Chapter 5

Ana sat there frozen until she finally found her nerve. "Grace, I really wish you would ask him. Everything we have is so new. I've tried talking to him and I wanted to ask you the other day, but I realized this is for him to say, not me."

Grace respected that. "I've known for years. When Christian was two, his mother contacted me. Her name was Ella. When she called, she said she stole Carrick's wallet while he was in the bathroom."

Grace explained Ella was 16 when her pimp dealer sold her for sex. When she ended up pregnant Carrick came back to get the baby. "I remember that trip. I had Elliot and Carrick went back to Detroit often. I had to fax paperwork to get him home. He didn't have an ID."

Grace looked at Ana. "I never said anything to him and months later, we had Christian. I blame myself for Ella's death, that's why I coddle Christian more." She explained nothing was Ella's fault. "She knew we had him and she thought I was nice and we could give him a better life. She asked for money and a picture of Christian. I sent her both and a month later Detroit police contacted me about her death. I didn't want Christian to hate me."

Grace made it clear. "I flew out to bury her, after confronting Carrick. He swore he didn't know her age and when he found out she was pregnant, he thought he did the right thing." Grace sighed. "I wanted my kids to be happy. I wanted a family and he promised me it wouldn't happen again."

She took a sip of her coffee. "I knew he was lying. I found out about Kate way later. I went to see Christian at work and he had a file open on his desk. That was a shock. She looks like Carrick in the face. Her and Christian actually have that redness in their hair even though Christian is definitely more copper. That came from his mom."

Grace knew Christian was struggling with the truth and keeping it. "I guess he doesn't want Elliot to feel differently." Grace admitted she was embarrassed about the situation. "I could never give him children. It's always been something I struggled with. I grew up in a nice family and we had money, but I never expected this to be my life." Grace had tears running down her face.

Ana felt bad for Grace. She also realized Grace had her own secrets. She also realized she didn't know everything. Elliot would be a bigger surprise. "Grace, you and Christian should talk. He could never hate you."

Ana saw them coming. Elliot was carrying a tired Ava. "Christian, I need to speak with you." Elliot joked that his baby bro was in trouble since his mom sounded serious. Christian knew this was coming.

He asked Taylor to get the girls home. "Ana, will you stay with me tonight?" Ana agreed she knew Christian needed some support. She got in the car with the girls after saying goodbye to Elliot. She said goodnight to Kate and was grateful she didn't ask anything. She showered and watched some TV in the family room.

When she heard the door, Christian came in with Grace. She was a complete wreck. He helped her upstairs and in the guest bedroom. He came back down and went straight into his room. She knew Christian had trouble and this was new. She didn't move, she was worried.

The bedroom door finally opened. "Ana?" She stood up and walked in. "I broke her heart. I shouldn't have told her anything." Ana told Christian she asked her questions while they were outside and what she said. "She cried, she didn't even say anything. She just cried. What if she can't bounce back?"

Ana was worried about Christian. "What about you?" Christian shrugged. He said it didn't matter. He felt bad, but Ella wasn't his mother. "Christian, you don't have to act so tough. It's okay to be hurt." That's what he needed to hear and he broke down crying.

Later on Ana awoke when she heard someone in the kitchen. Christian was out cold, so she checked. It was Grace with a glass of water. She looked like she had still been crying. "Grace, are you okay?"

Grace shook her head. "Would you be?" Ana turned to leave, she wasn't angry at Grace for snapping, she thought she needed time. "Please stay. I'm so sorry." Ana sat beside her. "Christian has had to hold onto this for so long. My best friend was raped by my husband and forced to watch me raise her son. It's all too much. She must hate me. Why didn't she tell me?"

Ana watched her cover her face. She patted her back. Grace cried, "Ana you must think I'm a crazy person to stay, but I swear I didn't think it was that bad. I just wanted my kids." Grace sobbed because she was so broken.

Ana really didn't know what she could say to help. "Grace, I don't know Elena at all, but I can only think, she was hurt and would never want you to feel that pain." Grace looked at Ana. "Elena never worried about Elliot because you were the mom she couldn't be. She put all her trust in you. You kept Elliot safe. You helped him become a man. He's nothing like Carrick. That's because of you."

Grace looked up with a little more hope. Ana did what she could, "As for Christian, I think he felt the same. He took all of the pain for you all. Christian is fine, but I think the truth still needs to come out so all of you can heal."

Grace looked in disbelief and Ana thought she said something very wrong. "Ana, you are amazing and so smart. You had to grow up fast, didn't you?" Ana nodded but explained life wasn't so bad. Others had it worse. Grace smiled, "You and Christian are alike. Thank you Ana." Grace kissed her cheek. "Goodnight sweetheart."

Ana watched her go up the steps. She walked into the room and saw Christian. "Is she okay?" Ana nodded saying she was going to bed. "You're right, you know." Christian sighed. "About all of it. I held it in to protect them, but I didn't. She's hurt." Christian stood up and paced. "I felt this weight lift a little when I told the truth. But what about Elliot and Kate?" Christian leaned against the dresser. His knuckles were white from the grip.

Ana held him from behind. She pushed her hands under his shirt feeling his chest. "It may be hard, but I think it will eventually get better." He turned around and she pulled his shirt off and kissed his chest. "Mmmmm. Ana what are you doing?"

Ana pressed her finger against his lips. Then she kissed him. She pulled off her night shirt and pressed her chest. She felt his hardness pressing against her front. "Christian, I love you and I want this." She bit her lip. He pressed his forehead against hers asking if she was sure. "I've never been so sure."

He kissed her gently and kissed her until she was close to the bed. She sat down and pulled off his boxer briefs. His length sprang forward. She had felt it, but hadn't seen it. She couldn't be scared. She had zero experience and the worry was all over her face. She was a reader though and she not only read the classics, but some steamy romance novels. She talked herself through it. "Come on Ana. You wanted this. Grab the base."

Ana grabbed it and circled the tip with her thumb. She heard him moan and it gave her some confidence. She positioned her lips around his tip and sucked while stroking it with her hands. The moaning was one thing, but he grew even more. She heard, "Fuck Ana!" Then his fingers went to her hair. He pulled her up quickly.

Ana's big blue eyes looked up, "Did I do it wrong. I don't really know what I was thinking."

Christian just shook his head. "You underestimate yourself too much." He sat her down, pushed her back, and pulled her shorts off. Christian knew she wasn't on birth control, he didn't even ask, just grabbed the condom. As he hovered about her, he smiled. She smiled back and he cuffed her front. It felt different than before. As he circled her sensitive area, he made sure she was ok. "Do you want me to stop?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and shook her head no. He slipped in a finger to make sure she was wet. He used her moisture to lubricant the condom that was rolled on. She felt the head of his length at her entrance. He let her grip him tightly as he pushed in breaking her barrier. He settled, giving her a minute. She was tight but it would have been insulting to mention it. "Are you ok? I'm going to move."

He rocked slowly and Ana rocked with his motion letting him know she was good. "Uhhh! Mmmm!" Her moans only made him want more. "I love you." Her words only sped up his goal, but he waited for her. He wanted them to come together. Ana didn't know what her body was doing, but he knew. "Christian, I'm, Christian! Ahhhhh!"

Ana's lower half tightened over his length and Christian came hard with her. Ana's stomach quivered and Christian massaged her to help her ride out the feeling. "Ana, I love you so much and I trust you with my life." Christian held Ana while she slept. He was thankful that he had her love.