AN: Short and sweet to close up The Awakening - Thank you for all your incredible reviews, follows and faves and for joining me on this journey. Please follow me on in The Reckoning where we continue on Ana's and Christian's journey. :D

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Great work Ana." Elizabeth smile as she flicked through the report Ana had done on a recent manuscript. Work had been her salvation these last couple of weeks, it was the only place she was truly able to put her past behind her. "Listen, there is an opening coming up as a junior editor on our team, please apply for it."

"I will." Ana smiled, even if it was a bit soon, she had only been with the company a couple of months after all but she loved her job. If they wanted her and gave her the promotion then that would be great, if not, she'd spend the next few months working still and hopefully the next time the job came around she'd have the required experience. Whatever, she had nothing to lose in applying.

"Can you take the Mills manuscript home this weekend and make a start on it?" Elizabeth asked still scanning Ana's report. "I know it's a lot to ask but with it being a sequel I'm hoping that we'll get it to print quicker. The fans are hungry for it."

"Are you wanting a summary report?"

"No, just get on with the first chapter edit… hey maybe it's the perfect time to show what you could do at a junior editor level." Elizabeth smile.

"Ok, sure." Ana smiled broadly. It would be a lot of pressure but also a great opportunity not to be missed.

"Thanks Ana, why don't you head for home now I think we're done." She said dismissing the younger woman. Ana nodded and headed for the door, this was huge, to get the chance to do the first edit on the first chapter of a sequel was huge, especially as the first book had done so incredibly well and there was a growing fan base, it was risky to let a new editor at it.

Once Ana had gathered all her things, she stepped out the office to Christian waiting for her on the sidewalk, leaning against the SUV with Taylor, he looked delicious and Ana smiled shyly at him.

"I wasn't expecting you." She said as he took her bag from her and led her to the door.

"We're going to my Mom's for dinner." He told her.

"Are we? I didn't remember." She replied shaking her head, she hadn't been remembering a lot of things these days, therapy was really taking it's toll on her emotionally and mentally and outside work, she was often zombified.

"That's ok baby." He kissed her head softly before encouraging her into the car.

"My boss thinks I should apply for the junior editor position that's come up on her team." Ana said as she got buckled in.

"Wow that's great." Christian beamed widely, he loved how much Ana was getting out of her job, she worked so hard.

"Yeah, she's asked me to do the first chapter edit on this manuscript, it's a sequel, junior editors don't touch sequels unless they worked the first book." Ana explained happily. Christian just grinned at her, this was Ana at her best right now, straight from work where her mind had been completely focused on everything but her life.

He'd spotted the pattern in her behaviour that having therapy had caused. Monday nights she'd be plagued with nightmares, so Tuesday's she was at her worst, quiet and withdrawn. On Tuesday's she didn't want to be touched or kissed and would often sleep on the couch in the evening after dinner and work through the night. Wednesday's she'd be angry and start snapping at everyone and by Thursday she'd be so exhausted she'd crash as soon as she got home from work, sleeping through the night till Friday morning. Friday's she would perk up for the weekend and would seem more like herself and then on Saturday she'd be like herself, normal, happy and chatty, Sunday's she'd be anxious because she knew Monday the cycle would start again with a new therapy session.

Christian had his Mom and John Flynn to support him through this, and while it was incredibly tough at times, somehow, they were making it work. Grace would meet with Ana for lunch on Thursday's and it did a lot to help Ana relax that by the time she got home from work all she wanted to do was sleep. Christian saw John on Thursday nights, knowing Ana would just get home and go to bed, he would speak with John about the effects Ana's behaviour was having on him and develop coping strategies for the anxiety he was suffering because of her moods.

The relationship was not unhealthy though, because they were working together, communicating with each other and had the support of friends and family. Ana wouldn't be able to cope and deal with her past if she didn't have Christian by her side and the bottom line was if the relationship was going to grow, develop and survive she had to deal with her past, otherwise it would haunt her forever. One of the good things coming out of this was that Ana was able to discuss it with Christian. On Sunday's she would often open up about what she'd been living through the last week and Christian would listen, and hold her and even cry with her when necessary. They still had a long way to go, Ana as having to deal with each element of the abuse one step at a time and it could take several years before she dealt with it all, but it would be worth it.

Dinner with Grace and Carrick wasn't a regular thing but they had been a few times over the last couple of months. Ana felt comfortable with the family now, she could sit and chat wit Mia about every day feminine things and she could laugh at Elliot and Christian arguing over sports or similar. Carrick would often fill them in on anything exciting he'd come across at work and Ana was always fascinated by the various characters he met. Grace of course was always mothering Ana, she'd hug her more than she hugged her own children while they were there and would fuss that she was eating enough, sleeping enough, if Ana hadn't understood that it was Grace's way of taking care of her, she may have found it extremely annoying and very frustrating but she didn't.

When the dinner was all done and Ana had helped Grace and the Housekeeper take the dishes through, Christian took her hand and took her out to walk in the garden. She loved Grace and Carrick's garden. It was huge to start with, walking the whole thing would be like walking a track in a country park, but her favourite part of the garden was Grace's prized rose garden, where Christian had first told her he loved her.

As they walked the same familiar path Ana relaxed into his side. She really never thought she'd find normality, or happiness. Yet she had both now. Yes things were incredibly challenging with having to deal with her past but it was so worth it, she had Christian and his family and was doing her best to build a relationship with her step-father too. She had a job she could be proud of. Her body was hers and only hers and now she didn't have to worry about when the next time someone used it without her consent would come.

Christian introducing her to true BDSM had been interesting too, they hadn't played since that first time but it was something Ana had told Christian she wanted to explore more of, when she was ready. Now wasn't the time, not with what she was doing in therapy, it was opening old wounds and causing her to focus on memories she'd buried a long time ago. She was struggling with feeling dirty all the time, her body was on edge more than it was relaxed. It would take time but she was interested.

They sat at the bench in the middle of the flowers, once again all the twinkle lights were on and as Ana looked up at the sky she could see the stars. Christian watched her, she seemed much better today, and that helped him relax. Ana was his whole world, his everything, seeing her struggling killed him but he knew how important it was that she faced it.

"Ana…" He turned in the bench and took her hands into his lap. Her blue eyes looked at him, and it always made him feel as though she was looking into his soul, conveying all her emotions to him. "I love you, you know that right?"

"Yes." Ana smiled and giggled lightly. "I love you too, you know that right?" She turned his words on him and he looked down chuckling.

"I know that." He said lifting her hand to his lips. "Things have been crazy haven't they? I mean, we didn't meet in a conventional way, we didn't move in together in a conventional way…"

"Well Christian, after all this time I'm sure you know that my life has been anything but conventional." Ana teased making him laugh again. "What's this about? You've not had enough of me have you?" She asked teasingly, he chuckled again, he loved her spunky personality, he didn't get to see it as much right now but he knew there would come a point where he'd see it a lot more. It was just going to take time.

"No, never, Ana I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Christian said and Ana's heart melted, he looked so sincere and as though he needed her to believe him. She nodded softly because he looked like he had more to say. "I know it hasn't been all that long. But it feels like you're a part of me, you've always been a part of me and I can't imagine losing you, you're my right arm…"

"Christian…" Ana stroked his cheek softly with her hand. "I know, I feel it, you don't need to tell me." Ana said gently, she did know, he could look at her at times and convey all his love for her, it would make her heart skip a beat. Not once in their relationship had she been insecure about how much he loved her.

"Ana…" Christian fell to his knee beside the bench and Ana's mouth popped open. "Be mine Ana, make me the happiest man in the world, will you marry me?"

Ana just started in shock as Christian pulled a ring from his jacket pocket and held it up to her.

"Please, marry me?" He asked again when she failed to answer.

She nodded, just a very small movement that Christian wasn't sure was there, but it became bigger as she blinked back her tears.

"Yes… yes Christian, yes I'll marry you."

He took her hand and slipped the single solitaire diamond ring onto her finger before he jumped to standing, pulling Ana with him. Their lips met in a searing kiss, their arms tangled around each other. They had a long way to go, but this was another step toward their happy place.

So that's it for The Awakening! As I'm sure you can tell there are still lots for Ana to resolve with her past before a happily ever after will be possible... So please, follow me to - The Reckoning