Our Ana | Kate & Ana & Christian

Chapter 26

Christian's Pov;

The pain burning in the soles of my feet becomes too much, so as I'm making my way through the doors of my apartment building I slip them off. Cameras flash brightly behind me as I close the door in their faces and ruin the shot. I have no idea why they're here, but I can guarantee they'll have a field day with the images of my bare feet they've now acquired. I have no energy left to care after the exhausting day I've had. I think of Ana as I lean against the back wall of the elevator. I close my eyes and imagine how she'll look when the doors open. She'll be asleep in our bed, bathed in moonlight and dressed in one of my t-shirts. Her face will have a faint glow to it even in the darkness, looking every bit like the angel she is. I wonder if Kate will still be here or if she's went home. I wouldn't mind either way, as long as there's a place for me to collapse on my bed and finally succumb to the exhaustion that's been looming over me. When I open my eyes the elevator doors open and instead of finding an empty room, I find my mom instead. She screams my name and comes running at me, arms extended. I drop everything and reach for her, unsure of what else to do. Only then, when her arms wrap around me, do I realize the TV is on and lit up with an image of me. My entire family is gathered in the living room to watch the news special reporting on my accident. It clicks in my brain what's going on now, why there was such an abundance of photographers outside, and why everyone has gathered in my home. My dad comes next, running to wrap his arms around us both. There's a high pitched squeal of delight and Mia wraps her dainty arms around me from the side. When they step back, seeming satisfied with the knowledge that I am in fact alive and well, I see they are all crying. I want to comfort them, but I'm not sure what to do. It's all so hard to wrap my head around. Why would they be crying for me? I'm fine. I'm safe. "I'm fine. I just made it back from Portland a little late. What's everybody doing here?" I ask, still a bit befuddled by all the attention. "We all heard about the crash. Oh, Christian, we thought we'd never see you again!" My mother exclaims, her voice choked with tears. "Mom." I sigh, not finding the words to comfort her. "Good to see you're alive, bro." Elliot appears and claps me on the back, giving some sort of half-hug. I can tell he's fighting hard to hide his emotions. It makes me feel even more guilty for not trying harder to find a way to contact someone on my journey back here. I look up, free from my families grasping arms and spot Anastasia across the room. She looks back at me and her wide eyes connect with mine, filled with tears. Fuck. I can't stand to see her in pain, not over me, not again. She doesn't move from where she's seated on the couch. She's in shock, traumatized by the nights events. Kate sits beside her, practically cradling Ana in her lap. Their body language paints a very intimate scene. The way Kate holds her, to protect her and comfort her while she cries. It's clear for anyone to see how much Kate loves her. Anything I'd do for Ana, Kate would do the same. I don't feel jealous of their closeness, I'm grateful that Kate was there to comfort her when I couldn't. I know without even a shadow of doubt that Kate wouldn't take advantage of Ana's state of vulnerability to push her case, no matter how badly she wishes Ana would choose her. She would want Ana to choose to be with her of her own volition, not to have her hand forced if I had been taken away as an option. I'm frozen in place, watching their display of affection in silence. Kate strokes Ana's hair and whispers something into her ear. Whatever she says seems to have no effect on Ana. Kate stands up and leans in to kiss Ana. Ana tilts her head upwards towards her and Kate plants a soft kiss on her head. Ana pouts out her lower lip as she does, her eyes filled with anguish. Katherine then walks away and out the door without another word to anyone. I don't know what to make of their emotional exchange. I feel like an intruder just to witness it, yet I couldn't look away. 

Ana turns her attention to me again and she shifts on the couch, ready to stand. I push my parents and siblings aside and begin to walk towards her. I walk slow, cautious, as if I'm approaching a wounded animal. She rises to her feet and I meet her inches from the television screen narrating my return. She throws herself into my arms, her body racked with sobs. She cries out my name along with a string of words I can't make out. "Shh..It's okay." I hold her closer, burying my face in her sweet smelling hair. When she sniffles and pulls back to look at me, I lean in and kiss her forehead in the same spot Kate kissed her before. A smile lights up her beautiful face for the first time tonight. I wipe the stray tears that have dripped down her cheeks away with my fingertips. She fumbles over my entire body with shaky hands, checking to be sure I'm all in one piece. I don't mind the examination, anything to give her some peace of mind after the hell I've put her through. I let her go and step past her to approach my family again. I reassure them once more that I am okay. Ana stays back while I talk to them, giving us some space to talk. I tell them the full story of my journey back here and the details of the crash. Then I hug them all a second time for the night. I embrace my mother a third time, not wanting to quite let her go yet. I feel so guilty for the whole situation. I know she'll be just as traumatized by Ana at the thought of losing me for good. I say my goodbyes to them all, then I return to the couch where Ana sits. We're all alone now. It's the calm after the storm. Ana shivers beside me as we sit side by side. I wrap my arms around her to bring some warmth back to her freezing body, and she leans into my embrace. "I love you so much, Ana Steele. So much." I murmur, lips pressed to her cheek. "I love you too, Christian. I'd be so lost without you." I recall every moment we've had together in this room. I want to have a million more. After a brief pause Ana jumps up with a seemingly newfound sense of purpose. She disappears around the corner only to return with a small cardboard box in the palm of her hand. "It's after midnight. Happy Birthday." She extends it to me and I smile at the small black bow sitting atop the box. The determination in her eyes leads me to believe this is no ordinary birthday gift. I gaze into those hard-set powder blue eyes of hers as I take the box from her hand.