AUTHORS NOTE: Just a quick message - so you can follow the timeline, we have now switched to focus on what happened to Gideon and Eva after they left Seattle after Kate's 'trial'. So, to begin with we have gone back to before what happened with Ana and Grace in the therapy session of the previous two chapters. This picks up the story after Elliot gave Eva and Gideon the anniversary card and then follows their perspective from that point onwards, I hope that's clear.

In this chapter I am trying to play devil's advocate at the start with Gideons perspective on things, and as you will see his views marry up with the conclusion Ana had eventually come to in the therapy session in the previous chapters. We are moving on to the next part of the story which involves circumstances which were first talked about way back in chapter 15.

CHAPTER 118

(GIDEON)

I can tell Eva is touched by Elliot's gesture of the anniversary card. I don't say anything as my mind is still reeling from Megumi's disclosure at lunch… not to mention Grace's behaviour. It is clear that she has a real issue with Ana at the moment and I just hope that things can be sorted out and smoothed over, I also hope that it doesn't have a detrimental effect on Elliot and Megumi's relationship with Grace, as they have worked so hard to improve things and overcome the resentment Elliot held with regard to his own childhood and Grace's treatment of Megumi.

To be fair to her, I can understand to a point why Grace is so defensive at the moment. I'm sure it appears to her that no matter what she does, she is always going to be beaten with the 'you didn't do enough for your kids' stick. I personally cannot see the issue Ana has and I do think it could be argued that she was being spiteful to Grace with the call she made, but I also think Grace's subsequent behaviour is more about Christian condoning Ana's actions. I believe that she feels threatened. It's as simple as that, she feels threatened and she feels Christian is picking Ana over her therefore feeding her fear that he is going to turn away from her again, like he did when he was influenced by Elena. Not that I would ever disclose that fact. I completely agree that it could be argued that Grace 'failed' Christian and I completely acknowledge the fact that had she helped him overcome his haphephobia he wouldn't have been vulnerable to the abuse from Elena Lincoln. Being a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I accept and understand that what that woman subjected him to was horrific, enticing a fifteen-year-old fucked up child into a BDSM relationship is sick no matter which way you look at it, and the fact she made him believe she was actually helping him when all she was doing was abusing him was wrong on every possible level. Grace feels a tremendous amount of guilt for that entire period of Christian's life and to have it continually pointed out to her can't be easy for her, or help her.

However, on the other hand I do think that Ana is being a little bit harsh with regard to Grace as she never really intended to hurt Christian, she adopted him for god's sake and gave him a home and security. To my mind the pimp intended to hurt Christian and did, leaving a legacy of pain and issues for him to overcome. Elena intended to hurt Christian, and did by manipulating him for her own sick pleasure and using his issues against him. Yes, had Grace helped him overcome some of those issues he wouldn't have been vulnerable to a second lot of abuse but I honestly don't believe Grace deserves to be placed in the same category as a pimp and a paedophile, which is where Ana appears to have comprehensively placed her. Then again, I can also understand Ana's protective stance towards Christian and fighting his corner with regard to what happened to him, I am exactly the same with Eva… where I took the ultimate stance, I murdered her rapist. I have also helped victims of my own monster of a mother get their justice. However, seeing what real monsters are like, my mother, my own rapist Hugh and of course Eva's rapist, Nathan Barker I just cannot place Grace in the same category.

I watch Eva through the rear-view mirror, we are on route to the airport now, Eva is quiet and I know her well enough to know that she is stewing over Grace's behaviour. She is incredibly protective over both Ana and Elliot and I know there is a part of her who at this moment wants to go and defend Ana and bawl out Grace. I glance at Christian who is driving us and then finally at Ana who is also very quiet. She is just staring out of the window, in a world of her own and I have a feeling she is thinking about everything Elliot and Megumi told us.

We arrive at the airport and as expected waiting for us is one of my jets. As I climb out of the SUV, I see Angus climb out of the car that has followed us here along with Jason Taylor. I open Eva's door and hold out my hand to her, she smiles weakly at me and accepts my hand as she rises from the car. I see Christian doing exactly the same thing with Ana. I also see him looking anxiously at her, he whispers something in her ear and she smiles up at him before turning her attention to us.

"So, this is it then?" Christian asks as they make their way towards us stopping in front of us at the foot of the steps to the plane and I nod.

"It is, although not for long. We will be all getting together during September for Ana's, Elliot's and my joint birthday celebration".

Ana smiles genuinely at that and also nods, "That will be good, are you two still ok with flying out to Seattle for it?" she asks and I nod.

"It makes more sense for us to come to you, and Victor will obviously travel with us now he is living in New York. We can fly in stopping off in Ohio and Colorado for Christian's birth relatives" I say.

Christian agrees with that, "Thanks for that, I will be sending my plane for Arnie as I think he is still in California so I'm hoping he can join us as well… it will be good having all the family together".

I feel Eva pull away from me and she pulls Ana into a fierce hug. "Let me know how things go with Grace" she says and I see Ana nod and tell her that she will. I glance at Christian who is watching the two sisters closely. I have a feeling a lot more was said in his therapy session with Grace than he alluded to at lunchtime. He quickly shut that one down though and I really hope that there is a positive outcome for everyone and that it happens before the planned party next month as Christian's birthday celebration was marred by unpleasant feeling, I don't want Ana's and Elliot's to go the same way.

oooOOOooo

I spend the flight catching up with work, and tying up some final loose ends answering some emails and leaving the final instructions to my team who are running my company while I am secluded with my wife at the Outer Banks. They know not to disturb me unless it is a matter of life and death and as they all know that there isn't a deal that I am not prepared to just walk away from I am confident my time with Eva will be uninterrupted.

I close my laptop and turn off my phone with a smile and a deep sigh. That's it, I am officially off the grid now. I glance at Eva who is still very quiet and looks deep in thought. I make my way over to her and sit down beside her throwing my arm around her and pulling her close.

She responds by snuggling into me and resting her head against my chest and I lean down and press a kiss to her head.

"You've finished all your work?" she asks, glancing up at me.

"I have, I have shut my laptop down and switched off my phone. I am now officially off the grid until after our wedding anniversary" I say with a smug grin.

Eva smiles at me and lets out a small chuckle at that, "You amaze me that you can do that you know. I know you are not as big a control freak as Christian, but you are right up there as a man who likes to have control".

I smile indulgently at Eva, "I want no interruptions to my time with you. I'm not totally out of contact though, my team know that there will be times when they can contact me should they need to".

"So, what's the plan?" she asks as she squeezes me.

I feel myself harden as my mind immediately travels to the gutter. "Well…" I begin as I discreetly try and adjust myself. "We are flying to the Outer Banks house, where I intend to take you on every flat surface in the house, many many times. I intend to keep you awake most nights as I repeatedly take you, and also I intend to take you on the beach on numerous occasions… weather providing of course, as if it is pissing it down I'd be happy to revisit and review that particular activity at another point in time" I say as though I am discussing a business plan, and I feel Eva smile against me.

As I stop speaking, she lets out a small snort, "Well that all sounds like a good plan to me, and would like to say that I have no problem with any of that" she retorts and I let out a small chuckle at her words.

I am relieved to hear her sound happier now and I risk spoiling her mood with what I say next as I want to know where her head is at.

"You've been very quiet during the flight" I say warily.

I hear a sigh and she squeezes me again. "I know, sorry…" she begins.

I squeeze her back, "Do you want to talk about it Angel?" I ask.

She nods, "It pissed me off the way Grace behaved towards Ana, and after what El and Meg said… well, let's just say that pissed me off even more" she blurts out rather bluntly.

I sigh, "I know Angel and it's commendable that you feel the degree of protectiveness that you do towards Ana, but she needs to be the one to clear the air and sort things out with Grace" I say.

Eva shrugs, "I know that, but…" she pauses, "she…" she stops again.

"She's your sister" I finish for her.

"Yes, and I hope she does. Meg has managed it and she said her relationship with Grace is brilliant now… at least it was until she said what Grace had said to her, but I think that was unfair of Grace to do that as it put Meg in an unenviable situation. She was always going to tell El what was said, and he obviously would tell Ana".

"I think, you should put it out of your mind for now Angel. There isn't anything you can do, and Ana will keep you updated of things as they progress".

Eva sighs, "I know… I'm sorry" she says as she nuzzles closer.

I ease her away from me and rising up I hold my hand out to her, "Come with me" I say.

She stands watching me closely as she accepts my outstretched hand, I wordlessly lead her to the back of the plane and into the bedroom. Then turning towards her I slowly start to undress her. She immediately reciprocates and reaches for my shirt and unbuttons it, before pushing it off my shoulders. As her hands move to my pants I watch as she fumbles slightly with the button before she slides her hand inside. I turn quickly and immediately go from semi to stone, which she feels and smirks slightly as she touches me.

I let out a gasp and thrust my hips towards her. "Angel get on the bed" I growl and she doesn't hesitate to comply. I follow her on to the bed and for the remainder of the flight I spend the majority of my time on her and in her.

oooOOOooo

We climb out of the car and I smile at the sight of the beach house in front of us and a sense of calm serenity flows through me. I remember the first time I had brought her here. I'd spent the entire very long car journey getting her to try and admit why she had reconnected with Brett Kline when we had seen his band perform at a concert in New York. Brett was an ex of Eva's who she had been seeing at a time when she was totally screwed up over the years of repeated rape by her former step brother Nathan Barker. She had reached out to Brett and gone out for a meal with him. I wasn't happy about it, but she had pointed out that it was ok for me to see Corrine at that point in time so surely it was ok for her to see Brett? We had gone to their concert as I tried to rein in my jealous rage at the thought of Eva seeing Kline. The day of the concert numerous photographs had appeared in the media of me having lunch with Corrine. Including a tremendously guilty looking one of me embracing her and kissing her. What actually happened at that lunch was me telling Corrine I wouldn't be seeing her again and saying goodbye to her. She seemed to take it well, but as we left she grabbed me and pulled me towards her and kissed me. I had immediately pushed her away but the damage was done, a pap had seen it and documented that moment and unfortunately so had Eva when she got an internet alert on me, plus she had seen it before I could explain what had really happened which made things worse and put me on the backfoot. I had tried to tell her; I had tried to reason with her but she was so hurt. That concert had caused my jealous possessiveness over Eva to spiral into something feral when I saw them and I'd got into a vicious fight with Kline as a result. I saw as he spotted her and cornered her in the carpark. I also saw how he initiated the kiss, Eva was not a willing participant at first. It was much like the same situation I had been put in with Corrine, but then I also saw the moment she spotted me and she had momentarily kissed him back. The fear that I had lost her careered through me and I had charged towards them and beaten him to a pulp.

I had arranged to take us away for the weekend before everything had kicked off but it was that journey that made me realise just how I had screwed up. Eva is as equally jealously possessive over me as I am with her and my continued association with Corrine at that time was something which hurt Eva badly. I had brushed her off denying that she meant anything more than a friend to me, and dismissed her fears that Corrine wanted me back. I realised my mistake as Corrine had grabbed me and kissed me. I had studied the CCTV footage at the restaurant afterwards and realised that she had done it on purpose, she had seen the pap and used the opportunity to try and drive a wedge between myself and Eva. So, Eva had got her revenge, she had wanted to make me see just how hurt she was and she used Brett as a way to show me how she was feeling, knowing that I would be hurt and jealous, and it worked. After spending all of that night talking in the car ride here and also well into the next day here that I put in motion my plans to marry her which I did shortly afterwards. That was all five years ago and it was the turning point for both of us. We realised we were draining each other with our issues and petty point scoring and that if we didn't stop it our relationship wouldn't survive. We had talked like we had never done before and after that weekend at the Outer Banks we didn't look back. So, I bought it, and given it to Eva as a wedding present as I wanted that place as our place, our special place where I could seclude myself with my wife and reaffirm our love for each other without any outside interruptions.

We step inside the familiar beach house and I take the bags through to the bedroom. We have a selection of clothes which we keep here, but we also have our bags from our visit to Seattle with us. I glance around the familiar rooms before heading out to look for Eva.

I find her in the kitchen making some coffee, she turns and smiles at me, "Are you hungry?" she asks and I shake my head.

"Not for food" I say cryptically and Eva grins at me.

She turns in my arms, "Are you suggesting we start on the flat surfaces in here?" she asks as she looks around us.

I nod, and nuzzling her neck I pull her close to me, "That is exactly what I am suggesting" I reply.