AUTHORS NOTE: I just want to say a massive thank you to you all for your kind reviews and comments. It never ceases to amaze me when my stories are well received. Also, a big thank you to those of you who responded to my request for help in my authors note on the first chapter and made comments as to how you would like to see the story proceed. I would also like to just specifically shout out to 'T Traveller' as she has been one of my regular readers for a while. I asked her to also mention my story on the Facebook FSOG Fan Page, which she participates in and to mention the fact I was looking for help to get some inspiration and rid myself of this writer's block which has afflicted this story for the past five years. So, thank you all.

I noticed from the comments a couple of you wanted Christian to be related to Gideon. Now I did think about that when I started this story, but I'd already dismissed it as a viable plot line as I have already done that in my other crossover story 'Fifty Shades of Crossfire Family Connections' and I didn't want to repeat something I've already done, which is why I made the connection between Ana and Eva. It appears quite a number of you want to see Frank get his comeuppance so that has given me a point of reference of where to go next and someone said they thought Frank would go public anyway. Someone mentioned that they'd like to learn more about Arnie, Ray's military friend and that has got a few cogs turning in my mind. Thank you all once again, this is new territory for me as normally the story is complete in skeleton form by the time I start posting. So, please bear with me as I get some of the ideas down, which have now formed in my mind, but in the meantime here a little something as a small thank you to you all, it's not as long as I would normally write for a chapter but thank you once again.

CHAPTER 11

(GIDEON)

I am feeling very vulnerable at this moment. I have shared things with Grey which I have never ever been so open about before in my life. Eva knows most of what I have shared as she worked things out for herself when she witnessed my nightmares and as a survivor of sexual abuse and rape herself, she has been an enormous source of support to me.

I have to say that I am also astounded at Grey's story. I knew there was something he was hiding when I first had that video call with him. I had no idea that his past was just as damaged as mine though. But I suppose in a way that is why I was able to open up to him, it seems as though on some unconscious level I knew that I could trust him and that he would understand.

I do feel very vulnerable now though, almost naked at the thought of him knowing so much about me.

"So, what do you think?"

I am pulled from my internal monologue of thoughts by Grey, he is looking at me expectantly and I realise I have totally missed whatever it was he has been saying.

"Sorry… I was just thinking about something, what did you say?" I say slightly embarrassed by my lack of concentration and attention.

Grey smiles at me, "I thought you looked as though you were away with the fairies, don't worry I was just bragging about the development of the cell phone and how the Nexus technology would enhance it" he explains.

I nod my head; I am impressed with this project as it is undoubtedly a game changer and the fact he is prepared to just give this technology away so that it democratises it and makes it affordable for everyone is admirable. I know he does air drops of aid to Africa and I wonder if he would be averse to accepting a sizable donation as I feel I want to contribute to his effort to feed the world.

I have had a very informative and enjoyable afternoon with Grey, I didn't think I would but he has been incredibly open showing me around Grey House. As we make our way back to his office he glances at his watch.

"I don't know about you, but I'm ready to call it a day, shall we head over to Grey Publishing and surprise the ladies?"

I smile at the thought of seeing Eva again and nod enthusiastically.

I watch as Grey pulls his phone out and makes a call. A moment later I hear him telling Taylor that he will be driving himself and that we are heading over to Grey Publishing now. As he is speaking I take a moment to look around his office and my eyes fall on his desk. I walk over and run my hand over it, it is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and I can see why Ana was so miffed at Ray just describing himself as a carpenter as this desk is a work of art.

"Beautiful isn't it?" I turn to see Grey watching me.

"It is, and Ray made this?" I ask and he nods.

"He did, I saw some furniture he made for Ana and asked him if he could do it. I told him roughly what I was looking for and he came up with this which more than exceeded my expectations. It caused an enormous row when it was done though" he says with a wry smile.

My eyebrows rise, "How so?" I ask.

Grey snorts, "Because he refused to take any payment for it, and tried to give it to me as a gift when I know just how much he charges for his work… and how much he relies on that money to survive" he says.

I smile, "And how was it resolved?" I ask.

"I transferred the money directly to his bank account and refused to discuss it further with him" he says with a shrug. I can't help it and let out a small chuckle at the thought of Ray going head to head with Grey.

"Ray is a very proud man and incredibly stubborn but there was no way I wasn't going to pay for the craftsmanship and man hours of work he put into that, as while he was working on that he obviously wasn't working on anything else, he wasn't happy about it but he got over it eventually though".

I smile again, and look at my watch, I see it is nearly 5pm, the day has just flown past. "Are we going then?" I ask and Grey nods.

"Yes, lets go and find our wives" he says.

oooOOOooo

The drive across the city is a pleasant one, the traffic is reasonably light and we make good time. The journey is filled with small talk which is something I am not really accustomed to doing, but for some reason it feels nice. When we arrive, a man stands as soon as he sees Grey and greets him politely. I wrack my brains but can't find a name to go with the face, so I am certain I've not met him before. From the conversation he is having with Grey it becomes apparent to me that he is another member of Grey's security team, but I wait silently at Grey's side as he talks to the man. A moment later he seems to remember that I am there and gives me an apologetic look.

"Please forgive my bad manners, Gideon this is Luke Sawyer, he is Ana's personal protection".

"Sawyer, Gideon Cross" Grey adds somewhat unnecessarily.

I offer a small nod of acknowledgement and Sawyer returns it with one of his own.

"Where is my wife?" I ask and Sawyer gestures towards a room at the end of the corridor.

"Mrs Cross and Mrs Grey have been down there for most of the afternoon" he says and we make our way down the corridor.

"Ana runs this company?" I ask as we make our way towards the room at the end.

Grey nods, "I bought the company when we first met, partly because I wanted to get into publishing and partly… because Ana was working here and I needed to know she was safe. When we married, I signed it over to her as a wedding gift. She was furious with me, we'd had a massive row when she found out I had bought SIP as it was then, she said she didn't want me interfering with her career and she threatened to leave and go somewhere else. I had managed to pacify her and assured her I wouldn't interfere with her career but when I signed it over to her she saw that as interfering, she never saw herself running the company and she had always told me she wanted to progress on her own merits. She just envisioned herself as being an Editor. But it didn't take her long to get a good solid team around her and for the main part she does what she always wanted to do, and that's be an editor and she's a damn good one. She has done wonders with the place though. When I bought it, it was stagnating and was on the verge of going under. Things improved when it came under the GEH umbrella but when Ana took over, the place just took off. Grey Publishing currently has 7 of the top ten best-selling authors and since Ana took over, Grey Publishing has always had at least 4 authors in the top ten".

I see the unadulterated pride in what Ana has achieved on his face and in his voice as he talks about her achievements.

"Impressive" I acknowledge, I have my own publishing house and I know that Grey Publishing has become my biggest competition. "Eva is the same, she's a bloody stubborn woman, I have been desperate for her to join me at Cross Industries ever since we got together, but she has always refused, she said she didn't want to use my name to further her career, I have tried many things over the years to change her mind but I am still yet to persuade her" I add.

Grey laughs, "Our stubborn wives" he mutters.

We enter a large room and I am surprised to see it is full of cabinets, Ana and Eva are standing beside one and Eva is flicking through the pages of a manuscript. They are chatting and laughing and haven't even noticed that we have arrived. Then suddenly Eva looks up and sees us and gives me a smile. I feel my heart lurch as I see it.

"Angel" I murmur.

"Hi Ace" she says with a grin, as she puts down the manuscript and comes towards me.

I watch as Ana moves towards Grey and he greets her with a smile and kiss as she wraps her arms around him.

"Hey baby, are you ready to go?" Grey asks and Ana nods.

As we make our way out, I see Taylor has arrived and is talking with Sawyer. He has a grim expression on his face. He looks towards us and takes a deep breath.

"Sir it seems we have a situation" he says stoically.

Grey pauses and looks at him questioningly, "And that is?" he asks carefully.

"It appears that Mr Lambert has carried out his threat to go to the media and has not only made it public that he is Mrs Grey's biological father but also that he is Mrs Cross' father. Needless to say this has provoked a considerable amount of interest and the fact Mr and Mrs Cross are here in Seattle has been noted by the media and it seems we have a rather large contingent outside waiting".

"Shit" Grey mutters and I see him rub his face with his hand.

"Is there a rear exit to this place?" I ask and Ana nods but Eva pulls on my hand and shakes her head.

"No, we knew that this would probably happen, it was always going to happen at some point with or without Frank Lamberts help. I say we go out there and we brazen it out. We give them what they are asking for. If we confirm, if we go out there and make a statement it kills the feeding frenzy as we have taken away the exclusive. We have taken away the story.

I watch and see Ana think about that and a massive smile fills her face and she nods in agreement.

"Are you sure about this baby?" Grey asks hesitantly. I can tell he really isn't on board with this idea. If I am honest neither am I but I trust Eva's instincts on this.

Ana nods again, "I am, I think it's a brilliant idea, if we just run away and go down the no comment route it will make them worse and we will just get hounded even more".

I turn my attention towards Eva, "What are you thinking about saying Angel?" I ask.

I watch as Eva thinks and starts to pace. "I think we go out there, with a prepared statement, we tell them that we have recently discovered that we are half siblings. We can fudge the details of how long we have known and we can say that is why we are in Seattle as we are getting to know each other and are building our relationship but then I think we should also turn the tables on Frank, tell them exactly what he has done – and did previously".

I turn towards Grey, "Christian it may be a good idea to give Ray a heads up about this so maybe he can inform his army buddy as this can only help with the actions that were set into motion this afternoon".

"That's an excellent idea" Grey says as he reaches for his phone. Ana looks up at him questioningly.

"What did you do?" she asks mildly.

Grey pauses and shakes his head, "Not me baby, Ray. This afternoon, Ray called an old army buddy of his who remembered the time Frank went missing and was declared dead, and furnished him with the information that Frank is very much alive. The military police were mentioned in the conversation as Frank went AWOL, deserted and faked his own death".

"Who did Ray call?" Ana asks.

"Someone called Arnie" I say before Grey can answer.

"Uncle Arnie?!" Ana says her eyes widening.

"You know him?" I ask.

Ana nods, "I've known Arnie all my life, he is the top brass now. Back in the day when dad was in the military I think he was a couple of ranks higher than dad and Mr Rodriguez but now, I'm certain he is something way up there - a colonel or something" she says with a shrug.

I turn my attention to Grey who is now speaking on the phone to Ray.

"Hello Ray, just a quick heads up, Ana and Eva are going to go public in a few moments about their relationship. It appears that Frank Lambert followed through with his threat of going to the media and we have a slight situation here with a rather large contingent parked outside Grey Publishing. But this could work in our favour as the ladies are also going to make Franks past public which will put a massive target on his back as far as the military is concerned, so if you want to call your friend Arnie and let him know as I'm certain they won't be pulling any punches… yes… I know I can't actually believe he went through with it as well but he did… yes… alright Ray I'll let you go… thanks Ray… bye".

I watch as Grey hangs up and pushes his phone back into his pocket, and a satisfied smirk spreads over his lips.

"Ray is calling Arnie as we speak" he says.

Eva nods and turns to Ana, "Come on then Ana lets sort out this statement". Ana takes a deep breath and Grey and I are left standing there as our wives move over to a desk in deep conversation as to what they are going to say.

"This is becoming a regular thing" Grey says as his eyes follow Ana across the room.

"What? Us being forgotten and set aside" I say and Grey nods.