And to the Christian and Ana we all know! :D Hope you enjoy this ! :D

This is dedicated to Christian618

John's POV

'I see the nurse removed your tube?' I asked her gently as we walked the hallway.

'Mhmm. It was hurting me, and she told me that I can stay without it for a few hours…' She replied softly.

'You were terrific in there!' I smiled as I guided her to the cafeteria.

'Yeah… Why don't I feel so terrific?' She replied thoughtful.

'Ohh, don't worry, they'll always be there for you… You were good, you told them your real feelings, although you didn't say everything Sera… Honesty won't chase them away. It may take them a while to face up to it, but they do love you… you know that…'

'Why couldn't I have said those things before?'

'Not important…You said them now. The important thing is to hold on to the feeling.'

'Uncle… You're going to let me go aren't you?'

'It's up to you. You have to go home sometime…'

'I don't want to leave you… I…'

'I know that… Let's take it one step at a time… ok?'

'I feel like I have no control…'

'It's up to you to find it. I can only help you… We've a lot of work to do kiddo…'

'I won't be able to eat… I know it…'

'Well… that's up to you too… But I think you've learned one thing today, that starving yourself is one slow form of suicide. You don't want your family to love you for that…'

'I don't want to be sick…' She admitted.

'Exactly! You don't want to be sick…'

'Are you being pushy with me today uncle?'

'Come again.' I smiled.

'You've… you've got two of everything on your tray…' She motioned.

'My… my…' I chucked. 'That's a classic observation.'

'Mhmm… Are you being pushy with me?' she asked again as she smiled.

'Cheese burger, French fries, Salad, oh my heavens… What have we here? Ice cream!' I smiled again as I placed the cup in front of her. 'It's up to you!'

'You're being pushy…'

'Right…' I replied as I grabbed a spoonful. She mirrored me and did the same. We both took a bite and for once, she didn't quite give it a lot of thought. She swallowed it slowly. We kept repeating the cycle. I take a spoon and she followed me. 'Delicious!'

'I forgot how this tasted like.' She chuckled. I could finally see that we've broken the ice. She was slowly smiling and getting back to herself.

2 weeks later

From: Dad
Subject: Morning peanut!
Date: April 17th 2014 07.22
To: Sera

Hey peanut! Morning! Hope you're still resting. Just to let you know that your mother and I can't wait to see you! :D

Dad xxx

It was finally time to get back home. I was going to miss here, especially Walter and Derek. I could finally have two little brothers. Rhian and John were only loving and welcoming. In a way I was still in doubt on how my parents would be. They have been acting differently since I told them how I felt. Of course, good different… but I couldn't help wondering…

From: Sera
Subject: Yes I'm UPPP!
Date: April 17th 2014 07.25
To: Dad

Morning dad! :) Yess! :) I'm up! And glad I am… am doing the last packing check… you know seeing that I have everything. Don't worry! I got my 7 hour sleep! Uncle John and Aunt Rhian made sure I'd do so… so don't get worked up over nothing.

At what time are you coming? :)

Me (give mum my huggsss and kisses! :) xxxx)

I pressed send. I was feeling different. I felt more looking forward to many things. It's like I was finally seeing the light to the end of the tunnel. It was a great feeling I must say! I missed all of that. I made my bed, so that Rhian would find everything in order. I still wanted myself perfection, but at least the tendencies were decreasing. John prescribed me some anti-depressants, which although were helping, they were making me very sleepy.

John told me that I'd still have to attend to therapy sessions, even when I recover completely. In a way I truly don't want to deal with it anymore. Once this is all over, I don't even want to know the reasons that made me like this. I don't think I'll be able to deal with the feelings. I don't want to deal with the feelings. He said that I'm still severely underweight although I've started eating at 400 calories a day. My grandparents on the other hand, are more concerned with the long lasting effects anorexia had on me. /'…anorexia… I am saying it to myself… am I admitting I have an illness?'/ I thought to myself. The only thing that is scaring me is the size I will become when I start eating as I should. I mean… I'm used to not eating… I don't know how I will look like after I recover… and what if I find it easier like this and go back to the life with Ed? What if I can't deal with anything again? What if this time there would be something else pushing me to the limit? What about school? I've lost a lot of days… yes the private tutor had helped me a lot… and I got my work up to standards with my school… but I still couldn't get myself to the fact that I'll be going back to the usual lessons, to the usual things… what are classmates going to say? Soon another thought came creeping into my mind. The nightmares have kind of stopped, or at least weren't as vivid as they used to… what if they return? What am I going to do? Can I talk about them with mum or dad? Should I talk about them? Or should I write them down?

'Sera?' John took me out of my deep trance.

'Yeah!' I quickly replied almost in fright.

'Breakfast's ready…' He said again as he moved forward and held me from my shoulders and turned me to face him. 'Are you ok?'

'Yeah… I am…' I replied as I avoided his gaze, while he kept trying to search for my eyes. 'It's nothing… really…' I insisted. 'Just some thoughts…' I smiled.

'Sera, there is no shame in voicing anything you may feel…'

'It's not that Uncle… It's just… I'll be missing here, and although I'm happy on going back home… I'm still attached to here…'

'Sera, just because you're going home, doesn't mean you can't come and stay some nights here and there. Besides, Walter and Derek will love it, and Rhian and I will be pleased if you do so!' He smiled as he hugged me. 'Our home and family will always be here and open for you…'

'I'm going to miss you uncle!' I admitted as I returned his hug.

'I know baby girl… I know… and I'm going to miss you a lot too… I always meant it when I said I love you as my own daughter.'

'You did?' I asked in disbelief.

'Yeah… of course I did!' He replied astounded. 'What do you think? That I said it to make you feel better?'

'Well… yeah!'

'Let's clear the air now… I always meant it and so did Rhian!'

'Oh…'

'However, one thing you have to promise me…'

'What is it?'

'You are going to keep going on the outpatient visits to your grandparents, you are going to eat, and you are going to obey your parents when it comes to food. I'm handing them a list to follow… and you have to follow it till the last detail… and don't worry… I've consulted a nutritionist about you being a vegetarian… it's entailed for you…'

'Yes… I promise I will… I'm only worried about gaining all the weight back…' I finally admitted.

'Till now you haven't gained much weight Sera! Your body is still taking nutrients rather than storing for now. When it starts storing, yes you will gain weight… but you will stop gaining when your metabolism will get back on track. Right now, you're still very underweight Sera… your BMI is still dangerously low at 12…'

'I know… I know uncle! I've already heard this for the zillionth time…'

'You need to hear it again Sera… I don't want to see you in a hospital again. You deserve way better than being stuck in a bed…'

'Yeah…' I replied, as I closed my luggage, and lifted it off, but he soon took it from me.

'Leave it… I'll take care of it…' He smiled. 'Now let's go for breakfast.

I joined them for breakfast as they asked me to. At first, I felt my stomach close on me, but I forced myself, and finally managed. I had some oatmeal with water, along with some grapes. Two things I always liked. I think I got my love for cereal from mum. She always loved granola bars… but then… does it make sense?

While I was having some grapes, my phone buzzed again.

From: Dad
Subject: SURPRISE!
Date: April 17th 2014 08.15
To: Sera

Hope you had your breakfast, because we haven't had a family day in ages, and we think it's time to set everything aside for a second and invest our energy into family time... :)

It won't be long… Check the door peanut! :)

Love

Mum and Dad xxxx

/'Check the door?'/I thought to myself, as the doorbell rang. I finally realised they timed it immediately. John took the door, while I followed him to greet them. Automatically, I moved forward and hugged them both tight. I could see that I surprised them both. I had also surprised myself. What was happening? However both returned their hug.

'We missed you honey!' Mum started as she took me into her arms and took my breath out, and soon followed by dad.

'I told you it won't be long peanut…' He teased as he lifted me off.

'Dad!'

'You're my baby girl…' He smiled as he kissed my forehead, and placed me back on my feet. 'Are you ready?'

'Mhmm…' I smiled.

'Breakfast?' He interrogated.

'Mhmm…' I replied again, as I noticed all of them doing eye talk. 'I should let you guys talk… I'll go help Aunt Rhian.'

'We won't be long Sera…' John replied, as all of them went to John's study.

Christian's POV

She caught me off guard with her hugs. 'She looks better!' I said. The words were out of my mouth before I could think about. 'I mean… emotionally… she seems better…'

'She looks happier.' Ana added.

'She is…' John replied as he grabbed a piece of paper and handed it to me. '…and I'd like her to stay that way. She's made progress…'

'What about her weight?' Ana asked.

'Well… she's still very underweight… As I told you last time you took her, she may need help in walking… and maybe even doing the normal thing we take for granted. I'd suggest that for now you shouldn't leave her alone with Gail… she needs a family…'

'We've already thought about it…' Ana replied.

'I can do my work from home. It's my company and I don't have a board to talk things with…'

'…and when he has a meeting or has to go abroad, I can take few days off…'

'I'm glad you're finally communicating.' He smiled.

'What about this paper?' I asked as I took a quick view to it.

'It's the diet Sera has to follow for now until mum updates it.'

'This isn't even enough for a 4 year old!' I exclaimed as I read. 'Oat meal or any kind of cereal of her choice and a piece of fruit; Lunch: Sandwich, fruit and smoothies ; Dinner: Salad, and legumes, bread or pasta with white sauce…'

'Christian, she has to start slowly. Remember she hasn't had a proper meal in ages… She's doing baby steps.' He cut me off. 'You have to make sure that with every meal she has, it has to be without any rituals, and that means, no cutting food into small pieces, no moving around, no playing, no fidgeting, no nervous attacks. She has to have her hair tightly placed in a ponytail, sleeves up, no shoes and even socks, no scratching off food or squeezing the food, you have to make sure that if she goes to the bathroom after a meal, you have to stay outside and make sure that she doesn't make herself sick. If she does you have to go in and stop her immediately. She will put a fight but you have to restrain her, hold her and talk to her… no anger… no shouting… just talk and understand… and if she drops it even by mistake, you have to substitute it with a different food of the same size and nutritional value.'

'Wow…' Ana replied. 'What do you mean?'

'Ana, her anorexic tendencies won't disappear in an instant. Unconsciously she will still go back to them, and we need to be there to put a stop to the cycle. You will be the ones stopping the relay race, until finally she will be able to break free of all the rituals.'

'…and what about eating in public?'

'I see you made your research Christian…' He smiled. 'It's not easy for now. It may distress her… but you have to be in control, if she fails in even doing a right choice from the menu, you have to be the ones to place the order for her. Also, you need to reassure her. She may feel ashamed and even that she doesn't deserve anything… but you have to be the ones to show her what she really means to you.'

'She will ask to go back to school…' Ana brought out a major point.

'I'd suggest that for now she'll stick with home schooling. She needs to gain her physical strength along with emotional and mental strength back… she is assertive, but kids are never nice… we want to avoid anything that will set her back for now…'

'…and ballet?'

'Some physical exercise won't hurt anyone… but she doesn't have the strength to do long walks for now let alone dance Ana.' He reasoned. 'Ask mum about any kinds of physical exercise Christian. She can tell you better than I can in that aspect.'

'We thought on sailing on The Grace today. Is it ok for her?' I asked him wanting to make sure to not make any mistakes.

'Yes, of course, just keep in mind that she won't be comfortable to be in lighter clothes or anything, not to mention she's constantly cold.' He replied.

'…and the nightmares?' Ana asked again.

'They decreased a lot… however when one hits, I'd suggest that one of you should stay with her for the night. They don't hit often but when they do they are bad.' He continued. '…I've also prescribed some anti-depressants which she should take for now.' He added as he handed me the box.

'When should we stop these?' Ana asked.

'When she feels she's ready or when you see fit. When you see that she is able to cope without them. You can stop them for some time and see how she goes, but when you see that she has the littlest sign of depression or even suicidal thoughts, you should start her again on them. She should take one before she sleeps.'

'John, I don't know how we're going to thank you…' I admitted. 'If it wasn't for you… I don't know what would have happened to my daughter… we ignored her… and her telling us everything made us realise how much in the wrong we were.'

'The past is the past… all of you should now look forward… and please… for Sera… don't push her away no matter what the situation…'

'We won't…' Ana agreed as she took my hand. 'It's a new chapter for all of us…'

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