I am so sorry. I want to apologize for not updating.. I had midterms this week so I was stressed beyond the max! And, softball season is coming, so just hang with me, my schedule is about to get busy. On the bright side, I have 100 followers! Wow. This is amazing. Thank you. I seriously love you guys.

Charhamblin- yes it was a bad move. And I am sorry that I had to write it like that.

Devangel- Your research in the flights flatters me. Yes, they would've had a layover (Let me remind you that I actually did fly to Zambia from the USA) but I just skipped it out I guess. And please don't think that Kate and Elliot don't care, that's the complete opposite. My layover was in Amsterdam, but even then, I couldn't call home. It was three in the morning. Yes it is urgent news and they could have called, but.. Also, by the time I landed in America, it was four o' clock in the afternoon. You've been stuck on a plane for 12 hours (twice) and a couple hour layover, Its about eleven o'clock or so in Kitwe, so with the Jet lag, all you want is food, and to go to sleep. My brain was literally too tired to even think about anything. So the way they reacted is how I was feeling: exhausted. Last thing, Jen and Eric are brushing off the warning like it's no big deal. They're not going anywhere.

XXX

"What- Where did you get this?" Christian asked, still in shock. He re-read the letter.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Hello. It's me, Madeline. I've been having trouble here lately trying to understand why I am not living with you, so I sent this letter with Kate and Elliot. My new guardians, (I'm forbidden to tell you their names, but please know that I wish I could. I'm scared.) said that you didn't want me. And I just don't understand why? Why didn't you want me? This whole situation feels wrong. Part of me thinks that's true, but most of me thinks that I was taken from you. Anyway, I want to tell you that I am okay. They aren't starving me, or beating me, or anything worse. The worse thing that has happened is me leaving you guys and getting malaria. I don't really know what to say. Could you please just tell me what happened, just tell me the truth. I need to know. Please send your reply to the school address, if my guardians find out, I will be in trouble, more than I already am. I hope this isn't goodbye, I hope it's hello. I love you.

PS. Daddy, the student who called from the school named Shelly Richards, that was me.

Your Daughter,

Madeline Grey

Christina inhaled sharply. "I talked to her. On the phone."

Ana's head snapped up. "What are you talking about?"

Christian ran his hand through his hair. "The other day, I got an impromptu call at work from some girl asking information for her school paper. I wasn't busy, so I took the call. I felt weird about it afterwards, but I didn't think about it too deeply. But here, she said the girl who called was her."

"Oh my." Kate whispered. What a mess!

Christian had a gleam in his eye. It looked like anger, but it could have been desperation. "How did you know her?"

Elliot gulped. "She moved to Kitwe with Jennifer and Eric Roberts."

Christian's mouth became very dry. Jennifer? No, it couldn't be. That's a common name. Christian thought.

Elliot continued. "They said she had adopted her when she was three months old. Maddie started working at the school, like a student helper, with us. She gave us this letter when we were leaving."

Christian almost growled. "Why didn't you fucking take her with you?!" he cried. He was frantically pacing behind the couch Ana still sat on, frozen and shocked.

"Christian, we didn't read it until we took off. We were shocked, but we were ten hours away. We then tried to call you at our layover in Amsterdam, but we couldn't reach you." Elliot cried. Don't make me feel any guiltier than I already do, bro.

Christian's face had anger written all over it, but Ana grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "It's okay, Christian. At least we know where she is. We now have a starting point" Ana rubbed her hand up and down his arm that she clutched to. She had done this for a long time, seeing that the loving touch instantly calmed Christian when he was angry about something (which happened a lot).

Christian closed his eyes for a brief second, and when he opened them, he was calmer. "You're right. I'm sorry." Elliot gave him a sad smile and nodded, taking his apology.

"Well, what now?" Kate piped in.

"I'll contact my team and the authorities. Then we'll fly over there and get her. Soon." Christian said. As soon as he said it, he pulled out his phone, and talked to Taylor. "Yes. Contact authorities. We need to bring her home."

"Yes, Mr. Grey." Taylor said, and hung up.

Christian exhaled, sort of relieved, but he won't be fully okay until his daughter returned home.

Ana looked over at her exhausted friend. "Kate, Elliot, go get some sleep. We'll deal with this."

Tears were forming in Kate's eyes. I should of trusted my gut when I saw her, she thought. "I'm so sorry Ana, I should've-"

"No, Kate. You've done enough. Thank you for bringing this letter. Without you, we wouldn't have an idea of where she is." Ana said sweetly. She kissed her friends forehead and led them to the stairs, telling them they needed sleep. She and Christian then left and went back home to find the police at their house. Detective Sanford stood in their living room, just like he did so many years ago. He shook their hands.

"Hello, detective. We know exactly where she is. She's near Elliot Grey School in Kitwe, Zambia. From there we can ask direction."

"Yes, Mr. Grey, that's where we have located her, and we will bring her back into the states for you guys and will arrest her abductors."

Christian's jaw clenched. "We are going with you."

"No Mr. Grey, I'm sorry, you can't come. This is a classified mission involving the US government. The agents who will get your daughter work for the FBI. You are not allowed to come."

"God damn it, I will! I haven't seen my daughter in almost nine years!" Ana tried to clutch his arm and soothe him again, but he just ripped it out of her grasp.

Calm down, fifty. Ana hated when he got to these points, where even she had a hard time getting him under control. Christian stomped furiously around the room. "Why shouldn't I go?" He yelled.

"Fine! We will have to connect two flights. Zambia to Berlin, Germany, you two may meet us there. But you cannot come with us all the way, sir." Sanford was getting angry, too. It was late, and he just wanted to finish this case and be done with it.

Christian opened his mouth to argue, but closed it to look at his pleading wife. Please, we can meet her in Berlin. It'll be fine, she seemed to say. Christian took a deep breath. "Fine."

"Good Mr. Grey. Let's get going."

All of a sudden, Gail came in, holding suitcases. "I already packed you're bags, Ana." Christian took the bags from her, while Ana embraced her.

"Oh thank you, Gail." She didn't know what she would without her.

She smiled sweetly back at her. "Go find your daughter."

Christian and Ana took the long flight to Germany, and checked into a hotel while they waited anxiously for the agents to find their daughter.

XXX

"Why don't you play something, dear?" Jen asked.

Not for you, bitch. "Sure. Any requests, Eric?"

He smiled, "Play me a song by the fab five."

Maddie giggled, "The Beatles were four guys!"

Eric smiled, "There was a drummer before Ringo."

"He doesn't count!" Maddie smiled and sat down on the piano, Jennifer listening to the upbeat notes, and Eric reading his book. She played something fun for Eric. He rubbed off on her, and now her favorite band was The Beatles. Despite how furious she was at her guardians, for some reason, she wasn't as mad at Eric as she was at Jen. Christian owed Jen something, and so she probably forced Eric into taking her. Eric was sweet, and was never harsh. She placed her fingers on the keys and began making up an intro. Eric's head popped up when he recognized the tune. Then Maddie smiled and sang, "Hey Jude," They all joined in until the song was over.

"How do you know how to play that? You don't have sheet music." Eric asked, pleased that she played that song.

"It's easier to play with sheet music, but I learned it by ear." Maddie grinned. She started to go into another fun and silly song called "Obla-di, Obla-da", when a group of men pounded down the door.

XXX

Cliff hanger! Love it! I feel like the master of the universe.. Anywho. Thanks for reading. I truly appreciate it. Review and tell me what you think!

Also, I want to kind of give this to you guys: Eric is really a good guy. Jen is the evil one, okay? Even though he is still considered one of our antagonists, deep down, he really cares about Maddie. You'll see.

Lastly, I want to be honest: I'm kind of having a writer's block right here. I only have one and a half chapters written in advance, so, please be patient. I'm sorry. My brain is in Les Mis function right now. But I will fight it for you guys!

xoxo