AN1: Hi Everyone, thank you so very much for the prayers & positive thoughts. You will never know how much we appreciate the concern & care you showed us & Sassy. We are still snowed in. But Sassy is doing amazingly well! It turned out to just be an upset Stomach & NOT a recurrence of Pancreatitis.

Chpt. 19 CPOV:

"We're dating?" Ana repeats, the confusion evident in her eyes. For a brief moment I question everything that happened last night; wondering if instead I dreamt that I woke up last night to Ana wrapped in my arms. That I dreamt her asking me to make love to her last night or how being with her was like nothing I've ever experienced with anyone else. I only doubt myself for a brief moment; when I see the small, barely noticeable, mark where her neck meets her shoulder. The mark I know I left there when I was fighting so hard to hold back my release until she came first.

"We may not have dated in the traditional sense," not that I know what the fuck that would even look like. "But, we've gone out to dinner together, spent countless nights talking for hours and even watched a movie together. And then of course there's the matter of sleeping together last night-"

"Christian!" her faces blushes an adorable shade of red and I immediately know that without a doubt that I didn't dream any part of last night.

"Saying we're dating is easier than explaining that you're staying in Taylor's apartment; that we spend a significant amount of time together and…well have slept together."

"Yeah, let's not tell them that," she giggles.

"So we're dating then?" I purposely choose those words rather than ask her if we should tell my family we're dating. Fuck…dating sounds like something you do in high school, not something you do as grown adults. That word doesn't even begin to describe what Ana and I are doing or how I feel about her. What the fuck do people call this? Seeing each other sounds worse than dating does. Fuck, I think high school was the last time I even fucking tried dating someone. Since then it's been fucking…nothing more, nothing less. I haven't needed anything more; I never wanted anything more. Not until Ana walked on that plane that day in Indiana.

"But…."

"But?" Fuck….maybe this has all been one sided? Maybe last night was just about sex? Could I have misread everything?

"What happens when I have to go?"

"Where the fuck are you going?!" I raise my voice which immediately startles Teddy causing him to jump in Ana's arms. I immediately put my hand on his chest in an effort to soothe him. "Shhhhh, it's okay Teddy." He looks up at me and smiles; any fear from my outburst instantly gone.

"I'm not….I'm not planning on leaving," she explains. "But…when he discovers we're in Seattle I'm going to need to leave-"

"He's not going to find you."

"But what if-"

"Ana," with my finger under her chin I guide her until our eyes meet. "Even if he somehow manages to find out you and Teddy are in Seattle; he will never get to you. I will not let anything happen to either of you. We're going to find this bastard and all of his little friends; we're going to take down every one of those fuckers for what they did to you and your family. You will not need to leave because of him."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I trust you; I trust Taylor and Sawyer to keep me safe. I….I'm still scared; I still worry but I trust all of you. If he finds out that we're in Seattle, I'm not going to lie; I'm going to want to run. It's what…it's all I've been doing until now."

"I won't let you run Ana," I assure her. "Even if I have to tie you to my bed, I won't let you run."

"Christian!" she gasps.

"Oh shit, sorry Ana. I didn't mean it like that-"

Her giggling cuts me off and I immediately look up, surprised that she's not upset by my words. I didn't even fucking think about what I was saying and how it might have triggered a memory for her. I'm so relieved to find her laughing at what I said rather than thinking about what that bastard did to her.

"So you'll come to my parents on Sunday?" I change the subject.

"Yes, I'll come with you," she decides after a couple of minutes of silence.

"Taylor and Sawyer will both be there," I remind her.

"I know."

I finish my breakfast and then take Teddy from Ana so she can eat hers rather than trying to juggling him in one arm and eat with the other. I've never really been a kid person, but there's something about Teddy that just draws me to him. Ana and I chat while she eats; last night seems to have brought us closer yet on some levels it didn't change anything. I almost expected things to be a little weird between us or somehow different today, but it's not. I rarely saw the women I fucked outside of a room but even when I did it was always a little uncomfortable because neither of us really knew what to say. It's not like we knew each other on a personal level; we just knew what each other liked in the bedroom.

The next few days pass by quickly; much to my disappointment I don't wake up to Ana in my bed again. Instead we're back to our routine of meeting in the middle of the night after we both have our nightmares. Each night I've had to fight the urge to ask her to come back to my room, to tell her that I slept so good that night and that I liked having her fall asleep in my arms. But each night I've stopped; I haven't brought up the night that I woke up with her in my bed and neither has she.

"We should be leaving sir," Taylor alerts me that it's time to go to my parents.

"I'll be there in a minute. Are Ana and Teddy ready? Do they need any help loading stuff in the SUV?" I ask while typing the final email that needs to be sent out before we leave.

"Sawyer has already taken Teddy's stuff out to the car already."

"Any concerns?"

"None sir."

0I nod and head out to the kitchen where Ana is holding Teddy and talking to Gail. Walking up to her, I put my hand on the center of her back; she tenses for only a brief moment before turning to see that it's me behind her and then she immediately relaxes into my touch. Even though we haven't talked about the night we spent together, it hasn't stopped us from sharing little touches like this whenever we're together. Usually it's me that initiates it, but last night on the couch Ana surprised me by taking my hand in hers as we sat next to each other.

"Ready?" I ask.

"Yes," she takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out.

"The car is ready sir," Taylor says.

I hobble to the elevator, still using the stupid crutches that my mother insisted I needed; I know better than to show up at her house without them when she specifically told me I needed to use them for at least 10 days. The elevator ride to the parking garage is quick; Sawyer is immediately waiting to greet us when the doors open. Taylor and Sawyer surround me and Ana and lead us to the SUV; without saying a word Ana slips in with Teddy's car seat and I follow.

"Do you think I should use my real name? Or should I use another name like you did with Claude? I don't think I'd be able to call Teddy by another name though. I think I'd screw up and slip, but maybe I should for me-"

"Breathe," I take her hand in mind and squeeze it. "You do what you feel is best Ana. If you want, we can tell my family your name is Rose just like we did with Claude."

"I…I think that would be best," she whispers.

"Okay, so Rose it is."

"Do I need to know anything about your family? What if they ask how we met? "

"You're really nervous aren't you?" I chuckle. "Try not to worry. If they ask, we'll tell them that we met when you consulted on a marketing project with GEH."

"Oh, that could work."

"Just relax Ana, try to enjoy the day."

"I know," she sighs. "It's just hard. I hate lying; I hate that I…we have to have lie to your family."

"They'll understand."

"I hope so."

"You're not lying to deceive them Ana. You're changing your name to ensure your and Teddy's safety."

"You're right."

"Do you have everything you need for him? Bottles, diapers, formula…whatever else the little guy needs?"

"I'm sure if you ask Taylor he'll tell you that I packed enough for a week," she says loudly and I hear Taylor chuckle from the front seat but he doesn't say anything. I'm sure there's a story there. "I know I probably over packed, but I kept thinking that he might need something else while we're there."

"Better to have too much than not enough."

"That was my thought," she giggles something she's been doing a lot more lately.

The rest of the ride to my parents' is quiet and by the time we arrive Ana seems much more at ease than she was when we first left Escala. Teddy on the other hand is just as happy as he always his; I can hear him making all sorts of noises in his car seat from the other side of Ana. Thankfully he oblivious to everything going on and the reason Ana is so worried about leaving.

"So…I was thinking if anyone asks, I recently moved to Seattle for a fresh start for me and Teddy," Ana says just as we pull into my parents' driveway. "And that Teddy's father isn't in the picture…or do you think I should say something else?"

"No one's going to ask about his father Ana," I assure her. "It's none of their business, but saying you recently moved to Seattle is probably a good thing that way if someone asks if you've been somewhere or know where something is in the city it'll explain why you might say no."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

"You don't think that they'll think it's weird?"

"What's weird?"

"You, showing up with a girlfriend and her four and a half month old baby?"

Girlfriend….

"They'll be surprised I guarantee that," I chuckle. "Probably with the fact that I'm bringing someone home for the first time then by the fact that you have Teddy."

"You've never-"

Taylor opening the door cuts Ana's question off before she can ask it and thankfully before I can think of a decent excuse to explain why I've never brought a woman to my family's Sunday dinners before. I slip out of the car, balancing on the crutches and reach a hand out to Ana. She takes my hand and slides out of the car with Teddy in her arms.

"I think I'm going to leave the car seat in the car if that's okay?"

"Of course."

"He doesn't like it much anymore anyway, so I don't think I need to bring it inside."

"If you need it I can always grab it for you," Taylor points out.

"True."

"What would you like to bring in from the back?" We walk around to the back of the SUV and I have to hold back the laugh when I see just how much Ana has packed. Hell if I know what a baby needs for a few hours, but even to me it looks like she packed as if she plans on staying for a week. There's three maybe four different bags, all of which look to be stuffed to the point that they barely zipper closed. A quick glance at Taylor shows he's also trying to hold back laughing at the numerous bags that are packed.

"Maybe just take what you need and if you realize you need something else later Taylor or Sawyer could grab it for you?" I suggest when I see the overwhelmed look in Ana's eyes likely trying to figure out how to bring it all inside.

"Ummm, maybe just that blue diaper bag?" she points to the one on the top.

"Of course," Taylor quickly grabs it just as she reaches for it.

While we've been getting Teddy's stuff, Sawyer has been waiting for us keeping a watchful eye on everything. A quick glance at the cars in the driveway confirms that it's just Mia and Elliot here in addition to my parents.

"Ready?" I ask Ana.

"Yes."

"Christian!" my mother greets us as soon as we reach the door; I wouldn't be surprised if she had watched us from the living room window.

"Mom, I'd like you to meet Rose and Teddy," I introduce quickly before anyone else comes into the foyer and hears my mom call Ana by her name.

"Rose, it's lovely to meet you," my mom thankfully doesn't miss a beat. "Isn't this little guy adorable."

"Thank you for inviting us to join you," Ana says quietly.

"Nonsense, the more the merrier; everyone is out back if you want to cut through the house," she gestures the way.

Sawyer stays at the front door, obviously assigned to the perimeter while Taylor follows us to the backyard where I know he'll blend into the shadows but still keep an eye on everyone everything. When I hired Taylor years ago, it was after I had received my first death threat. My father was the one who suggested hiring security and I admit I thought he was crazy. Until another threat appeared at my office; I immediately contacted a security agency and they sent over Taylor. I bought out his contract and hired him full time a month later; he had proven he knew what he was doing very quickly. He has a few guys on contract that he uses occasionally when the need arises.

"CHRISTIAN!" Mia's voice is the only warning I get before she practically plows into me, thankfully with not as much force as she normally does though so I'm not knocked over. She wraps her arms around my neck, careful to keep from touching my chest, and kisses me on the cheek. "Oh my! Who is this? And who is this adorable little boy?"

"Mia, meet Rose and Teddy," I introduce.

"He is absolutely adorable!" Mia gushes, just like I knew she would, over Teddy. "He looks just like you Rose!"

"Thank you," Ana's voice is soft and quiet, I have no doubt Mia's well intended comment had her immediately thinking of her sister.

"Yo bro!" Elliot is next to join us. "Uh…want to tell us something?"

"Funny," I punch him in the shoulder knowing he's joking. "Rose, meet my crazy brother Elliot. El, this is Rose and Teddy."

"Nice to meet you," Ana shakes his offered hand.

"Remind me later to give you my number," Elliot winks and I have the sudden urge to throttle him wondering what the fuck he's doing. "You're going to need embarrassing stories about Christian if you're going to survive him. But don't worry, I have plenty of stories that you can use against him. Probably even a few embarrassing photos to back up the stories-"

"Shut it Elliot."

"Boys enough," Dad says firmly but smiles at all of us. "It's nice to meet you Rose."

"You as well Mr. Grey."

"Please, call me Carrick. I'm only Mr. Grey in the court room."

"Everyone, let's let Christian and…Rose sit down," my mom says from behind us. "Someone shouldn't be on their feet this much anyway."

Ana giggles, but follows me over to the patio where chairs are set up around a large table. We all sit down and Teddy immediately looks around, obviously taking everything in. I'm not sure about before…everything, but this is the most amount of people he's been around since they've come to Seattle.

"So….how did you two meet?" Mia asks.

"Mia! You don't need to be so nosy!" Mom quickly interjects.

"It's fine, we all know Mia's nosy," I laugh. "Rose contracted with GEH to assist with a marketing issue we were having with a company we acquired a few months ago."

"You're in marketing?" Elliot asks.

"Yes, I work with companies to improve their current marketing plan," Ana explains. "Sometimes it's a matter of improving their social media presence, search engine optimization or it might be a completely new marketing plan. It all depends on what the company's end goal is."

"Interesting, but don't you have a marketing department Christian?" Dad asks.

"I do," I grimace at the now fired marketing director I had working for us. "Unfortunately my marketing director wasn't as competent as I had thought he was. We were having issues with one of the sites where traffic had nearly stopped since the company merged with GEH. We contracted with Rose to help us identify what the reason was; she was quickly able to figure out what my previous marketing director couldn't and had the problem easily fixed. Or at least she tells me it was easy…"

"What a cute story!" Mia exclaims.

We chat for a little while longer and Ana visibly relaxes when the focus turns from her to Elliot's latest construction project.

"I think I'm going to take him into the grass," Ana says during a break in the conversation. "He's getting a little fussy."

"Do you need anything from the car?"

"No, I have a blanket in the bag."

"I'll come with you Rose!" Mia practically jumps out of her seat. "I mean…if you don't mind."

"Oh…sure."

I knew Mia would be taken with Teddy; she loves babies and little kids. I remember when she was little she had this doll that she carried around with her forever. The damn thing was so dirty but she refused to let my mom wash it. When my mom couldn't stand the site of it any longer, she would sneak into Mia's room after she had fallen asleep to put it through the washing machine. I watch as they head to a shaded area of the yard and Mia quickly takes the blanket from Ana's bag and sets it out on the ground. A few minutes later my mom joins them leaving me, Dad and Elliot at the table. Part of me wants to go sit with them but the other part of me thinks Ana needs this. She looks so relaxed and comfortable even though she's only known Mia a short time. Even though we're outside and at a new place, she's not constantly looking around, worrying that someone is hiding in the shadows to get her and Teddy.

"Rose seems nice son," Dad says.

"She is."

"How old is her son?"

"Just over four months."

"And how long have you known her?"

"He's not mine, if that's what you're thinking," I quickly squash that thinking. "She moved to Seattle after Teddy was born."

"Just a little surprised that's all."

"By?"

"You dating a chic with a baby dude," Elliot says bluntly. "You've never introduced us to any of your other girlfriends but you suddenly show up here with a chic who has a baby."

"Just wanted to make sure that there isn't something you aren't telling us, that's all," Dad quickly tries to diffuse the situation.

"Look, we met and we hit it off. Her having Teddy…it isn't an issue," I answer honestly.

"I'm proud of you son," Dad surprises me by saying.

"Ummmmm?"

"Many men would have turned their back on a woman with a baby, especially one so little," he explains.

"I couldn't do it man," Elliot shakes his head. "Nothing against Rose or Teddy, but I couldn't date a woman who had a kid with someone else."

"You say that now son, but when you meet the right woman I bet it wouldn't matter."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not looking to meet the right woman."

We all laugh because Elliot is the king of avoiding commitment. Whereas I've never brought a woman to Sunday dinners before; Elliot has brought plenty. Hell the one time he showed up with a girl who he met in a strip club the night before who decided to tell us over dinner just how much time they spent together in the private room at the strip club. Needless to say she didn't come back for dinner. In fact very few of Elliot's guests ever made a second or third appearance at my parents' dinner table.

The conversation once again quickly turns away from Ana when Dad announces it's time for him to start grilling. My dad is a mess in the kitchen, but put him behind a grill and he can cook just about anything. Of course my mom already prepared the side dishes but Dad is in charge of the meat, which he takes pride in. Once it's cooked, everyone comes back over to the table to eat. Ana sits back down next to me and I immediately put my hand on her thigh, the sudden urge to touch her surprises me.

"Let me take him so you can eat," I offer when I finish eating.

"You sure?"

Instead of answering her verbally, I lift Teddy from her lap and sit him in mine. I swear in that moment the world must stop, because that's the only explanation I have for the entire table going silent all at once. I look up to find everyone, except Ana, staring at me. Ignoring them all, I turn Teddy around so he's facing me and he immediately grabs for the buttons on my shirt. With that the conversation around the table resumes and Ana is able to finish eating her lunch.

"He might be getting hungry," Ana says when Teddy starts getting fussy. "I'll make him a bottle and then I'll take him."

She quickly gets up before I can respond, taking everything from the diaper bag that she needs to make a bottle. I know she has doubts about her ability, but if she could only see herself right now she would realize that she has no reason to doubt herself. She makes the bottle quickly, grabbing everything she needs from the diaper bag before heading back to the table.

"We're good," I take the bottle from her and Teddy immediately grabs for it.

"Are you sure?"

"We're good," I gesture down at Teddy who is so focused on the bottle that it's obvious he isn't concerned with who's holding him.

"If you're sure…"

"Rose, want to help me with the dessert?" Mom asks.

"Uh…sure," Ana looks at me and I nod letting her know once again that we're good. If I hadn't had spent those few hours in my room with Teddy earlier this week I probably would be nervous that she's leaving me with him even if it's only to go inside. But a bottle feeding I can handle; let's just hope he doesn't have a dirty diaper because that one I'm not so sure about doing again. Ana, Mia and Mom disappear into the house kitchen; in the meantime Teddy finishes his bottle and burps before falling asleep on my shoulder.

"Wow…" I hear my mom gasp a few minutes later and look to where Mia, Ana and her stand on the patio with their arms full of dishes. My dad and Elliot immediately go to assist with the bowls while Mia and my mom stare at me in obvious surprise. I know what surprises them, hell it surprises me as well. Meanwhile, Ana just looks back and forth between the two of them and me, obviously trying to figure out what the big deal is. I haven't told her that I can't stand to have someone touch my chest or my back. I haven't told her that her touch doesn't freak me the hell out like everyone else's does. I haven't told her that my family has never seen someone touch my chest let alone for as long as Teddy is.

"That smells delicious," Dad says obviously trying to change the focus of everyone staring at me.

"Oh….we have a fruit salad, brownies and warm apple pie," Mom clears her throat and leads everyone back to the table. Ana looks at me questioningly but I shake my head slightly not knowing what to say to explain everyone's reaction. Explaining that means telling her about my nightmares; it's bad enough she had to witness one, she doesn't need to know what they're about.

"Everything looks so good, thank you again for inviting me and Teddy to tag along," Ana says.

"You're both welcome any time dear," I know the look in my mom's eyes. I know she's just as happy to see Ana this relaxed and at ease as I am.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, which I ignore. But when it buzzes a second time, I sigh and reach for it hoping that it isn't something with GEH that I need to deal with right now.

Ms. Elena Lincoln has pulled into the driveway sir. – T

Fuck –C

How do you want us to proceed? –T

There's nothing I can do; if I tell my mom not to let her in it's going to raise concerns. As soon as we're done with dessert I'll make an excuse to leave. –C

Understood. –T

"There you are!" I have to force myself not to roll my eyes as Elena enters the backyard from the French doors off the dining room.

"Elena what a surprise!" My mom quickly gets up and offers her as my dad pulls out an extra chair for her.

"Christian…." Elena gasps when she takes in Teddy on my chest. Whether it's from the surprise of someone touching my chest or if it's because there's a baby there I'm not certain.

"Elena, this is Rose. Rose, Elena is an old family friend," I introduce.

"You're just in time for dessert," my mom thankfully steers the conversation away from Ana and Teddy.

"Everything okay?" Ana turns and whispers.

"Just something with GEH I have to deal with."

"If you need to go…"

"Finish your dessert and then we'll head out."

Ana nods and just like that gone is the relaxed Ana, I can almost watch as her guard goes back up. The sudden change in her is obviously because someone unexpected show up and well truth be told Elena isn't the most friendliest person on the planet. I honestly have no idea why my mother has been friends with her for so many years.

"If you'll excuse us, we need to be going," I say once Ana has finished her dessert. I send a quick text to Taylor alerting him that we're leaving.

"So soon? Are you sure you can't stay a little longer?" Mom asks.

"Sorry Mom, there's an issue at work I need to deal with," I lie.

"Of course," this isn't the first time I've been pulled away for a work issue. "Rose, I hope you'll join Christian for our next dinner. You and Teddy are always invited to come with Christian."

"Thank you for having us Grace, everything was delicious," Ana stands. "Can I help you with the dishes or anything before we leave?"

"Don't be silly, I'll put Elliot on the job-"

"Hey!"

"Sorry bro," I snicker as I walk by.

"Do you want me to take him?" Ana asks.

"No, I've got him. Just grab the bag and my crutches."

"The ones you're supposed to be using?!" Mom shrieks.

"I'm fine," I don't tell her I haven't been using them at home for the last two days.

"Go slow! Watch on the front steps especially carrying that baby."

"We're fine," I chuckle not wanting to tell her I took the stairs at Escala this morning when I needed something upstairs.

"I think I have everything," Ana appears at my side looking over at Teddy who remains sound asleep on my shoulder. Her hand finds mine and I don't bother to hide the smile at her simple gesture. We say our goodbyes to everyone before heading to the door where Taylor is waiting for us. He quickly takes the diaper bag from Ana ignoring her protests and leads us to the front door where Sawyer is waiting.

"You okay?" I ask Ana as soon as we're secure in the SUV. She's strapping Teddy into his car seat; he's trying to wake up but also trying to stay asleep despite her moving him around.

"I am," she leans against me when she's finished and smiles. "It was nice being with your family; I don't know why I was so nervous."

"I'm sorry Elena showed up," I roll my eyes at her sudden appearance. "I'm sure my mother didn't mention that we would be there."

"She's….interesting."

"That she is," I chuckle. "Her and my mom sit on a few fundraising committees together and have been friends for years."

The night passes by quickly, once again ending with Ana going to Taylor and Gail's apartment and me heading to my bedroom alone. I'm in the kitchen before she is tonight, the recurring nightmare easily pulling me from my sleep. She comes out of the smaller apartment quickly, her eyes immediately searching me out and I hate the fear I see still in them. I slowly go to her and offer my hand; I'm cautious not knowing how she's going to react because this has backfired on me before. She surprises me when she places her shaking hand in min and doesn't object when I step closer to her. I wrap my arms around her waist and simply hold her. She shudders against me, still struggling to control her breathing but she doesn't push me away. Without saying a word I lead her back to my bedroom and over to the bed.

"Christian?" she whispers.

"Let me hold you," I pull the covers back and she slowly eases herself onto the bed. I take the monitor from her hand and put it on the nightstand where she set it the other night when she was here.

I climb into bed with her and wrap my arm around her waist. I don't hold her too tightly, but I want her to know that I'm here. It takes longer than I would like but she slowly eases into my touch and I feel the nightmare leave her body. It's not long after that she finally falls asleep; unfortunately I can't sleep. Instead I lay there and watch her sleep, hating like hell that she went from so relaxed and comfortable at my parents' house to how she was when she came out of Taylor's apartment. At some point I must fall asleep because it's not until I hear a soft knock at my door do I wake up. I slowly slip from the bed, careful not to wake Ana and grab the monitor so I can keep an eye on Teddy.

"What's up?" I ask Taylor as soon as I step out of my room.

"We have a problem."