Chp12 the rush of seasons:

Wild garden at Swainswick. Anna-pov: October 25.

Outside my study window: The winds whirl, whipping thru stark branches of the hardwood trees. Winter's white gray wars against falls late blooming flowers; Wars against serene, magically floating to earth multicolored leaves. Leaves, they blow about the yard, swirls and twirls and pirouette into pile and waves of multi-color monuments on the white frost covered green grass below me.

Tomorrow, the start of the party season. The first up is the Halloween Ball at Portsmouth this weekend, Then the Queens Winter Gala, Remembrance Day at the Sandhurst Military Ball, and the Lumiere light festival at Durham for Unity Charities. Frankie's investment as Earl on December 5 at Buckingham Palace.

A busy, busy month and half. Christian is stealing us away to Aspen for Christmas. Ray, Alec are taking the kids to the Firm's Kloster's Alpine village chalet above the Landwasser River in eastern Switzerland. They are having a great time, Ray has become the strong father Chuckie needs. Ray and Alec have become a thing. I think it's a great thing. The two old goats are dancing around the magnetism like teenagers. Chuckie is working hard to match-make the two. Phil and Liz (Brother and girlfriend) are joining them after Christmas day. They are sailing in a regatta outside of Capetown.

Grace and Cary are going to her brother Bob's Whistler ski lodge house to spend time with his family. Elliott and Kate are going to St. Kitts, who's annual Carnival runs from late November to the first week of January. The pair is mooning over the blue-sky holiday and Carnival parties.

Mia is in the worst spot, Luke is taking her home to the family's Monarch Canyon ranch. She gets to meet Mommy Sawyer and clan. She is so nervous, Grace sedated her before she left for Canada. Mia won't let go from the bear hug she had Cary in. I laugh at her baseless fear.

The Sawyer Clan will love her, beside she can charm and cook them into admiration. Mmmmm: with Elliott and Christian as brothers she is well suited to handling difficult people, I pity the Sawyer Clan; I really should. I giggle at vision of little meek Mia chasing the Sawyer family around the ranch; Luke is already paying forward to not sleep in the horse stalls.

Xxxxxxxxxxx December 10

We leave Monday after the Charity event at Durham. Christian is laughing when Sir John invited him to join the GEH Morris Dancer troupe. I laughed dragging Chris away before he said yes. Having no idea what it meant. I could see him in the costume, but I won't let him make a fool of himself. I plan on making him beet red myself. I have him judging a strained glass car contest, dressed in an interactive LED light suit. My LED be-speckled dress from Oakland California's Crucible Workshop is already blowing up the Internet.

The Remembrance Day at the Sandhurst Military Ball was fun and hurtful, when Robert's godfather made himself known. I nearly punched him, wheelchair or no wheelchair. But in the end, I found him needing a family, having sacrificed all for country and Queen. He's become my godfather. He and Abby seem to have a strange dance about when they are near. I wonder if she has the hots for him. I watch them whispering in heated arguments. I have ideas to help them move to a better relationship.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The light show harks to better days to come. The crowd is boisterous by controlled. Many have young family wandering about. I hug my simple dressed bad boy as we awe and ah-uuu at the displays. Jason and Gail are behind us. More security than friends right now.

We wander the grounds, displays and just act like what we really are, young couple in love. My little man is pumped to be here. My new godfather got him an exemption permit to accompt me everywhere. We try not to abuse the privilege. Winston is more a star than us. With his regal bearing and clown spaniel eyes he charms everyone. Several children are happy to pet a calm loving dog. He seems to know who and when someone needs a little Clumber to pet and coo over.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

December 23: ASPEN, CO.

The mountains are snow covered, the steam from distant fireplaces rises from the valley. Whipping in the lite winds. Forming dancing ghosts against the rapid lightening blue-sky dawn of Aspen. The lawn before me, teases me to rush out and make snowmen and angles. Things I could never do around Frank and Cruella. Giggles peek my lips as snowball fights with a certain CEO lighten my mood and mind.

I turn back to my sleeping exhausted man, last night alone here in our new house. I Unleashed my vixen wiles on my unsuspecting husband. We passed out sometime around twilight this morning. Now just minutes old from the final break from the shadows of the mountain. I'm up and ready to go, explore and experience this new bright life; I've walk into. The sun shines bright and free over the ridgeline. I sip my tea, Winston is rubbing me leg to be release outside to his morning needs.

I head downstairs and suit up in a snow suits over my naked body. With warmth incasing me, we head outside. Gail and Jason are floating down into the Disneyworld resort with Sophie for the week, we surprised them with that gift. Parks, Reynolds and Wilson have us.

Ferguson is down at the lodge below us. He's just come in from a friendly group week of cross-country skiing slash winter Alpine-ing (mountain climbing) from Vail. Sometime I wonder about the Sand-beret sanity; Seems the Army Green and Black hats have a yearly race. The British group had a disappointing fourth last year, this year they get to second behind the American Rangers. (black beret).

Walking down the driveway, taking in the pristine snow. The beautiful quiet and unspoiled landscape before me. I relax as the sex of last night has creeped back into my sore bones. Making the world bright, loving. I have visions of children dancing around me. Copper headed boys with blue eyes and brown-haired girls with deep grey eyes. Vision of snowball fights, angels in the fresh snow, hot chocolate reading them books before the fireplace. I watch the trees shaking free in the freshening wind there overnight white coats. Soft power floats on the delicate fingers of the aes sídhe.

The fairy people are alighting this morning, as birds float by looking for breakfast. A rabbit bolts from his hole to hide deeper in the brush. Winston barks. I see a hawk launch above me.

I float into the soft snow, everything is just slow motion. I see my hand in the snow, red spreads from under it. Did I cut my hand? I drift into blackness, letting Winston lick my face.

C-pov

I wake as the silence snaps me awake; I'm alone. I look out the window at my free spirit wife walking Winston in the clean pristine snow of last night. I dress quickly, maybe we'll drive down to the lodge for brunch. If we make it out of bed before dinner. I smile at my vixen and the world, bright world that is my new life.

I chase my wife down the driveway, watching her meander with Winston. Lost in happy thoughts, happy dreams and memories of me, Us! I watch her find such joy and peace in the bosom of mother nature. I see Parks coming from the gatehouse. Making sure to not interfere or startle my girl happy meander.

I see a SUV slides thru the opening gate. The door opens and Hyde steps out, with a shotgun. Parks is flaying as Wilson shoots him down from behind. The shotgun blossoms, I see Anna falling. I charging, my mind blanks out, slamming into the focus of my rage. All the demons and evils inside me, steps out into the bright sunlight, pristine snowscape. The rage unleashed; I can only think of killing Hyde, kill everyone who has stolen my chance to be happy and loved.

I shake my head: what has happened, what did I do? Why are my hands red and bruised? I look about me, Hyde is bleeding, his neck a strange angle, Parks is dead, Wilson is dead. Reynolds is barely alive, with a chuck of his skull gone; but he got Wilson. I pickup Anna, carrying her to the crew SUV. I punch the access and door codes to start the beast.

I get Reynolds inside. My hands don't seem to want to work right. I feel tired and worn. I feel the blood trickle down my chest.

I wake in the Emergence room medical bay. Tube down my throat, hands festoon with tubes. I look over to my girl. She is so eternally beautiful. So perfect.

I hear a growl, Winston is on her legs. Refusing to leave her. I flail at the nurse. She hands am a pencil a pad. "LEAVE THE DOG ALONE!" I write. They balk but back off from Winston guard mount. The drugs must be taking me. I see the ceiling rush by me. Till a large domed light blinds me, as blackness takes me.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mia-pov

I watch the lights of Aspen twinkle as darkness rises. Christian after twelve hours of surgery is in post-op. The parents are driving in a snow cat to Vancouver, since a late snow storm closed down Whistler's road and airport. Everyone is jetting in as soon as possible. Abby has Ray and kids while Alec makes arrangements. Alec tells me Ray, Frankie and Chuckie are catatonic with grief and pain.

Roz is flying to Seattle to take charge; Gwen's Tahiti vacation is cut short, I'll make it up to them later; a nice romantic Brittany dinner on the Grace II. I stare out the window, lost in pain and worry; a few more hours will see Christmas Eve arrive. I turn and go back to sitting next to Anna. Two of the buckshot grazed her head, another hit her right bicep. All are minor, except the brain has some swelling. She just wont wake up. "Please Anna wake up, Christian needs you. We all need you. please Anna!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Sawyer-pov

I return to the hospital. The Traitor Wilson managed to kill Parks, he never knew what hit him. Reynolds somehow; survived a little while with half his brain shot away; manage to stagger out the gatehouse and shoot Wilson in the back, before he could kill Christian. The police are hunting any of Hyde's cohorts. I head into the hospital.

Ferguson and his hiking buddies have secured the floor and rooms till I can get staff in from New York and Seattle. A snow storm has delayed flights and roads into us. Army Major Ludlow, a buddy from Afghan, is spearheading the security. I have too much with Mia and everything else, to deal with duty rotations and meals breaks.

Already the vultures have tried to get pics of Anna in her coma. Or Christian's surgery. I can't tell Mia, he died on the table three times. At least the buckshot is out; Thank god! Jason got them ballistic snow wear. Grey took two blast to the chest, only part of the second round got thru. From the burn marks, Hyde had the barrel against his chest for the last shot.

Hyde had most of his bones broken in a savage rage attack by Christian. The police can't believe how he could destroy Hyde in less than 90 seconds. The CCTV at the gate showed Grey in an inhuman rage. A speed machine of fists and knees. He ripped the car door off Hyde's SUV slamming it down on Hyde's legs, nearly severing them. Hyde's bloodied shotgun was in four pieces spread over the driveway.

How he drove the fifteen miles to the Hospital, and carried Anna into the ER is beyond explanation. He just handed her off and dropped. Winston bit six people trying to get him away from Anna. Devotion and love that deep is scary.

Anna's coat stopped four pellets of double OO shot. I got Mia and a nurse to wash the blood from Winston fur. He refuses to be away from Anna for any length of time. Mia's the only one to get him out of the room, temporary. I see my girl holding Anna hand, begging her to wake up. The Family sanity holds on by a thread. Why can't these nut jobs leave them be?

I turn lounging against the wall with Ferguson. It been a hell of a day. The last few days have been heaven and hell. From Mia knock-down-drag-out mud fight with my mother and sister three days ago. To punching my older brother into the pig pen. My girl takes no shit from anyone. Defending my honor and virtue; My wild fashionista cooking machine loves me, how I deserve it I don't know. But I'm glad she does. I laugh, it was a pretty typically Sawyer Family Christmas.

I watch my girls, Jason is driving over from Denver. Gail is keeping Sophie at Disneyworld till we know more. I can only wait for Christian to wake from surgery and the family to land here.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cary-pov

We float into Phoenix, we should have a window to Aspen or Denver within an hour or two. Jason got the last flight into Denver before they closed the airport. We are a little better than Ray and the kids, Abby had to sedate them, when their flight was stopped in Cleveland. Grace is just working a small piece of blue blanket; part of one that we used to replace Christian original blue blanket. Terrors of his early days, the reality without Anna he will never recover haunt her eyes. Tearing my heart and soul.

I can only hold her and stare out the window. Andrea and Barney are supporting us. I can see the pain and worry then have for their friends. We are all stunned by Hyde's attack and Wilson traitorous action. Reynolds family is moving towards Aspen as well from southern Texas. Reynolds family contacted a Baptist minister in nearby Glenwoood. The Baptist congregation will sit with the body till they get there.

Parks family is flying back from Korea, where they were visiting family. Luke found a Korean-Confucianism priest to oversee care of Parks body. I have my law partner handling everything, as I must concentrate on family.

On the Tarmac: I talk to Luke, Christian is out of surgery, he died three times on the table. I sweat; I must tell Grace. Andrea gave her a mickey to sleep. I feel my eyelids droop, I know she mickeys me, I don't care. I need to sleep and let the world right itself.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ferguson-pov: Christmas Eve.

Midnight chimes echo from the Head nurses 1900 A.L. Breguet repeater pocket watch; antique from an ancestor. She is a battle axe and no nonsense disciplinary. She dragged a stupid paparazzi out of the ward by his privates. She is not taking any shit from anyone in her domain.

I need to get some sleep soon, I'm waiting for Grey to wake up. He was a minute or two after surgery awake, now, just asleep. Unlike Anna's coma. They believe it just sleep.

I start to head to the hotel next door, when I pass a cleaning lady. I shake my head, I look back, what is wrong with the picture. I start to turn back headed out: my boots squeak on the floor, like a sneaker. I snap back around. What Cleaning lady wears Balenciaga one grand: white, pink and yellow triples leather designer sneakers. Leia had several pairs.

"Hey you! Action front!" I scream as she bolts for Anna room. A hypo with black liquid slides into her hand. I draw my gun. Mia bulls thru the door into her, like a banshee. She's punching and ripping the woman to shreds. She is insane with rage.

Sawyer steps up and cold-cocks his girl. Catching her before she hit the floor. I look at the remains of the fake cleaning lady. One of the Rangers is guarding the hypo near the nurse desk. The Battle axe is checking the assassin, I hear a crack, the cleaning lady's wrist is bent in a way I don't think will ever be corrected.

"She'll lose the wrist for sure, if she doesn't bleed out." Nurse ratchet speaks. I smile at her. "Yea, if she lives, I will make sure she general population in prison. She will feel my love."

"I don't understand how these people have anything against your girl? Ever thing I googled shows a caring, smart young lady. I've never understood this mindless evil."

Yea, it's never made sense why people hate her, she never goes out of her away to hurt or injury anyone. It's some strange karma."

"Maybe she has to get all this evil out of the way, so the rest of her life is free and clear?"

"Maybe? I just want them to be happy and find some peace." I smile and head to the hotel. Its been a long day. Leaving Nurse Ratchet to finish her shift.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

LA Escudero Prison hospital.

I watch the lost girl, wander aimlessly around the room, unable to understand what is happing. Unable to understand how or why she is here. The judge vacated her crimes, her brain damage is permanent and left her stuck at 4-years of age.

We are seeking a relative to take her in. her mother refused, demanded we end her life. I never will understand people. A friend doing Pro Bono work, is hoping her half-sister will take her in. I hope we can find a safe loving place to care for her.

Leia-pov

I watch the shadows on the wall, play about the grating. Everyone thinks I'm stupid, like really stupid. I don't think I'm stupid. I just can't remember, like every day is fresh new start. The nurses and doctors tell me I suffered an injury that has left me trapped at this point in life. I look in the mirror and see an adult, maybe a teenager. But I can't understand why or how. Everyone seems so much smarter and better than me. At least the nurses and Doctors; the other patients scare me. They seem to hurt me, touching me. I fear them. I try to be small and hide from them.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

c-pov

I open an eye; seeing the room of medical monitor's and noises I just can't understand. Tears run down my cheek. Anna is dead. She was too young to die. I killed her, like I killed Ella. I know I'm going to die without her.

"Christian! Stop? What is wrong?"

I look over to my mother, looking terrible. Another nail in my coffin. I've hurt her so much over the years. so much.

"Christian! Christian Grey! Anna is alive, she's next door. You need to calm down and relax. You're both going to be fine."

I look into her deep eyes, hoping, believing she's correct. Anna is alive. I let the room fade out. I let visions of Anna on the House boat cure my woes.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Grace-pov

I hold my son's hand. Making myself feel the calming pulse, the monitor shows sleep. Normal sleep again, every time he wakes the panic attack kicks in. Finally. I let Elliott hold his hand as I check on Anna. She is still in a coma. As day fourteen breaks over Mt. Shimer. We are all stuck here. waiting for them.

I see Mia wander in with Winston. Watching how thin he's getting. Its intense how he refuses to live without his adults. I miss Max, Carrick has him at the house. Working the threats. The fake cleaning lady was Anna's last Governance. Her last CPO from the firm was found dead in Boughton Malherbe Upland Sussex.

Everything points to Anna's step mother Eliana. Her sister is moving to an inpatient facility in Tacoma, her brain damage is such she will never be a threat again. Her guardianship is up in the air. I can't see Anna taking on the girl.