"How late are we?" Ana asked Christian as they pulled into a parking space.

"Twenty minutes or so, Mom's not going to mind, especially if she guesses why we were late." Ana giggled as the blush crept up her cheeks. "You know she's going to be delighted by this when she inevitably guesses exactly what happened at dinner. She's a big fan of yours."

"Well of course she is, I'm wonderful." Ana brushed it off, secretly delighted that Grace liked her so much. The pair of them got out of the car and once they were walking side by side, Christian wrapped an arm around her waist. Ana attempted to remain neutral even though on the inside she was squealing with delight. It was surprising how comfortable and natural this felt. "Surely she's not going to guess the second we walk in."

"This is my mother we're talking about. Of course she will." Ana laughed as she stepped into the elevator with him. "She's known I've had a thing for you for… God, probably longer than I have." Ana laughed and rolled her eyes.

"You 'have a thing for me'? How romantic." she teased him. He met her eyes for a second before he pulled her into him, arms going around her waist like it was instinct.

"How would you like me to say it than, Anastasia?" he asked her quietly, and Ana hated her full name but there was something about him saying it that made her feel like she was melting. This was not the same man Grace had described who'd been worried she'd say no to a dinner with just him, this was Christian self-assured and because he knew that Ana was his now. She hadn't needed to ask what them kissing meant because he had held onto her for so long after they'd broken apart she had known immediately it wasn't spur of the moment, it wasn't going to be a few kisses, and apology, and forgotten the next day, this was what they were now, and they had fallen naturally into it in a way that made Ana incredibly regretful for the years they'd spent just being friends.

"Hmm…" Ana said thoughtfully, placing a soft kiss on his jawline which was temptingly just above her lips now. "I think you need to come up with something on your own."

"Well, how about I can barely think when I'm around you, you are so wonderfully beautiful and intelligent. I've never been so captivated every time somebody spoke before, you. You get so passionate about everything, the artists you like, the books you read, and I've never known anyone like that. You're so caring and accepting and I don't know how I could survive without you now. I am utterly in love with you." Ana just looked at him in awe for a moment and she could tell he was trying hard not to look to smug. "How was that?"

"Very good. Full marks I think." Ana said, still a little stunned. And he thought she was the captivating speaker. Ana kissed him softly, aware they only had a few seconds before the elevator stopped and they had to walk into his apartment. She broke away and rested her forehead on his. "I love you too Christian."

The doors opened and the pair exited and went into Christian's apartment. Grace was on the sofa reading to Evie who jumped off her grandmother's lap and ran towards Ana and Christian, likely not caring which of them scooped her up into their arms. Ana let it be Christian because he had barely seen his daughter that day.

"I'm sorry, I did try to put her to bed but she insisted on waiting up for you." Grace explained to her son, but he was in such a good mood that Ana could tell he didn't care.

Ana was still amused at the hierarchy that clearly existed in Christian's family, because he might be a boss at work but in his family his mother was quite clearly in charge of him and Evie called the shots when it came to both of them. It was impressive that a three year old was already so versed in making people do what she wanted, she was going to be excellent if Christian trained her up to take over his company, probably even better than he was at it. After all, her skills were only going to grow as she got older, a slightly worrying if impressive thought.

"Don't worry about it, she's Ana's problem again tomorrow." Christian assured her earning himself a glare from Ana. "She wasn't any trouble, was she?"

"Of course not, she's an absolute angel." Grace said as she got up from her seat and started collecting her things and placing them back into her purse. "She's done a lot of wonderful pictures today, she was telling me how much she liked spending time at the gallery with Ana, weren't you?" Evie nodded happily, trying to stifle a yawn. Grace saw that and smiled. "I'll be off so you can put her to bed."

Grace gave Ana a hug and a kiss on the cheek and did the same to her son and granddaughter before she left the apartment.

"She told me she's very happy for us." Christian told her quietly once he had sent Evie to brush her teeth and Ana laughed. "I feel like we weren't much different to normal, I really don't know how she knows these things. It must be witchcraft."

"Don't call your mother a witch!" Ana scolded him as she laughed. "There's two things that may have alerted her to a change – one, you're in a surprisingly good mood and you didn't mind that Evie was still up this late into the evening or two – I came back with you instead of getting you to take me home and after a private dinner together that seems a little suspicious." Christian chuckled and nodded in agreement with her.

"It's not like you haven't stayed before though." Christian reminded her.

"Yes but usually just because I'm here, rarely have I just showed up alongside you with the purpose of spending the night."

"After a first date, no less."

"That hadn't crossed my mind, perhaps I should go home. Wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression of me."

"That's fine by me, but you can tell Evie that you won't be here tomorrow."

"Okay, you've got me, I can't do that, she'll never speak to me again." Christian laughed and put an arm around her waist and walked with her to Evie's room so they could put her to bed together. She rarely requested that the both put her to bed but that night she had and neither of them had complained, and standing in the bedroom watching Christian tucking in his daughter Ana really felt like they were a little family. They were unconventional, there was no denying, how many people adopted their ex-best friend's child and fell in love with their ex-husband while they were doing it? Ana didn't think there were many in the world, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She didn't regret that Vivienne had had Christian before she had because then they wouldn't have Evie.

"Goodnight, sweetie." Ana said to her, placing a kiss on her forehead. Evie smiled up at her from her little bed where she was tucked in with tonight's toy of choice, a slightly faded lion that Ana had bought her a week after she moved in when Evie was three weeks old.

"Night, mommy." Evie said to her and she felt Christian's arm around her shoulders when she did like he was making sure she was okay with it. Ana smiled and stroked her hair lovingly, silently letting her know that what she had called her was fine. As though Ana could ever have a problem with something like that. She did love Evie like she was her own, and Christian was right. She was more mother to her than the woman who had given birth to her and abandoned her, and she would be honoured to take the title now it was being offered to her.

"You okay?" Christian asked her softly when they walked out of the room. She nodded swiftly, not wanting him to think she was having any kind of doubts about letting Evie call her that.

"Of course! It's been a slightly overwhelming day with that and you and I didn't even mention the good news to you about my gallery yet because one of my artists put me in touch with his boyfriend's sister and she wants to use the gallery for an exhibition in Seattle and she's a really big deal and she could save me a lot of trouble financially so it's just been a lot of good news." In fact, Ana couldn't remember the last time she'd had a day this good. Half of her expected Vivienne to show up at his door right that second because there was no way a day could stay as perfect as that one had been. It didn't happen, instead Christian took her over to the sofa and sat her down.

"Ana, that's fantastic, I'm so pleased for you." He kissed her on the top of her head. "Let's celebrate properly with a drink, red or white wine?"

"White please."

Christian went through to the kitchen to get them both a drink, and just as he disappeared in there Ana's phone started ringing and Ana felt like her heart dropped into her stomach, sure it must be Vivienne on the other end to ruin things. She breathed a very deep sigh of relief when she saw Kate's name on the screen.

"Ana you would not believe the shitty date I just have and I've been ringing you're fucking doorbell for ten minutes, would you please just let me in so I can tell you about this guy. So fucking handsy, it got so bad that I had to kick him. You would have been proud." Kate was slurring her words, definitely drunk as she usually was when she went out on a date she didn't enjoy. Ana had to smile at the sound of her voice, mainly because she was so glad it was her on the phone.

"Oh Kate I'm really sorry, I'm not at home." Ana told her. "I went to dinner with Christian and I ended up at his."

"That's so annoying! Now I have to go all the way home." Ana knew she likely wouldn't, she'd probably use the spare key she had and crash on Ana's sofa, but Ana didn't actually mind that, it was probably safer for her to stay there than to try to navigate Seattle late at night when she'd been drinking. "Actually, I might stay here." Kate told her, confirming her suspicions. "So, dinner with Christian? You need to tell him how you feel, Ana, you're perfect for each other and I'd really like to win the bet I have with Mia, you'd be doing me a nice favour."

"Well, slight improvement on that front actually, he kissed me tonight." Ana admitted, and upon hearing it Kate actually screamed on the other end of the phone, and Ana recoiled, moving it away from her ear a little. "Yes, I was quite excited too. Actually, he said he was in love with me." Ana was smiling the whole time she spoke. It still felt surreal that this was all actually happening. Kate elicited another scream and Ana laughed. "You're going to wake my neighbours!" she warned her. Kate ignored this and went back to the interesting gossip, as Ana was sure she viewed it.

"Tell me you told him you loved him back!" Kate implored her. Apparently she was an even bigger fan of them as a couple than Grace was. Ana supposed she should be happy that so many members of her extended family were pleased with her relationship. Ana certainly was. "I know you do Ana, I swear if you told him some bullshit about how it was too early…"

"No, of course I said it back. I told you the other night I was. I am. I love him."

"Ana, I'm so pleased!" Kate sounded happy but also like she was about to burst into tears. "And you know Evie is going to be delighted."

"We haven't told her yet, it's a bit late to get her all worked up but I think tomorrow we're both going to sit down with her and explain what this means but I agree, I think she's going to be very pleased, especially now she's calling me 'mommy'."

"She is? Oh, Ana, too much has happened to you today, you need to limit yourself to one thing per day."

"I'm sorry! It has been a little overwhelming, but I can't complain."

"I'll let you go then, I think we need to meet up tomorrow and go over all of this when I am sober and less bemused by these events, I'll call you in the morning. Say hi to your boyfriend for me!" Kate squealed before she hung up and Ana laughed and went to put the phone down on the table before she paused and turned it over in her hands nervously. She was going to jump every time the phone rang, terrified it would be Vivienne. She didn't owe her anything. She'd been dealing with her for three years and she didn't owe her anymore. If she had any chance of making things work with Christian she couldn't be talking to his ex-wife every few weeks when she decided to ring and she couldn't be worrying the rest of the time that it was going to be her on the other end of the phone whenever it rang. She couldn't build a life like that.

Ana found her contact and blocked the number. Vivienne had her home number, and if it was urgent she could call that. Chances were that she wouldn't bother because she would think the better of calling her, and that Ana decided, was exactly what she wanted.

"Was that Kate on the phone?" Christian asked her as he came to sit beside her and handed her a glass. He put and arm around her and she settled comfortably into him. It felt very domestic, and she was already very happy with that.

"Yeah, it was. She'd quite drunk but very happy for us. Especially since Mia now owes her fifty dollars because she bet against us."

"I'm delighted I have her stamp of approval."

"I blocked Vivienne's number." Christian looked at her, not looking disappointed, actually looking quite happy. "I know I should have done it a long time ago but with this? I can't have her hanging over my head. I need to put you and Evie first and I think that this is what's best for all of us." Christian kissed her on the cheek.

"I think you've done the right thing. I moved on from her, it's about time you managed to do the same."

AN: Somehow I knew you'd all be quite happy with the last chapter! Updates for the next couple of days might be a little more scattered than usual, I'm going to try to put one out tomorrow morning but I am travelling for the next couple of days and seeing friends and family when I get home so it might be longer between updates than usual. As usual thank you for follows, favourites, and reviews! Please do write a line or two and let me know how you're enjoying this, I love hearing from you!