AUTHORS NOTE: Just a little light chapter, and the chance for me to address an issue I've always had with FSOG and that is Christian's lack of culinary skills. My thoughts being, someone who was profoundly hungry as a child (words Christian himself uses in his speech at the graduation ceremony), and which left him with severe issues with food would make sure he was never put in that position again and would therefore learn to fend for himself. Also, the fact he relied on Gail and Ana to feed him didn't ring true with his control freak persona and issues surrounding food. It's not a big thing, but one that has always been there niggling at me in the background so I decided to address it in this chapter.

CHAPTER 112

The Next Day…

I am in the kitchen, preparing a surprise breakfast for Ana. Both Gail and Ana have taught me to fend for myself and now I can proudly say that I can produce some simple meals from scratch and not have to rely completely on Gail and Ana to feed me.

When Ana first moved in with me she had made a point to teach me a few simple meals as she had been surprised by my complete lack of culinary skills and how I had completely relied on Gail to feed me. Her words had resonated with me as she had done so. As she had watched me and walked me through the simple recipes she had chosen to teach me, she had made a simple off the cuff remark which had stopped me in my tracks and made me think. She had said 'considering where you came from, and with your issues with food and not to mention control, I'm surprised you haven't learnt to cook for yourself before now'. I had paused and thought about that. It was a very good point, the one thing which had marked my formative years as much as the abuse was the lack of food and the fact, I was always profoundly hungry. The days after my mother's death where I had survived on what I could find, which wasn't much had scarred me and as soon as I was in a position to do so, my philanthropic work was a priority for me and while I don't publicise my work, my third world aid programs and generous donations to food banks in this country are something I am incredibly proud of.

I know my issues with food also irritate Ana as her appalling eating habits are a constant source of friction as it concerns me how she can so easily skip meals. Her remark had given me pause, I need to have control but the one fundamental thing which had been denied me as a child I still gave total control to, to others. Ana had been a willing teacher and I had also asked Gail to teach me how to make a few simple meals. I am no chef and I still prefer to have Gail or Ana cook for me but now I am no longer limited to heating up prepared meals from the freezer when Gail or Ana are not around. For some reason my mind goes to the bowl of mac and cheese I had been given at the hospital. After days of nothing and weeks of very little it was the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted in my life and to this day remains a firm favourite. It was also one of the first things I'd learnt to cook from scratch.

I push those thoughts from my head and look at the tray in front of me, I look at the pancakes and the bacon and scrambled egg I've cooked. It doesn't look as nicely presented as when Gail or Ana makes it but I'd be happy to eat it. I pour a glass of orange juice and then fetch a mug and fill it with hot water and leave the teabag at the side of the mug. I add the cutlery and my own drinks then place a rose I had taken from a bush outside on the tray. Satisfied with how it looks I take it to the bedroom. As I push open the door Ana is waking up, she rolls over and feeling the empty bed beside her she opens her eyes and yawns.

"Good morning baby" I say as I kick the door shut behind me and walk towards her.

She looks across at me and her eyes widen at the tray in my hand. She immediately sits up and I place the tray down beside her.

"Happy anniversary baby" I say as I press a kiss to her temple.

"Wow, Christian did you make this?" she says as she takes in the tray.

"I did" I say proudly.

She looks up at me and the look she gives me makes my breath catch. I have long since learnt that it's the little things like this that Ana loves most rather than huge and expensive gestures.

I sit down beside her and picking up a fork I try some of the scrambled egg. I hum as I taste it, out of appreciation and relief that I cooked it to perfection. I take another fork full and offer it to Ana. She opens her mouth and I gently feed her watching her reaction closely.

"Mmm, that is so good" she says after she swallows the egg.

I watch with a sense of satisfaction as she picks up the other fork and starts to tuck in.

We sit in companionable silence as we eat together. I take the mug of coffee I prepared for myself and drain it. I watch as Ana drinks her tea and she grins at me.

"That was so nice, thank you" she says, with a satisfied sigh when she is finished.

"Anything for you baby, you know that" I say.

She smiles and goes to move. I quickly remove the tray and watch as she climbs out of bed, I was hoping to make love to her so a fission of disappointment goes through me until she speaks.

"Shall we take a shower now?" she asks looking hopefully up at me. My dick immediately twitches at the way she said that and I grasp her hand and lead her into the enormous bathroom.

"Bath or shower, baby?" I ask and Ana pauses.

"Shower I think… together" she replies and runs her hands over my chest as she says it.

"Of course," I reply and after starting the shower I turn towards her and I pull her nightshirt over her head. As she stands in front of me totally naked she reaches for me and runs her hand over the waistband of my boxer briefs.

"I wish I'd seen you in the kitchen cooking in your underwear" she says and I grin at her.

"I'll be sure to do it again for you baby" I say as I run my hands over her shoulders.

We wordlessly step into the shower and I reach for the shower wash and pour some into my hand working up a lather. I watch as Ana does the same thing and then reaching for me she places her hands on me and gently starts to wash me. I close my eyes and suck in a sharp breath at her touch and she pauses looking at me carefully.

"Christian?" she asks warily.

"No, I'm fine honestly… just savouring your touch, I love moments like this" I whisper hoarsely.

Happy with my response she continues to run her hands over me. I mirror her actions and run my hands reverently over her body. I'm so hard now it hurts so when Ana reaches my dick and runs her hand over it, I nearly come there and then.

I thrust my hips towards her and let out a loud groan.

She washes me and then after looking at me once more she lowers to her knees.

"Oh god baby" I moan as she swallows me.

Gripping her head, I gently thrust into her mouth and what seems embarrassingly quickly I feel myself coming down her throat. I pull Ana to her feet and I devour her. My mouth caresses her body as my hands continue to roam all over her.

I feel myself getting hard again and I lift Ana against the tiled wall and thrust against her making my intentions clear. She obediently wraps her legs around my waist and with one swift thrust I'm inside her. I sigh and shudder as I feel her around me.

Ana grips my shoulders as I start to move, slowly at first but the pace quickly increasing as my excitement rises.

Then I look at Ana's face and I see discomfort there, that quickly changes everything.

"Baby what's wrong, am I hurting you?" I ask immediately pausing.

She shakes her head, "No, but these tiles are a bit rough" she says.

I immediately withdraw from her and pulling her towards me I check her back; I'm sickened by how red it is.

"Oh god baby, I'm so sorry" I moan as I gently touch her back.

"I'm fine" she says trying to reassure me. She reaches for me again and strokes me.

"Turn around baby, face the tiles and place your hands on them" I say.

She understands immediately what I am saying and braces herself against the tiles. I line up behind her and once more enter her. She moans and thrusts backwards to meet me and I smile.

"Is that better baby?" I ask and she nods her head.

"Much" she says. I glance over the tiles making a mental note to have the whole shower room retiled. I close my eyes and lose myself in the moment thrusting deeply into my wife. Ana's moans and sighs get louder and she meets me thrust for thrust, pushing back on to me.

"Oh god Christian" she moans and I feel her starting to grip me tighter and I know she is close.

"Hang on baby, I'm close" I whisper.

I increase my pace, chasing my own release and then I feel it, "Now baby" I gasp.

Ana calls out my name and I feel her grip me like a vice, pulsing around me and it pushes me over the edge and I hold myself inside her as I come.

"Oh god baby that was good" I pant and I rest my head on her shoulder, nuzzling into her neck.

I pull her to me and turning us I drop to the ground and pull her tightly into my lap, I am still inside her unwilling to break the intimate connection between us. As I lean against the tiled wall, I feel just how rough it is.

"I'm so sorry baby" I say "This wall really is very uncomfortable".

She shakes her head, "Don't worry about it" she says in an almost dreamy voice and I know that she is still coming down from her orgasm. I smile and stroke her hair, and press several more kisses to her neck.

After washing her, and myself we retreat back to the bedroom and I lead her towards the bed. I dry her with the huge towel I'd wrapped her in and then after drying her hair and brushing it I lead her to the bed once more.

"Come here baby" I mutter quietly as I tug her on to the bed and cover her with my body.

"Hmmm" she hums as I start to kiss her again.

oooOOOooo

"Are you planning on leaving the bedroom at all today? Or is it your plan to keep me here making love to me all day?" Ana asks as we lie there recovering after several more mind-blowing orgasms. I look down at her and see she is absently playing with my chest hair.

I let out a small chuckle and pulling her on top of me I press a small chaste kiss to her lips.

"I fail to see the problem with that idea? It sounds like a perfectly acceptable plan to me" I say to her and I feel her smile against me.

"I'm not complaining, just wondering" she replies as she lowers her head and presses a kiss to my chest.

"It is our wedding anniversary, so it is only natural I should spend the entire day worshiping you" I say and I hear her giggle.

"I love that sound" I say as I squeeze her gently.

"I love you Christian… you do know that don't you?" Ana says suddenly serious.

I pause at the change in the previously light atmosphere.

"I do baby. It took me a long time to accept that fact but I know… what's brought this on?" I ask looking down at her and carefully lifting her chin to look at me.

"I've neglected you" she whispers and I frown wondering what she is referring to.

"Ana?" I begin but she places her hand on me and I stop.

"Since I found out about Eva, it was such a novelty for me… I had the sister I had always wanted, and the fact we hit it off so well and became so close so quickly. Then when we discovered El was my brother… none of us meant to shut you and Gideon out and when it was pointed out to us what we were doing we were all horrified".

"Baby, we've been through this. Both Gideon and I knew it wasn't deliberate and we knew that it was a massive thing for all of you. Caroline said the way you three were behaving was totally normal as you found your footing with each other and the bond grew. She also said that things would settle down and they have. It's not an issue baby so please don't worry any more about it".

She pauses and swallows hard and I know something else is bothering her.

"What is it?" I ask.

"I'm sorry I'm ruining our anniversary" she says quietly and rests her head back down on me.

"Hey, stop it. You could never ruin anything, and if you are worrying about something I need to know" I say.

"I'm just thinking about what I said to Grace, and my motivation for doing it" she says.

I sigh, "Baby, your motivation was the fact I was in a tailspin and you were worried about me. I know that you had unresolved issues regarding to how mom didn't do enough for me, which you tried to let go of because I refused to see it. You saw me hurting and it concerned you and caused you to have a lapse in judgement and you did something out of character because you wanted mom to feel how I was feeling. You apologised for it and mom forgave you. Mom said herself that you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I think the issue mom has isn't with what you said… it's more the fact of what I said. She has this guilt, but the fact I condoned her actions for years made her feel better about it but now I've called her out on it she no longer has that justification for her mistakes".

"I've done nothing but cause trouble though, Eva and I went to see Grace and Carrick and…" she says, but I quickly interrupt.

"Stop right there, you worked miracles that day, you made dad see his mistakes and you got us together and talking. He told me things I never realised, and you made him see where he had made mistakes. Our relationship has never been better since then so don't start second guessing your actions. Everything you have done has been with me in mind… you are going to have a session with mom and Caroline when we get back. As far as I'm concerned it's over, finished. You have nothing to keep apologising for".

Ana smiles at me, "Thank you" she says and rests her head back down on me.

"Baby, what you did… made me realise just how much you do love me. You were prepared to risk angering me to protect me. I heard what you said to Eva, you really thought I would be mad at you for what you did and said to mom. Yes, what you did was misguided and possibly an error of judgement at that time but you did it because you were protecting me, and were angry on my behalf at how Elena's death had affected me… that is massive for me baby… it shows me that no matter what you will always be in my corner fighting for me".

"I do love you Christian, you are my world" Ana mumbles and I hold her even tighter.

"As you are mine" I reply, "And as such I won't allow you to continue to needlessly worry any more, come here". I wrap my arm around Ana and roll us so she is underneath me once more.

"Now, back to the plan of making love and not leaving the bedroom all day" I say as I lean down and start to kiss her again.

"Ok, if you insist" Ana replies sarcastically with a giggle.