Ray's POV – 15 July 2011
I can't believe how Annie found Christian, they are perfectly made for each other, they truly complete one another and I have never ever seen her so happy. I also know he will die for her, his love for her is that great but I still have worry chills run up my spine when I think about my little Annie joining the Grey family. The drive up that long driveway to the magnificent house at the end has me completely on edge, hoping that she won't be swallowed up and spat out by high society, it is so very different to anything she is used to but if anyone can adapt it will be Annie but what has happened?
I came back from a two day fishing trip yesterday to a slew of messages on my phone from Annie saying that she was ok but not giving me any details and it was well past midnight so I couldn't call her and when I called this morning, it was Christian who answered, asking if I could come to his parent's house.
Christian reassured me that yes, something had happened but that Ana was ok, just in the bathroom and that they were leaving for his parents in a few minutes and I told him that I was leaving straight away. I asked that they not call as my phone wasn't charged, as long as she was ok, I would speak to her there otherwise he had to tell me whether I needed to speak to Annie and he'd said that the story could wait, it was probably better said in person and this only worried me more. He'd also strangely said "I need to thank you in person," and I don't understand what for but he'd hung up before I could ask.
I'm even more surprised when I am ushered into the house by Carrick after a warm handshake but with a finger to his smiling lips to indicate a quiet entry and I follow him, my curiosity growing and then I hear it, my beautiful Annie's voice, melding with Christian's, the piano and an older female voice singing along, it is simply beautiful and as they finish, the clapping reverberates around the room. Then Annie sees me and it is pure relief reflected on her face but her movements are laboured and almost in slow motion as I hurry towards her outstretched arms and my worry increases.
"Oh Daddy, you're ok, I was so worried, why didn't you have your phone on you?" Pure relief evident in her voice and reaching her, she throws her arms around me and breathes into my ear not waiting for my excuse as she knows I never have my phone with me, , "Daddy, thank you for teaching me Judo and how to shoot," making me decide that I'd better start carrying my phone.
"Ok missy, start talking what's happened in the last couple of days?" I start saying and it is Christian who then comes over as she curls into my side to allow him to shake my hand.
"Ray, allow me, I promised to look after Ana but when Taylor and I were in Taiwan on Wednesday, Jack Hyde and Elena Lincoln were both released from jail having manipulated the system and," he stops and grimaces as he looks at his mother, "the bastards kidnapped my mother and Gail and then attempted to kidnap Ana." He pauses as I narrow my eyes at him, what happened to his amazing security team and why can I not see Taylor here? I have a soft spot in my heart for Gail and I hope she's ok, I assume she must be fine because there is no way that Annie would have been standing there singing if something had happened to her, I'm sure of it.
"Yes, my crack team was shown to have deficiencies but thankfully Gail when she was supposedly entrapping Ana, provided enough clues that Ana was incredibly smart and deciphered them which meant the team was then able to formulate a plan. Unfortunately that plan included allowing Ana to be the bait in capturing them and resulted in all the criminals being re-incarcerated with extra evidence that should keep them all in custody for extra years to come. Ana was amazing and I believe your guidance was the reason for it, that's what I want to thank you for, not only was she calm under pressure but she singlehandedly threw and disarmed the kidnapper with the gun,"
Annie pipes up quietly with, "It was just a standard Uchi Mata throw and it was a woman that I threw, not a heavier man," both understating and making it seem as if it was natural for her to do that sort of throw and even with knowing her skills I am amazed given her injuries.
"How is your pelvis? You would have twisted quite a bit to do that throw." I ask concerned and I see her eyes dart to Christian and his jaw tighten.
"I took the painkillers this morning, I'm fine. Seriously, Christian, I am fine." She says placatingly and I shake my head and then Annie continues the story.
"Having disarmed her," Annie falters as she goes to say the next bit and I can feel the shake in her body and know whatever happened next will have an ongoing impact on her, so I squeeze her tighter. "The bastard masterminding it all was going to shoot Christian so I shot .." and her voice cracks and Christian looks like he is going to break watching her so I hand her over, it's up to him now and I can see Annie relax immediately. The gasp from around the room is an indication that no-one else has heard the story yet either and I am glad I'm not the only one.
Christian takes over the story as he soothes Annie, "Linc, Elena's ex-husband was about to shoot me, before he could, Ana shot the gun out of his hand and my team shot him dead. Ray, I believe I have you to thank for my life and for both Gail and my mother's lives. Ana kept a cool head under immense pressure, then executed the judo move with her injuries and by immobilising Jennifer and taking her gun, threw all sorts of plans out of place and then to top it off with the perfect shot, it was amazing and personally I think she could teach my security team a thing or two."
My pride in Annie explodes in my chest but worry that she was in such danger and I have no doubt that I am hearing a very abridged version of what happened and don't know if I can stand hearing the full version nor whether I want to think about the fact that being with Christian she is obviously a target for kidnappers.
"Grace, are you ok?" I ask out of concern for her, she seems such a lovely person that I have a soft spot for her too and as she nods with a smile, I look towards Christian, "Is Gail ok?"
"Yes, because Ana picked up all the clues that Gail gave her, the security team were able to make sure both were ok, Gail was injured but is out of hospital, she and Taylor are taking a break for a couple of days but," and he shakes his head in wonder, "Wouldn't accept a holiday because the wedding is so close, thankfully she will be fine."
I breathe a sigh of relief but my biggest concern and it's obvious Christian's concern, is Annie who is still shaking, in fact, it is becoming so bad that it is visible. With a look of concern it is Grace that decides that hot chocolates would be a good thing and everyone agrees and she leaves for the kitchen, followed less than a minute later by Christian and Annie as everyone else looks at each other.
Kate's usual bulldozer demeanour is gone and concern is all over her face as she looks at me and I remember the day I moved Annie into her apartment, looking at the two young girls about to embark on the most exciting period of their young lives and seeing Kate's open concern for Annie then as she stood shaking on the brink of a new life, unsure as to whether she'd be able to make it.
"She'll be fine Kate," I reassure her, "Remember when she moved into your apartment? It was all new, very scary and she thrived, the same thing will happen now. She was blessed to find you then, she has found Christian now and she proved in the last couple of days that she can stand up for herself and whoever is backing her up will be there when it is needed. She hides from the spotlight but when she's in it, she eclipses the light thrown and is and will always be amazing. I'd say it's just very scary at the moment for her, way too many things all at once."
Kate nods and Elliot pulls her in tighter and whispers something in her ear which has her giving a small smile and then she jumps up and hugs me, I guess even she is feeling the changes that are happening, "She'll be ok, he's a good man" I whisper into her ear and she nods.
"I know but it's all happened so fast, she's had to deal with so much." Kate almost whimpers into my shoulder and I am surprised at myself and Kate, I'm not known for being comforting but at this point, I am the only thing anchoring her to the past where things were admittedly easier and I simply pat her on the back.
"The whirlwind will stop soon hopefully, can you make sure that you are there for her when it does so that she won't be so lost? She looks like she is a yacht bobbing in a storm about to break anchor, when the storm calms she's going to be all shaken up and she's going to need something familiar to stabilise herself." I say because I am concerned that Annie is feeling like she is losing herself, well, I'm concerned that she is losing herself and I live too far to be of effective use..
Kate nods and as she pulls away says, "I am helping with the wedding, maybe now the crazies are gone again, we might be able to spend some time together just the two of us, we haven't had much time together lately."
I have to add, "Just don't add to the storm now, with the wedding, don't make it a big fuss, you know how much she hates a fuss, I'm surprised they're still here and haven't eloped to be perfectly honest."
"Sounds like a great plan," Christian says as he re-enters the room carrying the tray of hot chocolate and he looks serious.
"Christian! You can't do that to me!" Mia screeches and jumps off the sofa and tottering towards him on her heels.
"You can calm down Mia, we are going to finalise everything today, it's Friday, I should be working but we have two weeks and then we are being married, I don't care about anything but having Ana happy, if she wants it, she's to have it, if she doesn't want it, it's gone, do you understand? All decisions are being made today, everyone that is important to any decision is here, I'll speak to Taylor when he's back and he'll finalise security to fit in with everything planned. It's Ana's wedding, not yours so what do you need to finalise?" There is no movement to his face and Mia actually steps back a little in shock, I don't think he's spoken to her like that before.
"Oh Christian, I'm sorry Mia, that sounded so harsh, thank you for everything you've done so far, " Annie says looking upset at Christian's tone but I can understand where he is coming from because she looks so sore and tired and I know she mustn't have slept much lately.
Turning as he hears Annie's voice, his face softens and he adds, "I understand there isn't that much left to organise as you've done a great job thus far Mia but I don't want any more stress for Ana, she's been through too much."
Mia sets out what is left to do and I am amazed how much of a palaver it all is and by the look on Christian's face, I can tell he thinks the same, the various decisions he makes quickly and efficiently while Annie quietly adds her suggestions and it heartens me to see him change set decisions when she frowns but doesn't want to impose. His eyes are on her constantly and he drags her preferences out and acknowledges them and changes the decision, keeping a tight rein on the extravagance as he knows Annie hates excess and by the end of the negotiations, the wedding sounds like it will be lovely, classy and quite small.
Grace is sitting to the side with a smile of contentment on her face as she finalises her guest list and the finer details, Elliot having left for a while to attend to some work issues has returned and is joking about possible options for the day earning himself some filthy looks from Christian and giggles from the girls.
It is a peaceful scene as I sit back with Carrick, both of us glad to be there and not having to have a part in the organisation and I think, both extremely grateful that what happened in the previous few days spared the women closest to our hearts.
However, when the talk excitedly turns to a hen's night and bachelor party with both Kate and Mia laughing and topping each other with ridiculous suggestions, Christian absolutely explodes. For a man known for his control, there is none, absolutely none! The anger is bleeding out of all of his pores as he screams at Mia, "Have you learnt nothing from what happened to Mom, Gail and Ana? We are all targets and there is no way, no way that either of those stupid parties will be happening. There is no way I am ever putting Ana at risk like that or letting you put her at risk like that."
"Ah, Bro, don't shout at the girls," Elliot interrupts stepping forward and then stops and steps back as Annie stands and speaks up, her eyes fierce, red spots on her cheeks and her voice protective as she stands in front of Christian.
"Or putting Christian at risk like that again." She pauses for a moment and then continues, still angry, "And remember, every time I am at risk, so is Christian because he'll be trying to save me. So NO!"
And I see it, the pure unadulterated fear in his eyes and in Annie's and realise that's what it is, they were both staring at the point of a gun, staring down a loss that would have killed the other and just as she shot the gun out of Lincoln's hands, nothing will stop Annie from protecting Christian. For the first time ever I see Annie in both a protector and self-preservation mode and know that finally she has realised that she needs to bother making sure she's safe, finally she understands that she matters.
There is an uneasy silence as Christian pulls Annie onto his lap, kissing her hair and gently rubbing her back while everyone doesn't know quite where to look and then Annie says, still with a touch of forcefulness in her voice, "We can do something at home, we can go to a spa or to one of Christian's clubs in a private room but there will be no bus tours, there will be no night clubs, there will definitely be no strippers, I don't care, I want to thank you all and have a lovely night but seriously, we are such targets at the moment."
It's almost an overwhelmed whimper when she continues, "I can't open the door at work without a million flashbulbs going off, how could we control any hen's night? Think about it, once the news breaks about the kidnap and it will, there is going to be even more attention. It is already insane because they know about the engagement, if is obvious that we are having a hen's night then they'll know that the wedding is imminent and our lives will be hell." She stops and looks at them, an apology in her eyes, "I just want to be married to Christian, that's all, I don't want the fuss. Sorry."
Before anyone has a chance to speak and I can't believe at this point that neither Kate or Mia have found their voice, Elliot who stopped when Annie spoke, looks at his brother and says in a conciliatory tone, "Ok, why don't we have two separate rooms at the Mile High Club and that way security can be in one place, we can book it out and have some fun but all approved by Ana before we do it?"
"Sounds perfect," Christian says curtly, before turning to Annie and saying something quietly to her and she nods and I see some peace returning to her face and out of the corner of my eye I see Grace release a breath.
The morning continues and it is some time later that I realise why I was invited, that Christian asked me to be there as a point of stability, a counterpoint to the ridiculousness that is planning a wedding. He's had to go off to deal with some business and as the various ladies are "discussing" some contentious party requirement and I watch Annie being overruled and overwhelmed, I pull her aside and we walk out to the garden. With her arm looped through mine, we head out quietly to the dock and as we sit with our feet dangling I can feel her relaxing next to me.
"It'll be worth it," I say quietly and she nods and smiles tentatively and then nods vigorously when I ask if she's happy, "Well, that's all that matters," I say with finality and she nods again and leans against me, putting her head on my shoulder.
We sit there quietly and when she yawns I ask how she's sleeping and she shakes her head as if she doesn't want to talk about it but I remember the nightmares after the Morton period and gently dig a little deeper. I am completely overwhelmed when she sniffles and horrifyingly details the conversations with Carla and what has been happening since and then describes the nightmares, those she had before the kidnapping and the ones she had last night and my heart breaks for her once again and I hate Carla with a passion.
How she could have done all of the horrific things she has done to our daughter I don't understand, not providing food for her, not looking out for her, allowing her to be burnt as a child and then allowing the Mortons to hurt her so badly as a teenager. How she couldn't love her and wouldn't care for her over all the years that Annie was a gorgeous easy child and teenager is beyond me but to know what she has done now, in the last few months is completely and utterly devastating. Annie has had to deal with so much, she shouldn't have to deal with a mother who is complicit in trying to kill her and who is mentally torturing her now.
I wasn't there for Annie when I should have been, I am upset that I missed all the clues and didn't protect her when she was a child, while I was there for her after the Mortons and I have been there for her as much as I could be since the accident, I know I have to redeem myself for those early years, I know I need to speak to Welch to see what we can do.