Author's note:

The song I imagined Christian playing is Hurt by Lucas King

APOV

The sad notes of the piano stir me from sleep. I slowly open my eyes and spy the alarm clock reads 3 in the morning. I see besides me Christian's empty place in the bed. I get up, wrap myself in my robe, and head to the library. He looks just as I did the night he found me after I had a nightmare about Isaac. I hear his pain through the notes and can feel his sadness radiating off of him, but why? I walk a little further into the library and just watch him. His shirtless back is to me and I admire the way his muscles contract under his skin.

"I failed you today Ana," he whispers before looking over his shoulder at me. "I should have checked the garage first before we got out of the car. I should have had Isaac and John arrested. I should have had more security set up to protect you. I should have protected you today, but I didn't. I fucked up and you could have been killed. I knew I was never meant to keep you safe. I failed you and I'm so sorry. I hope in time you will forgive me." I rush to him and capture him in my arms as tears begin falling down my face again. His head rests on my chest while his arms encase me. "How? How could you still want to touch me, be near me, want to hold me after I let your abusers get away? The men who stole your voice are still walking around free. The men who caused you so much suffering walked out of the garage while I came to you. How could you stand to see me after that? You shouldn't want to touch me or even be near me. You should hate me." I feel his tears start to drop onto my skin like raindrops. I pull back and wipe away his sad eyes.

"Christian, you have done so much for me already. You have fed me, sheltered me, clothed me, protected me, given me second chances, have helped me believe in myself again, and have given me another family to love. What happened today was not your fault. Sure there are things that could have helped prevent this, but this was something we had no control over. John and Isaac were here because they wanted to see me suffer, but they didn't. They saw me stand above them in victory, showing them I'm not afraid of them and they have no control over me anymore. All the steps you have done to protect me so far have been amazing. If it wasn't for you, I would either be dead from exposure or starvation or murdered by some rapist who bought me at the slave market. The reason I touch you and am drawn to be near you is because you deserve it."

"Oh Ana." He brings me into another crushing hug. I lean forward and straddle his hips, sitting in his lap. This is the closest we've ever been. He looks back up at me and wipes away my tears. "I will have them arrested Ana I swear to you."

"No Christian, please! What they did to me I will never, ever forgive. But I want to forget them. I never want to think of them again. It was all in my past. I just want to think of my future with everyone, including you."

"Alright I won't have them arrested. But I will have eyes on them in case they try anything suspicious again."

"Okay I'm fine with that." He strokes my face with his palm.

"I think it's you that have more compassion and heart in one finger than I." I snicker as he rubs my back.

"Do you know how he found me?" He then tells me all Isaac told him. I would have never imagined being in a picture with Christian, but then again he is famous so I shouldn't be too surprised. He even tells me how Jason and Luke couldn't see them on the CCTV. Isaac saw the cameras and avoided them. "The women you've previously rescued, have they ever had another encounter with the sex slave market people?"

"No which is surprising. I've kept tabs on the women for sometime but they have never been in danger since I've rescued them." I try to stifle a yawn but to no avail. Christian picks me up bridal style and carries me back into the bedroom. "I'm still very sorry I wasn't able to protect you from him fully Ana." I reach up and kiss his cheek after he lays me on the bed.

"Stop saying you didn't protect me. Please? For me?"

"Anything for you Anastasia."

Fast-forward one week

Today is Thanksgiving and I'm really excited. Christian, Luke and I will be going over to Christian's parent's house. Gail and Jason will be gone to their relative's house. Christian and I baked cookies while Luke backed a pie. As we drive up the driveway, I finally get to see the house. It has a dark roof with light gray walls and dark gray shutters on the windows. It has three stories and the surrounding lawn is huge. When we pull up to the front door, it opens and out walk Grace, Mia, and Kate. I rush out of the car and into their arms.

"Oh Ana we're so glad you're here," Mia sings. "Come in and meet my dad." She reaches behind me and pulls Luke by his coat sleeve. "You too Luke!" We're rushed into the house and see a man behind the kitchen counter mashing potatoes. "Dad this is Ana, Christian's newest guest. And this is my boyfriend Luke Sawyer." The man is about Grace's height and has graying black hair. His eyes are gentle and kind.

"It's a pleasure to meet you finally Ana. I'm Carrick Grey."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Grey."

"Call me Carrick please. The same goes for you Luke." Christian lays the cookies on the counter and helps me out of my jacket.

"Christian," Grace says as she walks back into the kitchen. "Why don't you show Ana around while we get the rest of the food ready." He laces his hand into mine and begins showing me around. They have a total of seven bedrooms, a library, two studies, and a home theater down in the basement. Once we come back into the dinning room, everyone is seated and ready to eat. The table has turkey, ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and noodles. Christian pulls out my chair and takes my hand while Carrick says a prayer.

"God we thank You for all You have provided for us. We also thank You for adding two new wonderful people into our family. We ask that You guide us in this upcoming year and protect us in all we do. In Your name we pray, Amen."

After a stuffing meal full of stories and laughter, we clear away the table and wash the dishes. Kate and Elliot are going to Kate's parents for dinner so they leave to make the hour and half long journey. After the dishes are done, we watch a football game. Mia and Grace aren't really interested but I remember doing this type of thing with my dad. It makes my heart clench with joy at the love I've gotten from these people who were strangers to me only a few weeks ago.

"What's wrong," Christian whispers into my ear.

"I love football. It reminds me of watching it with my dad. I'm just so happy I got to share this day with you and your family."

"Me too baby." He kisses my eyes before he kisses my forehead. I see out of the corner of my eye Grace wipes her eyes too. I can't tell who's she's happier for: me in that I've been able to recover physically and emotionally from all the shit I've had to deal with. Or her son who can withstand the physical touch he thought he never deserved or just feared.

When we come home that evening after being surrounded by family and love, I smile as I lay down under the warm bed covers. I turn over as Christian slides into bed with me. As we lay facing each other, boring into one another's eyes, we have that moment once again that our eyes do more communicating that we can possible speak. I lean forward and gingerly place a kiss on his chest, right above his heart. I hear a pleasant sigh leave him. He reaches forward and kisses my neck, my nose, then my eyes, and finally my cheek. I snuggle into his chest with a grin wide across my face as my heart beats rapidly for this man.