Chapter 7
Christian's talking to police and the whole family is here now. It's been two days and Phoebe is still missing. It's all over the media, headlines feeding off their own imagination. We refuse to have any TV, newspapers or magazines in the house. We have everybody we can think about looking for her. The phone rings and Christian picks up. I can tell by the one sided conversation that it's Welch. Christian finally hangs up and tells us that a random person, no connection to Leila or Hyde bailed Leila out, we still don't know how she got to London or how she got a hold of Phoebe. I'm relieved Teddy finally fell asleep. He's been awake, blaming himself, brain storming ideas with Christian and the security team. There are waves of people constantly coming in and out of the house. No useful news and my nerves are shot. I hear Taylor tell Christian to get some sleep, when was the last time he slept? His eyes are dark and they have light bags, other than that, he still conducts himself in the same manner.
"Christian, come, lay with me."
"Anastasia, you know I can't. I have to find her."
"If you get some sleep, your mind will be sharper. You can think better if you get some sleep. Taylor you too. Nothing is going on right now, I need you and Sawyer at your best. Please, take the guest rooms, call your wife and get some sleep." He looks at Christian for the silent permission and Christian nods his head. He knows as well as I do that they work their best when they've rested. Christian walks over and holds his hand out."
"I can't, I don't want to wake Teddy."
"Ana, I wont sleep without you, move slowly, Elliott will watch him while we sleep." Kate walks up to me.
"Ana I'll lay with him. You need some sleep. The both of you, please." I carefully move and Kate takes over my spot, gently running her hand through Teddy's tousled hair. I quietly thank her and Christian and I go to one of the rooms and instantly fall asleep.
I wake up and Christian is sitting on the edge of the bed looking at me. I cock my head to one side and stare at him.
"Did you sleep OK Ana?" I nod my head yes and he leans closer to me."Have I told you 24/7 always lately?" I shake my head no. "I'm sorry," he kisses me on the forehead and cups my face in his hands, "Anastasia Grey, 24/7 always."
"24/7 always Christian."
We take a shower together, change and make our way back to the living area. Teddy is talking with Taylor, Sawyer, Elliott and Carrick. Kate, Ethan and Grace are talking at the table. I can tell by the sweet aroma filling the house that Mia is in the kitchen. I hear the other kids in the game room and things almost feel normal. My chest tightens at the thought, Phoebe, baby girl I hope your OK. Christian answers his phone and his face changes, he hangs up and tells us someone dropped Phoebe at the hospital.
We rush over and get told that she's OK, no harm except she's severely dehydrated. They hooked her to an IV and we immediately get to see her. Teddy was the first to run in, grabbing her in a hug and kissing the top of her head. I come second, tears rolling down my face again and I can't help but kiss her all over her face and the top of the head. I check every part of her body, moving her arms and legs to make sure she's really OK. Christian comes second, he holds her for the longest time, kissing the top of her head and cheek and moves for everybody else to welcome her.
"Oh man, you'd think I got kidnapped or something!" She nervously laughs. The doctor comes in and checks a few more things and gives us the OK to take her home. The whole way home she talks about how hungry she is. She hasn't ate anything but a piece of toast somebody sneaked her. We wait to ask her questions until got something to eat. As soon as we walk in, Mia and Ethan run and give her a hug.
"Oh darling! I hope your hungry!"
"Aunt Mia, I'm starving!"
We all sit down and Teddy no longer contain himself.
"What happen Bee?!" He's relaxed grateful for his sisters safe return.
"I'm not really sure. One minute I'm going to the locker room to change, next thing I know is somebody is grabbing me, they threw something on my head and buckled me in the backseat. I fought back dad, everything I was taught but, that lady was trained by someone. I was just grateful they didn't throw me in the trunk."
"They?" Teddy urged on.
"You fought back?" Christian was half impressed and the other half proud of his little fighter.
"Yea, when I was grabbed my body went straight into survivor mode, I pushed the lady away from me and got a short glance of her. Can I see somebody's phone?" I hand her mine and she logs into an account and pulls up a series of pictures.
"When she came after me, I was about to call Teddy to let him know I was almost done, I quickly switched to camera and just randomly started snapping photos, I figured daddy would go through my accounts and find them and I was trying to use the flash to blind her so I could run." Taylor tried to hide a smile, he was almost as proud as Christian. "Here, I got a few good ones of her face." She hands the phone to me and I go ashen. What the f*ck?! Sawyer see's the photo from behind me and gasps.
"Holy shit!" Christian grabs the phone and Taylor jumps up to look, the next name they say in unison.
"Prescott!"
"No, why would she do this? It doesn't make sense."
"You think Belinda has an evil twin?" Christian says with a sarcastic tone. Teddy looks from me to Christian.
"You guys know her?"
"She was apart of your mothers security a very long time ago."
"She's the one who dropped me off at the hospital. There were two other women, I heard her fighting for me. One of the girls said to kill me, one said to drug me up, make a video of me and use it as a ransom. She's the only one who sneaked me food and something to drink."
"Did you see the other women?"
"No, but that lady, she saved my life dad."
The next couple days was spent looking for Prescott. She must have multiple names she's going by because everything is coming to a dead end. We did find out that it was Prescott who bailed Leila. I know whole heartedly that Prescott wouldn't do this. There has to be a reason. Christian refuses to give up. He's looking though Prescott's, Leila's and Hyde's history as far back as he could and the only thing each of them have in common are Christian and I. It's been a few hours and we finally get a call. Christian hangs up and he's even more confused. He tells me that there's one more connection that Prescott has with Leila, they both got a hair cut from one of Elena's salons. It was different years and different times but, that was the only other connection. Elena? The darkness inside me rises again.
"She wouldn't do this Ana, she's not that type of person. Vindictive maybe but, she's not that crazy. Especially sixteen years later. She believes strongly in the, 'in the moment' repercussions."
"People change Christian." The words come out of me in a hiss.
"Not Elena."
I decide that's my cue and walk out of his office. Is he really still sticking up for her?! God, it obviously will always be that way. I walk into my room and close the door, pacing the floor, I feel it, that unexplored feeling taking over the sensible me. She could be out our lives for centuries and he will always protect her. Stand up for her when he has every reason not to. My breathing is shallow, heart pounding an unnatural beat in my chest, my body is heating and I can feel the light dimming. Don't lose that light Ana, hang on to the go- shut up. No! No! No! I'm so sick of f*cking hanging on to the good. The good didn't kill Jack! I left him alive, I let him reenter my life and kill my mother! She's gone because the f*cking good in me didn't kill him! My daughter was kidnapped because of that good! My vision starts to blur and my teeth are grinding against each other, I stop, furious at myself, at Christian and Elena, Prescott, Leila, Jack! That f*cking Jack! I want to scream, break something, I march to the fireplace and pick up a vase and throw it against the wall. It's not enough, I lose it, I knock everything off the fireplace and I'm about to pick up a chair when I feel familiar arms around me again.
"Ana! What's going on? Baby what's happening to you?"
He's running his hand down my hair, gently whispering in my ear. I can feel that light again, why is he trying to bring that light back? It's weakness, he likes me weak. The word is sickening to me. Weak, my family is in danger because of that weakness. The light is dimming again and part of me is trying to bring it back. The part Christian fell in love with. Yes, Christian fell in love with that light. That light is his life line. Does lose the light Ana, your family needs that light. I swallow the lump in my throat, my breathing becomes normal and Christian is picking me up, moving me to the bed. He's apologizing, I don't know why. I'm suddenly overwhelmed by emotions. What's happening to me? I have to stay good.
With all the events in London, we finally agree to Teddy and Bee coming home. The flight was quiet, Teddy is happy to spend his senior year back at his old school. Bee argued with us the whole drive to the airport. She was learning at one of the best ballet schools in the world and she wasn't willing to give up so easily. We promised when things are safer she could go back. She cried for a whole hour, arguing her point; she had some really good points. She went straight into the cabin and locked herself in there for most of the flight. I'm sure if she didn't smell food, she would have stayed in there until we landed.
"Aw Bee c'mon. You get to see all your friends again. Soccer with your team and your only fourteen, everybody at that dance school was my age. This way you can return with your peers your own age."
"Teddy, I was keeping up with kids older than me. I had the best teacher possible, you and I both know that part of planning for our futures is who we know in the present. She's the best reference a dancer could ask for. You know how good it would look to future studios if they know I learned, danced and kept up with the best, at my age?"
"Phoebe, your not going to dance your whole life-"
"Yes, I am!"
"That's not a future Phoebe! What if you break a bone? What if something happens and you can no longer dance?"
"I'm not giving up my education. They have the best education in London too. It's still considered a prestigious school and dancers there have been accepted into the holy trinities."
"Holy trinities!? Your obviously not talking about Harvard, Yale and Princeton."
"Yes I am, dancers from that school study just as hard as they dance!"
"What percentage?! I'd like to see the numbers!"
"OK you two. Enough of that. Phoebe I promise we will get you back to that school within the year. We have a duty as your parents to worry about your safety first." I can't contain my smile, the three of them, so formal and in constant business mode. Christians voice is soothing, calming their moods instantly.
"Dad, I'd like that in writing, I'll have Miss. Gates work on the paper work and fax it to."
Christian raises an eyebrow at her. We laugh and talk the rest of the trip, nodding off occasionally. The ride seemed shorter, much shorter. When we finally pull up to the house, Sawyer and Taylor are already there. I know they looked every inch of that house down and I'm all of sudden so grateful they're still with us. Christian, Taylor and Sawyer retire to the office and Teddy is in the kitchen making a sandwich, Bee and I are in the TV room, she's sitting next to me, leaning her head on my shoulder.
"Mom, I was so scared. Those two women, the one one who said to kill me, she was determined. She kept saying that daddy deserved it. To lose someone. She said he broke her." She looks at me cautiously, I urge her to keep talking. "She sounded so wounded mom. They also talked about how they loved him, how that's what he does, he beats his love into them, intoxicate them with that feeling of ownership, like he wouldn't leave and just like in the room, he'd take them to ecstasy and pull away." My body tightens and my breathing stops momentarily. "What room mom? What were they talking about?"
"Bee, who knows what the mouths of crazy people speak about?" We talk for a few minutes until she goes upstairs to get some sleep. Teddy comes in almost as soon as she leaves.
"You know what she was saying mom, what did those women mean?"
"Teddy please, you have to let this go."
Christian walks out and looks at us. Teddy turns to face him him. "Bee told mom she overheard the women talking about a room. What room dad?" Christian doesn't flinch, his body is giving nothing away.
"Teddy I assure you I'm not sure what your talking about." I'm surprised by how well he just lied.
"Dad, they said you took them to the breaking point, that you beat your love into them, what room dad?"
"I did beat my love into them Teddy, before meeting your mother I enjoyed my pleasures, rough." He said it so casually, surprising both Theodore and I.
"You raped women dad?" Teddy sat down confused.
"No son, everything was done with consent. They wanted what I did as much as I wanted it.." I can't hear this, I move to stand up but Christian walks next to me and sits down, pulling me close to him, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "Teddy, before I met your mother, I hated the idea of relationships. I wanted women solely on the fact that they could be a sexual release. Whenever they wanted more I moved on. I didn't treat them the way I should have. That's what I was telling you that day on the boat. Women are sensitive creatures. Eventually, sex wont be enough. Your mother, "he kisses my shoulder, "she changed my point of view. I fell in love with her before I was ever physical with her. I didn't know it at the time and it took me awhile to realize it but, I did. She was a force of change. Look for your force of change Teddy."
Despite how awkward that night was, Teddy didn't press about the room again. We talked to him about everything going on. We answered majority of his questions and we went to sleep better that night.. until the pounding on the door. Christian jumped up, grabbed a shirt and met Teddy and Bee's eyes in the hall. He whispered for me to go into Phoebes room, signaled Teddy to follow him downstairs. I hear them shuffling around and then the door opens. Christian is yelling something and I hear a familiar distant voice. Prescott? What is she doing here? I open the door and tip toe toward the stairs.
"Mr. Grey, they're coming for you." I hear a phone ring and a panicked Prescott say's she has to go. "Linc, follow the trail of Linc!" She runs to her car and veers off. I walk downstairs and look at Christian. "Linc?"Christian turns to look at me.
"She's trying to shake us, Linc is dead."
"How do you know?"
"He committed suicide Ana. He's not someone to worry about."
Suicide? That's significant to something but, I can't remember why. We go back upstairs and it doesn't take long for everybody to go back to sleep. I dream of a late night in Escala, Christian is in his office, "I woke up my wife." …... "A friend of a friend committed suicide." I shoot out of sleep and look at him horrified.
"You spoke to Elena?!"
Christian rubs his eyes and looks at me.
"Ana what are you talking about? I haven't spoke to Elena."
"What friend of a friend committed suicide Christian?!"
"Yes, Ana I was talking about her but not to her. Welch called to notify me."
"Promise me Christian."
He kisses me softly and pulls me to him, kissing the back of my neck and I feel his erection on my back as his hands move forward, rubbing my nipples, sucking on my neck. He gets up and closes our door, locking it as he walks back he pulls his shirt over his head and drops his pants, his erection springing out. He crawls back into bed, crawling between my legs, pulling my breast from my night gown and sucking one of my nipples while squeezing the other. I moan, my body shivers at his touch. He pulls my gown up and I feel him against my clit before sliding himself down and inside me. My back arches at the feeling, it's been too long and my body has been needing his. There's no kinky f*ckery in this home. He's only ever made love to me and tonight, he poured his soul in me with every forceful thrust. He's been needing me too. Biting my neck and digging his hands in my hips. The first release was a plea for another as he flips us over and I'm on top. He adjusts himself so he's sitting instead of laying and I slide myself down on him. He runs his fingers down my spine and my body instantly reacts. He leans me forward, pulling my breast in his mouth again. I'm riding him slowly, feeling every inch of him inside me, deep inside me as my body cries for him. His name is a prayer off my lips and he's begging for my orgasm. I start thrusting my hips faster, moving in circular motions, up and down, faster, harder. I feel him swelling, he's close and I can no longer hold back. We find our release together, forgetting everything in the outside world. He lays me next to him and kisses me.
"24/7 always Mrs. Grey."
"24/7 always Mr. Grey."