Christian's POV – 18 July 2011
It still strikes me as funny how naughty it feels to be with Ana in my childhood bedroom, it always feels like I am my teenage self, sneaking a girlfriend in and getting up to mischief. I never managed it as a teenager but oh, what mischief I have enjoyed with Ana over the last two days… just thinking about it hardens me and I have to shift in my chair.
By the end of the weekend despite Kate and Elliot, Mia and that suspect Ethan, Macy and Mom and Dad being in the house, I was deciding that I might need to order a new bed for the room as it was starting to creak from all the activity. It was nice to spend as much time together as was socially possible and as physically close as humanly possible, even though I was trying to take it easy on Ana because of her injuries.
If anyone was paying attention to us, they didn't say anything and there was only one moment when it all nearly became very obvious. After going for a swim and watching Ana confident in just my presence to wear her bikini, tempting me with every turn in the pool, I'd basically dragged her like an ape into my room. When not long after, Mom knocked on the door to say that dinner was ready I froze mid thrust and Ana in shock clamped down which had me swearing and my mother asking with concern if everything was ok.
As I couldn't remember if I'd locked the door in my haste, all I could see in my mind was her opening the door and seeing Ana in a compromising position kneeling on the floor so with Ana now giggling uncontrollably, a rapidly reducing erection and a strained voice, I responded we'd be down in a few minutes.
With Ana still giggling, there was no way were continuing as we had been and I drew her up to me, tasting myself on her lips is nowhere as nice as tasting her so I decided that she needed something to make her really giggle, her typical response to hitting the highest of highs. We may have been late for dinner…. The memory puts a smile on my face as I shake my head and reapply myself to my work.
Now, back at work, I am in my element finalising the Taiwan deal and also looking at the feasibility of moving Grey Publishing into GEH headquarters, I haven't fully discussed this with Ana and I want to have all my facts in place before I do. The security at the current premises is just too difficult to maintain however the issue that is troubling me more than anything else is that all the damage that has been done to Ana has been from personnel within the organisation. Will it be improved if she is a couple of floors down from me?
Ana was concerned about returning to work given that now three staff have been incarcerated due to attacks on her and was worried about how the rest of the personnel would be dealing with this information. I had already informed Roach that no mention is to be made of the kidnap and subsequent events as we had thus far managed to keep it out of the news. He was also keen not to mention that the former head of HR and the vice president were both now in custody as it indicated a distinct lack of moral leadership and may lead to questions as to his character assessments, so hopefully there is no mention and Ana can simply go about her day.
Reports from Sawyer indicate that Ana is having a good day and thankfully, the stolen conversations I have had with her don't indicate anything different. She started the day sounding hesitant but by the end of the day sounds happy, actually the happiest she's ever sounded at work and I arrange to pick her up right on closing time so that we can go home and just relax and she happily agrees.
Ryan drives us home, I'm concerned that Ana looks exhausted but she assures me she is fine but as we walk out of the elevator and she sees Gail, the shriek she emits has Ryan and Sawyer reaching for their weapons and me looking for an assailant. Taylor rushes out at the same time and we males all stand perplexed as Ana runs up to Gail and hugs her, practically jumping up and down on the spot.
It's only when Ana steps back and says, "Oh Gail, congratulations! Oh, I am so happy for you," and is holding onto her left hand that I notice the engagement ring and almost sag with relief.
Looking over at Taylor whose whole attention is now on Gail, the look he is giving her is one to which I can totally relate, goodness, what these two women have done, turning us into saps but I wouldn't want it any other way and I join Ana and kiss Gail on the cheek with a "Congratulations Gail, I'm very pleased for you."
Walking over to Taylor I shake his hand and then in a move that surprises me I think even more than him, I pull him into a hug, saying gruffly, "You're a lucky man. I take it the weekend was an enjoyable break, welcome back," and he nods, breaking into the most relaxed smile I've ever seen.
"That I am Sir, that I am and yes, it was. Thank you."
It's then Ana's turn to throw her arms around him, kissing him on the cheek and congratulating him and without any twinge of annoyance, I watch him as he accepts the congratulations and then moves to Gail and for the first time in their employment kisses her to the security team's whooping delight and Gail's embarrassment.
"Just the once Sir," he quips as Gail looks at him and shakes her head.
"I'll grab the champagne and we can toast the wonderful news, it sounds like dinner at the Space Needle is in order and then tomorrow is another day," I say with humour and head for the wine fridge, I have no doubt that the working relationship will be back tomorrow and I am exceptionally pleased for the two of them, I have expected it for a long time and I have the perfect present for them.
After the toast, we move to our rooms to change for dinner and I tell Ana my plan, her approval and gratitude means we take a little longer than expected in changing but even with that, we are waiting for Taylor and Gail to reappear and when they do Gail won't meet our eyes and they both look inordinately pleased with themselves. Ana squeezes my hand and I can't help but look down at her and smile as I reciprocate, I know exactly how they feel.
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Taylor's POV – 19 July 2011
Well, it was nice to be in our bubble for the four day weekend and even nicer of the Boss to shout dinner and that magnificent bottle of champagne last night but it's back to all systems go today and to be honest, I am looking forward to it.
The Boss called me into his office this morning and just wanted to clarify something, I knew he'd be asking the question as I'd ask Gail that very same question. He was worried that after what had happened to Gail that we might pull the pin and I assured him that we weren't going anywhere. Gail is very attached to both him and Ana as well as enjoying her job and if she is happy then it makes it me happy to stay where I am as I both enjoy the position and appreciate the opportunities he provides me.
With a nod, that particular communication was completed and we were back to our normal footing and he informed me that we would be heading out to the Sound house in a couple of hours but that this afternoon he was expecting a full briefing of what had happened last week, all the details explicitly, the background of everyone involved and plans for going forward to ensure nothing like it can happen again.
After some intensive discussions with both Welch and Barney, the latter rattling me as he always does by his ability to squirrel his way inside machines and communications systems, I leave them to finalise the report for the Boss and leave with him for the Sound house. I look forward to seeing what Elliot has been able to achieve in the short time he's had and on the way, I ask the Boss as to where the living quarters will be and where the security team will be situated so that we can organise for all the communications and security systems to be installed and linked in to Barney's central hub and backups and he says we'll discuss it on the way back as he has something he needs my opinion on while we are out there.
As we reach the house, the Boss says, "Wait here," and smirks at me. He pretty much bounces out of the car and I see Ana opening the door for him and I am totally confused, the last report I had from Sawyer was less than ten minutes ago saying all was well with Ana, now I realise it didn't indicate location and he is in on whatever plan the Boss is following. I am even more perplexed when Gail appears behind Ana. Thankfully Gail looks as confused as myself and I wonder if I have entered some sort of parallel universe where I no longer know what is going on with my staff or myself for that matter.
The Boss has his arm around Ana as he saunters up saying, "Come on, I have something to show you," and while he looks calm, Ana is positively vibrating with energy, she can't hide her smile which lights up her face and her eyes and I stop for a second amazed at the change in her in such a short time. I think if the injuries weren't still troubling her, she'd be skipping around us.
Gail looks at Ana, looks at me and asks, "Do you have any idea what's going on?" and I have to shake my head, I must be losing my knack at security, perhaps the Boss would be better off if I didn't stay.
We walk around behind the house and wind up the path to the one gate in the fence on the far side of the property and the Boss says as we walk through, "Ana and I would like to present your engagement gift to you, congratulations!" and he hands me some keys.
I may be impersonating a goldfish as I look at the keys in my hand and back up at the Boss as he points to the cottage and he outright laughs at me and then says seriously, "Taylor, you have protected me through all sorts of situations over the last few years and Gail, you've looked after me and now Ana in ways that very few have and I'm not even talking about last week. We both appreciate what you have done for us, the cottage is yours. Yes it is to our benefit that you are close but we thought you might like your own space so that you'll have room for Sophie to visit and do your own thing when you aren't on call."
I still can't speak and it is Gail that moves first and breaks all protocol by throwing her arms around the Boss and despite a small flinch, he wraps his arms around her and accepts the hug and then she moves over to Ana and simply folds her into her arms like a mother and daughter embrace. I mysteriously have clouding over my eyes as I shake the Boss's hand and clap him on the shoulder in thanks, I can't trust my voice but manage a "Thank you Sir, it is too much but thank you."
"And that answers your question as to living quarters," the Boss says with a laugh as he pulls me into a hug and again I am stunned at the change Ana has wrought on this man. Someone so completely closed off to the world, unable to be touched, even by his own mother, unwilling to show emotion and always looking like a powder keg about to go off, the demarcation between staff and family very clear and now here he is being hugged by Gail and initiating a hug with me, twice in less than 24 hours, laughing and enjoying himself.
Ana has Gail by the hand and is dragging her up the steps and the Boss is just smiling after them and says, "You'd better go have a look before they furnish it in florals and then we have to go, we have a meeting with Welch in less than an hour."
As I walk into the cottage, it hits me like a brick and as I look at Gail, I see it reflected in her face too, it feels like home, our home. I've never had a home, I was a military brat growing up so we were uprooted every couple of years and then I followed that same path with my first wife, even with Sophie, I was moving us around as the military dictated and then together we've never had anything other than living in the staff quarters for the last few years.
This is ours, our home, somewhere just for us, I could not be more grateful and as the Boss and Ana back out of the room to give us privacy, Gail reaches up and puts her arms around my neck, my hands settle on her waist and after a gentle kiss, we stand there our foreheads touching, breathing in synch and with every fibre of my being, I give thanks for Ana coming into our lives.