APOV

A challenging class some say my students are and I have to admit, some here within my group are more challenging than most.

I have those who want to learn and are a pleasure to teach, then I have those know it all's who think it's their place to teach me. I'm always one to listen to people's arguments, their suggestions on what may work best with the plants, the crops before us. I'm always one to try out what they suggest, never dismissing their opinion, what results in their own homes and gardens, their smallholdings and farms, they've achieved. Some in this group, two in particular if I'm honest I have no clue why they're even here.

There's Henry, he reminds me very much of Edmund, he wants the qualifications without doing very much work. Then there is Ashley, she was late to join my class due to illness, the others already settled into their groups so I thought that was why she took a while to make friends. She's quiet, gives very little input in the group unless she's complaining to others about the dirt under her nails. This isn't high school, this isn't a set class that you have to attend, you choose to be here but with the way she spends her time wistfully looking out of the greenhouse windows, I think she'd rather be anywhere else.

I try to engage them both in my class along with the others, encourage them in their work as this is only the start of the year and we have a long way to go from here. With the lack of interest on both of their parts, if they continue as they are now, for the first time, I'm about to fail or they will if they don't sort themselves out.

"Are you having trouble, Ashley?" I asked, walking around the many benches in the greenhouse where my class were testing the ph of various soil types so they would know what would grow best within them.

"I'm still trying to get my head around everything" she admitted shyly.

"What are you struggling with."

"Honestly, as I said, everything. My daddy asked me to take your course so I could help him out at home."

"But this is not what you want to do," I asked.

"It is because I will always do my best to help daddy out as it's only the two of us now. Truthfully though, the course I really wanted to take was more to do with hair and beauty but there is always next year for that."

"If you need help, just ask. I'm also sure the others would give you any help you need too."

"Thank you Professor Lambert" she replied.

"You're welcome."

I felt a little better after speaking to Ashley. She was just like James who had graduated what feels like a lifetime ago even though it was only months. He too had taken this course to help out a parent and just like he is now doing very well, I'm sure with a little help and encouragement Ashley will too.

I was just sitting down to have my lunch, in what I call the sanctuary, a small area of grass behind the greenhouses, hidden from the rest of the world by a row of bushes on each side that formed a squashed triangle with the greenhouses as a base when my phone rang.

"Hello big brother" I answered, hearing Luke's laugh.

"I will never tire of hearing that, how are you doing Boo."

"I'm good, busy as always. I'm sorry I didn't get to your game last night, Grandma and I watched though. You will have to tell them to stop putting it on a school night."

"I'm sure they will change the whole schedule around for you, I would if it got you here."

"I know you would, now how are you," I asked.

"I'm good, I've just left the gym, now I'm having some lunch. I called because I wanted to speak to you about your birthday."

"Birthday, what day is that," I asked, teasing him.

I had hated my birthday when I was with her, she never made an effort, only Ray did. The boys did too though when they heard from Ray that my birthday was a few days away. They had filled Ray's workshop with bunting and balloons, they had even made me a cake too. It was a special day, a perfect day made better because she preferred to stay in the house, refusing to join in. That was her tantrum as she wasn't the most important person of the day.

"Stop thinking of that blasted woman" I heard Luke say as I must have gone quiet.

"I'm not, I'm thinking of balloons and cake in Ray's workshop."

"That cake was a work of art," he said, making me laugh as I thought of my lopsided cake.

"It was, the best one I've ever received."

We spoke about my birthday, or more like he did, telling me not to plan anything as it was all being sorted by Christian and him. He assured me that Grandma was included, the Grey's too and I was to relax and enjoy it.

"Will you be bringing a girl to this, whatever it is we're doing?" I asked him.

"Naaa, Ana, I don't know anyone good enough to be there."

"Can I ask you something."

"Of course Boo, you know that."

"Even if it's personal," I added.

"Yes, that too."

"You're still single, I know what you were like in high school but I thought that was just a phase and you would settle down when you were older. With Christian while I was gone, I saw the hangers-on, the ones hanging off his arm but with you, nothing."

Hearing a sigh down the phone, I quickly retracted my question telling him he didn't have to answer.

"I met someone a few years ago Ana. She was, or so I thought, lovely, beautiful and had a heart of gold. We were together for two years."

"I followed your career, hanging onto every piece of information I could find about you but I never heard or read about any serious relationship."

"That was the way we wanted it, or she did. She wasn't one for the limelight, preferring a meal at home to one of the celebrity hotspots around town. Being away a lot, we spoke most nights about what we wanted to do when I got home, we even spoke about a future at one point, agreeing that we couldn't keep our relationship hidden forever."

"What happened," I asked, wanting more than anything to hug my best friend at the moment as I could hear the pain in his voice.

"I caught a bug, one that was going around the team. I was due to play in Chicago but ended up never going as I was too sick to get on the plane. She didn't know that so when I went to her place to pick up a few things I'd left there, a jacket, some paperwork for an upcoming advertisement campaign I may need to postpone, I let myself in with the key she'd given me only to find who I thought was her ex there. I didn't say anything as I stood at the bedroom door for a few seconds as he fucked what I thought was my girl. Her shoe, hitting the lamp smashing it to pieces informed them that I was there."

"The bitch, who is she, where does she live," I asked angrily, my sandwich forgotten now.

"Easy Boo, it's in the past. She no longer matters to me."

"I can hear the pain in your voice, Luke. It may be in the past but I know more than most that the past can still hurt."

"I know Ana and even though a part of you is not here, your past has joined the future and has been healed. I don't want her as part of my future, thinking about it now, how manipulative she was for me not to see that it was my money she was interested in, that's what makes me angry. She tried to contact me afterwards, said she was being blackmailed to be with him and that he was going to reveal our relationship to the world. I was open from the start, I wanted everyone to know about us and I think that the real reason that she didn't was because she was still with him."

"Do me something, Luke."

"I'm going to say, of course, I'll do anything for you, only because I can't say no to you Ana. Don't make me regret it please."

I smiled at his nervousness, having no clue as his voice didn't give anything away as to how he was feeling with what I asked next.

"You don't have to tell me her name but I need to ask, have I already met the gold digger. When I've been out with Christian or you, the Grey's ball, have I come across her yet."

"No, not that I know of anyway. I'm sure Christian should he see her about would give her a mouthful too."

"Good, if I do see her though, meet her at one of the events you and Christian have asked me to attend, please let me know. I don't want to be speaking to her unknowingly, plus I'd like to introduce her to my drink."

"Don't waste good alcohol" he replied with a laugh before he changed the subject, asking about how his namesake Sully and his best friend Mike were doing back at home.

My afternoon classes were much easier than this morning's had been and despite the light starting to fade as I entered my home, I felt happy and relaxed.

….

"Happy birthday."

"Mmmm" I replied, not knowing in the morning fog that was my brain, if I had heard the voice properly before my head shook as the chest I lay against moved with laughter.

"Happy birthday baby, Ana open those beautiful eyes."

I opened my eyes slowly, lifting my head from Christian's chest as I looked at him, seeing his beautiful smile.

Christian placed a kiss upon my lips, moving us until I was under him before slowly he entered me, his words of love and happy birthday filling my ears.

I would never tire of coming together with this man, the way he makes me feel, the way only he knows how I feel inside. I would never regret shouting his name as he pushed me over the edge, following quickly after, never worrying about who might hear.

"I love you, love you, love you" he declared, his body shaking as was mine.

"I love you, it's only ever been you Christian and that will never change."

His lips met mine then as he continued to move inside me even though both of us had had our release. That was the first of many times that early morning before we showered and dressed, the first of many I love you's I would hear throughout the day.

…

"Grandma what are you doing," I asked, stepping out onto the main balcony where she had been pacing for the past few minutes.

Grandma had come to Seattle last night with us when Christian had flown down to pick us up. Her squeals and laughter had been louder than mine when he had first flown me but now she was quiet, deep in thought as she looked around the area out here.

"Did you say something dear," she asked, turning to face me.

"I was asking what you were doing, you were doing laps out here."

"I was just seeing how many alpaca I could fit in this space."

"What" I laughed. "None because if there was only room for one, it would do no good because you can't split the herd."

"I know, I was just teasing" she smiled, placing her hand to my cheek before she touched the shawl that I wore.

"It's very beautiful, thank you," I said, pulling the shawl up to my cheek, feeling how soft it was.

Grandma had made it for my birthday and with the colours, I would say she had taken some from each of the alpaca's when they had been sheered earlier this year. It was lovely and warm, especially as there was a strong breeze today up here what feels like miles above the city below us.

"You're very welcome my dear. I was just trying to see the places I had heard about before and not yet been able to visit. The aquarium, the Ferris Wheel on the seafront, the Space Needle is obviously there, you can't miss it."

"Christian's place," I said, making her laugh.

"Which one, the aquarium, the Ferris Wheel or the Space Needle."

"The Needle" I replied.

"He owns the Space Needle."

"The restaurant at the top, I'm not sure about the whole building, I'll have to ask him."

"Ask him what" Christian said, joining us.

"If you own the whole Space Needle," Grandma asked as we all looked that way.

"I do. I enjoyed eating there when I first started my company as you could see the whole city around."

"I'm sure you could see it from Grey House too" I stated, knowing how tall that building was.

"I can see most of the city from there, that's for work though, with the Space Needle I get to relax and enjoy the view."

"It's nice to see you relax," Grandma told him. "We don't get to see that often."

"That's because as soon as he arrives you give him a list of jobs to do" I laughed.

"We all have to get stuck in, too much to do there. I wonder how Barnard will react to Robert this morning with neither of us being there" she smiled mischievously, knowing exactly how he will react.

Barnard knows Robert but he has only been around him with one of us there. With Barnard having the snip recently, with him still unsettled from that and how protective he is of the girls, the cria's too, I expect there will be some spitting going on.

"I think there is a hazmat suit somewhere in his wardrobe which he has been saving just for today."

My comment brought laughter and we would no doubt hear stories of Barnard's antics when we got back home tomorrow. For today though I've been told to enjoy it and relax and I planned to do just that.

…

I raised my hand, shaking my wrist to Christian seeing the smile come on his face. He had given me a beautiful charm bracelet, a charm for everything we had shared so far, things that mean something to us. A flower, a tree, a pebble that contained tiny initials, a helicopter as well as many more, one of them also a boat. That boat now bobbed on the water proudly before us as we walked down the jetty towards it, containing those I deemed, close.

Luke approached us, pulling me in for a hug before, as usual, spinning me around. I was worried for a second that we would end up in the water that surrounded us but a steadying hand from Christian not forgetting grandma, I was dizzily put down.

"Do you want us to take an early bath?" Grandma asked him before flicking his ear when he had hugged her too.

"If it was a bit warmer, maybe but today I will settle for staying dry" he replied.

Christian helped me onto the boat as Luke helped grandma. Once onboard, I was wished a happy birthday many times over by those here. Grace and Carrick, Kate and Elliot, Mia and grandma and granddad Trevelyan too. Those that were here that was a surprise to me, not that this whole trip hadn't been a surprise anyway before I got in the car, were Libby, Hannah and Jasper.

"Where are we going," I asked after I had been introduced to Mac who would be sailing us today when Christian wasn't at the wheel.

"I thought we could sail down the coast, have lunch on the water, maybe dinner too before back home in time for bed."

"I can't wait" I replied, taking a seat while Christian helped Mac.

"Isn't this wonderful" Grandma laughed as we started to move away from the dock.

"It certainly is Grandma" I replied as she squeezed my hand.

Leaving the marina behind, everyone's focus turned to me. I had been wished a happy birthday by all but now it was time for gifts I was told.

I received a Seahawks jersey from Luke, one with his number on the back and above it in large letters was BOO. I also received a necklace from him, from him and Christian, a joint gift I was told. In a way it was tied to the bracelet but hanging from the necklace wasn't charms but letters. A for Ana, C for Christian, L for Luke, three best friends always together. It was the last two letters that brought a tear to my eye, a T and an R. Seeing I was about to cry, more gifts were sent my way to distract me from my tears.

"Ana, come with me," Christian told me, taking my hand as drinks were passed around by the staff on board. "Everyone hold on," he told the rest of the guests.

"Hold on?" I questioned as I followed him towards where I knew the wheel was and found myself stood behind it with Christian behind me.

"Yes once those sails are out, we'll soon pick up speed," he told me, placing a kiss to the back of my head.

We watched the sails being unravelled or whatever they called it, we could feel the boat start to move as the wind took hold. We were soon moving across the water, all talk from the others ceased as they enjoyed the ride, although I did hear my grandmothers laughter just like when we flew.

"How often do you get out here," I asked Christian as he took the wheel from me for a moment so I could tie my hair up to stop it whipping him in the face.

"Not very much, I think the last time I was out on the water was just before I saw you."

"Saw me?"

"Yes, when you picked Kate up after that dreadful interview" he groaned making me laugh.

"It's beautiful out here on the water, you need to do it more often" I stated.

"I will, as long as you're here with me."

"I'll be here, as much as I can," I told him, placing a kiss to his lips, one he deepened.

"Hey, no kissing at the wheel, we'll end up hitting something" Luke called out before I held my arms out to my sides, showing him that there was nothing around, the closest thing the land which we had left far behind.

"You come and sail her then" Christian called to him. "I'm too busy wishing happy birthday to my girl."

Luke happily came over to take the wheel as Christian took my hand, leading me into the cabin and out of sight of the others.

I had a lovely tour of the boat even though I had been here before, an excuse to stop many times in each room to kiss my boyfriend upon the way.

Lunch was lovely, dinner under the stars was too. Grandma seemed to be having a lovely time speaking not only to Christian's parents but his grandparents as well.

She wasn't shy in asking questions about Christian, how he was now and also as a child. She wasn't shy in answering questions about me either, most that had me either blushing or groaning as I buried my head into Christian's side.

Luke spoke up, telling many a story about me both back then and now. He didn't go into too much detail about some, knowing stories returned would be worse than those told. I did notice something else throughout the day about Luke, he seemed to be getting on very well with Libby.

She's a lovely young woman, passionate about the work we do and would do anything to help anyone. She also loved books, she loved research and had the brains to have an in-depth conversation with others for hours, never shying away to get her point across. All qualities I remember Luke liking in a girl so who knows, maybe they will never see each other again after we're back on dry land as we will be in a few minutes, maybe they will keep in touch, or maybe Luke will have finally found the love of his life. Whatever it is, it's nice to see him smile.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Luke asked as Christian helped grandma in the car.

"Yes I am, even though it could stir up questions, some we may not want to answer."

"I'm here if you need me, both of you" he replied as Christian now stood at my side.

"We know Luke, this is important though, to both of us," I said, looking to Christian and receiving a smile.

The foundation in our baby's name goes live through Grey Enterprises tomorrow and questions will no doubt be asked as to who it represents. Theodore, Grace's father who is well known in Seattle would be the first answer most come to until they remember he's a Trevelyan, not a Grey.

Whatever comes our way, no matter what questions we eventually answer, our child's life will be celebrated in the only way we know how, by helping others.

Thank you for reading.

Drama is just around the corner. They can't expect it not to be but love will always prevail, in my stories anyway.

Until next time, take care.

Caroline.