CPOV

After every storm comes a rainbow, that's a saying I've heard spoken before and it is certainly true of today.

Last night, this area was crawling with not only my security but police, not forgetting the stressed Alpacas running around too. I had spent a couple of hours on the phone to my dad also, who with his team were now pressing for the strongest charges to be brought against Morton and Bordorf, plus a restraining order for one, Elena Lincoln too.

I had no secrets from my parents any more, they knew all about my past, not just with the women I hired but the submissives too. Those secrets had not been revealed last night but at dinner at my parents a week after the interview we gave, with Ana sat by my side.

This morning though the calm had returned, just the way I liked it. It may be cold, the snow falling gently from the sky but there was a peace here, one before I had found my Ana again, I had never felt before.

I watched Ana from my position in the goat shed, not caring that my companions were more interested in chomping on my clothes than the food I had just put out, once I had cleared their muck away.

It was grandma who was able to pull my attention away from my girl, who was crossing the yard with a small stool and bucket in hand, toward the large shed where Spot the cow lived.

"You've had your chomp, can I have my clothes back now," I asked, the kid that was helping his mother eat the bottom of my coat.

Gently extracting myself from them and their pen, I decided to follow grandma to see what she was up to. When I reached her, she was sat on the stool by the side of Spot and looked like she was going to milk her.

"Have we run out of milk" Ana called over laughing.

"No, just de-stressing" grandma called back.

"Are you ok grandma?" I asked her.

"I'm fine son. When I was younger, a lot younger than your angel is now" she spoke, looking to my child's initials on the tree. "My father took me out into the barn and taught me how to milk a cow. Spot, old girl that she is doesn't get milk now as it's been many years since she's had a calf. I just find it relaxing, sitting here, listening to the tractor in the distance, hearing the sounds of nature all around me, and this old girl seems to enjoy the connection too. Peace is what I call it, our own little piece of heaven on earth. Spot was the first animal I purchased when I came here, I got her with her mother when she was only a calf. Moop, God rest her soul is buried on the far side of the yard, with the other few we've lost over the years. Do you want to try" she asked, nodding to the teats below.

A year ago, I would've looked at those teats, backed away and made an excuse. Today though, surrounded by the sounds of nature even on this winter's day as the snow continued to fall outside of the shelter we were in, as I sat down, following the instructions from Rose, I found nothing but calm as I milked a cow.

…

"I'm in all of a muddle" we heard from our bedroom, heard the hurried footsteps pass our door.

"Grandma, calm down" Ana called out, opening the door only to close it again, telling me she was no longer out there.

"Is she alright?" I asked as I tried to make sure my bow-tie was on straight in the large mirror of our walk-in closet.

"I think she's panicking, here let me" Ana replied, straightening my bow-tie. "There, perfect" she spoke before placing a kiss upon my lips.

"What is she panicking about," I asked, my hands coming to rest on her hips, feeling the thousands of sequins that covered her red dress.

"She feels out of her element, just as I did when I attended the ball at your parents earlier this year."

Tonight, was the charity ball for the T. R. Grey foundation and we were here at Escala getting ready. Rose had eagerly said yes to attending when we had asked her about it, but now maybe she's regretting it.

"Do you think she would feel more comfortable staying here?" I asked. "I don't want her uncomfortable, Ana."

"No Christian, she is looking forward to this. I think it's just the fact that she's not used to being surrounded by so many people. She will know your parents there, your grandparents, siblings, Luke, Kate and Libby too. Once she's sat down chatting away with them, she will be fine although I just hope the press behave when we pass otherwise, she might have a few choice words for them, you know what she's like."

"I do" I laughed, knowing with them she can give it back twice as hard as they can ask questions of her. She did that after the break-in, asking one snotty female reporter personal questions back as they continued to ask personal questions about us.

Leaving the room, hand in hand we went in search of grandma finding her out on the balcony, the alpaca blanket Ana had made which normally lay on the back of the couch, wrapped around her shoulders.

"Are you alright grandma?" Ana asked from our position at the door, trying to stay out of the cold.

"I'm fine dear, I've finished having my wobble" she spoke, looking to us both. "I have to admit, although I could never live in an apartment, there is a beauty with being up here especially at this time of year. Lights adorning the windows and Christmas trees, excited children, and adults inside these homes."

"I do admit, I rarely come out here" I spoke, leaving Ana inside who had gone to get her wrap while I joined grandma on the balcony.

"You don't."

"No, usually by the time I get home from work, I'm either too tired or finishing yet more work. This place although it is where I live, it has never been a home. Not like your place."

"Or your new property, that will make a wonderful home for you both, and for any future siblings for my sleeping grandbaby."

"It will be, don't forget there will always be a place for you there too," I told her.

"I know and when the time comes and I choose to put my feet up and send all the animals your way, I might join them so don't rent out that cottage just yet."

"It will be waiting for you" I replied, placing a kiss upon the top of her newly styled curls.

Leaving the apartment, we headed down in the elevator, being joined then by Taylor, Ryan, Reynolds and various others that had been arranged to be our security for the night.

I have to admit it was fun to watch as Rose took Taylor's arm as he helped her into the car when I guided Ana around to the other side. It was fun to watch her dishing out instructions to the others too as she made sure they knew what they were doing tonight.

"Who's in charge" Taylor mumbled after closing the door once Rose was inside.

"Do you really need to ask" I laughed, taking the passenger seat as he took his place behind the wheel. Once everyone was in their cars, back and front of ours, we were off towards the Fairmont Olympic where the ball was being held tonight.

We had hired the whole hotel, ballrooms, restaurants, bedrooms, the lot. We hadn't done this just for security reasons, having all areas guarded throughout the night or for privacy as many who had earned their seat were high profile people, many who had personal security themselves, just like us. The main reason we had hired the whole hotel was for those who help others all year round to enjoy themselves, their families too and to be pampered as they deserve to be.

The Senator, the Mayor, to name but a few had tried to get in without doing anything only to be told they had to earn their seat like many others. What they did, everyone would see this evening when before the event everyone's recordings would be shown.

When we were a few blocks away from the hotel, Ana's phone rang.

"Hey brother," Ana answered smiling so I knew immediately just who it was.

"Hey sister" he replied as Ana put it on speaker. "We should dance to that" he laughed.

"Dance to what."

"Hey Brother," he told her.

"Fine by me, are you there yet."

"Yes, we're close. I wanted to check where you are so we can all go in together, only so we don't have to go back out again to do group photos for the press."

"We're a few minutes away Luke, so either wait in the car or..."

"I'll wait in the line" he replied.

"What line, what do you mean," Ana asked.

"The line of cars waiting to drop people off at the front of the hotel."

"Sod that, I can see the line. Get Terry to drive down the side of the others and stop near the entrance of the hotel, ignore the protests of others and we'll follow you in" I said as Taylor did as I asked.

"Fine by me" Luke laughed as we heard him relay instructions to his driver. "See you soon."

We were soon behind Luke's car, watching as someone from security approached ready to tell them they couldn't stop there. As soon as they saw who it was, the camera's now flashing away as Luke offered Libby his hand to help her from the car, security backed away.

We soon joined Luke and Libby, the flashes momentarily blinding us. As usual, it was Rose who stole the show, telling them she had enough problems with her eyesight as it was, without seeing flashing lights.

"Come on Grandma," I said, offering her my arm while Ana took the other and then slowly, we walked towards the main doors of the hotel.

Only when we reached them, as was planned grandma escaped inside being greeted by my grandfather who would escort her to her seat, did we turn towards the camera's as a group and the blinding flashes started again.

We spoke to some of the press, using them to our advantage to speak about the foundation and why we were here. Some asked about the videos that were made, the tasks that had to be done, all took amusement from my answer when I told them, come 9 pm when all participants were inside, would the videos be released for the whole world to see on the foundation's website. There would be no charge for them or anyone else to view the videos on there, to have a chance to show them on their news outlets, then a donation to the foundation would have to be made. Big or small, those donations too would be made public just to show who else is supporting the cause tonight.

"Have you seen any of the videos?" Libby asked Ana as we stepped inside the hotel, leaving the guests who had arrived after us, their five minutes in the limelight.

"Some" she giggled. "A few of the Professors are here tonight and their videos are hilarious."

"Which ones, who," Libby asked, just as excited to see those videos as Ana had been as these were people, they both knew well.

"You know Professor Fielding, how some say he looks like Gandalf or Dumbledore as he has his long white beard which has more mud in, than the pots he's planted by the end of the day."

"Yes," Libby replied laughing.

"Well, he decided to dress up as a wizard, Dumbledore more than Gandalf. He went to the local children's after school centre and read Harry Potter to the kids there. His video was sweet but Michaels" Ana laughed. "He, he" she spoke unable to get her words out, her laughter so infectious that it made those around smile.

"He did what," Luke asked as we walked in the direction of the ballroom.

"He wanted to do something for the hospital, the same one that had saved his daughter when she was a child. So, he with the help of some of the students who thankfully won't be here tonight had taken a hospital bed, made it up complete with a patient and pushed it from the hospital, around the campus and back again collecting donations along the way. The students were supposed to get a mannequin, instead" she giggled. "They got a blow-up doll, one Michael tells me he had no clue about as he doesn't know about those type of things. Besides that being funny, they were also dressed as nurses, superhero capes on their backs as that is what he classes them and the doctors as for saving his daughter. And to finish, still in those nurses' uniforms, they did a parachute jump."

"My god, he certainly wanted to attend the ball" I laughed.

"He did, or he secretly likes dressing as a woman in real life and he took the opportunity and ran with it. Whichever it is, he's certainly earned his seat" Ana smiled proudly of someone she classes as her friend.

We entered the ballroom, saying hello to those we knew along the way, those we would associate with normally, others, the rich and famous who before this night I had not shared the same space with, they were greeted with a smile, a nod and a thank you for coming.

Making our way towards the stage at the front, we stopped for a few moments to greet my family who was already seated with Grandma and Kate. I could see on the screen at the back of the stage, the videos already playing causing much laughter from those around, even from those whose turn it was to show how they participated.

"Grey" I heard behind me, turning to see the Senator and his over-done-up wife. Her make up must have been put on with a trowel, so unlike the natural beauty, I held to my side.

"Senator, thank you for coming. Mrs Price" I said, greeting the wife. "You already know Luke of course but this beautiful woman is the incredibly intelligent Professor Lambert, my fiancée."

"Professor, it's wonderful to meet you" he spoke, shaking Ana's hand. "I've read so much of your work, coming from a farming background myself."

"You still farm now," she asked him.

"I do, I have a farm upstate which has been in my family for generations. It's run now by our son as unfortunately with my duties here, I cannot give it the time needed. It's the perfect place to escape to though when I'm not working, although Margie much prefers city life than tending the land."

"I was once like that" I stated looking to the wife. "Now when I'm out there instead of stuck inside the city, I know where my real home is."

"Well, we will leave you to your other guests. I look forward to reading more of your reports in the future Professor" the Senator smiled before he ushered his wife to their seats.

"Who knew that the usually smartly dressed Senator would prefer to live in jeans and boots to thousand-dollar suits" Luke stated. "Sounds like someone else I know" he laughed looking at me and I couldn't disagree.

When the videos came to an end, Ana, Luke and I took to the stage, all with a microphone in hand. I thought Ana would be nervous doing this but giving speeches before, she took it all in her stride, welcoming all that had come.

"We all have the power to help just one person. You've all proved that from watching these videos tonight, many helping more than just one" Ana spoke. "A little of your time, a kind word, even a smile can brighten someone's day as many of you have learnt."

"Through the foundation, my brother set up is a platform to help others on a larger scale, whether that's helping those with the skills to get the job they need, people who some would've normally written off" Luke added.

"Young, old, we all need opportunities to live, to grow. To eat and to be able to feed those that depend on us. Through Ana's work and now with the T. R. Grey foundation, a foundation that represents our child" I spoke, taking Ana's hand in mine to which I placed a kiss upon it. "Our child may not have been able to take their first breath but in their memory, we can make sure that for those that have, help will be there for them so they thrive."

"So please, as you have earned your seat by helping others in your communities, we ask you now to dig deep to help those others further afield. Here in our own country and those in need around the world. We all need a little help from time to time and sometimes all that is needed is a helping hand" Ana ended before we handed over to the Master of Ceremonies so the night could begin.

Retaking our seats, my dad opened the champagne that had been placed on our table, a toast he gave to a successful night. Our meal was brought out then which looked delicious but tasted even more so especially because I knew where everything on that plate had come from. The Steak, that was from Roberts farm, the vegetables that adorned each plate Ana had grown with her beautiful hands. She had picked it as well, the apples that had grown on her trees that filled the pie for dessert, not forgetting some of the cheese that filled the cheese board at the end had been made by Ana and Rose too.

To say that some were surprised especially as to what she had grown in the space the smallholding Ana and Rose had been reported as having, considering it had filled hundreds of mouths tonight. It wasn't just from there, she had taken with permission from the university greenhouses, food that had been grown there under her tutelage along with bringing others in from the community where she lived that sold their items at RoseAna's, especially when it came to making all those apple pies. Every single plate was cleared with many asking for Ana's help so that the same project could be achieved in their communities.

"Grandma, you're wringing your hands together which means you're nervous, why," Ana asked Rose.

"I wish I had never brought it" she mumbled as she looked over to the stage.

"Her rug" Ana whispered of the rug Rose had made with the alpaca fibre, one Rose complained looked dull and inexpensive next to the other items up for auction.

"Grandma, out of all that's on offer, your rug is what I'd buy the most. You put all your love and energy into that, took the time to make it instead of handing it off to others. That's what this whole evening is about, going back to basics, making something out of nothing, all in the aid of helping others. I doubt I'll be the only one bidding for it" Luke told her, earning a kiss to his cheek.

"I agree and I don't think I'll have much trouble selling it," Ana said, getting to her feet, joining the MC on stage when he called her name. "I hope you're all full and are enjoying yourself" she spoke to the crowd.

"Stuffed thank you" was called from the front table on the opposite side of the room from ours.

"I'm very happy about that Marcus, it's lovely to see you here and I'm glad to see the family are well" she spoke addressing the old man she had spoken to at the Space Needle months ago when he was celebrating his birthday. I'm not sure what they had done to earn their seat here like the others, I suspect thought as they are busy enough on their farm, that Ana had just sent them an invitation anyway.

"Very, thank you" he smiled up at her.

"Good, now. We've been very blessed this evening to have been donated many lots for tonight's auction so I hope despite emptying your wallets and purses to place a donation in the envelope that was beside your nameplate, you've saved more for what is still to come. If not, a cheque will do" she added, making all laugh.

"She's not shy up there on her own" my grandfather laughed.

"No, she's a natural, speaking to others, encouraging them to achieve their best" I replied to him.

"She wasn't always like that" Luke added as the auction started. "Ana was always quiet, shy around anyone that wasn't us."

"She was until she found her voice" grandma spoke. "Away from the negative influences of that woman she's able to be herself."

"I think you had a lot to do with that grandma," I told her.

"I gave her a home, a family, one where she could be herself, create a life, even make mistakes without the worry of negativity heading her way. All she needed was to be allowed to be Ana, the person she was with you two" she smiled, looking to Luke and me before back at her granddaughter, a smile and pride filling her face.

It was at the seventh lot that the smile slipped from Rose's face, replaced by worry and panic. I think if she had half the chance Rose would've removed the rug from the stage.

"This next lot is my favourite as it was made with beautiful hands. This was handwoven by my grandmother, made on a loom which is older than I am. It's made from Alpaca fibre and by the colours I would say from Flopsy and Cotton. Because their fibre is stain and water-resistant, a kitchen could be a perfect place for this. Being flame retardant, in front of a roaring fire, especially at this time of year, there would be perfect as well."

"Does she want a job?" Elliot asked.

"She has one, more than one" Kate replied.

"I mean, she could sell snow to Eskimos, look," he told her, as many hands went up to try and purchase the lot.

"A perfect product deserves the perfect price" my mother spoke as her hand remained up until she was declared the winner of the rug, at fifteen thousand dollars.

Rose was gobsmacked, unable to comprehend how much her rug had made so she had to take a large drink of her wine. My mother and she were deep in conversation then about the rug that had just been sold and if she could make others for around my parents home.

The evening had been a brilliant success, Ana in bare feet, leaving her shoes beside the table by the time we'd all danced to the last song. With Rose now tucked up in bed, Ana joined me out on the balcony, both of us wrapped tightly under the blanket, the heater that was close to us, giving a little warmth as the snow continued to fall feet away from us.

"Two days until Christmas" Ana spoke happily.

"Yes, and then we have the new year, I'm looking forward to that."

"You are" she replied.

"Yes, I'm especially looking forward to spring as then, I get to marry the love of my life."

"I can't wait Christian. I never thought when we met at the university that first time, your parent's ball after, we would be where we are now."

"I know, we were so mad at the other. So many misunderstandings happened when we were younger and all it took was..."

"Luke" she smiled.

"Yes, Luke and to sit down and get out all that we were feeling not just now but back then. I can't change the past Ana, no matter how much I'd want to, especially wanting to be with you when our child left this earth. I can be with you every step of the way now though and throughout our future."

"I want that, and one day I'd like more children, a sibling or more than one for our sleeping child."

"When," I asked.

"As soon as possible. I think we've waited long enough for the things we want, I don't want to wait any more."

"Like I asked, when. Your shot?"

"It runs out in February, who knows what could happen then, maybe I could be pregnant for our wedding, get pregnant on our honeymoon, making love on the hill."

"Sounds perfect to me, now though if you're not tired, I'd like to get some practice in" I spoke, getting to my feet and held my hand out to my fiancée.

"You don't need any practice" she laughed. "You're perfect at what you do."

"Which is," I asked.

"Taking my body to heights it's never felt before, plus making me scream."

"Sounds like a challenge" I laughed, picking Ana up bridal style, as I said, I'm getting in practice for what is to come.

Practice makes perfect and we practised making our baby all night until the sun came up.

Thank you for reading.

I was asked if there was such a program as grandma was watching and the answer to that, unfortunately, is, yes. Some TV channels will do anything to get viewers but thankfully I didn't have to be one of them to hear about it, it was my shocked mother who told me, after stumbling across it one night when she was struggling to sleep. That's what she told me although, personally, I think she's as bad as grandma and is a regular viewer but she'd never admit to that.

We have a time jump next time for our final chapter, a wedding and a honeymoon too.

Until then, take care.

Caroline.