Christian's POV

I open the door to speak to Taylor and he hands me the bag from Kate and the bags that I came out to grab and I lock the door again.

I saunter back towards Ana with a smirk on my face, I am looking forward to her opening the big bag and she looks really cute as her eyes dart between my face and the bag and since I want to hear her giggle I give her the study bag and she quirks her eyebrow and says "Oh thank you." Then I reach for the big bag but then move my hand and grab and open the small bag and ask "Would you like some morning tea?" At the look on her face I burst out laughing, "Go on, you can growl at me" I say and she can't help but giggle at the fact that I am teasing her and says "Why thank you, actual tea." And then her tone changes as she says "Oh, Twining's English Breakfast Tea, you remembered" and then she looks down and I reach over and lift her chin and give her a gentle kiss, "I remember everything that relates to you, I want you to be happy, you deserve to be happy."

While I want to deepen the kiss, I really want to give her what's in the next bag so pull away but lean back in for another quick peck just because it feels right and I want to see that smile back on her face.

"Ok, I'm not giving this to you until you smile" and as she complies while attempting to pout, I place the big bag across her lap and indicate that she should open it, as she does, her eyes go round and she shakes her head. "Is this for me?" and as I nod sure that she'd love it, she says "I, umm, I can't, umm, I won't accept it" and my heart sinks. She looks at me and gestures for me to lean in and she reaches up and grabs my hair and pulls me down to her lips and I can feel her saying sorry in the kiss and then as she lets go she says "It is beautiful and it looks like the most expensive one in the world and I don't want to hurt you by not accepting this but there is only one guitar that I will play. Ray is a master craftsman and he made me a guitar when I came back with him. With that guitar I was able to heal myself, I can't and won't play anything else, it would be wrong…." She looks up at me with pleading eyes that say, "Please understand" and I take the guitar off her lap and lay it gently to the side and slide back into the position I was in before and, monitor connections be damned, I lift her onto my lap.

"You are amazing" I say, brushing her hair off her face, I move my hand down past her ear and gently rub the lobe and it sends a shiver through her that I can feel and then as her eyes search mine I say "You have such loyalty, you are beautiful and you have an amazing spirit, I hate that life has conspired in such a way to bring us together and that you are in so much pain, but there is nothing more that I want to do than hold you in my arms. I …." Her lips are on mine, her tongue forcing its way in and I realise that the moaning is mine and then her phone rings and she groans and as she goes to turn it over to ignore it, she breaks away and looks at the door and giggles. "Ray is going to kill you!" and there is Ray looking through the door with a raised eyebrow.

I gently place Ana back on the bed and against the pillows and open the door and Ray says "Son, I like you but …" and I have to say to him "Seriously, you have impeccable timing, the only times I kiss her, you appear" and as Ana giggles, he smiles and shakes his head and says "Here you go Annie" as he goes to give Ana the bag he's holding. However, he stops and looks at the guitar discarded on the side of the bed and says "I see you have a better guitar, I guess you don't need this one" and while it isn't said in a hurt manner, both Ana and I say "No" sharply and he stops mid-sentence and raises his eyebrow again.

"Ray, Ana told me in an rather forceful manner that she wasn't playing any guitar other than the one you made her, she didn't even try this one, so no, this one is now mine. Your daughter is loyal, smart, beautiful and I'd say stubborn to a fault, am I correct?" and Ray positively beams and chuckles and says "Well, you've pegged her correctly, good luck!" Ana looks at us with a pretty pout belied by the sparkling eyes above and Ray gently kisses her on the cheek and from the look on Ana's face I can see that he doesn't do that often and she says "Oh Daddy, I couldn't play anything but Mikey" and at my quizzical look she giggles and says " 'My guitar' became 'My Keetar' which became 'Mikey my guitar'."

"Do you play guitar Christian?" Ray asks and I respond with the fact that I have played a little but that normally I play a piano, having someone else to play the guitar with will make music portable for me and a lot more fun but I realise that they must have played together and so I offer Ray my guitar and say "Go for it, I'd love to hear you both play" and they smile at each other and as they start playing I can't believe that Ana leads off with Keith Urban's "If ever I could love", Ray is just providing the backing with the guitar and I have to say the sound from "Mikey" the guitar rivals that of the expensive guitar that Ray is playing but it's the words that Ana is singing quietly as she studiously looks down avoiding my eyes that make me shift in my seat.

I used to cry out in the middle of the night
Baby hold me tight
But there was nobody beside me when I opened my eyes
Now I turn the corner of those days and nights
Something inside me changed and I think I might
Be starting over
I don't wanna run
Oh no, cause you might be the one, baby

If ever I could love
I think it could be with you
If ever I thought I found somebody so true
I wonder if you feel
The same way that I do
If ever I could love
I think it could be with you

You know I can't read your mind my love
But it seems to me
That your heart and mine tonight are
Defying gravity
There's something so familiar
And still so unknown
The closer that we get I swear it feels like coming home
And I'm ready to be brave
Oh yea then you look at me and say baby

If ever I could love
I think it could be with you
If ever I thought I found somebody so true
I wonder if you feel
The same way that I do
If ever I could love
I think it could be with you

It's a long song and my heart is thumping in my chest as I listen to her singing, she has the most beautiful voice and she couldn't have picked a better song from one of my favourite country artists. As she finishes and looks shyly up at me, I ask Ray if I could have the other guitar, pressing a quick kiss on her lips as I pass and ask, "Do you know all Keith Urban's songs and as she nods, I say "Ok, will you back me up on this one then" and I start singing "Making memories of us".

I'm gonna be here for you baby
I'll be a man of my word
Speak the language in a voice
That you have never heard

I wanna sleep with you forever
And I wanna die in your arms
In a cabin by a meadow
Where the wild bees swarm

And I'm gonna love you
Like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust
Makin' memories of us

I wanna honor your mother
And I wanna learn from your pa
I wanna steal your attention
Like a bad outlaw

And I wanna stand out in a crowd for you
A man among men
I wanna make your world better
Than it's ever been

And I'm gonna love you
Like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust
Makin' memories of us

We'll follow the rainbow
Wherever the four winds blow
And there'll be a new day
Comin' your way

I'm gonna be here for you from now on
This you know somehow
You've been stretched to the limits
But it's alright now

And I'm gonna make you a promise
If there's life after this
I'm gonna be there to meet you
With a warm, wet kiss

And I'm gonna love you
Like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust
Makin' memories of us

I have been watching her as I sing and the tears are trickling down her cheeks and I know that today has been a heavy, heavy day for her but unlike the rest of my family, she has had to deal with a whole level of damage far above mine for such a longer time yet appears to have accepted me and all my problems. She has absolutely astounded me with how perceptive and strong she is but I just want to wrap her up in my arms and to protect her from the rest of the world.

But she surprises me with a sniff and a wipe across her face with her hand and asks "Are you up for a duet? Do you know "A little luck of our own"? and when I nod she starts off

The cards are stacking up against us
These days our luck is running low
It's hard to explain but a little bit of rain
Seems to follow us wherever we go

Black cat sittin' on a ladder
Broken mirror on the wall
We're not a bit superstitious
No need to worry at all

'Cause when we can't roll a seven
And our last lucky penny is gone
This world can be tough
But I know when our love is this strong
We can make a little luck of our own, luck of our own

The storm is only temporary
But you and I are here to stay
Baby can't you see true love is all we need
So just throw that rabbit's foot away

'Cause when we can't roll a seven
And our last lucky penny is gone
This world can be tough
But I know when our love is this strong
We can make a little luck of our own
Oh we can make it baby

'Cause when we can't roll a seven
And our last lucky penny is gone
This world can be tough
But I know our love is this strong
We can make a little luck of our own

We can make a little luck of our own
Yeah, yeah
Oooh we can make it baby
Make a little luck of our own

I can't stand being apart from her anymore and place the guitar down and move back to her side, taking Mikey and laying it gently on the bed and she lifts her arms as I approach and I gently pick her up again and pull her into my lap, her hands glide into my hair and she nuzzles into my shoulder allowing me to comfort her. It's only after I have settled her, kissed her hair and whispered in her ear that I realise that there are two extra people in the room.

Mom and Mia are standing there and they both have tears running down their faces and Mia is quiet, I am so shocked that I actually jerk up and Ana gasps in pain and I bend back down to her and whisper "Sorry baby, I'm so sorry" and she just smiles and says "It's ok" and tries to disentangle herself but I pull her closer as I say. "Hi Mia, Mia, this is Ana. Ana, this is Mia my sister" and Mia comes shrieking back to life and runs over to give us both a hug and Mom and I both shout "Stop, Ana has broken ribs" and Mia to her credit, skids to a stop but rests her head on my shoulder looking at Ana and says "Ana, pleased to meet you, as soon as you can, we're going shopping" and I shake my head and look at mom who at least has a smile on her face.

Mom walks over and squeezes Ana's shoulder and says "Hi Ana, how are you doing? Sorry my shifts have been all over the place so I couldn't come any earlier" and Ana looks at me and raises her eyebrow and I say quietly so that only she can hear "Ok fine, it's not all about me" and she giggles and says she's feeling better to Mom and then Mom says "Ana, thank you, I've never heard Christian sing" and Ana turns to look at me again, quirking her eyebrow and I say quietly "I don't like singing for other people" and she says "But you have a beautiful voice, you need to let it free, you need to stop hiding, share your beautiful gifts and that reflected light will brighten the darkness" and I just stare at her. "God you're amazing" I say and lean in to kiss her, she brushes quickly across my lips and whispers in my ear "Christian, your mom and Ray are here, it's just not right."

I look up and Mia is looking at me gawping like a goldfish, "My god Christian, I don't know where you found Ana but don't lose her, she's beautiful, she can sing and she's smart." And at least then I know that no-one has said anything to Mia and I am going to have to work out how I do that, there's no time like now but I need to speak to mom first.

"Ana, honey, I need to speak to Mom, Ray, she's all yours but remember it's still not even 3 full days since the accident, you should be resting Ana" I say and she nods although it looks like she'd like to be defiant about it "And Mia, do you mind going down to the coffee shop down the road with Ryan and getting us all some afternoon tea?" I know Mia has a "thing" for Ryan and this time I am using it to my advantage, I know that Ryan isn't interested but I need her out of the way for a bit. I know that Ana is safe with Ray while I go speak to Mom, however as it is security change over time anyway, Sawyer has appeared so Taylor is free to follow me to mom's office.

Once we are safe in her office I ask "Mom, how are you doing?" I'm scared to hear the answer and she gives me a sad smile and says, "Well if everything awful that has happened to you has brought you to this point in your life with the most beautiful girl in the world in your arms, then I am not going to let it destroy me. I'm so very sorry Christian, I don't know how I am going to make it up to you." And she starts crying again.

"Mom, please stop" I say and realise that I still can't hug her, it amazes me that I can hug Ana.

"Ana has had a worse life than me, I don't know what Dad told you last night, if anything, but I found out today that Carla has been on drugs since Ana was very young and she has basically fended for herself since the age of 5 or 6. Ana isn't fazed by my life at all, she was upset for me but I told her everything Mom and she …. She's just amazing."

I don't know what else to say and I look up to see Mom looking at me with a genuine smile and I see she's wearing the angel wing earrings. "Darling, I think she is amazing too" she says quietly and then she notices where I am looking, "Thank you for the earrings darling" and I say, "You have to know I've always thought of you as an angel that saved me, I don't blame you for Elena and all the rest of it at all, you weren't to know. I have spent a lot of my life hiding, I have been doing it since before you came along, I have always been good at it. Mom, I love you, I need you to remember that you saved me every time you wear the earrings." And Mom's tears start again and she says "Oh Christian, the earrings are the only things that have kept me going today, every time I think of last night, they seem to touch my neck to remind me that you don't hate me and they stop me curling up in a ball."

I know what I have to do so I think of Ana and put my arms out to Mom, she wraps her arms around my neck, resting on my shoulders and avoiding my chest and back and finally, for the first time ever I give her the hug she needs and I can feel her tears on my shoulder as I pull her into a proper hug.

Finally Mom lets me go and her eyes no longer look tortured but she doesn't say anything other than "Oh Christian" and reaches up to touch my cheek to see if I am real "It feels like a dream" she whispers and I don't know whether she feels like she is waking from a nightmare or what. "I can't believe this week, a beautiful Mother's Day on Sunday when my family made sense, the only thing missing was Mia in France and then one person I don't even know has an accident, it's not her fault yet the repercussions travel like ripples in a pond and none of our lives will ever be the same." And she stands there shaking her head.

"Mom, what am I going to do? Ana doesn't want her mother here and I don't want Carla anywhere near her either, did Dad tell you what she has done or rather not done and what she is doing now?" Mom gives a small nod so I say "What Dad doesn't know and what I found out today is that she never looked after Ana, Ana was cooking dinner for them both when she was 6. Mom, she was dealing with what I was dealing with as well as looking after house! She was 6, trying not to get belted by pimps and looking after the house, selling brownies to pay for food and she continued looking after everyone until she was 15 or 16 and ended up in hospital because her step father caned her when she stopped him raping her! Her mother ended up in the BDSM lifestyle with Elena, bloody Elena shopping her around, she even shopped her to me." I feel green again and I say "I'm so sorry Mom, so sorry I have disappointed you and made life so difficult over the years." And I hear a strangled sound from my Mom and see her desperately trying to rearrange her face but what she manages to speak.

"As a mother I can't condone sending Carla home without seeing Ana again, I have to believe there is still some good in the woman" my Mom who only sees good in people says and I have to say "Well so far she was more excited about travelling in my jet than the fact that her daughter was in a critical condition in ICU, she has told Ana that she looks ugly and unattractive, the day she came out of ICU, asked her if she has lost her virginity in front of strangers, joked in a besmirching manner with her ex-husband about the same thing and then has gone to his house, which is where she is now, to sleep with him while her current husband is working to "make her some money". She is sleeping with this man despite him being the one that tried to rape Ana and then caned her so badly she ended up in hospital, oh and he is the father of the girl who has twice attempted to kill Ana. Does she still have any redeeming features Mom?" and Mom looks horrified but still manages to say quietly "She gave birth to Ana" and I snort and say, "It's perhaps the only good thing she has done all her life".

"I need to speak to Ana, I wonder whether Carla could be put into some sort of program to assist with her addiction, maybe once that is out of her system I wonder whether she would be able to operate in a more appropriate manner" I am now itching to get on with things, I don't do well with sitting around and talking. Mom smiles and says "I think I can help with that, let me get onto some colleagues and I'll see what I can do, a girl needs her mother. Speaking of which, what are you going to tell Mia? Elliot is a mess and she is going to see him after here" and I shrug.

"I don't know, I want her to be friends with Ana, it would give someone for Ana to talk to as she goes into rehab and it would be a good education for Mia to see how other people have to deal with less than perfect lives but they are so very different. You should have seen it Mom, that guitar I bought her today was a $20,000 guitar and she refused to use it because Ray had made her a guitar and she doesn't want to play anything else. I'd say she's like that with everything, money is only a means to an end, I don't think she particularly cares for it and what can be bought."

What to tell Mia though is making me feel physically ill. "Maybe we can just say that Elena had an inappropriate relationship with me and that is why Elliot and everyone is so upset and that Ana's accident was caused by an ex-date that I had, let's leave it at that in relation to all the revelations."

Mom just nods, "I think that will be more than enough, I really don't want Mia thinking about what you have been doing, now to get Elliot to stop.."
"What do I have to stop?" I hear as a growl and Elliot walks into the room, he looks awful but goes over and hugs Mom and she says quietly to him "You need to stop beating yourself up over it. It's going to be ok Elliot. Christian, if I can use Ana's own words to you "you need to stop hiding, share your beautiful gifts and that reflected light will brighten the darkness", I think the most amazing gift you have been given is Ana herself, Elliot, Christian just told me information about Ana that he has discovered today that makes that girl in there a miracle unto itself and if this whole horrid chain of events had to happen so that two damaged souls could find each other then I suggest we move forward from this point and not dwell on the horror of the past. We can't go back and undo it so we just have to move forward"

"What Mom, what can't we go back and undo?" and there's a sharp intake of breath from all 3 of us as Mia bursts into the room with that question and a tray of coffees and then she looks at Elliot, "Oh Elliot, you look like shit!" and her hand goes over her mouth as Mom exclaims "Mia! Language! You're worse than the boys!". "Sorry Mom, hi ungorgeous brother, did you have a big night last night" she says as she goes in for a huge hug and it looks like Elliot won't let her go but he's staring inquiringly at me over her shoulder.

Eventually, he lets her go and she stands there looking at us while the awkward silence grows and then I say "Mia, sit down" and just as I say that Dad appears at the door as well. Great, everyone's here, perfect! Nothing like an audience to try and explain an awkward situation to a little sister!

"Mia, if you don't mind, hear me out, everyone has been through an awful lot of stress over the last few days due to a number of revelations about my life. Ana had an awful car accident on Monday night and her condition has been critical a couple of times so she is fragile, anyway, the accident happened when she was run off the road by an ex-date of mine. See, I'm not gay. The girl was once a step sister of Ana's and Ana has had a tough life so please be nice to her. I met the girl through Elena Lincoln with whom I have had a relationship of sorts with for a number of years…" as I say that Mia gasps and says "I knew she was evil, there was always something slithery about how she spoke to you. Did she do something to you when you were a teenager?" and all our heads jerk up and I nod slowly and she sucks in her breath and looks like she is going to cry and says "… and Mom and Dad, you don't know this but about 6 years ago she pulled me aside when I was in the kitchen at a Coping Together function and said there was someone I should meet. She pulled me into the library and there was an old disgusting fellow in there and he was leering at me and she made some remark to him that I was some sort of bait "a bit like her brother" and I didn't like what I saw and thankfully just then Elliot came looking for me because something was burning in the kitchen and I was able to leave. Thank you Elliot."

The silence is broken by a sob from Mom and Dad is right over to her and cradles her in his arms comforting her and Elliot just wipes the back of his hand against his forehead and says "Well, I'm glad I was able to save my little sister even though I didn't help my little brother" and Mia hugs him and they cling tight to each other.

I stand here feeling like a piece of excrement for having brought all this angst into my family. No-one notices as I quietly turn and walk out of the room. Taylor falls in next to me and I walk back to Ana's room.

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Author's Notes:

If you get a chance, listen to those Keith Urban songs and then the paragraphs above will take on even more meaning. You can find them on youtube but also the following site (if you take out all the spaces) is good, you can see the lyrics and also play the songs.

W w w . elyrics song/k/keith-urban-lyrics . html

Note also: Due to real life commitments it is unlikely that I will be able to update until the end of next week, so I appreciate that readers want me to update but this writing is just something that I have to fit around a life that is becoming increasingly hectic. I promise I will update when I can but I won't promise a schedule as I don't want to disappoint by not meeting deadlines … which is what is happening in real life at the moment.

Please everyone, while you wait for my story to update, may I suggest you have a read of BannersandMash's fabulous stories "Silver and Steele", "Storms of Greysteinn" and the new and different "Secret Scribbler Steele", if you can't find them, have a look at my favorite Authors list and you can go from there.

Once again, thank you for reading and reviewing, it is very much appreciated.