So here it is guys. The next chapter, let's not dwell on how long it took me to get this chapter out and jump right into it. Just so there isn't any confusion this chapter is going to take place at two different times. Earlier will be written to fill in what was going on when Natalia is resting in her room soon after coming back home. Anything from Natalia's POV is present time.

Chapter twenty four: Then and Now

Then

Teddy paced the outside of Christians office for sometime before he willed himself to knock the door.

He knew everything that he had been working so hard to keep under wraps these past three years was about to come out into the open and he wasn't sure how to take it. He knew it needed to be done, Karen had gone too far this time.

It wasn't her usual style. Anything Karen had done to prove she was in control of this sadistic game up till now was never life threatening. A memory of his dead classmate ran across his mind but he shook it off. It had never been life threatening towards Natalia, but this last show of power was a failed attempt on Natalia's life. Something had changed on Karen's end, something that caused her to try and tie up her loose ends.

Teddy looked back towards his father's office door, if she was feeling cornered by something she was going to act without thought. He ran a hand through his hair and heaved a heavy sigh "A wounded animal is more dangerous" he thought out loud before finally knocking.

"Come in Theodore"

Teddy's head jerked up as he heard his father call him by name and swung the door open "How did you know it was me?"

Christian didn't bother looking up from his computer screen but instead lifted his phone up for Teddy to see a live feed of outside the office doors. "The security cameras are not restricted to outside" he said before clicking a few things and finally closing the laptop and looking his son in the eye.

"Do you always check to see who's coming?" Teddy asked as he closed the door behind him and made his way to the arm chairs that faced his father's desk.

"Only when they pace out there for five minutes" He grinned slightly "Things like that tend to pique my curiosity"

The younger Grey nodded before finally settling in the seat. He understood why he had come here, his father was likely the only person who he could tell the truth to who wouldn't judge him. Christian was a man of action and with an endless reserve of connections he would help solve this matter within the day. Teddy knew all of that but he didn't even know how to start this conversation.

"Out with it Theodore, patience isn't one of the many qualities your mother married me for"

"I need help"

The damn had broken after that.

Teddy poured his soul out, everything from the last three years. How Karen contacted him first and proved her power through the death of his classmate. How she threatened Natalia's life if he didn't stay away. The man who kidnapped Natalia on that ski trip. The news getting wind of their relationship just before she left to Japan. What he did to make sure Natalia stayed away from him.

Christian listened without interruption as his son told him the truth that he had been holding in these past three years. His face darkened the more he learned how a single person had infiltrated his family and dared to harm not one but two of his children.

He had known something was bothering Teddy for a while. He wasn't blind and he saw when his son had taken a liking to Natalia. Teddy Grey was a playboy by nature and Christian would be lying if he didn't admit that watching Teddy try and win over the affections of the strong and level headed Natalia didn't amuse him. Then when things suddenly changed he was thought it was just Teddy trying to put off the inevitable, it wasn't until things came to light did he fully understand what had happened and he was beyond furious.

Just thinking about how upset Ana would be when she learned what's been going on didn't help his anger. He tamed his face as best he could as he let his son continue to tell him what's been going on. He wanted Theodore to feel safe as he admitted to his secrets.

"Now I'm positive that that shooter in Japan was contracted to kill Natalia" Teddy ran a hand through his messy auburn hair "Something has Karen panicked that she would make a messy move like this. I don't know what it is exactly but she's not going to stop coming after Natalia"

Christian nodded slowly before sitting back in his seat and propping an arm on the armrest to support his head. The silence was killing Teddy but he didn't dare speak while his father digested everything he had just told him. It had to be done, Karen was uncontrollable at thiso point and he couldn't think of anyone else he could have asked for help.

"I'm going to contact Vincent" Christian said reaching down and picking up his cell phone from his desk.

"You can't!" Teddy was quicker and snatched the phone from his father's unsuspecting hand. "Karen hates that's Natalia is on contact with Vincent to begin with, there has to be a mole somewhere on our side and if they feed her information about us dragging Vincent in this all bets are off, she'll go ballistic!"

Christian had to stop the urge from lashing out at his sons actions. Even after marrying Ana and settling down he was still desperate for total control and was not used to people acting out against him. He took a deep breath before turning his cold eyes to his son "Theodore I want you to learn something from this whole situation"

He didn't give Teddy time to acknowledge what he said before continuing "I always know when somethings wrong. Always." He leaned over and took his phone back slowly and purposefully "So I investigate thoroughly and gather evidence to prove my usually right hunches, well, right" he looked down to his phone and pulled up Vincent's contact info. "You weren't the only one who has been holding back information, I went to Vincent and got the full story on his involvement in Natalia's life. I investigated Karen and what ever information I could get on Natalia's mother. But there were holes I just couldn't fill" he looked back up at his son "Holes you just filled for me. So this is what we're going to do Theodore, you are going to pick up Vincent from the airport and take him straight to Escala, I'll meet you there after making sure the girls and your mother are all set and the property is totally secure. Do you understand?"

Hesitantly Teddy nodded and when Christian placed the phone to his ear he knew he was dismissed. He walked out of the office and saw his sister lost in her own world as she descended the stairs laptop in hand. He was distracted slightly as his phone vibrated and he looked down to see a text from Ava stating that she would be coming over to see Natalia.

.:o0o:.

Now

"Marc?" My grogginess slowly subsided as my eyes focused on his silhouette "Marc what are you doing here?"

His grip on my hand tightened slightly "I had to make sure for myself you were ok" his voice sounded off as he spoke and I instantly was awake.

"Marc what's going on? Are you ok?" I tried sitting up but a throb from my injured arm stopped me.

"Natalia" I felt a warm sensation on my cheek and realized his other hand was now on my cheek "Oh Natalia"

Again something about his voice was off and now I was getting slightly anxious "Marc what's wrong, talk to me." I tried keeping my voice calm hoping he would just talk to me. Something was very wrong I could feel it.

He leaned down and placed his forehead on mine and just stayed like that. I closed my eyes and tried to take in his sent hoping it would calm me down like it always did.

But it didn't work this time.

"Please Marc" my throat hurt as my emotions got the best of me "please just talk to me, please tell me what's going on. What's pulling you away from me? Why can't we go back to the way thing were?"

He was quiet for a long time, so long I had given up on getting an answer from him. But out of nowhere he pulled his forehead from mine and captured my lips in his.

This wasn't like our last kiss, it wasn't passion filled and rough. This kiss was extremely sad, so sad that tears pooled in my eyes as I let his emotions wash over me. He pulled away from me as slowly as he had kissed me and placed his forehead back on mine "Because what were, all the way from the beginning, has been a lie" He bit his lip and looked away from me "to get closer to you"

.:o0o:.

Then

Christian had just finished his conversation with Vincent when a knock sounded at the door. "Come in"

Sebastian stepped through to door and promptly closed it behind him "Good afternoon Mr. Grey"

"Sebastian, I told you to take the afternoon off" Christian sat back in his seat and faced his daughter's body guard with curious eyes "The trip back from Japan must have been tiring"

"I have something I need to bring to your attention sir" Always the one to get straight down to business Sebastian walked up to Christian's desk and produced a manila folder "Something Miss Valentine asked me to acquire for her before we left Japan"

Christian sat up in his seat before taking the folder and quickly scanning over its contents "This is the police report from the night Selena Valentine died"

"Correct"

"Why did Natalia ask for this" Grey looked up from the folder to stare Sebastian in the eye.

"Miss Valentine had been having night terrors sir" Sebastian's usually stoic face looked slightly uncomfortable as he described the terrors to his employer "The last one she had before she was attacked, she said a few things that didn't add up…"

"I don't have all day Sebastian" Christian bit out, trying and failing miserably to contain his impatience.

"Miss Valentine thought that the nightmares were memories from the accident nightmare. She asked me to obtain a copy of the police report and pictures from the scene of the accident." His stopped again as he struggled with the next part "She doesn't believe her mother's death was an accident, she told me that in the nightmares, her mother's car was run off the road by another driver."

Christian felt his blood run cold as he thought about a four year old Natalia sitting in the car with her mother's dead carcass during that thunder storm. His hand came up to pinch the bridge of his nose where all the events of today we're causing tension. "Is that all?"

Sebastian's face darkened "unfortunately not, I did as she had asked and today when I returned to my apartment my informant delivered that report…Along with the original

Christian's eyes snapped up to meet Sebastian's dark ones "The original?"

Sebastian pulled out his phone and opened up a document "The original paper copy is in a safe place, an associate of mine stumbled on it when he went looking for the police report and it look like it had been tampered with." He slid the phone to Christian's side of the table "This is a few pictures that were not with the report"

Christian picked up the phone and looked at the pictures, not liking the feeling he was getting. They were evidence of 2 tire tracks on the road, an unidentified mirror that did not belong to Selena's car but the last one was what made Christian freeze.

He looked up at Sebastian "Are those paint transfer marks?"

"Only another car would leave those kinds of marks on a car, but in the official report these pictures don't exist and any other marks on the car are considered to be from the foliage Selena drove into after 'Loosing control' of the car"

"What else is there?" Christian passed the phone back to Sebastian.

"My associate didn't feel comfortable sharing that over the phone, he's hand delivering me the paper copies tonight" Sebastian cool tucked his phone back in his jacket pocket.

"Correction, he's delivering it to us" Christian stood from his chair "I have Teddy picking up Mr. Sanchez at the airport and bringing him to Escala and I was to meet them there after dinner" He nodded at the other man "You will accompany us. Some new information has come to my attention as to who's behind the attempt on Natalia's life, they very well might be the same person behind this"

"Forgive me sir, but I don't feel comfortable leaving Natalia unprotected" Sebastian watched as Christian stepped from around his desk and adjusted his watch.

"Don't mock me" Christian Barked "Taylor will stay here with Sawyer, I'm going to call in some extra security and Reynolds is still with Phoebe" He ran a frustrated hand through his hair "His affections for Natalia will ensure he keeps an eye on her"

"I'll put together a list of people we can trust to call in for you sir" Sebastian pulled his phone back out yet again "I'll run it by Taylor and information Sawyer and Reynolds of the situation"

.:o0o:.

Now

"What did you just say?" Marc didn't answer, he just kept looking off to the side dejectedly. "Marc" I grabbed his chin with my good hand and forced him to look at me "What do you mean it was all a lie?"

His eyes looked pathetically sad for a second before they hardened "It's as I said Natalia, it was all a lie to get closer to you"

I cocked my hand back before I even knew what had happened and suddenly my fist slammed into his face. Marc realest back holding his hand to his nose letting a few choice words slip out. "Get out! Get the hell out before I have Sebastian beat your ass into next week!"

"You think anyone can stop this now?" He was yelling now. I reached over and turned the bedside lamp on and could clearly see blood running down his nose. He looked like a caged animal and I was scared of Marc for the first time in my life.

"Sebastian!" I screamed out as loud as my lungs could manage "Taylor! Mom! Someone!"

"They're not coming Natalia, no one is coming for you" He growled before kicking my door. "Why! Why did you do this!" he punched my wall with each word.

"Marc, please" My body instantly reacted like it would if I was looking at my step father. My voice took on a calming tone and I slowly put my arm brace on before stepping out the bed and approaching him slowly "Marc" I placed a gentle hand on his arms and I felt him instantly stiffen "Marc, what did I do?"

He turned tortured eyes towards me "You made me fall in love with you"

If this were a week ago I would be swooning, I would be throwing myself into his arms and probably claiming that I love him too. But this is now, and something isn't right.

Marc stepped towards me and opened his mouth to say something but a scream cut him off. My eyes widened as I recognized Ana's voice and didn't think just acted.

My body reached for the door and wrenched the door open and took off down the hall. I barely registered that Marc had called out my name and booked it down the stairs. I was sure I heard her scream from down stairs. I could hear Marc more clearly calling out my name but I ignores him "Mom! Mo where are you!"

No answer.

I rushed to the sitting room and saw nothing, the family room, the dining room, still nothing. "Mom!"

I turned to go to Christian's office but crashed into someone's chest. I looked up to see Marc breathing heavily "Natalia, listen-"

"So she's your mom now?"

My body froze as I instantly recognized that voice. It was the same voice that had tormented me for seventeen years, the same voice that I had learned to avoid because my life depended on it some nights. Marc looked at something behind me, where the kitchen was.

Slowly I turned my body to face my biggest monster, and when I finally met his cold green eyes that I 'thought' I inherited from him it was like someone punched me in the gut. "Robert" it was barley a whisper.

He grinned and dropped a rag of the floor wiping his hands clean of whatever was on it.

"oh so she's mom but I'm not dad anymore?"

.:o0o:.

Then

Christian was brought back from his thoughts when the 'ding' of the elevator signaled their floor. He stepped into the all too familiar foyer of his old condo and headed straight for Teddy's office, knowing that's where he would be.

Sebastian followed behind him checking his latest text from the team at the house. Taylor wanted to be kept updated on the situation at Escala while Sawyer, Smith, and Reynolds texted him updates at the house. So far nothing was out of the ordinary after dinner Natalia had taken her medicine and was resting.

Teddy looked up from his conversation with Vincent to see his father and Sebastian walking into his office. He had just been filled in on Vincent's connection with Natalia's mother but he didn't plan on telling him anything about Karen until his father got there.

"Christian, what's this all about? Why can't I go straight to see Natalia" Vincent demanded as he stood from the seat to face the older Grey.

"Vincent, why didn't you never once have the slightest idea that Natalia was your daughter?"

The whole room went quiet.

Ahhhh guys! I HAD to leave you with a cliff hanger lol I'm sorry. This was originally supposed to be the final chapter but it just became so long and drawn out I had to split it into two! Don't worry the second half will be out within a week and please forgive any grammar issues because I still have not used a beta.