Chapter 30

Mani walked into her office and locked the door behind her. Exhaling she leant her forehead against the door and closed her eyes against tears. Was it only yesterday that she was teasing Nula about her and Christian becoming a couple again? That she had a plan to make sure that that happened? Shaking her head, she pushed away from the door and crossed the darkened office to her desk. Tiredly she slumped into it as she flicked on the desk lamp. She knew that Mia thought she was acting like a Bitch and she hadn't mixed the dig from her sister-in-law about only being wrong about one woman being a gold digger.
The truth was, she had never wanted to be one.
She had loved Elliot almost from the first moment she met him; but she had known even then that he'd never have eyes just for her. So had she gotten pregnant on purpose? Hell yes! She had wanted a man in her life that would stay and she had wanted a child, so why not have both in one sweep?
Jack Hyde returning from the depths of hell hadn't helped anything, and knowing that Christian was enamored with someone from his past wasn't helping matters.
Slowly, she opened her desk drawer and stared at the few remnants of a happier life: pictures that Christopher drew for her, Phoebe's sonogram…
It shouldn't have come down to this.
To memories of a happy life and regrets with a marriage falling apart at her feet and no way to save it. With a husband who wanted not her, but her best friend...

And maybe she had caused it.
After all, if she had followed directions that day; not snuck out of Dr. Greene's office to go to some stupid sale than Phoebe would be alive and they would all be different. They'd be happy…
But what ifs weren't going to solve things or change them.
There was no going back and she no longer believed in happily ever afters. All that was left for her was a son who didn't think she loved him and a husband that was halfway out the door.

Cursing, she slammed her desk drawer shut and reached for her purse. With shaking hands she pulled out a prescription bottle and shook out a few pills, swallowing them dry as she realized she'd have to come up with another plan. Something else that would make them all happy and get her family back on track. Something, anything, that would buy her more time with a fading dream…

"You want me to stay?" Sawyer asked as he handed Taylor a cup of coffee.

Taylor sighed: "I'm too tired to think right now," he admitted as he took a sip. "Who's with Nula?"

"I sent her back to the hotel with Ryan. It's been set up and Prescott stayed behind in the suite.'

Taylor nodded: "I can't believe she came with them."

"Better her than Mani. She's in rare form at the moment."

"Because of Hyde?"

"She doesn't need a reason to be on a tear, does she?" Sawyer asked as he leaned against the wall. "So the new guy?"

"Former Marine.'

"Welch run a check?"

Taylor raised an eyebrow: "you have a problem with him?"

"You mean the foot thing?" Sawyer wondered.

"Other people have mentioned it."

"You wouldn't have left him on her door if you were concerned about it."

"We're down the hall."

"Not close enough to get there if something happens before he has to act," Sawyer pointed out. "Look, I was her CPO. I feel a responsibility towards her still. She's… well…"

"Family?"

"Yeah."

"Know the feeling," Taylor admitted with a slight smile: "she's probably one of the only people who didn't see me as damaged or ruined when the PTSD turned my life to shit."

"Taylor we…"

"I showed up on her doorstep after Gail threw me out, I ever tell you that?" he wondered. "It was those few days that I went completely silent with you guys. She gave me a reality check. Told me that I deserved to be happy, but more importantly Sophie needed a father. She called Flynn for me and the two of them were the ones who went with me when I put myself into treatment. She came most visiting days…"

Sawyer shook his head: "doesn't surprise me much that she'd do something like that. Ms. Steele always seemed to be doing more for others than herself. You know she was the only one to remember my birthday before I married Mia. Even now, I get a cupcake from her from the local bakery every year. Always makes me smile," he mused, then pressed: "still the background check?"

"Welch is working on it on him a V. Grant- don't know how much he's going to get on her. I got the distinct impression that she was intelligence," Taylor relayed. "But they were vouched for by Ana and our former Master Sergeant. Believe me, Adam is worth listening to on these things. He'd trust his family with them, which is saying a lot. Damien is part of that family. You could see that they all trust and respect each other- and I'd want any of them on my side."

"Point taken, but I do have to know one thing."

"What?"

"They really keep the boss off him?"

Taylor laughed: "what do you think?" he answered and then looked down at the now empty cup. "God, I need sleep."

"Go grab some. I got Greys covered and the newbie has the door. We're good."

Taylor nodded: "just wake me up when Troll Bitch Jr. shows up."

"Sure. Wouldn't want you to miss out on the nightly entertainment…" Sawyer laughed as he leveled off the wall and headed back towards Ana's room.
"If that's what they're calling it…"

Christian stalked into Ana's room, his hand wrapped in ace bandages. "What's the damage?" Grace asked from where she sat reading a book next to Ana's bed, causing him to stop short at the end of the bed.

"Bruised bones," Christian admitted. "She ok?"

"Flynn ordered a sedative to help her get through the tests they wanted to run," Grace said as she took off her glasses and marked her page. "They did a couple of MRIs and a CT scan. It was better for her to be out for them. From watching the scans, things look optimistic."

"Just as long as she's ok," he exhaled as he moved up the bed and brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "You know she's my one, right Mom?"

Grace rolled her eyes behind his back: "Christian, I think I knew the moment I met her, I just wasn't sure you two knew it."

"So you'll accept her- us?"

"As long as she makes you happy, then yes I will. I won't tell you that I'm not concerned though. She hurt you once- deeply."

"Mom…"

"Christian," she stopped him by putting her hand up: "I already told her that I would accept your relationship and that I always have. That doesn't mean that I can't still be protective of my son. I don't think that she'll ever hurt you intentionally, but she had the power to do more damage unintentionally that anyone else in your life does intentionally. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"You reserve the right to change your mind about her?"

"No, darling boy, I reserve the right to protect my son. I have no reason to change my mind when it comes to Ana, but I might have reasons to voice concerns- loudly."

"You don't with Mani…"

Grace laughed: "because that doesn't work with her. I learned a long time ago that there were other ways to deal with her. Private words. Pointing in the opposite direction of what I think needs to be done. All the time she thinks she's worked me, I've actually worked her- and don't you forget it."

"Mom, you work all of us."

"Maybe, but I only use my powers for good.'

"Just as long as Ana isn't hurt… she wants family so much. Always has," he admitted as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Grace raised an eyebrow at that: "just how much?"

"Mooom!"

"Christian…"

"Fine. We have discussed kids."

"Really?"

"It was after I talked to Christopher on the phone and she asked me if I regretted not having them. That led to the discussion of kids in the future and how we would incorporate them into our life. Compromises and the like. It's not like we're going to start a family tomorrow. We have a lot to work out, but definitely down the line we'd like to have them."

"Just as long as it's what you both want and you wait a little while."

"I want to have time with her alone before we have a family, but she did point out that neither of us are getting younger and I don't want to have to worry about complications for her. We also talked about having a plan in place should certain… decisions…. have to be made. We're going into this relationship as adults, this time, Mom. We both know that we want to be with each other it's just the details we have to work out. And we will. This time we'll have a happily ever after, or as close to it as you can get in real life."

"Just be realistic, dear. Your lives aren't going to come together and all the stuff that kept you apart these ten years disappear. You might have both grown up, but that means you both have changed as well. You have to get to know each other again."

"We've never been out of each other's lives completely."

"Still, there are things you need to learn about each other. I know that she'll be wearing your ring before the year's out, but, Son, don't rush it. Enjoy this time together. Learning and loving each other again. Not many get a second chance like you two have. Take advantage of it and grow strong in it, that's all I'm saying."

"She's my everything Mom. I can't- won't- lose her again."

"Then love her. The rest will come…."