Christian's POV

A week had passed since she was discharged, and things had been getting worse and worse. She gave up eating, and didn't have the will to even come out of her room. Ana and I both tried getting her to talk… but it was to no avail. She closed herself, and I couldn't recognise her anymore. All those dreams… hopes… the will to get all better… it vanished before my eyes. And she was deteriorating slowly. Vanishing into thin air. There were no more smiles… no one to bring some joy to us. She's stuck in this place, and whatever we say isn't helping.

Ana was broken herself. She couldn't handle seeing her like that. She knew this was different. I, on the other hand decided to give up my search. Ana was right. I was more concerned with getting pay back rather than being there for my daughter.

'Christian…' Ana said as she came down. 'She doesn't want to eat.' She said as she came beside me. 'What are we going to do?'

'I called dad…' I confessed. 'He told me that he'll come by later to put her on the tube again…'

'Christian…'

'I know Ana… but what do you expect me to do? Let her starve to death? Gail had to help her shower this morning while you went to make the statement with the reporters Ana… She doesn't have the energy to walk again… and it's getting serious…'

'What did Carrick say?' She asked me gently.

'He saw this coming Ana… we both know what her control is…' I replied back.

'Christian… maybe we should translocate for now… It would be better for her… and us as well… we all need some peace of mind. Her especially Christian!'

'Dad gave me the keys to their lake house… he said it's ours now…' I admitted.

'What do you mean by ours?' She asked.

'Mum and dad were going to give it to Sera as a graduation present. He thought it's better if we use it… he gave it to us…'

'Did you…' she started as I cut her off.

'I did Ana… but you know my father he won't stop until he gets what he wants.'

'That was nice of him Christian…' She replied again as she took a seat.

'Eat Ana… I'll go talk to her…' I replied as I made my way up.

'Christian…' She stopped me.

'Yeah.'

'…be gentle… she doesn't need more hurt right now…' She advised as I continued my way up.

She was there lying in bed with a book in her hand. The broken one was giving her some trouble these days, and she tried holding on to the pain rather than having pain killers. The tranquilizer was making her more tired, so she spent more time feeling drowsy than up. We made sure that at least every half hour someone would check up on her. But she looked more like a ghost.

I knocked gently trying to get her attention but she was so lost in what she was doing.

'Sera…' I called her gently as I moved forward and took her book.

'Dad…' She replied as she reached for the book. 'I was reading that…'

'…and you're also closing yourself in here…' I replied as I placed it on her desk and lied down beside her. I pulled her close to me and rubbed her back gently. 'How are you feeling?' I asked her.

'…tired…' She replied. 'Those stuff are making me too sleepy…'

'I know… you need it peanut…' I tried gently. I knew this wasn't easy on her, but we couldn't stop the medication for now. I couldn't trust myself… and her for the matter that she wouldn't try it again. 'Let me tell you what… if you come to eat… and I'll see that you are safe, we'll try and decrease the dosage. What do you think?'

'I'm not hungry dad…'

'Sera… you haven't touched anything in a week… you're losing weight again… faster than ever… your body is shutting down and I'm scared for you…' I tried again as she stood up to a seating position freeing herself from my embrace.

'Dad…'

'I swore to myself that I won't let you die…' I tried while she cut me off.

'Dad… Dad just stop!' She said in irritation as she stood up holding for support.

'Look at you… you barely have the energy…'

'Dad… please… just for once… can't you just accept it that I'm not hungry!'

'Accept it?' I asked in disbelief as I stood up and faced her. 'How can I accept this when you are resorting back to your anorexia?'

'No…'

'No what Sera?' I challenged as I moved forward and she moved backwards away from me. 'Don't you dare say damn otherwise Sera… You have no other choice in this… You're coming to eat now… Even if I have to drag you down… and you're going to eat till I see the plate clear.' I replied as I grabbed her from her functional arm and dragged her down.

'Christian…' Ana tried while Sera struggled to get away from me.

'Dad… leave me alone!' She said with tears in her eyes.

'Over my dead body Sera… You are going to eat and that's final!' I ordered sternly as I took the rubber band from her arm and quickly placed her hair into a pony tail. Her hair was so brittle. Lumps were falling from it… something in me stirred in pain. I quickly took her shoes and placed both her arms on the table. I remembered all the tips John had given us, while Ana kept rubbing her back gently.

'Honey… you need this…' Ana tried, while she continued crying. I brought her portion in front of her and sat beside her, making sure that she would eat. I handed her the fork and waited for her to do the first step. She was nervously shaking her head, while rubbing her forehead with her casted arm. She tried hiding behind her arm… but that was to no use. I could see her struggling. I realized that maybe I handled it wrong. I was forcing her… and right now what she needed was affection.

'Peanut… I'm sorry…' I admitted as I placed my hand on her thigh trying to stop it from the shaking, but she quickly removed my hands. I knew she still wasn't ready for anybody to touch her… but I had to try… I had to make my daughter comfortable in any way I could. 'Honey… you need to eat… just take one bite… I know it's the hardest step…'

'…but we promise it will get easier by time…' Ana joined in. 'Come on Sera… you know you can do it…' She encouraged again.

After almost half an hour of struggling, she closed her eyes tightly and took her what seemed like a first bite. It wasn't much… but it was the first step. She continued slowly, not saying a word. Ana and I kept looking at each other over her head. We both didn't know what to do, but we had agreed to talk to John about this. He knows more than we do in handling this… We are her parents… but she needs professional help…

Ana realized that this was getting harder, and she wasn't going to finish her meal for sure. I didn't want to give up just now. This would then only escalate to giving in her negations. I know it doesn't work that way... and it wouldn't. After almost 2 hours, her meal was finished with only one fork left there. I decided to at least let her go off with that. I took the finished to Gail, so she can continue with the dishes.

Ana's POV

I knew it wasn't easy on her. Maybe Christian was being a little too hard on her. But what were we supposed to do? Let her starve to death? At least Carrick was coming by… she needed to be back on the tube… and soon. She had shed 20 pounds in a week. With this rate… she'll be in a coffin before we know… not to mention, she needed to be able to attend the private hearing against Natalie.

'I'm going to my room…' She said barely audible, as she got up and made her way up.

'Sera…' I tried but she only went up.

I heard the door close, and a second door as well, but Christian took me out of my deep trance.

'Where is Sera?' He asked as he came back.

'She went to her room…' I replied drained out.

'Dammit!' He said again as he climbed the stairs two at a times with me on his heel. He barged in the room and didn't find her there. We heard the water running and we both barged in into the bathroom. I knew what she was about to do. I couldn't stand it and see it. I went straight to call John.

Christian's POV

I knew what she was about to do.

'Dad… what are you doing here?' She asked as she noticed I was there.

'Sera… what are you doing?' I asked her as I stood behind her.

'Dad… I need to use the bathroom…'

'Why are you doing this to yourself?

'Dad… I really need to use the bathroom…' She insisted again with fear in her eyes.

'Sera…' I replied in tears. 'I love you… I don't want you to hurt yourself like this…'

'I need to go to the bathroom…' She insisted again.

'Go ahead…' I replied again. I wanted to know if she had the guts to do it.

'I need… I need to throw up… Ok?' She said slowly.

'Do it… Do it in front me then… Purge…' I challenged hoping she would stop doing it. 'Go ahead…'

'This is my bathroom! GET OUT OF MY BATHROOM!' She shouted.

'STOP IT!' I shouted back.

'I don't want you in here… ok?' She said again as she went over the toilet.

'Don't you dare!' I challenged as she held strong to the toilet, while with her left arm, she shoved it in her throat, and soon heaving sounds of her throwing up filled the room. I was tore apart. She raised her head for a second to take a breath and soon returned back to what she was doing. I realized her grip was loosening. I quickly moved forward to stop her. There was nothing more she could throw up, and yet blood was there… I held her strong although she struggled to go back. I held her tighter, feeling her body giving out. I washed her face and hand. I helped her rinse her mouth. He legs finally gave out, and there was no energy in her. I picked her up… there was nothing of her. I was confused… the shame and the fear she had was too much to handle that she was willing to do it in front of me. I knew I was losing her… I knew this got out of hand again… maybe dad was right… we should translocate… but she had to deal with this in court… Natalie permanently… permanently damaged my daughter… and she thinks I was going to let this go… No way in hell I was going to do that…

I held her tighter while I felt her finally rest into my arms. I tucked her in bed gently and brought a damp facecloth. I placed her on her forehead. She kept trying to talk, but I tried calming her down. I brought a glass of water and helped her drink it…

'Dad…' She tried as she held me from my arm as I was going to get her another glass. 'Don't leave… please…' She begged me. I quickly removed my suit jacket and my shoes. I climbed in bed gently and pulled her to me. She was shaking but at least she wanted me… she wanted me to be there for her. 'I… I'm sorry…' She admitted as I felt tears running over my cheek. I quickly dried them and held her closer to me. I looked towards my wedding band, and quickly remembered the vows I made to Ana. We vowed that we were going to accept… and love… any children that God gifted us with. I knew that I had to be stronger than ever. Especially to her…

'Christian… you need to be a spoke… she needs to rely on you emotionally…'

My father's words echoes into my ears.

She held tighter to me as if there was no tomorrow. 'How long?' I finally asked her.

'Almost 7 years…' She admitted slowly. I closed my eyes in pain. This had been going on under my eyes for 7 years… and yet… it went unnoticed.

'Why? Why didn't you talk to us?' I asked her again as I kissed her forehead.

'You were never there… you were always angry dad…' She admitted. 'I was afraid of you…'

'Are you still afraid of me?' I chocked. I never realized that I made her this way.

'Sometimes…' She admitted. '…don't blame yourself dad…' She tried as she hugged me. 'Daddy… please… make me stop…' She begged. 'I'm tired… I'm in pain… I want to end this… please… help me dad… don't leave me alone…' She cried.

'I will never leave you alone peanut… Never…' I replied. '…and there is nothing in this world that will make me stop loving you…'

'I ruined your life… didn't I?' She asked. 'I bet you wish to have a normal daughter… or Jason… he would have made a better child… than I have…'

'Don't say that…' It scared me hearing her say that. I knew the words were getting to her. 'Sera, you are everything that your mother and I have. We don't want to lose you Sera… You never ruined anything peanut… if anything you've changed us…' I explained. 'I still remember the surprise your mother gave me when she was pregnant with you. We were taking extra precautions… you had to see us Sera… we were literally walking on eggshells. Ana wouldn't move an extra 5 minutes… we hired a nurse to make sure that nothing was wrong… any pain she felt we were straight to the hospital… We wanted you Sera… we wanted you so bad… We had been trying for kids for years… and when we knew we were expecting… we were the happiest people on earth. Your mother didn't make love to me for the whole 9 months…' I smiled. 'She was afraid that it could cause a miscarriage or something. I agreed with her… there was nothing in this world that I wouldn't do to have my daughter in my arms… and when you were born… damn…' I smiled. 'I still have the video in my study… You never wanted to sleep into anyone's arms except mine… you were always daddy's girl… always Sera… You didn't want to sleep into your mother's arms… only mine… Ana used to wake me up during the night to get you to sleep… I waited for those hours to wake up to stay with you Sera…' I continued. 'Do you remember those times when your mother went abroad for meetings and we had those nights together?' I asked her.

'Mhmm…' She replied. 'You would let me stay past bed time watching cartoons with you, but then you would get worried that I wasn't sleeping enough, so you made me sleep into my bed time limit…' She smiled. '…and I remember… ones you couldn't find my underwear and pj's… you told me that mum decided to act all FBI into putting all clothes into a hiding place. You gave my your underwear and a shirt of yours… you tied a knot or something to make it smaller, and when mum came home and found me like that she started laughing…'

'Of course she laughs… I laughed myself when I saw you into my clothes… you were what… 5, 6 years old?' I chuckled. 'I realized that time that you were growing up Sera… You started school and I had less and less time with you… then circumstances… the brought us apart… but I'm here now Sera… and I'll do anything to save you…' I insisted.

'Dad… I wish I'm still that age… I used to feel happier… more live… I had friends… I had a life…' She told me softly. '…and now… I'm in this place… I was looking forward to get better dad… I really was…'

'…and now?'

'I don't know dad…' She admitted. 'Till a week ago… I wanted to end it all… I really wanted to… but now… I look at mum and you… and you're fighting for me… you want me… and you're giving me a reason to stay…'

'…but?'

'I can't control this dad… I want to be able to be happy and fight this… but everybody thinks I'm some kind of whore… I'm some kind…'

'Sera…' I cut her off. '…what they're saying is a lie… Your mother and I are doing everything into our power to stop this… they will pay dearly for what they did to you…' I explained.

'Exactly dad… and that would be me fighting back… and the fight would continue on an on…'

'No…'

'…and then… I'll be no better than them…' She continued. 'The lawyer said, that they are facing for a minimum of 10 to 15 years in jail... that they'll be executed as adults… I cannot have that on me… I cannot let Natalie have that… She's expecting a child… what kind of life would her kid have when his or her mother is in jail?'

'Sera… I'm sure Natalie didn't think twice about that… Why should you?'

'I want this to end dad… I don't want to let this go on and on…' She admitted. 'I want to let them do the plea bargain…'

'No Sera… I cannot let you do that… look at how they got you… They hurt you… I can't do that…'

'Dad… please…' She begged. 'I don't want this to change who I am… I want this fight to end… I want to be the same person before this happened… Dad please…' She begged again.

'Sera…' I finally realized. 'I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…' I realised I was too busy about getting revenge and getting them behind bars that I didn't take into consideration my daughter's wishes. '…but Sera… I'll let you do that on one condition…' I started. 'You have to testify against them… you have to testify against Natalie… and she has to make a public statement that what she posted and said is all a lie…'

'Ok… ok dad… I'll do that only if we do the plea bargain…'

'We'll talk to the lawyer tomorrow… what do you say?' I asked her gently while she nodded.

'Thank you daddy…' She replied. 'I love you…'

'I love you too peanut…' I smiled as I realized that this maybe was the start of a new chapter for all of us.

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