AUTHORS NOTE: I would just like to say, that in Crossfire canon Dr Petersen was a good shrink who Eva started seeing when she moved to New York from San Diego. He was also Monica's shrink and he eventually helped Gideon significantly as well. There was a scene in one of the books where Eva confronts her mom about the trackers and her stalking and Monica does argue that as Eva's mom she is entitled to know where she is and that she is safe and Dr Petersen does try and make Eva see Monica's perspective but he also makes Monica see that it was unacceptable behaviour. However, for the purposes of this story, he is going to be a shrink more along the lines of John Flynn aka. not a good one, and I have taken Monica's neurosis and ramped it up by a significant amount and I've also taken the selfish materialistic streak she had in the early part of the series and exaggerated that.

CHAPTER 155

(GIDEON)

I leave my office and head down the elevator stopping at the twentieth floor. I am quickly buzzed into Waters, Field and Leaman and the receptionist gives me a polite greeting and friendly smile and lets me head straight through without question. I am such a regular visitor here that I am practically treated like another member of staff.

As I reach the offices I pause as I see Eva talking to Mark and so I wait, the door is ajar and I strain to listen to the conversation. I know it is rude of me to do this but Eva looks anxious and anything that is making my wife anxious is my concern.

"So they are all practically complete now. This one is on going but nothing really needs to be done with it and these are the ones which I am taking with me to work on while I'm in Seattle… and Mark" Eva pauses and touches Mark Garrity's arm.

"Eva shut up and stop right there, you don't have to thank me. You would've done the same for me… in fact, you have done the same for me, when Stephen had that accident at the construction site last year and I had to take practically half the year off to help bring him back to health".

Eva smiles, "I know, but it's been one thing after another" she says.

"Yeah, but your place is taking care of that poor boy. He needs you more than we do, he is going to be facing that terrible man who killed his mom once again and hopefully putting him away for killing his aunt and uncle. He has been through so much, so it is a no brainer that you have to be there to help him… after all you are his mom now".

"Ok… thanks, oh I almost forgot if Michael Jenson calls again…"

"Tell him to go fuck himself" Mark finishes and Eva laughs.

"Well, I wasn't going to put it quite like that, but that is the sentiment" she says.

"I will and…" Mark pauses as he looks up and sees me hovering. He does a double take and then points at me. "It looks like it's time for you to go, so go. I have everything under control here and it's all good".

I step forward as Eva turns and smiles at me.

"I hope I'm not interrupting" I say as Eva makes her way out to me.

"Not at all, just finishing up here" she says, she stands on her tip toes and presses a kiss to my lip before gesturing towards her own office.

"I won't be a moment" she says.

I nod, "Take your time Angel, no rush" I say.

Mark sidles up to me and gives me a hesitant smile. "Eva has told me all about the trial… I hope you all get the right result" he says

I nod, "So do I, not only for my son's sake but for everyone who has worked hard to get us to this point" I say.

Mark nods sagely, before his attention is once more on Eva who has appeared at my side.

"Ok ready, let's go" she says.

"Good luck" Mark says as Eva slips her hand into mine.

"Thanks, and don't forget what I said about Michael Jenson" she says.

Mark grins, "Tell him to go fuck himself in a polite way" he replies.

oooOOOooo

We are now sitting on board my jet waiting. We made good time as traffic was kind and waiting for us already on board was Raul, Victor and Jared. I glance at my watch before making eye contact with Victor who is watching Eva pace in front of us. I raise my eyebrows and he shrugs. It is getting dangerously close to our take off slot time and I am starting to believe that Monica isn't going to come and it saddens me that she is taking this stance.

"Do you think she will show up dad?" Jared whispers to me.

"I hope so" is all that I can reply.

As I say this, I hear activity at the front of the plane near the doors and there she is accompanied by Richard and another man who I assume is Dr Petersen.

"Apologies, it was my fault entirely" the man says holding his hands up.

"My last patient over-ran and I had to finish things off as I won't be in the office for a few days" he explains as he makes his way towards us.

"Well, you're all here now" Eva says a little sharply. She turns and introduces everyone. "Dr Petersen, this is my husband Gideon Cross, my son Jared and my dad, Victor Reyes. That guy sitting there is Angus who is Gideon's head of security and that is Raul who also works for Gideon. Guys this is my mom's therapist Dr Petersen".

Dr Petersen comes towards me his hand outstretched, "I'm delighted to meet you" he says with a smile so oily I want to cringe. I immediately feel my anxiety levels rising, I'm still nervous around male shrinks for obvious reasons and I have taken an immediate dislike to this man. Eva notices my obvious discomfort before I quickly school my face into the impassive mask I always wear and she quickly askes everyone to sit down so we can finally take off while making sure Dr Petersen is as far away from me as possible.

She sits beside me and holds my hand. I notice Jared is also watching me carefully. He must have noticed my reaction and he had moved to my other side and he now buckles himself in. Then I see Victor watching me, from his seat opposite mine.

"You ok son?" he asks quietly and I just nod.

As soon as we are in the air the staff come and offer drinks and food.

I observe Dr Petersen who is talking with Monica while Richard comes to sit with us. He glances at Victor and the two men offer polite greetings to each other.

"So, Monica tells me that your case is good for the trial?" he says politely.

I nod, "It is, my attorney, Arash Madani is confident that we can win. He is flying out next week for the start of the trial" I say.

"How are you feeling about it all Jared?" Richard asks gently.

Jared glances at me and shrugs, "I just want it all over. I want justice for my aunt and uncle, I got it for my mom and dad so hopefully we can do it again" he says.

I wrap my arm around him and give him a gentle squeeze.

"Excuse me" Eva says a moment later and goes to use the bathroom, I watch and see Monica also heading in that direction.

Dr Petersen who has been left alone takes this opportunity to come and sit with us. Victor sees this happening and quickly moves to sit next to me, taking Eva's empty seat. I smile gratefully at him and he just nods. It is uncomfortable and awkward. Everyone is trying to be on their best behaviour and it is causing a distinct atmosphere. A moment later, Eva stalks out and rejoins us, she pauses as she sees the new seating arrangement but I pat my knee and she doesn't hesitate and comes and sits herself on my lap. I wrap my arms around her and nuzzle into her neck.

"Keep it clean" she murmurs in my ear so only I can hear and I let out a small chuckle.

"Eva there are plenty of other seats on the plane do you have to do that" Monica says as she sees us all over each other.

I glance up, "I want my wife to sit on my lap" I say coldly and with a hint of warning that Monica immediately takes note of. She purses her lips and sits down without another word.

"Erm… Mrs Stanton… May I say something?" Jared says as he clears his throat.

Eva and I turn to face Jared who has a determined look on his face. Neither of us know what he wants to say, but I have a pretty good idea what he wants to talk about and it is clearly important to him to do this so I just observe ready to step in if things go awry. Monica flashes him a brilliant smile.

"Of course, dear" she says slightly patronisingly.

"I just want to say, that I heard what you said… at mom's birthday lunch" Jared begins and I feel a smirk pulling at my lips as my assumptions are proved correct. A surge of pride flows through me as I realise in a rush that he's going to call her out on her inappropriate comment about calling Eva mom.

The smile on Monica's face freezes and then slowly fades as she also realises what Jared is going to say.

"To begin with… I asked Eva if I could call her mom and she said yes… and…" he pauses as Monica immediately butts in and I stiffen at not only her interruption but also the tone of voice she is using towards my son. Eva squeezes my hand as I open my mouth to speak and she gives me a little shake of her head. I look around and see Richard looking uncomfortable, while Victor, Angus and Raul just look livid. Most interestingly though Dr Petersen is nodding his head in agreement with her.

"But Eva isn't your mother dear" she insists.

"Monica" Richard says warningly as he can also detect how the atmosphere has taken a nose dive.

Jared smiles sweetly at her, totally unconcerned about the interruption, "Victor isn't mom's dad either but she calls him dad". I see the moment those words hit their target as Monica visibly recoils and lets out a gasp. But Jared just continues, "Aunty Ana calls Mr Steele dad and he isn't her biological dad either. Uncle Christian, Uncle Elliot and Aunty Mia calls Mr and Mrs Grey mom and dad and they aren't their real mom and dad either… it's not who provides the DNA it's who loves you". He pauses and looks up at me before continuing, "My dad is the only exception to that, and that is only because he didn't know about me until recently, but as soon as he did he became everything I could possibly need and Eva is more of a mom to me than my own… birth mom" he says simply.

I have to restrain myself from doing a fist pump at that, he said it so innocently without any anger or malice but the message was clear.

Monica purses her lips once more, "Yes well…" she blusters.

Jared, continues ignoring her remark. "As I was going to say before you interrupted me. I asked Eva if I could call her mom and she said yes… and…and I did that because Eva reminded me of my mom… that is my adoptive mom… and you see she wasn't my mom either. Angela Martin was the only mom I knew, she raised me and she loved me… just like William Martin who was my dad". He stops and swallows hard and I reach for him and place my hand on his shoulder. I also see Eva's hand dart out and grasp Jared's offering her own silent support to him. He looks up at us and smiles, before returning his attention back to Monica. "When they died, and the circumstances happened… the circumstances which are making us fly to Seattle right now… I came to live with my dad, and he has now officially adopted me - we have the paperwork and everything which proves that… so as far as I am concerned Eva is my mom and with respect, it is really none of your business so please don't say that she isn't my mom again, because she is".

"I didn't mean any harm, but I am entitled to my opinion" Monica says huffily and I freeze again at her tone and lack of remorse. She still believes what she said was acceptable. Eva grips my hand tightly to prevent me from saying anything. I also see Victor frown, Angus and Raul both take a threatening step forward and Richard closes his eyes and cringes slightly.

"Monica, may I suggest that the next words out of your mouth are an apology to my son" I say coldly and nobody fails to notice the arctic tone of my voice.

Monica glares at Jared and then at me she opens her mouth once more but Eva quickly steps in.

"And if you don't take my husband's advice and if the next words out of your mouth are not an apology to my son I strongly suggest you rethink whatever it is you are about to say" she says warningly.

"Monica, just stop and apologise, you are way out of line" Richard says quietly to her.

To my surprise though, Jared shakes his head. "But only if you mean it, I don't want any apology that you have been forced to make" he says simply.

At that Jared stands up and pointedly gives Eva a hug and kiss on the cheek, "I'm going to go and read in the bedroom mom" he says.

Eva grasps his hand, "Are you ok?" she asks him and he nods giving her a little genuine smile.

"Get some rest as well, even though with the time difference it will be earlier when we land your body will be telling you its way after midnight" I say as he reaches for me and gives me a hug, I wrap my free arm around his neck and pulling him towards me I place a kiss on his head.

"I'll come and talk to you in a moment" I whisper to him.

Jared nods, "Ok dad" he replies and walks away.

I pat Eva's backside and she quickly lifts herself off of my lap and sits in the seat Jared has just vacated.

I lean forward, clasping my hands in front of me, "Monica, may I suggest you don't make this journey any more difficult" I say.

"Well, I didn't intend for Jared to hear what I said to Eva that day but I stand by my comments, its…" she begins stubbornly, but stops mid-sentence as Eva throws her hands into the air and huffs.

Victor glares at Monica, "For gods sake! Just give it a rest woman. You know you are in the wrong, you should never have said that, it is none of your damn business what they do and who calls who what. That boy has been through hell, his parents the people who adopted him at birth and raised him were brutally murdered in front of him. He goes to live with his aunt and uncle and they are murdered, he finds his biological family and his real mother wants no part of him. She doesn't want to know him Monica, and he doesn't want to know her either. Gideon takes him and at last he is settled, he has a new family around him who love him and who protect and care for him. Gideon is doing an amazing job and Eva is standing right by his side helping him so she has more right to call herself that boy's mother than anyone else, and not only because the court documents damn well say she is. Eva didn't push the subject, Jared asked her. It was his decision, and just how he started calling Gideon dad he decided that he felt comfortable calling Eva mom. It is his decision Monica not yours. He is happy and comfortable with his decision so butt out because as Jared said it is really none of your business".

"Monica, I think you should leave it there" Richard says gently and immediately I see tears starting to well up in Monica's eyes and her bottom lip pushes out into a pout. I see what Eva means about her sulking like a child when she hears things she doesn't like.

"Stop sulking and don't start with the waterworks either mom" Eva snaps.

"I knew it was a bad idea coming here" Monica huffs as she stands up.

Eva snorts, "Yeah course it is because you don't like hearing the truth do you?" she retorts.

Monica spins on the spot, "How dare you, and how dare you tell Jared about the situation with Victor" she spits.

Eva's eyes widen and her eyebrows rise, "It was always going to come out mom, when Jared first came to us, we were all there and we had to introduce ourselves to him, we had to explain to him who everyone was. What was I supposed to say about dad? Was I supposed to lie to him? Like you did to me all my fucking life?" she snaps.

"Eva it is clear you are holding a great deal of unreasonable resentment towards your mom for what you see as her failings, but everyone makes mistakes… and as far as her views on Jared, she is entitled to her opinion and to voice any concerns she has. So perhaps if we just bring it all down a little and all take a deep breath. Monica did what she thought was right as she only ever does what she does with you in mind" Dr Petersen says joining the conversation for the first time, and I immediately see what Eva means about his bias towards Monica.

Eva stares at him, "Butt out!" she says rudely. "You are not my shrink, and after the piss poor job you did when I did seek help to make my mother see sense about her unacceptable stalking… You let her talk over me. You let her get her own way, you totally disregarded my very valid concerns about my privacy and the moment you said anything she didn't like you quickly back peddled when she started sulking like a child… much like the way she is sulking right now" Eva says waving her hand towards her mother. "Your time to be involved will come when we are in a room with my therapist, and believe me when that time comes I have plenty I want to say to you. You are only here to hold mom's hand and because it was the only way I could be certain she would come. This is not a therapy session, this is me just fucking pissed that my own mother said unacceptable things about my sons decision and then refuses to apologise for them".

Dr Petersen immediately closes his mouth and sits back in his seat.

"What about the way he spoke to me?" Monica retorts childishly.

I lean forward again, "My son was completely within his rights to tell you how he felt about what you said. You are not the only person entitled to an opinion Monica. There is also the fact you should not have said what you said while he was in the vicinity. He was not rude to you he was honest and straightforward. He only said what I was planning to say to you, and trust me I wouldn't have been as polite as he was, so count yourself lucky my son decided to speak up when he did".

Monica swallows whatever it was she was going to say next and sits back in her seat with a huff. Richard looks at us carefully, and clears his throat.

"For what it's worth, I think you are both doing a magnificent job with Jared" he says politely.

Eva smiles gratefully at him, "Thank you Richard that is very kind of you to say so" she says magnanimously. I simply nod my head and offer a small simple thank you, before rising from my seat.

"I'm going to see my son" I say to nobody in particular as I make my way to the back of the plane.

I knock on the door of the bedroom and Jared tells me to come in. I walk in and he is lying on the bed reading. He looks up and grins at me.

"I heard… mom was brilliant" he says.

I can't help but smile, "She always is Jared, and she is like a tigress when she is in full protection mode. She doesn't care who she mauls" I say proudly.

I sit down on the bed and look at my son carefully, "Are you ok though… really?" I ask and Jared nods.

"Yeah, I had to say something… it wasn't fair, I asked Eva if I could call her mom and so I had to say something" he says with a shrug.

I ruffle his hair, "You're a good boy" I say simply to which he pushes my hand away with a good natured exclamation.

"Dad stop messing my hair up!" he says.

oooOOOooo

My relief is total when we finally touch down in Seattle. It has been a long flight, uncomfortable and awkward and I can't wait to get off this plane.

The doors open and for the first time I am the first one out, I normally wait until everyone else has disembarked but I need to get out of here. I stalk down the steps and set eyes on Christian and Ana who are waiting at the bottom, their smiles fade as they see me and Christian steps towards me his hand outstretched.

I grasp it and he pulls me into a hug, which surprises me, but I go with it.

"What's wrong?" he asks and I shake my head.

"Fucking Mother in law" I mutter sullenly.

"Aah" he says with more than a hint of amusement, and with that I hear movement behind me. I see Ana engulfing Jared in a hug. He had followed me out of the plane as eager as I was to escape its confinement. Eva is next and it doesn't escape my notice that she is in no rush to allow Christian and Ana room to greet Richard and Monica.

Eventually she steps aside and allows them through, before she waves her hand dismissively at Dr Petersen. "My mother's therapist Dr Petersen… he came to support her for the therapy session we have booked tomorrow with Caroline". She pauses and looks coldly at Dr Petersen. "My sister Ana Grey and her husband Christian" she says and with that she completely dismisses him once more.

"That car there is to take you to the hotel I booked for you" I say pointing at the Mercedes parked a short distance away as I address Richard Stanton.

He nods, "Thank you Gideon, that was very kind of you" he says simply and then he wordlessly shepherds Monica towards the waiting car, closely followed by Dr Petersen.

I see Angus and Raul look at each other, neither wants the job of driving them to the hotel and I smile at their reluctance.

"I'll go" Angus eventually says with a resigned sigh.

Christian is grinning, "Good flight?" he asks Eva sarcastically and Eva finally relaxes and lets out a tired laugh.

"You have no idea!" she replies with equal sarcasm.