I DO NOT OWN FSOG.

CPOV:

I rack my brain for the answer that would be easiest and would effectively end the conversation. How do I explain to my parents what happened between Elena and I? My mother will hate me. My dad will disown me because my mother will hate me. Mia and Elliot will be disgusted with me...my hands start to twitch and clear my throat. I am stalling for as long as I can. I look towards the door; planning my quick escape from the one conversation I dread the most. My eyes don't settle on the door though. They settle on a picture set in a gold vintage frame next to the door. The vibrant colored photo seeps into my brain as I drink in the sight and commit every detail to memory. My two favorite people in the entire world are centered in front of an old brown fence with a huge barn in the background. Ana and Will are the only focused spot in the picture while everything else is slightly blurred. Ana is kneeling in front of a standing Will, who looks younger in the photo, holding a green stem. White specks are floating in front of the camera and my guess is that they were playing with dandelions. Will's head is thrown back in laughter while his pudgy hands hold his stomach. Ana is laughing equally as hard while staring at Will. I'm not sure where the picture is or who caught this candid moment between the two. It embodies them perfectly and I feel something settle in my head. It's the determination to be better for those two that leads to my confidence returning. I suck in a deep breath and return my father's stare. His own determination has not left his face and I decide it's now or never.

"We used to have a specific type of…relationship." I answer honestly, waiting for the words to form clearer in my head.

"Okay…" my father waits for me to specify what type of relationship we had and I steal a glance at my mother. Her innocent doe eyes tell me that she has no clue what I am about to say.

"A sexual relationship." I divulge. My mother gasps audibly and her hand flies to cover her mouth. My dad repositions himself across from me, realizing this is not going to be a quick conversation. He is settling in for the long haul now and my legs are still twitching to make a great escape.

"How long?" I expected my father to take on his court room persona, but I get something I was not expecting at all. I get my father. His voice is clipped, but concern still seeps through his words.

"Six years." I watch my fathers jaw tighten as he tries to hide his anger. My mother is just staring at me with a blank look on her face.

"Mother?" I ask tenderly, hoping to bring her back to the now. She doesn't respond with words, but her head does tilt slightly while her gaze remains fixed on me. Then she laughs, actually laughs her girlish laugh that reminds me so much of Ana's.

"Carrick!" She says through her laughter while playfully slapping my father's leg. He eyes her warily and I feel Ana sit up a little more at this odd behavior. "I could have sworn Christian just said he and Elena had a sexual relationship for six years." Her own words make her laugh again. She thinks I am kidding right now… now this I did not expect. She tries to speak through her laughter.

"Okay…really…tell us what is really going on." She says as her laughter turns into a giggle and her gaze fixes on my father. His tense face and worried gaze are enough to cease her laughter all together. Her head snaps in my direction, realization washing over her features and tears welling in her eyes. "No…" she whispers out while maintaining eye contact with me. A silence looms over us for a moment while everyone in the room comes to an understanding of where this conversation is actually headed. My dad shifts his chair closer to mom and takes her hand in his own. My father's mouth starts to open, but my mothers question cuts him off and cuts the conversation directly to the main root of the conversation.

"When did it start, Christian?" Her voice is laced with agony and my heart feels as if it could explode from hearing it. Ana shifts a little closer to me as if she can sense I need her comfort and strength right now.

"When I was fifteen." I answer honestly. A wail vibrates off the walls and I almost imagine it being the security alarm going off. Ana's grip tightens on my hand as if anchoring me to this couch with her. I search her face for any clues as to what that noise is. Then, I hear it. Loud, uncontrollable sobs make the source of the wail known and my eyes flicker towards it... It is my mother, with her hands on her face, crying her heart out. I can hear the words 'no' and 'sorry' repetitively but I cannot make out anything else. My father is now sitting on the edge of his seat attempting to console my mother and get her uncontainable sobs to die down.

I wanted to escape earlier and avoid having this conversation at all. Now, I couldn't leave if I tried. I am rooted to this spot as I watch my father wipe my mother's unwavering flow of tears from her pale cheeks. Her voice is void of color like they normally would be. She's so incredibly upset with me and I realize I deserve it. Elena always said they wouldn't understand and disown me if I told… well, she was clearly right. My mother calms down, enough that she can breathe through the tears. My father moves back into his chair, but doesn't let go of her hand. His concerned gaze still fixed on her.

"I am so sorry…" my mother's small voice comes out like a whisper, but it sounds as if it echoes through the room. She hiccups through a sob then looks up to make eye contact with me.

"I'm the-" I begin but she cuts me off effectively.

"No, you are nothing but a victim. I'm so incredibly sorry I brought her into your life." My mouth drops open and I stare at my mother thinking my hearing is now failing me.

"What?" I question dumbly, truly believing I misheard her words through her quiet voice.

"Grace, it is not your fault." My father says while looking between my mother and me. I did hear correctly. She blames her self.

"I wanted it." I say hoping to erase the guilt my mother is feeling. It is not her fault at all.

"You were fifteen. You didn't know what you wanted. You were a minor for crying out loud." There it is. The lawyer is slowing making its presence known. I shift uncomfortably and realize my body has shifted during the talk closer to Ana. She is almost in my lap. She has not said one word, but gives me so much strength in her presence alone. I turn to look at her and she is already staring at me. She regards me warily, but her shy, comforting smile graces her face. No words need to be spoken from her to let me know that everything is going to be okay. Her look says it all. A sardonic chuckle escapes from my mother across the room, effectively cutting off my silent message with Ana.

"Some mother I am." My mother's voice has returned and it is now filled with a different emotion, one I cannot place.

"Grace-" my father starts but is interrupted by my mother.

"Ana sensed it the first time she met Elena. I have let that woman in my home for over sixteen years and I never caught on. What kind of mother does that make me?" she sinks back in her chair, tears fill her eyes once more.

"You are a magnificent mother, Grace." Ana's sweet voice makes my mother look up. Ana shoots a small smile my way and continues one. "Carrick, you are an amazing father as well." I stare at her in awe as she calms my parents with her words alone. She has both of their attention now as well as mine. "Elena…" she drifts off as if she is unclear of her words, but I see an uneasiness settle behind her eyes. "Elena is manipulative. You probably never would have seen it or caught on. She creates this persona around you, but keeps her true intentions hidden." She eyes my parents carefully, hoping to not overstep any boundaries. They are hooked onto every word she says though. "She abused your friendship with you, Grace, in order to abuse her relationship with Christian. This is Elena's fault. Not anyone is this room." She finishes with a reassuring smile and we all let those words sink in for a moment.

"I'm going to destroy her." My father says and I stare at him with my mouth agape. His eyes find mine and he raises an eyebrow.

"Not if I get to her first. She may be a bloody mess when I am finished with her." My mother says and all of our heads whip to her. She chuckles darkly, her tear stained cheeks returning to normal color. My father sucks in his bottom lip, steeling himself from laughing. She shrugs her shoulders unapologetically. "No one messes with my family and gets away with it." She says while staring at Ana. I turn in time to catch Ana's small, agreeing nod.

"So, no more Elena okay? I don't want her around Ana or Will." I say, my voice returning to normal once I have processed this turn on the conversation.

"Oh dear, Elena will never step foot near my family again. She will be lucky if she can even survive in Seattle." Her words get a laugh out of me. This is so unlike Grace Grey, but so amusing to witness. Her kickass attitude turns quickly as a frown mars her face.

"Mom, what's wrong?" I ask curiously. I thought we got passed everything.

"I didn't protect you. It's my job as a mother and I failed." I can hear the emotion thick in her words and tears once again form in her eyes. Her hands cover her face as she sobs quietly. I am holding her in my arms before I realize I have even crossed the room to her. She sobs against my chest with no words needing to be spoken between us. My shirt is soaked, but I could care less. She needs this more than anything. She needs to let it out so we can move past this. After a few minutes, her tears dry up and she pulls away from me. She tries her best to wipe the tear stains off her cheeks as she moves around me to make her way to Ana. She takes her in her arms and whispers something in Ana's ear. Ana's blush rises and I can only speculate as to what is being said. My mother finally pulls away from her and turns to face us. She goes to speak, but is cut off by what sounds like rustling of sheets.

"That must be Will. I'll go get him." Ana says while frowning at the baby monitor. I expected her to have to wake him up later, not him waking up on his own. My mother hugs me once more and my father man hugs me before we make our way out of the room. We are greeted in the hallway by a half asleep Will who is snuggled up in Ana's arms. My heart beams with joy as Will reaches out for me without a word being said. He places his head in the crook of my neck while his arms go around my neck.

"Hey sleepyhead. Did you sleep well?" I ask him in a very quiet voice against his ruffled mane of blonde hair. He answers with a lazy nod. We make our way back outside to enjoy the rest of our sunny day. Will and I sit on one of the lounge chairs while he finishes waking up. Ana offered to switch spots with me but I shooed her away much to my enjoyment. Will wanted me in this moment and I am going to take full advantage of it. It is like a sign from God that I made the right decision regarding the talk I just had with my parents and I pull Will closer at the thought.

Sadly, I have been in the hospital. I am now home and resting comfortably. Thank you for all the sweet words and kind wishes. This chapter is smaller than normal, but I nixed the second part of this chapter since it was just… blah. I have already started the next chapter. Again, please be patient with me as continue to try to get back to normal.

xoEW