My dear little broccolis💚💚💚,

💚 So, this is me doing a favour to the same someone who PMed me and asked to upload two of my stories with the FSOG names. I already did it for Forbidden Fruit, and now, here comes the second. The original fic is published under the Mortal Instruments franchise. If you're one of my old readers, well, you already know this story, so only read it if you want to read it with other characters in mind; if you're a new reader, well hang on and let's see how this Ana and Christian work in here.

💚 So, just so you know, a new character is going to be introduced in this chapter: John Flynn. And I just want you to remember that my characters are always OOC! Just keep that in mind as you read this story ...

Chapter 25 ~ Let's Talk Truth (2,1K)

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Ana's PoV.

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"Do you want me to stay?" Franklin asks me, and I just shake my head, my eyes cast downward on the table.

I've been staying with Franklin and Lily for the past four days in a hotel in my old hometown, and I think awkward doesn't even begin to cover it. I don't know what to tell him, he doesn't know what to tell me, and Lily said that she didn't want to come between us so she doesn't say much. She tries to make us break the ice every time we eat all together, but she never really manages to do it. Like I said: awkward.

I mean, the only thing we all talk about is … well, the trial. And we don't really talk about it. It's more of Franklin explaining how it will all happen. He explained to me that Christian would be my lawyer, while John Flynn would represent Michael. Who knew Michael had so much money? Because I, sure as hell didn't. I don't need to be a lawyer to have heard of John Flynn. He helped some famous guy get away with vicious murders a couple of decades ago.

I actually heard Franklin tell Lily that Flynn only lost two cases in his whole career. The man is almost sixty- In his long career, he almost never lost a case. He lost one ten years ago when he was defending a serial killer, and the other case was twenty years ago when he defended a hacker … Yeah, I did some internet stalking on the guy, and what I learned is scary. Flynn is very good at his job, and at keeping his clients out of jail.

Even though he doesn't tell me, I can tell that Franklin is concerned by the fact that Flynn is my opposing attorney. But he pretends otherwise when he talks about the upcoming trial. He tells me about the fact that the Court of the State I grew up in agreed to have a speedy judgement after the trial is done, and that the trial will start in a couple of days since they finally have the jury.

I'll be honest, I'm terrified to death of going to Court. The good thing about Franklin recognizing me and all, even if it's awkward, it's that I didn't have to go back there. So I didn't have to see him again. But I will have to, in two days, and I am clearly not ready. And let's not talk about talking on the stand. I am not ready for that either. It was already hard enough to do it when I pressed charges, what with Officer Banner asking tons of questions that Christian didn't ask. It was just terrible.

And now, I am just up for at least an hour more of terrible since Christian came to our hotel suite to prepare me for the audience. Christian and I did not talk, or phone, or even text ever since I made the mistake of going to see him at the tribunal. I can't help but think that if I hadn't gone to him, I would be somewhere else making myself a new life. Sure, I would have lost Kate and I never would have learnt what Officer Banner told me … But I wouldn't have to face Michael, and I wouldn't be so conflicted concerning Franklin. Plus, I would still be under the numbing and sweet impression that Christian did not sell me out to his boss.

Right now, he is by the door of our hotel suite, talking in whispers with Franklin while I keep on looking at the wooden table, just wishing that we could skip all of this and just get to the judgment.

I'll be honest: no matter how awful what Michael did to me was; I feel bad that he can actually lose his life because I pressed charges. I know it's his fault and all, and I know that he will never come back if he's charged, but … this is still a life we are talking about. A worthless life that did unspeakable things, but a life nonetheless.

When Christian and Franklin are done talking, I feel Franklin's gaze on me, before he tells me: "I'll be in the lobby, Ana. Just call if you need or want anything."

I nod, still looking down at the table, my fingers fumbling on their own as I hear the door being closed. I hear Christian walking to me and sitting in front of me, setting all his papers on the table as I do my best to keep my resentment for myself. I still can't believe that Christian spilt all my secrets to Franklin. He promised me that all I would tell him would stay between him and me, and he obviously lied.

For a couple of minutes, we both stay silent, Christian going through his papers as I inwardly calm myself and think of what Christian is about to ask me. He's probably going to go back on the deposition with me. He'll probably want to go back on the first night in details. And the abuse. And the day I decided to leave.

"Are you sure you don't want an adult presence?" Christian finally asks me, making me feel his gaze on me; and I murmur a small, yes, not looking up for a moment. There is a little moment of silence again before Christian says:

"Alright. We are going to go through your deposition together, and get you ready for what the opposition might say or ask you."

I don't say anything to that, waiting for him to finally start what he came here for, though I still feel the anger that his betrayal started in me. I don't consider myself as a person who holds grudges, I mean, Franklin and I have actually decided to put the past to the past and just try to start over. But still, Christian told me that he would keep to himself what I told him, and he didn't!

"We are going to go through your deposition, and see what you want to keep in this room —" He starts, and I can't stop the disbelieving, dark chuckle that escapes my mouth. Like I haven't heard that one before. And I actually tell him that exactly:

"You don't have to pretend. I know that you're going to rat everything I tell you out to Franklin like you already did with everything I told you when I had the stupidity to trust you."

With this statement, I glare at Christian finally letting out my anger toward him. He blinks at me with incomprehension and shock, before musing with a blank voice: "Is that why you refused to see me ever since the Tribunal? Because you think I repeated what you told me to Franklin?"

I don't reply anything, because it seems pretty obvious to me. I mean, he broke his promise! He said that he wouldn't pressure me and that he understood why I didn't want to open up so much … But he just lied.

"I never said a word to Franklin concerning you, Ana. What you told me, what you entrusted to me, I kept it to myself and to myself only. I never told another soul of your burden ever since you opened up to me. Yes, I did talk to Franklin about you, but I never gave your name, the details of our relationship, or your story. I only talked about laws with him, using legal, vague terms because there was a period when I wanted to deal with that creep that pretends to be your stepfather- I needed legal advice," He explains.

I look at my hands, my mind ringing with his words. This is clearly not helping with all the confusion. Should I believe Christian, or keep holding on to an unjustified grudge? I mean … I do recall when Christian told me that he tried to bypass my demand to not go to court, and find a loophole in our arrangement. And I do recall how he actually came back to me and apologized about it. I recall that he felt very guilty about it.

This is all just so damn confusing.

"Now that I know why you refused to see me, I'd like to know what your damn excuse is!" Christian blurts out, making me look up at him with even more confusion. What is he talking about? "What's your excuse for making me fall in love with you when you knew that your age forbids us from being together- to begin with?"

Now it's my turn to blink with mind-numbing shock. Did I just hear that properly? "What did you say?" I murmur, staring at him dumbfounded.

Christian is looking at me, a weird look in his grey eyes as he passes his hand in his hair. And this little gesture makes me look back down on my hands. I know that when Christian passes his hand in his hair, it is a telltale sign that's he's distressed and that things are getting out of his expectations.

So, he probably didn't mean the words, after all.

Still, for the few seconds that they last, I actually loved how they made me feel. I love how they made my heart race, my stomach suddenly filled with thousands of butterflies and my cheeks flushed to beet red. I love how nice it felt to have someone saying those words to me, in a non-friendly way. I just love what those words made me feel for a very brief instant.

"I was not planning on telling you like that," Christian says with a contrite voice. "I had this whole thing in my mind where this would have been romantic and not just telling you now, like that," He continues, and I can feel his eyes on me willing mines to look back up.

"What's wrong with now?" I can't help but ask, searching his eyes the same way he is analyzing my whole face.

I don't know. Why does he need a special moment to tell me those particular words? And more importantly, does he actually expect me to say the words back? Do I actually love Christian? I mean, I don't hate him, and I don't resent him anymore now that I know that I've jumped to hazardous conclusions concerning his babbling around. But …

Do I love Christian? Love as in a love interest, not like I love Kate? Do I love Christian to the point that I could picture my life with him, living under the same roof as we would build a life together? Do I love Christian as a very good friend or more? Am I in love with Christian?

"There is nothing wrong with now. Now doesn't change the way I feel. It's just that I had this whole romantic affair planned out because I love the way you react to romance. I love the way your eyes twinkle, the way your mouth twitches to the side with a small smile, the way you blush- I wanted to remember the way you reacted for the first time I told you that I love you," He explains, making me look down once again, blushing.

I guess he knows me very well. It is true that every time I've seen a romantic movie, it made my heart swell. Maybe I am a sucker for cheesy things, but let's be honest, they are making me so giddy that I don't mind.

Christian and I stay silent for another minute, with me knowing that Christian is expecting me to say something back to him. Anything. But when I still don't say a single word, Christian clears his throat and says in a tone that is much more professional than the one he used before:

"Anyway … This is not what we're here for. Right now, we are here to heal the wounds of your past and to give you justice."

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💚Your thoughts and opinions are always welcomed💚

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💚 I know, so much fluff, how can we even handle? Don't worry, the trial is starting the next chapter. Fluff is definitely not going to be on the menu. Lots of tears, fears and disillusions are on the way. Mouhahahahahahah

~ Anyway, question times:

1. Is Christian a romantic, or what? Haha
2. How do you think this trial is going to go?

3. Do you think that Ana is actually in love with Christian, or not?
4. What was your favourite part?

💚Anyway, E.L James owns the names of the characters from the Fifty Shades franchise, everything else is mine.

Love, Mina 💚💚💚