4

We made it back to New York in record time, I was half expecting one of them to turn up at the hotel or airport, but thankfully they didn't. Madzie sulked the whole way home, it was only after I apologised for the umpteenth time and promised to buy her a new dress up dress to make up for losing her time with grandpa she stopped pouting. Nathan was amazing the whole time and never asked questions, but I could see him watching me every now and then. When I landed in New York and turned on my phone there were dozens of missed calls, voicemails and text messages from Kate. After listening to third voicemail. I texted her to tell her to stop calling me and go enjoy her honeymoon, I'll call her when I'm ready and thankfully so far, I've not had anything from her.

Its Thursday and we've been home for nearly a week now and I'm trying to put it all behind me and focus on Madzie. I know she could sense something was going on as she was clingy to me when I took her day-care Tuesday morning. I watch her dancing around in her new Anna dress as she watches frozen for the millionth time while dinner is cooking, when the doorbell rings.

"Nathan!" Madzie beams as she hears the doorbell, but she doesn't stop her dancing as I head for the door and can't help but laugh over my shoulder at her as she jumps off the sofa and twirls singing at the top of her voice, as I open the door and suddenly it feels like a bucket of ice has been thrown over me.

CPOV

I finally rang the bell after standing in front of the door for the last five minutes just staring at it. She's just on the side of this door. I can hear some kid's music playing and someone laughing as the door finally opens. Ana froze at the sight of me looking like I've just shot her.

"What are you doing here?" Ana says quietly

"Nathan! Come play!" A little girl calls and I see her running towards the door. She halts next to Ana's as she sees its not Nathan, the smile falling from her face. Fuck! She wants the fucker Ana brought to the wedding. Does she think he's her dad?

No, she called him Nathan I remind myself before my anger stirs too much. I can't believe she's standing in front of me. I've seen photos from what Elliot showed me and from the file Taylor gave me from his investigation. But none of them do her justice, her beautiful pale skin and blue eyes like her mother and her dark copper coloured haired flowing down to the middle of her back in waves. Ana pulls her behind her legs bringing me back to the here and now.

"What are you doing here Christian?" Ana says more firmly this time, one hand still on the door. Fuck! Don't screw this up Grey.

"I think we need to talk." I say as calmly as I can muster,

"I have nothing to say to you." Ana says sternly and goes to close the door.

"No! Please." I say panicky as I put my hand on the door stopping her from closing it all the way. "I've missed to much already." I plead looking Ana pleadingly, "Just talk."

She stares at me and I see little pair of matching blue eyes poking out from behind Ana's legs. Suddenly a smoke alarm starts to go off.

"Shit!" Ana curses making the little girl giggle. Ana gives me one quick glance before rushing off towards the kitchen with the girl in tow. I take my chance and step in and close the door. The place is small, but it looks homey, it suited Ana. I head towards what I assume is the kitchen to find the little girl sitting at the breakfast bar as Ana is busy sorting out whatever set the alarm off.

"Mommy" the little girl giggled pushing a glass jar towards Ana on the counter, it was quarter way full of coins. Ana smiles at the girl and sighs before grabbing her purse off the counter takes out a coin and puts in to the jar making the girl smile brightly.

"Wait till I tell Nathan." She giggles and my stomach twists uncomfortably at the sound of that fucker's name again and then she spots me standing in the entrance to the kitchen area. She stares at me for a few seconds before climbing down from her chair and walking up to me.

"Who are you?" she asks curiously, and I can't help but smile.

"My name is Christian Grey." I smile at her and crouch down in front of her. She really did look adorable in that outfit.

"My name is Madalynn Steele, but everyone calls me Madzie." She babbles and holds her hand out to me and I shake it not being able to contain the smile at her cute introduction, she's obviously seen Ana make quite a few introductions.

"It's nice to meet you Madzie." I smile at her.

She tilts her head slightly like she was thinking. "Now we're not strangers anymore, did you want to watch my movie with me? It's really good." she asks excitedly making me laugh

"sure, I'd love too." I smile as I stand back up and follow her into what I assume is the only living room, it has a small sofa and chair and a small tv in one half of the room and the other half has a small dining table with four chairs, the kitchen is separate from the room only by the breakfast bar and I can feel Ana watching. I turn to look at her and we both just stare at each other, and all the feelings I had when she walked out five years come flooding back. If only she knew how much she changed me when she left.

"Look! You'll miss it!" a little hand tugs at me bringing me back to the here and now. I sit on the sofa and watch her spellbound as she sings and dances away to the movie. The only other child I've been around is Ava and she's still little and learning to talk and walk. Just another reminder of how much time I've missed of Madzie's life, well no more. I can't help but smile as she giggles at the snowman on the screen singing while sitting on the beach, what the hell is this movie?

"did you want to stay for dinner?" Ana's voice breaks the spell I'm under. I turn to see her setting the table. "I've made plenty." She adds not looking at me.

"That would be nice, thank you." I say as I look at her, but she just nods and heads back into the kitchen still not looking at me.

"Do you like my new dress?" Madzie asks and I turn to see her standing right in front of me

"It's beautiful. Just like you." I smile at her and she giggles and to my delight she blushes. She is so much like her mother.

"Mommy brought it for me because I didn't get to stay at grandpas." Madzie babbles and my stomach twists as I know she's talking about last weekend.

"hmmm something smells good."

"Nathan!" Madzie beams and runs to him. I didn't hear the door; does he fucking live here or have a key? But then I see Ana walk back into the kitchen and I realise she must have let him in and I'm suddenly relieved.

"Hey munchkin, did you have a good day at school?" he smiles as he scoops her up into his arms. My stomach twists at the sight of him holding Madzie, my anger rising. Madzie smiles and nods happily with her arms around Nathans neck.

"Mommy had to use the curse jar." Madzie giggles and Nathan makes a shocked face before smiling as Madzie laughs again.

"What did you do this time?" he smiles at Ana as he puts an arm around Ana's waist as they stood in the kitchen. My anger rises more as I realise they look like a happy family.

"Mommy burnt dinner." Madzie giggled "because she was talking to my new friend."

"I didn't burn it, it just boiled over while I was answering the door." Ana clarifies smiling at Madzie

"New friend?" Nathan asks Madzie curiously and she points.