All the usual disclaimers are in place, I don't own the rights, to the fifty shades trilogy or the music and films in this short fan fiction story, and as I am dyslexic, please do not read if you are a grammar aficionado, I am not great at sentence structuring...


I'm loving the nice & kind reviews and the comments, thank you keep them coming, remember, I'm needy and whiney lol


Putting Down Roots:

Chapter Four: Aftershocks after the shots:

C POV:

I wake when I hear the bird song; wow, you don't hear that in the morning from the top of Escala. I go to stretch and I find Ana is fast asleep on my bare chest; I shiver and gently prise her away from me, very reluctantly I have to say, as I do she mutters something inaudible and hugs the pillow. I look at my phone, and it's gone ten, I have never slept in so late in the morning. I get out of bed and throw on my running gear, I head out, taking Ana's clothes with me, she can either borrow something off Mia, or wait until these are washed and dried, I throw them in the machine and read the idiot proof instructions pinned to the wall. God bless Gail Jones, the best housekeeper bar none. I read the instructions for detergent and it says a cup full, what cup? I guesstimate a cup full and pour it in, add softener and set the machine going, I stand back and it starts, Christian 2 failed chores 0. I am a little proud of myself.

Heading out, I take the back path to the top of my little mountain and pass many trees and plants, I also pass a pet graveyard and have a passing moment with the dear departed Bushy and Gonads, and I then hope that it isn't Bushy and his Gonads? I laugh and head around the top and from here, I can see clear across the county. I sit on a fallen tree and take in what must be the best site view of the morning. I need to do this earlier in the morning. I will need weeks to explore this place, I have been out two hours and head back...

"Thank fuck you're back, Ana is going mad, she is in your bedroom, by the way, way to go Bro! Ana is a looker all right, but I'm sorry she's freaked out that you have seen her naked or something, she's screaming at Kate, and won't let anyone in. The dogs shit everywhere and your washing machine has a bad case of rabies, and thanks for asking, I had a great night last night."

"Good morning Elliot, it is really good too actually, the morning, err afternoon. Now the dog crap is easy to pick up, take her for another try on her leash whilst I shift this lot." I shift the poop and spray and re apply the hopscotch of puppy pads to the floor. I then sort out my over enthused washing detergent problem out, and re start the washing machine. I then go and relieve Kate, who is trying to coax Ana out of the bedroom.

"Did you and she sleep together?"

"Yes, but not in that way; we were both clothed." I turn towards the door. "Ana you have on my shirt; I left your underwear on so that your honour was kept intact, you were sick over your clothes. I am trying to wash them now, if you go in my wardrobe there are things for you to throw on. Help yourself until Mia gets up, she has clothes. Ana, please open the door."

"No go away, how could you take advantage of me, crap did you crap oh god crap..." Kate gives me the eye and chuckles; does she think me capable of taking advantage of her friend? Fuck, she's just had first night sex with Elliot; so of course she thinks we are the same, fuck...

"I have to be going I have a calf to deliver at the Johnsons, I'm picking Ash up Ana, see you later, Mia is cooking lunch." She heads off, I am not going to explain myself to her, but I need and want to explain everything to Ana.

"Ana, everyone has gone, open the door please?"

"Okay, but you have some explaining to do Mr Grey. Let me open the door and get back in bed." I hear the latch being pulled and wait a few seconds. I go in with a smile on my face; she is in the middle of the bed with the sheet pulled high under her chin.

"Ana, I put you to bed and intended sleeping next door; but you were sick and then I didn't want to have your choking on your own vomit to be on my conscience. I went to see to my guests, and when I came back, you were in the midst of a horrendous nightmare. I comforted you, and you asked me to stay, because you were afraid the dreams would come back, alas I was so tired I fell asleep holding you. We did nothing I can assure you, nothing other than sleep in each other's arms."

"I asked you to stop, and we didn't kiss?"

"No, we didn't even talk, you passed out and snored."

"I don't snore."

"You do and you make spit bubbles too." I laugh as she throws a pillow at me.

"Thank you and you didn't see me naked?"

"I see more in the pool where I swim. I can assure you I am not into necrophilia Miss Steele!"

"Okay thank you Mr Grey, I owe you a debt of gratitude, most men wouldn't have thought twice about helping themselves to a free pass."

"I am not most men; I have certain needs Miss Steele, and having a coherent partner when having sex is the first of my needs. Now, I need a shower and as my things are in my room, a room that you are currently ensconced in, I will leave you in my bed for ten minutes whilst I shower, then I will be out of your way, for you to change."

"Thank you Christian, I mean that thank you. Take your time in the shower, this bed is the best bed I have ever lain in, it's so comfortable." She starfishes in the midst of the sheets a couple of times and giggles, I smile and head into my shower. She is a grumpy morning person and is cute when she is embarrassed.

A POV:

When I woke up alone in this massive and comfy bed, the first thing I did was look around to see whose room I was sleeping in. The other side of the bed had been slept in, and I saw the watch Christian was wearing on his side of the bed, crap what had I done? At least this time it was my own fault for getting drunk. I then do what I feared the most, and slowly look down between the crisp sheets, thank god, my underwear is still on and though I am wearing a man's shirt. I don't think I have been touched; my intimate's are not sore and well there are no obvious signs of activity south of the border, he must have been a gentleman or did Kate undress me?

I look around and can't see my clothes and though my shoes are by the bed nothing else is to be seen anywhere, did I strip somewhere, shit, I'm never drinking again, and great I have to do the walk of shame in Mr Greys shirt. Fuck my head hurts; I see the tablets and the cold cranberry juice, orange juice and a bottle of water. Okay, he's covering the bases, and then I laugh and hope he hasn't covered any of my personal bases. I have a flash back, did I kiss the towns newest eligible bachelor, oh god kill me now, I think I did, what a shame I can't remember it. I take the tablets with the cranberry juice, oh that's needed.

As I ponder my next move, I hear Kate on the other side of the door, and she is making out with Elliot, god if only I could perhaps be a little like her. I put the latch quietly on the door to lock it. I need to gather my thoughts, and I am in no mood for the great Kate Inquisition, as to whether I have or haven't done a mattress press with Mr Grey. I am in that strange mans bedroom, all be it he is the most beautiful man I have ever laid my eyes on, he is still a stranger, can a man be beautiful? Ummm, god like then, yes god like and very swoon worthy he is definitely all that and more, but his eyes had a sadness about them. I'm disturbed from my daydreams by Kate knocking on the door, and so it begins...

"Ana, oh Ana... Christian, please put Ana down for a little while, Ana, are you awake, Ana..."

"They are probably doing what we should be doing, had somebody not got her pesky broken down animals to fix. I will grab you a coffee, my sexy little animal doctor."

"Kate, Christian is not in here, I am though, and I am alone, so go and see to the broken animals, I will be fine, I think, how drunk was I last night and did you undress me?"

"Ana, I did not and as this is Chris's room I guess he did the stripping, you little minx you." I hear a silent chatter and I can make out voices, Kate is talking to Christian. Great she is leaving me and going to work, why wasn't it my turn for the Sunday fun? Christian asks to come in his own room, can I keep him out of it, should I keep him out of it and do I want to keep him out of it? I open the door, dive into his bed, catch the smell of him on the sheets and I smile as I pull them up to smell them, not at all weird Ana.

The door opens and as he walks in my uterus does a flip, my mouth must be open, and my tongue suddenly feels twice the normal size and dry, oh god is that because I am drooling over my strange and beautiful captor? I know I shiver as he talks. He and I talk and all the time those strange and hypnotic eyes draw me in, I think I am safe with him, he hasn't made any grab me type of moves, although we slept together, we didn't do anything. Phew, Daddy won't be shooting him today then.

I think I go all little girl in his bed and bounce and giggle as he says I'm to stay as he showers. I go even giddier as he walks into the door off of his bedroom, presumably the bathroom, why did I not do a nosey around when I had the chance. I lay in his bed and smile, the world's most charismatic, beautiful, gorgeous god like man I have ever seen, is having a shower, and he is just a few steps away, should I play the floozy and join him, my inner harlot says go for it, but my better judgment says stay put.

I stay put and drink the orange juice. I shouldn't have because now I really need to answer the call of nature. Oh heck, I can't hold it in. I am just about to do a run to the next vacant bathroom when he comes into the bedroom, holy moly mother of god, I see your son god, and I want him all gift wrapped for Christmas. I smile and run for the bathroom, leaving the son of a god in a white towel and dripping water and sex appeal into its fluffiness.

"Sorry... I need to use the bathroom, carry on please..." Yeah get some fucking clothes on before I can't hold back my floozy, and she is losing the plot with Ana, the goodie-goodie that I usually am. I feel so much better as I finish the deed and wash my hands. I need a shower, I need to wash, and I need to brush my teeth. I need to gather myself together too, before I fall to pieces seeing the hunk with the junk, in the skimpy, fluffy, expensive, white, fluffy, oh god I have thought that already, towel, a towel that didn't hide much.

"Ana, help yourself to whatever you need, I have breakfast to sort out, or rather brunch, take your time." I shout thanks and get in the shower, after I take off my slept in clothes and his shirt. I spend ages under the hot water and use the shampoos and body washes that will make me smell like him for the rest of the day. I swoon, I swear that I actually smell his scent and swoon. My weakened knees and beating heart are doing nothing to make Anastasia Steele, be as hard as her namesake, nope I'm mushy putty and I'm a little bit smitten by the stranger I slept with.

I look to the towel rail and realise why he had a small towel on, he'd left the big one for me, how sweet was that? I dry myself and wrap it around myself, I move into his closet, and wow, it's huge. I rummage through a drawer, and grab a pair of his briefs and put them on. I take a white tee shirt, from his large pile of white tee shirts; he has like thirty of the white, the black and the gray ones, he said to help myself. His joggers though drown me, so I grab a pair of shorts and on me, they look like Capri length pants, okay this will have to do. I gather the washing together and place it on the chair, I make the bed and tidy up his room, then take the washing along with the glasses to the kitchen.

"Ana, please sit, Mia is making pancakes can I tempt you?"

"Hu, yes, yes you can tempt me, where is the washing machine?" I don't mean with the pancakes though, get in your fucking bat box Floozy and stop hearing things that aren't there. I go red in the face, shit his smile is all that and more.

"Through there here let me?"

"No, I think I can manage this, here take the glasses, thank you for the juices and the tablets, they were much needed." He smiles as he takes the glasses and I hit the laundry room, literally, I open the door and slip on my clumsy behind, the clonk my head makes on the rather warm tiles hurts like shit and I scream.

"Ana, fuck are you okay?" I look up and his gray eyes are looking into mine; whilst I'm flat on my back and the clothes I was holding are everywhere, and great, his briefs from his run are on my face, great, great, great, fucking great. I am so damned clumsy; I should wear a safety hat and tee shirt that says 'beware of the clumsy idiot wearing this shirt.'

"I'm fine, the floors wet though, and I think you were a little heavy handed on the soap detergent, how much did you use?"

"A cup full, that's all it's what my housekeeper said to use, see there, the note for the idiot is on the wall."

"Umm, how much did the idiot put in?"

"Ana, I only let it glug in a little, well it may have been a big glug, of that one there, why did I do the wrong thing?"

"That says cap full, and as it is super concentrate, that's why you have a rabid washing machine. So did vanity stop you wearing your glasses Christian?"

"Hu, I thought it said cup not cap, I don't wear glasses, though my housekeeper needs to stop writing her notes in doctor scribble, I well, thought it said cup, sorry I may have ruined your clothes."

"No they have been thoroughly cleaned thank you. Here these are yours help me up or do you like towering above a helpless woman?"I hand him his briefs and he laughs.

"Sorry, I didn't think to help you up, here allow me." He pulled me up and my face was then looking into his as he pulled me up too quickly, I looked at him and bit my lip, my eyes are saying kiss me please just fucking kiss me. I go nearer to his lips and he pulls back. Okay it seems that was a bad judgement call, I thought we had a moment, my mistake...

"Let's get this mess sorted Christian and then I have to be going, I have work to be doing. I will call for my things later in the week, thanks for the bed for the night and for cleaning my things; tell Mia I'm fine for brunch, I'm running late." I quickly mop up the water bubbles, my pride, what's left of it anyhow, and put the clothes from the washer in the dryer. Then shove the other things into wash and adding the small cap full of detergent, I start the washer going, I had been watched by Christian who said nothing.

"Ana I..."

"...Christian, thanks for last night, it won't happen again, you have my word, see you around it's a small town after all." I smile and head out the back door, as I get to the gates they are locked. Great so much for the clean getaway, I'm wearing his clothes and about to cry when the heavens open, great anything else sent to try me today form a queue. Elliot is walking Booty and smiles. The queue has formed.

"Here let me get the gate, the number is..."

"...I won't need the number Elliot, but thank you, hello little lady, I will see you in a month for your next shot."

"So you and Chris...?"

"...There is no your brother and I, we have done nothing for there to be a me and him, to put it simply so you and Kate realise this, we, me and your brother are simply not compatible. I'm a small town girl and he's high end skyscraper, we are poles and worlds apart, see you around I don't doubt?"

I smile as the gate opens and I make my way home, why am I not nice enough for just the one fucking kiss. Shit, I hate myself I made a pass at the god like creature, and was headed off where I stood, I'm now feeling a complete loser, and why would he think I was worthy of a kiss from his lips, I'm nothing special. I'm plain old Ana, stupid Ana and now feeling like an unclean and dirty Ana and a wet through Ana too. I make my way back home as Adam pulls in and picks me up, great more questions and innuendos.

"Stayed the night then?"

"I did it seems, thanks for looking out for me brother dear."

"I looked out for you and Chris assured me he was a gentleman, did I get him wrong, do I have to kick his butt, did he try anything on Ana?"

"He was a gentleman, he is a gentleman and nothing happened, nothing will happen and I don't want to talk about it anymore. I needed to let loose and I did, I won't be doing it again, but Old Mr Appleby dying really hurt, he was such a sweet old man and now I have a week to find somewhere for the horses."

"Hey we'll find somewhere. There's bound to be someone who will take them in Ana."

"Hu, really, tell me where? Because Adam, there are families struggling to feed themselves let alone three powerful carriage horses."

"There's the obvious solution we ask Grandma Wilkes for the use of her land?"

"What and hear all over again that having Ashley killed her beloved daughter. That our father as good as murdered her, because mom wanted another baby and he should have said no. No thanks, I will find the money somewhere, it's just a pity Grey wouldn't offer up the stables he has on his damned mountain."

"Did you even ask?"

"No, he's a stranger, why would he do that?"

"I don't think he will say no, he seems a good guy, but you don't get if you don't ask, how long have you before the new owners move on to the farm?"

"A week, two tops and it won't be a farm it will be their new summer home, the stables are coming down for their ten car garage and pool house, for the pool they are putting in on the horses paddock. Those rich city folks are buying up all the nice old places. What for, the odd week? We are not the new, New Hamptons, why not stick to their part of the coast, and buy a house off Puget Sound, why buy here in Gray's Harbor? I'll tell you why, because it's cheap now and they can afford it, they and the others will out price us locals and wam; they will own the place, just like Mr Money Bags Grey."

"Wow, rant much Little Sis, Chris seems a nice guy; you may have gotten out of the wrong side of the bed Ana?"

"It was my side of the bed and he got out of his apparently."

"Wait, you and he, you and he slept together?"

"As in slept and only slept yes, apparently I had a nightmare and he hugged me and we fell asleep. Nothing happened; Polly Panties and Becky Bra were still in residence around their home ground, so nothing happened."

"Okayyy then, I guess you are grumpy from the shots then. Home is the grumpy traveller. I need a change of clothes I'm taking my woman on a picnic after her shift finishes."

"In the rain, really Adam...?"

"In the rain, and in Old Mr Appleby's barn, that has some pretty nice memories for us, I do romance real good Anastasia Steele."

"Check on the three Amigo's for me, if you get a break in the romancing. You do cheap real good Adam Steele. God, where has all the romance gone, the way of everything else here in Montesano, out of town on Olympic Highway..." I smile and get out of his car, and head indoors, the place is spotless and as Dad is out on patrol, I head to my room. I throw myself on my now lumpy mattress, which before I got into Grey's bed, was so comforting. I put my arm over my eyes and I cry myself to sleep, over a man who doesn't know I exist, fuck me, I have my first stupid crush since the one I had on my junior high English teacher, damn it...

C POV:

I wonder what just happened, why did she run like I was a predator and she was my prey? I was pleasant enough, I thought I was charming enough and I know I was not my usual gruff bastard self, so why did she run? I go after her, to open the gate and Elliot is opening it for her, I turn to get my car to take her home as it is raining, when I hear her talking to him.

"So you and Chris...?"

"There is no your brother and I, we have done nothing to be a me and him, to put it simply so you and Kate realise this, we, me and your brother are simply not compatible. I'm a small town girl and he's high end skyscraper, we are poles and worlds apart, see you around I don't doubt?"

Okay then, there's my answer, why is she being that snappy, because I didn't take her into my arms and kiss her? I wanted to; but hell, I want some me time and get to know if this life is for me first. I like her, I think, no there is an attraction there, but my life as it was, it ended a little over a week ago. Elena and the others, they and it, have played such a large part of who I am and I want to go slow. I want to learn to walk in the shoes of a non dominant Christian, before I sprint headway into the normal way of life vanilla with a vanilla type of girl. Elliot is making Booty sit, and he is failing miserably, I wave as the gates shut and I watch as Ana leaves and walks towards home I go to get my car. Elliot see's me and smiles.

"So why the sad eyes Bro, she has the same look, what did you do this time, chain her to the bed?"

"Fuck you Elliot I did no such thing, she slipped and fell on the wet laundry room floor, my attempt to clean her clothes, lead to more foam. I helped her up and she looked like she wanted me to kiss her, I didn't and she ran. Happy now, I can't do this normal crap, and it's why I never attempted it, I don't know how to okay?"

"Okay, but that woman likes you, you dick and you saw it too, I see the same look in both of your eyes. Anyway your dog is empty and there are some really good stables out to the far right here, she likes to run and chase in there."

"Really do they need to be repaired?"

"No, they are pretty much a solid piece of workmanship, how I missed them I don't know, still we need to go on a fly over your new property, in Charlie Tango, there's a clearing you can land him on. Let's have brunch and go check it out? You may need some trees felling before you can fly in and out."

"Good thinking, the fly around I mean, I ran the path to the top of the hill and it was a pretty good long run. I passed the pet cemetery, and sat a while at the top looking at the views."

"I know I did, did you see poor Gonads grave, how cool was that name for a dog."

"Umm, in Elliot land a pretty cool name I think, unless it was poor Bushy and those were his balls that were buried next to him."

"Ouch I didn't think of that, eww's you sick fuck, now when I go past I need to lay flowers, a dude and his balls should never be parted."

"I think in death they were reunited, come and eat, Mia is entertaining, he stopped in a guest room and yes I checked they slept apart. Unlike you and Kate it seems those siblings had more restraint."

"Hey I had restraint; I didn't do her in the toilet or parking lot, because she is a very classy lady." I shake my head and go in, only to find Mia and Ethan getting all lovey and cringe worthily sickening over her pancakes and bacon and Ethan-Fucking-Kavanagh, is pawing her butt.

"Do I have to ask your sister how to castrate a bullock then? Step back Kavanagh, the three foot rule applies when I and or, her brother are in the same room as you, you moron."

"Elliot sit down, and remember who you were balls deep in and no more than a few hours ago. If anyone should be castrated, it's you, sit and shut, the fiery hell of a nerve mouth you have on you up; you, you two faced rampant beast with two backs you, and sit and shut the fuck up, or suffer making and then eating your own food!"

"Mia Miranda Trevelyan Grey, where did you learn to cuss from?" I ask of my sister, as Elliot looks like she has taken the keys to his truck and hidden them away from him.

"Well I guess I learnt from the best cussers around, sit and shut up, both of you have room to talk, we, yes we slept in separate rooms." Point well made Mimi...

"Yeah well I'm older than you and..."

"Please don't say wiser, because you are way dumber than the dog. No offence Booty, but there are papers everywhere how come you can't hit a one of them?" I smile as she squats and yes misses.

"Hey leave my baby alone, she and I said nothing, perhaps there are too many and she thinks it's a carpet, two should be enough, not twenty." I clear up and place her in her time out pound until after brunch.

"Aww you had another funny moment, keep it up Bro, you're getting there, with the puppy at least." My phone goes and I answer it, before flipping off Elliot.

"Hello, who is this and how can I help you today?"

"Hi Chris, it's only me, Adam, store my number, I got yours from Kate, who got it from Elliot who said and I quote he didn't touch her."

"I didn't I swear I didn't."

"I know, that's not what I'm calling for, I have a favour to ask and actually it's a really big favour."

"If I can do it I will, what do you need?"

"Your stables, are you going to be using them any time soon?"

"No, Mia stables her horse in Seattle; I didn't know I had a stable block, not until today."

"You don't have a block, it's an old Quaker barn, and it is painted red, how did you miss it, its massive, it probably needs repainting, but the last time I was in it, it looked pretty good."

"I know, Elliot and I are going for a look see later, so what can me, my stables and barn do for you?"

"Help out Ana and her horses, she has to move them and well, they meant the world to her old friend Mr Appleby, and she didn't want to ask you so I am, I'm not too proud to ask a favour from a new friend." I smile; good he likes me.

"Adam, its fine, I heard her talk about him and his three horses in her drunken talk. What do I need?"

"Nothing I can do everything, you need to get food in, hay and a stable girl in to help, unless you like crap shifting?"

"No, puppy crap is one thing horse crap is a totally new ball game."

"So, you are willing to consider it?"

"Consider it done, I will await their arrival."

"Can we do it later in the week? I have plans today, and you are gonna be busy interviewing, words got around your hiring, it's all they are talking about."

"Good, and Adam how was she when she got home?"

"Pretty down actually, but she gets like that now and again, I find with Ana that it's best to leave her be, and she comes around in her own sweet time."

"Okay, I will see you in the week and keep an ear to the ground for a stable girl, and a painter for the barn."

"Will do and thanks Chris, I have my woman to romance, I am taking her to the place we fell in love, well the second place, your house was the first at a spooky sleep over we had, when we were thirteen, I have nothing but good memories of your place."

"Okay then, too much info there."

"Laters Chris; thanks for the favour and don't worry about Ana, she is an easy person to like, because she is that type of a girl." I laugh and end the call, she is that all right, very easy to like.

"Who was that?" Elliot asks as he shovels in brunch.

"Adam, we are getting a horse or three for the barn, so after this delicious breakfast how about we check it out?"

"Yes, count me in please!" Mia loves horses thank god.

"Me too, I think it's really old and an historic thing, it seems better looked after, better than the house was. So did I hear you talking about Ana?"

"Yes Elliot, they are her old friends horses, now less chatter more eating, Ethan are you stopping?"

"No I can't, and it's not that I don't want to, but I have work in the morning. My father hates me being late."

"Okay then, we will see you no doubt when Mia comes to visit me again?" I smile as I make him blush. I can't wait to see the barn now, especially if it means Ana will be checking in on her horses more, there was a method to my madness in agreeing to house her horses, it means I get to see her again...


So, what do you think too predictable? Too sweet? I'm liking it kept simple with no subs and no Elena... For now muwhawhaw lol