AN: I have been so busy reading today, I almost forgot to upload! Thanks again for your kind reviews and messages, it truly means the world!

Chapter Twenty-One

Christian stretched out before turning to face Ana. Her breaths were still nice and even, her eyes closed. He smiled as he examined every inch of her line-free face. Even in her sleep, she pouted, her rose lips moist and juicy. It took a lot of strength for Christian not to lean forward to kiss her. As he lay, head still on the soft plump pillow, he wondered how they would spend this weekend with each other.

After the detective had left, and Ana had made the request for him to find Ella, she hadn't mentioned anything about her past since. He didn't pretend to understand what was going on in her mind, because her history was dark and complex and he had nothing to compare it too.

What he did know was that Ana had been lighter, she'd smiled more, her posture had relaxed and she had found her spunk again. These last few days, even he had found himself laughing more with her. He loved how she made him laugh. She'd completely caught him off guard the previous evening when he'd told her not to roll her eyes.

"Why what you going to do? Spank me?" She'd asked, her little eyebrow cocked and a twinkle in her eye that was almost as if she was daring him.

It had played on his mind. He was a Dominant, he enjoyed sexually submissive women. But learning all Ana had been through he didn't feel it would ever be appropriate to be like that with her. Did she understand the true nature of BDSM? At the club, Christian knew Ana was a vessel for Dominant men to derive their own pleasures from inflicting pain. He knew Ana had experienced her first orgasm with him when they had had sex. So did she even know that for many who practised BDSM there was pleasure on both sides of the coin? That consenting submissive people, derived pleasure from pain, from being controlled sexually? There was so much more to it than she could have possibly been made aware of at the club.

The way she had challenged him, goaded almost to pull her over his knee… would she have derived pleasure from it? He had so many questions in regard to what Ana knew and didn't know about the true nature of BDSM but he knew he would not be able to voice them anytime soon. He wasn't sure he wanted to either. To be honest, unless it was something Ana asked for, he couldn't ever imagine deriving any sort of pleasure from inflicting pain on her. She'd been hurt enough in her life and he never wanted to hurt her.

"You're thinking so loud." Ana groaned as she rolled onto her back to stretch out. He chuckled lightly and nuzzled into her side. "Good morning." She said looking down at him a cheeky twinkle in her eye. "What were you think about, you looked miles away." She said wrapping her arm around him so he could bring his head to her chest.

"You, how amazing you are, how much I love you." He said before leaning up and going to kiss her cheek only for her to turn her head and capture his lips in her own.

"Mmm, happy thoughts." She said as they separated.

"Very much so." He said smiling, he wouldn't tell her about the BDSM, if that conversation would ever come up, it had to be on her terms and led by her.

He nuzzled his nose into the crook of her neck, he loved how her pink grapefruit body wash filled his nostrils, it had become his favourite scent.

"Christian…" She moaned and Christian took her reaction as permission to further tease her. He kissed her pulse point and she reacted by moaning deeper and arching her back. He pushed himself up on his arm so he could lean over her as she had sunk down a little in bed. He captured her lips in his own and she hummed in response. His hand went to her bare thigh and began to stroke and she wriggled in appreciation, a lazy smile forming on her lips. She was so responsive this morning. They hadn't been intimate since his birthday, so he was a little nervous but he didn't want to let her down now when she was clearly willing.

He threw the blanket from their bodies and Ana laughed as he lifted over her, that cheekiness that had come back slowly over the last week was glimmering at him now and he slowly lowered his lips once more to hers. Her hands came around his neck, pulling him closer and deeper.

An hour later and they were standing together in the shower. As Ana had done the last time they shared a shower, she remained in her bra. It bothered Christian, that after all, they'd been through she wouldn't take her bra off in front of him. It frightened him that she was still hiding something from him.

"Why?" He asked playing with one of the shoulder straps.

"Scars are worst there. Some of them never healed properly." She said and he grimaced, it was what had suspected.

"Ana…I love you, scars and all." He said and she sighed and turned so that he couldn't see her face anymore.

"You are not going to want to be looking at that, when we have sex Christian, it will turn your stomach." Ana explained and Christian, without thinking, undid the hooks on the back and slowly peeled her bra from her shoulders. Ana resisted the urge to bring her arms up, and cooperated with weak legs as Christian slowly turned her to face him. It turned his stomach but not because she disgusted him, but because he knew someone had done this to her when she was a child. It was just like the scarring along her public bone and her labia, but redder, as though the scars hadn't healed as well. They were clearly cigarette burns but there were signs of cuts too. How could anyone have done this to a child? Her entire body was covered in scars, but the underneath of her breasts definitely seemed to have taken the worst of it.

"So you see now why I keep a bra on." She mumbled just as Christian fell to his knees before her. He leaned up, his lips brushing the underneath of her breast and Ana gasped, no one had ever touched her there, it was like people saw the scars and it repulsed them. He didn't stop after one either, he littered kisses along the curve of both breasts as Ana clutched at his hair. He kissed down her abdomen and back to the scars before his grey eyes met her scared blue ones.

"Trust me?" He whispered and without hesitation, she nodded. He took on of her nipples into his mouth and Ana gasped loudly before moaning deeply. Holy cow. He sucked and licked one then the other while Ana struggled to stay standing, then he kissed down her abdomen.

"Put your leg over my shoulder." He said and she did as she was told immediately. Christian chuckled before he took her clit into his mouth.

"Oh fuck…" Ana groaned while trying to remain upright, it felt too good.

Ana's breath hitched in her throat, Christian's head was firmly between her legs, his arms wrapped around her behind as he tongued her to orgasm. It felt so good especially with the hot water of the shower still cascading down on them. She struggled to stay standing as she came. When Christian rose to her, she slipped her hand forward and took hold of his erection.

"No, baby this was about you." He said taking hold of her hand. "I wanted to show you what you do to me. I always want to touch you, bring you to orgasm, you are so beautiful Ana." Ana cried silently, no one had ever said anything to lovely to her before. Christian pulled her into his chest and held her tight, littering kisses over her head.

"You can't get out like that, you'll get blue balls." Ana chuckled as she stepped back, having regained her composure. "Please let me." She asked and he shook his head before picking her leg up under her knee, forcing her to step back against the wall as he pushed inside her.

Ana joined Christian for breakfast after she'd taken forever drying her hair, he'd practically finished his toast and Ana's coffee was likely cold. Neither one cared though, they'd found each other again today, after everything they had been through, they'd been able to reconnect on a deeper level. Ana was floating on cloud nine as was Christian, there was a spring in her step and a silly smile on his face.

"What do you want to do today?" Christian asked as Ana buttered up some toast for herself.

"We could go back to bed, do that all over again." She said giggling. Christian smiled, she had to be careful as he would happily oblige. "Not to turn the mood sour, but there is something I'd like to do, today's as good a day as any."

"What?"

"Go to see my Mom's grave in Montesano." She whispered looking at her toast.

"Ok." Christian replied, he'd wondered when this would happen and had been prepared, he already had the details of the cemetery she was buried at and vaguely knew how to find the plot. "Finish your breakfast and I'll ask Taylor to get the car ready…"

"Do we need Taylor?"

"No, probably not." Christian mused. "Guess what, just the two of us it is."

After breakfast was eaten they made their way down to the parking lot, automatically Ana made her way to the SUV which made Christian laugh. He clicked the button on the keys in his hand and while Ana heard the beep and the unlocking of a vehicle, she quickly realised it was not the SUV she was stood by.

"Huh?" She responded turning to Christian, he once again clicked the keys in his hands and Ana's eyes caught the sight of bright orange light. "Holy shit." She muttered.

"Thought we would enjoy the drive more in this." He explained and she smiled.

"How many of these are yours then Christian?" She asked paying attention to all the other cars in the garage for the first time.

"All of them." He replied and Ana's eyes bulged.

Out of them all, Christian had chosen a silver sports car. Now, Ana didn't know much about cars, she didn't even have a driver's license, but she could admire an expensive car. She'd been on her knees in enough of them when she was working the streets and had learned to spot them when she'd be touting for trade.

"What are you thinking about?" Christian asked as he stood with the door open for her.

"Nothing." She said too quickly, she didn't want him to know that her mind had gone there. Christian shut the door behind her and she admired the glistening black console, the smell of furniture polish consumed her nostrils and she wondered how much use this car got. It seemed a shame to leave it sitting, hidden in the garage.

"What kind of car is this?" Ana asked quickly changing the subject.

"Audi R8 spyder." He replied.

"Does the top come down?"

"Yes, fancy it?" He asked and she nodded excitedly, hell yeah she'd never been in a top-down car driving along the interstate before and she already knew that they had a bit of a journey to Montesano.

"I looked on google, there's a florist in Montesano, could we stop there so I can get some flowers before we go to the cemetery?" She asked as Christian leaned over her and went into the glovebox.

"Of course." He replied handing her some sunglasses. "Here, pick some music." He added passing to her his ipod which she figured would be connected to the car.

He fired the car up and it made a thunderous noise the bounced around the wall of the garage. Ana squealed and clapped her hands excitedly, this was going to be an insane ride.

As they tore out of the garage, Christian showing off a little to impress Ana by making the engine roar like a lion, Ana selected some country music she found which made him laugh, he was learning new things about her every day and she had a habit of surprising him.

It was an hour and a half on a good day, but closer to two hours later Christian pulled up the R8 outside a small little florist in Montesano. When they had been driving through the city, Ana had been wondering if something would trigger a memory, but there was nothing here that even felt remotely familiar even.

Christian opened the passenger door and extended his hand for her to climb out. She had become increasingly quiet as their journey had progressed and the country music she'd chosen was changed to classical. He hadn't known how to comfort her, so he had simply held her hand. He took her hand now and led her into the florists while she looked up and down the road for something, anything that might trigger a memory.

Everything Ana had seen so far made her think Montesano was a quaint little place, where everyone knew everyone. Therefore, she realised she and Christian would stick out like a sore thumb in their sports car. They entered the small little store through the lilac door and a small bell jingled above their heads.

"Be with you in a moment!" A voice called from behind a large spray of flowers that seemed to be moving of their own accord. Christian looked at Ana who was looking around at all the flowers, in little plastic vases ready to be placed into the perfect arrangements. She had shrunk into herself and he didn't like it, though he could understand this was a huge deal, he just wished he was better equipped to deal with it. "I'm Maggie and this is my store, welcome, What can I do for you both?" An older woman with dark curly hair and ruby red lips asked looking from Ana to Christian, while removing a pair of gardening gloves and shoving them in her apron pocket.

"Uhh…well… I don't know actually." Ana mumbled still looking around the room.

"We're needing a small bouquet for a grave." Christian replied knowing Ana didn't need the pressure of making a decision like that right this minute. "Something simple but special." He added glancing down at Ana who was looking at her feet shuffling along the floor.

"Sure thing, I can rustle something together now unless you want to collect it later." She replied glancing awkwardly at Ana.

"What do you think baby, shall we go and get a coffee and something to eat first?"

"Umm." Ana didn't know, she didn't know at all what she wanted to do or how to respond. Suddenly everything just felt off and she didn't like it. This morning she'd been fine, her typical happy confident self, safe in Escala with Christian. Now she was in the city she was supposedly born in, having been missing for eighteen years, and she didn't have a clue.

"We can come back in about an hour." Christian decided, thinking maybe coffee and something to eat and to refocus wouldn't be a bad thing for Ana right now.

"Sure, so what would you like in terms of colour sugar?" The lady asked smiling at Christian but he wasn't willing to make any decisions.

"An?" He asked nudging her.

"I don't know Christian." She mumbled awkwardly. "You pick."

The woman looked at the pair of them, the situation was odd. They were clearly from out of town, wanting flowers for a grave, yet they didn't seem to know what they wanted either. She'd never experienced anything like it. The pair were looking at each other, clearly speaking with one and other without a single word passing their lips.

"Listen, if it's easier I could just put something together for you, you don't have to make all the choices." She said pulling the pair's attention. "A nice basket maybe? Roses and Lilies."

"That would be lovely." Ana replied, grateful that the decision was being made for her. "Thank you."

"You're welcome sugar." She replied with a smile. "Hey… do I know you?"

"No." Ana dismissed at once. "I've never been here before." She partly lied.

"I dunno kid there's something awfully familiar about you." She said shaking her head and Ana looked up nervously at Christian, she didn't need anyone figuring out who she was right now, it would be a disaster.

"No, we've never been in the area before. You must have her confused with a doppelgänger." Christian replied getting in there to rescue Ana before she freaked out.

"Must do. Strange world eh. Come back in an hour. I'll have your flowers ready." She said.

"Thank you for all your help Maggie, we'll be back in about an hour." Christian said before leading Ana out.

"Maybe when we go back to collect them, I'll stay in the car." Ana said as they held hands on the sidewalk.

"Might not be a bad idea. Montesano is a small place Ana and the older generation here will all remember your case. They probably have all seen the aged efit."

"Thanks, Christian, I really needed to know that." She said rolling her eyes.

"Come on, let's go and get something to eat." He said pulling his phone out to find out where they should go. Thankfully, there was a little café just down the road so they left the car and walked.

Everyone turned to look at them when they entered, which made Ana shirk but it was only for a moment as everyone went back to their business, it was clearly a small community café and everyone knew everyone, so of course, being outsiders they would draw attention. Christian grabbed a table for them at the far end away from anyone else but Ana had already paled.

"Hey, no one knows." He told her gently and her fearful blue eyes glanced at him before looking back at the table.

"What can I get you both?" The young waitress asked, her eyes fixed on the pad in front of her.

"Two coffees please and Ana, something to eat?" He asked looking at Ana and she just shook her head in response. "Just two coffees thanks." He added.

"I can't eat when I'm nervous." She explained and he gave her sympathetic smile, she also clearly didn't want to draw any attention to herself and that was why she was trying to make herself as small as possible in her chair.

An hour later, they were back at Maggie's to pick up the flowers. Ana stayed leaning against the car while Christian went into collect and pay for the arrangement. Maggie walked Christian to the door, opening it for him so he could keep hold of the flowers.

"Thank you Maggie, they're beautiful. Ana will love them." He said before making his way out. Maggie looked at the young woman leaning against the car. Ana… Ana… why was she familiar. Then it hit like a steam truck. Ana… Annie… Annie-Rose Steele.

"No way." She muttered heading back into the store. Just like every store in town, Annie's poster still hung on the notice board, as she looked at it she realised that she had been right, Ana was familiar to her.

She picked up her phone and found a number she rarely called, except when he had an order to pick up which he currently didn't. She hoped he would answer.

"Hey Ray, it's Maggie… yeah you're not going to believe this…"

Ana and Christian turned into Wynoochee Cemetery, the flowers that Maggie had put together, a beautiful basket of red roses and white lilies with gorgeous greenery, sat on Ana's lap. Her stomach was doing backflips. Christian drove down one of the many roads that banked off the main entryway, then he took a right and drove further down. As the rolled to a slow stop Ana took a deep, shaky breath.

"Ok?" Christian asked and Ana looked over to him, her eyes were already glistening but she gave a tight nod. He climbed out, and walked round to help her with the door and flowers. Once the door clicked behind her she let Christian lead her down towards the grave. He scanned each headstone as they walked before finally, they arrived at one that read Steele.

"Oh my God." Ana gasped as she scanned the slanted black stone. It wasn't just her mother's name she saw, but her own too inscribed beside her mother's, the same date of death just seven years later.

"Ana…" Christian said as she turned away from the stone. No, that was so wrong. Her eyes were stinging as she stood there, the light breeze licking at her hair. This was so wrong! Slowly, with her legs shaking beneath her, she turned back to the stone and gulped.

"They… they thought I was dead." Ana said looking up at Christian who was as white as a ghost. "They put my name on a headstone. Why would anyone do that?" She asked.

"I don't know."

Ana shakily stepped forward and placed the colourful flowers down on her mother's side of the stone. She couldn't get over the fact that her name was there. They had given up on her at some point clearly.

"Are you ok?"

"No."

Christian grabbed Ana and pulled her into his side. His heart was breaking seeing her name on that stone, it made him feel physically sick. No one should ever see their own headstone. Ana's chest ached; silent tears slipped down her cheeks. This was her Mom's grave. Why had it been spoiled by falsely claiming she too was buried here?

As Ana tried to calm herself down Christian became aware of the crunch of tires against the gravel road. He lifted his head from Ana's and glanced back at their own car, just as a beat-up old truck pulled up behind it.

"We have company." Christian said quietly, forcing Ana to stand up straight and wipe her tears. Whoever it was coming toward them, she didn't want them to see her cry.

They turned just as the man stopped around six feet away. He was a relatively short, with a rounded belly protruding through his once white now grey vest. He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked from Ana to Christian.

"You shouldn't have come here." Ana said taking a small step forward, away from Christian's side.

"I wanted to see you." The man replied glancing at the ground.

"No, I will decide when I'm ready to see you, you don't get to come here to force my hand." Ana retorted as she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin a little higher. The penny fell for Christian, this was Raymond Steele, Ana's step-father.

"Sorry." Raymond replied glancing at Christian as though hoping he would step in and stop Ana from sending him away.

Ana turned away and stepped back to the grave a moment before she spun around and took a couple more steps forward towards Raymond.

"Why is my name on the headstone?" Her nostrils flared as she pointed back towards the stone. Christian stepped forward to her side, worried about how this was going to go.

"It wasn't me." Ray replied hurriedly. "It was your grandma…" He said his hands rubbing together. He wasn't looking at Ana again, instead looking at the ground by her feet.

"I have a grandma?" Ana asked.

"She died two years ago." Raymond replied. "She could never accept that you were alive. On the seventh anniversary of the accident she went to court and had you legally declared as dead. She managed to get medical and accident professionals to say if you'd survived the accident you would have been badly hurt, with no evidence of you ever being in a hospital, the presumption had to be that you had died and the court agreed. She was your next of kin so I had no say."

Ana's hand flew to her mouth as she stopped herself from throwing up. She had a grandma up until a couple of years ago who believed she was dead?! This was becoming a more insane tale of her history that she had no memory of every single day. Why couldn't she remember?!

"I did try to stop it, but the court ruled in her favour so she had your name added to the headstone, it was either that or she was going to give you a new gravesite and I didn't want that." He explained hurriedly, not wanting her to think that he had anything to do with because he didn't, he had never given up hope. "Annie…"

"No." Ana shook her head. "No, please leave, if and when I'm ready I'll contact you but I need time. Please go."

"Ok." Ray nodded. "Ok I'll go… I just… I love you Annie-Rose, I haven't stopped loving you and looking for you."

"Go!" Ana screamed and Christian stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her. She turned into him and buried her head into his chest. Christian watched the defeated father walk away, devastated that he hadn't been welcomed by his missing daughter. He climbed into his truck with a heavy heart, hoping that it wasn't the last time he'd lay eyes on the girl he'd searched eighteen years for.

"It's ok." Christian murmured as he stroked his fingers through her hair.

"No, it's not ok Christian, none of this is ok." Ana sighed as she pulled away from him. "I'm supposedly dead, how do I undo that? And he called me Annie-Rose, that's not my name… there's just so much to think about and I can't…" Her voice cracked and she slowly dropped her head into her hands.

"Listen, let's go and see my Dad, because if anyone can give you answers and make suggestions right now, it's him." Christian replied, knowing to leave this open and not at least getting some options for Ana, would likely not end well. Ana nodded, if Carrick could help that would be a start of her really coming to terms with everything.