Disclaimer: characters contained within are not mine. I just borrowed them to take them out to play. They belong to the respected authors of The Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy; Annihilate Me/Unleash Me series, and The Rescue Me Saga.

AN: I always thought that Kate was written as an incomplete character that was often up to something and had ulterior motives for the things she did. I also felt that with her background, it didn't make sense that Ana didn't have doubts other than why Christian wanted to be with her. In many ways, I find that all the characters are better fleshed out in the fanfiction about them than the actual books. With that in mind I started wondering "what if" and then the thought of Kate being a catalyst of a breakup came to be (because, let's face it she was introduced as someone who liked a good lay as much as Elliot did) and what would happen if it took a while for Ana to realize that Christian wasn't the controlling force in her life.
I also wanted their story to include other influences in the worlds they lived in and brought in characters from other series to play that part out. There had to be a reason why after years Ana suddenly would come to the realization that the life she was living was far from the life she had wanted. Through her friendships and her love of the world of books Ana is going to finally find herself at the age of 32- but will it be too little too late? And what about our Fifty? How has he faired without the woman he wanted to give his heart to? Did he now believe what Elena had told him while he was growing up: that love was for fools?

And so, with no further ado, I give you Laters, Baby
MissDevon

Laters, Baby

Prologue

Tristian turned abruptly at the bing singling the elevator's return to his Penthouse. "I thought you left," he spit out in a harsh monotone that was his way of masking his inner turmoil. I knew that for a man used to being in control he had already let me see too much of the power I had to destroy him, still I stepped out of the elevator and into the foyer.

"I… I couldn't," I told him in a strangled, soft voice. I hoped that I could hold onto the courage that my Inner Goddess was trying to instill in me. "I got to the garage and I realized that you were right…" I managed to get out as I followed his retreating form. "I don't need to wait to know you're the one for me.
Tristian!" I called, unable to keep up with him, but desperate to get him to listen to me now that I had realized the truth of just how was controlling me and, more importantly, what I really wanted. "I. LOVE. You!" I cry out, watching as he stops short as my words roll over him and he goes rigid. I fall to my knees behind him, tears flowing down my cheeks and crystalizing in the encroaching twilight. "I don't want to leave you… don't want to wait… I know what I said, but I got downstairs and realized that it wasn't me who was saying those things- not really.
I can't apologize enough, but I know it was Kayla that got into my ear… my head… she's the one who's controlling…"

"Earth to Ana. Ana do you copy?" Ana heard the voice of her friend calling her back to the world at large.

Startled, she looked up at her dining companion as she slid into the booth across from her. "Sorry," Ana muttered automatically as she hit save on the laptop she had been frantically typing her thoughts out on.

Eva only laughed at her. "I was only teasing. You could've at least finished the train of thought you were riding on," she teased as she shrugged out of her jacket.

Ana only smiled at her tone as she shut down and then closed the lid of her laptop and put it to the side as Eva automatically ordered lunch for the two of them. Somehow, the fact that Eva took charge while Ana took care of her tasks didn't bother her.
She took a moment to categorize the reasons why.
Quickly she understood: Eva was only doing what she, herself, would do if the situation was reversed. They normally ate here together as it was only blocks away from the building that they both lived in and Eva ordered their usual. This was the opposite of her so-called BFF who was constantly changing where they would meet for lunch and ordered for them based not on their tastes but on the latest NYT reviews…

"So. What were you doing? Were you editing for Lisa again?" Eva asked, again forcing Ana out of her mind and into the here and now.

"Actually, I kinda started a novel of my own while I was in Co.," Ana admitted sheepishly.

"Ana that's fantastic!" Eva praised as their drinks were placed in front of them and the blonde raised her glass in a mock toast. "And about damned time too, I might add."

"You really think so?" Ana asked uncomfortably.

Eva raised an eyebrow at that: "You've only been talking about writing something of your own for ages, so yeah- go for it!"

Smiling shyly Ana worried the paper from her straw: "that's not the only change I'm making."

"Oh?"

"I'm thinking of leaving Kavanagh Media," she admitted, causing Eva to all but spit out the drink she had been taking.

"You're what?!" Eva asked once she had managed to catch her breath as she wiped at the liquid on her blouse.

"You heard me," Ana sighed as she glanced around them, wanting to make sure no one was paying attention to them. Even though she worked for a major media entity she hated being the center of attention.

"Then again I say: about damned time!" Eva laughed as she put down her napkin and watched Ana's blue eyes go wide as she opened and closed her mouth before finally managing to squeak out a "what?" Rolling her eyes, Eva decided to ignore the question. "You know I can ask to see if the agency is hiring, and if not, you know full well Gideon would love to have you on staff at Crossfire."

Ana only shook her head, surprised at the offer. She knew that Gideon had often teased her about coming to work for him, but she had thought that that was all it was. Yes, she had a degree in literature and had gained a MA in it in NY a few years after moving here, but she still didn't see herself as anything more than the boss's daughter's pet project because that was all her supervisor ever let her see herself as and Kate further the illusion. Sighing, she started to play with the straw in her glass as she decided to ask her friend for her help- or rather her fiancé's. "Actually, I need you to ask Gideon to look into something for me."

"Really? Why? Ana, what's going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"No… It's just… I'm starting to think that Kate's been playing mind games with me for years and I need proof. "

"Why do I think there's more to this than just work?"

"I made a mistake years ago. I think now that it was because of things Kate made me believe- well, not really made me. That makes me sound like I didn't have a mind of my own… I guess she just fed into insecurities I had… anyway, I walked away from the man of my dreams… I told him I wanted to be able to learn to stand on my own two feet; that I thought he'd take over my life… I wish I hadn't now… I mean, I know I still have to learn to do the things I told him I was leaving him to do- and the sad thing is I know I'm going to need help doing it… Kate knows too many things and she knows how to exploit too many of my weaknesses… But, Eva, I want to get him back, or at least try to, and I know to do that I need to have proof of just how much damage she did."

"Then we'll get it," Eva smiled reassuringly. "You'll get back the one who got away."

"No. The one I was stupid enough to push away…"