Once upon a Christmas.

It's December 18th, exactly a week before Christmas, and Christian glances out the 25th penthouse window with detached interest. Below him, glowing lights line the streets of Seattle, and the smell of pumpkin pie latte wafts through the air. Christian continues to watch as pedestrians bump into one another, mumbling apologies and wishing one another a merry Christmas.

What was the point of Christmas anyways? Christian mused to himself. It's only a time for families to gather around and argue about useless politics.

With a sigh, Christian turns back to work, scanning over the annual report of GEH. As always, its numbers are stellar.

Just as Christian's going through the report one last time, a light knock taps his door.

Suspecting who it is, Christian's face breaks out into a beautiful smile. "Come in." he calls.

Shy, blue eyes peer behind the heavy oak door, and Christian's smile widens.

"Come here, sweetheart." Christian gently urges, the smile never leaving his face. Ana hesitates a bit before walking towards him and kneeling, her back straight, legs spread, and head bowed.

A frown tugs on Christian's lips as he observes Ana in this fragile state. Was this all of his doing?

"Sweetheart, you don't have to kneel. We're not in a scene." He softly reminds her before lifting her up and sitting her on his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her so she's cradled to his body.

Ana's dressed in nothing but his white, discarded t-shirt and yoga pants. She keeps her eyes down, still trying to gauge his mood. Christian can be moody, one minute he can be the most kind, compassionate, and gentle human being there is, but the next he can become the sadistic, coldhearted dominant.

A finger comes and tips Ana's chin up so she's forced to look at the man with the breathtaking grey eyes.

"Hey, you don't have to hide from me." Christian says, stroking her cheek, and Ana snuggles closer to him, humming a response. She hears his deep chuckle. "Sssh, it's ok. Do you want to go to bed?" He asks.

Ana nods, letting Christian gather her in his arms and laying her on his bed before crawling besides her, the mattress dipping due to their weight.

They're both just staring at each other, and Christian has his arms tucked around Ana. For a minute, everything's peaceful.

"What is it?" Christian finally asks, sweeping Ana's messy fringe behind her ear. He has sensed that Ana needed to say something since she stepped into his office but hoped that she felt comfortable enough to say it without him coaxing her.

Ana blushes, taking a deep breath and mentally preparing herself for his anger. "Sir…" She says, peeking up at him.

Christian tries to smile but it doesn't reach his eyes. Usually, he's turned on by the name, but with Ana, sir seemed so wrong.

"I…I…" Ana stutters, the words struggling to come out of her mouth. If she was honest, she was afraid.

Ana didn't know why she was afraid. Because even though she was his submissive, Christian has always been very gentle with her. The punishments were more for pleasure than pain, and he lets her sleep in his bed. She really didn't have a reason to be scared. And even with the belt, he stopped immediately when she safe worded, scooping her up and rocking her, just like he said he would. But still, Ana was scared.

"Ssssh, baby. I won't be mad at whatever you say, ok? Just breath." Christian says, rubbing his hand over the small of her back in that comforting way.

Internally, Christian was still beating himself up for the belt. How could he be so careless? He needed to be more remindful of how new Ana is to the world of BDSM. No matter what, he shouldn't have belted her. No, the belt was much too severe for his fragile Ana. Christian didn't like to punish Ana. Her smile was way too pretty to be crumbled up into tears.

Christian lightly shakes his head. He was going soft. What happened to the Dom? What happened to the man who he prized himself for being in total control?

"I…I…was wondering." Ana's voice breaks him of his thoughts, and he smiles down at her, continuing to rub her back.

"Next week…is Christmas, and I was wondering…would it be ok for me…to go see my family. I know the contract says I am supposed to report here every weekend, but Christmas is on a Sunday, and my Dad wants me to spend the holidays with him. Please, he doesn't have any other family." She adds the last part quietly.

Christian closes his eyes, regret and possibly something more sweeping across his features.

Is that all she wanted? Is that what she thought of him, that he wouldn't let her go home for fucking Christmas?

"Ana, sweetie, of course you can go home and see your Dad. Where does he live? I'll take you." He offers.

It not until now that Ana risks the courage to peek up, finding her favorite pair of grey eyes twinkling down at her.

"Uh…He lives in downtown Seattle, but really sir, it's no bother. I can go by myself." She says, fidgeting with her sleeves, a nervous habit.

Christian sighs. Secretly, he was hurt. He at least hoped to spend a small part of Christmas together, not for fucking or anything, but simply because he wanted to hold her.

Christian tries not to let the thought bother him as he tries a different approach.

"Wow, it's almost Christmas, huh?" He asks, his heart leaping when his question earns him a small giggle.

Suddenly, Christian rolls over on his bead, reaching into his night stand and pulling out a green, velvet box. He rolls back, flopping over, and Ana eyes him with curious blues.

"Well, since it's almost Christmas, you can have your present now." Christian says, shoving the box in Ana's hands before she can protest, his own fingers fumbling a bit.

The green velvet box has been sitting on his bedside table for quite a while now. He saw it in a store one day, and without even examining the long, silver earrings, knew it belonged to Ana.

Christian never got his submissive Christmas presents since he bought them stuff all the time, and Christmas for him was just another day. But with Ana, it was so much more.

Ana gasps as she opens the box. In it were two long, silver earrings that sparkled among the pale moon streaming through the window. The design was simple, but elegant.

"Christian…I thought we agreed on no expensive gifts." Ana whines, but she was transfixed on the beauty of the earrings.

"These must have cost a fortune, I…I can't." Ana continues to murmur, handing the earrings back, the silver contrasting against the deep green of the velvet box.

"Ah, ah, ah…." Christian admonishes, setting the earrings aside and taking one out. He pulls Ana towards him, and with some reluctance, she allows him to lightly secure it behind her ears.

"You never allow me to get you gifts, as our contract says." Christian explains, shooting Ana a look that made her giggle.

"But it's Christmas, and I can get you a gift if I want to." Christian declares, now securing the second earing. If he had to choose a least favorite part of his new contract with Ana, this would be it. She never allowed him to buy her any gifts. For fuck's sake, she still has on leggings from Target.

Ana beams at him, her lips trying to contain the smile breaking across her face that made her dimple pop.

"Come here, precious girl." Christian says, opening his arms, and Ana cuddles into him.

Soon, Christian was greeted by her soft snore as he absentmindedly ran his hands through her long, silky hair.

What was this he's feeling? Christian knew that Ana was special from the beginning. He treated her differently from all of his previous submissive. He would fuck them and whip them, but Ana. Ana was too precious. Maybe it was because he loved the way her eyes would sparkle when she giggled, maybe it was because she would toss her hair back when she laughed, maybe it was because it broke his heart to see her cry.

But then again, could he give up BDSM, give up everything he has ever known? Could he be everything she needs? Hearts and flowers? Because this relationship was only temporary at best. Soon, she would find somebody who was worth her tears, worth her love.

It's Christmas eve, and the city of Seattle was tucked away in bed, waiting for old saint Nick.

Ana carefully lays a blanket over Ray who has fallen asleep on the couch, the soundtrack of A Christmas Carol still faintly buzzing from the old TV.

After she made sure Ray was tucked in, Ana leans over and lightly kisses his forehead. "Goodnight, daddy." She whispers.

She lays out cookies and milk for Santa, a childhood habit, and gazes out at the sleeping city, wondering if a certain CEO was up.

He probably is. He never sleeps. She muses to herself, running her hands along the scarf she had just finished knitting for him.

She checks the clock.

10:05.

I'm sure I have time to see him really quick. He's probably not home, but I can still stop by and check on him. Plus, I can go to the chapel afterwards to hear the midnight concert. I'll be back before sunrise for Ray, he's sound asleep anyways. Ana continues to think to herself as she slips out into the wintry night.

In her mind, Christian was alone, and nobody deserved to be alone on Christmas.

Not even a certain CEO.

The cold air nips and bites at her nose as she scurries along the dark night, only stopping to shove a few dollars in a salvation army can.

Thankfully, Escala wasn't far away. Soon, the glass building was towering over her, the lone light shining from the 25th floor.

She waves to Paul, the security guard, and wishes him a merry Christmas before taking the elevator up. The code was her birthday.

Ana stands before the wooden door, hesitating. But she musters up whatever courage she has and knocks on the door.

Before she can even finish knocking three times, the door swings open and there Christian stands, dressed in grey sweats and a white tee. His hair is messy, copper pieces flying every direction, and there are heavy bags under his eyes.

"Ana…" He gasps, tugging her in.

"Oh my gosh, I thought you said you wanted to be with your dad. Is everything alright? Jesus, you don't even have on a proper coat, you must be freezing." He says, sounding like a dad. He takes her hands and starts blowing on them, his hot breath easing away their numbness.

Ana can't help but giggle. This is so unlike Christian, Mr. always-in-control. She's now fully in his house, and the fire place crackles.

"What are you doing here? Is your dad alright?" Christian continues to ask, concern clear in his voice. He hugs Ana closely, trying to keep her warm. Her body was freezing from the howling wind, and she began to thaw in his arms.

Olaf was right, some people are worth melting for.

"I'm fine, Christian, great actually. I just wanted to stop by and say Merry Christmas." Ana says, sticking out her clumsily wrapped present.

Christian's eyes widen at the package. "For me?" he asks, and Ana nods.

"For you." She confirms.

Christian feels his mouth run dry. "Can I…can I open it?" he asks, sounding so hopeful that Ana's heart tugs.

"Of course you can, you silly." Ana teases.

Afraid to rip the paper that has santas all over it, Christian gently peels off the tape binding the present and carefully unravels it.

In it was a scarf, grey knit. The color faded from darker grey to lighter grey, then to dark once again. Each stich was well knit, and the soft wool felt warm against his hand. Christian knew it was hand knit by the way each stich was different, some loose and some tight. Christian knew that Ana knitted it. He had seen her working on it, but never fathomed it was for him. He always assumed it was for her dad or Jose or whoever. But him? Did he deserve this? After he made her cry with the belt?

Looking at the scarf, his mind takes him back to a cold, December night 20 years ago.

He was four year olds, he knew Santa didn't exist, his mom was lying on the ground, crying. He crawls towards her, too hungry and weak to even walk.

"Baby boy…" his mom called, turning towards him, tears streaming out of her eyes. He crawled into her arms, and she hugged him. "I'm sorry, mommy's so sorry." He felt her tears on his scars.

She was mostly naked, shivering, but she reached for a piece of clothing lying on the floor, a scarf. She wrapped it around him. It reeked of alcohol and heroine, but it still made him feel warm.

"Baby boy, mommy loves you so much. Good night, sweetheart." She tells him and drifts to sleep for the last time with him curled in her arms, the scarf still wrapped around his little neck.

Tears threaten to spill out of Christian's eyes as he smooths the scarf out. He looks up, and Ana's rocking back and forth on her heels, waiting for his reaction.

"I thought we agreed on no gifts." Christian finally chokes, forcing his tears back.

Ana gives him her best pouting face. "Well, it's Christmas, and I'm allowed to get you a gift if I want to." She says, throwing his exact words back at him.

Christian grins at how sassy Ana sounds, and before she can comprehend what's happening, he scoops her up and spins them both around, his grey eyes shining.

"You. Are. Fucking. Amazing. Don't. You. Ever. Change." He growls, nuzzling her hair, and Ana giggles. She loves this side of Christian, the spur of the moment cuddly Christian.

Finally, after forever, he sets her down, and she notices how empty his place is.

"Where's Taylor?" She asks, a frown playing by her lips when she realizes that Christian really was alone on Christmas

Christian shrugs, "I gave him a few days off so he could go home and see his daughter." He explains, walking towards his open kitchen and getting the ingredients for hot chocolate.

He pours the milk and coco mix together before walking back towards a speechless Ana. "Here, drink this, it'll warm you up." He says. Bossy Christian was back.

Ana didn't understand, didn't understand how this man who enjoys causing pain could have a heart of compassion.

"Where's your family?" she continues to ask. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't bear the thought of Christian being alone.

Christian gives another little shrug. "I dismissed them; I wanted them to enjoy Christmas."

"Without you?" Ana asks, sad, and Christian nods. "I didn't want to ruin Christmas, I'm enough of a Grinch on my own."

"I don't think you're a Grinch…" Ana mutters softly, her blue eyes becoming sad and down casted once again.

Christian scoffs. "Ana, you know I'm a monster better than anyone." He says.

Ana looks at Christian filled with so much so self-doubt, and she does something she never expected.

"Do you want to go to the chapel with me?" The question is out of her mouth before she can comprehend what she's saying.

Christian's head shoots up so fast that his neck jerks. "Chapel?" he sounds incredulous. He was hardly a religious man.

Ana nods, biting her lip. "Please, it won't take long. They have a midnight concert."

Christian gazes at Ana, his Ana. And perhaps it was Christmas magic, but Christian found himself getting up and dressing in warm clothes.

Ana helps him tie his new scarf around him, and he beams at her before they both slip out into the cold, frosty air.

"oh my gosh, it's like negative degrees." Christian complains when they finally step foot in the chapel. Ana clasps her hands over his mouth, trying to keep him quiet, as they venture further into the chapel area. Every spot was taken.

Ana makes a shush sign with her hands as she drags Christian up a flight of stairs "I know a place." She whispers, her voice sending excitement through Christian.

The steps lead to a small room on the top of the building overlooking God's house. "Wow." Christian whispers.

In front of him, you can see the whole church, the light provided by the dim glow of the candles and the moon scattering through the stain glass windows.

Voices, high and low, mix together and fill the room. Christian recognizes the song Ave Maria.

He sinks to the ground, bringing Ana with him, and they both sit on the floor. For a moment, everything's peaceful, a surreal calm surrounding them as they listen to the choir of angels.

Christian never got religion. He didn't believe in God. But being like this, Christian prayed to whatever God that was up there to help him protect Ana, to keep her safe.

As Christian continues to listen to the serene music, he felt a wet spot on his shirt. Looking over, he noticed that Ana has fallen asleep, and she was drooling.

Smiling, Christian gently wipes away the rest of her saliva with his sleeve. Gazing out at the choir singing below them once again, Christian makes a silent promise to himself and God. He will love, protect, and cherish Ana for as long as he was allowed to live. No more BDSM, rules, or punishments. He wanted Ana like this, smiling.

As the last song Silent Night comes to an end, Christian lightly kisses Ana on the temple. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart." He whispers before scooping her up and carrying her home.

A/n

Tell me what you think, and if I should add more chapters. Hope everyone has a blessed, merry Christmas.