Ana POV

Afghanistan, November 10, 2010 0.800hrs

"STEELE" I hear my name called by General Cowen. Who by a hilarious coincidence has the first name Owen.

"Sir?" Making my way across the tent to door, wondering what it is I have done wrong.

Standing soldier still he straightens his jacket and extends his right hand for me to shake, "As you have given the United States Army 10 years of loyal and brave service, I have the pleasure of notifying you that you have been honorably discharged as of now. You will be put on the plane back to Seattle as soon as your packed and ready. On behalf of the United States Army I would like to Thankyou for service and as the best friend of your fathers I would like to tell you how proud I am of you Annie." After a while his general cap come off and finally starts talking to me like the uncle he has always been to me. I have to say I'm shocked to be going home after serving for so long, but I am also so excited and grateful at the same time. However, I am not sure what I will do with my life now that this chapter of my life is officially closed. But I can think about that later I guess.

"I know you don't want to tell your fathers about receiving a purple heart Annie but that's not something you need to hide from them, don't make them hear it from someone else it's a great honor to receive a medal of bravery. What you did that night saved 12 people in your platoon"

"I just did what I had to do General, anyone in my situation would have done the same thing. But thank you for everything you have taught me and for looking out for me all of these years." I say with a smile, so he knows that I mean it.

"You're welcome kiddo, now go pack before they realize what they're losing and change their minds."

He gives me a small hug and pushes me toward the tents exit, as I walk to my bunk I take in the scene around me exhausted troops sleeping and lounging around always armed and on high alert even while relaxing, thinking to myself how after 10 years of doing this I only made 3 or 4 lifelong friends here. There Is dirt and abandoned buildings for miles and not a patch of green in sight its depressing how much I miss rolling hills and grass even the rain in Seattle is something I long for these days. Well Ana I think to myself time to close this door and open a few windows. Let's get home to your family and take it as it comes.

14 hours and two plane swap overs later I touch down at SeaTac ready to surprise my father, hopefully he isn't to busy today, he has been working for the last 4 years alongside my big brother Luke for some pompous rich self-absorbed asshole (His words not mine) who sometimes treats him like an assistant as opposed to the bodyguard he was hired to be, Luke works as security in the asshole building and also as papas replacement on his rostered days off. But both are of the opinion that this guy Mr. Grey is just misunderstood and troubled, so he takes his anger and mods out on those around him without noticing, though to me he just seems like a jerk who needs his ass handed to him.

After finding my bags at the luggage claim I make my way to the taxi rank I don't even bother to look around as I only have one thing on my mind and that's hugging my Papa after not physically seeing him for 2 years. Giving the driver the address for Grey House that I googled while waiting for my stuff I settle in for the estimated 15-minute ride according to the driver anyway.

Grey House is an intimidatingly large building made up entirely of glass windows and steel with Gray letters spelling out GREY proudly on the front of the building. I roll my eyes at the clique that is the man who owns this company, I mean really? Does everything need to be gray? We get it. My last name is Steele, but I have things made of other materials jeez.

Wow the inside is even worse, Gray checkered tiles on the floor, Gray reception desk and wouldn't you know it that has Grey Enterprise and Holdings written on it also just in case you don't know where you are or you happen to be in doubt about who's in charge here, yes papa was right this guy is pompous and self-absorbed, once again I roll my eyes before walking up to the bleached blonde receptionist who is dressed impeccably.

Looking down at myself still dressed in my greens and boots I feel slightly uneasy, thankfully I redid my French braid and touched up my natural look make up on the cab ride over.

"Hello welcome to GEH how can I help you today?" Asks receptionist barbie without looking up from her magazine.

"I was hoping you could point me towards where I would find Jason Taylor please."

Yawning she asks, "Is he excepting you?" Bitch please I don't have time for this time to bring out the big guns.

"Well no, but I was hoping to surprise him?" still she has made no attempt to look at me.

"We don't really do things like that here Miss, so either I call him to inform him of your arrival or if he is in fact someone you know personally you could call him to come down to see you. Either way you are not going to be given any information."

"Ma'am, he is my father and if you would have taken the to two seconds it takes to lift your head you would have noticed my attire and the large green duffle bag hanging from my shoulder, I have just returned home from my 6th tour of duty and I haven't seen my Father in 2 whole years, I was hoping to surprise him, so if you don't mind could you please let me know where my father is please." Saying the last part through gritted teeth.

Finally, her attention is caught she looks up from her desk with a bored expression on her face and her eyes zero in on the last name embroidered onto my shirt, "If you are Taylors daughter how come your name is Steele? You aren't wearing a wedding ring so its not a married name." she smirks thinking she has caught me in a lie, Well thank you captain obvious I hadn't realized I wasn't married as if that thought had not occurred to me ever, I think to myself. "I have my step fathers last name for reasons that are none of your business. Now listen lady, if you don't tell me how to find Jason Taylor I will come around to your side of the counter and find the information myself and trust me you don't want that." Her eyes widen, and she composes herself enough to say, "my apologies ma'am, Mr. Taylors office is on the top floor, please have a nice day."

As i turn to locate the elevators I hear her say in a low voice "What a bitch." I won't argue with you on that sweetie it's a little-known fact that I can be a real asshat when I need to be. After entering the floor on the elevator the doors begin to close but a large hand finds its way into the gap before they close completely, after the doors open all the way I see a good looking man around six three in height and for visuals only I would say about two hundred pounds of pure muscle built a lot like papa, slightly less mass than Luke, but he is dressed in ripped jeans, black wife beater, unbuttoned flannel shirt and steel capped boots so I instantly know he's not security, he looks down at me after the doors close and licks his lips before saying "Soldier?" A little stunned I look at him in the eyes and say as sarcastically as possible," No I just dress up like this on Wednesdays to trick people." And roll my eyes, "Okay, Gi Jane no need to get snippy I was just asking, so what brings you here today?" sighing I say, "I'm back after a two-year deployment to surprise my dad, he works for Christian Grey so I figured he would be here today, so I would surprise him." Muscle man smiles, "Like those YouTube videos of soldiers coming home that make everyone cry?" I have seen quite a few of those videos and I cry every time as I know what it feels like to get to see someone you love after so long. "Yeah exactly like that, only I don't have anyone to film it for me and Jason Taylor does no cry often so having video evidence would be amazing." My statement makes me giggle. Muscles looks at me again and smiles like a Cheshire cat, "Your dad is Jason Taylor? My brothers body guard?" Wait my dad is Greys bodyguard is that who this guy is? "That depends who your brother is." I say. "Christian is my brother, I am Elliot Grey by the way." He holds out his hand for me to shake, "Anastasia Steele"

The elevator doors open with a big and Elliot and I walk out as I head towards yet another blonde lady, what is it about blondes working here is it a requirement? Lord I don't know how papa works here. Unlike the last receptionist this one is paying attention she smiles broadly at me. "Hello ma'am how may I help you?" ok she already seems way nicer than the last," I am trying to surprise my father..." "she is Taylor's daughter and wants to surprise him Angela where is he?" Elliot buts in before I even get to finish my sentence. Andrea, I guess her name is giggles and blushes slightly before she points towards large double doors and says, "In Mr. Greys office going over new security measures." Elliot thanks her and turns to me with a wink and pulls out his phone. "Ok Anastasia Steele, I will capture Taylors reaction for you for future evidence for you and also for bribing material for myself." With that he walks ahead of me and just opens the door without knocking he leaves it ajar for me and I hear "Hey Bro, Taylor." Then a gruff voice replies with "What do you want Elliot we are busy here." "well I was hoping to have lunch with you today and also I needed to drop something off to my good pal Taylor." Finally, after a while I hear a voice that makes me feel like a warm blanket has just been wrapped around me, the voice of my dad, ever the taciturn man. "whatever it Elliot I'm sure I don't want it." I take this as my que to poke my head through the doors and also because I can't wait any longer, "If that's so Papa I can leave and go back to the battlefield." In my 27 years of life I have seen my father move as fast as this, in point 4 seconds I'm lifted off the ground in a bear hug that almost sucks the wind out of my lungs. Right now, I am home, because home is within my fathers' arms. And for the first time in my life I watch my hero crumble to the floor in tears but still never letting going. "Я здесь папа, я здесь." (Russian: I'm here papa, I'm here.)

A\N.. This is my first attempt at writing and I am hoping for feedback on weather I should give up or keep going. The Russian will be explained and so will heaps of other stuff but let me know what you think first please.

Cheers Lauren.