I can't believe this is the last chapter before the epilogue! This one is quite a bit different from the rest, but I think it's necessary to see just how far Ana has come.

This may be the chapter I'm most proud of, thank you all for sticking with me through this, I know I haven't been the most consistent.

I know some of you want more chapters but honestly, I feel I've written these two out, (this story is 115,000 words!) anything more would just be forcing it and I don't think it would do them justice. But maybe one day if something comes to me I'll update this story.

At the end of the final chapter be sure to look out for that surprise I mentioned. I hope to have it up early next week.


Christian's POV-

As Ana texts Georgie I can see the stress emanating from her, her knee bounces incessantly beside mine and I'm not the only one who can tell, Ben butts at her thighs demanding her attention in a bid to distract her. But even despite the obvious stress there's a soft smile on her face, so as much as a part of me wants to remove her from whatever is causing her anguish, I know that it's more likely to do good than harm. Instead of taking the phone from her and distracting her I just stroke her hair softly, reading over each message as it comes in so I'm fully up to date with everything.

"Do you think I should go?" She asks when Georgie asks if she'd like to come to the family brunch.

"Could be a good way to get to know them without getting too overwhelmed." The message assures her that there won't be too many people, only the immediate family, her aunt, uncle, their spouses, and their children. Brunch will allow her to meet everyone but it will prevent her from becoming the main attraction if they're all around a table and it will be on neutral turf, meaning she isn't forced to meet them in their home.

"Yeah that's what I was thinking, you'll come with me though right?" Her hand strokes over Ben's head over and over as she attempts to calm her nerves.

"Of course, I wouldn't let you go alone especially with people neither you nor I already know."

"You're the best. Thanks." She presses a quick kiss to my lips before text Georgie back.

"You don't have to thank me for caring about you that's my job as a loving boyfriend plus Ray may actually kill me if I were to let you go alone."

"That's a fair point." Nibbling her lips her eyes flick from my eyes to her phone again before she finally bites the bullet and says whatever she's been thinking over. "Do you think they'd want to come?" She doesn't have to clarify who she means because there are only two people she'd want with her at a meal like this.

"Yeah, Ray and 'Mone would love to you know that."

"Yeah I know I just don't want them to feel like they're being replaced or anything."

"They know you better than that, all they ever want is for you to be happy and if this will then I have no doubt they will want to be there."

Once Ana agrees to it with Georgie, she calls Ray who agrees almost instantly to come, telling us he'll be by to pick us up from mine after he gets 'Mone from the hospital. When Ana realized that 'Mone was coming off a night shift she tried to cancel, but Ray and I managed to persuade her to agree knowing that he won't care, he'll want to be there for her no matter what.

Within an hour we're all dressed and on our way to the restaurant, I was slightly worried about what Ray would think about the fact that Ana clearly slept here last night but he didn't even bat an eyelid when he picked us up. As much as I loathe to admit it, he still kinda scares me, because even though Ana doesn't ever admit it there is no doubt in my mind that he and 'Mone view her as their daughter. Any girl who has a father figure who looks like Ray would put the fear of God in me, let alone a man who I know for a fact works for the mob and has undoubtedly killed people, that adds a whole other level for fear on top.

My eyes connect with Ray's in the rear-view mirror, as I hold Ana close stroking her arm as Ben sit half in her lap and half on the seat next to us in Ray's SUV, but where I expected for find displeasure or even anger in his gaze I only find affection at the motion.

"Doll, remember you don't owe them anything alright. You want to leave at any point all you have to do is say the word, anyone who wants to tell you otherwise is going to have to deal with me." Ray bites out but I can tell his anger isn't directed at her, he's just worried for her.

"Yeah and me." 'Mone growls making a fist which only makes Ana laugh which helps to keep her calm as we near the restaurant.

"And me," I whisper for only her to hear, she squeezes my thigh in response but doesn't say a word. With anyone else I'd worry that she wasn't okay, but I know silence is just her way of processing everything, I'll only worry if her breathing changes but right now I can feel the steady rhythm of her ribcage against mine, so I know she's doing okay.

Ray pulls around the back of the restaurant parking, we all jump out, Ana fastens Ben's vest and leash on. I can only hope that the Wilkes' will have enough sense to not ask about him just accept his presence because I know she doesn't like talking about why she needs him. Not that there should be any reason for her to be embarrassed by him but in her eyes, it's a weakness.

"You got this." I whisper pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, linking her hand with mine, not feeling quite brave enough to kiss her lips in front of Ray.

"Ana. Hi." Georgie calls out as we enter the establishment and I find myself thankful that she remembered her name, all I can hope is that the rest of the family will too.

"Hi." Ana says keeping her distance as Georgie comes towards us, leaving her table. I take a moment to scan over the faces of everyone at the table, while I can see the similarities between them and Ana there are some obvious differences like her eyes, only she and Georgie seem to have them. "Erm, this is Ben my service dog. Ben Georgie, friend."

Georgie reaches out towards him before retracting her hand.

"It is okay to pet him."

"Yeah just to introduce yourself so he knows you're not a danger but he's working." Georgie nods before reaching out again this time letting him smell her hand before giving him a quick pat. "You remember my boyfriend, Christian?"

"Yeah, nice to see you again." She offers a hand and I return the shake.

"This is Ray and Angelo, my um…" Ana trails off unsure of how to finish the sentence.

"Her family." Ray finishes for her extending his hand, while Georgie looks a bit taken aback at the comment, she shakes their hands.

"Let me introduce you to everyone else." She says wandering back to her table and we follow.

I lose track of everyone's names, with her aunt and uncle and their spouses, not to mention the cousins and their spouses there are sixteen of them in total. Just like Georgie said they wouldn't, no one says a word about Ray and 'Mone being married, although her aunt does seem to be giving him a few strange looks, I brush them off not wanting to start anything when they aren't even being directed at me. Thankfully we're sat together with me on one side of Ana and Ray and 'Mone on the other side so Ana isn't forced to sit next to someone she doesn't know, given she doesn't appreciate most contact especially with people who are basically strangers.

Surprisingly the conversation flows, don't get me wrong there are still awkward moments but it's not all uncomfortable silences. They listen when Ana explains what she does for a living and what Ray and 'Mone do for a living, though Ray does leave out his last name simply saying he owns a club and casino, miraculously they don't ask about the casino side of things even though they recognized Club 52.

"So how did you meet Ray and Angelo?" Ana's aunt Lilith asks.

"Ray saved my life. The night my… uh Carla died, my father nearly killed me too, Ray found me, stopped him, and got me help in time." Ana smiles up at Ray who squeezes her shoulder.

"Oh, uh wow. Thank you I guess."

"No thanks necessary I only did what anyone else would have done, it was definitely worth it, I wouldn't know this one otherwise."

"Neither would we." Georgie says fondly.

"Would you like to hear about your mother?" Her uncle Charles asks.

"Yeah, I guess."

I knew that Carla was a late in life baby but I'm sure I realized quite how late in life until I saw how old Lilith and Charles are, they have to be at least fifty given that they were both teenagers when she was born. Although I can hear the sadness in their voices as they talk about their sister, I can't help but wonder how close they really were. I know that if my parents were ever to cut off Elliot or even Mia I couldn't cut ties with them as well, I'd have to know they were okay but neither of them seems to have ever tried to get in contact with her or even find her. I know they didn't know where she went, and that she probably didn't exactly have herself in the yellow pages, but it isn't that hard to find someone who never changed their name especially if you had the money, they clearly have behind them. I mean once I had Ana's real name it wasn't hard to find the police report, sure I may have hacked into the police files, but you can't tell me people like these don't have connections to do the same. I asked Ana before I went looking, I knew there were things she likely wouldn't be able to tell me or wouldn't want to revisit but I wanted to have the full picture, so I went looking. I found the photos Ana took systematically categorizing her injuries, it was part of the evidence used to convict her father of more than just murder and attempted murder, not that it wasn't enough to leave him in prison for life, but the extra charges meant that even if he ever appealed his case, it would be virtually impossible for him to repeal all the charges so one way or another he'd never make it out of prison alive.

"Your birthday is coming up in a few weeks isn't it?" Lilith asks.

"It was actually, last Monday. I'm twenty-two, we had a small family thing. I've never really celebrated my birthday."

"Oh, nonsense. You should have a real party now that you've got some real family." Lilith says her smile never faltering but you can hear the bitterness is the saccharine tone.

"Real family." Ana whispers, Ray, 'Mone and I all on alert at the coldness in her voice, it's not something I've ever heard from her before.

"What real family? You lot? I've known you all for a few hours and you think that automatically gains your family status, blood doesn't make a family. Love does and none of you have ever shown me that. Where were you when my father was beating me back and blue? Where were you when he carved into my skin, branding me like I was a piece of meat?" She bites out never once looking away from Lilith, her eyes darker than I've ever seen them, all the sea blue replaced by the dark navy that normally only lines the edge of her iris. Ana stands up causing the chair to scrape along the wooden flooring as she pushes up her sleeves, and lifts her shirt revealing her stomach and the scars that lie there. "Where were you when I was laid up in the hospital for almost a year? Where were you when I went through surgery after surgery to rebuild my body? Or when I had to endure months of physical therapy learning to walk and talk again? Or when I battled panic attacks and seizures on a daily basis because of what my real family did to me? Where were you?"

"You weren't there. Ray and 'Mone." Ana bites out tears glistening in her eyes as she waves her hand at them, both looking about two seconds away from leaping across the table and stabbing Lilith. "They held my hand when I learned I'd never be able to carry a child of my own, Angelo held my hand whenever he wasn't in surgery operating on me or someone else. They were the ones who took me into their home, they were there when I needed someone to tell me it was going to be okay. They were there when I needed to be talked through a panic attack. They were there for every seizure; they gave me Ben so I wouldn't feel so alone and scared all the fucking time because of the PTSD my real family gave me. They were there for every doctor's appointment, for every sleepless night when the nightmares made it impossible for me to sleep alone but I barely trusted anyone enough to let them get close. They were the ones who helped me get over my fear of touch because they showed me that not all touch was bad that there were good people out there. People who wouldn't hurt me, people who wouldn't leave when the going got tough, that love isn't conditional, that love isn't beating you until you can't walk. That love isn't a series of punishments for stupid infractions, that just because you mess up you don't deserve to be beaten. They are the reason I could even begin to let someone in the way I've let Christian in."

"We didn't know, how would we have known?" Lilith bites out like she can't even see the tears streaming down Ana's face. Even though every part of me wants to take her into my arms and protect her from all of this, I know that if she wanted me to, she'd ask but she doesn't. She needs this, the Ana I knew when we first met wouldn't have had this conversation, hell she barely raised her voice, it's amazing how far she's come in such a short space of time.

"I don't know but your mother did, she found me. I didn't go looking for her. I don't know how but she did so it can't have been that hard. I assume they notified her when my mother died generally that's what the police do when someone's child dies. You're telling me she never told you? Didn't tell you your sister died? You had to know I existed I'm the reason she cut my mother off and disowned her right? You're telling me that never once did you go looking for your sister? Never once wonders if she was alright. She was fifteen." Ana's voice cracks at the last word and I have to grip the arms of my chair to stop myself from reaching for her. Ben growls under the table at Lilith but doesn't move because Ana hasn't instructed him to.

"I mean yeah but…" Charles tries to but a sharp look from Ray stops him dead in his tracks as Ana continues.

"So, you knew that she died, did your mother not tell you how or did you just not care? Did you not think to ask what happened to her child? I was sixteen when he killed her, sixteen still legally a child, I spent my seventeenth birthday in a coma. So maybe that might explain why I don't like to celebrate my birthday, or maybe it has more to do with the fact that I was never allowed to as a child. I didn't even know that other kids celebrated theirs until I started school, I didn't realize other kids got Santa even if they had been naughty through the year, because Santa never came to my shitty little apartment because I was bad. Did you know I didn't need to testify against my father, not because I was still in the hospital bedridden when the trial began? But because my x-rays and medical records were enough to convict him of everything from child neglect, endangerment, and abuse, not to mention my attempted murder."

"That doesn't mean you can't start now." Lilith says so nonplussed I have to wonder if she's even listened to a word that's been said in the last fifteen minutes. "You should be able to celebrate it with people who will actually put in some effort." She says her disgusted gaze fixed on Ray and the tattoos that lie across his skin, never once does her gaze flicker my way and I have to wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that she seemed impressed when I told her who my parents were. Like that somehow made me worthy in her eyes and all Ray's hard work counts for nothing because he didn't come from money or if he is general appearance negates all that.

"They didn't throw me a big party because I didn't want one, I don't like to be the center of attention. They know me, they know that the simple gesture of cake after our Sunday dinner was enough for me. You think that somehow makes them less because they know what I want? That who a person marries or whether or not they have tattoos makes them a lesser person. Who the fuck care's what a person puts on their skin, it doesn't change who they are at their core. They're twice the people you'll ever be so do me a favor and lose my number because I'm done, I have no need to get to know you, my real family because I already have one. And while Christian may not have been through nearly as much with me as Ray and 'Mone have I have no doubt he would have done the same for me as they have. So, keep your money and family I'm done." Ana takes a deep breath petting Ben's whimpering head as she grabs her phone and Ben leash and leaving Ray, 'Mone and I follow behind.

Ana makes it back to the car by the time we catch up with her, Ben pawing at her side as she cries. 'Mone rushes up to her pulling her into his arms as soon as he's close enough, everything aches in me with the need to hold her but right now I think he's who she needs.

"You got her? I need to go and do something." Ray asks 'Mone nods not taking his attention away from the sobbing girl in his arms. "Come with me, son." Ray says storming back towards the restaurant. I look to 'Mone torn.

"Go I got her." 'Mone says ushering me to follow, so I do catching up with Ray as he burst back into the restaurant where everyone is arguing with each other.

"Enough." Ray bellows over their bickering and they all fall silent instantly as he points at Lilith. "You. What the fuck is wrong with you? You want to play the innocent victim like you think a man like me hasn't looked into you, doesn't know exactly who you all are. I have. I know every skeleton in your closets, in case she ever wanted to get to know you. And you." He turns his icy glare on Georgie who visible pales. "You lied you weren't looking for her, you think I haven't kept tabs on anyone looking for my girl? You ran into her last night by sheer dumb luck, my guess is Mommy Dearest told you about her and you only thought about her when you saw her right? Because I know your grandmother came looking for her, but you all failed to mention that you knew, you told her you didn't know but you did and I have proof. If any of try to contact Ana again without her expressed permission, I'll be sure to make her very aware of that fact."

"Who do you think you are threatening us?" Charles spits.

"Who do I think I am?" Ray lets out a harsh laugh the makes Charles turn white, I involuntarily take a step back grateful his anger isn't directed at me.

"I'm Raymond Covelo." Ray says no hint of emotion in his tone, it takes a few seconds, but I can see the moment everyone realizes just who he is. They all subconsciously try to move away or into themselves, but it won't work. Men like Ray are the kind that goes in for the kill even after their prey has cottoned on because it makes it more exciting for them. "By the look on your faces I take it you've heard of me and my family? That should give you all an idea of what I'm capable of should you decide to cross me. Let me make it very clear that everyone in my family considers Ana family as well so they would all happily go to war for her. And those skeletons you all think are so well hidden, they aren't I know where everybody is buried. Don't I Alan?" Ray says zeroing on Lilith's husband

"Just i50 right, that hitchhiker you hit." Everyone lets out a sort of comical collective gasp, I'm not sure if it's because they are just finding out about it or it's because they've just been caught. "Or you Charles wouldn't want it getting out about those male hookers you pay so well at the Hilton, would we? Or you Lilith wouldn't want your friends to find out about Georgie's gangbang abortion would we? Given you're so pro-life an all."

That's all he says he doesn't wait for them to respond he doesn't need to, it's obvious from their faces that he means business and they know it. They're scared of him, hell I'm scared by the display and it isn't even directed at me.

"Have I made myself clear? None of you ever contact her again." No one says a word they all just nod like they're bobbleheads on the dashboard.

I follow Ray back out onto the street and back to the SUV, but he stops at the corner looking down the street at Ana and 'Mone where they're sitting in the car laughing. That ache in my chest eases now that I know she's okay.

"We should give them a minute." He says pushing me back around the corner so they can no longer see us.

"Why didn't you tell her?" I ask breaking the silence needing to know why he let her walk in there knowing all that beforehand.

"What that they weren't looking for her?" I nod. "I didn't not really, I wasn't lying I have been keeping an ear out in case anyone came looking for her, but any PI worth his salt wouldn't make any noise, so I couldn't be sure. But I could see it in the way they looked at me when I walked in, they had no idea who I was, if they'd really been looking for her, they would have had the PI research us last night. It's what I would have done."

"Everything you said about their… skeletons that was true?" I ask carefully with my phrasing not wanting someone walking by to hear.

"Of course, I don't bluff. Maybe I couldn't be sure of all the details, but those skeletons were all real. You think I didn't look them all up when that lawyer came looking? Every family like that survives off of their privilege and you can count on them doing whatever they can to keep it. She needed to see them for herself, needed to get to know them on her own terms. I hoped it would go better than this, but I knew that it might turn out this way. But as you saw for yourself, she's strong stronger than I think even I realized, that girl back there she's the one I've caught glimpses of through the years but you're the reason she's finally come to the surface. You've done more for her in the past two months than I've managed in four years."

"It wasn't all me." My brother, Kate, Gail, and Taylor have all helped.

"I know but you're the reason she even got to know them in the first place. You don't think I haven't kept tabs on you? My men still give me daily reports on her, they've seen first-hand how far you've brought her."

"She did most of the work."

"That she did but you gave her the opportunity to do it. I have to thank you for that, but if you ever hurt her, I will kill you."

"I have no doubt about that." I half chuckle but I know he's dead serious. "But I have no intentions of ever hurting her."

"I know." Ray peaks his head around the corner I assume to check on them, when he returns with a smile, I know everything is okay. "I think we should give them a minute."

"Has she ever told you why I call her Doll?" Ray offers to fill the silence.

"Nope, never really thought to ask."

"When I found her that night she was covered in blood and her skin was so pale she barely looked real. But when she finally came out of surgery and they let me into her room, I claimed I was family even though I couldn't tell you her name, we weren't really sure of her name for a while because it took us a while to find her birth certificate. They wanted to call her Jane Doe, but I didn't want her to be some nameless girl no one knew, so I started calling her Doll because she looked like one. So, so pale with all those tubes attached, she looked so fragile, but she was so strong like one of those porcelain dolls they may look fragile but they're stronger than they look they have to be in order to be played with. Even after we found out her name, the nickname just stuck to me she never looked like an Elizabeth to me. Guess she wasn't really, Anastasia fits her much better."


Hope you enjoyed. Thank you all for reading and for your kind reviews.

Once again apologies for any mistakes I'm only human. And to the 'guest' correcting my grammar, you know it's way more fun to leave the errors you oh so kindly point out alone, right? I can just imagine you swearing at your screen about them lol.

FearfullyBrave.