The Broken Road Part II

by bluesky5679

When last we saw Ana and Christian, they were at an impasse. Ana had just learned that Christian was responsible for crippling her and taking away most of her memories. She had walked away from him…leaving him torn between running after her or flying home to say goodbye to his critically injured mother.

The Broken Road Part II

Here is #26. Most of the credit goes, once again, to E. L. James who is generous enough to share her characters with all of us who like to write still more about them. As always, I enter my stories complete…except when I do 2 parts. I thank my readers for their patience when I leave them hanging high and dry at the end of a Part I.

There are 70 chapters and an epilogue.

When last we saw Ana and Christian, they were at an impasse. Ana had just learned that Christian was responsible for crippling her and taking away most of her memories. She had walked away from him…leaving him torn between running after her or flying home to say goodbye to his critically injured mother.

Prologue

Ana was giggling madly as Christian chased her around the yard behind the cabin. He could have easily caught up to her but he was having too much fun and her giggling was lighting him up like fireworks. Oh, hell. Everything Ana said and did lit him up. He had never dreamed that life could actually be fun. Life, for him, had always been survival and working hard. Even sex had simply been transactional.

Loan me your body for a few hours, let me do what I want with it and before I leave, I will bestow upon you a piece of expensive jewelry. Yes, you've been lovely and entertaining but no, we will not be having a relationship. Sometimes, the woman was really good in bed and undemanding out of bed and so he'd continue seeing her for a while. All too soon, however, he would either become bored with her or he would get to know her too well…well enough to see behind the mask. He tried to avoid these short-term liaisons because they never ended well…tears, anger, even extortion.

One woman had tried to claim Alienation of Affection for which she would sue if not compensated. Grey had snickered and assured her that the state of Washington did not recognize such a legal action. Then she tried to blackmail him with threats of giving interviews about the very private Mr. Grey…or maybe she'd even write a book. It would surely be a best seller.

At this, Grey reminded her that prior to their first sexual encounter, she had signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement forbidding her to speak even a word about their relationship or anything about Grey. Had she already done so and the information appeared in a publication of any kind, things would go very badly for her.

Unfortunately, the woman…Clarice…thought it was all a bluff and she called it. A story appeared in the top tabloid, the Seattle Nooz, vaguely hinting at the details of their relationship. Hinting because, she informed the readers of the Nooz, she intended to write a full book with every salacious element of her time with Grey…sexual, conversational, sexual, points about his character, sexual…and even about his employees and security squad. Oh, and in-depth discussion of his performance sexually.

Clarice soon found herself returning every bit of jewelry, repaying Grey for every dinner, compensation for emotional injury and anything else that Carrick delighted in taking from her. Her career as an up-and-coming model was derailed and she was virtually run out of town. Nothing was ever heard of her again.

Grey could have had Welch track her down and snoop on her a little but he'd had his fun and was now done with Clarice. For him, she did not even exist as a former enemy. She was just a gnat he had squashed.

But sex with Ana was deep and emotional…an act of love. When talking with Elliot, his brother referred to his sex life as fuck and ducks. Inwardly, Grey cringed at the word 'fuck'. He didn't even like to use the word casually as Elliot did so easily. Grey had never fucked Ana and couldn't imagine ever doing so. Their connection was love and passion…in every way.

As he tackled Ana, gently, she grabbed his hair and pulled his mouth down to hers. Before Christian, she'd kissed one boy back in college. The boy had immediately stuck his tongue in her mouth…so forcefully and fully that she had to force herself to breathe through her nose. He kept thrusting his tongue into her as though he was trying to get somewhere. She was starting to choke and cough so he stopped. Embarrassed that she clearly did not enjoy the kiss, he accused her of being frigid and walked away.

She promised herself that if that was kissing, she didn't want to ever do it again…until that first time that Christian kissed her. They had been going to Dotty's Diner for lunch and dinner together for a week. It was fun. He was brilliant and a great listener as well. They had progressed to holding hands but one day he asked her to come to his office when they returned from lunch.

As soon as they walked in, he swiftly turned and pinned her against the closed door. He touched his forehead to hers. He was breathing hard and seemed nervous. He then looked in her eyes and gently placed his hand on her cheek.

"Ana, please, may I kiss you?" His tone and the look on his face were so anxious, how could she say no? She nodded…really rather dreading a mouthful of tongue.

Still, he placed his lips on hers, pressing just a bit and it felt good. After a while of this, he opened his mouth and the tip of his tongue touched hers. He circled her tongue and all the while, his lips were playing with hers. She felt something she'd never felt in her life…desire. She was aware of wetness between her legs.

Christian withdrew his tongue and lips and again looked into her eyes. She placed her hands in his hair and brought his lips back to hers. She kissed him hard and pushed her tongue into his mouth, seeking out his tongue and teasing it. His arms were wrapped tightly all round her slender body and he was groaning with pleasure.

Now, on the grass, she kissed him the same but it never got old. Every moment with Ana was new and exciting.

Suddenly, the ground shook…an earthquake? Christian reached for Ana to get her out of the way of falling trees but she was gone.

He was jarred out of his slumber by the captain's voice over the speaker.

"Sorry about the turbulence, Mr. Grey. Couldn't work our way around it without adding time to our trip. We'll be landing at Sea-Tac in just ten minutes."

CHAPTER 1

"Mia, we're home. Time to wake up," Christian gently jostled his sister as she slept on his shoulder. She weakly whimpered…not wanting to face reality.

"Call Elliot, Chrissy. I don't want to be blindsided."

When he felt the wheels of Grey III subtly bounce on the tarmac, Grey took out his phone. The first words out of Elliot's mouth were steady and calm. Grey didn't have to ask.

"Mom lost a lot of blood, Chris…a lot. She's too weak to stay awake long. They're keeping her sedated much of the time to protect her from pain and to keep her blood pressure down. I'm sure glad you're here, bro. Dad's been a lot for me to handle on my own."

"Mia and I should be there in around 20 minutes." Then he said the magic words. "We'll bring food." Elliot was never not hungry, especially in times of stress.

"Oh, geez. Detective Parks just pulled up. He's probably here because he heard that you were on the way."

"I don't know anything," Christian said in exasperation.

"Not the point. You know this guy. He likes to interview the Christian Grey. He probably has a cabinet full of files showing his encounters with you. He's a very important man, you know," Elliot laughed.

"How is Ana? I got the impression that I interrupted something."

Grey related his confession to Ana and how badly it had gone. "Yes, the timing wasn't good but at least I know she's safe with Dr. Skarsgard. Hopefully, he can talk her off the ledge. She was upset at being lied to more than anything. That always was a thing with her. If I've lost her trust…"

"She needs time, Chris. It's a lot to take in. Bring pie."

Mia looked at him with big green anxious eyes. He smiled at her and said that Elliot wants pie. She beamed and leaned back with a sigh. Mom was going to be okay. She secretly wondered if her brothers would think ill of her if she asked Christian to turn the plane around and drop her back home with Luc. She knew that her mother would use her health as a cudgel to imprison her in Grey Manor for as long as possible. Then Grace would feign concern for Mia's need for Luc and invite him to come for a visit. Before long…he'd be locked in the attic.

After stopping for foot-long subs and cherry pies, they rode quietly to the hospital…each with their own thoughts. And then…

"Am I a terrible person for wanting to get right back on that plane?" Mia asked.

"Am I a terrible person for wanting to get right back on that plane?" Christian asked.

The siblings looked at each other in shock as they simultaneously spoke their truths and then they burst out laughing as Taylor tried to keep a solemn professional face…and losing.

"Sir," he spoke sternly, "your mother was viciously attacked and could have been killed. I find yours and your sister's indifference towards her to be disturbing."

Taylor never had words with his boss. No one did. Still, he hit a nerve. Mia and Christian looked ashamed and nodded in agreement with Taylor.

"You're correct, Taylor. We are being selfish. Oh, and you're fired for insubordination."

CHAPTER 2

"Ana, I have let you stew for an hour. Now, we talk." Dr. Skarsgard gently but firmly took Ana's arm and helped her sit in the big club chair in his office. She was sullen but the doctor felt that that was good…better than sad and weepy. It also meant that she was still mad.

"Well, you'd better start because I have nothing to say to you, Dr. Liarsgard," Ana sniped.

The doctor inwardly smiled. "All right. Let us start with why you are angry with Christian. What is the first thing that comes to mind?"

"That's easy. He's been lying to me for…literally…years!"

"True. He has. As I advised him to do. Now, why do you think he took my professional advice all those years ago?"

"Because he's a dope. He thought you knew best because you're a doctor but you were wrong and he should have known that."

"Possibly I was wrong but tell me, Ana. Should I have told you before you left the clinic?"

Ana mused on this for some time. "I guess that wouldn't have been a good time. I was still in a state of confusion."

"Yes, your psychologist warned me that your mental state was not stable. He said that you needed a period of adjustment. We told your father to call us when you arrived home and to keep in touch. He did not. We did not forget about you but assumed that your father would do what was best for you. Why do you think that he did not tell you the truth?"

"I suppose that he didn't think that I was ready to hear it. The house and the land and the river all felt familiar and I was overjoyed. For the first time in…well, I didn't know how long, really…I felt clear in my head. That I didn't remember anything else didn't bother me because I was so relieved to not be wandering around in a blur. My father always did what was best for me."

"But the years went by and he saw that you were doing well and yet he still did not tell you any part of the truth."

Ana felt her hackles rising. "Whatever my father's reasons were for keeping my past to himself, I'm certain that they were for the best!"

"Yet, you do not believe that of Christian? The man who is so in love with you…would do anything for you?"

"Yeah, anything but tell me that he wrecked my back, my legs, and my brain. And don't start on all the millions he spent to fix me. That was all guilt. He was probably afraid that I'd sue him right out of his multi-billionaire status. And maybe I still will," she huffed.

"You are partially right about the guilt. He has been seeing a psychologist since that night in an effort to deal with his guilt. However, that is not why he was prepared to spend his entire fortune to get you the finest medical care in the world. When Ray and I first met, he told me about that long, long night in the Seattle General waiting room. Ray kept his arm around Christian for hours, fearful that he would break in two if Ray did not hold him together somehow. Ray knew that if you died, Christian would walk out into the middle of the morning rush hour and step in front of an 18-wheeler. He sat at your bedside hour after hour for months, holding your hand, singing, and talking to you…and crying. Does that sound like guilt?"

Ana crossed her arms and looked down at the floor. She didn't want the doctor to see the sadness in her eyes. She didn't want him to know that he was getting through to her. She was envisioning that waiting room in her mind's eye and Christian openly weeping with fear.

"He came by once every year to see Dad but it wasn't really Dad, was it? He was coming to see me. So, why didn't he tell me then?"

"Your memory of him was gone. He only allowed himself that short visit once a year because being with the woman he loved when she did not love him anymore was too painful. Also, Ray did not see any point to upsetting you with the truth when it would not change anything. Maybe decisions they made for you were not always right but every decision was what they thought was best for you…not them…you.

"Christian did not make it plain enough when he was here but that man has been going through hell since the night he lost you. He lived for that one day a year and then he barely survived the rest of the year."

"You're trying to make me feel bad for him," Ana pouted.

"I am trying to make you see that everything Christian has ever done was never for himself. It was to protect you…to love you."

Ana grabbed her crutches and stood up. "Let me know about all the test results when you get them. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

CHAPTER 3

While Ana sat in her room…fretting…Christian sat in his mother's hospital room…fretting. When they'd arrived, he and Mia handed off the food to Elliot who grinned and dug in.

"Elliot, for decency's sake, could you not shovel food into your mouth like a pig rooting for truffles? They can hear you chewing in the next room."

"It's all right, Cary. Elliot's a little tired of cafeteria food, I would imagine."

The Grey matriarch was sitting up in bed, full makeup, hair coiffed. Not what her children expected. Aside from a small bandage on her head, there was no visible damage to her person.

"You look good, Mom," Mia said, kissing her mother hello. Grace smiled, sighing. "Yes, the wounds don't show. Would you like a peek?" She lifted her gown away from her body and Mia looked under, gasping.

From her chest down as far as Mia could see, Grace's body was covered in gauze. From the look on Grace's face, Christian could have sworn that it was an expression of pride. Well, that figured. Grace Grey was, after all, a quite proud person.

"Mom, what happened exactly?" Mia was pale and shaken. Christian reached out and took her hand.

"Well, I answered the door, invited the delivery boy into the foyer and he began punching me. Only later did I learn that he was actually stabbing me. It hurt and after a bit, I began to feel hot. Cary, did the cleaning people get the blood out of the grout? I do hope that it won't need re-grouting. Then I woke up here, fresh out of surgery, with your brother leaning over me. Oh, the poor boy was trembling like a fish on a hook."

Mia and Christian shot each other odd looks.

"Anyway, they sedated me for the pain and when I next woke up, your father was here."

"Was he also trembling like a fish on a hook, Mom?" Mia asked.

"Like a what? Is that the way they talk in Belgium?" Grace seemed appalled. The siblings looked at their father who hadn't taken his eyes off his wife since they walked into the room. "Dad?" No response. Instead, he poured a glass of water for Grace and asked for the 100th time how she felt.

Elliot leaned over and whispered to Mia and Christian. "She's been popping out with Rayisms since she woke up. The doctor just shakes his head. If she keeps it up, they'll bring in Dr. Swartz."

"What is a Rayism?"

"Remember when Ray came to dinner, how Mom would be fascinated by his folksy country talk?"

"But Mom never approved of 'backwoods Ray', as she once referred to him," Mia remarked.

Elliot shrugged. Christian mused for a minute. "You know, Mom spent much of her youth with her grandfather who grew up on a farm and she adored him. I recall a conversation at dinner when we were kids where she told us all about Grandpa Trevelyan…apparently the only law-abiding ancestor we ever, had," he laughed. "Anyway, maybe she isn't quoting Ray but her grandfather."

"Elliot, did you ever get to meet him?" Mia asked.

"Yeah, a couple of times but I was too young to remember much and I don't think that we really connected anyway. I overheard him and Mom talking once about how he wished that she hadn't had to resort to raising someone else's kid. And, oh yeah, he was really pissed about the folks taking in my dying mother."

"Kind of hard to believe that our mother, the society queen, ever had the compassion to allow a poor woman to live in her house and then bury her on Grey land."

Mia stared at her brothers as they discussed family history that she'd never heard about until now. She turned to her mother. "Mom, do you remember Elliot's mother?"

Grace smiled. "Of course I do. She gave us Elliot…her beautiful, tow-headed, blue-eyed six-year-old. The poor woman was so ill. Knowing that her boy was going to be cared for after her death was such a relief for her. When Elliot asked if his mommy could stay with us because she had no one and had never lived in a nice place, we couldn't say no. She was a lovely woman. We became close during her last days. Elliot chose a pretty plot out in Grey Cemetery and we put flowers on her grave."

Now, this woman the kids had rarely seen. It would be great if she stuck around. At this point, her doctor knocked softly on the door and then entered. He had a strange expression on his face. Everyone instantly froze.

CHAPTER 4

"Well, Gracie, looks like you have a lot of company," he grinned at his patient.

Grace smiled happily. "Yes, John. All I had to do to get all my children together was get attacked and stabbed."

"And stabbed, you were. You ought to have known better than to answer the door to a stranger when you're alone."

"Well, he seemed like such a nice boy and it was raining. I was expecting Elliot at any moment. And then…. And I understand that the young man who was actually making the delivery had been ambushed down the road. He, too, had been stabbed but is doing well. Cary, I want you to check on him. See what he needs financially and otherwise."

"Gracie," Carrick interrupted. "Let the doctor talk. Doctor, I'm sure that you've noticed that Gracie isn't quite herself…almost manic…and unreasonably cheerful. She almost died last night and, despite being given sedation, she won't sleep."

"Yes, Mr. Grey, that is concerning. Your wife lost so much blood that she really shouldn't be alive. So, her seemingly quite healthy appearance and manner is odd. She's one for the books…and medical journals."

Mia and Christian exchanged looks. They were both thinking of their desire in the car to turn around and return to their loved ones. They were feeling a bit repentant.

Grace wasn't listening to the doctor's conversation with her husband. Instead, she couldn't take her eyes off of her children. She was just beaming at them with delight. Mia was thinking that she was never going to get out of this town again.

"Christian, dear, Elliot told me that you had to return Ana to that clinic. I'm sorry that you had to leave her in her time of need. I insist that you get right back on that jet and go to her. She must be missing you terribly."

Christian stared at his mother for a beat and then asked the doctor if massive blood loss could affect memory.

"Well, yes. Sometimes the damage is permanent. Sometimes, not. Like I said, your mother lost more than enough to kill her. We're still discussing and researching, my colleagues and I, as to how your mother survived. However, it isn't just her memory. Her personality is different in many ways. And possibly her body chemistry. Example #1…no reaction to a strong sedative. She should be out cold but she's the brightest bulb in the room. And pain…she should be in considerable pain.

"She has a couple dozen deep wounds. Her attacker must have leaned over her for several minutes just thrusting that knife into her with great force. Yet, she was still conscious when her son arrived, chattering away about the grout."

"Well, John, Cary and I brought those tiles back from Italy where we honeymooned. And what a honeymoon! I had no idea beforehand that fucking could be so wonderful. We couldn't keep our hands off each other. We'd leave the hotel to go exploring and next thing I knew, Cary would have me up against a wall in a deserted alley. Anyway, we were returning to live in a house that his parents had decorated and I wanted to make it ours so I started with the foyer and those tiles."

"I'll get the grout taken care of, darling. Right now, it's a crime scene and it's all taped off. We'll have to enter through the garage."

The siblings sat with their mouths agape. Their mother said the 'F' word. Each child squeezed their eyes shut…trying to erase the vision of their parents effing up against a wall in an alley! What the bloody hell was going on with her? And their father seemed not at all disturbed. They all stared bug-eyed at each other. They would have been laughing if they weren't so shocked and terrified.

While Grace and Carrick discussed the grout situation, Christian beckoned the doctor over for a confab.

"Our mother does not say fuck. She does not talk about sex. What is happening?"

"As I said, several of the top physicians and psychologists here at Seattle General are researching her condition. I'm, in fact, leaving for a meeting with them next. None of us has ever seen a case like this."

"And why," Mia inquired, is she not in pain?"

"She may well be experiencing pain, Mia, but for some reason, her brain is not getting the signal."

"Doc, my dad's been without sleep or food for at least 24 hours. Can you give Mom something stronger to knock her out so I can get him out of here. He won't leave while she's awake. Not sure I can get him to go home even if she does sleep. I'll probably have to carry him."

"I'd like to see that, Elliot," the doctor chuckled. "I'd planned already to give her a stronger sedative anyway. She needs to sleep and aside from being unconscious during the surgery, she hasn't shut up for a minute.

"Carrick. Carrick! I'm going to be sedating Grace now. She really needs many hours of uninterrupted rest so I want you to go home and sleep. No, Carrick, if you stay, you'll be talking and singing to her and those sounds will find their way into her subconscious and disturb her rest. So, please, go now with your children."

Under continued protest, Carrick was hauled out of the room with one son on either side of him, holding his arms. He decided finally to go quietly when Elliot threatened to throw him over his shoulder.

My mother is brain damaged, Christian thought. My girlfriend is brain damaged and mad as hell at me. And I have no idea what is going on at my company. His heart seemed to deflate in his chest.

CHAPTER 5

"Hi, Roz."

"Christian!" What is going on with your family? The morning news said that police and an ambulance were called to Grey Manor. No other information. And you're supposed to be in Switzerland with Ana."

"Yeah, Ana is still at the clinic. They're running more tests. Also, I told her the truth of how she lost her legs and her memory and now she's mad at me for lying to her. And mom got stabbed by the pizza delivery boy and now she's a complete loon. I need a nap. How's GEH?"

Silence.

"You left Ana at the clinic. Your mother is loony after being stabbed. And you want to know how GEH is doing?"

"Well, I haven't checked in for a while."

"We made a few more million since you've been gone, acquired several new companies and pieces of tech, and I'm learning to abuse people in your absence. Getting good at it, too. Yesterday, I made one of the guys from Finance cry."

"What did he do?" Now, Christian was concerned.

"Nothing much. Got a little too relaxed, like everybody here, without you to crack the whip. I just brought out my inner Grey and snapped him back into place." Roz sounded so proud…Grey had to smile even though he didn't think that anyone should emulate him.

"Damn, I have to go, Roz. Some detective has been following me around trying to get an interview. I avoided him at the hospital but he's found me again at Grey Manor. I thought I'd be safe here. Talk to you soon."

"You'd better. I still haven't gotten the whole scoop."

The detective rang the bell several times which was unnecessary, Grey thought sourly. The damn thing played Pomp and Circumstance.

"Can I help you, sir?" Christian asked innocently. The detective snapped that Grey had just walked through a crime scene, possibly contaminating evidence.

"This is the door you came to so naturally I assumed…" The detective snarled again that "you know what assuming does..."

"Ah, yes, makes an ass of you and an ume of me?"

The detective pushed past Grey and looked down at the blood covered foyer floor. Christian kept his eyes up. Much of the blood had dried but the outline still made quite the impression and not one he liked. He felt a bit queasy imagining his mother lying there in a puddle of her blood.

"I'm Detective Parks. I wanna talk to you about this attack on your mother."

"Looks like more than an attack, detective. Looks like attempted murder, don't you think?"

"Let's have a seat, Mr. Grey."

"Why, thank you, detective," Grey smirked.

"Now," the detective said forcefully, staring Grey in the eye, "tell me everything you know."

"Let's see, my mother ordered pizza, opened the door, and invited the young man in out of the rain…was stabbed repeatedly. My brother found her, she was taken to the hospital and she will be fine." Grey grinned broadly at the grim-faced detective.

"Don't play with me, Grey. I don't wanna have to take you down to the station."

"Detective, I was in Switzerland when my brother called to tell me about the attack. What makes you think that I would know more than I've told you?"

"Don't try to b.s. me, Grey. You got enemies, big shot. I figure one of 'em came after your mother. So, you been up to somethin' that made one of 'em really pissed. Spose you tell me who's been threatening you."

Grey stood up from his seat and paced the room a bit. "My security chief handles all threats coming my way. He doesn't share them with me unless he finds them credible and we need to take action. It has been some time since he approached me with a viable concern. Thus, I have no reason to think that the attack on my mother has anything to do with me."

"I'm gonna need to speak to this security chief of yours."

Grey took out his phone to text Taylor.

Detective Parks is here. Do as we discussed.

Understood, sir.

Grey sat down, crossed his arms and ankles, leaning back to study the detective who began to feel nervous. Grey's eyes were dark now and intense. The detective thought that maybe he ought to be less cavalier about questioning this man. He felt that he was being toyed with.

"Sir? I've brought the papers you requested." Taylor spoke with a reverential tone toward Grey but he looked at Detective Parks with an ominous glare. He obeyed Grey's nod and handed the papers to Parks. "This is the only suspicious correspondence for the past year. All others have been dismissed by my team."

Detective Parks wanted to snarl something about "being the judge of that" but he'd begun feeling unsteady so he simply held out his hand and accepted the papers. Taylor had chosen several mildly offensive missives. He would never trust the SPD with the real thing. Police, Taylor felt, were only useful for hauling away perps, not collecting them.

Parks made mumbling noises as if he were assessing the threats. Taylor and Grey exchanged amused looks.

"We'll soon be shed of this muck-up, sir," Taylor whispered. "Then we'll have to talk about a serious threat toward you and Ms. Steele. Grey shot his head around and his eyes flew open wide.

CHAPTER 6

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Parks," Grey said as the detective left…getting in one more dig. Parks turned in time to see the door close.

"Okay, Taylor, what is this threat?"

"It isn't actually a threat, sir. I believe it to be violent action already carried out against you and Ms. Steele. The crash you believed to be your fault all those years ago, sir…I believe to be the result of being deliberately side swiped by another vehicle."

Grey fell into a chair. He found himself unable to speak. For four years he had been carrying an overwhelming load of guilt…hating himself for what he'd done to Ana. Now he was being told that someone had tried to kill them.

"Sir?" Taylor was silent for a time…giving Grey space to comprehend what Taylor had told him.

"Who, Taylor?"

"Well, that we don't yet know, sir." He watched as Grey's eyes turned black with rage and he knew that rage was aimed at him. He braced himself.

"YOU DON'T KNOW? IT'S BEEN MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AND YOU DON'T KNOW?!"

Taylor left for the kitchen while Grey ranted in the living room. He returned with a carafe of water and a glass. He handed the glass to Grey and forcefully settled him into a chair, urging him to drink.

"When you're feeling calmer, sir, I'll continue to explain the circumstances."

"I'M CALMER!" Grey yelled and Taylor nodded.

"By the time I reached the scene of the accident, you and Ms. Steele had been taken to the hospital and the R8 had been impounded. I spoke with the officer in charge who informed me that you had been drinking and driving well over the speed limit. He said that you had lost control of the car and slammed into the embankment. Then he went on to tell me what he knew of your conditions. He told me that you were believed to have a serious head injury and that Ms. Steele was critical and the EMTs were doubtful that she'd even make it to the hospital.

"My head was swimming. Fear, guilt…filling my brain. I had to go to Grey Manor to let your family know. Your mother immediately began to blame me for not driving you. I was too much in shock to defend myself…to tell her that you insisted on driving yourself. It didn't seem to matter anyway. The next 24 hours were a whirlwind as we gathered at the hospital. You had only a mild concussion which calmed me somewhat.

"Then I had to deal with Gail who became hysterical. Ryan was at Escala so he had to handle that. I found out what I could about Ana and then ordered a helicopter to pick up Ray Steele. He wanted to kill you until he stalked into the waiting room and saw you. He looked at me. I told him that you hadn't stopped crying for the past two hours, wouldn't eat or drink and your blood pressure was dangerously high. His expression softened and he sat down next to you and began talking to you, hugging you…all the while you said over and over that you were sorry.

"I tell you this by way of explaining that I wasn't in investigative mode. It would be many more hours before we knew that Ana had lived. There was no reason to disbelieve the police report and all I really had to do all that time besides wait was derail Detective Parks who wanted to personally arrest you for drunken driving. I physically held him back despite his intention to also then arrest me for obstruction of justice.

"The officers that he'd brought with him, to get around your security team, had somehow disappeared…thanks to your extreme generosity toward their union, their need for better equipment that the city wouldn't buy, your financial care of their fallen comrades and the party of appreciation that you throw every year. Parks could have brought the entire force with him and they'd have all gone out for donuts.

"He finally took his beet-red furious face and left. After we learned that Ana was alive, you granted an interview to a plain clothes officer."

"I did? I don't remember anything but Ana."

"Well, there was one more thing you did, sir. Parks was apoplectic that the officer had cheated him of his interrogation of Christian Grey and tried to have him fired for insubordination. You knew that was coming so you called the commissioner, expressed your appreciation for his kind consideration of your feelings during this crisis in sending such a thoughtful person to talk with him. You also said that you'd be sending a check as an expression of your appreciation and you hoped that the officer in question would be commended for his thoroughness and firm but gentle approach. Based largely on that commendation and recommendation from the commissioner, the officer was promoted six months later. Turned out that he had taken it upon himself to interview you before Parks could get to you first and he knew that he was risking his job."

"Huh. Too bad he didn't bypass Parks this time. I have no memory of any of that, Taylor."

"You were intensely focused on one thing and one thing only, sir. Thus, it is understandable. To continue…it was more than a week before matters settled down enough on my end for my brain to start wondering about the accident. Ana was having one operation after another and you never left her side so I had time to ponder the cause of the crash. My brain began to itch. You were an excellent driver…professional racer status. You were only 0.01% over the legal limit. It seemed unlikely that you would lose control of the car."

"I remember at the party, about to join my brother and father in another bourbon. God, I was high. Even Dad was high. Still, I decided against another drink. I was buzzing and I didn't want to drive impaired. I ate some more food to bring me down and that was at least 30 minutes before we left. Yet, I always thought that I was really drunk because the police report said I was and I felt so high as I drove back to Escala. So, I never questioned that the crash was my doing."

"I didn't want to say anything to you, sir, until I had the full story. You were completely concentrated on Ana's recovery. Even after she left for Gstaad, I feared that revealing my suspicions to you would set you off. You'd think of and do nothing but hunt down a suspect. You needed to work…to get back into some kind of normal. I was worried that you'd lose your focus on Ana even, if you were out for revenge. So, I worked on my own with a few trusted members of the team…Ryan, mostly. He knew that I was looking into something about the accident and he said that I owed him after leaving him with Gail that night," Taylor chuckled.

"I'm sorry to have kept you in the dark all this time, Mr. Grey. I only did what I felt was best for you. I was about to tell you when Mr. Steele became ill. Every time I wanted to tell you, something happened to get in the way."

"And why is now the right time, Taylor?"

"Because I believe that the attack on your mother is connected to the attack on you and Ms. Steele."

CHAPTER 7

Ana had been sitting in a chaise lounge on the sunlit patio for several hours. Every hour or so, a nurse would come out to apply sunscreen. Ana barely noticed. In her mind, she was revisiting every minute she'd spent with Christian Grey…looking for answers to questions she didn't understand. Every once in a while, Ray would pop into her consciousness.

"Annie, come sit down with me."

"Give me a bit, dad. I have to check my poles. They're bouncing around out there."

"We have plenty of fish in the freezer, Annie. Leave a few in the river. Come now."

This was ominous, Ana felt. Her father wasn't usually so insistent. She feared that something was wrong. She hobbled on her crutches up to the porch swing and sat down. Her father was holding a couple of manila envelopes and a quite serious expression. Oh, no, he hadn't sold the woods, had he?

"Annie, I'll get right to the point. I'm dying." He waited for that news to sink in. Annie looked confused for a few moments and then, understanding, she turned exceedingly pale and began to breathe hard. Ray took her hand and coached her to breathe slowly. He didn't want her to hyperventilate. As she concentrated on his voice, she began to calm. Still, she was terrified.

"Not right away and not soon," he lied. His heart could go at any moment. Annie sighed and began to get a little color back in her cheeks.

"What's wrong, daddy?" She always reverted to "daddy" when she was frightened.

"It's my heart, baby girl. It isn't as good as it used to be. Doc says it has a small genetic defect that has naturally worsened over the years…wars, worry. He says he's surprised it isn't lung cancer what with all the dust I sucked into my lungs in the Middle East and my workshop."

"What can we do, daddy? Let's tell Christian. He'll fix it. You know how much he likes you. He'd spend all the money he needed to help you."

"Yes, he would. He's a very good man, Annie. Actually, aside from all the good men I served with all those rough years, he is the best man I've ever known. We're quite fortunate to have him on our side. I think that he's capable of doing a lot of damage to anyone who gets in his way but we don't have to worry. I trust him, Annie…almost as much as I trust you.

"Do you hear me? You know that I don't trust people, right?" Annie nodded. If anyone came to the door, her daddy had his shotgun loaded and ready. He didn't let anyone near his daughter, either. When the men who wanted to hunt on his land came by for permission, he told Annie to go to her room. She may not have thought so but he knew that she was a beautiful woman and he didn't want men to know that.

"Yes, daddy, I do know that. Can I ask, why do you trust Mr. Grey?"

Ray didn't quite know how much he should tell his unworldly daughter. "When you got hurt, well…I'd already known Christian for some time…made some furniture for him. I got a feelin' about him right away. You know, how I get feelings?"

Ana nodded. Her father could really read people. It was a talent that she wished she had.

"Well, you were in the hospital for a long time…critical. Your face…every bone was broken, smashed in. For a long time, we feared that your eyes would have to be removed. Christian was on the phone all the time, searching for the best doctors in every field. Some of those doctors came from foreign countries even. Didn't matter what it cost, Christian convinced them to come to Seattle. You know, they'd examine you and tell us that it was all hopeless…that you were going to be blind…that you would be a quadriplegic…that your brain damage would leave you with the mentality of a toddler.

"Oh, honey…it was a sight to see when Christian dressed down those high-hat geniuses. I swear they were in fear for their lives once he got done talking to them. They'd concede that they'd been hasty and they'd go back to work. Ya see, they figured this desperate man had paid them enormous sums of money to fly in a private jet, take a little vacation, stay in a 5-star hotel, and probably retire and all they had to do was look you over and sadly pronounce you uncurable."

Ray laughed loudly at the memory. "I was sittin' there, scared to death and figurin' that it was all over but not Christian. He's a man used to gettin' what he wants…one way or another…and those doctors were going to fix you or die tryin'."

"And they did, didn't they, daddy?"

"They did, god bless 'em. Surgery after surgery. They experimented, researched, invented new tools and procedures. Every time they said that they'd done all they could, Christian would send 'em back to the drawing board. I lost count of all the brilliant surgeons from all over the world who devised new ways to help you. The ones he brought here would sit down with the others in front of giant screens and do something called "zoom" to work on problems. It was months of little sleep and real hard work but they did it.

"One day they removed all the bandages…first time we'd seen your entire face…and there you were…bruised and swollen but definitely you. One of the docs asked you to smile. You hesitated but when you did, there was a bright, white smile…just like the original. You didn't have much hair but we knew it would grow."

"What did Christian think?"

"He took one look and then left the room."

"Why? Didn't he like the way I looked?"

"Annie, if the docs hadn't been able to fix you , he'd still have liked the way you looked. He didn't fix you for me or him. He did it for you. I think he left the room because he was just overcome. All those surgeries, Annie, were real hard on you and, therefore, even harder on me and Christian…seeing you in such pain.

"And it wasn't just your face. It was your back. The docs fixed you so that you were just a paraplegic. You could sit up and use your arms and hands. Your recovery was more than a miracle. It was Grey-ordered. You know, you're written up in medical journals in a dozen languages. Hundreds of people are walking now because of all the new techniques developed because Christian demanded them…same for facial reconstruction."

"Is all that why you trust Mr. Grey so much, dad?"

"Yes but it's more than that. That would just be gratitude. It's because I watched him, how he operated, how he took care of me. I didn't even notice what he was doin' half the time 'cause I was so concentrated on you but things just got done. And I saw how deeply he came to care for you all those months. He was our friend and I knew, without a doubt, that as long as that man lived, I'd never have another worry without him standing by to take care of it."

"And now you're worried about me after your heart gives out," Ana stated.

"Yes. You're a strong, independent woman, Annie. Always have been. But you have limitations. You might insist and try mightily but the reality is that you're gonna need someone when I'm gone. And I'm tellin' you, Annie, that I want Christian Grey to be that someone…no argument…no back talk. I trust this man with my life and I'm trusting him with my dearest possession. You know me better than anyone, Annie, and you know that I'd never entrust you to anyone if I didn't know in my deepest heart that he was the best person for you. Now, I want your promise that you will trust Christian Grey completely."

Ana looked into her father's deep blue eyes. She had never seen him like this. This promise he was asking was the most serious thing he'd ever asked of her and she had to honor his request.

"Yes, daddy. I will trust Christian Grey with my life, no matter what…because you do. I know that I'll be safe with him because you say so. Don't fret from this moment on about me and my future. It's taken care of, daddy."

Ray pulled Annie into his strong arms and held her tight. He knew that soon he wouldn't be strong enough to hold her like this and so he cherished the moment.

CHAPTER 8

"Ana? Want to talk about it? You are crying. You have been doing that a lot this past week and I am concerned," Dr. Skarsgard said with his warm brown eyes studying her.

Ana smiled sadly. "I was just thinking about my father and when he told me that he was dying and that I should trust the one man in the world that he trusted…but I haven't done that. I've disobeyed daddy and I've even doubted him because he didn't tell me the whole truth. I'm feeling ashamed, Doctor, and frightened."

"Why do you feel frightened, Ana?" Now the doctor had a deep v between his brows as he frowned. Ana was scared. He felt that he was failing her.

"Christian is all I have. What would I do without him?"

"If you cannot bring yourself to understand why your father and Christian kept the full truth from you, that would not stop Christian from taking care of you, Ana. He will stay out of your life, if you wish, and find another way to protect you. You need not worry that you will ever lose him completely."

"Yes, maybe he'll see that I'm cared for but that isn't what I mean. Material care isn't enough. I've come to have feelings for him, Doctor Skarsgard. He loves me. He said so and I believe him."

"So…your dilemma is how to continue with him when he has lost your trust? Or, perhaps, how to have him regain your trust?"

Ana had tears trailing down her cheeks. "I haven't felt this confused since I woke up here in this clinic all those years ago, Doctor. I feel so sick in my heart." She began to sob. "I miss him so. I don't know what to do."

"Does your heart tell you that he cannot be trusted?"

"He lied to me!"

"Your father lied to you. I, your doctor, lied to you. Yet you are not angry with Ray. You are not angry with me. Then why be angry with Christian?"

Ana struggled to her feet and screamed at the doctor. "Because I love him!" She then raced down the hallway as fast as she could manage.

She's certainly good on those crutches, he thought to himself.

Ana slammed her bedroom door behind her and then leaned back against it from exhaustion. She'd moved too fast. She looked around her and was stuck by how lovely the room was. The other rooms in the clinic were rather sterile except for a family picture or two…but her room resembled her bedroom back at the cabin, homey and warm. That was Christian's doing. Even though, originally, they'd planned to stay in the hotel, as soon as Ana ran away from him in the clinic, Grey had made arrangements for her room to be decorated in a style to her liking.

Damn that man, she thought. He did love her…and he did it so well, too. Why couldn't she just forgive and forget? He'd only done as advised by the doctor. Her beloved father had kept secrets from her, too. And he'd forbidden Christian to tell Ana the truth. It didn't make sense to be angry with Christian…so why was she? Was it because she couldn't be mad at her father?

She lurched across the room to throw herself on her bed. It had been less than a full week but she was so lonely for Christian. Dr. Skarsgard kept her busy most of the day with physiotherapy but that left all too many hours to fight off thoughts of Mr. Grey. She read the same page of the same book over and over. In the evenings, she swam lap after lap until her arms gave out and she just laid on her back in the water, gazing upward at white lights that she could imagine to be silver eyes.

She wasn't aware that her doctor and Grey spoke every day…sometimes twice. Grey needed to know that she was all right. Did she require anything…anything at all? Books, paintings for her room, more photos of her father, another pashmina. Dr. Skarsgard tried his best to reassure Grey that Ana was doing well in therapy. She hadn't given up and her therapist was sure that her legs were getting stronger. No, her psychological state was not stronger. She was struggling with the betrayal and no, she had not asked for or about Grey. Yes, of course, we will take the very best care of her that we can. She'll want for nothing and we'll guard her emotionally all that we can.

Grey informed the doctor that a development at home had made it important that Ana stay in Switzerland. He didn't know for how long but the matter had to be cleared up before she could return. He had hired several CPOs, disguised as nurses and orderlies to watch over Ana. This alarmed the doctor but he knew that Grey would protect the clinic as well as Ana.

Only, from what were they being protected, he wondered?

CHAPTER 9

"You've kept this here all this time, Taylor?"

"Yes, sir. I'm the only person who knows it's here. I couldn't take any chances that your assailant could locate it. It's evidence."

Grey shuddered as he studied the R8 in front of him. He and Ana had had so much fun in this car. She was the only person he let drive it and only because she was an excellent driver. A fleeting thought went through his brain that he could get another R8 for Ana, specially outfitted for someone with her issues. Then he wondered what he could be thinking. Tanks…only tanks for his girl.

He walked around the car, shivering as he saw what had been Ana's side. It was badly smashed. All the blood she'd lost was still evident on the seat, the dash, all the glass. He had to take several deep breaths as nausea swept over him. That night came back to him…the screaming, his…Ana slumped over and drenched in her own blood. He remembered the terror that had grabbed him by the throat…having to be dragged out of the car so the jaws of life could release Ana. And the moment when she opened her eyes and smiled at him…the last second she would know who he was.

"Sir, come around to the driver's side. This is what I wanted to show you." Taylor had to take Grey's arm and lead him along.

"Look…here…just behind the seat. Do you see it?" Grey stooped down to get a better look. There it was, no mistaking…a slash of bright white paint over the steel gray of the R8. He stared, trying to recall being hit by another car but nothing came to him. How could he have not realized that they were being hit by another vehicle? How did the police investigation miss this?

His eyes held a look of first, bewilderment, and then fury. "The police didn't do a thorough investigation," Taylor remarked. "They just assumed that you were driving drunk and reckless. The car was taken to police impound and stayed there until I retrieved it two weeks later. I rented this old warehouse and locked it down tight. I have sensors planted all around the property. My phone will alert me if anyone comes near the building. In all these years, no one has. I took a sample of the paint and got lucky. The lab found signs of another paint color under the white…red. Whoever hit you wanted to disguise their vehicle before they came after you.

"I've been doing an in-depth search with Welch on all vehicles with this color red, starting with anyone who might know you…old enemies…employees. No luck so far. Might be a dead end. Our guy or girl might have already ditched the car."

"Charlotte. We had a relatively long relationship…two months. When I broke it off, she was hysterical and rabid. I gave her a cherry red Audi to ease her temper. I never heard from her again but sometimes I'd see an Audi like hers outside Escala or Grey House. Could she have held on to her grievance all that time? I met Ana almost a year later."

"Yes, sir. She was our first likely suspect but she sold the car shortly after breaking it off with you and then left town. She got married a couple of years ago. Besides, this red is not cherry red. I've had men scouring car junkyards for miles around. Welch has been deep vetting every employee you've had for the past six years. We've been at this for almost five years, sir, and we're not giving up."

"Taylor, I'm grateful for your efforts but what if this was just an accident?"

"My gut, sir." Grey stood up and looked at Taylor. "Nuff said, Jason. Have we checked out the usual suspect?"

Taylor smirked. "We still are. We have eyes and ears on that creature of the night at all times." Then he laughed…rare for Taylor.

"The night of your engagement, sir, the joy in that house swirled around the living room save for one black hole in the middle. Fury, dismay, heartbreak…there aren't enough words to describe Mrs. Lincoln's despair over the sight of that ring on Ana's finger. That old hag still believed that one day you'd marry her! We had her entire house under audio/video surveillance and the tapes from that night are still a source of great amusement when the boys are bored. She screeched over and over that you belonged to her…that that ring ought to be on her gnarly finger…that she was meant to be Mrs. Christian Grey. Then she took off her hair and threw it across the room.

"That's the point at which Ryan usually falls off his chair," Taylor was almost smiling. "Unfortunately, we've not uncovered any connection between Mrs. Lincoln and the crash. Although, she did spend the next afternoon dancing around her house, cackling with glee at the news that Ms. Steele was critically injured. Listening to her drunken raving, it was apparent that she hadn't plotted against you…that time."

"So, after almost five years, we're no closer to finding the person who tried to kill us, is that right?"

"In a sense, sir, but in another sense, we have eliminated scores of leads, dead ends, possible suspects. I know it doesn't seem like it but I feel optimistic."

"Your gut, again?"

"And this attack on your mother? It was very personal. The way he went at her, so viciously. I believe he hates her. I think that we're looking for someone who is out for your family. I'd advise that we send Ms. Mia back to Belgium asap. I've already increased protection for the rest of the family. There's just one thing that bothers me…gets in the way of my suspicions."

"That is?"

"The way the car was hit and where. It would appear that you were the intended victim but after Ana was hurt, there were no more indications that anyone was after you or anyone in your family."

"You're losing me," Grey remarked.

"Well, I'm wondering if our perp was so upset at hurting Ana that he just shut down but now that she's back…"

CHAPTER 10

Elliot's belly was full and he was sleepy. He barely registered the masked orderly who came into the room. The man replaced the water pitcher and then looked closely at the patient. She was wan and weak, he could see that much, but she was also alive. He cursed.

He had ravaged her with a long, jagged blade over and over. He couldn't stop himself…such was his rage and his loathing for this woman. He had thought to rip her throat open but reconsidered. That would mean death within a second. No, he wanted her to suffer…to lie in pain and the wetness, in fear. Her eyes had been open as she tried to breathe.

He had planned to watch her as she died but he heard loud crunching on the gravel driveway out front. He had to dash for the door in the kitchen. He slipped out the side door as Elliot was jumping down from his F650, stomping across the gravel in his size 15 steel toed boots. The racket made it easy for the man to quietly escape down the street. He didn't so much as glance at the unconscious boy lying next to the Domino's delivery car as he headed for his bright red compact. He would be long gone before the cops arrived and the ambulance would be too late.

What the hell had gone wrong? Why wasn't she dead? Elliot stirred from his brief snooze just in time to watch the orderly closing the door as he left. He pressed the call button for a nurse and then he went into the hall. The guard was missing.

"Please, check my mother."

"According to the monitors, she's sleeping peacefully and all her vitals are good."

"Check her manually, please. There was a strange person in here and the guard isn't outside the door."

The nurse looked up at the 6.5, blonde, green-eyed man…the gorgeous man that all the nurses were agog over…and agreed to do whatever he wanted. When she finished, she assured Elliot that his mother was still a miracle…doing quite well, indeed.

As she left, a beefy man stepped into the room. "Everything okay?" he asked…just before Elliot slammed him up against the wall while the guard said that he' d only been gone a few minutes…just needed a cup of coffee. Elliot told him that he was fired. When the man protested, saying that he didn't work for Elliot, Elliot threw him into the hallway and said that he'd better be gone before his little brother got to him because Elliot was the mild tempered one of the two.

Taylor, need new guards for mom. Make that two.

Dexter fired?

Left for coffee. Someone entered while I was sleeping.

Mrs. Grey okay?

Only because I woke up.

Baxter and Lattner on the way.

Taylor decided to keep this information to himself. He'd already dumped serious news on his boss and it wasn't the time to double down. Already…knowing that Ana was safe in Switzerland…Grey had become obsessed with finding the man who was a danger to her.

"Mr. Grey, it has been so long," Dr. Skarsgard teased. Grey had already called early morning which the doctor knew was middle of the night for Grey. When did the man sleep, he wondered?

"How is Ana?"

"Same as she was four hours ago, Mr. Grey."

"There's been a development here. My security chief has just alerted me that the accident…wasn't. We were deliberately sideswiped. I don't know which of us…possibly both…was the target. I want Ana to stay in Gstaad until we catch this guy."

"Mr. Grey, Ana is missing you."

"She is?" Grey's voice took on a tone of excitement. "What did she say…exactly?"

Dr. Skarsgard smiled. "She said that she misses you…and that she loves you. She is, however, no less angry…no less feeling betrayed. She is having a hard time emotionally. Her confusion about her feelings is not lessening."

Grey was quiet for a moment. "She loves me. That could mean like a friend, couldn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it could. Mr. Grey, please do not worry about Ana. She is safe and doing well in physio. I suppose that you are going to send an army over here to keep watch."

"I'll need a complete list of every employee hired within the last year and my team will set up a security system as well."

"As you wish, Mr. Grey. I wish you luck in finding this man." As Dr. Skarsgard rang off, he wondered what "security system" might mean. He suspected that Ana would be surrounded. He wondered how seriously he should take Grey's concerns about her safety. After all, Switzerland was a long way from the United States.

CHAPTER 11

Grey lay in bed…Ana in his arms. He'd exhausted her, he knew, but still he needed more. He ached to touch her, to watch her cum, to be safe inside her. It had taken so long to get her back into his life…his bed. He doubted that he'd ever have enough of her ever again.

His mind wandered back to that first year with her, that first time. They'd been seeing each other for weeks and had kissed. He'd fondled her breast and…slipped his hand inside her panties. He'd thrilled to the wetness he found there…wetness that meant that she was aroused. He'd been selfish the first few times with her. He couldn't hold back and he didn't think of her pleasure. He'd just pushed her up against his office wall and slammed himself into her. After, he was ashamed. She was a virgin and he'd hurt her. She never complained…probably because she didn't know any better.

Tonight, she was finally moving into his penthouse and he would have her properly and completely. It seemed that he'd been walking around with a permanent hard-on since that first fall at her feet. He'd never before had to wait for a woman. They took one look at him and were out of their clothes in seconds. He hadn't known what it was like to want a woman so much that it hurt. All of him hurt…his heart, his cock, his arms that enveloped her so tightly that she had to tell him that she couldn't breathe.

He tried so hard to play it cool…smiling benignly as she unpacked her boxes. He loved that her things would now be mingled with his. As she hung her clothes in his their closet and filled drawers, he wandered into the en suite. He had to chuckle at the vanity top. With the women before Ana, the drawers and the counter would be crowded with makeup and hair products and tools. He found it annoying.

Now, a single bottle of shampoo/conditioner stood on a shelf in the shower and in a corner of the vanity there lay a hair dryer, a brush, a comb, and a bottle of lotion with sunscreen. He could find nothing of makeup products. He realized with a start that he'd never seen Ana apply lipstick. She didn't wear mascara, eye liner, shadow. And still, lord, she was so beautiful.

He walked back into the bedroom and found her standing, nervous, in the middle of the room. She saw that his silver eyes had darkened to charcoal. They seemed to be ablaze. She knew that his desire for her was intense.

He lacked control. He feared that he would be rough with her. He didn't want to frighten her but he heard his voice…commanding her to strip. He didn't take his eyes off her as he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. Ana slipped her sweater over her head and in the time, it took to do that, Christian had removed the rest of his clothing.

God, he was so beautiful, she thought. She could only stand and stare at his muscled chest, the V that dove down to his thick cock. She realized that she was shivering.

Christian walked slowly to her and repeated his command. Her hands were shaking as she tried to reach behind to unhook her bra. Christian put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around. He unhooked her bra and then fell to his knees to pull down her leggings and her panties. He cupped her buttocks in his hands and kissed her milky white skin…then stood up and turned her around to face him. Her bra was still hanging off her shoulders. He deftly slipped it off.

He knelt before her. His voice was raw as he told her to spread her legs and steady herself by holding on to his shoulders. He moved his hands around her soft thighs until he reached the apex. He explored her lips, moving them aside to look more deeply into her. She whimpered. She was silky with arousal. He buried his nose and then his tongue inside her. Her legs began to shake.

"Don't fall," he ordered. Then he pushed two fingers inside her, seeking her sweet spot. She was so tight. He put his mouth on her nub and sucked hard. She went rigid and cried out his name. She had never done that before and his heart soared. Other women would scream unintelligibly or yell out "fuck" …but Ana, instinctively and from her heart, called for him.

He scooped her up and carried her limp body to the bed, gently laying her down and burying his face once more between her legs. Her pleasure delighted him. This was different from their frantic fumblings on the couch. This was their two naked bodies lying together and oh, it was heaven. Finally, having relaxed Ana enough to push himself inside her, he had what he really wanted. She moaned as he pounded into her. He didn't want to hurry this moment, actually. He wanted to settle in her warmth but he had no control with this woman. He came too soon. In fact, it would be many more times before he was able to ease in and out and even rest within her cushioned walls.

"Are you okay, Christian?"

"You're kidding, right?" he murmured.

"Well, usually, you're…well…kind of rough. Not that I mind. In fact, I like it. I liked it this way, too, but it's different and I thought that maybe something was wrong. Christian?"

He mumbled something and rolled off her, keeping his arms around her as he fell asleep.

CHAPTER 12

"Mr. Grey? Sir?" The soft voice of his housekeeper, Mrs. Jones, roused him from his dream. He wasn't lying in bed with Ana. He'd fallen asleep at his desk while staring at her picture. He would have cried with disappointment if Mrs. Jones hadn't been in the room.

"Yes, Mrs. Jones. What is it?" He rubbed his sore eyes. At least he had slept…because Ana was with him, of course.

"You didn't eat breakfast or lunch. Eating well is a religion with you. Will you please eat dinner? I can bring it in here if you like."

For a moment, he regarded Mrs. Jones…a pretty woman in her mid-forties with blue eyes. Blue eyes…

"Ah, yes. And ask Taylor to come in, please." Maybe while he made love to Ana, Taylor had made progress in finding his mother's attacker. She was still hospitalized. He should probably visit her tonight.

Taylor walked in and sat in his usual chair…stiff and straight-backed. Did former military men ever learn to relax, Grey wondered? Mrs. Jones followed with a tray.

"Okay, you talk. I'll eat," he said to Taylor.

"Welch made some progress today, deep vetting the latest employees at the clinic in Gstaad. All were hired months before you and Ms. Steele arrived. All cleared. All long-time citizens of Switzerland. He thought that you would want that taken care of before checking locals. Now, he's working on employees of GEH from five years back. There has never been much turn-over at your company. However, in the year that Ms. Steele worked at the clinic, there were five dismissals. Three of those were employees who'd never been to the clinic. The other two were rather frequent complainants.

"One was Jack Hyde who was fired for poor performance. His supervisor wrote him up several times for incomplete assignments, incorrectly done assignments, insubordination…"

"How was he insubordinate?"

"Apparently, he didn't take criticism well. He objected, walked out of the room, cried, and complained that no one liked him. When told what he needed to do to improve, he disagreed and argued that his work was fine…he was just being picked on. He was dismissed about six months before your engagement."

"The other person was Deborah Pearson who frequently visited the clinic to complain of headaches she said were brought on by harassment by her boss. Ms. Steele reported this to HR who investigated but could find no witnesses or evidence on CCTV to corroborate Ms. Pearson's accusations. Things came to a head when she walked into the clinic one day dripping blood. Ms. Steele stopped the bleeding and wrapped up the wrist. She noted on her chart that Ms. Pearson was possibly clinically depressed and subject to delusions. She also told this to Ms. Pearson and advised that she see a therapist. Ms. Pearson accused Ms. Steele of…whoa, get this…wanting her gone because she saw Deborah as a rival for your affections."

"What department did Pearson work in?"

"Acquisition analysis. Did you ever meet her?"

"I don't recall a meet. Perhaps I spoke to her at the company party that Christmas. I normally attended only to give a speech but Ana made me stay and "have a good time"." Christian laughed.

"Anyway, Ms. Steele noted that she was becoming uncomfortable being alone with Pearson and asked her assistant to come into the room…and just in time. When Nancy came in, she found Pearson, a rather large woman, with her hands around Ana's neck. Nancy banged her on the head with a metal tray and called security. Don't you remember any of this? You gave Nancy a raise."

"Ah, no. I didn't. Ana probably called HR and put in a request for a raise for Nancy. Everyone knew about our relationship and occasionally Ana just did things on her own because she felt they needed doing and HR knew that I'd approve whatever Ana wanted."

"Well, that was the last of Deborah Pearson."

"The irony is that if I had been canoodling with Pearson, Ana would have whacked me with a metal tray," Grey laughed.

"This Pearson person sounds like someone we should be checking out. Call Welch. See what he has so far."

"It's only been 30 minutes," Taylor responded. Grey looked at him. Taylor sighed. "I'll see if he has anything."

Grey went back to eating his dinner and staring at Ana. He loved the sepia tone of the photograph but he wanted one in color so that he could see the blue in her eyes. He flipped through his phone until he found the number of the pet photographer who agreed to send him a similar size picture of Ana in color. Yes, of course asap.

Taylor was waiting for his attention when Grey completed his call.

"Okay, I think we can eliminate Ms. Pearson. She spent some time in a facility and, upon being released, jumped off a bridge. That leaves us with Jack Hyde. The trouble with him is that he appears to have had a crush on Ms. Steele…describing her in his exit interview as being the only person who was nice to him."

"And what's he been up to for the past five and a half years?"

"Welch is still tracking him and his activities. He does have one thing, however. He's a regular at Dotty's and he owns a red compact car."

"Lunch. Tomorrow at Dotty's. You know, that's where Mom and the creature have lunch every Tuesday."

Taylor looked alarmed. "Sir. Tomorrow is Tuesday. Your mother's friend might be there and expecting us to sit with her."

Grey laughed. "Don't worry, Jason. I'll protect you." Taylor looked grim…quite distressed.

After Taylor went off to seek solace from Mrs. Jones, Grey called Dr. Skarsgard who happened…at the time…to be visiting with Ana while she was undergoing physio.

"Hello, sir. I am currently sitting with a patient as she takes a break from her therapy. She has to be made to stop now and again because she is so determined to get out of her crutches and make her friend proud of her. She is certainly a force to be reckoned with."

"You're with Ana, aren't you?" Grey's voice trembled a bit. She was right there…a breath away.

"Yes, that is correct. Could you hold for a moment?" He turned to Ana who was breathing hard and massaging her legs.

"Ana, Christian is on the line. Would you like to speak with him? I think it would mean the world to him to hear your voice. It has been so long." He held out the phone. Ana hesitated and then picked up the cell. "Christian? It's me."

CHAPTER 13

"Hello, me. Hearing your voice just…just. Well, tell me how you are." He was shaking and uncertain of what to say.

"I'm well. My therapist says that I'm his best patient. This place is so beautiful…one of the other patients asked me why I'm working so hard to get out of here."

"Don't push too hard, Ana." She could hear the concern in his voice and she smiled.

"Oh, don't worry about that. The therapists are very strict about resting. Sometimes it's annoying. I'll be roaring along and then told to stop…to rest. I want to go faster and longer than they'll let me."

"I'm proud of you for working so hard but these pros at Gstaad are the best in the world, Ana. That's why I took you there…so you'd have the very finest people taking care of you. So, listen to them…okay?"

"Oh, okay. If that's what you want. Don't you want me to come home ever?" She was trying to be humorous but Christian could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

"I didn't want to leave you, Ana. I hate being apart from you. I know that Dr. Skarsgard told you why I had to go."

"Yes, I'm sorry, Christian. I was being selfish. How is your mother today? The doctor said she's going to be fine."

"Yes, she is more than fine. Her personality has changed. She's cheerful and funny and we're all confused as hell. Plus, her doctors cannot figure out how she's alive. She lost too much blood to survive but she did. She's one for the medical journals…just like you."

"That's wonderful, Christian. I'm so pleased for you. I hope I get to meet her one day. I'd like to meet your whole family."

Christian was beaming. "You would? That's great. Well, when you get back, we'll do that. They want to meet you, too."

He hoped that he wasn't lying…and he wondered if he should tell her the truth about their feelings prior to the engagement. To have his family accept her would mean so much. He didn't want to choose but if he did, he'd have no problem doing so.

"Ana, I have to go to the hospital now to see Mom."

"That's all right, Christian. My therapist is back. Can we talk soon?"

"Of course. I really want that. I've missed you so much, Ana. Remember, whatever I've done has been for you…and remember that I love you." There was silence. Christian wondered if Ana had hung up.

Then, a small voice… "I love you, too. Goodbye." And the line was dead…but Christian felt alive.

He was even more cheered when he walked into Grace's room to find her playing a card game with Elliot. She looked up and grinned widely. "Christian! Come play with us. I'm winning!"

Elliot winked at his brother. He was unbeatable at any card game…except one he was playing with his mother. Then she would always win. Christian leaned over and kissed his mother's forehead. She was glowing.

"Carrick had to go to court today but Elliot took time off work to come entertain me. Wasn't that sweet?"

Elliot was at the hospital because he didn't trust anyone else to guard his mother.

A nurse came in and said that it was time for Grace's sponge bath. The boys would have to wait in the hall. They gave the two CPOs a break for a meal and sat down in their chairs.

"You really think that orderly was our perp, El?"

"I asked around after…the nursing station and a doctor…and they said that they hadn't seen him but that orderlies usually have a routine…going room to room with fresh water, etc. No other rooms at the time had a visit from an orderly."

"Thank god you were here, El. Now, I'm going to stay for a while. Why don't you go, shower, rest, and change? You're tired, I can see, and you're getting kind of ripe, bro," Grey teased. "Course, not so ripe that you don't have all the nurses drooling over you."

Elliot shrugged. "Thanks, Chris. Did Taylor check out these guys? I'm afraid to leave Mom alone or with just Mia."

"He vetted them deep. They're ex-military, Seals and Covert Ops. Taylor made clear to them the advantages of working for me and the quite damaging effects of screwing up. That guy you fired will have a real tough time getting another position."

"Good. I don't mind telling you that this whole thing has me rattled. You didn't see what I did, Chris. Picture walking in the door…all excited about having pizza…and looking down at this mess called your mother. All I could see was blood. I had to wipe it off her face and there were so many wounds, I didn't know where to start to stem the bleeding. I put pressure on one and another one would bubble up. The EMTs worked on her for a long time to stabilize her enough to put her in the ambulance. One of them told me that he'd seen a lot of knife attacks but this one, he said, this was real personal. The doc said the same thing. The guy who did this to her just really hated her guts…practically tore them out of her."

Elliot was starting to hyperventilate. Grey yelled for a nurse and three showed up. They gave him water and took his blood pressure and cooed at him, urging him to get some rest. Elliot was eating it up as Grey tried to keep a smile off his face.

"Taylor's outside. Get a ride home with him. If you hit someone, you'd be fine but that truck of yours will annihilate anyone in your path. Give Taylor your keys. He'll get that monster delivered."

Elliot nodded and stood up, thanking the adoring nurses for their care. He hugged Christian and headed off down the corridor…a little wobbly. Grey sat back down. The nurses wanted to "help" him, too, but he assured them that he was just fine. Reluctantly, they returned to their jobs.

A few minutes later, the two CPOs returned and the nurse emerged from Grace's room. The nurse repeated again what a miracle Grace was and that they still didn't understand how she survived. Shaking her head as she left, Grey watched her go. He reminded the men that the woman in that room was his mother…did they get his meaning? Yes, sir, they did. Time to face Grace.

CHAPTER 14

"I'm tiptop, son, and I smell better. Mia brought my bodywash from home. The hospital stuff is so antiseptic. Ugh."

Christian leaned in and remarked that yes, his mother had a lovely fragrance about her. He asked how she was feeling and she replied that she'd never felt better. He thought he'd have to ask what kind of pain killers they were giving her.

"You know, mom, you've been through a terrible ordeal but you don't seem to have suffered any ill effects."

"Well, yes, I did! Cary is having the tile looked at but I'm afraid that it might be ruined, and that tile was so important to us." Now she looked quite upset so Christian reassured her that if it was irreparable, he'd get more from Italy or have some made.

"But, mom, I was talking about you…not the tile. Your body and your mind…what you went through. Yet you act as if you're in here because you skinned your knee. I'm confused."

"You know, I was a bit confused, too. All the time that he was punching…err, stabbing me, I was so curious as to why he didn't give me the pizza because Elliot would be home soon and you know how that boy loves to eat. And yes, I also wondered why this strange boy was doing this. I tried to ask him but speaking to him just seemed to outrage him. So, I just laid there and worried about the tile. I did consider telling him how important the tile was to me but I didn't want to anger him anymore.

"I also didn't like that he kept yelling at me."

"Wait, mom, the police didn't mention that he said anything. What did he say to you?"

"Oh, nothing important, dear. Did you eat lunch today? Mia says that you've been in a bad way what with Ana in Gstaad and me in here. I should call her and introduce myself."

"Mom!" He immediately felt bad as he watched his mother's face fall. "I'm sorry, mom. It's okay. Yes, I ate lunch and it's sweet of you to ask about Ana. She's doing great. But, mom, what the boy said to you might be important so could we just concentrate on that for a minute."

Grace smiled and patted Christian's cheek. "You're such a handsome boy. Both my boys are handsome. The nurses ask me all sorts of questions about you. Hmm…let me see. The boy said something about me deserving this. I guess he meant the stabbing. He said that he wouldn't let me hurt her. Then he got even madder and began yelling that I was a bitch…over and over. That's all I remember, dear. I'm sorry."

"Her. No idea who "her" could be?" Grace shook her head. She loved Christian but Elliot was more fun. She wanted to play cards again. She liked winning. She looked up as the doctor walked in looking agitated.

"Do I have to explain myself every time to those goons you have outside?"

"What did they say to you?" The doctor explained that they always stopped him, asked for ID and then checked his face against a photo. Every damn time! "Excuse my language, Gracie."

"I'll speak to them, doctor. I'm just taking extra precautions since that fake orderly got in here."

"Yes, that was disturbing. If something had happened…well, don't worry about the guards. I'll comply with their requests. I'm glad you're here, Mr. Grey. I want to speak to you. Gracie, how are you doing?"

Grace grinned at the doctor and confided that she was playing cards…like it was illegal. The doctor laughed and said that his lips were sealed. He checked her bandages and made a note. It looked like Grace had popped a couple of stiches…nothing serious. Christian asked about all the blood and the doctor just shook his head like everyone else. No one understood how Grace had survived or why she was in such good spirits despite the pain.

"Pain killers?"

"No, she's been given Tylenol but doesn't want anything stronger that might make her head feel fuzzy. We do sedate her to get her to sleep. If we didn't, she'd be up 'til midnight watching old movies."

"Hello, I'm in the room," Grace called out. "When can I get out of bed? I want a wheelchair so I can wander around."

"You're not ready to be moving around, Grace. Besides, you know we're short staffed…like always."

"My children can push me around…and my boys are very strong. They could easily pick me up and set me down in the chair."

"Mom, look around you. You're hooked up to machines and bags…tubes coming out of you all over the place. No wheelchair for a while."

"The tubes aren't coming out of me, sweetheart. They're going into me. Goodness." The doctor began chuckling and Christian just shook his head.

"I'll be outside, doctor…with the goons. We can talk when you finish your examination." With that, Grey left the room.

CHAPTER 15

While Christian slumped in a chair outside his mother's room, thinking about Ana…Ana was napping in her room at the clinic. She dreamt of home with her father, as she often did…it was the last place and time in her life when everything made sense and there were no complications. Only now, with the possibility of being able to walk, she did so in her woods. More and more Christian would appear in her dreams, strolling toward her through golden leaves…his sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets, a goofy happy grin on his face. She would feel something strange and unsettling in her chest and find herself running to him. He would catch her in his strong arms and whirl her around, embracing her with both tenderness and urgency. He would press her up against the oak tree and kiss her so passionately that she'd shoot awake, startled to find herself sweating and the place between her legs soaking.

After, she'd shower...sometimes sitting under the spray for a long time, touching herself in a futile attempt to find release from the ache inside her. She'd read everything she could find about sex on her iPad and it was overwhelming. The little kids books she'd gotten from her father had left a lot of things out. She was going to ask Dr. Skarsgard to get her a copy of a book called The Joy of Sex. That sounded easier to read. Joy was good. Some of the things she learned about scared her and she wondered if Christian wanted those things. Ana was pretty certain that she didn't want anything up her butt, for instance.

She'd also read about something called BDSM. What if Christian wanted to hit her with canes and belts? No, she would not agree to being used or humiliated. She didn't care what other perfectly nice people did…she wasn't going to do those things. Oh, dear, was she now a prude? Maybe, before she lost her memory, she'd been open to anything? Was Christian hoping that sex between them now would be the same as before…and what was it like before? She'd ask. Wait, could she do that?

Maybe they could just keep kissing like that day in his study. That was wonderful. No, her dreams and how she felt when she woke…no, she knew kissing would never be enough nor would cuddling together on the couch. Christian would never demand more…but she would. Besides, she wanted to be normal like she used to be. Okay, she'd just ask Christian what kind of sex they had before the accident.

She was glad that Taylor did all the driving now cause she didn't think that Christian was very good at it.

While Ana was pondering their future sex life, Christian was sitting down with his mother's physician. He had one question.

"Dr. Whalen, is my mother suffering from brain damage and, if so, is it permanent?" He kept his gaze on the doctor…steady and intense. He wanted real answers…not the "calm the relatives" kind.

Dr. Whalen had been at this game for a very long time and he didn't do "calm" anymore. He was too busy and had too much on his mind to think up kindly ways to give out bad news.

"Yes and yes." Dr. Whalen met Grey's gaze without flinching.

Christian took a deep breath and moved to the edge of his chair. "Why?"

"As you were told before, her blood loss was so extreme that we cannot understand how she survived. It's unheard of. A committee of my peers did an extensive study of her case and researched as deeply as possible to find another case or even something close but…nothing. If I were a religious man, I would call this a miracle."

"You did call it a miracle," Grey reminded the doctor.

"Oh, that was just for your mother," Dr. Whalen chuckled. "She loves being called a miracle. She tells the nurses everyday…and the rest of your family. One day she'd just gotten off the phone with her friend and the nurses found her almost in tears because her friend told her that there are no such things as miracles."

Christian grimaced. "Yes, that friend would be Mrs. Elena Lincoln. I'd like it noted on her chart that that woman is not to be allowed to see my mother. I've already informed my mother's protection officers to prevent her from entering my mother's room."

"That bad, eh?"

"You have no idea, Doctor. All right, next question. Will mom be able to continue her medical practice, considering her brain damage?"

"That's to be decided at a later time. She hasn't inquired about any of her patients which is unusual for Grace. She'd always been deeply involved and quite personal with them. So, it is a wait-and-see situation with that. Now, you're going to ask if she will require a caretaker. Perhaps, for the foreseeable future, yes. Hopefully, just until we can determine her ability to care for herself. Right now, I'd be loathe to allow her to cross the street by herself."

For a moment, the doctor wondered if he'd been too blunt. Grey wasn't looking good.

"Mr. Grey, your mother survived a horrendous assault. And the only explanation any of the genius doctors here and elsewhere have been able to come up with is that she is an incredibly strong woman. She's done what no other human being has ever accomplished. You've been so fortunate that you're visiting your live and quite lively mother today instead of planning her funeral.

"I know that the idea of brain damage is intimidating but think of it this way. In Grace's case, it is a brain change. The MRI showed that the pleasure zone of her brain is lit up more than is normally seen. She is enjoying every minute of her life now. I'd like such a brain change."

Grey smiled and laughed a bit. "She is something, isn't she? And I'll tell you a secret, just between you and me. We all prefer this version of mom."

"And I'll tell you a secret, Mr. Grey…so do I."

CHAPTER 16

Christian was tolerating a tortuous game of cards with Grace when the rest of the family walked in. Grace screamed with delight, like a five-year-old whose parents had just returned from a night out. He leaned back in his chair, taking a breather, while the rest hugged and kissed Grace. The smiles on their faces weren't just put on for Grace. They were genuinely enjoying this new woman.

"Gracie, did you sleep last night?"

"Mom, Luc says hello and maybe he'll come soon for a visit."

"I gave the crew the day off. Yesterday's rain turned our work site into soup so I can spend all day with you."

Grace clapped her hands like a little kid. "Now, we're missing just one person to complete our little family…".

Everyone cringed and prepared their lame reasons for refusing Elena Lincoln's company.

"But," Grace frowned, "Ana has to be in Gstaad, I suppose, for her therapy. How is that going, son? You never mentioned."

Christian cleared his throat and tried to tame down his astonished expression. The rest of the family did likewise and stared at him. "She's working really hard, mom…too hard actually. She has to be forced to take breaks so that her muscles can recover. She's determined to get rid of the crutches."

Grace nodded sympathetically. "As I recall, she was always a hard worker. And, lord knows, she's been through the wringer. Why some good people are given so much to endure, I don't understand. You be sure to give her all our best when you next talk to her. Sometimes it helps to know that your family is behind you 100%."

Every other mouth in the room was agape as the family struggled to grasp what Grace was saying. Carrick ventured forward first. "You like Ana, Gracie?"

Grace looked puzzled. "What are you talking about, Cary? She was about to be our second daughter when she was hurt so badly in the accident and now, after all these years, she's coming back to us. Of course, I like her! What a question."

"So," Elliot stepped in, "you think that she's suited to Christian's place in society? She's only a nurse."

Thereafter followed a righteous rant about the importance of caretakers of any kind and particularly nurses. Who did he think had been looking after his mother? Why, nurses often knew more than doctors. And she went on from there as everyone stared at her in amazement.

While Grace was preoccupied with lecturing Elliot, Mia leaned down to whisper to Christian. "When did mom join Team Ana?"

"Brain change, Dr. Whalen calls it. He also says that it is likely permanent. I've been enduring non-stop chatter about oh-so-many delightful things about life for the past few hours."

"Have you been letting mom win at cards?"

"No. She's been complaining about missing Elliot who 'plays better'. Is Luc really coming to Seattle? What about his business?"

"We figured it's time. She isn't calling him candy boy anymore…just Luc. His customers are regulars and real loyal so they'll wait."

"So, you're going to be staying in Bruges permanently?" Christian didn't look happy about having his little sister so far away.

"We'll see. I have family here and Luc grew up in an orphanage. He did say that he'd like his children to have grandparents. I don't know. I do love Belgium but I'd also like to be home." Mia shrugged. "Besides, now that we two are coupled up, I want to watch mom go to work on Elliot," she giggled.

"Christian, don't you think that you could find a girl like Ana for your brother?" Carrick asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"I don't know, dad. I don't really know any skanks." Elliot vociferously protested his brother's description of his fuck and ducks. "They're nice girls…just not the kind you take home to your mother. I mean, if mom didn't approve of an angel like Ana, my choices would have her throwing herself into the Sound."

The second the words were out of his mouth, Elliot began babbling…trying to backtrack while Grace simply looked confused. The glares from the rest of the family stopped Elliot's rambling and then he ducked out…excusing himself to use the loo.

"What was Elliot talking about? And Christian, what is a skank? Why does Elliot think that I didn't approve of Ana? Ana is a wonderful girl…perfect for you. Cary?" Grace looked so bewildered, even a little frightened.

Carrick sat on the bed and pulled her into his arms while Mia patted her shoulder and reminded her mother that Elliot was an idiot. Christian left the room to confront the idiot.

Elliot was leaning against a wall, red-faced and wrecked. "What the hell, Elliot?"

"I don't know why I said those things, Chris. Sometimes, shit just runs out of my mouth without any thought behind it. I'm really sorry. How's mom?"

"A little upset, befuddled. She'll recover…probably forget the entire conversation. Dad is busy "explaining" you to her. Mia might be a problem for you, however. She appeared displeased with you," Christian understated.

"You have to keep in mind that mom has changed. Now she's Alice in Wonderland…running amuck. So, you have to ease up on the sarcasm and smart remarks. She takes every word literally. She doesn't understand clever nuance."

"You think my nuances are clever?" Elliot grinned.

CHAPTER 17

"Christian! Christian!"

"Ana, calm down. What is it? Are you all right, sweetheart?" Ana took a breath and let it out. He called her sweetheart and she melted.

"Ana?" Christian was beginning to be concerned.

"I'm sorry. I'm all right, Christian. I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted to tell you something exciting."

"Oh," the relief in his voice was palpable. "Well, go ahead. I can't wait to hear it." Now she could hear the smile in his voice.

"I walked this morning…with one crutch. My therapist, Finn, told me that he is certain that now I will be able to work my way out of both crutches…down to a cane. Christian, I'll be able to walk like a normal person."

"Ana, can I call you back in a few minutes? Please, I want to hear all about this, okay?" His voice was strained. Ana was disappointed but knew his mother was ill so she tried not to take his dismissal to heart.

"Sure. A few minutes, Christian?"

As he rang off, Christian put the cell down. He sat deathly still…and then broke down. For years, the horror of what he'd done to her body in that crash had haunted him. The loss of Ana in his life, that he'd mourned more and more but the horror had only burrowed deeper inside him. Now it climbed out and screamed at him…screamed that he'd put her body through unbelievable pain…that he'd crushed her ability to even move on her own. He'd paralyzed her body and her mind. He'd never acknowledged the degree to which he hated himself for that. He thought that he'd faced up to it during all those sessions with Dr. Flynn but, no, he'd never been able to dig down to the absolute bottom.

Even though he now knew, thanks to Taylor, that the accident wasn't one at all and that he and Ana had been the targets of a potential assassin, he'd spent so many years blaming himself that that guilt was now a part of him.

He lay in their bed and sobbed so hard that he couldn't catch his breath. He howled with an agony that woke up the whole house. Taylor ran into his bedroom and thought that this was a particularly bad nightmare but found that there was nothing from which to awaken his boss and all he could do was slip out again and give Grey his privacy.

Mrs. Jones stood in the hallway in her pink robe with tears running down her cheeks. Jason enfolded her in his arms and rocked her. It was the first time he'd shown his feelings for her. She pressed hard into his chest…the first time that she let herself understand that she, too, had feelings for Jason. Then, they quietly walked back to their quarters without Grey ever realizing that they had been there for him.

Ana sat in her room, with her uneaten lunch, waiting. He'd said a few minutes. Christian didn't lie to her anymore…did he? Maybe something was seriously wrong with his mother. He'd told her that her physical recovery was going to take some time but that mentally, she was in excellent shape. Perhaps there had been a sudden change. It was before dawn in Seattle and he might have gotten a call from the hospital. Ana worried for him…learning in the dark that his mother might be dying after all.

Some time later, the phone rang. Christian's voice was a little raw. "Is everything all right with your mother, Christian?" Ana didn't like the way he sounded. He coughed.

"Yes, Ana. She's fine. I'm sorry to have hung up on you. I'm afraid the news that you may soon be able to walk was, well, overpowering. Almost five years ago, I nearly killed you. I took away your memory. I initially made you a quadriplegic and destroyed your face. That one day you'd be able to walk again seemed an impossible dream."

"Christian, you didn't hurt me. You'd never hurt me. I know that. It was an accident and you have to accept that it wasn't your fault or we'll never be able to truly move forward. I'll always fret that your feelings for me are more guilt than love. Do you understand? Please try to let go of the past so that we can have a future together."

"Is that what you really want, Ana?"

"Yes, Christian. I know that I have a lot of work to do to accept myself as I now am but I want to be with you when I come to that acceptance. So, you need to work on acceptance yourself. Okay?"

"Yes," he croaked out. "I'll try. I'll work with Dr. Flynn again. I want to be anything you need, Ana. I always have."

CHAPTER 18

Jack sat his usual table in the corner…deeply absorbed in his novel. Actually, he was sneaking looks at the table by the window. It was usually occupied by Doctor Grey and her equally snooty friend, Mrs. Lincoln. She insisted that she be addressed as Mrs. even though she'd been divorced for a decade.

Today, she was alone. How sad for her, Jack snarled inwardly. Who will she trade nasty opinions with and with whom will she discuss the wretchedness of, well, nearly everyone else?

Jack didn't notice when a young man took a seat at the table right next to him. The fellow pulled out a laptop and ordered a cola. He was good-looking and the waitress was flirting with him. Jack didn't approve. When the girl walked away, he leaned over and cautioned the guy to be careful.

Ryan listened to Jack and asked him what he meant. "Girls like that are just looking for a breadwinner. They want to be stay-at-home mothers. They're users, really. Find yourself a woman who's already got a profession."

"Huh," Ryan lamely replied. Then he smiled and said thanks for the advice. "How did you come by this, ah, knowledge?"

"My mother and she was right. You know, a few years ago I had my eye on a nurse who ran the clinic where I worked. We really got along. She was a great listener but then I found out that she was a user, too."

"What do you mean? Ryan asked.

"Well, I worked at GEH and the boss is a real handsome guy. Plus, he's a multi-billionaire so I didn't have a chance with the nurse. She just turned her nose up at me and went after the money. It was pretty hard on me and I went a little crazy for a while. Since then, I've learned to avoid that kind of woman."

"Gee, sorry to hear that. That's rough. So, have you had any luck meeting someone new?"

"Yeah, I've had a few short relationships but I'm still trying to get over Ana. It hasn't been easy. As much as she hurt me, I still care about her."

"So, do you ever see her?"

"Nah. She moved into the boss's penthouse…"

"Wow!"

"Yeah…after she had me fired." Jack grimaced.

"Whoa. What did you do to get fired? I've heard that GEH is a great place to work."

"Oh, personnel had all sorts of flimsy excuses but it was just a cover for the real reason. Ana told the boss that I was bothering her 'cause I came into the clinic too much. I have severe allergies and a couple of other problems so I'd go to the clinic to get medication instead of just staying home. She knew that. She also knew that the boss was real jealous and she was afraid that he'd look elsewhere…the place is filled with gorgeous blondes…if he thought that she was too friendly with me. So, I guess I had to go.

"The irony is that they never did get married. He got drunk one night and got into a bad accident…nearly killed her. After she recovered, she went back home."

"She left a multi-billionaire?!"

"Yeah. I guess she had enough pride to leave a drunk. There were also rumors that he had a real bad temper and was abusing her."

"Boy, that is quite a story. Thanks for the heads-up. Maybe I don't want to work at GEH after all. My break's over. Nice talkin' to ya." Ryan then left the diner, walked two blocks down and got into a Mercedes SUV.

"Did you get all that, Taylor?"

"Yeah, he's a possible suspect, all right. Now we have to keep an eye on him. Ana's getting better and may be coming home soon. He's gonna find out and freak."

"You really think that he cares that much after all this time?"

"You sat and looked him in the face while he talked about the "user". What do you think?"

"Well, it is suspicious that after 5 years, she's the first person to come up in conversation with a complete stranger."

"Anything up with Lincoln while you sat there?"

"Nah. She just ate soup and stared out the window. Probably plotting something. They didn't seem to know each other."

Ryan and Taylor should have hung around a bit longer. Mrs. Lincoln had excellent hearing and was practiced at intruding on other conversations. She'd heard just enough to know that that boy might be someone she needed to get to know.

CHAPTER 19

Jack was aware that Mrs. Lincoln was looming over him. He felt both intimidated and repulsed at her presence. He tried to ignore her but Elena wasn't one to take a hint or to care if someone didn't want her company. What mattered was what she wanted and right now she wanted to suss out this boy.

She pulled out a chair and sat down at his table. He looked up in surprise. "Can I help you, ma'am?" He enjoyed the sour expression on her face at being called ma'am.

"It's Miss or Mrs. Lincoln, young man. I've noticed that you often lunch here at the same time as I do."

"Yeah. Imagine the coincidence. Dining at noon. Something you wanted?"

"No need to be rude," Elena snapped.

"I agree. There are a lot of tables you could sit at so what are you doing at this one?" He turned a page of his book and looked back down.

"I simply thought I'd say hello since we both seem to be regulars at Dotty's. Also, I will admit that I couldn't help overhearing a bit of your conversation."

"It's called eavesdropping, Miss," he snarled. "Something about my chat with that guy that you found interesting?"

"Yes, I happen to know the girl you were talking about…Ana. She got her hooks into the son of my friend…the lady with whom I usually luncheon on Tuesdays. I gather she hurt you after she no longer found you to be of use to her."

"My personal life is private, lady."

"I wondered if you might want to teach her a little lesson about how to respect people, hmm?"

Jack grabbed his bag and his book and quickly took to his feet. He'd like to teach someone a lesson in respecting others, all right. Perhaps another time. He glared at a startled Mrs. Lincoln and strode rapidly out of the diner. She made his skin crawl, but…at least, he now knew her full name. That might come in handy.

Elena gaped at his back as he walked away from her. Well. That was a waste of time. She didn't even get his name. Maybe the server knew. Elena raised her hand and snapped her fingers in the direction of a waitress taking an order. The waitress ignored her which irritated Elena.

"Girl, girl! I'm talking to you!" Elena considered herself to be a doyen of Seattle society courtesy of her close association with Grace Grey so she was baffled when people did not recognize her as such and treat her with the respect and obsequiousness she deserved. And she was in every Tuesday!

After the yelling, she had made herself known and the manager hurried over to tend to her needs…as Elena saw it. Instead, he quietly gave her a blistering warning to keep her voice down, to not disturb the other diners, to treat his staff with respect and to please return to her table where her check was waiting.

Elena was stunned into silence…for a moment, anyway. Then she drew herself up, straightened her shoulders and looked the manager in the eye. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, ma'am. You are a rude customer…the kind we could do without. I noticed that you already ran off the nice young man who was sitting here. Please pay your bill and, oh, have a nice day…elsewhere." He then turned his back to her and walked away. Everyone in the place was staring at her. Elena gathered all the dignity left to her and returned to her table, picked up her check and threw money down. She would not be leaving her usual 10% tip. Quite possibly she would not be dining here in future, she thought.

When she'd settled herself back in her mini mansion, she called Grace.

CHAPTER 20

As soon as the call went through, Elena started in without even an hello. She told Grace all about her terrible experience…every detail from her point of view…the humiliating verbal abuse, the way the manager had manhandled her and shoved her out the door.

"You don't have to say a thing, my dear. I know you'll agree with me that we'll not be dining at Dotty's in future."

"I don't care where you'll be dining in future, Mrs. Lincoln. However, I'll be seeing to it that the dining will not be done with my mother. I'll be changing her number and if you approach the gate at Grey Manor, the guards will shoot on sight."

The line went dead and Elena sat holding the phone…frozen. She desperately desired a drink but couldn't seem to move from her settee. The implications for her future were dire. No more invitations to society events, to the annual gala, certainly not a place of honor with the Grey family. Her "friendship" with Grace Grey had been Elena's portal to meeting all the right people, being seen with the right people, the right sort of social circle…even the patronage of her salons.

No. Elena wouldn't have it. Christian could threaten all he liked. He would be busy with that brain bashed bimbo while Elena got to Grace. She grinned wickedly to herself. She'd known for 20+ years how to handle Grace Grey and she would go on doing so.

Meanwhile, her demoralizing morning had driven her to drink and she forced herself to stand and head for her bar. She would spend the rest of the day plotting and passing out.

"Andrea, please see to it that my mother's cell number is changed immediately. Also, change the number of the landline in her kitchen. Yep, still has one," Grey chuckled. "Pink. Thank you," he rang off as Andrea laughed. She had no idea how "pink" Grace Grey had become.

"Who was on the phone, dear?" Grace enquired as she continued to "beat" Elliot at Euchre.

"No one of any importance, mother. Was there anyone you wanted to speak with?" Grey asked.

Grace stopped…mid-hand…and considered his question for a moment. "That woman I have lunch with sometimes? What is her name again, sweetheart?"

Elliot looked alarmed. Christian kept his cool. "Elena Lincoln, mom. Do you remember conversations with her?"

Grace pondered this for several minutes as her sons held their breathes. "Kind of. I remember that she was rude a lot to the staff at the restaurant. She was also pushy…and intrusive. She asked me a lot of questions about you, Christian. It bothered me but I never said anything."

At this point, Carrick walked into the room with Mia. It was their shift. Christian felt that perhaps now was a good time to tell a truth…a partial truth, anyway. It was certain to permanently deter his mother from ever wanting anything more to do with Elena.

"Dad, Mia…I'm glad that you're here. There's something that I've needed to tell all of you for a long time. I just feared your reaction. I was groomed to fear your rejection of me because of what I was doing at the time but I don't want this lie to come between us anymore. I hope that you can forgive me."

Grace reached over to him and took his hand. "Reject you? Nothing you ever did could make us reject you. We love you children more than anything."

Carrick put a hand on Christian's shoulder and nodded his head to indicate that he should start talking…tell his secret.

"Okay…hmm. Huh…this is hard. When I was 15…well, you remember what I was like then. I was angry, got into a lot of fights at school, rotten grades. You were really worried about me and tired of all the drama. One day, mom's best friend, the lady next door, suggested that I work out some of my aggression and earn some money by cleaning up her yard."

"I remember that," Carrick said. "Elena had had renovations going on and the backyard was filled with rubble."

Grace nodded and Christian continued. "Well, day one was hot and humid and Mrs. Lincoln came up to give me a lemonade. I drank it and handed back the glass…without saying thank you. I was really pissed to be there and wasn't feeling grateful.

"She slapped me…just 'whack' out of nowhere. I was stunned and while I was busy being stunned, she kissed me. It was my first kiss and the first time a woman shoved her tongue down my throat."

Christian waited for everyone to have a reaction. Suffice to say, they were shocked…but it was his mother's response that Christian most observed. He didn't quite know what to expect but not what happened.

CHAPTER 21

Grace threw off her blanket and…despite her injuries, the pain and pulling out all the lines… she managed to push past Christian and get out of the bed. She made it to the door before Carrick was able to stop her. She was roaring with rage, her verbiage unintelligible, her stitches leaking blood. Elliot pushed the emergency button and helped his father struggle with the hellcat that his mother had suddenly become.

Maybe, Grey thought, I should stop the story there.

An orderly and a nurse ran into the room as Elliot and Carrick got Grace back into the bed. The orderly held Grace steady as the nurse injected a sedative into Grace's arm.

"I don't want to be put down like an animal, Darcy. I want to talk to my son," Grace growled. Darcy assured Grace that the injection would only help her to be calmer.

"Look what you've done to yourself. You've ripped open some stitches. A week of healing wasted. Now, I want you to lie here…without moving…until the doctor can check you over."

Darcy then turned to the family…eyes aflame. Elliot found himself a bit aroused. Darcy turned to him first…Elliot the likely first suspect. "Did you beat her at cards again? Did that upset her?"

Elliot grinned. "Nope." He pointed at Christian. Christian flushed. "Just a bit of bad news. She's been so sweet and easy lately that I didn't expect that reaction. Sorry."

He was saved from the further wrath of nurse Darcy by the entrance of Dr. Whalen…who seemed slightly amused. He asked everyone for privacy while he examined Grace and fixed her stitches. Christian stumbled out of the room, followed by the family that was about to eviscerate him, he suspected.

Carrick grabbed his arm and dragged him into an empty room. "What the hell?! You kissed Elena Lincoln?!"

Elliot jumped to his 'lil bro's defense. "Listening skills, pop. Lincoln kissed him. He was an inexperienced 15-year-old kid…jumped by a pedophile."

Carrick released his son's arm. He rubbed his hands over his face. "Okay, son. Is there more?"

Christian nodded. Oh, my, yes…there was more. He wondered how much more he should reveal. He'd only wanted to discourage his mother from continuing to pursue a friendship with the harlot next door. He hadn't intended to put Lincoln's life in peril.

"Maybe you should tell us before we go back in that room," Mia gently suggested.

Christian started to explain why he'd even begun telling his family anything but they waved him off. Elliot told them that Elena was calling to talk to Grace. The family understood instinctively why Christian had inadvertently tapped into Grace's mother tiger.

Christian, in a quiet voice, shared his story of being seduced by a woman more than twice his age while he was still a minor. He told them only a story of an illicit affair. That would be enough. No need to go into the BDSM…he hoped.

"Let mom go, dad," Mia pleaded. "Let her kill Elena." She was wrapped around her brother now. He patted her and told everyone that…yes, it was wrong…but for a boy of 15, a virgin…it was heaven.

"She convinced you that you had to keep this terrible secret from us. She wanted you to feel owned by her and no longer have a real family. You didn't begin to come back to us until you met Ana. All those years of estrangement. I've dealt with this kind of thing…the only client I won't represent." Carrick sank into a chair. The room grew quiet.

"Chris, you were the victim of a pedophile." Elliot's face was tight and tense.

"It wasn't like that, El," Christian protested as Mia held him still tighter. "I wanted what she gave me." Well, that wasn't entirely true. The BDSM was pure torture. He didn't want the cane and the ball gag and his arm dislocating from hanging for hours from the carabiners. He hated the punishments but he loved the fucking.

The door flew open and the doctor leaned in. "Grace is fine and relaxed, so you can return now. Whatever you said to her, she isn't done with you. Good luck."

Oh, god, Christian groaned.

Grace smiled sweetly. She was a little dipsy but still firmly required further information about what this woman had done to her baby boy.

"Well, mom…promise you'll take it easy if I continue," Christian begged. Grace smiled with slightly unfocused eyes and nodded.

"Ooookay," Christian said. "After that first kiss, there were more…overtures…until one day, she invited me inside. Said that she had some heavy things to be moved. She led me into her bedroom…" he stopped, both because of the expression on Grace's face and because he was lying. Elena had never taken him into her bedroom. She'd taken him directly down the stairs and into her dungeon. At first, he'd been mesmerized by the place…it was straight out of a gothic novel.

But then, she made him an offer. She would take his virginity if he would agree to a couple of conditions. They weren't pleasant conditions but all he heard was "let you fuck me anyway you like". It didn't take long until he was in too deep to get out.

"…and that is when we began our affair." Grace stared at him, a little sharper now. Carrick sat in a heap, his head in his hands. Elliot stood with his arm around Mia.

"Geez, Chrissy. She was old," Mia protested. Mia was 23 and thought anyone over 30 had one foot in the grave.

"How long did this go on, Christian?" Carrick asked.

"Until I was 18. I was still under her spell even then. She had convinced me that she was my only friend, that no one else would ever understand me and that my family would disown me if they knew what I had done."

"How did you break free, Chris?"

"Just time away from her. It was gradual. I was forbidden to date but I was surrounded by young college girls who flirted with me. I cheated on her all of freshman year. When I decided to quit school and start my business, I told her that we were done. She didn't take it well…threatened to tell you…but I figured we were already strangers by then so I didn't care. Of course, she would never actually tell anyway…not and chance losing her position in society.

"So. I've been free of her for a long time. I've never felt a reason to tell you, to upset you. Mom, she was your friend. I didn't want to take that away from you so I've just tolerated her presence in our lives. However, after the things you said about her today…well, I thought it was time to break her hold on you completely."

Grace smiled lovingly at her son. "They're going to have to keep me sedated for the rest of that woman's worthless existence to keep me from killing her." The difference between her sweet countenance and her vicious words was jarring.

"Mom," Mia piped up. "I'm going to make a few calls to friends. I think they'd like to know that the Greys will no longer be patrons of Elena's Elite Salons. No explanations. Just looking elsewhere. Her best stylist is Jean and I'm sure that he'd like to open his own salon if he had some financial backing," she said this with an evil smirk as she looked at Christian.

He smirked right back.

CHAPTER 22

Ana took another step forward with just one crutch. The pain was excruciating but she bit her lip until it bled. Still, it wasn't enough. A strangled cry came forth and she fell to the floor. Her therapist picked up her slender body and carried her to a couch.

"You are pushing yourself too hard, Ana," he scolded.

"I can't leave here…I can't be with Christian until I can walk with a cane," she gasped out as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I have to work harder."

"You are taking the rest of the day off. No argument. I am ordering a mild sedative so that you can sleep."

"No," she pleaded, "I want to work."

"Ana, I have explained to you but you do not listen. If you overwork and do not take recovery periods, you will have setbacks."

Without another word, Finn picked her up, settled her in a wheelchair and ordered an aide to take her to her room.

"Take away her crutches as well. Tell the nurse to give her a low dose of sedative." Ana was still protesting as she was wheeled away.

"Hello, Mr. Grey. How is your mother today?" Dr. Skarsgard had heard about her strange recovery after a tremendous blood loss. He was intrigued.

"Same…she's a Disney heroine. Dr. Whalen says that her condition is most likely permanent. He said to call him if you want to chat about it. He has our permission to discuss her medical issues with you."

"Well, thank you. I shall be sure to call. Now, Ana. Perhaps you could have yet another talk with her about visiting. I know that she is determined to be walking with a cane next time you see her but she is pushing herself too hard. Finn is quite concerned about her having a relapse. I stopped by yesterday to find her with a swollen lip from biting it. She is ignoring her pain…and Finn. Today, he had to stop early and sedate her.

"Her latest MRI shows a strain. Nothing to worry about if she follows Finn's advice…but she does not. I think that she misses you and is trying to hurry her return to you."

Christian was delighted to know that he meant so much to Ana but frightened that she would hurt herself. She'd made incredible progress but now she was impatient. In addition, she had given herself an impossible deadline.

"Don't tell her that I'm coming, Doctor. My mother is fine and has even insisted that I return to the clinic. I'll be there tomorrow. Tie Ana down if you must."

The Doctor laughed and rang off. Time to look in on his patient. He found her quiet but awake…lying staring at the ceiling. Her lip was again swollen and he could see that it had been bleeding. He applied a topical and told her that he would give instructions to Finn that any time she started biting her lip…it was time for a break. Ana glared at him.

"I don't want to stay here. I want to go home."

"You can certainly do that but you were not making progress back in Seattle. They do not have our techniques there or our specialized equipment."

A tear slipped down Ana's cheek. "I shouldn't have come here. I would never have known that I could get better and I wouldn't mind the crutches. Now, I hate them. They're keeping me from Christian."

"No. You are keeping yourself from Christian. We speak. He needs very much to see you…especially after how you left things. His mother is much better and should be able to leave the hospital soon. He feels that it is all right to leave her now with the rest of the family."

Ana sniffled. "I'm glad to hear that she survived being stabbed so much. Christian said on the phone that she is a miracle…that the doctors there cannot understand how she managed with so much blood loss. They're going to write about her in a medical journal."

Now she was smiling. "I want to meet Christian's family. I don't know why I haven't. I think that maybe they didn't want to meet me. I don't blame them. I'm such a nothing and a cripple to boot."

"Self-pity does not become you, Ana."

"I'm just being realistic," she snapped.

"Do you think so little of Christian that he would love a crippled nothing?"

Ana began to cry again. She looked at the doctor. "He could have a beautiful woman who doesn't have brain damage…a woman who could make him proud."

"I think that you ought to pay more attention to that man, Ana. He is so puffed up to be with you. He brags about you. That he thinks that you are beautiful and brilliant should be enough for you…not what you think he should think. Now, I want you to sleep the rest of the afternoon until dinner. After dinner, no work. Reading only. I swear…if you so much as try to hobble to the lavatory, I will put you on bedrest for all of tomorrow as well."

Ana swore at him as he left the room…laughing.

CHAPTER 23

While Christian was thousands of miles in the air and away from Seattle, Elena Lincoln was looking for a way to speak with his mother. She would be released in the morning after three weeks in the hospital since she had agreed to employ a full-time nurse in her home. It was suggested by Dr. Whalen that nurse Darcy accept the assignment since she knew Grace so well and had been so much in charge of her care.

Elena had already used many of her contacts in the BDSM community to learn about Darcy. She smiled to herself that BDSM came in so handy. There were so many people practicing…so many people in high places who did not want their participation known. It would mean the end of careers and marriages. It could even mean losing one's home if that home was in a high-rise ruled by a board…a board with a lot of ways to refuse or evict undesirable tenants…Escala, for instance.

Elena had wisely invested in an underground club of her own while she'd been married to Eric Lincoln, a timber baron. And it was so easy to do so, she cackled to herself. She simply found the club, became a member and then blackmailed the owner into selling her a 50% share. She wondered why no one had ever done that before. She quickly became known as a domme who did not honor the rules of proper BDSM…and protecting the identities of doms and submissives was a paramount rule. When members of the club tried to quit, Elena simply threatened them. Any new person who walked in the door had to sign in and then found that they were then signed up as well. If a member did not attend regularly, Elena would simply call them…at home or work…to remind them of their commitment.

Once, when a judge declined membership, he looked down from his bench one day to see Elena Lincoln looking up at him with a sly smile on her face. She whispered something to the DA and then looked directly at his honor with menace in her eyes. Of course, later he found that she'd told the DA that she thought that the defendant was innocent and the serious expression on the DA's face when he told her to sit down was not anything to do with the judge but…he got the message and began showing up once a week at her club.

Under her leadership, the club membership quickly doubled. She would actively recruit as well. Through the BDSM grapevine, she would learn of the proclivities of important people all over Seattle and so it wasn't long before she had a network of important people to do her biding.

However, Elena didn't have to blackmail everyone to be a member. There were a lot of people who liked BDSM really rough and Elena's club was known for pushing the boundaries.

It also wasn't long before she had a 100% share of the club. No biggie. She just told the owner that either he sell his shares to her or his wife would find out how they were able to afford those fancy cruises every year. How he would explain "no more cruises" to the wife was his problem.

Most of her profits were deposited into an offshore account…for her retirement. Originally, she had planned on Christian financing her retirement but he'd walked away from her permanently after meeting Ana. Now, she lived on her alimony, salon profits and escort service. She made a quite nice living but it would never be enough for Elena.

She wanted the respect of society and that's where Grace Grey came in…had come in. She had to get Grace back even if she had to blackmail her. Surely Grace wouldn't want all her high society friends to know that her son had certain kinks at one time. Elena wondered if Christian still had his playroom. Probably not. Ana had lived in the penthouse for a year before fate stepped in to separate the two lovers.

No matter. Elena had videos, stills, audios…everything she needed to severely wound the great Christian Grey.

Most people, Elena believed, were just like her…scheming, cruel, willing to do anything for themselves and believe anything of others. The tabloids were proof of that. They sold out every day…filled with ugly stories about innocent people. Anything that made for an enticing cover.

Yes, Grace would take her back to save her beloved son. Then, Elena realized that perhaps that was the way to get an audience…a mere note of evil intentions.

CHAPTER 24

Elena also had a deep belief in her intelligence…often considering joining Mensa. It's true, however, that she was cunning and today she would put that talent to work getting her an audience with Grace Grey.

She didn't know that Christian had outed her. She didn't know that Grace's personality had shifted to the left. She didn't know that Darcy McKnight was now her patient's guard dog and that concern for his mother and lust for Nurse McKnight prompted several daily visits from Elliot.

Rather, Elena believed Grace to be alone in the house with Margaret, the housekeeper. She believed Grace to be weak and open to suggestion. Christian had promised to have her shot on sight by his bodyguards but Elena thought that was all talk. Besides, she wasn't going to try to get through the front gate. She would simply take a nice walk through the woods and breeze right in through the back door.

Christian didn't need CPOs with Glocks and muscles. Grey Manor's woods did not have manicured trails…not since the kids were young. It had fallen trees to be climbed over…brambles and 6-foot thistles. There were low-hanging branches…trees in need of pruning yet neglected for years. The recent rains had left mud and puddles and leaves dripping. The woods were also alive…with snakes, deer, racoons and bugs. The mosquitos filled the air, hungry for blood. Spiders large and small hung down from their nests and left their webs, lacy and thick, everywhere. There was a small pack of wild dogs living on the east side near the river who wandered the woods by day.

Strolling in her stilettoes with her helmet hair and her blood-red claws, Elena thought herself a lovely surprise for Grace's homecoming.

Not long after entering the woods, she became lost. Not finding a trail, she pushed on in the general direction of Grey Manor…going in circles, losing a shoe, falling in things that scratched and stabbed, bumping her head against branches and walking through spider webs. She constantly slapped at things biting her and ran in fear from fierce barking nearby. She jumped a foot upon hearing a hiss from a racoon and looked down to see a snake slithering across her remaining shoe. Slipping in the mud, landing in puddles face down, crawling over dead trees covered in wormy things, she pushed on.

And then, just ahead, like a shining castle…Grey Manor. Elena stumbled on…half out of her head, no idea how long she'd been lost in the woods…unaware of her appearance. Desperate for water. As she emerged finally from the trees, she was confronted by three beefy men with guns pointed at her. She drew herself up and announced with great dignity, she thought, that she was Grace's best friend and neighbor come to pay a call.

The men looked at each other and shrugged. They addressed Mrs. Lincoln. Why, they inquired, hadn't she merely walked down the street? She replied haughtily that she loved nature and had spent many pleasant hours in the forest…often arriving at the house and knocking on Grace's back door. Now, if they would just step aside….

They would have patted her down but none of them wanted to touch her. Her hair was back in the woods along with her other shoe. Her nails were broken and her fingers bleeding. A lot of her was bleeding…blood running down her face, her legs, her foot. Many of the bites, scratches and gashes were not bleeding because they were covered in mud and leaves and webs…providing a temporary bandage of sorts. Her clothes were torn beyond recognition of their designer beginnings and her makeup was now blood and mud. One fake eyelash was stuck to her chin.

Thus, she presented herself at the sliding glass doors between the patio and Grace's sumptuous living area…décor that Elena had always thought plain and dull while her own, with its French furnishings trimmed in gold plating, was elegant.

There were people inside but Elena couldn't make out who. The eyelash that wasn't on her chin was hanging loosely and her other eye had a scratch impairing her vision.

Elena's mind had been badly messed with by her ordeal in the woods. She wasn't thinking clearly. She thought she was still as beautifully put together as when she left Lincoln Manor. She could see heads turning in her direction and she gave them all one of her dazzling smiles…a bit less so with teeth missing and broken.

The door slid open and Elliot stood looking down at her with an expression she couldn't quite define so she assumed he was agape at her beauty. She had always stunned men.

"Yikes. What the fucking hell's come to our door?" Elliot exclaimed.

CHAPTER 25

"Who is it, Elliot?" Grace called out from her place resting on the sofa. Darcy immediately checked her patient's blood pressure and heart rate which tended to elevate with any excitement.

"I'm not sure, Mom, but I think this thing is Elena Lincoln." Darcy watched in alarm as Grace's vitals climbed higher.

"Mrs. Grey, look at me. Breathe with me," Darcy cautioned but Grace couldn't seem to hear her. She threw the blanket off her legs and struggled to her feet. Darcy put an arm around her waist and wrapped Grace's arm around her shoulder. Together they limped to the door.

Grace gasped at the sight of her former best friend…forgetting, for the moment, that she wanted to kill this woman. Elena was barely recognizable. Without her wig, she was almost bald and her head was bleeding from a multitude of scratches. Whatever makeup she'd worn was now gone…erased by sweat and dirty water. Her clothes were in tatters and the skin beneath, torn and bleeding. She was wearing one destroyed shoe and her bare foot was…again…bleeding badly. She was beaming at Grace with a broken mouth and a fake eyelash resting on her chin.

Grace giggled. "If I didn't know you, I wouldn't know you, Elena." She reached toward her to remove the lash from her face but Elliot put out a beefy arm.

"No, Mom. She's filthy and you're ill. We take no chances of you picking up a germ."

"I've heard about you, Mrs. Lincoln," Darcy remarked. "It appears that you've been through a rough time of it."

"No, no. I've just taken a walk through the woods. It's such a lovely day to be with nature. I did have a bit of trouble. Did you know that there are rats in those woods?" Elena smiled at Elliot.

"There are voles out there. I suppose there are rats, too. It's been a long time since I've been out there," Elliot mused. "It looks like you've been bitten…a lot. Your ankle is swollen…probably broken."

"Well, I've come by to visit with my sick friend. I was turned away at the hospital by your goons…told that only family was allowed. Goodness, I'm certainly family after all these years but I decided not to make a fuss. Aren't you going to invite me in, Grace?"

Grace smiled benevolently at the badly bedraggled woman barely standing before her.

"What I'm going to do, Elena, is kill you. I know what you did to my son."

Elena's badly marred face turned green. "I'm sure that I don't know what you're talking about, Grace dear. However, I am about to fall over and I do need to sit down. I could also use a drink…even of plain water. I have never been so thirsty in all my life. I don't feel at all well."

Elliot nodded toward a chair on the patio. "Go ahead. We'll replace it later."

Elena was desperate so she didn't argue as she literally fell onto the chair. Darcy came up behind Grace and lowered her carefully into a wheelchair. "Push me closer, Darcy," Grace demanded. Elliot and Darcy exchanged a look. Darcy then pushed Grace out to the patio and Elliot stood at the ready to keep his fragile mother from exerting herself in an attempt to strangle Elena.

"Mom, it wouldn't be a fair fight. Look at her," Elliot whispered in his mother's ear. Grace looked over Elena and huffed. "Was it a fair fight when she went after my little boy?" However, she grudgingly agreed. Elliot looked back at Darcy who was on her phone.

"You don't know what I'm talking about, Elena? You're a pedophile…a child molester. I'm sure that Christian wasn't your only victim then and since pedophiles never quit, I'm certain that you still have victims.

"I'm not completely naïve, Elena. I knew that part of my appeal for you was my status in society…but I felt sorry for you…so alone, so needy."

Elena's eyes blazed. "I've never needed you, Grace. You've needed me. Needed me to listen to your endless whining about Christian's problems…problems I fixed. Thanks to my tutelage he learned to control his temper, to concentrate on his studies and to become a man. Why, he wouldn't have all he has today without my help. Without me, he would be in jail or dead."

Elliot kept a strong hand on Grace's wheelchair as his mother gripped the wheels. "You committed a crime, Elena, when you seduced Christian. He was only 15!"

"Yes, and hungry for me. He fucked like a man, Grace…fucked me until I could barely walk him to the door after!"

Elena laughed maniacally. Elliot put out his arm to keep Grace from leaping out at her. However, Elena wasn't done.

"He would do anything for the chance to use his cock on me. He let me hang him from my carabiners for hours, beating him with the cane and whip. He couldn't even scream with the ball gag in his mouth! Even though he was weak as a limp noodle when I got done with him, he still had an erection. Oh, and that erection! Did you know that the pathetic son you felt so bad for had a cock as thick as a pipe and just as hard.

"He'd flip me over and ram that cock up my ass, slamming into me over and over…he could go on forever. Such stamina…such recovery as well. After he came inside me, he'd flip me over unto my back and hang my head off the bed and then shove his cock down my throat, almost choke me to death.

"He was magnificent…and brutal," Elena hissed at Grace. "From the minute he walked in my door, I'd be aroused, with wet running down my legs. It took all my resolve to dominate him, to punish him for fighting at school or failing a test but I did it for him…to teach him. I taught him to tie a Windsor knot, to dance the waltz, to walk like a man.

"I used to watch your face as he whirled a girl around the floor at your precious galas. Did you ever wonder how he learned to waltz with such grace? As he stood tall and powerful, chatting with businessmen thrice his age, did you wonder how he learned to do that…where he found the confidence?

"ME! Grace! It was all me!" With what little strength she had left, Elena had jumped up from her chair to stand before Grace and shriek in her face. Then she stopped, staring down in triumph at the great Grace Grey.

Grace sat rigid and shellshocked in her chair. Her face was white and she was beginning to hyperventilate. Elliot frantically called for Darcy who was at his side in an instant. She quickly checked Grace's blood pressure and pulse. Then she opened her bag and administered a sedative. Within seconds, Grace was limp. Darcy patted Elliot's hand to reassure him that Grace would be all right.

"I'll take over here. Take your mother to bed and stay with her just in case she awakens."

"The things that witch said to her, Darcy…you may have to sedate me next," Elliot said.

As Elliot lifted his mother from the chair and carried her away, he reflected that his brother had further explaining to do.

CHAPTER 26

Darcy turned to Mrs. Lincoln who stood, heaving and red faced…not just with blood now. While the nurse understood that this woman was evil, right now she was a patient. Darcy took her arm gently and helped her to lie down on the chaise lounge. She disappeared for a moment and then returned with a glass of water, helping Elena to sit up and drink. Then she began to clean up some of the blood from her face and arms. As she tended to Elena, she could see that she was badly injured. Lacerations, gashes, bites. Darcy taped gauze over her injured eye and removed both errant lashes. Margaret came out with a bowl of water and a couple of cloths.

As Darcy tenderly patted away the blood and applied iodine to Elena's wounds, Elena looked at her with her one eye suspiciously.

"Why are you being kind to me?"

"I'm a nurse, Mrs. Lincoln. I take care of patients no matter who they are…and right now you are a patient. Do you know how badly you're hurt?"

"I…I'm beginning to. I was so intent on getting here that I guess that I just blanked out everything."

"Well, you must have been out in those woods for quite some time. There doesn't seem to be an inch of your skin that isn't…affected. I've called an ambulance. You need a lot more medical care than I can give you out of my bag here."

"Yes, I can hear the sirens. Am I going to die?"

"No, I don't think so, Mrs. Lincoln, but you're going to need several days in the hospital. Do you have anyone who can look after you at your home?"

Elena was quiet for a minute. "No. I have no one. I take care of myself."

"Well, we'll have to see what the doctors say about your condition."

Margaret appeared at the door. "The ambulance is here. I'll show them through." Then she disappeared and men in white appeared. They checked Elena over…attention which she enjoyed. Even in her ravaged state, she flirted with the young EMTs. And then she and the ambulance were gone.

Margaret reappeared. "Thank god. I'm going to scrub the chair and the cushions on the chaise. Mrs. Grey will probably insist on replacing them anyway. As she began to walk away, Darcy stopped her.

"Margaret, you've worked for the Grey's for a long time?"

"Almost six years. I started soon after Christian began bringing Ana to brunch. Apparently, the last helper was a young woman who suffered from a terrible infatuation with the young master Grey. She had to quit…broken heart.

"Mrs. Lincoln was often at those brunches. She would just drop by…uninvited!...so sure that she was too dear to Mrs. Grey to be turned away. She paid no attention to hints.

"Mr. or Mrs. Grey would tell her that they were having family time and she would simply walk past them into the house proclaiming that she had obviously stopped by at the perfect time. She was so brazen! No one had the nerve to tell her to get lost.

"She would insult Ms. Ana which only resulted in Christian and his sibling jumping to her defense. Everyone, even Mrs. Grey, would talk around Mrs. Lincoln…as if she wasn't in the room. She was here the night that Christian announced his engagement to Ana and you've never seen such a sour face."

"Why did she object to Mr. Grey's engagement?"

"I never quite learned enough about that situation but she seemed to have a thing for him. She'd spend the evening maneuvering to sit next to him, to get in between him and Ana…an impossible task. He had to be right there, next to Ana, attached to her. I'd never before seen such a love as those two shared."

"Well, I won't pry anymore, Margaret. I'm supposed to be working here," Darcy grinned. Still, as Margaret left for the kitchen, Darcy admitted to herself that the drama in this family was intriguing.

She looked in on her patient…sleeping comfortably while Elliot held her hand and kept his eye on his mother. Darcy slipped away to make some patient notes and to wonder about that strange woman from next door. She'd never met anyone like her.

In all the excitement, no one had noticed the young man taking a bicycle ride down the road. He was curious about the ambulance. Had Mrs. Grey relapsed?

He had intended to pay a call on Mrs. Lincoln, whose address he'd found by looking up her name on the internet, but no one had answered the bell. He'd taken note of the garish McMansion just down the road from Grey Manor. Having seen Mrs. Lincoln many times and noted the vast difference between her appearance and the elegant Dr. Grey's, he wasn't really surprised to spy golden statues of cherubs guarding the front entrance nor was he expecting anything other than gold gilding around the windows and the door.

He stared through the front gate…half the width of the Grey gate and twice the ostentatiousness. While the Grey Manor gate was plain, white and slipped into the tall hedges when it opened, the Lincoln gate was ten feet tall, towering over the hedges, bright gold and looking much like the gates one often saw in cartoons of St. Peter welcoming people to heaven. After that entrance, the small mansion was a bit of a letdown compared to its neighbor with east and west wings attached to the huge main house.

Grey manor was the last mansion on the road and definitely the grandest. Still, all the homes on the road were large and grand with the exception of Lincoln Manse…as inscribed on the gate. It was rather like plopping a 2-bed bungalow down next to the Biltmore Estate.

Well, he had plenty of time to ride by again some time when Mrs. Lincoln was home.

CHAPTER 27

Elena groaned as she opened her good eye. Where was she? White, sterile…oh, yes. Lord, every inch of her body hurt. She tried to reach up to touch her head but her arms were too sore to move. As she took an assessment of her pain, she realized that it was everywhere. She tried to call for help but her mouth wouldn't open far enough.

Fortunately, at that moment, a sweet-faced nurse came into the room. The nurse read Elena's chart and then checked her watch. She looked up at the monitors and then down at Elena.

"Hello, Mrs. Lincoln. According to the monitors, you're in quite a bit of discomfort."

"Discomfort…fuck. I'm in horrific pain all over my entire body," Elena was able to whisper in a raspy voice.

"I'm going to give you some medication for pain. We have to get your blood pressure down."

"How long am I going to feel like this?"

The nurse smiled sympathetically. "I don't think I've ever seen a body so badly banged up as yours, Mrs. Lincoln. There isn't an inch on you that isn't gouged, slashed, or bitten by bugs and small creatures. The police estimated that you wandered all over those woods for hours but at least you made it out alive. While they were tracking your steps, they were attacked by a pack of wild dogs that lived there. They had to shoot them. If the dogs had gotten to you…well, with no one knowing that you were in there, if they ever found you, you would have been nothing but bones."

As the nurse prepped the pain killer, Elena snarled to herself that she would retain a law firm as soon as she could reach the phone. She was going to sue the shit out of those Greys.

"There. You should feel a bit better in a while. Try to sleep before the police arrive."

"Well, good. I'm glad to hear that the Greys are going to be charged immediately."

"The Greys? Hmm…no. The police are charging you, Mrs. Lincoln. Oh, dear. I should have kept that to myself."

"Charging me!" Elena whispered a snarl. "For what?"

The nurse looked quite uncomfortable. Her supervisor was going to really give it to her for opening her big mouth. When would she learn?

"Nurse. Tell me. What am I being charged with?"

"I'm so sorry to upset you, Mrs. Lincoln. You should just sleep. The police should tell you. It isn't my business."

The pain medication worked just enough…or maybe it was the fury…for Elena to be able to grab the nurse's arm and squeeze. Thankfully, her nails were gone or the nurse would have cuts of her own.

"Tell me, you little slut. What are the charges?"

The nurse's eyes were wide with fear now. "Why…trespassing, Mrs. Lincoln. Those woods, as I understand it, belong to the Greys and there are NO TRESPASSING signs. But I wouldn't worry if I were you. It's only a misdemeanor…nothing big. Hmm…I'll send someone in with a sedative."

She managed to wrest her arm free from Elena's grasp and hurry from the room. That woman scared her.

Elena tried to scream but nothing much came out. How dare those a-holes! She'd countersue. Their damn forest had nearly killed her. It wasn't properly maintained and they allowed a pack of killer dogs to roam free. The edge of those woods was too close to her mansion.

Elena conveniently forgot that she and Eric had built over the Grey property line 20 years ago and that the Greys had kindly decided to let it go. They could have forced the Lincolns to tear down half the house.

Another nurse came into the room with a tray. He was tall with sandy hair and brilliant blue eyes. This was distracting, Elena grinned to herself. She wondered if he was handsome under that mask.

"Well, this is better than that dopey girl. What's your name, darling?"

"Hyde, Mrs. Lincoln."

"Oh, let's not be so formal, Mr. Hyde. What's your first name?"

"Jack, miss." Elena nearly swooned. "You're quite an improvement."

She watched as nurse Hyde prepared the sedative. His ass was so close. If only she could reach out and pinch it. She smiled up at him but he ignored her.

"Please make that a really strong medication, Jack. I want to sleep through all this pain."

"Oh, it is as strong as possible…although it will take a while to kick in. First, you'll just feel limp…unable to move."

Jack injected the syringe into the line going into Elena's arm. She felt a burning sensation.

"Say, that hurts," she complained…even as her mouth began to stiffen. Jack sat down next to her. He removed his mask and smirked at Elena. He looked familiar. Where had she seen him before now?

"Yes, I know. Just a little extra something I've added to the potion. It's already too late to yell. Your lips are frozen. I've formulated the poison so that first you'll be paralyzed for some time…still quite aware of the pain. Then, gradually, the poison will shut down your heart.

"You know, I spent a lot of time trying to come up with a truly painful way for you to die. I know about your dungeon and I thought that leaving you down there to starve would be a grand plan but you ruined that for me by leaving the house by your back door while I was about to ring your bell. Then I found out that you had tried to approach Grey Manor through the woods. I didn't know how badly you were messed up at first and I was so mad but…well…" he laughed, "my source told me that you were in really bad shape. How ya feeling right now?"

Elena's 'good' eye was still open, wild with fear. She tried…so hard…but she couldn't move.

"Terrified, eh? This is better, I think. I get to watch you die, in pain. You're going straight to hell, you know. An eternity of fire. I think that you get to scream all you want, tho….unless the devil puts a ball gag on you."

Jack had to cover his mouth to silence his laughter. "I'm going to close your eye now…the nurse will be looking in and we wouldn't want her to find you awake. Oh, and don't worry about the monitors giving you away. They read just like you're calmly sleeping. You'll be dead long before they check you again. At least, you don't have to be interviewed by the police…or sued."

Again, he covered his laughing mouth. "I'm going to leave you all alone now, ma'am. All alone forever more." He reached over Elena's eye and closed the lid. Unable to resist one last touch, he reached under the sheet and pinched her as hard as possible. It would be the last touch Elena ever felt.

CHAPTER 28

Ana was working hard and obeying Finn's orders to take proper recovery time. She had to admit to herself that she did feel physically better for it. She felt emotionally better, too. Christian had been calling her every night after dinner and they talked for a long time.

He told her that his mother was doing well enough to go home and that she had a private nurse to help. He talked about his family…making her laugh as he related how his little sister had escaped back to Burges, Belgium to make chocolates with her fiancé, Luc, and how Elliot was madly infatuated with Darcy, Grace's nurse, who paid him no mind.

"She's professional. If she has any interest in my brother, she'll never show it or act on it while she's taking care of mom…which could be quite a while. Elliot could have a long wait."

"Do you think that he will wait?"

"My brother is a hound dog so waiting around for a woman is unlikely."

"Is hound dog one word or two?"

Christian smiled as he waited for Ana to write down the words and then look them up. He was touched by her determination to learn idioms as well as regular words. He pictured her biting her lip as she concentrated and cocking her head to one side as she endeavored to fully understand something new. He felt something inside his chest, something he didn't have a word for yet, but it grabbed him and made him breathless.

"Got it," Ana said. "Christian, were you ever a hound dog?"

"Oh, woman. The questions you ask me…"

"Tough ones? Ones you don't want to answer?" she shyly asked.

"Kind of. Back when you and I were first dating, you asked me one day in the middle of Dotty's Diner how many women I'd bedded. Then you showed me this book you'd purchased that you'd been studying…a book about sex. You were a virgin and you figured that you had to educate yourself so that you wouldn't be a disappointment to me.

"You've always asked me tough questions, Ana…and even though I was always thrown, I always wanted you to ask me. I wanted to know everything about you and I wanted you to know everything about me. I craved that kind of intimacy with you…intimacy I'd never had with anyone else and never wanted before you.

Ana was quiet for a while. As always, Christian waited patiently. It was never uncomfortable. He was just excited to hear what would come out of her head next.

"Christian?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Was I a disappointment?" Her voice was small and she sounded slightly worried.

"There has never been a moment during conversation, silence, arguments or sex that you have been a disappointment. The most important thing to me was always just that you would stay with me. That is still true, Ana."

"So…were there a lot of them…women, I mean?

"After I met you, I forgot even an approximate number. That I'd been with anyone else was suddenly of no importance. If anyone had told me that morning as I left Grey House that I'd be satisfied with one woman for the rest of my life, I'd have laughed at the very idea. I wouldn't have understood how such a thing was possible.

"And then, after I landed at your feet, it became the only possibility."

"I'm sorry for all you went through, Christian. My pain was nothing compared to yours. Living with dad, I never thought about love. I didn't have fantasies. I didn't think about a family or even a future. I didn't miss anyone.

"But Christian? I miss you now. I want to be worthy of you."

"Oh, Ana. Don't think like that, please. You are everything I want. You don't need to be anything more than what you are."

"Christian, I'll give you the only thing I can. I'll never leave you as long as you want me to stay. Will that make you happy?"

"Ana, I'm all you know. You might meet someone else. You might want to leave Seattle. I can't ask always of you."

"You didn't answer my question, Mr. Grey."

"I don't want to box you in, Ana…to force you into promises because you think that you owe me."

"Mr. Grey?" Ana asked again.

Grey laid back on the bed with the phone on his chest and his hand on his face, breathing hard. Then, brushing tears from his cheeks, he put the phone to his ear again.

"Yes, Ana. Being with you is the only thing that will make me happy."

CHAPTER 30

Ana beamed. For a time, she and Christian said nothing…just listened to each other breathing. Ana lay with the phone to her ear as did Christian. After a while, Christian heard familiar, even breathing…Ana was asleep. He knew that she would remain asleep until morning and so he rang off.

She'd promised to stay with him. He was desperate to believe that this was true. The Ana he used to know never said anything that she didn't mean…but this Ana was so new to the world. She couldn't understand what she was offering…could she?

After all, just a few weeks earlier, he had told her the truth about the accident and she had walked away from him. The old Ana would never have accused him of lying…would have understood that he was only following medical advice. This Ana was such an innocent…she'd no understanding about human relationships. She didn't know that feelings change…that emotions were fragile.

He had come to Gstaad when asked by Dr. Skarsgard but after checking into the Palace, he stopped himself from going to the clinic. Maybe Ana would be happy to see him…they were friends…but did she truly need him with her? Night after night he would call and she would sound so delighted to hear his voice and their conversations would flow so freely that he decided to stay put in his room. They were becoming closer…on the phone…so he was loath to change the current dynamic. He was afraid that the ease between them would not be so if they were together.

His attempts to believe, to understand, went round and round. He mulled over every conversation, every word. He could feel her lips, her tongue, her nearness. His need for her made his whole body ache. He wrapped his arms around his waist, seeking relief. He rolled over on his bed and groaned.

He knew that he had to take Ana at her word…only because he needed her so. Even if she changed her mind later…for a time, he would have her. He had to take the chance because maybe…

As his eyelids grew heavy, his cell rang. Elliot. His mother?

"Did I wake you, bro? You sound groggy."

"I'm awake, El. I was talking to Ana. It's always good…and confusing."

"Does she still think that you're calling from Seattle?"

"Yeah…don't say it."

"You're a dope."

"You said it. Always stating the obvious. How's mom? How did she take the news about Elena?"

"She's the same. She clapped her hands like a little kid when the hospital called. The rest of us are still adjusting to the new mom. Dr. Whalen warned us to accept her as she is…only the tiniest of chances that she'll revert back to the woman we've known all our lives. Dr. Flynn's been by several times for chats. She laughs and giggles and chats his ears off. He says that he's seen the latest MRI and Cat Scans of her brain.

"Remember when she fainted a few years back?"

"Yeah. She was working overtime and forgetting to eat."

"And she hit her head on a gurney so they did films of her brains to check for damage?"

"Yeah, but she didn't have any," Christian reminded his brother.

"No…but they still have the films in her records so they did a comparison with the most recent films. They showed them side by side so Dad and I could see the difference. Her prefrontal cortex is almost completely different now. Once Dr. Whalen explained what we were seeing, it was shocking, Chris."

"And there is little chance that her brain will recover?"

"Very little. Doc Whalen is half finished with the article he's writing. He's already been invited to speak at some conference about brain damage. Our mother is both a miracle and a conundrum. She's also a bit of a loon."

Christian laughed. It had been a while since he'd seen his mother…not since she was still in hospital. Perhaps he ought to make a trip home. He needed to check in with GEH as well.

"How is Ana?" Elliot asked.

"She's doing well. We talk every night for hours." He hesitated.

"Chris? What's the problem?"

"Me, mostly. Tonight Ana told me that she'd never leave me." There was silence on the other end of the line and Christian could picture his elder brother shaking his head in dismay. Life was so much simpler for Elliot.

"El?"

"I'm here. Back at home, I'm trying to woo Darcy…a futile endeavor…while your girl wants you bad and you're holding back. So, what's the problem, Chris?"

"Of course, she wants to stay with me. She doesn't know anyone else. She doesn't have friends. Her father is gone. I'm her only choice."

"You know, I learned a little something while talking to the doctors. Bits of who we are can remain scattered all over our brains.

"I don't think that's true, El."

"Just listen. The part of Ana 's brain that held all her memories was destroyed, true. However, residual emotions from those memories can be tucked away in other areas. She may not remember why she loves you but she's able to tap into those old feelings."

"Nice theory. I'll google." Christian teased.

"No need. Have a chat with Dr. Skarsgard…oh and come home for a visit. Mom is whining."

CHAPTER 31

"Well, good morning, Ana. I am surprised to see you at this hour. How did Finn get you to take a break?" Dr. Skarsgard smiled. Ana was limping into his office on one crutch. The doctor had a sudden flashback to Ana's arrival at the clinic.

She was on a gurney, so pale she matched the sheets. She could hardly move the upper part of her body and the lower…not at all. Her eyes were filled with fear and confusion. Her father, Ray…a man the doctor would come to know very well and admire greatly…had a tight grip on his daughter's hand while he murmured comforting words to her.

When asked, at their first interview, what she wished to accomplish while she was staying at the clinic, she had looked at her father. She was unable to answer for herself…so damaged. Ray had explained about all her injuries…of which Dr. Skarsgard was already aware.

"The doctors in Seattle, including all the specialists that our friend, Christian Grey, had called in, told us that after months of treatment, Ana was in as good a shape as possible. She remembers little besides me. She sustained horrific injuries to her face and head but thanks to the geniuses that Christian bullied into pushing themselves beyond what they thought they could do, her face is restored. The physio department that Christian basically rebuilt with new equipment and staff were able to get Ana sitting up on her own and using her arms and hands. Prior to that, she was a quadriplegic."

"How is your daughter doing emotionally, Mr. Steele?"

Ray shook his head. "Sometimes, we can have short conversations but usually she stares out into space. She is afraid of everything and can't bear to be out of my sight. I've had to halt my business…I build furniture…because I'm the only person she knows and feels safe with.

"I tell you. She and that boy were so madly in love. Christian's heart is broken. He's nothing to her at this point and they told us that there is no chance at all that she will ever remember anything before the accident. We're just really grateful she remembers me…why, we don't know…so that she has at least one safe person to turn to."

"Mr. Steele, I am sure that Mr. Grey informed you that he did quite thorough research before he chose this clinic out of all the clinics in the world."

Ray chuckled. "That boy was on the phone all. the. time. looking for the best in medical care for Ana. So, yes. I know that we're where we need to be. I understand that he built on a new wing to this place?"

"Yes," Dr. Skarsgard grinned, "I told him that we have sufficient room but he did a tour and firmly said no. He badgered our board to find out what we were missing…what was the very best that we did not have. He wanted a warm, homey atmosphere for Ana. He wanted a large and beautiful bedroom with an en suite. He brought things from home to decorate the room. I was never very familiar with Art Deco but I certainly know what I am looking at now," he laughed.

He smiled to himself when he thought about the day that Ana went home. She was much improved…bright, alert, chatty…even though she had moments when one could not get through to her. Mr. Grey called often and the doctor disregarded the usual rules about patient confidentiality to share with him bits and pieces of Ana's progress. Always…always…Grey asked if his fiancée had shown any indication of remembering anything and it hurt Dr. Skarsgard to have to tell the young man time and again that she had not. There would then be a long silence before Mr. Grey would sign off, saying "Take care of my girl, doctor".

When Ana returned, walking on crutches, laughing and talking with Mr. Grey, Dr. Skarsgard was both immensely pleased and disappointed in himself. What had they missed the first time? Now, Grey felt that Ana needed further therapy…both physio and mental.

While Ana explored the facility that she little recalled, Grey told the doctor about her past three years, her father dying, her move to Seattle and, mostly, her lack of self-esteem and confidence. His own therapist had not been helpful so Grey hoped that the therapist at the clinic could help her to move on from her dissatisfaction with herself. Grey felt helpless. It wasn't enough to hear him say that he thought her to be the smartest woman he'd ever known. She wasn't smart anymore, she'd reply.

Her clinic therapist had reported that she was getting nowhere with Ana's issues and perhaps she should be transferred to another psychologist. Dr. Skarsgard had a feeling that Dr. Gert would be transferring soon as well once Grey heard that she was useless.

"Are you busy?" Ana smiled lightly.

"I always have time for you, Ana," the doctor replied.

"If you are busy, I can come back another time…and I won't let Christian burn this place to the ground," she giggled.

"No, no. Tell me how you are doing, my dear. I want to hear everything about both your therapies."

"Physio is going well. Finn is certain that he can get me down to a cane. I went online to find something really interesting. Daddy could have made me a beautiful cane," she looked sad for a moment. "If I can walk with a cane, I'll be happy. I won't ask for more although knowing Christian…." She giggled again.

"He is quite proud of you, is he not?" The doctor remarked.

"Yes, he is but he'd be proud of me no matter what. He thinks I hung the moon." She paused. "He loves me, doctor…not like daddy did…different. I'm still trying to understand what it means. I've been reading a lot of love stories. He told me that when we met, I was a virgin and had never done more than kiss a boy which I described as an unpleasant experience. So, I guess I learned then how to love...so I can do it again."

"What do you feel for Christian?"

Ana smiled demurely. "He is so handsome…he makes my heart thump harder when he walks in the room. He is so good to me, so kind. I am happy when I'm with him but it's a different sort of happy than I felt with my father. I read a lot about sex on my kindle and laptop. I think some of my feelings have to do with that."

"But you feel constrained, do you not? You cannot just let go and live happily with Christian. Why is that, Ana?

CHAPTER 32

Walking across the tarmac to Elliot and his monster truck, Grey felt deeply the distance from Ana. Before leaving his hotel room, he had set his watch to Ana's current time zone along with an alarm so that he could call her at the usual time.

Elliot beamed at him and once again, Grey felt gratitude that he had such an uncomplicated brother…one so generous in spirit. One nothing like him.

When he reached Elliot, he was pulled into a crushing bear hug. "Lil bro, seems like it's been forever. Are you hungry, thirsty?"

"I have a first-class kitchen on my plane, Elliot." Immediately, Elliot's face fell.

"But I'd really like a beer and a burger at Dizzy's Dive," Christian grinned, making Elliot light up. He grabbed his brother's bags and threw them into the truck's bed and went around the truck to the driver's side while Grey looked at the door above his head and sighed. He grabbed the bars and climbed the steps, leaning back so the door didn't hit him as he tried to get in.

"Have you given Darcy a ride in this thing?"

"If she ever consents to date me, I'll have to borrow one of your little SUVs."

"Little? The president rides around in Utes like mine and his security refers to them as the "beast".

"How's Ana? Does she still think that you're in Seattle all this time?"

"Yes. She seems okay with it. I don't think that her mental therapy is going well, however. I'm going to have a talk with Dr. Gert."

"Ya know, Chris. Maybe Ana just needs time. It's only been a few months since Ray died and she completely changed environments."

"Yeah, that's true…but she keeps pushing herself to "catch up". You know that's not going to happen, El. I tried to tell her that just because she can't access her memories doesn't mean that she's stupid. It just means that her life is all new…but she'd be up all night with Google if the staff didn't confiscate her laptop and turn out her lights."

"Okay. Let's change the subject," Elliot suggested as he tore into the parking lot at Dizzy's. The bartender/owner would yell at him again, just like Carrick did, about tearing up the lot and spraying gravel all over the building. Elliot paid no attention.

As they settled into a booth and waited for their order, Christian inquired about Elena. Elliot shook his head. "I could kick myself for not filming that day on the patio. Didn't even get a picture. I was too stunned by her appearance to think straight. I think that Darcy might have gotten a shot while she was calling the ambulance.

"Yikes, Chris. Did you know that old lady Lincoln was damn near bald?"

"I suspected. Her wigs never looked natural. She showed up Mom's door without her wig?"

"She came through the woods. Figured that she wouldn't get past the guards, I guess. She was a horrific mess, Chris. Her clothes were shredded as well as her skin. One of her eyes was scratched so bad, the docs kind of gave up on it. She'd been bitten by every living thing in those woods except for the pack of wild dogs we didn't even know were in there. Covered in spider webs and blood."

"I'll bet that pleased mom," Christian laughed.

"No, she still wanted to go after her. Called her a child molester. That revived Elena. She said some truly awful things about the two of you, Chris, so prepare yourself for further interrogation. That affair crap won't hold."

Christian thumped his head on the table. "Geez, I never wanted any of you to know the truth."

"Chris, you were a kid…a stupid, horny, innocent kid. She manipulated you. At least, you don't have to go through an investigation. Mom and dad won't be pressing charges."

"That's surprising. Pedophiles don't quit. Mom should know that."

"Well, Chris," Elliot answered as he chomped down on a giant cheeseburger. "You can't send a dead woman to jail."

CHAPTER 33

Christian dropped his burger as he gaped at Elliot. "What happened? You told me that her injuries weren't life threatening."

"They weren't. We got a call from the hospital in the morning telling us that she'd died in the night. Unexpected but not suspicious. Then we got a call that evening from the pathologist that mom knows. He said that it was decided to do an autopsy…just in case. And guess what?"

Elliot took another giant bite out of his cheeseburger and a gulp of beer. Christian watched him…always amazed at the amount and the way that his bear of a brother could eat. He waited.

"So, anyway, they found poison in her system, in her heart. It wasn't a poison that she would have gotten from any of the little creatures in the wood. It was something special that would have to be mixed up in a lab. I told the cops about the "orderly" who visited mom. We think it was the same guy."

"Jesus. I'm keeping Ana in Switzerland as long as possible. Did you tell the cops about Jack Hyde?"

"Yeah, but aside from suspicions, we don't have any evidence. Still, we're the Greys, son, so the SPD is investigating the guy. Being rich and prominent can come in handy. 'Course, we don't give a damn about Elena but he came after mom as well. Ryan upped our security at the house. He even has someone on Darcy when she goes out."

"How does Darcy feel about that?"

"She's creeped out. We worried that she'd quit but she's stubborn…says no maniac is controlling her."

"So, you've got it bad, big bro," Grey smiled.

"Oh, yeah…but I'm all alone out here in the land of love," he frowned.

Ana shifted nervously in her chair. "I'm very mixed up, doctor. The only time I can think clearly is when I'm working with Finn. It's then that I know exactly what I want and how to go about getting it."

"Yes, well, Ana…emotions are more complex than putting one foot in front of another. Still, perhaps we can use that method to help you with your other issues. Start from the beginning. Tell me again about meeting Christian and all that came after."

Ana found that reliving her father's illness was unpleasant but Christian was such a part of those days. He took care of everything…did whatever he could to make things easier for Ray and Ana.

"I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had Christian to talk with…and my heart would jump at the sound of Charlie Tango's rotors as he landed in the backyard. I really needed him…especially at the end. When he sat down next to me and put his hand on mine, I could relax. I felt safe with him. I knew that he'd take care of us…dad and me.

"And my father was a lovely man but he was not demonstrative. He would occasionally hug me and when I was in the hospital, he would sit beside me and hold my hand. So, I didn't think about touching and affection. My father's way was all I knew.

"Then Christian came. He would embrace me and kiss my cheek. I was startled the first time. We had just met. As time went on, he seemed to find more reasons to touch me…and the way he looked at me! I tried to ask dad about it…what it meant…but I didn't know how to describe it.

"When dad told me that he was dying and that he'd made arrangements for my future and those arrangements included Christian, I was really thrown. I trusted my father completely so when he told me to trust Mr. Grey, I promised I would…and I do. My father said that Christian was the finest man he'd ever known. That was quite an amazing thing for him to say, doctor. My father had no use for most people. Of course, now I know that he watched Christian carefully when we were dating. We were almost engaged before dad grudgingly told me that if I wanted to marry that guy, I should do it because I was never going to find a better man."

"So, you and Christian got to know each during that most difficult time of your life. You became close, is that correct?"

"Yes, we did. I was comfortable enough to call him any time I wanted and he would talk with me about my feelings. I'd never had conversations like that before. And he always seemed to anticipate my every need. He made everything I was dealing with…easier. He even slept with me."

"He did?" The doctor seemed quite surprised.

"Yes. I woke in the middle of the night after a bad dream but immediately felt better. I wondered about that until I realized that Christian was holding me. I felt a comfort and peace that I'd never before known.

"And we've kissed." The doctor's eyes flew wide open.

"It was the first day he had to leave me…to go to his office. He was only gone a few minutes when he came flying back into the apartment, out of breath. He said that he forgot something in his study but when I looked in, he was pacing and tearing at his hair. I went in and asked what was wrong. Well, short story long, he kissed me and, doctor, I kissed him back. I didn't even know how to kiss but with him it came as naturally as breathing. Now I know that the reason for that is because I'd kissed him a million times."

"And do you want to kiss him again, Ana?"

CHAPTER 34

Ana blushed fiercely and bowed her head. "Yes, I do."

"Ana, do you recall telling…in fact, yelling at me…that you love Christian?"

Ana sighed with defeat. "I said that but did I even know what I was saying? I want to know, doctor. I want to be sure that what I feel is love…not just need because I have no one else. Doctor, I don't know what love is. I have so little experience of life. I understand nature and the river and fishing. I'm a great big ball of stupid."

Doctor Skarsgard regarded his patient with sympathy. He felt out of his depth. He'd never dealt with a patient with amnesia. Grey wanted him and his clinic to help Ana gain a feeling of self-confidence and the doctor had no clue how to begin to do that…especially since Ana was right in a way. She had no experience to guide her. He could see that she was not only befuddled but scared…fearful of never understanding.

"Ana, let us try this approach. Stop berating yourself for your lack of experience. That certainly is not your fault. Stop bashing your brains against a psychic wall in an attempt to suss out the truth behind every feeling you have. Have you ever heard the expression…go with the flow?"

Ana thought for a moment…then shook her head.

"Well, it means to relax, do not worry about anything, accept what is right in front of you and just see where the river takes you. Does that make sense to you?"

Ana repeated to herself everything that the doctor had just said to her. Then she withdrew her notepad from her bag and wrote all of it down.

"What if the river takes me somewhere I don't want to go, doctor?"

"Ah, you are not to worry about that, remember?" He smiled kindly at her…aware that he didn't really know what he was talking about.

Ana stood up, thanked him for his time and advice and hurried off to work with Finn.

Doctor Skarsgard fretted…so much of his profession was bullshit.

"We'd better get going, Chris," Elliot said as he gulped down the last of his beer. "Mom knows you're flying in and she'll be making Darcy nuts until you get there."

"I don't know quite what to expect, El. I've been away for a while."

"The same, Chris. Remember that substitute teacher you had in the second grade…Mrs. Pinkpaper?"

"That name! She was hilarious! She read Winnie the Pooh and she'd do all the voices. When she did Tigger, she'd bounce around the room…Mom is like Mrs. Pinkpaper? Oh, Lord." Christian grinned with delight.

"Except…except, Chris, at the end of the day you and Mrs. Pinkpaper went your separate ways," El warned.

"Okay, a few hours of mom and I retreat to Escala," Christian said smugly.

Elliot laughed heartily, slapping his big paw on the table. "Your room is already made up and awaiting you, lil bro! "

Elliot continued to laugh all the way to Grey Manor, occasionally swerving into the other lane…undoubtedly scaring everyone on the freeway. Christian remarked that maybe he ought to get a truck with lane assist.

"Maybe you need lane assist!" Elliot chuckled. The instant he said it, he stopped. "Oh, Chris, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I got carried away. Geez, forgive, okay?"

"It's okay, El. Long time ago. Besides, as it turns out, I didn't swerve into that concrete wall. I was pushed."

"What?"

"Yes, I found out not long ago that another car deliberately shoved my R8. Taylor hid the car away and didn't tell me until recently. He had his reasons. He's been conducting an investigation ever since…trying to find that car. Did you know that there are millions of junk cars in this country?"

"Did he manage to connect any of them to anyone?"

"Never found the car. And while we suspect Jack Hyde, we have nothing really to go on besides a vague motive. We could be fishing in an empty pond."

"He tried to kill mom and he did kill Lincoln but we don't know why. And why would he hit your car when he knew that Ana could be hurt? You're right. We got nothing…except my gut."

"And your gut tells you that our perp is Jack Hyde?" Christian smiled. His big brother did a lot of things by trusting his gut…and he wasn't often wrong.

"You used to complain about the guy who found a reason to see Ana every day in her clinic. Then you found out that he was a rotten employee as well and fired him. Ana was so mad at you but even then I had a bad feeling about this guy. Chris, he was a stalker! Do you remember that I warned you to keep an eye on him but you ignored me 'cause I'm just your hulking, brainless brother?"

"El, I never said anything like that!" Oh, but I thought it, Christian recalled with shame.

"Chris, I built a multi-million dollar business from the ground up, literally. I know that I look like a miniature Paul Bunyan but I'm actually a pretty smart guy. You should have listened to me." Elliot didn't sound wounded…just peeved.

"You're right, El, you are. And I did listen to you to an extent. I put more guys on Ana…but I didn't go after Hyde and that might have made all the difference. All this agony I've put Ana, Ray and me through could have been avoided if I'd taken Hyde down when you told me, too," Christian spoke with a choked voice.

Elliot pulled in the drive of Grey Manor. He leaned over and pulled his brother into his arms as Chris cried.

"Okay, I'm going to give you some more advice. Will you listen this time?" Chris nodded.

"It's all in the past. You can only deal with the now. Any time and energy that you use on guilt is a waste. Understand? Good, 'cause you're going to need all that energy to deal with the new mom. You thought she was difficult when she was a snooty, nasty bitch…well, that woman you could yell at and then storm out. You can't walk out on Shirley Temple. Ready?"

"Thanks, El. Let's beard Tigger's den." Christian climbed out of Elliot's truck just as Carrick walked out of the house, grimacing at the truck.

"Elliot, how many times have I asked you to park that monstrosity in the road?"

"Hmm…how many times have I stopped by, dad?" he grinned at Carrick who just shook his head.

CHAPTER 35

"Christian! My darling boy. Come to mama," Grace squealed from the living room.

"Mama?" Christian glanced at Elliot. Elliot shrugged.

"Hi, mom. You look well. How are you feeling?" Christian wrapped his arms around Grace and kissed her cheek. She seemed so small. He'd never thought of her as small before. He sat on the couch next to her wheelchair and held her hand. She was beaming at him, leaning over to pat his cheek. She was, however, not looking as well as he'd like.

"Oh, I've missed you so but I understand that you were where you belong…with Ana. How is our dear girl?"

Christian had still not fully adapted to Grace Grey 2.0…and he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. He feared his mother would one day do a 180…possibly right in front of Ana.

"Ana is working hard, mom, and is down to one crutch. She wants to leave the clinic with only a cane and I think she'll do it. Her self-confidence is low, however. She thinks that she's stupid because everything is new to her."

"Oh, the poor thing. I can certainly understand a lack of self-esteem. When I married your father, I was so low."

Carrick's head shot up. This was news to him. "Gracie, you never let on to me that you were feeling that way."

"Well, of course not, Cary. You were working so hard to get top grades…worrying all the time about being a good lawyer…about our future, which was all on your shoulders. My job was to make a good home for you, to entertain other students who might one day have significant influence. I think the kids call it "networking" now. Having you come home…tired and looking to still more hours of study…I had to have a good meal waiting and a happy disposition. It wasn't easy. We were both working hard in our different ways."

"Gracie, you were the best wife a man could ask for but it disturbs me that you didn't feel that you could share your feelings with me."

"Now don't worry about it. It was the way it was back then. I wasn't the only wife in my position. I made friends with other wives and we all talked about the difficulties of making a home and tending to our husbands. You were kind to me, at least, and would come to bed if at all possible. I had it better than most of the other wives."

Cary didn't look convinced or appeased. He left for his study to drink a bourbon.

"Oh, this is so nice, isn't it? If only Mia and Ana were here…my whole family gathered around me. Elena's dead, you know. We received more information about that. She was poisoned with something from Africa's jungles…something that paralyzed her. The doctors said that she was likely alive for 30-60 minutes, her body immobile and in pain. She couldn't call for help."

"Mom clapped," Elliot grimaced.

"I cheered! Give that killer a medal. I hope they never find him."

"Mom, do you understand that the police believe the killer is the same man who tried to murder you?" Christian looked at his 2.0, a bit dazed by this new version.

"Yes but he atoned for the attack on me by killing Elena."

"Let's change the subject. Back to you. Darcy, tell me what you can about mom's current condition," Christian asked.

"Normally," Darcy replied, "I wouldn't divulge patient information and certainly not discuss that information in front of the patient but Grace is an unusual case. Nothing upsets her…well, except Mrs. Lincoln. I'm quite sure that if not for Elliot's presence the day that Mrs. Lincoln came to the back door, I would not have been able to restrain your mother from launching an attack."

Elliot had not taken his eyes off Darcy since he arrived and now, having her laud his help, he was glowing. Christian was now in a room befuddled by two family members he thought he'd known well but who were showing signs of personality changes.

"Anyway, your mother's blood pressure and pulse continue to fluctuate more than I'd like. She's…excitable. I'm told that this is not her usual persona."

"What does she get excited about?" Christian inquired as he looked at his mother as she gazed with love at him. She seemed unaware that she was being discussed.

"Anything. You name it. It's the devil's own to try to keep her in bed past 7 a.m. Then she wants to "help" Margaret with breakfast…forgetting every day that she's been ordered to stay out of the kitchen. When she is told once again, she'll leave…pouting. That will last for mere seconds as she rushes to the windows and screams with delight upon noticing a squirrel. One day a couple of squirrels were chasing each other up and down and around a tree and Grace was bouncing in her chair and clapping…her bp climbing.

"It seems that everything overexcites her…television, music, pictures of her children, her husband coming and going, Elliot dropping by. She hears that behemoth roaring in and she begins to scream his name over and over. This for a son who is here several times a day."

At this comment, Darcy noticed Elliot's face drop. "Oh, I'm sorry, Elliot. I didn't mean that. I'm grateful for your visits. You're so good with your mother and you give me breaks that I desperately need." His face was still grim.

"Besides, you're good company for me as well." Well, that did it. Elliot now looked as dopey as his mother.

Grace was still staring at Christian so he adjusted his seat, moving closer to Grace and wrapping his strong arm around her shoulder so that she could lay her head on him. She sighed. Darcy smiled. At least Grace's bp would be down.

The four sat in peaceful silence.

CHAPTER 36

After a while, Darcy looked at Elliot who knew instantly what she wanted and jumped to his feet. She lifted Grace's head from Christian's side and Elliot picked up his mother like she was a doll.

"Time for a nap," Darcy whispered to Christian who nodded and released his hold on Grace. Elliot and Darcy then left for the bedroom. Christian left for the study and a good dose of bourbon.

He opened the door softly and found his father stretched out on the couch, a glass of bourbon on the floor beside him and his arm covering his eyes. Christian poured himself a tumbler of Marker's Mark and sat down in the club chair facing his father.

"Are you asleep, dad?"

"Never. Sleep is in short supply these days. I've never slept well without your mother next to me."

"I can relate. I've had one good night's sleep in five years. While mom is a happy little flutterby, you look wretched. I hope that you're not stewing over what she said." Christian knocked back his bourbon and poured another. Ana was too far away.

"I am. I stew every day. I started seeing Dr. Flynn, son. Hope you don't mind my borrowing him. He's a funny guy. Says that you put his kids through private school and now he figures that I'll put them through college," Carrick chuckled despite himself.

"I'll tell you something, Christian. My marriage to your mother was teetering on the edge before the attack. She seemed to grow ever more unpleasant these past few years. It started when you brought Ana home. At first I joined in her disapproval…you know that…but gradually I began to see that where mine stemmed from feeling that you two were unsuited, your mother's was personal…vitriolic and vile."

Christian grinned. Carrick was put out. "You find that funny?"

"No. No, not at all, dad. It's just the words you used. I suddenly pictured Ana digging through her bag for her notebook so she could write those down. Every word she doesn't know, she makes note of and then looks up."

"Let's talk about Ana. I won't try to convince you anymore that she isn't right for you. Even if I still thought it true, I've watched how you've suffered all these years without her and I know that your love is strong and lasting. What I'm concerned about now is her feeling for you."

"Well, we've made some progress. She knows how I feel and I truly believe that she has feelings for me as well. The problem is that she is insecure…unsure of everything. It's like a baby being born and being expected to get up, start walking and working and making their way in the world. That baby doesn't know what's going on…has no understanding about the world the way an adult does. Ana is struggling all the time and it wears on her."

"But she has you to take care of her," Carrick asserted.

"She knows that and she trusts me, dad but now she's the one who feels that she is unsuitable…that she is taking advantage and she is racing to catch up, to learn everything that she used to know. In a word, she thinks that she is stupid. She does not give herself a break."

"How long are you going to keep her in Gstaad, son? Gracie keeps asking for her! Can't figure that one out."

"Until we catch the maniac who's after my family? We're no closer to that goal then we were months ago. Taylor's been searching for him since the crash!"

"What?"

"Yes. Quietly, he and the team and Welch have been hunting the car that plowed into us and left a bright white slash across the side of the car. He's been keeping this on the downlow so that I didn't obsess and this guy doesn't realize that we're unto him. That's how Jack Hyde became our suspect but all we have to go on is Elliot's gut."

"How did Elliot get involved in all this?"

"Since the attack on mom. He's been poking away at Taylor for info and doing a little investigating on his own…and his gut says that the perp is Jack Hyde. Which reminds me…excuse me, dad." He took out his phone and texted Taylor…who popped up like magic a few moments later.

"Sir?"

"Taylor, something just occurred to me. I've been trying to think why Jack Hyde would have motive to go after mom and Elena. They had lunch together every Tuesday at Dotty's, right?"

"Yes, sir. And you spent a lot of meals there yourself with Ms. Steele…but I'm missing the connection."

"Well, surmising that he's been spying on us, maybe he overheard mom and Elena talking trash about Ana. The two of them really hated her and I'm sure they cackled about how to undo our relationship."

"Isn't that what he would have wanted?"

"Yes…and he might have been conflicted…but hearing the two women tearing Ana's character limb from limb, he might have grown increasingly angry over time. I fired him six months before the crash so maybe he thought that he was going to hurt only me and when he realized that he hadn't hurt me at all but had done all but the worst to Ana…"

Taylor interrupted…"he would be angry with himself and, not being one to accept responsibility, would transfer that anger to the two women who hated Ana. However, he didn't assault your mother until several years later."

"Mom feigned regret over Ana to appease me and Elena would have gone along with that. Mom didn't know that I was still maintaining a relationship of sorts with Ray and Ana until a while before Ray died. She wouldn't have been pleased about that and would have begun complaining again. With Elena's help, the conversation at Dotty's would have gotten real ugly…conversation Jack might have been monitoring and hearing about Ana's troubles…

"Suppressed guilt and open hatred could have driven him to watch for his opportunity to deliver payback. Dr. Flynn would say that Jack wasn't stabbing your mother. He was stabbing himself. Ditto Mrs. Lincoln."

"Your time in therapy has served you well, sir. However…there is a tape of Ryan listening to Hyde rant that I want to share with you later. Excuse me, I have some work to do. Please continue your libations."

CHAPTER 37

As Taylor closed the study behind him, Carrick sat up…roaring with laughter at the expression on his son's face.

"Arsehole," Christian muttered. "Last time I share my sessions with him. He signed an NDA, you know."

"I don't think he gives a damn about your NDA, son," Carrick continued laughing. "However, I myself am quite impressed by your theory. Of course, you're picking facts out of the air but still…"

Christian suppressed a smile. If he had a male friend besides Elliot, it was Taylor. He supposed that he'd have to forget about the NDA. As his father laughed, Christian's watch alarm went off…alerting him to call Ana.

He jumped up from his seat and bid his father farewell. "I have to call Ana, dad. She'll be expecting me."

Carrick smiled as his son's face lit up.

"Christian! Guess what? I'm really solid on one crutch and Finn says that by the end of the week, we can start working with a cane. He warned me that it will be really hard and that it will feel like starting all over again."

Christian's heart swelled at the joy and lightness in his girl's voice. "Ana, that is great. I can't say how proud I am of you. And I miss you."

Softly, Ana replied. "I miss you, too, Christian. I think about you all the time…trying to get everything straight in my head."

Bravely, Christian said, "What about your heart?"

Ana giggled. "My heart…my heart is surer of what it wants."

"And what does your heart want, Ana?"

"I think you know."

"I need to hear you say the words but I'll never push you."

"Can you give my head some more time?"

"I'll always give you anything that you want, Ana. From the moment I fell at your feet, I knew everything I am and everything I have would be yours."

Ana sighed. "Oh, my Christian." His heart leapt at the word 'my'. "I think part of my head's problem is that I don't understand how you could hold on so long…even when there was no hope. You've never quit on me. You've never moved on."

"Move on to where, Ana? I wasn't a hermit. I told you about all the women. With them I was thinking about moving on. In the middle of sex, I was thinking of moving on. When I looked into your eyes, I couldn't see beyond you. The gate came down and there was no opening it again. I didn't want to open it again. You, Ana, are all I want."

He could hear Ana's soft breathing. He waited. He didn't expect a grand declaration of passion. That wasn't Ana's way. She would take her time until she was certain that she wouldn't promise something she couldn't give. She never broke her vows nor would she make them lightly.

"How is your mother?" Whew. Whiplash.

"Hmm…my mother is doing quite well. She is still loopy and it is likely permanent. She wishes you well. She's quite fond of you.…now. I hope it lasts."

"Maybe she isn't crazy, Christian. Maybe she's just come to her senses," Ana gently suggested.

"I like that way of seeing it, Ana. In other news, I confessed to my family what I'd gotten up to with Elena all those years ago."

"She abused you. She's a pedophile, Christian."

"Not anymore. She was forbidden to see Grace and we had guards at the gate. So, Elena decided to take a nice, little walk through the woods to the back door. She didn't know, of course, that she'd been outed and that mom wanted to kill her. She also didn't know that all the pretty trails that our parents had woven through those woods for their children were now completely overgrown. She must have been out there with the creatures and insects and mud for a couple of hours at least before she made it through to the back patio. She even left her wig stuck on some branch. There wasn't an inch on her that wasn't scratched and gashed.

"Mom confronted her. There was a screaming match until the ambulance took Elena away. That night, someone disguised as an orderly…probably the same guy who attacked mom…crept into Elena's room and injected a poison into one of her lines.

"Rest in peace, Elena."

CHAPTER 38

Ana paused, then…"At least, you wish her well."

"Not really. I wish her hell."

"No, no, Christian. I was discussing religion with Dr. Gert. Hell is forever and it's all fire!"

"Ana, sweetheart, calm down. Hell is just a manmade construct." He stopped. "Construct". He waited while Ana wrote construct and looked it up in her online dictionary.

"Oh. What a terrible thing to make up. Why would someone do that, Christian?"

"Well, some people thought that other people wouldn't behave unless they were threatened with something…like everlasting torment. A lot of people believe in hell. Some kind of afterlife punishment is part of most religions."

"But you don't believe in that, do you?" She sounded so hopeful.

"No, honey…I don't. I don't know what, if anything, is waiting for us after death but I don't worry about it. I take it that Dr. Gert is a believer?"

"Yes, I guess. She was trying to tell me all about Christianity which is quite important to her. I was feeling blue and she thought that if I was a Christian, that I'd be happy. She said that I should just turn my life over to Jesus. I had to look up a lot of stuff. That Jesus certainly suffered…wow.

"Anyway, Christian, I don't want to continue seeing Dr. Gert. Lately, all she talks about is Jesus. Believing in him certainly seems to help her but I don't think her way is for me. Is it okay with you if I change therapists?"

"Of course. I want you to be comfortable. I'm sure that Dr. Gert means well but if her methods aren't working for you…"

"Oh, good. I was afraid that you'd worry if I stopped seeing a therapist. I had a good talk with Dr. Skarsgard and I think that I'm going to follow his advice for now. It makes sense to me. He says that I should "go with the flow"."

"That's it. Go with the flow?"

"Yes…well, the way he explained it, I shouldn't try to analysis everything. I should follow my feelings since they're clear to me and see where they take me. Also, why are clams happy?"

Lord, he loved talking with this woman.

An hour later, he was high on endorphins. An hour after that, he missed Ana so bad, his heart hurt.

Grace and Darcy found him slumped on the couch, his long legs stretched out in front of him and his hands stuffed in his pockets. Darcy helped Grace out of the wheelchair and onto to the couch next to Christian.

Grace slipped her arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder. They sat there like that…not saying a word. Darcy went to the library to give them their privacy.

That's where Elliot found her. He was at the house so many times during the day that Darcy never noticed him coming or going.

"Mom and Chris are napping together on the couch."

"Yes. Your brother was on the phone with Ana for some time. He was euphoric after talking with her…laughing about happy clams. Apparently, Ana just learned the term "happy as a clam" and didn't get it."

"I don't get it either. It's interesting the way that Ana questions absolutely everything because everything is new to her. Maybe I should look up "happy as clam"."

Darcy giggled and Elliot turned his back on her…pretending to examine the bookshelves. He climbed the ladder and rolled down to one end. He looked over his shoulder to see Darcy with her nose in a book so he was able to adjust himself without her seeing. Damn. Women had it so easy, he thought. They didn't get aroused by giggles. They didn't have to hide the tents in their pants.

Maybe, he thought as he rolled around on the ladder, he ought to start wearing tighty whiteys…at least around Darcy.

"Elliot? Are you looking for a particular book or just having fun with the ladder?" Darcy asked as she smiled in amusement.

CHAPTER 39

In a show of his masculine agility, Elliot slid down the ladder with his feet on the rails. He was pretty pleased with himself but Darcy seemed to take no notice. Her nose was back in her book.

Elliot wandered aimlessly…until he found a fat tome and pulled it out. He sat ever so casually on a chair opposite Darcy. She looked up! Then she shook her head, as she did so often around Elliot.

"I didn't know that about you, Elliot. Surprising." Elliot beamed. Darcy was impressed that he could read something so imposing. Then he noted the title. He'd chosen a book about the study of insects. He tried to cover…"construction work, you know. We run into a lot of little creatures and I have to know something about them, you know, in case they're poisonous or something."

Darcy smiled. She didn't know how much longer she could hold out.

Christian had been awake for a while but didn't want to disturb his mother. She, however, had been awake, too. As soon as her son's breathing had changed, she'd felt that he was waking up but she didn't want to acknowledge it. It felt so wonderful to be leaning against him like this.

Christian had never been an affectionate child. His dad could tussle his hair and Grace was allowed to kiss his forehead at bedtime but hugs and cuddles were verboten until Ana came along. It was Ana who encouraged him to touch his family and it was Ana from whom he learned that this was a good thing.

Grace struggled to remember her relationship with Ana all those years ago. She didn't recall conversations with the girl or special times together…but how was that possible? Ana was such a sweet person…so kind and gentle. And Grace was sure that she must have been thrilled to have her as a daughter-in-law. Two daughters…how wonderful. Her house seemed to be full of men. Elliot was so boisterous that he seemed like two men all by himself. And Christian had such a commanding presence that he seemed to overwhelm the house with testosterone…except in the company of Ana.

Still, Grace felt that something wasn't right. Her memories were so slight of those times.

"Christian, dear, tell me about that year, with Ana, before the crash."

"It was the most incredible and happy year of my life, mom. I only wished that you and dad could have accepted Ana."

Grace sat up, startled. Shit, Christian thought. I've screwed up. "But that was a long time ago, mom, and things have changed. You and dad both feel differently now and Ana doesn't even remember how things were."

Vague enough, he hoped.

Nope. "Why didn't we accept Ana? No, that doesn't seem right. She was such a lovely woman. I'd never met anyone like her. Elliot and Mia adored her. I know that Elena used to say awful things about her but I'm sure that I just ignored her. And now I know that Elena just wanted you for herself, as bizarre as that sounds. Imagine, thinking that you'd choose that old hag over a beautiful, sweet young woman like Ana. Perhaps you misunderstood your father and me."

"Ana was a nurse, mom, and you and dad thought that she was unsuitable for someone as prominent as me and this family. However," he tried harder, "after we became engaged and you knew that you'd be getting grandchildren, you came around. You were really happy that night and kept hugging her and welcoming her to the family."

He stopped…a sudden weight in his chest. "That night when everything was lost," Grace said softly. Christian nodded. "It isn't something I want to dwell on, mom."

Grace leaned back into her son and pondered all he'd said. Not suitable for their prominent family. Did they really feel that way? Dr. Whalen had told her that the massive blood loss had changed her brain. Thank god for that horrible delivery boy.

CHAPTER 40

It was getting dark now and no one had thought to draw the drapes. Outside, hidden in the bushes across the road, Jack Hyde stood with binoculars trained on the windows. He could get a better view from the back yard but the only way was through the woods. He knew better. Still, he could catch glimpses of the occupants of fancy Grey Manor. He saw Carrick sitting in his study, drinking bourbon. He could make out two figures sitting in front of the fireplace. He recognized Grace when she sat up for a moment.

She didn't deserve to be alive. He had gone at her like a madman. How had she survived? There had been so much blood and her eyes were open yet lifeless. He was so sure that he'd left her dead. If only that big hulking son of hers hadn't turned up.

At least, he finished off that other witch. Oh, my, wasn't that a fun night. Her eyes weren't lifeless as he closed them. They were filled with terror and pain. He was so high when he left the hospital that he couldn't settle down. He danced down the street. He stopped at a bar and drank and sang along to the jukebox. He stumbled back to his dreary studio apartment but it didn't seem dreary that night. It seemed warm and cozy and safe.

…Until he woke in the morning and learned that Mrs. Grey was still alive…and recovering. He had to rectify that situation but he'd no idea how. She was never alone and after his attack would probably never be alone again. That big shot son of hers had guards everywhere which was why Jack was forced to hide in buggy bushes.

He'd also had to move after he'd finished with Mrs. Lincoln. He had somehow become a suspect and they were looking for him. He knew they had nothing on him but he didn't figure that it mattered to Grey's goons. They wouldn't feel the need to involve law enforcement. They would simply disappear Jack.

So, he'd gotten himself another room…another hot plate…another shared bathroom. It didn't matter his accommodations. Not now anyway. Once he'd rescued Nurse Steele, however, he'd have to find a better situation.

He'd been tracking Christian Grey's comings and goings for some time now. It wasn't difficult. His security team thought that they were so smart, Jack smirked to himself, but all he had to do was follow Grey when he headed out of town. At Sea-Tac, Hyde bribed a few people with no scruples…there were plenty of those available…to discover Grey's destination. He knew that Grey had checked into Gstaad Palace and stayed for weeks and he assumed that Ana was nearby…a guest of the famous clinic.

Unfortunately, Grey was a cautious man. Hyde's efforts to obtain employment at the clinic failed. Even to apply for a janitorial position required that one be a native of Switzerland. There were also obvious coverts everywhere. Clearly, Grey wanted people to know that Ana was untouchable.

Still, Hyde knew that sooner or later, Ana would be returning to Seattle. He could wait for his opportunity. Meanwhile, he spent his days plotting ways to rescue Ana, places to safely hide her and daydreaming of the wonderful life they would have together.

He had his eye on a charming little house in Montana…in a place they'd never be found. Ana would love it. He would get her a dog and a cat. Of course, the cat wouldn't live long. It would wander off, disappear…because Jack hated cats. He would hate to see Ana cry but she would think it lovely of him to get her a cat and would never know that he'd wrung its neck and thrown it in a ditch.

He had been doing a lot of research into deprogramming. It would take some time…depending on how deeply Grey had gotten into Ana's head. Still, Hyde knew that he was smarter than Grey and would eventually win Ana over. She would forget that Grey ever existed and she would never understand that she was Jack's prisoner. She would just believe that she was safe…that venturing beyond the perimeters that Hyde had set was dangerous. She would believe that outside the fence were strange creatures and a world filled with ugliness and threats to her and Jack. When he left the homestead, he would lock her in the panic room…assuring her that it was to keep her safe while he wasn't there to protect her.

He would have a great life with Ana and she would be completely dependent on him. He liked that idea…that Ana would timidly ask him for permission for everything and anything. Sometimes he might have to punish her because something wasn't done correctly…spots on glassware, chicken a little dry…forgot to iron the sheets…small things but Ana would need to learn to do things the way Jack wanted them done.

She would probably want children but Jack couldn't allow that. He couldn't have her focusing on anyone besides him. Being a forward thinking person, he'd already had a vasectomy but he'd no intention of telling Ana. No, it would be better if Ana believed that she was at fault. Weakening her self-esteem, showing her that she had no one in the whole world other than Jack, would strengthen her dependence on him.

Yes. Jack congratulated himself. He had thought of everything. He'd even purchased a length of rough leather. He was still angry that Ana hadn't stood up for him when Grey fired him. And then she'd chosen Grey because a part of her was rapacious…greedy for the better things in life. It was a side of her that he had tried to overlook but as he saw her photos in the tabloids several times a week…dressed in expensive clothes, hanging off the arm of her good-looking man in Armani as she climbed out of a Mercedes and entered the Mile High club…he knew that she wasn't perfect. She was easily dupped into loving haute couture, diamonds and the high life. He was ashamed of her.

Jack knew that he couldn't fully give himself over to Ana until she'd been cleansed of her weaknesses and that would take time and discipline. He would have to be patient but he would beat it out of her and then they could be happy together.

Jack put down the picture of Ana that he kept next to his bed. He could masturbate now as he envisioned using the strap and then sleep the sleep of the innocent. He smiled and reached under the covers.

CHAPTER 41

One morning Christian awoke and felt that old familiar ache. It was time. He showered and dressed and went down to the kitchen for breakfast with his mother. They'd spent a lot of time together since he'd come home and they'd grown closer. Grace's recovery was going well. She was no longer in any medical danger and everyone was more comfortable with her new personality. He would, of course, maintain a security cordon around her and the rest of the family. Hyde was still out there…watching and waiting for his second chance. Until he was caught, no one could relax. Grace was sweetly oblivious to all this and no one mentioned Jack around her.

"Oh, Christian, good morning, darling," Grace beamed at her younger son while she piled still more pancakes on the plate of her eldest. Elliot was shoveling food into his mouth like one of his beloved bulldozers. Darcy was sitting at the breakfast counter, apparently accustomed to this display, reading Margaret's copy of the Seattle Nooz.

"Mr. Grey, the Nooz is upset with you," she teased. "They want to know where you are, will you ever come out from hiding and where is Ana?"

Grey chuckled. "Darcy, my name is Christian and I'm surprised to find a woman of your intelligence reading that trash."

"Oh, com' on. It's fun! It's hysterical, in fact, most of the time…except when it's vicious. Regarding you, it's getting increasingly rabid. I guess that you're supposed to provide content that will sell and you've not been doing so. The paper is making do with pictures of me and Elliot taking your mother to the park."

Elliot looked up to see his mother preoccupied with making breakfast for Christian. Then he whispered to his brother that the Nooz never failed to point out that these little jaunts in the park were heavily accompanied by security.

"Good. We want a certain someone to know that he's never getting near Grace again."

"Who's never getting near me, dear?"

Christian sighed. "The guy who tried to kill you, mom."

Elliot and Darcy held their breath.

"Oh, that poor boy. He must have had a terrible upbringing…something traumatic. I'd like to sit down with him and talk. Perhaps he just needs someone to listen."

"Mom," Elliot objected, "the guy stabbed you so many times that the doctors couldn't even count all the holes in you."

Darcy shot him a look. Elliot stopped talking.

"Oh, I know, dear. However, it really wasn't such a terrible experience from my point of view. After the first couple of punches, I didn't feel anything. I recall wondering if it would be poor form to ask him to clean up the tile after he'd killed me. I didn't really feel pain until I woke up in the hospital.

"Did you see the tile? Carrick had a special company come in to restore it. It looks better than it did before. Of course, Elliot's been dragging mud through that door for so many years. I guess I didn't notice how dull the tile had been getting until I had the time to lie there and stare at it. Pancakes, Christian?"

"Thanks, mom. Listen, I think that it's time that I get back to Ana. Phone calls just aren't doing it for me anymore. I miss her so much. Do you mind that I'm going?"

"No, of course not. I'm surprised that you stuck around this long. I've seen you staring off into space. I'm so looking forward to Ana coming home…BUT not until she's ready. I miss her, too."

Christian and Elliot exchanged looks again. They were still flummoxed by Grace's sudden affection for Ana. They wondered about their meeting again after all these years and all that vitriol. At least Elena wouldn't be around to stoke the fires of distain.

"Say hi to Ana from all of us, bro. Tell her that mom is doing great and may not need a private nurse much longer, right, Darcy?" he grinned.

Darcy raised her eyebrows. "We'll see," she replied. Elliot's smile dropped as he picked up his lunch and bid everyone goodbye.

Christian watched his brother leave and turned to Darcy. "You know, Darc, if Elliot falls off a roof today, it'll be your fault."

Darcy laughed. "And if I fall flat on my face in the hallway, it'll be Elliot's fault."

"So…give in." Christian leaned in closer. "You know you want to."

"It wouldn't be professional."

"Oh, poo, professional," Grace remarked. Christian shook his head. His former mother wouldn't even say the word 'feces'. Now she was apt to say anything.

"Elliot is crazy about you, Darcy, and I approve. How about I fire you?"

"I'm not ready to be fired, Mrs. Grey. You still have some healing to do. Of course, we could get you another nurse if you like."

"No. No. You're my nurse. What if I fire you as my nurse but then rehire you as my companion?" Grace looked quite proud of this idea.

"Well, mom, while you're fighting this out with Darcy, I'm going to go pack. Good luck with saving Elliot from his despair," he smiled as he kissed Grace's cheek.

CHAPTER 42

Ana wasn't having a good morning. She'd woken up feeling anxious…although she couldn't pinpoint just why. Her appetite was off more than usual. She tried to work with Finn with her usual drive and discipline but her heart wasn't in it. She was tired and apathetic. Finn was concerned about her and tried to get her to talk with him about her feelings but she would just look at him blankly.

He felt that he needed to be firm with her to get her out of her funk. He sternly ordered her to stand with one crutch and walk. With that push, Ana got to her feet and hobbled across the room half-heartedly. Then she stopped, looked at the doorway and struggled to quickly reach the hallway. Finn followed.

There was a figure at the other end of the hallway…someone not apparent to Finn from that distance…but Ana's face lit up and she forced herself further down the corridor. A man, in jeans and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and hands in his pockets, stood…unsure of his welcome.

Finn tried to keep up with Ana for fear of her falling until he saw the man take his hands from his pockets and begin running toward Ana. Finn stopped and smiled…turning to go back to his office. Ana would be in good hands.

Ana dropped her crutch just as Christian reached her, enveloping her in his arms and holding her so tight and close that she didn't need to stand on her own. And she didn't want to. She didn't want to worry about being independent right now. She didn't want to think about her mental deficits. She just wanted to be safe and she knew that there was only one person who could truly protect her.

Both were breathless, hearts pounding. Christian buried his face in her shoulder, murmuring her name over and over. The closer Grey V had gotten to Switzerland, the more desperate he'd felt for the jet to reach its destination. He didn't know how welcome he would be but he had to put his insecurities aside. They didn't matter right now. They were overwhelmed by his need for Ana. He prayed that she would let him hold her.

When he turned the corner leading to the physio center, he was surprised to see Ana at the far end. She didn't look well. Perhaps he ought to go…but she looked up and her face was glowing…for him? He didn't realize that he was moving quickly toward Ana and that his face was also aglow. He had his arms around her just as she dropped her crutch. His heart was bursting with longing. He felt her arms around his back, her hands gripping his skin through his shirt, her head pressed hard against his chest.

"Christian," she whispered with such urgency that he knew that he'd stayed away too long, far too long. Ana had needed him and all he'd thought about was his selfish fear of rejection.

He leaned back to look into her eyes…one arm holding her and one hand gently caressing her head.

"Ana, are you ready to come home? I've been without you for so, so long and I just don't have the strength to continue on without you. I don't know how I've managed thus far but I don't have a bit of stoicism left in me."

Before he could go on, Ana threw her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to his lips. She wasn't worried that she wouldn't know how to kiss him properly. This time it came as naturally as breathing. And yet it was as exciting and new for Christian as it was for Ana.

"Christian, I want to go home with you today. I think that I've been ready for some time. I'm sorry that I got mad at you and that I told you that I wanted to work through this alone. Maybe I did at the time but not anymore.

"Everything inside me hurts without you. I know that you can have anyone. You can have stunning women who know what to do in bed and remember their whole lives and are able to support themselves and not leech off of you. I know that you're too good for me but…" and then Christian's mouth was on hers again and everything was a whirl of intoxicating emotions and physical urges.

They stood there in the hallway while other patients and their caretakers stared as they moved around them. Ana and Christian were unaware of there being a world beyond each other.

CHAPTER 43

"Why can't we leave now?" Ana whined as they checked into their room at the Palace. Christian smiled. He'd loved the pre-crash Ana so much that he hadn't believed that he could ever open his heart to another. This Ana, however, while much the same was also different. The original Ana wasn't as childlike but this Ana was a delight. He guessed it was just Ana he loved. He knew her soul and heart no matter the version.

"The pilots just dropped me off after a 12 hour flight. By law, they have to take a break and I want them sharp when they're transporting the most important person in the world."

Ana giggled. "You mean me, don't you?"

Christian hesitated because her next answers were so important. "Ana, come here. Sit down."

"Oh. Is this a "talk"?"

"Yes, it is. We kind of burned up the hallway back at the clinic. Did you just get carried away, do you think?"

"Nope. I was blue all morning until I sensed you near. I couldn't get to you fast enough."

"And…this is important…do you know why you were so happy to see me?"

"Yes. I missed you so much, Christian."

"And did you miss me because I'm the person closest to you or because you were tired of living at the clinic?"

"Oh, Christian. I wanted to be with the person I love."

Christian gulped. This should be enough but he needed still more. "How do you love me? Do you mean like a friend, a good friend?"

"Yes, the best friend I've ever had." She watched his face fall and found herself confused. Then she remembered the book she'd read on sex.

"Wait. You wanted me to say that I love you in a sex way?"

"I just want your honest feelings, Ana…whatever they are." Ana was becoming increasingly befuddled and agitated. Tears of frustration brimmed in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Ana. I didn't want to upset you. I'll leave you alone to rest." He leaned over and kissed her forehead before taking his leave. Out in the hallway, he heard her begin to sob. Jesus Christ, he snarled at himself…can you do nothing right with this woman? Stop beating around the bush. He turned around and walked back down the hallway and he knocked on the door.

Ana opened the door, face tear-stained and eyes red. "I don't know what you want from me, Christian. I've tried to be truthful and you don't believe me. What am I doing wrong?"

"It's my fault, Ana. I'm so afraid that you'll never again want me the way I want you that I've been dancing around to avoid hearing what I don't want to hear.

"Ana, I've been madly in love with you for more than six years. I still want to marry you as badly as I did all those years ago when we were engaged. This is what I want from you…but I promise that if I can't have that, I'll take you anyway I can have you. You don't have to be anything but who you are and I'll still be right here."

Christian took a deep breath and held it. Ana stared up at him. Now she looked slightly peeved.

"Isn't that what I said?"

Christian threw his head back in an uproarious laugh. Ana shook her head. "I read a book about romance and I think that you have to get down on one knee to ask me to marry you."

In a flash, he was on his knee. "Anastasia Rose Steele, please take this idiot to be your husband."

Ana touched her finger to her lips as if she were considering the question. Then she looked at Christian and beamed.

"Christian, I am madly in love with you, too. You're all I want in my life. Of course, I will take you as my husband."

Then, to Ana's surprise, Christian reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring to slip onto her finger.

"I took this off your finger the night of the crash because the doctors were going to cut it off. It's been in my pocket every day ever since."

He stood up and embraced Ana as she stared at the ring.

"Maybe we could get one a bit smaller?" Christian swung her around, laughing. "That's exactly what you said six years ago!"

CHAPTER 44

"Christian, could we make love?" Ana looked up into his gray eyes that had swiftly darkened. Somehow she knew what this meant. She was nervous but it was what she wanted.

He was slow and gentle but his hands were trembling. He wanted Ana, god knows, but this was their first time…again…and it wasn't like their last first time. She'd been nervous then but confident. This Ana had been through hell because of him and somehow he had to make this experience perfect for her…not just something to get through.

He and Ana, version 1.0, were so compatible that it was never a question of whether one or the other wasn't in the mood. They wanted each other all the time…an insatiability that caused Taylor some distress while driving and drove Mrs. Jones to her suite to read while listening to music…loud music.

But Ana, 2.0, was a different creature…fragile, still building her confidence. True, when they'd kissed, it was the same between them but this, this was true physical intimacy. What if she was repulsed…or worse, frightened? He didn't think that he could bear it if he saw fear in her eyes.

And what if the new Ana didn't want him like he wanted her? What if she was in the mood for sex only a couple times a week? He looked down into her trusting blue eyes and vowed to himself that…again…he'd take whatever he could get…whatever Ana wanted to give, he would accept with joy.

Ana could see that he was anxious. He was having trouble with her buttons. "I like that you're undressing me, Christian," she smiled. "but could you do it a little bit faster before I start tearing off your clothes?"

Christian chuckled and felt more at ease. Soon, she was naked…her body, after all it had been through, just as beautiful as he recalled. He picked her up and laid her on the bed…then doing a humorous little strip show for her, making her giggle as he pulled down the elastic of his boxers and his hardened cock popped out…like a jack-in-the-box.

The bright afternoon sun filled the room. Christian noted that being so exposed didn't bother Ana. He kissed her and then let his eyes and his hands explore her body…this body that was his life and breath. He nuzzled her tummy and licked her belly button, making her laugh again. She'd always been ticklish. If he nosed her armpits, she'd go insane…begging him to stop.

While he suckled her breasts, his hand cupped her pussy and he slipped one finger inside her. She gasped. Alarmed, he looked into her face. She was breathing heavily and asked him why he stopped. He went back to what he was doing. He massaged her clit and she arched her back and cried out his name. My god, he thought, she's even more sensitive. But that orgasm was too fast, too sudden. He wanted to help her build the feeling until it was unbearable.

He kissed her again before lowering his face to between her legs where he took his time blowing, sucking, licking and pushing his fingers inside her. He remembered to the millimeter the location of her g-spot but he spent some time working around it. He knew what he was doing and, for Ana, for love, he was a genius at it. He felt her writhing beneath him, her hands gripping his hair the way she used to do. He listened to all the old, familiar noises of arousal. He'd always enjoyed that she was so vocal. She was louder than he was. At last, he gently touched her sweet spot and Ana exploded, screaming his name and some gibberish.

She was still spasming as he lifted her legs over his shoulders and drove his cock inside her…the sanctuary where he'd felt safe and sane and intensely loved all those years ago. And now he was here again…where he'd never thought he'd be again…where he'd only been in his dreams for so many years.

He came so hard and with such intense sensations gripping his body that he was overwhelmed with feeling. He wrapped his arms around Ana, buried his face in the fragrant nook between her head and shoulder and began to sob. He couldn't stop. He was so lost in his own emotions that he didn't even notice that Ana was holding him just as tightly and murmuring sweetly to him. "Christian, Christian," over and over until he began to calm. Finally, he was able to lift himself off of her, put her legs down and hold himself up by his elbows. Her face was sweaty and red and her eyes so brilliantly blue, it was like looking into the sky above the mountains.

He eased himself off her entirely while still holding her and staring at her. His brain was numb. All he could say was that he loved her. There weren't any other words that suited, it seemed. His hearing was gone, too. He could see her lips moving, saying that she loved him, but his head was filled with her cries of ecstasy. He'd pleased her. The thought made him hard instantly and he wanted her again but maybe she was sore.

"Christian," she said softly, "again?"

The rest of the afternoon into evening was a blur of joy. They didn't know how many times…they all ran together in one river of bliss. They were perfect together…just as they'd always been. She knew how to touch him and he knew where to touch her.

Ana wasn't shy about anything…including his cock. She made him lie still while she ran her hands all over him, marveling at the magnificence of his body. She asked politely if she could make him cum by sucking on his cock. He laughed and said that she could make him cum by just touching his cock. She smiled and then kissed his tip a few times while he gritted his teeth. He was liable to spray her face if he didn't hold on. She then put her whole mouth around his organ and began to work on getting him to the back of her throat while sucking as hard as she could.

At one point, as Christian was gasping for breath, she stopped to remark on the chapter in her sex book where she'd learned that men liked to feel their cocks touching the back of their lover's throats. That puzzled her. She understood that his cock being in her mouth would be pleasurable but what was so special about how deep it went? Christian was shedding sweat like water spouting from a fountain, gripping the sheets for dear life, redder than beets and his chest going up and down like a pump. He was unable to answer her question so Ana shrugged and went back to work. She'd read that some women didn't like to do this but she found it fun…especially watching the reaction from Christian. She felt good. Maybe she could do this sex thing after all. He certainly could. Wow.

While Ana was sucking away and mulling things over, Christian detonated and cum shot down her throat and filled her mouth. She swallowed as fast as she could but a lot of it ran down her face and chest. She blinked, startled. Christian simply looked like a man on drugs…dazed and dazzled.

Ana looked around at the sheets…incredible disarray and sticky with fluids. She wondered where the hotel incinerator was located. She didn't care if Christian was tipping the maid and housekeeping 100%. This was embarrassing. She wiped her face and chest and kissed her man. Then she reached for the landline, called the front desk, innocently told him that she and her fiancée had been making love for hours and that she'd like to burn the sheets. Then she asked the astonished desk attendant for the whereabouts of the incinerator.

The poor man stuttered out some gibberish and Ana sighed and thanked him for his time. Then she built a fire in the lovely fireplace across the room and pulled the sheets out from under Christian…who was still wrecked. She stuffed the million thread count sheets into the flames and smiled with satisfaction at her ingenuity…until smoke began to emanate from the logs and fill the room. Then the alarms went off and the shrieks accompanied the sound of the sprinkler system flooding the room.

Christian snapped to attention and saw Ana standing…naked and drenched and confounded…staring into the fireplace. He opened the damper which gradually began sucking the smoke out of the room. Someone was pounding on the door and hollering. He grabbed a throw off the couch and wrapped it around Ana. Then he grabbed a robe for himself and opened the door to face a stunned and terrified manager.

He doubted he and his bride would be welcomed back at the Palace.

CHAPTER 45

"Christian? Are you mad at me?" Ana had been quietly sitting in her seat on Grey V for some time.

"Mad? No, of course not, sweetheart. Now the manager was fairly deranged by the sight that greeted him when he came into our suite…smoke, sprinklers soaking everything…but he'll get it all fixed and I'll pay for repairs and the loss of revenue even though the room is rarely let due to its expense. So, he isn't out anything. But the damage was done innocently. I was a bit concerned about your shock. Are you feeling better?"

"I guess so. Why didn't I know about dampers? Did I ever know about them?"

"Yes…it's just one of those things that you've had to learn about all over again."

"I didn't want the maid to have to deal with our sheets. They were really disgusting, Christian."

"Well, that was thoughtful of you, honey, but the maids are more than accustomed to filthy sheets. We're not the only people having sex in those rooms…although I doubt anyone else had great sex like we did."

Ana smiled. "I did okay, then?" Christian grinned. "Oh, baby, as a lover you are unparalleled, out of this world, no one better. You've always been a surprise to me. You're open, curious, generous. There's been no one remotely like you."

"I did the down below correctly then?"

"The down below? Do you mean the blow job, oral sex? I swear I came so hard that I was unconscious at one point. I can't believe that you learned all that from that sex book."

"Well, I also had a bit of practice at the clinic that I supposed helped me to be at ease." Ana snuggled more closely to Christian. She was easing into a nap when she felt Christian stiffen. He removed the arm he had around her shoulders. She sat up…unsure of her current standing with Mr. Grey.

"Are you telling me that you had sex with people at the clinic?"

"Not people. Just Leonard. He was about my age and had been enduring terrible physical problems since his birth. I don't know the name of his conditions but it seemed like he had everything. From what I'd read, having an orgasm would help with his pain."

Christian suddenly rose from his seat and stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. At the other end of the plane, Taylor saw this. He saw Ana appearing bewildered. He saw her head drop and tears fall. Damn. Grey's moods affected everyone. Natalie was now nervous. She took a cold glass of water over to Ana but gave Taylor a look of helplessness. He advised her to keep this kerfuffle from the pilots and then he approached the bedroom door.

"Sir, I need to speak with you."

"Enter. What is it, Taylor? Anything that can wait until we land?"

Taylor sat on the bed near Grey and launched in without debating too much about what he'd say.

"Ms. Steele is crying. If she arrives home upset, the roast that Gail is making will find its way into the bin. I was really looking forward to roast for dinner. She will also side with Ms. Steele and will start burning your shirts while ironing. Life in the penthouse will be grim and gloomy."

"Ana did something that I don't know if I can forgive, Taylor."

"Well, if you can't talk it through, I'll put her things in Charlie Tango and take her back to her cabin."

Christian looked alarmed. "I don't know where to begin to talk this through, Jason. It's such an extreme violation of my trust."

"Did Ana do this thing after you embraced in the hallway?"

"No."

"Then she'd no notion that the two of you were once again lovers, did she?" Christian didn't like this logic but he had to know what to think and only Ana could tell him.

"Go back to your seat, Taylor. You'll have roast for dinner."

Then he got up and went out to Ana who was staring blankly out the window. She looked up into his silver eyes as he leaned down and unbuckled her safety belt. He reached for her hands and lifted her to her feet, putting his arm around her and leaving her crutch next to her seat. In the bedroom, he carefully laid her down and then laid next to her…both of them staring at the ceiling.

"Ana, I don't know how to start."

"Do you feel things…like angry and hurt?" Christian answered in the affirmative.

"Are you also confused, disappointed, and unsure of yourself…and me? Christian said nothing.

"Well, maybe I should start at the beginning?" Christian nodded.

CHAPTER 46

"I met Leonard on my first day back. I was still terribly upset about yours and daddy's deception, for starters. All the other information about me and us was messing up my brain. All those years when I thought that you were daddy's friend and you were really my fiancée. All the life I'd lived with you that was gone. Who you really were and what had happened to me because of you. It was all hard to hear but the worst was hearing that the men who both supposedly loved me had been lying to me for all the life I knew…the ground beneath my feet began to give.

"My head heard your reasons, it did, and they were completely sensible…especially with the doctor's advice…but even he was still a stranger. My heart, however, just kept repeating that my beloved father and the man he entrusted my very life to as I had so long before, had been lying to me even as I held daddy's hand and leaned into you for comfort. It was an overload, Christian. I developed a migraine in an instant and my body was suddenly so weak, I don't know how I managed to get to my feet and storm down the hallway.

"I heard you calling and that made it worse. There was such longing and pain in your voice and part of me so wanted to run back to you but I couldn't and at the end of the hallway, I turned and you were walking away…away from me. I collapsed in a heap, sobbing. My whole world had just imploded, it seemed.

"That's when I met Leonard…so thin, gaunt and pale but somehow he helped me to my feet. His caretaker was amazed and said that he didn't know where Leonard got the strength. I'm not big but it was like a gnat lifting an apple. He helped me to a chair and listened while I vomited words…some of which made sense. We became great friends then and learned all about each other's issues.

"Leonard was born with multiple health problems and his parents didn't feel that they could either pay for all his surgeries or take care of Leonard in between them. They immediately gave him up. He grew up in hospitals under the care of the canton for all his life. He didn't even have a last name, Christian. He was just Leonard L. His parents refused to acknowledge him because they were embarrassed.

"As the canton healthcare system worked on one of his problems, another one would develop. He was 26 when we met and he'd outlived all the doctors' predictions. He had heart issues, all of his joints were bone on bone…he was in great pain that he tried to disguise. He'd had hip and knee replacements but they would have had to replace every joint in his body to deal with the pain and his heart was too weak for constant surgeries. He was almost blind and his entire spinal column was arthritic. There's more but you get the idea.

"We became great friends, talking about everything. He knew that he wouldn't live much longer and he regretted never experiencing love. We wondered about that together. I told him all about you and how kind you were to me but that I was so unsure of what that meant…that you professed love for me but it was so hard for me to believe. And then, learning that you'd been keeping things from me…

"He counseled me, Christian, far better than Dr. Gert. I was quite defensive about what you and dad had done but somehow Leonard was able to make me listen. One night after a particularly nice talk with you, I went into Leonard's room to tell him all about it and found him writhing in agony. The pain was the worst it had ever been and the nurse had given him all the morphine he was allowed. He would have to wait another hour for more relief.

"I had just finished the chapter on oral sex and felt some confidence that I could do it. I told Leonard that I was going to try something to make him feel better and asked his permission to touch his penis. He was breathing heavily and crying from the pain but he mumbled yes. So, I pulled down the sheet and lifted his gown. Oh, Christian, you've always been gifted with physical beauty. You've no idea what a sad, sick penis can look like. I wasn't certain that Leonard could even feel my mouth on him but I licked it up and down, sucked on it, pulled it to the back of my throat, gagged and started again. It took a while to get him hard but when I did, I could hear him groaning and I knew that that was good. Eventually, he ejaculated. He cried out that he was cuming and I pulled away because I'd read that swallowing a man's cum was very important to him, quite intimate, and it didn't feel right with Leonard so I covered his penis with a towel.

"After he'd finished, he was at such peace…no pain. He had a beatific expression on his face as he smiled at me. I kissed him on the lips and he closed his eyes to sleep. I stayed with him until the nurse arrived with more pain medication. I was falling asleep so she tapped me on the shoulder to wake me and tell me that Leonard didn't need any pain relief and that he never would again."

Ana grew silent. Christian waited. He didn't want to ask but finally he did. "Was Leonard gone, Ana?"

She nodded. "The irony is that he'd asked me many times to help him die. He'd thought of several ways to do it and I'd always refused but then I'd killed him anyway. Dr. Skarsgard said that the exertion of the orgasm had been too much for Leonard's heart. He told me that any man would say "what a way to go". He said that I did a good thing. It took me some time to come to terms with what I'd done."

Christian couldn't believe the words that came out of his mouth next. "You did do a good thing, Ana…a very good thing."

"Do you really believe that?" she asked.

"Yes, I do…and I'm sorry that I behaved like such an arsehole. You should know that I all too often behave badly."

"Okay. What should I do during those times?"

"Ignore me. You ignoring me will change my behavior faster than the speed of light. I just can't stand being apart from you."

"I hope that you don't wait too long to come around because I can't stand being apart from you either. I'd rather fight with you."

Christian chuckled as he reached for her. "When we fight, we always end up in bed."

"Like now?" Ana smiled.

Christian picked up his phone.

How long to Seattle?

Little over an hour, sir. Shall I tell the pilot to slow down, maybe circle for a while?

Give yourself a raise.

This time, I might. Sir. The roast is drying out.

CHAPTER 47

Ryan leaned against the Ute, searching the skies for signs of Grey V. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that he was being watched. He had called the tower, instructing his buddy to take a look around.

Sorry, Tom. I'm not picking up anything.

I've got an itch. Keep looking until we're out of here.

Will do. Grey V kept circling. Stefan is coming in now. I think he's getting dizzy.

LOL

Ms. Steele is finally returning. Maybe things will get back to semi-normal and Mr. Grey will get back to work. Ryan was actually beginning to miss endless hours of surveillance in the security office. Besides, he enjoyed her company…her endless curiosity…and Gail's good mood.

Grey was finishing up with drying Ana's hair. "I can dry my own hair, Christian!"

Grey chuckled. That's what she'd always said. "I know, sweetheart, but I'll seize any opportunity to take care of you."

"Well, I'm going to have to start seizing any opportunity to be independent," Ana muttered. "Does Natalie have to clean the bedroom?"

"Could you stop worrying about the sheets? A cleaning company comes in and I tip well. Besides, it'll be like old times for those people," he grinned.

"We were always messy?"

"Sex has always been messy, honey. Neanderthals were not tidy people."

"You mean Neander men, don't you?"

Neither was buckled in but Stefan executed another smooth landing. As the couple emerged from the bedroom, Taylor approached them. "Sir, Ms. Steele…I'll need you to return to the cabin and leave the shades down." Grey didn't question his security chief. When it came to safety, Taylor was in charge and brooked no questions.

The bosses are back in bedroom. Stefan heading for hangar. Anything?

Nothing…but my itch is getting worse. Sea-Tac security joining us.

Understood. Standing by.

"Christian? Is something wrong?" Christian held Ana, kissing her head. "Just being extra careful, Ana. Taylor won't let anything happen to us." Ana curled closer. He could feel her trembling. She trusted Taylor implicitly…just as she always had…but she had also always worried about the security team getting hurt.

It seemed as though they lay there for a very long time. Grey didn't like Ana having to be scared. He hadn't thought about Hyde for a blissful 12 hours but here they were again. There came a knock at the door and Taylor entered.

Ana shot up in bed and threw her arms around Jason's neck. "You were being careful, weren't you? Is Tom being careful?"

Jason allowed himself a rare smile. "Yes, ma'am. We don't get paid otherwise. Ryan gets these notions so he brought the armored Ute, sir. We've got a dozen men out there scouring the hangar and the surrounding area. They found a couple of gum wrappers and a cigarette butt. There's also evidence of muddy footprints. Someone climbed the fence."

"What? It's electrified!"

"It was, sir. Anyway, Escala is cleared. Your highly intuitive housekeeper tossed the dried out roast when I alerted her to sequester herself in the panic room. By the time we get home, there should be two fresh roasts awaiting us. Ms. Steele, are you okay?"

"I am, Jason. I was just fretting about you and the rest of the guys. You're thinking that this is the stabby guy, aren't you?"

Taylor exchanged looks with Grey. Grey nodded his assent. Ana may have lost her memories but not her smarts. She wouldn't like information kept from her.

"Yes, ma'am…the stabby guy. Now let's get out of here and eat dinner. I'm starving."

Christian insisted on carrying Ana down the stairs…moving fast and almost tossing her into the Mercedes Ute…making a mental note to see that the entire fleet was revamped with armor and bullet-proof windows. Protecting Ana now also meant protecting his team. Ana had a tender heart. The team was her friends…not just employees. Besides, it was smart business to keep the same people…the people loyal to you.

He buckled Ana into the middle seat, close to him, although he would rather hold her on his lap. He'd have to get his engineering department to work up a seat belt that would hold both of them. He smiled as Ana leaned forward and patted Ryan on his shoulder…thanking him for his itch.

"Do you still have an itch, Tom?"

"It's been scratched, Ms. Steele," he grinned back at her. Ana nodded and then relaxed into Christian's side.

"Christian," she whispered, "I still have an itch."

Grey looked at her in alarm. It was just nanoseconds later that something hit the front windshield…hard.

CHAPTER 48

Taylor raised the divider between the front and back seats while Ryan texted to the car following them to take the nearest exit.

?

Your Ute isn't armored.

Got it. Veering off.

Christian had covered Ana's body with his own but she kept popping her head up to see what was happening.

"Ana, someone is shooting at us," he said in exasperation. "Stay down, please."

"We're armored, honey. We might as well watch the show," Ana argued. Christian was trying to hold his temper but he was scared for her. Nothing, he felt, was fool proof.

"Taylor," he yelled, "is it the car in front of us…the red compact?"

"Yes, sir," Taylor replied after lowering the divider. "This guy isn't bright."

"Can we ram him?"

"Not looking for a gun fight on the freeway, sir."

Ana giggled. She was a little too entertained by this attempt on her life, Christian thought. He frowned at her and she clapped a hand over her mouth. The twinkle in her eye was still quite apparent, however. His mother wanted to have a nice chat with her attacker and Ana thought it was fun to be shot at.

"Is the glass holding?"

"Yes, sir. This guy must know it by now. Maybe he's just hoping to scare us into an accident."

"Well, that's stupid. You're a pro."

"Why thank you, Mr. Grey. How kind of you to say," Taylor replied with a grin. By now Ana was helpless with laughter. Christian gave up. He let her watch the action. The bullets kept coming, bouncing off the windshield. The little car was swerving as the driver leaned out the window just to fire at the Ute. Taylor checked the traffic around them…concerned that one of the bullets would hit another vehicle. He made a sudden move to use an exit while the car was stuck on the freeway. Using the surface roads and making a lot of turns, he made it back to Escala in record time…flying into the garage.

Advising his charges to stay in the Ute, Taylor and Ryan made a sweep of the garage. Then they hustled the bosses into the elevator. Christian and Ana looked at each other…feeling that old familiar, to Christian anyway, electricity. He took Ana's hand. He wanted to rip off her panties and take her right there. She was feeling the same way. They both took deep breaths. Just a few floors…just a few more floors.

As soon as the doors opened, Christian and Ana graciously expressed their appreciation for their security as they walked backwards through the great room and flew down the hall to their bedrooms.

"Ana! Where are you going?" he asked as Ana raced to her room.

"Hmm…oh, that's right! We're sharing now. Yay!" As she ran into the master bedroom, she stopped in her tracks. There, above the bed, was the Wyeth painting of the sleeping dog. She stared for a moment and then burst into tears.

Christian was baffled and unnerved. What now? All he could think to do was embrace Ana and rock her back and forth as she sobbed. As she began to calm down, she mumbled, "daddy". Oh. Drover home from the hunt and needing a nap. Christian cooed softly as he rubbed circles on her back. She was bound to have moments like this, he supposed.

"Ana, would you like to visit Ray soon?" Ana sniffled and nodded against his chest. He scooped her up and they laid on the bed…just holding each other. It was enough for now. The fire would always be there.

CHAPTER 49

Hyde paced back and forth across his small living room, muttering furiously to himself. He'd miscalculated again. Why did he keep doing that, he angrily asked himself. The first time his inability to think straight had cost him five years of Ana. Now, his inability to keep his temper had cost him his anonymity. If he hadn't gone after Grace Grey and Elena Lincoln, he wouldn't be a suspect. Grey knew about him and would be super protective of Nurse Ana. Protective, Hyde smirked. She was his prisoner but too brain damaged to know it. Grey probably fed her lines about love and Ana was too stupid to know better. Hyde had to admit that he was 'partially' to blame for that…his first miscalculation.

And today he'd thought that he could kill Grey's driver and cause another crash. Before they regained consciousness, he'd run, gun blazing, to the Ute and kill the guard and Grey. Ana might be hurt but he'd put her in his car and drive hell bound for Montana.

He hadn't counted on bullet proof glass but that wasn't his fault. He wasn't a fancy big shot guy like Grey. He was a normal, ordinary guy who'd stolen an ordinary car. Grey was such an arsehole. If he didn't rescue Ana soon, she might get too far gone to save. And if that happened, he'd have to save her the only way left to him…kill her. Yes, she'd be better off dead than tethered to Christian Grey.

Hyde's burner phone rang and he noted the number. Damn. He ignored the ringing but it wouldn't stop.

"What the fuck do you want, ma? I'm fuckin' busy here," he snarled viciously.

"Yeah? You busy? Doin' what? You don't gotta job no more. At least, I ain't gettin' no checks from you. The cupboard's bare, Jackie boy. You gotta send money."

Hyde clenched his fist. "Don't have any money, ma. I'm eatin' out of dumpsters myself. It ain't…it isn't bad. You should try it." Hyde had worked hard to learn to talk better but one conversation with his mother and he was right back in a home where only sissies read.

"Jackie, I cain't barely walk. How'm I suppose ta climb inta a garbage bin? You'd like to see me starve, wouldn't ya, boy?"

Oh yes, I would, Hyde grimaced to himself.

"Okay, ma. I'll see what I can do. You living in the same dump?" After being assured that she was, Hyde rang off. He had no intention of sending her a dime. He'd say anything to end the conversation. He set the phone on the floor and stomped on it. He'd get a new Tracker phone at the Dollar General later.

Hyde threw himself on his filthy bed and tried to shut down his thoughts…but couldn't. His head was flooded with bile and bitterness. His whole life had been a snake pit of chaos…around him and inside him…and it had all started with ma. His earliest recollections were of ma and her men. One of those arseholes had gifted her with a kid and she kept the kid only because of the welfare check. She hadn't let him forget for one moment that he was easy money. She had nicknames for him…like Food Stamps. By the time he was five, she was sending him to the store to buy her ciggies and beer. The clerks…stupid women who felt sorry for him and his bruises…would give him what he was sent for and never had the brains to call a cop. Maybe if they had, he would have been sent to a nice foster home. Couldn't have been any worse than what he lived in already.

He didn't dare bring home a textbook from school. Ma would trash it and then tell the teacher that he lost it on the way home. He took to doing his homework in a shed behind the school building and then hiding it there until morning so that his mother couldn't tear it up and tell the teachers that she tried and tried but Jackie refused to do as he was told.

His black eyes and torn clothing? He had a terrible temper and would get into fights on the way to school and on the way home and after supper on the streets until late.

The teachers felt sorry for poor Mrs. Hyde…abandoned by Jackie's father because she was disabled and stuck with a rotten kid. They didn't believe Jack's 'lies'…especially when he spent recess beating up other kids.

On his 15th birthday…or what he thought was his birthday…he walked out the door and down the street to the nearest dumpster for dinner and a place to spend the night. Somehow he got his GED and jobs and an associate degree. He did okay until the day he got the mailroom job at GEH and had to see the nurse when he got a paper cut.

Meeting her was the best and worst day of his life.

CHAPTER 50

The tulips were all in bloom and Ray's grave was a riot of color. The grave diggers had done a great job with the design of the tulips. Grey decided that another tip was in order when he saw Ana's face light up.

Good morning, Mr. Coleman. Very pleased with tulip placement.

Good, good. We also placed perennial plants all around the grave. Tulips don't last long.

Great job. Expect my secretary to deposit tips in your account.

Well thanks, Mr. Grey. I'll tell the crew. I'll set up an app to let you know each year when the tulips are in bloom.

Appreciate it.

While Grey was texting, Ana was walking from tulip bed to tulip bed…then dusting Ray's marker…just general fussing. It was her way of taking care of Ray. Then she stopped and stood looking at the picture attached to the marker. Even as tears were slipping down her cheeks, she was smiling.

"I really love that you put this picture on the marker, Christian. I remember that day…I think. I caught my first fish…little guy. Threw him back."

Grey was stunned. Then he figured that Ana's imagination had made a story out of the picture. She was quiet now so he said nothing. She seemed calm. She hadn't slept well and, therefore, neither had Grey. Maybe when they got back to Escala, she would nap.

They sat on the bench…Ana leaning into Christian with his arm around her. Words weren't necessary. Christian turned to kiss her head as it rested on his chest. She was so vulnerable. His protective instincts were in overload…especially as Taylor approached with an expression on his face that was more than his usual stern look. Grey understood. He kissed Ana's head again and whispered that it was time to go. She needed to rest. She didn't object.

Taylor stood close beside them as they made their way to the Ute. He'd already had the windshield repaired but the bullet strikes on the body of the vehicle were still visible. The glint of light he'd seen from a nearby monument might be nothing but his gut told him to beware. He hurried the bosses into the Ute and locked the doors as he slid behind the wheel.

Without being told, Christian held Ana close with her head against his chest and his own head ducked down over Ana's.

"Home, James?" he joked with Taylor. Taylor didn't reply. His concentration was completely on what he was now certain was someone with a gun…someone expecting the Ute to drive forward and past him on the one lane road. Instead, Taylor backed up over a couple of gravestones and drove quickly in the opposite direction and through the Grey gates. He was upset with himself for leaving the gates open initially.

He and Grey felt the thuds of bullets hitting the back window as they retreated. Ana was falling asleep and didn't notice. As soon as they were through the gates, Taylor hit the remote to close them. The same idiot who must already know that his gun was useless against the Ute was now trapped inside Grey Cemetery.

Taylor notified the police that an unknown vehicle was illegally parked in the cemetery and asked to have it towed. The SPD had plenty to deal with on any given day but this was a request from the Greys so, naturally, a squad car and a tow truck were dispatched to the site tout de suite. Taylor also advised the dispatch that there was a man with a gun lurking in the cemetery.

Christian and Ana were his first concern so he informed dispatch that he would be leaving the scene. Again, this was the Greys and so the police were amenable to Taylor's decision. He looked in the rearview mirror as he drove fast over the winding roads of the massive cemetery to the main gates. The bosses were both sleeping.

There were no more thuds against the Ute so Taylor could relax just a bit. He was getting fed up with Jack Hyde…tired of dealing with his clumsy attempts to murder the bosses. Taylor determined to ramp up his efforts to find the son of a bitch and end him. Gail was having trouble sleeping, too.

Meanwhile, Jack was cussing and trying to kick over grave markers. How, he thought, do I keep missing my chances? I'm a smart guy, right? His loathing of the Greys grew more intense with every passing day as did his disappointment with nurse Ana. He'd watched as she sat on the bench with Grey. How could she not see that he was an evil man who was maniacally manipulating her? It was so obvious. Hyde was certain that Grey had had Ana's father killed to get him out of the way. He looked around him and wondered how many of these relatives Grey had murdered in his climb to the top. Hyde watched a lot of television…mostly murder mysteries…and he knew that the men in the penthouses had gotten there by disposing of rivals.

Jack was wandering idly around the cemetery, committing acts of vandalism willy-nilly, oblivious to the police creeping up on him until he was tackled and cuffed. They laughed when Jack tried to convince them that he was just visiting his great grandfather's grave…an ancestor he greatly admired.

"You admire a guy who helped to slaughter an entire tribe of indigenous people so he could take their land?"

Jack chuckled. "Yeah. I hate indigenous people."

CHAPTER 50

When Grey awoke as the Mercedes pulled into its parking space in the Grey garage, Taylor told him that the cops had Jack. Ana was still sleeping as Christian texted the DA.

Christian Grey here.

Good news, eh? Don't worry. I know what you're going to say.

No bail.

Already spoke with the judge. Charging Hyde with murder, multiple attempts at murder, trespassing and littering.

Littering?

You do want me to be thorough, right?

Keep me informed.

Christian let out a deep breath and grinned at Taylor as he held open the Ute door. He carried Ana to the elevator.

"Can't believe we got so lucky, Jason."

As they exited the elevator into the penthouse, the DA texted Taylor that the cops were going to over to Hyde's place. He offered Taylor the opportunity to come along and see what there was to find. Taylor immediately excused himself to Grey and returned to the elevator.

Gail raced up and looked over Ana. "She's okay, Gail. Just sleeping. Doesn't even know that Jack Hyde was at us again. Jason is going over to Hyde's apartment with the cops. Hyde is in jail and is not getting out again. Gail?"

Gail had her hands on Ana's head and was weeping. Christian found himself deeply touched and bent over to kiss Gail's head.

"Forget cooking dinner. We'll order pizza. Go get some sleep now. Promise?"

Gail nodded and wiped her tears with her apron. Grey hadn't thought of how hard all this must have been on Gail all this time. She loved Ana, too. He watched her turn to go to her apartment and then he carried Ana to bed. She slept while he undressed her and turned down the bed with one hand while holding Ana with his other arm. He tucked her in and then went into the en suite to shower. As he began to undress himself, he heard Ana whimpering. Bad dream. He could shower later.

He hurried back to the bed and laid down next to Ana…stroking her hair and murmuring his love for her. After she quieted down, he finished undressing and got under the covers with her…pulling her close. She sighed…subconsciously aware that he was with her and all was well.

"Hey, Taylor! Get a load of this treasure trove," DA Ludden called out from the bedroom. Taylor stopped his survey of the living area to move to the bedroom. Its contents were not necessarily a surprise but still, they sickened him. He expected that Hyde had an obsession with Ana after Ryan's chat with him at Dotty's but still…

Every inch of wall was covered with pictures of Ana and Grey. The photos of Christian had the eyes cut out and where he had his hands on Ana, they'd been amputated. Sometimes, Christian's head was lopped off and replaced with Jack's. They got weirder. Where Jack had made it appear that it was him with Ana, he plastered his hand on her breasts. One whole wall was devoted to bottomless Ana…he'd cut out the bottom half of women in porn magazines and pasted them over Ana's lower half if it was visible in the picture. He'd done quite a bit of rearranging of body parts with his face and Ana's body. He had a nicely framed composite depicting him receiving oral sex from a madly grinning Ana.

Jason and Ludden stood shaking their heads at this display. Ludden was accustomed to the ways of perverts but even he was a little shaken by Hyde's devotion to his craft. He snapped several pictures and sent them to the judge in charge to reinforce his plea for no bail.

Taylor started going through the dresser drawers and came across a journal.

"Not a guy I figured for journaling," Ludden said.

"It's all about Ana. Starts with the day he met her." Jason read a bit and then burst out laughing…not usually a Taylor trait.

"He'd just started in the mailroom at GEH and, before noon, got a paper cut." Ludden guffawed. "Listen to this…'GEH lacking in proper safety equipment. Cut index finger when opening personal letter mailed to the big guy. Bled badly. Had to visit clinic. Could have gone home but strong work ethic. Nurse had to bandage injury. Should probably return tomorrow for follow-up. Avoid affection or sepsis.'"

Ludden grinned, shaking his head. Taylor continued to read to himself and was soon no longer laughing. "Geez, what a sick arsehole."

"You're surprised after viewing these walls?" Taylor offered to hand over the evidence to Ludden but the DA passed for now. He'd read it later in his office when he had a wastebasket handy if he needed to retch.

"I appreciate your letting me in here but I think I've had enough. I'll just wait for your report. I don't envy you and the crew having to go through all this. Let me know if you find a blow-up doll under the bed."

Jason took his leave. He needed to get back to Gail and clear his head of this nasty scene. A couple hours of her sweetness and he'd feel clean again.

And Grey had better plan on ordering pizza if he wanted dinner.

CHAPTER 51

"It's been quiet. I think they're sleeping." Gail smiled up into Jason's face a foot above her. Good thing Jason gave excellent neck massages. He'd just told her that the SPD had Jack Hyde in custody with no chance of bail.

"Well…I'd hope not," Gail huffed at the very idea. "Murder, attempted murder…why would he get bail?"

"People do, honey. Of course, those people usually have top attorneys and connections. Hyde has neither. I'll wait until the bosses are up before I tell them. They didn't get much sleep last night."

"How do you know that?" Gail asked.

"It was too quiet," Jason smirked as Gail giggled. "Which reminds me. Now that Ana is home, I'm going to bring up the topic of soundproofing that room again. Now let's you and I get some sleep."

Gail was wrong about Grey sleeping. He'd tried but he'd rather watch Ana. It had been months since she moved back into Escala but he still marveled that he had her back and now, she was in his bed…naked…next to him. He pressed his lips to her soft shoulder and breathed in her scent. The feel of her skin, her fragrance…memories of the past flashed before him. All the times he'd lain with her…unbelieving that he'd found love, that he even believed it possible for a man like him…yet here she was and she'd accepted his proposal. He couldn't wait until he was a married man…until Ana was really his.

His parents would be appalled…although they should surely have seen it coming…but what of it? Let them snap and snarl and tell him that they were only thinking of him. That was a lie, he knew. His mother, in particular, was only thinking of her pride. Ana wasn't enough for her and her high society friends. Ana wanted children and Christian wasn't at all certain that he wanted his parents anywhere near his kids.

After that night, however, the family drama wasn't important anymore. Just…please, god…let her live. And she did.

Now as he lay with her, he began to hyperventilate…his heart pounding with anxiety. He tried to calm himself. All was well. Relax. He couldn't. He was suddenly back in that waiting room, covered in Ana's blood. He felt Ray's beefy arm around his shoulders…Ray's voice encouraging him to expect the best outcome. It didn't matter. Christian was already planning his way out of the unbearable pain of losing Ana. He would walk off the elevator, straight through the foyer and across the great room to the balcony and down to the pavement 25 stories below. He estimated 20 minutes from the surgeon's "I'm so sorry" to the car to Escala to the balcony to Ana. It would be a long 20 minutes until he was with her again.

"Christian! Christian! Wake up. I'm right here…with you. Everything is all right," Ana's voice was frightened and urgent. He opened his eyes. The fall hadn't hurt at all and they were together again. He took her beautiful face in his hands and just stared into her azure eyes.

"I want to marry you. Are we allowed to marry up here?"

Ana was puzzled. "On the 25th floor? I suppose. We'll call someone in the morning." She placed her hand on his heart and massaged his chest. "Please try to calm down, sweetie. Your heart is about to beat out of your chest. It's scaring me." In the light from the sunset, Christian could see Ana's pained expression.

"You're alive?" He hugged her hard. "You're alive!"

"Not for long if you don't ease up a bit," Ana laughed. He looked again at her face. "I had a dream."

"No, darling. You had a nightmare and a doozy at that. I couldn't wake you and I was getting so scared." She buried her face in his chest.

"Oh, geez. I thought that I was awake and thinking back to the night of the crash. Only you didn't live and I jumped off the balcony."

"Oh, baby. My lovely man. Please don't think about that anymore. Everything is fine now. Pretty soon Taylor will catch Jack and then we'll get married and live happily ever after."

"Ana, Taylor trapped Jack in the cemetery and the SPD picked him up. He's been in jail since I brought you home. No bail."

Ana beamed. "It was daddy! Daddy made sure that Jack didn't get away. I just know it."

Christian didn't argue. Besides, Ana could be right. Ray was twice Jack's size and an angry spirit, to boot. He began making love to his fiancée as he thanked Ray Steele and then ordered him out of the bedroom.

Grey was such a relieved and happy man at that moment that he'd even agree to pineapple and mushroom pizza later.

CHAPTER 52

"Hello, Jack. My name is Lester Gertz. I'm a psychologist."

"Get lost, Gertie. I don't need no shrink," Jack sneered at the slight, bespectacled man sitting across from him. For the safety of visitors, Jack was handcuffed to the table. He inwardly laughed. He could easily snap the chains if he wanted to, he thought. These chump cops didn't know who they were dealing with.

"Before your defense can proceed, the court needs to ascertain your competence to understand the charges laid against you, Mr. Hyde. Do you understand?"

"I got more competence than anybody you'll ever meet, doc." He showed his teeth like an angry German Shepherd and Dr. Gertz made a note.

"You are being charged with attempting to murder Dr. Grace Trevelyan-Grey, murdering Mrs. Elena Lincoln and attempting to murder Christian Grey, Ana Steele, Jason Taylor and Tom Ryan on two different occasions. There are several felonies and misdemeanors listed here as well. It's clear that the district attorney wants you prosecuted to the highest extent of the law. The first two charges alone will get you life in prison. Therefore, I have to determine your degree of sanity."

Jack jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over as he lunged at the doctor who remained calm. This wasn't his first cuckoo. The guard posted in the corner handled matters and soon Jack was again seated…and seething. The doctor made a note.

"Shall we continue, Mr. Hyde?" It was a rhetorical question. "When you were stabbing Dr. Grey, how did you feel?"

"I felt fabulous. I'd like to do it again. Offing Lincoln was even more fun 'cause she was scared, man…really scared. That Dr. Grey didn't even scream."

"You hoped that she would scream out in pain and fear, then?"

"Well, any normal person would, wouldn't they? It was kinda weird the way she just laid there while I went at her. Didn't cry. Didn't beg. Wouldn't even look at me…just turned her head and stared at the floor. Now that's kinda screwy, don't ya think?"

"How did you feel when you were shooting at your other victims?"

"Victims?! Let me tell you about the victim here, doc…me!"

"In what way did Mr. Grey and the others victimize you, Mr. Hyde."

"Lotsa ways. Discrimination, unlawful firing, no severance, disrespect of my person, lack of recognition of my talents and intelligence. I gotta high IQ, doc…well over 100."

"Can you tell me the number?" Dr. Gertz was scribbling like crazy and Jack kind of liked that. It showed that the doc was paying close attention…attention Jack deserved and didn't usually get from people.

"Nah…but I know it's high, like Einstein. Ya can just tell, ya know, from dealing with everyone out there. I had a conversation with a guy this morning and, boy, was he dumb," Jack laughed. "I probably had 50 IQ points on him."

"So, I'll just write superior intelligence then, shall I?" The doctor smiled at Jack. Hyde nodded vigorously. He was beginning to like this guy. He knew what he was doing.

"The police searched your apartment, Mr. Hyde." Jack's eyebrows shot up in indignation. "They found your walls dedicated to Ms. Steele and your journal entries about her. It seems that you were quite obsessed with her. Would you say that you were in love with her?"

"Not anymore, I ain't." He bowed his head. "I was at first 'cause I figured her for a real sweet girl but she turned out to be like all women. Girls are real shallow, ya know? They want a guy who looks like a movie star…a guy who's rich and buys them lots of stuff like jewels and fancy dinners. She had a bad crush on me until the boss started showing an interest in her. He took her to the Mile High Club! I couldn't treat her to that kind of thing on my salary. I told her that I was only starting out but in a few years I was gonna be important and have big bucks in the bank." Jack was quiet for a bit.

"But, she was shallow, like I said," he continued sadly. "It was too bad. So pretty. I had plans."

"What kind of plans, Jack?" the doctor asked as he studied Jack's face.

"I got a nice place over in Montana, in the mountains, where nobody would ever find us. I got it all fenced in so nobody could get in…"he stopped.

"Or out, Jack?" The doctor gently inquired.

"Well, at first, 'cause it might take her a while to get used to things the way I wanted them…but she'd come around and she woulda been happy enough. It's real pretty country."

"Jack, how do you feel about the charges against you? Do you feel that they are justifiable? Do you think that you're guilty of anything?"

This time Jack was quiet for a longer time. He scratched at the tabletop with his fingernails. He looked back at the guard who was looking at his phone.

"Look, that doctor and Lincoln…they were real ugly people who said a lot of terrible things about my future wife. I had to speak up for her, didn't I? Even though she hurt me, I still loved her. But then I found out that she lost her memory…forgot all about me. That was the final straw, doc. I did what I had to do 'cause I'm a man and a real man stands up for his convictions, don't he?"

"Yes, I supposed he does. Any regrets, Jack?"

"Yeah. I regret that day at the cemetery when I didn't take the shot when I had the chance. I just wanted to look at her for a little while longer…before I put a bullet in her brain. I wasted time."

Jack took a deep breath and stretched. "So, Gertie, am I sane enough for trial? I think I might like a nice asylum and some sweet drugs."

Dr. Gertz smiled kindly at Jack. "I think you're quite sane, Jack. I think that you're quite angry, too, and you let your ego take over your thinking. It got you into trouble. Be careful in jail, Jack. There are a lot of men in here who are bigger than you and they're even angrier."

Dr. Gertz took his leave and his pages of notes. The guard released Jack from the chains and led him back to his cell. As the cell door closed behind him, Jack surveilled his cramped quarters. His bunkmate was snoring. He'd taken a dump and hadn't flushed the toilet. If Jack flushed it now, the noise would wake up the hulk he lived with and there'd be a black eye in it for him. The cell was too small even for pacing. The window was too high up to look out and there was nothing to see anyway. He carefully climbed the ladder to the top bunk and retrieved the half-empty bag of Doritos he'd hidden in the sheets. He had to suck on the chips until they were too soft to make a sound and wake the brute below. Jack stared at the ceiling, trying to imagine Ana on top of him…her little breasts bouncing. He slipped his hand inside his pants.

CHAPTER 53

"Are you ready for this, sweetheart? We don't have to go," Christian reassured Ana.

"Do I look okay? Is this the right thing to wear to a Grey Sunday brunch? If I hadn't spent the past five years in hospital gowns and denim overalls, I might have some idea of how to dress. I want to look right for your family."

"Ah, those overalls. I used to look at you and think that all I'd have to do is unclip the straps and they'd fall to the ground," Grey grinned wickedly.

"And here I thought you were such a nice, clean-cut guy," Ana smiled shyly.

"I am a nice, clean-cut guy…just one who wants into your britches, baby."

"I think I'll switch back to the blue one." Ana ignored Christian's remark and went back into the closet. Christian sighed and sat back down on the bed. At least this way he could see into the closet and watch Ana remove her clothes. Of course, if she kept this up, he'd be getting up and they'd never get to his parents for the big reunion. Mia had flown in the night before…complaining about having to fly commercial first class which didn't compare to flying Grey III…which wasn't available.

Dr. Whalen had released Grace from private homecare after which it took Elliot approximately 30 seconds to beg Darcy for a date. They'd been on a date every night since and, according to Mia, he was thoroughly besotted. She wasn't so sure about Darcy, however. The nurse was playing it cool, she thought. Agreeing to a date every night for two weeks was not playing it cool, Christian pointed out.

"Elliot is eating with his mouth closed, Chrissy. So, I don't think he's spent the night with Darcy as yet."

"That's the one, honey. I like you in blue…anything that brings out the color in your eyes. I warn you. If you take your clothes off one more time, we're spending the afternoon in bed," Christian grinned, wiggling his eyebrows.

"You said that your parents didn't like me," Ana reminded him.

"That was many years and much blood loss ago. Mom is jumping out of her skin wanting to see you."

"Yes, but your father doesn't have brain damage. To him, I'm less suitable than I used to be.

Christian zipped up Ana's dress and wrapped his arms around her waist while nuzzling her neck. If only…but no, everyone was waiting. "My whole family is looking forward to seeing you…the whole family. I promise. Just prepare yourself for mom's effusiveness."

"The expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm," Ana recited. Christian smiled into her neck. She was so adorable…he felt his heart swell.

"Mom, sit down. Relax. They're just a little bit late. Either Ana can't figure out what to wear or Chrissy keeps taking it off of her," Mia said, coaxing her mother to the couch. Carrick chuckled behind the newspaper.

"Elliot and Darcy are late as well," Carrick reminded his wife.

"Well, that's just Elliot stopping the truck every few blocks to neck with her," Grace replied mildly as Mia stared. She hadn't been living with the new Grace as much as Carrick and could still be startled by Grace's lack of a filter.

"I guess that I'm going to have to get to know Darcy," Mia said.

"I wish your young man could have made the trip with you, dear," Grace sighed. "We've yet to meet him and you've been with him for a year, isn't it?"

"It's a busy time of the year for Luc, mom. Tourist season. He gets barely any rest. He's hoping to come for a visit when things die down a bit."

There were heavy footsteps in the foyer as Elliot and Darcy appeared. Grace smiled, secretly worrying over her tile. "Hello, dears. How are you today?"

Elliot and Darcy kissed Grace and greeted Carrick who waved and then returned to his newspaper. Grace chided him about ignoring his guests.

"Guests? They practically live here. Besides, this is the Sunday edition…lots to get through."

"Chris and Ana were right behind us. Chris texted me to keep the greeting nonchalant. Ana's nervous. So, let's all be cool, okay?"

Moments later Christian came into view with Ana trailing behind him. He put his arm around her waist and held her close. He murmured something to her that made her smile. "Hello, everyone. This is the love of my life, Ana Steele. Keep in mind that she suffers from amnesia and doesn't remember any of you. I'm going to make introductions. Dad, put down the paper.

"Ana, you know Elliot." Elliot smiled at Ana and said that it was so nice to see her again. She smiled brightly at him. He was easy to be with and she knew that he liked her.

"This is Darcy, Elliot's girlfriend." Ana offered her hand and said hello. Darcy stared for a moment and then whispered to Elliot that Ana was such a beauty. Elliot whispered back that the Grey men liked their women drop dead gorgeous and then he kissed the top of her head as she smiled.

"This is my little sister, Mia." Mia couldn't help herself. She began to cry and had to grab Ana into a big hug. Mia was several inches taller than Ana and was wearing heels as well so Ana was crushed against Mia's bosom. "I didn't realize how much I've missed you, Ana."

"Did we know each other well, Mia?" The reminder of all that was lost brought on a fresh session of Mia sobbing. Elliot guided his sister to a chair and held her hand as she tried to collect herself. Ana looked at Christian, a little lost. He kissed her cheek and told her that all this drama was a good thing. She nodded bravely.

"And these are my parents…Grace and Carrick." He held his breath. Carrick held back while Grace approached Ana slowly with a sweet smile on her face. "I want so badly to embrace you, Ana, but perhaps you'd rather that we take our time?" Ana's heart was warmed by this motherly woman and so she opened her arms to Grace who rushed into them. "Oh, my darling girl. Thank you for bringing my son back to us and for making him so very happy. We owe so much to you and we're all so thrilled to have you home."

Ana believed her and thanked her for being so kind. Then she turned to Carrick. "I know that you have doubts, Mr. Grey, but that's okay. It's nice to meet you." She held out her hand and Carrick took it in both of his, smiling his hello. Ana was right. He did have his doubts, still…but he'd no intention of alienating his son in any way. So Ana didn't suit. So what? They'd manage. That was when he saw the ring…it was hard to miss.

Ana caught his eye on her finger. "Hope I didn't hurt you with this thing. Gigantic isn't my taste so Christian and I are going to get something smaller." Carrick inwardly approved that this girl wasn't a gold digger.

Mia had jumped to her feet to inspect the ring. "Well done, Chrissy. Are you certain that you want to return this, Ana. It's a knockout."

"Actually, I could do without an engagement ring, Mia. I'm not used to jewelry of any kind except for the barrettes that Christian got me for daddy's funeral…these are glass. Aren't they pretty?"

All heads swiveled to a sheepish Christian who then tried to divert the conversation from the high carat diamond barrettes in Ana's hair. "Yes, Ana would prefer a simple gold band but I want her to wear my ring. I want people to know that she's mine."

"Caveman," Mia sniped. Ana giggled. "He's quite protective and I suppose that possessiveness goes along with that. I don't mind. One of the issues that my psychologist and I worked on in Gstaad was my reluctance to surrender any of my independence. I'm still working on how to love someone and still be my own person. Christian has been truly patient while I make adjustments. So many adjustments."

"We get it, Ana," Elliot grinned. "Suddenly having a whole family like this can be overwhelming. The Greys can be overwhelming."

"Nonsense, Elliot," Grace objected. "We're just a normal family…nothing unusual. Ana, you will be comfortable in no time. We hope that you'll be spending a lot of time with us. Now that that sick man is in prison, you don't have to be imprisoned in that penthouse."

"Yes, now we can go shopping together again and have lunch. I've really missed our talks, Ana," Mia enthused.

"I shop?"

CHAPTER 54

After ascertaining that only Mia shopped while Ana accompanied her, the family sat down to dinner. Christian smiled. Having his mother like Ana made all the difference. Ana still said little but there was no strain in the conversation. Grace kept putting food on Ana's plate and Ana picked at it, moved it around and listened to everyone else talk.

Christian put his arm around the back of Ana's chair but unlike in the past, did not push her to eat. Dr. Flynn had counseled him to be less controlling even if his intentions were good. Ana needed autonomy to as great a degree as possible given her disabilities. When she excused herself to visit the powder room, it took all of his restraint to stay seated. Watching her struggle with just her cane hurt his heart but, as Flynn lectured him, the disabled wanted to hang onto as much of their independence as they could. When Ana returned, she kissed his cheek.

"Good job, my white knight," she teased. She could see him visibly relax upon her return.

"Your house is just lovely, Mr. and Mrs. Grey…warm and inviting." Grace beamed.

"I've been doing a lot of redecorating during my recovery. I didn't realize how stiff and cold the place was before. When I first returned from the hospital, I was in so much pain and under so much medication that I didn't notice at first. However, the better I felt…thanks to my wonderful nurse…the more I looked around and didn't like what I saw. Such stuffy décor. I had the mansion done up like a…well…mansion instead of a home."

Carrick patted his wife's hand. "I came home one day from court and found everything upended. The couches had been replaced, the chairs, the artwork, the white carpeting was gone. I just stood stunned at the makeover. It took some time to realize that I really approved of the changes. Now the place looks like a regular family lives here…not the royal family."

"Well, I'm ashamed to say, I took a lot of my cues from that Lincoln woman…ghastly taste. I don't know why no one ever told me. I don't suppose I would have been receptive."

"Grace is doing quite well," Darcy changed the subject. "Her body has almost entirely replaced its red blood cells. Dr. Whalen thought that it would take twice as long due to the volume needed but she's show astonishing resilience. He was also surprised that my services weren't needed for as long as he thought. You're quite impressive, Grace."

Grace smiled…forgetting about Elena and her influence. Elliot gazed at Darcy with such admiration.

Ana and Christian exchanged knowing looks. Maybe Elliot's skank days were over. Mia was right, however, it was obvious that the adoration factor was all on Elliot's end. Darcy was sweet to him, laughed at his jokes and was affectionate with him but she didn't appear to be head over heels for him. And Elliot knew it. He was eating with his mouth closed.

Ana asked Mia a lot of questions about her life in Burges and her fiancé, Luc. Maybe, she said to Christian, we could go to Burges for a visit with Luc and eat chocolate. Christian gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and nodded. Anything she wanted. Mia got very excited.

"I know the area like the back of my hand. I speak the language. We can go everywhere and I'll be a great tour guide."

Ana nodded, smiling, and didn't mention her difficulty with walking far. As Mia encouraged everyone else to hop on a Grey jet, Christian said that he could get motorized carts to take them everywhere because he certainly wasn't tromping all over Bruges all day on foot. Mia teased him about getting old. Then everyone joined in to say that they, too, were getting old and they'd take one of those carts as well.

Conversation was loud and constant and Ana was included in everything. She was asked her opinion. The family was curious about her life in the cabin and then she had much to say. Christian could tell that she missed the place. He'd take her for a visit soon.

While everyone was preoccupied, he texted Taylor to see that the cabin was ready for their visit. The caretaker would have to move out for a couple of days.

Everyone moved into the living room for dessert. Christian reluctantly released his hold on Ana so that she could sit next to Mia who was missing Luc as she looked around at all the happy couples. Once again, his heart ached with love for Ana. She was so kind, so thoughtful and caring. Brain damage and years of difficult recovery had not changed the essence of his beautiful fiancée.

He sat in a club chair, watching everyone and feeling a sense of contentment, of normalcy. It was all new to him…this pleasant, warm family environment. He would fight hard to keep it…and that fight was coming.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he instinctively knew that this call would shatter the peace in his heart. He ignored the call and went back to admiring Ana. Her smile, her giggle, her shining eyes, the way she touched Mia with her soft little hands. It was all here…his world. It was such a special, perfect world. All he would ever want. Everything he would ever need. And he had it now.

The vibration in his pocket began again and he felt his stomach roil. No. Damn. He would not let the hell outside this warm room get to him and his. The vibration seemed to grow stronger and more persistent.

Ana looked at him and read him instantly. She turned to Mia and excused herself. Then she got to her feet and walked over to Christian, taking his hand and walking with him to a room down the hall. Closing the door, she waited as he pulled the phone from his pocket.

CHAPTER 55

"Yes, Taylor. Oh. When? How? Yes, I know. Of course, whatever needs to be done. I'll speak with Latner's parents. Yes, please do that. No. No, I'm calm and I'm not going to do anything crazy. I'm with my family. I'll talk with Ana but no need to disturb the others…yet. Taylor? Be careful."

Christian put the phone back in his pocket and tore his hands through his hair as he walked to the window. The tension rolled off of him and over the room like falling water. Ana reached out a hand, beckoning him. He sat next to her, pulling her unto his lap and holding her tight.

"I won't let anything bad happen to you ever again, Ana. I will protect you with my last breath. Losing you would end me." He breathed in the scent of her hair. He wanted so badly to be safely inside her.

"Tell me," she said quietly. "Everything". Her eyes were darkened and steady. She was a Steele and there was steel inside of her. There always had been but five years of fighting for her life had strengthened her even more. She would protect all that good fortune had given her…Christian in particular.

"There was a fight at the jail that developed into a riot. Two guards were killed and three men escaped…including Hyde. That was last night. The SPD kept it quiet to prevent a panic which, of course, left the public vulnerable and open to danger. Two of the escapees broke into homes and assaulted the residents…molesting a teenage girl and shooting her father. He's in the ICU. The cops got them…shot one."

"Hyde?" Ana asked.

"No sign of him until this afternoon. Somehow he stole a truck and headed north. He knew where you lived once. He's been studying you for years. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about the depth of his obsession…about the wall of pictures and the journal. He's got this whole fantasy world in his head. He thinks that you had a crush on him but that I came around and charmed you with my good looks and my money. It turned out that you were actually not the sweet girl he believed you to be. You are as shallow as all women who only want a meal ticket…the richer the better. So, you dumped him, had him fired and went to dinner with me at the Mile High where he could never afford to take you. He's very angry about your betrayal and feels that he has to punish you, deprogram you and then keep you contained at some fenced property in the mountains of Montana."

"Yikes! Did he go to my cabin?" She knew the answer. She tried to hold tight to her emotions.

"He got hold of a gun somewhere, killed the caretaker and burned the place to the ground. It's all ashes, Ana. Taylor had men rake through it all thoroughly in hopes of finding something but aside from a few pieces of glass and metal, the conflagration was pretty intense. The volunteer fire department had never dealt with something that bad. It was all they could do to contain it to the property. The woods and the dock are safe. I'm so sorry, Ana. Oh, baby." He rubbed her back and kissed her face.

Ana remained unmoving…seemingly calm. She could hold it together for a while, he knew, but eventually she'd break down.

"I'll have to go visit daddy. Let him know that our home is gone." Christian just nodded his assent.

"Was the caretaker Mr. Latner? He was so pleased with being given that assignment. He said it was like heaven. He took good care of the property. He sent pictures of the tulips. He just has parents, correct? Where do they live, Christian?"

"Here in Seattle. I have to go see them."

"We'll go see them. I want to show them the pictures…tell them how happy he was to be living there." Again, Christian just nodded his assent.

"Do we know where Hyde is now?"

"No. We know that he's got a gun…that he's desperate and crazy and mad. He'll be coming for you. He's cunning. He's good at sussing out your location so we've got to get you somewhere that he can't get to you. I've got a chalet in Aspen. My parents have a ranch in Montana. We could go to Europe…". Christian rambled on while Ana was deep in thought.

"No."

"What? What do you mean, no?"

"I'm not running. I want him to come to me. I want to get him." Christian's eyes grew wide.

"Use yourself as bait? Not on your life. He doesn't want to stop and talk with you. He wants to murder you!"

"I'm not going into hiding…wondering how long or if Taylor can find him. He did all this to me," she said, gesturing to her body. "I want to talk to him…let him know that he didn't defeat me. There's a way to send him a message, I'm sure. I just have to think for a bit. He'll be expecting a helpless little ninny. Well, maybe I was naïve and silly five years ago but I'm not that girl anymore. I'm a woman and I'm strong, Christian. You tell Taylor that I want Hyde to find me. I want him to think that I'm alone and defenseless. He'll be real surprised to find out what he turned me into that night when he slammed into your R8.

"By the way, I want to drive that hot little number you stashed in the corner of your garage. And maybe I'll take a pile of your money and get myself an R8, a fancy wardrobe, some jewelry…everything that Jack thinks I'm using you to get. That'll get our conversation started."

Christian stared at his woman. Lord, she was hot! He got up, locked the door and did everything he'd wanted to do since he watched her that morning in the closet. Still, he could barely keep up with her.

Meanwhile, the family enjoyed their dessert and speculated about the whereabouts of the "children".

CHAPTER 56

Lying sweaty and breathing hard, Christian and Ana continued bickering about Ana's determination to go after Hyde and Christian's determination to get her to the moon if necessary. They were getting nowhere except heated so they made love again, interrupted by knocking on the door.

"Mr. Grey, I need to speak with you about Jack Hyde." Taylor was insistent so, frustrated, Christian pulled his cock out of Ana's mouth and pulled on his pants. Ana whined but it couldn't be helped. She wrapped a pashmina around her as Christian answered the door.

Meanwhile, the family was again gathered in the living room. Elliot and Darcy had tried to take a walk down to the water when two men in black suits stepped in front of them.

"We apologize, Mr. Grey, but we'll have to ask you and Ms. Darcy to return to the house immediately."

Elliot looked around to see a small army of coverts ringing the lawn. He tightened his grip on Darcy's hand and then, without questioning, led her quickly to the back door of Grey Manor. As they crossed the patio, Darcy looked down to notice several smears of red on the stone. She shivered as she thought of that day with Mrs. Lincoln.

As soon as they were back inside, the agents went about drawing the drapes and the curtains in the kitchen. Margaret was surprisingly nonchalant about this development. She began making up trays of snacks and tea to take out to the family. She knew these "precautions" would be rattling them. She herself had grown up in a rough neighborhood where she and her sisters were taught to stay away from windows and to play on the floor.

Elliot wasn't concerned about the danger. He'd had years to grow accustomed to being trailed by coverts but now he was worried that Darcy would be rethinking her relationship with a man who needed his truck checked for bombs. He smiled at her and reassured her that "these guys are the best. Nothing can touch us". She did not look convinced.

Back in the library, Taylor loomed over the couple on the couch. He tried to avert his eyes from Ana's naked shoulders. He trained them instead on Mr. Grey's red face and sweaty curls.

"We have reliable information that Jack Hyde is near…possibly even just outside. We've got people everywhere but we're not taking any chances. The police are guarding Escala. They found a homemade bomb tucked next to Charlie's booth. It was on a timer…set to go off around 8 p.m."

"Around the time Ana and I would return home. Was this bomb enough to take out the building or…?"

Taylor interrupted. "It was intended to start a fire…one that could consume the building and its occupants. We did a more thorough background check on Jack Hyde. Some years ago, as an angry teenager living on the street, he fell in with a gang that liked to blow things up. He learned about bomb making and how to ignite intense fires…like the one that destroyed Ray's cabin.

"Charlie was badly shaken but he refused to leave his post. The bomb squad went through the building from basement to penthouse, hunting for anything…hmm…else that could cause harm. The security team is going over surveillance tapes. I had Gail pack a few things and then had her taken to the Fairmont. She argued with me, of course."

"The Presidential Suite, I hope."

"Yes, sir. I have guards posted as well. We have no idea what this man is capable of doing. And, before you ask, yes. Grey House is under guard and Roz is being watched. We posted guards outside hers and Gwen's home."

"How long can we go on like this? Please, Christian, let me handle it," Ana pleaded.

Taylor's eyebrows shot up. "Handle what, Ms. Steele?" he demanded to know in a stern voice.

"Ana has this idea that she should allow us to use her as bait to corner Jack."

Taylor almost laughed except that it was most definitely not funny. "It would be completely unprofessional of me to consider such a thing…not to mention that five years without you made Escala a misery. Not doing that again. No."

"If you just listen to me for a moment…" Ana argued.

"Ms. Steele, we're dealing with a lunatic who is liable to do anything. We have the best security team in the country ready to deal with him. Why would we tie a goat to a post?"

"Huh?"

"It's just an allusion to a movie about dinosaurs." Ana stared at Christian. "We'll watch it later."

"I know what we can use as a post," she said…as both men regarded her with disbelief.

CHAPTER 57

Relaxing at Elliot's place, his arm around her shoulder as they watched a movie, Darcy was especially quiet. He usually enjoyed watching films with Darcy whose quick wit had him roaring with laughter as she eviscerated silly plots and bad acting. Now…her silence was disturbing.

"Darc? Are you reconsidering a relationship with the brother of Christian Grey and all that comes with him?"

Darcy snuggled in closer. "Too late, I think. I will confess to wishing that I could…but no. I'm in too deep. I understood that your brother had enemies and guards but I was naïve to think that your lives were not entangled."

Elliot said nothing for some time. Then…"I should have warned you…but I was naïve, too. Before you, I had a sex life that consisted of going from girl to girl…well, the coverts and my CPO were not a problem. I never knew any woman well enough to care. Until today I never thought about the danger I was in as a danger to anyone else. I'll let you go, Darcy. It'll kill me but you shouldn't let that stop you. I mean that. It would be better for you and I wouldn't have to worry about you."

Darcy said nothing.

As the days went by, living behind blackout drapes and worrying about the men and women putting their lives on the line for her was getting to Ana.

"I mean it, guys. We could stage a fight between me and Christian. I could pretend to be angry about losing my cabin and blame you…unreasonably, of course, honey. I scream that I'm tired of being imprisoned in this pretty jail. I want to be free of guards and surveillance. I don't believe that Jack would hurt me. He just feels betrayed and I don't blame him…etc."

Christian looked wounded. Ana took his face in her hands. "The fight would be only for Jack's benefit. You know that I like all the guys who look out for me. Don't look so serious."

"Ana, I suppose that you will then hop a bus to Montesano to see the ashes of your cabin and Jack will follow you. We will already have men on the bus and surrounding the cabin area before you even leave town. However, as I said, we don't know what Jack is capable of at this point. According to his journal, he is disappointed in you and he is wondering if it is possible to save you anymore. He may just put a bullet in your brain."

"I know that he'll follow me and I know that he's been watching for so long that he'll recognize any of your men. We'll have to get several new people and I'll have to show that I expect to be followed. I'll switch from the bus to a cab to another bus and finally to an Uber which will be driven by one of your men. By the time I arrive home…"

Christian flinched. Seattle was home. Escala and Grey Manor were home…weren't they?...after all this time?

"…you'll have men in the trees…snipers across the river, hiding in the weeds. If Jack pulls a gun on me, you'll have guns on him. However, I truly believe that the sight of me in overalls and pigtails, crying over the ruins of my home, will deceive Jack into thinking that I've not been so thoroughly brainwashed by the Greys. He'll want to talk…tell me all about our happy future together in a cabin in the mountains of Montana. You could hit him with a tranquilizer dart."

Taylor was staring at Ana in disbelief. She was as crazy as Jack.

"I know that you think that I'm deluded but I'm not. My brain may not have been working well for a long time but it is now. I'm thinking clearly for the first time in years. I'm angry. This is my family and Jack has already tried to kill Grace. All this horror is going to make my family sick. I want to be proactive. I'm sorry to say this, Taylor, but your methods aren't working. Unless I'm wrong. Do you have a secret plan to get this guy…and fast?"

Grey was surprised to see his security chief looking pale. Jason was embarrassed. Oh, dear. He was going to resign again. Grey had to stop this.

"Jason, maybe we could get a double and use Ana's plan? I believe that you're doing all you can right now but this hiding and worrying is getting to everyone and especially you. You're not sleeping well, are you? And now Gail could be in trouble as well. As we speak, you're thinking about her in that hotel room and whether Jack will try to show you that you can't save her. Am I right?"

Christian had hit Taylor where he lived. When it came to Gail, his good sense wavered. Grey was right. As long as Jack was on the loose, Taylor would be distracted by his fear for Gail. Jack, by now, was no doubt very aware of who was in charge of the Grey's safety and, by extension, what Taylor had to lose. He might decide to destroy Taylor by killing Gail. Without Taylor, a security team that rivaled the secret service would be severely compromised. The men would be adrift and Ana would be vulnerable.

Could Ana be right?

CHAPTER 58

The atmosphere at Grey Manor was rather grim. With the windows covered, it was perpetual evening. Carrick had to work from home which wasn't easy with Elliot spending his days moping on his father's couch. His CPO would drop him off every morning for breakfast followed by El drinking his dad's bourbon until he passed out. The hard part for Carrick was when Elliot woke up and started in about missing Darcy.

"Why did I do it, dad? Darcy's the best thing to ever happen to me…but I'm probably the worst thing to ever happen to her. I just didn't feel that I had a choice. I didn't, did I, dad? She could have gotten caught in the crossfire. The only way to protect her was to stay away from her. As soon as Hyde realizes that she's no longer in my life or Christian's, he'll forget about her. She'll be safe.

"I did the right thing. She'll find someone else…a good guy from an ordinary family. A year from now I'll just be a bullet she dodged.

"I need a drink," Elliot moaned as he lurched toward the liquor cabinet in his father's study.

"Elliot, you're going to get alcohol poisoning if you keep this up," Carrick cautioned as he pushed his son back from the bar. "I want you to go upstairs to your old room and take a long nap. We'll call you when it's time for dinner."

Elliot protested as Carrick put an arm around him and helped him out the door. He called for Elliot's CPO and told him to take Elliot upstairs and make certain that he got to bed. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and went back inside to immerse himself in legal, boring, paperwork.

Grace, on the other hand, had had to take a break from her work. She kept in touch with the hospital by Zoom but it wasn't close enough for her. Trying to explain a patient's condition or to calm nervous parents by Skype was almost useless to her. Shifting the care of a child or a mother-to-be to other doctors made her feel as though she were abandoning them.

Mia was on the phone every day to Luc who missed her terribly but she just didn't feel that she could leave her family right then. Yes, he understood. Of course, she had to stay and support them but knowing that wouldn't keep Luc from being scared for her. Grace tried to tell Mia to go back to Belgium but Mia refused. If something happened to anyone while she was gone, she'd never forgive herself.

Things between Ana and Christian weren't good, either. Ana was overcome with guilt for what she felt was her fault. Because of her, Elliot lost Darcy. Because of her, Mia was without Luc. Because of her, Roz was doing Grey's job as well as her own. She had moved into his office with its bedroom and en suite while her wife and son were at home worried that Hyde would somehow blow up Grey House. Because of Ana…everything was wrong.

Nothing anyone said to her could convince her otherwise.

"Ana, dear," Grace consoled as she put her arms around Ana, "because of you, this whole family is closer than it has been in many years. We don't like the situation, that is true, but no one thinks of this as your problem. It is our problem. A crazy man is trying to hurt you, to hurt all of us and we are all in this together."

However, all Ana could see was the misery all around her as they sat in the darkened rooms and waited until something terrible happened because of a maniac's obsession with her.

She was gradually coming to the conclusion that only she could stop this torment. It was up to her to end this war.

CHAPTER 59

Jack may have been crazy but he was smart enough to know that the Greys would ultimately crack under the pressure of his harassment. He was sending letters every day describing what he was going to do to ruin them…physically and mentally. Taylor was not revealing that they received these letters. He was hiding them under his mattress! Seemed silly but he was certain that no one would look there.

He hadn't counted on Ana's keen eye and sneaky ways. She watched him constantly and as soon as he left the house, she went to his room and perused his stash. What she read disgusted her, made her furious…not the reaction that Jack was undoubtedly expecting. She was not frightened. Her anger, watching her family crumbling, only made her more focused on finding a way out of this hell he'd created.

Far from seeking to hide from Jack, Ana wanted badly to see him. So, she made her own plans. One day, after Taylor and Christian had gone to GEH, she persuaded Mia to go shopping…although not much persuasion was necessary.

"Mia, I'm feeling like a caged animal. How about you and I go shopping?"

Mia lit up, squealing with delight. Their CPOs didn't feel the same but gathered their little army of coverts and piled into their caravan of armored Mercedes Utes and off they went. The trip downtown was uneventful…as Ana expected. Ana chose a neighborhood new to Mia but she was curious and she liked the little bohemian shops in the area. Ana liked the variety of pawn shops. She dragged Mia in and out of them, exhibiting excitement over all the various articles for sale. But she knew what she was really looking for.

Finally, the CPOs grew tired of dress shops and antique shops and pawn shops and decided to wait outside after making an initial sweep of the interiors. They stood outside watching the street and the windows of the buildings around them. They were also fairly certain that Hyde wanted to kidnap Ana…not shoot her out of the blue and with their numbers, he wouldn't have a shot at that today.

Finally, Ana found what she'd been hoping to find…a boutique next door to a pawn shop. She persuaded Mia to go dress shopping while Ana would muck around the pawn shop. As her CPO did a sweep, Ana pretended to be fascinated by the myriad of items available. She showed no interest in the guns, of course.

"What did you do today?" Christian asked as he wrapped his arms around Ana's lithe body. She was still too thin for his comfort but he'd been advised by Dr. Flynn to "let it go"…and he certainly didn't want to add to the stress she was under. She had taken on the entire load of responsibility for Jack Hyde's actions. Maybe…if she been more intuitive when he'd appeared in her clinic with his paper cut. Maybe…if she'd been cooler, more professional instead of kind and understanding. Every time he came in with some small issue, she understood that he was really in need of someone to talk with…someone to sympathize with his insecurities.

"You couldn't know that he was mentally unhinged, Ana. People like him are drawn to kind, lovely people like you and people like you think well of others. You don't see crazies coming. You are not the first person to be nice to someone who then decides to stalk you. And Jack isn't even that unusual. Stalkers don't give up and it's hard to stop them.

"I think that you are the most beautiful, kindest, sweetest woman I've ever known. After everything that you've been through, you have never let cynicism consume you. Jack isn't your fault. Please believe that."

Christian pressed his lips lightly on Ana's…gradually increasing the pressure until he gently slipped his touch into her mouth and touched hers. Then he played with her lips for a while, slowly moving his down to her neck and shoulders. A deep groan emanated from his throat as he griped her waist with one arm and slid his other hand up her back to hold her head while he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Ana was breathing harder…her hands clutching his hair. Oh, what he could do to her. She wouldn't let Jack take anything away from her…that is, nothing more. She was ready to stop him.

Her CPO thought that she'd purchased a guitar but her smile was not for her musical instrument. It was for the gun tucked inside…below the strings.

As soon as she got home, she hid the gun. She could play guitar a little…just a few chords but it was enough to convince the family that her visit to the pawn shop was innocent.

She had to move soon and fast. She'd made all her plans. As she lay in Christian's arms, listening to him softly breathe, she went over all the details…making certain that she hadn't missed anything. She felt that everything was up to her now. If she didn't follow through on her plans, matters would continue as they were…badly and tediously.

Curtains draw…surrounded by a small army of armed men…fear of leaving the house and fearful of someone getting in…afraid that Christian won't return that day from GEH…fear.

Taylor and Christian thought that Ana was still that fragile, broken girl that Jack Hyde had destroyed all those years ago. Jack thought the same thing. Well, Ana was about to prove them all wrong. She hoped.

CHAPTER 59

The most difficult part of escaping Grey Manor was leaving Christian alone in bed. He had an uncanny sense of knowing that Ana wasn't with him. If she tried to pretend to have a cold and want to sleep in another room to avoid sharing her germs, that wouldn't fly with her fiancé. He didn't care if she had a virulent case of leprosy…he was not going to sleep without her. If she pretended to have a raging UTI which caused her to get up for the toilet a dozen times a night, he did not adjust. He would awake each time and wait for her to return. Of course, he would also then worry. If she said that she couldn't sleep and wanted to read in the library, he would insist that she stay in bed with a booklight while he wrapped an arm around her. If she made it to the library, he'd follow and nestle with her on the couch.

His devotion was endearing…and annoying as all hell under the circumstances.

Finally, Ana prevailed upon Grace for an Ambien to help her to sleep. She felt like an absolute wretch grinding up the contents of the capsule and mixing it into a glass of water for Christian. She feigned concern that he was looking dehydrated. As soon as he dropped off, she tested its efficacy one night and was pleased to see that…while he didn't stay out all night…he did stay asleep long enough for Ana to dress and slip away. So, she borrowed one more Ambien.

She had carefully noted all the blind spots of the camera surveillance. Covered by Christian's robe, she made it down to the library where she ditched the robe and climbed out the window with a backpack over her scrubs. As she dodged blind spots in a zig zag fashion behind the house and ducked into the woods, she made a mental note to speak later with Taylor about the gaps in surveillance. She had only minutes before the security team would notice someone in the backyard but it would be enough. Those woods may have defeated Elena Lincoln but that hag wasn't a country girl who grew up next to a forest. By the time the team realized that the someone who was running through the backyard was Ana, she would be on her way down the river.

As she made her way through the woods, she reflected on many things…how crazy this idea was…how terrified her poor Christian would be and how furious…ditto Taylor…how flimsy her plan…that she might be getting herself killed…that she might be misjudging Jack's intentions…even how much more difficult this trip through the woods had turned out to be.

Nonetheless, Ana had made up her mind and she had learned…after years of adapting to injuries and working like a fiend in therapy…that once her mind was made up, she was incapable of change. She did not reflect on this flaw in her character. If she had, she would have turned around and gone back to Grey Manor, made her apologizes and gone back to bed.

No. She had made up her mind and she was going to lure Jack Hyde into a trap and she was going to end this painful drama.

Then, no matter the success of her mission, she was going to have to face Christian and possibly find herself locked in a panic room eating gruel. Gosh, he was going to be sooo angry. She'd had glimpses of what fear of losing her could do to him and she was not at all looking forward to facing his wrath. She would have to keep her eye on the prize and not the aftermath. Years of recovery and therapy had taught her to have a laser focus on her goals to the exclusion of all else and she would use that honed talent to accomplish her objective.

As she silently floated in the darkness down river, she looked back toward the direction of Grey Manor. She was far enough away to be unable to detect any activity and she chose not to think about what might be happening back there. To do so would bring up emotions that would get in her way.

The further she removed herself from the people she loved, the more she was able to concentrate on the man she hated and her intentions toward him. And those intentions were as evil as any Ana had ever conjured in her short life.

CHAPTER 60

Eyes blazing, face red, hands fisted, hair sticking up in all directions…anyone who didn't know him better would think that Christian Grey was furious beyond reason…ready to kill. Those who knew him, however, were not fooled. His apparent anger was just a cover for the terror that had taken over his heart and brain.

Ana was gone. Security had searched the house and the grounds. They'd investigated every form of transportation…buses, Ubers, taxi cabs, trains, planes and automobiles. Her phone was still in the bag she'd left behind. She had simply walked away.

It had taken them a while to figure out that Ana had left through the woods. Those woods were bad. They had nearly killed Elena Lincoln so it wasn't immediately apparent to the team that Ana and her cane could trapse through the same territory with ease. They brought in dogs to trace her scent…hoping to find her fallen over a dead tree…but the dogs were confused by the trail she hadn't left. She seemed to have walked through every puddle, constantly cutting the trail cold.

Eventually, they tracked her to the water's edge. There were signs of a boat being dragged off the shore but which direction had she gone? She had a good head start in either of two directions…unless she had simply crossed to the other side so again the dogs started trying to pick up her trail…to no avail. It was marshy and too wet to hold a scent.

When told the measures being taken, Grey exploded. "We know where she's going! Why are you wasting time?"

Taylor calmly explained that nothing could be taken for granted. Yes, he also believed that Ana was heading for Montesano and the ashes of her home but she was limping along on a cane and could easily fall and hurt herself on the way. They had to be certain that she wasn't out there in trouble.

Grace was crying while Elliot attempted to comfort both her and Mia who couldn't stop trembling. Carrick was working the phones…alerting every agency of law enforcement between Seattle and Montesano to be on the lookout for Ana…and Jack Hyde. He watched his son crumbling with fear and felt such anger at Ana.

She had left a letter apologizing for her actions but imploring the family and Christian to understand that she couldn't stand to see them go on this way. She had brought misery into their lives and felt that only a confrontation with Jack could settle matters.

I love you all and you have given me such love in return. Your lives are disintegrating and it's all my fault. I am going to face this man wherever he finds me and end this life of fear. I promise you that I've thought this all through and I know what I'm doing. I will live, Christian, and then I will love you the rest of my life with everything I have. Please trust me.

I love you…Ana.

The team headed for Montesano…Christian and Taylor in Charlie Tango. Taylor insisted on doing the flying…having no faith in his boss's control at the moment. Ana was way ahead of them, somehow, and even the helicopter would take at least 2.5 hours to reach the cabin site. By that time, Jack and Ana could be facing each other down. Neither believed that Jack would allow Ana to live.

Ana had arranged for the cash purchase of a sports car in Portland. The dealer was pleased to get the car off his lot. Everyone wanted SUVs. Ana was in a big hurry. She knew that Christian would not be far behind her. She wasn't concerned that she would lose Jack. She could almost feel his eyes on her. She might even find him waiting when she arrived. That would be good. She wanted to end this as quickly as possible.

Ana had always been steady and even-tempered. She'd rarely lost that temper. She could not recall a time in her life when she had truly lost control. Even her occasional snits with Christian were mere blips and mostly rather fun.

But the fury that had been building up inside her as Jack Hyde took over her life and that of her family was an inner fire that, hard as she tried, she could not tamp down. She covered in front of the Greys and even Christian but it had reached the point of hell fire. One day, after seeing the light leaving Grace's eyes, Ana had smashed a powder room mirror with her fist. Everyone bought her story that she'd tripped and fallen over the sink.

She'd begun spending more time alone in the library, pretending to read. Once, desperate to spare her family any more pain and not thinking straight, she had flung open the library drapes and exposed herself to the possibility of Jack putting a bullet into her heart. He hadn't, of course. That was too easy. He wanted to be alone with her, to have her. She'd closed the drapes and curled into a chair, sobbing.

Christian had found her when he arrived home from GEH…still curled into the chair, eyes puffy and red. He picked her up and settled her into a fierce hug on his lap…attempting to reassure her that all would be well…asking her to be patient. He didn't know that he was spitting in the wind. Ana was too far gone…too wild with the chaos inside of her.

Jack had destroyed her body and memories. He had kept her from Christian for years and Christian had suffered so. She had endured too many surgeries to remember. She had gritted her teeth through the exhaustion and agony of recovery and therapy. And, now, just when she was truly getting better…in body and soul…he was coming after her sanity.

No. She'd been patient. She'd left the resolution of all this havoc to Taylor and his security team and the result was that Jack held them captive in a gilded cage behind blackout drapes. He was probably out there, watching and laughing at his control over them.

She was going to take back the control he'd stolen from her all those years ago. It was her due.

CHAPTER 61

Jack couldn't believe his good fortune. Ana was leaving Grey! She was coming to him! He couldn't stop laughing. Grey thought he was so smart, so rich, that he could hide Ana away in that enormous white mansion…surrounded by armed guards…but Ana fooled them all. She didn't want east and west wings. She wanted Jack.

He'd been wrong about her. She wasn't so thoroughly brainwashed by the Greys at all. She'd just been using them. Grey had injured her so badly in that accident…couldn't maintain control of his ostentatious little sports car. Ana had no doubt hated him all this time but she needed his money to pay for all the medical care. A rich bastard like Grey would need motivation to do the right thing. So, Ana being the smart cookie that she was, used guilt and then a façade of love to open his bank account.

Jack really admired a girl who could play a long con…almost five years of pretending to love Grey. Now she had what she wanted and she was fleeing for her life…running to him.

How could he have ever doubted her? All those special moments in her clinic at GEH. She'd been so interested in him from the start…asking him about his job, fussing over the injuries he incurred while working…advising him about his allergies. After a while…a discreet period of time because she was a lady…she'd begun asking him about his personal life. What were his hobbies? Would he be going out with his friends on the weekend?

When he told her about his mother and how she called so often to check up on him and worried about him, she opened up to him…told him that she didn't have a mother and was raised in the woods by her father…he was so elated that she shared with him. It showed, he knew, that she wanted to be closer than nurse and patient. He'd promised her that he wouldn't tell anyone about their talks. She'd given him a strange look but he knew that it just meant that she was amazed to meet a man, a gentleman, like him.

He'd fallen more and more in love with her as the time went by. They saw each other every day and he was just working up his courage to ask her for a date when he was called into his supervisor's office.

"Mr. Hyde, you've been with GEH for several months now and your probationary period is coming to an end. It is time to discuss your future with us."

Yes! He'd been an exemplary employee and his genius was being recognized. This would be his first promotion to be followed by many more. Ana would be so proud.

"I've been going over your record and it's been disappointing to say the least. You're late every day and when you're on time, you usually spend the first half hour of your day in the clinic with some medical complaint. I am not privy to your medical records, of course. Nurse Steele honors HIPPA rules diligently. However, your co-workers tell me that when you return from the clinic, you seem to be fine. You might be wearing a bandage on your finger. You complain of allergies yet you never have medication with you and then must always leave your workstation to obtain it from the clinic. There are many days when you seek medical assistance twice a day."

She stopped and stared at him…awaiting a response. He stared back…red-faced with fury. His health was none of her business. It was true that he regularly required nursing. It wasn't his fault that he suffered from falls, cuts, headaches, fallen arches…the air in the basement mail room was bad. He'd complained about the poor ventilation to nurse Steele and she'd advised him to fill a notice with HR but he didn't want to do that. He didn't want to cause problems, he'd told her. She'd respected his good nature and told him that she'd look into it herself.

The next day maintenance was down in the basement…taking readings on their meters…checking the vents…cleaning them. When he next saw nurse Steele, she showed him the report…hoping, she said, to reassure him that all was well. Sure, he thought. That was the first time that he felt a flicker of concern that nurse Steele was gullible. Still, he was so smitten that he ignored the red flag.

Now, he was staring down a giant red flag. Who, he asked, had placed a complaint against him? His supervisor responded that his co-workers resented having to pick up the slack when he constantly disappeared. They missed their breaks…worked through lunch…and when they began filing for overtime, the matter came to her attention.

"They're exaggerating, Ms. Schwartz. I use my breaks to see nurse Steele. She'd see me on her lunch breaks if she could because she knows that my needs are serious. She can't, however, because the CEO insists that she have lunch with him. She's afraid for her own job if she refuses. Now that is harassment. Why pick on a small fish like me when Mr. Grey's behavior is so egregiously offensive?"

"Not that it is any of your business, Mr. Hyde, but since the entire company knows, I don't mind telling you that Nurse Steele and Mr. Grey have been in a relationship since she started here. I don't know how you didn't know that or where you got the idea that she is an unwilling participant in the relationship. If you've ever seen the two together, you'd know that they are very much in love. She moved into his penthouse months ago and we're all expecting an engagement announcement soon."

Jack felt like an aneurysm had burst in his brain. He blacked out and fell off the chair. When he next opened his eyes, a concerned Nurse Steele was leaning over him…checking his blood pressure and pulse…shining a light in his eyes.

"Well, your bp and pulse rate are a bit high but otherwise you're all right. Jack, did you eat breakfast this morning?"

He nodded, lying there dazed. "I don't know what happened, Ana. We were talking and he just fell out of the chair. Should we perhaps call an ambulance?"

"No, I don't think that is necessary but I do think that Jack needs to lie down for the rest of the day. I'm going to call an Uber to take him home. I'd rather that he didn't ride the bus."

When he returned to work…a changed man…the supervisor continued their "talk". Jack didn't pay much attention. He was being fired but he didn't care. He couldn't bear to see nurse Steele again. He felt such revulsion. She wasn't the woman he thought she was. She was like all the others…out for a meal ticket. The affection they shared didn't mean enough without a bulging bank balance. Grey was a multi-billionaire. No way could Jack compete.

He would pay them back…both of them but mostly Grey. He'd seduced a simple girl like Ana with jewels and fancy dinners. She needed to learn a lesson…and Grey? He need to die.

CHAPTER 62

The drapes at Grey Manor were open now but the light shining in did not brighten up the spirits of the family within. They weren't afraid of Jack getting to them. Ana had seen to that.

Grace paced back and forth, wringing her hands. Carrick read the letter that Ana had left for the family over and over…uncertain of his feelings. Was he angry with Ana for leaving or proud of her courage?

My dear family, I love you all and you have given me much love in return. Your lives are disintegrating and it's all my fault. I am going to face this man wherever he finds me and end this life of fear. I promise you that I've thought this all through and I know what I'm doing. I will live, Christian, and then I will love you the rest of my life with everything I have. Please trust me.

I love you…Ana.

She was 5 foot 4 inches of nothing…maybe 110 lbs. She needed a cane to keep from falling over. What did she know of the world and how to navigate it. Did she even know how to catch a bus or call a cab? She was still trying to figure out how to use the iPhone that Christian had bought her…and she hadn't taken it with her! She must have known that Christian and Taylor could track her without it so why not take it with her?

Carrick wanted to crumble the letter in his hands but Grace wouldn't want that. She'd tell him that it might be the last communication that they ever had from Ana.

Mia had been on the phone with Luc several times that morning. She needed him, he knew. He was going to get on a plane. His shop would be there when he returned. He'd lose a little revenue…so what? He'd never seen Mia like this and it scared him. He wanted her safe in his arms.

Elliot had called Darcy who was still mad at him for insisting that they break up. What did he think she was…fragile and frightened? She was a nurse, for god's sake. She'd seen it all and if there was going to be a shootout at Grey Manor, then they were going to need a nurse. She was insulted…that's what she was.

"Honey, something's changed over here."

"Yes, I know," she said wearily, "you've all gone to the mattresses."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, that movie. No, actually, we've opened the windows and we're breathing fresh air again."

"What's changed?"

"Ana's gone. She snuck out in the middle of the night. We think that she's heading for her cabin in Montesano."

"But it burned to the ground, right? What does she expect to find there?"

Elliot gulped and replied in a shaky voice. "A show down with Jack Hyde. Darc?"

"I'll be right over, El. Don't worry too much about Ana. She is smart and fearless. I have every confidence that she will triumph."

After Darcy rang off, Elliot felt better. She was more perceptive than him. She was better at reading people. If she thought that Ana could handle Jack, well…maybe she could.

CHAPTER 63

Ana had driven to Montesano through back roads rarely used and known by few. Her little sports car wasn't well adapted for rugged roads but Ana found that she knew how to run them. And the stick she was driving? She'd simply gotten into the driver's seat, feet on the brake and clutch, and shifted gears. Now how the hell did she know that? She hadn't even thought about it until she grew closer to her hometown. Muscle memory…that must be it. Finn had talked a lot about muscle memory during therapy…assuring her that she just had to trust that her body would remember how to walk if she reminded it enough. Well, she'd certainly done enough reminding.

For a moment, she felt immensely sad. There had been a rusty old pickup at the cabin. Her father's. Ray must have taught his daughter to drive.

Anger overtook her sadness. Jack had robbed her of that memory, too. She gunned the little car…in a big hurry to get where she wanted to go. She'd only made plans as far as getting back to the ashes that Jack had left for her. He would find her…then what? She glanced at the gun on the passenger seat. Could she really shoot him? Oh, yeah…right between his eyes.

She imagined that she heard rotors far above. Charlie Tango. She loved the helicopter that kept bringing Christian to their cabin…especially that last night. It seemed so long ago. She wondered if her daddy was with her now. He would be furious with her…call her reckless…tell her to turn around. They'd seldom quarreled and she was always a good girl. Would Ray be ashamed of her…plotting to kill?

It didn't matter. He was gone, safely within the earth he so cherished.

She pulled the car over and tucked it into a cove of small trees and foliage. She would walk the rest of the way…hoping to be waiting for Jack or to catch him unawares. Despite her determination, it wasn't easy making her way down the rutted road…stumbling along with her cane. It kept getting stuck in the dirt. The final time she simply left it standing there and continued on…limping but moving. She wasn't thinking about anything but the cabin and Jack.

She wondered what he looked like. She'd seen a grainy photo that Taylor had taken off a surveillance tape but it wasn't clear enough. Christian had told her that Hyde was short and pudgy and balding. She'd probably felt pity for him. If only she hadn't been so nice…no. Her fate was sealed the minute he walked into her clinic and she'd smiled a simple hello. She'd treated him like any other patient…with kindness and efficiency.

After that, he'd invented a whole romance. There was nothing she could have done. If she'd been indifferent or cold, he'd have made something out of that to suit his fantasy. He'd told his lawyer all about "their" plans to move to Montana but that Ana had been seduced by Christian Grey and his billions. His lawyer told Christian that there was no cabin in Montana. Jack was broke, for some reason…didn't even own a car.

She wondered how many people there were out there in the world that were like Jack…deluded, angry and dangerous. And how many victims without the resources of the Greys. She'd googled about the subject and found story after story of mostly women who were tormented by men who'd made up fantasies about them. When this was over, she was going to lobby for better laws…laws to keep these guys locked up. Women shouldn't have to live a witness protection type of life to have any kind of life at all.

With all her ruminating, Ana hadn't noticed how far she'd come. Suddenly, in the view through the trees, she could see the ruins of her home. She fought back tears. She needed to be crafty and cunning…just like Jack. She had to be without emotions and hard as nails…and she had to kill him to be certain that he never had a chance to harm her family ever again.

CHAPTER 64

Acting on instinct, Ana moved out of the tree cover and walked over to the middle of what was once her living room. Christian hadn't exaggerated when he said that Taylor's team had so thoroughly raked through the ashes in hopes of finding something, anything, for Ana. There was nothing. All the beautiful furniture that she'd inherited…gone. The fire department had hosed down the workshop enough to keep it from burning but there would nothing in it.

Except Jack.

She smiled inwardly as he emerged from his hiding place even though it irked her that this awful man had been in her darling daddy's sanctuary. Hyde didn't appear armed but she was certain that he was. He stared at her…rather starstruck. He hadn't been this close to her in many years. She was still so beautiful…maybe more so. Her hair was in pigtails with bangs fringing her ocean blue eyes. She wasn't dressed up real fancy like Grey wanted her to be. No, she was herself again…wearing powder blue scrubs the way he remembered her.

"Hello. Are you Jack Hyde? I'm sorry that I don't remember. I was in an accident (caused by you, arsehole) and I lost all of my memory. Mr. Grey told me that you burned down this cabin. It was my home, with my daddy. Everything I loved was here."

Ana sniffled. "Why did you do that, Mr. Hyde? Why did you take all this away from me? What did I do to you to make you that mad?"

Jack looked devastated. "Nurse Ana, I'm so sorry. I was angry because you were living with Grey and I wanted to hurt you the way I was hurting. It was wrong and I wish that I could undo what I did." He stopped and just stared at her. Still, so struck by her beauty and sweetness.

Ana rubbed her eyes with the balls of her hands as if she were both tired and teary. He wasn't close enough yet. And she had more to say.

"Why are you here, Mr. Hyde? Did you follow me? Mr. Grey said that we had to hide because you wanted to hurt me. I don't understand. Do you want to hurt me?"

"No," Jack cried out, "no, never. I love you, Ana. I only wanted to take care of you."

Ana regarded the piece of shit standing ever closer to her. He certainly wasn't much to look at…her height, a combover of blond hair, a paunch. Probably never had a date in his sad little life. Disgust radiated out of her but she disguised it with childish pique.

She stamped her foot. "Love me? You burned down my home…filled with all the precious furniture that my daddy made. I don't have anything left of him now because of you. I don't like you!" She stamped her foot again. There she crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her chin. Jack thought she looked adorable.

"Right now you feel that way but you'll get over it after we get away from here. We're going to my cabin in Montana. Gosh, Ana, it is so wonderful out there and you'll love it. I could learn to make furniture as good as anything your father did. We'll have lots of kids and horses and dogs. You won't ever have to see Grey again."

Ana kicked at the ashes. "He was nice to me although I didn't like that great big house he made me live in or that penthouse. That place," Ana shook her head, "no way to get to grass unless you went down to the street in an elevator and walked across to this park."

"Yeah, I know. I was always watching out for you, Ana. I tried to get close to talk to you but there were so many security men around all the time. I thought you liked Grey. You hugged his arm and kissed him." Now the pique in Jack was showing.

Ana smiled. "Yeah, he was a good kisser and he's really good looking, too. It was fun for a while but I don't like being cooped up like he wants. He's always worried because he thinks that you're going to hurt me."

"No, Ana, I'd never hurt you."

"That accident…the one that destroyed my face and crippled me and took away all my memories? He said that you ran up against the car we were in. Why did you do that to me, Mr. Hyde?" Ana was really into the play now. She had tears running down her cheeks. Inside she was laughing at Jack's consternation. Let's hear the lie on this one, jackass.

"No, Grey lied to you. I was home watching television when the news broke in. It said that Grey was drunk and had crashed his car and that he was all right but that you were probably going to die. I about went outta my mind. It took a lot of time but I finally bribed some guy at the hospital to tell me how you were because Grey didn't want anybody to know how badly he'd gotten you injured. That's how I found out that you were really messed up and couldn't even move. The only thing that kept me from killing myself was my desire to ruin Grey. It's all I thought about for years. When you suddenly reappeared, alive and well, I made plans to save you from Grey this time. I should have done it after I was fired."

"Why were you fired, Mr. Hyde?"

CHAPTER 64

Jack swallowed hard. "Hmm…they made up some stuff to get rid of me. I was actually due for a promotion, a big one, too. But Grey wanted you and he saw how close we were and figured that I was a dangerous rival. So, they got all my co-workers to lie about me and they fixed the records to make it look like I was slacking off and harassing you.

"I was kinda mad at you, Ana, 'cause you didn't stand up for me. Grey was this handsome, rich guy and he just swept you off your feet. It bothered me to see how easily you were taken in by him but I guess coming from the backwoods, you didn't know any better. He could take you to fancy restaurants, drive you in fancy cars, buy you jewelry…and I, well, I was just getting somewhere in my career. It was gonna take years to make enough money to impress you. It was hard on me, Ana. You broke it off with me for him."

Jack looked so wounded…genuinely wounded. Ana was struck by the degree to which he believed his own lies. She found herself feeling some compassion for him…the very last thing she wanted to feel for a man she was about to kill.

"Well, Mr. Hyde, I don't know what to say about that because I don't remember any of it. My memory only goes back a few years. I didn't know that you and I were in a relationship."

Jack jumped on this misapprehension. She was buying it. That would make it easier to get her to come with him.

"Ana, Grey will be looking for you and he'll make you leave with him and now that you know the truth, it'll make it real hard for you to live with him, won't it?"

"Yeah, I guess it will. I don't like being lied to. I get really mad and I do crazy things that I shouldn't. I'd like to go back and confront him."

"No…no, you can't go back. He'll never let you get away again." Jack sounded desperate. He'd moved closer…close enough. Ana pretended to tremble and cry. Jack moved to pull her into his arms. Then he felt the cold metal muzzle against his head.

"Get your vile, filthy paws off of me," she growled at him. He dropped his arms to his sides, his eyes wide and stunned. What was happening?

"Get down on your knees in the ashes." Jack tried to reach for the gun he'd tucked into the back of his jeans but Ana had anticipated this move. She brought her knee up, hard, under his chin…momentarily leaving him stunned. Then she kicked him over and removed the gun…throwing it away.

When he'd recovered, she told him to get back on his knees with his hands on his head, fingers locked. He obeyed…now shaking.

"You ruined me in that crash, you lying s.o.b. You took away 23 years of my life. I was a nurse and now I have to write down new words every day because I don't know anything anymore. I was a quadriplegic for weeks until the therapist nearly killed me getting me to paraplegic status. Yippee. My face was gone. Every one of the bright white teeth in this smile is fake but you wouldn't know it because Christian spent millions putting me back together…and he did it for me, not for him. He did everything for me because he really loves me…something you know NOTHING about!

"I spent a year in hospital and a Swiss clinic learning to move again, to think again, to use a wheelchair. The therapy was agony. YOU did that to me. I returned to the only home I could remember…the one you've TAKEN from me. I couldn't remember that an incredible, wonderful man loved me. And him? He lived in agony, too, without the woman he loved. Does it please you to know that you caused him such suffering?"

Jack didn't answer. He stared at the barrel inches from his skull. Ana kicked him in the balls and he screamed as she smiled. No one who knew her would have recognized this Valkyrie of vengeance who so delighted in the fear and pain she was visiting upon Hyde.

As Jack whimpered, Ana screamed at him to pay attention…she wasn't done with him yet.

"The pain is bad, eh, Jack? Yes, I understand. It was part of every day for me and Christian. You see, he didn't know that he wasn't responsible for my…let's say, condition? He lived with despair, loneliness and horrible guilt for what he thought he'd done to the woman he loved. He stayed alive only because I still lived and I might need something. He allowed himself one heartbreaking visit a year because he had to see me, check up on me all while I didn't know him.

"Can your small, selfish brain begin to comprehend what that must have been like for him…wanting to hold me, kiss me, talk with me, keep me with him for more than a day…yet to me he was a stranger? And then, when my father died and Christian felt that it was time to tell me the truth, he had to tell me that all the hell I'd been through was HIS fault and then endure my anger and contempt. He was innocent!

"You kept us apart again! Are you feeling pleased with yourself, Jack, for all the pain you caused the people you despised? Answer me!"

Jack shook his head back and forth vigorously. "LIAR!" Ana screeched at him as she kicked him once again.

"And now," she spoke, her voice quavering, "you stalked and watched and waited for your chance to do…to do what, Jack? What was the plan before I came here to meet you? You had a gun. Were you planning to use it on me or someone I love? Tell me the truth, Jack…because if you lie, I'll know, you arsehole, I'll know and then I'll put a bullet in your kneecap. Tell me the truth, Jack."

Jack's whole body was shaking. "I honestly don't know. I just had to watch you, to see you." The loud pop of the bullet leaving Ana's gun was different from the bang one heard on television shows. Why was that?

"I don't believe you're telling me the truth, Mr. Hyde," Ana snarled as Jack yowled and grabbed his knee. "Oh, quit whining. You'll never walk right again but you'll get used to that."

Ana was growing tired. Now that she'd shot out his kneecap, she couldn't march Jack into the woods to execute him as she wanted to do. Her brain was slowing down. She hadn't eaten much for days. She was dehydrated and she hadn't slept worth a damn for several nights. Even the incredible orgasms she was gifted by Christian hadn't helped her to sleep although she pretended for his sake. All that wonderful sex wasted because of Jack. That thought pumped her up a bit.

She wanted to go back to the car and go home to Christian. He was awake by now and awfully worried about her. He would think that she was in danger. He didn't know this side of her. During one of her sessions with Dr. Gert she had confessed that she harbored tremendous amounts of anger over all that she had lost to the car crash. Dr. Gert had looked startled…even frightened for a moment. The vehemence with which Ana revealed this anger was so unexpected. Dr. Gert caught a disturbing glimpse of another person inside sweet, simple Ana Steele. She'd made a note in her log that Ana's psyche held secrets.

That Ana now stood over a crying Jack as he begged for mercy…but she had none to give. She put the muzzle of the gun against his forehead and began to pull back on the trigger.

CHAPTER 65

The sweat was rolling off of Jack and Ana knew that he was beyond terrified.

"You're going to hell, Jack Hyde. Goodbye." Just as she pulled the trigger, something made her hand fly up with the bullet just grazing Hyde's head. He yelped with the sting of it.

Ana turned angrily to face Taylor. She struggled to keep hold of the gun and lower it back down to Hyde's head. Then there were strong, loving arms enveloping her waist and the familiar scent of Christian buried in her hair. Ana slumped, dropping the gun into Taylor's hand. Hyde stumbled to his feet and tried to run away…hopping on his good leg while his balls ached and his knee bled and his scalp stung. Taylor sighed.

"I'll go get him," he grumbled as he strolled after Hyde.

Christian picked Ana up in his arms and cradled her snuggly against his chest. She was limp, finished. Her vendetta over yet not quite complete. She mumbled that he would get away again and again come after her family. Let me kill him, she barely whispered. Christian buried his face in her neck as her head lolled back.

Taylor returned dragging Hyde by his collar while Jack complained that he was hurting. "I'll throw him in the chopper…sorry, helicopter." He smirked at Grey and continued on to Charlie Tango. He trussed Jack up with plastic ties…extra and needlessly tight. He sternly warned him that if he started whining, Taylor would shove him out over the Sound.

Christian climbed into the back seat with a passed out Ana in his arms. Taylor connected the seat belts and clipped both the bosses in together. Then he lifted Ana's head and shifted her body so that she was sitting on Grey's lap.

"I'll have to go collect that gun of Hyde's," he said, stepping down from the helicopter.

"She'll go to jail for this, you know," Hyde warned. Grey held Ana with one arm as he lashed out, slugging Hyde in the back of his head. Jack sagged forward. Taylor returned with the gun and, looking at Jack, checked him for signs of life. Then he turned to Grey.

"It's been a really long day and I don't want to have to think up a way to dispose of a body…okay?"

"We have to keep the cops away from Ana until we get her story straight."

"Agreed. Oh, boss, what will her story be?"

"She snapped. Weeks of the police being unable to recapture Jack Hyde…emphasis on SPD incompetence…and living in fear of an attack, Ana decided to sacrifice herself and give herself up to Jack to spare the rest of us."

"And why did she have a gun?"

"Just in case. Protection. She's never fired a gun…at least, not in her second life." Christian brushed a bit of her bangs out of the way and then pressed his lips gently against her forehead…thinking how pretty she was even filthy dirty.

Taylor turned Charlie Tango south toward Seattle. "There was a struggle. She got in a knee and managed to get the gun away from Hyde. She pulled out the gun she'd brought and he tried to get it from her as it went off and took out his knee cap. More struggle. Gun goes off again and grazes his skull. Okay. Reasonable.

"Now…why is he unconscious in the front seat of Charlie Tango?"

"I hit him because he threatened my fiancée and pissed me off."

"Good," Taylor approved, "keep the lies as close to the truth as possible."

CHAPTER 66

As Charlie Tango touched down in the backyard of Grey Manor, the family, CPOs, coverts, Margaret, Darcy and Gail all rushed out the back door to greet its occupants…anxious faces hoping for good news. Taylor shoved Jack Hyde out of the door and unto the ground where he lay moaning and bleeding. Several coverts surrounded him and dragged him up to his one good leg. They would throw him in a car and deliver him to a hospital after alerting the SPD.

When Christian emerged with a conscious but exhausted Ana in his arms, a cheer went up from the crowd. Her CPO, Luke, noted Hyde's condition.

"You really messed him up. Was it fun?" he asked Grey.

"Yes," Ana mumbled, curling closer into Christian's chest…as Luke blinked in surprise. "What is she saying?"

Christian grinned. "We arrived just in time for clean up." Luke whistled in amazement.

Grace urged Christian to bring Ana inside so she could examine her. She hollered for Elliot to bring her bag as she and Darcy tended to Ana. Christian paced outside the bedroom door as Taylor briefed his team…as much as they needed to know anyway. No one was to know that Ana had intended to kill Jack Hyde…no one but Jason and Grey. Now if they could just keep unfiltered Ana quiet.

Detective Parks seemed to be at the gate within minutes of the team dropping Hyde off at the hospital. He reassured Carrick that his force had matters well in hand and Jack would not be escaping from the hospital's prison ward.

Carrick just rolled his eyes. He offered Parks a seat in the study and then called Jason and Christian in for questioning. Once again, Parks was almost salivating at the opportunity to call Christian Grey to account. However, they were ready for him.

Grey strode impatiently and with a commanding presence into his father's office. "Explain!" he demanded of Parks, who instinctively jumped to his feet. "It's been weeks since Hyde escaped your jurisdiction. It didn't take a genius to know that he would be near to Grey Manor…or Escala…yet he managed to plant an incendiary device large enough to take down the entire building. Everyone knew that Ana was here and so did Hyde yet you couldn't find him and my family had to live in terror with blackout drapes. You have an entire department at your disposal yet I had to hire an army to protect my fiancée.

"Ana is a small woman with a disability who felt forced by your incompetence to take matters into her own hands…to sacrifice herself to save her family. And who, in the end, defeated Hyde as he tried to kill her? That brave woman. Jason and I brought him in when he should have been captured long ago by YOU! Are you surprised that I have my men guarding his room? Yours are probably down by the vending machines filling up their fat bellies with soda and chips.

"This entire ordeal is your responsibility, Parks! What do you have to say for yourself and that joke you call law enforcement?" By now, Grey's voice had risen to a roar and Parks was stuttering in an attempt to defend himself. Jason didn't let him get far.

"Detective, please understand that this family has been through a private hell for weeks. When matters only worsened, Ms. Steele, in despair, blamed herself and determined to save everyone by giving Hyde what he wanted…her. She fled through the woods, down river, and somehow limped to her old home where Hyde was waiting. They struggled, a gun went off blowing a hole through Hyde's knee and again grazing his skull.

"Mr. Grey and I arrived in time to stop Hyde from further harming Ms. Steele and returned both here. According to Dr. Trevelyan, Ms. Steele is in poor condition. She was barely conscious when we brought her home. The doctor will not allow her to be questioned or stressed until she has recuperated. I'm certain you understand."

As Grey and his father conferred in whispers across the room, Jason motioned Parks to another corner.

"As I'm sure you will agree," he spoke in a low voice, "Jack Hyde is a villain of the first order. I trust you to understand that the Greys, being such prominent citizens and supporters of the police commissioner, are accustomed to preferential treatment…although they don't see it as such," he smirked, to indicate that rich people are a different breed. "I will do my best to calm them down and get them to see that your department has been doing its best to locate Hyde and protect this family. I would rather we see the end of this drama here and now. Carrick has his entire firm on high alert and I personally respect our police force too much to see it dragged into an investigation into its leadership. Please leave these people to me."

Detective Parks glanced over at the father/son Greys…two of the most powerful citizens on the west coast. The younger Grey had been invited to the White House regularly. Parks felt cold sweat rolling down his back.

"Yes, Mr. Taylor. I believe that that would be the best course of action for all concerned. I certainly don't wish to put this family through any more distress. You handle matters here and I'll be going."

Carrick and Christian faked dismay at Park's leave-taking as he scurried out the door and peeled out of the driveway. Then they laughed heartily for the first time in ages. Carrick clapped Taylor on the back and suggested his son give the man a raise. Christian smirked that he got paid enough in overtime. Taylor and Carrick just grinned at each other.

Both understood how much Christian valued his #1.

But not as much as he valued Ana. He returned to pacing outside her door. Finally, unable to endure another moment without her, he knocked gently on the door.

"Mom, Darcy, may I come in?"

Grace and Darcy had examined Ana and then given her a warm bath before wrapping her in a robe and putting her to bed.

"You can come in and be with her but no shenanigans. She needs a lot of rest. Understand?"

"Geez, mom, what kind of hound do you think I am?"

CHAPTER 67

Detective Parks gave up trying to get to Ana. Besides being too shaken by his visit to Grey Manor, he did not doubt Jason Taylor's barely concealed threat of retaliation by Carrick and Christian Grey. He himself had ambitions to one day win the position of commissioner so, making enemies of the Grey clan would be foolish indeed. Like many ambitious people, truth and integrity took a back seat to cultivating the blessing of the powerful.

The day that Jack first walked into the GEH clinic and laid covetous eyes on Grey's girl, he should have turned right around again and left…perhaps developed an obsession for a girl who was defenseless. It was the route taken by most stalkers.

Jack tried mightily to convince his public defender and the lower level police interrogator that Ana had tried to kill him…that crippling his leg was intentional…that she'd put a gun to his head and the resultant head wound was her doing…as well as half a dozen other complaints but his listeners? Weren't. His only intelligent move throughout his pursuit of Nurse Steele was to finally concede defeat. When he tried to recruit fellow felons at the state pen to pursue revenge on his behalf…no matter the amount of money he promised to pay…once they learned the name of the people they were supposed to murder, they mocked him so severely that he became a subject of ridicule and regular beatings.

Despite taking a plea deal that would have him up for parole in 20 years, Jack couldn't imagine living that long under such conditions and so was found hanging by his bed sheets one morning. His cellmate hadn't even noticed until breakfast call and then was merely repulsed by the dead body dangling over his lower bunk.

Carrick was informed and called in Christian one day. "I don't know if you want to tell Ana but Jack Hyde won't be a worry in future. He hanged himself." Christian nodded in acknowledgement. He decided to keep the ugliness of that information to himself until Ana brought up the subject of Hyde someday. He'd assured her that Jack wouldn't get parole on first, second or any try he made and she trusted his word.

Limping was not a good way for Ana to walk…too tiring and painful. Christian had a beautiful, rose-gold cane made for her. They would enter events…always the most beautiful couple in the room…due to Ana on his arm, he felt. She did shine…and she was a lovely woman…but mostly she had the glow of a woman in love. Admiring them, people were always stuck by the way they looked at each other. They were special but they didn't notice the stares of others.

When Ana was once again well, thanks to the care of Grace and Darcy, the couple moved back into Escala. Christian had wanted to rebuild the cabin for Ana but she didn't feel it could ever be the same…that she would miss all of Ray's furnishings. Besides, Ray would have liked to see the land returned to nature and so, they let it be reclaimed by the woods.

Meanwhile, Elena Lincoln's mini mansion sat empty and rotting with no one to claim it. The city sold it for taxes to Christian who razed it to several feet below the dungeon. After thinking it over and spending some time wandering around the empty land, they decided that building and living on it wouldn't creep them out. They would build a charming 3000 . cottage with a dock and a boat house. It was considerably smaller than the 25,000 . Grey Manor next door but it left enough room for Elliot and Darcy to build a small house of their own.

They all took to calling that end of the road The Grey Compound. Yes, life was good. Until. Well, of course, there had to be at least a glitch or two.

The first involved Mia and Luc.

CHAPTER 68

Luc had flown to Mia's side, as promised…arriving after Ana's return. Grace drove with Mia to Sea-Tac and watched as Mia flew to Luc. In that moment, Grace tearfully understood that Mia would never be coming home. Luc stayed, met the family, got the tour of Seattle and cheerfully tolerated mom's and dad's efforts to convince him to set up shop on charming Pioneer Square in a lovely shop they wished to gift to their new son-in-law.

Luc sweetly explained to them that while the shop they were offering was wonderful and much appreciated, it was not genuine like the shop in Bruges which was less touristy than Pioneer Square and it had been in his neighborhood for over a hundred years. It was part of the fabric of the city and its closing would adversely affect the quality of the town of Bruges. He assured them that he was doing quite well…that he and Mia had a beautiful and roomy apartment with a balcony…above the shop…overlooking a canal, an ancient stone bridge, a cobblestone square and a large park.

In fact, he said, double-checking with Mia with a look, he and Mia would like the whole family and any good friends to come to Bruges for their wedding. It would be a simple and intimate ceremony in their apartment as they stood on the balcony. Afterward, there would be a large party with the whole town gathered in the square below. I may be an orphan, he pointed out, but Bruges is my family.

With a promise from Mia and Luc that they would return for visits and every important family event…courtesy of Grey jets 1 through 5…and they would welcome visits at any time…the rest of the family acquiesced, sadly accepting Mia's choice. Ana loved Mia but kept to herself that only one or two shopping trips a year would be fine with her.

Ana's and Christian's engagement had been long enough, they figured. As they lay in bed, talking and making love and talking some more, they laughed about how they'd been affianced an obscenely long time. It was time to stop living in sin. They began making plans. Being Grey and Grey-to-be, it was expected not only by the whole of Seattle but Washington State and all parts east, west, and south, that there would be a grand extravaganza of a ceremony at the top venue in Seattle. Grace figured a minimum attendance of 1000 people…none of whom the happy couple knew. Carrick wanted to repay every invitation they'd received over 40+ years of marriage. Grace simply wanted to fill every pew at St. James Cathedral.

No one in the family was Catholic but such was the prominence of the Greys and the size of the donation they would make to use the church that their request for accommodation would not be a problem.

Ana and Christian sat quietly during Sunday brunches, holding hands or his arm around her shoulder, indulging his parents' excited discussions of the Seattle wedding of the century. Mia and Grace had been researching weddings back through Seattle's history to be sure that they outdid every single one.

At no point, did anyone think to inquire as to what Ana and Christian wanted. Perhaps deep down in their collective subconsciouses, they knew that they were all going to be disappointed and they just wanted to enjoy the fantasy for a while.

So, one day, during dessert, Elliot and Darcy announced their engagement. All their children in love and getting married…Grace and Carrick couldn't believe their luck. There was so much screaming with joy and excitement and hugging and kissing.

"So, El and Darc, does the kind of wedding that mom and dad and Mia are planning for us appeal to you two? Big, big deal," Christian prodded, sure that he'd be cornering his brother.

Elliot and Darcy looked uncertainly at each other…rather sheepishly. Elliot nudged Darcy who had grown so close to Grace.

"My darling mother-to-be, my parents are simple people from whom I would never ask for money for my wedding. Elliot and I are adults who are financially okay and feel that we should pay for our own wedding. What you're planning for Chris and Ana sounds so marvelously wonderful. It surely rivals a royal wedding and, of course, we'd feel like a prince and princess but we're spending our money on building our house next to Chris' and Ana's. Their gift of land is far more than we expected and we thought perhaps a small family gathering in our new backyard."

Darcy took a breath. Elliot smiled at her. "Still, yeah, I could see Darcy walking up a long aisle, a knock-out in white, coming to me at that beautiful altar. Maybe someday…a vow renewal."

Ana spoke up, unfiltered as often happened with her. "You know, Christian and I feel married already. We're in no hurry and, frankly, we want the intimate backyard wedding with family and friends."

She turned to Christian. "Honey, do I have any friends?" Christian smiled at her, the love just shining out of him. "Yes, dear, you do. Dr. Skarsgard, Finn, Dr. Flynn…all doctors I know but they love you. We'll surely invite them…but mom, dad, we're sorry. Ana can't walk up a long aisle or wander around meeting and greeting 1000 guests. It's only for you that we don't just stop down at the courthouse one day. Can you forgive us for spoiling your dream?"

Grace, Carrick and Mia sighed. Then Mia's face lit up and she leaned into whisper to her parents who beamed at her words. Then they looked right at Elliot and Darcy who suddenly felt trapped.

CHAPTER 69

Before they knew what hit them, Elliot and Darcy were the new stars of the royalish nuptials at St. James Cathedral. No, no, Grace and Carrick assured them. The expense is all on us. We have always dreamt of throwing a wedding like this. The timing is perfect…we have so much to celebrate. Grace and Mia couldn't wait to meet with a designer…one world-class, of course…to make Darcy's dress. They began debating the length of the train and Carrick had an associate at his firm who had two young boys who could arrange and carry the train up the aisle. And on it went for the rest of the afternoon.

"I was just sitting there…waiting for pie and caressing your knee…minding my own business. Darch darling, I don't think I can ever forgive my little brother for this betrayal. It is beyond the pale."

Darcy just laughed. She was laughing all the time it seemed because Elliot was a funny guy. She'd never known anyone like him. No one else had ever made her laugh like he could. He wasn't even trying most of the time. He was just such a jovial fellow…so kind and utterly devoted to her. How did she get so lucky?

Oh, yeah…Jack Hyde. She supposed that she had him to thank in an odd way. Too bad he was dead. It would have been sweet revenge to write him a letter to let him know the kindness he'd done her in attacking Grace…and failing to do the job right. On reflection, Darcy shuddered and swore to put him out of her mind.

Elliot spent the afternoon and evening snarling at Christian who tried hard to stifle his delight at his coup. He had listened for years to Mia and Grace plan his little sister's wedding. It had gotten bigger and bigger as the family fortune grew. Carrick's firm grew as did his clientele. He had every person and company of wealth on retainer. When he came home bragging of reeling in another big fish, his wife and daughter would bring out the wedding magazines from under the couch and Mia's bed and start in planning again. They'd been doing that since Mia developed her first crush on a boy in the 5th grade.

When he and Ana first became engaged, there was no talk that night of weddings. Grace and Carrick did want to throw an engagement party with Carrick figuring on how many invites he could return. Ana and Christian smiled as they secretly cringed but then, sadly, there was no need to endure such a party after that hellish night.

Now he had finessed his way out of starring in Grace's and Mia's big show. Yes, his brother would never forgive him but Grey was happy to get his way. Ana would scold him later but that would only turn him on which, in turn, would arouse Ana and they would have another great night together. Ah, yes, everything was finally going his way.

Except for glitch #2. Glitch #2 was completely unexpected, startling, overwhelming, shocking and unwelcome…Carla Nelson, formerly Carla Steele.

He and Ana were cuddled on the couch on a Saturday night…still high from a day of being out in the park and being in bed for hours. They were talking softly together…in front of the fire…of this and that…nothing of consequence…just treasuring the warmth of holding each other…when the elevator pinged.

Later, the night guard would respond to the tongue lashing he received from Taylor for just letting someone up without proper identification or warning by explaining that the woman was Ana's older twin…so naturally he believed that she was Ms. Steele's mother.

Christian cursed the contractor…his own brother, for lord's sake…for not having finished the house yet. He suspected that Elliot was dragging his feet as payback.

Ana and Christian stood up as Carla strode into the room. Then she stopped…taken aback by the opulence surrounding her. That…and the devastatingly gorgeous man standing beside a younger version of herself. He stood, tall and strong, his arm protectively around the young woman who leaned against him as if she'd otherwise fall…Carla not realizing that Ana would. The two of them stared at what to them was a ruined and elder variation of Ana.

"Christian," Ana said and he knew that she wanted her cane. He leaned down, picking it up and handing it to her. He didn't want to let her go but he trusted her instincts. She hobbled over to Carla and just stared at her…close up. She'd never, as far as she knew, even seen a picture of her mother but this was like looking into a mirror.

"Is your name Carla? Are you my mother?" Ana's eyes were traveling all over this stranger, taking in everything about her appearance. "Have you had a hard life?" she asked…not unkindly. Carla's eyes widened…and then narrowed.

"Just what are you implying?"

Unfiltered Ana smiled and replied that it was just that Carla appeared well-worn and down-at-heel. She almost fell over…but for Christian's strong arms…as Carla backhanded the daughter she'd abandoned as a baby.

"How dare you talk to your mother that way? You will speak to me respectfully!"

"Why?" Ana asked ingenuously. Carla now seemed confused. She was wary as the man looked at her with fury fierce enough to burn her to ashes. She took a few steps back.

Christian helped Ana to the couch to sit. He continued to stand like a sentinel. "I believe what my fiancée means is that you have not earned her respect. You are her mother only biologically, after all. You left her and had no part in her life. DNA does not make a mother. You are simply an egg donor."

Christian enjoyed saying these things. Ana touched his hand, silently communicating with him. He then offered Carla a seat…in a chair not near his woman.

"Carla," Ana asked softly, "why are you here now? I'm almost 30 years old. It's too late to contribute to my upbringing. Did you come for money?"

Carla gasped…appearing appalled.

CHAPTER 70

Ana regarded Carla with great interest. She was trying to get her head around this odd happening. A stranger with her face walks into her home without notice and expects to be treated as a member of her family…a most important member at that. No matter the resemblance between them or their obvious genetic connection, Carla was nothing to Ana. Ana didn't hate her. She just didn't know her.

"Perhaps you didn't know…excuse me, what is your name?"

Carla straightened her shoulders and tried to appear dignified. "My name is Mrs. Carla Nelson." She was going to go on but Ana interrupted.

"Perhaps you didn't know, Mrs. Nelson, that I was in a car crash some years ago…Christian, how many now?"

Christian smoothed her hair and smiled down at her tenderly. "Five years, dear."

"Yes, five years ago, it was. I was horribly injured…the worst of it being the loss of my memory. My memory is only five years old. I don't recall my father ever speaking of you nor do I remember seeing any pictures. It was my fiancé who told me about my first 23 years and that I was raised by my single father. Christian told me that you didn't want to be a mother and so, shortly after returning from the hospital, you packed a bag and left. Dad and I never heard from you again."

"That isn't exactly true, sweetheart. Carla called Ray with monetary complaints but he explained that all his money was going toward your medical care. After Carla realized that she could be held responsible for some of that, she disappeared. You were still an infant."

"Oh." Ana looked at Carla carefully. "So, Mrs. Nelson, have you always lived a life of only self-regard? Is Mr. Nelson still your husband?"

"I'm a widow," Carla hissed. "I spent the past seven years tending to a senile old man who left me nothing. He never changed his will as he promised. Everything went to his bratty children who didn't care to share with me even though they did nothing for him. I was used."

"I see. You married an older man for his money but he lied to you. He never intended to leave his fortune to you. Hmm…Christian, I don't want you to leave your money to me. It should all go to a good charity."

"Too late, my love. You have a trust. You're in the will and our pre-nuptial agreement says that you get everything if something should happen to our marriage." He was quite pleased with himself. Ana was set for life…heck, she was set for the afterlife.

"What could happen to our marriage?" Ana asked in alarm. "Nothing…absolutely nothing but ever increasing happiness," Christian replied as he sat next to her, taking hold of her hand.

Carla put her finger in her mouth in a gagging gesture.

"It is sad that life has not been good to you, Mrs. Nelson, but then you reap what you sow." Ana turned to Christian and remarked that she'd learned that phrase from Gail.

"I was screwed over is what happened," Carla declared. "I wasn't supposed to get pregnant. Ray was supposed to be sterile from a war injury. I was going to get rid of you right away but he threatened to toss me out on the street. So, we made a deal. Bet he didn't tell you about that. I have his kid and he pays me off. I should have demanded more dough. I could have sold you to a couple of guys I knew and made a killing. I was too soft. Thought it wouldn't be nice to traffic my own kid. Besides, Ray would have spent his life tracking me down and I didn't want to live like that."

"Gosh, you are something else, Mrs. Nelson. Well, back to your visit here and its purpose."

Ana and Christian waited. Carla looked at the pretty people sitting on their pretty couch in their pretty home and hated them with every fiber of her rotten being.

"I read about you in the Seattle Nooz. I don't live here…too expensive. I live in Arizona. I clean at a motel and some guy left a copy of the Nooz. I saw your picture and knew right away. You inherited my good looks. Gettin' to live like this, you'll probably get to keep 'em.

"I figured that you could spare some change for me since you got so much. And I'd like you to stop staring at me like that. I ain't an animal in a zoo, ya know."

"I'm just intrigued, ma'am. Surely, you can understand that. I've had a lot happen to me in my short life but my mother just walking into my home one night…" Ana stopped. "Do you mind if I get a selfie of you?"

Christian put his hand over his mouth and covered his laugh with a cough.

"Yeah, you can have your picture if I can have my money." Ana nodded to Carla and Christian got to his feet. When he returned from his study, he handed an envelope packed with hundred dollar bills to Ana. Then he said "smile" to Carla, who actually did, as he took the picture. Ana held out the envelope and advised Carla to use some of the money to get her teeth fixed.

Carla looked insulted but said nothing. She stuffed the money into her old purse and walked out without another word to her daughter. As the elevator doors closed, Ana sighed and leaned back into Christian's arms.

"What were we talking about before that woman walked in?"

"Blowjobs and how I'd love one tonight."

"Just one? I was thinking three," Ana suggested. Christian chuckled. "Honey, I'm unconscious after two. Are you trying to kill me?"

"Well, I am in the will," Ana answered.

EPILOGUE

Mrs. Nelson did turn up periodically after that but the lobby guards lied and said that the Greys had moved…which was partially true. They'd kept the penthouse for GEH guests but most of the time they lived at their house in the Grey Compound which was now accessed through a gate with a guard house. Grey had purchased some of the mansions further up the street from the Grey bungalow and used the land to build a house for the Taylors, a bunk house for any of the security team overnighting and a pool house for Ana and the kids. Swimming for good for her back and legs and Christian loved to look at her in a swimsuit. She didn't like bikinis but she wore them to please her husband.

Their three children were all birthed by surrogates after several spinal specialists convinced Ana that her back wasn't well enough to endure labor. Ana didn't feel too badly about that after being present for the births of Darcy's and Mia's broods.

Luc's and Mia's wedding was touching and so lovely. Elliot's and Darcy's was mind-blowing and exhausting…just being guests. Yet, somehow, it managed to suit both of them. They shone like a starburst throughout the day and Darcy was stunning in the $200,000 ensemble by Givenchy that Mia and Grace insisted was the only possible dress. St. James was overflowing with guests and the applause after their kiss was thunderous.

Christian was amazed that his brother had gotten so involved in the preparations and was so happy with the entire circus. Elliot even thanked his little bro' for letting him and Darcy have the dream wedding. Oh, their sweet affair held in the bungalow's backyard was okay but this, this was a wedding.

Luc's shop was doing so well that he had to expand so, as a wedding gift, Christian bought the building attached to Luc's and helped with the renovation. It tripled the size of the shop and the apartment and enabled Luc to hire more help. Mostly, he was pleased to teach a new generation how to make chocolate and to provide jobs to keep more young people in the city.

When Christian woke in the morning and sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he groaned at the thought of going to work until he felt a soft hand on his back and heard Ana whispering to him.

"Come back to bed, darling."

THE END