It's been almost three weeks since I last saw Ana, the last thing I want to do is have lunch with anybody least of all my family which includes my loved up brother and his girlfriend. I miss Ana dreadfully, but I'm too fucked up to give her what she wants. The baffling part is I don't seem to find anyone else remotely attractive. I met up with Elena when I got back from Savannah… that didn't end well.

"Christian, darling." She purrs.

"Elena." I place a small kiss on her cheek and quickly move to sit down. "Have you got the files?" I ask eagerly.

"This is what happens when you leave it too long between subs." She cackles as she hands over a large pile. I even opted to look over the files I had originally rejected. I'm looking for a face that immediately turns me on, followed by a very short list of hard limits, preferably, one that matches my own. The added bonus would be experience and a sub that has never safeworded. First glance at a face and I reject file after file. The faces that I find I can live with I inexplicably find their experience off-putting. The ones without experience, of course, have a long list of hard limits that just annoys me.

"For fuck sake Christian what do you want?" Elena huffs draining her glass of wine. "What happened to the virgin?" She sneers and immediately my back is up. "Found you too much to cope with, did she? After all these years you would think you'd have learned to listen to me by now when it comes to your needs." My mistake was thinking I could confide in her about Ana. We spoke just before Ana's graduation; of course, she tried to talk me out of pursuing a BDSM relationship with Ana. Naturally she failed only for Ray to succeed.

"Her father knew about my lifestyle and warned me to stay away from her, or else he will make his knowledge public," I tell her somberly. I look up to find a pale looking Elena staring back at me, wine abandoned.

"How?" She chokes out.

"Patricia Harding's father found out about her lifestyle and asked Raymond Steele to help him find someone who could investigate the man that broke his daughter's collarbone and the rest, as they say, is history."

"What exactly does he know?" She asks

"Well… it was the way he told Ana that she had no idea what she was dealing with. I got the distinct impression he knew a lot. Just before I went to Savannah, I had someone break into his house to make copies of whatever he had." I pause draining my glass. "Remember how I use to complain about the lack of security in the building Dr. Calder used to practice. Well, I was right. Whoever he hired broke into the office he had at the time and made copies of every single session I had with him. He knows about the crack whore, why I like pale brunettes, you and everything in between." The sense of security I always felt I had now has a gaping hole where anyone can get in. "Believe me, it makes me glad Flynn doesn't record our sessions," I add with a humorless chuckle.

"Why didn't you take the file instead of just making copies?" She asks fear evident in her voice.

"The man has a secure box with a private security company. He opened the account two weeks after I broke Patricia's collarbone. What do you think?" I bark. "You know what I've just lost my appetite." I push my seat back.

"You couldn't just stick to what you know, you had to venture out on your own. Her father knows about you, knows about me, everything anyone would need to destroy me. You stupid son of a whore." She spits at me. "Everything I have worked for, slaved for could all be gone in a blink of an eye because you got bored of the same looking girls. It's natural, you moron for taste to change, if you weren't so fucked up you would have realized by now that it doesn't matter how many brunettes you beat, cane and whip your dead whore of a mother would not feel a thing and maybe just maybe…" I bolt up and across the room so quickly I send the chair and the table flying.

"I'm fucked up, I'm fucked up…" the door to the private dining room opens. "GET OUT." I bellow without turning my head to see who would dare intrude. "You beat, caned and whipped a fifteen-year-old boy because your husband couldn't care less about your pussy. If I'm fucked up what are you?" I take a step back when I realize I have my fingers around her neck and slowly squeezing. "Don't worry about your precious life I'm staying well clear of Ana. You would be wise to follow my lead by staying clear of me. I will be selling my share of Esclava. You and I are done, stay away from my family and me. Don't care what you tell my mother but if she mentions your name I will tell her all about how you abused her trust and molested her fifteen-year-old son. I would spin such a tale of woe… she'd have you killed." I growl menacingly.

"Christian… please, I panicked I didn't mean any of it. Christian plea…" Whatever else she says is drowned out when the door shuts behind me.

I have yet to tell Flynn of my final conversation with Elena… I feel like such a fool not to have seen the very thing he warned me about time and time again. Elena Lincoln is indeed not my friend she couldn't care less about my needs or me. Finding subs for me was just another way to keep her claws firmly hooked in me. I sold my share of Esclava to a chain that had intentions of overhauling Elena's entire setup. There wasn't much she could do, as my share was a far larger percentage. She wisely chose to sell her share as well. Her anger towards me translated to the rest of my family, no one cared except my mother, but she soon got over it. "Sir, we are here," Taylor informs me.

With a great deal of reluctance, I push the front door open and make my way to the living room. I hear Elliot making jokes, as usual, God, I envy him more than I care to admit. He does what he wants when he wants without fear. "Christian, dear boy… happy birthday." Mom sings getting up to lean in for a kiss. The same cheek I allowed a pedophile to kiss for years.I'm firmly in the running for worst son and sibling of the decade.

"Good to see you son," Dad adds respecting my wish to ignore this day.

"Hey, bro." Elliot greets handing me a bottle of beer. It wouldn't be my drink of choice, but now is not the time to throw his gesture back in his face. I've done that enough times… and yet he keeps making the effort.

"Christian, happy birthday," Mia calls long before she makes it to the room. "I saw your car…" Her attention is quickly diverted. "Oh Kate, how is your friend, Ana. I heard what happened…"

"What happened?" I demand.

"She was attacked by her boss Friday night while they were on a work trip in New York." Kate looks torn up, as does Elliot, who has his fist clenched.

"Is she alright?" I choke out.

"Yeah thank god Ray insisted on teaching her to defend herself. Elliot bought her pepper spray, and it came in handy." She says with a small smile.

"Came in handy, the girl emptied the can into his face and proceeded to rain hell on him," Dad says with a chuckle.

"Wait, what?" I ask confused.

"She kicked his ass and I mean kicked his ass. She incapacitated him with the spray and stormed on his cock to the point where he might lose it. He's still in New York in the ICU. He hit his head going down." Elliot chuckles.

"I'd still like to add my own brand of beating. Who the hell does he think he is putting his filthy hands on Ana? No man should ever lay a hand on a woman like that another than in a loving way." He growls, and I feel like the piece of shit I am. I wanted to beat that girl, that is not a loving way. I need to see her. I storm out of the living room with Elliot right on my tail. He gets in front of me blocking the way.

"Elliot, get out of my way." I roar.

"I can't… sorry bro she doesn't want you there. She made that clear… she's trying to move on and you turning up for any reason another than…. Well, she says you know what she wants, and since you can't give it to her it's best you two keep your distance." He informs me his voice barely above a whisper. "Any man would do anything for that girl, most are trying. I don't mean to cause you any more pain as it's clear you are in some, but there is a line of men after that girl willing to give her whatever it is you think you can't. I love you and would love nothing more than to see you with Ana so would the rest of the family. If this is about your past and issues, I suggest you knuckle down and get to work ridding yourself of them." He sighs rubbing his face. "Come have lunch with us, we can go for a few drinks after." Despite the burning need to walk out of that door and head for Ana's I know I will only anger her as I really can't tell her I will give her what she wants. She is what I need, but I'm not hers.

"You guys left her alone," I ask angered that Ana is on her own after her ordeal.

"She's not on her own." He doesn't look at me, but the thought of that photographer or any man keeping her company, comforting her makes my blood boil.

I couldn't tell you what I ate for lunch, I only heard my parents talk about Ana. My dad is representing her in case any legal issue arises from the beat down she gave her boss. According to dad, Ana in all fairness should have left the room and called for help after she incapacitated him, but her subsequent beating could be deemed excessive. I send a quick text to Barney and Welch to investigate the boss and one to Roz to initiate a takeover of SIP with immediate effect.

"E, can we meet at mine tomorrow evening. There is somewhere I have to be…"

"Chris…" he starts thinking I'm heading to Ana's

"No, I got the message loud and clear." I practically run to the car and ask Taylor to put his foot down. With it being a Saturday we arrive at my destination in an hour and a half. Elliot is right I need to knuckle down and work on my issues for myself, for Ana, and this is the place to start. "Taylor, do not exit this vehicle under any circumstance."

"Sir…" he starts.

"Taylor, stay in the goddamn vehicle." I roar. I rub my sweaty palms on my jeans as I walk towards the front porch.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't put a bullet in your leg." He snarls behind me before cocking what I believe is a gun.

"Because I love your daughter, I'm in pain… not being with her is killing me… I need her more than I need my lifestyle. I can't work, sleep or do anything else, food tastes of nothing, water doesn't quench my thirst. Please, Mr. Steele, I can't go on like this when I know the answer to all my problems... my dream… is a stone throw away." With my arms in the air, I slowly turn around and face him and… his shotgun.

"Put your arms down you look like an idiot. Come on in." He grumbles. With a sigh of relief, I follow him into Ana's childhood home and believe me, you can't miss that fact. Pictures of her line the walls from infant to her graduation before I can comment I'm knocked on my ass with a punch that has me seeing stars. "That's for breaking into my home. There would be a hell of a lot more if Annie didn't assure me you have yet to lay a hand on her in the wrong way." He gives me a hand as I stand up. "I'm not thrilled with any hands on her, but I know it's inevitable." I rub my jaw knowing full well it's going to bruise badly in the next few days. "Beer." He offers and I have to say I have never been happier to have been offered a bottle of beer. Elliot calls it the bonding drink for real men; right now I'm inclined to believe him.

It's late when I make it back to Seattle and head straight for Ana's apartment. I see Elliot's truck, so I know he and Kavanagh are in. Luckily I make it to the door as a resident is leaving. With trepidation, I knock on the door going over the speech I have prepared for Ana. Honesty is the best policy her father knows every dark secret, and it will be foolish on my part to keep anything from her. "Bro, come in," Elliot says with a smirk. I expected him to keep me out but here he is…

"Christian." Ana breathes and before I can say a word she launches herself at me, her lips on mine. It takes me a split second to respond, but I do with all I'm worth. Every single cell in my body sings with delight. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I groan as I feel the heat from her core. Her tongue massages mine, furiously invading every crevice in my mouth. I pull away needing to breathe. "I've missed you so much…" she cries. "What took you so long?" You left my dad's ages ago." What. "He called after you left informing me he'd given you his approval to date me." He did more than that but if he didn't tell her I'm not. She finally climbs down my body, and I feel bereft. I turn to find my brother grinning like a loon as Kate smiles at us. The blonde next to her, on the other hand, is glaring furiously at me. If I had delayed any longer he'd be with her, I've just fucked up his plans.

"Bro, this is Ethan, Kate's brother." He turns his back to him and rolls his eyes.

"I'm going out." Ethan sneers staring at me not that I give a flying fuck. He storms out without another word.

"Would you like to go to mine?" I ask smiling from ear to ear.

"Oh, that would be great." She pulls me along to her bedroom. She shuts the door with a bang pushes me onto the bed and crawls on my lap being very careful to avoid my chest and back. Another thing I need to work on. Her lips are back on mine as she grinds on my cock. "Ana… fuck…"

"I want you." She moans into my mouth furiously pulling my belt off.

"I don't have any condoms." She leans over to the bedside drawer and pulls out a pack.

"Elliot." I nod, as it's the only explanation needed. She stands long enough to rid herself of her clothes and for me to put on the condoms before crawling back on my lap and slowly sinking down on my cock.

"Oh, good heavens." I moan loudly as she starts to bounce on my cock. This is going to be quick. I flip us onto her back and slam into her. "Baby, I won't last if I take this any easy."

"Don't, we have the rest of the wee…" That's all I needed to hear.

"Theo, cut it out." Phoebe bats his hands away, her eyes never leaving her phone.

"Pheebs, whatever you are doing on that phone better be done soon. You know how your grandfather feels about the use of phones." Ana warns.

"That's what I was trying to tell her… albeit in my own unique way." Teddy says with a chuckle.

"It's an entire week, and I can't use my phone except when I'm in my room." She moans.

"Then stay in your room." Teddy retorts knowing full well there's no way she can do that.

"It's going to be a long week." Ana moans. Yes, I managed not to fuck up my relationship with Ana. We got married three months after we got back together. I didn't think it was going to happen, to be honest, I had so much baggage to overcome, and somehow she was there with me every step of the way. Turns out she had challenged Ray about what happened at her graduation. He proved his point by playing the tapes from my sessions for her. I'm not going to lie it pissed me off but in the end, I had to admit it worked well as she had time to process it all and she still decided she wanted me if I was willing to give a normal relationship a go. Life has had very little hiccups, Hyde never woke up and since he had no family the hospital after a year turned his life support machine off. By this point evidence of his previous victims had come out and Ana was informed there would be no charges leveled against her long before he died.

"We are here." Teddy is nearly jumping out of his skin and is out of the car and running full pelt into the backyard. Ray's house is a teenager's playground. A year after Ana and I got married Ray bought the land behind his house for next to nothing as it was an overgrown… I can't really call it woodland. Worse it had attracted some nasty bacteria that had decimated the trees.

Ray cleared it all out with the help of some friends and Elliot and turned it into an adventure land. Think of the Swiss Family Robinson's home in the movie but on a large scale. Ray built an experience in the large oak trees he saved. It's acres of slides, homes in the trees and I mean homes, there are cabins that will make your jaw drop. There is heating, running water and electricity. The entire thing is up in the trees. Naturally modern technology is not allowed except at night when you are ensconced in your treetop home. As a carpenter, he couldn't have found a more impressive way to show off his skills and the entire thing is just for the family and of course the families of the men that helped build it.

"Bro."

"For once I was hoping you wouldn't be able to make it," I grumble. "You didn't bring Kavanagh, did you?" I ask looking around.

"He's the least of your problems." He says with a smug smile.

"Fuck, the photographer." You'd think those fuckers would be over Ana by now, but no fifteen years later the fuckers are still waiting for me to fuck up to swoop in. "Why can't they get married and leave my wife alone," I grumble. I'm glad Ana and I are staying in the house.

"Technically they are still in their thirties and have time. Take delight in the fact that that time is running out.

I head into the house and find Ana in the kitchen with her dad. Unfortunately, Kavanagh is here because he's family by marriage. Neither he nor Rodriguez have any kids or teenagers, so I question why they are here every time and always around my wife when they both live in Seattle. "Son, how are you?" Ray says clapping me on the back.

"I'm good, I see you've added a rope bridge to the setup," I say admiring the rather intricate design.

"Oh yes, I will be adding a bachelor's cabin for José and Ethan." It's a jab, and they don't miss it either. It doesn't help that Ana fails miserably in trying to hide her giggle.

"Come, baby, let's get settled," I say with a chuckle.

"Christian, I need you to promise me something?' I know what's coming, and I sigh and indulge her as usual.

"I promise, whatever it is."

"Do not engage Elliot in his dangerous ideas. You two are far too old to still be duking it out every summer. Keep it friendly and set a good example for the kids." We have a little friendly contest among us that always quickly descend into all-out war. Ray has several assault courses on the grounds and some tough ones among the cabins in the trees. Naturally my family, Roz's and security are on my side while Elliot has his family and his construction guys. Despite what Ana says she's desperate to beat Kate this year after she cheated last year. This year Sophie is home early from Harvard medical school so that gives my team an extra advantage.

"Of course, baby." The moment Elliot starts with the trash talk tomorrow, she will growl in my ear to crush him so I'm not worried. "Well, I'm to behave tomorrow then I think I need to get all the bad behavior out of my system. What do you recommend?" I purr.

"Could you be any more cheesy?" she giggles all the while unbuttoning my shirt. If this is what cheesy gets me then fuck yes.