Time flies when you're having fun, and the last few years had been good for all of us.

GEH had gone from strength to strength, pushing me further up the Forbes rich list. Even though I'd cut back my hours when Phoebe was born, the team I'd put in place at GEH did their job well and kept making money. These days I only worked four days a week, taking Teddy and Phoebe with me on Wednesdays so Ana could work at SIP. The kids loved being at Grey House with Daddy, and Phoebe particularly enjoyed playing with Huxley, Gwen and Ros' son. Only a few months older than her, Huxley and Phoebe were the very best of friends. Taking a leaf out of our book, Ros brought Huxley in on Wednesdays. Like me, she wanted her children to appreciate what we did, and it was a chance for Gwen to enjoy some downtime.

As Ana had predicted, Callie became a permanent fixture in Elliot's life. So permanent, in fact, that they'd married a month ago. The wedding and reception held on the deck of their new home next door to ours, they'd spent the last month honeymooning in sunny Spain. Elliot's business was booming, and while nowadays you were more likely to find him in a suit than work boots, he liked to get on-site and on tools weekly to keep it real.

Mom and Dad had both moved further into retirement. Mom closed her books to new patients and took fewer hospital shifts, instead focusing on her private practice. Now Dad was slowing down at work they wanted to travel more. They were not long back from three weeks in New Zealand which they raved about. So much so, I was planning a trip there with Anastasia and the kids.

Mia and Saul had eventually admitted they were seeing each other several months after I already knew. He made a good match with her, not putting up with any nonsense. After her internship at Grey House, my events department were keen to keep Mia on, so she spent a year there before accepting a job with an events business. She's taking her time and learning various aspects of the industry, but she recently confided she'd like to start her own events planning business. She has a skill for it, so when the time comes, I'll provide the start-up capital and the business guidance as required.

While I recognized Mia was hoping Saul might propose soon, I think she'll be waiting a while, yet. Although they didn't dislike Mia and were unfailingly polite to her, Saul's parents made no secret they hoped Saul would settle down and marry a woman from his own faith. I wasn't sure how it would work out.

Gail and Taylor were still with us. As our family expanded, it seemed so did their duties. A year ago, we renegotiated terms with them both, making Gail our household manager and Taylor my head of personal security. While both were always on hand and willing to help if required, they now had set hours and every weekend off together. Plus if I was traveling for any length of time, I took a different CPO.

Anastasia was still at SIP and loving it. Working from the office one day a week and from home another, she was now an acquisitions editor. Employed to sniff out talent, she'd handhold her new authors through to their first publication release. Mentoring only one or two authors at a time, the personalized service helped with author retention, and time and time again Ana had been on the money with the authors she put forward.

It wasn't long after Phoebe arrived that Ana received a letter at Grey House. A simple printed card announced: Millie and Adam Shields are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of their son Thomas Wyatt Shields. Accompanying it was a photo of Millie, her husband, and son and a handwritten note. I personally couldn't give a fuck what happened to that woman, however, Anastasia was deeply touched by the note where Millie again apologized for her part in the abduction and thanked God for bringing her to a better and happier place in life.

As Deidre had foreshadowed, the cases brought against Jack Hyde by his former assistants added to his already significant jail time. With an additional twenty years added to the twenty-five years he got for Ana and Teddy's abduction, the reality is Jack would never experience life outside a prison again, and that made me a happy man.

"Christian? Are you ready? I want to drop the chair over to Sonia's and then we need to get to the airport!"

"Sorry baby," I murmured, "I just got lost in my head a bit."

"There'll be plenty of time for that on the plane," my beautiful wife said with a giggle.

"Is everything packed?" I checked.

"Yes. Everything is packed and loaded. We'll meet your parents and the kids at Boeing Field."

"I still don't understand why we have to drop this off. Surely security could have dropped it over once we were away?"

"I also wanted to drop off a birthday present for Sonia," Ana explained, showing me a brightly wrapped package.

I allowed myself to be dragged through the living room, saying a quick hello to my parents, and then out into the garage. There, in the back of a Sawyer's personal pickup truck, was an occasional chair Ray had made. When her friend Sonia bought herself a run-down, dated apartment in Issaquah, Ana had roped in Elliot, Ray and some Grey Constructions crew to give it a makeover before she moved in. Elliot's foreman, Callum, had taken a liking to Sonia, but it didn't work out. Still – Ray developed a paternal soft spot for the young woman bringing up a child on her own, so he'd made a few pieces of furniture for her, the latest being an occasional chair for Asha's room.

"Thank you for helping with this" Ana said Sawyer, as she climbed into the rear of his dual cab truck while I rode shotgun.

"It's a pleasure," he replied with a smile.

It didn't take long to get to Sonia's apartment. While small, it was spotless and beautifully decorated.

"Where would you like this?" Sawyer asked her, carrying the chair inside.

"In Asha's room please, Mr. Sawyer. The second door on the right." I noticed Sonia's eyes fixated on Sawyer's ass as he carried the chair down the hallway. Interesting… I wonder if Ana knew about that? The chair and present delivered, my wife exuberantly hugged her friend, then we were soon on our way to Boeing Field.

"Looking forward to London?" I asked Ana as Sawyer drove.

"I can't wait to go back. It seems like so long since we honeymooned there."

"A lot has happened since then," I agreed.

Not long later we were at Boeing Field, pulling up alongside the GEH jet.

"The children, security, and your parents are already on board," Taylor informed me when we climbed out of the pickup.

"You get settled, baby, I'll just have a word with Taylor."

When a trip to London started looking necessary for a deal I was working on, I hadn't been keen. However, it was Ana who suggested it was a good opportunity for a family European vacation. She'd argued that Teddy would be in a pre-kinder program soon enough, which would limit our travel opportunities, while also highlighting the benefit that both kids were still small enough for strollers which was an infinitely more enticing proposition than carrying overtired kids around sightseeing.

Mom and Dad clinched it when they offered to come along to be on hand to mind the children when required. Accordingly, Prescott, Reynolds, Clarke, and McIntyre were coming to London with us while Taylor, Gail, and Sophie took a vacation of their own. Sawyer would keep things running at Medina, in charge of personal security in Taylor's absence.

"I'll be getting daily reports from Sawyer," Taylor said gruffly. "If there's a problem, I will return ASAP."

"Go!" I laughed. "Get in that car and go back to Medina so you can take your wife and daughter to Bora Bora! I don't want to hear from you for three weeks, and I hope you return relaxed and tanned."

"Don't talk to me about tans," Taylor grumbled. "Sophie's Mom bought her her first bikini. She can't wait to wear it!"

I smirked, imagining Taylor hunting down any teenaged guy ogling his little girl.

"You think it's funny now – wait until it's Phoebe's turn." Well didn't that wipe the smile from my face!

"Have a great break," I said. "We'll catch up when you're back."

"You too – and say hello to Elliot and Callie for me."

"Oh, how things have changed," I whispered to Anastasia as we placed Teddy and Phoebe side by side on the bed in the bedroom at the back of the GEH plane. Equipped with special 'sleeper belts' in case of unexpected turbulence, it was odd to witness our progeny slumbering in the bed where my wife and I joined the mile-high club together! In repose, our children looked adorable, and Ana pulled her phone from her pocket snapping several images of them sleeping side by side.

"Hopefully they'll be down for most of the flight," she said as we returned to our seats in the main cabin, sitting alongside my parents. Knowing the kids would sleep in the cabin at the rear, we'd chosen seats close to them while

"Are you ready for your meals?" Natalia asked.

"Yes, thank you," I replied after my parents nodded. Ana had fed the children as soon as we'd leveled out. I insisted on healthy meals for our children, so onboard they'd had hand-crumbed, hormone-free, free-range chicken with steamed organic vegetables and filtered water. I realized my wife humored me, but I wanted our children to have the very best sustenance – even if it was still chicken nuggets and veg!

"Vacationing together is a marvelous idea," Grace said a little later as Natalia set our meals in front of us before returning to pour us each a generous glass of my favorite St. Henri Shiraz. "The two things your father and I wanted to do in our older years was travel and spend time with our family. This combines both! I hope Elliot and Callie give me a grandchild, soon Two grandbabies are wonderful," she quickly assured us, "but three would be even better."

I looked at my wife seated opposite me, giving her a knowing grin. Elliot had been clear about his hopes for a honeymoon baby, and Callie was on board with the idea. After close to three years of dating and then building a family house together, she was ready for two to become three. However, we might be the ones providing Grace with her next grandchild. In a discussion a few weeks ago, Anastasia had revealed she didn't think our family was complete. She wanted one more. It had been a relief to hear her say it as I felt the same way. Anastasia had stopped her birth control pills, and we were seeing what happened.

"Grace – you're as bad as your mother! Things will happen when they happen," Dad said with a laugh.

Gramps and Grandma were still going strong. After a small car accident, Gramps handed in his driver's license. Worried it signaled the end of their independence and ability to live at home, I'd hired a husband and wife team to serve as driver/security/housekeeping/live-in support for my grandparents. They gave the practical support my grandparents needed without being overly intrusive. Both Mom's parents feared a nursing home, and with my resources, there was no need for them to leave their home. While he was slower on his feet, now, Gramps was still sharp as a tack and visited GEH at least once a month, and it didn't escape my attention it was always on a Wednesday!

"I'm sorry," Mom said with a smile. "We're just loving this new phase of our lives. I like holidaying with my children and grandbabies!"

"You might reconsider that when you're on the receiving end of one of Phoebe's tantrums," Ana quipped. Our daughter was the spitting image of her mother yet seemed to have inherited my temperament. Just starting the terrible twos, she was giving Anastasia and me a run for our money in a way Teddy never had.

"She's a little angel," Grace cooed lovingly, ignoring the smirk on my father's face.

"Aisling should graduate, soon?" Dad asked, introducing another topic of conversation. Mom would not hear a word against her grandchildren, so Carrick chose not to dwell on Phoebe's fractious nature.

"Yes. She loved her time interning and ended up majoring in political science. Social justice, to be exact. She's hoping to attend Harvard Law School," I mentioned, seeing my father's eyes light up with glee. While none of his children had graduated from Harvard, Dad would love to mentor Aisling.

"Is she likely to get accepted?" Dad asked.

"She's bright," I said loyally. "She deserves a place. And I'll make sure she gets one," I pledged. As my biological sister, I'd do whatever it took to further Aisling's dreams.

"Of course you will, son," Dad said meeting my eyes. "What's the latest with David?"

"Not a lot…" I admitted. "Although he has started casually dating."

"Oh! Has he found someone?" Mom asked excitedly.

"Not so far as I know," I said. "He's doing a thing called 'dinner for six.' It's like a dating agency where three single men and three single women of similar ages and interests go out for a meal together. They each pay for themselves, but they socialize together and see what happens."

"That sounds progressive," Mom replied. Her enthusiasm was obvious.

"I guess so," I said. "With Aisling living away, and unlikely to return to the family home, David felt it was time to explore another relationship."

"As he should," Anastasia chimed in loyally. "Look what a difference Diane has made to Daddy! I've never seen him happier!"

There was no denying it; Ray and Diane were a great match. Their low-key home wedding had been perfect for the two of them. A commitment of two souls, I was proud when Anastasia stood beside her father as his support person, an old friend of Diane's doing likewise for her. If David found a woman as wonderful as Diane, we'd all be pleased.

David and Aisling had visited us several times, as we had them. Thanksgiving was now an annual event at Medina, with Callie's family flying in for the first time last year to join the festivities.

"I'm getting sleepy, Cary," Grace said after Natalia had taken our empty plates and replaced our wine glasses with Irish coffees. "I'll finish this then rest."

"Agreed," Dad said sweetly, leaning over to kiss Mom. "We have a busy few weeks ahead of us. When are we meeting up with Elliot and Callie?"

"It's a bit fluid," I admitted. "When I told them our arrival and departure dates from London, El was keen to catch a ride home on the jet. He hasn't confirmed when we'll see them, other than they'll meet up a few days before we leave and travel home with us."

"That's a bit rude," Mom complained with a sigh. "It would be nice to plan…"

"Gracie? They're on their honeymoon. Cut them some slack," Dad intoned.

"You're right," Mom agreed, adjusting her seat into a reclined position. "I just can't wait to have them both home."

"Are you done?" I called through the bathroom door. Despite half an hour's patience, I was still waiting for Anastasia to appear.

"I am," she cooed, stepping out in a silver-gray gown she'd last worn on our honeymoon. It looked great then, although I thought it looked even better now.

"I've always loved that dress," I commented, dropping a kiss onto the back of her neck as I fastened the diamond necklace 'Teddy' had given my wife for her birthday a few years back. With the matching diamond bracelet which had been my birthday present the year we'd wed, Mrs. Anastasia Grey looked and was wearing, a million dollars.

Saying our goodbyes to Mom and Dad who were staying in our suite to mind Teddy and Phoebe, I took Ana's arm and guided her out into the corridor and down the hall to the suite Elliot and Callie were staying in.

"All ready to go?" I asked when they answered their door.

"Let's do this," Elliot said, his arm wrapped around Callie. In an electric blue evening gown, she also looked amazing.

"Do you think she'll be there?" Callie asked Anastasia in the elevator downstairs.

"I'm not sure. José emailed her the invites but has heard nothing back."

"Did he tell her we would be there?" she pressed.

"No. He just sent her two tickets with an 'I hope you can come' message."

"It will be fine, Callie," Elliot assured his wife. "It's a huge exhibition. With three-hundred and sixty-five photos on display, even if Kate is there, we probably won't bump into her."

"And what if we do?" I growled. If Kate Kavanagh was stupid enough to start something, sure as hell I'd be the one finishing it!

Anastasia was thrilled for her friend when over a year ago a photo José took had been selected as National Geographic's 'Photo of the Day.' A huge honor, the resulting publicity saw his audience expand exponentially. Already a sought-after photographer in Washington State thanks, in part, to his photography at our wedding, the inclusion of one of his images in the annual National Geographic photography exhibition made him book flights to London to attend the prestigious event. He'd arrived a few days ago with his girlfriend, Eva, who was also a photographer, and after the exhibition, they planned to backpack around Europe for three or four months taking their cameras and little else.

"I can't believe we're going to an exhibition opening at the Victoria and Albert Museum," Callie said excitedly to Anastasia as Reynolds drove the four of us through the London streets toward the venue.

"You're just hoping José or Eva have some photos ready from our wedding," Elliot joked. With their association with the family, Eva and José been the obvious choice for photographers when Callie and Elliot planned their wedding day.

"We're here," I cooed into Anastasia's ear as we pulled up to the V and A. We'd visited several times in the last fortnight however this time we were dressed to impress and weren't pushing strollers with irritable young children!

Making our way into the exhibition space, I recognized this would be a long night. Each photograph was mesmerizing and not something that could be enjoyed in mere seconds. Several times Anastasia took cards from photographers or snapped their names on her phone. I could anticipate some art acquisition in our near future.

"There he is!" Anastasia squealed, seeing José and Eva standing beside his photograph. An image of the moon centered behind Seattle's Space Needle, the image was dark and moody.

"You made it!" José said, stepping forward to hug Anastasia and then Callie before shaking hands with Elliot and me.

"Like we'd miss it!" Anastasia gushed over Eva's shoulder as she embraced José' long-term girlfriend. We chatted for a few minutes, José detailing how he hoped tonight would open more doors for him internationally.

"I've been handing out plenty of cards," he said, excusing himself for a moment to chat with a couple who were admiring his work. Elliot and Callie also excused themselves, going in search of champagne.

"Has Kate turned up?" Anastasia asked Eva quietly.

"Not so far," she replied. "José doesn't think she will."

"When did you last see her?" Ana probed. "It's been a while?"

"About half a second ago," Eva said gesturing to Ana's former friend admiring a picture two behind us.

"Ana? Christian?" As one we turned to observe Katherine Kavanagh. "I didn't think you'd be here?" She sounded shocked and not particularly happy.

"We wouldn't have missed it for the world," I said with the barest veneer of civility, meanwhile running my eyes over Kate's companion. Closer to fifty than forty, a well-cut suit doing its best to conceal a pronounced paunch, his florid expression hinted a wealthy albeit indolent lifestyle. A poor comparison to my Adonis of a brother who was just now rejoining our group, his arm draped around Callie.

"Kate," he greeted.

"Elliot," she replied in a tight voice. "What are you doing here?"

"We wanted to support José," he replied easily. "Can I introduce you to my wife, Callie?"

"Your wife?" she gasped, clearly surprised.

"Elliot and Callie have recently been in Spain for their honeymoon," Ana explained.

"Well congratulations," Kate ground out, looking anything but celebratory. "May I introduce my fiancé Miles Tinkler? Miles, darling, this is my old college roommate Ana, her husband Christian, his brother Elliot and his wife Callie. Ana and I know José from college."

My eyes dropped to Kate's ring finger, noting a diamond smaller than the one Elliot had once given her.

"Nice to meet you," Miles drawled arrogantly. He could evidently feel Kate's tension, yet seemed ignorant to the cause of her agitation.

I nodded curtly before replying, "Likewise."

There was an awkward silence before I asked, "So, Miles? What do you do for a living?"

Ana shot me a reproving glance. My wife knew me too well.

"Nice of you to ask, Chris. I own Tinkler Mills."

"Lumber?" I queried, ignoring the slight with my name.

"Textiles," he corrected. "We're England's sixth-biggest textile dyeing company." There was no mistaking the pride in his voice. "What about you?"

Kate almost flinched. If Miles didn't know my trade interests eclipsed his, she certainly did.

"I'm in business," I said evasively.

"In Washington State?"

"Yes. But we also have offices in New York, Dubai, London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan."

"Good to work for a big company," Miles smirked condescendingly. "Lots of opportunity for advancement." And there we were; hook, line and sinker.

"True. But I own the company," I said.

José rescued the situation by rejoining us at that point, engaging us all in general chit chat. I noticed Kate regarding Elliot curiously. He kept his arm around Callie but seemed completely at ease.

"How's Ethan?" Ana asked Kate, in an attempt at furthering the conversation. "Is he still in London?"

"No. He finished his Ph.D. then accepted a tutoring position at the University of Wolverhampton in Birmingham," Kate replied. "What about you, Elliot? How is Grey Constructions going?"

"We've diversified," he said, taking a casual sip of his champagne. "We've now got three divisions; one focussed on our patented roof truss and window frame technology, another on big builds – high rises and large-scale public buildings - plus the original working on top-end remodels and renovations."

"It sounds like business is going well?"

"Never better," he said with an easy smile.

And after that, there was not much else to say.

"Well, if you'll excuse us, we should get on and see the rest of the exhibits. José? Eva? Are we still on for brunch tomorrow? Grace and Carrick want to congratulate you, and of course, Teddy and Phoebe miss you," my wife said sweetly.

"Sure thing, Ana," José replied, giving my wife a fraternal kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for coming, amiga! We'll see you tomorrow!"

"Miles, Kate," I said nodding at each before escorting my wife toward the next photograph, Elliot and Callie following. I no longer desired vengeance on Kate or Ethan Kavanaugh. By all accounts, and Kate's miserable expression, they were doing a great job of fucking up their lives all on their own.

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