that everyone should see. It's a good job that I didn't post the photos of him playing football with the kids, minus his shirt otherwise the internet would go into meltdown" I laughed, hearing his laughter through the phone.

"I suspect there will be more photos of you both out there than just the ones released especially if you come next week."

"Next week," I asked.

"Yes, my game. Christian always comes to the home games, preseason too. I thought he would've asked you."

"He has Luke and I will be there, sitting by his side."

"The press will have a field day with that as no girl apart from Mia has ever attended a game with him before" he laughed.

"I'll be sure to give them a show then so that leech that has already come forward saying that she was on the trip with him knows who he's really with, me because he's mine. They may think I'm just one amongst many but when they continue to see us together they will soon realise the truth."

"You go Boo. I've seen that news article this evening, I've also seen the messages left by two girls that were on your trip."

"Libby and Hannah," I asked.

"Yes, they've hit back at the bitch, calling her out on her lies, asking her questions she wouldn't know the answers too. Everyone knows it was Africa you went to but not the actual part so she had no comeback. I think Christian's press office has said the same but being called out by two who were actually there has done more damage to her than GEH's statement could."

"They're good girls, young women who have done well and will continue to do well for themselves."

"You taught them," he asked.

"I did a few years ago, and I'm very proud of that."

The stadium was filled to capacity, the noise deafening even in the luxury box or was it a suite I was now sat in. Whatever it was, Luke's dad Andrew was here, he just like the Grey's welcomed me ecstatically and beside Christian, there were a few of those Grey's here too.

Carrick and Elliot were here, Theodore too. He had been very emotional when we had first arrived as Christian had told his parents, his grandparents previously about our trip and the memory garden that was there. Had our child survived and been a boy, there would've been two Theodore's up here now, I also suspect Tilly would have been cheering Uncle Luke on too. They are here, they live in their father's heart and mine and they will never leave us.

With me being here though that didn't stop the teasing between brothers or between father and son as at the moment they were all trying to wind Christian up at him bringing a girl with him when the other ladies had preferred to stay at home. In truth, they were happy we were together and I think from the look on Carrick's face, proud too that Christian was not hiding behind the mask he put on previously for everyone to see.

My boyfriend, yes that's what he is, was relaxed, laughing and with his hand in mine which he placed many kisses upon it, my forehead, lips too, he was happy to show the real him.

"It's a lot different than watching this on TV," I told Christian as the Seahawks scored and the whole stadium seemed to vibrate.

"Just a bit" he laughed. "You will have to come to more games."

"I look forward to it" I replied, placing a kiss upon his lips before my focus was back on the game.

At half time we were up, the touchdown my monster scored just before the reason for that. While the crowd were entertained, we forwent the rich platter of food the others were eating, instead Christian and I tucked into the hot dogs that Luke had arranged when I had told him about what I normally do and eat while watching his game.

I was startled, nearly choking on my hot dog when Elliot stood before us and started to dance around.

"What the hell are you doing son" Carrick laughed.

"Just giving everyone a show."

We looked then to the large screen at the other end of the field which at the moment had an image of Elliot gyrating his bottom on, one which had no doubt been on Christian and me moments ago. The crowd seemed to be enjoying the show, cheering when he wiggled his rear even more before he took a seat beside his brother, both of them laughing, myself too, as our faces were magnified on said screen.

We ignored the camera, having no clue really where it was, instead I rested my head against Christians side when his arm came around my shoulder before he placed a kiss upon my forehead. That is how we sat as play started again and besides the time when I needed to use the bathroom, side by side, hiding from no one was how we continued to sit throughout the rest of the game.

When the stadium cleared out, Seahawks fans celebrating our win, we stayed in the suite waiting for Luke to arrive. There are always interviews after, especially for the people who helped win the game, Luke being the player that he was, was always there and today was no different as we watched those interviews on the TV inside the suite.

"Great game Luke," one reporter said. "You were down the field faster than normal, have you been working out more."

"No, I was channelling Boo."

I nearly choked on my drink at his answer as never before has he said that name in an interview.

"Boo, what's that" another asked.

"I know," Andrew said behind me with a smile. "You had Luke and Christian on your tail so many times, they were determined to catch up with you."

"It wouldn't have been good for their image to know a little girl could run faster than them."

"You still can" Christian laughed. "Playing soccer with the kids, you ran rings around me and them to get the ball."

"What can I say, I enjoy running. I do it at the university enough getting from my classroom to the greenhouses."

"Professor, who would've known that the little girl with her head permanently in a book or knee-deep in mud would've become a professor in a university" Andrew replied.

"I should've" Christian said, placing a kiss upon my lips. "It would've narrowed it down then to the places I needed to look."

We continued to watch the interview, watching as Luke got up at the end when the inevitable question came.

"Luke, you had some celebrities coming to watch you today, what do you think of that."

"Who, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Adele, they were here" he teased, knowing all too well who he was asking about.

"I was speaking about Christian Grey."

"Who is here for all of my games" he replied. "You've never asked me about him before."

"Christian Grey, who was here with a young woman. A woman who he was not only close to but was also in the photographs that were released last week and at the university graduation he attended months ago. What can you tell me about her, then."

"Now you know I don't give out any details of my private life so I'm not going to give you any details about my best friends."

"You said friends as in plural" a female reporter stated.

"I did, didn't I" he replied before leaving the room giving out no other information than that.

When Luke joined us in the box, as usual, I was pulled into one of his hugs before he swung me around, leaving me dizzy as he moved onto Christian, hugging his best friend too. We spent a few hours there before leaving the stadium, the place quiet and eerie now that the crowds had gone. We would find out the next morning as I woke up in Christian's apartment that some of the press had stayed on too, publishing photos they had obviously taken with a zoom lens. Photo's mostly of me wrapped in Christian's arms, a few of me hugging Luke too.

Despite the questions they asked Luke, they knew who I was from the images I had released as my name was on the document sent out. They would also know where we had known each other from a long time ago because of the statements released by both my boys after the graduation photo. Despite the attention, we didn't hide away when Christian took me to his favourite seafood place that afternoon before I also took a tour of his yacht.

Christian was relaxed, happy and so was I and no matter what the press tried to dig up about my life, we would not allow anyone to ruin that.

Thank you for reading.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.