This is the last chapter of this story, after this chapter there will be an epilogue which will be set on the day CJ moves out to college and shows not just how Ana and Elliot have been since we left them in this chapter, but also how Christian's HEA went, though you will meet someone that might turn out to be his forever at the end of this chapter ;)


Ana

"You are such a good girl, yes you are." I say as I pick up my daughter who at four months has been sleeping through the entire night for over a week now. Madison Charlotte Grey was born after only four hours of labor with no complications whatsoever, she has my blue eyes and Elliot's blonde curls... she looks like a little cherub and everyone just has to love her. I'm especially happy that CJ has taken so well to having a little sister. He seemed a bit upset by my pregnancy when I started to have a few issues and needed to be on bed rest for the last few weeks, so I'm glad he didn't project those feelings onto his little sister.

Even though I already have a child this feels different because I never had a daughter before and it's so interesting for me to see how different little girls and boys are in their development. CJ was a little explorer from day one, he even managed to lift his little head to look at his surroundings only hours after he was born. He started to crawl at four months and by ten months he was taking his first steps. Madison is very different. She too likes to look around and when someone is holding her, but she is no hurry to crawl and generally is a bit slower in her development, even though she is not behind in any way.

What I do have to watch this time is that her Dad isn't spoiling her rotten. With CJ, it was basically just me raising him from the start, since Christian wasn't there to do it with me. Now that I have Elliot to raise our daughter, I have to stop him from going completely overboard. I had planned to have her sleep in our bedroom for the first eight weeks, but ended up moving her after four weeks to the nursery because Elliot barely got any sleep. And not because of the late night feeds Madison woke up for, no, he would stay up all night just watching her in her sleep and to be ready and alert in case she woke up.

He had under eye bags the size of bagpipes, so I put my foot down and moved her into her own bedroom. He wasn't happy at first, but after he had a good nights sleep he understood my reasoning.

Everything could have been amazing, if it wasn't for the information I received a week after Madison was born. I know Elliot, my dad and Christian meant well, but I still lost it when they told me that Grace Taylor had been stalking CJ, and they had not told me immediately. At least Christian has security on CJ, so I feel a bit better about it... but I just have this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that we haven't seen the last of her.

"Look at her, beautiful little girl I have ever seen." I hear Elliot behind me as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him.

"She sure is, and she is napping for at least thirty more minutes." I say and turn around in his arms, so I can look up at him while I slip my hands under his t-shirt.

"Is that so... do you have something specific in mind, babe?"

"I don't know, I thought about something that involves less clothing." I smirk and attempt to take his shirt off when his phone rings.

"Shit, sorry, one minute." He says and hurries out of the nursery before Madison wakes up.

"I hope by the time you are a mommy there is technology that won't interrupt some mommy and daddy time." I chuckle quietly and stroke my daughter's soft cheek before I leave the nursery and find Elliot in the hallway thanking someone before he hangs up.

"What's wrong?" I ask when I see the worried expression on his face.

"That was Christian's chief of security. His mom is on a plane to Seattle that is about to land."

"What... shit, does she know where Christian and CJ are?"

"No, they are probably saver at the camping side than they were here. He asked if we want security here."

"Do you think we need it?"

"She is just one crazy bitch, but let's just play this safe and have someone watch the house. He has already someone who is going to follow her as soon as she is out of the plane, so no big deal."

"Alright, call him back and please let my dad know."

"On it... how about after that call we come back to your suggestion from five minutes ago?" He asks wriggling his eyebrows.

"Sorry, crazy bitch killed the mood..." I pout and he does the same.

An hour later a security guy arrives outside and parks by the driveway though by now we know that psycho mom has managed to give the security the slip, because while she boarded the plane apparently no one who fit her description came out of the security area at SEATAC. So now, she is on the loose. I have talked to my dad and Christian but both assured me that CJ is safe at the camping side. I know they are right... there are so many camping sides in the Olympics and Grace doesn't even know they are camping, so she has no way of finding them.

Still, I want her out of the city and out of the country... or preferably looked up in a padded cell, because at this point I can't see that there is any amount of therapy that will be able to help her. It's sad because she has four children and a husband but at this point all of her children are better off without her and her husband... well, in my eyes Jason Taylor is nothing but a useless enabler, so he'll probably end up getting what's coming to him for not insisting on his wife getting the proper help she needed many years ago. Maybe then her condition could have been treated, but by the time she was admitted it was already too late, and she probably just told everyone what they wanted to hear in order to get out of the institution she had been admitted to.

In the evening, I make sure the security system is running and even decided to have Madison in our bedroom just to have her close in case Grace decides to show up here. Elliot thinks I'm overreacting, but he has never actual met her, so he doesn't know how insane she was back then and with her being worse now... I don't even want to think about it.

After Elliot has been asleep for over two hours I'm still wide awake staring at the ceiling when I suddenly notice that the alarm clock has cut off. I take from my night stand and shake it before I start to press buttons but nothing happens. Next I try the lamp on my nightstand but it doesn't turn on either.

Great, a blackout is just what I need to calm my nerves, I think to myself and hit my pillow when another thought crosses my mind. If the power is out the security system isn't working.

"Elliot wake up." I whisper and shake his shoulder to wake him up.

"What's wrong?" He murmurs and sits up.

"The power went out, can you call the security guy to make sure everything is fine?"

"Sure, it's probably nothing, don't worry." He says and grabs his phone to call him but the guy isn't answering the call.

"You stay here, lock the door behind me." He says and grabs his baseball bat from the walk in.

"Wait, take a gun with you."

"Babe, you are Annie Oakley, I'm more of a Joe DiMaggio." He says and I roll my eyes.

"Her man is in security, if anyone is capable of smuggling a gun through airport security it's her."

"That's insane, now be a good girl and wait here." He says and kisses my pursed lips before he heads out of the door. I lock it behind him and check on Madison before I start to pace the bedroom. It feels like he has been gone for hours even though barely five minutes have passed and then I hear some commotion downstairs and run to my nightstand to get my phone.

"Steele?" I hear my dad's sleepy voice.

"Dad, we are having a blackout, the security guy doesn't answer his phone and now Elliot isn't returning from checking the house. Please come over, I have to go looking for him."

"Fuck, where is Madison?"

"With my in the bedroom... I'm going to hide her in the storage space behind the closet... hurry Dad, I have a horrible feeling and there have been weird sounds from downstairs about thirty seconds ago." I tell him while hiding Madison and then I get my gun from the safe.

"Do you have your gun?"

"Yes... I have to hang up now."

"Please be safe."

"I try." I say and hang up. I open the door as quietly as possible and see that the hallway is clear, so I get out and lock the bedroom door before tip toeing down the hallway and then downstairs. It's so dark, I need a couple of moments until my eyes fully adjust to my surroundings whenever I enter a new room downstairs and then I almost trip over something on the floor and realize it's Elliot.

"Elliot... Elliot... talk to me..." I whisper and shake him, but he just moans and I feel some sort of liquid coming from his upper body.

"Ana... hide... she has a gun." He croaks and I suddenly I feel a gun pressed against the back of my hand.

"Drop your gun and get up." I hear the voice of Grace Taylor and try not to panic.

"You are not getting away with this, please, Elliot needs a doctor, you've hurt him." I plead.

"Then give me my son."

"Your son?" I ask confused as I slowly get up and even slower turn around to face her in the dark.

"Where is Christian?"

"I... I don't know... he is probably at his apartment."

"Do not lie to me, my son is eleven years old, he lives here with you... you stole him from me Elena." She says and I know that this is worse than I could have ever imagined. She has a full on mental breakdown and believes I'm her sister who stole her child.

"Listen Grace, I'm not your sister. I'm Ana, CJ's mom... Christian, your son, he is twenty-eight now. He is a grown up. I have his number, we can call him."

"Lies, all lies! You just want to have me locked up again, but I'm not crazy, I just want my son."

"He is not here... look, he won't be back home until the weekend is over... so there is nothing here for you to do." I say and curse myself for ever allowing Elliot to leave the bedroom. I should have called the cops...

"LIAR... WHERE IS MY SON?" She screams at me and I have no idea how to handle this. I mean how does one deal with someone who is obviously having a psychotic breakdown?!

"I'm sorry, you can look around, he is not here." I try again, and she points her gun in my face.

"You cannot take my child away from me, Elena... I won't allow it, I know you have more children with that son of a bitch you are married to, I swear I kill them if you don't give me my son." She says and my blood runs cold... please do not start to cry, Madison, please...

"Look, Christian really isn't here, you can check his room if you want to." I offer not knowing how to end this and help Elliot but just as she starts to move towards the stairs while holding me at gun point the front door opens.

"She has a gun." I shout at who I assume is my dad, and he ducks right in time for her to fire the gun, with her focus on my dad I make a mad dash back in the living room, grab my gun just to hear another shot, followed by my dad's voice.

"Stay down, Grace, I do not wish to kill you!"

"Dad?"

"All clear, Annie. The cops are on their way." He says while I kneel by Elliot's side.

"Where did she hit you?"

"Stomach... should have embraced my inner Annie Oakley." He groans, while I take my camisole off to press it on his stomach.

"Now, is not the time for bad jokes." I sob.

"Can you get something for me?" He asks.

"Sure, what do you need?"

"There's a small bag in my desk, top drawer." He says, and so I get up and hurry to get it from his study where I also find a flashlight and run back to him.

"Here..."

"No, open it." He says and I frown.

"Please... I need to know... just in case." He says, and so I reach into the bag to reveal a small velvet encased box.

"Open it." He says and I already know what it is.

"Elliot..."

"Please, I need to know." He says, and so I open it to reveal a beautiful antique engagement ring.

"Yes." I whisper and lean in to kiss me.

"I love you, so much, Ana Steele... promise me if I won't make it... tell CJ and Madison that I love them..."

"You can tell them yourself, OK? No goodbyes... see this is a beginning, not an end." I cry and put the ring on, just as the police and paramedics arrive.

Christian

I wake up from the buzz of my phone and quickly crawl out of the tent so CJ won't wake up.

Christ, it's two in the fucking morning.

"Taylor?" I snap.

"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep, but there have been some events."

"Events... what the fuck happened, Peterson?"

"Your mother has shot Hendricks and managed to get into the Steele/Grey residence where she has proceeded to shoot Mr. Grey before she was obtained by Miss Steele's father."

"What... how are they... is Elliot fine?"

"Hendricks is dead and Mr. Grey is going into emergency surgery as we speak. Miss Steele, her daughter and father have remained unharmed. Your mother has been shot in the shoulder and is being treated at the hospital as well."

"Jesus fucking Christ, I'm on my way." I mutter and decide to let Jason know what happened, he might be a useless piece of shit, but that's his wife.

"Taylor?"

"Remember when I told you to things would end bad with mom if you wouldn't fucking step up? Well, guess what, she killed a member of my security team, broke into Ana's house, shot Elliot and was then shot in the shoulder by Ray Steele... so I'd say not taking my advice was a really fucking glorious idea..."

"What... where is she?"

"She's being treated at the hospital here in Seattle... though you can sure as fuck that she is now going to have to spend the rest of her life locked away. Do what you have to, I don't care... just don't expect my help." I snap hang up and run both hands through my hair before I decide to wake CJ up.

"What's going on... it's still dark outside, Dad." He mumbles into his pillow.

"I know, but we have to leave, come on, let's get dressed, we can leave everything here and come back later or I have someone grab our stuff for us later.

"What happened?"

"We have to see your mom and sister. There was an incident at your place and Elliot got hurt a bit."

"How?"

"I explain to you later, come, your mom needs you." I hurry him along and finally an hour and a half later we arrive at the hospital and find Ana, her parents, and the baby in a waiting room.

"CJ!" Ana exclaims and pulls him into his arms while I ask Ray for a quick word.

"How is Elliot?"

"We are still waiting, he lost a lot of blood but was conscious the entire time, so that's good... now all we can do is wait."

"Does Mia know?"

"Yes, but Andrew convinced her to wait at home for news since she is seven months along, and they don't have someone to Nylah for them."

"Yeah... can I call her once we get news... I just... shit... is this my fault, Ray? Was there more I could have done?" I put what is going through my mind into words.

"Christian, your mother has serious mental health issues. That is not your fault. Jason should have done something years ago. I know he loves his wife, but he turned a blind eye on her issues and made them worse. This is not your fault, she had a complete breakdown and believed that Ana was Elena who kept you from her."

"Is she still here?"

"No, I only shot her to disarm her, so she the bullet only grazed her shoulder. I do what I have to do to keep my family save, but killing a mother of four in the process would have been the last length I would have gone to." He says and I nod.

As we sit there I watch Ana pacing the room, then sit down, only to start pacing again for about two more hours until finally a doctor tells her that she can see Elliot in a few minutes, that the bullet has been removed and that he is going to make a full recovery.

So, I get up and call Mia. "Mia, it's Christian."

"Hi... oh my god, it's bad right... I mean you wouldn't call if ..."

"Mia, hey, don't cry, it's fine... he is out of surgery and will make a full recovery, I just wanted to call because... shit... I don't even know... I just needed to be the one to tell you."

"Thank you, are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm good, get some sleep now, the baby needs you to rest."

"I'll try. Bye Christian."

"Bye Mia."

After taking a deep breath I walk back into the waiting room and approach Ana.

"Hey, I'm leaving now, CJ needs some more sleep... if you want I can work from home and take him until next Sunday." I offer.

"Would you?"

"Hey, he's my son... I would even offer to take the little princess too... but fuck, I don't know the first thing about taking care of a baby." I confess and she smiles.

"That's fine... and since you won't miraculously start to lactate, I think she is better off staying with me, but thanks for offering. I call CJ first thing in the morning, since I don't think you'll manage to wake him up now."

"OK... and... tell Elliot I'll stop by tomorrow or Monday."

"Will do." She says and kisses the top of CJ's head who is curled up on two chairs next to her sleeping peacefully. So, I pick him up and leave the hospital, deciding to go to Escala instead of back to the camping side and hoping that with this final disaster the nightmare of everything related to my parents is finally over, and we can all move on from it.

- 7 months later -

Only one more appointment and then I can call it a day and head over to Mia's place to have dinner with her and her family. After Elliot was shot, I did a lot of soul-searching and went to see Flynn four times a week instead of the usual two meeting we had before. I just couldn't figure out what I was truly feeling and then I realized I was ready to let the past be the past and move on into the future. Surprisingly for me, I wanted all five of my siblings to be a part of that future. So, I offered Sophie, Caleb and Alison to spend part of their summer break with me, and we all went to the Bahamas for some nice beach vacation which we all enjoyed and brought us closer together as siblings. Next, I decided to talk to Mia again and over the past six months we have established a good and healthy sibling relationship.

With Elliot, it has been a bit more tricky, and we are still working on it, sometimes shooting some hoops or having a beer after I brought CJ back home. I guess with it will just take some time and even if we don't end up being brothers again, I feel that we can at least be friends.

"Sir, Miss Lambert from the WSU student newspaper is here for the interview." I hear the voice of my assistant Andrea come through the speaker and I frown.

"Lambert? I was expecting Cara Halliwell." I mutter pissed, I hate the unexpected and this interview was meant as a favor to Miss Halliwell's father who is a well-known business man in Seattle and now I have some other girl coming to see me... what the fuck?!

"Send her in, Andrea." I mutter and stare at my office door that suddenly bursts open only for a girl to fall head first to the floor.

I get up and offer my hand to help the girl up, but when she does and I look at her my breath catches in my throat. The girl is beautiful, huge sea green eyes, dark long curls, a heart shaped face with some freckles and right now the most beautiful blush I have ever seen.

Fuck me, stop staring at her, Taylor, I scold myself internally and smile politely at her.

"Christian Taylor, it is good to meet you, Miss Halliwell." I say and she shakes her head.

"No... Ro... umm... Rosanna... Rosanna Lambert, Cara... um... Miss Halliwell has the flu, so she asked me to fill in for her, I'm her roommate." She gets out in a rush and nervously shuffles on her feed, which makes her look even more intriguing to me.

"Well then, Miss Lambert, please have a seat." I motion for to sit and find myself answering all of her boring and frankly lame questions, most of which some online research would have given her the answers too.

"Are those your questions, Miss Lambert?"

"No... Cara... Miss Halliwell, she compiled them, Sir." She says nervously.

"I see, well, since I have answered all of them I think it is only fair for me to ask you some questions too. Tell me about yourself."

"Myself... um... let's see. I study art at WSU and work part-time at a local gallery. My dad is in the navy and my mom has a small shop where she sells homemade candles, soaps and lotions. I... I have a younger brother, Frank jr. and a baby sister, Keira, who is nine... but I should be leaving now." She says and gets up. Shit, I don't want her to leave, think Taylor...

"Don't you need pictures for the interview."

"I... um... Cara didn't say anything about pictures, but I guess that would be a good addition to the article."

"Well, here is my number, set everything up and call me to let know when and where... maybe we can have lunch or dinner afterwards." I say casually and have to bite the insides of my cheeks, so I won't laugh at her, because she is blushing furiously and can't even look at me.

"That... um... yes, sure." She says seems to collect herself, straightens her shoulders and gives me the most amazing smile, that makes my fucking stomach flutter and cock stir in my pants. Well, damn me... I want her...

A minute later I lead her out of my office, help her into her jacket and bring her to the elevator.

"Rosanna." I say as the doors close and smile.

"Christian." She says softly and I know, I want this girl more than I have ever wanted anything in my life...

- The End -