A surprise because you are very special.

Anna turned around to find Regan standing behind them with a tight lipped smile on his face. He came towards them and greeted Richard before turning towards her.

"What are you doing here?" She frowned on not getting his purpose on visiting them again.

"Well.... Hello to you too Anastasia."

He replied with amusement clearly laced in his voice. He was unhappy with her carelessness about her meals once again. However, she surprised him with her tone which clearly stated that he was unexpected and she wasn't much happy about his presence.

"Anna?" Richard glared at her, obviously not encouraging her behavior.

She bit her lip before looking down. "Ummm..... Sorry. It's just that you left quite late yesterday night and I wasn't expecting you actually. And Ummm..... yeah..... Hi."

He chuckled on seeing her explaining herself while Richard informed her that he was the one to invite Regan for lunch to gratify him for looking after her. It was the least that he could do for the man who rescued his daughter. He extended the bouquet of pink lilies towards her that he was holding for so long which she failed to notice before.

"For me?" She asked, surprised with the gesture.

"Actually not. These are for Richard."

Saying that he extended his hands to give away the bouquet to Richard who was watching them with a big grin on his face. However, he stopped midway and again extended it towards her.

"Of course that's for you Anna. Anyways, I don't think Richard would enjoy receiving some flowers from me unless he is hiding a gorgeous woman inside him who love flowers, especially pink lilies."

"Huh? Oh! Ummm..... I am grateful. I mean that's very sweet of you."

Richard chuckled on the little show while Anna turned into a light shade of pink on her nervousness around him to understand such a small gesture. But then she realized the underlying meaning behind his words complimenting her to be gorgeous and her eyes literally popped out brightening the redness on her face that reached her ears too.

'Did he just said that in front of Dad? Oh My! What is he up-to?" She mumbled to herself.

By the time she could react or say anything, Richard was already on his seat at the dining table while Regan was standing next to her usual spot waiting and looking in her direction. Soon, she reached to join them where Regan pulled out a chair for her being a gentleman he was. However, his absurd behaviour of being so chivalrous, that too in front of Richard who was constantly grinning made her extremely conscious.

The lunch was quite awkward, especially for her as she kept her gaze down, completely ignoring the never ending conversation between the two man sitting with her. It seemed as if they were bonding really well over the various topics of discussion which was rare on a part of Richard as she thought of him to be simply acquainted with Regan. However, the way they were talking made them looked to be the best of friends.

She frowned on what she concluded so far. 'How and when did they get so close?" She thought. She cautiously moved her gaze towards them and found them looking towards her anxiously.

"Anastasia..... Are you alright?"

"Princess?"

"I am. Of course.... I am good." She said awkwardly.

"Then why haven't you eaten anything? You are simply playing with your food." Regan stated pointing towards her plate which was still untouched.

She looked down and realized he was correct. In order to hide her embarrassment, she smiled sheepishly and replied, "Ummm... I just don't feel like eating anything."

Regan's brows twitched in worry and anger as he couldn't understand her nonchalance towards her health. He wanted to tell her to look after herself as she was still recovering but was slacked by Richard.

"Let it be Regan. She won't eat anything."

Regan glared at him too, as instead of making her eat, he was taking her side. Looking at his expressions, Richard could not control anymore and burst out laughing.

"Relax son. She usually do this when she is extremely tensed or nervous about something."

He turned towards Anna and asked her directly.

"Princess... what are you nervous about? Because as far as I know you, right now you don't look stressed out with anything. What's the matter?"

"Huh? Nothing dad. Really?"

Richard quirked his brow, silently conveying her that he didn't believe her words. He sighed and decided to speak with her later.

"Well Regan...You see how stubborn my daughter is! But I know what to do. Why don't you take her out for an ice-cream?"

Anna choked on the water she was drinking after hearing him and started coughing. Regan instantly went to her side and gently rubbed her back to calm her down. As if it wasn't enough, his actions made her red to the extent that she looked as bright as a tomato. She questioningly looked at Richard who shrugged nonchalantly. After she calmed down, Regan sat on his chair and exclaimed unhappily.

"I don't think she is well enough to have an ice-cream."

"Trust me when I say, it's the only solution to calm down her nerves. She can kill you to have an ice-cream. It's her first love." He said grinning widely disclosing a hidden aspect of her personality to Regan who was chuckling on her condition. On the whole, he was happy to discover something new about her.

"Okay then ice-cream it is. But I don't understand. What has made you so nervous Anastasia?"

'YOU. You are making me nervous..... you..... you..... BUMPKIN.' She instantly thought in her mind.

She wanted to shout and go away from him which was getting difficult at the moment and she didn't know how to react over the new sensations that were messing with her heart and mind.

"Okay let it be. Lets go and grab an ice-cream for you." He said trying to ease her down. His tone was filled with warmth and love as he dotingly gazed her and she didn't have the heart to deny him or her favorite ice-cream, so she agreed.

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Anna was extremely quiet during the whole car ride, constantly looking outside the window with a frown on her face. She came out of her thoughts when the car screeched through the road and stopped abruptly. It was then when she noticed the surrounding and her frown deepened.

"Hospital? Why are we here Regan?" She finally looked at him while he was untying his seatbelt.

"The way you were zoned out, I thought you would never notice."

She narrowed her eyes. "That's not what I have asked."

"Did you wake on the wrong side of the bed today? Too grumpy now. Aren't we?"

She realized how once again he was correct. Whatever may be the reason, she shouldn't have snapped on him time and again. He was just being nice all the time while she was acting like a brat and throwing tantrums for no reason. She lowered her gaze in guilt and mortification for a moment, but then looked towards him to apologize. Before she could utter a single word, he stagnated her by placing his finger on her lips.

He gently smiled and said, "I don't want to hear your sorry. So don't."

She nodded her head in approval as he withdrew his hand instantly missing her touch.

"How did you know.....that I wanted to apologize?"

"Because I know you better than yourself."

"Aren't you angry on my behavior?"

"I can be anything but angry with you Anna." He shook his head to show the truth behind his words. "You amaze me everytime with a different you, and I am ecstatic to discover a new side of yours which doesn't push or run away from me." He sighed and ceased himself from speaking further still not wanting to reveal his feelings for her. "Anyways, we're here for your check up."

"Why?"

He rolled his eyes on her silly question.

"It has been a couple of days since you visited the doctor. I have already talked to one who treated you in Seattle and he has talked about your case over here. So here we are to check on your improvement and health, if it's better."

"Of course it's better. Can't you see? I am perfectly fine. And if you wished to bring me here, you should have atleast informed me before. Why did you bother? I would have come by myself or with dad." She suddenly remembered about Richard and gasped. "Regan.....dad don't know about it. You know, he will really get worried. Lets go home."

She was rambling on and on without giving him a chance to speak, so he did what he felt was right to stop her. He once again placed his finger on her lips and she abruptly stopped speaking.

"Jeez Anna. Atleast let me speak? We aren't going back until I am assured about you from the doctor and I have already talked to Richard about this earlier." As if understanding her questioning gaze, he continued. "He was busy with something and I wanted to be there with you..... So he agreed. I wanted to tell you about it, but I know that you would have not agreed owing to your dislike towards hospitals. So here we are. I won't take any chances with your health. You understand?"

Before listening to her reply, he came out of the car and opened her door leading her inside holding her hand in a firm grip. She wanted to tell him to leave her hand as she didn't want anything to do with him, but seeing his stubborn yet caring side towards her, she decided to do otherwise.

Soon she was checked by the doctor who replaced the old bandage around her head with a small patch, as her wound was healing fast. She looked at Regan who was constantly questioning the doctor about her health as if he was still not satisfied with his reply. She could clearly see and feel his genuine concern for her which warmed her heart. However, amidst all that process, she noticed that the hospital was nearly empty with no other patient around. As soon as they exited from the doctor's office, she asked him.

"Regan... why there is no one around? I mean it's still early to wrap up for the day. Isn't it?"

He stopped in his track and put his hands in his pockets before answering her. "It's because I have reserved it for a few hours. I didn't want you to wait like others. Besides, the Dean of this hospital is one of my man, so he agreed. It would be back to normal as soon as we would leave."

She was shocked on hearing him. "You didn't need to do this Regan. I am not that special and I am not fond of such extravagance. I would never wish to create inconvenience or trouble for others. Please don't do this again." She said softly and walked ahead.

He couldn't believe that she was denying all of that. It was his way of pampering and showing her his love. Someone else at her place might be the happiest person knowing about such thing but here she was... He smiled and thought. 'That's what makes you different Anna and make me fall for you more.'

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He finally took her to treat her with an ice-cream and stopped the car outside a fancy restaurant. She couldn't believe that he brought her to such a lavish place for just an ice-cream.

"Are we here for an ice-cream?"

"Yeah."

The waiter who took their orders looked at them like the craziest people ever on which Anna couldn't stop herself and giggled. Shortly, there were more than five scoops of different flavoured ice-creams on their table that was only ordered for her. To Regan's surprise, she devoured all of them without looking in his direction for even once. He chuckled on seeing her childlike excitement and was exceptionally appeased to bring genuine happiness on her face after so long.

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It was almost evening when they reached home. Anna had already dozed off during their way back to home. He didn't want to wake her up, but he didn't want to let her wait for the things awaiting for her inside. He gently shook her when she stirred and opened her eyes. When she saw that they had already reached home, she felt embarrassment again.

"Sorry. I don't know how I dozed off like this."

"It's alright. Come." He extended his hand for her to hold which she took hesitantly as he led her inside.

As the door opened, she was mortified with the darkness that scared her instantly and she unknowingly tightened her grip over Regan's hand to seek comfort. Before she could react, the living room was lighted up brightly, blinding her for a moment. She opened her eyes when she heard a loud "Surprise".

She couldn't believe her eyes on the sight laid in her front. She smiled brightly at the view and exclaimed unbelievably.

"Oh My God!"

She turned towards Regan who was standing right beside her, still holding her hand, reflecting his own bright smile which only she was capable to bring on his face.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

"It's a surprise for you. A surprise because you are very special."