Synopsis: Ana cannot forgive Christian for fleeing to Elena the moment she needed him most. She needs some time away, time to think and clear her head. Will she miss the signs that Christian isn't coping as well as she'd hoped?
Setting: This story is set in the time period of Ana breaking the news about blip but for my purposes it happens on a Friday.
Disclaimer: The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and associated characters are property of EL James—I'm simply borrowing them I make no profit.
A/N: This is a HUGE jump from my normal fandoms but…I'm hoping it goes well! Reviews with good and helpful criticism will be appreciated more than you know! I used exact context from the story to get to where my viewpoint will begin. All errors are mine.
Fifty Shades Broken
"Love and truth must be maintained in perfect balance. Truth is never to be abandoned in the name of love. But love is not to be deposed in the name of truth."
-John MacArthur.
No, no, no—I can't believe that it will always be this way, two steps forward and three steps back. But that's how it's always been with him. After each setback, we move forward, inch by inch. He will come around…he will. But will I? Will I recover from this…from this treachery? I think about how he's been this last, horrible, wonderful weekend. His quiet strength while my step-dad lay broken and comatose in the ICU…my surprise party, bringing my family and friends together…dipping me down low outside the Heathman and kissing me in full public view.
Oh, Christian, you strain all my trust, all my faith…and I love you.
But it's not just me now. I place my hand on my belly. No, I will not let him do this to me and our Blip. Dr. Flynn said I should give him the benefit of the doubt—well not this time. I dash the tears from my eyes and wipe my nose with the back of my hand.
Christian stirs and rolls over, pulling his legs to the side of the bed as he sluggishly sits up.
"Ana?" he questions quietly "What's the matter baby?"
I sniff and throw the BlackBerry on to the bed. "What were you doing with her?" I whisper "And answer carefully Christian."
He looks from the phone to me, a look of fleeting surprise on his face before anger. "Why were you going through my phone Anastasia?"
"What were you doing with her?" I screamed He moved forward quickly grabbing the headboard for balance as he tried to stand and stumbled.
"Shh" he held a hand up to his lips "You'll wake everyone Anastasia!" he bellowed "We were just talking about…" he trailed off motioning to my protective stance with one arm thrown over my stomach.
"And she was the person to go to Christian? Are you kidding me?" I seethed. I didn't need this right now.
I turned towards the closet ignoring him. My suitcase was easy to find as I'd left it in the same spot since our honeymoon. A large pale blue Gucci courtesy of Grace and Carrick.
I angrily flung it on to the bed and began emptying my side of the closet into it.
Christian grabbed my hand "What are you doing?" he cried "You're leaving me?"
"I need space Christian! I have some serious thinking to do and I can't do it with you breathing down my neck every five minutes! I can't talk to you about ANYTHING or you run off to the bitch troll for a consult. I. Just. Need. Space." I deliberately space out each word, hoping he'll take the hint.
He looks shocked "You want space from me?" he asks
"Yes Christian." I tell him "I'm going to Kate's."
He says nothing but watches as I silently throw clothes into my bag.
Kate has no problem coming to get me—not questions asked. A first for Ms. Kavanaugh.
When I hear Taylor inform me of her arrival I stand tall and walk away from my husband. I can't look at him—it will be my undoing.
I hear his broken voice interrupt me as I begin walking towards the elevator "Are you coming back?" he asks.
As I step into the elevator and turn towards him I look into his eyes as the doors close "I don't know."
Christian POV
I watch the doors close in shock. "Ana" I whisper not wanting to believe that any of this is real.
I stand there for what feels like forever before Taylor takes my arm and leads me into the bedroom. I follow him aimlessly, barely noticing Ms. Jones following behind us wringing her hands nervously.
I crawl under the covers on Ana's side of the bed and I bury my head into her pillow inhaling deeply. She'll come back…she has to.
I glance at the clock on my nightstand it reads 4:42 AM. I must fall asleep because the next thing I know my alarm clock is blaring on at 6:45, I shut it off and roll over. Hoping this has all been a bad dream.
I see the water and Advil on my nightstand and smile Ms. Jones; I can always depend on her. I ignore the Advil and drink a small sip of water. I can deal with this pain, I brought it upon myself.
I climb into the shower, allowing the scalding water to bite into my skin and bring me closer to reality.
I'm alone and it's all my fault—my Ana has left me.
As I walk into the kitchen Mrs. Jones looks up at me hopefully "Good Morning Mr. Grey" she smiles "Pancakes for you today?"
"No thank you." I attempt a weak smile in return "I'm not all that hungry today."
If she didn't look shocked I wouldn't know what to call her reaction. In her 3 years of working for me I think this is the first time I've ever turned down food.
After arriving at the office I bury myself in work, trying so hard to ignore the pain that's spreading its way through my chest. A pain called Anastasia.
I cancel my evening session with Flynn…rather I have my secretary Andrea cancel my session with Flynn. If I were to call him he would know something is amiss and try to fix it and right now…I deserve everything I get.
At 7'ocklock sharp Claude arrives for my kickboxing lesson at Escala. This will be my release for the day. The time period I can get my stress out the only way I know how—anger.
I allow myself to slip tonight, allowing Claude to get more jabs in than usual. I relish in the feeling as his foot slams into the side of my head rendering me momentarily unconscious.
When I open my eyes it is to see his worried eyes looking down at me and Taylor's on the left.
"Sir?" Taylor questioned
"I'm fine." I mumble "Just distracted today."
I crawl to my knees before Claude reaches down and pulls me up "That's enough for today." He says giving me a wary look.
"I'll say when it's enough!" I yell "I'll say when it's enough!"
He looks at me as though I've gone mad and perhaps I have. Love does strange things to a man and when it's taken from you…what's left?
We finish sparring for another thirty minutes and I ignore the growing pain in the side of my head, it's a welcome distraction.
I trudge into the shower pointedly ignoring the look that Claude gives Taylor as I walk away.
After I'm clean I immediately head into my study, and back work for the evening.
It's 4:56AM when I finally crawl into bed I allow sleep…or unconsciousness to claim me.
Ana POV
I couldn't go to work after the night I had it was Friday and we'd been slow all week so Elizabeth didn't mind.
Kate and I talked for hours when we got back to the apartment. She knew everything before she turned to me "Are you sure they just talked?" she asked me.
"Yes." I answer automatically "He wouldn't lie about that."
"Then maybe you shouldn't be so tough on him Steele." Kate said
I gawk at her—this coming from the woman that despises him more than anyone.
"He hurt me Kate."
"I get that Ana " she begins "But from what Elliot has told me Elena has always been a confidante to Christian when their parents were busy."
I held my breath—they didn't know the half of it.
"Listen Ana, all I'm saying is maybe you guys should really talk it out before any decisions are made. You're married and there's a baby on the way. I've seen how he looks at you Ana, you're the reason the guy gets out of bed in the morning."
I know she speaks the truth, I've only heard it from him a million times.
"I'll let him stew over the weekend and I'll talk to him next week." I promise her.
Having space right now is liberating but…I miss Christian too! I know if I go back now he won't understand how badly he's hurt me so as hard as it is I have to keep the distance between us for a little while.
"So girls day?" She asks and I giggle nodding to her
We spend the day getting our nails done and pigging out at a sushi bar. It's truly been an amazing day.
'I wonder how Christian's doing?' I can't help but wonder as I drift off into a world of small grey eyed boys with tears in their eyes.
*Reviews = LOVE!
A/N: It seems like Ana's doing okay but what about Christian? Will someone strop his downward spiral before it's too late?
