Ana's POV

'Honey did you get everything?' I asked Sera as we went straight to the underground station to take it to London's Bridge. There were so many places we wanted to visit, and I was mostly as excited as my daughter was. Christian kept holding her from her shoulder and at times I held her tightly from her arm. Whether we wanted to accept the reality or not, we had to realize that she was still weak from anything and everything that she went through, but finally we were making progress.

'Smile Mr. Grumpy!' She teased Christian as she flashed the camera into his eyes while he was still thinking overseeing the lake underneath us.

'Come here you!' He teased as he grabbed her from her waist and hugged her tight while I took another picture of their moment. Her honest laugh was back and I couldn't help but laugh with them too.

'Come mummy! Let's take a selfie…' She said again as she came to hug me while Christian joined us and we took the selfie.

We kept walking along until finally we decided to take a rest at the local botanical garden. Christian and I decided to rest a bit on the grass and enjoy the nature around while after some hard time in convincing Christian, Sera managed to get her way in walking around. But as usual, Christian didn't allow her unless Sawyer or Taylor were with her.

'Christian… you're making it impossible… you know that right?'

'Hey! I'm sorry for trying to protect our daughter…'

'Christian she's in front of us feeding the ducks!'

'What's wrong with being cautious?' He said again as he pulled me closer to him.

'Nothing…'

'Good… then we cleared the air…' He replied again.

'You know you're stubborn… right?'

'I might have heard it a couple of times Mrs. Grey…' He curled his lips while dropping a kiss on me and fixed his gaze onto mine. 'I ordered Sawyer to run a background check on the Christenfeld's.' He finally spit out.

'Come again?' I asked astonished.

'They seem to be getting closer… and I heard him ask her if he'll be seeing her again…'

'So you run a background check?'

'Yes…'

'…and?'

'Well… nothing wrong came up… but I was him a couple of years ago… Guys only want one thing… and I don't want my daughter to be the hole that fills his needs.'

'I see what this is about… Are you jealous Christian?' I finally confronted jokingly.

'Who me? Jealous?' He quickly disagreed. 'Of who? Him? I have a lovely, amazing, beautiful, gorgeous, stunning wife! What more do I need?'

'Christian?' I warned.

'What Ana?' He asked faking innocence.

'Don't go there with me Christian…' I joked. 'You're nowhere near innocence! Especially you!' I said again. 'You're jealous that somebody will replace you… Aren't you?'

'Well… yes… If you want to know yes…' He finally admitted sulkily. 'I'm jealous… He's taking her away from me… and I don't want that… I want my baby… I don't want her to date…'

'Christian… stop it…' I told him gently as I placed my finger on his lips stopping his blabbing. 'You're blabbing, which although I love it when you do so, I happen to know that you're reading way into it… and usually that's a woman's job.' I smiled. 'Christian… no matter if she'll be dating or not, she will still be coming to us… to you for wisdom, knowledge… advice… Christian, this Eric may be her prince and true love… but you'll always be her kind… and you know she loves you…'

'Yes… that I know…' He smiled.

'Christian you're acting like a teenager!'

'I know… don't you love that Mrs. Grey…' He teased playfully.

'Yes…' I smiled seductively. '…but I'd rather you'd do that when we're alone…' I winked at him.

'That can be easily re-arranged…' He smiled back.

'Not now Christian…'

'I know… I was just messing with you…' He joked.

'Ohh… you're so going to pay for this Christian!' I teased back as Sera came back with what seemed a rabbit in her hands.

'Look mummy… He let me pat him…' She said excitedly. She was exactly like me when we came to pets and animals.

'Aweee! That is so sweet!' I quickly took him from her hands while Christian pulled her down between us while I patted the rabbit.

'Come here peanut…' He hugged her tight.

'Christian! Let's get a guinea pig or a rabbit or a hamster!' I quickly suggested as I hugged the rabbit tighter. It was so cuddly.

'Ana!' He started.

'Yes please daddy!' Sera joined in. 'Look how cuddly he is!'

'That's a she!' He replied while both of us stood dumbstruck looking at him. 'Hey, I used to breed rabbits… ok… ok… fine… we'll get a pet…' He finally gave in, while from the corner of my eye I saw Eric coming over to us.

Sera's POV

Dad easily gave in to anything mum and I wished for. Both of us had been trying to ploy on how to convince him on getting a pet, and we finally did. Mum was a softy more than I was when coming to these, and I couldn't help but smile at her. She loved animals so much!

While she was cuddling it, I saw her turn her gaze to her sides, and there he was again. I was getting paranoid… Or the universe truly wanted us to clash, or he was following me, getting any excuse to meet me, or sheer coincidence. I couldn't help but smile while dad changed his expression to his CEO.

He waved at me while I stood up and he moved forward.

'Mr. and Mrs. Grey.' He greeted politely. 'I hope I'm not interrupting.'

'Not at all Eric.' Mum quickly replied while dad stood up and held me protectively from my shoulder.

'Eric…' He smiled sternly. 'Are you visiting?'

'Yes Sir…' He replied back. 'My parents love nature… they would spend hours in botanical gardens, and I saw Sera… Ms. Grey, and I thought on saying hi.' He replied as his parent's joined us.

'Mr. Grey.' His father greeted.

'Mr. Christenfeld.' Dad greeted back as they shook hands.

'Sera, would you like to come for a walk with me?' He asked me gently as he held his hand out while I looked at my father hoping he'd say yes.

'Taylor… please make sure that nothing happens.' He ordered as I took his hand gently and left the adults for themselves.

'If I wouldn't know you better, I would think you're following me.' I started.

'Maybe I am…' He replied back as he held me close to him.

'Oh…'

'Don't worry…' He joked. 'I'm joking… I saw you and I thought on saying hi.'

'You sure did…' I replied back as we moved to the side of the lake and sat down on the soft grass. It was cool and clammy but the feeling was amazing. I never realised how amazing nature is until I experienced it. The fresh smell was burning my nose in a good way, but I felt my spirits high. I felt myself lighter and as I stared at the horizons in front I realized that there are countless possibilities of how one can take life. 'I love this view…'

'I do too…' He replied again. 'Doesn't it make you feel free?'

'Oh… it totally does…' I smiled back.

'Who is the guy following us?'

'My dad has this obsession with keeping us safe… and us I mean family…' I replied while he eyed me confused. 'He's Taylor… my personal body guard and friend and family…'

'Oh…'

'Yeah… If you're thinking on abducting me, he'll shoot you straight ahead. He's an ex-military…' I joked while he eyed me.

'I'm joking!' I cleared myself. '…but he is ex-military.'

'So you have a body guard 24 hour 7?'

'You can say that… yes…' I smiled. '…but don't worry…'

'Oh… I'm not… It's just strange…' He said again while I dropped my smile. I thought that maybe this security detail will make guys run away… 'Hey… don't…'

'What?' I asked.

'Smile… You have a beautiful smile…' He noticed as he caressed my cheek lightly and removed a lock of hair behind my ear. 'Um… can I ask you something?'

'Yes… sure…' I smiled.

'I was thinking… We're in London… and we had been bumping into each other quite often lately… It's the third time…' He started. 'I was wondering… maybe… um… do you want to go out on a date? With me?' He replied while I smiled. I couldn't help it but smile. In my mind I was already doing a happy dance. 'Um… A yes… or no would actually be helpful…'

'Yes…'

'Yes what?' He asked again.

'Yes… I'll go out on a date with you…' I smiled while he joined in.

'I like you Sera Grey…'

'I like you too Eric Christenfeld…' I replied while Taylor came forward.

'Sera, your parent's told you it's time for lunch.'

'Coming Taylor…'

'Um… I'll come by your room at 7 tonight.' He smiled.

'Ok… Room 714…'

'I know…' He replied while I kept staring at him and made my way to Taylor.

Christian's POV

'I thought it was time to meet you in person Mr. Grey. We've been communicating via video chats for long now.'

'Do you know each other?' Ana asked.

'Yes… we made some business years ago…' I replied.

'These men… all they think about is their company.' His wife replied.

'Tell me about that…' Ana replied as she shook hands with his wife. 'I'm Anastasia.'

'I'm Victoria.' She smiled warmly. 'Our kids seem to be getting closer aren't they?'

'In fact they have.' She smiled.

'Yeah…' I added as I quickly texted Taylor to get my daughter to leave for lunch. 'Well, it's time to get going. We have a schedule full of excursions. It was nice meeting you…' I said before parting.

'How we'll see you again soon.' Bradly replied as Taylor and my daughter joined and we made our way.

I couldn't help not noticing my daughter's smile. She was blushing and she kept quite the whole drive to the restaurant that I wanted to make a visit at. I looked at Ana and she also realized what was happening, and for once I thought that it would be better if she handled this.

'You seem quiet…' She started. 'Is everything ok Sera?'

'Mhmm…' She smiled again.

'Did something happen between you and Eric?'

'Um… well…'

'Oh no… don't tell me…' I finally said thinking the worst.

'Dad… stop panicking!' She started. 'Eric asked me on a date…'

'What?' I quickly pulled over and looked at her on the back seat.

'Eric asked me on a date… Tonight at 7pm…' She smiled and blushed.

'No… you're a minor! He's 20! I don't want some jerk corrupting you! It's illegal!'

'Dad!'

'Christian calm down!' Ana tried.

'Come on dad… Please! It's just a date! It's not like I'm going to marry this guy tomorrow! Besides tonight it's your anniversary and you can spend some time alone…' She suggested. 'I'll even take Taylor or Sawyer with me… preferably Taylor…'

'Christian, you have to admit… She's keeping within the rules.' Ana replied while I took few minutes to think.

'Ok… ok… fine… curfew is at 10.30pm… No… make it 10pm… No later than that! I want to spend some time with my daughter, and there is no guy coming in between us.' I started. 'Taylor will be around at all times, your phone has to be on and not… and I repeat… not silent… you are not allowed to wear a skirt… a knee length, long sleeved dress is permitted but nothing else than that. Absolutely no heels, and you are not to go somewhere private with this Eric. I don't trust him… You are to stay in public and Taylor will report to me every 30 minutes. I want you to text me every 20 minutes on the dot…'

'Every 20 minutes?'

'I'm not done! A minute late from your curfew and you're in trouble young lady…'

'Dad…'

'Also, Taylor will report to me if you ate or not. If I happen to know that you skipped dinner or didn't follow your diet plan, you're in trouble. I won't let you have your chance again and we're straight to the hospital to put you back on the feeding tube. You are not to eat salads or anything that is low calorific... You are not allowed to drink... Not even a sip of wine... Unless you're with us, you are not allowed to taste any alcohol... It's illegal to drink unless you're 21...'

'But dad...' She cut me off while I looked at her warningly.

'Not even if he orders a glass of wine! You get easily tipsy just like your mother... There is no way in hell I'm letting this guy hurting you in any way... You are only allowed to drink whatever you want but no liquors no wine no alcohol or cocktails unless they are non-alcoholic. I allow you take a sip of my wine because you're with us, and if something happens we can take care of you...'

'Dad!' She tried again.

'He hurts you, or even shouts with you, or gets angry or tries to control you and Taylor will go on full protection mode... I repeat DO NOT FORGET TO TEXT!'

'Dad...' She said again.

'Ok… now I'm ready…' I finished. 'Any questions.'

'Yes… am I a nun?' She asked as I laughed at her question.

'No… No you're not baby girl… you're my daughter and I don't want you to get hurt and I don't want any jerk to have an advantage of you…'

'I love you daddy!' She replied as she came forward and hugged me.

'Don't worry munchkin… I'll help you get prepared for the date… Clothes and make up are our thing…' Ana suggested. 'Your father doesn't understand in these things.'

'That's exactly the attitude to have Ana!' I sarcastically replied.

'Come on Christian! Lighten up! Remember our first date?'

'How can I forget?' I smiled while Sera went back to her seat and fixed her seat belt. 'Come on… I'm starving…' I continued as I pulled back into the road and made our way.

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