APOV

As I wait for Christian to come out of the shower, I keep whispering his name to myself. I still can't believe I can speak again but I'm so happy I can. Everyone will be so thrilled. I just wish we didn't have to leave today, but I have to go back to work and classes to start soon, which excites me too. I'm lost in thought when he snakes his arms around me from behind.

"What are you whispering baby," he mumbles against my neck.

"Your name." I turn in his arms and seize his lips with mine. His smell of aftershave and soap fills my nose while his tongue glides along mine. I start to lean back onto the bed until I'm laying on it with him hovering over me. His fingers go along my face softly, down my shoulders and my arms, up to my hands, which are cupping his face. His hands then go back down my arms and then skim my clothed sides. We hear a banging on the door and break away out of breath.

"Let's go you two, we're starving out here in the hallway," comes the tone of an inpatient Elliot. We chuckle before giving each other a brief kiss. He gives me his hand and hauls me up to my feet. We step outside of the room and join the group and head downstairs to the lobby for breakfast.

Everyone has ordered and is happily basking in the New York morning light coming in through the windows.

"So Ana how did you sleep," Kate asks.

"I slept fine did you sleep well?" Everyone's eyes bulge out of their heads as they hear me speak for the first time. "Oh and we're a couple now." I point to Christian. We look at each other before having a quick kiss in front of everyone. Luke does the 'Touchdown' symbol and that breaks everyone out of their shock. The girls scramble from their seats and crush me in hugs mixed with some tears. Luke and Elliot hug me too.

"When did you begin speaking," Luke questions.

"This morning, after we, confessed our feelings," I admit as I feel my cheeks heat. Christian pulls my chair closer to his and nuzzles into my neck.

"I love her with all I have," Christian adds.

"And I love him with all I hope to be."

"Well it's about damn time. Mom and Dad are going to be ecstatic. Oh my God imagine how Gail and Jason are going to be," Mia squeals.

"Oh speaking of them, Mom and Dad will be at my apartment tonight for dinner. I thought it would be the last meal we would enjoy in this vacation we've all enjoyed," Christian states. We all agree it would be the perfect ending to a wonderful time we've had.

We've boarded the plane and have begun take off. Christian and I indulge in more kissing to distract me from the shaking of the plane, and it's a wonderful distraction at that. As we sail across the sky, I have a nagging thought in the back of my head. I'm still very nervous about Christian seeing me naked and about having sex. If it hurt when Grace gave me my pelvic exam, will it be more painful when we have sex? I hope to God not. I've obviously never had sex and never imagined it, but I know I only want Christian. Maybe this is something I should speak to Kate about since she might give me some pointers. It would be too weird to talk to Mia about it. When the symbol comes on we can walk around, I think it would be a good opportunity to talk to her.

"I'm going to go talk to Kate really quick. I love you."

"I love you Ana." I get up and walk to where Elliot and Kate are seated, enough away from Christian, Luke and Mia.

"Elliot, is it okay if I talk to Kate really quickly?"

"Sure thing little lady." He gets up and goes to sit by Christian.

"What's up Ana," she questions. I've told her and Mia about my past so she knows I was abused. We're basically sisters: her, Mia, and I.

"I, um, have some concerns…regarding, um."

"Sex?" My cheeks flush as I nod. "What are you concerned about babe?"

"Well I'm, nervous about Christian seeing me naked. Sorry if this makes you feel uncomfortable."

"Oh babe I told you my roommate walked around the apartment naked so you're fine. It's understandable to be nervous about being naked in front of him. It makes you feel vulnerable since you're, literally, exposed. But isn't there a part of you that feels excited about him seeing you naked and how it will make him, happy if you catch my drift." We giggle.

"There is a small part of me excited about him seeing me naked."

"Then you have to give into more of that happy feeling than the nervous one. I was nervous my first time too, I think everyone is. But you both will make it special and memorable."

"Will it hurt? Because it hurt when Grace gave me my pelvic exam as you know. But I don't want it to hurt so much I don't want to do it again."

"It might hurt a little. For me, it felt like a pinch inside of my vagina, like I inserted a tampon wrong. The important thing to remember is to talk to Christian. He's a very understanding man and considerate. He will understand if you tell him your fears, don't worry."

"What about him touching me? I want him to, but again, I'm really nervous about it."

"Take it nice and slow. Ask him to touch where you feel okay with being touched. He probably feels the same way about his chest and back, but you've touched him there haven't you?"

"Yes."

"It's all about communication my lovely. It helps both parties get to the point together quicker and easier." I smile as I think of all she has told me.

"Thanks Kate I feel a lot better."

"Anytime babe." We embrace before I head back up to sit with Christian.

"Did you have a nice talk with Kate," he grins making my knees shake a little.

"Oh yeah. It was nice." His lips are on mine in a minute and I feel my heart flutter with the love I feel for him.

We land and Jason is waiting for us at the airport in the SUV. I want to surprise everyone when we get to the apartment so I feign muteness. It's a quick ride to Escala and soon we're back home. We walk into the kitchen and see Grace, Gail, and Carrick. Everyone embraces before we sit down to a lovely meal.

"Ana, what was your favorite part of New York," Grace asks after sometime has passed during the dinner.

"Oh I really loved going to the zoo and seeing the ball drop at midnight." The four elder adults look as shocked as everyone did this morning.

"We're in love and are a couple now," Christian says before kissing my head. Gail and Grace slightly scream before running around the table and embracing me with tears rolling down their faces. Jason and Carrick hug me as well. They all ask me several questions and I sum up what happened this morning. When we finish the meal, Christian draws our attention.

"I want to say I love you all so much and am so happy to have you all as my family. The reason I'm having this dinner tonight is because Dad informed me this morning about the sex slave market."

"I've had eyes on them since day one," Carrick takes over. "We haven't been successful to get any incriminating evidence on them because when they get the new women they kidnap, they enter into the building through some entrance we can't find nor capture on footage. The evidence we have now, the eyewitness accounts from the other victims, is great, but in court, it could be hear say. The physical evidence we gathered from rape kits leads us to men we can't find. They disappear somehow. The other day, we did catch footage that makes it appear they are getting ready to move."

"Where would they be moving to," Elliot comments.

"We're not sure."

"The plan is for me to go in, get a confession from the leader Charlie Fender and then storm into the place with the FBI. They'll be surrounded, hopefully surrender, and the rest of the women will be rescued," Christian continues and looks to me with pleading eyes.

"When are you, executing this plan," Kate says.

"Tonight, in about an hour or so. The FBI is already on their way. I wish we didn't have to do this but those women need to be saved from certain death. If the men there get wind of our plan, they will move them or kill them. And if the FBI just busted in, that's exactly what they'd do."

"No," I whisper. I stand from my chair and grip it for support. "You can't do this."

"She's right. Send me," Luke vouches.

"I can't it, has to be me. They'll let me in, but no one else."

"You can't. I just got you." I begin to sob and about fall to the floor when Christian's arms wrap around me. "You can't leave me behind. I love you too much. Please Christian."

"Baby, I will return to you I promise. I will not be killed in there. I will come back to your side tonight. I swear to you." He wipes away my eyes with his thumbs before he kisses me with all he has. I taste the salt from my tears on his tongue. Everyone hugs him and more tears are shed before he, Carrick, and Jason get ready to leave. Before he steps into the elevator, he comes back and hugs me close to his chest. "I've kept my promises to provide every need you have. I will keep this promise."

"I know you will." He gives me another long kiss before heading back to the elevator. He gives me a comforting smile before the elevator doors close, separating him from me until he returns.