Hey! I know I have a bunch of unfinished stories, but bear with me here, I haven't had the guts to post them yet... they're all written but ya know... So this is a short story, a three-shot. bear with me here! This talks about sensitive topics that I've never directly gone through, so if you have any improvements you want to make, feel free to leave a review with constructive criticism. Thanks!

Ana's POV

I hear the clink of my heels on the stone steps, and took the keys out from the pocket of the expensive jacket that I wore; something I never thought would be resting on my shoulders. Ever. It was a birthday present from Christian when he saw me take a few extra glances at it in the up scale boutique. I twist the key and the door of my house – I mean fortress – opens, and out barrels an energetic three – year old. My energetic three-year old. Ha, my possessive husband is starting to rub off on me.

"Hey Ted!" I say as I drop my purse and my keys and return his hug. I lift him up into the air a few inches, when I suddenly lose my balance and tip over in Ted's direction, but luckily, a pair of hands catch me before I fall onto the floor.

I first steady Ted while profusely apologizing, but he quickly overlooks my stumble, and is rambling on about his play school, when I hear a voice call him from inside the house.

"Hey Ted! Come see what the train can do! Look! Phoebe and I can make it climb the table!" Sophie, the daughter of Jason Taylor, employee and close friend, calls out, and before you know it, Ted is giving me a hug and is scampering up the stairs to answer to the call.

I pick myself up and turn to meet the eyes of Gail Jones, step-mother to Sophie and the wife of Taylor. She not only is a great cook, but is my friend and ally in the house. She is a mother figure, but can also be compared to my best friend. She quickly helps me up and frowns.

"Ana, your nose is bleeding" she says in a hushed voice. No wonder Ted ran away so quickly. She rushes to get some paper towels, her blond hair bobbing behind her. I gently touch my nose and wince as a drop of blood stains the white marble flooring of the entrance. Great. I was barely in the house before I had my first accident.

I've been having tiny mishaps a lot. Just today at Grey Publishing, formerly known as SIP, I tripped over the photocopier, stubbed my toe onto three different desks, and spilt my tea, twice. But before I could count even more, Gail is back, efficiently carrying a stack of towels as if we were about to clean up a murder scene, not a bloody nose.

"Ana, hold the napkin, will you?" I grab the napkin from her and press it onto my nose, tilting my head back. She goes to clean the drop of the floor when she stops and squints at my legs, which are bare, if not for the flesh-toned tights I wore.

"Ana. What happened here?" she asked gently, while lightly brushing her fingers across my calf, which causes me to wince.

"Wait, what do you mean?" I ask, as I lift my leg up. Then I saw it, across my leg, is a 6 – inch bruise.

I sigh. "It's alright Gail, I bumped into a photocopier or something, don't worry"

Gail flashes me a quick smile "it's not me I'm worried about, wait until tonight when Christian sees it. I won't be there when he goes – what's that word you use… Thermonuclear on you"

I giggle "Do you think he'll attempt to sue my photocopier?"

We share a slight laugh, when I lose my balance slightly again and wobble a bit, caught again by a now deeply concerned Gail.

"Ana, are you sick?"

"Gail, don't worry, I just came out of work. I'm just a bit tired, that's all" That's far from the truth. I'm dead tired, bone-numbingly tired. I keep thinking that after a good night sleep, everything will be better, but I am constantly tired.

Suddenly, the door opens, and out comes Taylor. He opens his mouth to speak but pauses, taking in the position that his wife and I are in. His eyes rest on me, and he whips out a cell phone, and dials a number.

"Yes, right now… full checkup, nothing missed… I will send a ride at 5:30, but expect at 5:00… alright"

I glance at him, confused "Hey, who was that?"

Taylor puts away his hone and looks at me. "A doctor Mrs. Grey. You've been acting weird all week, don't think I haven't noticed. I think it's best to send you and try to determine what's wrong"

I glance dumbfounded, and I am ready to retort a comment about how I'm almost thirty (well, not really) when Gail stops me.

"Ana, please be reasonable, you've dropped pounds, even more than before your pregnancy. You constantly fall and just a few moments ago, I was cleaning up a spontaneous nose bleed. Make sure you're alright. Please"

I sigh. These two have the convincing power of my husband (well, more accurately, half my husband) I retrieve my coat from the place I dropped it, and got onto my car.

Christian's POV

"Yes, wait until the stock folds, then buy them out, inflate prices, then sell"

I listen to the tiny voice on the other end and nod silently. "Sounds good Carter" and I turn off the phone, when another one rings.

It's what I go through daily, constant phone calls, barrages of emails and press conferences. I glance at the computer's time. It's 4:42. In 18 minutes, I get to go and see my Ana, Ted and Phoebe. Life really has not been better for me. I love the three with all my heart. I glance again, 16 minutes left.

When did Christian Grey, CEO of the world, as my Ana fondly calls it, start counting down the minutes?

Another phone call sounds. Right, this was why even the CEO wishes for the workday to end. I glance at the caller ID, and spring into action. It's Taylor.

"What do you have?"

"Sir, Mrs. Grey left just now to get a checkup done, at Dr. Rose Phurns. The appointment runs until 5:30"

Curiosity peaks in me, as well as fear "why the doctor?"

"It's mainly Gail, she thinks Ana is going mad or something, she said she fell, and had several nosebleeds, she apparently found a bruise on her –"

I fumed, and clutched the pen, causing my knuckles to turn white. "How come I wasn't aware of this?" She better not hide the fact someone was hurting her.

There was a pause at the end of the line "She said it all happened today"

I take a deep breath and hang up the phone. Screw time, I grab the coat and stride to the elevator and quickly go to the garage. I find the A8, and hop on, making the engine roar to life. I come out of the garage and race over to Dr. Rose Phurn's clinic. I make it there exactly at 5:00.

The door opens and the receptionist, an elderly looking woman, is leafing over a folder. She glances to me over her spectacles. "Mr. Grey. Please wait in the chairs over there"

Fuck this. What did she expect? That my wife was being abused and I'd just sit over by some chairs and leaf over magazines? I walk over to her.

"Where is my wife?"

She gave me an arrogant look "She's somewhere you'll never be. Do us a favor and leave Mrs. Steele alone"

That causes me to well up in anger, and I try to tame it. "Mrs. Grey. Her name is Mrs. Grey"

She gives me a glare and glances over to the chairs, as if hoping I would suddenly materialize on them. As if that would happen.

Suddenly, a younger woman comes out holding of vial of blood, marked "Anastasia Grey" and I relax a minute bit. At least someone managed to get her name right. The nurse walks right past me and begins talking to the receptionist in a hushed tone, but I'm close enough to hear everything.

"She's denying all counts of assault, she said nothing hurt her lately, and she's been having accidents now for a good few weeks. She said she stumbled today, and that's the reason for the bruise on her arm, and kicking the photocopier is the reason for the one on her leg"

The receptionist gives the nurse a pointed look, and she sighs "I asked, no to domestic violence as well"

That causes me to flare up in anger "I have never placed a hand on my wife. Ever"

The nurse looks up shocked "oh my. I suppose you're Mr. Grey" She bats her eyelashes, and I am ready to puke. Not moments ago, she was accusing me of beating my wife, and now – Fuck.

The older receptionist stares straight at me "No Mr. Grey" she says through clenched teeth "Its standard procedure for any woman who comes to us looking like that"

Looking like what? I want to ask, but my questions are answered when Ana suddenly appears out of the doctor's office. I gasp. There was a huge bruise of her calf, and one on her arm. She looks at me and immediately comes to me for a hug, which I gladly accept. She's shaking in my arms and I clutch her tighter. I walk her over to the exit, and the nurse shouts behind us.

"You may leave now; we'll send your results in a few weeks"

As if we needed permission to leave.

Two Weeks Later

Ana's POV

It's the weekend, and Christian and I are in the backyard of our fortress, playing in the small playground that Elliot built for Ted and Phoebe. It's great, we have a small picnic by our feet, and Christian and I are watching Ted go down the slide for the hundredth time.

"Wheee!" he squeals, and Christian clutches me tighter, tensing up as he sees Ted in a potentially 'precarious' situation. I roll my eyes and smile.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes in my pocket and I take it out, not understanding how Christian has time for anything when he has a phone that buzzes thousands of times more than mine does. Christian releases my arm, but still holds my hand.

"Hello?" I say into the receiver "Ana Steele"

"Hi this is the Phurns Clinic calling. Your test results have arrived, and I think it's best to receive them at the clinic"

"Oh that's alright, you can say it now, I –"

"No, we insist that you come down to the clinic, there are some things to clear up"

I pause, slightly puzzled "Alright then, when should I come down?"

The other line pauses as well "As soon as possible. And we mean it"

The line clicks dead and I look back at Christian, who probably has heard the entire conversation. He stands and dusts off his black t-shirt.

"Oh no, look after Ted, I am going to pick up an envelope. Quite literally"

He gives me a glare and motions to Tylor, who was washing his car behind us. "Taylor, keep an eye on the kids while Ana and I head out"

Taylor nods and Christian walks me to the car, opens the door for me, and goes into the driver's seat himself. It's implied that here is no more negotiating.

I don't know why, but lately it seems my security can almost be compared to the Presidents. I am rarely allowed to leave, and when I do, I have to have at least two escorts. My workdays have been 'rescheduled' says my board, but I strongly think Christian pulled some strings.

We say nothing as we drive towards the clinic. In fifteen minutes, we are there, and Christian waits for me to get out, and puts an arm around my waits as we both walk towards the clinic. As we enter, I'm quickly greeted with Rose, the doctor from before, and she waves me to the examination room. Christian follows, and weirdly, Dr. Phurns seems not to mind.

"Mrs. Grey. I took your tests over to the best research lab, twice, and the answers have been the same"

OK… I look at the doctor, who looks as if she's in pain. I still fail to understand why I needed to come down to receive my results.

"Mrs. Grey, the results are difficult to handle and I really am sorry to break the news, but you have been tested positive for Leukemia.

*** I hope I made that ok. I (thankfully) never had immediate family diagnosed with cancer, so I am kind of writing blind. If any of you have some details that you may wish to add, feel free to PM me, or to leave a review! Merci.

Christian's POV

I hate this clinic. I swear, I will ask Ros to purchase the lot that the clinic is built on, and watch it close. Ana has Leukemia… That's the stupidest joke I've heard my life, but at the same time, I'm hoping with all my heart that it is a joke

"Mrs. Grey, you have been experiencing some typical symptoms, but we never placed such a heavy diagnosis when we first saw you" …

I drift in and out of conversation, trying to distinguish what could have warned me about her getting cancer. What did I miss?

"…Your weight loss, bruising, constant nosebleeds…"

Now that I actually sit down and think, Ana has been losing weight lately, even though she seems to be eating fine. I dismissed it as losing her baby weight from Phoebe, but in the back of my mind, I knew that was not it. She's skinnier now than before Ted. How could I have missed that?

I hear snippets of the conversation, but I still am startled and shocked. How could my Ana, my strong and brave Ana, have leukemia?

"… Booked you into treatment at Evergreen Medical, since this is an early case of acute leukemia, treatment has to happen fast, or you will be placed under greater risk. This is caught pretty early on, so you have an advantage, but this is not something that can be dragged out"

I am paying full attention now, and Ana's hand is gripping into mine but that's the only indicator that she's frightened. She nods at the doctor's words and doesn't face me. The two quickly finish their conversation and the doctor hands over the damned brown envelope.

"Get yourself checked in today, latest tomorrow at noon. I got you the best of the best treatment, as I'm sure you would want, but that starts in two weeks"

Then Dr. Phurns turns her head to me "Mr. Grey. Violet, our receptionist, and I are very sorry"

Ana glances at me and nods yet again. She takes the envelope, and we walk out of the clinic in dead silence. She gets to the car and I'm shaking, shaking in fear, in grief. I tried to protect her from all that's out there, but yet again I failed. 'Failure' my head screams

Ana turns and looks at me "don't you dare start blaming yourself"

I am almost shocked my her words, but she goes on

"Listen, I suppose I have to check in today" She 'supposes'? She supposes she has to check in? I will handcuff her onto the hospital bed if I have to.

"But we need to stay strong for Ted and Phoebe…. I won't leave them, I promise"

I look into the eyes of my gorgeous wife and I weep. I used to think crying was a sign of weakness, but when someone said that your wife might be taken away, there is no worse pain. I hug her and I see a silver tear track on her face as well.

I made a promise on that car, that afternoon that I'll keep her here, with me. I need her here, because I it will be a nightmare to raise my children without a mother, without an Ana. I hold her, and I pray, I never prayed in years, but I pray that my Ana won't be taken away, and she won't leave. I chain her to me, to earth. 'She won't leave' I promise to myself, but yet again I feel the control slip from my hands.

Thanks for listening, I promise to update really soon! Please leave a review on how you felt about it, and any feedback is appreciated! Thanks again!

- PPP