So here it is chapter 18. Hopefully it's okay, I was aiming for more detail into Ana and Christian, but I was working with the flow of my thoughts. So hopefully you all like this chapter.

To answer a pm I received I will answer it here... Yes there will be lemons, but they won't be appearing until Chapter 23 or so... But I'm glad ur enjoying my story!

Anyway, enjoy!

I don't own these characters, I'm just having some fun with them!

Christian

"I need your help."

"Grey, you do realize I'm on the other side of the world, right? Which means I'm sleeping. Make this quick I have a meeting in three hours, with chauvinistic pricks." She speaks with a groggy voice.

Sighing, I run my hand through my hair. How do I go about this?

"I need ideas on how to plan a date for... my sister." I lie through my teeth. Could I be any more pathetic? My sister? What the fuck!

"You're going to plan a date for your... Sister? Why?" She asks confused, but now more awake.

Stop asking, just fucken help!

"Someone woke up with a stick up his ass this morning!" She says over the phone. For a minute I'm confused as to who she might be talking about, but then I realize, I've said it out loud.

"Ros, cut the shit and just give me a fucken idea." I'm beginning to get frustrated with this conversation.

"Simple," she says and I can already hear her smartass remark. "Take her to Chuck E Cheese." I laugh out loud as I picture taking Mia to Chuck E Cheese. She would chew my ass off for it, but I know Elliot would love to go. I swear sometimes I wonder if he ever grew out of adolescence. Probably not.

"This is stupid." I shake my head at my own stupidity. Just fucken come out and say it, I want to take a woman out on a date. It's not so hard fucker!

Taking a deep breath to sum up the courage I fucken need, I say, "I need advice on where I can take a woman out on a date."

There is nothing but silence on the other line, and for a moment I believe she has disconnected the call.

"You... You... Want to... go on a... Date?" I smirk when I hear the shock in her voice, while in the background Gwen's voicing her questions at a rapid pace, causing me to laugh once again.

Minutes later, Ros and Gwen come up with a great idea for a date, in exchange for an all week paid vacation to Bora Bora. I can hear Gwen cheer from the background as I agree to the week vacation in exchange for the ideas.

Even though, Gwen goes with Ros whenever she has to go away for a business meeting in my place, they don't spend it together. Usually it's Gwen who roams around sightseeing, while Ros is stuck in boring thirteen hour meetings with incompetent assholes.

"Keep kicking ass Ros and make sure those fuckers get in line." All humor gone, she responds with a "Yes Sir." before I disconnect the call.

Walking back inside my mother's home with a kick in my step and a smile on my face, I can't help but feel excited. I know it's a long shot but I'm hoping everything goes as planned.

Anastasia

I can't control the face splitting smile that is still formed on my lips.

I have no words for what has took place minutes ago, but I can't say I hate it. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I wanted to be kissed. I asked for it. I needed it.

Closing my eyes, I can still feel his soft lips pressed against mine.

"Ana, dear are you alright?" Grace asks, startling me from my pleasant thoughts.

"Yes I'm fine. Just a bit hungry I guess." I answer looking anywhere but at her. I can feel the blush rise on my face as I think about someone seeing what took place outside.

"Oh, well come on then, you can help carry the pitchers of homemade orange juice to the dining room table." She says as she pulls open the refrigerator door, taking out two pitchers of orange juice.

Turning around, as she preoccupies herself looking for a platter, I chance a look at Christian who's on his phone.

For a moment I think it must be business related, but then I see him smile and laugh. I can feel myself deflate as a thought enters my mind. Maybe he does have a girlfriend.

No, if he did Elliot would've said so, right? Or maybe he knows and is covering up for Christian? Shaking my head to rid myself of such negative thoughts, I turn my attention back to Grace who has placed the platter with sweets.

"I don't think I've seen him this happy in a long time." She says as her eyes are focused on Christian whose is still talking on his phone.

"Really?" She smiles sweetly and nods her head. "Yes, he's usually gruff, or closed off to everyone outside of family. But with you," she stops and my breath hitches when I see her eyes fill with tears. "He's different. A good different." I release the breath I was holding, as I waited for her to say the complete opposite of what she's said.

"Come on dear, lunch is about to be served." I nod and follow behind her, carrying the two pitchers of orange juice, as she carries the platter with sweets.

"So Ana, Kate has mentioned your father was in the Military, is this true?" Carrick asks as Grace and I enter the dining room.

"Yes Sir he was." I speak as I place the orange juice, where Grace has directed. "He joined the Military, when he turned 18 and retired when I was about 6 months old."

"Why did he retire? I mean, he was in the Military for a long time, why would he give it up?"

Sitting down on the empty seat next to Grace I begin, "Because of me." I smile when a look of confusion passes between The Grey's, "My father..." I stop when Christian comes into the dining room, saying his apologies for being late and taking the seat next to me.

"Don't worry sweetheart, we're just about to start." Grace says with a smile on her face. For a moment I wonder what it would've been like to have a mother as wonderful, kind, and loving as she.

"Ana you were saying?" Carrick speaks once everyone has settled down again.

Taking a deep breath I begin, "My father is actually my stepfather, well technically he's my dad." I smile "Ray adopted me six months after I was born. Since my biological father die the day I was born it was easy, to adopt me." I stop and look up just in time to see Carrick with a confused expression, "He was also in the Military." I can see his slight nod of understanding, "My father and my dad somehow fell in love with my mother and the rest is history. She was married to my father, and then widowed, and then she married my dad when I was three months old."

"So you were also adopted like us?" Mia asks as she's seated to the right of Carrick across from Christian. "Yes, in a way." I answer as I take a sip of my orange juice.

"So Ana what does your mother do?" I freeze, when I realize I have to answer this question. I don't want to lie, but I don't want to tell her the truth.

I look up towards Kate who's sitting across from me, nodding for me to continue. Slowly releasing my breath I answer her question.

"I honestly don't know." Choosing to look at my slice of sandwich on my plate, instead of the pitty I know will be in her eyes, I continue. "She hasn't been around. Matter of fact, she doesn't call, or visit. I have no idea where she might be or even if she cares to know what I've been up to." Shrugging, I turn my attention to Kate who has pride in her eyes when she looks at me.

Guessing Elliot has felt my mood shift, he attempts at humor.

"So Ana, when are we going over to your house again? I would really like to eat some of your famous chicken pot pie again." I smile a wide smile and begin to laugh.

"Is that where my pie went? Geez, I wonder how you got your hands on it." I say turning to look at an embarrassed Kate, who elbows Elliot in the ribs for calling her out, who then begins to laugh historically.

And just like that the good mood has returned to the dining table as we all begin to enjoy lunch.

Christian

Looking towards Ana, who's seated to my right, I smile at her. She beautiful, perfect, and I will never tire of saying that.

When she spoke about her father and mother, I felt angry. Angry that someone would intentionally miss out on her life, when here I am, trying hard to be in her life.

"Christian are you okay?" Mia asks as she noticed the vise like grip I have on the glass of orange juice.

"Yeah, Mia I'm fine." I say as I gently try to place the glass down on the table. I can see Ana turning to look at me from my peripherals. I know if I face her she'll see how I feel.

Closing my eyes as to not give her a hint, I feel a small hand being placed on my thigh.

Acting as if nothing is happening, I open my eyes and turn to face Ana, whose eyes scream for me not to pity her.

Shaking my head softly and smiling towards her, I hold on to her hand that is still placed on my thigh. I want her to know she's safe, that I will comfort her in times of need, and I will be there for her.

She smiles a genuine smile and I can see she understood the silent, but powerful message.

Throughout the time we are still seated at the dining room table having lunch, our hands don't lose contact. I'm not even paying attention to the conversation surrounding me until I hear, "white roses."

"Mom since we're on the topic of white roses," I ask as my curiosity has peaked. "Why do you have nothing but white roses bushels in the backyard?"

Elliot, Mia, and I wear the same look of curiosity, as my dad has a smile on his face.

"Well you see," she sighs and looks lovingly towards my dad. "It all started when I met your father."

"Your mother was in her second year of college and I was picking up a friend when I met her." Dad says just as fondly as Mom.

"He introduced himself when he saw me walking towards him,"

"Which she wasn't." Dad says with a chuckle as he interrupts mom.

"You see kids," she says looking at all of us including Kate and Ana who are captivated by our parents history. "Carry was park beside my car, so he jumped to the conclusion I was walking towards him." She says as she recalls what happened.

Elliot can't help himself and says something to dad, that I can't quite decipher due to his laughing fit, but sure enough dad understood earning Elliot a slap behind his head.

Mom gently shakes her head and continues, " As I was saying, your dad assumed and asked me to join him for lunch. I refused his offer and thanked him as I made my way to my little red car."

"At that moment I knew she was it. She was the one for me." He says as he smiles with so much love towards my mother, "I went back everyday for a week straight just to ask her to have lunch or dinner with me. Every time I asked she always said no, so I did something that would catch her attention, even if she was avoiding me at times."

"What did you do?" I turn to look at Mia who's waiting patiently for the rest of the story.

"He would place a single white rose under my cars windshield wiper." She laughs, quickly catching a lone tear that's threatening to fall from her eye.

"I did it for two months, going back and forth from the college I was attending to the college she was in, placing white rose with notes tied around the stem with yarn."

"In his notes he wrote some things about himself. His good qualities, his dislikes and likes. His favorite books. Everything."

"There was a time I almost gave up on pursuing your mother, but I was stubborn back then as I am now. And it was the start of my greatest accomplishments."

"I gave in after the 63rd rose I received and realized I would be a fool if I didn't give him a chance. So I called him and I told him, 'Why don't you just buy me a white rose bushel, this way I can receive them all year round, instead of buying single white roses that wither days later?' I was being playful with him, but little did I know he would take my word for it. That is why we planted white rose bushels around our home."

Elliot, Mia, and myself as well as the girls are looking between my mother and father. After all these years, you can see they still truly love each other.

I feel my heart race and my palms become clammy when it hits me. I want Ana and I to have fond memories of each other as my parents have of them. I know I'm seriously jumping ahead of me, but as I hold onto her hand, which is still placed on my thigh, I know that I won't give up no matter what the cost.

I bet you never thought of Ros? Sorry to disappoint, no there is no Elena appearing in my story. She will be mentioned, but that troll is under th bridge... Haha, you get it? Troll... Bridge... No? Well ooookay then! :)