Hi, again. Sorry for the delay guys. This chapter needed a lot more attention than I thought. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for your sweet reviews!

A/N: I do not own any of these characters.


CHRISTIAN

Today wasn't a typical day. It was sunny and warm; the sky was appeasing. I decided to take the afternoon off and met up with Elliot for a quick round of golf.

"Gia should have the blueprint ready by the end of the month," Elliot informed as we settled into our solar powered golf cart. He cranked up the ignition and started accelerating towards the golf course. "Once we get the building permit we can start with the demolition."

"When will the house be ready?" I inquired. He took a moment to compute, counting to himself.

"Maybe by early December if the weather permits."

"Good," I responded. The sooner the better. I'd been dying to see the end result of Gia's proposal. "How's Kate?" I asked, shifting the topic.

"Kate's been very cranky lately. The pregnancy is taking a toll on her. This baby wasn't as easy as the first; it's complicated. She kept me up last night whining about her aching feet. I spent two hours massaging the hell out of it till she fell asleep," he complained shaking his head, "I need a break, man." He sounded just as miserable as he looked. "Y'know what…let's hang out tonight. We'll go bar hopping? It's been awhile."

"I can't. I'm meeting up with Ana."

"Ana?" he asked quizzically and then chuckled as he steered us left. "Seriously, Christian… When will you ever make that move and ask her out? She ain't going to stay single for long, bro. Eventually some guy will grow bigger balls than you and snatch her up."

"Shut up, Elliot," I scorned. He was right though. How long would our engagement last until she finds another man who could offer her more? I hadn't devised a plan yet. I was still overwhelmed by our brash arrangement. But two questions came to mind; first, would I be able to offer her more; and second, would she be willing to offer me more. At this moment I was more inclined to just keep her safe and satiated. Everything else was subordinate.

"I mean it, Christian. Dude, you're thirty; you're not getting any younger."

"I'm still younger than you," I countered.

"HA-HA," he uttered objectionably as he parked the cart. "Just for that, I am going to annihilate you on the course," he challenged and clambered out. I rolled my eyes. Bring it on, bitch.


"I will not eat them with a mouse. I will not eat them in a house. I will not eat them here or there. I will not eat them anywhere. I do not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am…" Ana read aloud as she perched on the hardwood library chair splaying open one of Dr. Seuss's most popular book, Green Eggs and Ham, in front of three dozen kids.

Her head oscillated steadily ensuring every child got a fair amount of attention. Too bad I was left out; I stood in the aisle, between the bookshelves, leaning against the ledge for the past ten minutes without so much as an acknowledgement. I wasn't complaining; I enjoyed watching her from afar doing what she loved most, and that was reading. She had volunteered to read here at the city library every Wednesday after work; it was one of her favorite pastime.

She swayed her face at my direction and paused for a sec when she finally noticed me spectating; I smiled earnestly and she returned the gesture back along with a wink.

Ana was good with kids; I'd seen it firsthand when she frolicked with Daniel; she was gentle and patient. I thought she could have been a great kindergarten teacher; a smart yet sexy schoolteacher. Hmmm. Imagine that; me fucking a schoolteacher. I could envision it now. Stop it, Grey. There's a time and a place for your crazy fantasies. Library isn't one of them. I concurred. Besides, these kids didn't need to see what I could magically produce down there; and these rusty bookshelves could only conceal so much.

"Okay kids. Do you have any questions regarding the book I've just read?" Ana asked her little audience, snapping me out of my reverie.

Half of the kids flung their hands up eagerly flouncing in their seat. "Me, me, me, me," they shrilled simultaneously.

Oh, lord.

Ten minutes later Ana was relieved by another reader. She sprang up and whispered to her reliever before approaching me.

"Hi!" she acknowledged penning a hug. "How long were you standing here?"

"Long enough," I replied calmly. "Come." I grasped her hand and burrowed her deeper down the aisle.

"Christian," she called.

"Shh," I hushed, and then cornered her against the bookshelves. I plunged my tongue inside her mouth; she abided, cupping my face with her soft hands. We heaved as our tongues danced harmoniously. My hands grappled onto the ledge on either side of her head to prevent me from indecent groping, although I would love to have her bare breast within the palm of my hands.

She tipped my head back breaking away for a quick breather.

"I want to take you against this bookshelf so badly," I panted pining into her blazing blue eyes.

"What stoppin yah?" she goaded breathlessly. I quirked up my brow. Is that a challenge? My hand instantly crawled up her skirt and buried itself between her thighs. "Oh-no-no-no-no-no! I'm just kidding! I'm just kidding!" she shrieked as she pried my hand off. "Jeez, Christian. Show a little decency. There are kids here," she scolded.

"I'm always up for the challenge, Ms. Steele," I riposted.

"Seriously, you're going to have me banned from this place." She smoothed out her skirt. I shrugged.

"When is the reading over?"

"Actually, there's a slight change of plan."

"What is it?" I asked disappointingly.

"Well, Marsha, one of the kids mother asked if I could babysit her son for a couple of hours after the reading," she murmured.

"And you agreed to it?" My tone was adverse.

She nodded, unaffected. "She could use a little overtime. We could still hang out. I plan on taking him out for pizza. You could join us."

"Pizza? It's been forever since I had pizza," I stated matter-of-factly.

"Does it mean you'll join us?" she asked expectantly.

"Would you like me to join you?"

"No, Christian. I would love for you to join us." She smiled a contagious smile.

"You made it hard to decline," I replied, and then leaned in and whispered jokingly, "Besides, I don't trust you alone with another man."

"Don't worry… I'll make sure to keep him in check," she added. I chuckled in response.

A burst of clapping suddenly rippled throughout the room.

Her eyes flared up. "Ooh-I gotta go," she blurted and then hurried off.


"Can I play game? Can I play game?" Timmy whined in annoyance. The little brat had been pestering Ana for the past five minutes. He was quite persistent. His look was deceiving; he was a petite brown-haired boy sporting a decorative blue-rimmed eyeglass; I stereotyped him as a bookworm, shy and reserved, but boy was I wrong.

"Timmy, I said you could play game after you finish your pizza," Ana stressed again.

"But I don't wanna eat," he grumbled.

"You've got to eat," she admonished. I chuckled as her tone reminded me of someone.

He pouted crossing his arms over his chest.

"Timmy," she called.

"Hey, Timmy. What's your favorite game?" I interrupted, alleviating her concern.

"Time Crisis!" he blurted vehemently. I cocked my brow wryly. An R-rated game? Why should I be surprised.

"Okay. I'll make you a deal. How about you finish your pizza and I will join you in a friendly game of Time Crisis."

"Okay!" he yelped then ambitiously dug in.

"Christian," Ana chided. "It's R-rated."

"I'm sure it's not his first time playing. For goodness sake Ana, he knows the title of the game."

"You're a bad role model."

"Don't hate." I retorted coolly. She scoffed then chewed into her pizza. She hated it when I defy her…and vice versa.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Timmy asked Ana, muffling with his mouth full.

Ana and I locked eyes amusingly. "No!" we blurted out in unison and giggled. Although it felt like we were one; we spoke like one, bickered like one, and even fucked like one. That's how normal couples interacted, I supposed. I wouldn't know; I'd never been in a normal relationship, but Kate and Elliot were just like Ana and I so it must be customary.

Ardently, I slithered my free hand up her thigh, fondling it; she snapped her head at me.

"No," she mouthed in disapproval and crossed her legs shut. I sighed. This was going to be a long night. I'll show her.

"C'mon Timmy, let's go." I rebelled straightening up, pushing my chair out.

"Yay!" Timmy perked up and scurried towards me; his face bubbled over with excitement.

"Timmy, sit down!" she commanded, eyeing him then shot her glare at me. I snubbed and sashayed off with Timmy trailing behind. "Christian!" she shouted. Disregarding her, I headed straight for Time Crisis. I needed something to fucking occupy my mind with besides her.


"You still mad at me?" I asked Ana as we walked the streets of downtown. She ignored me ever since Timmy's mother collected him at the pizza parlor. Apparently, she found my way of retaliation a bit irrational. What could I say; I was used to having things my way.

Her arms were crossed beneath her chest; she was shuddering from the dropping temperature. I peeled off my leather jacket and halted in front of her.

"Put this on," I ordered as I splayed out my jacket.

"I don't want your stupid jacket," she hissed.

"Ana, it's cold. You're going to get sick." Her flimsy blazer was no match for this unrelenting breeze.

"I don't freakin' care," she countered and quickly swerved pass me. I paced after.

"Ana," I called and instinctively flung my arms around her from behind.

"Ah. What are you doing?" She wriggled. I tightened my grip locking her in.

"Why must you always defy me?" I muttered sternly.

"Because I can. Let go of me!" she wrestled, putting up a fight. What a feisty little thing. At this point all I wanted to do was shackle her up against my wooden cross and flick her with a riding crop just to show her who's boss.

"If I let go…will you listen to me?" I tried to compromise.

"Let go of me or I'll scream!" A ball gag could easily do the trick.

"You wouldn't," I dared.

"I really mean it, Christian!"

"Fine! You want to scream?" I reacted frustratingly. "I'll let you scream." I twirled her around, facing me, my arms knotted around her waist. "Go ahead… Scream," I urged as she continued writhing under my grip.

"Don't push me," she threatened, scowling. My eyes bored into hers, refusing to back down.

"What are you waiting for?" I pushed. She rippled her brows, craned her face away, and geared up.

"Ahhh," she croaked. I frowned. Really? You call that a scream?

I choked out a laugh, vibrating the both of us. It was one of the dullest, shortest, most pathetic unconvincing scream I'd ever encountered.

"Was that all you could muster up?" I ridiculed, faintly in stitches.

"Stop laughing at me," she whined, pouting as she suppressed a giggle. My lips curled up. I couldn't stay angry at her. Just having her here beside me, whether we're arguing or not, made my day; it was exuberating.

"I'm sorry," I surrendered contritely, still amused. This altercation would get us nowhere; I knew better. "Will you listen to me now?" I asked genially. She hesitantly nodded in agreement.

Letting go, I cloaked the jacket over her back.

"Warm?" I asked heedfully as it tautened around her.

She nodded in return. "What about you?"

"I'm fine. That laugh warmed me up a little," I responded, and then we resumed walking.

We strolled around for a while discussing work and other serious matters. She mentioned a manuscript that caught her attention; it carried an intriguing plot. Eerily it mirrored our past, but the happy ending distinguished our present; not that I wasn't happy having her in my life, but there was also a different kind of happiness that I was lacking.

It was getting late. Shops were about ready to close; restaurants were placing their chairs up; the streets became less congested. We continued walking towards the bay.

"Do you have plans for tomorrow?" I asked.

"Let's see… Tomorrow… I have an appointment after work for a routine semi-monthly Brazilian wax," she said playfully.

I chuckled. There's no topic she couldn't discuss with me.

"Then Brie needed a comrade to assist her with her shopping spree. And I promised my eighty-one year old neighbor that I would walk her dog. Tsk-tsk," she said tapping her fingers against her lips. "So I think I might be slightly booked for tomorrow."

"Unfortunate for me, I supposed."

"Well… I could postpone them at a later date. All you have to do is ask."

"Don't I feel special." I teased.

"Indeed you are… Because you're my boss, and I can always spare a little room for my boss."

"Literally," I blurted out involuntarily, regretting myself.

"Christian," she scolded, balking on the spot. That remark struck a chord; I knew I went too far. She didn't need a reminder that she was screwing the boss; the thought of it was already distasteful to her.

"It came out wrong. I'm sorry, again," I conceded and then sighed. "I want to take you somewhere," I murmured, aching for redemption.

She mulled over for a moment, still clearly ticked off by my lack of discretion, and then replied flatly, "Okay."

"You're not even going to ask me where?"

"Christian Grey never discloses his plans. I've learned from experience."

"I'm glad you figured that out," I responded.

"Hmm," she hummed mirthlessly.


We stood a short distant from Pike Place Market staring out at Elliot Bay. The water was calm and tranquil. The moon was clearer and brighter than any other night. I glanced at Ana as she dazed off, mesmerized by the flickering sea.

"It's so beautiful out here; the water just glistening beneath the moon. A slight distraction from every day's conundrum," she stated crestfallen. Her change of mood was palpable; her tone was off; her expression was grim.

"What's on your mind, Ana?" I asked.

"I've just purchased a plane ticket to Georgia," she sulked.

"When is the trip?"

"Next week. My mother asked me to spend my birthday with her."

"She must miss you."

"She's been calling me every day these past couple of weeks…persuading me."

"I'm sure you'll make her happy by showing up."

"I don't know if I want to go," she murmured dejectedly, drifting off into the distant.

"Would you like me to come with you?"

She reeled her head to me.

"Could you?" she asked sounding reprieved.

"If you need me there," I assured.

"Thank you." She threw her arms around me and sighed. I held her close and nuzzled in her floral scent. It was light and intoxicating.

A soft whimper thrummed against my chest and I pulled away to see her eyes brimming with tears.

"Don't, Ana," I consoled lifting her face to meet my gaze. "Everything will be okay." She blinked her eyes and quelled her sobbing; my thumbs caressed her cheeks drying away the moisture that lingered behind. She was afraid, afraid of what's to come.

"Thanks, Christian," she sniffled, and enwrapped me in her arms again.

"I'm here for you." I pressed my lips gently on her forehead hoping it'll ease her mind.

The trip to Georgia was always hard for her to endure. It evoked a memory; something she could never forget. Things had occurred in the past that was beyond her control. They were irreversible and nothing she could do or say would change the outcome. All I could do was be there for her and offer a shoulder to cry on.


Sorry there's no lemons if that's what you were hoping for. I needed to get to the serious stuff now. There will be lemons next chapter.

I apologize if my writing is not up to par with the other stories out there. I'm trying my best to improve myself. Thank you!