Christian unlocks the front door and enters the security code before the alarm system starts its persistent beeping. He at one point didn't think he needed it, but she had insisted, and now he was glad for it. He knew where he was going even with the lights off, he would turn them on when he was set up and ready for her. He knew she had the pictures, the pictures that would prove his innocence.

He had come home from Harvard for the first time since he left hoping things would have changed for the better, and within hours it had all gone to hell. He was surprised by what had transpired, why it surprised him, he didn't know. Should he not have anticipated it, after all, he had always known this day would eventually arrive and yet when it did, he hadn't expected it. What had surprised him though was the fact that she hadn't backed him, she had heaped the entire sordid affair on his shoulders. Then again he couldn't blame her, she was the devil after all.

Christian entered the code and unlocked the heavy oak door, it took a couple of minutes to set up, and when he was ready, he made his way back up the stairs and switched on the lights, turned on the radio with its surround sound that piped music through the entire house. He made his way back down to the basement and laid in wait. If things went according to plan she would just think it was a random burglary and never suspect him.

He was not disappointed, he knew leaving visible evidence of where he was would stop her from calling the cops and as expected she didn't. He also knew she had a gun and was proficient with the deadly weapon. His aim had to be spot on, or else he would leave her useless, right now he just needed her out of it for a few minutes while he rendered her immobile.

Elena could not believe how the afternoon had transpired. She for a few seconds thought her life was over only to find she had been right all along. It had happened just as she had told him, but still, it had surprised her.

Now, she was in the driving seat, and it felt euphoric to be there, everything was lining up perfectly, in fact, much better than she had ever imagined. If it was all a dream, she didn't want to wake up. That night she got ready for bed feeling like a few million dollars because if she played her cards right, she might just end up with that much. For years she had been stealing a few thousand dollars here and there from her husband and had a few hundred thousand squared away, but it was nothing if she wanted to continue living the life he had gotten her accustomed to.

She was dreaming about the new Mercedes she had seen at the dealership last week when she heard the music. It took a while to get her bearings, but quickly realized it was coming from the surround sound. She hated the damn thing, and then she questioned why it was on. She quickly got out her gun loaded it and turned to call the cops when she realized she had left the handset in the kitchen and her cell phone in her handbag. She made her way down the stairs with her gun in hand, as she walked past the basement door, she noticed the lights were on. She knew who it was and as far as she was concerned her day just got a whole lot better. She barely made it through the doors when her world went black.

Christian had just slapped on the last set of cuffs when she came to feeling disorientated, spotting a slight headache and above all else, she was naked. She was going to have a bump on her head that much she was sure off. "Hello, Elena." The voice was distorted.

Shit, it's not him.

"I have one simple question for you and answer it, and you will wake in your bed with a slight bump on the back of your head. Refuse… and well, good luck moving a muscle.

"Who the…" The cane came down hard on the back of her thighs.

"You of all people should know the rules of this room." The voice growled.

"What is the combination to your safe?" She couldn't believe it, this was a common thief. She wanted to laugh but wasn't prepared for the cane especially from someone who just happen to chance upon the room. Most likely thought the room held valuables when he saw the combination lock on the door.

With a sigh, she answered. "880534." She murmured. "Now, will you take these damn things off?" She growled.

"Nah… I've been curious about shit like this for some time, and now I have an opportunity to try it." Before she could protest her mouth was stuffed with a ball gag. She was screwed, and she knew it. Thank fuck Linc was away for the next couple of weeks.
...

Christian bolted up and questioned what had caused it. He wasn't having a nightmare, which perhaps he should have been considering… the knock on the door came again. "Christian," Theo called from the other side surprising the hell out of him.

"Coming." He said shuffling out of bed and to the door. He opened the door and found the old man standing there. He had promised to call him back and instead had flown all the way to New York. He struggled to hold back the tears threatening to fall for the first time since his world had fallen apart. Without thought, he pulled his grandpa into a hug and didn't let go.

Theo on his part hugged him around the waist and let the boy cry until he pulled away of his own volition.

"Come on, grab what you have and let's get out of this hole." Christian had rented a room in a motel that was more like a roach-infested hovel on the Lower West Side.

Neither he nor his grandpa said much on the drive to the Upper East Side. They pulled up outside a building with a canopy and a doorman. It wasn't a hotel that much he was sure off, even though it looked very much like one with a doorman suited and booted and all.

He finally opened his mouth just as his grandfather knocked on a door only to shut it when his grandma opened the door with a beaming smile. "Oh, look at you." She said with her arms on his shoulders again without thought he pulled her into a hug surprising her. Adele looked over a Theo in shock, he just shrugged in response.

"I'm so glad you are here." He whispered his voice hoarse from unshed tears. He had expected the old man to hang up on him when he called him, but instead there he was, and he brought his grandma too.

"Are you hungry… you must be hungry." He chuckled and merely nodded. Just like her to ask a question and answer it without you getting a word in. He moved through the large apartment wondering if they were renting because he couldn't afford it. He had a little money, but probably not enough for the place if he was to realize his dreams of starting his own business.

"Pa, the apartment…"

"There will be time for all that later." He said shutting him up.

Theodore Trevelyan could not even bring himself to pretend he loved all his grandchildren equally. He had an affinity with Christian he couldn't explain, despite the very different background something about the boy's childhood drew him to Theo in ways he did not understand.

Before the boy had called him, he had heard the sordid tale, but immediately dismissed it. He was on the verge of hiring someone to find Christian when he called and told him where he was. Adele wasted no time packing, and off to New York, they headed.

He was determined to help Christian succeed… in business at least. The boy's personal life was an entirely different ball game, and something only Christian could change. He knew Adele would push and push until the boy got some help with his touch issue at least. He really didn't want to have to make it a stipulation for helping the boy with his business, but if push came to shove he would.

"Do you believe me?" Yeah, they were there, but he needed to know. He needed someone to believe him.

"Yes boy, I believe you, and the fact that we are here should be answer enough. Put it out of your mind and focus on channeling it into something positive. You either let it destroy you or strengthen you and I'd personally go for the latter. Your bedroom is the last one on the left." With a nod, he walked through the corridor past four doors and down to a surprisingly large bedroom with a large bathroom on the left. He tossed his backpack on the bed and collapsed on it. He kicked his shoes off and then his clothes and stepped into the shower realizing he hadn't had one since the day before.

Half an hour later Christian walked into the kitchen to find grandma plating up his favorite, mac and cheese. He sat down on next to Pa knowing they always liked him in the middle. He used to escaped there when he was in trouble, that was before Elena, and then he found himself spending less time with them something he now regretted. "How long are you guys staying for?" He asked for the first time in his life he didn't want to be alone. "For as long as you need us. Someone has to teach you to cook and someone has to help you get your business up and running." Adele answered. He stared at his food and wiped his eyes before a tear fell.

Fuck, I'm a weepy mess today.

Dinner was a quiet affair, but not an uncomfortable one. He had talked when he had something to say although he didn't have much to say. He had been waiting for them to ask for his side of the story, but it never came and he knew it never would. A small part of him was somehow grateful for the events that had transpired the last couple of days because it had opened his eyes. He now knew where he stood with everyone in his life and that was a blessing. The days of wondering when one, if not all of them would turn their backs on him were over.

One less issue to cause me nightmares.

Despite the early hour, Pa had insisted he get some rest and they'd talk in the morning. He had fought it, and yet the minute his head hit the pillow he had passed out sleeping like a baby knowing full well the best was yet to come.

...

His grandparents had spent two years with him in New York. Theo had helped him build GEH and Adele had thought him how to cook and effectively live by himself. "Had I known all those cooking and laundry lessons was to enable me to live by myself I would have been very slow on the uptake." He mumbled petulantly.

"You need to get out there and find someone to spend your time with. Your entire life can't be about business, and you know it. Start by making some friends and Christian, you are a brilliant, handsome young man with a beautiful personality to booth… so stop selling yourself short. You'll be just fine." Adele placated with a hug before getting into the town car followed by Theo.

He knew if he needed them they'd be back in a heartbeat, the thought that he now had the apartment to himself was daunting. He had just turned twenty-one the week before and his birthday present had been the apartment.

He walked back into the apartment feeling rather forlorn. He did indeed need friends, but with his success making friends his age was difficult. He knew most people would be quick to be his friends for what he could do for them. He'd attended enough galas and fundraisers to know he wasn't exactly looked upon with admiration. Most people envied his success at such a young age and made no effort to hide it. He'd love to make friends, but that was not going to happen and the sooner he accepted it, the better off he'd be.

The thought had not long left his mind when his doorbell rang. It took him a second to realize that was what had happened, in the two years he'd lived there he realized he'd never heard it ring. The front desk always called the apartment using the intercom. He walked to the door opening it without checking who it was through the peephole.

Well, that was stupid.

"Ros!" He exclaimed.

"That's my name." She walked past him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard Adele saying she was going to cook some southern fried chicken for you."

"Operative words… for me." Christian said although he didn't stop her from going into the kitchen. "Help yourself." He mumbled.

"I already am, but thanks," Ros responded her mouth clearly full already. "I was hoping to be here in time to say goodbye, but there was more traffic than I had anticipated." She said piling her plate high with food. "There is a Bruce Willis marathon on that would look so much better on your huge ass TV," Ros said making her way to the living room with her plate and a bottle of beer under her armpit.

"I will join you in a minute." He said with a chuckle. He got himself a plate and a glass of wine and joined her.

"That is the one disservice your grandparents did you." She said sneering at his wine. "That tooty fruity shit is just not right for a man like you.

"I don't think I want to know what that means." He mumbled taking a sip of his wine as just as Ros decided to bump his shoulder causing a few drops to spill onto his shirt.

He looked down at his shirt and growled in annoyance. "With friends like you…"

"You don't need anyone else." She quipped trying to stop the smile threatening to grace her lips.

"Strangely enough… I agree with you." He said smiling at her. He had a friend after all.

AN: I've collaborated with a friend I made while I stayed at a clinic in Paris. The story is on the Southern Vampire Mysteries page called 'Four Blind Players' by MonsterupHigh, so if you are into Southern Vampire Mysteries/True Blood Fanfic, please check it out. CJ.