CPOV

As we drive along the roads with the snow flying past the car, I glance over at Ana every now and then as she looks happily out the window. With the snow falling everyday, I think she would enjoy going sledding sometime. I'm so proud of her that she got the job, although I knew Mr. Hyde would like her work and her attitude. He was very understanding when I told him of her muteness. Now she can work at a place that is both safe and centered around her degree. But I notice as we enter Montesano and drive on city roads, she becomes anxious and I know exactly why. Just because we couldn't find Isaac or John in the investigation doesn't mean they're not here.

"Don't worry baby, I'll protect you," I say as I stroke her hand. She glances at me, raises my hand and kisses it. Even with minimal contact, her touch has my blood racing. My grin soon becomes a solemn face as we enter the cemetery. She points out which paths to go down. Soon we arrive at a headstone placed under a tree. I get out, walk around to her side and open her door. With her fingers laced with mine, we walk up to the limestone monument that marks the place of her parent's final resting place. It has tiny scrolls etched into the stone with roses in the corners. I brush away the snow on top before Ana lays the roses down to show her respect and love. I hear her sniff so I place my hand on her back and rub it in circles. Her arms go around my waist and I pull her in closer as we look on at the marker. "Mr. and Mrs. Steele, I would have been truly honored to have met you. But I have had the fortune of meeting your daughter. She is truly the most beautiful, wonderful, and amazing woman I have met. I know you are just as proud of her as I am in all she has accomplished. I swear to you, I will protect her with all that I have and see that she is happy and cared for everyday." She leaves my arms and walks to the stone. She raises her fingers to her lips and then places them down across her mother's name. She does the same to her father's before coming back over to me. She stands on her tiptoes and kisses me on the cheek, releasing a contented sigh from me. If only she knew I still secretly kiss her once she's asleep. We pay our respects a little longer before getting back into the car. Just as we enter the car, an American Goldfinch lands right below her flowers. It turns its head and looks at us through the window before taking flight again. I look back at Ana and see she's more shocked as I am.

"Goldfinches were my dad's favorite type of bird," she mouths as a single tear slides down her face. I look once more at the gravesite before looking back at her and wiping the tear away.

"I'm not one to believe in signs usually, but I'm sure that was one from your parents saying they're always with you and love you." She grins as another tear escapes. I wipe it away and she kisses my palm in return.

Once we have parked back in the parking garage, I take the lilacs and Ana's hand while we walk to the elevator.

"I think Gail will love the flowers." Ana suddenly freezes and I stop to look back at her. Her expression goes from shocked to furious in seconds. I follow her line of sight to the elevator. I'd have to be pretty dense to not know the guy standing in front of the elevator is Isaac.

"Hello Ana," he says smugly with a fake smile across his face. I push Ana behind me, clearly showing him not to come near.

"How the hell did you get in here Isaac?"

"Oh please you're going to protect that dumb bitch?"

"Don't you dare say a word against her," I almost shout through clinched teeth. He laughs as he walks a little closer to us.

"So is he your sugar daddy? Are you sucking his dick for his money?"

"You shut your fucking mouth Isaac!"

"So did she tell you her sad tale of her getting her ass beaten black and blue every night for being a lazy, freeloading, dumbass who is beyond pathetic? Has she brainwashed you with her heart-wrenching Cinderella tale of having to slave away as my maid? Well she deserved it! If Carla hadn't married Ray, she wouldn't have even been born!"

"What is it that you even want Isaac?"

"I want my maid back." I'm suddenly sacked from my side and am flung to the ground. A man is on top of me holding me against the pavement. I see Isaac grab Ana and holds a knife to her throat as she silently screams for me.

"No Ana!" I manage my arm free and bring my elbow up into the man's nose. I see my cell phone lying nearby. I reach to get it but the man drags me away by my feet. I wiggle one free and kick him in the chest, sending him against the wall of the parking garage. I then lean up and slap his ears with the palms of my hands. This would normally cause a person to become disorientated but this guy passes out. I reach for my cell and call Taylor while getting up and running over to Ana and Isaac who are struggling. Taylor picks up in a second. "Taylor get down to the parking garage now!" I watch in wonder and shock as Ana smacks the knife away, straightens out Isaac's arm, and sends the base of her palm into his elbow, resulting in a deafening crack and has him screaming. He tries to kick her but she sweeps her feet from under him. She then picks up his right ankle and twists it to the side, releasing another crack. He cries out in agony but she rises in victory. She stands proud above him before bending down, grabbing his shirt and bringing his head up to hers, looking him dead in the eyes. Taylor and Luke come running from the stairway with their guns drawn. I see Ana mouth something to Isaac and I can clearly see the terror in his eyes. She drops him back onto the pavement before calmly walking back over to me and checking me for injuries. I can see blood dripping from her arm. "Luke, take Ana back upstairs."

"No I won't leave you!"

"Ana you're bleeding. Please go for me." She nods, quickly hugs me before quickly walking over to Luke, who hurries her into the elevator. I walk over to a groaning Isaac. "How did you find her?"

"Go suck a dick Grey." If that's how he wants to play, fine. I kick his injured ankle, causing him to double over in pain and gripping it.

"So how was it you found her again?"

"I…saw her in a picture with you. Everyone knows who you are so I knew she would be in Seattle," he says though clenched teeth.

"How did you find out that she lives here?"

"I had you followed."

"How did you get in pasted security?" I'm so firing some people who put Ana in such a risky situation.

"I saw the cameras and snuck around them, diving in between cars."

"Do you have anyone following us now?"

"No."

"Have you done anything that will hurt her? Like put a hit on her?"

"No I swear!"

"If you ever come near her again, well I would say 'I'll kill you' but I think Ana would beat me to it." I see the shock in his eyes once again, knowing I've driven the point home. The other guy is conscious now. I grab him by the shirt collar and drag him over to Isaac. "Take your friend and get the hell out of here." The other guy, who I'm sure is John Marist, helps him up and they hobble away like defeated soldiers. I pick up the slightly squished bouquet of lilacs and walk over to Taylor. He and I get into the elevator and I still feel myself shacking from the adrenaline.

"Christian," he says after a few minutes. "That was pretty badass." We chuckle as the elevator arrives to the apartment. Gail is wrapping Ana's right bicep and forearm. Luke looks on like a worried sibling. As we come into sight, Ana leaps from the chair and jumps into my open arms, wrapping her legs around me. I hold her close and never want to let her go. I place her back on the chair so Gail can continue to patch her up but she has a strong hold of my hand, which I am completely fine with. Her shirt is pretty torn and she has a hole in her suit pants where her bloody knee is showing. She has some cuts from knocking the knife away but nothing serious. We both have some serious road rash but nothing that can't be cured. Poor Gail was so worried about us, when she finally saw the flowers she started crying. But after numerous hugs she calmed down. Taylor brought out his Ipad and showed us footage from Security. Sure enough it shows Isaac and John parking about a block away from the building and walking around it out of sight. We switch to another camera, which shows nothing but cars, but I spot something moving in the corner. So he wasn't lying about spotting the cameras and avoiding them. Taylor switches to another camera and we see the last minutes of the fight play out. We look once again in awe as Ana hands Isaac's ass to him. "Ana these are moves you usually see a black belt do in Karate. Marcus is going to shit himself seeing this." We burst into laughter, needing laughter after such a crazy day.

As I lay with Ana in my arms that night, I think of how this day went from amazing to bat shit crazy. I should have been more careful about being seen in public with her. This is all the more reason I need to let her go by January to let her live a normal life, not having to deal with crazy shit like paparazzi. But as she snuggles closer to me, kissing my neck, my heart clenches at the thought of ever letting her go.

"What did you say to Isaac that had him so scared?" She leans up and I get lost in her eyes.

"I told him if he ever showed his face around here again, I would chop off his dick and make him eat it. I also told him he had no control over me know."

"And you are so right baby."