Goo

by bluesky5678

Anastasia Rose Steele, a marvel of a woman, admired by all who knew her, was gone. She died on a warm spring evening. Her family mourned her but did not bury her.

Hello, dear readers, Here is #17. All props go to E. L. James for her great characters.

The mess I make of them is all mine. HOWEVER, the mess that often makes of my submission is not my error. I reread two of my older stories today only to find sentences and paragraphs out of whack. No one complained so I applaud you on gritting your teeth and figuring it out on your own. Mind you, I so appreciate the existence of FanFiction so that I can publish my stories but why the editing feature does not work or why the story is screwed up to begin with…this I do not understand. So, let's hope this story is not an exercise in frustration.

There are 78 chapters and an epilogue.

Summary: Anastasia Rose Steele, a marvel of a woman, admired by all who knew her, was gone. She died on a warm spring evening. Her family mourned her but did not bury her.

Goodbye, Anastasia

Andrea's latest assistant, a gorgeous 6ft Amazonian blonde, looked up sharply when the boss's private elevator pinged its arrival on the 30th floor. Who dared use his lift? Charlotte's green eyes noted this arrival with sharp disapproval. How did this person even get past security?

A petite brunette, far too casually dressed in skinny black jeans and a white hoodie labeled Huh?, with her hair in a bouncy ponytail and sneakers on her feet, came skipping toward the boss's door.

Well, not on Charlotte's watch!

"Just hold up right there, missy. Not a step further. You just sit your little butt in the reception area."

"Missy" smiled and did as she was told. She picked up a magazine and remarked that GEH needed better reading material than Tech Today. Charlotte pressed a button to summon security. Within seconds, a couple of burly men in uniforms appeared out of nowhere. Charlotte smirked and indicated the intruder.

"Remove this person," she ordered haughtily.

The guards looked, smiled and then told Charlotte that it was nice knowing her as they disappeared just as suddenly as they'd appeared.

Charlotte's green eyes flared as "this person" removed her ringing phone from her pocket.

"Hi! Oh, just sitting my little butt down in your reception area." The boss's door flew open and Charlotte melted a little as the absofuckinglutely gorgeous Mr. Grey stormed out of his office. Yeah, he was taken, she knew. Big deal. She knew her way around the male ego. Give her a couple of weeks and Andrea would be out on her rear while Charlotte was breaking up the boss's marriage.

"Mr. Grey, I ordered Security to remove that…that thing but they refused."

Grey's silver eyes looked her over and noted the buttons on her blouse were open just enough to offer an enticing glance of her DDs. Andrea's latest assistant. She smiled slyly at him and asked him what she could do for him. Anything. Anything at all.

The girl sitting in reception giggled and Charlotte, whose eyes were down there anyway, licked her lips as the boss's dick suddenly pitched a tent in his pants. Oh, she thought, this was going to be easier than she thought. She waited for him to ask her into his office.

She would go on waiting…at least until Grey pulled his tongue out of the girl currently embracing him. Confusion.

"Wait for me, okay?" he beamed at the girl. "Yes, sir," she saluted as she goose-stepped into his office. He shook his head, chuckling.

"What is your name?" he asked politely, leaning on the counter. Charlotte leaned as well…to improve his view. No man yet had been able to resist her latest upgrades.

"Charlotte," she purred.

CHAPTER 2

"That was my wife," Grey purred back. "Get out. You're fired." His tone was dangerously low and calm.

"But…but…" Charlotte began to protest as Andrea returned and sighed. She nodded at the ashen-faced no-longer-an-assistant who then cried all the way to the employee elevator.

"You know, Mr. Grey, they always seem so nice and accommodating during the interview. And, don't start. I always warn them. Now I have to start all over again."

Grey shot her a quick look of sympathy before returning to his office. He wanted to put his tongue back where it belonged. When he walked in, Ana was looking out the window. She heard his entry and dashed into his arms.

"Hi, hubby. Fire another one?"

"Andrea's had a run of bad luck lately. Charlotte's been asking for it anyway. She's been acting like the King of Siam's head wife since she started. Looking down her nose at everyone…even Ros."

"Well, Ros is 5 feet tall and that one is definitely 6 feet so…."

"Clever. Kiss me again." As their mouths connected, he picked Ana up and sat down with her on his lap. Soon he had his hand up her sweat shirt, playing with her nipples.

"Other direction," she mumbled. He obeyed, his hand slipping into her jeans. Soon, she came, crying out his name. Thank god he had soundproofed his office. She fumbled with his belt and zipper and grabbed hold of his favorite body part.

"Mouth or hand?" she inquired.

"Hand. I'm busy with your mouth at the moment." Then it was his turn to cum screaming out her name.

"You're looking super-adorbs today," he smiled as soon as he'd gotten his breath back.

"You, too. Let's go down to the marina…eat at Mario's and then make love on the boat."

"Wait while I change my pants," he grinned. After changing from one Armani to another, he emerged from the en suite once again impeccably attired.

"I'm going to have to stop dressing in whatever is lying on the floor," Ana said as she admired her hunky husband.

"I like when you dress in whatever is lying on the floor," Christian smirked. "It reminds me of how it got there."

As they passed Andrea, she waved but was busy lining up another assistant so didn't have time to say hello and goodbye. Whenever Ana came to lunch, Andrea cleared the afternoon on Mr. Grey's schedule. He usually did not return.

Christian punched in the code for the lobby and then turned off the camera. He slammed the stop button. Soon the alarm blared but no one paid attention… any longer.

"One of these days, you'll have cried wolf too many times and no one will rescue you. Oh, god, you feel so good!"

She loved when he was so horny that he couldn't help but pound into her. It was the only way she could orgasm during intercourse and it felt incredible. After 4 years together, they knew each other's bodies as well as their own and, yet, nothing ever got old.

When the doors opened in the lobby, they were only holding hands…with huge smiles on their faces.

"Now I'm good until after lunch," Christian grinned.

CHAPTER 3

Cuddling in the master cabin as The Grace bobbed gently on the water, Grey idly ran his fingers up and down Ana's back. He felt an overwhelming sense of wellbeing. The morning had been difficult, dealing with a recalcitrant board of directors who refused to see his point of view. It always worked that way. He'd present an idea. It would be shot down. He'd have to do an end run around the board and the company would make a ton of money resulting in the board being hailed by the stockholders. However, if the idea didn't work, they could claim innocence and he would be blamed. Over the past several years, being CEO of Summit, Inc. had increasingly worn away at his nerves.

If not for Ana, he would probably have had a heart attack by now. She kept him steady and aware of the important things in life…none of which were his position in a Forbes 500 company and the false sense of power it gave him.

He needed that sense of power and control. Growing up in foster care had made him feel cheap and helpless. He'd worked hard to garner a position in life that made him feel strong and safe…for a time. However, he had been starting to crash back to earth…until he met a force of nature named Ana.

Ana belonged to a wealthy, prominent family…the Steeles. They all but owned Seattle and had for generations beginning with its first European settlers in the mid-1800s. They began as timber barons and were responsible for much of the decimation of the thousands-year-old forest that once covered the waterfront area. From that beginning, the Steeles adapted to ever-changing ways to make money and accumulate power. As their foundation solidified and their fortunes grew and became impervious to changing times, the names Seattle and Steele became synonymous in the minds of the public.

Ana's forbearers were quite civic-minded and philanthropic. Although the family was still wealthy, much of its old money had gone to charities. Obscene wealth in the bank accounts of just a few individuals was frowned upon.

The Steeles had struck a balance and were now much admired. Ana had grown up with an equalitarian attitude instilled in her by her parents and grandparents. She saw that there should be no difference between herself and Mac, the guy who tended to Grey's boat. She was also very much aware that there was nonetheless a difference economically and politically.

Her father, Raymond, was semi-retired from the Steele Law Firm and spent large amounts of time working to improve the lives of those living along the poverty line in Seattle and elsewhere. He initiated and promoted legislation to that end. He'd never aspired to the life of a politician but he owned quite of few of them.

Her mother, Grace, was a Ob/Gyn operating a free clinic built and run primarily with Steele money. The Steele sons, Elliot and Ethan, had followed in their parent's footsteps…one an attorney and the other a surgeon. They knew they were privileged. Family money had not only educated them but enabled them to live well while working alongside their parents. Ana's sister, Mia, was the proprietor of a large restaurant on the north end of Seattle where the poor and the homeless could receive healthy meals at no charge.

Ana was a Harvard grad with degrees in education and in social work. She had taught in Seattle's inner city. The city suffered from a gang problem as did most large cities. She once was stabbed in the arm by a carjacker and another time bashed on the head with an iron wrench causing a fractured skull and a concussion that left her in a coma for 10 days. Both incidents had happened before she met Christian. Thus, he had never known her other than she was now. Brain damaged. She couldn't teach full-time anymore but she still put in as much time as possible helping in the classrooms. When she wasn't doing that, she helped in Mia's restaurant. Both situations put her under stress her mind couldn't always handle and also made her a target of those who saw only a beautiful and helpless woman.

CHAPTER 4

"She'd always been a little naïve, I guess. She never understood that people could hate her for being happy and lovely. The guy who smashed her skull asked her to get into his car and go to dinner. She smiled and said no thank you. She doesn't remember anything after that. He's in prison now. He told the police that she was stuck up, didn't want to be seen in his crummy car and she had no right to turn him down just because he wasn't rich and handsome. Said that she deserved what she got."

Mia had told Grey all that one night as they sat together with the rest of the family in a waiting room after Ana had a car accident that they thought was related to the brain damage. At that time, Grey had only known Ana for a few weeks when Mia had used Ana's phone to call him. Her voice on the phone terrified him…hysterical and sobbing. He was already in love and thought that he'd lost Ana.

However, she'd come through that and all that followed. Perhaps it was knowing that their time together could be limited that made Grey never take her for granted for a moment. It was also why his time-consuming job was wearing on him. He loathed the out-of-town trips, especially those that took him overseas for a week at a time. He hated being called into work on the nights and weekends for emergencies. He just plain couldn't stand to be away from her.

Some of his colleagues kidded him about how he always had his hands on Ana. Maybe if he'd believed that their time together was unlimited, he wouldn't need to be always touching her.

Maybe. But what he did know was that, yes, being apart from Ana was painful. Leaving her in the morning, soft and warm in their bed, made him physically ache. He would breathe deeply, back and forth, as he drove to the office.

As he rode up in his elevator, he would make the switch internally from bereft lover to hard ass CEO. No one under his command ever saw weakness. He'd worked hard to craft an image that made others take a step back. He'd developed a reputation as a ruthless negotiator and a heartless competitor. He was the youngest CEO of the top companies in the Forbes 500. Anyone who smirked at his youth would soon rue their ignorance.

He would nod a cold good morning to his PA, Andrea, who would promptly serve his latte and scone. Then she would get gone to the relative safety of her own station. Once she'd left, Grey would loosen the noose around his neck, settle his suit coat on the back of his chair and let out the breath he'd been holding. He'd sip his coffee, eat his scone and lean back in his chair, whirling about to look out at the skyline and then begin to swipe his phone screen to find the Ana gallery…starting with that morning's shot of Ana sleeping in their bed. Just perusing his gallery helped him to relax.

Heaving a heavy sigh, he'd take one last glance at their wedding photo on his desk and then he'd switch on his laptop and begin the day's grind. He really couldn't complain that his job was difficult in the sense that he found it hard to do. On the contrary, he could do the work in his sleep. He'd been blessed with a brilliant mind, an analytical brain that could suss out a spreadsheet's contents in minutes. He rarely had to study a potential acquisition for more than a day before making decisions. He was also a genius at hiring and retaining the best people. Turnover at Summit, Inc. was confined mainly to people who retired, got sick or who were poached for a CEO position at another company. As soon as he'd decided on an acquisition, he turned over his findings to the various departments…legal and such…who would return to him with a contract for his signature. It would then go to the board for their rubber stamp. Sometimes, the board would refuse to sign. Increasingly, Grey did not argue with them. He would simply shrug and move on.

He owned 49% of the company now and could easily acquire a controlling interest but he was less and less enthused about the company mission. Why own 51% of something one didn't care to own?

CHAPTER 5

At 9 a.m. he would make his first call of the day to his wife. Usually, she would be up, dressed and on her way to the school. Sometimes, she would be still asleep. Then he would get a grip and call the housekeeper to go check on her. While he waited, he would clench and unclench his fist and break a sweat.

"Hi, honey! How's your day going so far?" She was awake and lucid and feeling good! He felt his lungs take in a breath.

A short conversation with his wife would be like a massage for his soul. They would talk for a while and then he would go back to work. Before noon, they would text back and forth, or email several times. If at all possible, Ana would come to Summit to have lunch with her husband. Finally, 5 o'clock would roll around and Grey could rush home to his wife. On the nights when she would help at the restaurant, he would help, too…enabling him to make certain that Ana would eat. Otherwise, she would forget.

Lately, he would lie awake with Ana sleeping in his arms, trying to think of a way to keep her by his side 24/7 so that he could protect her, care for her and be with her. He had concentrated the whole last year on building the share price of Summit, Inc. The dividend income could then support him and Ana comfortably. Gradually, over a period of years, he could sell his shares. He'd personally built Summit into a top company but was not confident of its worth when he was no longer in charge. He had, in fact, tried to quit a few years earlier but the board had panicked and offered him such a large raise and so many perks that he felt that he couldn't logically leave at that point.

Now, however, he was a very wealthy man who wouldn't have to work another day in his life if he so chose. He knew that retiring so young would be frowned upon by his wife's family. Everyone worked so hard and Ray Steele, in particular, would doubt Grey's character.

Ana, though, would always be on his side. His mind drifted back to their first meeting. He didn't know what to make of the gamine who sat down at his table and beamed at him. As a requirement of his job, he was expected to attend all sorts of industry-related dinners and charity events to promote good will toward Summit, Inc. At the gala, he usually sat alone, enduring the unwanted attention of women flashing their breasts in his face while they tried to charm him into dancing with them. He begged off everything offered to him and continually checked his Rolex for a time when he could decently duck out.

He was actually looking at his watch when he became aware of someone sitting down at his table. He'd been so successfully anti-social for several hours and was ready to go home to a lack of clothing and a great bourbon. Now he obviously had to greet someone. He drew in a deep breath and turned to see the prettiest face he'd ever gazed into in his life. There were beautiful women at the ball and he'd had "dates" with many gorgeous women. He was always truthful about his lack of interest in an in-depth, long haul relationship with any of them. They didn't believe him, of course. They were certain that he'd had his heart broken but that they could mend it. Except for a couple of attachments that lasted several weeks due to Grey's inability to be brutally honest, all of his sexual experiences were basically one night stands.

His shrink had tried to find out the reason for Grey's inability to commit but had been stymied at every turn. Part of the issue was that Grey wasn't disturbed about this problem. He'd been seeing Dr. Flynn only because of sleep issues. Lack of a permanent sleep partner was not his issue, he insisted. He slept with women at their places so that he could easily get away. He was not looking for a lover, just a good night's sleep.

He stared at the pretty woman. She wasn't like the other women there. She wore a bit of mascara and some lip tint but was otherwise unadorned with makeup. She wore a simple gold chain with a ruby pendant around her lovely neck. No earrings. No rings. No bracelets. Her dress was of palest pink and seemed to be made of gossamer. She was wearing simple pink slippers. All this information Grey took in at a glance. The loveliest things about her were her shining blue eyes and her sweet smile.

Grey found himself stuck to his chair, unable to get up and go…unable to speak. He was just staring. The pretty girl didn't seem bothered. She continued to smile at him. Then she leaned closer.

"I would like to dance with you. Do you dance? If not, we could just sway. I like that, too."

CHAPTER 6

The girl put her arms around his neck so he put his around her tiny waist. She continued smiling at him.

"May I put my head on your chest? I can't reach your shoulder." She asked. He nodded.

They moved slowly around the floor, holding each other. She was so close that he found his arms wrapped completely around her back. Her scent was intoxicating. She smelled like apples and vanilla. He grew brave and put his head down into her hair. He felt as though he was floating. His feet moved of their own accord. Usually he was insecure about his waltzing skills but dancing with this girl came as naturally as breathing. He didn't hear the music.

She leaned back from his chest and softly said that the music had stopped.

"It did? Why?" he asked.

"I think it's time for the fireworks. Will you watch them with me?" He nodded his acquiescence. This earned him a beaming smile and he felt his heart hammering. They walked arm in arm out to the stone wall guarding the waterfront. The fireworks were being set off from an island out in the Sound and seemed to be directly over their heads. It was stunning and magical and the whole time he and the girl held each other.

With the final brilliant burst of light, the show was over. People began to drift back to the gala tent. Grey stood still, afraid to move, waiting for the girl to say good night and dreading it.

"Now we can see the stars. They aren't as bright here with the house lights and the city lights in the distance but they're still beautiful. Sometimes, very late at night, I take my little boat and I row down the way, far from any artificial light and then I just lie in the boat and watch the stars move across the heavens. I used to know all the constellations but they're gone now."

Gone now?

"You go out alone, late, on the water? That seems dangerous," Grey frowned.

She smiled at his frown. She liked it. She could tell that he was the sort of man who protected those he loved. She felt safe with this stranger. Her father would be appalled at her recklessness. She used to be a lot of things that she wasn't any more. She used to be careful, to question her decisions. Now she just acted as she felt. Sometimes, she felt the wrench freed her.

"Would you like to go with me sometime?"

"Yes," he heard himself saying. He didn't recognize himself… in the moment with her. The crowd

had gone. The girl took Grey's hand and pulled him down the hill to the boathouse. It was natural and easy and he didn't think about it. In the boathouse was a large canoe-like vessel. On its deck was a thick mat of some kind. They climbed in and the girl began rowing out into the Sound.

"Let me," Grey said. "There's two of us now and I'm an extra 100 lbs. at least." The girl handed over the oar and Grey expertly turned the boat and headed straight into the darkness at the other end of the Sound. It suddenly occurred to him that neither of them was wearing a life jacket.

"Can you swim well?" he asked.

"I used to swim very well. I don't know if I still can but perhaps it's like riding a bike," she answered.

He couldn't see her face now. Soon, they were in a very dark place. They'd turned a bend and the city was no longer visible. He brought the oar inside the boat. He felt the girl move closer to him and lean into his chest.

"Now look up," she said. She was right. The skies were alive in a display far exceeding the splendor of the fireworks. Excitedly, she pointed to a shooting star.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness lit by stars, he could clearly see the girl's face. He felt overcome by feelings he didn't recognize. He didn't understand what it was but something was happening to him. It wasn't that he was happy or unhappy about it. It just existed as it should.

She was now in his arms. He did what felt natural, even necessary. She kissed him and he kissed her. They melted into each other more and more. Their mouths stayed together, rarely opening for air. He was dizzy with the joy of it. As he pulled her ever more tightly to him, she reached up for his hair, moving her hand through it and pulling it as the fever between them raged.

He didn't know how long they kissed. He didn't think to try to make love to her. He couldn't seem to think beyond her mouth. He needed it. He wanted it like he'd never before wanted a mouth. At one point, he had a thought…this is madness. Then he had no more thoughts…just need and want.

When they fell asleep, he didn't know. He was awakened by a light drizzle wetting his face. He quickly removed his jacket and covered the girl who was still sleeping. He looked around. They had drifted back toward the house, thank goodness. The water was quiet. He managed to pick up the oar and awkwardly began to row toward the boathouse without jostling the girl. He maneuvered the boat into its slip.

The entire time the girl slept. She seemed quite peaceful and this made him feel peaceful as well. He had never behaved so…so inappropriately. He had loved every minute of it. He supposed that he would have to wake her at some point but to do so seemed wrong. He couldn't conceive of nudging her awake. He fell back to sleep himself.

CHAPTER 7

A heavy hand was on his shoulder, shaking him hard. He opened his eyes and looked up into the very angry eyes of Raymond Steele. Everyone knew Mr. Steele. This gala, in fact, was the work of him and his wife. It was for the benefit of a cause close to Grey's own heart and, thus, he contributed quite a bit of money to it.

"Hello, Mr. Steele," he whispered. "The girl isn't awake yet. I don't want to disturb her."

Steele looked at him and the way Grey was holding his daughter. He bent down and looked carefully at her.

"She won't wake up for several hours now," he growled as he lifted her out of Grey's arms.

Grey was concerned but was surprised to find that the girl did, indeed, seem very deep in sleep.

"Is she all right?" he asked Steele. Ray looked Grey over and then told him to come into the house.

Back in the house, Steele's wife removed Grey's jacket and handed it back to him. She smiled at him. She was pleased that he'd been so considerate of her daughter.

"You're rather soaked, Mr. Grey. Ray, bring one of your shirts back with you after you put Ana to bed."

Ana. Her name was Ana. Ana Steele. She was not just another guest who bought a ticket to a ball. She was the daughter of the Steeles. He'd spent the night in a boat with Raymond Steele's daughter. Lord love a duck. How much trouble was he in? he wondered.

Grey stood in the middle of the Steel's Great room, feeling awkward. People were staring at him. Two men he took to be Ana's brothers and a tall, green-eyed brunette….Ana's sister? Ana looked nothing like any of them. They were studying him intensely. Could he just walk out the front door? No. He needed to know if Ana was all right. How was she sleeping so deeply?

Finally, Ray Steele returned. He handed a shirt to Grey and ordered him into his study. As Grey followed him down a hallway and into a English manor style office, he removed his wet shirt and donned the dry one. It fit. He stood until he was told to sit. Normally, no one gave orders to Grey but this situation was different. He felt obliged to explain himself.

"I suppose that you want to know…." he began. Steele raised a hand and cut him off.

"I know that you are who you purport to be, Mr. Grey. Nothing goes on in this town that I don't know about."

Grey noticed Mrs. Steele, standing behind her husband, roll her eyes. Thus, he understood this to be a sort of drama that Mr. Steele put on to frighten interlopers. He relaxed a bit.

"Fine. I need to know about Ana. Is she all right? She was sleeping so soundly. I'm worried."

"My daughter is none of your business, Mr. Grey," Steele responded sternly.

"I disagree. I would appreciate an answer." Grey's manner was just as firm.

Grace smiled. She found herself rather liking this man. It certainly had nothing to do with his devastating good looks and those silver eyes. Well, maybe a little but she also enjoyed watching a man stand up to her domineering husband. This was a first.

"Ana was injured and sometimes she can lapse into a mini-coma. It is nothing serious. She'll simply sleep quite a while. She'll wake up later today and be bright as a daisy."

She noted that Grey went pale and his brow furrowed. "Nothing serious?"

"We have our daughter's health well in hand, Mr. Grey. You needn't concern yourself." Ray Steele was glowering at Grey.

Grace patted her husband's shoulder and some of the tension in him seemed to dissipate.

"I'm Grace Steele," she offered a hand.

"I'm Christian Grey," he took her hand.

CHAPTER 8

"Tell us about yourself, Christian," she smiled at him warmly. He eased back in the chair.

"Anything you want to know, including my net worth, Grace. I don't want to conceal anything from you."

Nodding at Ray Steele, he said that, as Steele already knew, he was the CEO of Summit, Inc. He was unmarried and unattached in any way…except, of late, to Ana Steele. If she was agreeable, he intended to continue seeing her.

"Tell us about your family, Christian."

Grey hesitated. "I was born in Detroit. Shortly after my birth, my teenage mother dropped me off at a fire station. I was quite ill and, therefore, unadoptable." He noted a flash of pain cross the face of Mrs. Steele. For him?

"It was some time, some years, before I was healthy and no one wanted an older child so I grew up in foster care. There were a dozen homes until I was 16 and landed with the Greys. They were truly family for me and wanted to adopt me which they were allowed to do when I turned 18 and left state care.

"I had been awarded a full scholarship at Harvard. I worked 30 hours a week to pay for living expenses. I graduated summa cum laude and was valedictorian of my class. I was hired as a vice president at Summit, Inc. and promoted to CEO a year later."

"Where does your family live, Christian?" Grace asked kindly. She quickly noted the gray cloud pass over his face.

"My freshman year I received word that my adoptive parents and two siblings were all deceased. House fire. Nothing left of my past life but ashes. After I graduated and earned some money, I established markers for them at Forest Lawn Cemetery. I was given to understand that it was the finest cemetery in Seattle." He stopped, needing to swallow the lump in his throat.

"I've been CEO at Summit for the past few years. I have no attachments at present. I'm a bit of a loner and did not come to your gala this year or any year in the past to meet anyone. Your daughter was a surprise. She came to sit at my table and asked me to dance with her. I've never met anyone like her."

"She is special," Ray remarked…his manner softened. "We are quite protective of her. My wife believes that you are as well. This has all happened rather suddenly. Ana has never taken to someone so easily."

Grey smiled at this. "I'm honored, sir." Grace smiled at him softly. She liked his courtly manners. Maybe this man could be someone special for Ana…someone who could understand her.

"May I ask, sir…Ana doesn't resemble any of your other children," Grey felt intrusive but he was puzzled. The two brothers were quite tall and well-built and Ana's sister was stunning but, again, looked nothing like Ana.

Grace and Ray exchanged a look and then Grace shrugged…as if giving her husband permission to speak of private family matters.

"When we first married, we were unable to have children. Grace and I suffered through several miscarriages. Concerned for her health, I had the snip. We adopted three siblings. They were an easy sell, wonderful children. We considered our family complete. Then Grace thought that she was experiencing early menopause. Imagine our surprise when her doctor told us that she was pregnant. It was a difficult pregnancy. Grace was so ill and I was a nervous wreck. However, no miscarriage. The baby went to term. A rather sickly little girl but determined to live."

Grey smiled. Ana was still determined to live.

CHAPTER 9

The interrogation in Steele's study seemed to wind down as the door opened and a sleepy Ana walked in. Her short hair was askew and sitting up in all directions. Her dress was wrinkled and twisted around. Her feet were bare. Grey was staring, lost to the world.

"Ana, you're awake," Ray was surprised. He went to her side and placed his hand on her forehead. She seemed to pay no mind.

"I hope that you're not yelling at this man, daddy. He was quite nice to me. I like him."

Christian stood, beaming at his little beauty. "Ana, how are you feeling?"

"Quite good, actually. What is your name?"

"Christian. Christian Grey." He continued to look at her, dumb and dazzled.

"Mom, I'd like Christian to come to dinner. Would that be okay with you?" Grace gazed at her daughter fondly and said of course her friend could come to dinner. Ray didn't look so sure but Ana merely hugged him and left the room.

Ray sat back down in his chair and began to lecture Grey on his behavior, his lack of good family and so on but Grey was still staring at the door. He wasn't hearing a thing that Ray was saying. Ray threw up his hands and grumbled. Grace put her arms around his shoulders and whispered in his ear. He grumbled again.

"Grey, Grey!"

Grey slowly turned to Ray and said that he'd love to come to dinner. Should he bring a nice bottle of wine? You have my number. I'll await your call. So nice to meet you ma'am, sir.

With that, Grey left the room and the house. He walked down the street to his car in a daze. What the hell had just happened to him? What was he doing?

Back at Steele Manor, Grace and Ray sat quietly together on his study couch, his arm around her shoulders. Their three older children walked in and just looked at them. They had questions.

Mia sat next to her mother. "Mom, Elliot, Ethan and I have concerns. Who the hell is this guy who had Ana out on a boat all night?

Grace patted her daughter's hand in reassurance.

"His name is Christian Grey and, if I'm not mistaken, he is her beau."

CHAPTER 10

Christian spent the whole of Sunday staring at the phone. Why hadn't he gotten her number? And what was his problem? He had been with women so beautiful that men froze in place, gaping. Yet with them, he had been bored. Even the sex was only so-so. They would do anything that he asked of them but none of it had meant much.

Ana. She was pretty…just a pretty little girl with big blue eyes and a little bow mouth that tasted delicious. She felt so good, so perfect in his arms. He liked the way he could envelope all of her in his embrace.

His phone rang. He stopped breathing. The ID said unknown. He never answeredUnknowns.

"Hello, this is Christian Grey."

"Mr. Grey, this Sharon with Auto Warranty Plus. We would like to offer you an extension of your current warranty. You know, one never knows when…" Grey bellowed and threw the phone across the room and against the wall where it shattered. Suddenly, panicking, he rooted around in his bottom desk drawer for another IPhone. Then he desperately pried open the back of the broken phone and removed the sim card. With trembling hands he slipped the card into the back of the new phone and reinstalled the battery. A nanosecond later it vibrated and then rang.

He answered breathless.

"Christian? Are you all right? You sound out of breath." The sweet voice of Ana.

"Oh, yeah. Just working out, you know. Pumping iron."

"I don't want to interrupt. Should I call back?"

"No. No." Calm down. You sound anxious. "Hi, Ana. How are you today?"

"Hungry. When will you be here?"

"Was I expected tonight?"

"About 30 minutes ago. I guess we had a miscommunication. Do you still want to come to dinner?"

"I'll be there in 30 minutes or less."

"It's okay. Take your time. We'll wait. Bye bye."

"We'll wait!?" Elliot groaned. "I'm starving, Ana. If this guy can't be bothered to be on time for a date with my baby sister, I say we kick him to the curb. Who's with me?"

Mia laughed. "Shut up, El. No one is with you. The rest of us aren't bottomless pits. I want to see this guy again. He was mighty easy to look at, right, Ana?"

Ana blushed. "Mia, he's really nice. Did you want him instead?"

"No, Ana. Nor does he want me. From what I saw yesterday, he's team Ana all the way. And you still haven't told us what happened last night. We saw you dancing and then snuggling by the water but then you disappeared."

"Oh, we just floated down the water a ways to get far from the lights. You know…so we could see the stars. Then I kissed him."

CHAPTER 11

"You what!?" Ray stormed out of the study.

"Daddy, how did you hear me all the way down the hall?" Ana giggled.

"Fathers have big ears and excellent hearing. He kissed you out on that boat?!"

"No. I kissed him. He was shy. At first."

Ray groaned. Elliot and Ethan had clenched fists while Mia roared with laughter as she rolled about on the couch.

"You go, girl. I was afraid that you'd never take an interest in the opposite sex."

"Mia, you stay out of this," Ethan yelled at her. "Ana, you can't go around kissing men you just met."

"Oh, Ethan, we hadn't just met. I asked him to dance with me almost two hours earlier," Ana protested.

"Wait. You asked him? And then you kissed him? Good grief, I'm afraid to ask," Elliot winced. "Did you also ask him down to the boat?"

"Of course. He didn't know it was there."

Mia was clapping her hands together as her father and brothers turned red and their eyes bulged.

"You," Elliot roared at her, "taught her to behave like a strumpet!"

"Well, I tried but it never seemed like she was listening. I was afraid that she'd grow old alone in this house. I'm really proud of you, lil sis. When you take off, you take off like a rocket. A grand beginning to your dating life." Mia was beaming at Ana.

"But, Mia. This isn't the beginning of my dating life. I'm not going to date anyone else. I'm going to marry Christian," Ana grinned happily.

When the doorbell rang and the maid ushered a flustered Christian Grey into the Great Room, he was greeted by a glowing Ana and her stunned, flush-faced family. Grace, busy in the kitchen, never heard the commotion. She came out to sweetly greet Christian, wondering why he looked so pale. She stood between him and the men in the family advancing on him. She noted the looks on their faces and sensed the tension in the room.

Well, now what?

"It's so nice to see you again, Christian. I'm sorry for not calling. We thought Ana had done so and she thought that she'd already asked. But that's just fine. Everything is still hot and ready to go. Ana, why don't you bring your young man into the dining room and show him where to sit," Grace suggested graciously.

"I'll show him where to sit," Ray muttered.

Christian was oblivious. He figured that these guys didn't like to wait for their dinner. He apologized for being so late and explained that he'd misunderstood that the invitation was for tonight. From the stares he was getting, he wondered what else he'd done wrong. He'd worn a sweater with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of jeans and sneakers. Perhaps he'd dressed too casually. Of course, Elliot seemed to be in a pair of sweats….and Ethan was wearing scrubs and a t-shirt. Maybe they thought that with Christian being a guest he should have tried harder?

Whatever it was, he was nervous as hell. Then Ana kissed him on the cheek and took his hand. He audibly sighed. He looked down at her. She looked up at him. There was no one else in the room.

He didn't know what he had for dinner. He didn't know what he was drinking. He couldn't hear the conversation. He just nodded a lot which was unfortunate when he was supposed to shake his head instead. Ana didn't eat much either. She was a righty and that hand was busy holding Christian's.

At some point, Grace managed to get his attention to ask if he'd like a jello salad. He nodded. He awkwardly picked up a spoon…he was a lefty and that hand was holding Ana's…and scooped a spoonful of jello. When he chomped down on a walnut, he cringed and yowled.

"Don't like nuts in your food, Grey?" Ethan snarked. He and Elliot were now the ones amused.

"So sorry, Mrs. Steele. I was just surprised." Grace was looking chagrined.

"Oh, Christian. I didn't think. Well, no more nuts in our food." Ethan and Elliot were not amused.

Christian felt a piece of tooth go down his throat. He swallowed a lot of water. Ana watched him with concern. A tiny v formed between her brows. It was such a wee v and so adorable. Without thinking, he leaned over and kissed it. They smiled at each other. The family stared.

Their heads were buzzing. Elliot was sure that he could wave his hand in front of their faces and it would be to no avail. He and his family were simply an intrusion in their world. Ethan nudged his brother and gave him an expression of dismay. Their little Ana wasn't theirs anymore. Mia was staring…dumbstruck. Ray and Grace gazed at each from their opposite ends of the table…touched by a sudden memory from their own youths.

CHAPTER 12

On Monday, Grey visited his dentist who discovered a crown missing. "I swear that walnut was like a piece of rock," Grey complained. The dentist replaced the crown and told him to not put nuts in his food.

Meanwhile, Ana and Mia were raiding their closets, trying to find something for Ana to wear on her date with Christian that night. He was taking her to the Mile High Club, the fanciest place in town. Ana would have preferred a hot dog vendor but she and Christian still had things to learn about each other.

"Suppose I wear jeans and a sweat shirt? Maybe he'll be too embarrassed to take me to that club and we can go to a food truck," Ana proposed.

"Nope. Honey, the way that man looks at you I don't think he'd notice your clothes and he'd never be embarrassed by anything you do." Mia's theory would be tested and proven many times over the years.

"Of course, you could just tell him that you'd rather eat at a food truck," she suggested.

"No. He was excited to take me to the Mile High Club…especially after I said that I'd never been there. He thinks that he's really treating me." Ana shrugged.

An hour later, Christian was sitting on his bed, fully dressed to kill and looking at his watch. Just three hours until he could leave for Steele Manor. He stared into space. Odd, he thought, I barely recognize myself.

For years he had been steel. It was how he'd survived a dozen foster homes, the heartbreaking loss of the Greys who'd given him their love and their name, the sweat and toil of completing a bachelors and a Masters in business in four years and edging out the competition for a vice-presidency at Summit, Inc.

.+.

He sat in the waiting area, observing his competition for the job. Men in their 40s and 50s. He was 22. He didn't need to see their resumes to know that they were highly trained and experienced professionals. He knew that when he walked into the office to be interviewed, the board would raise their eyebrows right up into their receding hairlines.

He had not submitted the usual resume. He'd simply called and charmed the receptionist into adding his name to the list. He supposed that he'd have to treat her to dinner at least once.

He waited a long time as each seasoned businessman came and went. He was last. A rather dumpy-looking woman in her 50s greeted him and ushered him into the board room. She smiled at him. She hadn't smiled at the others. "Go get'em, sweetheart," she whispered. He knew the voice. He hadn't charmed a vacuous babe in her 20s. He'd charmed someone's grandmother.

He got'em, all right. Ten minutes in…they didn't know what hit them. The baby-faced Harvard valedictorian with the 4.+ GPA and the stack of recommendations…every one of his professors, the dean, the president and a list of alumni who knew all the board members and warned every one of them to hire this guy or rue the day they let him go to someone else.

He smiled at them…even other men were not inured to his dazzling good looks…and told them that he'd made a thorough study of their current business model and their bottom line. We have work to do, he cautioned, if we're going to save this company.

He then outlined Summit's issues and problems. He offered ideas for solutions and invited them to use those ideas even if they hired someone else. However, he also warned that only he knew how to properly implement those ideas. He said that it would take him the better part of the coming year to save Summit but, he grinned, it takes time to turn the Titanic around.

Then, having said all he intended to say, he said that if anyone had any questions, they should give him a call. He had to leave for another interview. And Good Day.

They didn't let him get as far as the door.

CHAPTER 13

He kept to his word. Within the year, Summit's share price doubled as investors could see that something spectacular was happening over there. By the end of the year, Summit was so far into the black that the board was gobsmacked. They had, from the start, fought Grey on almost every move and, from the start, he had somehow gotten around them and dragged the company up from the muck.

He had chosen Summit deliberately even though he'd been headhunted by excellent companies all over the United States. He didn't want an excellent company that didn't need him. He wanted a once great company that he could steer safely to shore. That, he knew, was the way to make his name. Those other companies, including Microsoft and Google, were trying to poach him after just six months and offering twice his salary but he didn't want money. He wanted to prove himself. He wanted to bring honor to the Grey name.

It had been a rough go. It wasn't only the board that stood in his way but the CEO and the COO, Ros Bailey, who made life very difficult for him. Ros, however, after almost a year of watching the way he worked and how ridiculously hard he worked, had become his champion…helping to push through every one of his changes. The CEO was jealous and angry and he stayed that way right up until the moment he was fired by the board and Christian was given his job and his corner office.

Christian had made significant moves for himself as well. He lived well below his means that first year, using 75% of his salary to buy up Summit stock while it was so cheap. By month 6 he was well off enough to buy a condo and a sports car…but…he didn't. He just kept buying stock. He had a clever move in his pocket that he was saving until after his promotion. When he was truly in charge and with Ros on his side, he intended to triple the price of Summit stock.

By the time he was named CEO, Grey owned 30% of the company. No one except Ros seemed to notice. She, herself, had been buying stock since month 9 of his reign. Was this considered illegal insider trading? Neither gave it much thought. Grey had faith in himself and Ros had faith in Grey…that was all it was. Saving his big move for his promotion might have been a little dicey but so was the move and it depended on the extent of his power within the company and his influence with the board.

He waited a few months into his new position before presenting his plans to the board. There were gasps and open mouths all around the table. Grey held in an exasperated sigh. These old farts had no imagination and no guts. Of course, he'd known that when he went after the VP position and it was one of the reasons for his interest in Summit. Big fish in a little pond, he thought. That is, until he could build a bigger pond. Now was the time.

"We're going global, gentlemen. We're going to buy a company in Thailand that has tech we want. The company, Thaicom, is struggling due to poor management. They are positioned to accept an offer. Within six months, I can turn them around. This will give us the recognition we require to open other markets to us and to have other companies make offers before we even have to ask."

The board was hesitant, scared. In all of Summit, Inc.'s time, there had never been a suggestion of any intention to go global. And, gosh, they were doing so well now, why rock the boat?

Grey leaned down, his hands on the table. He looked each man in the eye in turn.

"When I began with Summit, Inc., it was a little fish…and beginning to stink."

"Summit is now a shark, gentlemen. If we don't keep moving, we will die."

Their eyes grew large.

Then he laid down his best card. "I intend to be CEO of a great white, gentlemen."

They took his meaning, his threat. They acquiesced. They went global.

CHAPTER 14

Grey paced his bedroom, constantly checking his Rolex. It was the first expensive item that he'd treated himself to after buying Thaicom. Risk after risk, move after move and now when great companies were mentioned, Summit, Inc. was among them. Surely, Ray Steele knew this. Grey expected that a man like Steele would have had Grey deeply vetted before he let him date his daughter.

Aside from losing a crown, dinner had gone well…although he couldn't recall tasting a thing aside from that damn walnut. He didn't remember any of the conversation except for the few remarks made by Ana. He remembered Ana. Ana and the soft little v between her shining blue eyes.

Time! It was Time! He was expected at 6 p.m. It would take him exactly 20 minutes to make the drive to Steele Manor. It was 5:35. Five minutes to get to the car and 20 minutes to get to her door. He took a deep breath and ran for the car.

.+.

"Daddy," Ana groaned, "do all of you have to be standing around intimidating Christian like this?"

"We're only being polite, Ana," Elliot replied.

"Yes, little bean, we're greeting him," Ethan agreed. The nickname was an old one. Ethan had been 7 when his parents took him and his older brother to see the new baby. He and his siblings had been together always and adopted all together. They were a tight tribe and news of an intruder had been unsettling. As their mother's tummy grew…as they could feel the baby kick… as Mia cheered the news that it was a girl…each development was more disconcerting. This thing was real. And now, as he was led…unwilling…to an incubator to look at this thing, Ethan was not happy.

He looked down at the tiny, red being. It was covered in circles sticking to it with lines coming out. It even had tubes in it. His parents encouraged him to reach in through the hole and touch her finger with his pinky. The baby immediately grasped onto it. Ethan gasped and fell in love. His parents had to drag him away. It was Elliot's turn. Ethan broke away from his parents' hands and ran down the hall.

"Elliot, she's so little. She's like a little bean with arms and legs. Boy, does she have a grip!"

Elliot looked doubtful but Ethan knew that he'd come around. And he did. Mia, who was only 5 and not allowed in the hospital, peppered them with questions about her new sister. That she wasn't one of the tribe really…not their biological sister…never crossed their minds. It also rarely crossed their minds that the bean belonged to their parents. The tribe took charge of her the moment she finally arrived home.

They changed diapers and urged their mother to "hurry up and pump" so that they could feed the bean. Grace loved the 3 a.m. feedings when it was just her breast and her baby. She also loved when the tribe had to go off to school in the mornings. As they ran out the door, Grace would be told all the things needed doing for the bean. They referred to her always as "our" baby as though she were a Christmas present given to them and them alone.

Of course, as she grew and became Anastasia, the baby who got into everything and wrecked their toys and cried so loudly in the middle of the night and took up so much of their parent's attention…well, then she was just another member of the tribe. Still, she was always special and they were quite protective of her. Besides, it was necessary because she seemed to get into trouble a lot.

Like now. That guy was at the door. He drove a sports car…probably too fast.

As they watched, all gathered at the door as Grey and Ana drove away, Christian glanced back at the mob that had "greeted" him. All they were lacking were pitch forks and torches. He drove slowly until they were out of sight of Steele Manor. Then he gunned it as Ana squealed in delight.

CHAPTER 15

Ana began to stir in his arms. It was almost 3 p.m. By the time they showered and dressed and made the trek back to Summit, it would be after 4 p.m….too late to pick up on work again. Besides, he knew that Andrea would have cleared his schedule.

He kissed Ana's head, breathing in her scent. She looked up at him and smiled sleepily.

"Hi, hubby. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," he lied. He'd spent her entire nap keeping watch. "How about you?"

"I always sleep well on this boat. I think it's the rocking motion. Maybe we could find a bed that rocks."

"It certainly does when we're in it," he joked. Ana obliged him with a giggle. Then she nuzzled his chest and reached down below the sheet.

"You're insatiable, you know that?" Then he groaned as she crawled under the sheet and he grabbed onto the bed.

.+.

He'd assumed when he met Ana that she was sexually inexperienced. He would take it as slow as necessary. It didn't matter how long it took, he would be gentle and respectful. No pressure.

Their first date went very well. It was the first time that they'd really talked. He wanted to know everything about her. As they were cruising down the freeway into town, she popped out with her desire to have ten children.

He gripped the wheel and was barely able to maintain control.

"Ten seems a tad extreme."

"Do you think?" she laughed, hard.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He wasn't laughing but her laugh was making him hard.

"Two or three doesn't sound so bad now, does it?" she continued laughing.

"Maybe we should get to know each other better before I impregnate you," he snarled.

Ana couldn't stop laughing. His displeasure made her laugh even harder. Inside, he was smiling. She wasn't afraid to make him mad. She trusted him. She could see him. No one had ever before been able to do that.

Heads swiveled as the handsome couple made their way through the Mile High to the private room that Grey had reserved. That wasn't unusual. Grey was gorgeous and the women he brought to dinner were gorgeous. Something about this girl was different from his usual, however. She wasn't a statuesque blonde. She wasn't stacked. She wasn't wearing 6 inch stilettoes and she wasn't, well, too much. She was a pixie-haired brunette. She was petite, wearing flats. Her appearance and the way she walked was subdued. Her attitude wasn't screaming "I'm dining with Christian Grey, you schmucks"! And there was something else.

Grey was different. He was walking with pride and a kind of joy about him. He couldn't take his eyes or his hands off of the pretty little girl he was escorting. He said something to her and she turned her head to beam up at him. Wow. She was so pretty!

They disappeared into their dining room. The walls and door were framed in wood, of course, but the walls themselves were glass, blocked by curtains. People stared, hoping for a shadow or something to give away what was happening in that room.

Grey seated his girl and then moved his chair from the other end of the table so that he was sitting right next to her. It was her turn to smile inwardly.

"Christian, why were all those people staring at us? Do I have something in my teeth?"

CHAPTER 16

Grey leaned over, cupping her head in his hand and pulling her mouth to his. "Yes," he breathed into her, "my tongue." He wouldn't have stopped kissing her if they hadn't been interrupted by a quiet knock on the door. He sighed and sat up.

The waiter smiled and took their order. Oh? Didn't Mr. Grey want his steak slathered with garlic and onions as usual? No, thank you.

"He's going to be kissing me a lot," the girl smiled. Grey shook his head and chuckled. He wondered if he'd ever get used to no-filter Ana.

Ana ordered dessert. Grey looked disturbed. "Ana, you have to eat something substantial before you load up on sugar," he said, looking chagrined.

"Well, I'm not very hungry so I want to use what appetite I have on the good stuff," she politely explained. Grey suddenly realized that he wasn't really hungry either.

"I'll just have what she's having," he told the astonished waiter. They wouldn't believe this back in the kitchen. Mr. Grey was usually a very picky and healthy eater. The chef was always nervous about making Grey's steak and he always loaded up on garlic and onions. Huh.

Grey and Ana began talking and talking. He leaned on his elbow and she rested her arms on the table and they talked almost nose to nose. He told her about his business and she told him about her students and he explained his growing years and she laughed about the trials of being the baby of the family.

"My brothers are the worst!" she exclaimed. "They won't let up on you until we've been married 50 years."

"Oh, we're getting married?" he smiled. Oh, yeah. They were.

"Not right away. I want to be courted properly."

"I see. Now what would "properly" entail? Should I be taking notes?"

"No. We'll play it by ear and I'll offer necessary corrections as we go along." She kissed his nose.

"How am I doing so far…courting-wise?"

"Oh, you're performing beautifully." She looked into his eyes. "You didn't answer my question from before."

"I forget. Which question?"

"Why were all those people staring at us when we walked in?"

"I eat here frequently. My dates are usually quite ordinary….stunning blondes, all blending together. They were staring at you. You're different. You're extraordinarily beautiful."

That annoying knock came again. The waiter walked in with their "meals". There had been a kerfuffle in the kitchen with the chef insisting that the waiter had misunderstood Mr. Grey. He was back in the kitchen now waiting for an explosion when Mr. Grey's meal arrived…a pile of sugar. Mr. Grey never ate sugar. All was quiet.

The waiter returned with a smug smile. His customers were happy with their orders. The chef sighed in relief.

Grey and Ana fed each other their desserts. It was the entirely cheesy sort of thing that Grey would never have considered doing with any of his other dates. But this…this was a sort of intimate thing and he craved intimacy of any kind with this woman. Every few bites, he kissed her.

Oblivious to anything but Ana, he didn't notice the curtains being slipped slightly to the side to make way for phones and cameras. He'd been photographed often since taking Summit to the top. He was young, incredibly handsome, rich and his dates liked the publicity so the paps were always alerted when he would arrive. His dates also made sure that the paps knew their addresses so that when they returned after dinner, they were seen entering the building together. The paps also caught Grey slipping away at 3 a.m.

His dates were not pleased about his departure so soon after being thoroughly fucked against every flat surface in their apartment. He did not sleep over. Ever. He did not promise to call again. He didn't, in fact, call again. Therefore, his dates did the calling. Usually the Seattle Nooz. Then the chairman of the board would call Grey and attempt to dress him down for his hound dog behavior. Oddly, Summit's share price would go up a few points on Monday as Grey would point out. Still, the chairman would plead, couldn't Grey date with more discretion?

The board even tried to set him up with their daughters and nieces and other "appropriate" young women. He'd politely decline on the grounds of conflict of interest. He had no interest which conflicted with their need to get him suitably settled. While he dated, he never brought a date to any company function. And he was remarkably good at deflecting any cupids aiming his way.

Once, when a board member tried to force Grey into a relationship with his red-headed vixen of a daughter, Grey declined. The board member insisted. Grey politely declined again. The board member accused him of insubordination and threatened his dismissal as CEO. Grey tendered his resignation. The board member backed down. Grey ignored him and took a week's vacation. The board member, now in dutch with the rest of the board, was forced to apologize. Grey liked that he didn't offer a sincere apology. He liked that it was forced upon him. Still, he would return to work only with a raise, a substantial raise.

The board, now incensed at his hubris, set about interviewing candidates for his replacement. Ros refused on the grounds that she liked the share price of her stocks. News that Grey was being replaced sent the stock plummeting. Grey bought up more stock at the new low price. The board conceded and pleaded with Grey to return with a 20% raise. He gave it some thought for another week and then simply walked into the office one day to the applause of his staff. The board fumed. The stock price soared even higher.

"I hate that kid," one board member was heard to mutter.

CHAPTER 17

Christian parked his car a couple of blocks down from Steele Manor so that he and Ana could make out for a while. Soon he knew that he had to stop. He was losing control and Ana was crawling all over him. She was too innocent. She didn't understand what she was doing.

"Ana. Ana. We have to stop. Now." He was breathing so hard and his heart was pounding.

Ana kept coming as he gently but firmly pushed her back. She looked bewildered and a bit hurt. She sat back in her seat and said, "Do you think that I ought to wear my seat belt the two blocks home?"

Christian put his hands and head on the wheel and tried to pull himself together. When his breathing finally slowed, he turned to look at Ana who was looking straight ahead.

"Ana, I'm sorry. I want to keep kissing you. I don't want to ever stop kissing you. No one has ever wound me up like you do."

Now she turned to look at him. "Your hair is messed up. So is mine, I'll bet. I liked your hands being in my hair. Why did we have to stop kissing, Christian? Did I do something wrong? Did I use my tongue the wrong way?"

In the soft light of a nearby street light, Christian could see tears brimming in Ana's eyes. It broke his heart. Hurting her even a little bit was simply not an option. He reached over and pulled her to him, his face buried in her shoulder.

"No, Ana. You've never done the smallest thing wrong. You are perfection…but I'm not. I want you desperately…more than I could ever express."

He leaned back and put his forehead to hers with his hand holding her head. "You are so beautiful and sweet and funny and wonderful in every way. I don't want to stop kissing you but if we keep going, I won't be able to stop at your lips. Do you understand?"

"You want to fuck me?" She asked in a small voice.

"No, baby. I don't want to fuck you. I want to love you. I want to make love to you."

"Okay. Why don't you?"

"First of all, we're in a tiny sports car and secondly, what?" She was willing? Did she understand what he was saying? He hadn't considered that she even knew about sex.

"I want you, too, Christian. I know that fu…making love to me would probably be disappointing for you at first but I can learn. You can teach me…if you don't mind." Her big blue eyes were smiling into his gray eyes now darkening with lust. His head was buzzing and his body was on fire. He had lost control.

"Ana," he gasped out, "we're on our first date and your father would come after me with an AK-47 if I took you home for the night….and it would have to be for the whole night because I wouldn't be able to let you go. In fact, I don't think that I would be able to let you ever go home again."

"I'd be home if I were with you. I knew that the night of the gala when I looked across the room at your sad face and felt something so strong pulling me across the room to you. I'd never felt that way about anyone. I thought for a while that I was asexual but a few minutes in your arms on the dance floor and I knew that I was meant to be with you."

"Ana, I won't deny that my feelings for you are strong and overwhelming. It's nothing I ever expected to happen for me. However, we have to slow down. Now, I'm going to take you home, kiss you goodnight at your front door and then maybe your father will let me take you out again."

Ana giggled and nodded. "Okay, honey. Take me to my parent's house." She put on her seat belt and sat primly with her hands in her lap.

Christian drove slowly down the street and pulled into the driveway of Steele Manor. The front door flew open immediately. There stood all of Ana's family. Grace and Mia were smiling while the men of Steele were staring. It would have been funny if Grey hadn't been so terrified.

CHAPTER 18

Ana removed her seat belt while Christian told her to stay in the car. He'd get her door. He walked around and opened the passenger door and held out his hand to Ana, helping her up from the low seat. Tomorrow he'd trade in the R8 for an SUV.

Kissing Ana goodnight at her door was now out of the question. He smiled as bravely as he could manage and asked if he brought her home too late. No, no, said Grace. They'd all been watching a movie. Grey wondered why all these adult children always seemed to be at their parent's house.

Ray Steele indicated that Grey should come inside and into his study. Ana shot him a sympathetic look. Mia was already dragging her off for a good interrogation. Elliot and Ethan were still staring. It was after midnight. Was that the problem? Geez, Ana was a grown woman who graduated from Harvard years ago. Come to think…why was she still living at home?

Ray slammed down a glass of bourbon in front of Grey. "Thank you, no, sir. I'm not much of a drinker and I have to drive home still. Is there a problem, Mr. Steele?"

"Don't quite trust a man who doesn't drink," Ray growled. Grey gulped.

"I have just lived in too many foster homes with drunks, sir. Kind of put me off alcohol. I've also always had to keep a clear head to work and make it through school."

"You did more than just make it through, Grey. You excelled. Your record is very impressive as is everything you've done since. I'll tell you, I've had you very thoroughly investigated. You are as impressive a man as I have ever met and I like the way you look at my daughter. You obviously care quite a lot for her and you can be trusted with her. So, what are your intentions?"

Ray settled back in his chair and drank his bourbon.

"Well, sir. You are correct that your daughter is very important to me. I intend to keep seeing her as often as possible. I want to get to know her better than I've ever known anyone and I want her to know me the same. I see the future…in her eyes." He hoped it wasn't too dopey a thing to say but it was the truth.

"Ana is special in many ways…some you don't know about. I think that you are perceptive enough to see that she isn't like other girls her age. You'll discover in time and maybe what you learn will change your feelings about her. This concerns me."

"I don't understand, sir. Why don't you just tell me what you are implying?"

"Can't. Not my story to tell. I want to, understand. Seems the simplest route to the truth. A time saver, if you will. However, I have a very strong willed wife who will have my cojones in a twist if I interfere in my baby's love life. We've had words about this and I've decided to put my marriage above revealing Ana's business."

Grey chuckled and shook his head. "Sounds like Ana takes after her mother. The short time we've had together and I'm already on the losing end. She seems like a delicate flower but she's pretty much running the show and I'm saying, "Yes, ma'am".

Ray roared and slammed his hand on the desk. He knocked back the rest of his bourbon and stood up, reaching his hand across the desk for Grey's. He gave a firm handshake and welcomed Grey to the family. Huh.

As Grey drove off to his apartment in the Escala building, he enjoyed shifting his R8 for the last time. Tomorrow he would have Andrea call the local Audi dealership and inquire about SUVs, a much safer vehicle for Ana to be riding around in. Before he went to sleep, he'd already chosen an Audi Q7. He wondered what color Ana would like.

CHAPTER 19

"Would you like to get a new car, sweetheart?" Grey glanced over at his quiet wife. "I remember that you wanted this one in red and they only had silver. I think red is available this year."

"Oh, Christian. It was just a notion. Nothing important. This car is fine. Christian, you're keeping something from me. Talk," she asserted.

"What? I'm not keeping anything from you. Well, unless you count all those women I keep on the side."

"Yeah, they're tied up in tarps and sunk in the sound. No, it's something to do with business. You're not happy."

"Sweetheart, it's nothing for you to worry about. Running a business is always frustrating. Dealing with a board is always difficult even when you have them by the balls…which I do."

"Maybe you do but I sense that you're tired of having to fight with them even if you do win. Pull over here by the Riverwalk."

Grey followed orders and pulled into a parking space. Ana got out of her door even though she knew it was verboten. Taking care of his wife in all ways was Grey's job. She walked quickly over to a bench along the walkway facing the water. Grey sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Ana, I'm not 100% happy with my job but I'm certainly well-compensated…the perks, the pay, the bonuses, the prestige."

"I don't hear you mentioning the actual work you do. Face it, you took the company global years ago and Summit is now one of the top ten in Forbes 500. Warren Buffett calls you to chat about climate control. He wants your ideas and participation. Bill Gates does the same."

"You know what I think of Bill Gates, Ana. He just wants support for his dream of getting a Nobel prize. I do not understand the thrill of all that. I do like Warren."

"Those connections again do not address the main problem. You are bored with your work. It presents no challenge anymore and hasn't for a long time. You could make deals in your sleep. And you're so respected and feared in the business that buying a company you want is as simple as letting them know that you're interested. They just give up, roll over and sell."

"Well, isn't that a good thing? My job takes up little of my time which leaves me to pursue what I really care about…you. I don't want a job that requires time away from you. You are my priority and my board knows that. That's why the members all fall at your feet at company events, those dull industry conferences and, of course, your parents' annual ball. They know where the power is in the family." He grinned and kissed Ana's cheek. The crisp air had brought out the color in her pale face. She looked ever more lovely.

"Christian, do you think that I don't know you? Do you think that you can traipse happily into the penthouse every night and I don't see the weariness in your eyes? I don't want you to work until you're 65 or 70, plugging away at it until they give you a gold watch and you can finally stop wasting your time."

"Wasting my time? Do we not live well? Do we not have everything and more than we could ever want?"

"I don't need vacation homes in Vail and New York and the Hamptons and Sweden. I don't need a huge fancy wardrobe and a penthouse in Escala. I don't need $50,000 in my personal checking account that I never touch. I do need a relaxed and happy husband who finds joy and personal satisfaction in his work. You have a brilliant mind. You can do anything.

"Christian, what do you really want to do? Or, if you don't know right now, do you want to try to find out? Because we don't need more money. We're set for life. Now I want you to have one."

Christian looked into her blazing blue eyes. He knew that she was right. She'd been hinting around for the last year, trying to draw him out. Now she'd called him on all his bullshit and it was time for him to take the next step. What was that next step?

Despite the fact that, as Ana pointed out, they were massively wealthy and set for life, he was reluctant to give up the golden goose. Also, he did get enormous satisfaction, or rather had gotten satisfaction from taking the company global. That had been a huge challenge and his success in doing so was quite gratifying. Summit, Inc. was now a power player all across the world.

Ana knew what he really wanted. He sensed that but she felt that he ought to suss it out himself. He was hiding something from himself and he had to find it within him.

CHAPTER 20

He had a semblance of an idea of what he really wanted but it would be both time and energy consuming. He didn't want to use up time and energy that he needed to give to Ana. Nothing was more precious to him. He didn't want to be working when he got a call…the call. He remembered still the call from Mia that horrible night several weeks into his courtship of Ana.

"Christian?" The voice was so shaky and distorted from sobbing that he barely recognized it as Mia's. He'd been sitting at home waiting for Ana. Tonight was going to be a very special night for the two of them. Ana was going to pack an overnight bag and tell her parents to not expect her home. He'd wanted to pick her up in his Audi Q7 but she'd insisted that she drive herself. She didn't want her father and brothers to mess with Christian. She was an adult, soon to be 27, and she was going to spend the night with the man she loved.

She was late…not terribly late…but later than Grey's nerves could handle. Then the phone rang.

"Mia? Is that you? What's wrong?" He was trying to sound calm but his voice was shaking, too.

"Come to Seattle Memorial, emergency entrance. Ana has had an accident and she is in surgery.

Can you come right away?"

"I'm going out the door as we're speaking. Mia, what happened? How bad is it?"

"Christian, hold a minute…." Why was this elevator so slow? "Mia, Mia?"

"Sorry, Dad is insisting that one of the boys pick you up. He's says that you won't be fit to drive."

"I'm already in my car, Mia, and I'm pulling out of the garage. I'll be there in 10 minutes. Again, what happened and how bad is it?"

"Christian, this is Elliot. Are you sure that you can drive without giving us somebody else to worry about? This family can't take much more tonight."

"I'm okay, Elliot. I can get preternaturally calm in a crisis," Christian replied. It was only partially true. He meant in a business crisis…not in an Ana crisis.

"Elliot, what happened? For God's sake, tell me something."

"Ana had words with Dad. You know how he is how about his baby. She left here kind of upset. A few minutes later we get a call from the police telling us that her car was in a wreck and she was being taken to the hospital. We passed her car on the way here and it was a real mess. Mom and Mia got hysterical. Thank god, Ethan was driving because Dad just fell apart, blaming himself. I know that you'll want to kill him but, really, Chris, he's doing the job on himself already.

"I wish I could give you more facts, something about Ana's condition, but all they've told us is that she had to be rushed into surgery. The nurses aren't allowed to talk. Mom and Ethan weren't even allowed to use their privileges here to get information. We have to wait for the surgeon to come out. Ethan's got Mom. I've got Mia. We need someone to take care of Dad."

Oh, Grey would take care of him all right. He rang off as he swerved into the emergency room parking lot on two tires and pulled into something that might have been a space. It didn't matter. He managed to remember to pull out his keys before he ran into the waiting room. He ran up to the reception desk.

"You have to get someone to come in from the operating room holding Ana Steele to give us something, any information at all. Otherwise," he leaned down to speak to the nurse staring rapt into his glorious countenance, "Christian Grey will never give another dime to this place and neither will the Steeles. Understand?" The nurse nodded vigorously and picked up the phone.

Christian turned around and his terrified, angry gray eyes sought out Ray Steele. He'd been playing nice with this guy for too long. He stalked over to him, sitting with his face in his hands, facing the floor.

"This is how you protect her? Get her all upset before she gets in a car to drive?"

Elliot, almost a half a foot taller, put his hands on Grey's trembling shoulders. "Chris, com'on. You're beating up on a ruined man."

"Oh, yeah. Ruined? You're gonna see ruined if Ana doesn't open her eyes in the morning. She's the whole world to me. He's got three other kids. I've got nothing!"

Ray looked up at Grey, his face white and streaked with tears. "Christian, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…" he kept repeating himself and Grey could see his hands shaking like a drunk needing a drink. Still, he was so scared that he couldn't find it within himself to care about Ray Steele.

CHAPTER 21

The doors to the waiting room opened and two cops walked in. They started to head for the information desk until they saw all the destroyed people in the corner. They looked at each other. Geez, they hated this.

"Excuse us, folks. Are you the Steele family? We have some information for you about the accident. Your family member was the victim of the usual, I afraid…the drunk driver. He ran a red, several seconds in. The victim's car was the third one to enter the intersection. She couldn't have avoided him. Luckily, the wife and two kids in his truck weren't hurt. The driver flew through the front window. We're actually familiar with this guy…several domestic calls. Hate to say it but his family is better off without him. Any word yet on your family member, a young woman, we understand?"

"Did you hear that, Dad?" Ethan asked, kneeling before his father. "It wasn't your fault. Ana was paying attention. She thought that she was clear…third car through."

Christian took a big gulp of air. He thanked the officers for coming by with that information. And no, there was no word yet. Ana was in surgery. Then he sat down next to Ray and put his arm around his shoulder.

The officers asked some more questions of Elliot concerning victim identification and such and then, wishing them the best, they left.

"I'm sorry, Ray," Grey said, "I'm just so scared that I needed someone to blame."

"That's okay, son. Ana's a grown woman and if she wants to go live with her boyfriend, that's her business. It's just hard to let go. You'll learn that someday."

A young man in bloodied scrubs approached and introduced himself as a resident named Dr. Murphy. He explained that it would be a couple more hours before the surgery was completed. Ana had internal bleeding from tears and she had lost her spleen. He hastened to say that she could live without a spleen and that the other injuries could be repaired. Their best surgeons were working on her, including an expert in reconstruction who was making repairs to her face.

"Her face?" Mia piped up.

"Yes, she had quite a few lacerations, some pretty deep but none life threatening. She's a very pretty girl and she'll be a very pretty girl once she heals."

"We don't care about how pretty she is, doctor. We're just concerned with her general prognosis."

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, Mr.?"

"Grey. Christian Grey," he said leveling dark eyes at Doctor Murphy.

The resident smiled. "Oh, yes. You're the reason I'm out here. A nurse popped in to say that the family wanted word and the surgeon said you'd get it when he finished. He's really a terrific surgeon but when he's working, that's all he's thinking about. Then the nurse mentioned hospital funding and the name Grey and, well, here I am," he smiled.

"I'll try to get back when we've finished to tell you more. I know that a couple of hours seems like forever. It would certainly be forever if that were my loved one in there…but it takes as long as it takes. And, as I said, everything is going well and we don't anticipate any problems. It would be good if you went down to the cafeteria and ate something or, at least drank a lot of water. Trauma can cause PTSD and you need to stay hydrated." He smiled and turned to return to the OR.

"Thank god," Grace sighed. "And thank you, Christian, for being so commanding. Without your assertiveness, we wouldn't have known what was happening. What did you say to the receptionist?"

"I threatened to cut off funding from both myself and the Steele family."

Mia giggled. "I think it might also have had something to do with that face of yours. The nurses have been staring at you with drool running down their chins."

For the first time in hours, there was laughter in the waiting room and Grey didn't mind that it was because of him.

"She'll be in the ICU probably and they won't let me in as a non-relative. Will you be sure to tell her that I'm here and I love her."

"You love her?" Ray sounded surprised.

"Yes, sir. From the first moment. And she was only going to stay the night."

Ray looked up at Grey. "She had multiple suitcases with her. I don't think she ever intended to come home again. She said that you wouldn't let her go."

Christian Grey broke into a huge, face-splitting grin. That was what he'd told her on their first date. She took him at his word. And she was going to stay with him.

"No, I'm not. Ever."

CHAPTER 22

Once Ana was settled into a room, conscious and alert, Christian waited for a time alone with her and insisted that she start talking about the things she'd never told him about. She'd been stabbed? She'd been conked on the head with a wrench? She had seizures?

"Did you think that if you told me all these things that I wouldn't want you? Is that why you didn't share all that history with me?"

"Well, you know, you don't tell a guy on your first date that you have brain damage."

"I started to ask you once about why you don't teach anymore and you diverted so slickly that I didn't even notice that you didn't respond. Now I know. At least, I think I know."

"I'm better but I'll never be the old me again. She was really different, Christian. I've seen home movies of her and I've had friends from college tell me how strange I am now."

"They actually told you that you're strange?"

"Yes. I was very strong and confident and assertive. I seemed years older. I was president of my class and the leader of my sorority house. I was going to be a teacher and after a few years I would work my way up to principal and then city supervisor of schools. Eventually, I would be elected to the city council and the office of mayor. My ultimate goal was the presidency of the United States and no one doubted that my ambition and brains would take me that far.

"Now, I can't handle a classroom by myself. I can help a few students at a time but I get tired easily and if I push myself too hard, I might seize. The part of my brain that was bashed in is weakened and in danger of rupturing. My life span is unsure. I was never fragile before. I was the youngest of my family but I was the strongest of all my sibling. Everyone came to me for advice. They told me that I acted way different, too. Mia met Ros. Remember that one time? She said that I was a lot like Ros. Ros is badass. I'm not badass anymore," Ana said sadly, with tears slowing falling.

What could he say to her? He wondered if he would have liked her as she was before. He certainly liked Ros.

"You know, maybe the old Ana wouldn't have asked me to dance. Maybe she would have been busy discussing business with the men."

"Would you have liked the badass Ana, do you think?"

"I'll never know, will I? I can only know this Ana, the woman I love, the woman who shares my life."

Sometimes, he wondered about himself. Ana, he thought, might once have been like all those other women he "dated". He could see her strutting strong and haughty through the Mile High. He would have desired that Ana as much as he desired those confident blondes but wouldn't he also have snuck out her door at 3 a.m.? What did it say about him that he fell in love with a sweet, unassuming, easy-going girl but couldn't feel love for a strong, complex woman? Was this about his control issues? Did he need someone soft and accommodating?

As their lives grew together, Ana did become more assertive. She always asked the hard questions. She was fearless….not necessarily brave…but more unaware of the need to be afraid and careful.

Finally, he decided that the what-if questions didn't matter. He loved Ana…just as she was and as she might come to be.

After she left the hospital, she needed to recuperate and that meant returning to Steele Manor. Grace invited Christian to move in and even Ray approved. Ana was in no shape to have sex but they slept together. It was then that Grey discovered that Ana occasionally had night terrors and she was not easily soothed. He couldn't hold her. She would fight him like a tigress. When he'd gotten out of bed and stepped away, she'd then begin to relax.

No one in the family knew what the night terrors were about and Ana didn't remember them…just that she was quite tired in the morning and didn't have the strength physically or mentally to get up. Those were the days, he was told, that she couldn't help at school or at Mia's restaurant. She was unsteady on her feet and she didn't make much sense for hours. It was as if she reverted to the Ana post-brain damage who needed so much therapy, who had to relearn everything, who was afraid.

One day she said at breakfast that she was going to pack again and move in with Christian.

"Your doctor hasn't given you the all clear, Ana. I'll be gone to the office all day and you'll be alone. I don't like that idea."

"Alone. Christian, I'd be alone here. Mom has a clinic to run. Dad spends a lot of time handling pro bono affairs and, astonishingly, my siblings have all gone back to their homes."

Her logic was unassailable. "Hmmm…all right. I'll hire a nurse to stay with you during the day until we're certain that you can handle everything without help. Maybe until you can help out at school again."

"Okay. Seems reasonable. I do have to learn how to live in your apartment."

So, Grey helped Ana repack all her things into her new suitcases and loaded them in the SUV. Then he drove her home…their home.

CHAPTER 23

Seems that Ana wasn't as accommodating as she would have liked Christian to believe. The hiring of a nurse may have seemed "reasonable" but she only lasted a day before Ana thanked her so very much and dismissed her. Grey checked in several times that day to find that Ana was fine and the nurse was busy. When he arrived home, nurse was gone. Ana was climbing the ladders in the library looking for books to read and his leather and chrome living room furniture was missing. No filter didn't only apply to Ana's speech. It was part of her entire personality.

"Ana, sit down…hmmm….somewhere. Listen, honey, I really need you to accept the presence of the nurse. Otherwise, I'm going to be a nervous wreck all day."

"It's okay, Christian, I won't be alone."

"What do you mean?"

"I hired a housekeeper. She's quite nice. She can cook and clean and do laundry. Her name is Gail Jones. She's a widow, about 50 something. Daddy already vetted her for me. You can't be living with a woman who could seize at any time and who tires too easily to keep house for you. Besides, I want to get back to school and Mia's restaurant. Daddy told me what the going rate is so I offered her that plus a little extra because she's agreed to get some emergency medical training just in case. Don't worry. She'll go to night classes while you're home with me. When can we start having sex?"

As always, Grey had to wait until the whirling in his head stopped before he could reply to Ana's barrage of words.

"Where is the living room furniture, dear?"

"Did you sit on it much? It was really uncomfortable and not at all conducive to cuddling in front of the fire. We need to go shopping. I gave the furniture to Good Will. Mrs. Jones starts in the morning but tonight I'm going to make lasagna and garlic bread. I did the laundry and cleaned the bathroom but I'm afraid you're going to have to hire professionals to do a thorough cleaning. It's rather moldy in there. How was work?"

Grey handled the important information first. "We'll have to check with your doctor about having sex. We see him Wednesday."

Ana smiled at him slyly and climbed into his lap. "I feel really good, Christian. Strong and ready for anything." Oh, she was killing him. They'd been together every evening after work and all weekend on his boat and he'd had to be strong enough to keep saying no. Once again, as she nibbled his ear, he found it difficult to remember why exactly they were taking their time. At first it because it was because he wanted to get to know her better. He was trying like hell to be a gentleman. And, oh yeah, now it was because he was afraid of what an orgasm would do to her fragile brain.

He picked her up and set her down on another chair. She wasn't happy. "We wait until the doctor says that it's safe, Ana. Now, that is the final word." Oh, god, now she was sulking and it was adorable. He kissed her head.

"I'm going to change while you make that dinner you promised." Then, feeling virtuous and weak, he turned to go to the bedroom. "After dinner, we could go shopping for new furniture if you like."

There was no response. He sighed and hoped that she didn't spit in the lasagna. They were swapping spit all the time but he didn't want it in his food. As he changed into casual clothes, he noted that Ana had tried to make the bed…something he had never attempted. It was a King plus requiring specially made sheets. Ana would have really worn herself out trying to pull up and smooth out the sheets. And even Grey had trouble swinging the duvet into place. He smiled at the sight of their two pillows together in the middle of the bed.

Wednesday really couldn't get here soon enough.

After dinner, they headed for the most high-end furniture shop in Seattle and chose a couple of large, cushy sofas upholstered in a gray-green plush. He and Ana took a test-cuddle in the store. They were quite comfortable when they heard an "ahem". Grey looked up at a salesman who, he thought, clearly didn't want to make a sale.

He ignored the man and asked Ana if she would like to keep looking. She saw the salesman and giggled…knowing what Christian was doing. "I don't know, honey. Should we keep looking?"

He whispered in her ear…"Not unless you want to waste another night walking around stores."

The salesman was looking a bit stricken at the thought of losing a sale…and a commission.

"We'll take it if you can have it delivered tomorrow." Yes, of course, the man agreed and wanted to discuss payments terms. Grey simply flashed his black Amex and told the guy to ring it up. The salesman looked skeptically at the name on the card and then back at Grey in surprise. He broke into a big grin and asked if they wanted to do anymore shopping. They were welcome to continue relaxing on the store model and he would have other pieces brought to them.

"You're going to haul heavy furniture over to us for our inspection?" asked an befuddled Grey.

"Yes, of course, sir. We are, after all, honored to have someone of your stature visiting our little establishment." Lord, could this guy be anymore obsequious? Grey grinned down at his girl.

"What do think, honey? Want to see anything else?"

She returned his bemused expression and shrugged, why not?

"We need a sofa table as well." Grey kissed her nose. "What did you have in mind, ma'am?" he asked Ana.

In short order, they'd found tables, lamps, chairs and even artwork. As their choices began to stack up, Ana wondered aloud why he was such a big deal. They were followed everywhere by paparazzi. Their pictures were in the tabloids every day and people like this man were constantly kissing Grey's feet. Ana was of two minds about this.

"I know that you're wonderful. But how do they?"

With the salesman off to make a huge commission, Grey snuggled more closely to Ana. "You're going to think badly of me for thinking so well of myself but I'm prominent in this town because of my success at Summit…..I'm good looking…and I'm rich, very."

"Huh. Do you like being famous?"

"It is convenient sometimes. On the whole it's gotten worse over the years since the tabloids realized that my picture above the fold sells. In the past months, however, it's become overwhelming because of my connection to you." He kissed her nose again. He loved her cute nose with its bit of freckles on the bridge.

"What do I have to do with anything? I'm a complete failure occupationally speaking. I'm nothing much to look at and I'm not rich…although I think I might have a trust fund."

"The tabloids care nothing about your work. You are beautiful and, sorry, you're with me. We're being sold as a young and beautiful couple who can walk into the most elite furniture store in town and walk out with thousands of dollars in merch."

"So, my fame is due to your fame," Ana surmised.

"I'm afraid so. From here on out, you'll be famous and, I fear, in jeopardy as well."

CHAPTER 24

As time went on in her boyfriend's castle in the sky, Ana found herself becoming anxious. If she wanted to walk down the block to the mom and pop grocery on the corner, a phalanx of photographers walked backwards just a few feet in front of her. They snapped pictures non-stop and they asked her rude questions that she knew were meant to get an interesting facial response. Mrs. Jones bought one tabloid every morning and left it out where Ana could see it. Ana always wore a blank expression on her face. Of course, then the tabloids would interpret it as her being petulant or angry or sad or any emotion at all which could then be turned into a story with a tabloid-selling headline….

Grey's girl grumpy. Trouble in paradise?

One day, shortly after Ana had moved in, a paparazzi had jumped in front of her so suddenly, so unexpectedly, that she stumbled backward and landed hard on the sidewalk, her head hitting the concrete. Aside from a large goose egg on the back of her skull, she was uninjured but, sure enough…

Grey's girl drunk at 9 a.m.?

She didn't tell Christian about the incident because he was becoming increasingly upset about the unwelcome attentions being paid to her. Mrs. Jones, however, being worried about Ana, had drawn his eye to the picture and accompanying headline. Grey rushed Ana off to the ER for a cat-scan. The doctor there reassured him that Ana was fine…no residual damage. As he breathed a sigh of relief, he made a call to Ray Steele.

"Ray, good morning. Yes, I saw it. I see them all and it's upsetting. I want to hire a bodyguard for Ana. Thought you might know how I go about doing that. Thanks. I appreciate it."

Ray didn't waste any time. That afternoon, a giant of a man arrived at Grey's office to interview for the position of close personal protection for Ana Steele. Luke Sawyer had a lot of experience protecting some very important people. Grey liked him. Ana, he knew, wasn't going to feel the same.

The next day she was due for her final checkup. Grey was worried that something would be found but Doctor Murphy assured him that Ana's health was good. He also hinted heavily…on Ana's behalf…that they could safely resume their sex life. Resume?

That little minx, Grey smiled, trying to do an end run around me. He informed the doctor that he and Ana did not have a sex life as yet because he was afraid that she could have a seizure during orgasm. Seemed logical, didn't it? After being reassured that Ana was good to go, Grey practically dragged her out of the office and into the car.

.+.

Ana lay back in Christian's arms, fully content. Making love with this most wondrous of men was everything she knew it would be and more. He was tender, passionate, generous and sexy as hell.

He felt the same about her. He was always quick at recovery so, before she knew what hit her, he was down there licking and sucking again until she came, arching her back off the bed. And as fabulous as the orgasms he gifted her were, her favorite part about sex was when he was inside of her. He was big and she was little. They fit together like a hand in a silken glove. She could feel every inch and she loved the connection. She didn't want to break apart. It seemed unnatural.

"Ana, are you okay? I mean, I don't want to do anything you don't want. I likewise want to do whatever else you do want." He sounded so nervous. She smiled. There's more? She told him that she'd no objections to anything and he should go ahead and do whatever he wished. She'd let him know if she had any complaints.

Likewise, she wanted to give pleasure in return. What did he want to teach her? He had only one request and perhaps it was too soon. Now, she was intrigued. She thought back on all the things that she'd read up on and all the things that Mia had taught her.

"Blowjobs!" she announced triumphantly.

"A lot of women don't want to give blowjobs because they think that the penis is dirty. A lot of women didn't want to give me blow jobs because my dick is so big," he blushed telling her.

"I want to try. Let me try," she begged.

The woman I love wants to try giving me a blowjob. Absolutely nothing could go wrong with this.

"Okay, I'll take you through it step by step," he offered.

"Unnecessary, I studied this. I've got it."

And, boy, did she ever. Even though her gag reflex kicked in every time, she wouldn't give up until she could get him all the way to the back of her throat. Although she wasn't strong, she sucked for all she was worth. He had the best orgasm ever…although he knew that much of his pleasure derived more from the giver than from the gift. Yeah, he'd had oral sex from women with more experience but they weren't Ana. And those women had wanted to impress him and earn his admiration. Ana was the first woman who'd ever just wanted to please him. Ana was the first woman ever who just wanted him.

Afterward, holding her tightly and feeling a peace he didn't know was possible, he knew the difference…love.

CHAPTER 25

They'd spent the entire rest of the day in bed. They didn't feel thirst or hunger…except for each other. Despite all their closeness, Ana felt that Christian was holding back.

"Christian, what are you thinking?" she asked.

"Hmm…I guess I assumed that you were a virgin…not that that's important."

"Christian, you are my first and only."

"You didn't react when I broke your hymen. I did break your hymen, didn't I?" He'd heard of men slipping in around it but he was just too big to miss it, he thought.

Ana grew quiet. She seemed stiff in his arms. "Ana, it's okay if there was someone before me…just as long as I'm the last."

"There's something I've never told anyone. My family would freak and make a big deal out of it."

Cucumber, he surmised. He'd known girls who told him that their first physical partner was a cucumber.

"The man who whacked me on the head with the wrench? I told everyone that I couldn't remember much about that incident but that was a lie. He received a long sentence anyway so I didn't feel it was necessary to add to it."

"He raped you!?"

"Yes. The doctors were so busy trying to save my life that they didn't even bother to check for rape. My family was so upset about all the rest that I didn't want to pile on. I kept quiet so they wouldn't know."

"Oh, Ana, baby. I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have had to go through that alone."

"I wanted to block it out, Christian. I was only conscious for a few moments after he landed the wrench on my head and when I realized what he was doing to me, I just stopped fighting to stay awake. I let myself slip under. By the time I came to, it was too late to do a rape kit and I was dealing with memory issues."

"Ana…your night terrors. Is the rape the cause of those? You always say that you don't remember but that's it, isn't it? Your subconscious won't let go of that memory."

"I don't have night terrors when I'm with you."

"Yes. You do. At least, the two times you have."

"Well, I'm fine now. Let's forget about it. That woman isn't me anymore. I don't want to dwell on her."

They were quiet for a while. He didn't want to push her but he knew that rape victims didn't just "forget about it". He was going to see what he could find out about this creep who hurt his girl so badly.

He heard her breathing softly and evenly. She was asleep. He carefully eased her out of his arms and, picking up his phone, texted her new bodyguard, Sawyer, to meet him in his study.

.+.

"Sir?"

"A couple of things, Luke. Some furnishings will be delivered via the freight elevator tomorrow. I don't want Mrs. Jones and Ana to be here alone with strange men. I'd like you to be here and put all the items in the appropriate places.

Second, I need the name of a private investigator but I don't want Ana's father to know that I'm poking around on my own. He's getting used to me but he still thinks that I'm sharing DNA with a cockatiel."

"Sir, I'm not just muscle. I'm the guy Ms. Steele's dad uses to do his investigations. I'm the guy, in fact, that he used to vet you. So, what do you want to know?"

"The guy who hurt her. And where he is right now."

"Mr. Grey, I'm not going to help you take revenge."

"It isn't revenge, Sawyer. It's info and prep. Understand?"

Sawyer studied the floor for a minute. "His name is Jack Hyde. He's a vicious punk. Ms. Steele isn't the first person he's hurt. He doesn't come up for parole for another 50 years. However, we have eyes on him because he has sworn revenge. Ms. Steele needs watching 24/7 and her father has had coverts on her all along. He's never wanted her to know. She deserves some peace of mind."

Grey returned to Ana's side. Yes, she did deserve everything and anything he could give her. He'd always keep her safe. His own peace of mind was another matter altogether.

CHAPTER 26

Grey asked Ana to go to industry events, dinners, charity functions and such with him. It was part of his job and he hated it. With Ana at his side, he could relax and even enjoy himself. She was hesitant and he assumed it was because of the predictable boredom of the evenings. No, she told him. She simply didn't have a wardrobe for evenings out. Wanting to be helpful, he called Nordstrom's personal shopper, a woman who often sent him new season choices. She sent over racks of a variety of women's clothing for Ana's perusal. Ana's reaction was nothing he could have predicted.

Caroline Acton was a charming and kind woman. Christian thought that she and Ana would get along beautifully. Before he had a chance to introduce the two, Caroline's face lit with pleasure even as Ana's paled.

"Ms. Steele, it is such a joy to see you again. It's been so long and I've really missed you."

Caroline's delight was genuine and had little to do with money. She really liked Ana. Christian could see that Ana was trying desperately to return the warmth of Ms. Acton but she was clearly in trouble. Caroline could see this as well and was instantly understanding.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Steele. I forgot. I was just so thrilled. It's been so long and I never had a customer I liked more than you. I'm going to leave. Mr. Grey, call me when decisions are made. You have my number and I'm available to you at any time. Ms. Steele, it was wonderful to see you again."

Ana struggled to respond but she could only stare at the floor. Grey saw Ms. Acton to the elevator and apologized.

"Completely unnecessary, Mr. Grey. I adore Ms. Steele and I understand her reaction. I guess I just thought that since you were ordering for her again that…well. Goodbye."

Grey returned to Ana, who was breathing hard and seemed unaware of her surroundings. He gently picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He undressed her and tucked her into bed. Then he laid with her for a long time, murmuring his love for her until he judged by her soft and even breath that she had fallen asleep. He knew from past experience that she would sleep a long time now.

Once she was comfortable, he slipped out of bed and down to his study. He called Mia. She offered to come over to Escala to talk with him.

"Ana's recovery from being nearly killed was difficult. It wasn't just the trauma. It was all the damage done to her. Even after she emerged from the coma, a miracle in itself and nothing we expected, she still had a long road ahead of her. She was hospitalized for weeks and then moved into rehab where she had to relearn everything…walking, talking, eating, reading…you name it. It was starting nearly from scratch.

"She would look at me with her eyes full of confusion and questions that she didn't even know how to articulate. And as she grew, we understood that she was going to be a different person at the end of her long road. The doctors showed us scans of her brain next to scans of normal brains. Ana had been brilliant and once, they explained, her scans and the others would not have been so different. Her brain now, they explained, was closer to a child's. They encouraged us as best they could…explaining that with hard work and a long time, Ana would be an adult again but she would never be the same."

Christian thought of the woman he knew. Yes, she was childlike in some ways. Yes, she was without a filter. Yes, she was fragile but she was a delightful person and most certainly, a kind and lovely woman.

"But she seems fine now. What am I missing?"

"You're missing memories of the years she worked her butt off learning to be an adult again. She had to be so strong and courageous. But there were times….times when it was all too much for her to handle and nothing, ever, had been too much for Anastasia Steele to handle. She was a rock…assertive, confident and almost inhumanly capable.

"Elliot would not have made it through law school without Anastasia and Ethan made it through med school and internship because she worked with him. I would never have had the nerve to open my non-profit if Anastasia hadn't worked me for me to gain grants and funding. No one could say no to her and her grant-writing was a thing of beauty. Dad would never have retired without Anastasia's guidance and encouragement. Even my strong mother occasionally needed a long talk with Anastasia to get through the rough times with the clinic.

"Anastasia may have begun life struggling to breathe in an incubator but once she gained her health, she was an unstoppable force of nature."

"Funny," Grey reflected, "I think of Ana now as an force of nature."

"Oh, she still is but she is now a different sort and perhaps a frail force. No matter how strong your personality, a cracked skull and a dented brain will change you…unavoidably."

CHAPTER 27

"All this doesn't explain her reaction to Caroline Acton and the clothes. And why do you keep referring to Ana as Anastasia."

"I brought some pictures and home movies of Anastasia to give you some idea of the woman she used to be," Mia offered. While Grey looked through pictures of Ana, Mia set up films of Anastasia on her IPad.

"These pictures don't look like Ana," Grey remarked. The woman in the images was wearing quite sophisticated clothes, obviously very expensive. She was also taller, helped by six inch stilettoes. She was wearing makeup, subdued but still sophisticated makeup. She had facial expressions that Grey didn't recognize. It was mind-blowing that Ana and Anastasia were identical but yet so very different in appearance and attitude.

Mia handed him the IPad with the movie images of Anastasia as she addressed her college students, gave presentations on a stage, led complex discussions. When the images showed the faces of her students and colleagues, one could see that they were spellbound. She was well-versed in her subject matter and her confidence in her knowledge was fascinating. This was Anastasia Steele…brilliant Harvard grad, master of her fields and half way to two doctorates.

Grey sat stunned. Mia carefully packed away Anastasia.

"When Ana had recovered enough to understand all that she had lost, she required a great deal of therapy to deal with being a different person. That was when she refused to ever be addressed again as Anastasia. She said that the name was too long and grand for a simple girl like her. She shortened it to Ana. It took all of us a while to make the switch and she would lose her temper when we called her by the name of someone she no longer was.

"One day, a really difficult day for Ana in rehab, she came home so angry, it was frightening to see. She went into her room and stormed back and forth, screaming about Anastasia. Anastasia was gone….dead. She went into her closet, filled with Anastasia's clothes and in a wild rage, she destroyed everything in the closet. With a knife and a scissors, she chopped everything to pieces. She came downstairs after, wearing nothing but a plain, gray sweat suit and announced that this is who she was now."

Grey grimaced. "And then I invited her personal shopper to come refill her closet with Anastasia's things again. How do I make this right, Mia?"

"I do know that Ana wants to be your arm candy for all these events. She wants to make you proud. After she's had some time to think about it, she'll come to terms with these fancy clothes. Let her adjust, Christian."

"I'll give her anything whenever she wants it," he promised.

"You're doing very well, Christian. Ana is happier than we've ever known her to be…even when she was Anastasia. Take your time and just follow her lead. Or get engaged soon. I have some great ideas for the wedding," Mia winked.

Christian smiled warmly at his sister-in-law to be. "Thank you, Mia. You've been a tremendous help. Don't worry…I have the ring."

"Small and delicate, Christian. Like Ana." She smiled and closed the elevator doors.

Well, back to the jewelry store to return the gigantic rock better suited to Anastasia.

CHAPTER 28

When Christian returned to the bedroom, he found Ana thrashing around in the bed. He suspected that the reminder of Anastasia was causing Ana distress. Thus, he sat on the bed, took one of her hands and pressed his lips to it for a long moment. She began to settle and didn't try to pull her hand away. He was right. It was the attack. Instantly, his vengeful mind began exploring ways to make Jack Hyde pay even more than 50 years of imprisonment.

Ana sighed and opened her eyes. She was pale and tearful. She smiled up at Christian. He removed his shoes and climbed into the bed with her. She curled into him and softly cried for a while. He tried to empathize somehow…to imagine what it must be like to not only have to relearn everything but to find that the person you were is gone and to wonder who you were now.

Anastasia Steele…brilliant of mind…strong, completely sure of herself and her abilities, afraid of nothing, vital to the success of others. A woman who completely commanded the world she lived in and the one she created for herself. Someone admired and respected by all.

He thought of himself…the male version of Anastasia…attacked and reduced to a sweet, simple boy who would prefer puppies to people, playing in the park to playing with the minds of business rivals.

Did Ana ever see the people who'd once regarded her as the fierce and breathtaking Anastasia Rose Steele? Perhaps people who didn't know her story and were now shocked by the change in her? What did she feel as she saw the look in their eyes when they fully realized that Anastasia was gone?

And the big question he had answered earlier on…which woman would he have preferred? He had to admit to himself that he'd have been fascinated by Anastasia. He might even have pursued her. Still, could he have loved her with the tender passion that he felt for Ana?

As he looked down at the adorable woman in his arms, he knew that he couldn't imagine her any other way than she was now. Anastasia would not have needed him as Ana did. She might even have considered him beneath her. Ana had chosen him, saving him from his own ignorance and isolation. He held her closer, tighter.

"Hey, want to go for a sail?" he asked. She didn't answer.

"Do you think that you would have preferred Anastasia?" she asked.

"Mia told me about her…showed me pictures and film. She was truly impressive. Yet, she wasn't you. And I'm in love with you. I might have been a little awed by her as I understand from Mia that everyone was. A force of nature, she said. Have you ever looked carefully at Anastasia?"

"Yes, several times. As I was first recovering, I was scared. I had a form of amnesia even though I knew everyone and had most of my memories…yet, I didn't recognize myself. With therapy and time, I came to understand that I wasn't that woman anymore. It was terrifying, Christian. I tried so hard to get her back but when I finally had to concede that she was just gone, I went a bit mad.

"I made up lists with two columns…one headed Ana and one headed Anastasia. The column with the former me was easy to fill in. I had only to look at images and ask people…what did Anastasia think about this and what would she do in a certain circumstance? But the side titled Ana was sparsely completed and every word was just the opposite of Anastasia. Was that all I was now? A faint image of the great Anastasia?"

"When you met people who didn't understand what had happened to Anastasia, what was their reaction to you?" Christian wondered.

"They could see that the overwhelming presence they knew as Anastasia was missing. Talking to me was like talking to her baby sister. They'd been accustomed to quaking a bit in her company while, in mine, they were bored. I was afraid to see people. It took a lot of nerve for me to go to my parents' galas, to support what they were doing. I mostly hid in corners and avoided people."

"But not me," Christian smiled as he kissed her head.

"I was just standing behind a column, waiting until I could decently dash for the house and the safety of my bedroom when I looked over and saw you sitting alone and bored. What I felt was almost magnetic, Christian. From Mia, I knew that Anastasia had never been interested in any man in particular. As Ana, neither had I. But I looked at you and felt immediately relaxed and assured. I watched you for a long time. Every time a stunning woman approached you, I didn't worry. I knew you'd rebuff her. Finally, I fairly sailed across the room to you. I wasn't afraid at all. I knew that you were expecting me even if you didn't know it. When I spoke to you, you looked at me…your eyes so big and bright gray. You saw me. You didn't see any of the other women. I knew that you were mine.

"For the first time since I'd become Ana, I felt confident and calm. I was right where I was supposed to be, with whom I was supposed to be. You're my soulmate, Christian. I would never have found you had I not become Ana. We would both be alone the rest of our days."

Christian didn't argue. He knew that she was right. Suddenly, he didn't hate Jack Hyde so much. He had inadvertently saved two people from lives of emptiness and loneliness. Christian shuddered at the thought of a life without the force of nature that was Ana Steele.

CHAPTER 29

They had been living together for several months. Every Saturday evening was family time with the Steeles. Initially, Grey dreaded these gatherings. The family was still protective of Ana and distrustful of Grey himself. He understood better now the why of it. They, in fact, could not truly understand his attraction to Ana. Now, had he known Anastasia and been besotted, that they could have accepted but why Ana? Clearly, he was deeply in love with Ana but they couldn't see any reason. Anastasia had been the star of the family. Indeed, truth to tell, even within the intimacy of the family, there had been distance between Anastasia and the rest. She was almost too incredible to do more than stand back and be admired.

Ana was once again their little bean…so easy to relate to and love. They didn't stand in awe of her. They just loved her and worried for her. There had been so many men tripping all over themselves as they tried to get close to the great Anastasia. However, Anastasia knew herself and her worth. Neither would go cheaply on the marriage market. Inside, sadly, Anastasia also knew that none of these men knew her well or even cared to. They just wanted her. She saw them as eager mice. She fully expected to spend her life as a single woman and she was fine with that.

But she was gone. The magnificence that had been Anastasia Rose Steele was no more. Mourning her was almost as real as mourning a real death. The family had to adapt to this lesser being…charming in her own way and easier to be close to as well. Still, after watching the parade of men vying for Anastasia's attention, it was strange to watch a man of Grey's caliber being all goofy over this shadow of Anastasia.

Christian, over the time he was with Ana, had come to understand all this about her family. It even rankled him that they seemed to value less Ana…the remains of Anastasia. To him, Ana was a prize beyond measure. Whomever Anastasia had been and however much she had amazed people, it was of little interest to Grey. When Ana walked into a room, he was as overwhelmed as the others remembered being when Anastasia walked into a room.

On this particular Saturday, he requested a visit with Grace and Ray in his study. Elliot, Ethan and Mia watched as the trio disappeared into Ray's domain. Ana smiled and returned to her piano practice. Mia, of course, knew what the meeting was about but she also feared raised voices. She had heard her parents discussing "this thing between Ana and Grey" and, clearly, they did not grasp the seriousness of it even though Ana had told them that she was going to marry Christian.

Grey, a man of striking talents and accomplishments, would surely have wanted Anastasia but what the devil was the attraction to their simple-minded, unimpressive Ana. They knew that he was wealthy so it couldn't be her trust fund. Yes, they loved her but, frankly, wouldn't she be an embarrassment in his rarified world? They couldn't imagine that she could be an asset to his career. What was his game?

"Bourbon, Grey?" Ray offered.

As always, Grey declined. As always, this bothered Ray.

"Please sit, Christian, and tell us what you want to discuss with us," Grace said. She was definitely the class in the family. Someday, Grey would have to ask about her and Ray's beginnings. They didn't seem to fit.

"Ana and I have known each other and been living together for some time now. I have been intending from the beginning to be with her always. To me, she is a treasure like none other. I have the ring and I want to ask her to marry me. I don't doubt her answer but I wanted to go the old-fashioned route and request your blessing. It is important to me that Ana's entire family approve of me and of our union. I want nothing that could cause Ana any distress. If you were to object, she would still marry me but it would be awkward. She loves all of you so very much and my being an orphan without family, it is important to her that I be fully accepted and absorbed into the Steele family. You know of my past and of the importance of my name. Otherwise, I would have no trouble taking Ana's name. Ana can retain Steele but she has expressed a desire to share my name. For this, I am honored."

After his long speech, Christian tried to catch his breath and appear calm to his future in-laws.

Meanwhile, Ana was being grilled out in the Great Room by her older brothers. After genially accepting this for a while, she turned it around on them.

"And what is the matter with you boys? You have wonderful careers that you love yet you seem uninterested in the hordes of Seattle women who want you. The gala was just an embarrassment of riches and you received a lot of attention. Yet from you, there was nothing. Is there anything about either of you that you'd like to share with your loving and devoted family? You must know that being gay or fluid would be nothing we'd care about. I thought, before Christian, that I might be asexual. Is that it?"

Her brothers gaped at her. It was true that they were obsessed with their careers and rarely had interest in women but they weren't virgins either. Both operated much like Grey had before Ana. Go home with a woman, enjoy sex with her and get out. No repeats. No temptation to repeat. And, yes, articles in the tabloids chronicled their exploits. They were rather famous as playboys but both were now in their thirties and their parents wished they would settle down. Mia tended more toward longer relationships but they usually ended because Mia would not abandon her philanthropic endeavors. She was always disappointed to find that the sweet man she'd come to know expected her to become his trophy wife after marriage and hoped to trade on her famous name. She'd begun to question every man on the first date as to what he wanted in a wife. Many first dates were last dates.

As feared, voices from the study became louder and clearer…mostly from Ray.

CHAPTER 30

"Grey," Ray said sternly, "you are an enigma to us."

"Yes, sir. I understand. I've been told that many times. It is an advantage in business, to be sure. However, in personal relationships, I have tried to be open and available. Of course, I haven't had much in the way of personal relationships and, certainly, Ana is my first deep relationship. I am not an enigma to her. Right from the beginning, she could see me."

"What do you want from her, Grey?" Ray knocked back his bourbon and poured another. Grace discretely removed the bottle from the table and returned it to the cabinet. It was her way of letting her husband know that he'd had enough. He didn't argue.

"Everything that I already have…her love, her presence, her loyalty and kindness. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Ana is everything to me. She is my happiness and she tells me that I am hers. Other than all that, I can't think of anything else I want."

"Men have never shown any interest in Ana, Christian," Grace said. "And you are a quite unusual man. You are what the women of Seattle would call a "catch". The tabloids find a way to feature you most every day in order to sell their papers. Every gala I watched as perfect women for you crowded around in hopes of garnering your attention….all to no avail. But suddenly our simple little Ana sweeps you off your feet. She tells us that she approached you! How she ever gathered up the courage to ask you to dance, I'll never understand." Grace looked at Grey in amazement.

"Grace, forgive me. I know that you and your family have been through hell since Jack Hyde attacked Anastasia and you had to power through her recovery and rehab and then the realization that your daughter was no longer… Anastasia. Of course, you know that trying to discover who she now had come to be was terribly difficult for her and you. However, I don't think that you ever see her except as not Anastasia. You don't see Ana. She isn't Anastasia but she is still magnificent. I've never known anyone as remarkable as this woman. She is a fierce and formidable woman as Ana."

"You talk a good game," Ray's voice was getting louder as he grew more frustrated at his inability to suss out this man's plan.

"I am not giving my blessing until I understand what you want. First of all, there must be a prenup. I don't want you getting a hold of any of her money."

"Fine. I have no problem signing a prenup to protect Ana's trust fund and to ensure that she gets half of everything we have should we divorce."

Ray slammed his fist on his desk. "What the hell do you want? What is your game, Grey? Be honest with me or you won't marry my daughter or even see her again!"

"Sir, I don't know what you want to hear. I'm a very wealthy man. I don't need Ana's money. I'm known in all Seattle circles and my picture has been on the cover of Forbes magazine. I don't need the Steele connection to be respected in this town. In fact, unlike the Steeles, my company is now a global force. I have nothing to gain from marrying Ana except the thrill of knowing that she is mine, my wife. This is what I want."

At this point, the door opened and Ana walked in. She went straight to Christian's side and stood with her hand on his shoulder. For a moment, Grace and Ray saw Anastasia.

CHAPTER 31

"Mom, daddy," Ana addressed her parents firmly, "there will be no prenup. Christian and I have no need of one. We will die one day in each other's arms. When my trust fund becomes available to me, I shall simply merge it with Christian's funds. We will share in everything…good and bad. I am not Anastasia but I am not simple and stupid and easily manipulated even though Christian is rich and brilliant. He never treats me like I am simple and stupid and has never tried to manipulate me. This man is mine. You will accept him, retire your fears and suspicions and accept him as part of this family.

"Mia is planning the wedding. As per our wishes, it will be an intimate affair in the backyard. We don't want paparazzi filling the street, thus, we will not be making an announcement. Our guests will be family and discreet friends. It will be in the late afternoon immediately followed by dinner. We will have no engagement party and no reception. Christian is in charge of the honeymoon."

Ana turned to Christian and asked if he had something for her. He beamed and then he got down on one knee.

"Ana, I was lost and in a fog when you rescued me. Worse, I didn't know that I was in trouble. You saw me when no one else ever had. I will forever be in your debt. I will forever be in love with you. Please be mine. Marry me."

Then he opened the box, its light shining on a perfect pink diamond. He removed the ring and slipped it on Ana's finger. Ana had no idea but her parents recognized a jewel of great value.

"Yes, Christian. Of course, I'll marry you. Nothing else would ever do for me but to be your wife until the day I die. You are my everything, too."

Christian rose to his feet, kissed her hand and embraced her. For Grace and Ray the love in the room was almost overwhelming.

Grace poked Ray and he obeyed. "Kids, you have our blessing. No prenup." Grace nudged him again. "We are thrilled for the both of you."

Grace pulled her daughter from Christian's arms and gathered her into her own. "My lovely little bean is getting married to the love of her life…just as I did. How could I be anything but delighted?"

Thereafter, the whole family hugged Ana and shook Grey's hand. Whatever misgivings anyone had, they kept to themselves. They knew now that they had to accept and trust Ana's decision…somehow.

At dinner, conversation was lively and fun…everyone discussing wedding ideas. Elliot and Ethan insisted that Grey tell them where he was taking Ana for their honeymoon. Safety precautions, of course. They would need to see if it was a safe location and how to get ahold of the couple if necessary. Their attempts were fruitless.

Mia had a lot of ideas for the wedding and wanted to invite her girlfriends. However, they couldn't be trusted to keep secrets and even if Mia managed to invite them unawares to the nuptials, they would be blathering to all the tabloids the next day. No. No friends.

Ros Baily, Grey insisted. She was the closest he had to a friend and he had no family so he wanted her as his best woman. Elliot and Ethan wanted to be groomsmen but no one knew a couple of discrete women. So, it was decided that Mia would be Ana's maid of honor and Elliot and Ethan would simply be groomsmen without bridesmaids. It would be different. It would be fine.

Grace and Ray would have several heated discussions about Ray wanting to invite people he'd had to watch get married…hundreds over the years. He owed them a wedding. Grace had many friends in her social circle, including her best friend. How could she not invite them?

Perhaps she could slowly persuade Ana to accept a few of these people. She didn't concern herself with convincing Christian. He would do whatever Ana wanted. He'd not raised ideas or exceptions as Mia discussed her plans with the group.

He wanted one thing. A marriage with Ana. How that came to be was of no concern. Ana could have whatever she wanted. All he wanted was SOON. When Mia promised that all could be arranged within a month, he nodded. Two weeks would have been better but….

He could see that Ana was tiring so he called a halt to their input, told Mia to keep him informed, and bid good night to the family that would soon be his. A part of him wished that Ana was an orphan as well. How simple that would be. A trip to the courthouse.

On the other hand, he wanted Ana to be surrounded by her loving and protective family. He wanted everything for her.

CHAPTER 32

He'd been married to Ana for four years now and he was in his thirties. He'd been CEO of Summit, Inc. for what seemed like always. When he turned 31, it was as if a switch flipped. The board now saw him as an adult. That, combined with all he'd accomplished, had won him their respect. They rarely argued with him anymore. Perhaps it was that lack of challenge that bored him. He knew it. Ana could see it and had tried to get him to talk more about it. She'd even encouraged him to quit. They certainly didn't need the money any more than they needed the thousands of square feet of penthouse.

One day while riding her bike around her parents' neighborhood, Ana stumbled upon an overgrown driveway with a rusted gate lying off its hinges. She slipped past and walked her bike up the road. It felt kind of magical to her…shaded by the canopy of trees overhead. The road made several twists and turns that excited her anticipation of what was around the next bend.

A mansion, dilapidated beyond repair. It must have been awesome once but now it was crumbling, covered in vines, the walls full of holes, the roof caving in. She approached with caution. She wanted badly to peek inside but pieces of the house were falling even as she stood watching.

She walked all around the grounds and, to the rear, discovered a backyard that was now a field high with grasses and weeds. She walked until she came to a cliff and a wondrous view of the Sound. It was even better than the view from her parents' backyard. She closed her eyes and breathed in the crisp and delicious air.

What was this place? Why had she never known of it? Her parents had never spoken of it…probably to keep their children from exploring. They would have ignored all signs of danger and stuck their noses into every nook and cranny. She wondered if it was haunted. Then she chuckled a bit. Anastasia would have huffed at the silly notion of ghosts but "simple" Ana found it fun to believe.

It was getting late. Christian was going to come to dinner at her parents' house and she had to be there when he arrived or he would worry. As she slipped again past the gate, she looked for a sale sign but there was none. Someone was hanging on to this property for dear life. They couldn't let it go.

She turned to Sawyer, ever present and barely acknowledged. She liked the man but she did not like his job… trailing her.

"Sawyer, could you find out who owns this place and anything else of interest, please?"

"Yes, Mrs. Grey. And thank you for not trying to enter. My heart was in my mouth. As it is, we'll both have to be checked for ticks after wading through all that tall grass."

Ana laughed as she raced off down the street while Sawyer gallantly tried to give the impression that he could barely keep up.

.+.

Grey kept looking at his watch. The minutes ticked by so slowly, almost defiantly, as if time was trying to keep him apart from Ana. They'd made love twice that morning but then he'd had to release her warm, soft body to go spend a couple of hours with the board. This was a mandatory appearance because he had been blowing them off most of the time for the last couple of years. They realized that they really had so little say any more. Grey wasn't just their CEO. He wasn't really the employee and hadn't been for years. He said jump and the board said how high. Every once in a blue moon they made an attempt to reign him in but that usually resulted in their having to pay him more to stay with Summit, Inc. For this appearance, he'd submitted to the begging of his COO, Ros, who'd been taking flak for his refusal to talk with them.

It was a Friday and Grey had planned on nesting with his wife all morning and then going for a long bike ride in the afternoon. Yet, here he sat in his chair at the head of the table. The chairman of the board sat opposite, ostensibly at the real head of the table but no one bought that any more. As usual, the board didn't have much of interest to say to Grey. They talked among themselves about new projects, ongoing projects and, of course, the share price. Grey texted with Ana.

"Mr. Grey? Are you with us?"

"Sure. Asian concerns due to unrest in Hong Kong. Share price climbing. Ya da ya da."

I adore you. What are you doing right now?

Taking a bike ride with my shadow. I adore you more.

"Mr. Grey, do you think that you could feign a bit of respect for the board?"

Grey looked up at Silverstein, a man pushing 90 and still sucking a payday from the company teat while doing nothing for it. No, he couldn't fake respect for the man.

"Mr. Silverstein, I work 60 hours a week. I travel abroad every couple of months. I attend all sorts of infernally boring events to promote Summit. What do you do for Summit besides show up here once a month for a couple of hours?"

Silverstein drew in a deep, calming breath that did not calm him.

"Mr. Grey, we, the board, are here to offer guidance and to protect the shareholders from any mistakes possibly made by the management."

"Guidance? If I honored your guidance, we'd still be at $30 a share. And what mistakes have you saved the shareholders from in the past 9 years, sir?"

"Mr. Grey, I will not deny that your leadership has been stellar but we are still the board, still your employers and still the…" He stopped short as Grey put up a hand, palm out.

"Perhaps that is the problem, Ladies and Gentlemen. Summit has a board. A group of directors who do nothing in the way of work, who constantly get in my way and who make the grave mistake of pissing me off regularly…yet each of you is paid handsomely for your presence here once a month.

"When one of you retires, the shareholders do not notice or care. When I take a vacation, the staff can't keep up with the worried calls. The Seattle Times all but declares a state of emergency on the front page and I have to put out a PR notice that all is well and I'll be checking in every day.

"Still the share price drops for the time I'm gone. Then I put out the word that I, the CEO, am buying more Summit stock to bring the price back up. Are you worthless lot aware that I do not, in actual fact, work for you? I now own 59% of this company, the controlling interest, and were it not for the bylaws, I would fire the lot of you! Now, I have to go to my office to get some work done and then I'm leaving early to spend time with my wife."

As Grey walked out of the room, the mouths of the board were hanging open. Yes, they were indignant. Yes, they were furious. Yes, they were humiliated and yes, they were helpless worms.

CHAPTER 33

"Stand still, Ana! I have to check all of you for ticks. What were you thinking, strolling through tall grass in a pair of shorts? I've already found 4 of the little buggers. You know that Christian is going to go berserk. He'll be taking you to the emergency ward."

"Well, leave my groin for him to investigate. He'll get distracted pretty easily," Ana giggled.

"This is serious, Ana. Ticks are hard to find in hair. He'll really lay into poor Luke," Mia fretted.

Mia and Luke had been serious for a couple of years but his job was getting in the way. The hours were crazy and, while he'd never been in danger, he certainly could be. He was looking into finding a replacement to protect Ana and then he intended to open his own agency which would allow him to work 8 – 5. Thus far, he'd rejected every possible CPO for Ana. He was uber protective of her after almost 4 years. Still, Mia understood and was pleased that he took such good care of her baby sister. Mia, herself, had crazy hours and had been looking for a management team to take over for her at the restaurant. She wanted to have a family and stay home at night with them. Christian had offered to pay for the extra help but, like Luke, Mia had a tough time approving anyone to watch over her baby.

"Okay, now get in the shower and wash your groin and your hair with Listerine. Rub it in really well."

Christian, stop at drugstore and purchase amber-colored Listerine.

What!?

Just do it. Several bottles.

Why did Mia want Listerine? Multiple bottles? What did Ana do this time?

Sawyer, Mia needs several bottles of Listerine. ?

Yes, sir. Tick removal. Works well.

You let Ana walk in a tick infested area?

Once again, sir. I rarely "let" your wife do anything. I just keep her alive.

You're fired again.

Right.

Grey couldn't really blame Sawyer. Grey was well aware that Sawyer worked terrible and unpredictable hours. And Ana was a handful. If she were in a certain state of mind, she'd go out of her way to get into trouble. Sawyer had taken to locking the elevator right after Grey left for work to keep Ana from just waltzing out the door without notice. When Grey and Ana had a night out, at first Grey would give Sawyer the night off, figuring that he could look after her just fine. And he could…if he didn't get distracted talking to someone. Sometimes Ana would just wander off…go exploring.

One night while attending a huge party at a 25,000 square foot mansion, a shareholder had grabbed Grey's arm and pulled him into a conversation. It was several minutes before Grey missed the warmth of Ana's hand on his arm. By the time he found Ana, she was standing at the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean. The wind was strong and she was swaying, mesmerized by the waves and their roar and the starlit sky. Grey grabbed her just as she tilted forward. He sat on the ground, holding her and shaking. Ana just looked at him, dazed.

After that, Grey ordered Sawyer to go everywhere with Ana and that arrangement was wearing the man down. He agreed to Sawyer recruiting a second CPO but Sawyer was too attached to have an objective opinion anymore.

At the drugstore, Grey loaded up a basket with Listerine and tick repellent. Prevention first. Tonight he'd go over her from head to toe. She had long hair now. He wished it was still a pixie cut so the ticks couldn't hide so well. He knew he'd be obsessed with ticks for weeks and constantly on watch for symptoms of Lyme Disease.

As he walked into Steele Manor, Grace rushed up and began to reassure him that Ana was fine. Mia had been looking into every moist crevasse of Ana's body. Grey stared at Grace. Ana's moist crevasses were his terrain. He tore up the stairs and pounded on the bathroom door.

"Christian, Ana is taking a shower. She's using the Listerine I had but I needed more for Luke. Excuse me, I'm on tick duty but he insisted that I check Ana first. Don't you dare yell at him," she snarled.

Christian undressed in a flash and dashed into the shower with Ana. By the time he'd gotten done inspecting her for ticks, she'd had three orgasms.

CHAPTER 34

Sawyer managed to get Mrs. Grey alone after dinner as Christian complained about dealing with boards to an understanding Ray.

"Mrs. Grey, the property belongs to a man named Alfred P. Johnston of Orlando, Florida. He lives in a retirement community called The Villages and is approximately 85-86 years old. He never lived in the home. No one has for almost 60 years now. The original owner was Mr. Johnston's great-uncle and Mr. Johnston was his only heir."

"Did Alfred ever live in this area?"

"No. He seems to have spent his entire life on the east coast. He is quite wealthy and it's possible that he's more or less forgotten about the property."

"Does he have heirs?"

"He lives with his second wife. The first died in childbirth as did the child. He waited nearly 20 years to remarry and there are no children."

"Hmm…it's probably best to get to him before he leaves everything to someone who'd want to develop the site. Thank you, Luke."

Was it possible, Ana wondered, that some property developer was already trying to acquire the place? Condos, she shuddered.

She could probably check with a realtor as to the worth of the place but that was tricky. Anything Mr. or Mrs. Grey did was open to public scrutiny and questions about waterfront property would certainly show up in the Seattle Nooz first thing in the morning. No, she'd have to leave it to Christian who might not even be interested anyway. Darn. She was plenty interested.

She walked into her father's study, interrupting his discussion with his son-in-law. Ray had grown quite fond of Christian. He'd watched as this man had treated his daughter with such devotion. He himself no long worried as much about Ana because everything he'd seen since their marriage had convinced him that her husband loved her to distraction and Christian was a champion worrier, especially when it came to Ana. Now Ray worried about his sons who showed no signs of settling down.

"Hi, honey. Looking for me?" Ray smiled as he saw Christian's eyes light up as if he hadn't seen his wife in weeks. They'd finished dinner 30 minutes ago.

"Yes. I needed to talk with you for a minute when you've finished with daddy."

"We're done," he replied, jumping to his feet. Ray had to smirk. They'd been in the middle of a sentence when Ana walked in. Sometimes Ray felt that he needed to protect Christian from Ana.

Christian took Ana's hand and they walked out toward the water. Their heads were close together and then their arms were around each other. Ray turned to find Grace standing next to him, smiling contentedly. He put his arm around her shoulder. He recalled when they'd bought the house, intending to fill it with children. That first day, after they'd signed the papers and been handed the keys, they had walked down to the water the same way.

The following years were harder than they'd planned. The house remained empty of children. There was heartbreak followed by heartbreak. How many times did Ray hold a sobbing Grace and then walk with her to the water? They got through it, though. The empty house filled up overnight with children…loud, mischievous and often badly behaved children but always well-loved children. And, then, just when the youngest was off to school, there was a baby squalling in the night. It was heaven, they'd thought.

And now that baby who'd broken their hearts more than once was a married woman…four years and still madly in love with her adoring husband.

"Somehow, Grace, we brought her through it all." Grace looked at her husband and laughed. If he had had his way, Christian would have been found floating face down in the Sound.

CHAPTER 35

"It's getting too dark to go look at it now. Sawyer didn't mention a local realtor?" Christian asked.

"No. He got the impression that it had been just forgotten about. Maybe my parents know something. Should we ask or keep it between us for now?"

"Let's just have Sawyer dig a little deeper. I could have a private appraiser check it out. Best to keep this quiet. You really liked this place, eh?"

"It's beautiful, Christian. So peaceful and the air smells so good…maybe from all the wild flowers everywhere."

"Are these the flowers covered with ticks?" he teased. "Would you really want to live there? I thought that you liked our penthouse."

"I do, Christian, but this land is so lovely and I'd sure hate to see it overrun with a cheap development. Remember that mansion down the street from the folks? No one wanted to save it so now it's an apartment complex. Sometimes, sitting outside, you can hear the noise from all those people. Mom and daddy have even talked about moving. However, all the mansions around this ruined mansion are occupied and in good shape so we wouldn't have to be thinking about moving in a few years. Besides, penthouses aren't good places to raise children."

"Ana…"

"I'm healthy, Christian. I haven't had a seizure in years."

"You also haven't had a lot of disruption around you. Children are loud. They get into trouble. They cause their parents terrible worry. What might happen the first time our child gets sick? I know you'll try to stay calm but you'll be afraid and that could bring on a seizure.

"I'm scared, Ana. I can't picture a future without you. I certainly can't picture a future raising a child alone. Haven't we been doing okay…just the two of us?"

"Yes, we have and we've both been very happy. It's just that sometimes I look at you and I see you with a little bundle in your arms. I'll be thirty soon and you're already thirty-one. We'll have to wait a few years for a baby to be available as it is. We have to make a decision. But, Christian, I'll never guilt or force you into something you don't want," She hugged his arm. "I already have so much more than I ever dreamt of having."

They sat on the dock with their bare feet dangling in the water, Ana leaning against her husband's strong chest. She hadn't lied. She was as content as any woman could be. She was simply afraid of regrets…of one day wishing they had children and grandchildren. But who's to say that they'd feel that way? Maybe they'd be blissfully happy to be an aunt and an uncle who could enjoy the children and then leave the little troublemakers with Elliot, Ethan and Mia. Of course, at this point it was looking like it was all up to Mia.

Christian didn't even want to imagine life without Ana. And if she had a life-ending seizure while trying to calm a screaming baby….oh, lord. Could he even go on loving that child? What he could easily picture is leaving the baby with a nanny while he drove his car off a cliff. No, he'd be no good without Ana.

And that's what this house was all about, he knew. A real home for a family. Ana wouldn't want a mansion…no. She'd want something cozy with a few bedrooms, a couple of baths and couple of porches. A backyard with a jungle gym and a treehouse.

Ana knew that Christian was scared. His arm around her grew tighter and he repeatedly kissed her head. She felt bad about bringing on his fears of losing her. She never allowed herself to consider that possibility with him. He was so strong. Nothing could happen to him. It wasn't fair to him to make him fear life without her. He'd grown up mostly alone and then lost the only people who wanted to be his family. Even though he'd always have the Steeles, she knew it wouldn't be nearly enough. He would die of a broken heart. She had to protect him from that.

CHAPTER 36

That night, after making love for hours, Ana was exhausted. She'd been pretty worn out after the first hour but her desire for Christian was such that she couldn't stop. Even though he cautioned her to rest, she begged for more. After a number of orgasms, she wanted most to have her husband inside of her and his arms around her. As with Christian, that connection was home to Ana. Neither had ever cum and then flopped over to go to sleep. Being physically in touch had always been so much a part of their relationship. Perhaps if they'd been more like other couples who benefited from time and separation, having to be apart wouldn't have been such a difficulty for them. It was hardest for Christian who, having spent 26 years mostly alone, now found it hard to tolerate being away from his family, from Ana. It was also hard for Ana who found in Christian the only person who truly knew the woman who came from Anastasia.

So, the morning came and Christian sat in bed with Ana who had half her body draped over his as he used his IPad to research this piece of land she wanted. He knew how to tap into city records, Google Earth and other resources to check out the mansion. He was surprised at the size of the lot…80 acres of cleared land and woods. There was also a lot next to it comprised of 60 more acres that could offer a lot of distance from trespassers. Due to the lack of utilities, the undeveloped acreage was worth just over half a million dollars. Then there would be another couple million to prep and build on the land. A quarter billion….not bad, Grey thought. It would be a great investment if nothing else.

Further investigation revealed that there had been no other inquiries about the old place. That was surprising. So, it seemed that old Mr. Johnston might be amenable to selling the place. Grey texted the head of his office in Miami to find an attorney specializing in real estate to get in touch with Mr. Johnston. Suddenly, Grey really wanted this property. He wanted to design and plan a house with Ana.

He set the IPad down and slipped down to lie with Ana. Oh, the joy of enveloping her naked body in his arms! After four years, he was still in awe of the fact that she was his wife. At times like these, when he couldn't sleep, he liked to recall all the memories of Ana that brought him such happiness…like the first time he held her…as they danced at the gala. Her request that she be allowed to lay her head on his chest. Their night in the boat.

And the first time he saw her on the morning she became his wife. Despite Ana's protest, her mother and sister had insisted that tradition prevail and for the first time since their first time, Christian and Ana had to sleep apart. It was agony. He stood at the altar Mia had set up in the backyard and yearned for the sight of Ana. It was as if he had tunnel vision. He could see nothing but the small space that she would soon occupy as Ray walked her to her future husband. And then she was there and, oh, what a glorious, beautiful, incredible dream she was as she came to him. He saw only her face, her eyes. When she reached him, she pulled his pocket square out and dabbed at the tears about to flow, the tears blurring his sight. Then she kissed his lips softly.

Elliot called out a warning that vows had not yet been made so take it easy there, sis. Everyone laughed or so they told Christian later. All he could hear was Ana's voice. It was all he could do to pay attention to the officiant so that he knew when to say his vows and I do. He wasn't sure what he'd promised but it must have been pretty good because Ana began crying. Then he heard every word she said but mostly the vow to never leave him. His hands shook as they exchanged rings and then, according to their guests, their first kiss as husband and wife went on much too long.

The rest of day was hazy. He couldn't recall the cake or the picture-taking or anything really except for holding Ana as they swayed to soft music just as they had that first night at the gala. When he saw pictures and video of them later, laughing and talking to people, he still couldn't remember doing so.

He remembered getting on the company jet and being whisked off to his Aspen Chalet for two weeks of just being them. All of the media believed that they were touring Europe but that wasn't what either of them wanted. Alone. That was all they wanted. They spent hours cuddled together in front of the fire, walking the trails, cooking, watching the starry show above them and, of course, making love.

During their four years of marriage, all of their vacations had been like that. They never tired of doing absolutely nothing…with each other.

CHAPTER 37

"Ana! What are you wearing?!" Christian was aghast. Ana had very fetching legs…there was no doubt of that…but they were bicycling down to the abandoned mansion property. The very property where his wife had collected a half dozen ticks a few days earlier.

Sawyer was wearing jeans tucked into tube socks, a long-sleeved shirt and a hooded windbreaker wrapped around his head. Grey was just as handsomely attired but Ana was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and braids. Grey was certainly used to Ana's quirky ways but sometimes she could still shock him. He dragged her back to her old bedroom and stripped her down. Normally, this action would have completely diverted him from his initial mission but today he was too appalled.

He applied enough flea and tick repellent to protect her buck naked and then covered her body from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. Then he sprayed all her clothes as well.

"Christian, I can't breathe."

"Ticks are an epidemic and they're showing up in the most unlikely places. When we get back, we're going to disrobe in the laundry room and then bathe in tub of Listerine. I should have thought ahead and had the whole place sprayed down before we go in."

As always, Ana failed to see the danger in things that her protective husband did and all this struck her as over the top. Getting a look at Sawyer and Christian made her laugh hysterically. Besides, she'd quite enjoyed his delousing of her a few nights earlier.

Sawyer stood in the driveway with three bicycles, looking sheepish. Mrs. Grey couldn't stop laughing at her escorts. It didn't help that the three of them stunk something awful. Grace retreated to her husband's cigar-smoke-drenched study. It was preferable.

Ana was quite excited to show Christian the mansion and the land and the view extraordinaire. To keep her from returning the very next day, he'd had to extract her solemn vow. He'd received word from the real estate attorney who contacted Mr. Johnston that yes, he had more or less forgotten about the property but he was willing to sell for the amount offered…especially after Grey cautioned that if the property wasn't a private sale to a family, it would undoubtedly be snapped up by a developer who would be crass about its usage. Good old Mr. Johnston had a conscience even about a piece of land he'd never seen.

Now Grey was also excited as Ana led the two men through the ruined gate and down the winding drive. Ana's joy was contagious. Grey gaped as the mansion came into view. Ana was expressing the hope that the property might be haunted. Sawyer's investigation had revealed that the entire neighborhood had at one time been the home of the indigenous people…especially the Suquamish tribes.

"So, don't you think that we'll probably find graves, Christian?"

"I hope not. That would really complicate building. If we find even one grave, we'll have to dig up the entire 140 acres to find any other possible gravesites and then turn over the remains we find to the tribe that used to live here. Of course, figuring out which tribe that was would be another investigation."

"Perhaps we could establish a cemetery on the property," Ana suggested enthusiastically.

"You want to live by a graveyard?" He responded with astonishment.

"We could put a sweet little fence around it, with markers and such."

"Sounds creepy," Christian muttered. He had to admit, however, that the mansion was intriguing. He really wanted to venture inside but Sawyer objected…strenuously. The whole place was a brick or two from totally collapsing, he asserted.

Then, with Sawyer in the lead, they moved around to the back and down to the water. Ana hadn't exaggerated. The view was breathtaking. The three of them stood quietly and reverently taking in the water, the green hills beyond and off to the north, the city of Seattle just beginning to come alight.

Lord, thought Grey as he watched his beautiful wife framed by all this incredible nature, I am one lucky son-of-a-bitch to be able to have all this.

CHAPTER 38

It took several minutes for Grey to realize that Ana's mind was off in a different world. He watched as she turned to look back at the mansion. She had a dreamy, dazed expression on her face. She began to walk back toward the house and then broke into a run. Grey raced after her and caught her just a few yards from the front door. This mansion, like so many on the waterfronts in Seattle, had no drive or walkway because people merely pulled up in boats and walked up the stairs to the landing. Those stairs had long ago rotted away. And what Ana was staring at was the original front of the house. There was a two-story veranda the length of the home and remarkably and, indeed, rather strangely considering the condition of the rest of the place, the second story veranda seemed to be solid.

Ana stood staring up, her eyes focused on something. She didn't respond to anything Christian said to her. Her face was lit up as though she were seeing something or someone precious whom she'd long ago lost. As Christian held her, she struggled to get out of his arms. Sawyer appeared and pulled out his phone. He asked Ray to bring the SUV up to the house. Ana wasn't up to riding her bike home. Then he gaped at Grey in confusion and a touch of nerves.

Ana seemed able to see something they could not. Sawyer had seen Ana do some strange things and had heard some strange things come out of her mouth but he understood her head injury. This, on the other hand, was really different and rather creepy. He'd heard of people with severe brain damage who were able to see and hear things others did not but this was too much like a supernatural movie. Maybe Ana had recently watched the Haunting of Hill House.

Grey had to pick up Ana to keep her from running inside the house. As they walked down the lane, Ana leaned over Christian's shoulder to look at the house until it was out of sight. Sawyer loaded the bikes in the back of the SUV while Christian buckled Ana into her seat. Ray was upset about her dazed look.

"Christian, what happened in there? She looks like she's seen a ghost."

"Well, if she has, she isn't afraid of it. She stared at the second floor veranda, transfixed. If I hadn't held her, she'd have run right in the door. It was freaky, Ray. And she is in no condition to explain it right now. It's getting late and I'd like to have her family around her for the night."

"Certainly, Grace and I would prefer that as well. Let's hope it was a momentary spell."

"Even though we own the place, we still have to do a lot of paperwork to settle matters. Mr. Johnston had no abstract so we'll have to have quite a search done to put one of those together. We'll have to hire someone to come in and mow and cut down acres of scrub. There are also a lot of woods. Someone will have to comb through every acre to determine the health of the trees. There may be a lot of dead wood to eliminate. And I really want to know the history of that mansion.

"Ray, you've lived in this neighborhood for forty years. How is it that you've never noticed this place. You must have driven by a thousand times."

"Well, first of all, the mansion isn't visible from the road. Secondly, the stone pillars and the gate have been covered in weeds. I may have been slightly aware of a driveway but it never made an impression. I don't know why it was suddenly cleaned up enough for Ana to notice it. After all, she's lived in this area all her life and bicycled by it many a time. Then suddenly, she sees it. Why? Why was it suddenly open to her? Almost like someone inviting her in."

"Ray, enough. You're creeping me out now."

As Ray drove back home, Ana stared out the back window. She seemed sad. Christian tried to get her attention but it was useless. She was unaware of anything. To keep her from running back to the mansion, Christian carried her inside and up to her bedroom. He undressed her and slipped his t-shirt over her head…then tucked her under the duvet. She lay on her side and stared toward the window. Christian stayed by her side, gently stroking her hair until her eyes grew heavy and finally closed. When he was certain that she was asleep, he texted Sawyer to meet him in Ray's study.

Then he closed the door to the balcony and locked it, setting the alarm. Leaving, he left the door open…hoping to hear anything from the bedroom.

Ray was in the living room, having a bourbon and trying to calm down.

"Ray, I have to talk with Sawyer privately. Mind if I borrow your office?"

"No, go ahead. I'll expect to be filled in when you come out."

"That's fine. I just want you out here, listening and watching."

Ray nodded and took another hit off the bourbon. Sawyer and Grey settled in the office.

"Luke, I know that you do a lot of investigating but you didn't turn up anything unusual about the Johnston place."

"No, sir, but then I wasn't looking for spooks who might mesmerize your wife. I know someone who might be more help. He can vet deep…real deep. He has contacts that aren't entirely, hmm, kosher, you might say. If he can't find the story behind that place, no one can."

"Have you ever encountered anything like this?"

"Sir, I think you might find it helpful to talk with either Dr. Flynn or a neurologist who is well-versed in Mrs. Grey's sort of brain damage. Sometimes damage opens pathways in the brain to which the normal brain doesn't have access. Think of people who wake from comas able to play piano or speak French."

"First Ray and now you. All right. Talk to your contact and get back to me." Christian and Sawyer left the study…Luke to a guest room and Christian to fill in Ray. He didn't have much to tell Ray and he really wanted to get back to Ana. Once inside the bedroom, he locked the door and shoved a chair up under the doorknob. Ana was sleeping peacefully.

He wrapped himself around her. Maybe, he told himself, tonight was a one-off. Maybe he was making too much of nothing. Still, he was afraid.

CHAPTER 39

"OMG! And I own this place?" Grey was horrified by what Sawyer's contact had dug up.

"Is he absolutely sure about all this or is it a fiction, someone's overworked imagination?"

"He has documentation, sir. He'll be sending it over as soon as possible."

"Good grief. Okay, I want nothing more to do with this property. Yet, how do I tell Ana? She's in love with it. I'm beginning to think that Johnston knew exactly what he was doing all along. I think that I've been taken. Maybe he had the driveway cleaned up, hoping someone would finally see it."

"I don't know, Mr. Grey. Nothing my contact learned gave him the impression that anyone had ever shown any interest before you. If someone had, Johnston might have felt that he had to wait until a generation or two had passed and the nature of the property had been forgotten. But Mr. Steele's been here for a very long time and had never heard a word about it. Almost as if the property didn't want to be exposed."

Grey gaped at Sawyer. "So it was just waiting for my wife to reveal itself?"

Sawyer shrugged. Grey grimaced. "I don't believe in such bullshit and I'm shocked that you would, Luke."

Sawyer looked sheepish but didn't take back his words. "I've been witness to a lot of impossible things, sir. I keep an open mind."

"Yeah, well, shut it about this. No haunted mansions. No horror movies. No Haunting of Hill House or The Turn of the Screw. Not a hint of this to Ana."

"She's been pestering me about returning to the house for days, sir. She doesn't remember her abnormal attraction to it and doesn't understand why I keep refusing to take her back to it. What should I say to her?"

"Blame me. Have you told her about that night at all?"

"No, sir. I followed your instructions. Perhaps if you share this new information with her?"

"I'm going to make an appointment with Dr. Flynn. I'll share it then. Maybe if two sensible people tell her what we've learned, she'll listen. Thank you, Sawyer. That is all."

"Hmmm, sir? One more thing. My contact, name of Welch, is fascinated by what he found out and he wants to see the place himself. Do I have your permission to show it to him?

"You want to go back there? Wasn't getting the bejesus scared out of you once enough for you?"

Again, Sawyer shrugged. Grey nodded to his request and waved him out of the study, muttering "Idiot" under his breath.

Welch had found a treasure trove of information about early Seattle and the Steele's part in it. He'd also learned a great deal about the mansion…much of it horrific and disturbing. Grey didn't know if he should reveal all of the information to the family first or sit down with Dr. Flynn and Ana before everyone else. He decided finally on a visit to Dr. Flynn. Ana's insistence on returning to the mansion could not be put off.

.+.

"Ana, it's good to see you again. You're looking fine, really fine," Flynn smiled at the lovely brunette sitting on his worn leather couch.

Ana smiled at him…a genuine smile of pleasure. He'd gotten her through some rough times as she transitioned from Anastasia to Ana and she felt a great deal of affection for him.

"Christian surprised me when he said that we were going to come visit with you again. I'm not entirely sure of his reasons, Dr. Flynn. I've been quite happy and content with our life. I hope that Christian hasn't been keeping something from me that is bothering him."

"No, honey, I haven't. I tell you everything and what I want to discuss today with John's help is something that has happened only recently. I felt that we needed an objective party to help us through it."

Ana looked quite puzzled and a wee bit fearful. She reached up her hand to caress her husband's face. She needed to reassure him that she was with him no matter what the problem.

"Okay, Christian, please go ahead. I'm listening." She smiled and took his hand.

CHAPTER 40

Christian squeezed her hand and pulled out a manila envelope from his briefcase. He pushed it across the table to Flynn.

"I'll begin before you examine the contents, if that's all right," Grey asked Flynn. Flynn nodded.

"A few weeks ago Ana and Sawyer stumbled upon an abandoned property a couple of miles down from her parents' house. Until that time, in all the 40+ years since the Steele's had lived in the area, they had not been aware of even the driveway. Ana and Sawyer had also ridden by on bikes many times but on this occasion Ana first noticed stone pillars and an unhinged metal gate. They followed the long winding drive up to the mansion. The place is in dangerous shape, not fit for exploration. The grounds are overgrown and at the edge is a spectacular view of the water and the city in the distance.

"Ana wanted the estate and I set out to buy it…which I did. 140 acres, untended for more than 60 years. Sawyer had to do some digging to find the owner who had never been to the west coast and claimed to be unaware that he had inherited it from a great-uncle."

"Ana wanted me to see it and so the three of us went down to visit late one afternoon. Now, here is where the story gets strange." Christian stopped for a breath and Ana turned to look at him.

"Ana, what happened that day you do not remember. Please try to remain calm while I tell Dr. Flynn what took place." Christian took another deep breath and related the events of that afternoon. Ana gaped at him in awe.

"Ana, do you have any remembrance at all of this incident. Do you recall running to the house, being grabbed by me to keep you from going in, being carried to bed early evening and having no dinner? Mostly, do you recollect seeing anything that night, anything unusual on the second floor porch?"

"This is what you've been keeping from me this past week, Christian? Your belief that I saw a ghost?"

"I know it sounds fantastic, Ana, but it wasn't just me who was spooked by your behavior. Sawyer immediately called your father to come pick us up because you were struggling to get out of my arms, to get into the house. He knew that you couldn't ride your bike home."

"Christian, this is nuts. Maybe I was looking up at the mansion itself, overcome by the sight of it."

"Darling, you weren't yourself. You couldn't hear me or Sawyer. All you could do is stare with yearning up at the balcony. You could see something we could not."

As Ana continued to argue, Flynn continued to study the contents of the envelope. He pulled out a picture.

"Ana, this is a photo of the mansion back in it's good days with what appears to be a large party posed along the front. Take a good look and see if anyone looks familiar." He handed her a magnifying glass and Ana took to examining the faces. She spent a long time going from one to the other. As she did so, Flynn looked at the other materials and he and Grey exchanged glances. Yes, the information was highly disturbing.

"I know this face, this boy." She pointed to the young man of perhaps 17 staring without expression at the camera. "Why is no one smiling?" she asked.

"This image was taken approximately late 1800s when photography required that its subjects remain still for some time," Flynn explained.

"Oh," Ana replied. "I was afraid that he was unhappy."

"Who is he, Ana?" Christian asked.

Calmly and unselfconsciously, Ana replied, "My son, Luca."

CHAPTER 41

Grey and Flynn stared at each other. "Your son."

"Yes, Luca. He was a very sweet boy, very brave and kind. He was devoted to me. He died shortly before his 18th birthday. It was my fault. My husband killed him but it was my fault." Ana's voice began to tremble. "My baby, my baby."

Christian pulled Ana to him and she sobbed into his shoulder. Flynn pointed to a newspaper notice that told of the murder and the subsequent trial which resulted in a guilty verdict and death by hanging in the town square. Grey could do no more than hold Ana and shake his head in shock and disbelief. What in the name of God could all this mean? Was it real?

Over the sound of Ana's pain, Grey softly asked Flynn what he thought. Was Ana going through some psychotic episode…some response to her brain damage? Flynn shook his head. Ana, he said, showed no signs of psychosis or delusion. And she certainly wasn't the first patient he'd treated for past life memories. None before, however, had so much documented history. This was a first and most remarkable development.

Meanwhile, it was apparent that the news in the envelope would be quite disturbing to Ana and would have to be doled out bit by bit for her to be able to handle it. Flynn advised gathering the family for a reveal but leaving Ana out of a full discussion as yet. She was definitely unable to emotionally handle these disturbing happenstances…since so many concerned her more than anyone else.

Exhausted by the sight of her beloved son and the remembrance of his fate, Ana had to lean on Christian to the car. She couldn't speak. She just stared at the photo. Christian told her that he would have the photo enlarged and refined so that she could see her son better. She smiled at this and thanked him. She was asleep when they arrived at Escala and Christian put her right to bed.

Then he called her family and asked them to come to dinner that night. No, no. Ana was physically fine but she'd had an emotional shock. He had much to tell them and he wanted to do it without Ana's presence. Of course, everyone agreed to arrive at 6 p.m.

He then called Welch to come over to share information. Welch was reluctant. He usually stayed underground but Grey explained that, although he heard the information, he felt that an objective party could better explain matters. Welch explained that he charged a goodly amount to make appearances and Grey laughed, agreeing.

Gail was alerted to arrange a large meal. Then Grey checked on Ana. Just as anytime that her system had suffered a shock, she was deeply asleep and he knew that she wouldn't wake until morning. He sat with her for some time, stroking her hair, her cheek, rubbing circles on her back, kissing her eyelids and her head. He wanted so to lie with her, to hold her. His special girl, his incredible wife…in so many ways…but he feared that gathering her into his arms would relax him so much that he would fall asleep himself.

He had to keep his head. He had to figure out what to do about a haunted mansion! He'd always known that his wife was different and required special consideration but this was a whole new universe of the unknown. It would require as much open-mindedness and courage as he'd ever imagined needing with a wife whose head had been smashed in by a wrench. He wondered if he was a first. He'd asked Flynn to look around and see if there were any other cases somewhat like Ana's that they could use as guidance and Flynn had promised to do so.

He heard voices so he closed the door. Thank goodness their bedroom was soundproof. He wouldn't have to worry about waking Ana. He wondered if, when she did awaken, she would remember Luca.

He walked down the hall with heavy steps and around the corner to greet his guests. He was exhausted himself…mostly from a barrage of emotions and feelings of helplessness. The Steeles, Welch, Sawyer and Flynn could see that Grey was pale and tired. Grace embraced him immediately…quickly followed by Ray, Elliot, Ethan and Mia. After watching him care for their Ana with such love, such devotion…how could they not love him as their own?

He introduced Welch and Dr. Flynn and they all gathered around the dining table and Gail's feast. She was a genius at putting together a meal on short notice. With the exception of Elliot and Ethan, people's appetites were dulled by nervousness. Gail had made certain that there were a lot of light dishes and finger foods that people could nibble on.

"Thank you all for coming. I'm afraid that this night will be one unlike any you've ever experienced."

CHAPTER 42

"I will greatly appreciate your patience, your willingness to listen and, mostly, your ability to suspend your disbelief. I know that Ray has informed you of the events experienced by Sawyer and myself, along with Ana, but there is a great deal more to tell you. I'm still working toward absorbing this information which is why I've invited Mr. Welch here tonight. You have my and Sawyer's assurances that his word is impeccable.

"I will tell you that Ana and I visited with Dr. Flynn today. For the first time, she saw a picture of a large family gathering in front of the mansion…circa 1900. She recognized one of the people as," he breathed deeply, "her son, Luca."

Everyone gasped, their eyes popping out. "She said that he was murdered by her husband in an attempt to defend his mother. Flynn has a newspaper clipping concerning the murder, the trial and the verdict which resulted in Luca's father being hung."

Every mouth was hanging open. Only Welch and Flynn were impassive.

"Mr. Welch will now relate all that he has learned.."

"Ahem. Well, let's see if I can tell you all I've learned in the best possible order. This is the first speech I've ever given. First, please keep all this to yourselves. People may be curious as to how I learned all this and there could be repercussions since some of the information unveiling required, hmm…not entirely scrupulous methods.

"The initial settlement of the city of Seattle began in the mid-1800s. At the time the entire area was forest, ancient forest. There is nothing like it left in the world. There were settlers before the Steeles but none as aggressive. Of course, people didn't understand conservation back then. They saw only resources and believed that it was mankind's right to make use of those resources.

"The Steeles excelled at redeeming lumber and finding markets for it. What wasn't necessary for the growth of the city was sent down to Southern California. The Steeles were the equivalent of multi-millionaires within just a few years of hard work. They were quite a large family and everyone worked toward the family fortune.

"Dr. Flynn, you've closely examined the materials I sent to Mr. Grey. Would you please distribute them around the table as I cover that ground? Dr. Flynn has pictures and news articles to go along with my story.

"While the Steele family was acquisitive and primarily interested in accumulating family wealth, they were also generous and wise. They intended this area to be their home and did not want to live in an industrial area that offered little in the way of a good life. Thus, toward the turn of the century, they funded a large park system to be designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, renowned landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York City. That park system, of course, remains to this day. They also contributed to the building of churches, schools and hospitals. Their finest project was the central library, established in partnership with Andrew Carnegie.

"The Steele family, led by its patriarch, Washington L. Steele, grew quickly thanks to Georgina Steele. She was a tremendously strong woman, both physically and intellectually and was thus able to carry 16 children to term, 16 children who lived to adulthood….something almost unheard of in that time. While her husband toiled all day and half the night building the family empire, she toiled all day and half the night making a home for all of them. She initially raised those children in a wooden shack. Washington would build on another room every time she had another child."

"Would you look at this "house?" Ray whistled. "Plain but solid and look at that family outside. Let's see…1, 2, 3…and on he went to 12 children with Ma and Pa flanking them at the end of the line. "Course, in those days, children were useful."

"Excuse me?" Ethan objected. "I recall being handy with gauze and bandages and peroxide."

"In times past, my dear son," Grace brought up, "children were absolutely necessary for a farm to survive. People didn't have kids for fun. They had them to make real contributions to the family's incomes. That is why males were preferred."

"What?!" Mia was aghast. "I'm sorry, dear, but it's the truth. Girls were considered a liability who had to be properly married off." Grace had to grin at Mia's insulted pout.

"Well, I'm certainly glad that attitude changed. What would we have done without our girls, Gracie?"

"Been bored out of our minds, dear," she smiled. Now it was turn for Elliot and Ethan to be appalled. "What were we good for then, dad?" Elliot scowled.

"Breaking all the knickknacks, son," Ray gazed indulgently at his sons.

"Well, to continue, Welch said. "The Steeles were a smart bunch…even then. The city of Seattle went through periods of boom and bust…like any metropolitan area. Eventually, all the timber was decimated and the Steeles moved on to banking, their most lucrative employment. The gold rush had reached the west coast and the banking business was the biggest business. The area had really grown and the Steeles owned most of the banks in Seattle. They became enormously wealthy.

"Somewhere around the 1890s, Washington, now an elderly but still sharp old man, decided to move north, beyond the city and along the shoreline, empty at the time. He picked out the finest acreage and built the mansion you now own, Mr. Grey."

CHAPTER 43

"Do you have the exact dates for the erection of this mansion, Welch? We have to put together an abstract since one did not come with the house."

"I'm afraid that I haven't been able to pinpoint exact dates, sir. People didn't do abstracts back then. However, I believe it was begun somewhere around the 1890s and finished, for the most part, around 1900. Old man Steele had his children, his in-laws and his grandkids so he built and built. Every few years he had to had on an addition. The two-story veranda was probably one of the last extensions to be built onto the house. There were numerous indoor projects as well. He was continually upgrading the plumbing system in the house.

"The city of Seattle had decent indoor plumbing but this was a country home without a sewer system. Washington installed the best to be offered but every few years made improvements. He was quoted as saying that his grandchildren were not hotfooting it out to a privy in the middle of the night."

"He also had a large dock built with a rudimentary trolley system to carry people up the hill. He would take his private boat back and forth to the city for business. Sometimes Georgina would go with him to shop but mostly the family sequestered themselves at home. And why not? They lived lavishly with horses to ride about the thousands of acres they owned. They walked a lot or rode about in carriages. The children had so much land to explore. They would canoe and swim. It was a dream environment…for several years.

"I mentioned the family growing through the accumulation of in-laws. Steele wanted all his children with him. When a child married, the new spouse was expected to go to work for the Steele Corporation and live in the Steele mansion. Have you all seen the picture of the family gathered for the photo in front of the house? Peering through a magnifying glass, I was able to count approximately 80 people. Of course, on the edges one identifies servants but most of the people in the picture were family. At this point, the mansion had nearly 100 rooms."

"Which of these people did Ana identify as her son?" Grace asked.

Christian pointed out Luca. Grace squinted. "I can barely make him out."

"I'm going to have all the photos enlarged and made clearer, Grace. Ana, without a magnifier, knew him instantly."

"It was hinted to us that, besides the murder of her son by her husband and his subsequent hanging, there was more horror taking place at Steele Manor," Ray remarked.

"Yes," Welch said. "That place was a veritable Amityville."

"Well, go on, Mr. Welch. We are waiting with bated breath." Mia was entranced.

Welch went on to tell that Washington Steele died under mysterious circumstances sometime around his 100th birthday. All he could find were medical records that listed the death. "However, unlike the usual death certificate that listed a reason, this record had none. I poured through certificates of the period and all listed something, anything, to explain the deaths but Mr. Steele's said only that he'd died in the early hours. No time, no health conditions, no nothing. I dug as deep as possible and found that there was no doctor attending which was most unusual for a citizen as prominent as W. L. Steele. The death certificate was made out several days later after Steele became the first resident of the family plot north of the house.

"It was assumed by everyone outside of the family that the old man had died of natural causes…a perfectly reasonable assumption. The local constabulary pressed for a reason as to why the authorities were not called but they were stonewalled in a way that made for suspicion. Another reason for suspicion was that the will had been changed suddenly and without reliable witnesses present. Also, the recipient of his will was unexpected."

"And which scoundrel was it who arranged that in his favor whilst holding a knife to the old man's throat?" Ethan cackled humorously.

"His beloved daughter-in-law and mother of his favorite grandchild," Welch paused.

"Anastasia."

CHAPTER 44

They held hands, laughing, as they ran through the meadow and into the woods. Daddy was very angry again and so mama pretended that they were playing a game. Luca was only 7 but he was pretending as well to calm his mother. Daddy was angry a lot these days and Luca heard him yelling but wasn't clear on what he was so angry about. He'd never been a fun daddy but since Grampa Steele had died, he was scary.

When they reached their secret place in the woods, mama told him to be very quiet no matter what. In the distance, they could hear daddy roaring like a lion, demanding that they come out of hiding or there would be hell to pay. Luca held his mama's hand. It was cold and trembling. She pulled him close, whispering that she would always protect him. He needn't be afraid or worry. Daddy was just in a bad temper because he missed his daddy so. Sometimes people didn't know how to be sad so they got mad instead.

.+.

"Anastasia!?" Everyone gasped in unison.

"Dr. Flynn, if you please," Welch asked. Dr. Flynn removed a letter from the pile of papers he was trying to keep straight. He passed it to Grace first, figuring that she would know better how to read cursive. No one under 50 seemed to be able to decipher anything other than typewritten words these days.

Grace read the letter and then summarized it for the others.

"It's a letter to Anastasia from Washington Steele. In it, he tells her that he is leaving her with a terrible burden but it is all that he knows to do. He has given his estate much thought. To break it up amongst the family members would ultimately lead to poverty for all. To leave it in the hands of his eldest sons would be foolish. Not a one was capable of thinking of everyone. He had pondered and pondered who among the family could be trusted to be concerned for all and, thus, carry on his legacy. Anastasia was not his blood but she was the only person in the family who was both intelligent and compassionate enough to keep the family funds flowing and protect the others from penury.

"It appears that all his children and their wives were dissolute and incapable of working for a living. He'd overheard his two eldest sons one day at the bank giggling like school children about how they were going to spend the old man's money when he croaked. He knew for a fact that all of his sons and his sons-in-law had women on the side. They did little work and drank at their desks.

He begs Anastasia to forgive him for encumbering her with this responsibility but it is for her sake as well. He knows that she will rise to the occasion and thus care for herself and Luca in addition to everyone else.

"That is the gist of it. How old would Anastasia have been when she was put in charge of his empire, Mr. Welch?"

"23, Mrs. Steele." There was another gasp around the table.

"My god," Ray huffed, " she was just a child herself. Surely he could have found some other way to handle his estate. The only person he could trust in all the world was his 23 year-old daughter-in-law?"

"Would everyone excuse me for a few minutes? I'm feeling uneasy and I want to check on Ana before we continue," Christian said.

When he walked into their bedroom, he found Ana thrashing about, breathing with difficulty and calling to Luca. He sat down and leaned over her, caressing her face and softly calling her name.

"Ana, come back to me. You're having a bad dream. Please, baby, open your eyes and look at me." Still breathing hard, Ana opened her eyes, gazing up at him in confusion.

"Christian, don't let him find us."

"I won't, honey. I will keep you safe from all the bad things…always. Do you know how much I love you? Do you know that I will forever be in love with you?"

Ana beamed up at him. "Yes, I do. As long as I have you, everything will be all right. I've known that since I first looked across the room at you. I'm a smart cookie, you know. Will you come to bed soon?"

"Soon, my love. For now, I'll stay with you until you fall back to sleep, my smart cookie," he beamed back at her. Then he spooned with her until her body relaxed and her breath became even.

CHAPTER 45

"Is Ana okay?" Mia asked.

"She was having a bad dream. When I left, she'd gone back to sleep. I'll check on her again a bit later."

"Shall I continue then?" Welch asked and, receiving a nod, went on.

"Dr. Flynn will pass around a sheaf of papers now that detail the extent, legally, that Anastasia's loved ones went to dismiss Steele's will. Mr. Steele was certainly correct about the unsuitability of any of his family to handle the finances to the benefit of all. Not a single adult in the family stood by Ana's side during this tumultuous time. Her name was dragged through the mud in every way possible. She was accused of thievery, insanity, infidelity, incompetence, having an affair with old man Washington…well, it's all there. She spent the entire year after her father-in-law's death being dragged into court to answer to a multitude of charges showing her unfit to handle his estate.

"She was slandered daily in the newspapers. Crowds would throw rotten fruit and vegetables at her carriage as she arrived to court. Even though there were numerous adult males in her family, none would come to her defense so she was forced to hire bodyguards for which she was vilified again for being high-hat and wasting money. She was also made to take Luca with her to court so fearful was she of leaving him at home where he could be harmed by angry family who would then put the blame on her. Of course, then she was defamed as a bad mother to bring her young child out into such a violent atmosphere. She was accused of using Luca to shield herself.

"All the while, she was having to learn how to run banks and handle investments. She was like many other women of her time. She was taught to cook, clean, knit, sew and to appeal to men with her drawing, piano playing and singing. In a very short time, she had to learn how to make money. Sadly, as well, she was in love when she married Ross Steele.

"Dr. Flynn, please pass those papers. She didn't marry him for his station in life. He wanted to be sure that no one would wed him for his name or fortune so he took a job at a bank established by his father in San Francisco and presented himself to her by another name. She thought that she was engaged to a poor clerk when he told her the truth. Imagine her shock to find herself married to a Steele and living out their married lives in a mansion with dozens of other Steeles.

"Anyway, it took over a year to exhaust all legal rebuttals of Washington Steele's will. Things settled down within the family. However, the rest of the Steeles decided that they would just enjoy life while Ana kept the coffers filled. Those who had had jobs quit them and spent all their time playing and producing more heirs to live off the Steele fortune.

"As Anastasia learned her new job, she saw that the Steele empire could not continue to support everyone. She ordered all the men to work. Since the lot were all disinclined to think much, she put them to work at manual labor. If they didn't work, they would have to move out of the mansion and find other means to feed themselves. She established a farm on the estate and made the men work it. There was plenty of forest left and she ordered anyone not on the farm to start chopping down trees. All the men who'd enjoyed their cushy positions in bank offices were expected to contribute or leave for other labors.

"Her bodyguards stood at her bedroom door all night and her son stayed with her. Ross had tried to strangle her at dinner one night so he now had his own room. Grandchildren were expected to do well in school. Those who did were encouraged to accrue higher education and acquire employment with which to support themselves and their wives and children.

"As the years went by, people in the family did not grow accustomed to the new normal. Rather, the belief that they had been badly wronged by first, Washington L. Steele and next, his mistress, Anastasia, grew to be the prevailing viewpoint held by everyone in the family. They believed, as well, that Anastasia was sitting on a huge pile of money, hidden from the family, even though there was no evidence. Indeed, as seen by the bank statements Dr. Flynn is passing around, despite her efforts to support a huge family and a mansion, Anastasia was struggling to keep everyone afloat.

"Anastasia held monthly meetings to maintain transparency as to their finances but while some believed her, others did not. There continued to be a lot of anger…not only toward Anastasia but toward anyone who gave her the benefit of the doubt. And this fury within the ranks wrought constant trouble.

"The first murder," Welch began….

"The first!?" Someone exclaimed.

"Yes, the first," Welch continued, "was an open and shut case. One of the wives shot her husband because he refused to work. He felt he was owed a living by virtue of being a Steele. Thus, he and his family were being forced to move out of the mansion. His wife put a bullet in his head one night as he slept and then she killed herself. Their children soon established their own homes.

"It was decided by the family that this was Anastasia's fault due to her selfishness."

CHAPTER 46

"The second murder was committed by one of the grandchildren who was due soon to move out of the mansion. He'd tried to find a wealthy fiancée whose family he could join but when that didn't work out for him he became angry with his father for discouraging his efforts to be a good student. Had he done well in secondary school, his Aunt Anastasia would have funded his college education and life would have been his oyster. However, his father, Ross's brother, stubbornly believed that his son deserved a higher education no matter what. Not only did Anastasia disagree but no college would accept the boy's wretched grades.

"So, one day while out fishing, the boy and father argued and father fell into the water and drowned. There was no proof of a deliberate drowning but the boy was sent off anyway to find a room in a boarding house and a job to pay for it.

"His mother begged Anastasia to allow her and her three daughters to stay at the mansion until they were married off. Anastasia agreed provided that all contribute in some way. Sadly, three maids thus lost their jobs and one, the night prior to her departure, snuck from bed to bed and slit the throats of mother and daughters.

"Hmm…I suppose that is five murders, not one."

"You forget, Mr. Welch. The maid was quite despondent at her loss and her own

actions," Dr. Flynn interrupted.

"Oh, yes. Five murders and two suicides."

"This sordid tale goes on and on in this manner with family dying in all sorts of violent ways…some proven to be murder and others suicides. It certainly thinned the herd. However, Anastasia did not see the humor in any of it. She tried desperately to save her family even while her bodyguards were doing their best to ensure her own survival. The documentation shows at least a dozen attempts on her life. Eight of the attempts were certain to be malevolent while others were disguised as accidents.

"As her mental and physical strength began to give out, Anastasia turned control of the estate over to a board of trustees…men who'd become devoted to her as they watched her work so hard to support the family and agonized for her as she regularly attended funeral services.

"It is difficult to accurately count the number of deaths at the mansion as quite a few were those of staff. Of these the newspapers took little note. By the time that Mrs. Steele retired, there had been almost 30 known deaths of some kind inside and around the mansion. I found news articles detailing interviews with staff who'd left the mansion…all of whom spoke of hauntings."

Dr. Flynn pulled out one yellowed article in which a young maid sobbingly told of all the peculiar and frightening goings-on at the mansion.

"This is a short quote: When you enter the house, you immediately feel uneasy. I took the job as upstairs maid because Mrs. Steele was so kind that while in her presence, one felt comfortable. As the days went on, I couldn't sleep with doors slamming, windows shattering, faucets running, mirrors and pictures flying off walls…but these weren't the worst. It was the oppressive atmosphere that grew more and more overwhelming. I felt evil all around me. By the end of the month, I thought that I was losing my mind. I didn't want to hurt Mrs. Steele so I claimed to be needed at home to tend to my ill mother."

"There are several of these interviews…from deliverymen, for instance. Anyone who had to visit the mansion told of the same bleak and dismal air about the place. Some complained of seeing things and being grabbed. Of course, by now the reputation of the mansion was so well known that people may have been inventing stories for the attention.

"Mrs. Steele took to spending her days tidying her son's gravesite and then sitting on a glider on the veranda, silent and staring. Shortly before her 50th birthday a servant brought a drink out to her and found her dead. Those who still lived in the house buried her next to her son while hundreds of townspeople, too afraid to approach the mansion, lined the road outside the gate to pay their respects.

"After her passing, the servants fled leaving the remaining Steeles to fend for themselves. There were rumors of more violent deaths over the years. None of the Steeles were seen in town. Once a year a spokesperson for the trustees would make the trek out to the mansion, fleeing soon after arriving. In May of 1958, the man who drew the short straw arrived at the estate but no one answered the door. The place was already falling down. The door was hanging open so he went inside and bravely looked around for someone. He found three bodies, dead in parlor chairs, and ran for his life. The police came out in force, found several skeletons and not a living soul anywhere. The bodies were buried in the family plot in unmarked graves as no one knew who they were.

"The door was shut, the gate was closed and I could find no evidence that anyone has been near the place since…except, of course, for Mr. and Mrs. Grey and Mr. Sawyer. I think you might have been cheated, Mr. Grey, as I could find no documentation that a Mr. Johnston ever bought the place. How it came to be in his name, I don't know. I spoke with the fellow in Florida and, as you already were told, he was astonished to find that he owned it and had never heard of it from any family members…all of whom are now deceased.

"That is all I have as of now but I still find it hard to believe that Seattle residents simply forgot about a haunted mansion in their midst."

"What about all the business ties the Steeles had in Seattle? Ray, maybe you and Grace could look through the attic?" Grey suggested.

CHAPTER 47

Mia looked up in surprise at something behind Christian. Ana was leaning against the stairs. She didn't seem fully awake or aware of where she was.

"Ana? Look into my eyes," Christian beseeched her. "Ana, do you see me?"

"Christian, what is that man doing in our room? He wouldn't answer me. I was frightened so I came out here."

Christian helped Ana to the couch while Elliot and Ethan ran to the bedroom. Gail brought a glass of water for Ana. She drank it and seemed to brighten up a bit. She looked around and smiled at everyone while Christian put his arms around her.

"We looked in every nook and cranny, Chris. There isn't anyone in that room."

"Maybe he went out the window," Ana said.

"We live 20 stories up, honey."

"Oh, yeah. Huh. Well, I'm glad that he's gone now. I had a bad feeling about him. He was sort of looming over me." She shuddered.

"Hi, everybody. Did we have a party tonight? Did I fall asleep? I'm sorry. What did I miss? Are you playing a board game?"

She got up and walked over to the table by Dr. Flynn. There were a lot of pictures, including the one with Luca. She picked it up and examined it closely.

"Who are all these people? I don't recognize anyone. Why would I be in a picture with them?"

Jaws dropped as they had been all evening. Flynn looked closely at the figure that Ana was pointing at and then held the photo up to Grey. How, he wondered, had he not noticed it before? There was Ana, sitting on the grass in the front row with her arms around her little boy. She was smiling. No one else…just Ana. Sitting in a large chair behind her was a man with a great white beard…no doubt Washington L. Steele.

"Do you know anybody else in the picture, Ana?" Christian asked gently…fearful of her reaction.

She studied it closely. Then she shook her head. "Gail, do we have any cake left? Gail makes the absolute best chocolate cherry cake with crème cheese frosting. I'll share. No? Not even Elliot? Goodness, what's happened to all of your appetites?" she giggled.

Despite professing to be frightened just moments before by a strange man in her bedroom, Ana was happily indulging in cake and bubbling about this and that. She didn't notice that everyone was staring at her.

"So, what did I miss?"

Christian sat down beside her and rested his arm on the back of the sofa. "Ana, this gentlemen here is Mr. Welch. I asked him to look into the history of the mansion. You were sleeping when he came by earlier. He's been sharing as much of the history of the place that he could find."

"You could have asked me," Ana said as she enjoyed her cake. Elliot, now a nervous wreck, helped himself to a piece as well.

"What do you mean, Ana?" Dr. Flynn asked. "You just found the place a short while ago, isn't that correct?"

"Uh huh. That is strange, isn't it?" Grace got up from her chair and sat down next to her baby.

"What do you know about the mansion, Ana?" she asked.

"Oh, just general stuff. It has quite a reputation. When we were kids, we used to sneak in and talk to all the ghosts. It is just crammed with ghosts, Mom. And no one ever removed any of the furnishings so there's lots of beautiful old…well…everything."

"What kids, Ana?" Mia asked. "I never knew about the place."

"Oh, I meant the kids in the neighborhood that I played with, especially at Halloween. Remember Davy Weber? He wasn't afraid of anything and I didn't want him to show me up so I went inside with him. I felt fine inside, not a bit scared. I felt something warm and protective but he felt a hand on his throat so he ran. I just walked around inside and talked to everyone. They were all so sad. I read something once about ghosts being spirits who were trapped where they died. I think that's what happened with these ghosts. But I liked the place except for one room where I felt so sad that I almost cried and then, suddenly, I found myself outside and I don't know how I got there."

"Baby, the room that made you feel bad…can you describe it?" Christian asked.

"Hmmm…there was a big desk and a lot of books and a lamp and…and" Ana curled into Christian's arms and began to cry. He held her close until she fell back to sleep again. Then he carried her into the bedroom and tucked her in again.

"If you're still in here, leave Ana alone." Geez, he thought, I'm losing it.

He returned to his company and sat down. "That room was the office where her husband tried to shoot Anastasia but instead shot their son, Luca."

CHAPTER 48

Everyone was just worn out from an evening full of shocks and intrigue. They were still interested but no longer had the energy to deal with what they were hearing. Ray argued with Christian about staying at Escala but Grey pointed out that staying at Steele Manor wouldn't help matters. Ana would want to see the mansion. Besides, it appeared that at least one ghost was attached to Ana herself and would go wherever she went.

"Ray and I will check family papers in the attic starting tomorrow morning, Christian. You've done enough with the help of Mr. Welch and Dr. Flynn. Just stay close to Ana. Perhaps the ghost means to harm her. So, keep her safe and we'll take it from here," Grace kissed her son-in-law and led the family to the elevator.

Gail had gone to bed and the penthouse was silent. Grey stood alone in the Great room and listened. He could hear the hum of the refrigerator and the distant howl of a police siren but nothing else. He didn't believe in ghosts. For one thing, he found it peculiar that they seemed to only appear in the dark. Surely that was just when people felt most vulnerable. Still, Ana was able to see Luca during the daylight. Remembering that afternoon made him shiver.

If only she'd never found that place. Unless, of course, she was meant to find it. And it wasn't her first time. She'd been there as a child. Perhaps the wrench took away that memory until recently.

He'd always been able to handle anything, defeat anyone but this was something so foreign to him. Perhaps that indicated a way to proceed next. Find someone for whom ghosts and the dead were not strange but familiar and understandable. Maybe that was the way to go.

All was quiet and safe in the bedroom. Ana was sleeping peacefully and the room felt…well…spirit-free. Was that because he wasn't sensitive to the unseen? He wanted to take a hot shower but he also didn't want to leave Ana alone for long. He undressed quickly and crawled into bed with her, wrapping her in his arms. He didn't want to sleep. He felt that he needed to keep watch but he was exhausted. He wondered, before passing out, if his purchase of the mansion had somehow awakened the spirits resting within. It was too late now. He owned a giant, crumbling box of weirdness.

Twice in the night, Grey woke with a sense of uneasiness. He lay listening and watching but there was nothing. In the morning, the sun lit up the room and Ana slept still in his arms. He breathed a sigh of relief and then remembered that spirits seemed to appear during the day as well. However, today he had a plan to fight back.

Carefully reaching over Ana's soft body, he picked up his phone and texted Welch.

Good morning, Welch. Did you sleep well?

I don't sleep.

Okay. Do any of your connections include mediums?

Yeah. I'm way ahead of you.

How do we proceed?

I'll make contact and set up a meeting.

Soon?

Asap. I haven't been as excited by a case in years.

Pleased to be entertaining. I'll wait to hear from you. Thanks.

He lay thinking for a while and then texted Elliot.

When you wake, call me.

Okay.

?

I haven't gone to sleep...at all. My baby sister is being haunted, you dunce.

Sounds like you could use some rest, grumpy.

Get to it.

I need the name of the contractor you used to build those condos for you.

He doesn't do demolition.

No, I want him to check out the place. See if it's at all safe to enter.

The phone rang and Grey quickly answered.

"Why are you calling? I'm trying to let Ana sleep," Grey grumbled.

"Ana could sleep through a train wreck two feet away. That was a benefit of her brain damage. When she was Anastasia, she'd get by on 3-4 hours a night. Why do you want to go inside the haunted fun house?

"Welch is contacting a medium. I'm sure that he/she will want to see the mansion. Whoever Welch signs on with I'm sure they'll be legit. He'll have the person vetted so deep that they won't be able to con us. I need the contractor to tell me if it is just too dangerous to enter or to find a way to shore up the walls and ceiling so that we can go inside."

"I'll text you the contact info and I'll personally ask him to set aside time asap. I've given him a lot of referrals so he owes me. He's good, real good. Are you trying to keep this on the down-low 'cause I'm sure that Dad and Ethan will want to come as well."

"You don't think that Mia and Grace will want to enter?"

"Judging by their reactions to horror movies, I'd say no. I could be wrong, however. The whole family is really worried about Ana. You know, after she was attacked, there were the surgeries, the coma, the physical recovery and then the slow realization that she wasn't Anastasia anymore. If you've ever wondered why Ana is the only one to marry, it's because the rest of us just didn't have the time or energy to date. For years there, Ana needed everything we could give her. Even if we didn't owe her, our jobs and our baby sister were all that mattered."

"Yeah, I think it's great that you are all such a tight family."

"Christian…we are all such a tight family. You're our bro now, Chris, and we'll get through this trauma as a family just like before."

For a moment it was silent on Grey's end. "Chris, you still there? Or do I have to give that heart-warming speech a second time?" Elliot chuckled.

"No. I'll be in touch…bro. Thanks," Christian smiled. He believed Elliot. He really did have a family.

CHAPTER 49

"Aren't you going to the office today, honey?

"Ah, no. I'm going to work from home."

"Does this have something to do with the ghost in our room last night?"

Grey's head shot up. Damn. He'd hoped that Ana would have forgotten about that.

"Okay. Yes. Ana, tell me everything you remember about the mansion since you and Sawyer first saw it."

He wanted to know just what she knew. She remembered last night and he never expected that.

"Let's see. I don't remember anything from the time with Sawyer but I remember seeing Anastasia's son, Luca, with you. Although at the time, I was thinking that he was my son. I wanted so much to go inside to speak with everyone but you carried me away. As we were walking down the drive, they were calling to me. I'm worried about them, Christian."

"Why, Ana?" Geez, was he skeeved out. His wife was talking about all this like it was just ordinary.

"Well, why do you think? Spirits don't remain earthbound because they want to, you know."

"Actually, I didn't know." His brains were whirling.

"They don't. They want to move on. I don't know what to do and I don't think that they do either but they know that they're supposed to leave, especially those who've died unhappily. That's the majority of the spirits at Steele Manor. It was a miserable place."

"Ana, have you always believed in spirits?"

"Yes, although I tried to deny them while I was Anastasia because it was too close to home, so to speak. She, after all, was the original Anastasia and the memories were fresher for her. Now that I'm Ana, she's like a distant cousin. I feel for her and everyone who lived there but it wasn't my life. Having a wrench crease my skull freed me from that. Sometimes I wish that I was still smart and strong and confident like her but the trade-off is peace of mind and… you."

"Anastasia wouldn't have asked me to dance?" Christian teased, gazing at his adorable girl.

"No, only as someone who wanted to influence you to donate more money to the charity. There was nothing the slightest bit vulnerable about Anastasia and I think you need to need someone else to be open to love. Anastasia was a force all unto herself. She didn't need anyone for anything. She was comfortable alone."

"You know, you talk about her as if she wasn't you."

"The only connection between Anastasia and me, besides our family, is this body…and when she used it, it was in much better shape. Ethan told me that she swam an hour a day, lifted weights several times a week, ran marathons. Elliot said that she had rock hard abs. I have no abs at all."

Christian got up from his desk and scooped Ana up in his arms as she squealed in delight. Holding her, he nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear. Then he sat down on the couch and kissed her fervently.

"Your body is the temple where I worship, Mrs. Grey. It is wherein you exist. No matter its shape, I will desire you."

"What if I get fat?"

"I will love fat, rolls and rolls of it," he swore as Ana giggled. Her husband's mouth devoured hers as he reached under her sundress and tore her panties off. She fumbled with his belt and pulled down his zipper, pushing her hand inside his boxers and freeing his cock. She wrapped her legs around his back and pulled him tightly to her. He slipped inside and thrusted gently and slowly. He wanted to keep control for as long as possible to enjoy the feel of her cushioned walls and their loving grip on his dick.

She loved the feel of him so. She pulled his shirt over his head and ran her hands over his chest and around his neck and all over his back. She loved to listen to him groan. She ran her fingers through his hair which drove him mad until he could no longer concentrate on control. He pounded into her, listening to her moaning until he was lost, coming like a freight train and crying out her name over and over.

Even after his orgasm, he murmured her name as if trying to explain something but having only one word…Ana. He buried his face in her throat as she threw her head back in ecstasy. As his senses began to return, he wanted to give her the pleasure she deserved but she held him tight and told him to hold her the same. She just wanted him close.

They would stay that way until his cock grew hard again. He held her head with his hands on either side and gazed into her eyes. They had always mesmerized him…until it was too much and he had to rest his forehead on hers.

"I am so in love with you, Ana. So, so much in love."

CHAPTER 50

"I kind of like you, too," Ana smiled until she understood that Christian was being serious and intense. She ceased smiling and caressed his face with her hands.

"I've been in love with you for at least an hour longer than you've loved me. I floated across the room to you in love. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't loved me back."

"I'm sorry that it took me several minutes to fall for you. I was stunned to begin with, you know."

"It seems like last week…not at all like four years. Why do you suppose we're still so nuts for each other when other couples are taking each other for granted?"

"Maybe we're just a couple of saps," Christian laughed. "I'm never bored, not for an instant. I can't wait to get home to talk with you. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life so maybe I was due to do something incredibly right."

"Did you have sex with a lot of women?"

"Ouch. Are you sure you want to hear about that? We've managed four years without discussing our prior sex lives."

"I didn't have one to discuss," Ana laughed. "How old were you when you first had sex?"

Christian rolled off of Ana, bringing her to lie mostly on top of him. "That's a tough question, my love. I'm not sure I want to talk about it."

"Christian, I'm your wife. We should have no secrets. You know everything about me."

"I didn't know that you could communicate with ghosts! That's a pretty big omission, don't you think?"

"Well, I'd forgotten all about the mansion and its occupants. I wasn't trying to hide anything from you. If you'd known, would you still have married me?"

"I'd met you. It was too late to turn back no matter what," he kissed her nose. "All right. As you know, I was raised in foster homes, a lot of them. At 15, I was dropped off at a new place. I sat on the front steps for hours waiting for the foster parents to return from wherever. When they showed up, they were fighting. They didn't acknowledge me at all…just walked into the house still growling at each other. I was hungry and tired so I just dropped my bag on the floor and laid down on the couch.

"When I woke up several hours later, my sleep shattered by a slamming door, there was a good looking blonde woman leaning over me. She told me to come into the kitchen and eat. She said that her husband was very angry with her for taking in a teenager, figuring that I'd be a lot of trouble. He was right, in a way. The second night I was there, the missus crawled into my bed. She told me that her husband wasn't going to return…he was divorcing her and living with his girlfriend. She cried a lot and I felt bad for her, especially since I was the reason, it seemed, for his leaving.

"By the end of the week, she was sleeping with me every night and then the sex started. I didn't fight it. I was, after all, a horny teenage boy and she was a gorgeous older woman who knew her way around my body. That what we were doing was wrong and illegal never occurred to me the whole year I lived with her. Shortly after my 16th birthday, my social worker dropped in unexpectedly and our mussed up hair and delay in answering the door alerted her to the situation.

"She took me aside and point-blank asked if I was having an affair with my foster mom and I said yes. I was surprised at her reaction since I didn't realize that I was actually the victim of a pedophile. I thought that as long as it was consensual between us that it was all right until the social worker convinced me that as I was underage, I was being taken advantage of and my foster mother was committing a crime. There was a trial and it was all very disturbing. I thought that I loved her but then found out that I was not her first teenage lover. The DCF had thought for years that they were lucky to find someone who was willing to house a teenage boy since most of us ended up in juvenile detention centers.

"Anyway, she went to jail and I went into counseling and a group home until the Greys took me in. I was a mess but they were patient and kind and the reason, I suppose, that I went to university instead of jail. The lessons in love and strength that they taught me were what kept me from killing myself after they all died. They wouldn't have allowed me to feel self-pity and do anything less than my best so I survived…until I met you. That's when I began to live."

"Is this woman still in jail?"

"I don't know. She'd been abusing boys like me for a long time. Gosh, there were so many testifying against her that I just sat there in shock, listening to their stories. When I got up on the stand, she stood up and screeched at me that I had raped her when she was vulnerable and that I owed her. I know that she received a long sentence and the judge said that something evil like her should never be unleashed on the public ever again. I don't remember the sentence and I really haven't given her a thought in a very long time."

"My poor Christian and yet you were lucky to get away and to be so brave. If I ever meet her, she's toast." Ana looked seriously at Christian until he pointed out that she always burnt the toast.

Then they argued about the efficiency of their toaster.

CHAPTER 51

Ana had just finished a piano lesson when Grey got off the phone with Welch. He called to Ana to come into his study.

"What's up, buttercup?" Ana grinned. She'd had a good lesson. She was actually making headway.

Christian smiled at her endearment. "Mr. Welch has found a medium he trust to guide us through our communications with your ancestors. Elliot's contractor is busy shoring up some of the worst of the infrastructure of Steele Mansion so we'll be able to go inside and see what happens next."

Ana looked serious for a moment and then asked that only she and Christian go inside at first with the medium. "I'm concerned that the spirits will be disturbed if the whole Steele bunch starts roaming around. Also, you and I are not frightened but the others are and the spirits will feel that and perhaps hide."

"Good point. All right, I'll tell Elliot and the others that they'll have to wait. We'll have other opportunities since the contractor is making the place safe for roaming. Say, how about we go out to a fancy dinner to celebrate your growing success with the piano lessons. I'm really proud of you. I'd like to put you in a pretty dress and show you off."

Ana looked doubtful but it was so rare that she got dressed up and she wanted to make her husband happy so she smiled brightly and agreed. A date night it would be.

"Great. Won that one easy," he grinned. There's a new place all done up in Art Deco which I…"

"I love Art Deco!"

"It's called Gatsby's and it's gotten rave reviews. Shall I come help you decide on a dress?"

Ana was reliably insecure about choosing anything beyond a sweat suit so he was surprised when she declined and said that she wanted to surprise him. If it was wrong, he could choose something different. Okay, he agreed. Then he got on the phone and made reservations. Naturally, they were booked for the next month at least until he said that the table would be for Mr. and Mrs. Grey and they would like a window.

He knew that the restaurant would want the publicity and the public approval of Mr. and Mrs. Grey so a table would suddenly be available. He sighed, knowing that the local news outlets would be alerted but Ana had gotten better at being confronted by the paparazzi hordes. He then texted the new guy, Jason Taylor, that they would need to be chauffeured because of all the fuss.

Taylor had been recruited by Luke Sawyer who knew him personally from past assignments for the government. He was the only CPO that Luke trusted and Luke was surprised to get him. However, Taylor's needs had changed in the past few years. He'd gotten married to a hellcat who gifted him a baby daughter she didn't want. Once she had the child she used her to control Jason. Jason had to give up the trips abroad and the interesting jobs protecting diplomats. He had to settle down which his ex-wife knew would bother him a lot. What really bothered him were the boyfriends she brought into his baby daughter's life.

Grey offered better than the market rate in salary, great benefits and in-house living arrangements. Taylor figured the job would be a terrific bore but it would keep him close to his little Sophie, light of his rather sad life. Sawyer was thrilled at this unexpected development. He planned to add a couple more CPOs and then quit to start his own agency. He was going to marry Mia if it was the last thing he did.

Over at Gatsby's, the staff was furiously preparing for their celebrity guests. Mr. Grey was a simply gorgeous man so the female wait staff was delirious with the excitement of seeing him. The manager was trying maintain a façade of professionalism so he urged his employees to remain calm. We do not want to make the Greys uncomfortable or they may never return, he warned. After all, unlike the Mile High, Gatsby's did not have a private room and that alone made the Mile High the restaurant du jour for the Greys. One of the staff suggested the round booth in the back. It was the most private of all the locations. The manager agreed although he did not want to face the snooty Lockwoods when they arrived to find their usual booth occupied. He would give them a table with a view of the Greys to make them happy…or happier, anyway.

At precisely 8 p.m. the doorman alerted the manager that the Greys had just alighted from their Mercedes and everyone snapped to attention. The chef in particular was nervous. His food would make or break the Greys decision to continue dining at Gatsby's…a decision the management hoped would be in their favor as it would establish the new dining spot as the place to be. The Greys weren't seen out often as they were quite private people and Gail was a great chef.

Patrons and paparazzi had, of course, been tipped off well ahead of time that Seattle's favorite couple would be arriving soon. Everyone sat at their tables attempting to appear nonchalant…. and failing.

The Greys entered and were immediately greeted by the manager who took obsequiousness to a new level. Ana had no idea that she was a great beauty but she had pulled herself together rather nicely tonight, she thought. Thus, she felt more comfortable than usual. Taylor had plowed and elbowed a path through the photographers while Grey held a hand over Ana's eyes and an arm around her waist, keeping her close to him. These precautions were more than loving gestures. The threat of a seizure was ever present in these situations and the noise and flash bulbs could trigger one and end their evening before it began. Once inside, they would have to run the gauntlet of diners who wanted to greet them because they'd seen them once at some event.

As Mr. and Mrs. Grey entered the luxurious lobby area, the manager hurried up to greet them. He was struck immediately by Mrs. Grey from whom a sweetness and warmth radiated. She was looking all around at the Art Deco splendor and exclaiming about everything. When she noticed the manager smiling at her, she smiled back and complemented him on the beauty of the entry way. She was a beauty, this he already knew from pictures in the papers, but it was the first he'd seen her in person and her loveliness was so much more than good cheek bones and lush hair. She was simply a nice lady and, as the manager of an establishment that attracted the rich and entitled, that was a unique feature.

He showed the Greys to their booth as everyone in the restaurant stopped eating and stared. They were certainly a gorgeous couple. The public had always been under the impression that Christian Grey was a grim and unpleasant man despite his good looks. They'd seen him escorting elegant women through the Mile High many times back in his bachelor days. The women had always been haughty although they spared a smile or two for the riff raff dining in the public areas. As they emerged from the private dining room, they'd be glowing and all over a rather stiff Mr. Grey.

Now, on the rare occasions that he surfaced in public, he seemed at ease and happy, always holding his wife's hand or waist. Neither seemed aware of being admired. Some people who knew Grey would leap to their feet and reach to pump his hand furiously, forcing him to introduce his wife. Ana was never unkind but after a suitable period of hellos, she would smile and say that they were starving and please excuse them. Grey loved that she had no filter and yet still didn't offend anyone.

In their booth, Grey moved to the section that offered the most privacy, except for the Lockwoods who kept staring at them with displeasure. Huh. He soon forgot them. This booth afforded him the chance to sit closest to Ana. He kept his arm around her waist throughout the meal and kissed her repeatedly. The Lockwoods thought them indecently attentive to each other and, having known Grey through business for years and never finding him to have a sense of humor, could not understand what he could possibly be saying to constantly delight his wife.

CHAPTER 52

To further please her husband, Ana asked for a double helping of broccoli and to please skip the bread basket. Christian just beamed and decided to repay his wife's kindness by sharing a dessert with her. No matter that Gail was a pastry genius, he rarely ate anything sweet so tonight when Ana requested a double malted, Christian raised a hand to indicate two spoons and straws. Anyway, it was fun to sit like a couple of kids at an old time drugstore counter sharing a chocolate malt.

"Gosh, Annie, it was sure worth it to save up my allowance the last two weeks so we could have a date," he grinned. Then, slurping as loudly as she could, "Annie" blushed and grinned right back at him.

The Lockwoods had been so entertained the entire meal that they'd barely touched their own. When the waiter asked for their dessert order, they also requested malts. Word got around and soon the pastry chef was having a hissy fit back in the kitchen, growling that he didn't train for 4 years in Paris to stand around pushing buttons on a blender.

Christian and Ana relaxed and talked for quite some time before deciding to go down to the marina and sit out on the deck of the Grace. Ana excused herself to freshen up in the ladies lounge while Grey handed over his black Amex card, instructing the waiter to add on a $500 tip because they'd monopolized an important seating area for so long.

While he was being so generous with an excited and struggling college student, Ana was being cornered by a not-at-all generous but extremely jealous redhead in the restroom. The woman was sitting on the counter, her legs crossed and her mouth puffing away on an opera length cigarette holder. Ana moved to the sink farthest from the woman to avoid the smoke. The woman blew out a smoke ring and cackled.

"Are you bothered by smoke, my dear?" she taunted.

"Yes, quite a bit, actually."

The woman slid off the counter and moved down to the archway between the toilet and seating areas, purposely blocking Ana's way. Ana tried to ignore this by washing her hands longer than usual.

"Your boyfriend is quite good-looking," the woman smirked.

"Yes, my husband is very handsome, inside and out," Ana replied as she spent a longer time drying her hands.

"How did you snag someone like that? You're rather plain yourself. I guess he didn't want to be shown up by a beautiful wife," she said, blowing smoke directly at Ana.

"Christian isn't vain, ma'am," Ana answered. "He's a very good man."

"Oh, maybe not so good as you think, dear," the woman snarled as Ana began to cough. The woman blew yet more smoke at her as the force of her coughing took Ana to her knees. Fortunately, at this juncture, two women walked in and rushed to Ana's defense.

"There is absolutely no smoking in this restaurant! Can't you read?" they barked at the woman as they helped Ana to her feet. When they turned to deliver a lecture to the strange woman, she was gone. The women dampened towels and instructed Ana to breathe in the cooled air. It helped but she was still green. They asked her name and she croaked, "Husband in red booth" as she coughed and laid down on the couch. One woman stayed with her and the other ran out to find a lone man in a red booth. When she found Christian, she was without words before she got herself together.

"Sir, your wife is in trouble in the ladies lounge." Grey jumped to his feet and ran to the Ladies, sliding to his knees at the couch where Ana lay struggling to breathe.

"Nice ladies," she gasped out. "Saved me…thank you," she coughed again as she tried to regain control of her breath.

"Ladies, what happened in here?" he asked as he attempted to soothe his wife. They told him what they'd found when they entered.

"It appeared to be a deliberate attempt to hurt your wife, Mr. Grey. The woman was blocking her way and blowing the smoke at her."

"Would you see if she's still in the restaurant, please?" He was terrified that Ana would seize with all the coughing she was doing. The women returned to say that they had checked the dining area and the lobby but she had gotten away. Christian scooped Ana up in his arms and thanked the women as he rushed out. As he passed the manager, he told him that the meals of those women should be on him. Taylor was sitting outside, enjoying the night air. He ran for the car and peeled out of the parking lot.

Inside the restaurant was atwitter with talk of what had happened. The manager, though concerned about Mrs. Grey, was also moaning about Gatsby's future. Everyone was trying to recall the woman but, ironically, the patrons had spent the evening staring at the Greys without noticing anyone else.

Meanwhile, Taylor was racing to the nearest hospital. Ana's breathing was shallow and she was no longer conscious. Christian was frantic, begging her to wake up. Taylor roared up to the ER entrance, laying on the horn. In short order, Ana was flying down the hall on a gurney with an oxygen mask on her face and Grey was watching her being wheeled far away from him.

He stood there. Taylor called Steele Manor. No, he couldn't tell Grace what had happened…only that Grey had flown out the door, carrying Ana and looking terrified. He was now in shock and not speaking.

"Sir, Mrs. Steele would like to speak with you," Taylor held the phone to Grey's ear.

"Christian, darling, try to speak to me. All right, that's okay. Ray and I will be there as quickly as possible. Be brave for Ana and give the phone to Taylor." Grey walked away and Taylor listened as Grace told him to keep an eye on Christian and she would call the other children. Taylor didn't know Ana's medical history or that this wasn't the first time that all the family had gathered in a hospital waiting room on her account. Sawyer had some explaining to do.

CHAPTER 53

Ana's parents and Ethan had arrived in record time. Fortunately, this was Ethan's hospital so he simply ordered a nurse to take him to his sister. As soon as Christian noticed Ethan walking down the corridor, he tried to follow. Grace took his arm and stood with him.

"Ethan will be back shortly, Christian. Now, tell me what happened."

"She seized, Grace. The thing that I fear every day. Some woman was smoking in the restroom and I'm told was deliberately trying to choke Ana with the fumes. Ana was desperately coughing, trying to catch a breath. In the car, she just stopped coughing and became unconscious."

"Who was this woman and why did she want to torture my daughter?" Grace was now sounding angry.

"I don't know. She got away. I'm going to kill her, Grace. Where is Ethan? What's taking so long? Grace, maybe they won't tell him anything because he's a relative."

"Ethan is a doctor, son. He knows how to be cool and professional. The other doctors will talk to him. He's been gone only a few minutes," Ray laid a strong hand on Christian's shoulder. "Come sit down. We're standing in the way of any other emergencies."

Taylor was leaning against a wall, watching the room. He had just had a quiet but forceful talk with the receptionists regarding patient confidentiality and what he might do if a paparazzi suddenly showed up. Now he was talking with Sawyer whom he felt had not been as forthcoming as he could have been. Sawyer was explaining that Mrs. Grey's medical history was hers and Mr. Grey's to share...not his. He told Taylor to call if things got hairy and he needed an extra hand.

Thankfully, Ethan came walking back down the hallway with a smile on his face.

"Geez, bro. You're going to have to start popping anxiety pills if you're going to stay married to my sister. She did not seize. She wore herself out coughing up a lung and then went to sleep…as usual. You can even take her home. She'll sleep for a long time… like usual."

Christian grabbed Ethan into a bear hug just as Elliot walked in and recognizing all the smiles, smiled himself. He turned right around, yelling back to the family that someone should call Mia and Sawyer and he had an early day in court.

Grace and Ray stayed with Christian until a nurse came wheeling into the waiting room with a slumped over Ana. Christian quickly picked up his wife and crushed her to him…murmuring her name over and over. With Grace on one side, her arm around Christian and Ray on the other, patting him on the back, they saw the couple to their car.

"No, sir, I'm sorry. She must be buckled in. It's quite late and the drunks are out. You don't want to come back here tonight, do you?" Taylor finally convinced Grey to buckle his wife into the middle seat and not on his lap.

"Taylor, is it?" Ray asked. "Yes, sir. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Steele and Mrs. Steele. I gather from Sawyer that these emergency room visits aren't all that rare. Thank you for coming to wait with Mr. Grey. He was in a really bad way."

"You'll get used to them, Taylor. They are not your average couple. Our daughter is special and Christian is just nuts about her. Probably won't be your easiest job." Ray grinned.

"Three tours in the middle east, sir," Taylor said with pride.

"Really? Well, like I said…probably not your easiest job. Good night," the Steeles waved as they walked to their car. Taylor was muttering to himself as he pulled out of the parking lot. Both of his bosses were unconscious in the back seat.

Back at Escala, Taylor tried to unbuckle Mrs. Grey and pick her up but Grey snapped to and insisted that he would always carry Mrs. Grey. He was a bit loopy himself, staggering around the elevator car. Taylor made certain that Grey arrived safely in the bedroom and watched as he gently laid Mrs. Grey on the bed before collapsing next to her. Taylor removed their shoes and then removed Grey's suit jacket. Grey rolled over and pulled his wife to him in his sleep. Taylor covered them with the duvet and left them.

Please sleep really late, he prayed, because Jason was just beat. Kabul was looking good about now.

.+.

Grace was the early riser in the family, a habit formed by her internship, residency and having four children to mother. She heard the morning papers thud against the front door and wondered why they bothered with a paper box out front. She picked them up and shuffled into the kitchen to start coffee, the best friend of doctors and mothers. Then she began beating batter for pancakes. She tried to watch her carbs but this morning called for a tall, buttered stack. She poured a glass of icy cold o.j. and picked up a paper.

She immediately lowered the glass and dropped the paper. The front page was slathered with pictures of her children…eating dinner, kissing, sharing a malted, giggling together, kissing, Christian running out the door with her daughter. There was one picture of Christian sitting alone at their booth, arms resting on the table and staring down. The headline implied that Ana had walked out on him…referring to him as "dejected".

Apparently, they'd had not a moment when they were not being watched by patrons armed with IPhones.

Then there were the interviews, begun on page one and continued all over pages 2 and 3. How many people were dining there that night anyway? she wondered. Every single one of them had a tale to tell.

Ray was going to blow like Mt. St. Helene's.

CHAPTER 54

Sawyer snuggled with Mia as long as he could but he knew that he'd better get over to Escala. Jason had gotten an emotional beat-down last night which could happen even to pros like Taylor if one wasn't prepared. Sawyer knew that Mrs. Grey would sleep 'til afternoon but Mr. Grey was liable to get up and then the shit would hit the fan. Luke didn't have to check his phone to know that the papers would be using last night to sell out. There were likely paps crowding Escala with just poor Charlie the lobby guard to deal with them. He expected also that the police would want to question the Greys and the SPD did not understand the need for sleep.

Mia mumbled in her sleep which Luke found adorable. He never understood a word. He yearned to kiss her awake and love her for a while but…again…the Greys, the job. Besides, Mia didn't get enough rest. He gently pressed his lips to her forehead and then slipped out of the bed to shower and dress. His phone had been vibrating like an off-kilter washing machine for the past 30 minutes. He sighed and picked it up.

"I'm on my way. No, Gail. Let him sleep. Tell Charlie to pretend they aren't there. A detective? Good grief. Yeah…no. The new guy starts next week. He had to finish an assignment in Europe." Sawyer laughed. "No, we certainly aren't Paree, are we? See you in a bit."

Poor Gail, Sawyer pondered as he raced from his condo to Escala. He should talk to the boss about a fourth on the security detail. Well, he'd see how the new guy worked out first.

Yep. There they were. The vultures. Mrs. Grey was far more tolerant of them as long as they behaved themselves but that picture of Mr. Grey…"alone and dejected"…well, the paps were going to hear about that. Sawyer saw his buddy from the SPD leaning against the driveway wall. He pulled up and told him to get in…quick. The paps would be trying to sneak into the garage.

One of them tapped on his window. "Got anything for me, Sawyer?"

"Yeah. If you go away now, I won't tell on you to Mrs. Grey." The pap laughed and backed off.

Then he pulled into his space and killed the engine. The detective looked around and asked about the R8.

"Where have you been the past few years, Parks? Grey switched to tanks shortly after meeting his wife."

"Huh. Guess I should have noticed. Well, that's a shame. She made him give up his prized R8. Wives," he shrugged.

"Mrs. Grey doesn't make Mr. Grey do anything."

"Oh, thank goodness you're here, Mr. Sawyer. Charlie was getting frantic." Sawyer patted Gail's arm and made his way to the security office. He switched on a mic and made a short announcement to the pap hordes out front.

"There is nothing to tell you except that you shouldn't believe what you read in the papers. If you all go away quietly, perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Grey will make a statement later today. If you don't go away, I'll tell Mrs. Grey that you were bothering the neighbors. You know how she feels about that, don't you, boys?"

Slowly the crowd dissipated and the street became quiet. Then Sawyer returned to the Great Room and invited Detective Parks into the study where he informed him that he had nothing to tell him and no, he most certainly wasn't going to wake the Greys to be questioned.

"From what I understand…and this is second-hand…a rude woman blew smoke in Mrs. Grey's face and she had trouble breathing. She was treated briefly at the ER and sent home. So, there is no major crime here for a detective to deal with, is there? You gonna hunt her down and fine her for smoking in a no-smoking zone?"

"I get a call from the commissioner at dawn. Greys and Steeles. Seattle royalty. Until Grey calls me off, I have to act like it's attempted murder. Ya get me?"

"It was attempted murder or, at the least, assault and yeah, I do want you to find this woman," a growl came from behind Parks. Sawyer stood up and aside. Grey sat down and stared at the detective.

"I apologize if we woke you, sir," Sawyer spoke.

"No, I've been awake for a while listening to Ana breathe. Parks, I found my wife unable to catch a breath. The women who alerted me said that some redhead with a long cigarette holder was deliberately blowing smoke at my wife's face. The room was filled with it when I ran in. My wife could have had a seizure. I rushed her to the ER. For a couple of hours our family was distraught and my wife will sleep all day as her body tries to recover from the trauma. I'm sure that you know her history. She is fragile and I'm convinced that her attacker knew exactly what she was doing. I want her found. And you know Ana's father. He will want her hung from the nearest tree."

Grey was pale and breathing hard from his rant, and Parks suspected, from his fear. Yes, Parks knew Mrs. Grey's history. Everyone in Seattle knew. The redhead knew.

"Christian," a soft, weak voice said, "come back to bed." Parks looked around to see Mrs. Grey in a pink, slinky sort of gown with a slit up the side. Even with her hair wildly askew, she was a vision. Parks realized that the two hadn't had the strength to undress for bed last night…being so worn out from their ordeal. He suddenly felt bad for barging in so early. He'd have a few words for the commissioner when he left Escala. He looked at Grey but Grey was sleepily gazing at his wife.

"Ana, you shouldn't be up."

"Neither should you. I know that you didn't sleep. Come. Now. Sawyer, please see that we're not disturbed for any reason. Mr. Grey had a bad scare last night and I want him to rest." At that, she turned and Grey just followed without another word.

Parks looked at Sawyer. Sawyer smiled and shrugged. Then he showed Parks to the door and promised to call him later when the bosses were alert.

CHAPTER 55

The redhead/blonde/brunette/gray-haired…whatever wig suited her on any particular day…was laughing at the stories in the Seattle Nooz. She didn't need coffee to wake her up today. The Grey's security stank. They didn't notice her plain old sedan following them around town. It had been a long, dull stake-out but last night she struck pay dirt when she saw their fancy car stopping at Gatsby's. The manager was busy sucking-up to every rich bastard that walked in the joint so he didn't notice her slip past. It was a long wait sitting in the toilet but in the end, it paid off. Jesus, it was a hoot watching Christian's little toy falling apart over a bit of smoke. She had never expected everything to go so well. 'Course, it would have been better if those two rich bitches hadn't interrupted. Mrs. Grey in Coma would have been a great headline.

Well, she knew his weakness now. It would only be a matter of time and a little planning to wreck his life.

.+.

"Yes, Ray. I saw the papers and the television and the internet…not to mention the paparazzi outside and the cops here at dawn looking to question my wife. The paps have dispersed and the cops will wait to hear from us. If you go after the media, they'll just have more to write about.

"No! Ana and I did not have a fight and I was not sitting lonely and dejected at our booth after she walked out on me. We were actually celebrating her growing success with her piano lessons. Ray, go talk with Grace. You need to calm down. She was most likely some woman jealous of Ana's beauty and my money. It wouldn't be the first time. I'm looking into hiring a female CPO but I have to take it easy. Ana's just gotten used to Sawyer and now he's quitting.

"Why!? You're the one who's been yelling at him to give up body guarding and marry your daughter. He's at dinner every Sunday. Why don't you sit him down in your study and give him the third degree like you did me? I was not an enigma. Okay, one more time. Have a shot of bourbon and talk with Grace and, Ray, don't call the Nooz demanding a retraction. Just ignore them. It'll all blow over in a couple of days."

His father-in-law was always upset whenever his daughter was in the news. He'd managed to keep her under wraps for years. She marries Grey and she's selling papers. And now she's seeing ghosts.

"Grace? I didn't interrupt you saving a life, did I?"

"No, Christian. I was just doing some charting. It's rather quiet today. What can I do for you?"

"Get Ray to calm down. Please. I'm ruining his daughter's life again."

"I tried to hide the papers but that's a dead giveaway. He's been watching the television and you know how he hates TV."

"And the internet!"

"Oh, dear. It's really bad today. I did talk to him this morning and I thought he was all right when I left but something must have happened. Is the paparazzi at the gate? Well, I'll give him a call when I finish this work. Did you find a medium yet? No, no. I did not mention that to Ray. I think, dear, that there has just been too much lately what with the haunted mansion, the smoke. Maybe he shouldn't have retired early. Turn off your phone and go back to bed."

Grey leaned back in his chair and took a breath. He'd known Ray Steele for almost five years and the man could still screw with him. All that was going on and his big concern is that wretched photo of Grey sitting "lonely and dejected" at Gatsby's because he'd had a fight with his wife. The day before he was paternal Ray but one photo in a dumb ass tabloid and Christian was breaking his baby girl's heart.

Grey hustled back to Ana. She was, to his confusion, sitting up in bed. Her eyes were open wide and staring at something across the room. She was nodding. He nearly jumped a foot when she spoke…"Yes, papa, I'll be careful. You should rest now." Then she laid back down.

"Ana?" He shook her shoulder gently. She opened her eyes again and frowned at him. "Christian, where did you go? You are supposed to be sleeping. How many hours have you had since last night?"

"Ana? Who were you talking to just now?" She looked puzzled. Then awareness kicked in. "Oh, I thought that was a dream. It was papa Washington. He's worried about me going to the mansion. I told him that you'd take care of me. Come to bed now, please."

Grey laid down and pulled Ana into his arms. Crazy. Crazy. Papa Washington, please help me 'cause I'm losing my mind.

CHAPTER 56

"Sawyer, did Welch call you with that medium's name yet? I'd really like to get the place checked out."

"Her name is Gloria. She uses a first name only and only accepts cashier checks made out to cash. She really likes to stay on the down-low. You won't find her working a little place on the corner."

"Okay. Elliot called. He says that his contractor has finished his work so we're good to go just as soon as Gloria is ready."

"I'll call Welch. Who shall I tell him to expect is going with Gloria?"

"You, me, Ana and Elliot. Elliot has promised that he will not freak out over anything and I can't very well refuse him when he found a contractor to work on the place."

.+.

"You feeling okay, honey? We can wait outside while Gloria checks out the house, if you want." Christian rubbed Ana's back as they stood outside the gate awaiting the medium's arrival.

"I'm more concerned about you. I'm the one who has dealt with the ghosts several times. I'm not at all worried. I'm really excited. I'm just worried that the spirits won't like Gloria and will refuse to show themselves. I've done some reading and it seems that professionals like Gloria can irritate ghosts."

"Well, at least we know how the property came to leave Steele hands. The trustees just about gave it away and then Mr. Johnston's uncle's father lost heart when he saw what a mess it was. I wonder if he had any experiences while touring the house."

A rusty blue beetle came shambling down the road and parked. An elderly woman about 5 feet tall stumbled out of the car and waved to the foursome. Elliot muttered "good grief" under his breath. She held out a hand to shake, introducing herself as Gloria and asking if Mr. Grey had her check. Christian presented it.

"Thank you, dearie. I've found that it is better to secure payment prior to doing my job. Sometimes people don't like what I discover and refuse to pay."

"Do you sometimes find nothing to reveal?" Grey asked.

"Oh, my, yes. People have quite vivid imaginations and believe fervently that there is something to be found. I usually have a thorough conversation with clients before I agree to help. However, Herbie is an old and dear friend who vouched for you so I did not require more."

"Herbie? Welch's first name is Herbie?" Sawyer started to laugh and then readily shut up as Gloria gave him a sour look.

"You will never let Herbie know that I said that. I am quite capable of attaching a mischievous spirit to you." Sawyer shook his head and promised to keep his mouth shut.

"And that goes for the rest of you as well," Gloria said, narrowing her eyes at everyone.

"I believe that I already have two spirts attached to me, ma'am," Ana piped up. Gloria looked at her sharply.

"Perhaps you've simply imagined…." She began.

"No, ma'am. An evil spirit and a protective spirit followed me home to Escala, to our bedroom."

"Is this driveway long?" Gloria asked as she studied Ana. "Well, unless one of you wishes to carry me, I'm going to drive down to the mansion. You go on ahead now."

As Christian took Ana's hand, he glanced back to watch for the beetle. "She's probably going to drive away with our check…and it was a doozy. Being a medium pays quite well."

"No, sweetie, she's on the up and up, I'm sure. Herbie wouldn't steer us wrong," Ana giggled.

A minute later, the beetle chugged up the driveway and the foursome parted to allow her by. As soon as they reached the house, they found the car and no Gloria. They called her name, fearful that she'd walked under something that fell on her. She hollered and they all walked around to the water side of the mansion. She was standing out front, shaking her head.

"Do you have a key for this place because that door is locked."

Christian looked at Elliot. "Did the contractor mention a key, El?" Elliot shook his head. Ana released Christian's hand and walked up to the door. As she stood in front of it, it suddenly flew open and Ana was pulled inside by some invisible force.

The door slammed behind her.

CHAPTER 57

Sawyer, Elliot and Christian pounded on the door, then ran into it. It didn't budge. They went to the windows but, incredibly, the glass wouldn't break. They were frantic, using all their strength but the house wouldn't yield. Christian called for Ana but there was no answer.

Gloria stood calmly studying the house. "I don't believe that your wife is in danger, Mr. Grey. In fact, I believe that she is most welcome. The spirits mean her no harm. Gentlemen, calm yourselves. We'll wait for a response."

"Wait for a response!" Christian roared. "Do something! Talk to…to them! I want my wife back! Now!"

Elliot was just as shaken as Christian. He put an arm around Christian. "Gloria is the expert, Chris. Let's try to wait as she suggests.

"Gloria," Elliot asked in a tremulous voice, "how long do you think it will be before we get a response?"

"The ghost of Papa Washington was in our room last night advising Ana to be careful. Now she's in terrible danger. I'm going to call the fire department to chop down this door."

"Mr. Grey, I believe that your wife is fine…safe and fine. Spirits are very sensitive to threats from the living world. They are trapped here, you see. You feel helpless out here with a fire department to call for help. The Spirits have no one to call for help. If you don't settle down, your fear will make them so uncomfortable that they will go into hiding."

Gloria reached for Christian's hand and took it into both of hers. She felt bad for him. She admired his obvious affection for his wife. Holding his hand with one of her own, she rubbed up and down on his arm to soothe him. Remarkably, he felt a strange and comforting warmth. He managed to draw in even breaths.

"What are you doing? Are you hypnotizing me?"

Gloria smiled. "I have many talents, Christian, when it comes to people. Perhaps when this is over, I'll tell you all about it. For now, all I can advise is that you trust the spirits. They are taking care of your Ana, I promise."

All three men began drawing in deep, calming breaths and feeling more at ease which seemed insane to them under the circumstances.

They waited…staring at the huge carved wooden doors that were no more fragile now than when they were constructed 130 years before. In fact, looking at them, Elliot realized that they appeared to be new without even a hint of dust or a scuffing or a scratch. No, he saw as he looked around, the mansion itself appeared newly constructed and ready for company to arrive at the dock below the cliff. He wondered if anyone else had taken note of the old place's condition.

They all stood quite still.

Then the doors opened. Despite their weight, the expert hinging made them easy to open together in one fell swoop.

There, smiling a welcome, was a beautiful woman in period costume, black widow's weeds.

Elliot gasped. He had thought her gone from his life forever. As he looked at her with love and longing, her name fell from his lips like a prayer.

"Anastasia."

CHAPTER 58

"Good afternoon. My name is Mrs. Steele. Would you like to come in? Please forgive the lack of a proper welcome. We rarely receive guests anymore."

She turned first to Elliot, studying his face closely.

"I'm sorry. How is it that you know my name? I don't believe that we've met."

"Anastasia, it's me, Elliot, your brother."

Mrs. Steele looked confused.

"I had an older brother but he died in the war." She stopped and seemed to be listening for a moment. "Oh, Elliot Steele. Odd, you look nothing like any of the Steele's."

"I'm not a Steele by birth, ma'am. I was adopted," Elliot was beginning to catch on while Christian was still staring.

"Adopted! My goodness, I wouldn't think that with the way the Steeles breed, they would need to adopt a child." She stopped again and again appeared to be listening to someone. "Oh, I see. Forgive my ignorance. Now, you must be Ana's husband, Christian Grey. And you would be Mr. Sawyer, her servant."

She turned then to Gloria who was actually shocked. In all her years, she had never been so amazed. She addressed the stunned men.

"If I'm not mistaken, Ana is allowing Mrs. Steele to use her body to better communicate with us. It is a more efficient method than working through me. I think that discussing that is what took so long for us to be admitted.

"Mrs. Steele, everyone here has read extensively on the history of this estate and your part in it. It is a great honor to meet you. Did Ana tell you that she and her husband have purchased the mansion and all the acreage around it?"

"Ana is a Steele. The Steeles have always owned the estate. Why would she and her husband have to buy it?" Mrs. Steele looked quite confused.

"May I speak?" Christian asked. "I need to talk to Ana. Please, just for moment." Mrs. Steele felt sorry for him. He seemed so lost and scared. She nodded.

Ana threw her arms around Christian's neck. "It's all right, my love. Anastasia will just borrow me for a while. I promise I'll come back. Please be brave. Most everyone here is lovely and I'd like you to meet them. Please?"

Christian held her as tightly as he could without hurting her. He rested his head against hers and then kissed her soft lips. It took everything in him to release her.

"There, Mr. Grey. Is that better now?" Anastasia asked kindly. Christian nodded although he didn't actually feel better. The love of his life was trapped inside a ghost. What if the imperious Mrs. Steele decided that she wanted to keep Ana's body?

Anastasia turned to Elliot. "Why did you call me by my full name when you thought I was Ana?"

Elliot was still a little pale. "Ana was Anastasia until she was 23 when a brain injury changed her. After that, she wanted to be known only as Ana. But, when you opened the door, I saw my sister as she used to be, as Anastasia. Ana is quite different from Anastasia and we love her just as much but, well, sometimes I miss the little girl I grew up with.

Mrs. Steele looked interested but still confused. "Well," she smiled, "I'll have to ask Ana about that before she goes."

"Would all of you like to come into the dining room? There is more seating in there. Most of what is in the parlors and the den has, I'm given to understand, fallen apart. You see, to those of us still here, the mansion appears as it always has. We do, for the most part, understand that we are spirits but we still live in the house as it was.

"Ana tells me that the house is dusty and rotten. She says that the land is overgrown…to the extent that the family cemetery cannot be found. She's promised that it will be seen to. I would like that. I would most appreciate my loved one's resting places to be properly tended to."

At this, she bowed her head and tears fell to the table top. Christian quickly handed his handkerchief to her.

CHAPTER 59

"From our study of the history of the Steele family, we learned that the family patriarch, Washington L. Steele, ceded control of the estate and all the family resources to you, Mrs. Steele," Christian said.

"We also learned that you were a simple, uneducated girl who married Steele's eldest son believing him to be a bank clerk. We could only imagine your shock upon discovering what you'd married into and then to be given control of it all a couple of decades later."

Mrs. Steele sighed. "I had no ambition to be the wife of a rich man. Even less, to be the mistress of a grand estate. When I met Ross Steele, he presented himself as a kind and gentle man with whom I could have children and a simple home in California. I thought that he would continue his career in banking and I would take in washing and sewing to help with income while I stayed home with our children. I was close to my parents and siblings. Shortly after our wedding, Ross took me aside to ask if I'd ever heard the name Steele. Well, of course, everyone knew that the Steeles owned Seattle. I fainted when he told me that he was the scion of Washington Steele.

"He lied to be certain of a marriage to a woman who loved him and not his prospects. I understood but I was still angry….especially after he told me that we were moving from San Francisco to Seattle. I begged him to allow me to visit my family at least once a year but he told me to forget them. They were poor trash and I was now a grand lady courtesy of his acceptance of me as his wife. He thought that I ought to worship at his feet in gratitude. I soon came to resent him and he me as he realized that I was not at all grateful for his deception. Worse, Papa understood and, indeed, came to favor me. I wanted to work for my keep. It is how I was raised. Ross would become angry when he saw me helping with the chores or keeping a garden. He wanted me to walk about the house, ordering the staff to do this or that. He hated that I was kind and appreciative of their work.

"When I became pregnant with Luca, he was relieved…certain that I would do nothing but sit and read and draw and knit and do needlework…all that proper ladies of wealth should do. When he saw me pulling weeds once day, he backhanded me half way across the garden. Papa called him into his office and Ross emerged with a black eye. Fearful that Ross might hurt me badly enough to harm Luca while Papa was in town, I obeyed and became a proper lady. Ross used my fragile condition as an excuse to stay home and look after me. He never worked again.

"After Luca was born, Ross wanted to resume marital relations within a week despite the physician warning him that my body was not yet ready. Ross thought that I was using the doctor to avoid him and he demanded that I accede to his needs. One night at dinner, he drank too much and lost his temper. He lunged at me and wrapped his hands around my throat. He choked me into unconsciousness. I awoke in my bed surrounded by the doctor, Papa, other family and servants. Papa asked me if I still loved Ross and if I still wanted to share a bed with him.

"I told Papa that I hadn't loved Ross since our wedding day. Papa ordered Ross to move his things into a garret on the third level and threatened that if he ever again came within ten feet of me, he would be tossed out of the house. Faced with having to live in ordinary circumstances and even work for his dinner was impetus for Ross to take his "needs" to the ladies of the evening in town."

"Mrs. Steele, did you ever see your family again?" Christian asked kindly.

"Yes, it was wonderful and they fussed so over Luca. Then came the fire in 1906 which I'm sure you've heard of…I never learned what happened to them."

"Anastasia," Elliot smiled, "your descendant and namesake was so much like you. She was such a remarkable woman. It was terrible for her to accept the loss of that personality. A beautiful woman of the sweetest disposition grew out of that loss but I can't help wondering what she thinks of being inside you…essentially the woman she used to be."

"I was Ana, Elliot. She didn't become me. I had to become Anastasia as time went on and the family grew and none cared to assume responsibility as adults. Papa would come to me to ask what to do because I was the only one in the family who took pride in work. I suggested that we turn some of our vast acreage into a farm to feed our large family. I brought men in from town to teach all the able bodied to build barns and riding trails and horse stalls. I visited farms to see how they were run and how to raise dairy cattle and beef and pigs. We would have starved if we had not learned to feed ourselves. Many of the family actually came to love the work. Some, like Ross, refused.

"When Papa left everything to me, there was tremendous anger. I was forced to hire bodyguards to protect me, my son and those in the family who supported me."

CHAPTER 60

Elliot couldn't stop himself. All he could see and hear was his long lost sister, Anastasia, without whose help he would not have gotten through medical school.

He reached over and took her hand. She looked surprised but then she smiled. "Ana is telling me that to you I am the sister you lost. She understands, Elliot, and is not offended. You may hold my hand if you wish. It is pleasant for me to be touched with love. It may be unconventional but…oh, piffle." They laughed together.

Christian ahemed and touched on another subject. "Mrs. Steele, we all wish to extend our condolences on the loss of your son. Ana seeing him on the second floor veranda first alerted us to your presence here."

"Thank you, Mr. Grey. Were it not for my husband's genuine sorrow for what he'd done, I would have killed him where he stood. He wanted to plead guilty and be immediately hung but the district attorney saw a chance to have a flashy trial and raise his own profile. He had ambitions to be governor. Thus, he went ahead with a trial. You said that you researched that event so you know that it was an almost unbearable time for me. For much of it, I was numb, grieving so badly that the bitter words thrown at me, the awful news articles, the fruit and vegetables lobbed at my carriage…none was so awful as to make me forget my real loss.

"You would have loved Luca."

"But, Mrs. Steele, isn't his spirit still in the house? Ana saw him and cried for him."

"He may come back now and again to look in on me but I discourage that. I want everyone in this house to accept their fate and move on. There is something better waiting for us than to live in the past.

"Thus, Miss Gloria, I asked to inhabit Ana in order to expedite the purging of this house of all its spirits. Without your help, they will remain. You can demolish the mansion, Mr. Grey, and cleanse the ground and to the people living here, there would still be a mansion. Although some may occasionally make themselves known, they won't be any trouble. Yet, we all need to move on…to go wherever we are meant to be…to begin again. Some have tried. You said that Papa came to see Ana?"

"Yes, to warn her of danger here."

"There is that, yes. There have been so many violent deaths in this house and those who committed the crimes are still here and could cause problems. I've talked to everyone so many times and the truth is, Miss Gloria, we don't know how to leave. I can't tell you how many times I have walked out that door and taken in the air and waited for something to take me away. I don't know how to go."

"There are a lot of lost souls to free. It will be a big job but, of course, I will do everything in my power," Gloria promised.

Anastasia began to cry again and Christian immediately knew his Ana. He picked her up from the chair and carried her out of the stuffy and dust-filled mansion into the clean air. Mindful of ticks, he sat on the porch with her, rocking her back and forth.

The others ran after, closing the door behind…a set of doors now fragile and crumbling.

"Mr. Grey, there is much work to be done here. I need to think on the matter for a bit…how to go about things. One cleansing will not do. I sensed at least 50 souls trapped in there and they are for the most part, fearful. Some are quite protective of Mrs. Steele and a couple are angry. I will call you when I am ready to proceed. To start with, however, I would advise uncovering the cemetery."

Then she returned to her little car and backfired her way down the drive. Christian stood up with Ana in his arms, still sobbing. She'd quieted a bit by the time they reached the main road and by the time he'd carried her in the front door of Steele Manor, she'd fallen asleep.

When Christian tucked her into bed, he gently brushed her hair off her face and then he turned to the room. "Papa, if you're here, please watch out for your great-great-however many- granddaughter."

CHAPTER 61

"Christian, are you still awake?" Grace called softly through the bedroom door. He was but he didn't want to be. It had been an emotionally overwrought day and he just wanted to hold his wife and sleep. Still, he knew that the family would be worried and wondering and he had to think of their feelings, too.

He opened the door to find everyone gathered in the hallway…everyone.

"Okay. I don't wanted to go far from Ana. I'll leave the door open and Sawyer can keep an eye on her. Sawyer alert me to anything at all, please." Sawyer nodded and remained standing just outside the door watching Mrs. Grey sleep. Christian led the family down the stairs to the family room.

"You know, Elliot was there for the whole thing. I can't add anything to what he saw."

"Sorry, bro. I told them that but they seem to think that, tho' a lawyer, I don't have a good grasp of detail."

"What do you want to know?" Christian asked.

Then, talking over and interrupting each other, everyone repeated what Elliot had told them. They seemed to be waiting for Christian to correct some part of the tale. Christian could barely keep his eyes open. He was struggling.

"So, is that what happened, Chris?" Mia asked. "Yep," he mumbled.

Ray was stewing in his chair. "What came over you to allow your wife to be possessed by a ghost?"

"It was Ana's choice. And, as Sawyer often reminds me when I demand to know why he "let" Ana do something…he doesn't "let" Ana do anything. He just tries to keep her alive. I did ask Anastasia to allow me to talk with Ana and I could tell that she was consulting with Ana before she suddenly leapt into my arms to reassure me that all was well. I admit that I was somewhat concerned that Mrs. Steele would decide to keep Ana's body but she had no such intention. If anything, she wants to move on."

"Can we go next time?" Ethan pleaded. "We want to see Anastasia again."

Christian frowned. "Do you not remember the hell that your sister went through realizing that she was no longer the goddamn queen of the manor? She needed months of therapy and a ton of courage to accept that most of Anastasia was gone. I think that part of her attraction to me was that I'd never known Anastasia. I've only known Ana and while Anastasia was impressive and all, she was not Ana…the one, the only love of my life.

"So, no. Absolutely not, you may not come with us, if there even is another time, if getting to see your precious Anastasia is what you really care about. I don't even want to imagine the pain it would cause Ana to know that she still isn't enough for you," he growled at the lot of them.

"That isn't true, Christian," Mia mewled. "We adore Ana but the part of her that we lost we loved as well and seeing her again if only for a few minutes would be like being able to visit with our grandparents again."

"Your grandparents are dead! Ana is wonderfully, incredibly and beautifully alive! If that woman that Elliot went all gaga over when she opened the door is the woman you miss, then I don't get it. She was just an ordinary, beautiful and intelligent woman. I've known a hundred like her. I've never known another woman who could begin to amaze me like the breathtaking, awe-inspiring, magnificent woman who is Ana Grey!"

His eyes were dark and his fury daunting. No one said a thing. No one had the nerve to say a thing. They just sat quietly as he glared at them.

"Now, I'm taking my wife home. I won't take the chance that she hears or feels any of these Anastasia vibes from any of you. I wish I hadn't allowed Elliot to come along."

Grey took the stairs two-at-a-time and informed Sawyer that they were leaving immediately. Sawyer nodded, assured his boss that Mrs. Grey was deeply asleep and that there had been no visits from Papa Washington. Then he went downstairs to start the car. It was a cool night and he wanted to warm up the interior.

Christian wrapped the duvet around Ana and carried her down the stairs to find the family gathered, silent, at the door. He didn't look at them. He just walked past with his wife and slid into the back seat of the Mercedes. He pulled the middle seat belt around Ana and his shoulder strap around her. Sawyer drove quietly and slowly down the lane. If tonight was any indication of future relations with the Steele family, Grey might not be building a house within a 100 miles of them.

Christian hoped that Ana would sleep late tomorrow. He didn't want to talk about tonight. He wanted to forget all about the ancestral home. He knew Ana would start a conversation about the events of the previous day sooner or later and he was at a loss to know what to say. He was truly distressed thinking of Ana's next visit with her family. No matter what they might think of her brain power, he knew her to be a highly intuitive woman. They wouldn't be able to put anything past her, especially their interest in the Empress Anastasia. She would think of them first, understand their needs and try to give, give, and give some more…even while her heart was breaking. Nothing's changed, she might think. They're still disappointed that Anastasia was gone and all that was left was Ana, the sloppy seconds.

"Sawyer, don't return to Escala. Let's go to the marina. We'll take the boat out in the morning."

"Sir, if you sail far, you'll go by the old Steele mansion. Are you sure that you want to do that?"

"You have a point. Still, I don't want any of Ana's family to find us. I'm sure that they'll be just full of apologies in the morning and I don't even want to get into it with them. I'll take a chance on the view of the mansion from the water. Maybe we can get by it before Ana wakes."

"Very well, sir. I could really use a cold swim first thing. Shall I call Mac?"

"No, I think that you and I can handle The Ana. Mac always keeps the pantry stocked and there will be enough clothes. Will you be comfortable on the bed on deck?"

"I'd prefer it, sir. I am your bodyguard, after all. Of course, I don't know how well I'll sleep. I've never had an afternoon like today's. My nerves are a bit jangly."

Grey laughed. "I understand and raise you one set of jangly nerves. You're going to be hearing from Mia, you know. How are you going to handle that?"

"Mia knows my job, Mr. Grey. I doubt that she'll say a word even if it means chewing off the inside of her cheeks."

The two men had a hardy laugh, knowing that Ana would not awake no matter how loud they were. She was more undone than usual. Being possessed, Grey thought, must take a lot out of a person.

CHAPTER 62

The sun was high in the sky when Ana awoke. She automatically reached out an arm for Christian but wasn't surprise to find him gone. If he'd been with her, he'd have been holding her. She sniffed. Food. She was very hungry and she could hear seagulls. She lazily sat up and stretched. Portholes. They were on the boat! Suddenly energized, she leapt out of bed and dashed into the shower. Dressing quickly, she peered into the galley, delighted to see her husband making grilled cheese sandwiches and salads. She jumped up onto his back. He laughed and put down the spatula. He turned, with Ana still in his arms and kissed her soundly, then wrapped his arms around her.

"Wanna make love?" he murmured.

"Nope. I want grilled cheese!" she loudly declared.

"You're choosing a sandwich over my sweet lovin?" he huffed.

Ana nodded vigorously and, shaking his head in mock despair, Christian kissed her nose and asked if she wanted to eat inside or on the deck. "Deck!" He carried her topside and set her down on the bow bench in front of a table already set. Ana laughed. "You knew!" He winked and then disappeared for a bit into the galley and returned with their drinks and food. Then he sat down next to her and demanded another kiss which she graciously bestowed.

It was a glorious day on the water. They sat shaded under the awning and ate rapaciously until they were full. Christian was always delighted when Ana had an appetite. Then they relaxed back against the cushions, cuddled together.

"Where is Sawyer?"

"He took the dingy into the marina for a few supplies…and to give us some privacy. We're safe out here and the coast guard knows we're here. It's like with the helicopter. One always files a flight plan. Gotta let people know where you are. Speaking of which, where were you yesterday? Do you recall?"

"Of course, we went to the mansion. Mrs. Steele whisked me inside. I look just like her so she felt safe. She asked me who I was and what we wanted. I could hear you going crazy outside so I talked as fast as I could and we decided that a séance wouldn't be as revealing as her just talking to you directly. Were you very frightened, Christian?"

"Frightened? Try outright terror. It isn't every day that one's wife gets possessed, you know. I worried that she might not return you. They never do in the movies."

Ana tsked, tsked. "No more horror films for you."

"You were fine though? You weren't afraid?" he asked.

"No. Not at all. I could read her mind, you see…just as she could read mine. Good spirits don't want to return to life and the people in the Steele Mansion were all kind of bored and tired. Plus, it was no way to live…or rather, to be dead. They had lost loved ones and wanted to go on to see them again. I certainly hope that Gloria can find a way to release everyone. It's a good thing we came along, Christian. They really need us."

Ana's kindness and compassion even for ghosts greatly moved Christian. His heart swelled with love for her.

"Did Mrs. Steele happen to mention how you found the way in when the entry gates were overgrown all those decades?"

"Yes. It was very difficult and scary to leave the house but the spirits took turns venturing out and down the driveway. When they found it blocked, they cleaned it up bit by bit. They didn't know who might come by but Mrs. Steele "sensed" me when I rode by on my bike…for the past several years, Christian…ever since I became Ana. She said that one day she just knew that I was out there although she wasn't sure who I was."

"Interesting. You know I mentioned one day to Sawyer that I didn't understand how you could see "something" on that veranda that we couldn't. He said that sometimes people with brain damage had one path shut down while another one opened up. He pointed out stories about people who woke from comas with the ability to speak another language or play an instrument. I didn't know Anastasia, of course, but from what I've heard about her, I'd say that as brilliant as she was, she didn't have your sensitivity."

"I was still inside Anastasia when I could see many of the other residents all around us. They were curious, hopeful and so very sad, Christian. It broke my heart. I began to cry and then Anastasia released me. Anastasia doesn't know why she can't leave but I do. She won't leave all these people she'd cared about for a century. She won't go to be with Luca until everyone else is safe."

"She sounds like a remarkable person. Did she tell you which of the women was your direct ancestor?"

"Yes, I am the great-great-great-granddaughter of a poor woman who lived in the city and who was forced to earn her living through prostitution. Anastasia's estranged husband, Ross, was a regular customer and my great-great-great-grandfather. When the baby was born, Ross brought her home. He told his father that the mother had died in childbirth and there was no one to care for this new child. Anastasia agreed to be her mother."

"Wow. That was certainly generous of her."

"Well, remember that Mrs. Steele was not of the manor born. She was humble at heart and would never have turned away a baby in need. That baby grew up in the house, was presented to society and married well.

"Christian, don't be angry with Elliot."

"What do you mean?" he dodged. Ana looked straight at him. "You didn't hear, did you?" he asked, referring to the family's request to see Anastasia "again".

"I saw Elliot's reaction to Anastasia through her eyes and I know what he was thinking. I'm presuming that he shared his "thrill" with the rest of the family and I know them well. Accepting that I am now just Ana and their adored Anastasia is gone will always be hard for them.

"Christian, being loved by you has set me free from envy of Anastasia. I want the family to have the chance to see their beloved Anastasia once more."

Christian gazed at Ana with such affection and yearning, his silver eyes darkening with fervor, that Ana needed to love him. She stood and took his hand, leading him down to the master bedroom.

"Why is it called a blow job?"

CHAPTER 63

Breathing hard and trying to keep his senses while Ana was going to town on him, he explained that originally, in the Victorian era, this sexual act was referred to as a "below job" which was eventually shortened to blow job. This was all he could manage before Ana blew his mind. Just as he finished crying out her name, he heard the sound of a small motor approaching.

"I think Sawyer is back, honey. He'll probably want to talk to you." Ana jumped up to go brush her teeth while Christian pleaded with her to come back. Sighing in defeat, he pulled up his swim trunks, mounted the steps to the deck and dove over the side. He swam several laps around the boat before he was settled down enough to face Sawyer.

"Sir, I received word from the landscapers that they've finished with the cemetery. It was a larger area than we anticipated. Should be interesting to explore…or rather, pay our respects. They've also mowed a wide path to avoid high, tick-infested grass. I think that they want your business for the entire acreage."

"Well, if they did a good job, they may get it. Did they mention seeing ghosts?"

Sawyer chuckled. "No, sir. I told them that the mansion is very dangerous and they took me at my word."

"Hi, Sawyer, when are you starting your new agency?" Ana asked as she came on deck.

"I have started, ma'am. There is a lot of paperwork to sign, decisions to make about an office location and, I need to establish a stable of personnel. Once I do that, I'll have to train all of them to work the way I want them to do. I want my agency to be known for excellence. It isn't enough to just sign on someone large and strong. I'm glad that we have Jason on board. That is the kind of talent that I'm looking for. Right now with Jason and the new guy, Ryan, I feel confident that you and Mr. Grey will be well cared for but I still have to find a third person to replace me."

"Sawyer, you've been an exemplary employee and, of course, you'll always have my recommendation. In gratitude of your service, I would like to offer you a retirement present…a suite of offices in the Summit building for your first year on your own."

Sawyer looked stunned. "Sir, that is exceedingly generous but the board…"

"Screw the board. We have plenty of space and a prestigious address will lend credence to your agency. Please accept. I want you to succeed. It will be helpful for me to have a good agency close at hand.

"Yes, please, Luke. Take Christian's offer. You deserve it. And my sister will be so elated to have you behind a desk," Ana giggled.

"All right. Thank you, sir. I hope to do you proud."

"I know that you will, Sawyer. Now, how about we go check out that cemetery?"

"Ah, sir, I'm afraid that you'll find a welcoming committee back at the dock. The Steele family is absolutely set on apologizing to you and Mrs. Grey. When you weren't at Escala, they sussed you out."

Christian looked quite sour but Ana took his arm and kissed his cheek. "It's all right, sweetheart…truly it is." Christian smiled at Ana. She never lied to him.

"I suppose that they'll want to see the cemetery, too," he smirked.

"Well, certainly daddy will. These, after all, are his ancestors. He and I are the only blood Steeles left. You, more than anyone, should understand what it's like to be the last of your kind. And considering that Anastasia is gone, we're really more like 1 and a half of Steele descendants."

Sawyer pulled up the anchor while Christian and Ana changed into street clothes. Then they plopped themselves down on the bow bench. Ana snuggled into her husband to help him relax. She could feel the tension leave him as he put an arm around her and caressed her arm. She could get him through anything.

As Sawyer expertly maneuvered the Grace into her berth, Grey and Ana prepared to disembark while the whole of the family stood quietly on the dock. One could see that they were nervous. As Grey stepped down the ramp, carefully guiding Ana with his hand, she looked up at her quite serious family and beamed at them. She rushed into the arms of her parents and her siblings and hugged everyone hard. They stuttered out their love for her and their failure to understand what they were implying when they begged to see Anastasia. Elliot was the most repentant of all. Ana assured them over and over that she understood and held no grudge. She couldn't promise that Mrs. Steele would see them but she would certainly ask.

Now, would they like to come see the cemetery?

CHAPTER 64

The Steeles were relieved to have made up with Christian and Ana and quite excited to visit the mansion. With the exception of Elliot, none had seen the mansion or the grounds. Christian saw to it that everyone was soaked in insect repellent. Let them cough. It was better than possibly missing a tick and contracting Lyme disease. Long pants and socks over the bottom, even wellies. Once Christian was sure everyone was safe, he warned them to keep to the mowed path. They took cars down to the driveway entrance because a visit to a haunted mansion could be tiring.

They were like an antsy group of children on a school outing…bouncing in their seats, hands fluttering, even giggling.

"Oh, look. Christian, did you have the driveway pillars replaced?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, they were crumbling and the entire drive was too narrow for trucks. We still have to replace the gates…and soon. Fixed as it is, it's enticing and we don't want people exploring. The new gates should go up in a day or two."

What no one noticed was the old four-door sedan parked half a mile down the road. Such a car in such a lux neighborhood should have been noticeable but everyone was too excited to pay attention. The car's occupant, smoking through her long cigarette holder, was aware of Grey's interest in this property and his frequent visits. She thought that perhaps this isolated area should factor into her plans. She'd also seen him gently carrying his wife down the road to Steele Manor. Yes, he was certainly a man devoted to his wife…another way to ruin his life.

The vehicles pulled up to the beginning of the path to the cemetery and everyone piled out, hurrying down the clean lane to the gravesites. They stopped and stared. The original grave marker was quite large, shaped like two small arches topped by one large arch.

WASHINGTON LUCIAS STEELE

Founder and Beloved Patriarch of the Steele Family

The rest of the stone listed his birth and death dates followed by a one of his favorite scripture readings. Finally, at the bottom, a note that he lay in peace surrounded by his loved ones.

Christian wondered at that last line. A man lying in peace doesn't visit his great, etc. granddaughter to warn her of danger.

To the right of his stone, was a lovely stone shaped like a rose and dedicated to his wife. The rest of the stones were mostly flat. It was evident that the landscaping crew had raised them up and reset them. Only one other stone was larger and prominent…17 year-old Luca, who saved his mother's life. All in all there were probably 50 stones, a dozen or so without identification. Each had been thoroughly scrubbed of dirt and mold. The landscapers had, indeed, done an excellent job. The cemetery in its current size was surrounded by a wrought iron fence.

"Where is Anastasia's marker, Christian? And all those who came after her?" Ana inquired.

"Maybe she was buried in an unmarked grave for some reason." He could see that Ana was upset.

"Don't worry, darling. We'll dig up these anonymous graves and try to determine who is who. Perhaps Anastasia can tell us. Do you want to knock? See if anyone is home?" he grinned and Ana playfully elbowed him.

"Come to the house with me but stay back from the porch. Do not be alarmed if I suddenly disappear. Any display of fear will frighten the spirits. Understand?" Her family, all grasping on to each other, nodded obediently.

Ana walked up to the house and tried the door knob. Tonight it was open, as if she was expected. She entered and closed the door behind her. Grace let out a small gasp and Christian took her hand. "It's all right, Grace. Ana is welcome here. Believe me, her first visit scared me, too."

Everyone stood and waited as they had before. It seemed to take longer this time and Christian grew nervous. He was a man who'd made his way through life by grabbing hold of control and not letting go. Since he'd met Ana, it seemed all he did was surrender control.

The doors, both of them, slowly opened and a woman of magnificence seemed to float before the group. She had been stunning the night before but tonight she seemed regal as she smiled down at them.

"Good evening. Raymond, especially good to see you. You are Papa Washington's only living relative besides Ana. You are the last of the line. It is sad but perhaps not a bad thing considering the family history."

Mrs. Steele reached out her hands to each member of the family in turn. Her hand was warm and soft…Ana's hand.

"Now Ana tells me that you cleaned up the cemetery and it is lovely. We have many souls who deserve their own graves and markers even if their identities cannot be determined. I trust that Christian will use his resources to identify as many as possible. There is a plain marker with an A. R. S. set off by itself. That is mine. There was little money for fancy markers when I died. Ana wants to rectify the situation.

"Won't you come inside? I don't know if Elliot explained that the interior is in deplorable condition to your eyes while it is still appears in its former glory to those of us still here. We'll go into the dining room as before."

They all followed dumbstruck as Mrs. Steele seemed to float through the rooms.

CHAPTER 65

Elliot began by thanking Mrs. Steele for hosting the whole family. She smiled and said that Ana had explained to her that she resembled the Anastasia that Ana used to be.

"Ironically, Ana is the woman I used to be." Everyone looked confused.

"She told me that your main interest in being here tonight is the chance to see the woman that you remember Ana as being before she was hurt. However, I was much like Ana before Papa left me the estate. I was terrified. I had no education. I could barely read. Just as Ana had to start life over after her injury, I had to start life over. I had to learn how to invest, how to handle money well. As the family grew and my fiduciary responsibilities escalated, I had to learn how to support all of us. At one point, we had almost 80 family members living in this house and, besides myself, only a couple of people worked. They became weary of supporting everyone else and decided to take their families and leave. No matter how persuasive I tried to be, I couldn't convince anyone else to contribute so I had to stop being nice and asking and start threatening and ordering. I was no longer like Ana. I learned to become strong, unbending, immovable. My family soon saw me as their leader. Inside I was always fearful that I couldn't protect everybody."

Anastasia stopped. She lowered her head and tear fell. No one knew what to do…except Ana, of course.

"Hi, guys, it's me. Anastasia needs a minute. How can I explain this to you? Hmmm….just as the house appears to the spirits exactly as it did when they were alive, time and the events they lived through are also still real to them. They have no future, you see. They have only the past which is their present."

"What are you trying to say, Ana?" Ray asked.

"If you recall all the history that Welch dug up about the Steele family, you'll remember that there were a lot of deaths in the house, many of them murders. Yesterday, Anastasia had to tell a man that his refusal to contribute to the family in any way meant that he could no longer live here. His wife and three daughters begged to be allowed to remain and Anastasia agreed but she had to fire three servants to give their jobs to this woman and her daughters.

"Last night one of the servants, upset about having to leave, went to the women's rooms and slit all their throats and then her own. Anastasia "awoke" to screams. For her it was as real as it was 100 years ago. She is trying to be strong but she's breaking. We shouldn't stay long. Just as she did almost 100 years ago, she has to arrange burials and services and try to hold everyone together even as she cracks."

Christian took Anastasia's hand in both of his. "You did nothing wrong, Mrs. Steele. You are an incredibly courageous woman." Anastasia looked up and wiped her eyes.

"I know that those people have been dead for a long time but it still feels just as real. Every murder in this house, under my watch, feels as real as it did when it first happened. And it happens over and over again and there is no escaping. I fear that I may go mad."

"Mrs. Steele, it has been so generous of you to invite us into your home. We don't wish to disturb you anymore than we have. We will do everything in our power, use every resource at our disposal, to free you from this earth. We won't give up," Ray promised, looking at her intently.

"After all, you are my family and it breaks my heart to think that you've been just down the road all these years, needing our help." Anastasia and Ray smiled at each other and then the smile changed infinitesimally. The rest didn't notice but Christian knew Ana's smile. He leaned over and kissed her while the family gasped.

Ana laughed and reminded Anastasia to take back her dress. Suddenly the widow's weeds were gone and the sundress and wellies were back. Everyone sighed in relief. Ethan punched Christian's arm for being a wise guy.

"Is she going to be all right, Ana?" Mia looked quite concerned.

"It will take a bit for her to recover but she is very strong and she'll just start to worry about everyone else. She is wonderful, isn't she?"

As the family walked back down the driveway, Grace had a thought. "You know, Ray, Anastasia isn't your blood relation. She's a relation by marriage. Her only blood relation was Luca. Yet, she's devoted herself to that huge family for over 100 years."

"I can't believe that we've had ghost relations just down the road from us for more than 40 years, Grace."

"I can't believe that we've had ghosts next door at all," Ethan muttered.

"I can't believe that we know any ghosts," Mia squealed.

And thus the conversation continued as they rode back to Steele Manor. So involved were they in conversation that they didn't notice the sedan following a distance behind without its lights on.

CHAPTER 66

The family was simultaneously wired and worn after their evening at the Steele Mansion. They knew that ghostly spirits existed. They knew that they "lived" down the road. They couldn't stop repeating this to each other and staring at each other as if someone could explain the implausibility of all this to them.

"And being able to tune in to their world is possibly because of your head injury, Ana?" Ray marveled.

"My boyfriend is quite well-read, daddy," Mia beamed at Luke. "He's the one who figured out that the loss of one part of her brain opened up another part so that Ana could be aware of the spirits."

"Well, it's just a theory, sweetheart."

"Yes, but it's all we have that makes any sense. Anastasia was brilliant but she was more attuned to this reality. It took Ana years to understand a different reality and look where it led her. It's like God or whoever gave us two wonderful sisters necessary to two different times of our lives."

Grace looked confused. "What do you mean, Mia?"

"Well, when we needed a solid, rational sister to help Elliot to pass the bar and Ethan to get through medical school and Dad to retire and me to learn how to run a restaurant, we were gifted with Anastasia. And now we need Ana who understands things so-called rational human beings would scoff at. Without her, we would be missing out on this staggering part of reality that most people go through life without knowing exists."

"And what an overwhelming thrill, it is!" Elliot grinned at Ana. "Thank you, lil sis, for sharing."

Ana blushed but then reminded everyone that what was more important was finding a way to help free all the spirits. "They are all in pain. I can see their faces and how sad they are. The maid, Tillie, who killed those women…she sits in a heap in the corner and moans. Except for Anastasia, the others all shun her. They would hang her from the oak out back if Anastasia weren't to forbid it."

"What oak? There isn't any oak out back."

"Well, not any more, Ethan. At least, not to our eyes."

Elliot held his head and shook it. "All this bouncing around in time is giving me a headache. I can't drive. I'm going to sleep in my old room. Good night, everyone. It's been real…or not?"

"Everyone should stay here tonight. I'm concerned that you won't be able to concentrate on the road and we'll have more discussion in the morning about how to help these…hmm…people," Grace suggested. "I'm going up now. Goodnight."

"Do you want to stay, honey?" Christian asked, stroking his wife's hair.

Ana nodded. "I want to get going on a plan as soon as possible. We have to call Gloria and see how she's doing with her plans."

"Okay, Sawyer. I guess we're staying."

"That's fine, sir. This is my third run-in with the other side. I'm getting a bit weary myself."

Slowly everyone mounted the stairs as Grace and Carrick went about turning out lights. As the house grew darker and it became apparent that no one would be on the road that night, the figure in the old sedan pounded angrily on the steering wheel in frustration.

She wondered if maybe she ought to go down that driveway to see what was so important to the Greys.

CHAPTER 67

The redhead retrieved a flashlight from her car and headed down the driveway. Little scared her anymore…after all she'd been through…but this winding drive was a bit spooky. She had the sense that something was waiting for her around the next bend. Finally the mansion came into view. It was enormous. Yeah, the rich always used up more than they needed while everyone else struggled to survive. She stood staring up at the grand portico, the entrance. The arch was badly tilted and seemed ready to crumble. The windows had all been broken…no doubt the targets of brats with rocks. Entire sections of brick wall were falling down. The roof was sliding off. The woman backed up to avoid the eaves landing on her.

She surmised that Grey intended to use his millions to restore the mansion for his wife. She also surmised that the wife would want to visit often as the work progressed. This was useful information. Perhaps she would come by on her own one day while Christian was at the office. On her own and unprotected except by some big dumb lug. Looking around, the woman saw that it would be easy to conceal herself in the wild growth around the house. She could also be waiting inside the mansion when visitors arrived.

She had always planned to simply kill Christian Grey but to take away from him that which he so valued would be a far better revenge. He'd either end his own life or live in despair until his heart gave out.

She thrashed her way through the weeds to the door, pushing at it until it moved enough to allow her entrance. She found herself in the kitchen. It was a huge room, fit, she snarled, for an army of servants to prepare dinner for the wealthy residents. She imagined that Grey would have it gutted and renovated to be sufficient to cook for hordes of the bloody rich who would attend his fancy parties.

Only, long before the mansion was ready for occupancy, Grey would be alone again…unless he remarried. Well, let him. She would find a way to take everyone from him. Like her, he would spend his life alone.

She was unable, of course, to see the spirits watching her. She was unable to sense their fear of her or, in the case of others, their anger at her intrusion. To simply walk in their back door without invitation or knocking was the height of ill behavior. They had finished with dinner and now wished to clean up and prepare for breakfast. Mostly, they wanted to get their jobs done and get to bed. They would have to be up at dawn to start all over again. This woman seemed to think that she had a right to be here. They looked at each other. Did she have business here that Mrs. Steele had neglected to inform them about?

They didn't know what to do. It was getting to be quite late and she'd left the door open. The raccoons could get in. Perhaps someone ought to speak with Mrs. Steele? No, she was so tired that she'd barely eaten. She oughtn't to be working on her hands and knees in the garden at her age. One of the cooks picked up a carving knife. Just then the woman turned and left the kitchen, pulling the door closed behind her.

She didn't want anyone to notice an open door and suspect an intruder so, with some effort, she dragged it back to its previous position. Then she walked back down the driveway to her car. She was quite pleased with herself. Perhaps tomorrow she would explore during daylight. It would be fun to stroll through a mansion that had once been the home of a some now dead snoot. She could pretend that it was hers and laugh that those who once stood to greet guests, their chests puffed out in pride, thinking that they were so much better than people like her, were now dust in their graves…worth nothing.

Before rounding the bend and out of sight, she looked back, smirking…unable to see all the faces in all the windows staring out at her.

CHAPTER 68

"I don't understand, Gloria. I'm anxious to have this matter settled…not just for Ana's sake but for the sakes of all those people trapped in that estate."

"I understand, Mr. Grey, but this is not a simple thing that you are asking of me. I have never dealt with more than half a dozen spirits at a time and that was complex. There are at least 50 souls in that mansion that need saving and it must be done with utmost care. I could probably get many of them banished but that isn't what you want or what I want. These are, for the most part, good people who must be shepherded carefully and kindly to their new homes. Sloppy work or mistakes on my part could send them on to someplace worse. I'm sure that your wife wants the very best for each of them if only because Mrs. Steele desires such."

"Yes. I understand. Can you tell me if you've made any progress at all in devising a plan to save them?"

"Nothing that I am yet willing to share, Mr. Grey. Perhaps it will ease your anxiety to know that your wife is in no danger…even from Ross Steele or other angry spirits. She is loved and protected by almost every spirit in that house because they understand that she is trying to help them."

"I'm concerned that if this help is too long in coming that they will blame Ana."

"Spirits are extremely sensitive, Mr. Grey. They are also patient. They've waited over 100 years and, if there is hope being offered, they will wait another 100 years. I will be in touch."

Grey held his head in his hands as he sat in his study. Patience wasn't his strong suit especially when it came to his wife's wellbeing. She was currently over at the Steele Estate supervising the beautification of the cemetery. Graves were being disinterred in an effort to identify the remains. Ana and Anastasia were working together. Yes, he said to himself, his wife and a 100 year-old ghost were hanging out together at a graveyard…tackling a little project together. Only Ana would see nothing odd about all this. They're just regular people. Dead but regular. Sawyer and Taylor were standing by.

How is it going?

Let's see. Your wife is talking to herself, it appears.

Are the grave diggers noticing?

Oh, yeah. Ana is whispering and they keep glancing at her.

We told them that she is eccentric.

At least you didn't have to lie. Is she happy?

As a pig in slop. Sir. I think she's enjoying having a girlfriend.

Jesus. Keep me informed.

Will do.

"Hi, John. It's Christian Grey. Do you have a few minutes?"

CHAPTER 69

"And now she's buddies with all these spirits. John, it's the weirdest situation. I'm all sixes and sevens. I mean, nobody owns a mansion full of spirits. Nobody has a wife whose BFF is a 100-year-old ghost. You know what Ana is doing right now? She's overseeing the renovation of the mansion's cemetery with the help of the head ghost, Mrs. Steele. The two of them, one invisible, are chatting away like old pals while the workers dig up graves."

"Well, I can't argue that these aren't unusual circumstances. I did as you requested and looked into the possibility of similar happenings with other patients…my own and in the literature. There are cases of patients declaring that they see spirits, of course, but none were able to produce documented proof. As of now, we have your entire family and a security officer as witnesses as well as all the data that Welch dug up.

"I'm afraid, Christian, that your position is unique. Now, the good news is that all of you are handling it so well. No one has run to the Seattle Nooz or revealed what goes on down the street and, as far as I can tell, everyone is relatively calm about this. Of course, you would be the exception but then you do tend to overreact to anything possibly unsafe regarding your wife."

"So, if Rhian was out there having girl time with Mrs. Steele, you'd be complacent about it?"

"Lord, no. I wouldn't be sleeping and I'd probably be demanding that she stay away from that place. However, Ana and Rhian are quite different from each other. Rhian, for instance, has not had her head bashed in with a wrench. Ana is a delightful and unique individual and that she would somehow find common ground with a ghost is not at all surprising. I also trust her heart."

"What do you mean by "trust her heart"," Christian asked.

"She understands things that many people do not. She is open to closed doors. She looked across a ballroom, saw you and knew instantly that you needed her and that she needed you. A ballroom filled with sophisticated people accustomed to conversing with strangers and only the frightened and shy girl who didn't know you…well…knew you and was not afraid to approach the bear in his den.

"This same girl would understand a haunted mansion and its occupants."

"If I had known at that gala that one day I'd be introduced to ghosts," Christian sighed and then laughed…"yeah, I'd have rushed head long to where fools fear to tread.

"Thanks, John. I guess I just needed someone to talk sense to me."

"You're most welcome, Christian. Now. Do you suppose that I could get an invitation to the mansion some dark and dreary night?"

CHAPTER 70

The woman crouched in the bushes with a pair of binoculars, watching Ana. Wow, she thought, Christian's little wifey is kind of a loon. She talks to herself, makes gestures to the air, laughs at nothing. The men working on the graves kept looking up in confusion and her bodyguards looked embarrassed. Also, why is she digging up a graveyard?

The workers would haul out a shroud and lay it out on the ground. Ana would unwrap it to see nothing but clothing turned to rags. Then she'd talk to the rags! After that she'd make notes on her iPad and then tape a post-it to the stone before returning the shroud to the ground. When everything was back in place, she'd bow her head and blow a kiss to the grave.

Well, the woman figured, when you're as rich as Christian Grey, you can afford to have a wife who is bat-shit crazy. For a small moment, the woman reconsidered killing her. She might be doing Grey a favor. Then she recalled all the times that she'd seen him glowing with this nut-job at his side. He must have a thing for loons. He certainly spent money protecting her. Two bodyguards. How was she going to get past them and get the loon alone?

Sure she could simply shoot Mrs. Grey but that would certainly get her caught. She really wanted to get her target alone in that mansion. It was falling apart. She could smash in her head with some crumbling piece of that house. Everyone would assume that it was an accident and Grey would blame himself for buying the place. The woman could watch him at the funeral service from a distance and gosh, wouldn't it be wonderful to watch him cry over his dead wife's grave?

Meanwhile, she was antsy. It was getting tiresome spying on this woman every day. She'd learned a few things, sure, but she needed to get going with the rest of her life. Wrecking Christian's life was just the first thing on her bucket list.

Her legs were beginning to ache but she daren't stand up, exposing herself to the goons watching the wife. Tomorrow she'd bring a small stool to sit on. She wasn't a young woman anymore and squatting for hours was really wearing. As she was about to settle her butt down in the dirt, she heard an engine approaching and froze. An Audi SUV passed within feet of her hiding place but the driver was intent on what was ahead, not what was hiding in the brush.

It was Christian. It was her first clear look at him since she'd come to Seattle. Of course, she'd seen many a picture of him. The walls of her room were papered with pictures of him from newspapers and magazines. She'd seen him on TV and on the internet. She knew that he was handsome but seeing him this close in person took her breath away. As the SUV pulled up and stopped, she watched him through her binoculars. His body, his walk…he was perfection. He hurried up to the wife, grabbed her and whirled her around, grinning at her. Then he kissed her, not caring who was watching. He talked to her for a moment and then turned around to speak to someone. Who? The goons were the other direction. Odd.

She wanted to stay and stare at him but she knew that now was her chance to slip away unnoticed. The loon seemed to have everyone's attention. As the woman was about to leave, she saw Christian and his wife walk toward the mansion. The goons didn't follow. Christian and Ana went inside. Huh. Maybe…

.+.

Ana and Christian entered the house and closed the door behind them. They called out hello to all the spirits. Ana slipped from his arms and moved a few inches away. She was Anastasia now and much as she enjoyed the touch of a good-looking man, Ana was her friend and she would not want even the appearance of betrayal.

"Good afternoon, Christian. How are you today?" Mrs. Steele smiled. To anyone else Anastasia's smile and Ana's would be identical but to Christian the difference was night and day. No one smiled like Ana.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Steele. I'm doing well today. I'm standing in a haunted house surrounded by dozens of spirits and watching my wife being possessed by one of them and I feel just fine."

Mrs. Steele laughed and Christian could swear that he heard the laughter of others as well. He must be getting used to this place.

"Would you like to sit in the study? Ana came by earlier and dusted up a storm. It is an odd thing to watch someone working hard at cleaning what appears to be already pristine. Melanie already had a go at the room this morning. She stood and watched, shaking her head. However, I think that we all here are becoming accustomed to the living as well."

The room was pristine, indeed. Mrs. Steele took her seat behind the desk, indicating to Christian a comfortable club chair. It was patched a bit with duct tape…undoubtedly Ana's doing.

"Do you have any news for us?"

"Is everyone gathered round?"

"Pretty much, yes. A few of our elderly are napping. Yes," she laughed again, "I'm beginning to see the humor in our opposite perspectives. Today is a good day. Seeing Ana working on the cemetery is cheering everyone. There is hope."

"Well, I talked with Gloria this morning first thing. She assured me that she is working hard but asking for our patience. The largest number of spirits that she's helped in the past has been six. She has, as she put it, banished large numbers but it was a bad situation. This is not. These are all good spirits and she wants to see that each is shepherded safely to their new homes. Thus, she is refusing to rush the process."

"Well, we appreciate her being careful. Assure her that we are being patient as we now see a light at the end of the tunnel. Besides, for the first time in a century, we have new friends. Everyone here loves Ana and you. You should see the excitement when we sense Ana coming up the road.

Did she tell you that she's able to see many of us now through her own eyes?"

"Ana can now see ghosts?" Christian felt his stomach flip a bit.

CHAPTER 71

Anastasia seemed to understand. If Ana could see ghosts here at the mansion, perhaps she'd be able to see spirits everywhere in future. Walking down the street with Christian or sitting in a restaurant, Ana might suddenly wave hello to empty air. Anastasia knew that there were other restless spirits out in the world and she could well imagine Ana trying to save them all.

"Your great love for your wife will be tested often, Christian. Is that your fear?"

Christian smiled and shook his head. "No. There is nothing Ana could do to test my love for her."

Anastasia stopped and listened for a moment. Then she looked serious. "This is quite a large desk, Ana. I am not leaping over it to hug your lovely husband." Then she shook her head. "Even when I was first in love with my husband, I didn't feel about him the way Ana feels about you. You are a lucky man."

"Oh, that I know, Mrs. Steele. I was just thinking about all the articles in the local tabloids in the years to come. The headlines reading "Ana Grey caught talking to the air again". Well, dear, it's getting late and Gail will have dinner waiting. Are you ready to go?"

Suddenly, Ana was on his lap, kissing him and running her hands through his hair. "Come outside first and see all we have accomplished just today."

As they exited, they called out goodbye and closed the door behind them. Ana dragged him out to the cemetery and introduced him to the workers who were finishing up for the day. They told Ana that they'd see her in the morning and Ana thanked them for their hard work. Ana and Christian climbed into the back of the Audi and started making out even as Sawyer firmly warned them to buckle up. Taylor would drive the other car home. He was looking forward to seeing that pretty little blonde, Mrs. Jones.

As Taylor followed Sawyer down the road, he caught sight of a sedan that looked out of place. He didn't know why it struck him thus. Even though this was an elite neighborhood, someone driving an old and inexpensive model could have good reason to be parked there. Maybe it belonged to one of the workmen. Still, Taylor's instincts were telling him to memorize the plate.

.+.

"Enter," Grey instructed the person knocking on his study door. He reasoned that it had to be one of the staff. Ana would never knock nor would he want her to do so. He looked up to see Taylor, wearing one of his inscrutable expressions. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.

"Sir. A word." Grey indicated that Taylor should sit.

"You know, Taylor, I've learned to love seeing you when you have that expression on your face. I can't imagine what the trouble could be. I already own a haunted mansion with 50 souls needing to be rescued from eternal death. Now what could you have possibly come up with to rival that?"

Despite his attempt to be humorous, Grey was nervous. He could only hope that Taylor's visit had nothing to do with Ana.

"Well, sir. It's about your wife," Taylor grimaced.

"Go on," Grey said.

"Sir, do you remember a woman by the name of Mrs. Elena Lincoln?"

CHAPTER 72

Taylor went on to tell Grey that due to crowded prison conditions and, rather unbelievably, Mrs. Lincoln's record of good behavior, she had been granted parole.

"That's insane. She wrote me dozens of letters threatening me. I had to spend ten years of my life looking over my shoulder. Then the letters stopped. Pedophiles aren't popular in prison and she'd received a substantial sentence. I thought that she had just given up or maybe had been killed by now. She only served what…fifteen, sixteen years?"

"Sixteen if you count time served before the trial. As a condition of her parole, she had to admit to her crimes and express remorse. Apparently, she had no trouble doing so and the board actually believed her."

"How did you learn this? Were we informed?"

"No, sir. No one thought to warn us. Michigan is a long way from Washington and if the board was naïve enough to believe that she felt remorse, I suppose her probation officer was also naïve enough to believe that parolees don't skip town."

"Do we know where she is?"

"My spidey sense tells me that she is close. Last night there was an old model car parked approximately a mile down from the mansion driveway. I ran the plate and got word this morning that the plates were stolen. I may be overreacting."

"When it comes to Ana's safety, there is no overreacting, Taylor. She went over early this morning to keep working on the cemetery."

"Yes, I am aware. I had men checking the entire road and any area in the vicinity when one could park a vehicle. No sign of the car. I have men watching the estate from one end to the other. I also have men trying to locate Mrs. Lincoln."

"Taylor, she isn't going to come after me…at least not first. Ending my life would be too easy. She wants to ruin it and that would begin with killing Ana. We have to get out there."

"Sir, I've been in communication with Sawyer. He says that your wife went inside the mansion upon arrival. She and Mrs. Steele have a hunch that Papa Steele might have kept a ledger listing all the family and employees. So, she is safe right now. No sign of Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Grey is protected by a mansion full of devoted spirits. However, I would feel better if we took the SUV and got her back home. Of course…."

"Of course, I'll probably have to throw her over my shoulders to tear her away from there. She will not be happy.

.+.

Ana stared in horror at Sawyer lying on the floor, blood pooling beneath him. She tried to rush to him but, suddenly, a woman was in front of her, aiming a gun at her heart.

"Don't you remember me, Mrs. Grey?" the woman sneered.

Her body shaking, Ana looked at the woman. Tall, brassy blonde, heavily made up and…something else. She smelled…like smoke. Ana gasped and took a step back. She looked back down again at Sawyer.

"You're the woman from Gatsby's. You tried to choke me with smoke. There are men outside. You won't get away."

"Boy, you really are a lame brain, aren't you?" Elena laughed. She waved the gun in Ana's face.

"This is a silencer, you dope. No one heard a thing. Just as no one will hear the pop when I blow your face off. I am sorry that this guy walked in like that. I had other plans. I was going to smash your head in with a piece of the debris lying around in here. I wanted your death to look like an accident. Now I'll have to get gone…but not before I get to hear Christian destroyed by your loss. He'll howl in pain. It will be delicious."

Behind Elena, Ana could see Anastasia smiling at her. Ana smiled back, confusing Elena who whipped around with her gun pointing at…nothing. While she was thus distracted, Ana pushed her hard over a chair before she ran out the door and slammed it shut. Down the hall, Ana saw a door open under the stairs. She dashed inside the cubby hole and one of the spirits shut the door behind her. Ana hadn't even known that the door was there because it was part of the paneling decorating the stairs. And now Elena couldn't see it either as she flew out of Papa's office. She dashed about, hunting for Ana.

Ana whispered, hoping to be heard by a spirit. "We have to help Sawyer. We have to keep that woman from shooting anyone else who comes in the door. Help me."

Elena stood at the foot of the grand staircase, carefully looking and listening. Then she heard a small creak from the second floor. She cackled. "There is no where you can go in this entire dump without making a noise, Mrs. Grey."

She began walking up the stairs. "I do so wish that I could hang around to watch Grey run around the house looking for you, growing more and more frantic when you don't answer his pathetic screams for you…and then that great moment when he finds you with a bullet in your brain."

Elena was getting excited. She couldn't wait to corner Ana and see the fear on her face as she looked down the barrel of Elena's gun. She began to take the steps two at a time until she was close to the top. She took a step and felt her foot sink. Desperately, she grabbed hold of the bannister but she was too weak. Her hand slipped and she fell into the blackness below, two floors into the basement, cracking her skull on a pile of concrete rubble.

She lifted her head to see a crowd of people staring at her. One of them grinned at her and welcomed her to the Steele Mansion.

CHAPTER 74

Grey and Taylor walked in the front door as Ana dashed in front of them and into the study. Taylor immediately ascertained the reason for her distress. He knelt down and put two fingers to Sawyer's jugular.

"He's alive…just." He pulled out his phone and called for an ambulance. Grey tried to hustle Ana out the door but she fought him, kneeling beside Luke and begging him to stay with her.

"Honey, we have to get out of here," Grey begged, looking around for Elena.

"No, she's dead." Ana pulled out her own phone.

"Mom, something serious has happened to Luke. Get over to Mia's restaurant and take her to the emergency room at Seattle Memorial. I'll talk to you later. Go, Mom!

"Taylor, the ambulance will take too long. We have to meet it. Turn Luke over. Christian, give me your jacket. We have to put pressure on the wound to stanch the flow of blood. If he keeps bleeding, he'll die from shock."

Christian did as Ana directed. She pressed hard against the wound while Christian and Taylor lifted Luke and carried him out to the SUV.

"Christian, you're stronger. You stay with Luke in the back seat and press down on the wound."

She climbed into the front seat and Taylor roared out and down the road. The grave workers gaped at the car and then each other.

In the car, Ana called 911 and informed the EMTs that they would meet them half way. After that, all she could do was plead with Luke to stay….stay…don't leave Mia.

.+.

It was a long day in the ER waiting room. To the Steele family and Christian, it seemed that they spent far too much of their time there, clutching each other and praying. The good news was that Luke was still alive. The bad news was that he had lost a lot of blood although the doctors assured them that their efforts to keep him from losing more had kept him alive.

Mia was stiff and tearful in her mother's arms. Ethan was explaining what the surgeons would be doing for Luke. Elliot sat holding his girlfriend's hand.

"Thanks for coming with me, Dory. I'll introduce you to everyone when we get word." Dory just smiled and hugged his arm. She had worked with him at the firm for almost two years and it had taken almost that entire time for Elliot to notice her but when he did, he really did. He just looked up from his desk one day as she set down his cup of coffee and was gobsmacked by her green eyes. He took her to lunch and then dinner and then brought her a scone for breakfast and took her again to lunch. This routine continued for several weeks and he'd been planning to ask her to brunch at his folks the next Sunday. Now he prayed that he wouldn't have to ask her to accompany him to a funeral.

Ray sat next to Christian. "You say that Ana was calm the entire time, directed the whole life-saving operation? No sign of seizing?"

"It was remarkable, Ray. I just said "yes, ma'am, no, ma'am" while I trembled. Ana was upset but otherwise cool as a cucumber. Between worrying about her and worrying about Luke, I was the one about to seize." He looked over at her conferring with Ethan and grinned. "She's really something."

"Do you think that you're calm enough to tell us what happened?" Ray and Christian looked up into the stern face of a police officer. How the hell to explain all this?

CHAPTER 75

"Officer, why don't we sit over here away from the family?"

The officer turned and looked down into the dazzling blue eyes of a petite woman who gently led him by his elbow to a corner of the room. The family, still wondering themselves, stood up and surrounded the duo. They couldn't wait to hear Ana explain the mansion and its occupants.

Ana calmly related how she was working with the men outside to restore the old cemetery when she wondered if perhaps there was some paperwork in the office that might help. At first, Luke didn't follow as he was speaking with one of the workmen. Ana walked into the office, heard a noise and then heard Luke walking in. In a blur, there was a shot, Ana turned to see a woman with a gun and Luke was on the floor, bleeding. The woman threatened Ana with the gun but Ana distracted her for just long enough to get her to turn her head. Then Ana shoved her over a chair and ran out of the room, closing the door behind her. She had just enough time to hide in a cubby hole under the stairs. The woman thought that she heard Ana upstairs and ran up the steps. Near the top, the rotted wood gave way and the woman fell through. She was now, Ana supposed, dead in the basement. At this point, her husband and Jason Taylor had come into the hallway as she rushed back to Luke.

"Oh, and the workmen didn't hear the shot because she had a silencer attached. You had better have the fire department rescue squad work to retrieve the woman's body. The building is safe in only a few places."

Christian explained that the woman was a parolee from Michigan who been sentenced for pedophilia some 16 years earlier, largely because of his testimony. She was seeking revenge. Her name was Mrs. Elena Lincoln.

"Okay. This will do for now. We'll need to talk again for further details. You certainly handled things well, Mrs. Grey. My wife would have fainted or stood still…screaming. I hope your bodyguard will be all right."

"Okay, my beautiful bride, what really happened?" Christian beamed at Ana with pride.

"Just as I said…with some help from Anastasia and the spirits. Christian, that woman is now a spirit…trapped for all time in the basement. Gloria said that unrepentant spirits who don't acknowledge their deaths are stuck.

"Your timing was perfect, Christian. I wouldn't have been able to do much for Luke by myself. At least, I hope that we've done enough. Look at Mia. Honey, she'll be destroyed if Luke dies," Ana's eyes started to brim. "I need to sit on your lap now."

Christian obligingly gathered his wife into his arms and sat down next to Ray who leaned over and kissed his daughter's cheek.

"Sweetheart, I am so proud of you. You did a great thing today and I truly believe that your efforts will not be in vain." Ana smiled at her daddy while her husband dabbed at her tears. It surprised no one when Ana fell asleep.

Another man flashing a badge walked into the waiting room. His plain clothes indicated that he was a detective. He grinned when he saw Taylor.

"Well, I'll be damned. Aren't you a sight for sore eyes? Last time I saw you we were in the middle of a firefight in Fallujah." The detective stood catching up with Jason for several minutes until Jason pointed at Ana.

The detective ambled over to Christian, showing his badge. "Jason tells me that our star witness will be out cold for some time. So, I'll just chat you up a bit. We've got a recovery team out at your house trying to get Mrs. Lincoln's body out. She was a clever psycho, that one. I'll admit to being pleased that we don't have to chase her all over the country any more. You were the top of her list but she intended to keep going on to find the others she harmed.

"The officer told me how your wife outmaneuvered her. Smart and brave lady you've got there. I'd like to get a fuller statement from her. If possible, please bring her down to the station when she's able.

"Say, what tipped you off to her presence here in Seattle?" Christian pointed to Jason. The detective laughed and returned to talk with Taylor.

Just then, Ethan walked back into the room. "Well, here we are again."

CHAPTER 76

"Ethan, just tell me that he's alive…please," Mia begged.

"He is and he's out of surgery. He lost a lot of blood so he'll have to stick around for a few days. He's currently in the ICU so you won't be able to see him until tomorrow. His prognosis is good."

Everyone cheered. Ana slept on.

Meanwhile, Elena fell into the basement again and again. When she looked up, she saw a large crowd of people in old-fashioned dress welcoming her to the Mansion. She screamed for help but no one could hear her. Then she saw a couple of men lowering themselves to the basement level. They strapped her into a stretcher and lifted her up but she was still in the basement. And then she was falling again. She was baffled. Why didn't they help her? She screamed for help over and over until she was falling again. She looked around and found herself alone. The crowd had disappeared. Suddenly, she was utterly terrified. She was beginning to understand that she was beyond help.

Knowing that Luke would be okay and feeling their total exhaustion, the family got up to leave. One of the receptionists ran up to Christian with lust-crazed eyes and asked him to autograph a copy of the Seattle Nooz with his picture on the front. It had once been a picture of both Christian and Ana dressed up for a night out but Ana had been cut out of the shot.

"I kind of have my hands full right now as you can see. Maybe another time." Ana would be proud of him for holding his temper in check but he did enjoy the woman's crushed expression…more so when he saw the woman glaring at his sweet wife sleeping in his arms.

When they emerged from the ER, flash bulbs blinded them as Taylor guided the Greys to their car. Reporters shouted questions at them…idiotic questions like, "is your wife drunk again?" He knew that they were hoping for good reaction shots and maybe even something to print but he gave them nothing. He buckled Ana in and climbed in next to her. He was glad that she was asleep and unbothered.

He checked his phone and found a text from Gloria wanting to know what had happened with the spirits. She'd have to wait until morning when Ana could talk to her. He was beginning to think that he'd thrown money down a rat hole.

When Christian awoke in the morning, it was quite early…even for him. He woke because Ana was gone. He listened for a moment for the shower but there was no sound. He found a note saying that Luke had been transferred to a regular room and that Mia wanted Ana with her in case he had questions. After, she'd be going over to the cemetery to finish the work. Gloria was going to meet her there. They had a theory.

Christian rolled and groaned while hugging Ana's pillow and sniffing the sheets on her side of the bed. She knew that he hated waking up without her. Still, she wanted to complete this project.

Sighing heavily, he went into the en suite and stood under the steaming stream of hot water, trying to get himself together. Ana was all buddy-buddy with a ghost. He wanted her to be all buddy-buddy with him alone. She belonged to him. Many times he'd said to her while making love…"mine". She always agreed…"yours".

After his shower, he dressed casually and hoped that Gail knew he was up and hungry. She rarely failed him unless he overworked his security chief, Jason. This morning Taylor was taking Ana in for questioning…bright and early.

Although he knew her whereabouts, he asked anyway because he was feeling sour. As he sat down at the breakfast bar, Gail immediately slipped a bowl in front of him. Cinnamon Crunch, milk and fruit along with two pieces of toast. This was not the healthy kind of food he usually enjoyed but Ana knew that he'd be sore and this would cheer him up. As always, he did feel better.

CHAPTER 77

Taylor, what have you done with my wife?

Had her at the police station by 7 a.m. Deposition completed.

Met with Mia at 8:00 to visit Luke. He does not like being hospitalized.

After, picked up Gloria and am now conferring again with workmen.

Is Ana okay?

A little shaky but she insisted that she is going to finish this today.

I'm going by the station to give my deposition and then will meet with you.

"Feeling better, Mr. Grey?" Gail asked with true concern. "Yesterday was quite frightening for you."

Then she shoved the morning edition of the Seattle Nooz under his nose. There, front page, above the fold, Grey carrying his wife out of the ER and a caption guaranteed to rile him up.

Mrs. Grey can't walk. Is her drinking problem getting worse?

"When did they start all this stuff about Ana being a drinker? Geez, I'm going to have a talk with them. This is getting to be ridiculous.

While Grey texted a heated convo with the editor of the Nooz, Gail washed the breakfast dishes. It was Saturday and Gail was supposed to be enjoying her weekend. She was working too many hours and was getting a little indignant about it.

As Grey put his phone away, a peeved Gail mentioned all the overtime she'd been putting in.

"So, give yourself a raise. I gotta go."

Giving herself a raise meant calling the bank and telling them that Mr. Grey wanted to begin to put the new deposit into Gail's account. He was generous and trusting. She could have bled him dry.

Meanwhile, Ana and Anastasia were going over papa's ledger. It was an invaluable listing of all residents of the Steele Mansion. Identifying the dead was going much faster. Gloria believed that once all the spirits had their resting places, they would leave the mansion. As of 10 a.m., half the ghosts had bid goodbye to Ana and Anastasia. If those two didn't weep and hug everyone, they'd probably be done by now. She was fearful of the moment when only Anastasia was left.

Inside the mansion, Gloria felt peaceful. The spirits weren't unhappy anymore and the house seemed warmer and brighter. It was such a magnificent mansion. It was shame that it couldn't be renovated. Then she heard tires on gravel and looked out the window to see Grey embrace and kiss his wife. Lucky woman.

The kiss was so fervent and loving that Ana couldn't break away. Anastasia tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention back.

"We only have 25 spirits to go, baby. I've ordered the workmen to border the cemetery all round with a four foot high limestone wall and then put a five foot tall black wrought iron fence on top of the wall. We'll have a sweet little arched gateway to enter. Doesn't that sound good?

"What's this on the ground…five shrouds?"

"Yes, we're trying for a response from each to identify the person. Sometimes, Anastasia knows the clothing. Gloria is inside, talking to the spirits and asking them to come out and talk to us. The first 25 were easy compared to the last 25. They're the angry ones, the ones who did bad things. They're afraid to come out. They think that they will be going someplace bad to pay for their sins."

"How is Gloria getting them to emerge into the daylight?"

"She's waving sage about and calling for specific people. The sage is supposed to calm anxious ghosts. It works. She got Ross Steele to come out and he apologized to Anastasia. We're going to put him next to Anastasia and Luca. I've also ordered new markers to replace the flat ones that sink over time. The new ones will be flat on the bottom and slanted on top."

"Well, it looks like you have everything well in hand. Did I tell you that I'm so proud of how you handled things yesterday?"

Ana smiled and didn't tell Christian that she had to struggle to keep from seizing.

CHAPTER 78

Finally, after almost 30 minutes, Anastasia convinced Tillie to come out. She reassured her that she would be in peace.

"Well, that's everybody, Ana. I guess it's time for me to go now. Despite what that horrible woman did, I feel rather sorry for her. I can hear her screaming. Someday, maybe, she'll accept her death. After all, it took all of us more than a century. Can you hear her, Ana?"

"Faintly. When the mansion is demolished, she'll still be in the basement. That might be kind of spooky to know as we drive over her grave."

"I won't ever find a way to repay all that you and Christian and Gloria have done for us. I'd stay but then I'd have no real purpose other than waiting around for one of you to come by. No, I'm sure that there are things that need doing. I best be getting along now. Let's not drag this out."

Christian felt Mrs. Steele's arms around his neck and then watched, along with the astonished workmen, as Ana crushed Anastasia to her and cried out that she loved her and would miss her so much. Of course, to the workmen, Ana was pantomiming.

Try to lighten the mood, Grey said, "Ghostly spirits, can't live with them, can't live without them."

Still the workmen gaped.

And then…it was over. The air was quiet and all was peaceful. Ana walked back into the house and found Gloria still trying to convince the ghosts to go quietly.

"They're all gone, Gloria. The house is empty."

"No, that evil spirit is still in the basement."

"And that's where she'll stay," a stern and grim Christian declared. "We're done here."

As they all stood observing the workmen marking graves, Christian took Ana's hand and walked her along the path between the tall weeds down to the edge of the property. "Remember our house plans, the ones we decided on last year?"

"Yes, I still want my home to look like that."

"Well, I had an architect draw something up to show you. I brought it along with me. How's about we have Taylor take Gloria home and on his way back, he can bring a blanket and some lunch? Then we can spread out the plans and decide on any changes."

"Yes, yes, yes! I have trouble visualizing things. Drawings would be great. You are so good to me! I love you so much, Christian Grey. I have to be the luckiest girl in the world." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him until he thought he'd died and gone to heaven…a pretty good trick for an agnostic.

He finally released her and texted Taylor.

And bring Gail along, too. I need her input.

The workmen think that Ana is nuts. They asked me if you're nuts as well.

Well, what did you tell them?

The truth.

What truth? Taylor, Taylor?

But Taylor was burning rubber so Christian turned back to kissing Ana. She was happy. Christian was pleased. This was his life's work.

EPILOGUE

Ana wandered around for a couple of weeks in a funk. She missed her friends, particularly Anastasia. Christian worked hard to wrap up some important tasks at Summit and then informed the board that he was taking a long vacation. He was going to take his wife to Europe. She really needed a change of scenery. He didn't want her hanging around the cemetery, planting flowers and talking to pieces of stone. He arranged for the demolition of the mansion and the clearing of mansion grounds. He hoped that by the time they returned home, the contractor would be ready to work on the house. Then Ana could go to the estate for happy reasons and watch her new home being built.

The house's roof would be level with the ground with three sides bermed with green grass. It would be built in the shape of a stretched out 'C' with most rooms facing the water with the fourth wall entirely glass. The glass could be clear or frosted with the push of a button. In the back of the house would be two guest bedrooms with skylights. Cut into the cliff, there would be a huge stone terrace running along the front of the house with a trolley to ferry people up and down the cliff. At the bottom of the cliff, there would be a 50 foot long boardwalk and room to dock The Ana. There would also be a boathouse where they could keep Ana's little boat for late night star-gazing.

Gale was designing the kitchen and laundry though she and Jason wanted a sweet little craftsman style home for themselves on another part of the property with a tunnel connecting the two homes. She and Jason were also planning to be married on the terrace.

Luke recovered from his wound and opened his agency in the Summit building. Although initially worried about finding the best people, he was surprised to find that they came to him. They wanted to work for the best as much as he wanted the best. He had scarcely opened his doors when he had to start a waiting list for clients. Mia was sleeping a lot better at nights. She had finally found a manager for her restaurant…rather in the nick of time as she was soon to have a child.

Elliot brought his girlfriend to Sunday brunch. He hadn't been really worried but was still relieved to find that everyone loved Dory. Grace had her fingers crossed for another wedding soon. Ethan was still a concern but he loved being a doctor so his life was good even without romance…for now.

After returning from their vacation, Grey went before the board and told them of his plans for his future. He was opening his own consulting firm to help businesses to thrive just as he had been doing with Summit, Inc. for a decade. To keep Summit's stock from plunging upon his departure, he offered to take the company on as a client. In essence, he would be running Summit without being its CEO. Ros accepted the position as chief executive officer. She was great with the stockholders, a reassuring presence. Knowing also that Christian Grey owned a controlling interest in Summit, Inc. made the stockholders feel safe in retaining their shares.

With his new business and his new office in his home, Christian achieved his fondest dream…to be near Ana 24/7. Some wives might have felt suffocated with their husbands always with them but Ana loved it. She'd always hated it when Christian left for the office.

Now and again, as Taylor drove over the location of the old mansion to the new house, Ana imagined that she could hear Elena cussing and cursing 24 feet down. All she had to do to do was accept that she was dead…and defeated…and perhaps she would be released but 'pride goeth before a fall' and Elena was nothing if not prideful. Rushing to commit murder, she had fallen two floors and bashed in her skull. Her remains were buried in the prison cemetery without ceremony.