I am floored by the responses to the last chapter. I tried to write it with as much care as I could. Lots of tears and snot were expelled from my face. I try to excercie the same in this chapter. I hope you all agree with how AS and CG reunite. I try to give them a few sweet moments before sending them off into bombshell city again. I am guaranteeing a HEA with a chapter dedicated to their eventual wedding. So hang in tight. I love you all!

Chapter song: Dauðalogn – Sigur Ros

Chapter 73 – and now we break the dead calm

Two days later: Sunday, September 6th, 2020

CPOV

I flew into SF, Friday evening. I've been unable to get a hold of Ana. Her phone has been off. All communication to the family is being routed through security. The first day was a complete lockdown as everyone rushed back from wherever they were to make it in time for the burial on Saturday morning. We drove out to the Muslim cemetery where the burial took place. It felt like a tsunami of people from the South Asian community had come to witness it. The men stood around the burial plot and prayed, holding their hands in supplication while the all the women stood at a slight distance and did the same. Everyone wore simple white eastern ensembles and the women adorned scarves that were loosely hanging off of their heads.

I felt out of my depth. I didn't know what was appropriate. Could I approach Ana here? Was it allowed? I sat and watched from the back of the SUV as she walked back holding Nita's hand. After most of the visitors left, the family poured water over Nani's grave and sprinkled rose petals and lit incense, praying one last time before walking back to their cars with and heads bowed and faces ashen. I wasn't sure if I could even comfort her even if I got the chance.

We didn't have much luck trying to secure a visitation time till Sunday afternoon. Given the influx of visitors, security had to limit the number of people visiting to offer their condolences in between prayers at the Scott House.

Ana's phone remained offline for the remainder of yesterday. She was staying in a suite on a fully booked out 5th floor by the family with limited access. I also suspected Mr. Benoit was deliberately keeping me from Ana at this point.

I arrive at the Scott Street house at my designated time of 12pm. Before I could reach the front door, Nita stepped out to greet me. I give her a hug and kiss on the cheek, offering my condolences.

"Thank you for coming, Christian. I hope you don't mind me meeting you out here instead. I'm about to lose my mind in there with everyone trying to talk to me, so the fresh air and sun is a nice change right now." She giggles. Even in sadness she speaks with a warmth that puts you at ease. I see where Ana gets it.

It's now or never. "Nita, I wanted to apologize for..." she stops me before I can complete my sentence and holds out her hand for me to take and gives it a light, reassuring squeeze.

"Don't, Christian. It was an unfortunate situation. Both Ma and I talked to Ana about this... she's been living with all this hurt and running on empty that it's finally catching up to her and she is unable to think straight in light of what recently happened. Still, I'm grateful for the patience and loyalty you've shown her. I promise you she's worth it." She says with a wavering voice.

"I know she is... I just wish she'd stop running." She looks away and nods. "How is she?"

"She's holding up but it's hard to tell with her, she's always trying to put on a brave face." She says wistfully. "How are you? How is the family?"

"They're all well, thank you for asking... I was hoping I could speak with Ana. Her phone has been off."

"Ana is actually not here. I'm keeping her away from certain individuals." She purses her lips. "You didn't hear this from me but she's at Ocean Beach with Aria right now... and ignore Mr. Benoit's disposition at this time. He's a perpetual grouch." She smiles and I thank her for the heads up.

APOV

I walk along the shoreline with Benny while Aria runs in front of us. We talk about anything but the obvious. It's been a hard 48 hours. A Hard week. A hard 7 years I think to myself.

"It's been years we came out here to talk like this." He muses and I'm snapped back to the present.

"Yeah... I never really stuck around long enough when I'd come to visit in college. I've missed it."

"Your mom still comes here a few times a week." he shares.

"You know, I see how you look at Nita. You can totally ask her out now. Aisha Hasan and Abdul Karim are out of the picture. You can sweep in and I'll play some Whitney Houston on the boombox." I look at him and he looks at me with murderous eyes that do nothing but make me giggle.

"I should throw you in the ocean." He growls.

"You should but you won't, cause you love me." I bat my eyes and he rolls his own with a groan.

"It's never gonna happen, Annie... "

"Never say never, Benoit." We walk over to the usual spot Mama and I always frequent to lay out a blanket while I take out snacks to feed Aria. My mind for a few moments drifts to the memory of the last time I was here with Christian on Memorial Day weekend.

"I don't think she'd even consider me. I mean, yeah we're close friends but she loved Ray... she's not looking to replace that and I don't want to take that away from her."

"Benny, you wouldn't be replacing Ray. Yes, she will always love him and her moving on is in no way insulting his memory. That love is separate and unique and what she'll have with you will be separate and unique as well. There's no comparison."

"I don't want you to think, I'm trying to take his place either." He quietly murmurs and I see the apprehension in his face.

"Benny, you wouldn't be taking his place. I already see you at a father figure. You were friends with him and if anything it's an honor to his memory. Ray will always be an important part of lives... you're thinking too much about this. Plus, I'm thinking about the money we can save... you know family discount." I giggle.

"Nice try but I'm asking for a raise." He grumbles with a smile. "I don't even know how to even broach that subject with her to be honest."

"I could help with that. I've been on her ass to get out there but she's so stubborn... and when I successfully convince her then you need to drop this Idris Elba crap cause true Idris Elba swagger doesn't require a wing woman."

He gives me a pointed look but I continue with my sass. "I don't even know why I try with you." His phone buzzes and he checks to see it. His jaw tenses and I ask what's wrong. He tells me, I'll find out eventually. I dismiss it without a second thought. My brain is too cluttered to think of anything sad and anxious at this point.

We continue with our conversations and I tell him about my recent philanthropic ventures at GEH along with some funny NICU stories of the babies I cuddle, while I continue to feed Aria as she plays with the sand just outside the confines of the blanket we're sitting on.

"Your boy really has a death wish doesn't he?" Benny looks over my head and grumbles. Aria looks up and gasps then screams Christian Khalu and takes off running in his direction. I try to stop her but she's out of my reach.

I see him walking, eyes are fixed on me. Casually dressed in dark blue slacks and jacket with a light blue t-shirt. He always looks good and now watching Aria run over to followed by him picking her up and kissing her cheek does an aggressive number on my ovaries. He's a ladies man at every age.

"Benny, please be nice." I turn back to look at him.

"It's been a while since I shot at something resembling the enemy."

"Benny, I will throw you in the ocean. Behave." I growl at him. "He is not the enemy, don't be silly."

"I'm just busting his chops... Ray would've been worse." He smirks.

He continues on to grumble something intelligible. A horrible habit that Mama Benoit wasn't able to smack out of him he tells me while he gets up and walks off in Christian's direction and says something to him not bothering to wait for his response as he walks on.

CPOV

Aria runs towards me at full speed and I pick her up. "Hi, Christian Khalu. You came to play with me?"

I kiss her cheek and she gives me a hug. "Yeah, Nita told me you and Aana Khala were here playing." She continues to giggle and I see Mr. Benoit walk in our direction.

"You have 20 minutes." He growls and continues to walk off.

Ana remains seated on the blanket with her back leaning on the rock formation as she looks at us both walk towards her. She's wearing jeans, chucks and hoodie. Something I've never seen her in and she looks so young. Her expression is unreadable but I can see she hasn't slept or eaten. I put Aria down on the blanket and take my seat next to her.

"Hey..." I start.

She looks at me and gives me a small smile. "Hey..."

We don't say anything for a few minutes. Her eyes remain fixed on Aria who is talking up a storm while she continues to play with toys and the sand.

"I'm sorry about Nani. I know how important she was to you."

She looks up to find the tide coming in. She takes a deep breath while she quietly nods and I see a new wave of tears in her eyes but they don't fall.

After a few more minutes, Aria gets up and asks to sit in Ana's lap to snuggle in for a nap. She takes off her hoodie and turns it around to drape the back of it on Aria, while putting her arms through it, making it look like a makeshift baby carrier.

I start to take off my own jacket to offer her but she declines saying that her arms are covered so she doesn't feel cold.

I see Aria peeking through her lashes and look at me while she snuggles against Ana's chest. I wink at her and she giggles which makes Ana smile and kiss her forehead.

"She kept asking about you. Rania's about to lose her mind with all the noise she makes with the piano."

"She'll get over it... eventually." I chuckle. She doesn't laugh but nods with a small smile.

We sit in silence for a little while. I can't tell if it's uncomfortable silence because she seems lost in thought.

"I told Nita everything." She says quietly. "She helped me understand something about myself." She turns her head to look at me. "I tried so hard to not be like Carla but in the end I did exactly what she did. I ran from those who loved me. Granted it was because of trauma but I still ran and for that, I hope you can forgive me too. I should've told you I needed time away instead of running the way I did but I wasn't thinking straight and for that I am sorry."

I move in closer to her and lean in for a small kiss. "As much as it hurt, I understood why you ran. I shouldn't have avoided you last week either. Flynn warned me against it, he told me you needed me but I didn't feel worthy enough to be near you or touch you. I felt so guilty, Ana and I still do. I would give anything and everything to go back to that night and help you."

She nods. "I know. It was just a tough situation back then... I was already on edge from getting back all my memories and then you being so distant under the guise of work which didn't make sense to me because even at your busiest you'd still hug me or kiss me, even if it was for a few minutes... but I felt so alone and I thought maybe it finally became too much for you. That's why I thought you were about to break up with me... and then to hear all that... I went from one extreme to another and all those feelings of pain, anger and worthlessness took a new form and I needed to get out." She chokes on her words and I pull her in for a hug.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

"I'm sorry, too." I kiss her softly but before I try to deepen it we hear Aria interrupt our moment.

"You two are always kissing." Aria giggles making us all laugh while Ana aggressively cuddles and growls like a gremlin with her.

We get back to the hotel and I'm finally allowed access to the fifth floor into Ana's suite. She puts Aria down in the bedroom to continue her nap.

We take our seats on the couch in the balcony and look out at the view of downtown.

"Have you been sleeping and eating, it doesn't look like it."

"I can't bring myself to." She turns to look at me and plays with my stubble. "Going for a new look?"

I shrug. "You need to take care of yourself."

"You haven't been sleeping either." She says and it's a statement that rings true. The nightmares returned the moment she left. Different iterations of the pimp and crack-whore, the club and Ana screaming... a mess all around. "Some more things have been coming back to me. I think I remember seeing you that night." I try not to tense, I had hoped she'd never remember me.

"What exactly do you remember?" The thought makes me uncomfortable.

"Looking around the room and seeing someone wearing a simple black mask who smiled at me. White shirt and what looked like a black leather jacket standing at the bar." I slowly nod unable to look at her. "But I don't remember our conversation. I remember Vishaal telling me that he wanted me to show me the private part of the club because he was thinking of investing in it. It didn't seem out of the blue because he'd always discuss potential acquisitions with me and often I'd go with him to check out developments in SF or New York when I visited. I didn't realize it was for his private portfolio. I think I was also a bit buzzed from the drinks, it was my first official time having alcohol so no real tolerance but Flynn said that the brain is a complex and powerful organ that it had measures to block out traumatic events in order protect itself. I guess mine went overboard." She stares out into the distance with her knees pulled close to her chest and hands balled up and hiding in the sleeves of hoodie. We remain quiet for a while.

Flynn told me to just be there for Ana and hear her out should she need it; that grief from the death of a loved one manifested in different ways. Some people cried a lot, talked a lot and some chose to be alone and silently grieve. Being present as all I had to do but the need to do something was bothering me. I needed to do something to feel useful somehow. She was never going to ask me for anything, I knew that.

"What do you need Ana, tell me?" I ask.

A few moments pass and I wonder if she even heard me but before I can ask, she speaks. "I need her to come back." She murmurs in a thick voice. "I still need her guidance. I can't do this next part without her. I'm not strong enough."

"What do you mean?"

"I had a consultation with a lawyer on Friday morning to discuss my options, if I wanted to go forward with filing a suit against him." Her eyes remain fixed on the view, as if she were really a million miles away from here.

"What did they say?"

"He was honest. The evidence I have is circumstantial and he will plead not guilty and this will go to trial. I have no witness. The pictures I have with him from the beginning go against me. My emails to him go against me. Nani was in on that call too. It was just an initial discussion. I also asked about the possibility of using a pseudonym to protect my privacy because I don't want this to become a freak show. And that I would likely get a not guilty verdict."

"Ana, I can testify..."

"I don't want you to." She looks at me. "Can you imagine the questions they'll throw at you? They'll go digging into your past. Your image will be forever linked to the lifestyle... it'll hurt your business and it'll be a mess. I still have to think about all this but with everything that just happened..." she trails off looking back out again and wipes her tears.

"Ana, I don't care about all that. If it can help get a conviction then it's worth it."

"I'm not going to let you do that. These are preliminary conversations... I still want to talk to a few other lawyers just in case."

I pull her into my lap and she buries her face into my neck and violent sobs begin wrack her body. I rub her back and kiss her hair in attempt to try and console her because truth is I didn't know what to say. She has lost such an important figure in her life. A woman who was devoted to her well-being and gave her a world of love and life lessons. There was nothing anyone could say to make it better.

After a few minutes her breathing calms but shivers still run through her body and soon enough I see that she's fallen asleep. The clouds started to roll in and the temperature begins to drop, so I pick her up and tuck her into one of the available empty beds, wiping the tears off her face. She looks weak. I want to wake her up and force her to eat but I know she hasn't slept well either.

I reluctantly leave her and go to sit in the living area, deciding to watch the news. I must have dozed off because I feel a finger tapping my nose trying to wake me up. I open my eyes and see a pair of big brown eyes close to my face and then giggle.

"Wake up sweepyhead." Aria giggles.

I chuckle and sit up. She joins me on the couch and starts to ask me a series of questions.

"Where's Aana Khala?"

"She's sleeping."

"Oh... I'm hungry." She looks up at me.

How do I feed a kid? I can probably order room service. That should work.

"Do you like mac and cheese?"

"Yes."

"Pasta?"

"Yes."

"What else do you like?"

"I like, nuggets. Ice cream. Chocolate cake. Cotton candy, fries, lollipops, skittles..."

"Okay, I get the picture." I smirk at her. I call for room service, twenty minutes later the food arrives and we both settle in. I ordered something extra for later when Ana wakes up. She's only been asleep for 30 minutes so I'll let her nap for another hour.

Aria's face is lit up with excitement as I make her a plate. I know for a fact that Rania and Ana don't indulge her much and try to make her eat healthy. I ask her questions about her new piano and she babbles on not making much sense but she seems to really like her lessons. She eats in relative silence while watching some ridiculous show called Sophia the First. I find myself fully invested in it by the second episode. I go through some work emails and take a few calls while Aria binge watches her show. I start to see her fall asleep on the couch and ask if she wants to go sleep in bed.

"Can you read me my book, please?"

"Sure." I did this once when she was staying with us for a week. I cannot believe I've been sucked into babysitting duty alone. She keeps asking me to be animated because that's how her parents and Ana read the books but I don't do animation. Flynn would have a field day with this again. I read her a few books and then she kicks me out of the room telling me she's going to sleep. I can see how she's Rania's kid. Always in control. Makes me wonder if we were to have a daughter how she would run circles around me. The thought makes me smile and terrified at the same time.

It's almost 8pm and Ana's been asleep for about 4 hours now. I go to gently wake her up but she freaks out when I tell her the time and tries to jump out of bed.

"Fuck, I need to feed Aria and put her to bed."

"It's okay, I already did that."

"What do you mean?"

"We ordered room service and she ate like a horse. Watched some TV and I read her some books and tucked her into bed."

Ana stares at me like I'm speaking in a different language. "B-but... she always wants to cuddle before going to bed, did she brush her teeth... I need to give her bath..."

"Relax... no she didn't do any of those things, I think one night won't break the habit."

She looks a little confused but nods. "I guess that means you're ready for fatherhood." She giggles and then falls into a laughing fit... it makes me smile but I sense the lack of food is also getting to her. She's only eaten eggs from this morning. "Come here and put a baby in me." She laughs.

I lean into her for a kiss and slowly deepen it. She pulls me down to the bed with her as our bodies desperately try to reacquaint themselves with one another. She grabs on to my hair and wraps her legs around me. I roll my hips, grinding into her while I kiss her neck and let me hand crawl up the inside of her shirt to knead her breasts.

She softly moans my name over and over at the contact but I need more. I unzip her and sink two fingers into her, slowly driving her to the edge. "I need you to come for me baby..." I whisper in her ear and inhale her scent. She smells like roses, the ocean and Ana. Home. I want to make her feel good and forget these past two weeks even for just a moment. She's almost at the brink and about to let go when we hear Aria croak through the baby monitor asking for Ana.

She giggles and pushes a button to tell her through the monitor that she's in the other bedroom.

"I think I'm going to take a rain check fatherhood, not keen on being interrupted." I grumble and she laughs, giving me a kiss.

"This is just a small preview into what life with kids will be like so yeah, we might want to wait a while." She says as I get up to adjust myself and sit on the bed.

"A year?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm okay with that timeline."

"This has got to be the easiest deal I've ever made with you." I smirk.

"Don't be so dramatic. I'm a breeze."

"Sure. Keep telling yourself that." She rolls her eyes and I lightly smack her ass.

Aria comes walking through the room with her binky, sucking her thumb and climbs into bed with Ana, clinging to her like a monkey. "She needs her going to bed cuddles and lullabies." Ana laughs and helps Aria say a prayer and then sings to her while rubbing her back and starts to sing to her softly in Urdu.

"What are you singing?"

"I'm asking for the sleep fairies to come by and sprinkle sleep in her eyes and bring the moonlight and stars with them as well so she can lose her self in dreamland." She smiles.

"I'm glad you're eating, baby." I say.

"Sorry, I didn't realize how hungry I was... " She covers her mouth and giggles while eating the last bite of the chocolate cake.

"You need to take care of yourself."

"There wasn't any time, Christian. It's just been... " she looks down. "Aria was so upset. We all were. She was with me when I found Nani..."

"Wait, you found her?"

She nods. "Aria and I went to wake her up from her afternoon nap, like we usually do and she was... " she bites her bottom lip and a new waves of tears fall but she controls herself. "She was cold and... I kept begging her to wake up. I called Benny and he called the paramedics. Mama and Raniapa got home from the office as soon as they could. Aria got really scared and wouldn't stop crying... she's been having trouble sleeping too so I've been keeping her busy. Mama and Rania have been telling everyone that Aria and I don't feel well in order to keep me from you know who and people in general which means they're under a lot of stress to deal with visitors and making sure things run smoothly with everyone else. I spent the first day of mourning with them, so I should be okay..."

"I'm sorry... "

"It's okay... I guess everything happens for a reason. If I hadn't left, I wouldn't have gotten to spend time with her before she..." She shrugs and wipes her eyes.

There's a knock on the door and I got to check who it is. Mr. Benoit nods and walks in and takes a seat across from us.

"The Will reading has been set for Tuesday morning at 11:30pm at the Presidio Terrace house. You both are required to attend."

Ana looks at me. "Both of us? I mean... Christian and I aren't married yet, also I thought we had to wait till the third quarter."

"That's what the lawyer told me." He leans back on the chair and crosses his leg, eyeing me.

"Who else will be there?"

"Both Kapadia families, your mom, Rania and her siblings along with Raees. Anyone outside of this will be sent their share should they have any, via mail and conference call later on."

Ana nods and Mr. Benoit lets her know that Nita and Rania will be back in a while and leaves shortly after.

"He really doesn't like me."

"He doesn't like anyone. It's a personality trait." She deadpans.

"But he likes you."

"Correction, he loves me." She laughs. "He'll come around. He takes a while to warm up to new people."

"We've been together since Thanksgiving."

"He didn't give Daniel the time of day till about two years ago and Raees until Aria was born, so you might want to sit tight." She sasses and I roll my eyes.

"Come to my room, stay the night with me?" I pull her closer and she rests her head on my shoulder.

"I'd really like that but Aria has been having trouble sleeping and Mama and Aria have been dealing with all the funeral and visitor stuff, they're really tired by the end of it. I want to give them a break but tomorrow is the last day of mourning. You can stay here with me instead. I'll move Aria back to her bed. Mama and Rania are staying in the next rooms but they'll come by to say hi."

"I'll have Sawyer bring my things."

Two days later: Tuesday, September 8th, 2020

CPOV

I walk up to the front door of the Presidio Terrace house and security lets me through. I can see a hint of surprise on Kiran and Vishaal's faces when they see me walk in. I greet everyone and Karan walks with me into the dining room where a table has been setup with refreshments.

"How's Aana?" Judging by his warm greeting, I take it that no one outside of Nita and Nani know what really happened between Ana and myself and I'm grateful.

"She's doing better, she finally ate some food last night and slept but Aria's been having trouble."

"Poor kid, she can't really make sense of what happened."

I nod and we both drink our coffee and catch up.

"Ready for this shit show to begin?" he asks.

"I just want what's best for Ana."

He nods. "Same here." We see Rania walking towards us and she asks me to join her in the study upstairs. She closes the door and pulls out an envelope from her bag.

"Officially releasing you from the NDA, Nani made you sign a few months ago."

I swallow and nod. "Thank you." She smiles and nods and goes to leave. "Aren't you the least bit curious what she talked to me about?"

"I am but she always had her reasons for doing things. I've never questioned it. I trust her wisdom." She smiles wistfully. "Right now, I want to get this day over with so I can go back to focusing on how to put the rapist in jail."

Aria's babysitter was running late so Ana asked me to go on without her and that she would come in with Nita and Mr. Benoit. We all take our seats in the formal living room that's been set up to accommodate everyone in attendance. We all have assigned seating and I find that I'm sitting in a more peripheral location with Daniel and Raees while the more immediate family is sitting in closer together on either side of the coffee table set in the middle of the room.

At the front of the room there's a table set up for two lawyers sand their assistant. When I first walked in, one of the assistants had me sign an agreement confirming my attendance. It's 11:47 when Nita and Ana walk in. They verbally greet everyone, apologizing for being late and head to their assigned seating.

She's wearing a dark blue structured dress with her hair styled in her usual fashion and minimal makeup. I try to hide my annoyance when I see Vishaal look at her like she's his next meal as she takes her seat right across from with Nita. Her gaze remains fixed on the coffee table in front of her. Her face is tense and I can tell she's uncomfortable. We spoke earlier in the morning about her apprehension and Nita tried to calm her down that no matter what happened, we'd all figure it out.

Vishaal sits back and says something to Ana in Urdu. She looks at him but doesn't reply aside from giving him an impassive look.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask that everyone please speak in English only for the duration of this meeting." The first lawyer interjects. He's an older gentleman in his 70's. His no bullshit tone is a welcome surprise.

"No problem, I was just asking Aana why she didn't wish me a happy birthday today." He smirks.

"Because you're a grown ass man in his 30's who can do without." Ana snaps back, earning a collective chuckle from the room with the exception of Kiran who sporting a permanent grimace. Vishaal gives me a look, with a smirk still plastered on his face and I pray to my better angels, if they exist, for some strength to not disfigure this asshole's face.

The first lawyer clears his throat and begins. "Thank you all for coming here today and signing the agreements confirming your attendance. My name is Jeremy Hawthorne joined by my associate Louis Guerin and assistant Sara Lewis. We are from Masterson & Hawthorne. We have been retained by Mr. & Mrs. Karim from the early 1970's to handle their personal estate in addition to the transfer of AHAK International to its new owners. While the reading of the Will was originally slated for October 2nd, 2020. however, with the sudden demise of Mrs. Karim, we are now hear today to transfer ownership to maintain decision making continuity.

We will begin with transfer of personal assets of Mr. & Mrs. Karim."

One by one, the names of the family members are called in no particular order. Each member was gifted a property and a trust fund of $20 million dollars. Ana's head remains bowed, looking at her clasped hands throughout.

"The Scott Street house along with a trust of $20 million dollars has been left to Anastasia Steele.". Ana's head whips up to the lawyer in what looks like surprise. The assistant gets up and hands her an envelope. She immediately opens up and reads a letter with a furrowed brow and then quickly shoves it into her bag and continues to look at the coffee table in front of her with a confused look on her face.

"The Presidio Terrace house along with a trust of $50 million dollars has been left to Noor Karim-Steele." Nita nods and I see Alia look at her in surprise since she too grew up in this house. I wonder why she wasn't left half of the house?

"Mr. Grey, Mrs. Karim left you this envelope." The assistant hands it to me and I thank her while the lawyer continues to read off the Will.

I open it immediately and it contains a deed to the resort where Kiran and Daniel got married. The letter is dated from a day before her death.

September 3rd, 2020

Dear Christian,

If you are reading this letter then the inevitable has happened. Don't worry, I'm still around in spirit, I have to keep an eye on things somehow. Please consider this an early wedding gift. This is the place where my Aana found her love and shone with a light I had been waiting to see since the accident. Thank you for loving her and keeping her safe. I know that she hasn't made it easy but sometimes when you have been hurt and running for so long, you forget how to be loved and stand still. She will need time but she will find her footing and you both will live the life you were meant to lead together. I have seen infinite happiness in your future together and I hope you trust this old lady's dreams.

Not that you asked for any but I leave you and Aana with this small piece of advice. Always remember to see the light in each other during the darkest of times. It will guide you out of the eye of the storm and bring you back home to safety. The journey may be long and tumultuous but as long as your partner is with you, anything can be achieved.

I wish you both a long, happy and healthy life together full of happiness and love.

Love,

Nani.

I fold the letter back and put it back in my jacket pocket trying to chase down the emotion I feel from the letter and incredibly thoughtful gift.

After all personal assets have been distributed, Mr. Hawthorne takes a moment to go through the documents he has in front of him, he looks a bit flustered and then puts them down to look at everyone in the room.

"AHAK International is currently valued at $15.8 billion dollars at this time. This includes the 40% shares they have in KGI."

The room is dead silent. The lawyers voice is the only sound that cuts through. I can feel the tension radiating off of everyone every one. I look at Ana and her eyes are still fixed on the coffee table in front of her. Vishaal looks at her every now and then. The suspense is almost too much to handle.

Mr. Hawthorne reads off a few more facts till he gets to what we all have been waiting to hear but I keep my eyes on Ana through out.

"The entirety of AHAK International is to be transferred to Vishaal Kapadia and Kiran Kapadia."

There room remains silent, which I assume is from utter shock and I see Ana slowly close her eyes in utter defeat.

A/N: ARE YOU SCREAMING BECAUSE I AM SCREAMING. *hands everyone a xanax or three* It ain't over yet. Another bombshell waiting in Chapter 74. We living in bombshell city.

gowildcats: yaay you're back. thank you for your thoughtful comments. yes, the last chapter was incredibly therapeutic for me, especially when writing Nita and Ana's conversations. The chapter over all took a lot of out me to write. also sent you a PM.

nikkistew2: i've been meaning to give you a shout out. thank you for your reviews. vishaal's downfall is imminent. I know it may not look like it but I promise you it is.

blueno: haha your fiance is on our team now! victory!

luvdisney2007: welcome back boo! so happy you're caught up. thank you for sticking with me.

reds77: chapter 72 was payback for all the anxiety you've been giving me. LOL. I love it though, keep hitting me with the essays

bandrocks, JT, taino delsani13 & and to all the other reviewers who are mourning nani: BIG HUGS. I am here for you.